5 2 8 L a t h r o p A v e n u e R i v e r F o r e s t, I l l i n o i s

Transcription

1 5 2 8 L a t h r o p A v e n u e R i v e r F o r e s t, I l l i n o i s J a n u a r y 2 4, T h i r d S u n d a y i n O r d i n a r y T i m e

2 2 MASS INTENTIONS Monday, January 25 - The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle 6:30 am The Janas Family 8:00 am The Young, Ulveling, and McNichols Families Tuesday, January 26 - Ss. Timothy and Titus 6:30 am Alexander Busse 8:00 am Angela Devereux Ebzery Wednesday, January 27 - St. Angela Merici 6:30 am Special Intention of a Parishioner 8:00 am The Neil Hurley Family Thursday, January 28 - St. Thomas Aquinas 6:30 am The Clark and Daley Families 8:00 am Daniel and Robert Donahue Friday, January 29 6:30 am Patricia Walsh 8:00 am Michael C. Truppa Saturday, January 30 8:00 am Special Intention of a Parishioner 5:00 pm Brian Conmy Sunday, January 31 7:30 am The People of St. Luke Parish 9:00 am Betty Lou Prosek 10:30 am The Fulco Family 12:00 pm Mary Ann Haar MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY Monday-Friday, January :00 am Servers M Jacobs, J Underwood Saturday, January 30 5:00 pm Servers C Carr, B Greenberg, [1 Server Needed] Readers Linda Binder, Shelley Sandow Euch Min B Altier, J Atkins, V Atkins, B Peterson, H Peterson, M Peterson, K Peterson Sunday, January 31 7:30 am Servers K Cahill, I Flores, [1 Server Needed] Readers John Lynch, Sheila Price Euch Min J Duszynski, K Heiss, P Muldoon 9:00 am All liturgical ministers assigned by school 10:30 am Servers N Altier, S Altier, P Gorman Readers Doug Kurtenbach, Noel Moore Euch Min S Butler, M Karasis, M Moore, B Murray, S Murray, D Piper, W Piper 12:00 pm Servers B Graves, R Graves, [1 Server Needed] Readers Yates Hafner, Katie Iammartino Euch Min L Amison, J Courtney, K Frank, KE Frank, M Frank For one-time gifts or your weekly Sunday contribution, GiveCentral.org makes it fast and convenient for you to support St. Luke Parish with payments from your bank or credit card account using your computer or smartphone. Take a look today! WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL FROM THE PASTOR Works of Mercy Come Home to Us As we hear Archbishop Cupich s message to us on this Sunday of the Annual Catholic Appeal, we should be inspired to realize that we, as the Hands of God s Mercy to others, are called to perform the works of mercy every day. The mandate of the Lord is given to us: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. While many of us can say, we tangibly assist others in these seven bodily ways, it requires just as much effort, involvement, time, risk, courage, and many of the other virtues to participate in the spiritual works. These works are qualitative and invisible but the effects, with God s help and grace, are just as far-reaching and life-giving as those that sustain the body. And Jesus tells us far more often in the Gospel to fear not what can harm the body, but those things that harm the soul and which keep us from entering the Kingdom of God. To counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offenses willingly, bear wrongs patiently, and pray for the living and the dead are among these spiritual works we are also called to perform. While it is obvious how there is a monetary cost ($$$) to the corporal works, it is more difficult to get our hands around the cost of the spiritual works. These costs, equally important, are there. It takes funds to educate our catechists and religious education teachers, to form the priests in seminary and our deacons and lay leadership for the Church of the future, to train our young people and children how to have a relationship through prayer and the sacraments with our Lord Jesus Christ. The list can go on and on and as the challenges to people of faith increase, so will our outreach need to keep up with works that are both spiritual and corporal. The resourcing provided to our parish by the Archdiocese of Chicago in the upcoming Parish Transformation Program, beginning in February, is one prime example of how we are recipients of the gifts we share through the Annual Appeal. As you prayerfully consider how best to help with this year s Catholic Appeal, realize that we are all the recipients of the good gifts we pool together generously, the effects of which will be with us as a parish and those who come after us for years to come. ~Fr. Szmyd

3 COMES TO VISIT ST. LUKE SCHOOL Last week the 6th and 7th graders from St. Luke School spent a day at a retreat run by one of the National Evangelization Teams (NET) Ministries. The retreat featured talks, games, silly skits, music, personal testimonies, small group discussions, and prayer. The retreat invited the students into a deeper sense of their Catholic faith and a stronger, more personal relationship with Jesus. From the beginning of the retreat, the NET team members connected with the 6th and 7th graders, and their hearts were opened to listen, to learn, and to grow spiritually. NET Ministries is a Catholic youth evangelization ministry based in St. Paul, Minnesota, that sends out teams of college-age women and men to lead retreats at parishes and Catholic schools across the country. The NET team members take a year off from school to do this missionary work to challenge young people to love Christ and embrace the life of the Catholic Church. The retreat here was a huge success, and our students really experienced God s grace in a powerful way. What makes this ministry so effective is the young adults own fervent devotion to daily prayer and the sacraments. It enables the Netters to be authentic and joyful witnesses of the Gospel in every aspect of their life. Here is what some of our students had to say afterwards: Thank you for coming. You helped me grow closer to God. I learned that everything happens for a reason. Even if you are suffering, God will always be with you. It helped me realize that no matter what hardships you are going through, God will always be by your side. There is not enough paper in the world to say how everything impacted me. With this retreat I now realize I can turn to God. JANUARY 24, 2016 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 3

4 Many of you have responded to the Annual Catholic Appeal mailing from Archbishop Cupich. On behalf of those served by the ministries and services funded by the ACA, we thank you for your gifts. If you received the mailing and have not responded, please do so as soon as possible. In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asks us to understand God s mercy in our own lives and then to be the hand of mercy for others. The ACA offers a wonderful opportunity to extend God s mercy to many others. In addition to providing for ministries and services to financially challenged parishes throughout the Archdiocese, the Appeal also funds services that are of great help to ministries here in our own parish. As we contemplate God s many gifts to us, we should also reflect on our gratitude for these gifts. Your financial support for the work of our parish, our Archdiocese and the Church throughout the world is, in fact, one way to express this gratitude. Please give generously to the 2016 Annual Catholic Appeal. When our parish reaches its goal of $55,000 in paid pledges, 100% of the additional funds received will be returned to us for use in our parish. Mass at 9:00 am in Church School tours from 10:00 am - Noon Come help us celebrate the start of the 2016 National Catholic Schools Week and see how technology is revolutionizing education at our National Blue Ribbon School! St. Luke Parish School 519 Ashland Avenue Application forms can be found on our website. 4 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL

5 Please mark your calendars for Sunday morning, February 21, for the next Tuition Assistance Meeting. We will start with the 9:00 Mass at St. Luke Church. Plan to join us! Watch for more details in upcoming weeks. Note: There will be no Children s Liturgy of the Word at next weekend s Family Mass due to the celebration of National Catholic Schools Week. All families, especially those with children attending St. Luke School, are invited to attend the 9:00 Mass next Sunday as students fill many of the ministry positions as lectors, readers, and other roles around the altar. It s time to prepare the next ministry schedule for the period from March 5 through June 3. Please contact the coordinator/s for your ministry: Lectors: Tom Smedinghoff / smedinghoff@gmail.com Extraordinary Ministers of Communion: Bill and Debbie Piper / williampiper@att.net Altar Servers: Jen Riggs / jsriggs10@att.net All Confirmation Candidates and their sponsors are invited to hear a wonderful motivational speaker, Max Chapman, talk about Witnessing God in Your Life on Monday, February 1, from 6:30-7:45 pm in Waldron Hall. Raised in Ponte Vedra, Florida, Max is a senior at Northwestern University and a defensive lineman for the Wildcats football team. Not only is he a dedicated and outstanding athlete, Max is also a charismatic leader of the team, both on and off the field. Coach Pat Fitzgerald awarded him the team s #1 jersey, which is given to the player who exemplifies the values and character of the Northwestern football family, and many teammates also look to him as the spiritual leader of the team. Max s Catholic faith is an integral part of his whole life, and he draws great strength from attending daily Mass and having an active spiritual life that is grounded in prayer, the sacraments, service work, love for God, and love of the Church. I think I was chosen to wear #1 because I know that I am not #1, Max says. Jesus Christ is #1. Max s talk is part of the formation program for St. Luke 8 th graders in preparation for their reception of the sacrament of Confirmation on April 19. Please keep them, their sponsors, and their parents in your prayers during these next few months. by Wednesday, February 3, to let them know when you will not be available during these months. This is especially important from March 25 through April 3. This timeframe covers Spring Break for St. Luke School and the Public Schools, as well as Holy Week through Easter. Please also check your plans for Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30). With everyone s help, we will be able to schedule you only when you are available. Thanks for your prompt attention and response. Max Chapman receives the #1 jersey, which is given to the player who most fully embodies the values and character of the Northwestern football family. JANUARY 24, 2016 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 5

6 SCRIPTURE READINGS For Masses the Week of January 24-31: Sunday: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10/Ps 19:8-10, 15/ 1 Cor 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27/Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Monday: Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22/Ps 117:1-2/Mk 16:15-18 Tuesday: 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5/Ps 96:1-3, 7-8, 10/ Mk 3:31-35 Wednesday: 2 Sm 7:4-17/Ps 89:4-5, 27-30/Mk 4:1-20 Thursday: 2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29/Ps 132:1-5, 11-14/Mk 4:21-25 Friday: 2 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17/Ps 51:3-7, 10-11/ Mk 4:26-34 Saturday: 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17/Ps 51:12-17/Mk 4:35-41 Next Sunday: Jer 1:4-5, 17-19/Ps 71:1-6, 15-17/ 1 Cor 12:31 13:13 or 13:4-13/Lk 4:21-30 Liturgical Publications Inc PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Willard Boyer, Rita Brown, Mary Cippera, Margaret Creedon, John Cusack, Mary Elwood, Fred Heiss, Ann Hoeksema, Stephen Kehoe, Frank Kurr, John Lennon, Paul S. Novak, Kelly Petersen, Geraldine Redmond, Fr. Paul Reicher, Patti Sheehan, Tom Trankina, Mary White, Michael Gerard White, Ann Marie Wojcik And for Our Deceased: Scott Smedinghoff, nephew of Tom Smedinghoff, and Irene Wagner, mother of Glenn Wagner Stewardship of Treasure Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared. ~Nehemiah 8:10 Ezra s instructions to the people show us that God does not forbid us from enjoying the good things in life; He wants us to be happy! However, He expects us to generously share our blessings with those who are in need, without expecting anything in return. Our Weekly Offerings From the weekend of January 17, 2016 Weekly Giving Goal $15, Actual Weekly Giving $15, Fiscal Year to Date (From 7/1/15) Weekly Giving Goal $435, Actual Weekly Giving $420, Goal to Date for Year +/(-) $ (14,498.00) We are always truly grateful for the sacrifices you make to support the mission, goals, and ministry of St. Luke Church. Thank you again for your generosity! 6 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL Tomorrow (Monday) is Bridge day for the Prime Timers. We play in the Hospitality House from noon to 2:30 pm. The Amen Stitching Group will also be meeting this Wednesday, January 27, from noon to 2:30 pm in the Hospitality House. Newcomers are always welcome to both groups. It seems like yesterday when we had our outing to Misericordia s Holiday Brunch, as captured in the pictures below. However, our annual Valentine Tea in the Hospitality House is right around the corner on Saturday, February 13, at 3:00 pm. The cost is $20. This is one of our most popular events of the year. Everyone remembers the delicious tea sandwiches, scones, and cakes. Seating is limited, so call Marilyn Shalloo at to make your reservation. There is still time to make a reservation for the Prime Timers-sponsored tour of Eastern Europe. Read more about the trip on page 9, and call Ann O Connell at if you re interested in joining the group.

7 This year s Gala event promises to be another night to remember at the Loews Chicago O Hare Hotel in Rosemont as we honor two devoted supporters of our parish and school: Mary Beth and Tom Smedinghoff. Over the past 34 years Tom and Mary Beth have been a vital part of many school programs and parish ministries while sending their own four children through St. Luke School. They have embodied what it means to share one s talents and gifts so generously as part of our Christian calling. Please join us in congratulating the Smedinghoffs on this well-deserved honor for their continued dedication to St. Luke Parish and School! Let's Show Our Gratitude to Tom & Mary Beth! We are very pleased to be honoring Tom and Mary Beth Smedinghoff at this year's Dinner Dance and Auction. There are a few ways you and/or your business can help recognize this wonderful couple and contribute to the support that the Dinner Dance & Auction provides for St. Luke Parish School. But you must act this week to be a part of the program book! Program Book Advertisements and Tribute Ads You can help recognize our honorees and support St. Luke School at the same time by placing a personal or business advertisement in the Dinner Dance program book. The program book is distributed to more than 300 Dinner Dance attendees and supporters, so it s an ideal way of gaining exposure for your business in the St. Luke community. You can fill out the form for an advertisement at or contact Ann Morrissey at goanngo2@yahoo.com before the January 31 deadline. Or place a congratulatory or tribute ad in the Dinner Dance program book and extend your or your family s personal wishes to Tom and Mary Beth on this well-deserved honor. Details are at the website mentioned above, or contact Sheila Price at sprice@stlukeparish.org or before the end of this month. Auction Wish List items If you d like to help by donating something for our Live or Silent Auctions, contact Sheila Price at or sprice@stlukeparish.org. Any contribution is appreciated, but here are some popular items we are looking for: tickets for theater shows, concerts, or Chicago-area TV tapings college/professional sports tickets airfare/miles or hotel stays/points Disney gift cards or park entry tickets vacation home stays Downtown Chicago spa gift certificates Lego sets for boys/girls Fitbit Charge HR and Amazon Echo ipads/ipods and GoPro cameras Reserve your seats online today! Whether you need a single seat or a whole table, you can make your reservation online now at Can t be with us? You can still make a contribution. You can make a big contribution by underwriting part of the cost of the dinner. Details on the various opportunities are at You can also help by sponsoring a teacher to show your gratitude for their hard work. For more information on any part of this event, contact Sheila Price, St. Luke s Director of Stewardship & Development, at sprice@stlukeparish.org or call JANUARY 24, 2016 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 7

8 Many never-married, divorced, or widowed individuals in mid-life feel alone, out-of-place (even in church!), and wondering what this phase of life means for them. That s where the REFLECT Catholic Singles Retreat comes in. Since 2004, these weekend retreats have offered singles in their mid-30s to 50s the chance to experience healing, a sense of belonging, and a renewed relationship with the Lord through planned talks, a reconciliation service, Masses, and caring fellowship. The next retreat is the weekend of March 4-6 at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein, Illinois. The cost is $197 for meals and a single room. Take a chance and get involved... you won t regret it! For a brochure, reservations, or more details on the retreat or accommodations, call , or send an to reflect.chicagoland@gmail.com, or visit Pope Francis announced changes in the procedure for annulments in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic Churches that were to start in December. While the substance of why a marriage may be annulled has not changed, the procedure has. Fr. John Lucas, Judicial Vicar of the Court of Appeals for the Province of Chicago, will explain the issues on February 11 at 7:30 pm at St. Edmund Church, 188 South Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park. Come as a single or bring a team and see if you can be this year s card hero at the 2016 Euchre Tournament next Sunday, January 31, at 3:00 pm at Kevils in Forest Park. The event is sponsored by the St. Luke Men s Club, but it s open to all: spouses, friends, and neighbors. There s a $10 fee per player, which includes light appetizers and a cash bar. If you re planning to attend, please send an to lukesmensclub@gmail.com. However, last-minute attendees are always welcome! 8 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL The Super Bowl turns 50 this year, and the St. Luke Men s Club is celebrating with a party at Old School Tavern in Forest Park Sunday, February 7. The celebration starts at 5:00 pm, kickoff is set for 5:30. Feel free to bring your spouse, neighbor, friends, appropriate aged children. The more the merrier! Admission is $10, which includes a chance in the pool and munchies throughout the game. There will be a cash bar with drink specials and lots of fun. Please join your neighbors and fellow parishioners to watch the biggest game of the year! If you think you will be attending, please send an to lukesmensclub@gmail.com to help with planning the food. However, last-minute attendees are always welcome!

9 This month the 1st graders of St. Luke Parish School have been busy working on their cultural unit about children around the world. The students are researching different countries in books and on the internet and preparing colorful story boards about their chosen countries. This unit will be presented at the school s Open House on January 31 as part of our celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Please stop by after Mass next Sunday and enjoy the students hard work! All St. Luke parishioners are invited to join a tour of some of the Church s most famous icons on a 16-day pilgrimage through six countries of Central Europe. The trip is sponsored by the St. Luke Prime Timers, but it is open to all ages. Father John Boivin from Holy Name Cathedral will lead the guided tour, which will include stops to see the visionaries in Medjugorje, the Black Madonna and St. Faustina s Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Poland, the Infant Jesus of Prague, plus many more religious and cultural sites in between. The trip will be from May 6-21, but reservations and a deposit are required by the end of this month, so please contact Ann O Connell at today for more details. Map By LtPowers [CC BY-SA ], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo of Hradcany Karol Bridge beentree in Prague licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 agreement via Wikimedia Commons. JANUARY 24, 2016 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 9

10 The St. Luke Athletic Committee congratulates the following winners of the 500 Club drawing: Mark and Maureen Kelty Thank you to all who have purchased memberships in the Club, the proceeds of which go directly to fund the school s athletic programs. Please remember the 64 immigrant detainees held at the McHenry County Jail and Kenosha Detention Center who have asked for our prayers this week. They are from Belize, Burma, China, Cuba, Domincan Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Gambia, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Poland, Slovakia/Hungary, and Syria. Pray that the outcomes will be positive for all of the detainees and their families. Help is right around the corner! 24-Hour Crisis Line: St. Luke Parish - River Forest Rev. John Szmyd, Pastor jszmyd@stlukeparish.org Rev. Steven Bauer, Associate Pastor sbauer@stlukeparish.org Rev. Leroy Wickowski (Retired) lwickowski@stlukeparish.org Rev. Mr. Jim Doyle deacondoyle@gmail.com Rev. Mr. Paul Faherty pfaherty00@aol.com Rev. Mr. Terry Norton reneeterrynorton@gmail.com Rev. Mr. Bob Slobig bobslobig@comcast.net Lathrop Avenue, River Forest stlukeparish@stlukeparish.org Sue Gamache, Office Manager sgamache@stlukeparish.org Glenn Wagner, Parish Business Manager gwagner@stlukeparish.org Sheila Price, Director of Stewardship & Development sprice@stlukeparish.org Arlene Michna, Music Director amichna@stlukeparish.org Bradley Collins, Communications Coordinator bcollins@stlukeparish.org Ashland Avenue, River Forest jschwarzbeck@stlukeparish.org Maryanne Polega, Interim Principal mpolega@stlukeparish.org Ashland Avenue, River Forest religiouseducation@stlukeparish.org Sr. Colleen Nolan, O.P., Director cnolan@stlukeparish.org Ashland Avenue, River Forest Sr. Mary Ann Mueninghoff, OP Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil (anticipated) Mass 5:00 pm, and Sunday 7:30, 9:00, and 10 : 30 am and 12:00 noon Weekdays: Monday-Friday, 6:30 & 8:00 am, Saturday 8:00 am Confessions The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is offered after 6:30 and 8:00 am weekday Masses and by request. Adoration and Benediction Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament occurs every first Saturday after the 8:00 am Mass and rosary. Rectory Office Hours Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Interested in Learning More About the Catholic Faith? Anyone wishing to complete their sacraments or learn more about the Catholic faith may inquire about our adult faith formation program (RCIA) by calling the rectory for more information. 10 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL New Parishioners Are always welcome to stop by the rectory to introduce themselves and provide their registration information. Communion Visits and Ministry of Care A parish priest or Minister of Care will be happy to visit those who are sick or homebound. Please call the rectory to make arrangements. Baptism Baptisms take place on the first and third Sundays of each month. Preparation meetings are held for parents having children baptized on the first Monday of each month. Arrangements are made by calling the rectory. Marriage Couples wishing to be married should call the rectory to set up an appointment with one of the parish priests at least six months in advance of the desired wedding date. Anointing of the Sick Elderly parishioners, those in poor health or who are anticipating surgery can call the rectory to arrange to receive the sacrament of anointing.