St. Bede Church N. Wilson Road, Ingleside, IL

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1 St. Bede Church N. Wilson Road, Ingleside, IL December 24 & 25, 2017 Fourth Sunday of Advent & The Nativity of the Lord Church website:

2 From the Desk of the Pastor, Fr. Shawn Gould Freedom to Believe that God became Man At the root of all of the celebra ons of Christmas and its season in families, workplaces, and otherwise is a single, world-altering event: just over 2,000 years ago, the Creator of the world became a child, born of one of His own creatures. Jesus is the Creator-in-the-flesh, the God-man. Ordinarily, when one thing becomes another thing, it stops being the first kind of thing. When lumber becomes furniture, the wood ceases to be mere lumber. When wood becomes ash a er being burned, it ceases to be wood (in the same sense) and starts being ash. There is only one excep on to this sense of become, and it is when it applies to God. God is absolutely different than creatures. When God becomes human, He does not stop being God and then start being human. Jesus is fully and truly God, in every way that the Father is God and the Holy Spirit is God. He is also, from the first moment of His concep on in Mary s womb, fully and truly human. When Jesus, the Eternal Word, became human, it is not His Divinity that changed, but humanity that changed. By its very essence, the incarna on of God is unique. It is not the kind of thing that happens o en or, indeed, more than once. It is also the kind of thing that is beyond the power of any creature or even the sum of all crea on to bring about. It is, strictly speaking, super-natural above and beyond the power of created nature. This uniqueness and super-naturality makes the incarna on of God a hard thing for modern people to believe. It isn t usually said openly, but significant numbers are of the opinion that such things can t be believed by intelligent people. A recent Pew Research Center poll showed that belief in the miraculous aspects of the Christmas story, par cularly that Jesus was born of a virgin (and, therefore, was not the product of normal human genera on), has declined. About 83% of Catholics expressed belief in Jesus s virgin birth. Na onally, only about 54% of Americans between years of age believed in His virgin birth. In both cases, this was a decline from previous years. There are undoubtedly any number of reasons par cular to individual persons why belief in the reality of the Christmas story has become more challenging. One thing I am certain of is that this decline is not the result of new, convincing evidence having been discovered. The only actual evidence we have about the birth of Jesus comes from the con nuous, living witness of the Catholic Church and from some of her source texts: the gospels of St. Ma hew and St. Luke. Neither the Church s witness nor that textual evidence have changed in the past few years (or 1,900 years). No, the decline in belief is not evidence-based, whatever else it is. I believe this change is almost certainly the result of a general, modern view that supernatural things just don t happen. There is no evidence that such things can t happen. Chemistry, physics, and biology are incapable, by design and method, of providing such evidence. And we do have some real evidence that they do happen. Many of those who tes fied to the truth of Jesus s divine iden ty were willing to die rather than renounce that belief. How many of our skep cs today would be willing to die for their beliefs, I wonder. The only real ground for not believing in the Christmas story as it comes to us through the Church is a prejudice against the possibility of supernatural events. Accept that God is capable of doing supernatural, miraculous things in the world that He Himself has created and that par cular difficulty will pass away. So feel free to believe this Christmas, intelligently and ra onally, that God has become human. And then take joy in the fact that through the Incarna on, God is re-crea ng us in the image of His Son, preparing us for eternal life in His kingdom! Announcement of the Cardinal s Decision Regarding the Lakes Region Parishes We have received confirma on that the Cardinal will have his decision regarding the future configura on of the Lakes Region parishes announced on Monday, January 22. A mee ng open to all parishioners will be held on that day at St. Raphael Church in Old Mill Creek at 7:30pm. 2 Fourth Sunday of Advent & The Nativity of the Lord December 24 & 25, 2017

3 Mass Intentions Fourth Sunday of Advent Saturday, December 23 5:00 PM Brian Schmoldt, req. by Stanley Luta Sunday, December 24 8:00 AM Helen Peterson, req. by Family 10:00 AM Rick Szumlas, req. by Obajtek & Sandoval Families The Na vity of the Lord Christmas Eve (Vigil) Sunday, December 24 4:00 PM People of the Parish 6:00 PM People of the Parish 11:00 PM People of the Parish Christmas Day Monday, December 25 8:00 AM People of the Parish 10:00 AM People of the Parish Tuesday, December 26 St. Stephen 8:15 AM Communion Service (Mass Inten on for Rick Szumlas transferred to 12/24 at 10am) Wednesday, December 27 St. John 8:15 AM Lou Castelli, req. by Pashke Family Thursday, December 28 The Holy Innocents 8:15 AM Lowell Anderson, req. by St. Bede Parish Family Friday, December 29 8:15 AM Deacon Phil Bertolani, req. by St. Bede Parish Family Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Saturday, December 30 5:00 PM Brian Schmoldt, req. by John & Rose Schmoldt Sunday, December 31 7:00 AM Fr. Robert Fitzpatrick, req. by William Gaffney Family 9:00 AM Debbie Delli, req. by Jim & Debby Jurinak 11:00 AM Naomi Mitchell, req. by Bieniek Family Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Vigil Mass) 4:30 AM Rick Szumlas, req. by Obajtek & Sandoval Families Please Pray for the sick and homebound of our parish... Nora Adams Dolores Allred Jacob Baldassano Barbara Bernardi Phil Bickford Janine Bique Reggie Bolan Eric Brown Patricia Bulauski Dolores Clausen Lynn Cook Fenton Connor Bob Conway Joy Cortesi Tom Coyne Cathy Cyrzan Norman DeLeo Theresa Dietz Evere Donarski Jerry Eisenhower Pat Fernandez Brigid Finan Pip Formica Gene Freund Peri Freund Mary Freundt Dennis Frey Mary Frey Deborah Glen Virginia Govekar Bernade e Haase Rosemarie Hadley Jorie Hamsing Linda Hausen Jacqui Hebein Jeane e Hill Elena Hladnik Dan Jakes Frank Jiracek Kevin Kaminski Ray Kavanaugh Frank Keenan Margaret King Ron Korytowski Tim LaCreta Debbie Laurie Charlee Lawson Patsy Leonard Denny Lenz Chuck Lynch Charmaine Malecki Don Manthei Sharon Marche Jennifer Mathers Joyce Ma hei Colleen Michaelson Roberta Moyer Mary Ann Nelson Elaine Neuroth Tom Newby Veronica Olson Sharon Palms Pat Pawlis Rosemary Ptak Kayla Radtke Lydia Reca Mark Regner Daanish Rizwan Joan Roden Paul Roden J.J. Rodriguez Helen Rosing Julienne Scheibe Chris ne Schultz Leonard Schultz Bill Shafer Robert Snyder Sco G. Stafort Sco Swanson Roger Swiss William Terry Kris Teska Ron Teufel Lenore Trausch (Schopper) Gerald Untz Heather Van Daele Ron Vermillion, Jr. Kirby Wagner Beverly Warden Kindi Warren Marilyn Wielgos William E. Wollmuth Florence Wrobel Carl Zajkowski Virginia Zeifert Jason Zdon To add or remove a name: Please contact or jnischan@stbedechurch.com or fkonopasek@stbedechurch.com. May all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Please Pray for those in our Military If you would like a family member to be prayed for who is currently serving in the military, please contact the Parish Office at or jnischan@stbedechurch.com and provide the person s name and branch of the military. Jeffrey Ackerrman: Marine Corps (Spouse, Alexandra Moyer, is a Graduate of St. Bede) Stan Benes: Navy LTC Anne Brophy: Army Kyle Buchardt: Army Ma hew Co er: Navy Nolan Hebein: Air Force (Graduate of St. Bede) Eric Hohs: Marine Corps (Graduate of St. Bede) Katherine Holthaus: Navy Captain Paul Kolk: Air Force Thomas Kramer: Air Force Major Nate Mondul Mackenzie Neuroth: Navy Bryan Rouse: Navy (Spouse, Melissa Bychowski, is a Graduate of St. Bede) Lieutenant Andi Teufel: Army Melissa Timlin: Navy St. Bede Church Ingleside, IL 3

4 Saint Bede School Preschool thru Grade N. Wilson Rd., Ingleside, IL A Christmas Blessing May the Lord bless you abundantly this Christmas Love, The Children of Saint Bede School A Glimpse of our Christmas Program Picture your child at Saint Bede School Financial Assistance Informa on Mee ng Wednesday, January 17 6:30 p.m. in the school Saint Bede School is par cipa ng in the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Some families may qualify for a scholarship that would cover 100% of tui on and eligible fees for students in Kindergarten to Grade Programs for Three Year Old's: T/TH mornings T/TH all day Monday - Friday all day Programs for Four Year Old's: M/W/F mornings M/W/F all day Monday - Friday all day OPEN HOUSE AND OPENING OF REGISTRATION FOR PRESCHOOL TO GRADE 8 Sunday, January 28th 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM 4 Fourth Sunday of Advent & The Nativity of the Lord December 24 & 25, 2017

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6 Get FORMED! St. Bede invites all parishioners to register for an exci ng online pla orm called FORMED where you can access the best Catholic content, all in one place. It s EASY and FREE to register! 1. Simply go to formed.org/register 2. Enter Access Code: WZ8GZW 3. Enter your and create a password 4. Enjoy any me, anywhere! Men s Scripture Group The Tuesday morning Men s Scripture Group will be taking a break during the holidays. The mee ngs will resume on Tuesday, January 2, St. Bede Church Holiday Schedule 2017 The Feast of the Lord s Na vity 2017 ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL Just a reminder: If you pledged and have not as yet paid your pledge for the 2017 Annual Catholic Appeal please do so. St. Bede parishioners and friends have exceeded the goal we were assigned for All monies paid between now and the end of the Appeal period will be returned to St. Bede! Thank You to all who have supported the 2017 Annual Catholic Appeal. $ For TABLES FOR COLEMAN HALL Thank you to those who have sent in dona ons toward the purchase of the new tables for Coleman Hall. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. For those who have inquired, each table cost $83.81 and the cart cost $ To date we have received $1, toward the total cost of $1, Again, thank you to all who have helped to defray this cost! CHURCH REPAIRS ARE COMING Please note that during January we expect that the Church walls that have been damaged by water leaks will be removed and re-plastered. It is unknown as to how long this will take but we will keep you informed. Once the new plaster has dried the walls will be painted. Thank you for your pa ence as we move ahead with these repairs. Sunday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Masses: 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m. The 11:00 p.m. Mass is preceded by Christmas Carols at 10:30 p.m. Monday, December 25 - Christmas Day Mass at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Sunday, December 31 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass (a ending the Vigil Mass fulfills the Sunday Obliga on) Monday, January 1 Mass at 10:00 a.m. (not a Holy Day of Obliga on) May the Christ, who was made known to us in the Wonder of the Incarnation, keep your hearts in His love and peace both now and forevermore. The Priests, Deacons & Staff of St. Bede Parish 6 Fourth Sunday of Advent & The Nativity of the Lord December 24 & 25, 2017

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8 A View of the Week Stewardship Monday, December 25 St. Bede School Christmas Break The Na vity of the Lord/Christmas Day Masses at 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM, Church Tuesday, December 26 St. Bede School Christmas Break Communion Service at 8:15 AM, Church Bible Study 6:30-7:30 PM, Knights House Wednesday, December 27 St. Bede School Christmas Break St. Vincent de Paul Mee ng 7:00 PM, Conference Room Thursday, December 28 St. Bede School Christmas Break Legion of Mary Mee ng 7:00-8:30 PM, Conference Room Friday, December 29 St. Bede School Christmas Break Adora on of the Blessed Sacrament 6:30-7:30 PM, Church (Confessions 6:30-7:15 PM) Sunday, December 31 Children s Liturgy during 11:00 AM Mass Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Vigil Mass at 4:30 PM (a ending this Mass fulfills the Sunday obliga on) Monday, January 1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Mass at 10:00 AM (no 8:15 AM Mass on this day) St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry If you know of any individual, family or friend who is in need of food, please have them contact the St. Bede Society of St. Vincent de Paul at All informa on is kept confiden al. Also, we welcome them to a end our community dinner in Coleman Hall (church basement) on the 3rd Sunday of every month. The doors open at 3:30 PM and the dinner is from 4:00-5:30 PM. Our current Food Pantry needs: Sal ne Crackers, Beef Stew, Chili, Instant Potatoes, Rice a Roni, Shampoo and Toothpaste, Pancake Mix & Pancake Syrup. We also could use the li le sample sizes of soaps and shampoos, etc. Thank you! Visit svdpchicago.org or call our St. Bede Parish Conference at: Parish Stewardship - Week Ending December 16/17, th Sunday of the Fiscal Year 30 via Give Central $ 1, envelopes $ 7, Loose cash $ Sunday Collec on Total: $ 9, nd Collec on: Building Repair/Maint. $ 1, Total FY $ 230, Average Sunday Collec on $ 9, Budgeted per Sunday $ 9, Last FY (2017) - (20 Sundays) $ 223, Average Sunday Collec on $ 8, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FINANCIAL BLESSINGS WITH ST. BEDE! We wish you the blessings of this special season of the year. Merry Christmas! 2nd Collec ons for December/January: Dec. 31: St. Vincent de Paul Jan. 7: Support Our Future Jan. 14: Church in La n America Jan. 21: Building Repair & Maintenance 2017 ANNUAL SCHOOL APPEAL Thank You to all who have already supported this year s Appeal. Your kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated. Just a reminder: If you are able and willing to make an endof-year contribu on to support our school please do so before December 31. This year s support op ons are: Tui on Assistance for the school year; Support Our Future Campaign PLEASE NOTE: PARISH OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, December 25 & Tuesday, December 26. The office hours for December 27 thru December 29 will be from 9:00 AM un l 4:00 PM. The office will also be closed on Monday, January 1, Fourth Sunday of Advent & The Nativity of the Lord December 24 & 25, 2017

9 ILLINOIS TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Please Consider Effec ve January 1, 2018 individuals and corpora ons will be able to donate money and receive a 75% tax credit from Illinois if their dona on is directed to a Scholarship Gran ng Organiza on (SGO). Please consider dona ng in the name of St. Bede School. If you are willing and able to donate dollars and get 75% back in a state tax credit for 2018 please consider dona ng to the EMPOWER ILLINOIS Scholarship Gran ng Organiza on (SGO). Prior to January 2, 2018 you ll need to set up an account at Beginning January 2, 2018 you can then apply for a tax credit on Please remember to donate to the EMPOWER ILLINOIS SGO and to indicate that you want your dona on to go to St. Bede School Ingleside, IL. Whatever amount you donate to the SGO must be sent in within 60 days. The SGO will then send you a tax credit cer ficate to use when filing your 2018 return. Again, if you or your employer is able and willing please consider suppor ng St. Bede School families through the Invest in Kids Act and get back 75% of your dona on in Illinois Tax Credits! You are invited to join Fr. Shawn for an Intro to the Book of Revela on. 3 sessions will be offered on the following dates in the Parish Office (Rectory): NO RESERVATION NEEDED JUST COME! 1) Thursday, January (First session repeated) Sunday, January (come to either session) 2) Thursday, January (Second session repeated) Sunday, January (come to either session) 3) Thursday, February (Third session repeated) Sunday, February (come to either session) St. Bede Church Ingleside, IL 9

10 Treasures from our Tradi on Children of the parish are somewhat focused on Santa Claus these days, who is keeping an eye on who s naughty and who s nice. Santa Claus, with his heavenly patron Saint Nicholas, has been more or less in charge of gi -giving to American children for a hundred years or so. In other places, perhaps more a en ve to our Chris an tradi on, there are different gi -bearers. In Greece, Saint Basil delivers the presents on his feast day, December 31, and makes sure everyone is sprinkled with holy water. The Baby Jesus is in charge elsewhere, called the Christkind in Austria and Belgium, El Niño Jesús in Columbia, and Le Pe t Jesus in France, where he shares his du es with Père Noël. In the Czech Republic almost everyone is atheist, but Ježíšek, the infant Jesus, brings gi s to one and all. In Poland the Star Man is said to bring the gi s, although o en he turns out to be the village priest in disguise. Saint Nicholas, not his Americanized cousin, is the giver in Holland, where he wears a bishop s miter, and in Russia, where he wears a bishop s crown. Soviet Russia tried to dethrone Saint Nicholas and promote Grandfather Frost, but no one was much fooled by this a empt to squeeze religion out of Christ s birth. One country has a saintly woman in charge of the gi s, Saint Lucy, honored in Sweden on December 13, when children serve their parents breakfast in bed, and others awake to news that they have been nominated for a Nobel Prize. Some children have a second round of gi s on Epiphany, when the magi assume the gi -giving du es. In general, the gi s of Christmas are simple pleasures, not great heaps of treasures. Once upon a me, a new pair of socks or an orange was enough for us. No ma er what gi s we receive, all of them are to point us to the true gi, and the true giver. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. Wedding Banns Kevin Ross Baer & Priscilla Ndagire Jjuuko Firewood For Sale The Knights have been collec ng dropped trees and are selling seasoned wood once again. The cost of a face cord is $85, and $160 for two free delivery if within 5 miles. Stacking will be an addi onal charge. If you would like wood delivered, please call Leo at or Ed at Visit the Church Library Here s a great book with Christmas coming up: Christmas Na vi es and Stories (in the Seasonal sec on). This book has many ideas, stories and poems collected from all over the world. The aim is to show people from around the globe how the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated in today s society. The library is located in Coleman Hall. To sign out a book, just put your name, date (month/day/year) and phone number on the card (located on the book s inside cover) and put the card in the Signed Out Books holder. When returning the book, put it on the shelf marked Returns and we ll replace it in the library. Readings for the Week Monday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27-29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] During the Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Ps 128: 1-5 or Ps 105:1-6, 8-9; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or Hb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40 [22, 39-40] 10 Fourth Sunday of Advent & The Nativity of the Lord December 24 & 25, 2017

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12 Liturgical Ministry Schedule for December 30/31 Mass Presiders Lectors Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Confessions at 4 PM Fr. Gould 5:00 PM Fr. Gould B. Lizak B. Galloway, S. Sink, M. Sink S. Hansen 7:00 AM Fr. Pelrine A. Curran C. Johnston, J. Vogt, E. Zeifert M. Buckley 9:00 AM Fr. Gould S. Co er M. Dressendorfer, B. Meudt, B. Ratajczyk, J. Stangel E. Barre 11:00 AM ** Fr. Gould L. Flogel F. Loffredo, B. Tilli, L.Wojcikowski K. Simmet 4:30 PM Fr. Gould M. Drehobl G. Gerasmo, R. Gerasmo **Incense may be used at 11am Mass only Ministers of Care Schedule for December/January Paradise Park Lilac Apartments Lakeland Apartments Jan 5 Jan 12 Jan 19 Jan 26 Frank & Ann Wach Deacon Gregg Zeifert Ed Portalski Deacon Gregg Zeifert Jan 5 Jan 17 Ed Portalski (Fri) Ed Portalski (Wed) Dec 24 Dec 31 Jan 7 Jan 14 Jan 21 Jan 28 Ed Portalski John Bieschke Sandra Prez Bill & Mary Lou Obenauf Ed Portalski John Bieschke Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. Luke 1:38

13 Pastoral Staff Rev. Shawn Gould, Pastor Rev. John F. Krebs, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Ed Pelrine, Weekend Assistant Rev. Carlos Rodriguez, Weekend Assistant David Bresemann, Deacon (Diana) Larry Spohr, Deacon (Fran) Gregg Zeifert, Deacon (Eileen) Gina Buckley, Director of Music Parish Office Staff Fred Konopasek, Business Manager Elaine Kavanaugh, Parish/School Bookkeeper Jane Nischan, Administra ve Assistant Parish Office: /Parish Fax: St. Bede School & Religious Educa on N. Wilson Road, Ingleside, IL Patricia Strang, Principal School Office: /School Fax: Mark Buckley, Director of Religious Educa on Mary Richards, Religious Ed Administra ve Assistant Religious Educa on Office: Families and the Gospel The Na vity of the Lord This Christmas remember your task as a parent is the same as Mary s: We must not let our doubts, fears and unfulfilled expectations get in the way of our loving acceptance of our children. by Bud Ozar The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Luke 1:35 St. Bede Parish Mission Statement St. Bede Catholic Parish is a welcoming spiritual community where sacraments, educa on and evangeliza on lead us to Jesus Christ. School Web Address: Weekly Mass Schedule Monday thru Friday: 8:15 AM Saturday Evening: 5:00 PM Sunday: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM & 4:30 PM Holy Day Masses: As scheduled in the Bulle n. Sacrament of Reconcilia on Saturdays: 4:00 to 4:30 PM in the Church. Fridays: 6:30-7:15 PM in the Church with Adora on & Benedic on from 6:30-7:30 PM. Bap sms Second & Fourth Sundays of the month at 12:30 PM. Registra on is necessary by phone or at the Rectory. Preparatory instruc on for parents is required. Marriages: Call the rectory at least 4 months in advance. Communion for Homebound Call the rectory at New to the Parish? Welcome to St. Bede Please call parish office to register yourself and/or your family. Parish Pastoral Council President: Joe Rada Parish Address: stbed @stbedechurch.com Parish Web Address: Church Website: St. Bede School Website: (For Facebook link, just scroll to bo om of Home Page) New Parishioner Registra on or Change of Address Place in the collection basket to receive a registration form. You are registered when that form is returned to us. If you are changing your address, check here Name Address City Zip Apt. # Phone # If you would like a parish registra on form ed to you, please provide your address below: