Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time November 18, Pastoral Staff. Sacraments and Ministries THANKSGIVING TABLE PRAYER

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1 Pastoral Staff Pastor Rev. Denis Condon Associate Pastor Rev. Henry Kricek Pastor Emeritus Rev. John Hergenrother Deacon Mr. Michael McLynn Deacon Mr. Kevin Reynolds School Principal Ms. Kelly Zawisza Religious Education Coordinator Ms. Anne Watylyk Music Director Mr. Jim Harrold, 201/ Secretary/Bulletin Editor Ms. Maureen Johnson, 708/ Spiritual Companion Mrs. Jane Kucera, 708/ Parish Council Chair Mr. Steve Swanson, 708/ Rectory 1144 Harrison Ave., 708/ FAX 708/ School 1125 Harrison, LaGrange Park, 708/ Religious Education 708/ Sacraments and Ministries Reconciliation/Confessions Saturdays 4:00-4:30 p.m. or on request. THANKSGIVING TABLE PRAYER O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence. Open our hearts to your love. We ask your blessing through Christ your Son. Amen. Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Baptisms Second Sunday of the month: 12:15 p.m. Baptismal class is necessary prior to scheduling a Baptism Marriage Contact the rectory 6 months prior to the wedding. Home Communion Visits Mike McLynn, 708/ Parish Nurses, 708/ Hours as posted in church. New Parishioners Register at the rectory. Website parishoffice@slmparish.org Bulletin Deadline Monday at 10:00 a.m. Traveling? Call or

2 Christmas gifts! It s time to talk about Christmas gifts! This is not my idea, mind you. We ve all seen the commercials on TV hawking suggestions for that someone special. I m sure the kiddie programs are pushing all kinds of must have toys already as well. While I was out and about this week I was serenaded both in a coffee shop and the dentist s office with White Christmas, Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, etc. I wanted to scream I M NOT READY FOR THIS!!! But I thought better of it. No one wants to deal with a psychotic priest. The culture has begun its orgy of buying, leading the more cynical to grouse with Ebenezer Scrooge that it s all humbug. They will tell us that this whole Christmas thing is nothing more than a materialistic orgy fueled by business desire to increase the bottom line. And since we ve become a more secular society which dictates that we sanitize the religious aspect of the season, the cynic s thinking seems all the more on target. Merry Christmas has been replaced by Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays. Christ has been pushed aside to make way for Santa Claus, the retailers best friend. And the season office parties are notorious for all kinds of things that don t belong in a column such as this. Even within the ranks of the faithful the question can be asked, who are you preparing for? For many of us with children or grandchildren, the season certainly does seem to revolve around Santa and the contents of his sleigh rather than the stable. But even when we ponder the stable who is it we see, or want to find? That s actually a tough question, but that s the kind of question we will be hearing from John the Baptist in about a month from now. The voice of one crying in the wilderness is not interested in Santa or our traditions for the holidays. John actually wants to cut through all the tinsel and presents to get us to think about who is coming, which is what the term Advent means. Who is coming? Why all these preparations? Many of us would answer that Christ or the Baby Jesus is coming. But that can t be. Jesus of Nazareth was born over 2,000 years ago. He also grew up; performed his ministry; was crucified, died and was buried; rose on the third day and 40 days after that ascended to the right hand of the Father. In other words, the baby grew up, lived his adult life, died, rose and then physically left. I don t expect to see that Jesus of Nazareth anytime soon. And when he does come again, it isn t the Baby Jesus; it s the Judge of the Living and the Dead we will see! That leaves us with the same question: what s all this preparing for? The only answer that makes sense to me is we prepare for a newer and deeper relationship with the living Lord who promised he would be right here with us to the end. The attraction of the manger is the newborn Child, which is understandable. Everyone is drawn to newborn babies because they offer hope for the future and bring joy with their innocence. But if we stop there, then we really do have nothing more than sentimental carols, flashy decorations, and Santa. In other words, we have a winter carnival much like the ancient pagans. We adults need to think of what it means for the Immortal, Almighty Creator of the universe, the All Knowing God to choose to become a helpless new born babe those many centuries ago. Why? Why would God do that? What does this tell us about God? And what s God telling us about ourselves? These questions have heavy theological answers. But I don t think we need to go there. We need to go back to the shopping, the baking, and the decorating and ask why we do all this. Listen to your heart. There s the voice that cries out, calling us to remember our relationships are what count. This time of year calls us to think about how God has come to us in and through those little ones in our families and through the adults who mean so much that we couldn t imagine life without them. Take the time to cook and bake or do the shopping. Feel the joy of finding just the right gift, and, by doing that, learn the joy of the Father who knew what the right gift was for us. Remember all the oohs and aahs and the connecting to that special someone that come from giving that right gift. The joy of the season comes from those people who make the season happen: the cooks and bakers, the shoppers, the decorators and the God who loves to see us smile. Maybe we don t want the season to start this early, but corporate America has made that decision for us. But before getting caught up in the whirlwind that December can be, take some time to think. Don t get pushed around by the busyness of it all. Fill Advent with the meaning of the Incarnation and don t let advertisers tell you what the season is about. Fr. Denis

3 Monday, November 19 5:00 p.m. Athletics - PC 6:00 p.m. Confirmation Liturgy Planning Mtg - T 6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts - C Tuesday, November 20 Parent/Teacher Conf-PC 4:00 p.m. RCIC - M Wednesday, November 21 5:00 p.m. Athletics - PC Thursday, November 22 Happy Thanksgiving! No Activities - Rectory Closed Friday, November 23 No Activities - Rectory Closed Saturday, November 24 9:00 a.m. Athletics Sunday, November 25 12:30 p.m. Athletics 6:00 p.m. BEDS - C 7:30 p.m. Alcoholics Anon. - R SPONSOR-A-TURKEY As the holidays approach, our thoughts turn to celebrations with family and friends. However, many others do not have the basic necessities they need to live, and face the holidays questioning how they will provide for their families. Each year at this time, the people of St. Louise come forward to help those in need. Your generosity in the Sponsor-a-Turkey collection allows the Social Action Committee to provide assistance to the people of St. Aloysius by purchasing turkeys for Thanksgiving. It also funds the Easter Basket Project. Hams and perishables are purchased, non-perishables are collected from our school children and are given to about thirty families. Donations can be placed in the collection the weekends of November 17-18, and November in an envelope marked Sponsor-a-Turkey or drop your donation at the rectory. Those in need thank you for your kindness. GRATITUDE What is gladness without gratitude, and where is gratitude without a God? Coventry Patmore Thanksgiving Blessings The students and faculty wish to extend a wish for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day to everyone in the St. Louise Community. You will each be remembered in our prayers as our Student Council leads us in a Thanksgiving prayer service on Tuesday. We are grateful for our families, friends, school, parish, and country. We are especially thankful for all those who work so hard to support our school and our learning. God Bless You at Thanksgiving! Parent-Teacher Conferences Parents and teachers will meet on Tuesday, November 20th for individual conferences. These meetings will afford a special opportunity to share information about each student s academic, spiritual, personal, and social growth. Report card grades, along with goals for the next trimester, will be discussed. It is a great time to share pride in the wonderful accomplishments of our students at St. Louise THANKSGIVING DAY MASS The Thanksgiving Day Mass is at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 22. We ask each family attending the Mass to bring a non-perishable item as your offertory donation. Get Well Wishes for Father Fred Tomzik can be mailed to: St. Monica Parish 5116 N. Nottingham Ave. Chicago, IL On the Bridge On Saturday, November 24, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. as part of an Eagle Scout Service Project, Jonah Reardon will be screening a 90-minute documentary at the La Grange Theatre, located at 80 S. La Grange Road. This film is about how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a major consequence of the war, is affecting our soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The movie is called, On the Bridge, by Oliver Morel. More information about the documentary can be found at Thank You, Hitzeman Family! The 2013 calendars are available thanks to the Hitzeman Family. Congratulations on your 109th year of business serving the community and St. Louise de Marillac Parish!

4 Interested in Joining the ASP 2013 Team? The ASP 2013 Team will be heading back to the Kentucky area July Would you like to be a part of the team? Adults and teens ages who are interested in joining us are asked to discern if this mission is calling out to you to serve those in need with us. SO WHAT IS THE APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT? Appalachia Service Project (ASP) provides one of the most rewarding structured service opportunities in the nation bringing thousands of volunteers from around the country to rural Central Appalachia to repair homes for low-income families. But ASP is more than just a building program. Yes, Appalachia s poorest families urgently need your help, but they can help change your life, too. Because when you change the lives of others, they have a way of changing you. After a few days of hard work repairing homes with ASP, your hands will grow a little tougher, your arms a little stronger, and your relationship with God a whole lot deeper. You ll return home to your community with a passion for service, a renewed compassion for other people, and a fresh appreciation for your place and purpose in this world. Best of all, you ll discover firsthand that regardless of geography, education, or economic class, we are all equal members of the family of God. To inquire about the next step to join our missionary group, please contact Jen Reynolds, at bbreyfam@camcast.net 708/ ; John Derus at: enderusment@gmail.com 312/ ; John Klich at: goya4747@sbcglobal.net 708/ ; or Laura Copp at: lauracopp@earthlink.com 708/ to let us know your interest and answer any further questions you may have. We hope to have out ASP 2013 team in place by December 1st, so do not delay. THANKSGIVING WISHES The Rectory Staff, School Staff, and Religious Education Staff wish all our parishioners and their families a Happy Thanksgiving. In celebration of the Thanksgiving Day holiday, the rectory will be closed all day on Thursday and Friday, November At the Teen Club Board meeting, ideas for offsite events were discussed. The # 1 choice was roller skating. Watch the bulletin for a skating event soon! No Teen Club (Jr. high or high school) on November 23rd. Have a great Thanksgiving! The annual Christmas Lock-In will be Friday/ Saturday, December 28/29. Watch the bulletin for details! Advent morning prayer: Dec. 8 & 15, at 8:30 am. All are welcome! Nazareth Academy Open House 1209 W. Ogden, La Grange Park 708/ Prospective students and families are encouraged to Experience Nazareth on Thursday, December 6, 2012 between 6:30 and 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. presentation. Choir Platform Nameplate Donations made to the Choir Platform Project will be recognized with a nameplate on a plaque which will be displayed near the choir area. There are 3 levels of contributions: $1,000 and over; $100 and over; and under $100. Nameplates will be engraved using the names of the donor(s) as in: John & Mary Hancock. Please use the form below if you would prefer a different name format. Those who have already donated, including those who contributed in memory of Mary Stukel this summer, should also fill in the form below if they wish a format other than: John & Mary Hancock. The filled-in form can be dropped off at the rectory or in the collection basket. Thank you for making the new and improved choir platform a reality! Name of contributor: (ex. Mr. & Mrs. B. Christian) Nameplate format: (ex. The Christian Family) Telephone #:

5 Cookie Bakers Wanted for our Cookie Exchange at the Holiday Bazaar on Sat, December 1 st Please Contact Nancy Toribio at or tribtribe@comcast.net Don t Take It for Granted During the early twentieth century in Mexico, Russia, and in many parts of Europe, atheistic regimes threatened not just the Catholic church and its faithful, but civilization itself. While we hope and pray that the dark times of almost a century ago remain in the past, a troubling recent Pew Forum report shows that religious intolerance is on the rise worldwide, including in the United States. Therefore, we must remain vigilant when our first American freedom protected under the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution is threatened. Religious liberty gives us the ability not just to worship at Mass but the freedom to feed the hungry, serve the needy, and tend to the sick. During this time when we come together as a nation in thanksgiving for our many blessing, let us thank God for the gift of religious liberty and ask that it not be taken for granted. Suburban Catholic Single Group (SCSG) Multi-Parish Ministry for Singles in their 40s and 50s Upcoming Events 12/12 Tivoli Theater - White Christmas 12/16-11:00 Mass followed by our Christmas luncheon For details on the above events, you can contact us at: singlesadmin@gmail.com or find us on Facebook or Meet Up. Lectors/Eucharistic Ministers Schedule The new schedule for December 22, 2012 through March 17, 2013 will be coming out soon. This schedule will include the Christmas masses. If there are any dates that you are unavailable or if you have preferences for serving at the Christmas and New Year s masses, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible. Sign-up sheets will also be available in the Gathering Room. We will do our best to honor all requests; however, if we are not notified of your preferences, you will be randomly scheduled. Check the parish calendar for the Christmas and New Year s mass times. Contact Rick or Barb at: 708/ or at steprec@comcast.net. The deadline is Monday, December 3. Eucharistic Ministers Needed St. Louise currently needs additional Eucharistic Ministers at all masses. Only 1 training sessions is needed, and can be scheduled at your convenience. Once training is completed, you chose the mass at which you would like to serve. New schedules for the fall months will soon be created, so if anyone is interested in becoming an Eucharistic Minister, please contact Rick or Barb Stepina by phone at 708/ or steprc@comcast.net. Although leaves are still falling, plans are under way for Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 9, in the Colonnade Room, sponsored by the CWO and the Holy Name Society. The CWO is in need of prizes for the instant Santa s Raffle. This raffle is geared toward the children, so new toys, games, or other children s items, would be appreciated. Please contact Mona at: 708/ , or Sue at: 708/ , if you would like to donate. And mark your calendars to enjoy a delicious breakfast and join in on the fun on December 9th! Page 5

6 November Monday, November 19 8:30 am - James Doheny, Sr., St. Louise Parishioners Tuesday, November 20 8:30 am - Gloria Jones Wednesday, November 21 - The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8:30 am - Joan Zogata, Thaddeus Glab Thursday, November 22 - St. Cecilia 10:00 am - In Thanksgiving Friday, November 23 - St. Clement, St. Columban, Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro 8:30 am - Souls in Purgatory Saturday, November 24 Vigil: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 5:00 pm - Fritz Rochowiak, Joan Zogata, Jeanne Acke, Helen Quarello Sunday, November 25 - Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 7:30 am - Joan Zogata, Betty Andel 9:30 am - Thomas & Agnes Mannion Golden Thomas & Mary Agnes Crotty Golden Leo & Mary Rose Weber Mannion 11:00 am - Emily Sukola Presiders November 24 November 25 Confessions - Fr. Henry 7:30 - Fr. Henry 5:00 - Fr. Henry 9:30 - Fr. Henry 11:00 - Fr. Denis Altar Servers Mon. - Wed., November :30 - Da. Keen, K. Garvey Thurs. - Fri., November :30 - A. Guzman, M. Melone Sat., November 24 5:00 - M. Keegan, D. Keegan, A. Haage Sun., November 11 7:30 - D. Hanson, C. Sventy, G. Sventy 9:30 - C. Diggins, B. Diggins, A. Copp 11:00 - Br. Schneider, Bo. Schneider. B. Schneider Lord s Housekeepers November 20 - M. Lattyak November 21 - P. Cavaliere November 23 - J. Chenelle Readers November 24 November 25 5:00 - S. Young 7:30 - V. Roknic 9:30 - B. Prack 11:00 - Mi. Miller Eucharistic Ministers November 24 5:00 - R. Stepina, B. Stepina, J. Chenelle, P. Erickson, M. Gyorke, T. Jarvis, T. Popernik, N. Stiso November 25 7:30 - F. Johanek, M. Voss, R. Voss, E. Siuda, B. Strnad, P. Szymczak, M.A. Vavra 9:30 - M. Sinde, Jr., B. Garvey, D. Hennet, B. Kraus, L. Korenchan, D. Parcel, E. Satala, D. Steinhagen, L. Waterloo 11:00 - Jo. Gaske, Ja. Gaske, S. Buckley, J. Discipio, J. Hanson, A. Janacek, K. Lifka, L. Mate, J. Panek We welcome our newly-baptized: Aiden Benjamin Herrera Nolan Walter Jaworski Our sympathies go out to the family of: Richard Kowal A n y o n e i n n e e d o f assistance is asked to call the rectory. Your name and number will be forwarded to a member of St. Vincent de Paul Society. Our thanks to all those who make donations to the poor box. Weekly Offertory November 11, 2012 Sunday Collection, this Week: This Year $ 9,900 Last Year $ 9,900 Sunday Collection, Year-to-Date: This Year $ 204,400 Last Year $ 208,800 Year-to-Date Collection Budget $ 194,000 Envelopes Returned, this Week: This Year 424 Last Year 439

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8 Holiday Bazaar Saturday, December 1, am to 3 pm St. Louise de Marillac School 1125 Harrison Ave., LaGrange Park, IL 708/ Dozens of Crafters & Vendors Head-to-Toe Bag Raffle Homemade Cookie Exchange Photos with Santa Complimentary Babysitting for Shoppers Crafter s Café serving Breakfast & Lunch ADMISSION IS FREE Bring a Friend!