Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Transcription

1 528 Lathrop Avenue River Forest, Illinois Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe November 24, 2013 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

2 This Week s Gatherings Mass Intentions Monday, November 25, :30 am The Blessed Sacrament Ministries 8:00 am Richard J. Merhar Tuesday, November 26, :30 am Helene F. Willoughby 8:00 am William Kenny Wednesday, November 27, :30 am The Clark & Daley Families 8:00 am Angela Devereux Ebzery Thursday, November 28, :00 am (see below) Friday, November 29, :30 am Frank Dolan 8:00 am Liz Kennedy Saturday, November 30, :00 am Anne Therese Smedinghoff Altar Servers Monday - Tuesday, November 25-26, :00 am Mon-Tues: A Hendricks, W Hendricks Weekend Liturgies Thursday, November 28, 2013 (Thanksgiving Day) 9:00 am - Mass Intention: Jerry & Marie Rout Servers J Morrissey, J Giuffre; Cross Bearer: M M Ebzery Readers Max Brown, Tamara Hicks Euch Min S Butler, D Murray, T Murray Saturday, November 30, :00 - Mass Intention: John J. Malone Servers B Crotty, C Donlin; Cross Bearer: R Crotty Readers Laura Hogan, Marianne O Donoghue Euch Min D Chemler, B Coleman, M Coleman, C Madden, J Megall, M Shalloo, K Smith Sunday, December 1, :30 - Mass Intention: Jim Butler Servers J Atkins, M Smith; Cross Bearer: S Leavy Readers John Lynch, John Showel Euch Min V Atkins, J Sullivan, M Sullivan 9:00 - Mass Intention: Mary Kurr Yates Servers C Gajewski, J Sajdera; Cross Bearer: G Ruggie Readers Elizabeth M. Jeep, Doug Kurtenbach Euch Min T Graefe, M Karasis, M Martinez, R Norton, A Ramirez, J Slowik, H Slowik 10:30 - Mass Intention: Anne Therese Smedinghoff Servers L Mear, B Stumbris; Cross Bearer: K Mear Readers Bob Miller, Nan Brouilette Euch Min J Clark, Bob Elwood, J Mannix, B Murray, S Murray, J O Hara, B Stumbris 12:00 - Mass Intention: The People of St. Luke Parish Servers KJ Slepicka, M Vietzen; Cross Bearer: B Graves Readers Katie Iammartino, Max Brown Euch Min M Arenas, J Courtney, J Domingo, T Harnett, A Roche 2 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL Readings Readings for the Week of November 24, 2013 Sunday: 2 Sm 5:1-3/Col 1:12-20/Lk 23:35-43 Monday: Dn 1:1-6, 8-20/Lk 21:1-4 Tuesday: Dn 2:31-45/Lk 21:5-11 Wednesday: Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28/Lk 21:12-19 Thursday: Dn 6:12-28/Lk 21:20-28 Friday: Dn 7:2-14/Lk 21:29-33 Saturday: Rom 10:9-18/Mt 4:18-22 Next Sunday: Is 2:1-5/Rom 13:11-14/Mt 24:37-44 Liturgical Publications Inc Please Pray for our sick: Michael Brady, Margaret Boyer, Willard Boyer, Tom Cusack, Edward Evangelista, Stephen Kehoe, Frank Kurr, John Lennon, Bob Lewis, Paul S. Novak, Joseph Organ, Kelly Petersen, Bridget Nugent Sroka and Tom Trankina and for Our Deceased. Stewardship of Treasure He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son ~Colossians1:13 If we recognize Jesus as our King, then we must also recognize ourselves as His loyal subjects. As members of God s kingdom we have an abundance of wonderful blessings. But we also have responsibilities. We must always use our gifts to help build up the kingdom. We must never forget that we are truly blessed to be called to serve the Greatest of Kings. From the weekend of November 17, 2013 Weekly Giving Goal $16, Actual Weekly Giving $16, Fiscal Year to Date (From ) Weekly Giving Goal $320, Actual Weekly Giving $274, Goal to Date for Year +/(-) $(45, We are always very grateful for the sacrifices you make to support the mission, goals, and ministry of St. Luke Church. Thank you for your generosity! Cover Art: Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator in Monreal Cathedral, Sicily. The mosaic was made by Greek artisans working for the Norman king of Sicily in the 1180s.

3 What can you do to ensure the protection of religious liberty at home and abroad? Text the word freedom to for updates from the bishops on current threats to religious liberty. Also, please visit for more information on how you can take action to protect religious liberty! NOVEMBER 24, 2013 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 3

4 St. Luke Welcomes Our Newly-Baptized Children The St. Luke Parish community formally welcomed eight school-aged children into our faith on Sunday, November 17, at the 12:00 pm Mass. As a storm raged outside, the church was peacefully filled with lights and songs as the Rite of Baptism was performed by Fr. Ken, assisted by Deacon Bob Slobig. Following their baptisms, each child was given a candle as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The children were so excited and happy, said Father Ken. And everyone present was deeply touched by an awareness of God s goodness and His tremendous love for these children and for each one of us, young and old. Please welcome the following children into our parish community: Josie Badrinath William, Calvin and Virginia Gearhart Frank Gilfillan Carl, Kate and David Show 4 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL

5 Gatherings From the Parish Let s Meet At the Table on Thanksgiving Please consider starting Thanksgiving Day offering praise and thanksgiving to God! As Christians, as Americans who experience the great privilege of personal freedom, as a parish, as persons who have loving family and friends we have many reasons to gather to give thanks. Whether you are with your family or will be alone, consider beginning this holiday by gathering with your parish family at our 9:00 am Thanksgiving Day Mass, Thursday, November 28, to give thanks to God for the many blessings in our lives. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the holiday, there will be no regular office activity this Thursday or Friday. Have a safe and blessed holiday. ~ Grace Before Your Thanksgiving Meal God most provident, we join all creation in raising to you a hymn of thanksgiving through Jesus Christ, your Son. For generation upon generation peoples of this land have sung of your bounty; we too offer you praise for the rich harvest we have received at your hands. Bless us and this food which we share with grateful hearts. Continue to make our land fruitful and let our love for you be seen in our pursuit of peace and justice and in our generous response to those in need. Praise and glory to you, Lord God, now and for ever. Amen. NOVEMBER 24, 2013 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 5

6 An Important Reminder About Receiving Communion Please remember that, when you receive the host at Communion, you are to immediately place it into your mouth before you start walking away. It is part of the Communion Ministers duty to see that each person does so. Also, it is not permitted to take a consecrated host to another person, whether in church or elsewhere. Our parish s duly trained and authorized Ministers of Care for the Sick and the Homebound are the only individuals allowed to do this. Please contact the rectory if you have a sick or homebound person who wishes to receive Holy Communion. We will be happy to arrange for a priest, a deacon or a Minister of Care to bring Communion to them. Thank you for your observance of these procedures to ensure proper reverence and respect for the Sacred Body of Christ. Prime Timers The Prime Timers will be playing bridge tomorrow in the Hospitality House. We start at noon and play until 2:30. Please join us for a fun afternoon. 6 Respect Life Christmas Wreath Sale The St. Luke Respect Life Committee will sponsor its annual Christmas Wreath Sale the weekend of December 7-8. We anticipate prices will be maintained at last year s prices! 24 mixed wreaths for $ balsam wreaths for $18.00 Larger wreaths are available by pre-order only. 36 wreaths for $ wreaths for $ wreaths for $43.00 Please call Lauretta Froelich at to preorder. Thank you for your support of the Culture of Life. May you and your families be blessed at Christmas and all year through. WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL Preparing For Advent The Advent season begins next Sunday. We invite you to take a little time to prepare for it. In particular, we encourage every household to have an Advent Wreath on the dinner table or in some other prominent place. The Advent Wreath is simply a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles. Traditionally, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. However, four violet or white candles may be used. The candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and the number of lighted candles each week corresponds to the number of the current week of Advent. The rose candle is lighted on the third Sunday of Advent. On the first day of Advent, the wreath is blessed by a parent or another family member saying this prayer: Lord God, Your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior, Who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin. Pour forth Your blessings upon us as we light the candles of this wreath; may their light reflect the splendor of Christ, Who is Lord, forever and ever. Amen. May this simple daily ritual and prayer help us be attuned to the Lord during these holy days of Advent. The Little Blue Book for Advent Many parishioners have found the Little Blue Book of daily meditations for Advent a helpful way to spend six minutes in prayer and reflection each day. We are happy to offer this new edition of this booklet to you again this year. Please pick up your personal copy at the doors of the church next weekend, the First Sunday of Advent. New Hymnal to Debut At long last our new hymnals will debut on December 1. They include the new translation of all the Mass parts, most of our familiar hymns, and a nice variety of new hymns and acclamations for the years ahead. Thanks for your patience. We hope you will enjoy using our new hymnals.

7 Adults Needed for Teen Service Trips For several years now, St. Luke Youth Ministry has sponsored Summer Service Trips for our high school students. For one week the teens travel to a service site in West Virginia, Mississippi, or another poorer area and donate their work to repairing homes and similar projects. They share this experience with peers and reflect together on the role of service in our lives as Christians. In order for this to happen again this year, adult volunteers are needed now to commit themselves to conduct the planning and preparation activities and to recruit adult chaperones for the trips. Since we do not have a Parish Coordinator of Youth Ministry at this time, the only way these trips can continue is for adult volunteers to step up to do the leg work. If you would be interested or would like to learn more, please contact Fr. Ken soon at or frken@stlukeparish.org. Prayers for Military Personnel As the war in Afghanistan continues, let us pray that all our military personnel may be kept safe from harm and return safely home to their loved ones. We pray especially for SSG Patrick H. Quinn who died recently. May he rest in peace. And let us pray that the leaders of our nation and of all nations may work untiringly to end all war and violence and to build a true and lasting peace among all peoples. Youth Ministry YOUTH SERVICE TRIPS 2014 Attention Teens! There will be an Information Meeting regarding the Summer Service Trips to Villa Maria and Bethlehem Farms in Waldron Hall on Sunday, December 8, at 1:00 pm. All high schoolers and their parents and guardians are invited to come learn more about where we are going, what we will be doing, and what to expect on these amazing weeks of service and faith building. Registration packets will be available for you to sign up for your desired trip. Come and hear about the wonderful opportunity you can have to serve others Catholic Calendars Now Available! Thanks to the generosity of Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, the 2014 Catholic Calendars are now available for St. Luke parishioners. Calendars can be found near each of the church doors and will also be available during office hours at the rectory (9 am to 5 pm). To allow more families to receive a calendar, we suggest a limit of one calendar per household. Kairos Retreat for Juniors and Seniors Spread the word! High school Juniors and Seniors from St. Luke s are invited to experience the awesome Kairos Retreat on Friday-Monday, January 17-20, We will be joining with teens from other parishes. The Kairos will take place on the premises of St. Hedwig Parish on the north side of Chicago. The fee is $150. Watch this bulletin for registration information. Mark your calendar and spread the word to your friends. Don t miss this amazing experience. NOVEMBER 24, 2013 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 7

8 Confirmation Preparation On Monday evening, November 18, the 8 th graders of St. Luke Parish who are preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation, gathered in Waldron Hall for the next session in a series of Spiritual Preparation titled Being Called. Speakers included members of our parish who spoke about their personal call to serve the People of God St. Luke Associate Pastor, Fr. Charles Musula; Deacon Jim Doyle; and St. Luke Director of Religious Education, Sr. Colleen Nolan, OP, who shared her call to religious life. The students were also challenged by Luke Sullivan and Susan Van Trieste who are giving a year of service with Dominican Volunteers USA. Luke and Susan shared information about their volunteer service and their passion for social justice and the principles of Catholic social teaching. At the end of a very interesting evening, the students came away with much to consider. Let us continue to keep them in our prayers in the coming months as they continue their journey to Confirmation and their commitment to the Catholic faith. St. Luke s Bible Study Group Returns St. Luke s Bible Study Group has begun our study of EXODUS: Called to Freedom by Dr. Tim Gray of the The Great Adventure Series from Ascension Press. Exodus: Called to Freedom looks through the lens of Christ and the Church to show that, more than just seeking to free His people from the domination of Pharaoh, God desired to free His people from the far more sinister tyranny of sin, so they could live the authentic freedom that belongs to children of God. Because of this the Exodus story is not just Israel s story, it is our story as well; it tells us who God is and what He calls us to be. No previous study required. Although the Study Group began meeting this past Wednesday, it s not too late to join us for the remaining nine Wednesdays in the Teachers Lounge in the lower level of the School from 7:00-8:30 pm. Sufficient breaks are provided for Christmas and New Year. Cost for the materials is $30. Please call the rectory ( ) or Lauretta Froelich ( ) if you plan to attend, so that we may have the materials available for you. ~ For more information about The Great Adventure Bible Study beginning in January, contact the rectory or Lauretta Froelich. Not Just for Children: An Advent Retreat for Women All are invited to Not Just for Children an Advent Retreat led by Christine Ondrla, former Director of Religious Education at Ascension Parish in Oak Park. This retreat will take place Tuesday evening, December 3, at 7:30 pm in Waldron Hall and is sponsored by the St. Luke Women s Club. The Christmas Story, or the Infancy Narratives as they are referred to in the Bible, are filled with wonderful characters and amazing events. We learn them in childhood and delight in every detail. As we grow older we share them with our own children but their importance can only be truly understood with an adult faith. This presentation and discussion will lead us to discover the deep meaning that these beloved passages have for us today and for many Christmases to come. Please plan to join us for a wonderful evening. The Philippines Need You Barely recovering from the typhoon storm from last December and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake just three weeks ago, Typhoon Haiyan hit the country with sustained winds of 190 mph. Nearly 89,000 people are living in evacuation centers and other scattered centers with roughly 281,000 especially vulnerable people living in tents and makeshift shelters. Catholic Relief Services is currently coordinating response teams throughout the country to evaluate what the most immediate needs are for the Philippines, including evacuation, shelters, food and water. Catholic Relief Services will be working with the local government, Caritas and local parishes to maximize response and recovery efforts to reach those most affected by this destructive storm. To support Catholic Relief Services response to this emergency, please make a donation to: ATTN: Typhoon Haiyan Philippines Emergency Appeal Catholic Relief Services 3525 S Lake Park Ave Chicago, IL or Relief. Thank you for your prayers and assistance. 8 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL

9 Saint Luke School News On Monday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day, students and faculty gathered together to show their thanks to our country s Veterans, especially those who are members of the St. Luke Community. The students and teachers also remembered Veterans who could not be with us in a slideshow tribute. Veterans in attendance were honored with prayers and scripture, and as they exited, a song of thanks was sung. We thank the Fine Arts teachers who planned such a beautiful salute to our Veterans. Substitute Teachers Wanted Preschool through 8 th grade substitute teachers are needed for the school year. Implement the plans of the absent teacher and work with bright, caring and enthusiastic students and fellow teachers! Experience as a classroom teacher or substitute teacher is preferred. If interested, please contact Maryanne Polega at mpolega@stlukeparish.org. 500 Club The St. Luke Athletic Committee would like to congratulate the following winners of the 500 Club drawing: November 10, Lois Bonaccorsi November 17, Dick and Mary Jo Carey November 24, Jessica Rae & Cidney Medina Thank you to all who have purchased memberships in the Club, the proceeds of which go directly to fund the school s athletic programs. Are You MAD About Science? St. Luke School is looking for volunteers to help judge our school Science Fair on Thursday, January 23, The fair will run from about 3:30-7:00 pm in Waldron Hall. Volunteers should have a considerable background in Science and be willing to judge two or three student projects. This will probably mean a time commitment of about 2 hours. Exact time slots will vary for each judge. (We can be flexible and accommodate your schedule.) If you are interested, please contact: Cynthia Wojtaszek via cwojtaszek@stlukeparish.org by December 20. NOVEMBER 24, 2013 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 9

10 As Thanksgiving Approaches 10 A Prayer for Those Who Have Too Much While I was deciding which oat bran cereal to eat this morning, you were searching the ground for leftover grains from a passing wheat truck. While I was jogging at the health center, you were working in a wealthy landowner s fields under the scorching sun. While I was choosing between diet and regular soda, your parched lips were yearning for a touch of water. While I complained about the poor service in a gourmet restaurant, you were gratefully receiving a bowl of rice. While I was pouring my fresh and better detergent in the washing machine, you stood in the river with your bundle of clothes. While I watched the evening news on my wide screen television set, you were preparing to go to sleep under a tent. While I read the newspaper and drank my cup of steaming coffee, you walked the dusty, hot miles to a tiny, crowded schoolroom to try to learn how to read. While I scanned the ads for a bargain on an extra piece of clothing, you put on the same shirt and pants you have worn for many months. While I built a four-room house for the three of us, your family of ten found shelter in a one-room hut. While I went to Church last Sunday and felt more than slightly bored, you looked upon the earth and felt gratitude to God for being alive for one more day. My brothers and sisters, forgive me for my arrogance and my indifference. Forgive me for my greed of always wanting newer, bigger, and better things. Forgive me for not doing my part to change the unjust systems that keep you suffering and impoverished. I offer you my promise to become more aware of your situation and to change my life as I work for the transformation of our world. ~Author Unknown WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL Pastoral Staff Rev. Kenneth J. Fischer, Pastor frken@stlukeparish.org Rev. Charles E. Musula, Associate Pastor frmusula@stlukeparish.org Rev. Leroy A. Wickowski, (Retired) lwickowski@stlukeparish.org Deacons Jim Doyle deacondoyle@gmail.com Paul Faherty pfaherty00@aol.com Terry Norton reneeterry@yahoo.com Bob Slobig bobslobig@comcast.net John O Neill (Retired) Parish Info Rectory 528 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest stlukeparish@stlukeparish.org Sue Gamache, Office Manager sgamache@stlukeparish.org School 519 Ashland Avenue, River Forest jschwarzbeck@stlukeparish.org Therese M. Craig, Principal tcraig@stlukeparish.org Religious Education 519 Ashland Avenue, River Forest religiouseducation@stlukeparish.org Sr. Colleen Nolan, O.P., Director cnolan@stlukeparish.org Music Director Arlene Michna amichna@stlukeparish.org Coordinator of Youth Ministry youthministry@stlukeparish.org Parish Business Manager Glenn Wagner gwagner@stlukeparish.org Director of Stewardship & Development Sheila Price sprice@stlukeparish.org Hospitality House (former Convent) Sr. Mary Ann Mueninghoff, OP Masses Weekend Saturday: 5:00 pm 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 am & 12:00 noon Sunday: Weekdays Monday-Friday 6:30 and 8:00 am Saturday 8:00 am Reconciliation Monday-Friday: After 6:30 & 8:00 am Masses Saturday: After 8:00 am Mass, and by appointment