Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 23, 2018 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

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1 TODAY S READINGS First Reading The wicked say: With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test (Wisdom 2:12, 17-20). Psalm The Lord upholds my life (Psalm 54). Second Reading The wisdom from above is full of mercy and good fruits (James 3:16 4:3). Gospel Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me (Mark 9:30-37). ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Dennis R. Schaefer Address: 802 Middle Street Prairie du Rocher, IL Phone: sjospdr@htc.net Website: Diocese website: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Secretary: Jill Whelan Parish Council President: James Popejoy Finance Council President: Roger Henry St. Joseph Cemetery: Jack Laurent St. Leo Cemetery: Steve Gonzalez Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Dennis Schaefer Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Jurek WEEKEND MASSES AT ST. JOSEPH: Saturdays: 6:00 pm (odd months) Sundays: 8:00 am (even months) Ruma Convent: Sunday at 11am Daily Mass varies at both locations Confessions at St. Joseph: Saturday 5-5:40 pm & Sundays 7:15 7:45 am Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 23, 2018 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. James 3:18 HOW DO WE TREAT THE MESSENGER? Let s not be too hasty in defining who is the wicked one and who (namely us) is just! We are very quick to label others as evil, because we tend to label ourselves as good guys. We don t like it when we are brought up short by a prophetic voice that brings us some bad news about our own behavior. We don t like to be reproached for transgressions of the law or charged with violations of our training. We may condemn and abuse those who bring us up against these truths about ourselves when, if we were really good, we would thank them for helping to keep us on the right path. This is the way they treated the prophets and the way they treated Jesus. Is this also the way we treat those whose message we don t like? TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION How long have there been parochial schools in the United States? Longer than you may imagine. The Jesuit fathers opened Saint Mary School in Philadelphia in 1782 in the first light of independence. Catholic and Protestant squabbles about the nature of education forced the Fathers to make this risky and innovative venture in the heart of the city. The school was closed by a devastating fire in 1902, but reopened in 1968 as St. Mary Interparochial School, the first example of a shared parochial school. It is also the only Catholic school within the confines of a national park. This is the Mother School of this uniquely American institution. Many parochial schools, especially in national parishes, were established to preserve the culture and language of the old country, and also to protect young people from prejudice. In other countries, Ireland for one, the Church is authorized to run national schools, sometimes under the sponsorship of a parish. In still other places, such as Quebec, publicly-funded separate schools were administered by the Church. Wherever the state funds Catholic schools, normally enrollment is guaranteed to all applicants. The Quebec system was dismantled in 1998 when the state decided to reorganize schools along linguistic lines rather than religious affiliation. Parochial schools require considerable sacrifice, but they endure as a distinctive treasure of the Church in the United States.

2 SEPT. 22 nd THROUGH SEPT.29 TH Sat. 6pm (J) John & Agnes Jurek Kenny Biethman Sun. 11am (C) S. Emma Goeckner Mon. 8:15am (C) S. Ann Fearday Tues 4pm(C) Curtis Henry Family Wed. 8:15am(C) Lola & Armin Depper Thurs. 8am (J) Delbert & Luella Feuer Thurs. 4pm(C) Paul & Mercedes Tonies Fri. 8:15am Emma & Oscar Schmidt Sat. 6pm (J) Mary Werner Sun. 11am (C) S. Bertha Fischer Alan Zeiger Rev. Joe Rascher Our Homebound Whitney Whelan Tony Melliere Neil Mudd Nursing Home Residents Jackie Prange All names of the prayer list will be left on for 4 weeks. Please call the rectory if you would like them to remain on the list. Sept.15 th Envelopes (29) $ Loose $ Total $ (Weekly goal) $1, Retired Priest (10) $ Sept. 22 Doris Heller, Gerald Whelan Sept. 25 Neal Wetzler Sept. 26 Billy Sauer Sept. 27 Nate Gonzalez Sept. 28 Joshua Whelan Sept. 29 Cassie Roy Sept. 30 Bill Wiegard & Lane Cowell May your day be filled with Good Wishes, Birthday Greetings and God s Blessings Sept. 27 Bill & Donna Deterding May God continue to bless you and your marriage for many more years! Sat. Sept 22 nd 6pm Sat. Sept. 29 th 6pm B Earleen B Paulette A. C Carol & Ina C Steve & Audrey L Mary B L Kim S Anthony & Wyatt S Volunteers G Richard & Laura G PSR students Mae Chalice & Paten: Jeff & JoAnn Roy Chalice & Paten: Steve Deterding Fam. From the Desk of Fr. Dennis "Look out for Number One! the saying goes. Society often encourages us to take care of ourselves first. This easily leads to a sense of selfishness, feelings of jealousy, and actions of greed. St. James in our second reading warns us of these dangers. Likewise we see the destructive effects of these desires in the reading from Wisdom when the wicked ones plot against the just one. Even the disciples fall to this temptation, arguing about who was the greatest among them. Jesus ends the argument by telling them that whoever wishes to be first must make themselves the servant of all. Let us reflect on how we can resist jealousy and serve others as Jesus asks. Have ablest week! Remember, don't worry so much and know that you are loved! Fr. Dennis WEDDING BELLS Congratulation to Nicole (Corzine) and Mike Gibson on this their wedding day. May the Lord bless Nicole and Mike with many countless years of love and happiness as husband and wife.

3 HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK Sat. 6pm St. Joseph Tues. PSR 7:15am, R&R 10:30am Wed. Quilting 9am-9pm ON THE LIGHTER SIDE Joan was on her way to the post office to get some stamps. Her husband Joe forgot to do it when he was doing errands. Joan went to the counter and asked, "I'd like 100 stamps, please." "What denomination?" the clerk asked. "Oh, for Pete's sake, has it really come to this?" "Well, OK. Give me 50 Catholic, 20 Lutheran, 20 Baptist, and 10 Presbyterian." THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Life begins at the end of your comfort zone! DID YOU REMEMBER Please contact Lynne Gonzalez at if you or a fellow parishioner are suffering from an injury, illness, or grief and would like a visit. The Prayer chain is in place. If you know of someone who is in need of emergency prayers please call Jeanelle Dinan or the Luke 18 retreat St. Joseph, Freeburg along with St. Agatha, New Athens is sponsoring a LUKE 18 the weekend of Oct 19, 20, and 21. This will be for 7 th & 8 th graders only. High school students are asked to volunteer as guardians. If you have any confirmation students that would like to attend or if you have any questions about the weekend please call Denise at More details to follow! Quest Retreat for Freshman & Sophomores Dec. 1-2 St. Mary s, Carlyle Maryknoll ministries is sponsoring an essay contest. Please see the flyer in church. Winning essays will receive cash. RESPECT LIFE CORNER This year, the Church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on September 16, The 2018 theme will be "Enlisting Witnesses for Jesus Christ." Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith. Learn, Act, Connect, Pray: Don t be afraid to ask Catholic questions and don t shy away from those that do. Answer the questions of the nones so that they too may come to understand Christ s love; for those who don t know are often the most curious and willing to learn. Pray that we all may find the courage to be a witness to Christ. Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. (Mt 10:19) October 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. In honor of that our PSR students will be hosting a living rosary in the church 7:15am Open to all students from 7 th grade through senior year in high school. DIOCESAN HAPPENINGS: Initial Child Protection Training Anyone interested in helping with any of our children s programs must take an initial child protection class. These are offered at varies dates & locations throughout our diocese. Oh yeah, and they are FREE. This information can be found on the calendar on left side of the front page. If you are not tech savvy call the rectory and Jill can help you find a date and location that works for you. Renault: Our Lady of Good Counsel - Renault, IL Chicken Dinner & Quilt Raffle Sunday, September am - 4 pm Includes all-you-can-eat chicken, our famous homemade dressing, and all the fixins. Beautiful hand-made quilt raffle

4 Red Bud Sun. Sept. 30 th St. John s Catholic Quilt & Cash Bingo & fried chicken and pork sausage dinner. Meals from 11 am-2 pm Bingo begins at 2 pm in the social center. Damiansville All are invited to the Diocesan Fall Blessing of the Harvest, which will be held on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at 1:00 P.M. at the Jansen Dairy Farm located at 5500 Fall Road, Damiansville, Illinois BDCCW The Belleville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will host its annual convention on Wednesday, Oct. 10 beginning at 8 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Columbia, IL. Speakers will be Lu Cortese, Exec. Director, St. Joseph Evangelization Network and Fr. Jim Deiters, St. Clare of Assisi Parish, O Fallon. Cost is $18 if paid by Sept. 25 th or $ 20 at the door. Cost of the lunch is included. Call Joan Derringer for registration forms or questions at OPEN HOUSE Hincke/Sense Retirement Home for the Priests 2620 Lebanon Avenue, Building #4 Belleville, IL Wednesday, October 3, :00 p.m. - Social Hour, Tours 5:00 p.m. Steak Dinner Please R.S.V.P. to Joline at or hinckehome@gmail.com by Wednesday, September 26 UPCOMING EVENTS: Prairie du Rocher Chamber Bingo Beginning Sept. 5 th Every 1 st & 3 rd Wednesday Doors open at 5:30pm Early bird begins at 6:30pm Regular play 7pm Grief Support Group Mtg Red Bud Regional Sept. 26 th 6:30pm ground floor Free event Call Julie for more information Annual Fried Chicken Dinner St. John's Lutheran Church in Ruma Sunday, October 7, serving from 11am to 2pm. We look forward to serving you! FROM PARISH COUNCIL: TRI-CENTENNIAL PLANS As many of you know our 300 th anniversary is fast approaching. If anyone in the parish is will to help plan or has ideas about how to carry out the celebration please call the rectory. Let your talents be seen. Prairie du Rocher Chamber next meeting is at Lisa s on Oct. 8 6pm. We will begin to collect pictures in January of the old and new church for the memory book that will be displayed. All pictures will scanned and returned to the owners within one week. Also if anyone has the names of the first families with in the church I will need them as well. Thanks in advance. Projects for the fall/winter: more permanent fix to the a/c units in the rectory and at church. DON T FORGET The suggestion box in the back of church is for any and all issues. Parish council will address any and all concerns at each meeting. P.S. it can be anonymous. QUILTING: The quilters are always accepting donations of supplies or completed embroidered blocks and of course always CASH. FUNDRAISING NEWS There will not be a Rummage Sale this year. We are doing the Mason Jar Cookie Mixes for our Christmas fundraiser. We will have a few different flavors/mixes this year. We are asking for donations to help offset the cost of this fundraiser. Please donate if possible: Lids and rings Self-Rising & All Purpose Flour Milk chocolate chips White chocolate chips Holiday M&M s (red & green) There will be a fundraising committee meeting on Oct. 16 th at 7pm for the fall and winter seasons. This meeting is open to anyone. More info to come.

5 Blessing of the Pets Sunday, October 7 th After 8am Mass If you can t bring your pet, bring their picture. All pets must stay outside and be on a leash (fish included) FYI the totals for the Diocesan tax, Insurance and Subsidies (Gibault and St. John s) and our total for FY 2018/2019 is 38, Please donate generously. FAITH FORMATION In the past you filled out a survey on Faith Formation with several requests for more opportunities for speakers, retreats, and bible studies. Chris Stefanik is a fantastic real life Catholic he will Be speaking at Mascoutah High School on Oct. 24 th from 7-9:30pm. Cost of the tickets are $15. Chris has spoken at NCYC 2017 and left a lasting impression on many teens. His talks are for all age groups, not just teens and young adults. If you would like to see a video of Chris we have them. Please don t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Jesus certainly wasn t! Sometimes changes is good!