Christ is Risen! He is truly risen!

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2 Christ is Risen! He is truly risen! F or many Orthodox Christians that exchange replaces Good Morning or Hi during the Easter season. To Western ears such a greeting would sound strange. In our pluralistic culture not knowing whether the other person is Christian or not would prevent us from even attempting it. Besides, in a scientific culture resurrection is a pipe dream with no scientific evidence to support it. And yet, here we are singing Alleluias all over the place and celebrating the impossible. Why? With no proof, why would we celebrate a pipe dream? Deep within the human heart is the longing for life beyond the grave. Travel the world and you will find people of every race, language, culture and religion who believe in an after life in some form or other. This should be no surprise to any Jew or Christian since in the Book of Genesis we read that we are created in the image and likeness of God. God, by definition, is eternal. If we have been created by an eternal God, it stands to reason we would have within us some sense of immortality. But then there s all the suffering and hardship in this world many point to as proof of there being no God, hence no after life. Why do bad things happen to good people has been a question humans have been asking for centuries, if not millennia. In the Bible the Book of Job asks this very question and ends with no answer. Misery and suffering are automatically placed on God with out any thought that much of it is caused by humans. However, this does not explain the real suffering of people which has not been caused by humans and that leaves us, like Job, with no real answer. This struggle between death and life is present in the a hymn we use each day of Easter week where it says death and life fought bitterly for this wondrous victory. The fight between death and life is the fight between the desire for immortality and the reality of human suffering. It s the cross of Good Friday over against the after life of Resurrection. Think of one of your favorite TV programs. We can become fascinated by the bad guy and all the nasty and horrid things he/she is capable of doing. But don t we expect the good guy to win in the end? And how would we feel if the bad guy actually did win and win big? I think we d all be very upset. As fascinating as evil may be, we really don t want it to win the day. Think of ISIS. Do we really want this group to succeed and exterminate all opposition? Death and life still fight bitterly. We cling to a God of love and the hope he extends to us of a happy eternal life. We base our hope on the person of Jesus Christ and what has been told to us about him from generations past. If we follow the call of Pope Francis and pray daily for a personal encounter with Christ, we may actually experience his presence in a way that will ground us in the new life in Christ. That s not just religion talking. If the Resurrection is real, then meeting Christ is a real possibility. Today s exuberant celebration comes from the experience of countless men and women throughout history who have met the Living Lord personally. Once you have that experience, Jesus is real, resurrection is true and God s love offers us eternal life. No one and nothing on earth will be able to convince you otherwise. I pray that each of you may encounter the Risen One in some fashion so you, too, will know for certain the deep love God has for us all and his desire that we will live forever. Christ is risen! He is truly risen. Alleluia! Fr. Denis

3 Monday, April 6 6:00 p.m. Boy Scouts-C 7:00 p.m. Baptism Class-CH Tuesday, April 7 2:45 p.m. Girl Scouts-M Wednesday, April 8 1:00 & 7:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl-CH 7:00 p.m. Adoration-Ch Thursday, April 9 4:30 p.m. SPRED-R 6:00 p.m. Vincent de Paul-M 7:00 p.m. Den Mtg.-C Friday, April 10 10:00 a.m. Rummage Set Up-C 7:00 p.m. Divine Mercy Talk-Mar. 7:30 p.m. H.S. Teens-PC/C Saturday, April 11 7:00 a.m. Rummage Sale-C 9:00 a.m. Athletics-PC 6:00 p.m.-8:30 a.m. Scouts Lock-In-PC Sunday, April 12 All Masses Food Drive-CH 12:30 p.m. Athletics-PC 2:00 p.m. Bingo-C 6:00 p.m. BEDS-C 8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous-R Suburban Catholic Singles Group (SCSG) For singles in their 40 s & 50 s April Events Saturday, April 11 - Celebrate SCSG s 6th Anniversary! 5:00 pm Mass at St. Cletus, 600 W. 55th St., LaGrange. Followed by 6:15 dinner at Mangia Mangia, 5555 Brainard, Countryside. Cost: $15-$30. RSVP by April 9. Sunday, April 19 - JPAC at Morton College, 3801 S. Central, Cicero. Performance of Return to the Forbidden Planet, $20 Followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m. at Al s Restaurant, 6050 W. Cermak, Cicero. Dinner: $15-$40. RSVP by April 17. Contact: singlesadmin@gmail.com SLM GARDEN CLUB New Landscaping Project Phase I landscaping was planted on 31st St. in front of the Parish Center and completed over the summer; donated by former Principal Kelly Zawisza. Phase II of the project is Harrison St. on the west side of school, beginning at Parish Center entrance (Mary Statue) continuing to the north corner of the school entrance. The goal for Phase II is Spring/Summer of Go to You Tube for video of the landscape project. It can also be viewed on TVs throughout the school and church. Please consider donating to this school project. Send donations to St. Louise School Garden Club, Attn: Mary Flynn. Questions-Mary, or dmhflynn@sbcglobal.net. FOOD DRIVE Sunday, April 12 - All Masses Remember there are those around us who don t have a choice not to eat. Your food contributions are greatly appreciated. Lord, Hold our Troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. OUR ACTIONS: Nothing we do to defend the human person, no matter how small, is ever unfruitful or forgotten. Our actions touch other lives and move other hearts in ways we can never fully understand in this world. ~Archbishop Charles Chaput Pro-Life Rosary - A pro-life rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed after the 5:00 Mass on Saturday, April 11. Please come and join us. April 5, 2015 Page 3

4 Let every family be a welcoming place of goodness and peace for children and the elderly, for the sick and lonely, for the poor and the needy. -Pope Francis Prayer Shawl Ministry Our Prayer Shawl ministry is going strong here at St. Louise due to the talented efforts of the ladies who prayerfully, and with much care, knit or crochet shawls to be given to those who are ill, grieving, homebound, or in a crisis to just name a few. If you knit or crochet, put your talents to good use. If you wish to learn, we will teach you. Meetings are held in the back of church on the second Wednesday of every month from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Join us Wednesday, April 8. Info: Call Jane, or Shirley, April 5, 2015 Page 4

5 St. Louise appreciates our volunteers for all they do for our church and school. To express our thanks, volunteers are invited to an Evening of Appreciation on Friday, April 17. We begin with a Mass at 6:00 p.m. in church followed by dinner in the Parish Center. Reservations are a must. RSVP NECESSARY FOR CATERER DEADLINE-APRIL 10 (no exceptions) Name Phone Ministry TEEN CLUB: High School Teen club with open gym on Friday, April 10, from 7:30-10:30. No Teen Club April 17 - Volunteer Dinner. Teen Club but no open gym on April 24 due to Jr. High Dance. DO SOMETHING! - Youth Rally at St. Celestine All High School Youth are invited to represent your parish as we explore our response to God s Call to Action. Mike Patin will be the guest speaker at this event. Mike is a nationally known speaker who shares his faith with others. He works to evoke a response and a definite, specific course of action - a next step. Sponsored in Collaboration with Bishop Manz, St. Joseph College Seminary, Vicariate IV youth ministers, and the Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry. Music, Community, Fun, Food, Inspiration. Be Here! April 12, 2:30-6:30 pm. Contact Ms. Miller for details. We Are Listening! We do want to hear from you. We need you to act as our eyes and our ears. Is there a neighbor of your sin our parish who might benefit by our visiting them, a neighbor who is in temporary need because of loss of a job or who is experiencing a financial crises? We may be able to assist them during a difficult time. The St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to hear from you. Leave a message at the rectory, WOMAN OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON St. Louise Woman of the Year 2015 Kate Brennan The ACCW luncheon honoring Kate and other women in Vicariate IV will be held Saturday, May 16 at Elmcrest Banquets, 7370 W. Grand, Elmwood Park. Cocktails at 11 a.m. Lunch at noon. Reservations required. $35 person. Call Joan, for reservations, deadline: April 20. Thank You! to those who place a contribution in the St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box. We appreciate your allowing us to be a channel of your charity. On behalf of the poor you assist, we thank you. BINGO - APRIL 12, 2pm Colonnade Room - doors open at noon $2100 CASH PRIZES Raffles...Refreshments...Pull Tabs 2016 MASS BOOK The 2016 Mass book is open. Stop by the rectory during regular business hours to arrange Masses. Six Masses will be allowed at this time. After June 1, additional Masses can be requested. April 5, 2015 Page 5

6 April 6 12 Monday 8:30 - Carol Segvich Tuesday 8:30 - Petrovic & Mehlin families Wednesday 8:30 - Felix Francis Thursday 8:30 - Al & Alma Schnaidt Friday 8:30 - Leslie Russ, Sr. Saturday 5:00 - Joan Dolezal, James Kriz, Jr., Bill McNeela, Ed Grzywacz Sunday 7:30 - Matthias & Elizabeth Valoney, Larry Agrimonti, Bill McNeela 9:30 - Ralph & Frances Zabloudil, Louis Agresto, Special Intention of Ray Meath 11:00 - Nadia Brejnak, Charles Ressl, Maria Ayala Presiders April 11 April 12 Confessions - Fr. 7:30 - Fr. Denis 5:00 - Fr. Denis 9:30 - Fr. Henry 11:00 - Fr. Henry Readers April 11 April 12 5:00 - C. Parisi 7:30 - S. Baratta 9:30 - M.A. Donlon 11:00 - Bo. Schneider/L. Mate Eucharistic Ministers April 11 5:00 - R.&B. Stepina, P.&C. Hammerschmitt, D.&J. Kucera, R. Williams April 12 7:30 - P. Libedinsky, M. Voss, R. Voss, F. Johanek, A. Porras, B. Strnad 9:30 - L. Korenchan, L. Boyd, D. Hennet, P. Pacholski, K. Krajniak, L. Waterloo, G. Witkowski 11:00 - Jo.&Ja. Gaske, C. Korabik, A. Korabik, T. Hilger, K. Cannon, J. Discipio Altar Servers Monday, April 6, 8:30 - M. Hanson, T. Swanson Tuesday, April 7, 8:30 - P. Nehmzow, A. Thomas Wednesday, April 8, 8:30 - B. Diggins, L. Dunn Thursday April 9, 8:30 - D. Dodaro, D. Keen Friday, April 10, 8:30 - J. Johnson, B. Schneider Saturday, April 11 5:00 - K. Keen, D. Dodaro, Da. Keen Sunday, April 12 7:30 - D. Keen, P. Nehmzow. B. Copp 9:30 - M. Adams, M. Schaffer, J. Hopkins 11:00 - Bri. Schnieder, Bra. Schneider, B. Diggins Altar Women April 8 - R. Voss, April 16 - E. Siuda Make us an Easter people, Lord, rejoicing, renewed, resurrected. May the wonder of Easter morning color every dawn we see. Teach us to cherish each day as a gift from you as you roll away the stone of yesterday s sin and let us begin anew. Show us that, just like Jesus, our lives can be extraordinary if we trust you. Give us this gift of eternal Easter, Lord, that your Church may be the gospel message you intended. Amen. WEEKLY OFFERTORY Sunday Collection: 03/15/ /22/2015 This Year $ 9,900 $ 7,800 Last Year $ 10,100 $ 9,200 Sunday Collection To-Date: This Year $ 348,400 $ 356,300 Last Year $ 362,400 $ 371,600 To-Date Collection Budget $ 360,100 $ 369,800 Envelopes Returned, This Week: This Year Last Year April 5, 2015 Page 6

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