OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH

Transcription

1 OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH February 7th - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 701 S. EOLA ROAD AURORA, IL (630)

2 Splinters From The Presidential Chair. Waiting can be hard. Just ask a couple of preschoolers who have to wait for the toys or turns, or wait for a timer to go off signaling the end of their time out. Or ask any person who has waited for important scholastic or medical test results. Now the waiting for Advent is over. We begin the new liturgical year and the season of Advent today. We will listen to stories from Matthew s Gospel that will point us to the message he wanted to bring to his community. We will take time for extra prayer this Advent. Please read the Sunday Scripture readings before coming to church. Take time to pray in the midst of the chaos of Black Friday. Take time as a family to help the poor and the homeless during Advent. There are many opportunities available at Hesed House in Aurora. We begin again and sit at the teacher s feet. We will find out again who we aredisciples of Jesus Christ, of Emmanuel, of God with us. Matthew ends his Gospel with the well known mandate: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). So what are we waiting for? The Gift Giving Angel Program needs your support. This program is supporting our parishioners that are in need of assistance for Christmas. We ask you to prayerfully consider helping our brothers and sisters. We will gladly accept any monetary donation. We then convert the money into gift cards for stores that are convenient for the families. This year we will have a Giving Tree in the narthex with tags on it indicating the various denominations that are needed. We have different allotments for various size families for dinners. Christmas gifts are allotted at $25 a person. There are three ways to donate: 1. Mail in/walk your donation to church office marked Gift Giving Angel Program. 2. Take a tag from the Giving Tree and give your donation to the volunteers at the Manna table. 3. Turn in a monetary donation at the Manna table without using a tag from the tree. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Beth at We will be selling beautiful poinsettia plants for the Christmas Holiday! All proceeds support our teen summer mission trip program. The cost is $7.50, $15.00 or $ Get an order form from the lobby or parish website and return to the R.E. Office located in the Parish Life Center. Payment is required with the order. Order deadline is November 30 th! Pick-Up of plants will be on Saturday, December 10 th between 8-10 am in the PLC. Please contact us at x225 or DaveM@olmercy.com with any questions. Don t forget our Christmas Mass times will be the same as in other years. On Saturday, December 24th there will be Masses at 3:00 pm in the church and the Parish Life Center, 4:45 pm in the church, 6:30 pm in the church and midnight in the church with carols starting at 11:30 pm. On Sunday, December 25th, there will be Masses at 9:00 am, 10:45 am and 12:30 pm. There will be no 7:30 am or 5:30 pm Mass on Christmas Day. Have a great week! Peace, BE PREPARED Be prepared. It s that simple. As this Advent season opens before us, the Lord Jesus summons us to stand ready for his coming. At this time of year much of our attention is focused on being prepared for the details that accompany the holiday season. We purchase gifts; we decorate our homes, inside and out; we prepare foods that we eat only during the holidays; we write and send Christmas cards; we attend holiday concerts; we prepare either to welcome family and friends into our homes or arrange for visits to their homes. We really can t escape the details that make up the season. Perhaps this Advent is a time to attend to all those details with a different spin. As we prepare to celebrate the feast of Christmas, why not be deliberate about acknowledging the presence of the Lord as we go about these tasks? The Lord often comes to us in wonderfully surprising ways. Let us be prepared. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 4:2-6; Ps 122:1-9; Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Lk 10:21-24 Wednesday: Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 4:18-22 Thursday: Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, Friday: Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Mt 9:27-31 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147:1-6; Mt 9:35 10:1, 5a, 6-8 Sunday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

3 Mass Intentions Monday, November 28 8:00 AM Rosa Rosario Family 8:00 AM Tuesday, November 29 8:00 AM Kenneth Hickey His Wife 8:00 AM Suzan Zbell Rowena Mahaney Wednesday, November 30 8:00 AM Barbara DeZellar 8:00 AM Melecia Pondoc Arabejo Family Thursday, December 1 8:00 AM Delfina Bernucca Jose, Cecilia & Rachel 8:00 AM Souls in Purgatory Friday, December 2 8:00 AM Joseph Rajendran Family 8:00 AM Angelo Carvalho Family Saturday, December 3 4:00 PM Leah Lentz Krokosz Family 4:00 PM Frank Ramsey Alice & Family Sunday, December 4 7:30 AM Mary Ellen Feldman Family 7:30 AM Jim Lang Family 9:00 AM Joseph Calme Dan & Elaine Kolnczal 9:00 AM Benjamin DeYoung Beltz Family 10:45 AM Laura Eddy Family 10:45 AM Souls in Purgatory Rangel Family 12:30 PM Parishioners of OLM 12:30 PM Victor Ray Cabardo Family 5:30 PM Edith Tobias Rowena Mahaney 5:30 PM Jim Meisch Diane & Wayne Lorenz Page 3 BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL LAMPS Votive lamps will burn this week before the Blessed Sacrament for the following intentions: 1. Megan Gabaldon 9. The Feldman Family 2. Michelle Ritko 10. The Hungry 3. The Homeless 11. Special Intention-C.H. 4. The Griffins Familly 12. Richard Surma 5. The Poor 13. Joel Moen 6. Deacon Bob Vavra 14. Parishioners of OLM 7. Len Eickhoff 15. Cheryl Lohse 8. Charles & Sophia Martin 16. Special Intention-P.A. If you wish to have a candle burning for your intention in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, you will find envelopes on the shelf in the Narthex near the Priest s Sacristy or in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. We remember in prayer those in service to our country SSG Leah Harvey, USAF Airman Melanie Hodges, US Navy Nicholaus Laurie, US Marines SSG Sean Murphy, USMC Victor Paul Fullmer, Navy Capt. Tara Trammell, US Army Roberto Ramos, Army Lt. Joshua Puscas, US Navy Lt. Keith Harris, USAF A1C Gina Maro, USAF Juan Gabriel Sindac, USAF Kyle Hancock, Army We pray for our sick, confined and their families Please contact the Parish Office if you or your immediate family member wish to be added to the Sick List. Rose Mary Carson Clark White Mark Hoeksema Genevieve Donnelly Ivan Klos Tim Fahey Meredith Mangold Regina Trasga Florence Hybiak William Sanders Josephine Chavez Julie Ranieri Julia Schremp Betty Bertrand Donna Romadka Billy Walowski Jill Donlan Nancy Bejger Karen Orlandi Brett Orlandi Cesar Naguit Douglas Massoth Flo Paprzycki Cabel Herburn Angelica Jacobs Tim Savoie Lenore Savoie Mary Moody David Groeber Sr. Marie Gerage Diane Picciuolo Margaret Picciuolo Gloria Leon Dolores Simonek Countee S. Abbott, Jr. Mel Schmudde Kevin Griffins Frances Gilpin Louise Easton Patricia Kline Francisco Gonzales Ed Lillig Kathy Walowski

4 Page 4 A Visit from St. Nick! On Sunday, December 4, St. Nicholas will be at the 9:00 and 10:45 Masses. Children of all ages are invited to stay for a few minutes after Mass to meet St. Nick and hear his story. Contact Larry Harris at larryh@olmercy.com HEY, 8 th GRADERS (and up)! Join the Orchestra for Christmas Midnight Mass We re looking for musicians to play at Christmas Midnight Mass. Last year we had more than 90 players! Our prelude will begin at 11:30 PM on Saturday, Dec. 24 in the church. We need string, brass, woodwind and percussion players. Players must be in at least the 8 th grade. Music will be available in early December. There will be two rehearsals Monday, December 19 in the PLC Room 119 Woodwinds 6:00-7:00 PM Brass & Sax 7:00-8:00 PM Strings 8:00 AM-9:00 PM Percussion 9:00-10:00 PM Wednesday, December 21 st in the church FULL ORCHESTRA 7:30-9:00 PM The Gift Giving Angel Program needs your support. This program is supporting our parishioners that are in need of assistance for Christmas. We ask you to prayerfully consider helping our brothers and sisters. We will gladly accept any monetary donation. We then convert the money into gift cards for stores that are convenient for the families. This year we will have a Giving Tree in the narthex with tags on it indicating the various denominations that are needed. We have different allotments for various size families for dinners. Christmas gifts are allotted at $25 a person. There are three ways to donate: 1. Mail in/walk your donation to church of- ice marked Gift Giving Angel Program. 2. Take a tag from the Giving Tree and give your donation to the volunteers at the Manna table. 3. Turn in a monetary donation at the Manna table without using a tag from the tree. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Beth at New Vatican Instruction, To Rise With Christ, on the Care of Cremated Remains Recently the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued this Instruction on the burial rites involving ashes/ cremated remains of the deceased in light of the world wide increase in requests for cremation. The Church is not changing the rules that govern the practice of cremation after death. Since 1963 the Church has allowed cremation and since 1997 it has allowed a funeral liturgy in the presence of cremated remains. In recent years many ideas contrary to the Church s vision of Christian burial have developed and it seemed the right time to remind us of the doctrinal and pastoral reasons for the preference for the burial of the remains of the faithful and to set norms for the conservation of cremated remains. The Church holds to the tradition of burying cremated remains, because they are to be respected in the same way as the body, from the use of a worthy vessel to the need to bury or entomb the ashes. Our belief about the resurrection also implies this when we say that on the last day our bodies and souls will be reunited sharing the glory of the Risen Christ. Thus we do not scatter the cremated remains of our deceased in the air, on the ground, or in bodies of water, or do we divide them, or keep them in our homes or preserving them in mementos, pieces of jewelry or other objects. This document states that when cremation of the body is chosen, the ashes of the faithful must be laid to rest in a sacred place a cemetery or an area, such as a columbarium, that has been set aside for this purpose. Our faithful departed remain part of the Church, the communion of all the faithful. The Church s teaching on cremation has not changed, however, with this new document we may have a better understanding of this teaching. If you still have questions you might want to read the Instruction by googling the title.

5 Page 5 PARISH SACRIFICIAL GIVING Fiscal Year-to-Date Information (as of 11/13/16) Actual Year-to-Date Collections: $ 529,761 Fiscal Year-to-Date Budget: $ 566,000 Amount Short of Budget: $ (36,239) 11/13/16 Sunday Collection: $ 26,778 Weekly Sunday Goal: $ 28,300 Amount Short of Goal: $ (1,522) Please remember Our Lady of Mercy parish in your will and estate planning. Thank you for your generosity!! Stewardship There Are Many Ways To Serve. Have you considered making someone s Holiday merrier, or reaching out to those less fortunate than you, but did not know how? Our Lady of Mercy has a program geared to help brighten parishioners holidays and bring joy to their families: Angel Gift Giving Program assists parishioners in need and provides aid for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Program has a two-fold objective. 1. Aid parishioners in need. 2. Perform a corporal work of mercy by donating to feed and clothe families. There are many families from all different backgrounds seeking assistance during the holidays. Originally this program asked parishioners to "adopt" families in need. It was then switched to a gift card program, believing it is important to give families the ability to purchase for themselves. We have a tree in the narthex with tags on it with different denominations on them from $25-$100. There are three ways to donate. 1. Take a tag from the tree and turn it into the manna table in the lobby with your donation. 2. Do not take a tag from the tree and turn in your donation at the manna table. 3. Mail or walk-in your donation with or without a tag to the parish office. Cash or checks (made out to OLM) are accepted. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Beth at Stewardship is a way of life. Share your Time, Talent and Treasure to Honor God. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE BISHOP Retirement Fund for Religious December 10-11, 2016 In our faith lives, nearly all of us have been deeply touched by the example of thousands of now elderly women and men religious who, for so many, were a living sign of God s mercy. These women and men Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests were indeed the hands of Christ as they educated the young, cared for the sick, and ministered to the neediest among us. Through their service and witness, they modeled the compassionate love of Jesus and showed us that we, too, could be instruments of peace and mercy. Today, many senior religious continue to be vessels of mercy, serving in a wide range of volunteer and prayer ministries. Others are frail and need assistance. Most older religious ministered for small stipends, leaving a substantial gap in retirement savings. With the ever-rising cost of health care and the increased number of those needing care, many religious communities struggle to provide for aging members. Soon, our parishes will be conducting the appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious, an annual collection that benefits nearly 33,000 senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. Your gift provides vital support for medications, nursing care, and more. It also helps religious communities implement long-term retirement strategies that ensure both quality eldercare and continued service to the People of God.

6 Page 6 The holidays are a time of family gatherings, sharing traditional foods, taking Nursing the Spirit time off and celebrating. Most people would agree that it is also a time of stress that can get in the way of enjoying the holidays and even contribute to one becoming sick over the holidays. The body is affected by stress in a variety of ways. Chronic stress promotes the steady flow of the hormone cortisol that can damage short term memory which in turn can actually reduce gray matter in the brain. Stress can affect the mouth through the grinding of teeth. Stress hormones mobilize energy to muscles and at night some people grind their teeth to release it which causes jaw pain and headaches. A recent study suggests that persistent tension can cause seasonal allergy flare-ups as it may prompt a negative immune response. The heart may suffer from moments of high anxiety as stress hormones released during stress narrow arteries in the heart and increase heart rate. Over time this may raise a person s risk of developing heart disease. The stomach is affected by stress as it slows the gastrointestinal (GI) tract s movement and digestive process while increasing the chances of inflammation which can lead to pain, gas or diarrhea. The GI system is an important part of the immune system. Research shows that stress can change the balance of gut bacteria which in turn weakens the immune system. Someone under stress may end up with pain and spasms in the neck and back because adrenaline from the sympathetic nervous system alerts muscles to tense up in preparation for action. (Source: Mindfulness The New Science of Health and Happiness Time Special Edition 2016) As you think about the holidays and all that needs to be done for them, consider the following healthy ways to respond to the holidays. Know your spending limit. Set a budget so that you do not spend more than you planned or can afford. Give something personal. Give a gift of time to someone by spending one on one quality time or doing something to help them. Get organized. Make lists to keep track of tasks to do and use an appointment book or cell phone application to schedule events. Share the tasks. Ask for help. You don t have to do everything yourself. Ask family and friends to share tasks and time with you while you decorate, wrap gifts or prepare meals. Learn to say no. Say no to activities or events that are not important to you or you really do not want to attend. Be realistic. Is there really a perfect holiday? Take the pressure off. Focus on traditions that make holidays special for you. Take breaks from group activities. Take time for yourself when you feel stressed. Pray, meditate, practice relaxed breathing or go for a walk. Keep a regular sleep, meal and exercise schedule. Limit alcohol. Taking care of yourself is one of the best ways to help you deal with stress during the holidays. Get support if you need it. The holidays may trigger depression especially if you are dealing with the loss of a loved one or the breakup of a relationship. Reach out to others for help of if needed, talk with your physician about counseling or other ways to deal with it. (Source: Since stress is with us not only during the holidays, it is important to know that stress has been shown to affect aging at the cellular level. Telomeres are the caps on the ends of chromosomes that protect DNA as it replicates. Telomeres get shorter with age and also with high levels of stress. As telomeres decrease in size, genetic material can be damaged, leading to cell death. Ways to manage stress and reduce the impact of stress on telomere length are exercise, eating a healthy, balanced diet and adequate sleep. When you start to feel tired, get regular headaches or are not sleeping well, take the time to figure out what is going on in your life and make changes if you realize that stress may be contributing to your symptoms. Stress is a part of life stress that affects us negatively and positively. It is how you manage your response to stress that ultimately affects your physical, emotional and spiritual health. If you would like resources to assist you in stress management, please contact your parish nurse, Jolene LeRoy RN at (630) , extension 403 or at jolenel@olmercy.com. Ladies Advent Tea Women of the parish (16 years and older) are cordially invited to attend a gathering to prepare the heart and soul for Christmas. Please invite family and friends. Mothers and daughters are encouraged to come together. The Advent Tea is on Sunday, December 4 from 2:00 to 4:30PM in the multi-purpose room of the Parish Life Center. Experience an afternoon of prayer, reflection and fellowship. Please bring a china tea cup and saucer or coffee mug. Extra cups will be available for tea or your beverage of choice to enjoy with refreshments appetizers and sweet treats. The title of the presentation is Everyday Mercy and the presenter is Sister Mary Ruth Broz, PhD. She is a Sister of Mercy, a published author, retreat director and spiritual director. Registration is required for this free event. Please register by calling (630) , extension 403 or signing up at the table after mass in the Parish Life Center lobby or on Hospitality Weekend in the multi-purpose room by November 30. May your Advent season be filled with joy!! Life Is an Advent Season (Connections, at Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience. The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and His presence among us as one of us give us reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned. May this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives.

7 ON UNEXPECTED MAIL, AND ADVENT Copyright 2016 by John B. Reynolds So I got a big pile of mail through the slot several months ago. I recognized the bills right away, and the grocery coupons, and--back then --the unending assortment of political campaign propaganda telling me why I should vote for this candidate or that. The mailing that caught my eye, though, was a cream-colored envelope that came in upside down onto the floor. In truth, I thought it was an invitation, so I went for it first. It was an invitation of sorts, I suppose. From the Neptune Society. With Free pre-paid cremation details inside. I chuckled to myself and set it aside and kind of forgot about it until a few months later when another piece of mail came through the slot. This one--from the National Cremation Service--offered the same free, pre-paid cremation details inside. Uh is somebody trying to tell me something? The Neptune Society letter began with Dear John - For a variety of reasons, more and more people are choosing to plan for a memorialized cremation over traditional funeral arrangement--and the numbers are increasing every year! then told me why cremation makes sense ( much less expensive was near the top of the list). The National Cremation Service letter began with Dear John - Trust is such a short word and yet it takes such a long time to earn. We trust ourselves that we made the right decisions when we needed to But, sometimes we don t trust ourselves to make a decision regarding preplanning for final arrangements because we don t have all the facts. Then they let (traditional funeral cost) facts speak for themselves. And both agencies followed the same script in giving me a card to complete and mail in to maybe win a free cremation service: Last month s free cremation winner was Cool! While making no offer of free cremation, the readings for this First Sunday of Advent speak to us of preparedness just as surely as the letters from the cremation agencies do. In the Old Testament text, for example, Isaiah envisions all nations streaming toward God s mountain that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths. Per the prophet as well, He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. We get more of the (preparatory) same in Paul s letter to the Romans. Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. And per Jesus himself in the Gospel, Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared I chuckled when the cremation invitations came in through the mail slot. I m still chuckling, in fact. But I do not take lightly the larger message. And such is always the message of this joyful season as we anticipate the coming--and the return coming--of the Christ. Page 7 GEMS Our next GEMS meeting will be on December 14 at noon in the Parish Life Center. This is our annual pre-christmas luncheon. It will be catered by Reulands, and the cost to each person will be $10. We will be having an ornament exchange, so dig down into your decoration tubs and bring along one of your finest (or most infamous) ornaments. The truly creative among us can make one from scratch. Are you "over 50" and looking to get together with others for good food, conversation and growth? GEMS might be your thing. Please contact Len Eickhoff at leonard_eickhoff@msn.com or call for more information. PADS Our Lady of Mercy is one of many churches that work together to provide food, shelter and support for the homeless and very poor in Aurora and the Kane County area. Many parishioners help provide food by furnishing items listed on our PADS board each month in the church. Other folks take a shift at Hesed House itself, where the PADS homeless shelter is located. We always work on the first Tuesday of each month, beginning at 6am and going, in 2-3 hour shifts, until 7am on Wednesday. For more info on how you can help, leonard_eickhoff@msn. com or call Len at Our next PADS night is December 6. First Sunday of Advent Reflection The Rhythm of Love: In The Living Flame of Love, St. John of the Cross compares our pre-advent selves to green logs thrown into the fire of love. Green logs don t immediately burst into flames; being young and full of moisture, they sizzle until they reach kindling temperature. Then they take on the fire around them. Similar is the rhythm of love: Only the mature can burst into flame within community. The spirituality of Advent is about waiting without premature resolution to help facilitate the change and experience the fullness of love s rhythm. Giving birth to what s divine requires the patience of gestation. The sublime has to be waited for. In short, that s Advent.

8 Page 8 SIMBANG GABI HOLIDAY ANGEL PROGRAM Simbang Gabi Mass will celebrated Saturday, December 17th at 6:00 pm. Followed by a celebration in the Parish Life Center with a ticketed dinner reception. $6.00/person. Kids 4 years old and under free. If you are in need of assistance to celebrate Thanksgiving and or Christmas this year, please contact the office during regular business hours to complete a form or to have one mailed to you. All forms must be returned to the office by Monday, November 14th. Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry would like to invite you to the following Advent events El Ministerio de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe desea invitarlos a los siguientes eventos durante el tiempo de Adviento Rezo del Santo Rosario (parte de la novena) Día: Diciembre 10 y 11 Lugar: En la iglesia Hora: 7-9 pm La Santa Misa por Virgen de Guadalupe Día: Diciembre 12 Lugar: En la iglesia Hora: 7:30 pm Cena después de la misa en el gimnasio Las Posadas Día: Diciembre 14 hasta el 21 Lugar: En la iglesia Hora: 7-9 pm Praying of the Holy Rosary (part of the novena) Day: Dec 10th and 11th Place: In the church Time: 7-9 pm Holy Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe Day: Dec 12th Place: In the church Time: 7:30 pm Dinner after the mass The Posadas Day: Dec 14th to the 21st Place: In the church Time: 7-9 pm Christmas Flower Offerings This Christmas we will again display poinsettias around the altar to remind all of us that the best gift we can give is the gift of love. If you wish to remember a family member this Christmas, please use this form or a Flower Offering donation envelope (available in the Narthex). Please return this form along with the suggested stipend of $10 to the Parish Office by December 5th in order to be inserted in the December 18th bulletin. Given in Memory of: Given by: NAME PHONE NUMBER: AMOUNT $

9 Page 9 The EDGE (Gr. 6-8) SENIOR HIGH YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS For High School teens (Grades 9-12) EDGE News and Reminders Mondays or Thursdays 6:30-8pm This Week in EDGE Regular Sessions Nov. 28th/Dec 1st, 2016 Monday or Thursday 6:30-8pm 6 th Grade - OT III Every Life Has Purpose Lola Guzman Guest Speaker 7/8 th Grade DYF III-Prayer in Practice Ways to communicate with God Next Week in EDGE Regular Sessions Dec 5/8th, 2016 Monday or Thursday 6:30-8pm 6 th Grade Advent Traditions with Jennifer Cassidy-The Holy Family 7/8 th Grade Humilty-with Zara Tan Christ s Model of Modesty and Meekness > Minitries>Faith Formation> EDGE to access forms, calendars and details. L.I.G.H.T. Mini-courses: The deadline to register for the winter quarter is Jan. 11 th. Mission Trip Information is now available for our 2017 trip! Information can be found on the parish website or see our lobby display for a packet. Sign-up now! L.I.G.H.T. Family Mass: The fall quarter family mass will be Sunday, Dec. 4 th at 7:00 pm. All teens and their families are encouraged to attend. All teens in the fall quarter of Prayer & Worship are required to attend to fulfill the course requirements. L.I.G.H.T. Volunteers needed: Adults and teens are needed to facilitate mini-courses, be a retreat leader, chaperone events, etc. A volunteer form can be found on the L.I.G.H.T. website. Don t forget to sign-up for service and discipleship projects online. Teens may now sign-up for service and discipleship projects online. Please see the website for a list of projects and the link to sign-up. For more information and to sign-up for our e- newsletter, visit our website at RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GRADES K-5 Coming Up. Nov. 28, 29, 30 Regular R.E. Class. Dec. 5, 6, 7, Regular R.E. Class Dec. 12, 13, 14, Christmas Sing-a-Long Classes meet at the regular times with both students and parents. There is early dismissal at 5:15 and 7:15. Weeks of Dec. 19 th, Dec. 26 th and Jan. 2 Christmas Break (Winter break) No R.E. Classes. Jan. 9, 10, 11, Regular R.E. Class Our Savior and Friend Jesus loves us and wants us to love God, love others and spread the good news! If you have any questions or concerns please call Cheryl at ext. 222 or Deacon Tim at ext. 236 or tkueper5@yahoo.com

10 Page 10 Hosts Scholarship Qualifying Entrance Exam Marmion Academy encourages all 8th grade boys from Our Lady of Mercy to take the Scholarship Qualifying Entrance Exam on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 9:00 AM. To register for the exam, an application for admission must be filed prior to the test date ( Students must take the exam at Marmion on Dec. 3 to qualify for one of the thirteen scholarships to be awarded to incoming freshmen based on academic merit (total value $212,000). Marmion's campus is located at 1000 Butterfield Road in Aurora (please use door #1 the day of the exam). For more information on Marmion Academy please visit or contact the Office of Admissions at (630) Ext AURORA CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 1255 N. Edgelawn Drive Aurora, IL (630) fax (630) Aurora Central Catholic High School will host an Open House for students and their families on Sunday, December 4th, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. All students are invited to tour Aurora Central Catholic s state-of-the-art campus and meet with ACC s faculty and staff. All visitors will have the chance to meet with representatives from various clubs and athletic teams at the school. Please contact the Recruitment Director, Mackenzie Livingston, at (630) ext. 109, or send an to mlivingston@auroracentral.com for more information or to schedule a personal tour. Are you a Scout? If so, have you earned your Catholic religious recognition for your age group? If not, the Diocese of Joliet will hold their annual Scout Day of Reflection Retreat on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Blanchette Catholic Center, Weber Rd, Crest Hill to help you get started! The retreat will start at 9am and end at 1pm and is open to Boys and Girls alike. This year there will be TWO separate sessions, one for Older Scouts (grade 6+) and one for Younger Scouts (grades K-5). The event is for ALL Scouts (male or female) in Kindergarten or older. For further information, registration, & permission forms, please visit: secid=6 Our Lady of Mercy Weekend Masses December 3 & 4 Saturday: 4:00p Fr. Hugh Fullmer Sunday: 7:30a Benedictine 9:00a Benedictine 10:45a Fr. Joslad Koilparambil 12:30p Fr. Joslad Koilparambil 5:30p Fr. Hugh Fullmer Parish Activities for the Week SUNDAY November 27 7:30-6:30p Hospitality MPR 9:00 & 10:45a Nursery Rm :00-12:00p Welcome Meeting Rm 114 MONDAY November 28 8:30-6:00p Eucharistic Adoration Chapel 4:30-5:45p RE Class PLC 6:00-6:30p Benediction Church 6:30-8:00p Edge PLC TUESDAY November 29 4:30-5:45p RE Class PLC 5:50-6:25p Little Angels Choir Rm 119 6:30-7:45p RE Class PLC WEDNESDAY November 30 9:00-11:00a Art & Environment Church/Ministry Rm 4:30-5:45p RE Class PLC 5:00-5:45p Middle Choir Rm 119 5:50-6:25p Jr. Choir Rm 119 6:30-7:45p RE Class PLC 7:30-9:00p Adult Choir Rm 119 THURSDAY December 1 9:00-10:00a Gems Board Mtg Ministry Rm 12:30-3:30p Jr. High Deanery Mtg Rm 211 6:30-8:00p Edge PLC 7:00-8:30p RCIA Rm 217 FRIDAY December 2 8:30-12:00p Loving Hands Ministry Rm 6:30-10:00p KofC Birthday Party for Jesus MPR SATURDAY December 3 12:00-1:00p Baptism Church 7:00-10:30p Charismatic Prayer Group Church/MPR SUNDAY December 4 8:00-10:30a CRHP Summoned Men of Faith Rm 114 9:00-12:00p Light Workshop PLC 9:00 & 10:45a Nursery Rm 108 2:00-5:00p Light Workshop PLC 2:00-4:30p Advent Tea Church/MPR 5:30-7:00p Simbang Gabi Dance Practice Rm 108 7:00-8:00p Light Family Mass Church Help Wanted -Full Time Music Director Holy Trinity Catholic Parish 25 E. Richmond Street Westmont, IL This ministry demands professional training in music and liturgy. Bachelor s Degree or equivalent is required, though a more professional qualification, such as the equivalent of a Master s Degree in music and liturgy, is preferred. Please submit cover letter, resume and salary requirements to apply@holytrinitywestmont.org.

11 Parish Information... Page 11 FAX NUMBER: PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday: 8:00am to 4:30pm PARISH STAFF: Fr. Hugh Fullmer, Pastor, ext Fr. Joslad Koilparambil, Associate, ext Deacon Bob Vavra, ext. 230 Deacon Phil Rehmer, Deacon Tim Kueper, ext. 236 Deacon Tony Martini, ext. 405 Deacon Mike Plese Deacon Art Tiongson, ext. 231 Janice Cain, Business Manager, ext Jolene LeRoy, RN, Parish Nurse, ext. 403 Larry Harris, Music & Liturgy, ext. 243 Phyllis Anderson, Liturgy, Diane Reiter, Parish Secretary, Bulletin Editor, Weddings, ext parishoffice@olmercy.com Anna Morgan, Accounting Asst. ext. 235 Len Eickhoff, Facility Manager, Cell Religious Education: Deacon Tim Kueper, Director of Religious Ed., ext. 236, timk@olmercy.com Dave Miserendino, Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, ext. 225 John Werle, Middle School Youth Ministry Coordinator Jean Rehmer, Religious Education Secretary Grades 6-12 & RCIA, ext. 232 Cheryl Lohse, Religious Education Secretary Grades K-5 & RCIC, ext. 222 WEEKEND MASSES: Sat.4:00p;Sun.7:30a,9:00a,10:45a,12:30p, 5:30p DAILY MASSES: Monday-Friday 8:00a (Rosary after Daily Mass) HOLY DAY MASSES: Generally celebrated at 7pm evening prior; 8am and 7pm the day of. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday 3:00-3:45pm; Reconciliation services held seasonally. SICK AND HOMEBOUND Contact the Parish Office so we may help you in any way possible. HOSPITALIZATION: If you anticipate a hospitalization or are admitted to an area hospital and would like a visit from a priest or Eucharistic Minister, please notify the parish office. BAPTISMS: Registered parishioners wishing their child baptized must attend a parent meeting held the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Parents do not need to attend the class for subsequent children. Baptisms are held at 12 noon the first Saturday of the month and at 2:00 p.m. the second and third Sundays. Baptisms are not conducted during Lent. WEDDINGS: The bride, groom or either set of parents must be registered members of the parish. Weddings may be scheduled no less than six months out in order to fulfill the diocesan marriage preparation requirements. Contact Diane Reiter, ext NEW PARISHIONERS: We welcome you! Please register by attending our New Parishioner Registration/Welcoming meeting the last Sunday of the month at 11:00 a.m. For more info call: , ext HOSPITALITY: Hospitality weekend is held in the Parish Life Center Multi Purpose Room after all Saturday/Sunday Masses on the last full weekend of each month (excluding December). ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, Voic - ext. 400

12 CHURCH NAME AND NUMBER The Church of Our Lady of Mercy # ADDRESS 701 S. Eola Road Aurora, IL PHONE CONTACT PERSON Diane - Ext. 221 SOFTWARE Microsoft Publisher 2002 PRINTER Acrobat 6.0 TRANSMISSION Via Day: Tuesday NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 through 11 SUNDAY DATE OF BULLETIN SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS Fed Ex: Deliver to main entrance on the North side of Church