Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them. ST. PIUS X CHURCH Stickney, IL

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1 ST. PIUS X CHURCH Stickney, IL Parish Mission Statement We, the parish family of St. Pius X in Stickney, are called and empowered by the Spirit to continue the mission and the ministry of Jesus in the world today. With the gifts God has given each one of us, we strive to reach out in faith to the needs of our sisters and brothers in our parish, in our community and in our world. Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 26, 2015 The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season. Psalm 145:15 Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them. Pastor Rev. Anthony L. Markus Parish Office 4300 S. Oak Park Ave. Stickney, IL Phone: Fax: (708) SPXparish@aol.com Website: parishesonline.com Deacon Marvin Kocar, Business Manager Stephen Ryan, (708) Director of Music Adult Choir Children and Teen Choirs Deborah Church, (708) Religious Education & Youth Ministry Patrick J. Koren spxre1@sbcglobal.net Mass Schedule: Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. Sundays at 8:00, 10:30 a.m. Weekdays: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. Rosary before Mass at 7:30 a.m. Holy Days at 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Holy Hour each First Friday, 8 a.m. Mass at 7 p.m. Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Baptisms: 2nd Sunday of the month at 12 Noon. Parent preparation session required. Please call beforehand. Marriages: Please consult parish Priest or Deacon at least 6 months in advance of wedding date. Registration: New parishioners are asked to contact the rectory to register. Bulletin Deadline: - Thursday

2 Page 2 ST. PIUS X, STICKNEY SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Do we really believe this stuff? July 26, 2015 Church is a place where we say a lot of incredible stuff. We say God is Three-in-One. That Jesus is just like God and just like us. That a crucified man rose from the dead and that after we die, we won t stay dead either. We say Mary is a Virgin and a Mother. That sins are forgiven, no matter how terrible they are and no matter how unworthy we are. That the day is coming when the poor will be rich and the rich will be sorry. We say the queue we re standing in will reverse directions: the last wind up first and the first last. We say that feeding a hungry person, any hungry person, is the same as making a sandwich for God. And we say that when we eat and drink at Mass, we re eating and drinking the life of Jesus and not only that, but that we leave Mass as the living Christ for the sake of the world! We say a lot of fantastical things in church. So the question is: How many of them do we believe? Really? We all know the right answer; it s harder to give the honest answer. An honest answer might be that most of us want to believe these things. We re like the father in a gospel story who wants his son to be healed, but when asked by Jesus if he believes it s possible, says frankly: Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief! We want to believe what our faith teaches, what the gospel has to say, because it s a great message, a wonderful vision, a more hopeful future than the world is heading for or seems to deserve. We look hopefully to the Lord, as today s psalm says, for all of our heart s desires. But many of us also harbor doubts, deep doubts. Because we just can t see from here how all of that can possibly be. We re like the prophet Elisha s servant in the first reading, who sees 20 small barley loaves on the table and a hundred famished people coming for supper and says: It s not enough. Faith is one thing; math is another. The figures don t add up. The accountant in all of us dismisses this equation as unwieldy, to say the least. How much more does the accountant spirit in Andrew and Peter balk at five loaves, two fish, and 5,000 guests for dinner? Yet it turns out to be enough, and more than enough. No wonder the crowds want to crown Jesus king of the Jews then and there! It s easy to put your trust in God after the miracle. Faith requires front-loading your trust: in forgiveness, in resurrection, in divine rescue across the board. (Taken from PREPARE THE WORD) Love, Father Tony 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 26, 2015 There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish but what good are these for so many? (John 6:9) The miracle of the loaves and fishes is the only miracle which is recorded six times in the Gospel. It carries two important messages. First, no matter how little we have, we always have enough to share. Second, Christ can take our humble gifts and do great things with them if we are just willing to let Him. WORKING AND SAVING Work hard and save your money so when you re old you will be able to buy the things only the young can enjoy. Anonymous Yet another example of the ongoing flood of success stories with nonembryonic stem cells is that of three year old Alyssa Dupuis who suffered brain damage at birth that caused cerebral palsy. Her parents decided to bank her umbilical cord blood which was recently given to Alyssa via stem cell transfusion. Immediate positive results were seen and at last report this little girl according to her mother, is about 85% cured from cerebral palsy. NRL News, Feb-Mar For all those blessed with abundant riches that they may share their blessings in support of the pro-life movement, we pray.

3 Page 3 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME CONTRIBUTIONS Sunday, July 26, Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 Julia Gustin req. Family & Friends 10:30 Jack Pitelka Geri Soriano Monday, July 27, Weekday 8:00 Lorraine Augspurger req. Helen Tuesday, July 28, Weekday 8:00 Poor Souls Frances Kizior req. Family Joseph Cermak req. Helen Cermak Wednesday, July 29, Saint Martha 8:00 Communion Service Thursday, July 30, Weekday 8:00 Margaret Zabrauskas,14th Anniversary req. sister Therese Bernadette Friday, July 31, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest 8:00 Jovana Valenzano req. Faustina Tolve Saturday, August 1, Vigil: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2:30 Wedding, Derek Sulo & Samantha Bucyk 5:00 Josephine Crnkovic req. Family Julia Gustin req. Family & Friends Dolores Hess req. Lavern Gardner & Evelyn Marsala Helen Doherty req. Noreen Lally Sunday, August 2, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 Grace Piotrowski req. Conway Family 10:30 Antonio & Jovana Valenzano req. Vito & Tania Griseta Remember your loved one, living or deceased with a Mass Intention. Mass cards are available. The usual donation is $10. Schedule your intentions by calling the parish office: (708) Sunday, July 19, 2015 Sunday envelopes (162)... $3, Loose Money TOTAL REGULAR COLLECTION... $3, Maintenance Balance Our Budget TOTAL SUNDAY COLLECTION... $3, Family Assistance Program....$33.00 We hope you can get away for a vacation this summer, but keep in mind our bills don t take a vacation, and we need your financial support all year long. Thank you. Capital Repair Drive July 19, $ Amount received to date... $8, GOD S PEOPLE Pray for our sick and their families: Bernadette Worobey Kai Gibbs Stephanie Leadingham Lolene Veselsky Pauline Lindo Don Looney Sharon Batzkall Neftali Rodriguez Luz Maria Rodriguez Millie Broz Feliksa Barabasz Alice Zajac Sara Lozada Stanley Zajac Bernadette Shannon Nathan Kucera Lolene Veselsky Trixie Rayner Mildred Noska Ginny Jashinski Tillie Koc-Kazicka Luz Maria Rodriguez NO SUNDAY HOLY HOUR MINISTERS OF CARE If you or someone you know in the St. Pius X Parish community is homebound or in the hospital, and would desire a Minister of Care to visit, please contact the parish office at: There is a promise of marriage between: Derek Sulo and Samantha Bucyk Please welcome the following new parishioners: James Michael and Tracy Marie Lord, Ashley Marie, James Michael, Jr. and Thomas Coal Adrian & Nancy Gonzalez Our sanctuary candle burns in honor of: FC 1 Arick S. Ramsden, USN Joseph Zailskas At the request of Mary Ramsden

4 Page 4 ST. PIUS X, STICKNEY Ministers for August 1/2 Lectors: 5:00 Patrick Koren 8:00 George Visk 10:30 Jessica Torphy Eucharistic Ministers: 5:00 Dawn Kapolnek, Marianne Schimel, Jan Bernard 8:00 Jerry Przyzycki, Sr., John Torphy, Susan Gondos 10:30 Lindsey Torphy, Jesus Hernandez, Maria C. Khalifeh Servers: 5:00 Daniel Flores, Keith Arndt, 8:00 Maria Gondos, Kathy Grego 10:30 Jovany Moreno, Joselyn Moreno TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Sooner or later, as they plan their wedding liturgy, a couple will receive some advice about a unity candle. They need one, they are told (at great expense); it is a tradition; it is what Catholics have always done. Not so. In the last thirty years or so, the custom has enjoyed wide popularity in the United States. It has never been officially part of our liturgy, and it exists in tension with some of our core symbols. Usually there are two smaller candles and one larger one to be lit from the smaller. Large candles in our tradition always mean Christ, and smaller ones are always tokens of our baptismal candle. If the candles are meant for a kind of renewal of baptismal vows, then the meaning is clearer, yet this is seldom the understanding. Why, then, are those smaller candles extinguished? It s hard to tell where these pesky candles came from. Some suggest that the Presbyterian Church, which has a very lean wedding liturgy, introduced them as an option for extending a short service. Generally, it s been experienced as a photo opportunity rather than a genuine liturgical ritual. The unity candle, a recent invention rather than an authentic tradition, has not been approved as an adaptation to our rite, and it is to be hoped that it will gradually disappear from view. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. PRESSURE A diamond is a chunk of coal that has made good under pressure. Anonymous FEEDING THE WORLD With today s two accounts of feeding miracles and the psalm response about the Lord s hand feeding us, it is easy to gloss over the marvelous hymn in Ephesians. It is built around the most potent biblical numbers: one, three, and seven. The core of it is the word one expressed seven times. Three of these describe the church: one body, one Spirit, one hope; the next three are the foundations of the church: one Lord [Jesus], one faith, one baptism. All of these are bound up together in the one Father of all. While we might feel daunted by the prospect of duplicating the wonders worked by Elisha and Jesus in the feeding of multitudes, Ephesians gives us a more realistic way to live and feed others as the church: by living in humility and gentleness, by acting with patience, bearing with each other in love, and always seeking and striving to preserve unity through peace. Who among us cannot increase the way we feed the church and the world by living this way? We are always called upon to feed the world in the literal sense; but our mission as church tells us that others are also fed by the way we live and act each moment of each day. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. Questions Non-Catholics (and many cradle Catholics) Almost Always Ask When They Attend Mass Why does everyone dip their fingers in the water when they come into Church? The water in either the Baptismal font or the little fonts fastened to the walls of the entry of the Church is holy water. When we enter the Church, we dip our fingers in the water and make the sign of the cross on ourselves to recall our Baptism. It is through Baptism that we enter the Church (as Christians) and it is through Baptism that we receive our identity as adopted children of God, and we receive our initial call by God to live differently. We enter our celebration of Mass with this ritual to remind ourselves that we are children of God, in God s house, sharing the most special meal that God offers us with God s other children. We say that the Church is the body of Christ, and this water reminds us that our parish family and our worldwide family of believers all make up that body. We belong to each other, are responsible to one another and are called to share our faith and our lives with one another. And we are all united and have our sin forgiven through this one Baptism.

5 Page 5 July 26, 2015 The inner word: What s in your heart? This week s Letter to the Ephesians, though probably not composed by Paul, captures his spirit and his consistent call for unity: One body, spirit, hope, faith, baptism, and God of all. But, Paul warns, true Christian unity can only be achieved by living the threefold virtues of faith, hope, and love with humility, gentleness, and patience. How well do you live out this trinity of Christ like values? Examine your strengths and weaknesses. What can you do to share your spiritual and material gifts with others so that they and you are satisfied? ST. PIUS X PARISH CALL TO MINISTRY Reach Out in Faith Catechesis has as its center and its goal "... a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth." (On Catechesis in Our Time no. 5) Catechesis is, therefore, for all ages. It is for all eras of history and for all time to come. It is for adults, for youth, for children; it is, as the Gospel itself, for people of every race and cultural heritage, for people of all strata of society, for those with special needs of every kind. Catechesis is the development of one's initial conversion to the mystery of Jesus Christ. It is the lifelong deepening of a personal relationship with Christ. Religious Education is a systematic and comprehensive formation program. This means that students are expected to attend all nine years and continue into adulthood. Religious Education is open to all students grades Kindergarten through Grade 8, who attend a public school. Classes meet on Saturday mornings from 9:00am 11:00am. First Eucharist and First Reconciliation are received in 2nd Grade. The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in the 8th Grade. Catechists, Aides, and Office Support are needed. For more information, please contact Patrick Koren, , or spxre1@sbcglobal.net. Aug. 1-5.Religious Education Registration Aug. 7 Aug. 8 Aug. 14 Aug 14 Aug. 15 Aug. 22.First Friday, 8am Mass; 8:30 Exposition and Confession 7 pm Mass; Serious Illness.Yard Sale, 9 am to 1 pm, parish grounds.9 am Mass-Feast of the Assumption.Movie Night, 7 pm Meeting Room Encounter Five strangers meet a man who might possess the answers to their problems if they would trust him..summer Mission Appeal. Missionaries of the Precious Blood.After 5 pm Mass. Procession and dedication of outdoor Mary statue; with reception We are getting close to the starting time for the process of initiation into full membership in the Catholic Church to begin. If you are unbaptized, baptized in a Christian Church other than Catholic or baptized Catholic but not received the Eucharist and/or Confirmation, call Deacon Marvin Kocar, NOW. As the Lord provides us with loaves and fish discern how his abundant love spills over into our marriage by participating in a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend: August 7-9, 2015 or October 9-11, 2015 all at Elk Grove Village, Il. For reservations/ information, call Jim & Kris at or contact us through: Are you registered with us? It s easy, all you have to do is fill out the form below and drop it in the collection basket or call the rectory at Name Address Phone Please note: Information is confidential, it is never given out.

6 Page 6 ST. PIUS X, STICKNEY FAMILY ASSISTANCE MINISTRY It s the first Sunday of the month again on August 1st! Please consider donating non-perishable food items, paper products and personal care products to assist the families we are servicing. We are in need of : jelly, canned fruit, aluminum foil, plastic wrap and storage and freezer bags. Your donations can be placed in the food collection basket in the church foyer before Mass the weekend of July 31-August 1. If you forget, no worry, just drop you donation off the next time you come to church. Thank you to all who continually support the Family Assistance Ministry through your monetary donations, your non-perishable items and your paper bag donations. Our recipients and ministry members thank you for sharing your treasure with us. May God bless you. BINGO! BINGO! BINGO! Volunteers are needed for the new season of Bingo beginning in September. If you are able to volunteer a few hours just one Saturday a month, or once every other month, please consider donating your time to our parish. You can check the sign-up sheet in the church foyer or contact Joe at: for more details. Bingo resumes on September 12. HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? As one walks through Stickney and Forest View, one sees all of the beautiful summer flowers blooming in the neighborhood gardens. Is one of those gardens yours? Why not share your flowers with St. Pius X parish. If you have an abundance of flowers in your garden, clip a few and bring them to church. They will be placed in a vase to decorate the church. Thank you for sharing your talents and treasure with St. Pius X. AUGUST PROJECT 2015 Repair Items & Debt Reduction The August Project has been a tradition at St. Pius X over the years. It was brought back to life last year and the funds enabled us to do a roof and air conditioning project without accessing the parish funds. This year we are using the August Project to help us with our current debt and summer maintenance projects. As was discussed in earlier bulletins, St Pius X was unable to fully pay our bill to the Archdiocese for FY 2015, ending 06/30/2015. The August project will help us to maintain our facility and at the same time allow us money to start repaying our debt. As was previously reported, our Sunday collections are down over the same period in the previous year by over 5.5% or $12,700. That combined with our bingo net income down $22,000 and our increase in other expenses left us with a parish deficit of over $80,000. The Parish has taken steps to reduce expenses for the coming year and our hope is with a better showing from bingo we will be able to pay the current year bills in full and start to pay down the old debt during FY This is a wonderful Parish that has a great history of Faith and Service to the community and the current situation is being addressed and with your help will only serve to make us stronger. In next weeks bulletin we will discuss the Parish debt and the steps being taken to address these issues. If you have any questions please feel free to call the business manager, Steve Ryan at the Parish Office. HOLD THE DATE On Saturday, August 22, 2015, after the 5 pm Mass, we will honor our Lady of the Mount with a procession inside church and, weather permitting, outside, to our statue of Mary. Join us in the parish hall after the ceremony for light refreshments. Donations of fresh cut garden flowers will be appreciated. More information in coming bulletins.