ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL 18 WOODLAWN, JOLIET, ILLINOIS,

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1 ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL 18 WOODLAWN, JOLIET, ILLINOIS,

2 St. Paul the Apostle Parish Office: Parish Fax School: Religious Education Youth Ministry: RCIA (Roberta Lemke) Parish Rev. John Klein, Pastor x243 Rev. John Belmonte, S.J., Resident x230 Rev. James Lennon, Weekend Celebrant Deacon William Bevan, III Deacon John Freund Lynne Passarella, Parish Secretary x200 Denise Rowan, Business Manager x203 Corie Alimento, Principal x401 Sr. Karen Marie Lanigan, O.S.F., D.R.E. x301 Jeremy Hylka, Dir. Of Liturgy & Youth Min. x320 Raymond Kaufmann, Director of Music LITURGICAL SCHEDULE week of January 12 Saturday: 4:30 PM Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM Weekday mass: 7:30 AM Monday through Friday except Wednesdays are 8:30 AM when school is in session Holy Days: Varies by Holy Day of Obligation Saturday: SACRAMENT OF PENANCE 8:30-9:30 am or by appointment BAPTISMS Baptisms are scheduled on the Second Sunday of the month at 11:30 AM based on parental requests. Participation in a Parent Preparation Program is mandatory before the baptism of the child. Our preparation Program is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. Attendance at Sunday Mass on the day of the Baptism is Mandatory. Please call the Parish office to schedule a baptism. WEDDINGS All weddings are scheduled by the Pastor of the Parish. Office staff cannot schedule a wedding and a wedding is not considered to be officially scheduled until the couple receives written confirmation from the Pastor of the Parish. Couples desiring to be married need to speak directly with the Pastor BEFORE reserving a hall. Only the Bride or Groom may request a date for their wedding. Diocesan policy requires that a 6 month (minimum) preparation process be completed prior to the celebration of all weddings. Weddings are not scheduled on Sundays. ANOINTING OF THE SICK Parishioners who are seriously or critically ill, or have surgery scheduled should receive the Sacrament of Anointing and Healing. Please call the parish office to request this sacrament. Regular visits are also made by our Pastoral Staff and Ministers of Care to bring Holy Communion to hospitalized or homebound parishioners. Anyone desiring such a visit should call the Parish Office. R.C.I.A. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is an ongoing formation process for adults who are interested in becoming a Catholic and adult Catholics who would like to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and/or First Eucharist. Please call the Parish Office for additional information. PARISH REGISTRATION New parishioners are always welcome! You may register in person or by calling the Parish Office. MONDAY Weekday 7:30 AM Mary Jane Muir TUESDAY St. Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the church 7:30 AM Teresa Szuba WEDNESDAY Weekday 8:30 AM Robert Briski THURSDAY Weekday 7:30 AM Donald Malinowksi FRIDAY Weekday 7:30 AM Claude Zuchowski SATURDAY Vigil, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:30 PM Sister of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate 2014 Jubilarians SUNDAY Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30 AM Mary Jane Muir 9:00 AM Gross-Hatfield Family 10:30 AM The People of St. Paul the Apostle SUNDAY OFFERING THANK YOU! Offering for Sunday, December 28, $18, Collection Amount Budgeted. $16, Week s Budget (Shortfall)/Overage.. $ 1, Year to date (Shortfall)/ Overage...$(14,579.00) Christmas Collection 2014.$54, Christmas Budgeted $52, Over Budget $ 2, Our Parish depends on a weekly collection of $16, to meet our budget. Thank you for your generous support of our parish. Your donations of time, talent, and treasure enable us to provide many ministries and services for the benefit of our parishioners and the local community. God bless you and your family! St. Paul s is now on Facebook and Twitter! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: w.facebook.com/stpauljoliet FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: stpauljoliet

3 FROM FATHER JOHN: The more I study science, the more I believe in God. ~ Albert Einstein. What can account for the existence of life on earth? It s an important question we should all consider seriously. I read an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on the day after Christmas. It was written by Eric Metaxas who is the author of Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life. He reported that back in the 1960 s the United States government established a quasi governmental agency called Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). There was a growing movement at the time where people believed that intelligent extraterrestrial beings and that all we had to do was ind them. Thus, SETI. In the 1960 s, Carl Sagan announced in Time Magazine that there were two important criteria for a planet to support life: The right kind of star, and a planet the right distance from that star. Given the roughly octillion 1 followed by 24 zeros planets in the universe, there should have been about septillion 1 followed by 21 zeros planets capable of supporting life. (Metaxas, Wall Street Journal, Dec. 25, 2014) Unfortunately, he seems to have been wrong. SETI never found another planet capable of supporting life and was defunded by congress in As scientists learned more and more about the universe (physics, chemistry, planetology, astronomy, etc.) they discovered more and more criteria that had to be in place for life to exist on a planet. Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart. Without a massive planet like Jupiter nearby, whose gravity will draw away asteroids, a thousand times as many would hit Earth s surface. The odds against life in the universe are simply astonishing. (Ibid.) So, the simple question what can account for the existence of life on earth? Another simple question is it really possible that random forces caused life to exist on earth? Or, isn t it actually a sign of an un scienti ic mind to think that all 200 criteria came together to somehow form the perfect conditions for life on this one planet but not on any other planets that we can ind? But, there is something more to consider. The ine tuning necessary for life to exist on a planet is nothing compared with the inetuning required for the universe to exist at all. For example, astrophysicists now know that the values of the four fundamental forces gravity, the electromagnetic force, and the strong and weak nuclear forces were determined less than one millionth of a second after the big bang. Alter any one value and the universe could not exist. For instance, if the ratio between the nuclear strong force and the electromagnetic force had been off by the tiniest fraction of the tiniest fraction by even one part in 100,000,000,000,000,000 then no stars could have ever formed at all. Feel free to gulp. Multiply that single parameter by all the other necessary conditions, and the odds against the universe existing are so heart stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all just happened de ies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row. (Ibid.) Fr, Georges Lemaı tre, a Belgian priest, astronomer and professor of physics at the Catholic University of Leuven, discovered the Big Bang Theory although he never called it that. He called it the "hypothesis of the primeval atom". Fred Hoyle was an atheist and was the astronomer who irst came up with the name the Big Bang Theory. He went on to say that his atheism was greatly shaken at these developments. He later wrote that a common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology.... The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question. Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that the appearance of design is overwhelming and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator... gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here. (Ibid.) So, to answer our simple question, what can account for the existence of life on earth? God, and God is the only credible scienti ic answer. Here s just a few more thoughts from scientists to consider. I believe that the more thoroughly science is studied, the further does it take us from anything comparable to atheism If you study science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God. ~ Lord William Kelvin, who was noted for his theoretical work on thermodynamics, the concept of absolute zero and the Kelvin temperature scale. Astronomers now ind they have painted themselves into a corner because they have proven, by their own methods, that the world began abruptly in an act of creation to which you can trace the seeds of every star, every planet, every living thing in this cosmos and on the earth. And they have found that all this happened as a product of forces they cannot hope to discover. That there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at work is now, I think, a scienti ically proven fact. ~ Robert Jastrow, Astronomer, physicist and founder of NASA s Goddard Institute of Space Studies. Those who say that the study of science makes a man an atheist must be rather silly. ~ Max Born, Nobel Prize winning physicist, who was instrumental in the development of quantum mechanics. God used beautiful mathematics in creating the world God is a mathematician of a very high order and He used advanced mathematics in constructing the universe. ~ Nobel Prize winning physicist Paul Dirac. God created everything by number, weight and measure In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God s existence. ~ Sir Isaac Newton, who is widely regarded to have been the greatest scientist the world has ever produced.

4 Parish News FOLLOW Youth Ministry sponsored by St. Paul the Apostle Catholic and the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus Mr. Jeremy Hylka, Director of Youth Ministry Address: FOLLOW Youth Ministry Center 120 Woodlawn Avenue (St. Paul s Convent) in Joliet Phone: youth@followym.com Web: followym.com Facebook: facebook.com/followym Twitter: followyouthmin Instagram: followym Events This Week: 1/11 Youth Mass and Open from 6:00-9:00pm. 1/13 FOLLOW Night Guest Speaker Alexandra Fedosenko Doors open at 5:00pm; Mee ng 6:15-8:30pm. Mark Your Calendars: 1/19 March for Life in DC 2/03 8 th Grade WELCOME NIGHT 2/28 FOLLOW XIII Retreat Weekend SCHOOL NOTES Looking Ahead: PS/K Open House- January 14 th 6pm-8pm Midterms go home- January 15 th MLK Day/No School- January 19 th Dr. Lia in classrooms- January 20 th Detective Wistocki Parent Presentation- January 22nd 6:30-8:30pm Detective Wistocki Student Presentation- January 23 rd 9am- 10:30am (Grades 6-8) School Science Fair- January 24 th CSW Mass and Open House- 10:30mass followed by Open House, Book Fair, Science Fair SIP dismissal at 11:30/Dr. Lia 12:00-3:00 Faith Families- January 29 th Hearing and Vision- January 29 th R.E.P. NEWS In need of information about Our Religious Education Program? Please call the REP office at The last of the Confirmation 2015 interviews for the eighth graders is January 31. All requirements must be fulfilled before you can sign up for an interview. All are welcome to attend the Cardinal Newman Institute two sessions on the Ten Commandments January 19 and February 16, 6-8 pm in Parish Activity Center, Room A-4 The classes on these two nights are The Commandments-Love of God and The Commandments-Love of Neighbor. RSVP to Sr. Karen so we have enough materials. Adult Formation Opportunity Recharging Your Spiritual Life 6:30pm Tuesday, January 20th Come and join us for our regularly scheduled adult formation opportunity. Our next session is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20th at 6:30pm in the Activities Center (A-4). Deacon John Freund will be presenting Recharging Your Spiritual Life. The focus of this presentation will be on encountering Jesus in a more personal way in this new year. Don t miss this great opportunity. The session will begin at 6:30pm with a meal and conclude by 8:30pm. Please join us and bring a friend. For more information you can contact Deacon John at or at jfreund@dioceseofjoliet.org. PRAY FOR OUR ARMED FORCES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THEIR FAMILIES.

5 Calendar News Sunday, Jan 11 9:00am Mass 10:00am RCIA 10:30am Mass 11:30am Baptisms 12:00pm Basketball Practice Convent Thursday, Jan. 15 3:00pm Children Choir 3:45pm Interviews w/ Diana A 2 3:45pm Basketball Games 6:30pm Adult Choir Monday, Jan 12 5:45pm R.E.P. School & AC 6:00pm First Eucharist Mtg. A 4 7:00pm Confirmation Interviews 7:00pm AA Meeting A 1 Tuesday, Jan 13 5:00pm Youth Ministry Convent/ 5:30pm Building Committee A 1 6:30pm Boy Scouts #15 School Hall 7:00pm Baptismal Prep A 1 7:00pm Knights of Columbus A 2 Friday, Jan 16 Saturday, Jan 17 8:30am Confessions 9:00am Basketball Practice 4:30pm Sunday Vigil Mass 5:30pm Music Ensemble Sunday, Jan 18 8:30am Hospitality after each mass Tower Room 9:00am Mass 10:00am RCIA Convent 10:30am Mass 12:00pm Basketball Practice Wednesday, Jan 14 8:30am Mass 3:00pm Confirmation Interviews 6:00pm Rainbows 6:00pm Preschool Open House Convent School/ AC Erin Bartel Gerri Bertino Mason Briese Laura Criel Jean Fabich Judith Gahala Marge Graham Harn Family Susan Gentile Matt Gross For the most current calendar information please go to Pray for the Sick Please remember the following people in your prayers who are seriously ill or who are suffering from long-term illnesses: Norma Heintzleman Sami Henderson James Hickey, Jr. Ann Juhlmann Ann Kane Mary Kaplan Terri King Helen Locher Mary Maloney John Matejcak Shirley Max Terry Meyer John Mowbray Jeanie Nunuue Kurt Palmer Kay Prock Amy Remallard Lisa Savero Richard Schreiner Don Senffner Tony Simone Paityn Sims Jennifer Stephen Louis Toka Salvatore Ventura

6 NEXT WEEKEND S LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS TIME READERS EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS Saturday, Jan. 17, :30 PM J Cassani/ A Devine J Militello/ L Jenco/ N Suligoy J Pultorak/ R Baskerville Sunday, Jan. 18, :30 AM A Henderson/ C Hinkleman C Lehman/ M A Schwerha/ P Stroud L Deiss/ A Prock 9:00 AM Katrice Sawyer/ V Rand A Theobald/ F Theobald/ D Bailey M Kucek/ P Gimbel 10:30 AM B Bodach/ D Pershey M L Crossen/ S Graham/ M Knorr B Bayci/ S Hobbs Next Weekend s Servers: Saturday, Jan. 17, :30 PM A Ardaugh/ J Bolek/ P Kasheimer Sunday, Jan. 18, :30 AM L Gregurich/ B Kohler/ A Weiss 9:00 AM J Bolek/ M Trizna/ J Underhill 10:30AM S Rand/ A Serrato/ S Serrato DID YOU KNOW? The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in Belgium in 1609 by a young English woman named Mary Ward, was suppressed in 1631, yet continued to quietly grow through its educational endeavors throughout Europe, finally receiving full approval in The Hospitality Committee invites all to join them after each Sunday Mass for Coffee and treats and more than that, sharing our faith. Next Sunday 1.18 beginning after the 7:30am mass Mid-East Christian Relief Fundraiser -- A Special Evening Dedicated to Helping Persecuted Christians Hundreds of thousands of Christian families are trapped in the chaos gripping Iraq, Syria and beyond. They need your help. Join the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) for a night of unity and support as we raise much-needed funds for shelter, food and protection. 100% of profits will benefit CNEWA programs dedicated to Christian families. Date: Saturday, January 31, 2015 Location: Alta Villa Banquet N. Addison Rd, Addison, IL Donation: $60 ($40 for children under 10) The evening will include dinner and live entertainment. Reserve today online, by or phone: reserve@mideastchristianrelief.com (Pierrette Hazkial). RSVP DEADLINE: January 19, 2015

7 Catholic Schools Week 2015: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service St. Paul the Apostle is proud of our strong tradition of passing on the Catholic faith to all parish children, through our comprehensive Religious Education program and our acclaimed St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School. Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States and is significant for all parishioners. It begins on January 25, the feast of St. Paul s Conversion, and ends on January 31, the feast day of St. John Bosco. St. John Bosco cared for Turin, Italy s poor and orphaned children in the mid-1800s by educating the whole person, body and soul. His philosophy is the mission of today s Catholic schools. Since we are all called to spiritual parenthood, may all parishioners feel like proud parents as we celebrate our vibrant parish school. It is a credit to our faithful community, past and present! We also would like to thank parish families who enroll their children at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School and support this ministry. Celebrating Catholic Schools: Our Parish Album The Hertzmann Family, educating Grant, grade 4, and Brynn, grade 1, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School We chose St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School for the Catholic education and the close-knit families and community. We are very happy here! Our children have wonderful teachers and a great principal. It is a small community, so we all know each other, and if there are any issues, they help us. This is a great way to pass on the faith because my children learn religion in so many ways, not just by going to church. I love our small school community because everyone knows and helps everyone else.