A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR

Transcription

1 THE CROWN

2 A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR Recently, I stepped out of the rectory in the evening to go over to church for a moment. Before I made it to church, something caught my eye. I saw what I assumed was a bird fly over my head. But then I noticed that this bird kept flying in a figure-eight pattern. So I looked more closely and realized that the bird was, in fact, a bat. I love bats. Maybe my affection can be traced back to my childhood idolization of superhero Batman, or maybe it is just because bats are such amazing little critters. They are the only mammals that can fly. They range from mouse-sized to hawk-sized. They eat just about everything from bugs to blood. Maybe it was the blood thing that also fascinated me as a child. But I think what I like most about bats is how they navigate. The expression ''blind as a bat'' is very inaccurate. Bats are not blind, and even though they mostly fly at night, they never fly blind. Bats find their way in the dark, as well as in the light, using echolocation. They emit sounds and then listen for those sounds to bounce back at them. Doing this, bats find their way, avoid obstacles and catch flying insects. So I watched the little bat for quite a while as he flew around catching bugs. I knew he was making sounds that I could not hear. But it was not important that I heard what he was saying. The important thing was that he heard the sounds. Echolocation only works if the bat really listens. The bat can make all sorts of sounds, but unless he really listens to those sounds as they bounce back to him, he is not going to catch that tasty bug. Even worse, if he does not listen, he is probably going to collide with an obstacle. I like this lesson from that little bat. What we say is important, but how we listen is more important. Speaking only does so much good, and listening is critical to discern where we are and where we are going. Thanks to technology such as the internet, computers and smartphones, people can do an awful lot of talking. We tweet, blog, post, and text. We say quite a bit, but I fear that we do not listen very well. When I see posts on websites and blogs, I witness people saying much but listening very little. To listen is a skill and even an art. A good listener hears what others say not only with their words but also with their bodies and their hearts. Words might say one thing, but often body language and emotion communicate a different message. Hearing this deeper, often more important and sometimes more painful message is key to understanding another person and truly communicating. This past spring we began the Parish Transformation process. We began by listening to parishioners through a parish survey and by welcoming all to the weekly meetings. From that experience of listening, the Parish Transformation Team and Steering Committee tried to discern the needs and concerns of our parishioners. From that discernment of needs, Goals, Objectives, and Action Plans were created. We are beginning to work on many of those Action Plans. It is a gradual process, and it will unfold, depending on the specific Action Plan, over the course of weeks, months, and even years. Listening is a skill and an art, and it takes time. As we begin to implement what we have heard, we may be like that bat I watched that evening. We may find ourselves circling, coming back to certain issues, and continuing to listen and to find our way. But remember that we do not do this alone. We do it as a parish, and we do it with Christ as our head and guide. Without Christ, there is absolutely no point to anything that we do as a parish. We must continue to listen to Christ, to hear him speak to us in Word, Sacrament, and prayer, and to discern his will for Divine Infant Parish. In the meantime, you will notice some of our Action Plans beginning to unfold. Some will be more obvious than others, and all are an attempt to help our parish grow, thrive, and follow Christ more closely. But no matter what we say or do, we must allow it to echo back to us from Christ. If we truly listen to the message Christ reflects back to us, we will always find our way. Fr. Michael

3 HOLY HOUR THIS FRIDAY IN CHURCH There will be a Holy Hour with Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament this Friday, August 8, at 7:30pm in Church. Please join us in prayer AN INVITATION Come to me and I will give you rest. Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Are you looking for a Church to call home, where you can deepen your relationship with God? Would you like to know more about the teachings of Jesus Christ and make them part of your everyday life? Then we invite you to become a member of our Divine Infant Parish catechumenate, people on the journey to learn about the Catholic faith. The Rite of Christian Initiation, RCIA, is the process by which adults prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation--Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. If you have never been baptized in any faith, were baptized in another Christian faith or were baptized in the Catholic Church but did not receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist, the RCIA is for you. It is a gradual process to be formed and informed and fully join the Catholic Church. If you or any of your friends or family would like to know more, please call Fr. Tom at the rectory, (708) , ext Classes will begin Tuesday, September 23 at 7 PM. TEENS ON FIRE: DI YOUTH GROUP Christmas in July School Supplies Drive The Youth Group will be conducting our School Supplies again this year! You will notice the Christmas tree in the back of church filled with School supply requests. Please take as many as you wish and return any of the supplies you buy under the tree. Last year due to your overwhelming generosity we were able to help all the families assisted by St. Vincent DePaul, and the DI school/westchester Middle school communities. We were able to give a lot of children a strong head start on a successful school year! Our collection drive will run until Sunday August 10 th. There is also an option to buy Gift cards and drop those off that we can include for families especially those with children going into college. Thank you in advance for your help and generosity. PARISH TRANSFORMATION UPDATE: FAITH FORMATION One of the goals of the Mission Committee of the Parish Transformation Team is to start a Faith Formation group that would concern itself with providing various and diverse opportunities for continuing development and enrichment in our Catholic Faith. This could take on many forms: speakers, cds, missions, retreats, books...the possibilities are exciting! Bill and Jeanie Juvancic, Sr. Susan Majcen, Pat Meyers, Barb Callahan, Nancy Brejcha, Nancy Mihel, Deacon Jim Sponder and Linda Brokenshire met on July 16 to start brainstorming ideas. Also on the committee are Marie Tworek and Sara Groppe. We need people of all ages, cultures, and abilities so that everyone in the parish feels represented on the committee in order to offer programs that appeal to all! So WE NEED MORE INPUT! Please consider attending our next meeting, September 23 at 7:00 pm. Contact Nancy Brejcha at SUBURBAN CATHOLIC SINGLES GROUP Multi Parish Ministry For singles in their 40 s and 50 s August Events August Events Saturday, 8/9 5:30 pm Mass at St. Vincent Ferera 1530 Jackson Ave., River Forest Followed by dinner at Johnnies Beef, 7500 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park. Carpooling available from Panera Bread in LaGrange Park. Saturday, 8/23 12:30 pm Arlington Park 2200 W. Euclid Ave. Arlington Heights Race Track Admission $8.00. Carpooling available from Panera Bread in LaGrange Park. Above events are subject to change. You can contact us at singlesadmin@gmail.com Find us on Facebook: Suburban Catholic Singles

4 REGISTRATIONS Divine Infant Jesus School is still accepting registrations for the 2014/2015 school year. For more information, an individual tour or to receive an enrollment packet, please contact the school office at SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS August Tuesdays, Wednesday & Thursdays 8:00 am to 11:00 am If you need assistance during non-office hours please leave a message on the answering machine at and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Paperwork can be left at the rectory or in the locked mailbox located by the school s main entrance. Copies of physicals, birth certificates, etc. may be faxed to AIDES are needed in a few places for this coming year. If you would be interested, please contact Sr. Susan. Your help would be so appreciated. REGISTRATION AND TUITION COLLECTION FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19th, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the RelEd Office. If you prefer, you may download registration form (for NEW STUDENTS ONLY) from the Divine Infant website and also MEDICAL/EMERGENCY FORMS for each child and then either leave at the RECORY, fax to the Office ( ) or snail-mail to Sister Susan Majcen, OP

5 You are invited to a Back to School Family Fun Fest at Divine Infant! Come on out and celebrate going back to school! September 6 th from 12-4pm Divine Infant parking lot (Newcastle side) School Families and Parishioners All are welcome! Bouncy Houses/ Big Splash Face Painting Popcorn Refreshments/Food for sale A visit from Windy City Reptiles (weather permitting) Stories from the Library Musical Games Back To School Mass and Breakfast Please join the School Advisory Board for the Family Mass at 9:30 on September 7 th immediately followed by breakfast in Langan Hall hosted by DISPA

6 DI YOUTH (TEENS AND COLLEGE PEOPLE).YOU (YES, YOU!) COULD BE IN THESE PICTURES (IF YOU JOINED YOUTH ENSEMBLE!) CALL MRS. SCHINDLER FOR DETAILS ( ) OR SEE HER BY THE PIANO IN CHURCH. YOU CAN EARN LOADS OF SERVICE HOURS BY SINGING OR PLAYING IN YOUTH ENSEMBLE! DI YOUTH ENSEMBLE WANTS YOU!

7 100 DONORS TURN OUT FOR BLOOD DRIVE The Westchester Blood Program and LifeSource Blood Services extend their deep thanks to all of the members of the Divine Infant family for taking part in their blood drive July 19, whether as a donor or volunteer. That starts with Father Tom Winikates, the only Westchester cleric who is a regular donor. An even 100 donors signed up to give blood, and the drive yielded 94 units of blood or blood products (red cells, plasma, platelets) for area hospitals. Coincidentally, the drive fell on the WBP s 40th birthday. It was not one of the community s best drives, but the beautiful summer weather inevitably holds down the turnout because there are so many other things to do, like vacations and getting a job done outside the home. After three drives this year, the WBP reports it has collected 310 units so far en route to its annual goal of 500. Its next drive will be Saturday, Oct. 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community Center, Bond and Westchester Blvd. Donating blood has never been faster because the pre-donation questionnaire is now computerized. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Most parishes are now aware of the catechumenate and the journey of new faithful in the RCIA, but this form of sacramental initiation disappeared from view in the thirteenth century along with many other ancient practices. Life back then was hard, and often too short, and priests were increasingly insistent about the responsibility of parents to baptize children in danger of death. Since everyone in that society was under unimaginable threat from famine, warfare, and plague, the liturgical rites changed quickly. Everyone was in danger of death all the time. No longer were babies immersed in fonts, being lowered into the water, although the ritual books never backed down from immersion. Infusion was the new way, a simple pouring of a few drops of water on the child s forehead. The catechumenate collapsed, being reduced to the recitation of the Creed and an Our Father at every baptism. Amazingly, any provision for adult baptism was shelved, so that as late as the 1950s, a person being baptized was presumed to be an infant, unable to answer for him or herself. Questions of creed and commitment were put to the godparents, not to the person being baptized. Even Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton, famous adult converts, remained mute at their baptisms while their sponsors answered for them. In hindsight all this appears strikingly odd, yet it was accepted as the way things were. We have good reason to give thanks for the vigorous reforms of the last fifty years! Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. VOLUNTEER TUTORS NEEDED Volunteers are needed for School on Wheels Adult Literacy/English as a Second Language program, which is a ministry of the Congregation of St. Joseph of La Grange Park. Tutors are asked to teach one hour or more per week, during the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at locations in Brookfield, Cicero, Downers Grove, Hodgkins, Lombard, Villa Park, Summit, or Woodridge. No prior second language skills are needed, however, it is necessary to attend a two-day tutor training session from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays, August 9 and August 16, 2014, at the Congregation of St. Joseph Center in La Grange Park. Further information is available by calling (708) or (708)

8 LITURGY FOR THE WEEK SATURDAY, August 2 5:00 pm Dee Mulvihill; Lawrence & Theresa Turilli; William Hanna SUNDAY, August 3 7:30 Robert Smith 9:30 Mary McLeod; Robert Breneisen 11:30 Hank Lenart; People of the Parish MONDAY, August 4 8:00 Walter Pawlak TUESDAY, August 5 8:00 Frances Olsen; The Padula Family WEDNESDAY, August 6 8:00 Walter & Mary Wanick; Frank & Irene Froncek; Kenneth Zolecke THURSDAY, August 7 8:00 All the faithful departed FRIDAY, August 8 8:00 All the faithful departed SATURDAY, August 9 8:00 All the faithful departed 5:00 pm Dee Mulvihill; Charles Gimino SUNDAY, August 10 7:30 Andrea Giannelli 9:30 Dolores Brosky; Robert Breneisen; Robert Perticara and Richard Jurevich 11:30 People of the Parish; Ellen & Dan Noftz WEEKDAY SERVERS AUGUST 4-9 CHRISTIAN CADAY PRAY FOR THE SICK OF THE PARISH Francis Cardinal George Jack Belsanti Jerry Danhauer Don Eck Erwin Eggert Erwin Eiduk Jill Franklin Walter Grose Edward Gundry Mary Gundry Emilia Jagielka Walter & Jadwiga Kania Nicholas Labovsny Elsie Masterson Dan Mulligan Caryn (Cookie) Murray Tom Nilsson Marty Nuzik Helen Pezzette Jim Phillips Joanne Santangelo Frank Scafuri Nicole Durczak Shepulis Fr. Fred Tomzik Bob Volz Darryl Watson JoMae White Loving God, give strength to all who struggle with illness. Grant them courage when they are afraid and comfort when they are in pain. Because of government regulations, hospitals and nursing homes are no longer allowed to notify us if you are admitted to either facility. If you or a family member would like to be visited in the hospital or nursing home, please call the rectory at If you or a family member are sick or homebound and would like to be added to our prayer list, visited, receive Holy Communion or be anointed, please call the rectory at MAY THEY REST IN PEACE Greg Hanley Sr. John Mary Margaret Mary Woods NEXT WEEKEND S MINISTERS CELEBRANT COMMUNION MINISTERS LECTORS SERVERS SAT. 5:00 Fr. Michael S. Stiso Teens H. Panek J. Bylinski L. Panek SUN. 7:30 Fr. Michael J. Norton A. Garbacz JB MedjoMeZengu L. Norton J. Naughton A. Calabrese SUN. 9:30 Fr. Winikates P. Farmer J. Calcagno R. Nortier M. Giannelli S. Johnston T.J. Mandra SUN. 11:30 Fr. Joyce V. Husak L. D Andria M. Shuflit J. Shimizu N. Mihel B. Lah

9 SUNDAY, August 3 CH 12:45 Baptismal Preparation Mtg. FRIDAY, August 8 CH 7:30 pm Holy Hour TUESDAY, August 12 PR 6:00 pm School Board CR 7:00 pm Athletic Board FRIDAY, August 15 FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION (Holy Day of Obligation) Masses at 6:30 & 8:00 am and 7:00 pm TUESDAY, August 19 GYM School Kidz Pick-up CONV 6:30 pm Ministry of Consolation Committee Mtg. LH 7:00 pm New Parent Meeting MONDAY, August 25 First Day of School PLEASE USE GiveCentral.org FOR ALL YOUR DONATIONS Divine Infant Jesus Parish depends on your generosity in order to carry out its ministry of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and teaching and healing in his name. We do not charge for anything. We rely soley on your Sunday and Holy Day donations. To make it easier for you to give your gifts to Divine Infant, we work with GiveCentral.org. When you sign up with GiveCentral.org, you can make all your Sunday, Holy Day, second collection, and every other donation that you make to the parish. Then you never have to use a parish envelope or put anything in the collection basket ever again! Please visit GiveCentral.org to create your personal and secure donations account. Thank you for your generosity! SUNDAY OFFERING July 27, Average weekly expenses $15,655 This week s collection 13,403 Deficit ($ 2,252) When you are away for a weekend, we hope you will remember your offering to Divine Infant. Thank you. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Jer 28:1-17; Ps 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102; Mt 14:22-36 Tuesday: Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Ps 102:16-21, 29, 22-23; Mt 14:22-36 or Mt 15:1-2, Wednesday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9; 2 Pt 1:16-19; Mt 17:1-9 Thursday: Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; Mt 16:13- Friday: 23 Na 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7; Dt 32:35cd-36ab, 39abcd, 41; Mt 16:24-28 Saturday: Hb 1:12 2:4; Ps 9:8-13; Mt 17:14-20 Sunday: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a; Ps 85:9-14; Rom 9:1-5; Mt 14:22-33 PROTECTING CHILDREN At Divine Infant Jesus Parish and School, the protection of our children is of utmost importance, and we comply fully with the policies of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. To learn more, go to our website dnn.archchicago.org/divine infant and click on the tab Protecting Children at D.I. or visit archchicago.org and click on the button Protecting Children. If you do not have internet access and would like to learn more, please contact the rectory or call the Office for Protection of Children and Youth at WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE ALL PARISH MAILINGS ELECTRONCIALLY If you would like to receive parish mailings Christmas and Easter letters, statement of annual contributions, and yearly report by , please send an to the parish at d.infant@comcast.net. In the subject line write Parish , and then in the body of the write your name, street address and envelope number if you know it. This will help save the parish money in printing and postage. Thank you! WELCOME......to Divine Infant Jesus Church. If you are new to our church or just visiting, please stop and introduce yourself. We are pleased to have you share in this celebration of the Eucharist. If you do not have a church home, or your church is not a home to you, we invite you to become part of our parish family. Our church is open to anyone looking for a spiritual home. To register, please call the rectory at We are so glad you are here and hope you will come back again for Mass or to become a parishioner.

10 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD Icon for the Modern Woman The Blessed Virgin Mary is specially honored, or granted hyperdulia, from the Greek, meaning more than just veneration by the Church because of her unique role as the Mother of God, and the Mother of the Church. At the Council of Ephesus in 431, she was given the title Theotokos, God-bearer, declaring Mary as truly the mother of God and the mother of the human Jesus. She is the mother of the members of the Mystical Body of Christ; bringing forth the birth of believers in the Church. While from the beginning she was specially chosen by God in His divine plan, Mary was also quite a real woman of her time, and remains a model for women of the modern era. In Scripture we read that Mary is present at key moments in salvation history. Through her eyes we see the promise of God s plan for His children as it is revealed in His Son. As a first century Jewish young woman, the events of her life must have seemed controversial to those around her, but Mary never cowered away; she faced difficulties head on with infinite faith. Her life was fraught with difficulties, yet her inner strength was unwavering. In a modern spin, the story begins with Joachim and Anne having the longed for child, who later marries under less than ideal circumstances. Shortly after her son is born, Mary must flee to Egypt with her husband and baby as a refugee, then return to her homeland. Later, she and her husband lose their young son while returning from the Passover celebration in Jerusalem only to find him teaching in the Temple. When he comes of age, her son is both loved and hated; the topic of intense debate. She becomes a young widow, and then must witness the suffering and death of her only child. It would appear on a human level to be a very sad story indeed. However, the mystery of God s plan unfolds in how Mary reflects and responds, teaching us the way to perfection. Mary was really never passive; truly she was the proactive handmaid of the Lord, fully participating all the time. Though troubled at the greeting and message of the angel Gabriel, Mary agrees to accept God s plan for her. The shepherd s visit brought the angel s message of the glorious birth of the Messiah. When the baby Jesus was presented in the Temple to Simeon, Mary was told of Jesus destiny as a sign that will be contradicted. While Mary kept all these things, reflecting them in her heart, she remained integrally involved, trusting in the will of God. Her fidelity is clear at the Wedding at Cana, directing the servers to, do whatever he tells you. She was with Jesus through His Passion and Death, and was with the apostles in the Upper Room, a witness in the First Community in Jerusalem. Rather than retreat from what was frightening and perplexing, Mary consciously chose to yield to the will of God, a sign of great fortitude. Mary was far from being a timidly submissive woman; on the contrary, she was a woman who did not hesitate to proclaim that God vindicates the humble and oppressed. For the modern woman, no matter what her vocation may be, Mary is a model of enduring faith, a woman of action in community whose maternal role became universal. She is the icon of the perfect disciple; in her we find the guarantee of God s plan in Christ for the salvation of all, already achieved in her Assumption. The Assumption of Mary is a testimony of and pledge for our future participation in the victory of the Risen Christ; the consoling assurance of our hope in the Resurrection and our own divine destiny. This hope of the promise fulfilled is reflected in the prayers of the liturgy of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Collect we pray that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory. The Prayer over the Offerings asks may our hearts, aflame with the fire of love, constantly long for you. The Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church s coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people. When we celebrate this Solemnity, we ask for Mary s intercession so that just as she was assumed into heaven, we may be brought to the glory of the resurrection. Dr. Claudia Maria Dado, M.A.L. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is on Friday, August 15. Masses will be at 6:30AM, 8:00AM and 7:00PM.

11 DIVINE INFANT PARISH NEWCASTLE AND CANTERBURY AVENUES WESTCHESTER, ILLINOIS Like us on Facebook REV. MICHAEL WANDA, Pastor (ext. 203) REV. GERALD JOYCE, Pastor Emeritus (ext. 206) REV. THOMAS WINIKATES, Associate (ext. 204) DEACON JAMES SPONDER (ext. 306) MR. LEONARD GRAMAROSSA, School Principal SR. SUSAN MAJCEN, O.P., Director of Religious Education Website: divineinfant.archchicago.org Rectory: 1601 Newcastle Avenue, Fax number: School: 1640 Newcastle Avenue, & Office of Religious Education: Parish Nurse, Ms. Jeannette Barczak, BSN, HTP, Bereavement Ministry: Dr. Claudia Dado, MAL (ext. 304) Choir Director: Mrs. Janet Reif, Organist: Mrs. Judy Schindler, Business Manager: Mr. Jerry Priore, (ext. 209) Youth Minister: Mr. Jim Negrete, (ext. 307) Rectory Secretary: Mrs. Toni Podock, (ext. 201) SUNDAY MASSES: 7:30, 9:30 & SATURDAY EVENING: 5:00 pm WEEKDAY MASSES: 8:00 am SATURDAY MORNING: 8:00 am HOLY DAY MASSES: 6:30, 8:00, 10:00 am and 7:00 pm SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: (Confession) Saturday: In the Reconciliation Room 4:00 to 4:45 pm or by appointment. BAPTISMS: Baptisms are celebrated on the 2nd & 3rd Sundays of the month at 12:45 pm. By Archdiocesan regulation and parish policy, parents are required to attend a Baptismal Preparation session before the Baptism of their child. These sessions will usually be held on the first Sunday afternoon of the month. Call the secretary at the rectory ( ) to register for the session and schedule the Baptism. D.I.V.M. SERVICES: Communion to the sick, food shopping, necessary transportation, emergency meals, transportation to Mass. Resource information also available. If you need help from any of these services, please let us know as much in advance as possible so the chairpersons can make arrangements and the volunteers arrange their schedules. If you are able to volunteer to help provide these services to our parishioners, we can always use more help. Please call the rectory at WEDDINGS: Couples should contact the rectory and speak to a priest shortly after the engagement, but no less than four months before the desired wedding day. No date should be set (especially in reserving a hall) for your wedding until you have spoken to a priest. In this way, you will not be disappointed if the church has been previously reserved for another ceremony. Please keep in mind the times that are available for weddings at Divine Infant: SATURDAYS 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm WEEKDAYS Any reasonable hour

12 CHURCH NAME & NUMBER Divine Infant #9216 ADDRESS 1601 Newcastle, Westchester, Il PHONE CONTACT PERSON Elsie Masterson (ext. 302) after 5:30 pm SOFTWARE Microsoft Publisher 2003 Windows XP Professional Adobe Acrobat 6.0 PRINTER HP Laserjet 5P NUMBER OF PAGES SENT Cover through 12 SUNDAY DATE OF BULLETIN August 3, 2014 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS