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Page Two Second Sunday of Advent December 7, 2008 MONDAY, December 8, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8:30am People of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish 7:00pm People of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish TUESDAY, December 9, Advent Weekday 8:30am Deceased Members of Hradisky Family Edward Zondlo, Esther Clarke WEDNESDAY, December 10, Advent Weekday 8:30am Margaret Januszewski, Kathleen Moriarty THURSDAY, December 11, St. Damasus I 8:30am Nancy A. Gibson, Robert de La Cruz FRIDAY, December 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe 8:30am Roman R. Karwat, John Mirocko Betty Grote, Margaret Grabowski SATURDAY, December 13, St. Lucy 8:30am Mary Aliotta, Margaret Scaggs 5:00pm Mary Aliotta, Helen Kulczyk Deceased Members of Roemmelt Family Catherine Pechart SUNDAY, December 14, Third Sunday of Advent 7:30am Leonard Kozlowski, Joe Pachocha Deceased Members of Calandrino & Murphy Families 9:00am Dean Grabowski, Margaret Grabowski Dennis Kroll, Evelyn Huhn 10:30am Jean Marie Gresik Paul & Francesca Venetico 12:00pm Mary Shirley Baldonieri, Marie, Clara & Genevieve Havlik RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS Next weekend there will be a second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. The average Catholic sister, brother, or religious order priest remains in active ministry until age 74. Today, 37,870 women and men religious are past age 70 and need our help with the current high cost of living and health care. Share in the Care. To learn more, visit www.retiredreligious.org. Please remember in your prayers those who have died recently especially, Dolores McDowall, Helen Levoe, Pat Gross and Giuseppfina Barbieri. Second Sunday of Advent The prophet Isaiah speaks words of hope and comfort to the exiled community, announcing to Jerusalem that her exile will soon be over. He calls the people to conversion crying out, prepare the way of the Lord!, for God s glory will be revealed and he will come in power to redeem his people. St. Peter tells his followers that the promised day of the Lord will come; that God s patience is directed toward the salvation of all. He exhorts them to live righteously and to wait patiently for the Lord s return. Mark begins his gospel quoting the prophet Isaiah, declaring that God will send his messenger who will bring the good news of salvation. He calls the people to prepare the way of the Lord, making straight his paths. John the Baptist appears, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John announces the coming of the Messiah who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Today s scriptures call us to prepare ourselves in eager anticipation of the coming of our Savior. Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11 2 Peter 3: 8-14 Mark 1: 1-8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception On Monday we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a defined doctrine of the Church that Mary was conceived without original sin as part of God s plan for our salvation. Mary was filled of grace so that she could be the perfect tabernacle for the infant Jesus, God himself entering our human condition. Because she was conceived without sin she was able to open herself completely to the will of God in perfect humility. Thus she is our model as well as our mother. What God did for Mary through her Immaculate Conception he does for us in baptism, opening up for us the possibility of salvation. We appropriate this grace when we, like Mary, say yes to God s will in perfect trust and humility. Monday December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is a Holy Day of Obligation. Our mass times are: 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. (School Mass) 7:00 p.m. Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Luke 1:26-38

December 7, 2008 Second Sunday of Advent Page Three Today, the second Sunday of Advent, we hear glad tidings of the coming of the Messiah. We are caught up in the joyful anticipation of the people of Israel for the coming of the kingdom; and like them, we are called to do our part to prepare the way. Isaiah announces the mercy and compassion of God for his people. Today s reading is part of Isaiah s Book of Consolation, announcing the imminent end of the Exile and the return to the land of Israel. Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Prefiguring today s gospel reading, a voice cries out, In the desert prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Isaiah goes on to declare that God will come in power and be the Good Shepherd for his people. St. Peter also tells us of the coming of the kingdom. His listeners had begun to doubt the promise of Christ s return. St. Peter responds that the Lord is not delaying but rather is patient because he wills that all people be saved. He calls us to await in eager anticipation of the Lord s return. He also calls his listeners to live righteously, in holiness and devotion. He says that this will hasten the coming of the kingdom. It is not that our behavior influences God s plan, but because by our good example others will be led to faith. St. Mark begins his gospel, not with the infancy of Jesus, but with John the Baptist announcing the beginning of Jesus public ministry. St. Mark announces John the Baptist as the forerunner crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord! In fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, John announces the coming of the Messiah. John preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (our preparation) and proclaims that one greater than he is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. The readings are full of hope, comfort and joy. God will come to take care of his people. The Messiah will come to usher in the kingdom of God. Christ will come and baptize with the Holy Spirit. What is only apparent later, after the resurrection of Christ, is that the promise of the Holy Spirit is nothing less than God himself dwelling within us. Truly reason for joyful anticipation. This reading is both the promise of God s intervention on our behalf and a call to action. John the Baptist calls for a conversion, a repentance of sins. Isaiah declares an expiation of guilt after a time of penance (the exile). St. Peter calls us to live in righteousness, holiness and devotion. This is the path in the desert that makes straight the wasteland of our lives. It opens us up to receive the grace, love and compassion of our God for whom we long with joyful hearts this Advent season. I am very gratified by the generosity of our parish in response to the needs of those around us. The Amate House Food Drive enabled the restocking of several food pantries, providing literally thousands of meals. The Coat Drive for Marillac House resulted in the donation of several hundred coats. The Baby Bottle Project raised $4,636 to help the Women s Center minister to families in crisis pregnancy. Our School faculty and staff collected $100 to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to one of our parish families. Our Giving Tree is up in the vestibule of the Church to collect warm clothes for the needy and to provide Christmas gifts for the children of our sharing parish, Ascension/St. Susanna. Thank you for all you do. Our own Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur will be speaking at all the masses today on behalf of the Retirement Fund for Religious. The second collection will be held next weekend, December 13 and 14. We have a busy week ahead in our parish. Tuesday at 7:30 will be the second of our Advent Prayer services. On Wednesday the Holy Name Society will host their annual Christmas celebration. There is still time to buy tickets. On Friday the Parents Association will host their annual Visit with Santa. It promises to be an exciting week of fellowship. The Parish Town hall meeting is today at 1:15 p.m. (after the noon mass) in the Church. I will keep you informed of any new initiatives. My thanks to our Parish Council Steering Committee for organizing and hosting this event. Have a great week. Sincerely,

Page Four Second Sunday of Advent December 7, 2008 SHARE YOUR BLESSINGS WITH OTHERS THIS HOLDIDAY SEASON Our Giving Tree stands beautifully in the vestibule. Please place unwrapped items under it for people in need here at St. Robert Bellarmine and for Marillac House. In addition, there are paper ornaments on the tree that have the names of children from our sharing parish. Feel free to take one of these ornaments and buy a special gift for someone from Ascension-St. Susanna. Please return presents for Ascension-St. Susanna by December 16 at the latest. MUSIC NOTES During the season of Advent we will be using a different musical setting for the Eucharistic acclamations. A Community Mass was written by Chicago s own Richard Proulx. An internationally renowned composer, Proulx was Music Director at Holy Name Cathedral Here in Chicago, from 1980-1994. He has written over 300 works, including many intended for liturgical use. In his long career Proulx has received many prestigious awards, most recently, just this past October, the McManus Award from the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions. This award recognizes those who have significant contributions to liturgy in the United States. Proulx is the first musician to receive this award. Looking for Alumni s If you graduated from St. Robert Bellarmine School then you are the person we are looking for. We are planning a get together in the Spring of 2009. If you would like to be part of this event call the school office at 773-725-5133 or go on line to srbchicago.org and download an alumni contact card and mail it back to us at St. Robert Bellarmine School, 6036 W. Eastwood Avenue, Chgo, IL 60630. We need your help! Holiday time is fast approaching, and the choir could use some extra singers. If you like to sing, please consider joining the choir as seasonal help through Advent and Christmas. Rehearsals are Thursdays from 7:00pm until 9:00pm in the church. The choir sings at 9:00am mass Sundays, and will sing for midnight mass. What better way to celebrate the birth of our Savior! For more information please call Jean Tuohy at 773-286-0956, or just show up for rehearsal. HOLLY/HOBBY FAIR Saint Robert Bellarmine School will hold their annual Holly Hobby Fair Friday, December 5th 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Sixth thru Eighth Grade will be selling their handmade Christmas Crafts in the school basement. Baked goods will also be sold. Please stop by and support our school. Presents ENTERTAINMENT BY TONY OCEAN KNOWN IN VEGAS, NY, CHICAGO. HIS PERSONALITY EMBODIES THE POPULAR STYLE AND SONG OF DEAN MARTIN, FRANK SINATRA, TONY BENNETT, BOBBY DARIN AND TOM JONES. Dinner & Show $24.00 per person in Kernaghan Hall. Doors open at 6pm. Dinner at 7pm. Seating is limited. Mail or drop off your payment at the rectory, 4646 N. Austin Ave. All reservations must be received by December 8th. We will accept raffle donations prior to December 9. Please drop them off at the rectory.

December 7, 2008 Second Sunday of Advent Page Five School Update There will be a full day of School on Wednesday, December 18, as per the official school schedule sent home. The December calendar in the bulletin erroneously listed a half day. The parish calendar has been corrected to reflect the full day. We apologize for any confusion. Baby Bottle Project Thanks to your generosity our parish raised $4,636 in funds for the Women s Center s Baby Bottle Project. I received a very nice letter of appreciation, expressing their gratitude for all that you have done to help families in crisis pregnancy. The Women s Center has a very prayerful Adoration Chapel where mass is celebrated every Monday through Friday, except holidays, at 12:00 noon. I have helped out for the past nine years. I am usually scheduled for the first Monday of the month. Upcoming dates when I will celebrate mass are January 5, February 2 and March 2, 2009. All are welcome! PLEASE JOIN US! St. Robert s will have a Family Mass every third Sunday at 10:30am. Following is the mass schedule: December 21, 2008: Advent Mass & Choir Blessing January 18, 2009: Catechetical Team Blessing February 15: First Communion Family Mass March 15: Lenten Family Mass April 19: Confirmation Family Mass May 17: Easter Family Mass & Sport Team Blessing June 7: School Year End Family Mass & Student Blessing In addition: January 25: 12:00 Noon: Catholic Schools Week Family Mass & School Open Mass March 22: 10:30am Volleyball Student Blessing April 26: 10:30am Girl Scout Blessing & Cookie Sale After Mass PRAYER GROUP Get ready for the coming of the Lord by joining the mom prayer group. We will get together on Tuesday, December 9, 16, 23 & 30 in Kernaghan Hall right after we drop off the children at school. FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP NOVEMBER 22/23 Offertory $6,339.00 Sharing Ascension/St. Susanna $ 46.98 Campaign for Human Development $2,762.00 NOVEMBER 29/30 Offertory $7,607.00 Sharing Ascension/St. Susanna $ 91.92 Thank you for your generosity! Preparing the way: John the Baptist and Advent The St. Constance Parish Pastoral Council s on-going adult education series, Faith for All Seasons continues with two free sessions on Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday, December 4 from 7pm-8pm in the parish s Borowczyk Hall, 5856 W. Ainslie, Chicago. Light refreshments will be served on both nights. Questions may be directed to John Reynolds at 773-775-1757. IRA Charitable Opportunity: Time is Running Out Make Charitable Gifts Directly from your IRA. There s not much time left to make tax-free distributions from an IRA to St. Robert Bellarmine Church or School. If you are 70 1/2 or older, you may make charitable gifts through 12/31/08 up to $100,000 from your IRA. BENEFITS: Gifts qualify as your required IRA contribution. Gifts are excluded from your income and are not taxable to you. Gifts can be made from a Traditional or Roth IRA. Assets are removed from your estate saving your heirs potential taxes. Lessons & Carols Saturday, December 13 7:30pm Immaculate conception Church 7211 W. Talcott Ave., Chicago (773) 775-3833 This service will include Old and New Testament readings that recount the story of Christ s birth, as well as music led by the parish Choir, Handbell Choir, the contemporary band Disciples of Rhythm, the children s choir and a children s handbell and chime choir.

Page Six Second Sunday of Advent December 7, 2008 We Pray For Our Troops Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands; protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need, and bring them home safely. May their sacrifices bring about a lasting and just peace in those lands in which they serve. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Amen. Edward Bell (Army) Staff Sergeant Timothy R. Hogan (Marines) Sergeant Steven Sullivan (Marines) Raymond Weernink (Navy) 2nd Lieutenant Christopher Engelhardt (Air Force) Captain Kevin P. O Grady (Air Force) Captain Dan Allen (Army) Brigadier General Tau aika Uta atu (Tongan Defense) Sergeant Joseph Konieczny (Army) Mike Janson (Navy) Lance Corporal Kurt Williams (Marines) Specialist Sean Cheker (Army) Bernard Brennan, (Marines) Lance Corporal Michael Zuba (Marines) SPC Michael Amenitsch (Army) Private James A. Gaudio (Army) CM Sergeant Bruce Heinzen (Air Force) CPL Jason R. Reyna (Marines) Sergeant Scott Pekar (Marines) CM Sergeant Diane Foote (Air Force) Private Colleen McDonald (Army) Micha Barcus (Coastguard) 1st Lieutenant Albert Eiffes (Air Force) Private 2 Michael Rosenthal (Army) EM3 Abraham Inoa (Navy) 1st Lieutenant Lauren Eiffes (Air Force) Captain Patrick J. Collins (Army) Private Ewa Dabrowski (Navy) First Lieutenant Brian G. Lutz (Army) Richie Sullivan (Marines) Lieutenant Commander Daniel Moll (Navy) Monday, December 8 Immaculate Conception Masses at 8:30am, 10:30am & 7:00pm Children s Choir, 3-4pm (C) Tuesday, December 9 Novena, 7pm (C) Advent Prayer Service, 7:30pm (C) Wednesday, December 10 Holy Name Christmas Party, 6pm (KH) Christmas Concert, 1-1:30pm (C) Thursday, December 11 Girl Scout, 2:45pm-8pm (KH) P.A. Visit with Santa Set up (KH) Choir, 7pm-9pm (C) Friday, December 12 P.A. Visit with Santa, 7pm-9pm (KH) Sunday, December 14 2nd Collection-Retired Religious (C) Advent Family Mass, 10:30am (C) Baptisms, 1:15pm (C) #0965 $500 Mike & Cheryl Conway #0358 $200 Ryan Fitte #0895 $100 James Kelly #0037 $100 Ed Day #0520 $ 50 Sara Boucek #0960 $ 50 Marilu Priebe #0348 $ 30 Angelo Casino #1100 $ 30 Concepcion Garcia #0005 $ 30 Margaret Conway #1596 $ 30 Karen Demarke #2269 $ 30 St. Robert Bellarmine School #0875 $ 30 Nina de Los Santos #1510 $ 30 Mary Kaszynski #0106 $ 30 Elizabeth Labant #1375 $ 30 George Kulpinski #1120 $ 30 Terry Alexander #0018 $ 30 Winiarski Gima #0161 $ 30 Evan & Jillian Louie #0714 $ 30 Jeri Ann Gaddini #0550 $ 30 Elsie Mitchell #1180 $ 30 Emily Kelly MASS SCHEDULE december 13/14 MASS PRESIDER SERVERS LECTORS AUXILIARY MINISTERS 5:00pm Fackler Eric Wilson, Michael Medina Kathleen Hughes Walter Felckowski Jim Ryan, Mary Ryan, Lee Puttrich 7:30am Fr. Scott Donahue Shona Coleman, Nicole Johnson Ashlye Jegen Bill Hennessy Mary Ann Furphy, Noreen Hester, Esther Clarke 9:00am Fr. Scott Donahue Zachary Stefanski, Jamie Borkowski Sarah Clinard Michael Brennan Pat Fergus, Kathy Fergus, Annette Giegoldt 10:30am Fackler Matthew Eifert, Katarina Brooks Matthew Glomski Pat Zyburt Jim Mancuso, Dolores Mancuso, Donna Kehoe, Deacon Jim Paul Eifert, Trina Eifert, Justina Rehn 12:00pm Fr. Charles Lang Julia Spina, Julianna Conway Rebecca Borghi Sheila Wisniewski Pat Mullane, Eileen Mullane, Nancy Kriescher

Rev. Neil E. Fackler, Pastor Rev. Scott Donahue, Resident Rev. Michael A. Goergen, Pastor Emeritus James Schiltz, Deacon Mrs. Carrie Mijal, School Principal Lorraine Sharpe, Coordinator of Religious Education Jean Tuohy, Music Director PARISH OFFICE AND RECTORY 4646 North Austin Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60630 Tel. 773/777-2666 Fax 773/777-2770 Website: www.srb-chicago.org Virginia Underwood, Secretary RECTORY OFFICE HOURS M-F - 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sat. - 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sun. - 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE Lorraine Sharpe, Coordinator Joyce Schoenecker, Admin. Asst. 6036 West Eastwood Avenue Tel. 773/286-0956 ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE SCHOOL Mrs. Carrie Mijal, Principal 6036 West Eastwood Avenue Tel. 773/725-5133 OFFICE OF MUSIC DIRECTOR Jean Tuohy 6036 West Eastwood Avenue Tel. 773/286-0956 BULLETIN Beverly O Connor, Editor 773/777-2666 BULLETIN DEADLINE Saturday by 12 Noon in the rectory for the following Sunday (8 days in advance). PULPIT ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINE Friday by 6:00 p.m. in the rectory. MASS SCHEDULE Weekdays - Monday through Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Weekends - Saturday Evening at 5:00 p.m. Sundays at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon Holy Days - 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. WEDDINGS Arrangements should be made with a priest or deacon at least six months in advance. Please contact the rectory for date and time availability before making other arrangements. BAPTISMS Celebrated the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 1:15 p.m. Parents need to contact the rectory to register for a baptism. Please note: there are no baptisms scheduled during the season of Lent. Preparation Class is on the last Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the rectory. CONFESSIONS/RECONCILIATION Saturday afternoons from 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. or by appointment. ANOINTING OF THE SICK First Saturday of the month after the 8:30 a.m. mass. NEW PARISHIONERS Welcome to Saint Robert s! Please register at the parish rectory office. NOVENA Mother of Perpetual Help Novena is offered on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the church. RECITATION OF THE ROSARY Monday through Saturday at 8:00 a.m.