28th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 15, 2017 Pastoral Staff Pastor Rev. Denis Condon Associate Pastor Rev. Henry Kricek Pastor Emeritus Rev. John Hergenrother Deacon Mr. Dave Brencic, 485-6614 School Principal & Faith Formation Coordinator Ms. AnnMarie Mahay Youth Minister Mrs. Karyn Miller Business Manager Ms. Lynn Waterloo Music Director Mr. Jim Harrold, 201-755-7716 Secretary/Bulletin Editor TBD, 352-7388 Spiritual Companion Mrs. Jane Kucera, 579-1785 Parish Council Chair Ms. Marcy Fishback, 352-7570 Rectory 1144 Harrison Ave., 352-7388 FAX 352-0714 School 1125 Harrison, LaGrange Park, 352-2202 Faith Formation 482-8814 Weekend Mass Schedule Saturday Evening: 5:00 p.m.; Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:00 a.m. Weekday: Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. Sacraments and Ministries Reconciliation/Confessions Saturdays 4:00 4:30 p.m. or on request. Baptisms Second Sunday: 12:30 p.m. A baptismal class is necessary prior to scheduling a Baptism. Marriage Contact the rectory six months prior to wedding. Home Communion Visits Contact the Rectory 352-7388 Parish Nurses, 352-4322 Hours as posted in church. New Parishioners Register at the rectory or online Website www.slmparish.org E-mail parishoffice@slmparish.org Bulletin Deadline-Mondays at 10:00am Traveling? Call 1-410-676-6000 or www.masstimes.org
For the past couple of weeks I have been noting the changes in our world and our nation. Our Church has not been immune to change either. Statistics reports have documented the leaking of parishioners from our Church. Our schools, even those seemingly flourishing schools, are slowly leaking students as well. Along with this decline secularism grows, enticing our people to join the largest religious denomination in the US today - the nones, that is those who, when asked which religion they belong to, respond none. This slow switching from Christian to None is occurring throughout the dioceses of the United States to the point that our Archbishop, Cardinal Cupich, has stated that our country can no longer be considered Christian. This is serious stuff, at least it should be to us. If we ve been charged by Jesus to make disciple of all nations (that is evangelize), we re failing miserably. Fr. Lou Cameli, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in his book Church, Faith and Future responding to this challenge looks at the factors that has spawn secularization. Then he asks, who is the Church? We can look at the Church as an institution with set structure and leaders. We ve taken this stance for centuries which has led many to expect the Church to take action. However, Pope Francis has reminded us in The Joy of the Gospel that we are the Church. Evangelization is the task of the Church. The Church, as the agent of evangelization, is more than an organic and hierarchic institution; she is first and foremost a people advancing on its pilgrim way towards God. And again, All the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization, and it would be insufficient to envisage a plan of evangelization to be carried out by professionals while the rest of the faithful would simple be passive recipients. [emphasis is mine] In other words, we re on for doing what s needed to change things Fr. Cameli suggests three responses to this news: do nothing new; become a smaller, more committed Church; or reclaim the dynamism of the Gospel. To do nothing means to continue as we are until, to use his words, the batteries run out. This option risks our accepting defeat, sticking our heads in the sand like ostriches pretending nothing is wrong. One of the more serious temptations which stifles boldness and zeal is a defeatism which turns us into querulous and disillusioned pessimists. (Pope Francis) Accepting this option also closes our ears to the Holy Spirit s call which can lead to a disavowal of our being children of God. To become a smaller, more committed Church risks reducing us to an elitist, exclusionary group and that point of view finds no justification in the Gospels. That leaves only reclaim the dynamism of the Gospel, which is precisely what Renew My Church (RMC) proposes to do. Facing the current realities regarding the Church, Cardinal Cupich found direction and guidance in Jesus call to St. Francis of Assisi to renew my Church. Since the dioceses of the US all share in the current situation, Cardinal Cupich investigated what the other dioceses were doing to address the situation. Many responded to the structural realities: shrinking number of priests and shrinking congregations leading to closing parishes and consolidating or closing schools. Card. Cupich seeing the resistance of the people and the pain caused chose to find another way. That s when he turned to St. Francis experience. The Church needed to change in St. Francis time and his response to the call of Christ brought a change of heart which led to change of structure. That s what he wants for us. We need a change of heart which will help us, the people of God, to address our situation, becoming evangelizers. [Don t be afraid of that word. It s a word meaning to make disciples. How we do that is up to us.] Ask yourselves a question: are the buildings that make up my parish more important than faith in God who always walks with us along the journey of life? Our faith is the light for the world to find salvation. Our parish is merely the lamp stand that holds that light high. It s the light that s important. Lamps come in all styles and shapes. We are the light to the world because of our faith in God through Jesus Christ. Let s not forget that. Father Denis Page 2
Monday, Oct. 16 11am- 6pm Haunted Hse Setup C 6:30pm Play Practice PC/rm 216 6:30pm Boy Scouts - C Tuesday, Oct. 17 3pm 6:30pm 7pm Wednesday, Oct. 18 7pm Adoration Bereavement Support - M SPRED - Church Adoration Thursday, Oct. 19 4:30pm SPRED M 6pm Cub Scout Mtg -C 7pm Scout Committee Mtg - C Friday, Oct. 20 3pm 5:30pm 6:30pm 7pm Saturday, Oct. 21 Jr. High Teen Club -C/PC Teen Club - C Haunted House Opens - C SPRED - Church Haunted House - C Sunday, Oct. 22 9:30am SPRED Mass - Church 12 Noon Bingo - PC 2pm Haunted House - M 6pm Play Practice -PC/M 6pm BEDS -C 8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous-R Our Next Bingo is Sunday, October 22 in the Parish Center - Doors Open at Noon, 1st Game begins at 2:00pm. Raffles, Pull Tabs, Door Prizes Winning Numbers for the following drawings: August Y 31 September S 41 The Catholic Women s Organization invites you to our International Luncheon on Sunday October 15 from 11am to 2pm in the Parish Center. ITALIAN-CZECH-MEXICAN FOOD with all the trimmings will be served. There also will be entertainment. All for only $10 per person, $5 for children. Tickets on sale before and after all Masses in the back of church. Stop by after Mass and have lunch with us. For info, call Denise at 708/352-4633. LOOKING FOR CRAFTERS ST. LOUISE HOLIDAY BAZAAR November 18 CONTACT JANE STEGER 708/228-1739 or jpsteger@yahoo.com Men s Overnight Retreat The Need for Mercy will be the theme of the annual Men s Overnight Retreat Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3-4, at St. Mary s Retreat House in Lemont. All men are invited to come and join us. The retreat will include reflections, discussions, quiet time, the sacrament of Reconciliation and Mass. St. Mary s also has beautiful grounds with an outside rosary grotto and Stations of the Cross. The retreat will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and end by 3 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $50 and includes breakfast and lunch. For more information, call Deacon Dave Brencic at (708) 485-6614. Page 3
Enroll in Electronic Giving Do You want to transition away from envelopes & contribute electronically? It is SO EASY! Visit our Website www.slmparish.org & click the Donate Now button. Click on events to which you would like to contribute (weekly and special collections). Enter your profile & payment information. If you have questions or need help, call our Rectory at 708-352-7388 or email ParishOffice@SLMparish.org. ST. BARBARA S BUNCO PARTY FUNDRAISER October 15 2:30-4:30pm St. Barbara Parish Center, 4015 Prairie Avenue in Brookfield. Ticket Donation $5 advance and $6 at door. Men and women over 21 are welcome. Try your luck at Split-the-Pot and Split-the- Deck for ca$h prizes. Call Dolores at 708-334-2117 for tickets. Proceeds help support the Food Pantry and other sponsored programs. Page 4
Teen Club The next Teen Club (both 7th and 8th Grade and High School) will be Friday, November 10, due to Haunted House. Come and help build and scare! Haunted House SignUp Genius Sign up to work on this year's Haunted House! 7th and 8th graders must sign up if they wish to attend a work shift. High school youth can drop in; however, it helps our planning if you sign up. Shifts with no one signed up 4 hours before the shift may be cancelled; monitor this site to be sure we'll be there! SignUp Genius link: tinyurl.com/slmhh2017 LaGrange Area Church League St. Louise Youth Ministry is again planning to put together High School boys basketball teams to participate in the local Church League basketball program. The team or teams will be sponsored by St. Louise Youth Ministry and coordinated and run by Greg Ripoli. All High School boys who are not on the roster of their High School basketball team are eligible to participate. Most team members must be members of the sponsoring parish. The league runs from December through March. Most games will be played on Saturdays and some Sundays. Practices will be at St. Louise, and games will be at St. Louise and other local parishes. Contact Greg Ripoli or Karyn Miller to sign up. Holy Fire Middle School Conference The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry is sponsoring its second middle school youth conference on October 21 at the UIC Pavilion. Information and permission forms are available on the Faith Formation page of the St. Louise parish website, under Weekly News and Handouts, or contact Karyn Miller if you are interested. Just5Days Middle School Service Trip St. Louise de Marillac Parish is very excited to again be participating in the Just5Days program this summer, a summer service program designed just for middle schoolers, sponsored by the Center for Ministry Development. This program provides a five-day experience for middle schoolers that includes three days of direct service to those in need, as well as experiences to help middle schoolers learn about justice and to bring their experiences to God within prayer and liturgy. We are planning to participate in the Just5Days being held in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, the week of June 18-22. Two students from St. Louise participated in this program last summer, and enjoyed many exciting experiences of service, learning, and praise and worship of Jesus Christ. There will be a meeting on October 25 at 6:45 in room 209 for those who are interested in participating. More information is available on the Parent Resources page of the school website. Meals from the Heart On November 7, we will again be preparing dinner for families who are staying at Ronald McDonald House near Loyola Medical Center while their children are undergoing medical treatment. There is room for six 7th and 8th graders and three high school students There will be a planning meeting for those participating at 12:30 on Sunday, November 12 in the Teen Room.. Contact Karyn Miller if you would like to go. Page 5
October 16-22 Monday, 8:30 - Marian Robles RDGS: Rom 1:1-7; Ps 98:1-4; Lk 11:29-32 Tuesday, 8:30 - RDGS: Rom 1:16-25; Ps 19:2-5; Lk 11:37-41 Wednesday, 8:30 - Berry Family, Scott Ricardson RDGS: Tm 4:10-l7b; Ps 145:10-13, 17-18; Lk 10:1-9 Thursday, 8:30 - Chester & Marcella Potyrala RDGS: Rom 3:21-30 ; Ps 130:1b-6ab; Lk 11:47-54 Friday, 8:30 - RDGS: Rom 4:1-8 ; Ps 32:1b-2, 5, 11; Lk 12:1-7 Saturday 5:00 - Joseph & Elizabeth Smuda, Michael Makysym, Virginia Swinehamer Family Sunday 7:30 - Karaba & Chudy Families 9:30 - Dorinda DeLuca, SPRED Mass 11:00 - Claire Amodeo, Thomas Mazur, Roberto, Maria, & Lydia Mitre Presiders October 21 October 22 Confessions - Fr. Henry 7:30 - Fr. Henry 5:00 - Fr. Henry 9:30 - Fr. Denis 11:00 - Fr. Denis October 28 October 29 5:00 - K. Bell 7:30 - M. Koutek 9:30 - SPRED 11:00 - D. Porras, M. Miller Eucharistic Ministers October 28 5:00 - R. & B. Stepina, J. & W. Lisiecki, D. Desanto, P. Hammerschmitt, P. Thorburn Altar Servers Mon., Wed., Fri., October 16-18 - 20 8:30 - P. Steger, J. Camarena Tues., Thurs., October 17-19 8:30 - J. Steger, T. Bosshart Sat., 5:00 - M. O Meara, S. Santos Sun., 7:30 - J. Steger, P. Steger 9:30 - Z. Jaksa, A. Roussin 11:00 - A. Porras, H. Mahay, A. Sylvie Our Sympathy to the families of Madelyn Ramelli Adella Zjawinski Gladys Mangaras Wedding Banns Amy Mynaugh & Mark Cavers Jennifer Markadonatos & David Riordan WEEKLY OFFERTORY October 29 7:30 - W. & K. Prokop, A. Janacek, A. Porras, DEACON 9:30 - S. Lifka, B. & M. Garvey, D. Parcel, P. Sadowski, M. Sinde, G. Witkowski 11:00 - Jo. & Ja. Gaske, R. Kappeler, B. Koll, C. Korabik, C. Lemkau, J. Zalig Page 6