The Family of Our Lady of Loretto Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time February 19, 2017
OUR LADY OF LORETTO HOMETOWN - OAK LAWN Page 2 Dear Parish Family, In today's Gospel we hear Jesus tell his disciples how they should conduct themselves when they are faced with hurt and hatred. Jesus takes the Law that he has received: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The Law stated: "Anyone who injures a neighbor shall receive the same in return, broken limb for broken limb, eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. As the injury inflicted, so will be the injury suffered." (Lev.24:19f) This might sound like a savage law, but it was introduced as a legal practice to limit blood feuds between communities. In traditional tribal life, if a man of one tribe injured a man of another tribe, there could be outright war in which all the members of both tribes were involved. There were no limitations on the revenge. The law of "an eye for an eye" limited the retaliation to the penalty of the same injury. Therefore, the law was merciful in its time. Jesus, however, rejects this law. The disciples must not allow another person's hostility to be their reason for action. Their response is taken from the nature of their discipleship, not from the wrong that they have experienced. A disciple's actions, Jesus argues, is not related to the love or lack of love they receive from others. The disciple loves because that is the nature of discipleship to love as God loves us. The love is offered not because Jesus thinks that it will change the enemy into something else. Certainly, love might confuse him! Love is offered because that is what a disciple of the kingdom should do. His script proceeds from who he is, not from what he receives from others. Jesus does not believe that love transforms enemies into instant friends. But, love is his way and it defines who Christ is and who we are as his disciples. Sincerely, Fr. Tom
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2017 Page 3 News and notes Congratulations to Bryanna Kapjon, who made the Dean s List (GPA of 5.0 or better) in the first semester of Marist High School s 2016-2017 academic year. Keep up the good work!! Don t Forget the Men s Club Left-Right-Center Games this Sunday at 1pm. Free to all ladies of the Parish, and refreshments will be available for a nominal charge. A Worth Township Bus Trip to the Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21. You will leave Worth Township (11601 S. Pulaski, Alsip), at 9:30am, and return by 3:30pm. The cost is $45 and includes transportation and admission. Payment due by February 24 th. Sign up and pay at the Worth Township Senior Room, or call 708-371-2900 x28. Worldwide Marriage Encounter: Encourage the Holy Spirit to perfect your marriage by taking part in a WorldWide Marriage Encounter weekend on April 7-9, 2017, June 9-11, 2017, or August 11-13, 2017, all at Elk Grove Village, IL. Early registration is highly recommended. For reservations/information, call Jim & Kris at 630-577-0778 or contact us through http://wwmechicagoland.org. St. Patrick s Day Celebration March 9 The 13th Annual St. Patrick s Day Celebration will be held on Thursday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m. at FitzGerald s in Berwyn. The event will feature great Irish fare, beer and wine. Entertainment by The Shannon Rovers, The McNulty Irish Dancers, and the Irish Musicians Association-Chicago will be a highlight. Proceeds benefit Catholic Charities programs for the homeless and disadvantaged in western Cook County. Reservations are $60 prior to March 6 and $65 after and at the door. Sponsorships are also available. For more information and to register, visit www.catholiccharities.net/stpats or contact Esmeralda Zepeda at ezepeda@catholiccharities.net or (730) 329-4022. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION In brushing up for Catholic Jeopardy, it might help to know that there is only one feast on the calendar for a thing, rather than a person or mystery. It s for a chair: Saint Peter s chair, in fact. After the Resurrection, there can be no doubt that the disciples reserved a special place for Simon Peter in the upper room. Later, Peter became the bishop of Antioch in today s Syria, the place where we were first called Christians. From there, he went to Rome, the center of the Empire, where it is said that Peter sat in a chair in the house of Priscilla and Aquila to instruct his flock. Jesus, in entrusting the keys of the Kingdom to Peter and his successors, entrusted his compassion and mercy to them, and charged them with pointing to the Kingdom of God. Compassion and mercy are to resonate through their teaching. Since the ancient sign of a teacher is the chair ( disciple literally means one who sits at the feet of a teacher), Peter s chair has long been treasured. Today there is a symbolic shrine of Peter s chair above the main altar of St. Peter s Basilica in Rome. This monument is the last work of Bernini, a huge bronze throne supported by four doctors of the Church: Augustine and Ambrose from the Western Church, and Chrysostom and Athanasius from the East. High above it is the alabaster window of the descent of the Holy Spirit. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. THE HEAVIEST LOAD A chip on the shoulder is the heaviest load anyone can carry. Anonymous
Page 4 THOSE TO SERVE AT LITURGY ON FEBRUARY 25 & 26 5 PM SAT. 8:30 AM SUN. 11:15 AM SUN. L- J. McKnight D. Heitz S. Lindsay EM- L. Hovel N. Jeffery K. Gilmartin EM- J. Coffelt D. Grochowski T. Gilmartin EM- P. Sulick B. Thome T. Kramer EM- G. Companion L. Thome M. Pannaralla New Ministry Schedules are available in the back of the Church, and on the Parish website. Sunday Readings for February 26 First reading: Isaiah 49: 14-15 Second reading: 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5 Gospel: Matthew 6: 24-34 Ann Contorno Joan Dobrowits Debbie Heitz Keith Slansky Frank Roti Mark Ryan Brian Coughlin Kayla Smyth Dean Ojeda Rose Kennedy Marion Youngman Peggy Wayne Pray for our Sick Anthony DiCola Jericho Jeffrey DeVivo Mary Bridgeman Bob Bridgeman, Sr. Michele Vogel Karen Javorski James Stewart Helen Morong Mary Kenny Jim Cooney Therese Lederer Bill Showtis Mass Intentions Sunday, February 19 8:30 - Joe Pacourek Edward Polak People of the Parish 11:15 - Stephen Walsh Daniel J. Walsh, Sr. James L. Walsh Monday, February 20 8:15 - For Those Who Protect Our Country Tuesday, February 21 8:15 - Purgatorial Society Wednesday, February 22 8:15 - For All Caregivers Thursday, February 23 8:15 - Patrick Harden Eileen Kent Friday, February 24 8:15 - People of the Parish Saturday, February 25 8:15 - For Those in Need of Prayers 5 PM - Timothy Byrne Michelle Peters Sunday, February 26 8:30 - Joe Pacourek People of the Parish 11:15 - Stephen Walsh Eileen Kramer
Page 5 February 5, 2017 Received: $4766.00 +Direct Deposits: 2215.00 $6981.00 Year-to-Date Figure Collected: $144,752.00 (Latin America Collection: $429.00) February 12, 2017 Received: $2921.00 +Direct Deposits: 520.00 $3441.00 Sun. 19th Mon. 20th Tues. 21st Wed. 22nd Thurs. 23rd Fri. 24th - the week ahead - RE Classes, 9:30-11:00am Family Mass (Grade 8) 11:15am Men s Club Left-Right-Center Games Ipm. Scouts, 6:30pm Bible Study after Mass in the Rectory SPRED w/friends AA Mtg., Rm. 115, 7:30pm Girl s Night Out, Rm. 115, 7:00pm Year-to-Date Figure Collected: $148,193.00 Thank you for your support. Bulletin articles are due in writing by noon Monday. Pledges Fulfilled and Received $151,187.96 (as of February 1, 2017) Thank you for your loyalty and generosity. FOR YOUR INFORMATION: WEEKEND MASSES: WEEKDAY MASSES: 5 p.m. Saturday - 8:30 and 11:15 a.m. Sunday 8:15 a.m. - Monday thru Saturday RECONCILIATION: 4-4:45 p.m. on Saturday BAPTISMS and WEDDINGS: Please call the rectory office for information at 708-424-7471 (8:30 am to 4 pm) RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Classes for Kindergarten thru 8th grade are Sundays, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Reconciliation is received in 2nd grade, First Communion is received in 3rd grade and Confirmation is received in 8th grade. Call the RE office for more information at 708-499-0832. PARISH ORGANIZATIONS Parish Transformation Committee Ministers of Care Women s Guild Bereavement Committee Men s Club PARISH STAFF Rev. Thomas S. Cabala, Pastor Jackie Watt, Parish Office Marianne Powers, Catechetical Leader Patti Washkevich, Bulletin Editor Steve Kittler, Music Director, Parish Office OUR LADY OF LORETTO PARISH Phone: 708-424-7471 8925 South Kostner Ave. - Hometown, Illinois, 60456 www.ourladyloretto.com A Roman Catholic community, embracing the gospel of Christ, as a welcoming, caring, family of faith.
CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS Our Lady of Loretto Parish #685950 8925 S. Kostner Hometown, IL 60456 TELEPHONE 708 424-7471 CONTACT PERSON Patti Washkevich SOFTWARE MSPublisher 2000 Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Windows XP Professional PRINTER Epson Stylus 740 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION February 19, 2017 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 THROUGH 6 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS