528 Lathrop Avenue River Forest, Illinois www.stlukeparish.org Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" ~ Mark 11:9-10 Ma rch 25, 2018 Pa lm S unda y of t he Pass io n of O ur Lo rd
MASS INTENTIONS Monday, March 26 6:30 am Mary Connolly 8:00 am Josefina Santos Tuesday, March 27 6:30 am Hannah Ramos 8:00 am James G. Bauer Wednesday, March 28 6:30 am The Clark and Daley Families 8:15 am James G. Bauer Holy Thursday, March 29 7:30 pm The People of St. Luke Parish Good Friday, March 30 7:30 pm Good Friday Liturgy Holy Saturday / Easter Vigil, March 31 8:00 pm The People of St. Luke Parish Easter Sunday, April 1 7:30 am The People of St. Luke Parish 9:00 am The Williams, Karasis and Kurr Families 11:00 am Elizabeth Kennedy MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY Monday-Wednesday, March 26-28 8:00 am Servers D Devereux, A Lazos EASTER TRIDUUM Holy Thursday, March 29 7:30 pm Evening Mass of the Lord s Supper Servers P Gorman, B Greenberg, M Scelfo, M Scelfo, A Weiler Lector J Mannix Euch Min M Frank, D Kurtenbach, P Muldoon, B Nickels, S Scelfo Ushers K Frank, J Keefe, K Slepicka, H Smith Good Friday, March 30 7:30 pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord s Passion and Death Servers B Greenberg, B Hardy, 1 Needed Lector A O Connell Euch Min J Baier, B Huerta, B Peterson, H Peterson, M Peterson Ushers P Carr, J Fisher, J Morrissey, M Nelson Holy Saturday, March 31 8:00 pm Vigil Mass in the Holy Night of Easter Servers C Carr, M Carr, C Dooley, P Gorman, B Greenberg Lectors L Hogan, J Mannix, N O Malley Euch Min P Chase, B Nickels, B Peterson, H Peterson, M Peterson Ushers Z Bearden, J Fisher, M Nelson, R Nixon Easter Sunday, April 1 7:30 am Servers I Flores, C Glinke, O Tsitovich, A Vazquez Lectors M Aspiras Euch Min K Heiss, J Lynch, K Roche Ushers B Hickman, J Langton, C Maroon, M Oller 9:00 am Servers B Hardy, Z Hartwig, A Lazos, L Lazos Lectors S Price Euch Min L Amison, LM Froelich, G Hardy, R Norton, L Ortiz-Lazos, V Perera, C Saunders Ushers B Aquilino, L Driscoll, P Driscoll, J Nowicki 11:00 am Servers S Altier, C Crotty, C Leavy, M Leavy Lectors N Moore Euch Min B Elwood, D Kurtenbach, M Moore, J O Hara, K Slepicka, B Stumbris, J Stumbris Ushers D Carey, P Carr, J McInerney, 1 Needed 2 No morning Masses Thursday through Saturday Morning Prayer at 8:00 am each day - Join us! WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL FROM THE PASTOR Have a Holy Week! How will you be spending Holy Week? Any of the efforts we ve undertaken during the forty days of Lent prayer, fasting, giving up things, and concern for the poor are meant to prepare us to renew within our hearts and souls the power of Jesus saving passion, death, and resurrection. This all happens within the context of a family of faith, our parish community. It is with a prayer of great thanksgiving that I remember everyone from our parish who helped build it up even stronger, starting with all those who organized our weekly Way of the Cross (stations) and Simple Suppers. Many joined us to pray this special prayer recalling Jesus love outpoured for us from His cross. Especially beautiful was the way many volunteered to help: Mary Ann Zeh, Gino Pisani, the many parish ministries and organizations who prepared the meals, deacons, cantors, young people who served as readers, and even St. Luke School s fifth grade class who prepared one of the Friday evenings. Other people led book discussion groups. Our catechists and our parish school teachers focused their students on prayer and Lenten scriptures and faith practices. It all helped to bring us closer together. May God bless you for your efforts. The early Christians were thought to be a strange bunch. It takes a certain amount of fortitude for us, too, to stand counter-culturally each day and to make the most of the unique opportunities we have to proclaim Jesus Passion and saving Paschal mystery, the heart of the gospel of God s love. It should foster within us a need to celebrate with all our brothers and sisters, our parish community, the Easter Triduum. During this special, privileged time we have a great opportunity to reflect on God s love and mercy, made all the more evident to us throughout these sacred three days. On Holy Thursday we recall the Celebration of the Lord s Supper, his act of service carried out in the foot-washing ritual, and how our Lord instituted both the Eucharist and the priesthood. On Good Friday, we realize how good it really is when our redemption comes through Christ s passion, suffering, and death. The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday immerses us in the rich symbols of light, new life, resurrection, and salvation accomplished for us through, in, and with Christ. Join us for a Holy Week that conforms us all more closely to the Lord! ~Fr. Szmyd
Holy Week begins today on Palm Sunday. The liturgies of Holy Week are most significant and poignant because they connect us directly with the saving Paschal Mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ. We invite and encourage all our parishioners to participate fully, especially in the evening services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Holy Thursday - March 29 8:00 am Morning Prayer (no morning Masses or Confessions) 7:30 pm Evening Mass of the Lord s Supper with Foot Washing and Eucharistic Adoration, with closing prayers at 11:30 pm Good Friday - March 30 8:00 am Morning Prayer (no morning Masses or Confessions) 3:00 pm Stations of the Cross 7:30 pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord s Passion with Veneration of the Cross Holy Saturday - March 31 8:00 am Morning Prayer (no morning Masses or Confessions) 12:00 Noon Blessing of Easter Food and Easter Baskets 8:00 pm Solemn Vigil Mass in the Holy Night of Easter, the first Mass of Easter Easter Sunday - April 1 Masses at 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 am If you would still like to prepare for Easter by receiving the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, join us this Wednesday, March 28, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Confessions also will be heard immediately after the 6:30 or 8:00 am Mass on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday this week. No Confessions will be heard in church on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, or Holy Saturday. Enrich Your Celebration of the Holy Triduum The three-day celebration of the Paschal Triduum is the heart of our liturgical tradition and the heart of our Christian faith. It celebrates the great mysteries of redemption. All are welcome and encouraged to enrich the celebration of these holy days by attending the prayers with the Liturgy of the Hours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 am in church. In starting each day with prayer and reflection on the Paschal mystery of Christ, these sacred events are not just remembered but experienced in our lives. Holy Thursday: In keeping with past tradition, this special collection will be used to help those in need in our local community. This year it will benefit the Archdiocese s food pantry, counseling, and other supportive services for individuals living with HIV/ AIDS and their families in Cook and Lake counties. Good Friday: This collection is taken up throughout the world to support the sacred sites in the Holy Land. The plight of Christians in the Middle East continues to be ever more serious due to terrorism and political strife. Please use the special envelope in your packet or go online to your account with GiveCentral to make your donation. Thank you for your generous response to both of these very worthy causes. Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence. Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 and older. In addition, all those between the ages of 18 59 are to fast on this day. This means that only one full meal is taken, along with two smaller meals that together are not equal to the full meal. No food is taken between meals. Fasting helps to unite us more closely with Jesus on this day when he made the supreme sacrifice for us and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection. MARCH 25, 2018 Palm Sunday 3
4 Many thanks to all those who brought their CRS Rice Bowl to Mass today. If you forgot the Lenten sacrifices you have been collecting for the people aided by Catholic Relief Services around the world, please bring them to the rectory early this week or to any Mass next weekend. Please continue to visit crsricebowl.org as we enter into this final week of our Lenten journey. The CRS Rice Bowl website has inspirational stories about lives that have been turned around because of these Rice Bowl donations, plus intriguing recipes from all parts of the world for meatless meals, and thoughtful prayers and reflections. This final stretch of our Lenten journey challenges us to think how we can continue to serve those we encounter in our daily lives as well as people in need around the globe. Don t forget the people you ve met through these Rice Bowl Stories of Hope. Keep them in your prayers throughout the year and continue supporting Catholic Relief Services. Easter Sunday lasts for a day, but the Easter season continues on as a 50-day celebration of the central mystery of our faith: Jesus saving Paschal mystery his passion and suffering, his death on the cross, and his glorious resurrection. At these important times in the life of the Church and our parish, it is traditional for us to consider making a special offering to St. Luke Parish. Our Easter goal this year is $72,000. Your generosity is always recognized and appreciated. With your good stewardship of all the blessings and goodness that God has bestowed upon you, we will be able to meet this budgeted goal for our parish. Thank you for your considerate support of all that we do here at St. Luke! ~Fr. John WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL His Excellency Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, the Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine, presented St. Luke parishioner Max Brown with the Patriarchate s highest honor, The Latin Patriarchate Gold Medal, for his service and dedication to the Christian community in the Holy Land. Max received the award in Jerusalem while on pilgrimage with other members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, in which he serves as Lieutenant (regional superior). Max was also raised to the rank of Knight Grand Cross last October, the highest rank a Knight may attain in the Order. The Order of the Holy Sepulchre has a long history dating back to the days of the Crusades in the 11th through 13th centuries. Today it is a formal lay institution of the Church charged with providing for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to support the work of the Church in the region where the proportion of Christians ranges from 2% to 4%. St. Luke Church will be closed for cleaning after the 8:00 Mass this Monday and Tuesday. The Parish Office will be closed on Good Friday. St. Luke Parish School will start its spring break with early dismissal at 11:30 am on Holy Thursday and will resume classes on Monday, April 9. Religious Education will have no classes the next two Wednesdays, March 28 and April 4. We hope everyone has a very safe and happy holiday with friends and family!
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SCRIPTURE READINGS For Masses the week of March 26-April 1 Mon: Is 42:1-7/Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 [1a]/Jn 12:1-11 Tue: Is 49:1-6/Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17 [cf. 15ab]/Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Wed: Is 50:4-9a/Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34 [14c]/ Mt 26:14-25 Thu: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14/Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18 [cf. 1 Cor 10:16]/1 Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15 Fri: Is 52:13-53:12/Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 [Lk 23:46]/ Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9/Jn 18:1 9:42 Sat Vigil: Gn 1:1 2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a/Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 [30] or Ps 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20-22 [5b]/Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18/Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 [1]/Ex 14:15 15:1/ Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 [1b]/Is 54:5-14/Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 [2a]/Is 55:1-11/Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 [3]/Bar 3:9-15, 32 4:4/ Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 [Jn 6:68c]/Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28/Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4 [42:2] or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 [3] or Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 [12a]/Rom 6:3-11/Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23/Mk 16:1-7 Next Sun: Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 [24]/ Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7 or Lk 24:13-35 6 PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Monica Affleck, David Carlson, Bill Darley, Maureen Gamboney, Sr. Michelle Germanson OP, Robert Gorman, Kathleen Haney, Frank Kurr, Sr. Colleen Nolan OP, Kevin Nolan, Paul Novak, Nick Perisin, Fr. Paul Reicher, Patti Sheehan, Joyce Tasch, and Tom Trankina AND FOR ALL OUR DECEASED STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE Pilate again said to them, Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. ~Mark 15:12-13 Jesus told us whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me. Every day we are presented opportunities to help someone. Every day we have the opportunity to see the face of Jesus in others and be the face of Jesus to others. Pray for the strength and courage to stand up for those in need of our help. Our Weekly Offerings From the weekend of March 17/18 Weekly Budget... $15,000 Actual In-Church Contributions... $ 8,343 Actual Online Contributions... $ 1,605 TOTAL Weekly Contributions... $ 9,948 2017-2018 Fiscal Year to Date (From 7/1/17) Budget to Date... $570,000 Actual Weekly Giving... $471,143 Difference to Date for Year +/(-)... $( 98,857) We greatly appreciate the sacrifices you make to support the mission and ministry of St. Luke Church. WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL The Prime Timers will be playing Bridge tomorrow (Monday) in the Hospitality House starting at Noon. They play until 2:30 pm. Newcomers are welcome so please join them for an entertaining session of cards and conversation. Please remember these couples in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Marriage: Gregory Sobcak and Lauren Visek to be wed April 27 William Allen and Kathleen Haley to be wed May 19 William Folley and Lydia Granger to be wed June 2 Jude Santos and Margaret O Toole to be wed June 2 Tim Naughton and Catherine Toupin to be wed June 16 Hector Bauza and Melissa Imbrogno to be wed June 30 MISERICORDIA CANDY DAYS are coming up next month on Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28 PLEASE VOLUNTEER! Two or more hours of your time will make a big difference for more than 600 children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. To volunteer, call Cynthia Maroon at 708-366-8133 or email her at cmaroon@yahoo.com (Cynthia ushers at St. Luke at the 7:30 Sunday Mass, and her son Jon has been a resident at Misericordia Heart of Mercy Village for more than 34 years.) Thank you!
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St. Luke s Peace & Justice Committee decided to tackle Fr. Bryan Massingale s book, Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, for our Lenten Book Discussion Group this year. The committee felt it was a perfect book to read and discuss during Lent because it approaches the issue of racial justice from the perspective of Catholic theology. The book is neither political nor secular. It does challenge the reader, but it does so based on the Church s teachings. Fr. Massingale is a professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University in New York, and the thesis of his book is that the Catholic faith has a valuable contribution to make to racial justicemaking. A core part of this contribution is based on Catholic belief concerning conversion, baptism, and the celebration of the Eucharist. Conversion in the Church is a radical transformation on one s perspective on life. It is as if our eyes are suddenly opened, and we see things differently. Conversion is a fundamental break with prior mental categories and group allegiances in order to practice transformative love. Transformative love and the racial solidarity it fosters is a paschal experience. Baptism, based on its Christian understanding and practice, radically changes the prior human understandings of social status and cultural identities. As St. Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ We act justly not because we are intellectually convinced, but because we are passionately moved. Compassion moves the will to justice. ~ Fr. Massingale Jesus. This a powerful declaration of the unity of the Christian community in Christ and a declaration that prior classifications and group allegiances based on such as things as social ranking, race, and sex have been stripped away and rendered meaningless to those baptized into Christ. In baptism we become a new creation, clothed in Christ. Thus, baptism bestows a radical equality to all persons. Concerning the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Fr. Massingale reminds us that this sacrament is a core practice of the Christian community and a ritual remembrance of Jesus at a meal. Jesus earthly meals were characterized by the fact that he ate with everyone; his table fellowship was radically inclusive. It was table fellowship not characterized by social ranking, status, or power. Jesus table fellowship blurred the distinctions between hosts and guests, need and plenty. His table fellowship showed human equality before God. For Christ s followers, authentic worship cannot leave one at peace while social inequality or injustice continues to exist. Hopefully this short article will create a desire for more parishioners to read Fr. Massingale s book and to discuss it with others. If Fr. Massingale s thesis is correct, the world would be a much different place if Christians had approached racial justice issues based on the Church s teachings concerning conversion, baptism, and Eucharist at the time of slavery and Jim Crow laws and even today. Wouldn t it be wonderful if everyone could say, See how Christians love one another and all of humanity! ~Tony Graefe St. Luke Peace & Justice Committee 8 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL
St. Luke has three advisory boards that oversee the various aspects of our parish operations and serve as counsel to the pastor. Each one is looking for new members to fill vacancies that will be created by members whose terms are expiring this fall. The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is seeking parishioners who want to be actively involved and are willing to delve deep into pastoral matters, to listen to differing opinions, integrate varied points of view, and discern with others what is best for the parish. The Board of Specified Jurisdiction (BSJ) consists of school parents, members of the parish. and the community at-large. Its members develop, propose, and adopt policies that govern the operation of St. Luke Parish School in accordance with guidelines set by the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools. The Parish Finance Council (PFC) is composed of lay parishioners and the parish staff who serve as an advisory board of financial matters of the parish. The three boards generally meet once a month from September to June. Members are also assigned to committees that have specific areas of interest and their own separate meetings. Being on a parish council is a privilege and an inspiring experience. We need members with a range of skills and life experience, so please pray, consider what God is calling you to do, and reach out to the chairs listed at right to share what talents and experience you have that might enhance our parish. If you would like to learn more about any of the parish boards, or volunteer to serve as a member, contact the chair listed here: Board of Specified Jurisdiction Cassie Crotty, BSJ Chair cassieacrotty@gmail.com Parish Finance Council Kevin Hanley, PFC Chair k_hanley@ml.com Parish Pastoral Council Tom Jacobs, PPC Chair thjacobs@earthlink.net The series of biweekly prayer and reflection gatherings at St. Catherine-St. Lucy Church continue tomorrow (Monday) with the topic of What If There are Two Anger Volcanoes Close to Each Other? Duplicate sessions are offered at 1:00 pm and 7:30 pm on Mondays through April 23 on a series of topics on conflict resolution and peacemaking. Participants are welcome to attend any of the sessions. For the full list of, look for the program flyer in the literature racks by any of our church doors. Trinity High School is hosting its 8 th annual 5K Run/Walk through the streets of River Forest on Sunday, April 29. This event also is part of the celebrations for the school s centennial year, and it will feature a commemorative 5K shirt, live DJ entertainment, refreshments, and prizes! The 3.1-mile USATFcertified chip course is perfect for runners or walkers of any ability and even includes a kid s race. Register by April 23 to receive a discounted entry fee. For more information, and to register online, visit www.trinityhs.org/centennial-5k/. The Archdiocesan Office of Immigration Ministry is sponsoring a Keep Hope Alive Benefit Concert on Monday, April 9, at 7:00 pm at Holy Family Church, 1080 West Roosevelt Road in Chicago. Music will be provided by The City Lights Orchestra conducted by Rich Daniels (musical director of the award-winning TV show Empire). For tickets and other information, go online to tinyurl.com/hopealive2018. For one-time gifts or your weekly Sunday contribution, GiveCentral.org makes it fast and convenient for you to support St. Luke Parish with payments from your bank or credit card account using your computer or smartphone. Try it today! MARCH 25, 2018 Palm Sunday 9
The St. Luke Athletic Committee congratulates this week s winner of the 500 Club drawing: Tess Gorman Thank you to all who have purchased memberships in the Club, the proceeds of which go directly to fund St. Luke Parish School s athletic programs. Mass Schedule Saturday (Vigil) 5:00 pm, and Sunday 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 am Weekdays: Monday-Friday 6:30 & 8:00 am (except 8:15 am on Wednesdays during school year), Saturday 8:00 am Confessions The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is offered after 6:30 and 8:00 am weekday Masses and by appointment. Call the rectory to schedule a time. Adoration and Benediction Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament occurs every first Saturday after the 8:00 am Mass and rosary. Rectory Office Hours Monday through Friday 9:00 am-12:00 Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm and by appointment (Call 708-771-8250). Interested in Learning More About the Catholic Faith? Anyone wishing to complete their sacraments or learn more about the Catholic faith may inquire about our adult faith formation program (RCIA) by calling the rectory for more information. 10 Whether you are new to our community or just visiting, we are happy to have you share in today s celebration of the Eucharist. If you do not have a church home, we invite you to become a part of our parish family. Our church is open to anyone looking for a spiritual home. To register as a parishioner, please stop by or call the Parish Office at 708-771-8250 any weekday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Help is right around the corner! 24-Hour Crisis Line: 708-386-4225 www.sarahsinn.org WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL Rev. John Szmyd, Pastor jszmyd@stlukeparish.org... 435-8925 Rev. Steven Bauer, Associate Pastor sbauer@stlukeparish.org... 435-8922 Rev. Leroy Wickowski (Retired) lwickowski@stlukeparish.org... 435-8917 Rev. Mr. John Baier johnbaier@isp.com... 630-655-0088 Rev. Mr. Terry Norton reneeterrynorton@gmail.com... 771-6635 Rev. Mr. Bob Slobig bobslobig@comcast.net... 771-6430 Rev. Mr. Paul Faherty (retired) 528 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest 60305-1835 stlukeparish@stlukeparish.org... 771-8250 Carol Karlowski, Office Assistant ckarlowski@stlukeparish.org... 435-8912 Daniel Szymanski, Director of Operations dszymanski@stlukeparish.org... 435-8921 Sheila Price, Director of Stewardship & Development sprice@stlukeparish.org... 435-8927 Arlene Michna, Music Director amichna@stlukeparish.org... 435-8926 Bradley Collins, Communications Coordinator bcollins@stlukeparish.org... 435-8910 519 Ashland Avenue, River Forest 60305-1824 jschwarzbeck@stlukeparish.org... 366-8587 Timothy Wesley, Principal twesley@stlukeparish.org 519 Ashland Avenue, River Forest 60305-1824 (Enter through Lake Street door of school building) religiouseducation@stlukeparish.org... 771-5959 Mary Beth Smedinghoff, Religious Ed Secretary 533 Ashland Avenue, River Forest Sr. Pat Farrell, O.P. pfarrell@stlukeparish.org... 771-5280 New Parishioners If you re new to the community or just new to our church, please stop by the rectory to introduce yourself and register so we can welcome you into the full life of our parish. Communion Visits and Ministry of Care A parish priest or Minister of Care will be happy to visit those who are sick or homebound. Please call the rectory to make arrangements. Baptism Baptisms take place on the first and third Sundays of each month, except during Lent. Preparation meetings are held on the first Monday of every month for the parents of children who will be baptized. Arrangements can be made by calling the rectory. Marriage Couples wishing to be married should call the rectory to set up an appointment with one of the parish priests at least six months in advance of the desired wedding date. Anointing of the Sick Elderly parishioners, those in poor health or who are anticipating surgery can call the rectory to arrange to receive the sacrament of anointing.