The Spirit Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church The Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017 St. John the Baptist He said: "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord,'" John 1:23
December 17, 2017 Mass Intentions 3rd Sunday of Advent Monday, December 18 6:30 a.m. Purgatorial Society 8:15 a.m. Zaira & Rocco DiBenedetto Tuesday, December 19 6:30 a.m. Ted Drapa 8:15 a.m. Int. of Piotr Wojtowicz; Anthony Pelsi; Alejandro dela Cruz; Sally Johnson Wednesday, December 20 6:30 a.m. Spec. Int. Avamari Donahue 8:15 a.m. Silvio & Rita Giannelli Thursday, Dec. 21 (St. Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor) 6:30 a.m. Nancy Gebbia 8:15 a.m. Intention of Tonkovic Family Friday, December 22 6:30 a.m. Protection of Life at Every Stage 8:15 a.m. Michael & Maria Scardino PARISH DIRECTORY CHURCH: 8300 N. Greenwood, Niles, IL 60714 PARISH OFFICE - Ministry Center, 8624 W. Normal Phone: 847-823-2550 Fax: 847-823-4291 www.olransom.org Rev. Christopher M. Gustafson Pastor Rev. Paul Reczek, O.F.M. Sunday Celebrant Rev. Robert Darow Retired Assistant Rev. Andrew Luczak Retired Assistant Rev. Mr. Charlie O Donnell Deacon Rev. Mr. James Frugé Deacon Mrs. Cathy Williams Office Manager Mr. Richard Gargul Business Manager Mr. Rob Sadlowski Music Director Mr. Andy Duran Digital Communications Mr. Brad Koenig Maintenance Engineer Mrs. Kathleen Sass Bulletin Typist RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM Mrs. Connie Mottley Director 847-696-2994 Email: cmottley@olransom.org Saturday, December 23 (St. John of Kanty, Priest) 8:15 a.m. Bobby Morgan; Int. of Magdalena Wojtowicz; Santo & Josephine Spatafora; Jojo James; Deceased Members of Rzepka Family; Eleanor Laraia; Giovanni, Lucrecia & Illirianna Viele; Giuseppi & Consiglia & Lucia Capobianco 5:00 p.m. Michael Cleghorn Sunday, December 24 (Fourth Sunday of Advent) 8:00 a.m. Deceased Members of Sweeney Family 10:00 a.m. For the People of OLR 12:00 p.m. Andrew Johnstone Sunday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) 3:00 p.m. Jeannett Murray 5:00 p.m. Howard Sikorski 10:30 p.m. John Simon MINISTRIES CHAIRPERSONS Mrs. Deborah Bosco Parish Pastoral Council Mr. Steve Dolan Parish Finance Committee Mrs. Nancy Stranczek Ministry of Care Mrs. Gigi Bialko Bereavement Ms. Reneda Mittman Lectors Mr. & Mrs. Jack Eichstaedt Communion Ministers Mr. Vince Milito Ushers Mrs. Terry Uselmann St. Matthew Circle Ms. Marilyn Kirschten Wedding Ministry Coordinator EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION SUNDAY MASSES: 5:00 pm (Saturday) 7:30, 9:00, 10:45 am, 12:15, 5:00pm Weekday: 6:30 & 8:15 am; Saturday 8:15 am Holy Day: 6:30, 8:15 am, 7:00 pm RECONCILIATION: Saturday, 11:00 am - 12 noon and individually as requested. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: Let the children come to me Lk 18:16 Baptisms are ordinarily celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 1:30 p.m. in the Church. A preparation meeting is required. Please call the Ministry Center to arrange. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: God s mercy is ever near. Confessions are heard every Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to Noon in the Church and by appointment. CARING FOR THE SICK: If you or a loved one are ill and would like prayers or to receive the Sacrament of Anointing, Holy Communion, or a visit, please do not hesitate to call the Ministry Center. A communal celebration of the Sacrament of Anointing follows the 8:15 a.m. Mass on the first Saturday of the month. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Congratulations! Weddings are ordinarily celebrated on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please be sure to consult a priest before setting the date for your wedding. FIRST FRIDAYS: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place throughout the day, ending with Holy Hour and Benediction from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. BULLETINS: Please note that notices or announcements to be placed in the bulletin need to be delivered to the Ministry Center two weeks in advance of requested publication date. NEW PARISHIONERS: Welcome to the Parish! We are glad you are here. Please come to or call the Ministry Center to register.
December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Page Three From the desk of the Pastor... Prepare Ye the Way While Christmas is just around the corner, we still have some wonderful Advent opportunities this week to continue to prepare ourselves to welcome the Lord anew. Monday evening at 7pm we will have a Communal Reconciliation service with individual Confessions heard in Polish and English. What better way to prepare than to have our soul s cleansed and renewed, open to all of the graces of this Season. Tuesday evening at 7pm our children and adult choirs will guide us through the Christmas story in song. It will be wonderful! Finally, this Saturday evening and Sunday morning we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent. Let s try to not get ahead of ourselves and allow the readings and liturgy to set the stage for Sunday afternoon/evening (Christmas Eve) and Monday (Christmas Day). Again, please note the different Mass times this year when planning which Masses you and your family will attend. All Are Welcome Beginning next Sunday afternoon (Christmas Eve) we will joyfully gather together to celebrate our Savior s birth and warmly welcome all of our long-time parishioners and extended families, and all of our new-comers and visitors. This type of welcome is truly one of the hallmarks of our wonderful faith community. Of course, with this blessing can come the challenge of finding a parking space and of discovering that someone else is sitting in our regular pew in Church! I hope that as we gather we might call to mind the profoundly unwelcoming experience that Mary, Joseph and the waiting-to-be-born Christ Child encountered on that first Christmas. And that Jesus life and ministry was one of incredible welcome to all for which he was severely criticized, most especially by the devout, as he welcomed non-practicing Jews and sinners. Fortunately, one of the great hallmarks of our parish community is the sense of warmth and welcome that so many experience regularly when they gather with us to worship. Thank you for your patience and for extending a warm welcome in Christ s name to all who will join us on this holy feast. Thank You, CWC The lovely ladies of our Catholic Women s Club provided us with yet another successful Christmas Cookie Walk this year filled with a great variety of delicious homemade treats and holiday crafts. They also hosted a delightful Christmas Party filled with great raffle prizes, harmonic musical entertainment, and abundant food, refreshments and Christmas spirit. It is always a blessing when we are able to gather, to pray, support and celebrate the gift of one another. Congratulations once again to Suzie Nape for her leadership, to the officers and board, and to all of the wonderful members of the CWC who do so much for our shared parish life. Christmas Caring Many, many thanks to all who participated in our Christmas Giving Tree again this year. Our baptismal area was overflowing with packages of thoughtful Christmas gifts to be given to our homebound parishioners, children at St. Malachy and Precious Blood parishes on the West Side, and the women of St. Mary of Providence. Thanks to all of our loaders, our deliverers, and to Gina and Jim Ciupinski (and family), once again, for their leadership and organizing of this important part or our parish outreach. Have a blessed Advent week,
December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Page Four OLR s Parish Pastoral Council Standing: Sal Fragale, Alison Walsh, Fr. Chris, Elena Ward, John Ostrowski Seated: Donna Ramirez, Jackie Demo, Elena McGannon, Kathleen Deveau, Deborah Bosco Not pictured: Lee Moore, Brian Donahue, Brian LaPelusa Our Lady of Ransom's Parish Pastoral Council ("PPC") is a consultative and advisory council to the Pastor of Our Lady of Ransom and exercises shared responsibility for the pastoral life of the Parish under the leadership of the Pastor. The PPC is a group of faith-filled men and women who, through prayer and discernment, strive to implement the Parish's mission and its ministry, listen to the voices of the Parish community, create a unified vision and plan for the future of the Parish. GAUDETE SUNDAY Third Sunday of Advent Throughout Advent continual reference is made to our Lord s second coming, and this is emphasized on the third Sunday by the additional signs of gladness. Rose-colored vestments are allowed instead of purple. The third candle on the advent wreath is pink, symbolizing joy Jesus is almost here! Readings invite the faithful to rejoice and bid us to prepare to meet the coming Savior with prayers of supplication and thanksgiving, while the Gospel warns us that the Lamb of God is even now in our midst, though we appear to know Him not. Gaudete Sunday symbolizes that joy and gladness in the Promised Redemption should never be absent from the heart of the faithful.
December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Page Five Christmas Mass Schedule Please note that this year we have altered our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Mass times significantly because Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday and the morning Masses that day are still for the 4th Sunday of Advent! Saturday, December 23 4th Sunday of Advent 5:00pm Mass Sunday, December 24 (morning) 4th Sun Advent 8:00am; 10:00am, 12:00pm Masses (PLEASE NOTE special Mass times) Sunday, December 24 (evening) Christmas Eve 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 10:30pm (Carols at 10:00) Masses Monday, December 25 Christmas Day 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm Masses (PLEASE NOTE special Mass times) Saturday, December 30 Feast of Holy Family 5:00pm Mass Sunday, December 31 (morning) Feast of Holy Family 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:45am, 12:15pm Masses Monday, January 1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 9:00am Mass Prepare for Christ s Coming Sacrament of Reconciliation Monday, December 18 7:00pm (Communal Reconciliation Service with Individual Confessions in English and Polish) Saturday, December 23 11:00am-12:00pm (Individual Confessions in English) It s Christmas time again, and we will be preparing our traditional baskets for the poor and needy in our area. Our menu will include ham or turkey, canned corn, beans, fruit (if we have it), instant potatoes, stuffing, etc. We will be packing the baskets on Thursday, December 21, so if you plan to donate food items, please bring them before that day. As always, we appreciate your generosity. Saint Vincent De Paul Society
December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Page Six NOTICE Liturgical Ministers please sign up for various holiday masses in the bride s room we need your help! Altar servers sign up in the Sunday Sacristy or email cwilliams@olransom.org. Liturgical Ministers for Next Week s Liturgies Date/Time Lector Eucharistic Ministers Cantors Servers Saturday, December 23 5:00 p.m. John Dobbins Chris Seske Gigi Bialko, Joe Bialko, Rick Fox, Patricia Lawlor, Reneda Mittman, Mary Mundt, David Nellessen, Chris Seske, Andy Thelen OLR Choir Alex Jablonski Renee Pantaleon Sunday, December 24 8:00 a.m. Steve Dolan Gina Marie Greco, Joan Karwoski, Phyllis Ranalli, Eleanor Mueller, Terry Uselmann, Pat Lucas Jody Schuth 10:00 a.m. Kelly Satorre Pam Czarnik 12:00 p.m. Lydia LaScola Estelle Pahati Josephine Bax, Nancy Jensen, Toni Brana, (sub needed), (sub needed) Jim Croteau, (sub needed), (sub needed), (sub needed) Jody Schuth FCC Choir 3:00 p.m. Lector Needed Ministers of Holy Communion Needed Children s Choir 5:00 p.m. Lydia LaScola Andy Thelen, Gigi Bialko, Joe Bialko, Maria Eichstaedt, Jack Eichstaedt Rob Sadlowski 10:30 p.m. Ben Oliva Steve Dolan Jerry Merkel, Nancy Jensen, Maria Gullo, Carol Bergeron, Joan Del Medico, Norm Stranczek OLR Choir
December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Page Seven THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and GOD BLESS YOU were some of the inspiration words we heard at our November 22nd pre-thanksgiving soup kitchen at Our Lady of Lourdes. Our guests were so pleased with the traditional turkey dinner you lovingly prepared for them. We served over 190 guests (and many of our volunteers) the delicious turkey, stuffing, etc. dinner with warm gravy, thanks to you and our kitchen crew. No one left hungry! Many words of praise were received and we reminded everyone that most of the glory belonged to Our Lady of Ransom friends who cooked and baked for them. We had a loyal crew of about 12 volunteers from our church; and the addition of five year old William who entertained us all with his energy and spirit! We appreciate all the help from the Lourdes workers who made our jobs much easier. Kudos to our secret donor of the nutritious array of fruit. Every guest was able to leave with a gift bag filled with goodies, but most appreciated were the three pairs of sox that brought smiles and words of gratitude to us all. We plan to serve at Our Lady of Lourdes again next May; but prayers are always appreciated for the weekly soup kitchen led by lead volunteer Bill Thome! Please continue to save small toiletries and new men s socks. As we always say, we cannot do it without you, and the Lord s help! Soup Kitchen Committee
December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Page Eight Our Lady of Ransom Religious Ed Program Many SMILES at MEET SANTA
December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Page Nine SMILES from all ages...
December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Page Ten R E S T I N P E A C E Please continue to pray for the following people who have recently died: For All the Faithful Departed Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed not ended. --Rite of Christian Burial SACRIFICIAL GIVING Our response to God s command to take care of the community with the gifts, talents and resources God entrusts to us. STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES Sunday Collections December 10.$ 12,646 (Week 24) Year-to-date...$ 318,596 We are grateful. P R A Y F O R T H E S I C K Cheri Klock (4) Honey Mae Chapman (3) Dorothy Matthisen (3) Linda Lau (3) Monika Hollweck (2) Ruben A. Reyes Jr. (2) James Lauesen (1) Vincent Griffin (1) We pray for all the sick at every Mass and in our private prayers. Persons who have a change in their health (traumatic event, surgery, critical stage of disease, etc.) will be mentioned by name (if they or a family member request) at Sunday Masses. Thereafter, for one month the name will be published in the bulletin and then placed on our website: olransom. org. OLR MILITARY God keep you safe! A.I.C. Michael Gonzales Sgt. Vito Deiure Gunny Sgt. Paul J. Vee, USMC Lt. 1st Class Jared Kandell Staff Sgt. Michael Osterlund PFC Darren Keifer PO2 Patrick Wurster II Staff Sgt. Anthony LaScola, USMC Cpl. Brian Michael Bell BM3 Kristin Kaufmann Specialist Conrad Sewinski ENFR Joshua Torres 1st Lt. Joseph John Gullo, USAF Cpl. Giselle Obcemea Gayapa, USMC PFC Ezekiel M. Trimble PFC Edrian Fernandez, USAFC Cpt. Jason Lovallo 1st Lt. Timothy F. Eddy, Jr. 1st Lt. Catie LaScola, USMC PFC Michael Allbright PFC A.J. Martinez Jr. If you know of any Our Lady of Ransom parishioners who are serving in the military and would like to include them in our prayer intentions, please call the Ministry Center (847-823-2550.) Register now The study begins January 3 Advanced registration required. Our Lady of Ransom Bible Study Registration Form January 3, 2018 February 28, 2018 A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother Wednesday evenings 7:00pm 9:00pm The registration fee is $25.00 Please make checks payable to Our Lady of Ransom. Name: Address: Email Address: Phone:
From: Our Lady of Ransom Parish Niles, IL 847-823-2550 Contact: Cathy Williams Bulletin #000161 Date: December 17, 2017 10 PAGES PLUS COVER SHEET Publisher 2007 Printer HP Laser Jet CP3525