5 2 8 L a t h r o p A v e n u e R i v e r F o r e s t, I l l i n o i s w w w. s t l u k e p a r i s h. o r g Jesus said to his disciples: I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! ~ Luke 12:49 A u g u s t 1 4, 2 0 1 6 T w e n t i e t h S u n d a y i n O r d i n a r y T i m e
MASS INTENTIONS Monday, August 15 - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 6:30 am The Williams, Karasis, Kurr Families 8:00 am Jim Butler Tuesday, August 16 - St. Stephen of Hungary 6:30 am Marie O Brien 8:00 am Norman and Ralph Carroll Wednesday, August 17 6:30 am Fr. John Windle 8:00 am Brian Conmy Thursday, August 18 6:30 am Kathryn Anne Froelich 8:00 am Brian Conmy Friday, August 19 - St. John Eudes 6:30 am Mr. and Mrs. John J. Flynn 8:00 am Clement J. McDonald Saturday, August 20 - St. Bernard 8:00 am Lucya M. Prince 5:00 pm Nora Lynski Browne Sunday, August 21 7:30 am The People of St. Luke Parish 9:00 am The Poor Souls in Purgatory 10:30 am Denis E. Hutchings 12:00 pm James O Hara MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY Monday-Wednesday, August 15-17 8:00 am Servers J Gleason, A Weiler Thursday-Saturday, August 18-20 8:00 am Servers E Wolinski, J Wolinski Saturday, August 20 5:00 pm Servers S Altier, N Altier, J McAllister Lectors Y Hafner, L Hogan Euch Min V Atkins, S Hopkinson, C Madden, J Meek, J Megall, T Ogba, J Willoughby Sunday, August 21 7:30 am Servers M Keith, J Flanagan, E Halfpenny Lectors K Bevan, T Smedinghoff Euch Min C Doyle, K Heiss, MB Smedinghoff 9:00 am Servers M Scelfo, M Scelfo, G Ruggie Lectors T Hicks, D Ruggie Euch Min B Hosty, M Martinez, P Muldoon, L Ortiz-Lazos, P Romano, R Romano, S Scelfo 10:30 am Servers B Hardy, M Brennan, C Stumbris Lectors M Aspiras, B Miller Euch Min P Brennan, S Brennan, B Elwood, D Piper, W Piper, J Stumbris, B Stumbris 12:00 pm Servers V Osga, O Osga, J Wiktor Lectors K Iammartino, E Kincanon Euch Min K Frank, KE Frank, M Frank, A Valenti, D Valenti Cover Art: Residents of Rìga, Latvia, celebrate Independence Day with a torchlight procession through the city streets. Photo by Statistikis used here with permission via Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0]. 2 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL 60305-1835 FROM THE PASTOR About that fire The Gospels over the past several weeks have been challenging ones, and this week s message is no less so. Jesus speaks of fire and the blaze in a positive way, even admitting his part in setting the world on fire and his wish that the earth was already blazing. My own experience with fire is from both a positive and negative perspective, having seen its disruptive forces in nature when volcanic activity increases or forest fires, such as the ones now burning in parts of California, quickly get out of control. Having many fond memories from family vacations and a few camping trips, I recall quality time spent with loved ones around the campfire. As a priest at the retreats for parish groups and seminarians I have run over the years, there was always something inexpressible about uniting people around a fire, especially in prayer. Call me crazy, but there was something appealing, besides feeling the heat of the flames, as we gazed upon the golden glow of embers amidst the firewood that was slowly being consumed. However, all of us are more familiar by far with the Scriptures, and while we may not easily quote chapter and verse where the word fire appears in both the Old and New Testament, think back about the pillar of fire leading the Israelites through their sojourn in the desert, the flaming brazier that was called down from heaven by the prophets to devour their sacrificial offerings, or the tongues of fire which came down upon the disciples at Pentecost. Fire was frequently spoken of by mystics and saints who wrote about the love of God which burned in their hearts or how God stirred the flame of love alive within them. Flames are present in great number liturgically speaking when we gather as a Church to celebrate the Easter Vigil each year and proclaim anew Christ, who is our Light! Perhaps what Jesus was getting at is the divine energy, the empowerment, the sense of mission, and the life of God inside each one of us that can contribute to the building up of the Kingdom of God. Through the intercession of our patron St. Luke and the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose Assumption we celebrate this week, may we be inspired to stir into flame the gift of God (2 Timothy 1:6) and give ourselves over to the life of His Church in whatever way He is calling us, and to share this divine energy with others. ~Fr. Szmyd
As St. Luke s pastor, Fr. John Szmyd must wear many hats to manage this parish of 1,400 families. But one he didn t expect to be wearing is the hard hat required for his weekly briefings on the restoration of the church s south façade and bell tower. There s no getting around the climb up 12 stories of scaffolding to see first-hand what the building engineers are talking about on the 80-year-old Above, cracks show through one of church. From the the many arches on the church. Below ground, everything is one example of the spots where looks great, stones need to be replaced and tuck Fr. John said. But up there, it s amazing to see the broken stonework and pointing is required to fill in the missing mortar that have taken the brunt of decades of Chicago s storms and winter freeze-and-thaws. Almost every week we have to decide things mortar between the stones and bricks. that make a difference in the church lasting another 80 or 100 years. One major decision involved a choice between renting a huge crane or installing hoists on the scaffolding to move the one- to-two-ton cornerstones back into place at the top of the tower. We went with the hoists, which saved us over $12,000, but not without a lot of discussion. It s also helped having the experience of the Berglund Construction Company, which has done a lot of church renovations, and Joe Fink, who is the archdiocese s project supervisor. With more than 45 years in the construction business, Joe s been a great guide on my tower tours, Fr. John said. These renovations are part of a multi-year initiative to make much-needed repairs to all of the buildings on St. Luke s grounds with funding provided by the 125th Anniversary Capital Campaign launched in 2012. You ve walked past and under it weekly, or daily, for years perhaps. Now we re inviting you to take a guess at how tall the stone cross is at the top front of St. Luke s bell tower. Measuring from the top of the parapet wall to the top of the cross, make your best guess in inches and send it to communications@stlukeparish.org with your name, address, and phone number by 9:00 am Monday, August 22. The winner will receive a personalized, behind-the-scenes tour of the church renovations with Fr. John and a copy of Paul Faherty s book The Windows of Saint Luke Church, which tells the colorful story of our church s picturesque stained glass windows. (One entry per person, please.) Contest results will be announced in the August 28th bulletin. So enter today! AUGUST 14, 2016 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 3
A) He injured it playing Batman on top of the church scaffolding. Fr. Leroy, dressed as the Joker, knocked him down! B) Attempting to qualify for the Olympics, he injured it in a freak Bocce Ball accident with the Prime Timers. C) While inspecting the Bell Tower, he got caught in a tuck-pointing accident. He pointed when he should have tucked. D) He got trampled by a bunch of kindergartners at a back-to-school sale. E) He got pounded by junior high students when he asked if they were happy to be coming back to school in less than two weeks. F) He should ve used the Force, St. Luke. G) One too many parking tickets in Chicago... H) He was bitten by a bear. I) He suffered one too many bouts of Achilles tendonitis after years of running, which took a toll on his poor tendon. So he had it surgically restored. Whatever the truth may be, we hope Fr. Steven rebounds soon, working to fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah: Beautiful are the feet of the one who brings the good news. (Isaiah 52:7) There are no weddings at St. Luke this month, but there was a marriage ceremony of another sort last Sunday. Jim and Lynn Winikates celebrated their 50 th wedding anniversary with a renewal of their vows before family and friends at the 10:30 Mass. Jim s brother, Fr. Tom Winikates, came over from Divine Infant Parish in Westchester to celebrate the Mass and officiate the vows for the happy couple. The Archdiocese of Chicago is also inviting all couples who married in 1966 to celebrate their Golden Anniversary at Mass with Archbishop Cupich on Sunday, September 18, at 2:45 pm at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State Street, Chicago. Interested couples should contact the Marriage and Family Ministries Office at 312-534-8351. Because it falls on a Monday, the Solemnity of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not a holy day of obligation this year. St. Luke will celebrate the feast day tomorrow with its regular schedule of morning Masses at 6:30 and 8:00 am in the main church sanctuary. This day commemorates Mary s death and the assumption of her body directly into heaven. It s an important feast for our parish, too, since Mary is credited with giving St. Luke many of the stories of Jesus life recorded in Luke s gospel. Everyone is invited to stay after the 8:00 Mass and continue honoring the Blessed Mother in prayer with St. Luke s Rosary Group. 4 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL 60305-1835 Everyone is invited to enjoy another Coffee on the Plaza on the church steps next Sunday, August 21. The St. Luke Youth Ministry will host the refreshments and fellowship after the 9:00 and 10:30 Masses and before the Noon Mass. All are invited! Our monthly YOUTH MASS will be next Sunday, August 21, at 5:00 pm in church. The YOUTH MASS is geared to teens, but it is also open to family, friends, and anyone else looking for a more dynamic and youthful experience at Mass. After Mass, the teens will gather for dinner and fun group activities from 6:00-7:00 pm. Stories from the recent Summer Service Trip will be a highlight!
The Amen Stitching Group will be meeting this Wednesday, August 17, in the Hospitality House from noon to 2:30 pm. They are open to anyone who likes to knit, sew, or do any kind of stitching, and have a lot of fun. The Bocce Ball tournament continues all this month in the park across Lake Street from the Jewel Food Store on Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:30 am. The St. Luke Peace and Justice Summer Reading Group is continuing discussions on the book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness this week. The next meeting is tomorrow (Monday) at the Hospitality House starting at 7:30 pm. It is open to anyone who would like to join the discussions about racial prejudice in our nation s judicial and penal systems. The final meeting is Monday, August 29, at Terry and Renée Norton s home, 714 Forest Avenue in River Forest. If you have any questions or you plan to attend either of the sessions, please contact Mary Ann Tuerk at magtuerk@gmail.com. The Dominican Literacy Center is in great need of women volunteers for its 2016-2017 session, which begins in September. The program has offered tutoring in speaking and reading English to women in the Melrose Park area since 1993. It is unique in that it offers tutoring on a one-to-one basis. A time commitment of 1 1/2 hours per week is all that is necessary. Classes are held at the Dominican Literacy Center, which is located on the 2nd floor at 1503 Rice Street in Melrose Park. Four consecutive training sessions will be held on the evenings of August 16, 18, 22, and 24 at the Dominican center starting at 6:30 pm. Participants must attend all four sessions. To volunteer, or to learn more, contact Sr. Judith Curran or Sr. Beverly Jeanne at 708-338-0659, or see their website at www.dominicanliteracycenter.org. SCRIPTURE READINGS For Masses the week of August 14-21 Sunday: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10/Ps 40:2-4, 18/Heb 12:1-4/ Lk 12:49-53 Monday: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Ps 45:10-12, 16/ 1 Cor 15:20-27/Lk 1:39-56 Tuesday: Ez 28:1-10/Dt 32:26-28, 30, 35-36/Mt 19:23-30 Wednesday: Ez 34:1-11/Ps 23:1-6/Mt 20:1-16 Thursday: Ez 36:23-28/Ps 51:12-15, 18-19/Mt 22:1-14 Friday: Ez 37:1-14/Ps 107:2-9/Mt 22:34-40 Saturday: Ez 43:1-7a/Ps 85:9-14/Mt 23:1-12 Next Sunday: Is 66:18-21/Ps 117:1-2/Heb 12:5-7, 11-13/ Lk 13:22-30 Liturgical Publications Inc PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Kimberly Bak, Bill Darley, Fred Heiss, James Hickey, Kathy Ann Howard, Stephen Kehoe, Barry Koster, Frank Kurr, John Lennon, John McGrail, Lillian Njoku, Kevin Nolan, Paul Novak, Kelly Petersen, Geraldine Redmond, Fr. Paul Reicher, Jonathan Saucedo, Patti Sheehan, Kathleen Smith, Tom Trankina, Ida Tufano, Michael Gerard White, and Ann Marie Wojcik AND FOR ALL OUR DECEASED. STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE Do you think I have come to give you peace on Earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ~Luke 12:51 Living a stewardship lifestyle means stepping out of our comfort zone when needed. Many of us like to play it safe, not cause waves, stay in the middle of the road. In today s world we are called to be informed and take a stance for life, marriage, and religious liberty. Our Weekly Offerings From the weekend of August 7, 2016 Weekly Giving Goal............... $15,000.00 Actual Weekly Giving.............. $20,553.00 2016-2017 Fiscal Year to Date (From 7/1/16) Weekly Giving Goal............... $90,000.00 Actual Weekly Giving.............. $77,968.00 Goal to Date for Year +/(-).......... $(12,032.00) We are always very grateful for the sacrifices you make to support the mission, goals, and ministry of St. Luke Church. Thank you for your generosity! AUGUST 14, 2016 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 5
We joyfully welcome the following children who were recently baptized into our Church and St. Luke community: Emaline Merrit Benson, daughter of William Francis and Erin Elizabeth (Williams) Benson Alexis Noelle Bryant, daughter of Mark Thomas and Heather Anne (Kolacek) Bryant Deirdre McGowan Burns, daughter of Thomas Matthew and Molly (McGowan) Burns Charles Michael Dine, son of Michael Patrick and Elizabeth Marie (Murray) Dine Luca James DiStefano, son of Justin Robert and Marie Charlotte (Navilio) DiStefano Eleanor Rose Heintz, daughter of William Charles & Melissa (Jazmines) Heintz Edward Angelo Majewski, son of John Paul and Mia Nicole (Esposito) Majewski William Patrick Schneider, son of William Kenneth and Toni Ann (Scavo) Schneider The St. Luke Athletic Committee congratulates the winner of this week s 500 Club drawing: Ellen Beckman Thank you to all who purchased memberships in the Club to help fund our school s athletic programs! Help is around the corner at www.sarahsinn.org 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. Jim Doyle deacondoyle@gmail.com... 262-501-1042 Rev. Mr. Paul Faherty (retired) pfaherty00@aol.com... 771-5986 Rev. Mr. Terry Norton reneeterrynorton@gmail.com... 771-6635 Rev. Mr. Bob Slobig bobslobig@comcast.net... 771-6430 528 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest 60305-1835 stlukeparish@stlukeparish.org... 771-8250 Agnes Komperda, Office Manager akomperda@stlukeparish.org... 435-8912 Glenn Wagner, Parish Business Manager gwagner@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... 366-8587 519 Ashland Avenue, River Forest 60305-1824 religiouseducation@stlukeparish.org... 771-5959 Sr. Colleen Nolan, O.P., Director cnolan@stlukeparish.org... 771-5959 533 Ashland Avenue, River Forest Sr. Mary Ann Mueninghoff, OP... 771-5280 Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil (anticipated) Mass 5:00 pm, and Sunday 7:30, 9:00, and 10 : 30 am, and 12:00 noon Weekdays: Monday-Friday, 6:30 & 8:00 am, 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 to 5:00 pm 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. 6 WELCOME TO ST. LUKE River Forest, IL 60305-1835 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. 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.