Men`s Club - St. Margaret Mary Parish
Transcription
Men`s Club - St. Margaret Mary Parish
St. Margaret Mary Parish February 12, 2012 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1450 Green Trails Dr. Naperville, IL 60540 630-369-0777 www.smmp.com MASSES Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Weekday: Monday - Saturday 8:15 a.m. OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday Saturday 9:00 - 5:00 9:00 - 1:30 Parish Office: 369-0777 Fax: 369-1493 Religious Ed. Office: 369-0833 All Saints Catholic Academy 1155 Aurora Ave., Naperville, IL 60540 961-6125 -- www.ascacademy.org NEW PARISHIONERS: Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.: (Mt 10:40) St. Margaret Mary Parish wishes to welcome everyone to our community as Jesus would. For information, please call the parish office. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Confessions every Saturday from 3:30 to 4:30 PM or anytime by request. Food for the Journey SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month following the 12:15 Mass. Please call Parish Office to make arrangements for Baptism and required Preparation Meeting. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Six months preparation required. Parish music policies, which reflect Diocesan guidelines, are to be followed. Scripture Readings for the Week Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Jas 1:1-11; Mk 8:11-13 Jas 1:12-18; Mk 8:14-21 Jas 1:19-27; Mk 8:22-26 Jas 2:1-9; Mk 8:27-33 Jas 2:14-24, 26; Mk 8:34 — 9:1 Jas 3:1-10; Mk 9:2-13 Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25; 2 Cor 1:18-22; Mk 2:1-12 Taizé? What is this upcoming Lenten Prayer Service all about? Taizé (Tie zay’) is an ecumenical form of prayer modeled after the Taizé community (an ecumenical Christian monastic community of brothers) founded in the 1940's by Brother Roger in Taizé, France. Christians of all traditions share in this ecumenical prayer. The overarching goal of the Taizé service is to pray for world peace. Simplicity is the order of the day for this type of prayer. Our hour long service at SMM consists of sung congregational melodies lead by a cantor and accompanied by beautiful instrumentation. Traditionally, Taizé prayer also includes some sort of candle lighting service. Over the years this has varied at our parish. More recently, we keep the church totally dark and everyone has a lighted candle throughout the service. Words to the melodies are projected on the wall so there is no problem reading and singing in the darkened space. At the front of the church, some “focal point” is emphasized by candlelight. For Lent, this focus might be the Cross, or a projected icon depicting Christ. For Advent, attention might be drawn to the Advent wreath. Quiet time is built into our Taizé prayer – sometimes with subdued instrumentation, other times with total silence. Attendees also enter and depart the sanctuary in silence. Each Taizé prayer service is unique. On occasion, there may be a lack of the “spoken” word for the entire service. Alternately, the prayer might include a scripture reading, recitation of a poem, or intercessions. Taizé prayer is a wonderful way to begin our new liturgical season of Lent. It is a chance for you to pray in our sacred space in perhaps a new and unique way. We hope you will consider attending this visually beautiful and musically inspiring form of prayer, Friday Feb. 24 at 7:30 in the evening. A Winter Retreat "Jesus in Story: Stories About and By Jesus" We know Jesus best through the stories of the Bible. Jesus told some of these stories through his parables, and the evangelists narrated others about him. Retreat leaders, Fr. Jonathan and Sr. Madelyn will present a selection of these stories in the context of prayer. When: March 9-11 (men) Where: Cardinal Stritch Retreat House Mundelein Cost: $185 per person; includes private room and bath; Friday dinner; all meals Saturday; Sunday breakfast and lunch; bus transportation, and Mass. God’s Share In Christ we find not just compassion and mercy, but healing and grace. It is Christ’s great desire that we come to Him and bring before Him all that might keep us from experiencing God’s love. Placing our faith in Christ brings healing, wholeness and salvation. Weekly Mass Offerings Automated Giving (pro-rated) Budget Goal Over/(Under) Goal Weekly Collection 2/5/12 $25,265 4,941 30,206 Year to Date 7/1/11 to present $640,632 182,428 823,060 27,064 3,142 825,296 (2,866) Sign up for Automated Giving by visiting www.parishpay.com or by calling 1-866-PARISH-1. To register: call 630-369-0777 2 Bishop Joseph Siegel to speak at the Men’s Club Meeting February 21 7:00 p.m. As a member of St Margaret Mary Parish, men are also a member of the Men's Club. The Men's Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Our Feb. 21 meeting is a….Couple’s Night! The evening begins at 7:00 with a luscious dinner. Bishop Joseph Siegel, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet will be the featured speaker. His topic will be “Growing in Holiness during Lent.” Bishop Siegel was born and raised in the Joliet area. Joyful Again! “Have you lost a spouse recently and are grieving for him/her? Do you hold back the tears and let them fall when you are alone to avoid having your family worry about you?” (The above was written by a person who lost his wife a few months ago. He recently experienced a Joyful Again! Weekend and highly recommends it.) All are invited. The Joyful Again! Workshop/retreat is for both men and women (all ages) who have been widowed and are still trying to find hope and joy in their lives. This special evening is an excellent opportunity to meet fellow parish couples and friends, enjoy a lovely dinner and prepare for Lent! What: Who knows, maybe you'll decide to attend future meetings to enjoy the food, fun and fellowship of the Men's Club? When: Workshop/Retreat for Widowed Men/ Women March 3 & 4 Call to register: 708-354-7211 Email: [email protected] or visit www.joyfulagain.org BUSINESS BREAKFAST What is Real Wealth? What is Real Security? Saturday, Feb. 18 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. — COR Center —Cost: $10 Speaker: Tom Cordaro At a time when continuing economic turmoil makes us anxious and fearful about our ability to provide for our families and plan for the future, we are invited to reflect on the concepts of wealth and security. Using the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life as a modern parable for our times, this business breakfast reflection invites us to rethink our notions of wealth and security. Tom Cordaro is the Justice & Outreach Minister at St. Margaret Mary Parish. He is the award winning author of Be Not Afraid: An Alternative to the War on Terror. 3 Thank you to the 100+ parishioners who participated in Session 1! An Invitation The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is for men and women who have never been baptized. It is likewise a process designed for those who were baptized in another Christian Church and now wish to inquire about full membership in the Catholic church. It also assists those persons who were baptized Catholic, yet never had the chance to receive Eucharist and Confirmation. If any of the above applies to you or someone you know, please call Sr. Madelyn Gould, 630-369-0777, for more information. The Rediscover Catholicism Book Seminar continues with Session 2 at 7 p.m. ~ Sunday, February 12th ~ John Blumberg will be speaking on “The Authentic Life” If you would like to come and experience for yourself how to live your faith in a fresh new way, please feel free to join us in the Upper Room. COME ~ find out what all the excitement and energy in the room is all about ~ you’ll be glad you did!! Satisfaction guaranteed! A Retreat For Women: Possibilities, Presence, Peace This Feb. 24 -26 retreat offers an interactive weekend for women by women to reflect on the possibilities emerging within them as beloved daughters of God, allowing the Divine to blossom. We need to be present in order to be made whole and live in peace with ourselves and our world. (6 PM Fri til Noon on Sunday) Cost: $170 double occupancy; the Carmelite Spiritual Center, Darien. 630-969-4141 SMMP Parishioners are Headed to Haiti! They Need Your Help!!! Dr. Lichon with Haitian children; May, 2011 Dr. Francis Lichon, Dr. Robert Hubbard and Laurie Schlaman RN, all members of St. Margaret Mary Parish, are joining the St. Thomas medical mission to Duchity, Haiti again this year. The two teams will travel in April. Over-the-counter medications are greatly needed. We are asking for pediatric and adult doses of Tylenol, ibuprofen, cold medicine, and vitamins. There will be a basket outside Music Director John Schlaman's office (Room 1 in the Parish Center). We will be collecting medications until the end of March. Thank you! 4 Religious Education (Preschool – 5th ) Jesus, give us the courage and love to accept all people First Communion The second set of parent/child meetings will be Tuesday, Feb. 28 and Wednesday, Feb. 29. Each meeting will include a Bread Prayer Service. Please attend one of these sessions and refer to the handout provided regarding bread and juice needed. The First Communion Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 3 from 10:30 to 12:30. There is a planning meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7:00. As our children prepare to enter more fully into the Christian life through the Sacrament of Eucharist, we invite them to receive special blessings. Each rite focuses on one of the symbols of our baptism: sprinkling of water, lighting of the candle, and the signing cross. The third and final rite (Mar. 3 at the 5:00 Mass and Mar. 4 at the 9:00 and 10:45 Masses) will be a blessing with candles. Please bring your child’s baptismal candle. We’re Still Collecting Your Used Shoes! Our Jr. High Teens have been sponsoring a shoe collection for Share Your Soles, an amazing foundation that rehabs used shoes and sends them to places in the world where many people (especially children) have none. Since the warehouse at Share Your Soles is virtually empty, we have decided to continue our collection through the month of Feb. All types and sizes of shoes and boots are accepted except high heels and Crocs. There is a collection box in the Parish Center just in front of the Teen Center. THANK YOU! Is your Marriage Hurting? Presidents’ Day Holiday Break Classes will be canceled the week beginning Saturday, Feb. 18. Classes will resume on Saturday, Feb. 25. Ash Wednesday On Wednesday, Feb. 22 we will have a special Children’s Prayer Service and distribution of ashes at 4:00 p.m. Due to the President’s Day break classes will not meet. However, all children and their families are invited to participate. If you can help distribute ashes, please contact the R.E. office. Children’s Liturgy of the Word Liturgy of the Word for children is offered at the 5:00 Mass on Saturdays and at the 9:00 and 10:45 Masses on Sundays. Children in kindergarten through third grade are invited to participate. Retrouvaille is a program designed to help couples who are hurting in their marriage. There are three phases—the weekend, the post sessions and monthly support meetings. The Weekend Phase consists of a series of presentations given by a team of three couples and a priest. The team present a technique of communication that enables couples to take a good look at many areas of the marriage relationship. During the Post sessions, the communication technique taught on the weekend is further developed and additional tools to explore other areas of the marriage relationship such as conflict management, effective listening, and personality styles are introduced. Hope and healing are only a phone call away—708-802-1830 or 800-4702230. The next Retrouvaille weekend begins on April 20 at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville. Please contact Sue Davey at 369-0833 with any questions. 5 High School Youth Ministry Check out our web page: smmp.com (Select Youth Ministry Page) Reserve the date!! SMMP's Annual St. Patrick's Day Party Saturday, March 17th SHINE Mission Trip 2012 We are in need of many adult chaperones for this trip to Chicago from June 25/30. If you are a parishioner at SMMP and are interested in joining us for a week, please contact either Candy or Arlene at 369-0777 during the day. QUEST Change On Sunday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 PM in Church, we will have a large group gathering with a presenter instead of meeting in the homes. Please mark this change on your calendars. Parents are most welcome to hear our presenter, Judge Cerne. Cascade Ski Trip-Friday, March 2 Forms are now available in the RE Office and in front of the teen center for our annual Cascade Ski Trip to East Troy, WI. The cost is $55 for bus, lift ticket, rentals, ski lesson or snowboarding. There is only one price which is an amazing deal for us. So no matter if you have your own skis or need rentals, it's $55. This is a cluster event so bring your friends! Remember to bring $$ for lunch as well as for dinner on the way home. You will also need $$ for the lockers. We meet at St. Thomas the Apostle Church at 6 AM. SPIRIT Retreat 2012 Our sophomore retreat will be held on Fri/Sat Feb. 24/25 at SMMP. Permission forms have already been mailed so parents please return those ASAPthanks! QUEST Group Schedules Sun. Feb. 26 3 PM Brennan/Rose/Teen Ctr. 6 PM McMillen/Teen Ctr. St. Margaret Mary Parish will be sending 16 teens to work in inner-city Chicago this summer as part of the SHINE CATHOLIC WORKCAMP. While registration is now closed for teens, we need up to 6 additional adult chaperones to go on this trip, June 25th thru the 30th, 2012. The total actual cost per participant is $420; however, this amount was significantly reduced last year through fundraising, and we’re confident the same will be true this year. Registration packets and more information can be found on the table in front of the Teen Center in the Parish Center. An $85 deposit (checks made payable to St. Margaret Mary) is required along with your completed registration forms. Questions? Contact Arlene Serio at 630-369-0833 or [email protected]. 6 The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted!! The Inter-parish Marriage Enrichment Team, sponsored by St. Margaret Mary and the other parishes of Naperville/Lisle, are bringing Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages to lead a marriage enrichment conference at the St. Joan of Arc Parish Center, 820 Division St., Lisle on Saturday, March 17 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be available. This event, entitled: The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted, is expected to draw over 350 couples from the participating parishes. This conference is a time of fun and discovery that can help you build the love relationship of your dreams. Whether you’re getting married in six months – or have been married 60 years – Dr. Chapman gives practical sessions addressing topics like communication differences, dealing with criticism, and understanding love languages – something for everyone!. Make it a great Valentine’s gift for your spouse by ordering your tickets NOW at $75 per couple through the website www.imetevents.org. Tickets will also be sold after all Masses the weekend of Feb. 25 & 26. For more information, please contact Deacon Terry and Maureen Taylor at [email protected] or call 630-305-0829. Finding Hope Beyond Fear Men’s Club Card Night Wednesday, March 21 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. COR Center $10 Presenter: Doug McKinley, Psy.D The reality is that everyone is afraid at one time or another. It’s not when it happens, it’s what to do when it happens. This lively presentation will address the building blocks of fear, the myths therein and provide practical and effective tools for overcoming fear. This will be an interactive discussion designed to not only identify the origins of fear, but also creating multiple strategies for replacing fear with hope. Doug is a psychologist, author and executive coach. Doug possesses a style that is engaging, active and relational. He is relentless in helping clients find their authentic voice. 7 Friday, Feb. 17 7:30 p.m. COR Center Beverages, Snacks Refreshments and Pizza! Cost: $10 Keep Our Parish Heart Strong for Years to Come Remember St. Margaret Mary Parish in your estate plans. Lenten Day of Reflection “Reweaving the Threads of My Life” Wednesday, March 14 9:00 to 2:30 Upper Room Facilitators: Marcia Mackenbrock & Sr. Madelyn For more than 30 years St. Margaret Mary Parish has been a vibrant living witness to the Vatican II vision of the Church as the People of God; called to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. You can help make sure this legacy of faithful discipleship continues for our children and for generations yet to be born. By remembering St. Margaret Mary in your estate plans you can continue to support our parish with heart far into the future. If you have any questions about how to do this, please contact Fr. Paul at 630-369-0777. 8 The spiritual looms of our lives are laced with the golden threads of God’s divine presence. God is the weaver; we are the shuttles. But completing an elegant tapestry from the tangled, knotted, snarled threads of life’s pains and pitfalls can be discouraging and disheartening. Come and take a fresh enlightening look at the fabric of faith God is developing especially for you. Join us for an inspiring day of Lenten focus and calm. To register, call 630-369-0777. Fear Not, Declaring an end to Insiders and Outsiders “If You Wish, You Can Make Me Clean.” social mixing, Jesus was regularly accused of scandal. The notion of insiders and outsiders is a major theme in the Gospels. Jesus repeatedly challenged the religious notion of his time that some people by their very nature are outside of the care and compassion of the community. By accepting them as friends and equals Jesus had taken away their shame, humiliation and guilt. Their sinfulness, ignorance and uncleanness had been overlooked and were no longer being held against them. In Jesus’ time sinners were not just those who committed immoral acts. Sinners were also the social outcasts; anyone who for any reason deviated from the law & the traditional customs. This would have included those who had sinful or unclean professions like prostitutes, tax collectors, robbers, herdsmen and gamblers. This attitude toward outcasts caused Jesus a lot of hostility within the religious establishment and among those who benefit from the status quo. Today, those who advocate for fair housing access to all of those who contribute to the quality of life in Naperville are often met with the same kind of hostility. Sinners would have also included those who did not pay their tithes to the priests, those did not keep the Sabbath or who did not maintain ritual cleanliness. The ritual customs on these matters were so complicated that the uneducated were quite incapable of understanding what was expected of them. Therefore, the illiterate and uneducated were inevitably lawless and unclean. In this situation, there was no practical way out for sinners. Theoretically they could be made clean again by going through elaborate rites and rituals of purification and atonement. But most did not have the money to do this. Some believe that we should bow down in obedience to the market and allow that market to determine who gets to live in our community. Others are fearful that if we made room for lower income earners or senior citizens or the disabled, our own neighborhood might become contaminated and our property values decrease. To be a sinner like a leper, therefore, was one’s lot in life. One had been predestined to inferiority by fate or the will of God. In this sense sinners were captives or prisoners. Their suffering took the form of frustration, guilt and anxiety. They were frustrated because they knew that they would never be accepted into the company of “respectable” people. There are many complicated issues associated with access to affordable housing and some legitimate concerns about traffic and added stress on utilities. How we respond to the challenge of building a mixedincome, multi-racial, intergenerational community that also welcomes the disabled will determine the quality of our compassion. John the Baptist preached to sinners, but Jesus identified with them. He went out of his way to mix socially with lepers, beggars, tax collectors and prostitutes. In a society where there are barriers between status groups which are maintained by means of taboos on When property values collide with faith values, where should our priorities lie? —by Tom Cordaro, Justice & Outreach Minister 9 The Men’s Club is preparing for its annual April In Parish Project and we need your help in identifying a family, a couple, or an individual, within the Parish, who needs clean-up and/or fix-up help with their home. This activity is scheduled for the last two Saturdays in April and the projects are typically sized such that they can be accomplished by a team of men in one or two full days. Again, if you need assistance or know of anyone who needs assistance, please contact: Norm Beauregard - 630-416-6811 Save the Date A Prayer for Those Experiencing Stress in their Lives for the 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Benefiting SMMP High School Missions — Saturday, March 17, 2012 6-9 PM in the Parish Center. Featuring: Corned Beef Dinner from Schmaltz’s Deli and a performance by the Weber Irish Dancers Loving God, we are people who are living in a busy world, a world of troubles and challenges, a world of problems and difficulties, a world that often gives us distress. We pray for ourselves and others who may be experiencing distress over personal relationships — of tensions with others in the family, of worries over children and grandchildren, of conflicts at work or school. We pray for ourselves and others who deal with distress in finances — of present or potential unemployment, of homes about to be foreclosed, of credit card debt that is out of control. Watch upcoming bulletins for reservation info! We pray for ourselves and others who deal with distress over health issues — of worrisome diagnoses, of chronic pain, of old age, of ongoing health problems. Those who wish to donate raffle items are asked to contact Arlene Serio, 630-369-0833, Keep us in your loving care and walk hand in hand with us during our difficult times. We ask this through Jesus, your Son and our Brother. Amen. 10 Parish Heartbeats: Stories of Faith In Action “Love and Marriage, Love and Marriage …” As the old song reminds us, they go together like a horse and carriage. A quaint image to be sure … but is love enough to make a GOOD, LASTING marriage? Spend an hour with parishioners Phil and Barbara Samuels and their love for each other is obvious, even after 32 years of marriage. But they are both willing to tell you that marriage is a responsibility that requires a good foundation, active maintenance, and growth and change through the years. The marriage preparation program at SMMP is headed by Deacon Terry Taylor and his wife, Maureen. Each mentor couple meets with an engaged couple five times prior to the wedding. There is a workbook provided to guide the discussions. Phil and Barbara have worked with 2 engaged couples in the past year. “Working with these couples,” says Barbara, “reinforces our faith because we are representing the Church to them. We show them how Christ is central to the success of a strong marriage, like a braid with three strands. If you only have two, the braid unravels easily. That third strand can make all the difference in holding things together.” Phil adds, “We support them with experience and examples, right or wrong! We don’t judge them. We are genuinely interested in the success of their marriage.” Their personal experiences led them to a desire to share with others just embarking on the journey by becoming a mentor couple for the marriage preparation program. “We’re not professionals,” says Phil. “We’re just sharing our experiences and raising questions for an engaged couple to think about when they are just starting out. They are responsible for the success of their marriage … we help them look beyond the party to the life that they will share after the wedding.” Phil and Barbara have been ministering to engaged couples for over 20 years and in many different states. Barbara explains the commitment: “As we moved around and raised our family, we enjoyed the connections we made with the people at our parishes. The excitement and joy engaged couples feel reminds us of our early love story and the preparation we provide to them helps us to continue to work on our own marriage.” Of course marriage preparation is just the first step and St. Margaret Mary Parish recognizes the importance of continual support for married couples. The popular “Table for Two” program provides an opportunity for married couples of all ages to pause the daily routine for dinner and discussion. Marriage Encounter weekends offer more in-depth opportunities to reinforce marriage commitments, as does the Inter-Parish Marriage Enrichment Conference Day to be held this year on March 17th. Programs like Retrouvaille help rescue marriages that may be in trouble. Phil and Barbara moved to Naperville in the summer of 2010. They visited many parishes in the area before deciding to join St. Margaret Mary. “We were sitting in church before Mass one day, discussing the various parishes, when the lady in front of us turned around and said ‘I couldn’t help but overhear you. Welcome! We’re glad you’re here today.’ Phil and I looked at each other and decided immediately. This is the place we belonged.” Written by Cabrina Attals If you and your better half are interested in becoming a marriage preparation mentor couple, please contact Deacon Terry Taylor at (630) 369-0777. 11 News Notes All Saints Catholic Academy — Your Parish School 1155 Aurora Ave. Naperville 60540 630-961-6125 www.ascacademy.org Looking Forward All Saints Catholic Academy was very proud and humbled to celebrate Catholic Schools/Education Week in our supporting and sponsoring parishes during the weekend of Jan. 28/29. All Saints Catholic Academy and its students are very thankful for the prayerful and financial support that we receive from our home parishes. For families who are interested in finding out more about a Catholic education at All Saints, please contact Patty Bajek, ASCA Director of Student Services. We will be happy to set up a tour or a shadow opportunity for your prospective student, and help you in any way through the registration process. Patty can be contacted at (630) 961-6125, or [email protected]. All Saints Catholic Academy offers preschool and pre kindergarten classes, as well as full day and half day kindergarten through grade 8 classes. Classroom Happenings If it is 2nd semester of 6th grade in our Junior High Academy, it is time for the sixth grade to transition to PreAlgebra studies. Sixth grade students in the pre-algebra program are provided with a strong foundation in algebra, geometry and problem solving that is needed for future success in more advanced mathematics courses. Just a few of the topics studied in the pre-algebra program include Collection: Display and Interpretation of Data; Operations with Whole Numbers and Decimals; Variables, Formulas, and Graphs; Rational Number Uses and Operations; Number Systems and Algebra Concepts, Introductions to Integers, Equations and Inequalities (Variables, Expressions, and Integers); and Solving Equations and Inequalities. Whew! As junior high academy students complete their pre-algebra studies in grade 7, they then move into Algebra. The primary goal is to ensure that all students complete a full year of algebra by the time that they graduate in 8th grade. Just a few of the algebra topics studied include Working with Variables: Solving Equations and Inequalities; Positive and Negative Numbers; Formulas; Working with Polynomials; Factoring Polynomials; Graphs; Systems of Linear Equations; Algebraic Fractions; Decimals and Percents; Squares and Square Roots; and Quadratic Equations. All Saints also has an accelerated math program available at the junior high level. 12 Annulment Support for Annulment Petitioners Feb. 25 Fr. Paul’s Homily Compassion for the Scribes Mark 2:1-12 “Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.” This gospel confronts us not simply with the power of Jesus to heal the paralytic, but more it confronts us with the extraordinary nature of God. That’s one thing that is not always clearly stated, that Jesus brings a new image of God. Now the scribes were the people who were responsible for transmitting the word of God as they received it. The word of God as they received it did not give them any confidence in the great mercy of God. Of course, God was able to forgive sins. They knew that. Of course, God could do anything. God was considered allpowerful. But did God want to? That was the question in their minds—did God want to? Their answer was no! What the scribes received from their tradition did not give them the idea that God wanted to forgive. When he did forgive, that was something extraordinary. Jesus. Number two, we need to be very sympathetic to the scribes. Don’t forget, they were taught this. Now there are many people today who were taught something, or at least they took in something and thought it was being taught to them, that may be conflicting with the God revealed in Jesus. They may be very devoutly, consistently following what they were taught, even though it’s not exactly one hundred percent correct, or maybe not even fifty percent correct. So the compassion that Jesus shows for the paralytic also has to be shown to the scribes. Jesus’ view is very different. Jesus’ view is that God wants to forgive, that God’s very heart is broken with compassion for his own creation, especially for his own image and likeness in the creation, namely, the human race. And his concern for human beings is so intense that he has gone to the great extent of coming in the person of Jesus. Jesus understood himself as a messenger of mercy. This conflicts with an earlier understanding of the nature of God. Now in all this we need to be, number one, open to the message of 13 This support day is designed for those who have petitioned the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal to begin the annulment process by submitting the Matrimonial Fact Sheet, but who have not completed their long questionnaire which they received from the Tribunal. The day starts at 8:30 and runs until 4:30 and takes place at St Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville. There will be time for prayer, questions and input, a talk on relational issues, and private time to work on the questionnaire. A team of pastoral ministers will be available for private consultation. The suggested donation is $25 which includes lunch and materials. People who have attended this workshop in the past have found it extremely helpful. Please call 815-8385334 by Feb. 20 to register or for more information. 14 Sacrament of Reconciliation Masses for the Week Saturdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18 Feb. 25 Monday—Feb. 13 8:15—Sonja Holz — C. Cavanaugh Tuesday—Feb. 14/SS. Cyril, Monk & Methodius, Bishop 8:15—Stan Kijek — M/M Tom Binder Wednesday—Feb. 15 8:15—Paul Zdon — John & Mary Runger Thursday—Feb. 16 8:15—Virginia Pesavento — Family Friday—Feb. 17 8:15—Ubirajara de Assis Maria — Legion of Mary Saturday—Feb. 18 8:15—William F. Warchol — Family 5:00—Stephanie Broz — Family Sunday—Feb. 19 7:30—James & Arline Reilly — Tom & Maryann Ciccarelli 9:00—For the Parish Family 10:45*—Genevieve Vatter — Fr. Ted Weitzel 12:15—William J. Mea — Fran Dybicz Fr. Paul Fr. Paul Please remember in your prayers those members of our parish and family and friends who have recently passed away. Sally Egan, mother of Joe Egan The rosary is prayed after 8:15 a.m. Mass Monday – Saturday All are invited to participate. *Interpreted for the deaf Feb. 18/19 Lectors Eucharistic Ministers Servers Sacristan/ Facilitator/LOW Presider D. Early N. Gorman G. Scriba W. Jones J. Vahle C. Parker T. Brandenstein M. & S. Schroeder M. & M. Kazlauskas A. McKeska J. Kazlauskas E. Sledz B. Ryan J. Parisi Fr. Paul 7:30 A. Bajusz K. Lorenc J. Brand N. Crowe P. Napolski R. Meeker C. Guttosch S. & A. Filey E. & J. Zimowski Fr. Julian 9:00 * C. Flynn R. Eckstein J. Nolan R. Peterson P. Komar T. Chennikkara C. Gentile T. Fara M. Maziarek G. Albuquerque J. Jeffreys * A. Lincoln N. Diede K. Klecka D. Wagner Fr. Paul 10:45 T. Wagner J. Runger M. Runger C. Ory J. Martinez I. Van Dril L. Riebold A. & S. Jaworski P. Curran C. Dupont J. Krema J. Doran J. Schatz D. & E. Zabel J. McAvoy P. Findlay Fr. Paul M. Curley L. Jakobsze A. Moore R. Willey M. Perich R. Bottens C. Malloy E. Kennelly Fr. Jonathan 12:15 A. M. Hawley T. Hawley F. Dybicz 5:00 M. & M. Doody D. Kijek B. & P. Bonkalski A. & K. Meder B. Hassett 15 TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS I. Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 — The leper will dwell apart, making an abode outside the camp. St. Margaret Mary Parish Naperville/Lisle -- 630-369-0777 Parish Staff Art & Environment Coordinator Mary Lou Krauss Bookkeeper II. 1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1 — Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Pat Henke Gospel—Mark 1:40-45 — The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Michael Prus Business Manager Capital Campaign Rosalie Fall Custodian Henry Vrbecky JESUS’ WAY Today’s readings present a contrast between “Jesus’ way” and the “old way.” An example of the old way is the law given to Moses and Aaron about leprosy: the leper was unclean and cast out of the community. Jesus’ way is the opposite: the leper is reached out to, touched, and finally cured. Nor ought we think of the “old way” as restricted to the days of Moses and Aaron, or even to the “old” testament. The difference between the old way and Jesus’ way arises in own lives. We still choose, every day, to live in our old way or in Jesus’ way. Jesus dared to touch a leper, disregarding the old way. The leper then was changed forever. He felt a calling. He couldn’t keep himself from proclaiming that he had been touched by Jesus (even though Jesus told him not to!). Once Jesus touches us, we are called to proclaim his way. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. Deacons (Permanent) Deacon Ken Miles Deacon Terry Taylor Justice/Outreach Minister Tom Cordaro Music Director John Schlaman Parish Secretary/Bulletin Editor Mary Straub Pastoral Associate Sr. Madelyn Gould, S.S.S.F. Pastoral Council President Desmond Curran Priests Rev. Paul Hottinger, Pastor Julian von Duerbeck, OSB, Weekend Asst. Jonathan Foster, OFM, Weekend Asst. A VOCATION VIEW Today’s Gospel says that: “Jesus was moved with pity,” when He saw a leper. Are you moved with love or pity when you see the outcast of today’s society? Who will come forward to minister Christ today? Receptionists Rosalie Fall & Rita Thompson Director of Religious Ed., Pre-school - 5 Sue Davey. Youth Ministry - Jr. High Director Patti Guare SMM Parish Notes • • Youth Ministry - High School Director Candy Rice Nursery—service for toddlers and preschoolers is available in Room 16 on the upper level during the 9:00 and 10:45 Sunday Masses. Pastoral Care for the Homebound—Please notify the parish office, 369-0777, of any parishioner who is hospitalized or homebound so we can visit, bring the Eucharist, and pray for them. Hospitals do not notify us of parishioners’ admittance. 16 Religious Education Secretary Arlene Serio Religious Education Staff Assistant Mary Costello PRAY FOR VOCATIONS SERRA CLUB OF DUPAGE