Letters from a Pastor to His People

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter. I believe the Easter readings today speak of transformation. Jesus’ death and resurrection transformed many, but many still found themselves in the process of that transformation. In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter speaks boldly to the people about what has taken place and how Jesus, whom they crucified, has risen from the dead. There is no hesitation in Peter’s proclamation, rather he speaks with confidence as a transformed believer. His confidence also allows him to invite his brothers and sisters into God’s mercy. Everyone can still find a place in Jesus’ kingdom and light. For most of us, we are a transformation in progress. In the second reading from the First Letter of Saint John we are reminded that even if we sin, we can still approach the one who saved us. Jesus’ mission of redemption is ongoing. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist we are included in that saving mission of transformation. Finally, the Gospel once again begins with Jesus’ peace, his forgiveness. Jesus came to save, not to condemn. As transformed disciples, we are now called to go out and spread the Good News to our brothers and sisters. We are witnesses to God’s goodness and love.

In the next few weeks, we will be celebrating the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation at Saint Juliana. On Saturday, April 27th, those who have been preparing will receive their First Communion. They will receive the Body of Christ and become the Body of Christ. These children and their families are very excited and look forward to this new relationship with the Lord.

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Friday, May 3rd. Those prepared are now ready to say yes to the promises their parents made for them at their baptism. These sacraments call our children and young adults to “come along” and join the transformation open to all of us. We are proud as a parish community! I ask all of you in the next few weeks to remember all the children receiving First Communion and Confirmation in your prayers.

Finally, I would like to thank all the Saint Juliana Parish ministers who helped with our Easter celebrations. These include those involved in music ministry, our Communion ministers and Ministers of Care, our sacristans, our lectors, ushers, greeters, hospitality ministers and our servers, and those who helped decorate the church. Together we helped the parish encounter the Risen Lord.  Thank you for your ministry to the Saint Juliana Parish family.

Your ministry is grounded in a relationship with Jesus. And to support our continuing journey I am asking all our ministers to please join me for a morning of Renewal on Saturday, May 4th. The morning of reflection will be held in the school hall. The Office of Divine Worship will lead our journey into the relationship with Jesus and how that relationship is the center of all our ministry in the Church. Please save that morning. You will be receiving invitations through emails and personal invitations from your ministry leaders with the times included. I look forward to spending this time with all of you.

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus is too big for just one day. The church celebrates seven weeks of Easter. During those seven weeks we hear stories of how the apostles and disciples encountered the risen Lord. The Church shares those stories of encounter to strengthen the faith of not only those who were present at the time of the resurrection, but for all of us as well. These New Testament stories remind us of our own stories of encounter with Jesus. But the story doesn’t end there. Jesus sends us to go out and share the good news with our families and friends. What are our stories of healing, forgiveness, guidance, and strength? How has Jesus changed us for the better? We need to let people know why we gather each week to celebrate the Eucharist. This sharing of story is the center of the new evangelization that Pope Francis is leading.

Today the Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday. Saint Faustina, a Polish Franciscan nun, received visions in which she saw God’s mercy coming from the heart of Jesus. Eventually she shared that image and it became a beacon to many in need of mercy and healing. St. Pope John Paul II placed this celebration in the Church calendar on the Second Sunday of Easter. It is another reminder of the mercy we receive in the death and rising of Jesus Christ. This afternoon there will be a Divine Mercy Prayer Service at 3:00pm in the church. The service will include a procession, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Please join us for this continuing celebration of God’s love.

As part of the bishops’ national call of a Eucharistic revival, they have scheduled a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. Parishioners have been asking when and where it will take place in the Archdiocese. So we will begin to publish information in the bulletin as we get it. The days the procession will be in the Archdiocese of Chicago will be June 26-30, 2024. The first event of the procession will take place at Mundelein Seminary on June 26th, beginning at 4:00pm. This event will include Mass, adoration, and a procession. It will be youth centered. On Saturday, June 29th, Vicariate II will have a Mass, adoration and procession at Queen of All Saints Basilica beginning at 5:00pm. On Sunday, June 30th, Cardinal Cupich will celebrate a Mass and procession at Holy Name Cathedral beginning at noon. Please watch the bulletin for other events scheduled during the upcoming pilgrimage.

Over the Easter holiday we have replaced the school windows on the north side of the school building. (parking lot) We are excited because now our teachers can open and close their windows without injury. Also the new windows will afford another layer of security, as each classroom has an access window for police and fire during an emergency. The remaining windows will be changed out in the first couple of weeks of the summer vacation. These updates are signs of the vitality of the parish. Funds from the Teach Who Christ Is Campaign helped fund the project. We are already looking at new projects for the future including more updates to the parish office building (convent). These will include more meeting spaces, office space, and accessibility. More information to come.

Donna and Diane have been working on a parish census for about two months. We are updating our records and asking everyone to check and see if your information is correct. This includes updating phone, email, and occupants in your house. Please look over the material when you receive it, follow the instructions, and bring it back as soon as possible. Thanks for your help. 

Finally, thanks to everyone who made all of our Holy Week and Easter celebrations so meaningful. It takes a team to make these celebrations a reality. Thank you!

Happy Easter to everyone. Today our Saint Juliana Parish family and the Roman Catholic Church around the world celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. It is a time to celebrate the gift we have in Jesus Christ. In two of the Easter gospels, it is Mary Magdalene who comes to the tomb and realizes that the tomb is open. It is still dark. Mary runs to Simon Peter and the disciple Jesus loved and tells them the tomb is empty. Simon Peter and the other disciple take off for the tomb and on entering the tomb they find the burial clothes rolled up. It is the disciple Jesus loved who first believes Jesus has risen. Holy Week and Easter are reflections of the struggle between light and darkness, death, and new life. Jesus is the light who disperses the darkness. Jesus’ death removes our sin and through it we rise to new life in the resurrection. The sacrifice is ongoing every time we gather and celebrate the Eucharist. Once renewed we are called to go out as disciples and share the good news with family and friends.

As a parish Saint Juliana is on a journey of renewal. Through the Alpha program, retreats, prayer experiences, and scripture study we are being asked to recall how we have experienced God in our own lives, and how that encounter has changed us. I think what is sometimes new and uncomfortable is sharing our stories of encounter. I believe we can all think of ways we have experienced God’s healing, comfort, forgiveness, peace, or joy. We hold onto those encounters in our hearts but aren’t as comfortable sharing them with family and friends. Without testimony or witnessing to the “good news” of Jesus, it will eventually die. The “new evangelization” calls us to reflect on our encounters, grow in our relationship with Jesus and then to share the good news with each other. That is the heart of Jesus’ message to his disciples and all of us!

Last night at the Easter Vigil, we welcomed five adults and one baby to a new encounter with Jesus. Two of the young women received baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. One of our elect came from another Christian faith tradition and joined the Catholic Church after making a declaration of faith. She then also received confirmation and the Eucharist. Two others were baptized Catholic and received confirmation and Eucharist at the Vigil. And one baby, a sister of two of the young women was baptized as well. It was an exciting and joyful evening for our newest members, their families, and the parish community who joined in the celebration. We invite those who are seeking more in their lives to consider joining our RCIA program. The RCIA begins with a few months of inquiry into who Jesus is and how we as Catholics live out our relationship with Jesus. After that time of inquiry a candidate makes a choice to continue toward the Easter sacraments or pause to learn more in their own faith journey. Today we joyfully welcome our newest members and encourage others to join us as well.

For teachers who have rooms on the north side of the school, this Easter will not bring chocolate or other treats, but rather new windows. During the Easter break we will replace all the classroom windows facing the parking lot. This will allow our teachers to easily open and close their windows. Every classroom will also have an emergency egress window for police or fire during an emergency. The remaining windows on Osceola, Touhy, Oketo, and in the courtyard will be replaced right after school ends in June. Money collected from the To Teach Who Christ Is campaign and parish savings will be used for this update. Thanks to all of you for your generous financial support. You continue to keep the parish up to date and ready to embrace the future ahead of us.

Finally, once again on behalf of the parish and school staff, Fr. Roger, Fr. Elliott, Fr. Prasad and myself, we wish you a joyful Easter celebration with family and friends. 

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Palm Sunday is one of the bookends to the celebration of Holy Week. The other is Easter and the Resurrection of our Lord. Today’s liturgy begins triumphantly as Jesus enters Jerusalem to shouts of, “Hosanna!” The people celebrate the kingdom in their midst. Quickly though the story turns, and on Good Friday Jesus dies on the cross. On Holy Thursday, Jesus celebrates a meal with his disciples. It is this meal and the sacrifice to follow that invites us into the death and resurrection of Jesus. While with the disciples, he asks them to eat his body and blood and thus join him in the sacrifice ahead. Each time we celebrate the Eucharist we are included in Jesus’ sacrifice. He also teaches them that those who are called must serve others. The washing of the disciples’ feet reminds us of that call to service. From the Good Friday commemorations until the first celebration of Easter at the Vigil, we join Jesus in the tomb. We combine our own tombs of sin, sadness and worry with the Lord’s. Through this time of darkness, we eventually travel into the light of the Resurrection. Through it all, Jesus is with us!

I invite you to take time this week to reflect on the gift we have in Jesus. He is the one who knows us and still celebrates us. He is the one who gives us life and takes away our sins. He is the one who walks with us every day. Please join us for our Holy Week celebrations. The schedule for all the events of Holy week are included in the bulletin and on the parish web page. I also encourage you to invite your family and friends to join you at the Easter celebration. Don’t just ask them to come but explain why it is important to you. What does Jesus mean to you? Your reason might be just what someone else needs to bring them back to Jesus. We look forward to celebrating with you and your families.

Last Sunday we celebrated Saint Patrick. For many it has been a month-long celebration. This past week we also celebrated Saint Joseph. Both men lived out a relationship with God. Patrick was consumed with a fire to bring Jesus to the people of Ireland. Joseph listened to God and protected the Holy Family. Joseph is seen as a worker, a provider who calls all of us to see the dignity in the work God gives us each day. I feel both Patrick and Joseph never imagined what was coming in their lives, but both followed a call they heard in their hearts. Let’s find inspiration in these two men that we all celebrate.

Amid all the big Holy Week celebrations we also invite everyone to the Easter basket blessing on Holy Saturday at 11:00 am. Traditionally many ethnic groups bring food that will be shared with family and friends on the Easter celebration. Through this blessing we prepare to break the fast of Lent and celebrate in the new light of Jesus. As a child this was one of my families’ big traditions. I look forward to keeping that tradition alive with all of you.

Finally, if you are traveling over the Easter celebration, we wish you safe journey and know that you will be included through prayer in the Saint Juliana Easter celebrations.  

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God will make a new covenant with his people. Most of the Jewish scripture, the Old Testament, speaks of God’s love. God loves those he created and creates covenants with his people. But the people continue to break the covenants with God. Finally, God sends his Son and proclaims that he is the final covenant. Every Lent we take time to renew our personal covenant with God. We reflect on our shortcomings and ask God to transform us. We must let parts of ourselves die, so we can experience new life. In service to one another we experience the joy of new life in Jesus.

Next weekend the Saint Juliana Fine Arts Association will be presenting Frozen, Jr. All of the children have been working very hard in learning their lines and preparing their songs. I encourage you buy your tickets online for one of the four performances. Tickets are going fast so come out and support the Saint Juliana Fine Arts program. Thanks to Julie and John Hammerle and all our other adult volunteers.

Thanks to the Saint Juliana Cub Scouts and their parents for the delicious pancake breakfast a few weeks ago. Each time I went down to the school hall, it was filled with families enjoying the delicious pancakes and sausage, along with visiting with each other. Food always is a good beginning to building community and friendships. I encourage parents to check out both the Boy and Girl Scout program for their children. We are blessed to have both at Saint Juliana.

Thanks goes out to the eighth graders who gave us the Living Stations of the Cross on Friday. The students learned their parts quickly and worked hard to make it a moving performance of Jesus’ love. Thanks to Glenn for providing music for the stations. Thanks also to Mrs. Lidgus, who always works with me on our student religious activities. 

Thanks to Glenn and all our musicians, choirs and cantors for the beautiful Taize prayer and reconciliation we offered last Thursday. It was a moving evening of music, readings, prayer, and silence. We are blessed at Saint Juliana to have such a great music director and music. If you like to sing or if you play an instrument I encourage you to talk to Glenn about sharing your talents with the parish. I always say, the more the merrier!

Next week we will be celebrating Palm Sunday. Attendance goes up for all of the Holy Week celebrations as family and friends come together to celebrate the Holy Days. Plan to get here early so you find a parking spot and seat. I always look forward to meeting all of the extended families in for the holidays. Make sure to take a bulletin home so you have a schedule of all the Holy Week celebrations.

Finally, I didn’t want to forget to wish all of you a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. It seems like the parties and parades have been ongoing for a month. Well, today is the day we celebrate the man, Patrick, who brought Jesus to the people of Ireland.

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Today in our first reading from the second book of Chronicles we once again see how God’s chosen people turn away from God. Throughout the Jewish scripture, God over and over offers covenants to his people and over and over the people tire of them and break the covenants. As we stand in the middle of Lent, we call on God and ask that he renew us. Make us new, oh Lord! Renew your covenant within our hearts. God responds by sending his only son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”  May we be inspired by God’s abundant love to continue our journey of renewal and continue to seek out Jesus and his teaching.

There is a lot going on at Saint Juliana during this Lenten season. The first session of our Alpha program two weeks ago was a whirlwind. Literally. We spent half an hour in the basement and hallways as the tornado sirens blared. God has a sense of humor! But forty people began the Alpha journey that night.  We asked participants to give it at least three weeks before making a decision on continuing, but the response so far has been outstanding. Alpha is particularly geared for those searching for more in their life. It is one pathway to experience a new encounter with Jesus. Please include the participants and team in your prayers during this Lent and Easter season. Last weekend the women of the parish also hosted women’s retreat. Over fifty-five women took time out of their busy lives to enhance their relationship with the Lord. Everyone thinks money and possessions are the most important things in our lives, but I disagree. I believe time is our greatest gift, and we guard our time. Taking a day “away” from our daily lives is sacrifice; but from what I saw last week, the women found it very worthwhile.

This weekend the men of Saint Juliana also held a retreat. Though smaller then the women’s retreat, it was just as powerful. I would like to thank the teams of both the women’s and men’s retreats. They gave so much of their treasure—time—to make these experiences worthwhile. Thanks, to all of you!

Fr. Prasad is continuing a Lenten journey at our parish adoration on Tuesdays and offers reconciliation on Friday evenings before our Stations of the Cross. Thanks to Deacon Tom Dombai and Deacon John Rottman for leading our Stations of the Cross along with the Lee and Steve Baggio, and Diane Damert. This coming Friday, March 15, some of the eighth graders will celebrate our Living Stations of the Cross. There will be Living Stations at 2:00pm with the school children, and at 6:00pm. Everyone is invited to either celebration.

Fr. Elliott is also about three weeks into his study of the Book of Romans. I have found it a blessing listening to Elliott as he shares insights to the scripture. It is his passion!

Finally, I wanted everyone to know that our Blessed Mother statue will be heading to a spa for renewal. The statue may already be gone when you read this. A piece of the profits from the fall gala was earmarked to be used to repair and restore the statue. We hope the statue will be back by May 1, 2024. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.  

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Lent. At three of our Masses we will be using the readings that are published in the bulletin. At the 9:30am Mass we will be using the Cycle A readings as we celebrate the Scrutinies with our RCIA catechumens and candidates. My remarks this morning reflect the Cycle B readings that are in the bulletin. In our second reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians, Paul highlights the center of our faith. Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, is our sign and wisdom. He tells us the Jews look for signs and the gentiles are searching for wisdom. Jesus is both sign and wisdom for we who believe. But sometimes we fall into the same trap as the Jews or the gentiles. We want signs, and we feel at a loss for wisdom. The closer we get to Jesus, the easier it is to trust. God’s folly becomes our new life.

Next Sunday, March 10th at noon, I will be hosting our second leadership summit in the school cafeteria. The focus of this summit will be what we mean when we talk about encountering Jesus. There will be a light lunch, a panel that will talk about an encounter they have had, and then table discussion around the topic. We also will do a review of our evangelization pathway. Everyone is invited to attend. We just need numbers for food, so please contact Marie Dombai if you plan on attending.  

This past week we began our first Alpha program. Over thirty-five people signed up to participate. Alpha is one of the programs we are using to help all of us see our baptismal promises in a new way. In baptism we are called to continually build and support a relationship with Jesus. We also are directed by Jesus to then go out and bring the “good news” to others. There are many ways to recommit ourselves to the Lord. Alpha is one way. Through the Alpha program, we recommit ourselves to Jesus, and then we are asked to go out and invite family and friends who may have walked away from Jesus and the Church to come and see. If you are interested, please contact Marie Dombai in the parish office for more information.

This weekend Saint Juliana held its women’s retreat in the parish office building (convent). Over fifty-five women from the parish and beyond participated in the day of renewal. Thanks to the team who organized and gave witnesses at the retreat. The retreat was another way for the ladies to deepen their relationship with Jesus.

This coming weekend the men are hosting a men’s retreat day. The day will begin at 9:00am in the parish office building. Men can still sign up for this retreat. Let’s all pray for the success of this retreat and the Alpha program as well.

We will have living Stations of the Cross on Friday March 15th. The eighth grade students who are able will enact the stations for us. Stations will begin at 6:00pm. We will also have living stations that day with the school children. Those begin at 2:00pm. Parishioners are welcome to come to the afternoon stations as well. 

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Lent.  The Gospel today portrays Jesus’ Transfiguration on the mountain.  Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him up the mountain and while they were there Jesus is transfigured before them.  He radiates light and his clothes are white as snow.  Then Elijah, and Moses appear and begin to talk with Jesus.  The disciples are dumbfounded.  They are caught up in this moment and ask Jesus if they should set up tents for him and the prophets.  They don’t want this moment to end.  And if that wasn’t enough, then a voice is heard claiming, “This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”  Then as quickly as it began, the transfiguration ends.  Encounters with the Lord are like that.  They can be clear as day and touch our heart, and then they are gone.  Just like Peter, James and John, we are left to ponder the encounter.  How is God speaking to you today?  Are you open to recognizing the Lord when he comes, or are we too busy or frazzled.  Our faith builds on our encounters with Jesus.  During this season of Lent we are called to look for the Lord’s presence in our lives. 

On Sunday, March 10th, I will be hosting our second Leadership Summit.  It will focus on what we mean when we talk about encounters with Jesus.  Just as the Transfiguration changed the disciples, our encounters with the Lord have the same power to change us.  The summit will begin at noon with a light lunch.  Please RSVP to Marie in the parish office if you would like to join us so we can have enough food.

This Tuesday, February 27th, our Alpha program will begin in the parish office building.  The first session begins with dinner at 7:00 PM, followed by a video and small group discussion.  Alpha is a program designed to help people reignite their relationship with Jesus, or to begin a relationship if they are learning about Jesus for the first time.  Everyone is invited to Alpha!  Please register so we can once again provide the right amount of food for the dinner.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Women’s Retreat which will take place this coming Saturday in the parish office building.  This is a one day retreat beginning at 9:00 AM.  The Men’s retreat is scheduled for a week later on March 9, 2024.  It also begins at 9:00 AM.  We hope you consider joining us.

Last week I wrote about the Rite of Sending and the Rite of Election for our RCIA catechumens and candidates.  These Rites are actually happening today at our 9:30 AM mass.  So if you were wondering what happened last week and why they were not celebrated, it was just your pastor having the wrong day.  Please continue to pray for our RCIA catechumens, candidates and the RCIA team who has worked with them as they move closer to receiving the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. 

Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent. In the readings this week there is already a sense of renewal and rebirth. In the first reading from the book of Genesis, we are post flood. God tells Noah, I am now establishing a covenant with you and your descendants. This covenant includes every living creature that came out of the ark after the flood. People and animals are all included in this covenant. For me the exiting of the ark represents birth. These people and animals are a new creation in God. As we enter the season of Lent, we too are preparing ourselves for our own rebirth. Hopefully, through prayer, fasting and charity, we will experience a new encounter with Jesus once again. We hope that our baptismal covenant will once again come to life. Just as Jesus left the desert and proclaimed the good news, we too will leave our deserts behind and share our good news in Jesus.

Today at our 9:30am Mass we will be celebrating the Rite of Sending with our catechumens, Ava Brant and Josie Wilson, and our candidates, Samantha Arce, Adriana Velezquez, and Miranda Velezquez. During the Rite of Sending, we question the catechumens, candidates, and their sponsors as to the readiness of the catechumens and candidates to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter vigil. They will also sign the Book of the Elect that will be brought with them to the Rite of Election that will be held at Holy Name Cathedral this afternoon. At the Rite of Election, Cardinal Cupich will accept our catechumens and candidates into the final preparation for the Easter sacraments. Please pray for our catechumens and candidates as we begin these final days of their preparation.

As we continue to move through this Lenten season, opportunities for growth and reflection are being offered through the parish. We encourage you to join us for daily Mass at 8:30am in the church. On Tuesday evening beginning at 6:00pm there is adoration in the chapel in the office building. The sacrament of reconciliation will be offered on Friday evenings in the chapel and Sunday mornings in the church after the 9:30am Mass. Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday evenings at 6:00pm in the church. These are all ongoing activities for personal prayer and growth.

We also are offering the Alpha program for those looking for a more communal experience of encounter with Jesus. Alpha is held on Tuesday evenings in the parish office building. It begins at 7:00pm with a meal provided by the parish. Then the group watches a video, followed by small-group sharing. We are also offering a women’s and men’s retreat during the season as well. The women’s retreat will take place on Saturday, March 2nd, beginning at 9:00am. The men’s retreat will be held on Saturday, March 9, beginning at 9:00am. Information and registration for all three events can be found in this bulletin. 

Finally, thanks to everyone who was able to make a commitment to the Annual Catholic Appeal for 2024. Your generosity continues to allow not only Saint Juliana to thrive, but the Archdiocese as well. Thank you.

Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and we have two stories that pertain to leprosy. In the first reading from the book of Leviticus, Moses and Aaron are instructed to exclude those with leprosy from the community. The person with leprosy is told to separate themselves from the community and cry out, “Unclean!” Leprosy was seen as a punishment for some sin committed by the person who had it. In the gospel Jesus also encounters a leper. Jewish law hadn’t changed, and lepers were still considered outcasts. Jesus, though, puts the law aside as and sees the person in front of him. Jesus sees his ministry as one of inclusion and healing. Jesus didn’t know any more about the illness we now call Hansen’s disease, but he did know how devastating it was to be excluded from the community. So Jesus does the unthinkable, he touches the man, he welcomes him, he heals him. We are about to begin a season dedicated to returning to God. A season of welcome and healing. Will we choose to commit ourselves to a life of welcome and healing, or will we continue to exclude those we see as the foreigner or the unknown? In our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and country, we have a choice to make.

This week we end Ordinary Time and move into the season of Lent. Our church environment changes each year as a reminder of this season of healing and welcome. On Ash Wednesday, we come together as a community to recommit ourselves to a life in Jesus. We ask God to help us turn away from sin and follow the good news. We commit ourselves to fasting and works of charity. Please join us for one of our three Masses on Ash Wednesday, February 14. The Masses are at 8:30am, 1:30pm, and 7:00pm. Ashes will be distributed during the Mass. Please remember that Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence for all of us. Also note that Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat as well.

During Lent I encourage you to join us for daily Mass at 8:30am each morning. On Fridays we will have Stations of the Cross beginning at 6:00pm in church. Adoration is available on Tuesday evenings in the chapel. Also, I encourage you to consider joining the Alpha program that will span the Lent and Easter seasons, beginning on Tuesday, February 27 at 7:00pm. There is also a Men’s Day of Reflection set for Saturday, March 9, beginning at 9:00 AM and a Women’s Retreat Day set for March 2, beginning at 9:00am. Reconciliation is offered on Sunday mornings in the church and Friday evenings before Stations of the Cross. We will also once again offer a Taizé reconciliation prayer service during the season of Lent as well. We hope this is a season for all of us to encounter Jesus and his ministry of healing and welcome once again.

Finally, we joyfully welcome Fr. Prasad home this week. He has been home in India reconnecting with his family, his priest friends, bishop, and parishioners from the past. Fr. Prasad has also renewed his visa as well. I know he has been very busy at home, but he also has had time to rest and rejuvenate. We are looking forward to his return. 

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Gospel, Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law who was ill with a fever. After that everyone who is ill is brought to Jesus. Soon the whole town is gathered outside of the house Jesus was in. Every time I hear this reading, I am reminded of the need for healing that we all have. Everyone is gathered, waiting for Jesus to heal them. We are part of that crowd. After a busy day of healing, eventually Jesus can go out and pray while everyone else is still asleep. The disciples come looking for him and tell him there are more people to be healed in that town. Jesus tells them that they need to move on. His mission is universal, and he needs to spread the good news everywhere. Everyone is entitled to the good news. We are the catalysts that bring the good news into the world. Through our baptism, Jesus entrusts each of us with that mission of healing and peace. The Eucharist gives us strength for the work ahead. We ask God to help us answer the call to discipleship.

This week we celebrate first Reconciliation with the students of the parish who are preparing to celebrate their first Communion in April. Every time we come to the Eucharist, we ask God to forgive our sins. We ask God to look the other way and allow us all to come to the table. God is always gracious and offers that forgiveness. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive grace to do our best. It is God as coach who cheers us on, forgives our sins, and strengthens us to do better. We pray for these children and their families as they celebrate God’s forgiving love. Thanks to their teachers and catechists who have prepared them for this sacrament. May these children be an example to all of us of our own need for forgiveness and peace.

Next weekend we will begin the Annual Catholic Appeal for 2024. In the 2023 appeal the parishioners of Saint Juliana donated $53,720. This year the Archdiocesan goal for Saint Juliana is $65,467. The goal is always based on a percentage of our weekly and holy day collections. Many of you probably have received material already in your home. I know I did. Please feel free to make your pledge from home if you want to. All I would ask is that you make sure Saint Juliana is on the pledge or donation. That way the parish will get credit for your gift. Next Sunday we will have a short talk presented by Cardinal Cupich and then do the in pew portion of the appeal. Please consider making a pledge and join other Catholics in the archdiocese as stewards of God’s gifts to us. Thanks for your generous gifts last year.

This weekend we will have a representative of the Alpha program giving a short testimonial at all of our weekend Masses. They will speak of their involvement in the Alpha program and invite you to consider joining our next Alpha beginning on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Take one of the red Alpha cards home with you and use the QR code for more information and registration. Representatives of the Alpha team will also be in the back of church to answer questions as well. 

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. There are two themes running through the readings today. In the first theme, God reminds the people through Moses that a prophet will come who will lead God’s people. This news from God might be pointing to any of the prophets that God called from his people Israel. This theme is fulfilled for Christians in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the prophet who will lead us and guide our paths. Jesus is the true prophet and true God. The second theme is one of God’s revelations in the person of Jesus. Since we celebrated the Epiphany in early January, our Gospels have been filled with miracle stories that show us the power that Jesus has, and who he is. Jesus is God alive in our world. Today’s Gospel continues that theme as even the unclean spirits recognize him and follow his commands. Do we recognize Jesus as the living God? Do we listen to him as even the unclean spirits did, or do we try to put Jesus and his teachings in a side pocket of our lives? Those are the questions before us today.

This week Saint Juliana begins its celebration of Catholic Schools Week. This is a nationwide celebration of the impact Catholic education has had on the life of the Church and our nation. These celebrations are taking place in our grade schools, our high schools, and our Catholic colleges and universities. I believe for most people it is a celebration of the academics, morals, and civic responsibility instilled on those who choose a Catholic education. But the real celebration, and the real purpose of our schools and our religious education programs is to pass on a faith based on Jesus’ call and to fulfill the mission given to us in our baptism to go out to all the world as missionary disciples called to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to our world! Each of us is called to go out and make disciples who will know Jesus and accept his call. This is not just the work of priests or religious. This is the mission of all who have been baptized in Jesus Christ. This call to missionary discipleship is what we celebrate this Catholic Schools Week!

Saint Juliana Parish and School is nearing our one hundredth anniversary. Some of our parish and school families go back four generations. It is a past that we need to celebrate. But we also can’t be complacent because of it. Our  current families in both our school and religious education program need to embrace the invitation given by Jesus to all of us, “Come and See.” Guiding our parish children to a relationship with Jesus is no easy task. We can’t do that unless we as adults once again say yes to the invitation as well. I encourage everyone to recommit during this Catholic Schools Week to a life that seeks encounter with Jesus Christ. We pursued our spouses, our friends, and it is time we once again pursue Jesus.

In late February and early March we are offering a number of activities to help us reencounter Jesus. On February 27th we will begin our first parish Alpha program. We completed the pilot Alpha in the fall and now want to open it to the larger community. Take a card from the pew and scan the QR code for more information. Or ask any of us on staff to fill you in.

On March 3rd Saint Juliana will host a women’s retreat, and on March 10th the parish will host a men’s retreat.  Open yourselves to Jesus’ invitation to “Come and See!”

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. The three readings today all have something to say about time. In the first reading from the book of the prophet Jonah, Jonah is sent to the city of Nineveh to tell them that the time of reckoning had come. They were given forty days to change their way or else! Well, they did change, and the destruction of the end was averted. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells the people to not let anything stand in the way of their discipleship to Jesus. He tells them the time is short. In the gospel Jesus tells the disciples that his is the time of fulfillment. “The reign of God is at hand! Reform your lives and believe in the Good News.” All three readings sound like Lenten readings, reminding us to not waste our time on things that distract us from the Lord, or even worse, go against the Kingdom of God. The light has come into the world and we are to help make that light shine through our lives.

On this cold winter week I hope that you will take time and consider joining the parish Alpha program at Saint Juliana. We are often looking for something extra to do for Lent and Easter, and Alpha would be a great way to meet other parishioners, reflect on our lives, and encounter Jesus in a new way. All the information is in the bulletin for registration. The first session begins on February 27 at 7:00pm in the parish office building on Osceola. Make sure you invite family and friends who may be searching.

This past Friday we had a great trivia night at Saint Juliana! All the intellectuals of the parish were out to show their stuff. I was there for the food and friendship. The night was sponsored by the Fine Arts association of Saint Juliana to help fund their spring musical, Frozen, Jr. Thanks for everyone who came out and please make plans to attend Frozen, in the spring.

A few upcoming events to put in your calendar. Beginning on January 28th we will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week at Saint Juliana. It is a time for us to celebrate the school, our students and teachers, and all of you who support the parish school. The school is strong and is running at full capacity this year. Based on registrations so far it looks like next year will be the same. This is a once-a-year celebration to honor our history—ninety-seven years of Catholic education!—and to look forward to many adventures and blessings ahead.  Thanks to everyone who is working to make this a great celebration.

Question: What do Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day have in common? This year they are both on the same day. So if you are planning to show your sweetheart that you love them, don’t wait for the actual day. Abstaining, fasting, and refraining from chocolate might not be the valentine your sweetheart wants. I keep telling people I might put big hearts on their foreheads with the ashes. In any case, now you know to celebrate Valentine’s Day early this year. 

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Last Monday we ended the Christmas season with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We added green banners for Ordinary Time in church and took out some of the Christmas decorations. We decided to leave some of the poinsettias in church because they looked so beautiful. This year our winter ordinary time will be short. On February 14th, Valentine’s Day, we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

This Sunday as we listen to the readings, we hear two stories of how people were called by God. In the first reading Samuel doesn’t understand who is calling him. He thinks Eli the temple priest is calling him. In the end Eli realizes that God is calling Samuel, and Eli directs Samuel to respond with the simple words, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” In the Gospel it is John the Baptist who recognizes Jesus and lets his disciples know who Jesus is. John’s disciples then begin to follow Jesus. I think there are two roles shown in these readings. As followers we are called to actively participate in both of those roles. In the first role we are called to lead or direct other people to the living God. We are on a journey together and we need to point out those moments when God is active in our lives and world. As we share our stories of encounter with Jesus others realize that God is also at work in their lives. The second role presented in the readings is that of a seeker. Samuel and the disciples in the Gospel actively seek God out. They actively put themselves in positions that will help them clarify God’s call for them. Each of us are called to be seekers, but we have to put ourselves in paths that lead to the Lord. So as we continue this new year I encourage you to consider putting yourselves in God’s path by either signing up for Alpha, or the women’s or men’s retreats. The more we put ourselves out there, the more likely it is that we will encounter the Lord.

Don’t forget to register for the Saint Juliana trivia night. It will be held on this Friday, January 19th in the school hall. The trivia night is one of the ways that the Saint Juliana Fine Arts Association funds their programs throughout the year. We especially are looking forward to the spring production of Frozen, Jr. So gather your family and friends and put your thinking cap on and join us for this year’s trivia night.

Thanks to Saint Juliana Boy Scouts for putting up and taking down our outside manger scene. The scouts have it down to a science, and I appreciate not having to worry about it. Thanks also to Dan for putting up our outside lights and taking them down as well. Thanks to David Plier and family for putting up the manger scene in the church and taking it down as well. And thanks to Mike Bronk for hanging the wreaths in church and taking them down. This is quite a team who helps us with our Christmas decorations, and we are grateful for their help! 

Today the Christmas celebration continues with the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Whether we call them kings, magi, or astrologers, we all know the story of these foreign dignitaries who come to find the newborn king of the Jews. The kings’ appearance creates quite a stir for Herod and those who follow him. Herod is oblivious to what has taken place in his own kingdom. He is too busy with day-to-day events to think about a savior who has come into the world. Yet the light of Jesus called to strangers from distant lands. This was one of the first epiphanies of Jesus—the eye-opening event that says Jesus came to save the whole world, and not just a small portion of the world. All we must do is open our eyes and be open to the salvation Jesus is offering. I think today it is especially important as we are being asked to exclude the foreigner, criminalize those who are different, circle our wagons against real or imaginary threats, to realize that Jesus’ light is a gift to all humanity. We are just one recipient of that gift. The other important piece of the celebration today is that the gift of light, hope and peace that has been given to us is meant to be shared.

Tomorrow, Monday January 8th, we celebrate the last feast of the Christmas season. The Baptism of the Lord seems a bit out of place. After a few weeks of stories of Jesus’ Nativity, we now find ourselves almost thirty years later at the bank of the Jordan River. It is another epiphany, as Jesus is made known to all those who are present that day at the Jordan. Jesus approaches John the Baptist and asks for baptism. John does not want to baptize Jesus because he knows who Jesus is. Jesus insists, and when the baptism occurs the skies open and a voice says, “You are my beloved Son. On you my favor rests.” As we end the Christmas season we move from infancy to adulthood, from possibilities to action. Let us all work this year to bring Christ’s light into our world.

This week both Saint Juliana School and our religious education program will be starting again. Hopefully all of the students and teachers had some time to regroup and relax over the Christmas holiday. We have had a few emergency repairs completed over the Christmas break in the school. Pipes under the oldest part of the school, the south facing wing, have been leaking steam and messing up the floors. Work was completed and hopefully we are done with emergencies for a while. We are still expecting that some of the new windows in the school will be installed over the Easter break. This will be a welcome change that helps with easy ventilation to our classrooms. We always seem to have an exciting project on the horizon.  Stay tuned for what might be next.

Just because I know people will be asking, I want to let everyone know that Fr. Roger left this week for his winter break in Florida. He will be gone for at least two months and expects to get back sometime in March. Hopefully Fr. Roger can rest and rejuvenate. Fr. Prasad is also leaving this week for a trip back to India. He will be meeting with his bishop and priest friends from his diocese, visiting with family, and working on his visa. Fr. Prasad should be back in early February. Fr. Prasad has been away from family and friends for almost two years. I hope Prasad has a great visit with his family and friends.

Finally, I want to give a general thank you to everyone who has made our Advent and Christmas celebrations so meaningful at Saint Juliana. I have heard from so many about the beautiful decorations, the wonderful music and the welcoming spirit shown by everyone in the parish. Thanks also for all your financial support. Our Christmas and Easter collections are an important part of our budget, and you once again showed your willingness to keep Saint Juliana strong. I hope that 2024 will be an exciting time for all of us. 

Today we continue our celebration of Christmas with the Feast of the Holy Family. Jesus, our Light, came into the world. Like each of us, Jesus came into a family. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are not your normal family. Mary and Joseph often have visions and visits from angels and spirits. Their marriage is rushed because Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Family are refugees who must move from their hometowns because of government decrees. Finally, they end up living in a barn because there isn’t a room for them to stay. And when Mary at last gives birth to Jesus, and Joseph and Mary are hoping for a bit of peace and quiet, everyone stops by for a visit including angels, shepherds, and kings. Sound familiar?

I always say that the Church has put this feast in the middle of the Christmas holiday as a reminder that any chaos we experience in our own families has been experienced by the Holy Family as well, especially during the Christmas holidays. We idealize the Holy Family, but if we listen carefully to the story, life for Mary, Joseph and Jesus was not a bed of roses—yet they survived and thrived. That is the promise each of us receives on this feast day. God will be with our families every day. The Light will lead and guide our interactions; and when difficulty, worry, or chaos ensues, God will help us through it. Family life is not always easy, but with God’s help we find joy in our family and friends.

As the old year ends, I would like to offer thanks to everyone who has helped to make the celebrations of Christmas so meaningful. First a thank you to the Saint Juliana School children who gave a tremendous Christmas performance last week for their families and friends. Thanks also to the junior high students for putting together Christmas gift bags for the residents at Saint Benedict’s senior living facility. And  to the eighth graders for delivering those same gift bags before Christmas and to those who also had roles in our Living Nativity. And thanks to the volunteers who provided treats after the performance.

Thanks also to everyone who made each of our church celebrations so impressive. We thank Glenn de Castro and the choirs, cantors, and musicians for the heavenly songs of Christmas. We thank our readers, who gracefully told our story at each of the Masses. Thanks to our communion ministers who faithfully present Jesus to us every week. Thanks to all the servers who showed up during the holidays and special thanks to our ushers who worked so hard to welcome families and guests to Saint Juliana. Together with all of you who attended our celebrations, we are a holy family!

 As the year ends, I want to thank all of you who have generously supported Saint Juliana through your monetary gifts. For generations, dreams have become reality because of your generosity and support. Like the Holy Family, let’s keep dreaming as we enter 2024. Together we will make our parish dreams a reality.

Finally, we will have one mass on New Years Day for the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, the mother of God. After all of the craziness of the New Year celebrations, beginning the New Year with a peaceful Mass sounds heavenly. Please join us if you are able at 10:00am.

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. In the first reading from the Book of Samuel, King David tells Nathan the prophet that he should build a temple for God to dwell in. David thinks it is only fitting for all the ways God has blessed himself and Israel. But God tells David that there is no need for a temple because he is in all of them. God also reminds David that he has been with them through all their journeys and will continue to be with them forever. The temple God desires is for each of us to be open to his word and teachings. In the Gospel, Mary is visited by the Angel Gabriel and is told that she would bare the Son of God. Mary is stunned, but because of her relationship with God, she says “yes” to what God is asking of her. Tonight, and tomorrow each of us will be asked to welcome the Christ into our homes, and more importantly into our hearts, just as Mary did. Christmas is the time we celebrate the “Light of the Nations,” Jesus Christ. As we joyfully gather with family and friends to celebrate the gift of a God who is with us, we give thanks for another year of blessing and hope.

Today the waiting is over. The preparations are complete. The Saint Juliana family invites everyone to come and celebrate the gift that is God with us! Our Christmas Masses begin this afternoon at 3:30pm and at 5:30pm. Tomorrow morning, Christmas day, we will celebrate at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:00am. Surrounded by church family and friends we glory in the hope and peace that is Jesus Christ. We hope to see everyone throughout this Christmas season.

A few weeks ago, we invited parishioners and leaders of parish groups to come together to discuss a vision for Saint Juliana moving forward. We stressed the importance of searching for and recognizing fresh encounters with Jesus Christ. What do we mean by a fresh encounter? Think of the relationships you have with spouses, family, and friends. Unless you make time, seek out new adventures, and put yourself out there, the relationships can begin to feel routine, or even worse, stale. It is the same with our relationship with Jesus. Besides the “obligation” of Sunday Mass, do I make an effort to encounter Jesus in a new way? Christmas is a great time to recommit to building a stronger relationship with the Lord. Give a gift to yourself. Consider signing up for the next “Alpha” that will be beginning in February. Mark your calendars for the men’s or women’s retreats coming up in March. Stop in at adoration on Tuesday evening. Or hook up with Fr. Elliott for bible study or book club. All it takes is you making the commitment and saying “yes.” Too often we wait for something better to come along and end up doing nothing. Let’s all make this a year of action. It is time to get off the bench and get into the game.

This week the parish office will be open sporadically. I recommend you call before heading into the office. We will be checking the parish messages throughout the week.

Finally, on behalf of Fr. Roger, Fr. Elliott, Fr. Prasad, the parish staff, and myself, we wish you a joy filled, hope filled, and peace filled Christmas! May the Lord’s light shine brightly on you and your families during this holy season and the upcoming year.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent. The readings begin to transition to the first coming of God in Jesus. In the gospel we hear about John the Baptist. John is questioned by the leaders of Jerusalem as to whether he is the coming Messiah. John is quick to say he is not the Messiah, rather he is a prophet who is calling people to the light that will come into the world. He quotes the prophet Isaiah, telling the leaders, “I am a voice in the desert, crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord.” Today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah tells us that he has been called to prepare the world for the Messiah who is to come. I believe we also are called like Isaiah to prepare ourselves and the world for Jesus’ coming. Here is what Isaiah tells us, “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God.” Isaiah’s response is pure joy! He is ready for his mission; are we?

This Thursday, December 21st, Saint Juliana will host the living nativity in the school parking lot. The Living Nativity is a way for the community to gather and celebrate the Christmas season. Our eighth graders will act out the bible story of Jesus’ birth. It is a chance for all of us to refocus on the center of the Christmas celebration: Jesus coming into a world that is looking for light. Jesus is our light. The animals for the living nativity will be on site from 6:00-8:00pm. We will act out the story of Jesus’ birth twice during that time at 6:30pm and 7:15pm. There will also be some cookies and hot chocolate available as refreshments. 

Next weekend. December 23rd and 24th, we will be celebrating the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The 5:00pm Mass and the 7:30am and 9:30am Masses will mark the Fourth Sunday of Advent. We will not have an 11:00am Mass next Sunday, December 24th, so we can prepare for the celebration of Christmas in the afternoon.

The celebration of Christmas will begin at 3:30pm on Sunday afternoon, December 24th, with our first Mass of Christmas. We will also have a 5:30pm Mass on Christmas Eve as well. On Monday, Christmas Day we will have three Masses. They are scheduled for 7:30am, 9:30am, and 11:00am. We look forward to celebrating with all the Saint Juliana families over the Christmas holiday!

We will not be celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation on Sunday, December 24th. Reconciliation will resume on Sunday, December 31st, after the 9:30am Mass.

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. In the Gospel of Mark we hear, “Here begins the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Each and every time we gather in Jesus’ name, we again are given the “good news.” It is a gift given to all who believe and open themselves to an encounter with Jesus. Both the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist remind us that one greater than all of us will come and will change our world. Most of the prophets, as well as John the Baptist, were seen as odd. They didn’t necessarily follow the established rules on faith, politics, and the world around them. They envisioned things that others couldn’t see. As we continue this Advent season, we ask God to open our eyes and hearts to the possibilities around us. Help us to see coming light in darkness and to feel work toward peace in our families, workplaces, and world.

Today we celebrate the Rite of Acceptance with the RCIA candidates and catechumen. Ava Brant, our catechumen, will receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Adriana Velazquez, Miranda Velazquez, and Samantha Arce will be receiving the sacrament of confirmation at the Easter Vigil. They have been journeying since September ,and now we get to show them our commitment to their journey. As a parish community we will promise them our support and prayers on this journey. This celebration will take place today at the 9:30am Mass. Please keep them in your prayers. 

This week we invite everyone to join us for our Advent Taizé prayer and reconciliation. Taizé prayer is a distinctive style of meditative prayer developed in France. Through repetitive song, silence, and readings, it helps quiet the spirit. I think in the busyness of the Christmas season it is especially needed. So on Tuesday, December 12th, join us at 7:00pm. Some might want to just come for the prayer, others may also want to take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation. Priests will be available, whatever your choice. Please take time in your hectic schedule to sit with the Lord and open yourself to God’s healing power.

This year our Advent season is very short. What do I mean by that? Well, the Fourth Sunday of Advent will also be the morning of Christmas Eve. So even though we will have four Sundays of Advent we will only have three full weeks of Advent. Practically, what does that mean? It means that on December 23rd and 24th, we will celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent at three Masses. The 5:00pm Mass on Saturday and the 7:30am ad 9:30am Mass on Sunday. We will not have an 11:00am Mass on December 24th. We will begin the Christmas celebration on December 24th with our first Christmas Mass at 3:30pm, followed by a 5:30pm Mass. On Monday, December 25th, we will have three Masses for Christmas—at 7:30am, 9:30am, and 11:00am. So now you have it! If your head is spinning, know that ours is spinning as well. We look forward to celebrating with you and your families over the Christmas holiday.

On Thursday, December 21st,  Saint Juliana will once again be hosting the Living Nativity. The Living Nativity will be outside in the parking lot adjacent to the Ahearn Center.  Our four-legged actors, the animals, will be here from 6:00 -8:00pm. At 6:30pm and 7:15pm, we will share the story of Jesus’ birth. and our eighth graders will act it out. Our children’s choir will lead all of us in a few songs as well.  We hope it is a simple way for our families to gather and celebrate together the joy of the Christmas holiday. Invite neighbors and friends and introduce them to the Saint Juliana community. 

Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent. In today’s gospel we are reminded to “Be watchful, be alert!” We begin the Church year as we ended it, waiting and preparing for the second coming of the Lord. The prophet Isaiah is so ready for the coming that he calls on God to come and make things new again. Isaiah uses the image of a potter who takes a piece of clay and fashions it into a work of art. We are the clay that God will fashion. Are we open to the Lord and willing to become the piece of art that God is forming a new?

This Friday, December 8th, we will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From its earliest days, many within the Church believed that if Mary is the Mother of God, then it would be impossible for her to have been born with the stain of original sin. It took over 1800 years for the Church to finally enshrine the Immaculate Conception of Mary as dogma. As a parish we will celebrate the feast day with two Masses. There will be an 8:30am and a 7:00pm Mass. The school children will be joining us for the 8:30am Mass. Please take time to join us for this celebration of our Blessed Mother.

On December 12th we also celebrate another feast of Mary that is very important to our brothers and sisters of Mexican descent. Mary appears to Juan Diego and asks him to build a church in her honor. At first the church leaders are skeptical; but eventually, as her image is imprinted on Juan Diego’s tilma, or cloak, the bishop is convinced. We consider Mary the Mother of the Americas. So don’t be surprised if you see pilgrims walking or riding horses through your neighborhood toward the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines. It will be a day of great celebration for those who participate.

Next Tuesday, December 12th, we will also be celebrating our parish Advent reconciliation service. This year we will embed the reconciliation service in a taizé prayer. Taizé prayer is a distinctive style of meditative prayer developed in France. It incorporates silence, readings from scripture, and repetitive songs or chants. The prayer allows us to open our hearts and minds to God’s work within us. In this prayer the option for sacramental reconciliation will be offered for those who desire it. Others may choose to come and participate in the prayer and not receive the sacrament. The choice is yours. I do though encourage everyone to include the evening in your Advent preparation.  

Finally, this past week we ended our pilot Alpha program. I want to thank the Alpha team who worked so hard to provide a welcoming space for those seeking a deeper connection to our Lord, Jesus. Thanks also to the parish participants who volunteered to join this first Alpha. I know that they were an inspiration to the team, and that God has spoken to them in different ways. They also helped the team hone their skills for the future Alphas to come. The next Alpha will begin in early February and will be open to anyone in the parish or neighborhood.

Today we celebrate the Thirty-Fourth Sunday of the year, the Feast of Christ the King. This is also the last Sunday in the Church calendar. Next week we begin a new Church year with the First Sunday of Advent. So what does this feast of Christ the King offer us? It reminds us that the king written about in scripture will come as a shepherd. The king will search every nook and cranny to find any sheep that have been lost. He will even search out the dark and hidden spots where some of the sheep may be holding up. This king does not want to lose even one sheep. He hopes to find all the sheep and lead them into safe pastures.  This is the story of Jesus. He comes to restore us to our original goodness. He gives his life so that we may live our lives to the fullest. This is the king we celebrate today and everyday in our lives.

This coming Saturday, I will be hosting a parish leadership summit. We invite ministry leaders, ministers, ministry/club members and parishioners to attend the summit, which we will hold in the school hall. Enter through door number three, nearest the elevator. My hope is to set out a pathway to renewal in the parish as envisioned in the Renew My Church process. The morning will include prayer, input, and discussion among all who join us. The world is changing every day. The Church exists in our changing world and needs to be open to new pathways that lead people to a deeper relationship with Jesus. Hopefully, together we can begin a journey that deepens our own relationship with the Lord, and share that relationship with others. Please register by emailing Marie Dombai at [email protected].

On December 12th, Saint Juliana will be hosting our parish Advent reconciliation service. This year we are offering the sacrament of Reconciliation in the context of an evening of Taizé prayer. For those who have not experienced Taizé prayer before, it is a prayer that came out of an ecumenical monastic community located in the Burgandy region of France. Taizé prayer is a simple, meditative form of worship, calling us all to dwell deeply on Christ’s presence around and within us. Mantra songs, prayerful silence, and short readings guide the focus of the Taizé prayer. The Taizé prayer is open for everyone in the parish. For those who want to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, it will be offered during the Taizé prayer. Please mark your calendar and join us for our Advent Taizé Reconciliation service. 

There will be lots of things going on in the parish during December. I want to leave you today with an invitation to join us on December 8th for the Feast of the immaculate Conception. Because Mary bore Jesus our Savior, the Church believes she could not have been stained with original sin. Because she was conceived without original sin, she is given the title of the Immaculate Conception. Under the title of the Immaculate Conception, Mary is considered the patroness of the United States. We will have a mass at 8:30am and at 7:00pm on December 8th. Please join us if you are able.

Today we celebrate the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the gospel, Jesus uses the signs of the changing seasons to teach his disciples. He tells them that when they see the buds popping on the fig trees you know that summer is near. Jesus wants us to read the signs of our lives and then prepare ourselves for what is to come. An example today might be how when we celebrate our sixty-fourth birthday, we know Medicare is close behind. The reality is that Jesus wants us to be prepared at every stage of our lives for what is to come next. Jesus is also confident that some things happen in our life and we have no control over them, but in other areas of our lives we have control. We can make choices that make our lives better, but more importantly a relationship with Jesus calls each of us to make choices that make the world better. We are asked today to look at our choices and how they reflect our relationship—our friendship—with the Lord.

This week the nation pauses to give thanks to God for our all the blessings we have received. I encourage everyone to take a little time and make a list of all the blessings they have received in their lifetime. I am big on pen or pencil to paper. There is something about writing out a list that slows us down and helps us think. When you are writing this Thanksgiving list, make sure that negative thoughts don’t sidetrack you. This is a blessing list, not a list of hurts or regrets. We too often fall into the negative trap that sidelines us from focusing on all the good in our lives and the world. If you are bold, I encourage you to have everyone in your family do a blessing list this week. Then when you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner or breakfast, whether you offer a prayer or not, set them on the center of the table under the turkey or sticky buns. That way the meal becomes a meal of shared blessing, a reminder of God’s goodness. The more we stop to reflect on goodness and blessing, more goodness and blessing will come. Please join us if you are able for our Thanksgiving morning Mass. The Mass begins at 8:00am because of the Edison Park Turkey Trot. Start you day with Mass and then head out to cheer on all the runners!

Today is a perfect day for us to publish our annual financial report for Saint Juliana. Once again we ended the fiscal year—July 1,2022-June 30, 2023—on the positive side of the ledger. This year we have incurred greater expenses in staffing and benefits. On the parish side we added new lay staff and an extra priest. We have also increased our overall maintenance staff for both the parish and school. We have also done lots of maintenance and capital projects which I have outlined in the next paragraph. With all that, we still ended the fiscal year with a profit of $19,569.

I encourage you to take note of all the capital projects that have been completed this past year. These include renovating the church sanctuary to reposition our altar and tabernacle. The parking lot was repaved and lined. New sidewalks are scattered around the property including on Touhy, on Osceola in front of the school, and in front of the church where ramping was included for easier access. Sixteen security cameras were installed in the school—plus the technology for monitoring them. Soundproofing and lighting were installed in the Ahearn Center, along with a total gut and rehab of the Ahearn center kitchen. We also added sound-reducing panels in the back of church. Floors were replaced in three of the primary classrooms, and a fully furnished new classroom in the preschool wing was added. All of this has taken place and we still came out on the plus side financially.  

This coming year, our big capital project will be replacing of the all the school windows. These windows will include an access window in each classroom for emergency access and egress. The total project will come in at about $800,000. These funds will come from the remaining To Teach Who Christ Is funds in the Archdiocesan bank.

On this Thanksgiving Week I would like to thank Ray Balcarcel our Business Manager for all of his work and expertise. Thanks also to our finance council who helps us steward the gifts you have given to the parish and school. And finally. I would like to thank all of you for your continued support of Saint Juliana.

Today we celebrate the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. As we near the end of the Church year, the theme of preparedness continues. Jesus tells the parable of the ten bridesmaids invited to a wedding. Unlike the well-orchestrated weddings we partake in today, weddings in Jesus’ time happened when the bride and groom showed up. It might be during the day, or it could also be the middle of the night. Bridesmaids and guests had to be prepared for whenever the celebration might happen. In the gospel, five of the ten bridesmaids prepared and had extra oil for their torches. Five did not bring extra oil. They waited and waited for the groom to show up; and when he did, the five who were ready went into the wedding celebration. Those who were unprepared missed out. The story reminds us that we have to be prepared for whenever God chooses to call us to the banquet in heaven. Our relationship with Jesus, our words and actions, are signs of our readiness.

Today I would like to offer thanks to the Saint Juliana Green Tie Gala committee. Last Saturday, they hosted over three hundred of us for a celebration of the parish and to raise money for several causes. It is no small feat of organization to make an event like this happen. Everyone there had a great time, and the funds raised will help both the parish and the school. Thanks to those special guests who gave their time and talent for the event. Special thanks to our co-chairs for the event, David Plier and Nick Hynes. They helped lead a dedicated team to a festive night of fun and fundraising. Thanks also to all of the sponsors who supported the parish as well. It is my theme that together we are much stronger then we are as individuals, and the Gala is a sign of that strength. Thanks to everyone.

I may have offered a small thanks when Luke Ramirez finished his Eagle Scout project in the late summer. Luke worked with a team to re-landscape the area around the flagpole on Touhy. He took out dead bushes and replaced them with native flowers and grasses. He added mulch, which completed the renovation. Thanks to Luke for all your planning and hard work. I also want to thank the parishioners of Saint Juliana who donated funds to make this renovation happen. When the project was completed, Luke turned in a check over $1,000 above what he needed for the work. Your support for our scouts is unbelievable. This year the Saint Juliana Boy Scout Troop 965 is celebrating their 90th year in operation. People like you support these boys and help them to become men. Thanks to present and past scout leaders who continue the scouting tradition in the parish. Just another reason to celebrate here at Saint Juliana.

This Wednesday at 7:00pm we will have a meeting for our Eucharistic ministers and lectors in the library of the parish office building on Osceola. Several of our ministers have participated in deanery-wide training this past month. On Wednesday, we will watch a short video Cardinal Cupich presented on the Mass and have some discussion around that. It is also a time for us to hear your concerns as ministers. Please join us if you are able.

Everyone is still invited to bring pictures for our tables of remembrance in the front of church. The tables will remain in the church through the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the Feast of Christ the King. It is a tangible way for us to remember and reconnect with family and friends who have died.

Finally, next week we will publish the Saint Juliana annual financial report in the bulletin and on the parish website. I will also speak at all the Masses to talk a bit about where we have been and where we are going.

Today we celebrate the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. As we enter the last month of the Church year we are reminded to prepare ourselves for the end time. As a Church we might prepare for Jesus to once again come into the world, but on a personal level it is a reminder that we should live as if the second coming is imminent. Today’s gospel calls us to action. Words are nice, but actions always speak louder then our words. The gospel today speaks of humility as an important virtue for living out our faith. Everyone doesn’t need to know everything about what we are doing as followers of Christ. That is pride. Rather we need to do good works because we know Jesus and have a living relationship with him. This is the preparation that is asked of us.

During the month of November, we encourage everyone to bring in a picture of loved ones who have passed away for our tables of remembrance. It is a chance for us to include them in our daily liturgies. I think we all hope that we will be remembered when we die. As Christians we believe we are remembered in death, and our connection to loved ones doesn’t end in death. The relationships we formed in life continue. So, our tables of remembrance remind us of that continuing connection. We also have placed our book of remembrance near the ambo in the front of the church. We encourage you to add names of deceased loved ones to that book as well so they will also be remembered in our November liturgies.

Thanks to Barb Ernat for coordinating the Trunk-or-Treat celebration last Sunday afternoon. Though we were tricked with our first taste of winter, the children all seemed to have a great time. Thanks also for all of those who decorated a car for the event and passed out candy to the children. We all know how expensive candy has become and we all appreciate your sacrifice for the children. Also thanks to parishioners who donated candy to the cause. As I predicted last week, it was a Spooktacular event!

Please check out the November 11th meeting being offered by the archdiocese here at Saint Juliana on sharing our stories of encounter with Jesus to our family and friends. It is a blessing for all of us that the archdiocese is choosing to do the class here in the parish. Too often faith in Jesus is seen like politics. It is something we all participate in, but not something we discuss with family or friends. That is fine for politics, but if we want the Church to continue we need to tell people why we believe. People need to hear how God has blessed our families, or been there for us when we were at our lowest. Stories connect people to one another and to their belief in Jesus. So please take some time and sign up to join us for this morning of renewal and discussion.

Today we celebrate the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The first reading from the book of Exodus speaks to our world situation today. Just as Israel heard the message more then 2000 years ago, we hear the message today. Do not oppress an alien, for you or your families were aliens yourself. Don’t wrong those who are already hurting, such as a widow or an orphan, rather answer their cry and help them. Throughout the world we have large groups of refugees on the move, or people trapped by war and violence. Countries refuse to help those in need and turn a blind eye to the plight of others. We are told to not get involved and that is isn’t our problem. Yet the world continues to shrink. We are connected to one another by commerce, social media, and treaties. There is no standing on the sidelines anymore. Jesus gives us two commandments in the Gospel. We are asked to love God and to love our neighbor. We are all called to heal the wounds of our world through compassion.

Today we celebrate a sacrament of healing at all our liturgies. The Church calls forward those in need of physical and spiritual healing and anoints them with the oil of the sick. We believe that the anointing can be a time of physical healing. We also believe that it heals us and prepares us for whatever may be ahead for us. Together as a parish we pray for peace in our brothers and sisters. Some of us may choose to be anointed at this time, those who are not anointed are asked to pray for everyone receiving the sacrament. Together we seek the healing that God offers to all of us. 

Today is also a good day to thank all of our Ministers of Care who bring healing and hope to our homebound parishioners. When called on, our ministers bring the Eucharist and news of the parish to those at home or in the hospital. Thanks to all of them for their ministry.

This week we will celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. On Wednesday we will have two Masses as we honor the men and women who are revered  as models of faith for all of us. It is a day when, as a Church, we hold up those official saints. On All Souls’ day we remember our family and friends and the connections we formed in this life and continue into the next. On both days we will celebrate two Masses—the morning Mass will be at 8:30am and the evening Mass will be at 7:00pm. On Thursday evening for All Souls’ we will remember in a special way those who were buried from the parish this past year. Please join us for these opportunities to honor the saints who went before us.

Beginning on November 1st, All Saints’ Day, we will have our tables of remembrance in the front of the church. We invite you to bring pictures of your loved ones for the table. In that way we will remember those family and friends throughout the month of November. The tables will be up until the First Sunday of Advent. 

Finally, if you receive any emails or text that are from me asking you to buy gift cards or certificates, it is a SCAM! Never respond to those emails or texts.

This weekend we celebrate the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In Matthew’s gospel we hear how the Pharisees are plotting to trap Jesus. They look for ways to trip Jesus up. They decide to use an economic issue, taxation. So they ask Jesus if it is lawful to pay the tax to the emperor or not? If he says yes, he is a traitor to the Jewish people. If he says no, he is a traitor to the Roman authority. Either answer is sure to get Jesus in trouble. Jesus, though, comes up with a masterful answer. He asks the Pharisees whose face is on the coin. They tell him Caesar. Then he tells them to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and what is God’s give to God. Possessions, money, and objects are the currency of this world. The people God created are God’s currency. Rather then tripping each other up, do we seek the good for each of our brothers and sisters? We are all God’s precious currency!

This weekend we are having our fall mission appeal. As I said last weekend, twice a year we are asked to join in the mission work of the Church. During the summer we have priests, sisters, or laity come and tell us about the work they are engaged in and how our generosity helps them in that work. In the fall we have a mission collection that was formerly called the “Propagation of the Faith” collection. Our donations today are given out by the Church to different groups working throughout the world to spread the good news. Please be as generous as you can be to this collection.

Next weekend we will celebrate the anointing of the sick at all of our weekend liturgies. The Second Vatican Council renewed the anointing of the sick to a sacrament of healing. The Church believes that we can experience healing, both physical and spiritual through the sacrament. It is not just seen as a sacrament that prepares us for death, but one that prepares us for life—life now in this world and life to come in the next. So we encourage those who are in need of the sacrament to join us at any of our liturgies next weekend.

Next Sunday the Saint Juliana School Parent Ambassadors are hosting a “Trunk or Treat” celebration for the children of the parish. The event will be held in the parish parking lot from 3:00-5:00pm. Barb Ernat is organizing the event. So decorate your car, truck, or SUV and come out and enjoy a early Halloween with family and friends. All children from the parish and neighborhood are invited to attend. It will be spooktacular!!!!!

Finally, thanks to Fr. Elliott for his coordination, work, and report last weekend on the Disciple Maker Index Survey. Thanks also to all of you who participated and filled out the survey. Over the coming year we will be offering opportunities to the parish that we hope will help us all in our work as disciples of Jesus.

This weekend we celebrate the Twenty-Eighth Sunday In Ordinary Time. For two weeks now we have heard readings that cautioned us about not responding to God’s abundant love. Today’s first reading from Isaiah describes the feast that God is providing for all people. Everyone is invited to God’s banquet of love. Yet people weren’t accepting the invitation. Have you ever received an invitation to a wedding, a party, or a parish event and kept holding out on responding? Sometimes it is just ambivalence, but sometimes we are waiting for a better offer. We do the same with God. Now might not be the time I want to be generous, forgiving, joyful, or welcoming. But the gospel warns us to not wait too long. As the parable says, if we wait too long the king will invite others to take our place. So now is the time.

This weekend Fr. Elliott will speak a few minutes after communion about the Disciples Maker Index Survey that was done last winter. We had about 40% of the parish respond to the survey. Elliott spearheaded the survey for the parish and will give a quick report on the survey and how the results will help us as we move forward. Thanks to everyone who filled out a survey and thanks to Fr. Elliott for his work on this project.

Next weekend we will be having our collection for the Propagation of the Faith, mission appeal. Twice a year we are asked to join the whole church in promoting the work of missionaries around the world. The first “ask” is our summer mission appeal. Priests, religious women, or lay people come in the summer and ask for help to promote the work that their specific group is doing around the world. You generously gave over $5,000 to that appeal. The world mission appeal collects funds that the Church distributes to groups around the world. These are the ways that we can participate in the work of Jesus today in other parts of the world. I ask you to be as generous as you can be for this collection.

Thanks goes out this week to the committee that worked on our all-school reunion last weekend. Marie and Deacon Tom Dombai along with a great committee hosted a wonderful event. Over 350 people attended. Graduating classes from 1949 through the early 2000s attended. People caught up with friends from the past and got to see what new has happened at Saint Juliana since they were students. Thanks to Cathie Scotkovsky our principal and SJS graduate, for giving tours of the school. We hope to host future alumni events as well going forward.

On the weekend of October 28th and 29th, we will once again have our Anointing of the Sick at all of the weekend Masses. Please invite family and friends who may need an anointing to join us. We don’t have to wait until we are on death’s door to receive this sacrament of healing. The sacrament is for those who are sick, the elderly, those with upcoming medical procedures, as well as mental illness.

Finally, we hope you can join us for the Green Tie Gala on November 4th at the Rosemont Convention Center. Every few years the parish hosts a big event to bring people together and to raise money for parish and school needs. Tickets can be obtained by scanning the code in the bulletin or on the parish website. You can also come into the office to buy tickets as well. 

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. The image of the vineyard comes up in both the first reading from Isaiah and in Matthew’s gospel. Both stories remind us of God’s blessing and work in the world and in humanity. They also speak of the response God expects from us for that generosity. In Isaiah we see all the work put into the vineyard. The vineyard is spaded, cleared of stones, a hedge is erected around it, and the best plants are chosen, yet the vineyard only yields wild grapes. The owner is not happy, and lets his vineyard be destroyed. In Matthew’s gospel the owner of the vineyard entrusts the vineyard to his tenants. The owner of the vineyard expects them to be good stewards of the fields and return a great yield to the owner. But the tenants refuse and actually work against the owner. In the end the owner throws those tenants out and replaces them. These stories are told for our benefit. God has given us many blessings and expects a return from us as well.

Last Sunday afternoon Bishop Casey, our Vicar General, and the other bishops of the archdiocese hosted the Christifideles award ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral. The award is given to Catholics around the archdiocese who have given a great example of service to their parish. Many of our parishioners fall into that category, but each year we can only nominate one for the award. So this year Pati Trevino is our nominee for the Christifideles award. Pati has been an active parishioner for many years. She was a catechist in our religious education program and our RCIA program. Pati was active in CHRP. Pati is a sacristan for our Sunday liturgy and often helps at weddings and funerals. She has been a Minister of Care and supports parish events through her presence and help. So, this year we congratulate Pati as the Christifideles award recipient for Saint Juliana.

This weekend we welcome all Saint Juliana alumni to the all-school reunion. For ninety-seven years the parish has operated a school to help parents in their work of passing on the faith to their children. Though Saint Juliana is known for strong academics, extracurricular activities, sports, and citizenship, the primary focus of any Catholic school is helping children build a relationship with Jesus. When we do that, we are fulfilling a call to be living missionaries in the world. We are proud of the work we have done and the work we continue to this day. I hope all of you here for the reunion enjoy the time to get together once again with friends from the past and remember where your journey of faith was nurtured.

It is time to get your tickets for the Green Tie Gala, which will be held on November 4th the Rosemont Convention Center. Dean Richards from WGN will be our host for the evening and the doors open at 6:00pm. The gala committee has been working hard for several months to make sure we all have a great evening as we gather to raise money for Saint Juliana parish and school.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings this Sunday offer us two paths in life. One of the paths is light and gives us new life. The other is darkness and leads to death. The life and death offered is not physical life or death, but rather spiritual. We are all going to die. We don’t have a choice in that. However we all have a choice of how we lived our lives here and now, and what comes after death. Our words and actions now are a choice. We have a say in how we live each day in our families, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. God calls us to choose wisely.

This weekend we celebrated the Saint Juliana School homecoming. There was a parade yesterday morning and our football teams played yesterday afternoon. Next Saturday, October 7th, we will have an all-school reunion. For ninety-seven years the parish has provided a Catholic education through our school and religious education program. We are proud of our past and the children we have sent into the world. With that in mind, we organized the reunion and look forward to gathering with our alumni who are able to join us. There will be food, drink, and music as well as tours of your alma mater. Happy homecoming to our present students and to all of our Saint Juliana alumni!

This past week we celebrated Grandparents Day. We had a Mass for our children and grandparents on Wednesday and then the grandparents got to spend some time in the school with their grandchildren. Grandparents are a gift that not everyone has. Children are very lucky if they do have a grandparent nearby that they can talk to. Grandparents ground us and give a history to our families. Oftentimes now they step in when parents work schedules get too tough. So we remember and thank all of our grandparents living and dead for their love and devotion to us.

Next, Saturday, October 7th, we will have the blessing of pets at 10:00am in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was devoted to all of creation. He worked to help the poor and needy in his midst, but also saw all of nature and wild beasts as his brothers and sisters. In honor of that love, we bring our pets and ask God to bless them as God blesses us. Pets are part of the family and they bring us joy. Please join us for the pet blessing on Saturday. 

Finally, as we begin the month of October we once again honor our Blessed Mother, Mary. At all of our Masses this week we will have a procession at the beginning of the Masses reminding us of the Mother who intercedes for us. Mary is the first disciple of her son Jesus. Mary always points us to her son and calls us to come and follow him. We give thanks for her intercession. Also during the month of October Fr. Prasad is continuing Mary visits in the home. If you would like to have Mary in your home for rosary and blessing, please call the office to set up a visit.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Fifth Sunday of the year. In our first reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, we are told to seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near. Every day we are called to turn away from distractions, darkness, and sin and seek God who will bring us light and life. We take Isaiah’s words today as a reminder that God is always waiting for our call for help in conversion. In Matthew’s gospel today we are reminded of God’s generosity. Jesus tells the parable of the landowner who hires different workers throughout the day to work in this vineyard. Some of the workers work eight hours, some six, some four, and some for only an hour, yet the landowner pays each of them the same amount. The workers call “foul” because everyone got the same pay, but they each did a different amount of work. It doesn’t seem fair to the workers. But the landowner tells them that generosity has no rules! Our God is a generous God, and we should try to emulate that generosity. 

This weekend at all our Masses we recognize all the catechists and teachers who generously work to pass on our faith. We believe that a relationship with Jesus can change our lives. That relationship with Jesus has the power to change our world. The parents are seen as the first teachers or catechists. They are the ones who introduce their children to the Lord. Our teachers and catechists reinforce the parents’ work by their actions, and by their words. The relationship with Jesus is deepened through teachings on scripture, tradition, sacraments, and saints. We are a community of faith, and it is through the work of the whole community that we get to know Jesus better. So today we bless our catechists and thank them for answering the call to share their faith with our children.

This past week our religious education program kicked off. We have about 200 children enrolled in the program. Thanks to Mary Petrash for her leadership in the program and thanks to all the catechists and volunteers who help each week as the children gather. Please keep the children, their families, and the catechists in your prayers.

Our RCIA program also began last week. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a formation journey for those seeking the Sacraments of Initiation. Through the sacraments baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist, we come to know Jesus. The RCIA program is for those who are not baptized, but now are considering joining the Catholic Church. It is also for those who might have been baptized and participated in another Christian faith but would now like to become Catholic. It is also for those who were baptized Catholic, but then never had continuing faith formation and want to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation. Parishioners Chris and Maureen Floss run the Saint Juliana program on Sunday mornings. We have found this time the most convenient for our adult participants. Please call the office if you would like to join the group this year. 

This coming Saturday, September 30th is the Saint Juliana homecoming. There will be a parade on Saturday morning beginning around 10:00am. The parade leaves the school parking lot and makes the two-block trek to Brooks Park. The first game begins at noon, followed by the varsity game at 2:00pm. Invite your family and friends and join us for our homecoming celebration. 

Finally, I encourage everyone to get their tickets for the Saint Juliana all-school reunion on Saturday, October 7th. We will begin the evening at the 5:00pm Mass and then head to the Ahearn Center and school for the party. A ticket includes music, pizza, and a couple of glasses of beer and wine. Tours of the school will also be part of the evening. See you there! 

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today’s readings the question of forgiveness is front and center. How often must we forgive? Who must we forgive? And how does forgiveness relate to the Kingdom? First, in the gospel, Jesus tells Peter that forgiving someone seven times isn’t enough. Jesus tells Peter to forgive seventy times seven times. In other words forgiveness is so important there should not be a limit or number attached. Also we are to forgive those we like, but also those we dislike. Everyone is worthy of forgiveness. Finally, forgiveness brings peace, and peace is the foundation of the Kingdom. I think an add-on to forgiveness is that when we choose not to forgive and hold on to past hurts, we are the ones imprisoned. The hurts and slights become weights that keep us from joy. So today we ask God to help us be people of forgiveness and peace.

This weekend we have our seminary collection for the Archdiocese of Chicago. For many years the archdiocese ran three seminaries. There was a high school seminary, college seminary (Niles College Seminary), and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary. Today our high school students interested in a vocation to the priesthood receive support in the different high schools they attend. The college seminarians now study in Minnesota. The major seminary though is still located in Mundelein at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake. Though the system has changed over the years, the education and formation the seminarians receive is still one of the best in the country. At Saint Juliana we participate in the formation of the seminarians by welcoming them into our parish. This year we once again have two seminarians from Grand Rapids ministering in the parish. Hunter Ostapowicz and Patrick Truskowski have worked with our servers, our religious education, our RCIA program, and some of our adult education and prayer experiences. The parish helps ground them in the ministry ahead. The archdiocesan seminary collection helps to defray the costs of running all the seminaries and vocation programs of the archdiocese. It also directly helps the seminarians who are studying for Chicago. Like all students, our seminarians and priests come out of the seminary with student loans. Your support helps lessen that burden. We ask you to be as generous as you can be with your support and please pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Next weekend we will have a blessing at all of our Masses for the catechists and teachers of the parish. Parents are the first faith teachers our children experience. Eventually, though, the parents are helped in the journey of faith by our teachers and catechists. We want to bless them next week and thank them for all the work they do for our children.

Two dates to put in your calendar. The first is the Saint Juliana all-school reunion on October 7th. We will begin with Mass and then the festivities move over to the Ahearn Center and school. The second event will be our Green Tie Gala to be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont on November 4th. Information and ticket sales for both events are available in the bulletin or on the parish web site. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings speak of sin, and also they speak of love and forgiveness. We are called to be people of light, but God also asks us to try and help others live in the light as well. Oftentimes our good actions and words can lead others to the Lord. Sometimes we may also use words with family and friends as well. If our intervention works, we feel good that we have helped another person in their journey. When our good works don’t move someone, it is frustrating. Yet the gospel tells us to keep trying. And I always believe that even when the gospel tells us to treat someone as a gentile or foreigner, we might think that is our out. We can stop trying and move on. The only problem with that thinking is Jesus did not give up on gentiles or foreigners, so the reality is that the gospel continues to call us to goodness toward those we know and those we don’t. Not always an easy command. We ask for God’s help, encouragement and strength.

We once again welcome our two seminarians back to Saint Juliana for the school year. Both Hunter Ostapowicz and Patrick Truskowski worked over the summer in different ministries and schools, and now they are back at Mundelein Seminary. Hunter is in second theology and Patrick is in first theology. They are both studying for the diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan. They will once again be present and help us in some of our parish ministries. Please welcome them as you see them over the next few weeks and invite them to participate in any groups you may be a part of. There time in the parish is limited, but sometimes they can change schedules to join us.  Also always keep them in your prayers. Welcome, Hunter and Patrick!

Today we honor our first responders. I see their decision to become fire fighters, police officers, and paramedics as a ministry decision and not just a job decision. There are many joys and benefits to serving others and helping those in need. Jesus told us our joy will be in service, not in objects or things. There are also outcomes that can be difficult or dangerous. Yet the men and women of the police and fire departments take on these jobs to protect us. They run toward danger when most of us at best would stand back. They have the same fears, worries, and concerns that all of us have in our daily lives. Too often though we don’t let them express those concerns and fears. We hold them up as heroes, and they are, but they are also our parents, our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, and friends.  Today we want to recognize their sacrifice, and we want to assure them we are there for them. Our prayers and support are with our first responders. Thank you for your service.

Finally, this past week the parish began our first Alpha group. Alpha is an evangelization tool that we have been encouraged to use by the archdiocese to help welcome those who may be seeking to know Jesus and the Church.  It is considered a soft entry point for seekers. What do I mean by that? Well, it is easier for someone unchurched or seeking to come to a small group event or an event that is not a liturgy. Oftentimes we invite people to join us at our Sunday liturgy, without considering that we have years of experience, training, and faith development under our belt when we come to celebrate. The seeker often doesn’t know the ins and outs of liturgy, the ups and downs, the responses, or prayers. It can be like taking a child or adult who has never gone swimming before and throw them into the deep end of the pool hoping they will get the idea. Alpha is the beginning of a mindset for all of us that small steps—in the shallow end—might be a better way to get people interested in learning about Jesus and eventually joining us in the journey. This first Alpha is our pilot. We as a team are learning, and those who have been invited will help us learn, while hopefully they also will grow their faith in a deeper way. Please keep the team and those participating in your daily prayer over the next three months. 

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today’s second reading, St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, asks them to sacrifice for one another. He tells them that through sacrificing we become an acceptable gift to God. Sacrifice is not seen today as a positive. The world tells us to look out for number one. Let others take care of themselves. This idea may bring pleasure in the short run, but it doesn’t bring lasting joy. Think about it. I contend that our lasting joy is greatest when we are helping someone else. These moments of sacrifice make us feel good. We see others changed by our good works, and we also feel better. Sacrifice always begins with relationship. When we connect with one another we feel the attachment that allows us to sacrifice, forgive, be generous, and put the greater good forward. That is what our readings call us to today. Living in isolated silos will not make us happy, but lives lived in community and searching for ways to bring about the common good will bring us joy.

On this Labor Day weekend, you will notice an article entitled, “Season of Creation.” The Holy Father, Pope Francis, in response to climate change, overuse, abuse, or lack of vision concerning our world is calling on Catholics and people of good will to join together and do what they can to restore the gift of creation that God has given us. Pope Francis has designated September 1st through October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, as the Season of Creation. The short blurbs included each week in the next five bulletins are meant to get us thinking. I understand we are all not in the same place concerning climate change or causes of natural disasters. But I do think we can all recognize the world is changing. Winters are warmer, summers are hotter. We see snow now than when we were children, oftentimes less rain as well. Rising sea levels and frequent droughts remind us that things might be out of whack. People often tell me that the earth will take care of itself, quit worrying and everything will be fine. Tell that to the dinosaurs. When I hear those discussions my science background kicks in. I do believe the earth will take care of itself with God’s help. But my concern is that the restoration of the earth may not include people, thus my comment about the dinosaurs. If we want our children and grandchildren to experience all of the beauty and wonder we did, we need to help make that happen wherever we can. Small things can make a difference, so why not try? As we celebrate the labor/work that God has given each of us this weekend, I encourage you to add restoration of the earth to your list of labors.

Happy Labor Day to everyone. The work that God gives us gives dignity to our lives. Work gives us purpose and directs our energy in life-giving ways. It doesn’t matter what the job is. It might be corporate, or it might seem menial, but in every case it helps us understand who we are in relation to other people and the world. We are a jigsaw puzzle of people who make our country work. From birth until death we are all called to some work that God is asking of us. Today we celebrate the gift of work and ironically take a day off, if we can! Have a great day.

Don’t forget to join us next Sunday at our 11:00am Mass to celebrate our first responders. These men and women are our spouses, parents, children, aunts, uncles, and neighbors. Day in and day out they see their “labor” as protecting us. Sometimes we might take for granted the sacrifice and risk they take each and every time they put on their uniform or go to work. Next week we want to say thank you.  Please join us.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. In both the first reading from Isaiah and the gospel, we are told that God will give us leaders as we journey on our way in the kingdom. In Isaiah, Eliakim is given the authority to shepherd the people. In the gospel, Jesus gives that authority to Peter. God continues to give us leaders and guides to help us in our journey to the kingdom. God tells us he will not leave us or abandon us. What if we are the one God is choosing today to lead his people? What if we are called to bring “good news” to our families, our friends, our classmates, and our coworkers? This week let’s all try to pass on good news rather than bad news. Let’s pause and consider whether our words and actions will build up or tear down the kingdom in our midst. Remember, God does not abandon his people and might just be calling us to do great things!

Over the past few weeks most of our children have begun another school year. Here at Saint Juliana we have had some great parent meetings and a whole parish celebration last Sunday after our 11:00am Mass. Our faith offers us a new beginning whenever we ask God. The new school year is a mirror of that faith. For students, parents, teachers and staff, the new year offers new possibilities. We can let go of difficulties or worries from the past and start fresh. I believe that is one of the reasons children look forward to new clothes, new school supplies, new books, new teachers, and new friends. God makes all things new! We continue to pray for all our children from the parish as they begin this new school year. We also pray that they will see that God is calling them to bring good news to their classmates and school through leadership, openness to new ideas and people, and a forgiving heart when necessary.

We only have a week left for registering children for our religious education program at Saint Juliana. RE is held on Wednesday evenings between 6:15-7:30pm. Just as we were searching for teachers in our school, we also continue to seek out catechists for our religious education program. Teaching a religion class or helping as an aide is a way to give back for all the blessings you have received. Please call Mary Petrash in the parish office if you can help us this year. And let’s make sure we get all our children registered on time.

A couple of dates I want to highlight this morning. On Sunday September 10th, at 11:00am, we will be hosting a Mass to celebrate our first responders. So many of our parish families have connections to our police and fire departments. These men and women are our parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and friends. We take for granted that when we place a call for assistance someone will be there to take care of us. As we run away from danger, these men and women run toward it. I hope the whole parish comes out to celebrate with pride our first responders, and I encourage those who serve us every day to come in your uniform if you are comfortable doing so. 

The second date is the Saint Juliana all-school reunion planned for Saturday, October 7th. We will begin with the 5:00pm Mass and then move to the Ahearn Center and school. It is a chance for alumni of all ages to catch up with friends and family who have walked the halls of Saint Juliana. Get your tickets now and invite your family and friends to join you at the all-school reunion. 

Today we celebrate the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Two things are made clear in our readings today. The first is that salvation is near at hand. The time is upon us and we need to be prepared. The second fact builds off that truth. The second is that those who are open, who are prepared, who are ready will experience salvation when it comes. It doesn’t matter whether we think we are part of the “in” crowd, or whether we are a lowly foreigner, salvation will come to those who believe and act on that belief. Our actions will prove that we are ready for the salvation, the light, among us. So often we believe that God will intervene in our lives and then salvation will be ours. Our readings today remind us that we are active participants to the kingdom that is coming. Let’s all be ready!

Today we are having our back-to-school celebration at our 11:00am Mass. The new school year is an exciting time for all our students, teachers, and parents. As a former teacher, I used to see this time as a fresh start, a new beginning. No matter how the previous school year ended, it was a chance to start anew. Hopefully all our students feel the same way. Today we will celebrate all our parish students and teachers and ask God to bless them wherever they will be attending school this year. After Mass we invite everyone to join us for our back-to-school block party in front of church. Oketo will be blocked off and there will be food and activities for the children and our families. Please take a few minutes to celebrate with all the families of the parish.

Tomorrow, August 21st, the 2023-2024 Saint Juliana school year begins. By now parents and students should have received all they need to get the year rolling. A few weeks ago, I listed many of the improvements to the school and parish. Our new sidewalks and parking lot are two of the biggest. Through the work and oversight of Ray Balcarcel, Dan Pritt, and Carlos Espinoza, we have much to celebrate. Over the next few weeks, I encourage our school families to take some time and reflect on all that has been accomplished this past summer. Thanks to the Saint Juliana business and maintenance staff.

Now is also an important time to once again remind our families in the Saint Juliana Religious Education program to make sure they are registered for the coming year. The religious education program runs on the same calendar as most of our surrounding schools. In other words, if your children are starting school now, they also will be starting religious education as well. Make sure to remind your friends and family to get their registrations in. It is important in planning for teachers and classrooms for the coming year. See you all soon.

 I would like to give one more invitation to our RCIA program. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is for adults who have never been baptized and want to become Catholic. It is also for people who were baptized in another faith tradition and would now like to become Catholic and receive the sacraments. It is also for those who were baptized as Catholics, but who for whatever reason never received any other religious training or sacraments. If you fall into any one of these three categories I encourage you to sign up for the RCIA program. Do it for yourselves and your families.

Finally, today we welcome Sr. Marian to Saint Juliana for our summer mission appeal. Sr. Marian is a member of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ (Bethany Sisters). The congregation is working to promote the social, economic, cultural, and spiritual life of mentally challenged women. Please welcome Sr. Marian and be as generous as you can in today’s collection.

Today we celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our faith is filled with contrasts. Today we have an example of that as we look to how we perceive or recognize God in our lives. In the first reading, Elijah is told to go outside the cave he has found shelter in and wait for God. A wind as great as a tornado hits the mountain, but it is not God. An earthquake shakes the mountain to its core, but it is not God. Then there was fire, but still no God. Finally, there occurs a quiet whispering sound, and Elijah immediately knows that God is present. In the Gospel it is during the crazy storm that the disciples realize God is with them. Jesus calms the storm with his power. So, God comes to us in many forms and places. We each experience God’s presence in a different way. Some of us may have recognized God in moments of quiet prayer or retreat. For others it might have been in the middle of life-changing chaos. Like Elijah and the disciples, we are called to recognize God’s presence and give thanks. As scripture states, “What other people have a God that is so close to them?”

This week we celebrate the feast of Our Blessed Mother’s Assumption. The Church teaches us that, though Mary is one of us, she experienced honor because she bore the Christ in her body. Because of that, the Church believes that at the time of Mary’s death she was assumed body and soul into God’s presence without any physical corruption. As a Church we all celebrate this feast of Mary and see it as a promise to all of us. Though our bodies will be laid to rest and decay, we believe that God will restore us in the Resurrection. We will have two Masses for the Feast of the Assumption. There will be a Mass at 8:30am in the morning and a 7:00pm evening Mass. Please join us for this celebration.

This week the school is also revving up to reopen for the 2023-2024 school year. Cathie and our teachers are meeting this week, and the teachers are also putting their classrooms back in order for the coming year. It is an exciting time for all of us as the school year gets under way. This Wednesday, August 16th, there will be a new parent orientation in the church beginning at 6:30pm. After the presentations in church, the new families will be invited to head over to the Ahearn Center to meet all the representatives from the Saint Juliana school and parish organizations. We hope our new families take the opportunity to sign up for some of the groups and activities that are offered.

Next Sunday, August 20th at 11:00am there will be a back-to-school Mass for all the children and families of the parish. We will be blessing all the children who will be on their way to school this year. It doesn’t matter if you are in grade school, high school, trade school, or college join us for this back-to-school celebration! After Mass there will be a St. Juliana “block party” in front of the church on Oketo. Everyone is welcome.

Finally, next week we will also be hosting our summer mission appeal. Sr. Mariam Kannankara from the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ will be speaking to us about their ministry (more information, page 7). We will have a real collection for this appeal. Please be as generous as you can be.

Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord. In the Gospel we hear the story of Jesus and three of his disciples going up a high mountain to pray. When they reached the summit, Jesus was transfigured before their eyes and it was as if the sun was a part of him. When the shock of the events wore off, the disciples realized that two of the prophets, Moses and Elijah, were present as well. God spoke to everyone an announced that Jesus was his Son and everyone should listen to him. Peter didn’t want to come down from the mountain. He wanted to stay in the glory of God’s presence. But Jesus eventually tells them it is time to go back to their ordinary lives and continue the work that Jesus initiated. I think all of us would enjoy the security of living everyday in God’s presence and grace. But that is not the way for us until our death. We all live our lives in ordinary time, and are called to work to bring about the kingdom. Glimpses of God’s direct presences are blessings that fill us with hope and encourage us to continue the work of Jesus.

Sometimes the work we are entrusted with is physical work. In response to God’s call for generosity, I wanted to take a moment to share with you all the work that has been done this past year because of your generous support. In the church we renovated the sanctuary and moved the altar to help with accessibility. We installed pedestals for the statues on the north wall. We did some soundproofing to help with deadening unwanted sound in the church. We tuck pointed some of the church inside and out. We are presently working on the sound system. We added new signage to the parish office building and added a patio in the parish office courtyard so groups can use the outside space as well as the inside space.

In the school we are in the process of replacing all the windows. We have replaced two doors on Osceola and installed the new ramp and doors in the parking lot near the elevator. We installed new floors in three of the classrooms in the preschool and kindergarten area. We rebuilt and opened a new classroom in the preschool area. We installed 15 security cameras throughout the school and outside the school. We have replaced the door handles on the classrooms, so all of the doors can be locked. We have renovated the Ahearn Center kitchen and added new school signage outside on Osceola to designate the school office. We installed new outside lights on the school building. Work is in process to replace the old fence on Touhy and to replace sidewalks in front of the school office and church.  We hope the parking lot will be resurfaced by the time school starts as well.  We also have replaced all the copiers in the school and parish office at a savings to our budget.  Lots of projects have been completed. Sometimes when we put it all together, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. With your help our parish campus is in very good shape.  Thank you.

Later this fall we will present the annual report in the bulletin, and I will speak more about our hopes and dreams going forward.

Finally, if you want to see and experience some of the work in the school building, we invite you to join us at the all school reunion to be held on Saturday, October 7. Gather with former classmates, teachers, and parishioners and check out the changes to the school since you attended St. Juliana. Watch the bulletin for more information.  

Today we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus continues to use parables this week as he teaches the people. Stories are powerful. Stories make us think and exercise our imagination. When we share our stories of faith with one another they also have power. Our story of God working in our lives may trigger a friend or family member to share their own story of God’s work. Through stories we see similarities with other people. We also see our differences—but a good story allows us to open ourselves to those differences and celebrate them. How have you heard the stories presented today in the Gospel, and what are they asking of you?

This past week we celebrated the funeral of Bishop John Manz. Bishop Manz was a remarkable priest who lived his faith each day. His life, like the parables we hear this weekend, was a story of faith in action. The outpouring of support at the time of his death was a sign of his work and the people he touched. Bishop Manz was German by descent yet dedicated his life to the people of faith who came to our country from Spanish speaking countries. He embraced the immigrant, the asylum seeker, and all who were in need wherever they came from. He did not see people as burdens, but rather as another child of God looking for peace, security, and hope. In a time when we are often being asked to oppose those who are different than us, Bishop Manz saw our similarities instead and embraced an expanding world view.  He challenged people to take the time to get to know the stranger, for in that process the stranger disappeared, and a friend emerged. He was a mentor to many of us priests, and he will be missed. Please pray for Bishop Manz and his family, and pray for the openness he lived to any stranger in our midst.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Saint Juliana Men’s Club golf outing. The outing takes place on Saturday, August 19th, at the White Pines Golf Course. Check out this bulletin for registration information. 

This week Tuesday, August 1st, the parish office will be closed. Everyone is out at meetings and vacations so there will not be anyone in the office. If you leave a phone message it will be answered as promptly as possible. So make sure you get your business done on Monday July 31st, or hold it until Wednesday August 2nd. Thanks for your understanding.

Today we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week Jesus gives us another parable to ponder. Once again it concerns the sower of seed; but this time while everyone is dozing, his enemy comes and sows weed in the same field. Everything comes up together and the servants want to pull the weeds. The sower tells them to wait until harvest so they don’t disturb the seeds that are producing good fruit. When I read this parable I believe it shows a God who believes we can change. On face value God doesn’t want to disturb the good plants, but what if God is holding out hope that the bad seeds can change. For me it gives another reason for hope. Our God believes in us, and is going to give us all he can to help us be the best we can be. Our God of hope speaks to us today in parables.

For two weekends now the church has offered us stories of farmers sowing seeds and hoping for a good harvest. We have learned it isn’t enough to just sow the seed and hope something happens. We have to work with God to produce a good harvest. With that in mind, I have been meeting with a group of parishioners since January to look how we can better evangelize to our parish and Church. This is the second phase of Renew My Church and I think the readings we have heard these past two weeks call us to action. The group has prayed together, we have educated ourselves on evangelization, and we have looked at where we are as a parish and where we have been. We have a strong history as a parish. These roots give us good bones for the work ahead. In the coming months you will continue to hear me and parishioners talk about their faith in Jesus and how that faith has transformed them. In the fall the parish will also begin a program called “Alpha,” which will bring small groups together to discuss important life questions. We all have a part in this work of evangelization. At this time I am asking all of the parish to pray for the success of all the parish efforts to bring others closer to Christ. Our common prayer is powerful.  

Though the summer offers many of us a time for vacation it is also the time we work on the finances of the parish. Ray has been working hard on the parish and school budget for fiscal year 2023-2024. We also are now looking at putting the end of year report into place. When that report is complete then we will meet with the finance council to go over both of them. A little later in the fall I will give a report to the parish. Thanks to all of you for your financial support of Saint Juliana. Your consistent support has allowed us to complete many improvements in the parish while also paying our day-to-day bills.

Some parishioners have asked me about when we would be reinstating an actual Sunday collection. Because of your consistent support through the use of Give Central automatic giving, the offering box in the back of church, and direct gifts sent to the parish office the parish has been meeting its financial obligations. So right now we will not be making changes to our collection. All I ask is that everyone continue to do the best you can to support the parish. Thanks for all your help!

Today we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Gospel, Jesus gathers the people on the lakeshore and begins to teach them. He uses parables— short stories they can relate to—to get his ideas across to them. Today’s parable is about the farmer who goes out to plant seeds. In Jesus’ time, farming was not as mechanized and precise as it is today. The farmer would have tried to till the soil, but then would just go out and hand sprinkle seed everywhere. Thus, the different places the seeds in the story land. However, the important piece of the story is what happens to the seed after it is sown. Did it fall on rocky hard soil, in weeds, in thin soil, or in good soil. The shape of the soil is important to the production of what is sown. It is the same for the Word of God.  God sows his Word everywhere and waits to see what the results are. We are the soil for God’s Word.  Are we ready and excited to open ourselves to God’s Word? Or are we distracted with many other things?  Does anger, worry, frustration, or sloth shut us down? Or do envy and greed drive us in a different direction. As Jesus says, “let everyone heed what they hear.” 

Saint Juliana will be hosting an all-school reunion on October 7, 2023. Several parishioners have been working on the reunion, and I wanted to highlight it today. If you went to school at Saint Juliana and are still part of the parish, we hope you will join us. If you were a student here and moved away and some friend tells you about it, we hope you come. If it has been years since you have seen anyone from your class at Saint Juliana, this is a chance to once again journey through the halls of your alma mater. Often, we worry about whether we will know anyone if we come to reunion. Since the all-school reunion is spanning almost 100 years, I have a feeling there will be someone you know there. It might be a neighbor, someone you work with, or your own children. Many of you have two or three generations of family who came to Saint Juliana. We hope it will be a fun evening of memories and laughter. Please put the date in your calendar and look for more information in the coming months. 

A call to our religious education students who want to be altar servers for the weekend Masses: we are looking for sixth and seventh graders to join us. You can stop one of the priests and give them your name and number. Or call the office and leave your name and number. When classes begin in the fall, we will send out a formal request, but if you are interested now, don’t wait. We can always use the help.   

Any high school children who are interested in being readers or Eucharistic ministers at our weekend Masses should give me a call or talk to me after Mass. We would love to have more of our young adults represented at our Sunday liturgies. The commitment is minimal, maybe once a month, but for the parish it is a sign of hope. So please consider these two important ministries. 

Today we celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. As we listen to today’s readings, we are reminded that Jesus preached humility. Jesus called people to follow him with a gentle and kind heart. Too often the world pushes us to be people who look out for ourselves and not to rely on others. The world tells us to get ahead by putting others down. But that is not God’s way. Jesus tells us that part of our mission is to build a fabric of interconnectedness with each other and with God. Just as God promises to lighten our burdens, we also are asked to help lighten each other’s burdens as well. Our strength comes from a community of faithful who watch out and care for one another. We ask God to strengthen us for the task of community building and evangelization.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Saint Juliana Men’s Club Golf Outing to be held on Saturday, August 19th. Information is provided in the bulletin today. Through their social events, the Saint Juliana Men’s club raises money, which they then donate to many projects or events in the parish. It is a win/win for everyone. Everyone gets to enjoy a great day of golf and fun with friends, and the parish receives help through the club’s generosity. If you are presently not a member of the Men’s Club I also encourage you to sign up. This is another way to get connected with those we worship with on Sundays. Thanks to the Men’s Club.

Since coming to Sain Juliana two years ago, I have heard over and over how blessed we are with the music ministry provided by our choirs and cantors. Good music can take our minds and hearts to new places. Music tells stories about who we are and who we are becoming. We are blessed to have Glenn de Castro as our music director. Glenn will listen to homilies and change music midstream to fit the readings or the homily. Under Glenn’s supervision, his cantors and choirs are flexible and enjoy his direction. All that being said, we the congregation also have a part in the music experience. The Church asks all of us to participate and raise our voices to God. I know that many people don’t feel competent or comfortable with their voices. This is one of those times though that when we sing together, we sound better. When my family gets together for a birthday it is always a crap shoot on how the “Happy Birthday” is going to sound. Depending on who starts it, they either lead us to a great rendition—or a painful experience. But when we all join in, we eventually get back on track and sound pretty good. It is the same in church. So, I encourage you to open the book, read the words and join in when asked. Together we can raise a joyful noise to our God.

Today we celebrate the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The first reading from the second book of Kings and the gospel speak of welcoming and hospitality. The prophet Elisha is shown great hospitality in the town of Shunem. He asks his companion and God what he can do for the couple who had shown him such abundant generosity. God blesses the couple with a child that they had been hoping for. Welcome and hospitality will bring us blessings in this world. In the gospel the question is, “Do we welcome God into our lives and homes?” Do we provide space for God in our hearts and minds, or are we too busy? When we share our blessings with those in need, God’s call for hospitality and welcome is fulfilled.

This weekend we welcome a new deacon to the parish. Deacon John Rottman who has served at Saint Cornelius, Saint Thecla, and most recently the combined parish of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity begins his ministry today at Saint Juliana Parish. John is not a stranger to the parish, and I believe he is a great addition to our ministry team. Deacon John’s story can be found in today’s bulletin along with his letter of appointment. Please welcome Deacon John after our Masses this weekend.

Saint Juliana is now blessed with four priests, and four deacons. While we have a bounty of deacons and priests, we will look at ways we can better serve the parish community. The one change we will begin immediately is that we will begin to offer baptisms every Sunday of the month. Right now, we baptize on only two Sundays of the month. Because we are a parish with many young families, the days and times for baptism fill up quickly. This leads to four baptisms on most baptism days. We hope that if we do baptisms weekly, we might eventually end up with just a couple each week. This will provide a better experience for the families, and the deacons or priests doing the baptisms.  Again, expansion of service is based on an abundance of ministers. When that abundance goes away, we also will adjust. I feel very blessed to currently have such good priests and deacons working with me. And lets all pray and encourage men and women to vocations in the Church.

I wrote a few weeks ago about a grant to get the parking lot resurfaced. That grant was given so we are now in the process of scheduling contractors and times for the work. There are two parts to the project. One part is laying down a concrete pad for our garbage containers and the trucks that need to pick up the garbage. Garbage trucks tear up asphalt. That is why we need to have this concrete pad. After that the lot will be stripped of a couple of inches of asphalt and the new asphalt will be laid. We will work to minimize the impact of this work, but there may be times when we all are inconvenienced. The finished product will be worth the minor inconvenience.

Finally, we wish everyone a great Fourth of July celebration this week. We see daily that freedom and democracy are not small gifts to be wasted. We are blessed to live in a country where our freedoms are protected as citizens. Thanks especially to the men and women who keep us safe and strong through their work in our armed forces. Everyone, enjoy the holiday.

Today we celebrate the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. A theme is present in both the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah and in the gospel of Matthew: fear. Fear is paralyzing. We get stuck when facing fears. Some fears are justified, such as storms about to hit, but some fears really have no foundation in fact. Jesus answers both those fears by telling his apostles that God is protecting them. He tells them that God is so concerned for our safety and is aware of all the hairs on our head. We need to stay strong and do what is right, and God will protect us. So this week when fear or anxiety threatens to overtake us, give it to God. Instead give thanksgiving to the God who loves us.

For many, summer gives us a little more time to relax and rejuvenate. After a late spring and early summer filled with First Communions, Confirmations, and graduations we now get into a slower pace. As a church we also take this time to rejuvenate and plan for the year ahead. One area that I want to focus on and invite all of you to consider is the RCIA program. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a program for people who have never been baptized and are considering the Catholic Church. It is also for those who were baptized in a different faith, but now seem drawn to the Catholic Church. And finally it is also for those Catholics who were baptized into the Catholic faith, but for whatever reason did not complete their initiation with Eucharist or Confirmation. As the title states, this is a program, a journey for adults. This past year Chris and Maureen Floss took over the program and guided our five candidates to the sacraments. The RCIA group meets on Sundays after the 9:30am Mass beginning in September. The group meets for about an hour and offers participants updates—on scripture, church history, saints, sacraments and more. The RCIA is designed to prepare the candidates for reception of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil, as well as pique an interest in moving deeper into their faith. The first few months—September, October, and November—are for inquiry. You can come, and if it doesn’t seem right for you now, you don’t have to continue. If you are interested in joining or have more questions, please talk to me, Marie Dombai, Diane, or Donna in the parish office and we will connect you with Chris and Maureen. I encourage you to please share this with family, coworkers, neighbors, and friends who might have an interest in the program.

A second program to focus on is one we are all familiar with, that is our Religious Education program. Parents are the first teachers in the ways of faith. Young parents teach their little children who God is and how God watches over them. Eventually though, the church offers help to parents in passing on our faith and our traditions. Beginning in first grade we offer classes in different aspects of our faith. The classes are given at the children’s level for understanding. From first grade through seventh grade, we offer these classes along with sacramental prep for First Communion and Confirmation. Registration is now ongoing through the summer. You can check in the bulletin for details or call the office and ask for Mary Petrash, who runs our program. In late August we close registration, so now is the time to make sure your child is enrolled. Once again, please let your family and friends know.

Remember we pass on the faith by inviting and encouraging one another! You are the best advertisement for Jesus!

Today we celebrate the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today’s readings focus on God’s presence within the community. In the book of Exodus, God tells Moses that Israel will be his special possession if they continue to follow his way. Saint Paul tells the Romans that God loves them so much that he sent his son to save them even when they were sinners. And finally in the Gospel, Jesus has pity on the people who do not have a shepherd. God continues to care for us and call us to be his special people, his inheritance. We pray for an openness to God’s call which leads to welcome, peace, and unity in our world.

Today we celebrate Father’s Day. As the readings today speak of the love of God our Father, we also celebrate the fathers in our lives who have provided for us and guided us. Dads come in all shapes and sizes. No two dads have the same personality. Yet we are thankful for the men who have worked hard and gave of themselves to make our lives better. Like our mothers, dads create us and shape our lives. Today we salute our dads and say thank you.

Well, this week we celebrate the official beginning of summer. The longest day of the year is June 21st, and many are planning their summer getaways. But we know in the church, this is sweater weather. What do I mean? Well, whenever I go to a theater I make sure I have a light jacket or sweatshirt. I never know what the temperature is going to be inside depending on the air conditioning. It is the same in church. Depending on who turns on the air, the church is either too hot or too cold. I appreciate everyone reporting their feelings to me each week on the church temperature, but I appreciate even more that we all come prepared for whatever the temperature in the church may be. Size of buildings, age of heating and air-conditioning systems, whether the doors are open or closed, and personal preference all have an impact on the temperature at any given time. All we can control is what we are wearing, so don’t forget, we are in the beginning of sweater weather here at Saint Juliana.

Thanks to Marvin Bornschlegl, the Totus Tuus missionaries, the volunteers, and all of you who fed our missionaries last week as we hosted the Totus Tuus summer youth camp at Saint Juliana. It was a great week of activities that helped strengthen our children’s faith and their connection to our parish family. Marvin worked for months to make sure it was a success. The parish is blessed to have dedicated members who work to build up our faith community. Thanks everyone!!!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We celebrate the gift that Jesus gave to us in his sacrifice on the cross. When we gather and celebrate the Eucharist, we also become part of the original sacrifice on the cross. Jesus’ death and resurrection is a continuing event and we are invited to participate. When we eat the Body and drink the Blood of the Lord, we become what we consume. We, the church are the Body of Christ. As the Body of Christ, we are called to be living examples of Jesus in our world. Though not perfect, our lives are to reflect love, peace, unity, generosity, forgiveness, and hospitality. As Christians we carry the name of Christ and present Jesus to the world in our daily lives.

This week we host the Totus Tuus summer camp for our young parishioners in grades one through six. Led by college-age students, seminarians, and parish adult volunteers, the program offers an exciting week of activities that help the children understand our faith. We have a large number signed up for the camp as many of the children begin their summer break. Please keep all our leaders and campers in your prayers this week.

Thanks to everyone who made the parish picnic a success last Sunday. The weather couldn’t have been better, and everyone enjoyed the relaxed afternoon. The volunteers for set-up, take-down, and food made it all seem simple, but I know it was a lot of work. Again, it was a great beginning to the summer season and a great way to celebrate being a part of Saint Juliana! Thank you!

School ended this past week, so now it is time to clean up and get ready for next year. Enrollment is once again running at capacity which is around 550 students. As always, we are looking for teachers, so if you or someone you know is looking for a new position please give Cathie Scotkovsky a call.

Finally, this past week the Cardinal gave me a pleasant surprise. On Memorial Day the Cardinal called to let me know that my position downtown would be ending on June 30th. This is a year early. It was a surprise, but like the parishes, the downtown offices are also restructuring, and priest placement will be included in a new position on priest development. I am grateful for the opportunity I was given by the Cardinal and learned a lot about our archdiocese and our priests. But now I am also very grateful to turn my position over to my successor. This means that from now on I have one job, and that is pastor of Saint Juliana Parish.   

Today we celebrate Trinity Sunday. Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi move the Church from the Easter Season back into Ordinary Time. Today we celebrate how God has been present to us over the ages. First, we experience God as the one who creates all things. We are one piece of God’s continuing creation. We often think we are the most important piece of creation, but everything God creates is filled with God’s spirit. Creation happens because of God’s overflowing love. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is once again a product of God’s unconditional love. We are people made in God’s image, but we turned away from God through sin. Rather than abandon us, God sends his only son to live among us and redeem us. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is God’s saving action for a fallen world. Finally, God gives us his spirit for all time. The Holy Spirit continues to enlighten us and guide us on our way to God. The Holy Spirit is God ever-present in each of us. We are blessed to have a God who continues to create, redeem, and sanctify us. Today we celebrate God in the Holy Trinity!

Today, Sunday, we will celebrate God in our parish community at the parish picnic. The picnic begins around 11:00am this morning and goes until 6:00pm. At 12:30pm we will celebrate Mass out in the field. There will be music, food, and games for all ages. Thanks to all the volunteers who are helping to make the picnic a success. The picnic will be held in Bunker Hill Grove, in the forest preserves. Stop by and celebrate God’s presence in our neighbors and friends.

This past week we sent another class of eighth graders on to high school. For over one hundred years, the parish has been providing a Catholic education to our parish children. Though it is sad to see the children go, we look forward to great things from all of them.

Congratulations to all the parish children who graduate this year. There are many schools where our parishioners send their children, and we are proud of all of them. Whether it is grade school, high school, or college, graduation is a time to celebrate where you have been and dream about where you will be going. Good luck to all the children.

Later this month, June 12th-16th, Saint Juliana will be hosting the Totus Tuus summer camp for children in grades one through six. Thanks to the work of college-age students, seminarians, and adult volunteers, over thirty parishes are hosting the program this year. We are thankful for the opportunity this offers our parish children to grow in their faith. The number of students registered is greater than any of us expected. God is full of surprises, and the Totus Tuus program looks like one of them. 

This weekend the Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost celebrates the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus’ disciples and to all of us. Today also celebrates the completion of the Easter season. Though we still have two celebrations to come, the Feasts of the Most Holy Trinity, and the Body and Blood of Jesus, we once again move into Ordinary Time. The Holy Spirit is Jesus’ presence still within all of us. The Holy Spirt shapes our decisions and actions. The Holy Spirit is that presence that is with us, not just in the exciting moments of life, but also in the everyday living we all participate in. We seek guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit every day of our lives. Jesus told the disciples and all of us that he would not leave us abandoned, but rather that he would be with us until the end of time. Today, with confidence and joy, we celebrate the God who is with us and in us.

Today as a nation we also celebrate Memorial Day weekend. It is a national day of honor for all the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces, and many who have given their lives to preserve our country and its freedom. It has also become a day to remember all our dead. Families visit cemeteries, clean up graves, and gather to say thanks to those who paved the path of freedom for all of us. Please take time to honor those who continue to serve in our armed forces this weekend through your prayers and thoughts. Also, if you see a veteran or active member of our armed forces make sure to tell them thanks for their service to all of us.  

In the next couple of weeks all of our schools will be finishing up for the 2022-2023 school year. It is a time of great joy for our children—and probably our teachers, principals, and staff as well. We once again want to congratulate all of those in the parish who will be graduating. In my mind graduations are never completions, rather they mark achievements we have made to that point in our lives. Secondly graduations send us on to new adventures in our future. So, congratulations to all the graduates and enjoy some free time before your next big adventure begins!

Summer is also a time to physically work on our school buildings and plan for the future. This summer we will complete a project that will give us one more classroom in the school. It is the last space we have open and when we begin next year the school will be at capacity with about 550 children. We are blessed to have parents, grandparents, and parishioners who continue to support Catholic education for their children. This summer we are also beginning a major project that I wrote about two weeks ago. During this coming year, we will be replacing the windows in the school building. Many of the windows can’t be opened, and those we can open can’t be closed. The windows are inefficient and a hazard. Though we are ordering the windows now, they will be installed over Christmas break 2023, Easter break 2024, and possibly early summer 2024 if they need the time. The cost for the project will be around $800,000. We will be using the remaining funds in the To Teach Who Christ Is campaign as well as some savings for this project. As I stated two weeks ago, the projects in our case study for the To Teach Who Christ Is campaign have been completed except for the parking lot resurfacing. This included the courtyard and elevator, ADA upgrades to the church and bathrooms, as well as other work in the school and church. And we are working on a government grant to get the parking lot done. So the windows will make the school safe for our school children, our religious education children, and everyone else who uses the building throughout the year. Once again thanks for your financial support of Saint Juliana and pray for the success of these upcoming projects.

Finally, join us next weekend for the parish picnic to be held in Bunker Hill Forest Preserve. It will be an afternoon filled with music, food, and games for all ages. The picnic begins around 11:00am and we will celebrate a “field” Sunday Mass at 12:30pm for those who want to attend. See you there.

Today we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord. The Easter season is quickly coming to an end; and with the feast of the Ascension, the disciples find themselves living between the physical presence of Jesus and his second coming. They are shaken and unsettled as Jesus is taken up into his glory. Now what? That is their question. But as they ponder that question, they remember Jesus telling them that he would always be with them. They would not be alone. His spirit would come and fill them with courage and wisdom. We live our lives just as the disciples did, between the physical presence of Jesus and his second coming. We rely on his presence in the scripture and sacraments. We also know that the Holy Spirit that was given to the disciples of Jesus is also given to us. Through the Eucharist, Jesus is in us, guiding our every step. This in-between time in which we live isn’t just a time for waiting, it is a time for doing. Just like Jesus’ followers before us, we are to do good and make the world a better place. 

This weekend we consecrated our new altar and will use it for the first time. Many parishioners have commented on how seamlessly it fits in with the original structure of the sanctuary. Everyone was also happy with the new pedestals for the saints in the niches on the north wall. Thanks once again to Bishop Bartosic for celebrating our consecration liturgy. During the upcoming week the tabernacle will be placed on the old main altar completing this renovation.

This coming week we will celebrate our ribbon Mass with the eighth-grade class. The end of the school year is quickly approaching. We are proud of all the parish children who will be graduating and moving on to high school. These were important moments in all our lives, and they remind us of the blessings we have received from God. Congratulations to all our parish graduates. Whether you are graduating from kindergarten, eighth grade, high school, or college, know that your parish family is proud of you and is praying for you as you begin the next phase of your life.

Two weeks from now we will be celebrating the beginning of summer with our Saint Juliana parish picnic. I hope you can join us on Sunday afternoon, June 4th, for fun and fellowship with family and friends. Please check out this bulletin for details.

Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The readings begin to prepare us for the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the first reading the people of Samaria believe based on the words and actions of Philip. Many are baptized in Jesus’ name, but it is when the apostles Peter and John join Philip that the people feel the Holy Spirit in their midst. There is power in numbers. Faith grows as more and more people proclaim it. In the Gospel Jesus tells the people that God will send even more power if the people ask for it. Jesus tells them the Paraclete will be with them forever. The Holy Spirit will be within them, they just need to remember. We also contain the Holy Spirit. The spirit is an untapped well within each of us. When we call on the spirit, we too will feel that power.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms of the parish. I say it every year, our mothers deserve more than one day of gratitude, but it is still nice to dedicate a day to them. Make sure you come up with a way to say thanks to your mom. As a parish we pray for all our moms, living and deceased.

Next Saturday, May 20th, we will dedicate our new altar. Bishop Bartosic has agreed to celebrate with us and consecrate the new altar. Sixty years after the church and altar were dedicated, we once again dedicate the new altar. I find it fascinating that the marble we used for the new altar was from the same quarry in Italy that our original altar came from. Talk about a long tradition. We invite everyone to join us next Saturday at our 5:00pm Mass for the consecration of the new altar.

As the church project is finishing, we are ready to begin another needed renovation. Our school building is really a combination of about four or five buildings. Each was built at a different time as the school began to grow. Over time we have done several large renovations including the school hall, the elevator and entrance, and the courtyard. We now want to take on replacing all the windows in the school. Many of the windows can’t be opened anymore, and if they can be opened, they can’t be closed. This makes the rooms too hot or too cold depending on the season. Also, the windows don’t match from one section of the school to another. We plan on using funds from the To Teach Who Christ Is campaign. The parish has completed all the projects on the original case study and more. These included working on the sound system in church, ADA upgrades to the church and restrooms, the courtyard and elevator project as well as others mentioned above not on the original list. The one project still left on the original list was repaving the parking lot. We presently are working on a grant from the government that will pay for the parking lot resurfacing. So we feel the windows will be a good use of the funds remaining in the To Teach Who Christ Is Fund. We will contract for the whole project, but it will be done in phases beginning over Christmas break 2023, Easter break 2024, and early summer 2024, if we don’t get everything done before that. The cost for this project is about $800,000 dollars. This upgrade will be a benefit to our school and religious education children, as well as all the other groups who use our parish facility.

Finally, I encourage you to join us for the parish picnic on June 4 at the Bunker Hill Woods Grove. We are living in a time where more and more people feel isolated and alone. We can change that by putting ourselves out there and joining activities with other parishioners, friends, and family. So please join us for this afternoon of fun and fellowship.

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter. As the Easter season progresses, the church acknowledges two parallel stories. One is the story of growth and growing pains in the believers of the risen Lord. Followers complain to the disciples that some of the people are receiving better treatment at the hands of the believers. They feel that as foreigners they are not as included and cared for as the Jewish believers. The disciples work quickly to resolve the dispute by choosing leaders whose job it will be to care for everyone equally. The necessary role of ministers and deacons is created to deal with the need. Today the need for ministers continues to evolve and change in the church. Jesus asks each of us to open our hearts when asked to serve in his church.

In the Gospel the church takes on the questioning that is still present as to who Jesus is and where he came from. Not surprisingly this is an internal questioning that comes from Jesus’ closest followers. Thomas questions what happens next—where is Jesus going and is there a place for his followers? Jesus assures him that there is a place and that the journey to that place is through Jesus himself. Philip asks Jesus for proof that he has come from God. “Show us the Father,” Philip asks. Jesus tells him to reflect on all he has seen Jesus say and do and he will know the Father. We are also called to reflect on God’s work in our lives and world. It is our experiences that will open our hearts to God’s presence.

I believe all of us have a vision of church embedded in our hearts. It often came from our grandparents and parents, our ethnic groups and our educations. Once that vision is established, we find it hard to embrace change. I believe this plays into our views of change within our church buildings and homes. I always say though, the only constant in life is that it is changing. If it doesn’t change, it dies. So, after a year of pondering, and then six months of procuring the necessary material and construction, our new altar is complete. Just as the needs of the early church changed and evolved, we at Saint Juliana also work to update to support ministry into the future. This project will make our sanctuary more accessible for our parish family. We may eventually look to add a ramp that truly completes the accessibility, but this is a great start. I invite you to join us on Saturday, May 20th, for the consecration of the new altar. It will take place at our 5:00pm Mass and Bishop Bartosic will preside.

The month of May and October are traditionally dedicated to our Blessed Mother. As was done in October, Fr. Prasad will lead home visits with the statue of Mary. He and a group of parishioners will pray the rosary with those family members who are at the visit. It is a reminder that our faith is not confined to the church proper, but also is alive in our homes. Please contact the parish office if you would like to have a home visit during the month of May.

Scripture study also began again this past week. Fr. Elliott is leading a seven-week class on the Book of Revelation. You and your friends are invited to attend. Please look at today’s bulletin for time and place.

Finally, please mark your calendar for the parish picnic that will be held on Sunday, June 4, 2023. Besides our regular schedule of weekend Masses, we will also have an outdoor Mass to kick off the picnic. Watch the bulletin for more details. 

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Throughout the world the church prays for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. Every organization needs good leadership if it is to survive, or better yet thrive, in the future. The church is no different. We have all been touched in our lives by good priests, deacons, or religious men or women who have been there for us or our families. These men and women taught us about Jesus and passed on the faith to us. They celebrated the sacraments with us and our children and grandchildren, and they were there when we were at our lowest. These have been the shepherds that God provided us.

We believe the first church is the family. It is from our families that these faith leaders will come. We just must be open to God’s call and support those interested in a church vocation. People often wonder if we are happy in our role as priest and shepherd. I speak for myself when I answer with a resounding “Yes!”  Family is central to who I am as a person. The church has given me a family bigger than I could have ever imagined. This family includes great joy, strong relationships, opportunities for service, and support in the difficult times of life. I encourage young men and women to consider vocations in our church. Jesus in the gospel tells us that he has come so that we might have life and have it to the full. I also encourage everyone to pray for vocations every day.

This weekend our second graders received the Eucharist for the first time. It is fun to watch the children as they grow up and begin to ask why they can’t receive what their parents and family already are receiving. They have a child’s hunger to belong and to have a bigger part in the church family. Jesus calls them to this meal and with their parents, grandparents, and family they have prepared for this joyful celebration. We look forward to their active participation in the Eucharist each week. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and we ask parents to support their desire to receive Jesus each week. Thanks to the teachers and catechists who have helped the children prepare for this I important day. 

A congratulations to everyone who has received sacraments during this Easter season. We celebrate with those who received the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil, those who were confirmed last Sunday, and those who received their First Communion this week. The sacraments are central to who we are as followers of Jesus, and we support all who seek them. If any of you reading this are looking to join the church, or receive sacraments that you missed as children, please give me a call to talk about how we can help you also receive these life giving sacraments.

If the new altar is in by the time you read this bulletin, know that we will continue to use our present altar until we have the new one consecrated. Hopefully, we can get Bishop Bartosic back quickly to do that consecration for us. Thanks to everyone who has supported the change both financially and in spirit.

Lastly, we have now made masks optional for our Eucharistic ministers at Mass. We hope that at every Mass there will still be at least one minister who chooses to wear a mask. That way if you are more comfortable coming up to someone with a mask you will have that option. And be assured, we will always continue to follow health guidance given to us as we move forward.