Letters from a Pastor to His People

Today we celebrate the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. St. Paul, in his letter to Timothy writes, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” I think for most of us we hope we can say the same thing as our days on earth wane. Are we running the race well? Are we living out our call as a follower of Christ? We live in challenging times. Our world pits us against each other. Will the Lord greet us at the end of the race with these or similar words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

This Sunday afternoon, October 26th, we will have the St. Juliana Trunk or Treat celebration in the parking lot. Trunk or Treat is a family celebration for our children. Cars are decorated, the children are in costumes, and candy and sweets are everywhere. It is a safe space for our children to celebrate the beginning of the ‘Days of the Dead”. Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls celebrate our belief in the Resurrection and the afterlife. On Halloween we dress in costumes and laugh at death. We are not afraid because through Jesus’ resurrection we experience new life.

All Saints celebrates the men and women the Church hold up as models of holiness. They were flesh and bone like all of us, but some aspect of their life was an example of faith or holiness we are called to follow. The Two masses on Saturday, November 1, 2025 will celebrate the feast of All Saints. We encourage you to join us at 8:30 AM or 5:00 PM for this celebration. Because the Holy Day falls on Saturday, it is not considered a Holy Day of Obligation, but if you can join us, it becomes a Holy Day of Opportunity!

On Sunday, November 2, 2025 we will celebrate the Feast of All Souls. On All Souls we celebrate the saints we knew personally, our family members and friends who have died. The church doesn’t recognize each of them, but we know the impact they had on our lives and families. At the 11:00 AM mass we will be celebrating our parish Mass of Remembrance to remember parishioners who have died and been buried from St. Juliana over the last year. The names of of the deceased will be read aloud, and a candle will be lit for each of them. This is a moving celebration whether we have lost someone this past year or not.

Beginning next weekend we will also have our tables of Remembrance in the front of the church. These tables are a visual way to include all our deceased family members in our Eucharistic celebrations during the month of November. We encourage you to bring in a photo of your loved ones, and add it to one of the tables. On Thanksgiving we will give thanks for all our blessings and our deceased family and friends. After the Thanksgiving liturgy we encourage everyone to take their pictures home as we begin our preparation for Advent

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Gospel we hear the story of Jesus’ journey through Samaria and Galilee. While on the journey, he is met by ten men who are suffering with leprosy. They request help and healing from Jesus. Jesus sends them on their way with the instruction to go and show themselves to the priests. They are healed on the way. One of the men who was healed returns to Jesus and offers thanks for his healing. Jesus asks about the other nine, but then tells him “to stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Stand and go. This is the important directive of Jesus. Faith allows us to stand up in good times and difficult times. But faith also causes us to act. Our actions can make the world better. Our actions can change the story we live in. Our actions will extend God’s saving work in our world.

If faith is the power that transforms us, what our we doing to enhance our faith? Right now as bishop of Vicariate II, I am meeting with the pastors and associate pastors of the vicariate to go over their growth plans. The priests are being asked to come up with solid, real plans of action for strengthening their relationship with Jesus. Some of the plans center on personal growth. Other plans list things the priest can do to be better faith leaders for their communities. But the plans have to be concrete. The plans must have goals and outcomes that can be measured. Today Jesus tells all of us that faith will be our strength and guide. So, what is your growth plan going to be? What actions are you going to take to build up a personal relationship with Jesus? Are your words and actions at home and in the workplace building up the Church? Sitting on the sidelines is not allowed. Take some quiet time this week and flesh out your growth plan.

Last Sunday our candidates who will be receiving their first Eucharist and their parents made a commitment to grow in their faith. At their age level it was their commitment to a growth plan for a lifetime relationship with Jesus. I pray the parents of these children renew their commitment to the Lord, and lead their children by example. There is always a great energy around young people receiving the Lord for the first time. I believe it is the Holy Spirit. So together as the parish community we say, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”

Next Sunday, our candidates for confirmation will also be making a commitment to prepare themselves to receive the Holy Spirit. These milestones in life ask us to reflect on where we are in our journey with Jesus. The confirmation candidates understand the world they live in. They see the challenges our world is facing. They look for guidance, and Jesus is the best teacher. We pray that the Confirmation candidates continue to see Jesus as their friend and guide in a ever changing world.

Finally, this weekend at our Saturday evening liturgy we celebrated the sacrament of marriage by blessing the anniversaries of our parishioners. The work that goes into a long successful marriage is a sign for all of us. Good results are never easy, and these couple have done the work and built successful marriages and families. Congratulations to all those who participated in our marriage anniversary celebration.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. In Saint Paul’s letter to Timothy we are told that God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. God did not give us a spirit of fear. Yet so often we live in fear, and our decisions reflect our fears. We fear the unknown, yet the unknown is the opening to endless possibilities. We fear those who are different, yet they are only different until we build relationships with them and find them to be more similar to us then we think. We fear the future, believing that the best has already happened. Saint Paul calls us to conquer fear and trust that God is with us.

Every October the Catholic Church in the United States observes Respect Life Month. It is a sacred time to renew our commitment to the dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death. We must stand united against all threats of life and human dignity, including abortion, assisted suicide, capital punishment, gun violence, and the mistreatment of migrants. Pope Leo in his first address to the Diplomatic Corps of the Holy See said, “No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every human person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.” And so on this Respect Life Sunday we are called to recommit ourselves to the protection of all life.

This week Fr. Prasad will begin his home visits in honor of the Blessed Mother. October and May are traditionally months in which we honor our Blessed Mother and ask for her intercession in our lives. Through prayer and fellowship Father Prasad will call upon God’s blessing and ask for that blessing to descend on the homes and people he visits. There are still times open for home visits. Call the office if you and your family would like a home visit from Fr. Prasad and the traveling image of our Blessed Mother, Mary.

This week we once again begin our October count. Every year the Church across the country takes a count of those who are in the pews each week. The count offers data on worshiping trends. For example, after COVID, some parishes are still experiencing a drop in attendance. At Saint Juliana we are once again back to our pre COVID numbers. But what is the trend for the last ten years? The October count data allows the archdiocese to plan for the future. So don’t be worried if you see our ushers counting heads. We want to make sure everyone is counted.

Finally, this fall I am in the process of installing new pastors and administrators in Vicariate II. We are blessed to have about nine new pastors. This has been a time for me to meet so many of the Catholics in our vicariate. Practically though it means I am less present on the weekends here at Saint Juliana. I still try and say one or two Masses a weekend here in the parish, but I am not always present at all of the Masses for greeting. Know though you are in my thoughts and prayers when I am away. 

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The overall theme this week is a call to fight against complacency. In the first reading from the prophet Amos, Israel is called out for being complacent. It settles for the status quo and does not see any need for change. Israel doesn’t see the suffering or pain that is going on around them. In the Gospel Jesus tells the story of the rich man who doesn’t notice the starving man at his door. He has tunnel vision that allows him to live his life without any care for the world or people around him. Because of his complacency he does not achieve eternal life. These readings are our warning. Do we see a world around us in need of Christ’s light, or do we choose to ignore those needs? We are called to be people of healing, peace, welcoming, and civility. Our words and actions, privately and publicly, should build up Jesus’ kingdom of light, hope, and peace.

This afternoon the Archdiocese will celebrate the Christifidelis Awards at Holy Name Cathedral. Each year every parish in the Archdiocese is asked to nominate a parishioner who is an example of Jesus’ light and hope. They are men and women who have shown through big or small ways their commitment to the Lord. This year Mike Bronk will receive the award for Saint Juliana. Mike is a faithful usher at our 7:30 AM liturgy. Mike is also a sacristan who makes sure the altar is prepared for celebration. Mike has been a catechist in our religious education program, and has been a great help liturgically decorating the church for major holidays. On top of all of that, Mike is a member of our Saint Vincent de Paul Society chapter and works to help those in need. It is with great pleasure that we nominate Mike Bronk for the Christifidelis award. Congratulations, Mike.

This past week Saint Juliana School celebrated homecoming. For almost 100 years the parish has been blessed with a school that produces Christian citizens who are ready for all the challenges of life. We celebrate the athletic and academic achievements of our school students, and we celebrate the history of all those who went through our doors over the past 98 years. Our alumni continue to be a great support for the school. Some families can claim three or four generations who have made Saint Juliana their home. I remind all parishioners to celebrate our faith home and carry on the Trojan way, through service and faith.

This Saturday, October 4, 2025, we will bless pets in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis had a great love for all of creation. We hold him up as a patron for all of the animals in God’s creation. But Francis also had a great love for those in need. He worked to lift up the poor and welcome the outcast. He did write about creation as though it were a brother and sister created by God. He is a saint that represents the call Pope Francis wrote about in his encyclical Laudato si, “On Care for Our Common Home.” Christians do not live just for today, rather we work to create a world for generations to come. Saint Francis is a guide and example in that work. Join us Saturday, October 4th for our pet blessing at 9:00 AM after our morning Mass.

Lots going on in the parish—I hope you take a look at Alpha, The Chosen, bible study, book club, OCIA, Mind and Heart, adoration, morning Mass to name a few. Join us as we walk together in our journey of faith with the Lord Jesus. 

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel today is an interesting one. On face value, it looks like a dishonest servant gets rewarded in spite of his dishonesty. I think the real lesson though is that he is rewarded because he actually realizes he needs to do something to get out of his difficulties. He is able to come up with a plan to move forward, and he puts it into action. We are that servant in the eyes of God. We have many good qualities along with our faults, our sins. The difficulty is when we are satisfied where we are at, and don’t try to become better. Are there areas in our lives that need to be worked on? Do we have a plan? Are we ready to execute the plan and not only make our lives better, but the world around us as well? Jesus rewards those who act to make themselves and the world better.

This weekend we celebrate Catechetical Sunday. It is a day to thank all the catechists and teachers in the parish who help to pass on our faith. This includes teachers, religious education teachers, OCIA leaders, marriage prep couples, Alpha leaders, Chosen leaders, and others who have ministry positions that pass on the faith to others. We say thank you to all of them this weekend. We ask God to bless their work and open their minds and hearts to new ways of spreading God’s word. We also ask God to continually open all our hearts to the work of evangelization ahead of us. Thanks, catechists!

This week we begin the newest season of Alpha. Many have asked what Alpha is and why do we do it. Alpha is one program, among many, that works to invite people into an adult relationship with Jesus. It is different in that it doesn’t start with doctrine or rules of faith, but rather, questions. It is meant for people who are searching for faith and a relationship with God. But it has also been found to be helpful for practicing Catholics to deepen their faith. All the sessions of Alpha include three things: hospitality, prayer, and adult discussion. If we can master those three components and practice them in every area of our lives, our faith will be attractive to others. We will all become evangelizers! That is the purpose of Alpha. I encourage you to give it a shot. Join us beginning this Tuesday, September 23rd, at 6:30 PM in the parish office building.

October and May are two months within the year, that the Church focuses on our Blessed Mother. Mary’s “yes” and her status as a first disciple of her son Jesus are celebrated by Catholics around the world. Fr. Prasad and a number of our parishioners are once again doing home visits during the month of October in honor of Mary. The short visit includes a rosary and blessing in front of the image of our Blessed Mother. Call the office to get on the schedule for a visit as we honor Mary in the month of October.

This fall we once again welcome seminarians to Saint Juliana. There is a twofold purpose to the seminarians being with us. First it gives them experience in what it means to be a minister in a real parish. They are learning from not only the staff, but all of you. You have a role in their development. I believe I was trained and continue to be trained by the people God has asked me to serve. It is the same for these seminarians. The second reason is vocational. Hopefully, through their presence at Saint Juliana, more young people will consider a vocation within the Church. So please make sure you welcome again Hunter Ostapowicz, Patrick Truskowski, and our newest seminarian Isaac Schneider.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel story today speaks to us of Peter’s call as the rock of the Church. The call is quickly followed by a rebuke from Jesus when Peter is not open to suffering for the kingdom. We are all called to serve God and our neighbor. Sometimes we serve joyfully and in other times we grudgingly walk in Jesus’ path. In the end the message is clear though: God will be with us in both the good times and the difficult times. God will lead us to new life. These thoughts are with me as I attend bishop school in Rome.

Though I will be home when you read this, today’s thoughts come as I travel in Rome. In the past half a year I have often pondered how I find myself as a bishop. The questions and thoughts are amplified as I find myself in Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican. Today we had our first Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. It was a Mass to celebrate the Jubilee of Hope that Pope Francis had declared before his passing. The Mass was for the new bishops of the world. There are about 210 of us from all over the world. We processed out of the basilica so that we could enter through the Holy Door. We then processed through the magnificent church to where we would celebrate this jubilee Mass. The magnificence of Saint Peter’s reminds us of how small we are, yet in God we are all noticed and loved. After the celebration we proceeded into the crypt to the tomb of Saint Peter. In a sense each of us was presenting ourselves to the first bishop and asking for his intercession in our ministry and lives. Needless to say, tears have flowed as I experience these moments. Throughout our lives I believe we all experience these moments, whether it is a marriage, the birth of a child, or another blessing given to us by God. Often in those times we can only give thanks and shed a few tears.

Tomorrow we will celebrate Mass outside in St. Peter’s square. Pope Leo XIV will be the main celebrant. It will be a Mass that includes the canonization of both Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. Many pilgrims have traveled for this celebration. We celebrate with the parish of Blessed Carlo Acutis located in our vicariate, now Saint Carlo Acutis. Thousands will come to celebrate these two young saints from Italy. In their own way, in their short lives, they led others to Jesus, who is our Lord and Savior. All these events become a permanent part of my life. Just as you and all the other people who formed me over my years as a priest are. I have learned that God’s plans are not always my plans. I never underestimate God’s power and try to open myself each day to where he will lead me.

This coming Thursday, we will meet Pope Leo XIV. The class notes entitled it, “the meeting with Peter.” We will celebrate Mass with the Holy Father and he will share his hopes and dreams for the church and our role in those hopes and dreams. This will be an exciting end to our time in Rome.

I remember when I received the telephone call from the papal nuncio informing me that the Holy Father, Pope Francis had named me a bishop of Chicago. It was the Saturday of the third Sunday of Advent. Our Blessed Mother’s “yes” was what came to me at that moment as I had to give the nuncio an answer. Today I once again think of Mary, as she so often experienced things beyond her own reality. The words “she pondered these things in her heart” have become real for me as well. I hope that over the next few months I can share more moments with all of you. I promise I will try not to put you to sleep with my stories and thoughts. Hopefully though as we share our stories the love of Jesus becomes more real in our daily lives. 

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Gospel Jesus tells us that we must be radical. He uses images which shock us, but being Christian isn’t for the faint of heart. We are to rid ourselves of whatever holds us back from being the best we can be. We need to act. We need to plan and then act in ways that bring about the kingdom. That is the life of a disciple of Jesus.

A little over a week ago we once again experienced a school shooting. If you are my age it is shocking. For our children they live with it as if it was a part of life and growing up. This is wrong in so many ways. We pray each and every time we experience the horror and ask God to bring peace to the victims and their family. Yet we do not follow up with action. God wants action. As the Cardinal wrote last week, we need common sense gun controls. We need to fund mental health programs. We have to say something when we see something. Prayer is meant to move not only God, but us as well. School shootings are not normal. It is time to do something.

With another school year beginning it is the perfect time for all of us to get back into learning. This month Alpha begins again on Tuesday, September 23rd. Come and gather with other adults and ponder the deep questions of life. And see how faith can give us answers to those questions. What better way to do it then around a meal. The conversation is always easier around a table of food. Please join us and bring a friend.

Next Sunday we will be celebrating a Mass for our first responders. Recent events remind us what we owe the men and women who put themselves out there for our safety. They will tell us that they are just doing their job, but we know it is more. Most of us don’t put ourselves in harm’s way to help someone else. So it is important that we let them know how much we appreciate them. So please join us at the 11:00 AM Mass and say thank you in person. And for all of you first responders who don’t like being in the spotlight, please join us and give us a chance to show some gratitude to all of you.

Finally, one more note on keeping our school children safe: Please remember that on Wednesdays our children’s Mass begins at 8:30 AM. Doors are locked at that time. Locked doors actually keep our children safer. Be on time for our children. 

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our first reading and Gospel speak to us of humility. Humility garners friends. The story reminds us that there is always a guest with more status in our lives. When I reflect on it, I believe it is Jesus. When we think we are accomplishing things on our own, and attaining riches, we have fallen into sin. God is the great guest in all our lives who gives us so many gifts. Today we ask God to give us the gift of humility. May we always see and celebrate the gifts in others before we elevate ourselves.

This weekend we all celebrate Labor Day. We give thanks for the work that God has entrusted to each of us. Work allows us to support our families. It allows us the dignity of housing, food, education. I am sure that there are many days when we don’t feel the blessing of work, yet it is for our good, our families’ good, and the common good. So I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.

Next Saturday we will kick off a young adult ministry at Saint Juliana. We invite parishioners and friends ages 21-39 to join us for the event. It will be a get together beginning after the 5:00 PM Mass. Ice cream and heavy appetizers will be served. Please join us and add your input to the needs of young people in Saint Juliana and Edison Park.

Thanks to all the catechists who went to the catechist formation day at Saint John Brébeuf. I gave a keynote address, and low and behold a large group of Saint Juliana catechists were there. As pastor I say thank you for your commitment to our parish children. We pass on our faith one person at a time.

Calling all first responders. No it is not an emergency. We want to say thank you. And we want to pray and bless you. We will celebrate our first responders’ Mass on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at the 11:00 AM Mass. So please join us as we celebrate the women and men who sacrifice so much for us.

Finally, this afternoon I will leave for Rome for Bishop School. I don’t know what to expect, but I can think of a few highlights. I will be part of the celebration of the canonizations of Carlo Acutis and Pier Frassati. I will also have a meet and greet with Pope Leo XIV. I have to also believe I will get some good Italian food as well. I look forward to sharing with all of you when I return. Please pray for me and all the new bishops from around the world who will participate in Bishop School. 

This weekend we celebrate the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the last line of today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples, “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” We often try and make judgements on who are in and who are out when it comes to Jesus and faith. We also make judgements in our personal lives as well. Jesus is clear that our thoughts are not always God’s thoughts. We even hear that the decision on who is in and who is out is God’s decision, not ours. For our part, we are to put our energy on living in the light and not judging other people. If we want to judge, we are to judge ourselves. Are we living the best life that God wants us to live? Are we being children of light? Are we ready to meet the master when he returns?

Next weekend our nation celebrates Labor Day. For me that is the official end of summer. Where did the time go? School has been in session for over a week. We gather with family and friends to celebrate the work that God has entrusted to each of us. No one’s job is the same. And nowadays, jobs change pretty often. But work gives us dignity. We want to work. We want to support our families. We want the security that a job offers us. This is a world-wide desire. So, this weekend as you celebrate with family and friends, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the work that God has given to you throughout your lives and ask God to help those around the world who are seeking work that will bring them security and dignity.

Like all of you, I also will be celebrating what God has asked me to do as well. Next Sunday afternoon, August 31st, I will be leaving with the five other new bishops of Chicago for bishop school in Rome. It is a two-week program designed to learn about the many offices and ministries in the universal Church and to meet the people running them. New bishops from around the world will be present. We believe about 150 bishops will be attending. As I said a few weeks ago, I am still in a learning phase of my ministry. For me the highlight of my trip will be an audience and visit with our new pope, Leo XIV.  I will make sure to tell him we are all praying for him. More stories to come.

Today, Sunday August 24th, Mind and Heart will be meeting in the parish office building. Mind and Heart is a program that takes us on a deeper journey into our Catholic faith. It takes pieces of what it means to be Catholic and unpacks what is behind our faith. The topic today is faith itself. What do we believe? We will look a little deeper at our creeds. Both the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed. So, please join us after the 11:00 AM Mass. 

We will begin our fifth Alpha at the end of September. We have decided to host taste of Alpha on Tuesday September 9th, at 6:30 PM in the parish office building. This “taste” will give you a chance to experience Alpha before committing to the full program. I encourage you to take this opportunity and join us. Invite your friends and family as well. All are welcome.

Today we celebrate the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today Jesus tells his followers that he has come to set the world on fire. He has come to destroy the status quo. We hear the same in our first reading from the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah is telling the people they need to change, or destruction will come upon them. Instead of using their energy to try and change, they decide they will do away with the prophet. They don’t want to hear what Jeremiah and God are asking. The letter to the Hebrews tells us to follow the witnesses who have gone before us. The saints give us the best example of living a new life in Jesus.

Today we are celebrating our back-to-school Mass at 11:00 AM. There is excitement in the air as our children and teachers are preparing for another year of learning. Hopefully everyone had a restful summer and is now ready to meet the challenges ahead. For many of our families, those of college age are already at their schools. The high schools and grade schools will begin shortly. So today we offer prayers and blessings for all of our students, teachers, and parents. May they all experience a joy-filled year of learning. After the Mass, the celebration will continue on the patio and street in front of the church.

This week I will be on retreat with the bishops of our region. Throughout this first year of being a bishop, I am experiencing a number of activities for the first time. This retreat includes the bishops of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Through prayer and social activities the retreat strengthens us in our commitment to the needs of the local church in our region. Please pray for us as we come together this week.

Next Sunday, Mind and Heart will be meeting after the 11:00 AM Mass in the parish office. Mind and Heart is a group that meets once a month to gain deeper insight into different areas of our Catholic faith. This month the discussion will be on faith itself and what we believe. It is timely, as the Church celebrates the 1,700th-year anniversary of the Nicene Creed. Everyone is welcome, and sessions will last about one hour.

I also encourage parishioners needing missed sacraments, and those wanting to become Catholic, to join the OCIA program. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is a program for adults who are searching and want more information on what it means to be Catholic. It is also for baptized Catholics who have not received Eucharist or confirmation. We have a great team leading the program, and sessions will begin in September. Use the QR code in the bulletin to sign up for this year’s class. 

Finally, this weekend Cardinal Cupich celebrated his Golden Jubilee. Please join me in offering a prayer of thanksgiving for his fifty years of priesthood.

Today we celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The theme of today’s Gospel is once again about preparing treasure that will last. Jesus gives it a bit more flesh in the parable of the servants who are waiting for their master’s arrival. We are those servants. It will go well for the servants who have prepared and are ready for the master. Those who procrastinate or put off preparing because the arrival seems far off might be surprised when the master comes. It is not meant to be threatening, but it is meant to help us live our best life each and every day. God has prepared a place for all of us, but we have to be ready to accept the gift.

Most families with school age children are now preparing to send their children back to school. There is shopping that needs to happen for supplies and clothing, and schedules are beginning to be added to the calendars. Here at the parish we like to also begin the new school year with a public blessing and celebration. So next Sunday, August 17th at our 11:00 AM Mass, we will be hosting our back to school Mass and celebration. All families with children going back to school are invited to attend. This includes everyone going to public schools as well as private schools. We also invite teachers and catechists to come and receive a blessing as well. Again all teachers, public, private, grade school, high school, or college are invited to join us. We want to kick off the new school year with a celebration. I know some of our college students will already be gone, but let them know they are included. After Mass there will be a celebration in front of church for all the parish families who joined us for the Mass.

The Saint Juliana Men’s Club is hosting their annual golf outing on Saturday, August 16, 2025. The Men’s Club invites all the men of the parish who golf to join them at White Pines Golf Course in Bensenville. This is one of the Men’s Club’s big fundraisers, and it supports their activities throughout the year—and their charitable giving. Please join us if you are able.

Thanks to everyone who made the Saint Vincent de Paul school supply drive a success last weekend. There is nothing better for a child then to get new supplies at the beginning of a new school year. It makes a child feel important and helps give them confidence for the year ahead. Thanks to our Saint Vincent de Paul Society chapter for sponsoring the drive.

Thanks also to everyone who supported our Boy Scout Troop 965 car wash yesterday. Proceeds from the car wash help defray the cost scouts pay for their activities throughout the year—such as campouts, canoe trips, etc. Thanks to the scouts for the service!

Finally, this Friday, August 15th, we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We will have two Masses on Friday. There will be a 8:30 AM and a 7:00 PM Mass. Please join us as we honor our Blessed Mother, Mary.

Today we celebrate the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel deals with the man who is concerned about his share of an inheritance. Jesus takes that question and expands it to speak about possessions and greed. Jesus tells the story of the rich man who has much, yet decides to build more barns for all of the surplus harvest he has. The man does not think about sharing his bounty, but rather decides he can build his fortune by building more barns for his excess crop. Jesus tells the shocked crowd that the rich man would die that very night, and all his wealth and hard work would go to someone else. Jesus tells his followers and us to make sure we are working for an inheritance that sustains us now and in the life to come. The relationships we build, the connections we make with others and God, will be an everlasting inheritance.

This past week we had our back-to-school meet ups for our students and families in preschool through first grade. It was a chance for children to meet classmates they will see in the new school year. It is also a chance for parents to connect or reconnect with other parents in the school. These connections often last throughout the students’ lifetimes. Thanks to Barb Ernat, the school ambassadors, and our principal, Dee Roy, for making the evenings a success. We want to make sure all our students have a great beginning at Saint Juliana.

After about a three-month break, we are also once again preparing welcome back our religious education students at Saint Juliana. Registration will close on August 15th, so please make sure that your children, grandchildren, friends’ children, neighbors, and relatives have registered for the new year. You may use the QR code in the bulletin to register or call the office and leave a message for Mrs. Petrash.

This weekend the Saint Vincent de Paul Society is hosting their school supply drive at the back of church. Many children are not as fortunate as our own children, and this drive allows students at Saint Angela School and the Mission of our Lady of Angels to begin the new year with fresh supplies. Thanks to everyone who is able to donate and thanks to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society for putting this all together.

Finally, “mum’s” the word for the Saint Juliana Mothers’ Club. One of their fundraisers is the sale of mums for the fall. It is a great way to decorate your home for the fall and support all of the activities that the Mothers’ Club sponsor. Check out the add in the bulletin.

Today we celebrate the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Last week we heard stories of hospitality. This week we the stories we hear concern mercy and persistence. In the first reading from Genesis, Abraham’s visitors leave, and Abraham is left with an agitated God. God intends to go to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and see the sin there with his own eyes. If it is as he believes, God is going to destroy both cities. At that point Abraham begins to intercede for the innocent in the cities. He eventually asks God if he will spare the city if ten innocent people are found there. God tells Abraham that if there are ten innocent people, he will show mercy. In the Gospel the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. He gives them what we today call the “Lord’s Prayer,” but then added a parable about persistence. We have to tell God our needs directly and be persistent. Our persistence is a true sign of a living relationship with the Lord. Our baptism calls us to a relationship with the Lord, and life of mercy and forgiveness.

There are a lot of activities in the works for the months ahead. Mind and Heart, a monthly series focused on spiritual growth and understanding of our Catholic faith will begin on Sunday, August 24th, after the 11:00 AM Mass. It is a once-a-month program that digs deeper into central themes of our faith. We had a first session in June focused on the papacy and, in particular, Pope Leo. Over twenty people attended, and there was excitement for the series to continue. The first unit of Mind and Heart will focus on faith. This is the 1,700th anniversary of the creation of the Nicene Creed that we use in our Sunday liturgy. It is a great beginning, as we explore what it is that we believe. Please use the QR code in the bulletin to register for the session.

Next Saturday, August 2nd, we will host a new parishioner social. We invite new parishioners, those who still feel new, and those debating about joining the parish for the social. You will get to meet some of the staff who are available and other people like yourselves who want to meet or connect with the parish in a deeper way. We invite you to join us for Mass, and then we will move over to the patio of the parish office building. I look forward to meeting everyone.

Next weekend the Saint Vincent de Paul Society is collecting school supplies after all the Masses. Please consider making a donation if you are able. 

Finally, on August 9th, the Boy Scouts are having their summer car wash. For me it is the one time a year I wash my car. I think the dirt and rust are holding my car together, and so too many washings might make it disintegrate. Stop in to support the Saint Juliana Troop 965 car wash!

Today we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Gospel today, Jesus tells the scholar of the law that he must do two things to inherit eternal life. We must love God with our whole being, and we must love our neighbor as ourselves. But, who is my neighbor? Jesus then tells the parable in which a Samaritan helps a man who was robbed and beaten and left for dead. Two of the injured man’s own people, a priest and Levite, passed him by. But it is a hated foreigner who takes pity on the man and cares for him. The Samaritan would be justified by the world if he had passed by the injured man, yet he is the one who is truly the neighbor. The story has great power today as we as a country choose to pass over people in need. Jesus’ words to the scholar and us are the same: we are to go and treat all people as if they were our neighbor.

Pope Francis established 2025 as a jubilee year dedicated to hope. He writes in the book entitled Hope, “The Church needs everyone—every man, every woman—and we all need one another. None of us is an island, an autonomous and independent self, and the future is something we can only build together, excluding no one.” “Hope” for Pope Francis is a world that sees itself as one family. A world that celebrates its great achievements and binds up the wounds of those in need. “Hope” does not leave anyone behind. Jesus and Pope Francis call all of us as disciples to be good Samaritans, searching out those in need and binding their wounds.

A couple of weeks ago we witnessed a great example of the good Samaritan story at Saint Juliana. A group of students and their parents along with the Missionary Spirit Team got together to pack lunches for Uncle Pete Ministries.  Together the students made over 200 sandwiches to feed the homeless in Chicago. The students didn’t know the homeless people who would receive the sandwiches, yet they realized that there were neighbors in need, and they could do something about it. You do the same, each and every time you take a lunch bag home and bring back a lunch for Uncle Pete’s. We are called to pass on the gift of generosity and service to our children. This was a great example of the Good Samaritan in action.

Finally, today we invite young families to the Meet, Greet and Play happening in the parish office and courtyard after the 9:30 AM Mass. It is a chance to meet your neighbors and let the children get to know each other as well. 

Today we celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. All the big holy days of June are finished and now we once again enter Ordinary Time. I see Ordinary Time as the necessary space to actually live out our faith. The big feasts fill us with hope and give us courage for the work ahead, but now we are called to put the faith we received from Jesus and the Apostles into practice. The Gospel today tells us what we are to do. Jesus appoints seventy-two people to go before him to prepare his way. They are to spread good news of peace, hospitality, health, and hope. They are reminded to not get bogged down on the little things; rather we should keep to the message of light and peace, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Those who were sent came back rejoicing, because all that Jesus told them came to pass and many received the good news joyfully.

Today we are the descendants of Jesus’ followers. We too are called to spread good news. We also are reminded to not get caught up on petty things, but rather focus on what is important and life giving. We also know like, Saint Paul, that everything we have and everything we do comes from the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We ask the Lord to help us bring peace, hospitality, and hope into our daily lives.

In the last year, Barb Ernat, one of our staff members in charge of hospitality, began a program for young families called Meet, Greet and Play. The idea was to bring families together who have young children, infancy to school age, so they could meet other families in the same boat as them. We began on Saturday mornings once a month. We have been pleased with the turnout and decided to change it up for the summer. The change is moving it to Sunday, after the 9:30 AM Mass. So on July 13th, we will offer our Meet, Greet, and Play Day! We invite young families to join us in the parish office library and backyard to meet other families and let the children meet other new friends as well. Call the office if you need more information.

The Saint Juliana Friendship Club is sponsoring a paddle wheel boat excursion on the Fox River on Thursday, August 14th. Reservations are required. A sandwich lunch will also be provided. Last month the Friendship Club hit the casino in Michigan. I am assuming there were no big winners, since I still see all the members each week. Consider joining the Friendship Club and bring a friend as well.

Finally, we hope everyone had a great Fourth of July holiday. God has entrusted us with a country with freedom as our foundation. Our faith encourages us to not hoard the blessings we received, but to share them with all who are in need. May we continue to prosper as a nation and be a sign of peace and generosity to the world. 

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. We don’t often get to celebrate the Apostles on a Sunday. Peter and Paul were the great missionary disciples of Jesus. Their lives were devoted to sharing the story of Jesus. Wherever they went, they preached the “good news” that was given to them by Jesus. They gave their lives so that the Gospel might reach the end of the earth. Both disciples formed local churches and commissioned followers to continue the work that had been entrusted to them from Jesus. We follow Peter and Paul as disciples of Jesus. For over two years we have worked on creating disciples at Saint Juliana who would share their journey of faith. When our personal stories are told, others are freed to share their stories as well. Through these stories of joy, hope, sadness, and reconciliation, we realize that God is alive and has been working in our daily lives. We joyfully sing God’s praises.

During the summer I hope you take time to consider joining one of our parish evangelization experiences. In early fall we will once again be hosting our Alpha program. Through hospitality, video presentations, prayer, and shared dialogue, believers can deepen their faith. Those searching can find a safe place to ask questions and hear stories of others on the journey. We will also host The Chosen again this fall. Many have found this series to be helpful and challenging on a journey of discipleship. The program builds community as we watch the series together with others and share how the stories impact our lives. For those who have already begun a journey and now want to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, we offer the OCIA program. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults allows for academic input and lively discussion on the basic dogma and doctrines of our faith. It is a time for inquiry and decision. Those who choose will receive the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation at the Easter Vigil in the spring. This fall we will also be offering classes on beliefs, traditions, and practices in the Catholic Church. The Mind and Heart series will offer more for those who already believe. Finally, we also offer adoration each week as time away with the Lord. Prayer is one of the central pillars of our faith. If you are interested in learning more about any of these programs check out the parish website, bulletin, or call the office and we will be glad to share more details. 

July 1, 2025 we end the fiscal year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the financial support you have shown Saint Juliana. Through weekly giving, the Generation to Generation campaign, the Annual Catholic Appeal, and other gifts, you continue to keep the parish and archdiocese strong. God blesses us each day, and you pass that blessing on in so many ways. Thanks you!

Finally, I would ask prayers for Jim McHale one of our finance committee member who passed away suddenly this month. Jim was not only active in finance, but was an active participant in the Alpha program. We are saddened by his death and ask God to welcome him home. Also we offer prayers for his wife Terri. Eternal rest grant on to him, O Lord.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus tells us that we share both a human and a divine nature. We are of this world, and we are of God’s world which is yet to appear. How do we survive in everyday life? As humans, it takes a certain amount of healthy food to keep our bodies strong and our energy levels up. But we also have needs for our spiritual fitness as well. Jesus gave us his Body and Blood as nourishment and strength for the spiritual journey. Every time we gather for the Eucharist, we are included in the one sacrifice that frees us from sin. We are made new in the sacrifice of Jesus. We are also nourished for the work ahead. When we eat the Body of Christ, we become the Body of Christ. This transformation allows us to do the work that Jesus has entrusted to us. What is that work? We are called to be a light to the nations. We are called to be hope in our world. We are called to be forgiveness. We thank God for the precious gift of his Body and Blood.

Today, Sunday June 22nd, we will host a class on the teachings of the Church surrounding the pope. There has been much excitement in the past month as we saw Pope Leo XIV ascend to the papacy. Last week the archdiocese hosted a large event at Rate Field to celebrate Pope Leo XIV, who hails from Chicago. With all of the excitement now, people are asking: How is a pope elected? Who gets to vote? What power does the pope have over the Church and in the world? These and many other questions will be answered. The class begins at 12:15 PM in the parish office library. So plan on joining us as we highlight the doctrine and tradition surrounding the papacy.

During the summer we are already beginning to organize classes for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The OCIA is designed for adults who are interested in learning about the Catholic faith and receiving the Sacraments of Initiation. It is for those who have never been baptized. It is for those who have been baptized in another Christian faith, but now would like to join the Catholic Church and receive the sacraments. It is also for baptized Catholics who may have never received the Eucharist or confirmation after their baptism. The classes begin in September and always begin with an inquiry component. So if you or a family member fit one of these groups and would like to journey with other adults, please call the parish office and ask for Marie Dombai. Marie can answer questions and pass on your information to Chris Floss who runs the OCIA. Now is the time.

Today we celebrate Trinity Sunday. Last week we celebrated Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us. Today we celebrate God himself. We celebrate all the ways that we experience God in our lives. God the Father is seen as a creator. God the Son was sent to redeem us. And God the Holy Spirit was given to us to guide us and give us strength—three ways we experience good, but only one God. We personally might have other ways we feel God is present in our lives. God is mercy, hope, light, and joy. But in the many ways we experience God, there is a unity that the Trinity represents. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one. Just like the Trinity, we are called to work for unity. We are strongest when we are united. Whether it is in faith, family, workplace, or nation, unity strengthens all our endeavors. We pray that we will follow the example of the one God head and work for unity in our lives.

Time for a few “thank yous” this weekend. I would like to start with all of the ladies of the parish who knit and crochet the blankets we give to our young families at baptism. It is an added blessing from the parish that tells a young family that they are not alone on this journey of faith. The blankets symbolize all the support they will receive from our Saint Juliana faith community over the years ahead. They are an invitation to embrace the faith and community for their children. So, thanks to all who are knitting.

Thanks to all of choirs, cantors and musicians as they begin their summer break. We are blessed to have so much talent in the parish. Music enhances our liturgical celebrations. Often the music will “catch” us even if the homily or scripture didn’t. Thanks to Glenn and all our music ministers.

Now two invitations. First, if you like to knit and want to help with the baby blankets ministry, please call the office and we will put your talents to use. Second invitation, if you would like to sing talk to Glenn, or call the parish office and we will get you in touch with Glenn. The more voices we have, the more we sound like angels.

Happy Father’s Day to all of our dads. Like our moms, dads sacrifice so much for all of us. Their guidance, strength, and support allow us to go out and become the men and women we are meant to be. Thanks to the fathers!

Finally, this week I will be away for my first United States Catholic Conference of Bishops meeting. The last half year has been a learning curve for me. This week will be another first. Pray for all the Bishops as we come together for the Conference. May we also experience the unity we find in the Trinity.

Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. It is the official end of the Easter Season and traditionally seen as the beginning of the Church. On this day, the long-awaited Holy Spirit comes to the disciples. In the form of wind and flames, the Spirit descends on the disciples. They begin to proclaim the good news of Jesus, and everyone hears them in their own language. No matter where they came from or what language they speak, everyone understands the disciples' teachings. The people are amazed. 

This is a day for all of us to remember the gifts we have been given by God. Your gift is not my gift. Each of us is created and blessed with different gifts. Jesus calls us all to use our gifts to spread good news. We are all called to be a flame of faith ignited by the Holy Spirit. The sacrament of Confirmation celebrates the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are in each one of us. We pray that we will use our gifts for God’s glory in our world.

This week we begin our Totus Tuus summer youth camp. The Totus Tuus summer camp is run by seminarians and college-age students in the archdiocese. Along with parish adults and catechists, it is a week to celebrate the gifts we receive through our faith. Through prayer, catechesis, games, and group activities, the campers build a stronger relationship with Jesus and with each other. Thanks to Marvin Bornschlegl for leading the camp, and thanks to all of the volunteers who will be helping during the week.

This coming Saturday, June 14th, the archdiocese is hosting an afternoon celebration of Pope Leo XIV. The celebration will be held at Rate Field, White Sox park. The gates open at 12:30 PM and there will be music, prayer, Jumbo Tron videos, and a whole lot more. The afternoon will end with the Sunday vigil Mass being celebrated at 4:00 PM. Cost is $5 dollars for parking and $5 for a seat. The seat charge will be donated to local charities, but it is necessary for the White Sox organization to have seats for all those who will be participating. We look forward to celebrating our very own Pope Leo XIV.

A big parish thanks to Marie and Tom Dombai and all their volunteers who worked to make the Saint Juliana parish picnic a success once again. The picnic is a great way for parishioners to come together and just relax and catch up with one another. So often we are all running in different directions, but for one afternoon we were able to slow it down. We hope everyone had a great time.

A big welcome back to Fr. Prasad. Fr. Prasad went home to visit family and friends, and he was sorely missed. We are glad he was able to spend the time with his family and even happier that he is safely back with his Saint Juliana family.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. There is always initial sadness when someone we love is no longer with us. Family members may have moved far away. Relationships may have ended, and we do not have the same connection with friends or family.  Or we experience the death of a spouse, a family member, or a friend. The initial feeling is one of emptiness or sadness. Eventually though, in most cases, we begin to transition from sadness to a gratefulness for the time we had. Our memories allow us to move beyond the grief. This is the experience we have today in the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus is no longer physically in our presence. We now experience him in the stories (memories) given to us, the actions we participate in (Eucharist), and in the promised Holy Spirit. Today, like the original disciples, we pray and wait for God’s spirit to fill us and send into the world to spread the Good News!

Today Saint Juliana is hosting our parish picnic at Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. The day begins with a 12:30 PM Mass under the pavilion. There will be food, games, music, and animals for everyone to enjoy. Thanks to everyone who has been working on planning, set up, and takedown. The picnic is another way for us to build parish community. See you all this afternoon.

This past week the Saint Juliana Class of 2025 graduated. We wish the class well as they move on to the next part of their life journey. Faith, academics, and relationships will be the pillars that help them succeed in the future. Congratulations to all of our parish students who are graduating from grade school, high school, and college. These important moments of transition help us reflect on where we have come from and where we are going. Please keep all the graduates of the parish in your prayers.

This coming Saturday, June 7th, we will be hosting Meet, Greet, and Play for our young families in the parish office yard. We invite young parents with young children, babies- through early school age, to join us and meet other parish families with children in the same age group. There are refreshments for children and parents alike. The goal of Meet, Greet, and Play is to connect parishioners with other parishioners who are in the same stage of life and may have the same concerns as other young parents. Join us this Saturday, June 7th.

Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear about the controversy concerning Gentiles who have come to believe in Jesus. The question was whether they needed to be circumcised like the Jews in order to become members of the Church. In other words, did the Gentiles need to become Jews before they became Christian? Today it might seem like a petty argument, but at the time it was a huge question. Eventually it was decided that circumcision would not be a requirement for becoming a follower of Jesus, but rather baptism was all that was needed. But like all big decisions in life, the controversy persisted even after the decision was made. Though there are many things in life that separate us and divide us, Pope Francis and Pope Leo call on us to build bridges of understanding. Dialogue helps us to understand our similarities—many times as important or more important than our differences. Let’s all heed the call to build bridges in our world.

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. It began as a day to honor all those who gave their lives in defense of our country. It is also a day for us to remember all of our family and friends who have died. Many will go to the cemetery this weekend. We will clean up the graves of our beloved dead. As believers of Jesus we also gather to celebrate the resurrection that we believed is promised to us in baptism. Throughout the Archdiocese Masses will be celebrated in the Catholic cemeteries at 10:30 AM on Monday morning. We invite you to join us for these celebrations of our loved ones.

As we finish the academic school year, I encourage you to register for Saint Juliana School, or the St. Juliana religious education program. Too often we forget as the summer progresses to register our children and then we find ourselves scrambling or shut out when we remember in late summer. Now is a great time to make sure your children have a spot in next year’s programs. You can register for the RE program online (information is in this bulletin). For SJS registration, I encourage you to call the school office.

Next Sunday we will have our parish picnic at the Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. We hope you and your family will join us for the picnic. There will be food and games for everyone. There will also be a petting zoo and pony rides for the children. In addition to our regular Masses at the church, we will also be celebrating Mass under the pavilion at 12:30 PM. Check this bulletin for details.

Finally, on Saturday, June 14th, the archdiocese will be having a massive celebration of Pope Leo IV. It will be held at Rate Field (White Sox park) during the afternoon. There will be music, and exhibits along with a Mass at 4:00 PM. We have reserved a bus for anyone who would like to go by bus. Cost will be $10 and includes bus and admission. For those who want to drive themselves, parking will be $5 and $5 for an admission ticket. Pope Leo is a blessing to the whole Church, but in a special way we claim him as one of our own. Please consider joining all of Chicago for this historic event. Call the parish office to reserve your tickets.

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday we continue to hear the stories from Paul and Barnabas about what God is doing in the world. They go from town to town proclaiming Jesus as Lord, and the people believe. Eventually Paul and Barnabas will come home to Jerusalem and face the first crisis of the new Church there. A decision will need to be made about Gentiles who want to follow Jesus. After much consternation and discussion, Peter will go along with Paul and allow Gentiles to become followers simply through the act of baptism. All throughout Church history there are times of crisis and concern. We believe that the Holy Spirit, Jesus' spirit, always guides our decisions and ways. The short gospel reminds us that Jesus wants us to love one another. This is what disciples have proclaimed throughout all of history. We now receive that same mandate.

This has been quite a week. With the installation of Pope Leo the XIV, the Church once again focuses on its mission to go and make disciples. Like the first disciples, we are called to share our stories of wonder and faith with the world around us. Pope Leo calls us to be bridge builders who work to unite the world, all Christians, and our families. Love which makes room for forgiveness is a key to that message. So continue to pray in thanksgiving for our new pope and ask God to give him the strength he will need for this new ministry.

Hard to believe that we are already halfway through May. At Saint Juliana that means both the school and religious education programs are preparing to close up shop for the summer. This means extra Masses, graduations, and programs at many levels. It is a time of expectation for our soon-to-be grade school graduates. On one hand they are celebrating their completion of grade school, but on the other hand there is concern for the high school years ahead. We look forward to celebrating all the exciting moments with all our parish students.

Thanks to the Knights of Columbus for bringing the Blessed Carlo Acutis Marian Aparitions exhibit to Saint Juliana. The exhibit reminds all of us how important our Blessed Mother is to all of us. Thanks also to all of the volunteers who helped set up and take down the exhibit, along with those who acted as docents during the exhibit. Thanks especially to Marie Dombai who organized the whole weekend.

There are always ways to get involved at Saint Juliana. We are looking for women who would like to be on the women's retreat team. The next retreat will be held during Lent of 2026, but preparation will begin by the end of the summer.

We also need help with the parish picnic. This year the picnic will be held on June 1, 2025 at the Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. So please purchase your tickets—and sign up to help!

Volunteers are also needed for the Totus Tuus youth camp which will be held on June 8-13. Volunteers are the backbone of all of the Saint Juliana activities. Please consider helping out if you are able. Contact the parish office for more information about getting involved.

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter. In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch and are preaching the good news, Jesus Christ, to the Jewish faithful of the area. The leaders do not accept the words of Paul and Barnabas. In fact they throw them out of the synagogue. But then Paul makes a great claim and tells the people that since the Jews rejected the “light,” it would be given to the gentiles. Now anyone who heard the word of God and believed would be saved. We are the descendants of the gentiles. We are part of a great multitude of people who heard the good news and believed. We ask Jesus to help us be witnesses to his work on earth.

In 2027 Saint Juliana will be celebrating it’s 100th jubilee. This is a major event for a parish, and we are looking for input on how people want to celebrate this joyful event. On Tuesday, June 10th, at 6:30 PM we will be having a meeting to discuss possible ways to celebrate our jubilee. At the meeting I am asking people for ideas on how to celebrate. They might be things from our past, or they might be events you have seen at other parishes. This will just be an idea meeting. No decisions will be made. Once we have the input we will sit on it for a bit and let the Holy Spirit guide us as we move forward. We want this to be a parish-led celebration. So everyone is invited to join us as we begin to plan for the celebration.

This weekend the parish is hosting the Blessed Carlo Acutis Marian Apparitions exhibit in the Ahearn Center. We encourage everyone to take some time after Masses this weekend to go visit the exhibit highlighting the Marian visits that have happened around the world. Saint Juliana is one of the first parishes to show the exhibit. Thanks to all of the volunteers who have worked to bring the exhibit to Saint Juliana.

The Knights of Columbus are selling flowers this weekend in the back of the church in honor of Mother’s Day. All the proceeds from the sale go to the Women’s Center. There are a variety of bouquets and prices, so why not treat your mom to a beautiful bunch of flowers? Let Mom know how much she means to all of you.

Summer is fast approaching. The parish picnic is scheduled for Sunday, June 1, 2025. There is something for everyone at the picnic. The picnic will be held at Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. So invite your family and friends to this kickoff to the summer. More information is in this bulletin.

Totus Tuus summer youth camp is also coming once again to Saint Juliana this June. The camp will be held on the week of June 8th. More information is again available in the bulletin or on the web page.

Finally we would like to wish all of our mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. Thanks to all of the Moms who have given us life, nurtured us and cheered our successes. We appreciate all that you do! 

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter. The Easter celebration extends all the way to Pentecost. It is a reminder that Jesus’ death and resurrection are central to our faith. The gospel today once again gives us another resurrection story to ponder. In it the apostles are out fishing. Jesus waits for them on the shore. After a bad night of fishing, Jesus tells them to cast off the other side of the boat. Reluctantly they do as Jesus asks and the nets fill up. When they get to shore they share a breakfast with Jesus, and then Peter and Jesus have a hard conversation. Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Many theologians say it is in response to the denials Peter made before the crucifixion. In the end, the outcome is clear. Peter and the other disciples are called to tend to the believers and help lead them to Jesus. This is our call as well.

This Tuesday Saint Juliana will celebrate our parish Confirmation. I have been on a Confirmation marathon for two weeks. I have celebrated nine confirmations in ten days. I have to say that the Saint Juliana Confirmation will be special, as I know the children and their teachers and catechists. I have spoken to the Confirmation classes in the past two weeks and they are ready for the Holy Spirit. Please join me in prayerful celebration as the students continue their journey of faith.

Congratulations to all of the children who received their First Communion this Saturday during two great celebrations. The students were well prepared. Thanks to the parents and teachers who have walked with the children. Your baptismal promise is fulfilled as you pass on the faith to these children. As a parish please keep the children in your prayers.

 This week the cardinals in Rome will begin the conclave process which will elect the next pope. I encourage everyone to pray for the cardinals who will make this important decision. The process for selection of a new pope fascinates everyone; but for the Church, we believe the outcome will be the work of the Holy Spirit. God will choose who is called to lead us in this time. Our job is to pray and joyfully accept God’s decision.

The parish picnic is coming soon, and we hope you will all join us for the celebration. The picnic is held at Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. It is set for Sunday, June 1st. Invite your family and friends. It is another way for us all to gather as a parish family. I have been practicing my potato sack racing skills for the day. If you want to help with the picnic please call Marie Dombai in the parish office.

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter. This is also Divine Mercy Sunday. Saint Faustina had visions about the mercy of God flowing from the heart of Jesus. This stream of mercy was endless. Saint Pope John Paul II created this celebration in honor of God’s mercy. The Easter message is a message of mercy. Jesus gives his life so that we can be forgiven. The Easter celebration continues until the Feast of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit descending on the Apostles is another sign of God’s care and mercy for all of us. Fr. Prasad will have a Divine Mercy celebration at 3:00 PM in the church today, Sunday, April, 27th. We invite everyone to join in the thanksgiving for God’s mercy.

It was with tremendous sadness we woke up on Monday of this past week to learn about the passing of Pope Francis. Since then prayers, Masses, and other celebrations have been offered in honor of the first South American-born pope. In choosing the name of Saint Francis, the pope began his pontificate as a champion for the poor, the outcast, and the foreigner. The person in front of him took precedence over doctrine. Church leaders could debate doctrine, but it was the person in front of him who was important. He saw the Church as a big family, and as his last public event, traveled through the crowds on Easter. It is fitting that he celebrated Easter—our feast of new life and resurrection here on earth—and then went home to continue the celebration with God and all the saints in heaven. Please continue to pray for Pope Francis and in the days ahead for the cardinal’s as they begin the conclave to choose Pope Francis’ successor. 

As we continue the celebration of Easter it is a time in which we celebrate the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. We will be celebrating First Eucharist here at Saint Juliana on Saturday, May 3rd. We will celebrate Confirmation at St. Juliana on Tuesday, May 6th. Please include in your prayers all of the children who will be receiving the sacraments this year.

Finally, thanks to everyone who helped with the Easter celebrations. I was very pleased with the numbers of people who chose to celebrate with us. Faith gives us hope! Pope Francis entitled his autobiography Hope. We all came together as a sign of God’s hope. Whatever part you played in our celebrations are hopeful reminders of a church that is alive in all her members. Happy Easter, Saint Juliana!

Prayer at the Passing of Pope Francis

Dear God,

We thank You for the years of service Pope Francis gave to our Church: his encyclicals, his prayers, his pilgrimages, his work for a brighter tomorrow. May his life and service remind us of our ultimate goal — You and You alone. Amen.

“On the first day of the week."

This one phrase is filled with so much meaning. In our Gospel this morning, Mary of Magdala comes to the tomb and is one of the first to see that the tomb is open.  She runs to share the distressing news with Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. But when the disciples return to the tomb and see that it is empty, it is John who sees and believes. This will be the first confirmation that Jesus is alive. 

Easter is a day of transformation. Death is conquered, and darkness is replaced with light. That is what we all celebrate in our parish and in our homes. Through our belief in Jesus and the relationship that we have fostered with him, we can joyfully proclaim that Jesus is alive! This is the Easter message. We believe that any darkness in our own lives, in our own world, can be transformed to light in Jesus. The symbols of resurrection surround us on this Easter morn. Water, flowers, eggs, chicks, lambs, music, and delicious food remind us that God has given us an abundance of life in Jesus and his resurrection. The Eucharistic celebration is the living embodiment of the life Jesus gives us. All we have to do to receive his life is say, “Yes.”

This past winter we all experienced a bit of transition at Saint Juliana. On December 20th, 2024 the Holy Father, Pope Francis, appointed me an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago. On February 26, 2025 I was ordained a bishop at Holy Name Cathedral and became the Vicar of Vicariate II. All this happened while retaining my position as pastor of Saint Juliana Parish. The upside of this is that I am able to remain in the parish and walk with all of you. If there is a downside, it is that now I will also lead and care for about forty more parishes in Vicariate II. I am a firm believer that God gives us what we need to accomplish his work on earth, so I am confident that this new adventure will unfold just as the Lord is expecting. We all simply need to be open to God’s work

During Lent, while all that was going on, Saint Juliana continued to be a beacon of light in renewal and evangelization. Parishioners participated in daily Mass, adoration, Alpha, bible studies, The Chosen, as well as the men’s and women’s retreats. The Taizé reconciliation service brought comfort and healing to many. And our weekly Stations of the Cross reminded us of the gift we received in Jesus’ death and resurrection. This excitement and growth in our faith is what Easter is all about. We are all called to share that “Good News” with one another. 

On behalf of Fr. Prasad, Fr. Roger, the parish and school staff, and myself, we wish everyone a blessed Easter.

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, and we begin our journey into Holy Week. The week begins in triumph as Jesus is welcomed into Jerusalem with “Hosannas” and joy. But as Holy Week continues, the story shifts and we see Jesus’ impending death on the horizon. But Jesus’ death is not the end. Jesus’ resurrection is the final chapter! Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins is accompanied with the new life we have received in his resurrection. I encourage everyone to join us for all of our Holy Week celebrations.

On Holy Thursday we begin the celebration of the Easter Triduum. These three days—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil—are seen as one celebration. Once the celebration begins on Holy Thursday, it does not end until the completion of the Easter Vigil. On Holy Thursday we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We will begin the celebration at 7:00 PM. During the celebration we hear the Gospel of Jesus’ final supper with his apostles. This meal signifies the Eucharist that Jesus gives us through his death and resurrection. During that meal we are reminded of our call to serve one another. Jesus gets up from the table and begins to wash the feet of his apostles. During our service, we also will wash the feet of our parishioners as a sign of that service. Finally the evening ends with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

On Good Friday we will have two services. The first is at 3:00 PM. This is the Passion of the Lord. We once again listen to the Passion Gospel. After the gospel is completed we offer universal petitions for the world. The second part of the service is our Veneration of the Cross. During this time we expose the cross as the sign of our redemption, and then venerate it by kisses, bows, genuflections, or touch. Finally, this service concludes with our reception of the Eucharist. At 6:00 PM on Good Friday, we will have our stations of the Cross.

The Easter vigil begins at 7:30 PM. Rituals of light and darkness are celebrated. New water of baptism is blessed and through the telling of our story of salvation from the beginning of time to Jesus, our faith comes alive once again. We also celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation with the elect, who have been on their own journey of faith. This night we begin our Easter celebration.

There will be no morning Masses celebrated on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. There will be morning prayer celebrated on Good Friday and Holy Saturday at 9:00 AM. On Holy Saturday we will have a blessing for food to be used at our Easter celebrations. Check this bulletin on page 3 for the time of the blessing, as well as the rest of the Holy Week schedule.

Once again I invite you to join us for all of the Holy Week celebrations.

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The theme for this week is presented to us in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah. He tells the people, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not, see, I am doing something new.” We are shaped by the things of the past. They make us who we are, but yet we are told to be open to what is to come. In the gospel, Jesus is asked what to do to the women caught in adultery. The old option is to stone her. Jesus comes up with something new for the scribes and pharisees, as well as the women. He tells the scribes and the pharisees who have no sin to cast the first stone. Eventually no one is left. Finally Jesus tells the women to sin no more. Lent gives us new eyes. To see events and things in our life in a new way. Jesus tells all of us to go and sin no more.

Thanks to all of the eighth graders who participated in the Living Stations of the Cross. Stations of the Cross began as a substitute for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to experience the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Because most people will never get to Jerusalem, the Stations developed so we could participate in the journey from wherever we are. Almost every Catholic church has stations on their walls or outside in a garden. By participating in the Way of the Cross, we participate in Jesus Passion and death. The presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross are a way to bring this devotion to the next generation. They are just as unlikely as the rest of us to get to the Holy Land, but yet they can participate in this journey of faith in our local church. So thanks again to all of the eighth graders who were able to participate, and to Janie Lidgus and Glenn de Castro for all their help.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Traditionally all around the world our Christian churches will fill up as we begin Holy Week. In one week, we will see as our whole faith in Jesus Christ unfolds before us. It is a time to remember why we are here. The week begins with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, but is quickly replaced with Jesus’ passion and death. In between we celebrate the last supper he shared with his disciples, and finally we experience the new life we received on Easter morning with his resurrection. I encourage everyone to join us for as many of the Holy Week celebrations as you can. A strong effort during Holy Week will help make the Easter joy even better.

Thanks to the Saint Juliana Men’s club who hosted our Final Four bash this weekend. Through the events they sponsor throughout the year, they contribute to the life of Saint Juliana. This year the Men’s Club have made a commitment to our Generation to Generation Capital Campaign. Through their help, we will be able to continue to move the faith forward for years to come. Next weekend the Saint Juliana Mother’s Club will hold their Big Night Out bash. Their efforts help the school community in so many ways. Thanks to everyone who generously support the Men’s Club and Mother’s Club at Saint Juliana.

Finally, Holy week schedules are a bit different, and attendance at many of our celebrations are high as well. It is a time for all of us to welcome all the extra family and guests who will join us for the Easter celebrations. So check the bulletin or website for times of services, and come early. 

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The story of the Prodigal Son is a story of sin and redemption. It is also a story about the love of a parent for his child. A father had two sons—one chose to obey his father and the other chose to squander his life and inheritance. Eventually the destitute son chooses to come back home and face his shame and his father. It is the story of the father that captures our hearts in the Lenten season. Every day that his son is missing, the father goes out and looks for his lost son. When he is finally sees his son, the father, filled with compassion, goes out to meet him. He puts beautiful clothes on his son and rings on his fingers. He restores his son to his original place in the family. This is a story about God. God waits for all of us and is ready to throw a party when we turn from sin and become his light in the world once again. Lent is a season of homecoming in our faith. Through our Lenten prayer, activities, and charity, we once again choose light over darkness. God is waiting for each of us.

This week the men of the parish had their Lenten retreat. About twenty-five men of the parish gave six hours of their weekend to prayer and reflection. I often hear people ask why they need a retreat. I myself have asked that same question at different points in my life. I have come to believe a day away allows us to put the everyday responsibilities on hold and allows us to think. We live 24/7. Often even in sleep our minds can’t stop. A day without phones, work, or distractions allows us to reset. We get a chance to refocus ourselves on what is important in our lives. Thanks to the men who prepared this day of reflection and thanks to the women who also led the women’s retreat.

Another Lenten activity available to you this season is adoration on Tuesday evenings. Fr. Prasad is presenting a “Lenten Walk with Jesus” during the adoration period. We also have Stations of the Cross every Friday at 6:30 PM in the church. Reconciliation is offered an hour before the Stations. On April 4th, some of our eighth grade students will present the Living Stations of the Cross. Parishioners are invited to either presentation at 2:00 or 6:30 PM. Daily Mass is also another activity that is available at 8:30 AM. I hope these days of Lent enhance the Easter celebration for all of us.

We continue to have our prayer basket in the back of church. As parishioners add their prayers to the basket, other parishioners take one out and pray for their fellow parishioners. It is another way to connect us spiritually with our fellow parishioners. It also changes the focus of our prayer. It helps us look beyond ourselves and our needs to the needs of others. Please take a petition card this weekend and together we will raise up our prayers to God. 

Finally, thanks to all the parishioners who showed up for the lector and Eucharistic minister training meeting last Sunday. We will work quickly to get you on our Sunday schedule. Thanks to Marie and Tom Dombai for hosting the meeting.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Lent. In the first reading from the book of Exodus we are reminded of God’s covenant with us. Seeing the suffering of Israel in Egypt, God picks Moses to go and tell the people the covenant is not exhausted. God will prevail. We are part of that covenant. God will save us, but we must also respond to God’s call. In the gospel, Jesus tells the people that we need to repent. We have to turn away from evil and follow God. He gives the example of the fig tree that after three years will not produce figs. The owner tells the caregiver to cut it down. The caregiver asks for one more year, before he has to destroy the tree. The owner relents and gives the caregiver and the tree one more year to produce. Is this the year given to us? Will are lives show repentance and light? Will we produce fruit under Jesus’ care?

Thanks to the Saint Juliana Fine Arts Association for another great spring production. Mean Girls, Jr. tells a tale of hurt, and redemption. It calls everyone to find their better self. It also calls us to be who God created us to be. The children and their advisors worked very hard to get ready for the play. We are blessed to have a vibrant fine arts program at Saint Juliana. Thanks to everyone who came to the shows over the weekend. Your support allows the Fine Arts Association to thrive!

This week the women of the parish had their spring day of reflection. Over fifty women participated in the retreat. The team worked hard for over six months to prepare the program. For those who participated it was another chance to reflect on their relationship with Jesus and share how that relationship has changed their lives.

This coming Saturday, March 29th, the men will host their day of reflection. You can still sign up by calling the parish office or talking with Deacon Tom Dombai. Thanks to the men and women who worked hard to give us these days of reflection.

Today we begin our first Scrutinies for the Elect who will be receiving the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil this year. The Cycle A readings will be used at the 9:30 AM Sunday liturgy for the next three weeks. You can find the QR code for these readings in the bulletin on page 4. Please pray for our Elect as they more fully enter into the Easter mystery.

Finally, in the back of church there is a basket with prayer petitions from our parishioners. I encourage those who are willing, to take a card from the basket and pray for that petition through the season of Lent. We are a family of faith who are strengthened when we pray for each other.