Historic St. James at Sag Bridge Church 10600 S. Archer Avenue | Lemont, Illinois 60439-9344 | (Ph) 630.257.7000 | (Fx) 630.257.7912

Email: stjames1833@att.net | Website: www.historicstjames.org Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Saint James At Sag Bridge

Altar & Rosary Society Please join us on Saturday, February 9th at 9:30AM at Sag Hall for our next meeting.

Susan Roy from Smokey Row Antiques will be our guest speaker. Pres: Barbara (708.257.9129) V.P: Irene (773.366.2185) Sec: Judi (630.243.9414) Treas: Linda (630.257.8252)

REGISTER ON BOTH: FLOCKNOTES to receive important text messages & emails. Text: jamesatsag to 84576.

FORMED www.formed .org & use our St. James code: KFWMDB.

Mass Schedule

WEEKENDS: Saturdays: 5:00pm & Sundays: 8:30, 10:00 & 11:30am HOLY DAYS: 7:00am & 7:00pm

WEEKDAYS: Mon, Tue, Thu 8:15am & Fri 6:00pm

WEDNESDAY: Adoration at 5:00pm & Mass 7:00pm

CONFESSION SCHEDULE: Wednesdays 6:00-7:00pm & Saturdays 9:30-10:15am otherwise by appointment.

BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS & FUNERALS: Contact the rectory office.

SICK & HOMEBOUND PASTORAL CARE: Please notify rectory.

RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri: 9:30am to 1:00pm.

CLERGY: Fr. Tom Koys, M.A.,S.T.L., Pastor, Fr. Edward Gleeson, Pastor Emeritus Fr. Robert Coleman, Resident Deacon John Wilkinson, C.K.M. Deacon Doug Szarzynski

Third Ordinary Sunday January 27, 2019

-- Luke 4:18

SIGNUP FOR FAMILY SUPER BOWL PARTY

COMING 2/3/2019

Page Two January 27, 2019

FROM THE DESK OF, FR. THOMAS KOYS, M.A.,S.T.L., PASTOR

To be honest, I don’t know of many people who don’t think our country needs saving. But the problem is that it often seems what one group considers “progress” others see as the source of our national decline. What one group thinks is the source of our nation’s decline is what the other group thinks is nec-essary for a healthy future. This dilemma can be de-scribed as “governmental gridlock” or “polarization” or simply “divisiveness”. In this quest for the right path to follow should be taken seriously. One writer of fairly well renown is John Horvat. One of the terms kicked around a lot these days is the concept of “nationalism”. Here’s a brief commentary from Horvat on the dire need for a proper definition of na-tion. It’s worth our prayerful meditation.

“What is needed is a proper notion of a nation. A na-tion is not an economic entity but a moral one. A na-tion is born when informal groupings of individuals, families, and intermediary associations coalesce into a distinctive whole. A nation forms a cultural, social, economic, and political unity unable to be included into any other one. The goal of this new social unit is not only the furthering of the good of each member but the common good of all. This common good must include moral principles that ensure the peace of the community, allows virtuous co-existence, and favors the material and spiritual good of all in the communi-ty.

Thus, any restoration of the nation must include the rebuilding of those groups, families and associations that make up the nation, create culture and foster goodwill and unity. Without these dynamic elements, the notion of nation is reduced to vague sentiments of political and economic grandeur, often detached from

reality. It will necessarily be a sterile restoration based on the past since it will exclude the institutions of family, community and faith that naturally create the conditions for the nation to prosper.

In other words, society must once again be anchored in moral certainties. It must be grounded in objective notions of natural law, the family and social order so well defined by the Church and so conducive to social harmony. Nations are not mechanically planned like corporations but arise organi-cally (like families) when their parts are sound and prin-cipled. The first step toward

this restoration is to recognize that partial solutions are not enough. Vague terms that can mean every-thing do nothing to solve problems. A real solution must involve the whole social fabric anchored in mor-al certainties. It must also involve an appeal to an Al-mighty God who can do all things. Indeed, the simple return to the nation-state will not prevent the absorp-tion into the global Moloch. It could even create an-other Moloch.”

Moloch from Star Wars taken from the Biblical Ca-naanite deity associated with the practice of child sac-rifice. The name derives from the He-brew melech (“king”) with the vowels of boshet (“shame”), a variant for the popular god Baal.

WHO ARE THESE KNIGHTS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

The Knights of Columbus is a Fraternal Order of Catholic men dedicated to charitable work, support of the Church, Priests, lay spiritual formation and support of life through a program called Faith in Action. Our Lemont Council #1599 is comprised of men ranging in age from young working men to men in retire-ment and from the laity to the clergy. All men have achieved a Degree of Virtue ranging from 1st Degree to 4th Degree.

We encourage Catholic men age 18 or older to join our Membership. Please contact our Grand Knight Tom Porritt at 630-750-9441 or tjporritt75@gmail.com. You will be glad you did. All members, please attend our Business Meeting on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019 and bring your card. Also, new members, please attend our February meeting at the VFW Hall in Lemont starting at 7:00 PM.

Third Ordinary Sunday Page Three

POWER OF THE SPIRIT AVAILABLE TO ALL

by Deacon Bill Dunn

This week’s gospel reading, the Bible explains that Je-sus returned to the Galilee region filled with “the power of the Spirit.”

When Jesus arrived at his boyhood hometown of Naza-reth, He went into the local synagogue, stood up in front of the congregation, and read a passage from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me…” As Jesus finished reading the rest of the verses, he rolled up the scroll and announced, “Today this Scripture pas-sage is fulfilled in your hearing.” The power of the Spirit—which theologians later realized was none other than the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit—was absolutely essential for Jesus to com-plete His mission. Without the Holy Spirit as a supernatural bridge between Heaven and earth, Jesus would have been cut off from His Father. He would have been left with noth-ing but His earthly, natural abilities, which means He would have been unable to perform miracles and, most im-portantly, unable to rise from the dead Himself on that first Easter morning. The same is true for us. If we don’t tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, we’re left with nothing but our earthly, natu-ral abilities, which means that we, too, will be unable to perform miracles and, most importantly, will be unable to rise from the dead at the Final Judgment. Why are you looking at me like that? You don’t think we’re able to perform miracles? Of course we are. I’ve seen it happen. Miracles definitely happen. As far as the rising from the dead thing, well, Jesus promised us it can and will happen, so for now, I’m trusting in His word. Granted, the miracles I’ve witnessed are a little less spec-tacular than the ones Jesus performed. I’ve never seen a leper instantly cured, nor a crippled man instantly able to walk, nor a dead guy come to life again. But don’t forget, Jesus is the miracle expert. Although a little less spectacu-lar, the miracles I’ve witnessed are nonetheless bona fide supernatural occurrences. There are no natural explanations for them. For example, I know a guy whose insatiable craving for alcohol miracu-lously disappeared when he asked Jesus to come into his heart. One day he couldn’t live without getting drunk, and the next day the idea of having a drink repulsed him. A definite miracle. (By the way, I see this guy quite often—every time I look in the mirror.)

We are very fortunate to be living in this age of grace. Unlike Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit does not make brief and sporadic appearances. He is present for all of us all the time. We are able, just like Jesus, to be filled with “the power of the Spirit,” and to declare confidently that “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” Far too many people, however, think the idea of being “filled with the Spirit” is a little too weird and spooky. It doesn’t fit with our modern, scientific view of the world, so they steer clear of it. What a shame. That’s like pushing your car down the street because you don’t understand that turning the key will allow the motor to do the pushing. When you fire up the engine, you have a lot more power and a lot less frustration. We should not ignore the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke about Him at length. And Jesus said the coming of the Holy Spirit would be a “gift” (Acts 1:4). We should accept this gift from our Creator with joy and thanksgiving. The Holy Spirit is available to all believers who sincerely ask Him to dwell in their hearts. What an amazing blessing!

UPDATE ON 185TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL STONES

We are close to 50 stones and ready for the engraver. The metal Rack is under construction.

Contact the rectory if you would like to be included.

FAMILY SUPER BOWL PARTY

• Fun Food & Raffles • $ 20.00 Donation, $50.00 Family Plan • Sign-up sheet in back of Church •In need of Raffle prizes, Donations (giftcards).

See Deacon John

Our current weekly Offertory collection from Jan-uary 20th was $2,612.00. The number of envelopes collected was 78. The Latin America collection was $608.00.

OUR MANY THANKS TO OUR REGISTERED FAMILIES USING ENVELOPES & THE CASH-AND-CARRY FOLKS.

Our CHURCH CLEANERS FOR FRI – 2/1/19 Are Maria, Kristine, Bronislawa & volunteers. If

you are interested in volunteering, please contact the rectory office at 630.257.7000.

VOTIVE OFFERINGS FOR THE WEEK OF 1/27/19 St. James Altar & Rosary Society

Special int. for Bob Carufel In Memory of Lillian Simanavicius

In Memory of Zig Simanavicius

Our beautiful bouquets of flowers surrounding our

altar were made available by the generosity of MARIANNA GADER

& THE PARISHIONERS OF

ST. JAMES

MONDAY, JANUARY 28TH – ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 8:15 AM Thomas LeGrand

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29TH 8:15 AM For All the Poor Souls in Purgatory Birthday Blessings ~ Joe Gal

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30TH 7:00 PM Jozef Dziaba

THUSDAY, JANUARY 31ST – ST. JOHN BOSCO 8:15 AM John Koys FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST – FIRST FRIDAY 6:00 PM Birthday Blessings ~ Jozef Dziurdzik

Fourth Ordinary Sunday*** SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND – PRESENTATION OF THE LORD & FIRST SATURDAY 5:00 PM Raymond Arndt

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD 8:30 AM Special int. for Sara 10:00 AM Helen Kane & Mary Frantz 11:30 AM John R. Koys

4TH ORDINARY SUNDAY 2/2-2/3/19

Celebrant

Altar Servers

Lectors

5:00 PM 1/26/19

FRC J. Jacobek B. Zabilka

R. Augustyn

8:30 AM 1/27/19

Fr. Tom Koys

S. Carver Dillenburg Dillenburg

M. Dillenburg

10:00 AM 1/27/19

Fr. Tom Koys

J.P. Colarelli M. Colarelli A. Pawlikowski

J. DeRoche

11:30 AM 1/27/19

Fr. Tom Koys

D. Estrada G. Estrada A. & I. Gallager

J. Jackson