november 28, 2010— first sunday of advent rev. …...page 3 first sunday of advent november 28,...

First Sunday of Advent November 28, 2010

Jesus, Light In Our Darkness:

We Watch!

St. Mary of the Woods Faith Community November 28, 2010— First Sunday of Advent

Rev. Patrick G. Cecil, Pastor


DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?

Recently I heard an interview with one of the former members of the band “Chicago.” In the background was playing “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” - a song much identified with this group as well as one that was part of the sound track of my days at Quigley North. It is also a song that might come to mind in regard to the scripture of this Sunday, The First Sunday of Advent. The keeping of time grows more precise every generation. We have gone from Stonehenge and New Grange to Atomic clocks and quartz watches. There was a time when the village clock tower had only an hour hand—the minutes were an unnecessary commodity. Now the endings of football and basketball games are counted in tenths of seconds. We find ourselves sometimes living our lives like the White Rabbit of Alice in Wonderland being late “for a very important date.” You would think that the answer to Chicago’s musical question is “Yes.” But this Sunday’s scriptural question about time seems to be aimed in another direction. Both Paul and Matthew seem to look at time in a different dimension. In fact, the language of the New Testament has two different words for time. The word “chronos” was used for the measurement of time in common units such as minutes and hours—in other words, “human time.” The other word “kairos” was used to represent a moment that was deeper and richer than others, a turning point or defining moment—in other words “God’s time.” The word “kairos may be very familiar to many of our high school students and graduates who have taken part in Kairos retreats. With the word “kairos” in mind, the question has a different meaning. St. Paul urges us to “wake up” not literally but rather to the fact that we have only a limited amount of time to make a difference in our world for the sake of the Gospel. We can’t go through life taking and not giving as if we had “all the time in the world” (which we don’t) or had no accountability to a generous God who has given us every-thing in the first place. Jesus makes a similar point in the Gospel. He uses metaphors to point out that the most important mo-ment in life can come upon us without notice, including the end of our lives. But Jesus is not trying to fill our lives with fear or anxiety but to urge us not to waste our time or our lives. He wants us to love with courage, to be generous and forgiving and to worship with joy, for these will be the moments that last. My Mom always said that if she knew how long she would live, she would know how much she would need to have saved. Yet she never lived her life worrying how long it would last, and as a consequence enjoyed just about every day. When the late Robert Shaw, who conducted the Atlanta Symphony for over 20 years, was asked how he summoned the energy and passion to conduct the same great composi-tions hundreds of times he replied “I remind myself that someone in the audience will be hearing these great pieces of music for the very first time and someone will be hearing this great music for the very last time—so I conduct the music for both of them.” How are we conducting our lives? Are we counting time by the number of breaths we take or by the mo-ments that take our breath away? What time is it? Its Advent, and the clock is ticking! Peace Father Pat


Calling All Bakers…

Altar & Rosary Society’s Annual Cookie Walk and Bake Sale is right around the corner!

Mark your calendars for December 4th and 5th

Start thinking of great recipes and holiday cheer. Drop off goodies in the gym meeting room

on Saturday, December 4th anywhere from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Any questions, please contact: Martha Naselli (773) 763-3541 or Mary Clifford (773) 628-7385.

HERE YE HERE YE! THE SILHOUETTE PLAYERS ANNOUNCE

AUDITIONS FOR THEIR FIRST WINTER PLAY:

A fusion of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Monty Python humor, you’ll be splitting your sides over

the slapstick tales of many of Chaucer's famous pilgrims in this

comedy. You will meet the Knight (who thinks he is Elvis), the Miller, the Parson, the Par-doner, the Nun’s Priest and the

Friar. Even the wife of Bath has cleaned up her act for this adapta-tion and is now a nagging woman who sells self-help DVDs! Game

show host Alex of Trebek and talk show host King Larry contribute a huge dose of additional silly fun, as do Geof-frey Chaucer himself, Harry Bailey and his wife, the Stage Manager and the Sign Changer. You’ll be amazed just how

much real knowledge you will absorb while enjoying this hysterical, screwball comedy.

No singing or dancing in the show, just lots of

jolly fun acting. All are welcome to audition.

Auditions are Friday, December 3 at 7:00 PM in the Gym

Meeting Room Callbacks are Sunday, December 5 at 1:00 PM in the Parish

Hall

For more information, please contact Wendy Sable at 847-370-2297 or [email protected]

BEREAVEMENT CARE NOTES Your First Christmas After a Loved One Dies.....Pathways through Your Christmas Grief.....Six Tips for Coping With Grief at Christmas.....How Christmas Memories Can

Bring Healing to Your Grief....., these are just a few of the titles available in the foyer of the church. If your are struggling through the grief process or know someone who is, the Bereavement Ministry encourages you to take a copy of one or more of the booklets. There is valu-able information in these booklets to help those dealing with the intensified grief that could come during the holidays.

Calling all Volleyball Coaches!! The SMOW Athletic Board is looking for non-parent and parent coaches to coach volleyball for grades 5-8 for the 2010-2011 season. Coaches interested in volleyball must complete an applica-tion and submit it to the athletic director by De-

cember 5. Interviews will be held for all interested coaches with the Athletic Board. Applications can be downloaded at: http://sports.smowschool.org

Scrip Cards now available for sale!!

Visit the Scrip table in the hallway after mass to find out

more about the Scrip program.

STOP and SHOP on all

Sundays thru 12/19 after the 4:30 mass on Saturday; after the 9:00 and 10:30 masses Sunday!

SCRIP CARDS ON SALE TODAY!

Barnes & Noble Happy Foods Dominick’s

Jewel Aqua Salon

Myron & Phil’s Papa Chris Starbucks Riggio’s

Walgreens Dick’s Sporting Goods

iTunes

Buy your Barnes & Noble Scrip Cards and bring them to the Barnes & Noble Book Fair to benefit

SMOW on Sunday, Dec 12th!! BUY THEM TODAY!

Sponsored by Altar and Rosary Society


Respect Life Committee Respect Life Reflection

Abolish death penalty lobby day The Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) is supporting legislation to abolish the death penalty in Illinois. This legislation may be in-troduced in November during the fall veto session in Springfield. The use of the death penalty when there are other means to protect our society, such as sentences of natural life without parole, weakens the respect for all human life. CCI is asking Catholics to take action by sending their state representatives and sena-tors a letter urging their support. A sample letter is available at www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org. CCI also invites Catholics to show their sup-port for this legislation by participating in an interfaith lobby day in Springfield Nov. 29. The Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is coordinating buses to leave at 6 a.m. from Chicago and Glen Ellyn for a fee (lunch will be included). To register, visit www.icadp.org or contact CCI at (312) 368-1066 for more information. Catholic New World; October 24th—November 6th , 2010.

Crisis Pregnancy Hotline — 800-400-4205

Post Abortion Healing — 888-456-HOPE (4673)

PLEASE NOTE EARLY HOLIDAY SUBMISSION DATES FOR BULLETIN MATERIAL

December 19th bulletin — All copy due no later than 12/07/10

December 26th bulletin — All copy due no later than 12/13/10

January 2nd bulletin — All copy due no later than 12/19/10

Thank you for your cooperation!

Choose a Catholic High School!

On Saturday Jan. 8, 2011 all Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago will offer an entrance exam for eighth graders interested in attending their schools. Why choose a Catholic high school? Students in Catholic high schools reach high levels of academic achievement; they graduate and do well in college and beyond; they are given every opportunity through extracurricular activities and athletic programs to excel as persons; they become ori-ented toward service and toward building a caring commu-nity that is safe and disciplined. But the single most impor-tant reason for choosing a Catholic secondary school is that these schools are Catholic - they offer young people a sense of purpose, something to believe in.


Breakfast with Santa

Calling all Children..

Date: December 5th

Santa’s Cozy Cottage (SMOW Gym)

Come have Breakfast with Santa and share your wish

list with him. The Cottage opens at 9:15 and breakfast will be served from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Tickets to see

Santa will be distributed at 9:15.

Featuring: Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Crafty Elves, Breakfast, Family Fun and Goody Bags

for All Children.

Baby Bottle Project Starting the weekend of November 27th and 28th we are asking our parishioners to once again participate in the Baby Bottle Project to help women in crisis pregnancy situations by supporting the work of The Women’s Centers of Greater Chicagoland. They counsel women in crisis pregnancies with kindness and respect, and every year over 1000 women who go to The Women’s Centers for help decide to choose life. The Women's Centers of Greater Chicagoland is a not-for-profit organization, whose purpose is to reach desperate young women with a message of hope and help. Many young ladies and families are tempted to use abortion to solve the problem of an unexpected pregnancy--resulting in greater long term physical, emotional, and spiritual dam-age to the participants, as well as the death of the unborn child. At the Women's Center, we ask, "Why can't we

love both, mother and child?" This is a wonderful opportunity for parishioners of all ages, including children, to be able to work together to support “life. Baby bottles will be available at all the exits of the church and in the lobby for you to take home and fill with your spare change. Please return the bottles before any of the Masses on the weekend of December 11th and12th. Please take one bottle per family. Thank you for participating in this worthy cause. Students at SMOW and Religious Ed. children will re-ceive a bottle for their family.

In memory of Stacy McDarrah, pa-rishioner, St. Mary’s mom and former Chairwoman of Breakfast with Santa, we will be collecting new, unwrapped toys at Breakfast with Santa, Sunday, December 5th from 9:00am-11:00am. The toys will be donated to Lutheran General Children’s Hospital, the char-ity chosen by Stacy’s husband Bob and 5th grade son, Robert. Stacy was the most generous woman who loved spreading joy and happiness wherever she went. Please help us continue to spread joy in her honor. Thank you! If you have any questions, please con-tact:

Meggan Stanton 773-775-1374 or Debbie Gray 773-774-2188

The Third Annual

Stacy McDarrah Holiday Toy

Drive

One Toy Equals One Smile


SMOW, WON’T YOU PLEASE HELP? The holiday season is right around the corner and our friends at our neighborhood Y are in great need. They are asking for our help. The parish is in our seventh year of providing assis-tance to them at the holidays. Please purchase any of the following items listed below: Warm gloves, hats and socks, playing cards, gift cards from Target, Jewel, Papa Chris (walking distance of the Y), gift sets with coffee teas and soups, towels, sheets in twin sizes, cards and stationary sets, stamps, hard candies, sugar free, too, alarm clocks, simple elec-tronic items for their rooms, and lotions. Household items are also in high need. Mini size lotions that you might get from hotels, shampoos, Kleenex, toothbrushes, toothpaste, snacks for their room that require little prepa-ration are in high demand due to the economy.

Please consider donating candy from Halloween that you no longer want. Drop boxes will be provided in the front of the church as you walk in. They are marked, “Y.” Please donate your items no later than 12/1/10." Questions? E-mail is [email protected].

WAKE VISITATION MINISTRY

THE WAKE VISITATION MINISTRY CONSISTS OF LAY PEOPLE FROM OUR PARISH WHO ATTEND THE WAKE OF A PARISHIONER WHO WILL BE BURIED FROM ST. MARY OF THE WOODS. WE REPRESENT THE FAITH COMMUNITY TO COME AND SHARE YOUR SORROW, LEND SUPPORT, OFFER COMFORT AND PRAY FOR YOUR DECEASED LOVED ONE. WHEN FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE AT THE RECTORY, THE FAMILY IS ASKED WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD LIKE MEMBERS OF THIS MINISTRY TO ATTEND THE WAKE. OUR MISSION IS QUITE SIMPLE, TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR FAITH COMMUNITY AND TO OFFER COMFORT AND PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY AND THE DECEASED.

VOLUNTEER .... AND THRIVE!

There is no doubt that society benefits greatly from the activities of volunteers. Hospitals, service groups, congre-gations of all faiths, and non-profit organizations depend on their work and dedication.

But volunteers themselves also benefit by their vol-unteering: • 79 percent believe their interpersonal skills (understanding people better, motivating others, dealing with difficult

situations) improve due to their volunteer work. • 68 percent say they developed better communica-tion skills. • 23 percent see volunteering as an opportunity to ac-quire job-related skills and improve job opportunities. In fact,

28 percent of unemployed volunteers say that volunteering helped them obtain a job in the past, and 62 percent believe volunteering will help them find a job in the future!

Recent research indicates that helping others is a true win-win situation. It may even slow the aging process in ways that lead to a higher quality of life for older adults.

In one study, women ages 60 to 86 volunteered to help children in Baltimore public schools with their reading. Most signed on for this work because they loved children and wanted to help. After two years, 44 percent felt stronger, cane use decreased in 50 percent of the users, and TV viewing dropped 18 percent -all indicators of a better quality of life.

With the new year right around the corner, resolve to do yourself and your community a favor by becom-ing a vol-unteer. A phone call will get you started, and the rewards for those you serve and for yourself could be life-long.

December 5 Is International Volunteer Day

Prayer: Gracious God, you have showered me with blessings. Is it now my turn to reach out to help someone else? Show me, Lord, how this is a possibility. Amen.


Monsignor Leo T. Mahon

Scholarship Fund

Something new and quite wonderful has come to St. Mary of the Woods. In celebration of Father Leo’s being named a Right Reverend Monsignor, his long-time friends, Bill and Del Condon, have estab-lished a legacy fund bearing his name. This scholar-ship fund will provide two full-year tuition scholar-ships to St. Mary of the Woods elementary school. Successful candidates for these scholarships will be practicing Catholics who otherwise could not attend our fine school. If you care to contribute to the success of this legacy fund, please make your checks out to St. Mary of the Woods, Leo T. Mahon Fund.

Blue Nativity A Beautiful Show Perfect for Families of All Ages!

Sponsored by The Fine Arts Council and The Family Association

Sunday, December 12 3:00pm in the Church

Quest Theatre Ensemble, the People’s Theatre of Chicago, proudly celebrates the holiday season with its annual production of Blue Nativity. They will be performing at St. Mary of the Woods on Sunday, December 12th at 3:00pm, proudly sponsored by the Fine Arts Council and the Family Association.

Embraced by many as a holiday tradition, Blue Nativity tells the true story of Christmas and the birth of Christ with beautiful large-scale puppetry with accompany-ing live music in a colorful 35-minute show. Suitable for audiences of all ages and a favorite of families, Blue Nativity breaks the mold of Holiday productions, telling “the greatest story ever told” with original puppets guaran-teed to dazzle and live music enhancing the experience.

“The story of Blue Nativity is a gentle reminder that simple light may rise out of complicated darkness,” explains Artistic Director Andrew Park.


Today’s Alms Collection is for Marillac House

PLEASE REMEMBER ST. MARY OF THE WOODS WHEN MAKING OUT YOUR WILL.

Did You Know?

Compared with the same time period last year, St. Mary of the Woods has lowered its

administrative expenses 20%?

10/17/2010 Saint Felicitas Pantry $ 856.00

10/24/2010 Propagation of the Faith $ 3,877.00

10/31/2010 Amate House $ 562.00

11/07/2010 ConKerr Cancer $ 553.00

ALMS

Week Actual Budget Difference 10/17/2010 $ 16,652.00 $ 18,216.00 $ (1,564.00) 10/24/2010 $ 14,150.00 $ 18,216.00 $ (4,066.00)

10/31/2010 $ 15,407.00 $ 18,216.00 $ (2,809.00) 11/07/2010 $ 19,284.00 $ 18,216.00 $ 1,068.00

SMOW WEEKLY COLLECTION VS. BUDGETED

Taizé Prayer Service

Please join us on Friday, December 3rd, at 7pm for an evening of Taizé prayer.

Taizé is a little village in the heart of the Burgundy region of France. It is the home of an ecumenical community of Brothers founded in 1940 by Brother Roger. They are monks and contemplatives, yet they are missionary and ap-ostolic. Taizé services were begun by Catholic and Protestant believers for the purpose of praying for reconciliation and expressing personal piety through service to the poor. Today they are a meaningful ecumenical service that many enjoy worldwide.

The texts of Taizé songs are based on the words of Scripture and traditional liturgical phrases and the tunes of Taizé are simple and repetitive and create a sense of transcendence, enabling worshipers few distractions to medi-tate on the realities of God's revealed love.

Please join us as we gather in the presence of Christ for a service of silent prayer, candle lighting, singing and reading of Scripture, allowing the mystery of God to become tangible through the beauty of simplicity of contempla-tion and music.

What better way to end your harried week than to quiet yourself before the Lord and rejuvenate your soul.

ALMS COLLECTION NEXT WEEK FOR MILL HILL MISSIONS Fr. Tony Chantry is the Superior General of the Mill Hill Missionaries. His position brings many responsibilities including the well-being of the missionaries and the smooth running of the entire Society. Some pet projects that have been worked on have been converting and extending a small hall in Dennisville Township into a Church; and repairing the Fish Youth Center in Kisumu, Kenya, now 15 + years old. Fr. Tony has spoken to us of both projects in the years we have known him. Added to all of this is the need to address the challenges of AIDS, unemploy-ment and crime. Please be generous next weekend as we reach out to lend a hand to those in need.

Undocumented Immigrants: The Nation, the Church, and the Journey

Tuesday, December 7 – 7:30 PM

St. Mary of the Woods - Parish Hall

Advent is a time of hospitality…welcoming the unknown. It is a season of preparing a sacred space in our hearts to receive Christ’s love with open arms.

The SMOW Racial & Social Justice Ministry invites you to join us for an evening of reflection and discussion on the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform. Guest Speaker: Elena Segura, Director, Office for Immigrant Affairs and Immigration Education.


Monday, November 29 6:30——Bart Maestranzi/Rosa Sims Bouette 8:00——Jerzy Perdziak/Frank & Julie Reagan/ Anna Glowicki Tuesday, November 30 6:30——Anna Woitowich 8:00——Andrew Krylow/Robert Depke Wednesday, December 1 6:30——Bart Maestranzi/Ginger Gibson 8:00——Ken Ramsey/Robert Depke Thursday, December 2 6:30——Bart Maestranzi/Josephine Riggio/ Bob Sommers/Jack & Luke Kaspar/ 8:00——James & Helen Kogen/Frank Keller Friday, December 3 6:30——Patricia Mello/Ramp & Sexton Families/ Bart Maestranzi 8:00——Frank & Jim Clark/ Susan & Domenic Franceschines Saturday, December 4 8:00——Frank Keller/Robert Depke

6:30 am 11/29——–M. Foley 11/30——–G. Forde 12/1———M. Fox 12/2———C. Goebelbecker 12/3———P. Haran 8:00 am 11/29,30——B. Vance, C. Vance 12/1,2———A Bartolomei, E. Polick 12/3,4———C. Cassidy, S. Bayless

SACRISTANS TEAM #3 December 3, 2010 Eileen Ardell Dolores Coughlin Tom Devyor Carol Devyor Dorothy Durkin Bernie Hennig Mary Anne Kunicki Dolores Landreth Anne Toohey

Mildred Powell, Wife of Bill.

ALTAR SERVERS

I — Jerry Napleton and Carolyn Hall WEDDING BANNS

The 10:30am Mass Nursery

The Nursery is available for children three and younger during the 10:30AM Mass in the Gym Meeting Room. Please consider taking advantage of this. It gives the little ones a nice opportunity to play with friends and listen to stories while the parents can better enjoy mass. Parents volunteer to watch the chil-dren so they are in a safe environment. Volunteering counts to-wards service hours. If you have any questions, please call Lisa Flanagan 773-467-1120.

Volunteers November 28 No Nursery—Thanksgiving Holiday December 5 No Nursery—Bake Sale December 12 Diane Duffy & Joanie Wolfram

READINGS FOR THE WEEK:

November 29, 2010 — December 5, 2010 Monday: Is 4:2-6; Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday: Rom 10:9-18; Mt 4:18-22 Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a; Mt 15:29-37 Thursday: Is 26:1-6; Mt 7:21, 24-27 Friday: Is 29:17-24; Mt 9:27-31 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Mt 9:35 — 10:1, 5a, 6-8 Sunday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

PRAY THE ROSARY FOR PEACE

Every morning after the 8:00am Mass, the Rosary is prayed. Please consider joining us in this very powerful prayer for peace.

HOPEFUL EXPECTATION Our liturgical year begins with the season of Advent—a time of hopeful expectation of the coming of the Lord. On the First Sunday of Advent we look forward to the end of time when we will awaken to the dawn of Christ’s new day. Today we hear Isaiah speak of a day when God’s power will have brought universal peace and God’s Word will have instructed all people, radiating God’s “light” (teachings) into all of human society. Only when humanity walks “in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5), when all people desire to be instructed “in [God’s] ways” (Isaiah 2:3), will the world be set aright and our deepest longings fulfilled. The reading from Romans calls us to “awake from sleep” for this final “day is at hand” (Romans 13:11, 12). Together this Sun-day’s scriptures proclaim our Christian faith that Jesus is the One who will finally come to fulfill God’s plan of salvation. © Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.


B. Alleman* C. Devyor T. Devyor A. Downs B. Foley R. Goggin D. Juhasz J. Lyon K. O’Rourke D. Draper M. Howard* M. Howard* M. Jegen D. Kaspar F. Kleinhubert M. Mahoney R. Qaiyum C. Thompson J. Biesinger N. Biesinger S. Bomba L. Durdov J. Fenili* D. Goetz* P. Gorman J. Montalvo J. Montalvo E. Estrada P. Hild P. Kenny B. Merck B. Peters* S. Peters* M. Reyna B. Stanukinos J. Stanukinos J. Foran M. Gilhooly E. Griffin* P. Harris A. Keenan* M. King S. Melaniphy M. Sandell B. Weber

A. Connolly B. E. DiSilvestro C. M. Richter R. Coolidge M. Byrne B. Dunderdale J. Sepich N. Thilmany R. Geary H. Hartman Z. Montalvo J. Stachula C. Widelka H. Zorn R. Serbin

L. Owens J. Widelka G. Orlita M. Whitman J. Blake C. Carter F. Wagner M. Hoffman C. Soto J. Maros

4:30pm. Fr. Maher Homilist: Fr. Maher 7:30 a.m. Fr. Headley Homilist : Fr. Headley 9:00 a.m Fr. Maher Homilist: Fr. Maher 10:30 a.m. Fr. Cecil Homilist: Fr. Cecil Noon : Fr. Headley Homilist: Fr. Headley

Dolores Welch/ Kathy Marszalek/ Sarah Barrett/ Russ Nosek/ Santiago Mendez Lucille Weaver/ Bill & Mil Murphy Frank Radzik/ Joseph Poczatek/ Clemence Jaskot/ Joanne Blachut Michael Duff/ Thomas & Margaret Murtagh/ Diane Cibula/ Mary Rita McDermott/ Joseph Giovingo Rose Chustak/ Jo Pocatzak/ Arthur Blindt/ Shirley Enright

Eucharist Ministers

Saturday and Sunday, December 4 and December 5, 2010 Mass Mass Time Presider Intentions Servers Lectors

PLEASE NOTE Submissions for the Parish Bulletin must be delivered to the rectory or e-mailed to

[email protected] no later than Thursday at 4:00 p.m. of the week before publication. (Ten days prior to the weekly publication date.)

Call Bill Mages at the rectory with questions (773-763-0206), or e-mail him at [email protected]. Thank you!

Please note early submission dates for the holidays listed on

page 4.


BAPTISM PREPARATION PROGRAM The St. Mary of the Woods Baptism Preparation Program is for all parents who wish to have their children baptized. The program consists of one evening meeting with a leader couple and Deacon Bill & Patti Mages. The meeting takes place at 7:15pm.

The dates through April of 2011 are as follows:

No December Meeting Tuesday, January 11, 2011 Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Tuesday, March 8, 2011 Tuesday, April 12, 2011

If you are expecting a child or already have a new addition to your family and have NOT been through the preparation program, please call Bill Mages at home—773-763-7133, or at the Rectory—773-763-0206, in order to sign up for one of the meetings. Please remember that you need to attend a meeting be-fore we can schedule a date for a baptism.

God bless you!

november 28, 2010— first sunday of advent rev. …...page 3 first sunday of advent november 28,...

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