The Gregorian

November 29, 2015

First Sunday of Advent

Weekly Calendar November 29 (Sunday) 2:00pm—Quest Performance—Social Hall 3:00pm—Advent Video—Parish Center 5:00pm—Charismatic prayer group—Baseheart rm. 6:30pm—Choir rehearsal—Church December 1 (Tuesday) 7:00pm—Bingo—Social Hall December 2 (Wednesday) 6:30pm—Novena—Church 7:30pm—Moms, pops, & tots—Parish Center December 3 (Thursday) 7:00pm—Choir rehearsal—Church December 4 (Friday) 9:00am—Adoration—Church 11:00am—SVDP meeting—Parish Center 6:45pm—Women’s scripture study—Parish Center 8:00pm—Quest performance—Social Hall December 5 (Saturday) 10:00am—SSR classes—Gym Building 8:00pm—Quest Performance—Social Hall

Page 2 November 29, 2015

St. Gregory the Great

Mission Statement

St. Gregory the Great is a Catholic Church made up of people of many different ages, talents, and cultural backgrounds. We are an urban faith community with a small town feel of welcome and hospitality. Motivated by our baptismal calling, we accept our duty to embody the presence of Jesus Christ in the world and to take up the mission he entrusted to us by our word and example. We glorify God through support and service of our time, talent, and treasure to our church and to the larger community in which we live.

Readings for the Week

Monday: Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 4:18-22 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Lk 10:21-24 Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37 Thursday: Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, 24-27 Friday: Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Mt 9:27-31 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147:1-6; Mt 9:35 — 10:1, 5a, 6-8 Sunday: Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6

FIRST FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION On Friday, Dec. 4, there will be Eucharistic Adoration in Church from 9a.m. until 7p.m. The day will end with Benediction at 7p.m. Please consider spending some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament as a way of preparing your heart to celebrate Christmas. Please enter and leave the Church via the North courtyard ramp entrance.

NEW ASIAN CATHOLIC INITIATIVE WEBSITE The Asian Catholic Initiative (ACI) Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago is newly established under the Department of Parish Life and Formation by Archbishop Blasé Cupich. Its purpose is to provide outreach and networking that is easily accessible to Asian Catholics. As a link to the archdiocese, ACI provides facilitation of information between the archdiocese, and parishes or individuals. ACI maintains the www.aciarchchicago.org website, whereby all Asian Catholic activities in the archdiocese may be included, highlighted, showcased, and shared. The office of ACI is decentralized and is located at St. Hilary Parish.

2015 CHRISTMAS WREATH SALE FOR THE WOMEN’S CENTER The Women’s Center is holding their annual Christmas Wreath Sale after all Masses on November 28 and 29. Fragrant Christmas wreaths and centerpieces will be on sale at the back of the Church. Proceeds from the sale are used to provide counseling, social service referrals and material goods assistance to young women who are faced with a crisis pregnancy. Your support of this worthy cause is greatly appreciated.

BISHOP ROBERT BARRON VIDEO We will show the newly released Bishop Robert Barron video The Mystery of God: Who God is and Why He Matters on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 3p.m. in the basement of the Parish Center. There will be time for discussion and questions immediately after the video.

Page 3 November 29, 2015

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

As we begin Advent we are called to “wait” in joyful anticipation for the grace of Christmas to once again bless our lives. Wherever you live in our parish, there are poor families within walking distance of your home. When in need , they ring the parish center bell. They are, in effect, ringing your doorbell. Your gift in the St. Vincent de Paul poor box will help the poor celebrate the grace of God’s love this Christmas

NCA OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS DECEMBER 3 Prospective parents, please join us for an Open House on December 3 at 9:00am at our Primary Campus (PreK-4) located at 6216 N. Glenwood. Discover for yourself what makes NCA a Blue Ribbon School. Meet our new Principal Christine Huzenis, talk to parents, walk through our halls and visit our classrooms. Find out if NCA is the right fit for your family! Applications for admission for the 2016-2017 school year are now available on our website www.northsidecatholic.org. For more information or to schedule a tour of our Middle School (grades 5-8) please call 773-743-6277. NIGHTFEVER All young adults are invited to Nightfever to be held at Holy Name Cathedral on Saturday, December 5, 2015. There will be a Mass at 7:30 p.m. The celebrant and homilist will be Fr. John Kartje, the Rector and President of Mundelein Seminary. Nightfever (Adoration, music and reconciliation) will begin at 9:00 p.m. followed by night prayer at 11:30p.m. For more information, go to www.nightfeverchicago.org. Nightfever is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago Vocations Office - Young Adult Ministry. ADVENT ONLINE DISCERNMENT RETREAT – DEC. 6-10, 2015 Meet with us on Skype, email or phone to reflect and ask questions about discerning religious life. Walk through tools and materials with a retreat director and pray with us. We’re here to meet you where you are, on your time. For single Catholic women ages 18-40. Sponsored by the Daughters of Charity. For more information contact Sister Virginia Ann Brooks, D.C., at sistervirginiaann.brooks@doc.org or 812-963-7559. Register online at http://daughters-of-charity.com on the Retreats page. KOLBE HOUSE ADVENT EMAIL RETREAT Kolbe House, the Jail Ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, invites you to participate in their Advent email retreat that starts on Nov. 30, 2015. Every Monday during Advent, you will receive an email from them that contains a short reflection written by Kolbe House staff, volunteers and a detainee. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to kolberetreat@aol.com with your first and last name. You will not be asked for any donations in these emails. You can also participate in this Advent retreat by visiting the Kolbe House website at www.kolbehouseministry.org. ALPHA INTRODUCTION Alpha is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life in an informal, fun and friendly environment. A typical Alpha evening consists of a meal, a short talk about the Christian faith and small group discussion. Alpha is for everyone. No question is out of bounds, and you are free to discuss as much or as little as you wish. We don’t assume any background knowledge of or belief in Christianity, and everyone is welcome. If you are interested, there will be an initial meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at the Cardinal Meyer Center, Chicago. There will be two sessions – one from 1-3p.m. and one from 6:30-8:30p.m. Please call 312-534-8107 to register.

GIVE CENTRAL DONATION CARDS You will now find in the plastic holders at the end of each pew a card that says, I support St. Gregory the Great with electronic giving through GiveCentral. If you are enrolled in GiveCentral, take one of the cards every Saturday or Sunday and place it in the basket when the collection is taken up. This past weekend, we had ten people who used the cards and put them in the collection basket. – Fr. Paul

BINGO

Bingo at St. Gregory is “Smoke Free”

TUESDAY NIGHT BINGO AT ST. GREGORY

Games begin at 7:00 PM in the Gym Basement—Social Hall (1609 West Gregory St.)

$2,250 in prizes (includes 2— $500 games)

THE JACKPOT IS NOW $5,000

In case of bad weather, please call the Parish Center at 773-561-3546, after 2:00p.m. for possible cancellation.

FRIENDSHIP CLUB

Make your plans to join us for some great activities! Dec. 9, 2015—Christmas party at Monastero’s—11:30am Cost-$35 (please specify fish or chicken). Raffle $5 for 6 tickets, NO LIMIT Jan. 13, 2016—Regular meeting—12:00pm-Hot Dogs & Baked Beans-$6—Annual Dues—$10.00 Feb. 10, 2016—Regular meeting—Chicken Adobo & Punsit-$6

Page 4 November 29, 2015

ST. GREGORY THE GREAT’S SOCIAL HALL IS NOW— ADA ACCESSIBLE

SAVE THE DATE!

BEAR DOWN CHOW DOWN SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2015

SCHOOL CAFETERIA, 1677 W. BRYN MAWR, CHICAGO

THE FUN STARTS AT 11:30A.M. CARD GAMES

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES RAFFLES AND PRIZES

CASH BAR FOOD CATERED BY RANALLI’S

(Watch the game on a large screen)

Tickets on sale at the Parish Center and at the door on December 6th

UPCOMING EVENTS:—SAVE THE DATE

QUEST’S performance of A Christmas Carol starts on Friday, November 20th and run until Sunday, December 20.

Social Hall, Gym Building, 1609 W. Gregory St, Chicago SIMBANG GABI, A Filipino celebration, Saturday, December 19th, 6:00p.m. Mass in Church and reception to follow in the School cafeteria, 1677 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Hosted by the Filipinos of St. Gregory.

FESTIVAL OF LESSONS, LIGHTS, AND CAROLS, Sunday, December 20th at 7:00p.m. Prelude begins at 6:45p.m. in Church. Will include selections from Handel’s Messiah.

SUNDAY, November 29 8:30am—+Daniel Manzanares 10:30am—+Mario & Sofia Espinosa +Anita Szymczak MONDAY, November 30 8:30am—+Rev. John Cain TUESDAY, December 1 8:30am—+James Edward Noland WEDNESDAY, December 2 8:30am— +Richard Bednarek THURSDAY, December 3 8:30am—Memorial Fund FRIDAY, December 4 8:30am—+Fred Harrington SATURDAY, December 5 8:30am—Herbert Hernandez, Birthday Blessings 4:30pm—+Alice M. & Martin Dungan +Winifred Duffy SUNDAY, December 6 8:30am—Parishioners 10:30am—+Jeri Hanson +Arthur Becker

Page 5 November 29 2015

Memorial fund

Mass Intentions For The Week PRAYER LIST Please pray for the sick and all those who have asked for our prayers.

Bob Connelly Eloise Coughlin Art Birt Colleen Dwyer Rita Sullivan Jean Claps Terri Barker John Hoppe Chris Willis Cathy Branscum Mary Ardizzone Ed Prorok

Peter Saldanha Virginia Rodriquez Marylyn Ahlfeld Arlene Blake Juanita B. Lopez Carolyn Liesen James Butler Henry Birt Tony Riccardo Dorothy Behof Edy Marroquin Horace M. Rutledge

Special Intentions: Gerard Gunning Millie Slane

Remember the Memorial Fund

For the Living and Deceased

MINISTERS OF CARE If you are homebound or know someone that is, and would like Holy Communion brought to you, please contact the Parish Center at 773-561-3546.

Liturgical Ministries (December 5/ December 6)

Saturday—4:30pm Sunday—8:30am

Sunday—10:30am

Presider

Lectors/Commentators Chris Garrity Bob Kustusch

Catherine Rondinelli Kristine Siapno

Carol Hanson Barb Lea

Eucharistic Ministers Terri Barker Marty Sullivan Nancy Sullivan

Winnie Bowman Michael Janssens Lauren Siapno Riza Siapno

MariaLuisa Clemente Isabel Martinez Lenore Thomalla Sr. Regina De Vitto

Altar Servers Arhys Ocupé Virly Ocupé MC-Dianne Daleiden

Isaiah Medina Iggy DeCastro MC-Joe Siapno

Melanie Aguilar Ralph DeGuzman Luke Coyle MC-Carmen Delgado

Have you or someone you know been a victim of domestic violence? Then call 1-800-799-7233

or go to www.thehotline.org.

Maria Remedios Ramos Maria Corazon Jesus Manuel Rosario Maria Louisa Lara Margaret MacVarish Edward Robert Riley Dolores Moore MaryLou Walztoni Eileen Casey Fr. Ed Hughes

LOW GLUTEN HOSTS AT ST. GREGORY THE GREAT We now have available low gluten hosts which make it possible for people who have celiac disease or allergies to wheat or gluten to be able to receive communion. If you have celiac disease or an allergy to wheat or gluten, please let me know so that I can make arrangements for you to be able to receive communion at Mass. – Fr. Paul

OUR ARMED FORCES Please keep in your prayers all who are in the armed forces. Anthony DelRosario

Page 6 November 29, 2015

ST. GREGORY THE GREAT PARISH AND SCHOOL INFORMATION AND SERVICES

Parish Center 5545 N. Paulina St., Chicago, IL 60640 773-561-3546 773-728-3827 (fax)—www.stgregory.net Hours: M-Th 9:00am—7:00 pm Fri- 9:00am—4:30pm Sat.- 9:00am—4:30pm, Sun.—9:00am—12:00pm Pastoral Staff Rev. Paul Wachdorf, Pastor Rev. Brian Fischer, Associate Pastor Rev. John Moulder, Resident Sr. Barbara Quinn, Pastoral Associate Sr. Regina De Vitto, Pastoral Associate Mr. John Miaso, Business Manager Mr. Patrick Godon, Director of Music & Liturgy Ms. Bernadette Daniels, Administrative Asst. Mr. Dan Creed, Sacristan Mr. Joseph Malham, Artist-in-Residence Quest Theatre Ensemble, Artists-in-Residence www.questensemble.org (Reservations: 312-458-0895) International Chamber Artists, Artists-in-Residence www.ICAmusic.org Schools Northside Catholic Academy ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Admissions Office: 773-743-6277

St. Gregory Credit Union 1609 W. Gregory St., Chicago, IL 60640 773-561-5493 Sunday 9:30am—12:00pm Wednesday 7:00pm—9:00pm

Masses Sunday: Saturday Evening—4:30pm, Sunday—8:30am, and 10:30am. Weekdays: Monday—Saturday—8:30am Holy Days of Obligation: Please check the Sunday bulletin for Holy Day Schedules.

Sacraments Baptisms: First Sunday of the Month—1:00pm (except during Lent)

Weddings: Arrange with a pastoral staff member at least six months in advance. Participation in marriage preparation is essential.

Reconciliation Saturday– 3:30pm—4:15pm

Services Prayer Requests: If you or a family member or relative is ill and would like to be included on the list of prayer requests, please call the Parish Center. Mass Intentions: You may request a Mass intention for someone who is living or deceased or special occasions such as birthdays, special anniversary, get well wishes. Please call or stop by the Parish Center.

Devotions Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: 1st Friday of each month, 9:00am-7:00pm, except when funerals are scheduled. Novena To Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Wednesdays 6:30pm Taizé Prayer Service The Taizé prayer service will focus on seasonal icons. Taizé Prayer Service will be held in Church on Sundays at 4:00pm. Please check the bulletin or our website at www.stgregory.net (under the “About Us” tab) for the next scheduled prayer service.

Sunday and Holy Day Collection Totals

For Fiscal Year July 1—June 30

October

Envelopes Cash/Loose Electronic Giving Total

October 4 $1,996 $1,558 $3,554

October 11 $2,754 $1,554 $4,308

October 18 $1,818 $1,890 $9,458 $13,166

October 25 $2,631 $1,306 $3,937

Holy Days $ 100 $ 61 $ 161

Total $9,299 $6,369 $9,458 $25,126

Over/(Under) Monthly Budget—Year-to-Date ($3,948)

Year-to-Date Collected as of October 31, 2015 $96,928

Planned Annual Budget for Sunday & Holy Day Collections $315,000

YTD Collected as a percentage of Planned Annual Budget 31%

St. G

rego

ry th

e G

reat

Par

ish

Cal

end

ar

D

ecem

ber

2015

Su

n

Mo

n

Tue

Wed

T

hu

F

ri

Sat

1 7:00

pm-B

ingo

2 6:30

pm-N

oven

a 7:

30pm

-Mom

s, p

ops,

&

tots

.

3 7:00

pm-C

hoir

re

hear

sal

4 9:00

am-A

dora

tion

11

:00a

m-S

VD

P m

tg

6:45

pm-W

omen

’s

Scri

ptur

e st

udy

8:00

pm-Q

uest

perf

orm

ance

5 10:0

0am

-SSR

cla

sses

8:

00pm

-Que

st p

erfo

rman

ce

6 11:3

0am

-Bea

r D

own

Cho

w D

own

1:00

pm-B

apti

sm

2:00

pm-Q

uest

Per

form

ance

5:

00pm

-Cha

rism

atic

Pra

yer

grou

p

7 6:30

pm-M

ass

7:00

pm- P

aris

h

Past

oral

Cou

ncil

mtg

.

8 7:00

pm-B

ingo

9 11:3

0am

-Fri

ends

hip

Clu

b at

Mon

aste

ro’s

6:

30pm

-Nov

ena

7:00

pm-C

APS

mtg

10

9:00

am-M

oms,

pop

s,

& to

ts.

11

6:45

pm-W

omen

’s

Scri

ptur

e st

udy

8:00

pm-Q

uest

pe

rfor

man

ce

12

10:0

0am

--SS

R c

lass

es

13

2:00

pm-Q

uest

Per

form

ance

4:

00pm

-Tai

zé p

raye

r Se

rvic

e 5:

00pm

-Cha

rism

atic

Pra

yer

grou

p

14

7:00

pm-C

hoir

re

hear

sal

15

7:00

pm-B

ingo

7:

00pm

-Cho

ir

rehe

arsa

l

16

6:30

pm-N

oven

a 7:

00pm

-Par

ish

Con

fess

ions

17

18

6:45

pm-W

omen

’s

Scri

ptur

e st

udy

8:00

pm-Q

uest

perf

orm

ance

19

6:00

pm-S

imba

ng

Gab

i 8:

00pm

-Que

st p

erfo

rman

ce

20

2:00

pm-Q

uest

per

form

ance

5:

00pm

-Cha

rism

atic

Pr

ayer

gro

up

6:45

pm-L

esso

ns, L

ight

s &

Car

ols

21

7:00

pm-F

inan

ce

Cou

ncil

mee

ting

22

7:00

pm-B

ingo

7:

00pm

-Cho

ir

rehe

arsa

l

23

6:30

pm-N

oven

a

24 C

hris

tmas

Eve

4:

30pm

-Mas

s 9:

30pm

-Mid

nigh

t Mas

s Pa

rish

Cen

ter

hour

s 9a

m-1

pm

25 C

hris

tmas

Day

8:

30 &

10:

30am

- Mas

ses

Pari

sh C

ente

r cl

osed

26

27

5:00

pm-C

hari

smat

ic P

raye

r gr

oup

28

29

7:00

pm-B

ingo

30

6:

30pm

-Nov

ena

31 N

ew Y

ear’

s Eve

Pa

rish

Cen

ter

hour

s 9a

m-1

pm