Second Sunday of Advent

December 7, 2008

SAINT ISAAC JOGUES PARISH 8149 Golf Road ~ Niles, IL 60714 847/967-1060 ~ Fax # 847/967-1070 Website: http://sij-parish.com

Our Lady of Guadalupe

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A Tribute to Our Lady

They’ve come to sing in your honor from the desert and the forest, From valleys deep in the mountains; they make a joyful chorus. They've brought their drums and their dances, ancient ways their parents taught them; Their village saints and their banners, ev'ry group made sure they brought them. O Mother dark and lovely, hear the poor who come with their song; Lead them into Jesus' kingdom where they truly do belong. From Vera Cruz and Nogales, from old Taxco with its fountains, Tehuantepec, Zacatecas, and Durango in the mountains; They come from humid Tampico, Matamoros near the river, From ranchos deep in Sonora where the cottonwoods still quiver. They dance to show they love you, out of faith and deep emotion, They offer flowers and candles as a sign of their devotion. The children run and are laughing all are sure that you still love them, While parents weep out of gladness, For your picture's there above them. Fr. Willard F. Jabusch

Immaculate Conception

December 8

The old Byzantine title of this feast conveys a clearer sense of its meaning than our present title: the concep-tion by Saint Anne of the mother of God. We celebrate Mary's conception, not the virgin birth nor Jesus' concep-tion. The earliest evidence for the celebration is found in the eighth-century Eastern Church. From the East the celebration seems to have passed to England in the elev-enth century by way of Naples where its title was The Conception of Saint Mary. The history of the feast is in-separable from the development of medieval tracts on original sin. The medieval Church's growing vision of Mary's role in salvation history gave rise to the gradual spread of the feast. The texts for the celebration of this feast throughout the Western Church were first approved and promulgated in 1483. Pius IX's dogmatic proclama-tion of Mary's Immaculate Conception (1854) gave us the present title of this feast. We celebrate the first moment of Mary's existence as a wonderful springtime of grace. This does not in any way suggest that God is playing whimsically with the law of human solidarity in sin. Mary is no "spoiled child" of her Father. By affirming, after long reflection, that the Virgin never lost her original innocence and that she is the new Eve, the Church affirms nothing more than the salvation of the one who was to become the mother of the Savior. She was redeemed by God, in a unique and preeminent way, through the saving work of her Son. Predisposed by God for the unparalleled role which was to be hers in the history of salvation, Mary thus enjoyed the fruits of redemption more fully any other creature. Filled with grace from her conception, she came to that faultless unity which put her in full accord with her Son and which would make of her in the true sense of the term and in total dependence on Christ, mother of divine grace. Her whole life was one of fidelity to a vocation wonder-fully announced, “Hail full of grace!" This is good news for the entire world, the optimistic assurance that, in the uni-verse of salvation, God is faithful to his promise. -St. Andrew Bible Missal

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Our Lady of Advent

Pope Benedict XVI has observed it is Mary who tells us what Advent is: going forth to meet the Lord Who comes to meet us; waiting for Him, listening to Him, looking at Him. Advent must be a time for silence if we are to hear God, a time for openness if we are to welcome Him, a time for emptiness if we are to be filled with His Grace. In The Prison Meditations of Father Delp, Advent can also de-scribe a means to “wake up to the truth of ourselves.” Fr. Delp added: The primary condition for a fruitful and rewarding Advent is renunciation, surrender. We must let go of all our mistaken dreams, our conceited poses. and arrogant gestures, all the pretenses with which we hope to deceive ourselves and others. Mary is the model for genuine Advent spirituality. She is the humble "Handmaid of the Lord." Her soul "magnifies the Lord" because she is the "mirror" of all holiness. She is not self-centered, but God centered. She renounces her will for God's. She surrenders freedom as a possession to claim God’s gift of freedom as the ultimate good. She is God's most noble "instrument.” She waits for the Spirit, the Word, and the Life of God. Few theologians, poets, or artists can approach the sub-lime sentiments of the British mystic Caryll Houselander. That is why her The Reed of God should be on everyone's Advent reading list. Allow me to quote Caryll House-land’s beautiful description of Our Lady’s Advent role. She is a reed, straight and simple, growing by a lake in Nazareth: A reed that is empty, until the Breath of God fills it with infinite music:

and the breath of the Spirit of Love utters the Word of God through an empty reed. The Word of God is infinite music in a little reed: : it is the sound of a Virgin's heart, beating in the solitude of adoration; it is a girl’s voice speaking to an angel, answering for the whole world; it is the sound of the heart of Christ, beating within the Virgin's heart; it is the pulse of God timed by the breath of a Child. The circle of a girl's arms has changed the world-- the round and sorrowful world- - To a cradle for God … In each comes Christ; in each Christ comes to birth; comes from the Mother's breast, as a bird from the sun returning-- returning again to the tree he knows … Into our hands Mary has given her Child … Caryll Houselander’s lovely imagery is like an anthem of praise to one whose humility teaches us the meaning of greatness and how to be open to the Word of God and the Will of God! - Fr. Luczak

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SPIRITUAL LIFE

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MASSES Masses to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be at 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 8th. ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE Prepare your heart and home for the coming of the Lord by participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday, December 13th, at 11:00 a.m. in church. There will be a Liturgy of the Word, examination of con-science, and other prayers followed by individual confessions and absolution. Please note that the service will conclude prior to individual confessions beginning so that once you are finished you may depart quietly. Con-fessions will be heard in English and Polish. Let us give thanks to the Lord for His mercy, love and forgive-ness! ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING Families and individuals are again invited to participate in the lighting of the Advent Wreath the four weeks of the season. The candle on the wreath will be lit at the beginning of each Mass. Please sign up in the Holy Family Room today or contact the RE Office, 847/966-1180, this week. Arrive about ten minutes before Mass to find your seats and to look over the instructions in the sacristy. It’s a special way to help call our community to prayer as we await the coming of the Lord in this season of quiet anticipation and hope-filled preparation. PREPARING THE WAY OF THE LORD John the Baptist calls us to repent and change our lives. Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God is at hand! Now is the time for good works to be done and the Good News proclaimed! Let us each be mindful of our need to change and let us give evidence of our preparation for the Lord’s coming by our works of charity and mercy, by our witness to hope and joy in Christ. Then when you come to church the next two weekends, stop by the stable (over by the baptismal font) and share in a tradition for many peoples by placing hay in the sta-ble and thus preparing a soft place for the Holy Child. A basket of straw will be near the stable. Take a piece or two, say a quiet prayer offering the Lord your witness and your good works of the week and then place the straw in the stable. Thank you! CHRISTMAS EVE STORYTELLERS We invite the children of the parish (age 5 and older) to participate in the telling of the Christmas Story at the 4:00 p.m. liturgy on Christmas Eve. Children need to be comfortable in front of a large group of people, able to follow directions with a little help if needed, come to practice in the Holy Family Room on Monday, December 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. accompanied by a parent or guardian, and be present at the 4:00 p.m. Christ-mas Eve Mass. There are no lines for them to learn, just movement and gestures. Please call the RE Office, 847/966-1180, by Monday, December 15th, to sign your child(ren) up. We will be able to do this only if we have enough children to participate! OPLATKI AVAILABLE Blessed Oplatki is available in the Rectory Office. Discover or restore a beautiful Christmas custom!

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EPHIPHANY WEEKEND We are looking for some assistance with the petitions at the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, January 3, so they can be offered in different languages in addition to English. If you are willing and able to translate a petition and offer it in another language, please sign up in the Holy Family Room next weekend or call the Religious Edu-cation Office, 847/966-1180. Please note that a pot-luck dinner will follow after that Mass and on the next day, Sunday, January 4, our Music Ministry will have a concert at 3 p.m. More details to follow! THANK YOU! Every bit of change does make a difference! The baby bottles have been collected and counted. We were able to send a check to The Women’s Center for #3,361.78. A few more bottles came in after the fact and we will be over $3400. Thank you so much for being part of The Women’s Center’s efforts to work on behalf of life!

READINGS FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11

I Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28 ABOUT NEXT WEEK’S READINGS ISAIAH: “The last part of the book of Isaiah contains the words of a prophet who preached after the Jews re-turned from exile. They found their temple destroyed and the city leveled. In today’s reading the prophet de-scribes how God called him to encourage the people in this desperate time.” I THESSALONIANS: “Today’s passage comes at the end of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. Just as a parent might give last-minute instructions as their child heads out the door, so Paul has a list of last-minute instructions for these people whom he loves.”

EDUCATION

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS *The RE Students, Catechists and Assistants will participate in the 7 p.m. Mass on the Solemnity of the Im-maculate Conception on Monday, Dec. 8th. Deacon Paul’s class will help with the Mass. *RE Families are invited to support the “Help Santa Help Jesus Gift a Child” project by having their children bring new, unwrapped toys, games, puzzles, dolls, books, balls, etc. (for children preschool-high school) to class Monday, December 8. The gifts will be brought to our Sharing Parish, Maternity BVM, in Chicago and distributed at their Epiphany celebration. For some children this will be the only new gift they receive during the holiday season. Every child who comes from the neighborhood participates in the fun and in the receiving! Please share the love and hope of Christ’s coming among us with others. Thank you on their behalf! *Confirmation Year II Candidates are to turn in their Gifts of the Spirit Journal Part I on Monday, December 8. You will receive Part II only after Part I is complete.

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*We congratulate the children who celebrated the Lord’s mercy and love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Saturday, December 6. May God bless them and their families as now prepare for First Communion. Trisha Bonto Damian Odrzywolski Geeva Chirayath Shijil Palakkattu Christin Daoud Josh Portillo Joseph Deejith Mirella Rivera Dahlia Ennis John Skombis Dian George Thomas Striblen Alena Joseph Seona Thomas Danielle Kaduthodil Lloyd Joseph Trinidad Jeffin Kalapurayil Allison Villatte Michael Larracas Joseph Villatte Yuriy Martyniuk, Jr. Christopher Wais Ezechukwu Nduka Cedric Williams

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PARISH LIFE

Sister of the Living Word, Joyce Roehl, is speaking at all of the Masses this weekend on behalf of the Religious Retire - ment Fund from which her community benefits. Sister Joyce was a teacher at St. Isaac Jogues School from 1967—1977 and then as principal from 1977—1983. Sister Joyce is a Eucharistic minister here at St. Isaac Jogues as well as a member of the Women’s Club.

Selene Patricia Ahlersmeyer, daughter of

Keith Ahlersmeyer and Liezl Bulagao

Abigail Sayson, daughter of Aldie Sayson and Jennifer Sajulga

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Sponsored by the St. Vincent De Paul Society

The "Advent Season" is a time of preparing for the coming of the Messiah. As the shepherds in the field were called by the angels to the "Light" of the manger, so we as Catholics, are called to become the light for others. We at the St. Vincent De Paul Society are again preparing to bring the "Light" of Christ to our neighboring nursing home residents, (on Dec. 16th ) through our "GIVING TREE" gift program. We have purchased both small individual gifts as well as large communal gifts for the neighboring Nursing Home residents. We will also provide music entertainment and sing Christmas carols with those residents able to join us. We ask that those who have not received a GIVING TREE envelope in the previous week's bulletin, that they pick one up after the Mass from the tables at the entrances to the Church. It's not too late. Be sure to bring it back the fol-lowing week and place it in the collection plate along with your regular Sunday offering. We will give you further instructions in next week's bulletin regarding our actual Nursing home visit on Dec. 16th

Peace be with you! The St. Vincent De Paul Society

BAKERY SALE

We would like to thank everyone for all of his or her hard efforts. The workers were great and the desserts not only tasted deli-cious, but also because of all the wonderful support we received from our parishioners, tar exceeded all of our expectations. Our bale sale was very successful. It was a little work, but a lot of fun. The winner of the liquor basket was Dee Stanton. Again, we thank everybody. It takes a lot of teamwork to run a bake sale and all came through beautifully. Respectfully St. Isaac Jogues’ Women’s Club

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Anthony Carrillo (Kristine)

Mr. And Mrs. Robert Costello (Leigh Ann)

Ms. Olga Joseph

Ms. Monina Santos

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Stewardship…………………………………………...Sunday Collection

Weekly (this year) 11/30/08—$11,12713 (last year) 12/4/07—$12, 471.78

John the Baptist’s call to repentance is echoed in the US bishops’ pastoral letter on

stewardship: “Christians must beg God for the grace of conversion: the grace to repent and change and grow, the grace to become good disciples and stewards.”

PARISH ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE

On Saturday, December 13, at 11:00 AM there will be an Advent Reconcilia-tion Service. Among the confessors available will be Fr. Przemyslaw Wojcik, who will hear confessions in Polish.

SPOWIEDZ ADWENTOWA W NASZEJ PARAFII!

W sobote 13 grudnia o godzinie 11:00 w naszej parafii odbedzie sie specjalne nabozenstwo pokutne polaczone ze spowiedzia. Ks. Przemyslaw Wojcik bedzie obecny by wysluchac spowiedzi w jezyku polskim, dlatego tez zachecamy do skorzystania z tej szansy spotkania z milosiernym Chrystusem!

St Isaac Joques Men's Club

HO HO HO All men GOTTO GO

to the St Isaac Men’s Club Christmas gathering, Thursday, December l1 at 6:30 PM

in the Parish Hall.

There Will be plenty of Eats, Beverage and Fun. Come and enjoy an evening with new and old friends, wish-ing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. All men of the parish are invited. The cost for guest will be $5.00. At the last Memorial/ Thanksgiving meeting the 40 members and guests attending colleted and donated $400.00 to St. Vincent De Paul Society.

Oplatki - traditional Christmas wafers - from Poland and Catholic Eastern Europe, are now available at the rectory. A free will donation would be appreci-ated.

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Notes from the Music Ministry

Last Christmas was my first as director of music here at St. Isaac Jogues. To enhance our music at Midnight Mass, the choir was joined by a profes-sional string quartet. (Our church has the perfect acoustics for strings.) A chill went down my spine as the first notes of the strings joined the hushed voices of the choir on the hymn we are singing this Advent, "The King Shall Come." The beauty of the instru-ments, voices and the song itself took my breath away. The Mass and the music were beautiful. Here it is a full year later. Our choir has doubled in size. Many wonderful men and women have come for-ward and offered to share their time and talents with those who have been singing for years. This year we practiced every week of the summer to work on Christmas. The results will ring forth at Midnight Mass. We are singing all styles of music. You will hear our Deacon Rod Ranolla sing the first verse of Ave Maria followed by the second verse in stunning four-part harmony. We are singing the brilliant Glory to God, from the Messiah, its difficulty taking many weeks to master. A long-time favorite, Do You Hear What I Hear?, will be heard amongst other Christmas songs. Please consider attending Midnight Mass, if you can. It is a beautiful Mass. This year, we are presenting a lovely Christmas Concert on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 3:00pm in the church. At the concert, we will sing our most dif-ficult pieces and then add a dash of fun with some contemporary instruments and songs such as Christ-mas Time is Here, with a surprise guest appearance, Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy, performed by a fe-male quartet and A Doo-Wop White Christmas fea-turing our men's sections. More next week about the guest artists joining us for Midnight Mass and for the Christmas Concert. More also about the celebration and reception after the concert. Peace, Lisa Hall

St. Isaac Jogues Men’s Club Entertainment Book 2009

Time is running out and only a few more En-tertainment Books are left. The 2009 Enter-tainment Book is still only $20.00. The sav-ings are more and better than ever. What a great Christmas gift!! Beside savings on two for one dinners, there are savings on gro-ceries, dry cleaning, movie tickets and much more. The books may be purchased at the rectory or from any St. Isaac Jogues Men’s Club mem-ber.

BUY ONE NOW!!

Are you pregnant and in need? We are there and we care. Call confidential HOPELINE 847.823.HOPE

PURE HEARTS Those whose hears are pure are the tem-ples of the Holy Spirit. - St. Lucy

Sunday, December 7 7:30 am For the Living & Deceased Members of St. Isaac Jogues & their Families; Charles Falco 9:00 am Joseph Jabek & Denny Jabek 10:30 am Christopher Zimny 12:00 pm Caridad Mikulec Monday, December 8—Immaculate Conception 8:00 am Purgatorial Society; Anthony J. Angello 7:00 pm Stanley Banas & Stanley Zabarowski, Sr. Tuesday, December 9 8:00 am Lillian Madro Wednesday, December 10 8:00 am Felizisima Eayomo Thursday, December 11 8:00 am Ryan/ Ray Family Friday, December 12 8:00 am Helen Polinski Saturday, December 13 8:00 am Communion Service-No Intentions 5:00 pm Oetringer & Vonderhaar Familes Sunday, December 14 7:30 am Marge Di Prima 9:00 am For the Living & Deceased Members of St. Isaac Jogues & their Families; Robert Merritt 10:30 am Lynn Vogel 12:00 pm Theodora Lee & Paul Kim

Reconciliation Frs. LUCZAK

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Liturgies next weekend December 13 — 14

Presider

5:00 pm Fr. Luczak/Deacon Paul 7:30 am Fr. Kalas 9:00 am Fr. Stagaman 10:30 am Fr McGlynn 12:00 pm Fr. Kennedy

Altar Servers

5:00 pm Sandra Kietlinska, Jasmine Herrera, Jessica Joseph, Jennifer Joseph 7:30 am Dominic Jose, Roshan Muringothu, Rino Muringothu, Kevin Thomas 9:00 am Rachel Nieva, Rene Dumayas, Christian Manaois, Sabin Thomas 10:30 am Matthew & Caroline Jaroslawski, Paul Jaroslawski, Justin Thomas 12:00 pm Joana & John Hidalgo, Rene Dumayas, Samuel Ratner Immaculate Conception, Monday Dec. 8th 7:00 pm Confirmation Year II Students

Sacristy Committee Mary Ann Scanlon, Arlene Turek

Relatives & Friends

Please remember the sick and hospitalized: Wilma Anapa, Bob Arns, Shirley Arns, John Arns, Jr.

Andre Baros, Noah Baros, Linda Bennett, Shawn Bong, Genevieve Conway, Heidi DeMeo,

Marian De Meo, Shirley Klein, Mark Koz, Maria Ladd, Megan Lawler, Lillian McCloud, Bob Meyers,

Marilyn Michaels, Pat Olech, Tammy Heffernan Propst, Tony Romito,

Linda Bong Sanchez, Paul Sitkowski, John Terzakis, Pat Terzakis, Pat Walter, Chuck Watson,

Mary Zimniewicz, Megan Zimniewicz Upshaw.

REST IN PEACE

Trinidad Laxamana, wife of Secondino

Every valley shall be filled in, Every mountain and hill shall be made low. -Isaiah 40:4

CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS ST. ISAAC JOGUES #512032 8149 Golf Road Niles, IL 60714 TELEPHONE 847 967-1060 CONTACT PERSON Jane/Janet SOFTWARE MSPublisher 2003 Adobe Acrobat 8.0 Windows XP Professional PRINTER Canon IR 3035 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 through 12 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION December 7, 2008 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS THANK YOU!

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PASTOR: Rev. Andrew Luczak PASTORAL STAFF: Deacon Bob Kerls, Parish Business Administrator Mrs. Dolores Stanton,Director of Religious Education Mrs. Patricia Kellen, Parish Nurse Mrs. Lisa Hall, Music Director DEACON COMMUNITY: Deacon & Mrs. Robert C. O’Keefe Deacon Rod Ranola Deacon & Mrs. Paul M. Stanton WEEKEND LITURGY PRESIDERS: Rev. Ron Kalas Rev. Larry Janowski, O.F.M. Rev. Bernard Kennedy, O.F.M. Rev. Philip McGlynn, O.S.M. Rev. David Stagaman, S.J. Eucharistic Celebrations: Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, & 12:00 Noon Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM Saturday: 8:00 AM & 5:00 PM Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday, 11:00 - 12:00 Noon or anytime by request.

Sacrament of Matrimony: Must be registered for six months prior to setting the wedding date with an addi-tional six months for necessary preparation. Note: The following wedding times can be scheduled: Friday at 5:00 p.m.; Saturday at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.; Sunday at 3:00 p.m. (Ceremony only) Sacrament of Baptism: Second and fourth Sunday of each month at 1:30 PM. Baptism Preparation Session must be completed before Baptism. Contact the Parish Office as soon as possible for details. Parish Office Website: http://sij-parish.com E-mail: office@sij-parish.com 8149 Golf Road, Niles, IL. 60714. . . . . . . 967-1060 Mrs. Janet Piovosi (Parish Secretary) Mrs. Emilie Casacchia (Data Processor) Mrs. Marlene Garber (Data Processor) Mrs. Jane Piper (Bulletin Editor) Religious Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 966-1180 Staff Secretary Parish Nurse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 967-1094 Music Ministry. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 967-1091 Parish Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 965-1091 Ministry Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 965-6911 Parish School: St. John Brebeuf School. . . . . . . . . 966-3266 Principal: Mrs. Margaret Whitman

ADDING NAMES TO THE PARISH SICK LIST It has always been the policy of St. Isaac Jogues to offer our parish community an opportunity to pray for those parish-ioners who are ill and in need of our prayers. We have tried to keep close track of these names for our Bulletin as they are made available to us. However, now we face an important privacy issue, very much like the issues faced by hospitals, health institutions, and certainly by other parishes. We cannot (by law) publicly let our parish community know the health status of any of our members without their permission. We appreciate the fact that often friends, neighbors, and acquaintances wish to do something special for a person who is ill, and ask to place their name on the list to be prayed for. While their intentions are surely good, we simply can no longer accept names in this manner. We will institute a new process regarding calling in names for the Bulletin list. Names for the sick list placed in the Bulletin have to be called in by the person who is ill, or by a member of their family. At the time they call in the name, they will be asked whether they are the sick person him/ herself, or a member of their family, and if they give permission for the name to be placed on the list. They will be asked for the cor-rect spelling of the sick person's name. If a family member, they will be required to give their name for our records. Thank you for your patience regarding this new process. We wish to do all we can to offer our parish community the opportunity to offer prayers for those who are ill — but we must also be cognizant of the fact that all members of our con-gregation are entitled to their privacy in this regard.