April 26th - Weekly Newsletter

Need for Liturgical Ministries, SJB School Glimmer Event, and more ...

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Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day, says the Lord. Dear Friends, Happy Wednesday everyone, at least the sun was out today! Now if we can only have a bit warmer weather that would make for a great spring!! NEW SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE - The NEW Sunday Mass Schedule is in effect please read the information below very carefully! Parish Liturgical Ministries - Spring is a time for growing … and we are asking you to help us grow our Parish Liturgical Ministries! We are looking for Altar Servers, Choir members and instrumentalists, Greeters, Lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion FROM BOTH CHURCHES, and in ALL languages! If you have ever thought about any of these ministries, or if you were one in the past, please pray on it, and consider joining. Contact Michael White, the Director of Liturgy & Music, or see him after Mass if you are interested. Spring Movie Event - The viewing and discussion of Season TWO of "The Chosen" has beguns, ee below for more info ... Feast of Our Lady of Manaoag - The nine day novena for the Feast of Our Lady of Manaoag has begun. See the flyer below for the full schedule, and join us THIS Saturday, April 29th for the Feast Day Mass and procession. GLIMMER Fundraiser - St. John Berchmans School's annual GLIMMER fundraiser is Saturday MAY 20th from 6pm to 10pm in the School Gymnasium. See below for more exciting details, you won't want to miss this!!   Eucharistic Testimonies - When we encounter Jesus Christ, he changes us—sometimes by signs and wonders, at other times by his peace that passes all understanding. During this Eucharistic Revival, we would like to share testimonies of our parishioners and their relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. Today we highlight Halina Pydych. REVISED BCAP Food Pantry needs - Just a reminder that donating to the Food Pantry isn't a one time thing. Food and other necessities are CONSTANTLY needed. See below for our most current needs. MASKS are still OPTIONAL, BUT ...  With Covid and the Flu on the rise, please use your best judgement when it comes to your own safety and the safety of others, and do not come to church if you are feeling ill. As always, be kind and respectful to one another if the person choses or not to wear a mask. Remember, we're all in this together! Parish Forms on the Website - https://www.carloacutisparish.org/parish-forms.html Did you know that many of our forms and requests are on our website? Inquiring about a Baptism ... Need a copy of your Baptismal Certificate ... Want to schedule your wedding? It's all on our website! Simply fill out the form and we'll get back to ya. Prayers for the Sick - Both in the Sunday Bulletin, and here in the Weekly Newsletter, we list the names of those who are in sick and in need of our prayers. If you would like to add you someone's name to the sick list, please email the Parish Office. Please also email us when it's ok to remove them from the sick list. This helps to ensure our list is up to date. We hope to see you at one of the Masses this weekend, wear a mask or not, and don't forget to bring a friend or two!!   God Bless, see you in Church! Michael White, Director of Music and Liturgy AND Weekly Newsletter Editor Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish Mission Statement   We are a multicultural, intergenerational Catholic parish community of people who through the help of the Eucharist, are on the journey to learning about, celebrating, serving and proclaiming our faith in the Risen Jesus.   Vision Statement   Our vision is transforming spirits, hearts and minds.   Core Values   We are welcoming, learning, believing, serving, celebrating, understanding, sharing, diverse, community and focused on quality. Goals 1). To have vibrant, welcoming liturgies. 2). To be an evangelizing community. 3). To reach out to youth. 4). To provide social justice education and outreach to the poor. St. John Berchmans School's annual GLIMMER fundraiser is Saturday MAY 20th from 6pm to 10pm in the School Gymnasium, which will be transformed into a 1970s era disco! Join us for food, beer, wine and cocktails, live music, a silent auction, and  more - all to raise money for SJB, a pillar of Catholic education for more than 115 years! This event is open to the public and all are welcome! PURCHASE YOUR  TICKETS FOR GLIMMER 2023 HERE! Costumes are highly encouraged!   The Glimmer Committee is still in need of sponsorships to help underwrite the event (SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES), and donations to the silent auction are still being accepted (SILENT AUCTION DONATION INTAKE FORM). Sponsorships and donations are tax deductible, and come with marketing and promotional opportunities. Please contact Claire Kenny (ckenny@stjohnberchmans.com) with any questions.   Lastly, purchase your tickets for the GLIMMER 50/50 RAFFLE TICKETS. The drawing will take place at the event, but you need not be present to win!  Saint of the Day for April 25 Saint Mark, the Evangelist (? – c. April 25, 68) Saint Mark’s Story Most of what we know about Mark comes directly from the New Testament. He is usually identified with the Mark of Acts 12:12. When Saint Peter escaped from prison, he went to the home of Mark’s mother. Paul and Barnabas took him along on the first missionary journey, but for some reason Mark returned alone to Jerusalem. It is evident, from Paul’s refusal to let Mark accompany him on the second journey despite Barnabas’s insistence, that Mark had displeased Paul. Because Paul later asks Mark to visit him in prison, we may assume the trouble did not last long. The oldest and the shortest of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Mark emphasizes Jesus’s rejection by humanity while being God’s triumphant envoy. Probably written for gentile converts in Rome—after the death of Peter and Paul sometime between A.D. 60 and 70—Mark’s Gospel is the gradual manifestation of a “scandal”: a crucified Messiah. Evidently a friend of Mark—calling him “my son”—Peter is only one of this Gospel’s sources, others being the Church in Jerusalem (Jewish roots), and the Church at Antioch (largely Gentile). Like another Gospel writer Luke, Mark was not one of the 12 apostles. We cannot be certain whether he knew Jesus personally. Some scholars feel that the evangelist is speaking of himself when describing the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane: “Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked” (Mark 14:51-52). Others hold Mark to be the first bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Venice, famous for the Piazza San Marco, claims Mark as its patron saint; the large basilica there is believed to contain his remains. A winged lion is Mark’s symbol. The lion derives from Mark’s description of John the Baptist as a “voice of one crying out in the desert” (Mark 1:3), which artists compared to a roaring lion. The wings come from the application of Ezekiel’s vision of four winged creatures to the evangelists. Reflection Mark fulfilled in his life what every Christian is called to do: proclaim to all people the Good News that is the source of salvation. In particular, Mark’s way was by writing. Others may proclaim the Good News by music, drama, poetry, or by teaching children around a family table. Saint Mark is the Patron Saint of: Notaries Venice ~ Franciscan Media Client Choice Food Pantry Revised March 15, 2023 Please see the updated list of needs... IN ADDITION TO FOOD ...  Because peoples needs are more than just food, we are now collecting the following (new or gently used) items for our Immigrant brothers and sisters.  Coats, Winter Clothes, Jeans, Shoes, Blankets, Towels, Sheets, Pots/Pans, and Utensils.  You can drop off any donations to 2517 W. Logan blvd between the hours of 9-3 pm M-F, or on Sundays in the bins at the back of the church. Halina Pydych Eucharistic Testimony Christ Chooses Imperfect People for His Perfect Plan My testimony to the Eucharist is not defined by one single event that occurred in my life. I believe that every day I give testimony to the Eucharist, by not only attending mass on Sundays but by being present in my work and family life. Christ challenges me every day and every day is an opportunity for me to live through the Eucharist that I receive. I am not only thankful for the blessings in my life, but the cross that Christ gives me to be carried every day. I know these challenges are hard to deal with sometimes, however, they make me the Catholic that I am today. Christ has always been part of my upbringing. This is something that has been instilled in me by my parents and this is what I have instilled in my own children. Being a mother, a wife, a sister, and a daughter, it was my duty in making sure that everything was taken care of. It was my responsibility to make sure that everyone attended Sunday Mass. I wanted my children to hold these values close to their hearts. My husband and I are parishioners at St. Hedwig Parish, and we have always tried to be involved in the Mass whenever possible. I would sing, my husband would read, and all my children were altar servers. This was our way of bringing our different talents to mass and being actively part of the Eucharistic ceremony. I believe that God works through me to perform good deeds and help others. When I see my entire family participate during mass, it moves my heart. I feel closer to Christ knowing that I am part of the Eucharistic ritual, helping to bring Christ to others. My life took a slightly different direction when I became a Religious Education Coordinator at my parish. This was truly unexpected when my pastor asked me to take the job as a Religious Education Coordinator after one Sunday mass. I was scared and unsure if I was capable of performing the job. Therefore, I prayed about the opportunity. I prayed for our parish, students, and catechists because I knew they needed someone to help coordinate the entire program for them. I needed guidance and a sign that I was the right person for this position. The following week, I saw our pastor and he again asked me if I would like to take on this job. I was a little hesitant because I still did not know if this was the path I was meant to take. He told me to think about it some more. I continued to pray. During prayer, I felt something stir in my heart and I knew Christ spoke to me. I realized that even though I was not the perfect candidate, or had any previous education in coordinating religious education, Christ chooses imperfect people for His perfect plan. Next week, I spoke with my pastor and accepted the job. Sometimes I am amazed when I look back at what I have accomplished and the opportunities this job has brought me. I know this is not my doing, but rather the work of someone who is above me. Through Him, all things are possible, and I know Jesus is working within me. While there have been challenges, I know that with His guidance, I will be fine. I am grateful for the many blessings that my faith has brought into my life, and I hope to continue to grow in my faith and share it with others. “Through the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I present to you all my petitions and I beg you to hear me.” Pope Francis is cautioning people not to get accustomed to the war in Ukraine, and is calling for the faithful to keep those suffering "this tragic reality" in our hearts and prayers. "The thought of the people of Ukraine, afflicted by war, should remain vivid in our hearts."  Please continue to pray for them. Online Book of Intentions   Praying for each other's intentions is an important part of our parish life. If you would like the parish to pray for your intention, please write the intention in a sentence or two in this Online "Book of Intentions."  These intentions will be remembered in our intercessions at our Sunday masses. Click HERE Please pray for the Sick of our Parish Fr. Paul Reicher, Martha Ibarra, Doreen Maneely, Anna Mann, Nicole Vilches, Karel O’Brien,Angela Rivera, Mary Anne Sedey, Linda Klickmann, Barbara Durbin, Danny Olivero, Junior Burgos, Dolores Kryszak, Joseph Price, Teresa Ellison, Tallulah Andresen, Robert Bauer, Antionette Krerowicz, Ana Flores, Apolonio Alarcon, Antonio de Vera, Patricio A. Yanez Guerra, Manglio Bonilla Gail, Jason & Family, Daniel Brady, Cyndi De Lira, Carolyn S. Duckunue, Transito Alvarez, Frances Alequin, Alejandro Carmona, Sophie Hernan, Eleanor Jura, Monika Kloniecka, Joseph Wyse, Verena Tonnesen, Berenice Sosnowski, Nick Jurado, Jackie Schuman, Terry Brady, Salomea Olszewska, Hertha Runowski, Angie Schuman, John Graff, Joseph Murphy, Linda Riske, Margaret Flisiak, Jazzmyne Aguilar, Hailey Marose, Sarah Ellison, Nancy Idaszak, Sally Cox, Daniel Salas, Eleanor Rylko, Nancy, Brian, Jimmy Denges, & Crystal Mohetano. Please follow us on our Social Media platforms by clicking the links below! 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