Parish News - Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish

February 1st - Weekly Newsletter

2/2/2023

Blessing of Throats this weekend, Catholic Social Teaching, Annual Catholic Appeal, and more ...

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.

Dear Friends,

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit ... Happy Wednesday everyone, and welcome to February! While it is still rather cold outside, we can rejoice that the Sun decided to grace us with it's presence!!

Happy Birthday Fr. Tom - Today is our Pastor, Fr. Tom's birthday ... Be sure to wish him a HBD if you see him this weekend! The SJB School students surprised him by singing "Happy Birthday" to him this morning at the School Mass. Sto lat! (100 years!)

Blessing of Throats - Throats will be blessed after all Masses this weekend! Check out this week's "Did you know?" for the background of St. Blaise and the Blessing of Throats.

Catholic Social Teaching 101 - How are we called as a faith community to respond to the signs of our times? Come to this presentation by BCAP Parishioner Joyana Dvorak THIS SUNDAY, Feb 5 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. More info below ...

Annual Catholic Appeal - the Archdiocesan Annual Catholic kicks off this weekend, and the "in pew" collection is NEXT Weekend. Please prayerfully consider making a donation to help those in need throughout the city and archdiocese.

BCAP Food Pantry is in need of Food and clothing- The Parish Food Pantry is constantly evolving to meet those who are in need. Please see the information below on what has changed, and what is needed!

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.

Your input is welcome.
Please send suggestions to Father Paul Sims, C.R. at pasims@ameritech.net.

Our BCAP food pantry is now a CLIENT CHOICE!

A Client Choice based food pantry allows people to select their own food instead of being given food that they already have, don't like or cannot eat for health or personal reasons.

Next time you go to Costco, or your favorite grocery store, please remember some of the stuff on this list and consider donating to the Parish food pantry.

IN ADDITION TO FOOD ... We are now collecting the following (new or gently used) items for our Immigrant brothers and sisters in need. 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 back of either of our churches.

Please Make Your Gift to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal
Walking on the road with Jesus

Many families in our parish will be receiving the Annual Catholic Appeal mailing from
Cardinal Cupich. On behalf of those served by the ministries, parishes and schools who
receive funding from the Appeal, we thank you for your gifts. Please return your response
as soon as possible. The Annual Catholic Appeal offers a wonderful opportunity to answer
the call “Walking on the road with Jesus.” We encourage giving at all levels to support this
initiative. In addition to providing for ministries and services throughout the archdiocese,
the Annual Catholic Appeal funds services in our own parish. For example, Appeal funds
have supported Liturgical Ministers training and resources.

When we financially support the work of our parish, our archdiocese and the Catholic
Church throughout the world, we experience a feeling of deep gratitude, especially when
we contemplate God’s many gifts to us personally. By sharing our wealth through gifts to
the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal, we demonstrate our commitment to the Church and
each other.

Please prayerfully consider your gift to the ACA. And remember, once we meet our parish goal, we get to keep the rest of the funds!!

Being Catholic - Did you know?!
St. Blaise and Blessing of the Throats

Some sacramentals have become very closely associated with the church year, occurring on the same day each year. An example of one such popular sacramental ritual is the blessing of throats on the Feast of St. Blaise, February 3rd. This Bishop saint suffered martyrdom early in the 4th century. Legends say that he was a physician before becoming a bishop. While in prison he miraculously cured a young boy who was choking from a fish bone in his throat. St. Blaise became one of the most popular saints during the Middle Ages, being invoked as a helper in times of sickness related to the throat. The tradition of blessing the throats of parishioners with two crossed candles has been popular for centuries. The ritual prayer is: "Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may the Lord free you from evils of the throat and from any other evil."

~ Greg Dues "Catholic Customs and Traditions

Saint of the Day for February 2
The Presentation of the Lord

The Story of the Presentation of the Lord

At the end of the fourth century, a woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her journal, discovered in 1887, gives an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the Epiphany, the observance of Christ’s birth, and the gala procession in honor of his Presentation in the Temple 40 days later. Under the Mosaic Law, a woman was ritually “unclean” for 40 days after childbirth, when she was to present herself to the priests and offer sacrifice—her “purification.” Contact with anyone who had brushed against mystery—birth or death—excluded a person from Jewish worship. This feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple more than Mary’s purification.
The observance spread throughout the Western Church in the fifth and sixth centuries. Because the Church in the West celebrated Jesus’ birth on December 25, the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days after Christmas.

At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas.

Reflection

In Luke’s account, Jesus was welcomed in the temple by two elderly people, Simeon and the widow Anna. They embody Israel in their patient expectation; they acknowledge the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Early references to the Roman feast dub it the feast of Saint Simeon, the old man who burst into a song of joy which the Church still sings at day’s end.

~ Franciscan Media

“By standing before the Eucharistic Christ, we become holy.”

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, 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!

View this email in your browser

Parish News & Events

February 1st - Weekly Newsletter

Saint of the Day for February 2 The Presentation of the Lord

Saint of the Day for February 2
The Presentation of the Lord