September 21 - Weekly Newsletter

Night of Mercy, RCIA Study Group, "Did you know?!", and more ...

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We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you. Dear Friends,  Happy Wednesday everyone, how was your day? Lots of stuff to tell you about, so let's get right to it ... Being Catholic - Did you know?! - Many of us grew up attending Catholic School, or CCD classes, etc ..., and knew "about" things, but we didn't really remember what they're called or knew the meaning behind a word/phrase. In this weekly newsletter, we will feature a "Did you know?!" It will sometimes be a word, or a place, or an object related to our Catholic Faith. So, did you know ... ? Family Mass and Catechetical Sunday - Thank you to all the Families and Catechists who participated in Catechetical Sunday recently, it was a joy seeing all of you! Also, don't forget that on the 3rd Sunday of every month at the 9:45 a.m. SJB Mass, we will have a special "Family Mass". (There will also be coffee and donuts after Mass.) Night of Mercy - This Friday, September 23rd from 6 pm to 8:30 pm, the Parish will be hosting a “Night of Mercy” at St. Hedwig Church.  Please join us for a night of adoration, confession and music.  Classical Music Concert - And on Saturday, September 24th, starting at 6:15 pm, St. Hedwig Church there will be a Classical Music concert featuring musicians from DePaul University Music Department. See the flyer below for more information. RCIA Study Group - Do you know someone who is interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith, or wishes to finish receiving their sacraments? The RCIA Study Group will have it's first meeting on Wednesday, October 5th. See below for more information... Guardian Angel Gala - The 2022 St. John Berchmans School Guardian Angel Gala will take place on Friday, October 14th at 7 p.m. See the flyer below for more information on how to register and sponsor. 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. Food Pantry - PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!! If you or someone you know is in need of food, please do not hesitate to call the SJB Office at 773-486-4300 (9-4, M-F) and we'll take care of you!! Pass the word along, you do NOT have to be a parishioner or attend Mass at either SJB or SH to receive food!!! (Note: we are currently working to revamp the Food Pantry to make better use of the needs of people, and the available food, so watch this space!) MASKS are OPTIONAL - 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! 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 on Sunday! 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.   A mission statement says who we are and what we do. Please take a few minutes and reflect and pray on this mission statement. Does this mission statement describe our parish? As we continue to grow together, we can add to this statement.   Vision Statement Our vision is transforming spirits, hearts and minds. A vision statement suggests how we need to grow. It is short, specific and memorable. Please take a few minutes and reflect and pray on this vision statement. Does this vision statement describe our parish? As we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ through our participation in Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish, we want to nourish our spirits, hearts and minds.   Core Values   We are welcoming, learning, believing, serving, celebrating, understanding, sharing, diverse, community and focused on quality.   Core values are what we see as most important in our community. Do these values describe our parish? 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.   Goals help us to focus on what needs to be done in the year ahead. Do these goals describe our parish? Yoiur input is welcome.    Your input is welcome. Please send suggestions to Father Paul Sims, C.R. at pasims@ameritech.net. Being Catholic - Did you know?! Feast Day - Last week we featured "The Liturgical Year" which is the annual sequence of seasons, liturgies, and feasts in the Church. We also mentioned that we are currently in the season of Ordinary Time, but did you know that Ordinary Time also contains special feasts, memorials and solemnities as well? A Feast is a day or liturgy designated for remembering and celebrating a saint, divine person, or event of special significance to the Church. The Catholic Church identifies three classes of feasts -- memorial, feast and solemnity -- in ascending order of importance. Some memorials are optional, and some solemnities are holy days of obligation. For example: St. Francis of Assisi is a Memorial; St. Matthew (today) is a Feast; & The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Solemnity. This weekly Parish Newsletter, as you might recall, tries to feature various Saints of the Day. Some are more well known and important, for various reasons obviously. (Not that all the Saints aren't important, but you get the idea.) ~ Journey of Faith for Adults A Joyous Feast Day Graphic from The Printery House of Conception Abbey This Friday, September 23rd from 6 pm to 8:30 pm, the Parish will be hosting a “Night of Mercy” at St. Hedwig Church.  Please join us for a night of adoration, confession and music.  Saint of the Day for September 21 St. Matthew (c. 1st Century) Saint Matthew’s Story Matthew was a Jew who worked for the occupying Roman forces, collecting taxes from other Jews. The Romans were not scrupulous about what the “tax farmers” got for themselves. Hence the latter, known as “publicans,” were generally hated as traitors by their fellow Jews. The Pharisees lumped them with “sinners” (see Matthew 9:11-13). So it was shocking to them to hear Jesus call such a man to be one of his intimate followers. Matthew got Jesus in further trouble by having a sort of going-away party at his house. The Gospel tells us that many tax collectors and “those known as sinners” came to the dinner. The Pharisees were still more badly shocked. What business did the supposedly great teacher have associating with such immoral people? Jesus’ answer was, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:12b-13). Jesus is not setting aside ritual and worship; he is saying that loving others is even more important. No other particular incidents about Matthew are found in the New Testament. Reflection From such an unlikely situation, Jesus chose one of the foundations of the Church, a man others, judging from his job, thought was not holy enough for the position. But Matthew was honest enough to admit that he was one of the sinners Jesus came to call. He was open enough to recognize truth when he saw him. “And he got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9b). Saint Matthew is the Patron Saint of: Accountants Actors Bankers Bookkeepers Tax collectors Taxi Drivers ~ Franciscan Media 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. Sayings of Blessed Carlo Acutis “Do not be afraid because with the Incarnation of Jesus, death becomes life, and there’s no need to escape: in eternal life, something extraordinary awaits us." 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   Anna Mann, Nicole Vilches, Karel O’Brien,Angela Rivera, Felipe Caraballo, Mary Anne Sedey, Linda Klickmann, Barbara Durbin, Danny Olivero, Junior Burgos, Dolores Kryszak, Joseph Price, Teresa Ellison, Grace Gauss, Tallulah Andresen, Robert Bauer, Antionette Krerowicz, Ana Flores, Apolonio Alarcon, Antonio de Vera, Patricio A. Yanez Guerra,  Manglio Bonilla Gail, Jason & Family, Basilisa M. De Guzman, 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 Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*