Remembering Our Dead in November Our parish Book of the Dead has been placed on a table of remem-brance near the votive candles. Everyone is invited to enter into the Book of the Dead the names of deceased persons they would like included in our prayers for the month. Everyone is also invited to place on the table of remem-brance a photograph or other memento of deceased loved ones. Please put your name and contact information on the item. The table will remain in place until November 30th, after which you are welcome to reclaim your memento.
Mass Times 5:00 PM 7:30 AM 9:30 AM 11:30 AM
Lectors B. Ouimet C. Hendricks
P. Coughlin J. Friello
L. Zyzda C. Lutzow
E. Fisher S. Poletto
Eucharistic Ministers
Deacon E. Bujan B. DeQuaker D. DeQuaker D. Suhling B. Steiner B. Besore J. Murphy C. Fisher
Deacon F. Cizewski A. Rafferty III S. Ratajczak L. Bosshart C. King K. Samp R. Peterson D. Prezell
Deacon C. Lutzow J. Philbin C. Orlowski M. Orlowski J. Lyman B. Lyman T. Mayer M. Mayer B. Declaire-Aden K. Declaire-Aden
Deacon J. Ferrigan C. Lenzen J. Weiler D. Weiler M. Alandy M. Alandy S.Scesniak K. Crotty
Liturgical Ministers November 24 and 25, 2012
Cantors C. Klemme D. Knowles J. Cappuccilli D. Peterson
All who suffer illness, especially those whose names are written in the parish Book of Prayers,
those recently added to the list of the sick, and for those who have recently died:.
cÜtç yÉÜA AA
www.stmaryfc.org
Mass Intentions Monday, November 19 8:00AM †Barbara Kast req. Helen Formell Tuesday, November 20 8:00AM †Dolores Delisio req. Ernie Delisio, her husband Wednesday, November 21, The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8:00AM Mike & Sherry Schmidt req. The Gene Schmidt Family The Giovannini Family †Jane Collins req. Geri Graham Thursday, November 22, Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr 9:00AM For the Parishioners of St. Mary of the Annunciation Friday, November 23 8:00AM †Patricia Miller req. Jan Sinkovec Saturday, November 24 5:00PM The Family of Shirley Malone †Henry J. Smith & Family req. Ron & Pat Smith †Jerry Dederich req. Vinnie & Helene Dederich Sunday, November 25 7:30AM For the Parishioners of St. Mary of the Annunciation 9:30AM †Curt Schey req. His Mother †Joe Plucinski, Sr. req. Nola, His wife †William E. Cahill, Jr. req. The Gunther Family †Henry J. Smith & Family req. Ron & Pat Smith †Patrick Jeske req. The Glenn Knuth Family 11:30AM The Intentions for Genevieve Piontkowski req. Virg Piontkowski †Mary Cinquegrani req. Her Daughter †Dominic Parisi req. The Poletto Family †Paul Delaney req. Phil Howe †Robert Stanley req. The Pepping Family
Week Ahead Sunday, November 18 9:30AM Childcare 9:30AM Liturgy of the Word for Children Monday, November 19
Tuesday, November 20 8:30AM Pray the Rosary 8:30AM Ladies Cursillo Meeting 9:30AM Mary’s Circle 7:00PM St. Vincent de Paul Meeting 7:00PM Teen Drop-in 7:00PM Lectio Divina Study Wednesday, November 21 6:00PM P.A.D.S. 7:00PM Respect Life Meeting 7:00PM Adult Choir Rehearsal Thursday, November 22—Thanksgiving Day
Parish Office Closed 8:30AM Pray the Rosary 9:00AM Mass Friday, November 23—Parish Office Closed
Saturday, November 24 7:00AM Cursillo Men’s Meetings 5:00PM Liturgy of the Word for Children 5:00PM Childcare Sunday, November 25 9:30AM Childcare 9:30AM Liturgy of the Word for Children
Stewardship Report
Sunday Collection November 11, 2012 $ 19,608.63
Budgeted Weekly Collection $ 18,850.00
Difference $ 758.63
Current Fiscal Year-to-Date $ 383,366.12
Budgeted Sunday Collections To-Date $ 377,000.00
Difference $ 6,366.12
It was eight years ago when we introduced the practice of Christian Stewardship at St. Mary. That was a long time ago. We’re overdue for a review of our stewardship practice and the season of Thanksgiving is an appropriate time for that review.
The biblical expectation of stewardship would have us recognize that everything we have and all that we are is a gift from God. Because all things belong to God, we are accountable to God for how we use the gifts he has given us. How do we use our time wisely? How do we use our talents and experience? How do we use the material gifts which we may be fortunate to own? We heard in last Sunday’s Gospel about the poor widow who offered what little she had from her want. Others placed larger amounts into the temple treasury, but their gifts were from their surplus. The widow’s gift was from her trusting heart and so her return to the Lord was priceless.
Putting God first in our lives, whether it’s our time, our talent or our treasure, is what lies at the heart of Christian Stewardship. To be a good steward one needs to trust in the providence of God and not become overly anxiously by holding on to one’s gifts in fear of losing them. Our cul-ture with its sophisticated marketing tries to per-suade us that we’ll never have enough. The Chris-tian steward, on the other hand, looks at the world and acknowledges that we live in a culture of abundance. Christian stewardship challenges our priorities and values. What’s really important to us? We can have everything we need and keep ourselves very busy as we desire even more. But do we really need everything we have, all that we work tirelessly to own? Are we spending our time wisely, to keep healthy, to contribute to the good of society, to the building up of the Christian Community, and to aid those who need our help?
We hear a lot these days about “going green.” Ecology and respect for the environment are also part of what it means to be a good steward. God
has placed all that he has created in our hands. We are his managers and will be held accountable to the Creator for how we treat the universe he has given us.
Christian stewardship also includes sharing our treasure to support the mission and ministry of Jesus in one’s parish. To consistently give a por-tion of our treasure to God so that the work of the Church can continue is a responsibility we all have by virtue of our Baptism. To sustain the ministries and services of the parish requires a sacrifice on the part of all. It’s naïve to think that somehow the Church has unlimited funds to not only keep the ministries going but also to maintain the facilities we enjoy as our spiritual home. I pre-sume we all value a parish that offers a diversity of services and maintains a beautiful place to wor-ship, meet and study – a place we can all be proud of. St. Mary’s parishioners have been generous to the parish. But the giving is not always consistent. Parishioners travel and have legitimate reasons for being absent on any particular Sunday. The parish ministries and services continue, however, even when we are absent. Now that we all have the op-tion of contributing electronically through Give Central, we can be consistent stewards even when we are physically absent from Mass at St. Mary. I strongly encourage you to consider using this op-tion.
As we prepare to celebrate our 150th Anniversary as a parish, it’s a great opportunity to renew our spirituality of Christian Stewardship so that we can grow in holiness and gratitude. Thank you for the many ways you already express your steward-ship spirit. I pray that you will take seriously these weeks when we are renewing the call to steward-ship. Thank God everyday for all that you have and all that you enjoy because of the Lord’s gra-cious care for you. And make a generous return to the Lord with your time, your talents, and the fi-nancial resources with which you are blessed.
Fr. Ron Lewinski
From the Pastor’s Desk
Worldwide Marriage Encounter We are called to treat one another with the same love and compassion that Jesus gives to us. Sign up today to attend a Marriage Encounter weekend and allow God to strengthen, renew and rekindle your mar-riage sacrament so that it may reflect His love and compassion. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends Jan 25-27, 2013 in Brookfield, WI and Feb. 8-10 in Crystal Lake, IL. Early registration is highly recommended. For more information visit our website at: alife-timeoflove.org or call (888) 574-5653. For a fin de semana en Espa-nol in Rockford in Nov, contact Hugo & Gaby at 630-690-2094.
Featured CD for November
“The Year of Faith” by
Dr. Michael Barber To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second
Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI has announced a Year of Faith to help Catholics revitalize their faith, to rediscover the splendor and beauty of the faith, and to inspire us to commit to the New Evangeliza-tion. In this talk, Dr. Michael Barber explains how the Catechism and Sacred Scripture can reignite the fire of our faith.
Please remember a $3 donation per CD is suggested to allow the parish to continue the program
and offer new material.
St. Mary CERTIFICATE PROGRAM We sell GIFT CARDS from restaurants, stores, gas stations and more. No minimum purchase, no minimum order. You pay the face value of the card. All profits go to St. Mary School. The cards below can be purchased in 3 places: the Narthex after Sat/Sun masses, at school during the week (9am–2pm), or at Market Day pick up every month. Cash, check or credit card accepted. Go to www.stmaryfc.org/school. Click on Fundraisers/Support for more stores and restaurants. If you don’t see the card you want we will order it on Monday; you get it Wednesday! We order every week! Contact Person: Erin Gardner Applebee’s $10 Barnes & Noble $10 Dominick’s $25, $100 Burger King $10 Bath & Body Works $10 Jewel/Osco $25, $100 Culver’s $10 Wendy’s $10 Target $25, $100 Panera $10 Walgreen’s $25 Shell Gas $25, $100 Philly G’s $25 Home Depot $25 Walmart $25, $100 Starbucks $10 Kohl’s $25 Land’s End $25
You Are Invited to Pray the Rosary in honor of the Divine Mercy On November 16 after the 8:00 AM Mass and in honor of the Presentation of Mary on Wednesday, November 21 at the conclusion of 8:00 morning Mass
Meeting for the Sesquicentennial We will begin the celebration of
our Parish’s 150th Anniversary in October 2013. Our celebration will extend over 13 months. You are invited to participate in this exciting opportunity to plan for our Sesquicentennial Year. We welcome your participation at a meeting on Monday, December 10th, at 7:00pm in the church meeting rooms. Areas for planning include: Liturgy, Social Events, Historical Remembrances, Spiritual Renewal and Mission, and Finance/Legacy. Come and choose an area of interest and help us plan for the Sesquicentennial and dream about the future.
Thrift Store Opens This Week
located in the Greentree Shopping Plaza, 1125 S. Milwaukee Ave (north of Baker’s Square), Libertyville
We need you to donate now! Call 847-367-4700 for a furniture pickup
Quality items in good condition: Clothing, Shoes & Accessories: for women, men, children, and infants Kitchen/Dining: dishware, flatware, bake ware, tools, gadgets, small appli-
sions - in working order Drop your donations in the boxes located in the parking lot in front of or behind the store or call for a furniture pickup at 847-367-4700. Regretfully, we CANNOT accept: • Baby car seats, cribs, strollers, bedding & accessories, stuffed ani-
mals and toys. • Mattresses or box springs – sleeper sofas, futons. Luggage & gym
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a 5013 (c) (3) non-profit organization
Thanksgiving Day Mass
9:00 AM November 22
A free-will collection of non-perishable food items will be taken to supplement local food pantries. The collection will be given to the newly-formed parish of St. Michael in Unicoi County Erwin, Tennessee
Deacon Deliberations by Deacon Gary Kupsak “Thanksgiving Day is a Day for Thanksgiving”
Well it won’t be long and we’ll most likely be gathering with family and friends at our Thanksgiv-ing Day celebration wherever or however that celebration might take place. It goes without say-
ing that God has given us many blessing for which we should be thankful. Now we should be thankful every single day for what the Almighty has given us, but since 1863 when President Abraham Lin-coln declared the last Thursday in November to be the national holi-day, we have acknowledged one special day to give thanks. For me, this is a very special Thanksgiving. Recently our seven month old granddaughter was diagnosed with a very rare and serious illness. I must say that our entire family (her mother and father, her grandparents, her uncles and aunts) are all devastated by the news. I’m sure that any of you who may have a special child, grandchild, niece or nephew know exactly the emotions we are feeling. In times like this we search for the strength of our Lord, and although our faith does give us strength, sometimes I wish I could sprout wings and fly away. The Thanksgiving Dinner has traditionally been held at our home. Family and friends have gathered on that day to through good times and not so good times to be thankful for all the blessings God has given us. This year we questioned whether or not it was “right” to cele-brate being thankful. After thoughtful prayer we decided yes, we should be thankful. Our family has challenges ahead of it, but many families do. We decided that we have so very much to be thankful for, to be grateful for what the Almighty has given us, even the blessing of a special little girl that God will allow us to love with a special love that He so often gives us. So at about 1:00 p.m. (it has got to be early, the kids have to go to their in-laws in the afternoon) on Thanksgiving Day we’ll join hands, bow our heads and ask God to bless the food and all those who are there to enjoy it. And then give thanks our Heavenly Father for ALL the blessings we have received this year. Dear friends, when you sit down for your Thanksgiving Day meal, be it at someone’s home, at a fancy restaurant or at McDonalds give thanks to our God for all the blessing he has given you. Big blessings or small, apparent or opaque our merciful and loving God has given us everything that we have. Although we may not see the immediate value in all that we may have been given, our God is good and all he wants and gives to us is good. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, His love endures forever.”
A Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving
Parent & Child Dance Lesson On December 2nd we are proud to announce that we will have a parent child dance lesson. Ryan Rehkamp, St. Mary Parish’s youth minister, will teach a one hour lesson on Swing and Salsa. Bring either your parent, grandparent or confirmation sponsor for a night of fun.
Please RSVP with Ryan by November 29th @ [email protected]. All are welcome, so parents invite your friends and their teens!
Dance Lesson Diantha Hall
Sunday, December 2 6:30–7:30 PM Diantha Hall
RSVP by November 29th
Donations Can Now Be Made Online As promised, St. Mary of the Annunciation is happy to announce that we are now able to accept online donations. This new capability is provided by GiveCentral, the online donation service that works with the Archdiocese of Chicago. GiveCentral is a safe, secure, and paper-less way to make your contributions to St. Mary. It was designed spe-cifically for Catholic churches and schools in the Chicago area, and many parishes have already found great success with it. The site al-lows you to make automatically repeating payments on a schedule that works best for you, using a credit card or via direct debit from your checking or savings account.
The world has changed and much of our financial activity is now done electronically. Studies show that less than 4% of those under age 30 write checks. Less than 12% of those under age 50 write checks. Thus, many of you have asked that St. Mary provide electronic giving. Of course, if you prefer, you can continue to donate via cash or check as you are currently doing; you do not need to change. We welcome and are grateful for any gift in any form! If you choose to give online, you can still place your offertory envelope in the collection basket. Our new envelopes will have a box to check indicating that you have given electronically.
To set up your donations, visit the parish website and click on the “Donate Now” button and follow the online instructions. We will also provide sign-up cards if you would like us to set up your online account for you. More information will be provided over the next few weeks. Please contact Howard Fischer in the Parish Office if you have ques-tions.
Your financial gifts help us continue our ministries as a faith commu-nity. We are deeply grateful for every gift that is shared because each gift is critical to carrying on the mission Christ has entrusted to us. Thank you for all that you share with our parish family!
Newspaper Recycling Bin Raises Money for St. Mary School The big yellow and green bin at the back of the school parking lot is a drop-off location for news-paper, mail, magazines, catalogs and other scrap paper. Many St. Mary families recycle there every week already. Joining our recycling effort pays great benefits for our school.
PAPER DRIVE This November we are having a Paper & Newspaper Recycling Drive! This is important because we earn money for every 2000 pounds of paper collected. We usually collect 1-2 tons every month. Please help us reach our goal of 4 tons this November! Thank you from the St. Mary School Green Team, students and staff
C h a l l e n g e P r o j e c t Operation Christmas Child The Challenge Girls would like to thank everyone who was kind enough to give gifts this past Christmas to make this Challenge project, Operation Christmas Child a huge success. Our Challenge
girls are gearing up for this year’s Operation Christmas Child and want to invite you to lend a hand if possible. All girls 4th grade through high school are invited to help pack the boxes and get them ready for ship-ping, collect donations of small toys, gifts, candy, toiletries, etc. and drop them off at Gabriel House on Fridays from 4-5:30pm prior to De-cember 8th. There is also be a collection box for Operation Christmas Child in the narthex for donations. If you would like to make a mone-tary donation please submit checks to Challenge Girls Group. If you have questions or would like more information please contact: Shelley Majewski (847-837-1744), Maria Cushing (847-566-6834) or Cindy Barr (847-494-8834).
Advent Mass & Reflection for Women
Monday, December 3, 2012 6:00 PM
ALL WOMEN ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.... Annual Advent Mass for Women Monday, December 3rd 6:00 pm
Come join us for a special Mass for women to help put your hearts and minds in the right place this busy Advent sea-son. The Mass is right before a wonderful presentation by Fr. Presta on our Blessed Mother Mary, which begins at 7:00 pm. Please make time this Advent to attend this special Mass, the talk by Fr. Presta or treat yourself to both. Your families and
friends will all benefit by having a more peaceful and spiritual woman in their midst this holiday season.
WEDDING BANNS Jill Cwik & Andrew Starykowicz III
Arpita Halgeri & Jon Kolb III
St. Mary School collects Box Tops for Education. The school can get computer software, games and other fun items for education. Box Tops are on products from General Mills, Pillsbury, Dannon, Ziploc, Hefty, Betty Crocker, Kleenex and more. A collection canister is on the table in the narthex. Thank you!
University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary 2012 “Sounds of Christmas” Concert The University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary an-nounces the 2012 Annual “Sounds of Christmas” Concert on De-cember 2nd at 2:00PM in the SEMINIARY AUDITORIUM (1000 East Maple Avenue—Mundelein, IL) Featured are Mr. Rich Daniels and the City Lights Orchestra and the Seminarian Christmas Choir. Limited seating on a first come first seated basis. Doors open at 1:30PM. Free will donations graciously accepted. For further information call 847-970-4830.
Christmas Gifts for Families in Need If you are providing gifts for families in need, remember to bring them to church by November 29th.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary a holy day of obligation
Saturday, December 8, 2011
MASSES Friday, Dec. 7, 7:00 PM - Vigil Mass
Saturday, Dec. 8, 9:00 AM - Holy Day Mass
Attendance at Saturday evening or any Sunday Mass does not fulfill the obligation to attend holy day Mass.
Attendance at holy day Mass does not fulfill the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
Living Stewardship Now A simple guideline for giving money each year: 1. Decide what portion of your income truly ex-
presses your gratitude to God. 2. Of that total, set aside 50 percent to give to your
parish in the offertory collection. 3. Give 10 percent of the total to your diocesan an-
nual appeal. 3. Donate the other 40 percent to the charities and
In my last column I began a discussion of stewardship. While some tend to think of “stewardship” as merely a code word
for “money,” it really is a mindset and a lifestyle built on heartfelt grati-tude. If we are authentic disciples, we really have no option but to generously give back to our God and to share with our sisters and brothers. We need to give choice portions of our time and talent and, yes, of our monetary treasure. I previously wrote about gratitude, time and talent. This week I would like to discuss treasure. Please hear me out.
For some reason, many people recoil strongly at even the hint of discussing money in connection with religion. I'm not sure that I understand this reaction. First, money is not something “dirty” that is somehow incompatible with “holy” stuff. Money represents the tangible fruits of our labors and the use of our God-given talents. As such, money completely belongs in any discussion about what we must offer to God and others out of gratitude for what we ourselves have re-ceived. Secondly, our lives cannot be sectioned off into those parts where we allow God to be engaged and those parts where we deny him access. Everything we have, every dimension of our lives (including our financial activity) must be measured against our rela-tionship with God. Nothing is “off limits.”
Money is undeniably a potent force in our world and in our personal lives. We pour the majority of our waking hours into earning it, saving it, investing it, and spending it. Why, then, should it be a taboo to discuss finances in the context of our communal existence as the People of God?! The fact is that we are a giant family and we need resources to function. We need money to pay for lights and heat and the modest salaries we pay our employees. We all want the services (and more) that are provided by our parish and the archdiocese. Well, there are no free lunches. If we are to function and thrive and engage in works of charity, evangelization and faith formation, we must nurture the financial well-being of our extended Church family, just as we watch over our personal finances and save for our children’s educa-tion.
We Catholics need to do a better job of stepping up to these responsibilities. On average, U.S. Catholic households donate only about 1.2% of their income to the Church. (This would be about $438
per year; some surveys put the average as low as $160 per year.) Protestants donate at twice this level or greater. At St. Mary of the Annunciation only one third of our families give on a weekly basis. 35% of our families average $2.32 per Sunday; two-thirds contribute less than $10 per week. If we profess that our relationship with God and our membership in his family are truly important, then we need to put our money (literally and figuratively) where our mouths are. Indeed our charity should not be limited to just the Church but needs to reach out to God’s children of all religions, races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientation, etc.
While a number of us are suffering under severe financial burdens or unemployment during these difficult economic times, many others of us can do more to support the practical operations of the parish. We need to see this as a primary obligation, not just something we toss spare pocket change at. It is not someone else’s job; it is ours! If you are not already doing so and are not enduring severe economic hardship, ask yourself what further steps you can take to-wards the biblical practice of tithing. Based on this principle from Scrip-ture, we are encouraged to work towards giving 5% of our income, time and talent to our parish, 1% to the archdiocese and 4% to other charitable causes.
I would ask that you prayerfully consider whether you can increase your weekly contribution by $5 or more. If you are not doing so presently, can you increase your giving to $10/week or more? Most of us spend this kind of money on all sorts of non-essentials every week but these funds would produce a major benefit for our parish family and the financial health of our parish. All of us need to consider how we can improve the status quo in our lives so that we grow in generosity and gratitude. To the many, many people who so gra-ciously share your time, talent and treasure with us, we are indeed very grateful and we thank you for your generosity.
Hopefully we will all grow as stewards of the blessings we have received, and in our ability to respond gratefully to God and to the needs of all His People. Please reflect and pray about this topic over the next few weeks. If you wish to contact me, just leave a note in the parish office or send an email to [email protected].
Advent Reconciliation Service
Monday December 17,
7:00 PM
Sacrament of Penance Saturdays 4:00—4:40 PM, and by appointment
Baptisms Ordinarily during the Mass on the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month and after the Mass on the other Sundays, outside of Lent
Adult Initiation Adults who wish to become Roman Catholics are enrolled in a formation process that includes prayer, dialogue, instruction, and introduction to the Church’s life and values, rituals and tradition. Call the parish office for more information.
Marriage St. Mary Parish rejoices with parishioners who are preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony. The Church requires at least four months’ time before the marriage for adequate preparation. A parish wedding information packet is available at the parish office.
Ministry of Care Ministers of Care visit the homes of the sick, homebound, or hospitalized and bring Holy Communion to them. Call the parish office when a pastoral visit is desired. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered by the parish priest upon request.
New parishioners We welcome new members who wish to worship with us and support the parish’s work and mission. Please call the parish office to schedule a time to register. A complete listing of parish services and organizations is available at the parish office.
Mass
Saturday 5:00 PM
Sunday 7:30 AM 9:30 AM 11:30 AM
Weekday Monday—Friday
8:00 AM
PARISH EMERGENCEY 847-813-7324
22333 W. ERHART ROAD •MUNDELEIN, ILLINOIS 60060 PARISH NUMBER 847-223-0010 •WWW.STMARYFC.ORG
