3rd Sunday of Lent March 11, 2012
Saint Robert BellarmineSaint Robert Bellarmine Parish Mission Statement We are a diverse Catholic community of genera ons, experiencing the living God and reflec ng our faith in ac on with one another.
Page Two 3rd Sunday of Lent March 11, 2012
MON. March 12 8:30 am Roman Karwat, Janet Jakobze
TUES. March 13 8:30 am Robert LaPlume, Adeline Davis
WED. March 14 8:30 am Anna Koestner
THURS. March 15 8:30 am Dennis Kroll, Nancy Smith
FRI. March 16 8:30 am Margaret Rybicki, Don Davis
SAT. March 17, Saint Patrick 8:30 am Anna Minogue, Brenda Casey, Special Intentions 5:00 pm Mariaelena Munoz, Casmier Hojnacki, Louis & Alice Tortorelli, Aloysius Stankiewicz
SUN. March 18, Fourth Sunday of Lent 8:00 am Anne Kowalski, Robert LaPlume, Agnes Graham 10:00 am People of St. Robert Bellarmine 12:00pm Special Intentions, Leo Puralewski Jr.
F inancia l Stewardship
3/4/12 Sunday Offertory $ 8,886 Lenten Almsgiving $ 459 Sharing $ 75
Thank you for your generosity!
Our Sympathy and Prayers for all who have passed away.
We pray for our recently deceased… Michael P. Binkley
Theresa Priebe-Ogata
Third Sunday of Lent
Today’s first reading continues the theme of Covenant. A covenant is a mutually binding agreement that commits both parties to one another. The first two weeks of Lent we read covenants given to Noah and Abraham. Now we hear the covenant God gives to Moses on Mount Sinai to all the Israelites. This covenant, the Ten Commandments, is the corner stone of God’s relationship with his people. The Commandments govern right relationships. The Israelites agree to abide by the Commandments and God agrees that they will be his people and that he will always be with them. St. Paul asks the Corinthians to believe in the promise of Christ crucified. He calls the gospel a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. To the Jews because they are looking for a triumphant Messiah, not a dead one. And to the Greeks because they seek wisdom on human terms. Paul declares that the foolishness of God is wiser than human wis-dom. In the gospel Jesus drives the moneylenders from the temple because they have made a marketplace out of his Father’s house. When asked for a sign he promises to rebuild the Temple in three days. The Jews misunderstand, be-cause the Temple took 46 years to build. But Jesus is speaking about the Temple of his body.
Exodus 20: 1-17 1 Corinthians 1: 22-25 John 2: 13-25
Third Sunday of Lent — 10 a.m. Mass
Beginning today and continuing for three consecutive weeks we celebrate the Scrutiny Rites with our RCIA Elect. The readings from Cycle A are always used for the Scrutiny masses since these gospels reflect the Lenten journey of the Elect (and ourselves) toward a deeper relationship with God through these rituals. Today we hear the gospel of the Woman at the Well. She encounters a thirsty Jesus looking for something to drink. Through their dialog she comes to believe that he is the Messiah, the source of the living water that leads to eternal life. Through her witness the towns-people, too, come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. They come to see for themselves and are converted, no longer on the woman’s testimony but because they hear Jesus’ words for themselves.
Exodus 17: 3-7 Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8 John 4: 5-42
After all Masses in the Vestibule
From the Pastor’s Desk
Our scriptures today relate the Covenant that God makes with his people and our response to God’s invitation to partici-pate in this Covenant. The readings parallel our Lenten journey inviting us to go more deeply into our relationship with God. In the first reading God gives Moses and the Israelites the Ten Commandments. This is both a moral code for con-duct and a definition of our relationship with God. In the gospel Jesus condemns abuses of our relationship to God and promises his own resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s promise to his people. As we begin this third week of Lent the Scriptures call us to examine our own relationship with God and how we follow the Covenant in our own lives.
It always helps to begin with faith. St. Paul tells us that the cross is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. A stumbling block because the Jews were looking for a Davidic Messiah to restore the power and glory of Isra-el. Foolishness to the Greeks who are looking for wisdom, a rational philosophy for living. St. Paul proclaims Christ as the power and wisdom of God. We are asked, ‘Do you believe this?’ St. Paul is telling us that the weakness of God, Jesus’ total self-denial, is stronger than worldly power; and that the foolishness of God, Jesus’ trust in the power of un-conditional love, is wiser than any human philosophy. To make this the premise of our lives requires faith and trust.
The Old Testament readings thus far invite the people to see their relationship with God as a way of living. Starting with God’s promise to Noah not to destroy the world because of human sin, continuing with the promise to Abraham to create a prosperous nation of his descendants to today's readings where the people have been delivered from slavery in Egypt. It is no accident that God gives Moses the Commandments at this time, before they are to enter the promised Land. Are they willing to accept the covenant responsibilities as God’s faithful people? If so, they will enter into the Promised Land and be God’s special people. If not, they will not be allowed to enter into the kingdom.
The Ten Commandments are a minimum standard of behavior that, if followed as a code of conduct, will create outward harmony in the social order. Jesus tells us to love God with all our hearts; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the inner spirituality that moves beyond the letter of the law to a self-giving love that gives life to all our relationships. Simply avoiding the commission of outwardly evil acts does not put us in right relationship with others or with God.
Jesus makes this clear in the gospel. In the outer temple there are animal sellers and moneychangers providing services for the pilgrims. The animals are bought as offerings to God as dictated in the law. The money changers provide the local currency required for the temple treasury. The Levites (the priests) were not given a share in the land that God gave to the people. Rather the people were to support the temple and the priests out of the first fruits of the land. So these commercial practices were performed according to the law. However, Jesus condemns them because they abused their privilege and thus lacked any true spiritual meaning. The temple had become a marketplace not a place of worship.
What God asks is true worship from the heart. The scripture, quoting Psalm 69, says that Jesus was consumed with zeal for his Father’s house. He shows the depths of his zeal (his enthusiasm, his love for God) on the cross. The Father shows his fidelity to Jesus in the resurrection and the ascension. This is the promise made to us as well.
In order to make that promise real in our lives we have to obey the commandments outwardly and make the spiritual love of God and neighbor the driving force and motivation for our actions and attitudes. The season of Lent calls us to examine how well we live this Covenant relationship with the Lord. Concretely, do I spend time with God in prayer and communal worship? Do I work for social justice, honoring God’s command to take care of the poor and the marginal-ized? Do I seek forgiveness and make amends for the wrongs I have done? Do I offer forgiveness and compassion to those who have wronged me? Do I have zeal for God, a love that underlies the way I live my life?
The St. Patrick’s Day Party was a wonderful time, with good friends, good music and good food. Thank you to Rose Ann Loch, the Parents Association and all the volunteers for their hard work.
The Parish Mission will be held this week, Monday through Wednesday evenings at St. Pascal. This is a wonderful opportunity for some uplifting spiritual nourishment for our Lenten journey, Details are on page four.
Girl Scout Sunday will be celebrated next weekend at the 10 a.m. mass. They will be active in the liturgy and receive a special blessing. They will also be selling cookies after all the masses.
Today our RCIA Elect are celebrating the first of three rites during Lent on their journey to the Easter sacraments. An explanation of these rites can be found on page four. Please keep our Elect in your prayers.
Have a great week. Sincerely, Fr. Neil
March 11, 2012 3rd Sunday of Lent Page Three
Page Four 3rd Sunday of Lent March 11, 2012
WHAT IS A SCRUTINY AND PRESENTATION?
Over the next three Sundays, we will celebrate the scrutiny rites and present our RCIA Elect with “gifts”. The Scrutinies are celebrated in Lent because they are a final preparation for the Easter Sacraments, but also be-cause Lent is a time of prayer and repentance for all Catholics. “The scrutinies are meant to uncover and then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong and good.” This wording from the book of Rites explains that what we guide the Elect through in these scrutinies is also what each of us is trying to pray about in our own experience of Lent. Their visible celebration of these Rites guides all of us to look deeper into what is weak or broken in our own hearts, and to look to our faith and the community around us to help us strengthen and remind of us of all that is good and upright in us. At the end of two of the Scrutinies, the Elect are given “gifts”. The first is the Creed, the second is the Lord’s Prayer. These are symbolic gifts. We recite them as a community. What they give evidence of is our communal commitment to not only walk with them on their journey, but to be faithful to our own journey. The Creed and the Lord’s Prayer also symbolize that our faith is rooted in our beliefs and our relationship with God. As you participate in these Rites through Lent, prayerfully open your own hearts to the call to heal and stand upright before God.
Daily Reflections The “Little Black Book” of Lenten Daily Reflections
will be available in church at no charge
Evening Prayer Services Tuesday at 7 p.m. March 20
Join us for a time of reflection and prayer
Reconciliations Saturday 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
March 10, 17, 24
Parish Reconciliation Service Tuesday, March 27 at 7p.m.
Stations of the Cross Friday 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
March 16, 23, 30* (7 p.m. only on March 23)
(*Living Stations led by the Teen Group)
Novena Tuesdays, March 20, 27 at 6:30 p.m. (No Novena on March 13 or April 3)
Anointing of the Sick
Saturday, March 31 at 9 a.m.
Holy Week begins on
Saturday, March 31
Please Join Us and Experience the Season of Lent!
One Mission - Four Parishes Saint Bartholomew, Saint Robert Bellarmine
Our Lady of Victory & Saint Pascal
Monday, March 12 Tuesday, March 13
Wednesday - March 14 at 7:00 PM
At Saint Pascal
3935 North Melvina (Irving Park Road and Melvina)
A Lenten Mission presented by Reverend Pat Brennan
Father Pat is currently the chaplain at the Clare House. He has previously been the Director of Evangelization for the
Archdiocese of Chicago and the pastor of Holy Family Par-ish in Inverness. Father Pat is an author,
mission speaker, and tremendous preacher.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word will take place each night.
Teen Nite after Tuesday Mission.
Prayer, Preaching, Sacraments and Hospitality for All Ages!
March 11, 2012 3rd Sunday of Lent Page Five
St. Joseph’s Feast and Sweet Table March 24th and 25th
Did you know that the St. Joseph’s Table is an ancient tradition which started in the Middle Ages after a major famine in Sicily, Italy? The people asked St. Joseph to pray on their behalf to God for rain. When the rains came they gave thanks to St. Joseph and to God by sharing the bounty of their crops with the poor throughout their community. Today the St. Joseph Table tradition is a way of giving thanks for all of our blessings. It is a chance to share the bounty of our lives with those who have none.
This year our St. Robert Bellarmine St. Joseph Feast and Sweet Table will take place on Saturday, March 24th after 5pm Mass and Sweet Table only after all mass on Sunday, March 25th. We invite all of our Parish Family to contribute in any way possible. Baked goods are especially needed for the Table. If you can bake, set up, sell items or just come and purchase the wonderful handmade breads and sweets you will be making a difference. All proceeds help support the STRETCH Fund with covers outreach efforts to needy families in our parish.
If you can help, please fill out the form below and return it to the rectory or school office marked “Attn: Parish Pastoral Council.”
Thank you for your Generosity!
Name and Phone ____________________________________________ Please check all that apply – your help is greatly appreciated. _____ I will donate a baked item. (Nothing that needs refrigeration please.) (Drop off Friday, March 23 4-8pm or Saturday, March 24th 1-4pm) _____ I can help on Friday, March 23rd for Set-Up (anytime between 4pm and 7pm) _____ I can help on Saturday, March 24th to receive baked goods (anytime between 1pm and 4pm) _____ I can help on Saturday, March 24th after the 5pm Mass. _____ I can help on Sunday, March 25th after the _____ 8:00 Mass _____ 10:00 Mass _____ 12:00 Mass
Conversations on Faith March 22 at 7 p.m.
Exploring the Creed
What do we mean when we say, “We Believe”?
We say we believe all kinds of things when we recite the Creed in Mass. This evening will give us a chance to explore the creed, what the words mean, why our church chose to include them in the creed. We will spend some time looking at the changes to the language that occurred with the new Roman Missal. It will be a little bit of history, a little bit of theology, but mostly a time to remind ourselves what is most important to us in our faith, and why we practice our faith at all. In the Church Volunteers will read stories to kids in the cry room! Conversations on Faith are part of the Adult Education at St. Robert Bellarmine. We believe that we are always learn-ing what it means to be an adult in the church. No matter how “grown up” we are, we can still Grow in our Faith.
Page Six 3rd Sunday of Lent March 11, 2012
SSSAVEAVEAVE THETHETHE DDDATEATEATE!!!
St. Robert Bellarmine’s
3rd Annual Comedy Night
Saturday May 19th at 6 p.m.
ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE GRADUATES
NOTRE DAME COLLEGE PREP
Congratulations to the following graduates who were recently named to the Honor Roll for the first semester of the 2011-2012 school year at Notre Dame College Prep.
Summa Cum Laude: GPA of 3.80 or better with no grade lower than a C- Patrick Hennelly, Michael Kelly, Michael Kestler and Eric Wilson.
Magna Cum Laude: GPA of 3.50 through 3.79 with no grade lower than a C- Joseph Kukla.
Cum Laude: GPA of 3.20 through 3.49 with no grade lower than a C- Klalil Haddad III, Rory O’Neill and Alexander Van Atta.
GUERIN PREP, 8001 W. BELMONT presents the musical
Guys and Dolls on
Friday, March 30 at 7 pm Saturday, March 31, at 2 pm and 7 pm.
Tickets are $10 at the door.
For more information, please call Ms. Mackie at 708/437-4762.
SSSAVEAVEAVE THETHETHE DDDATEATEATE!!!
ST. ROBERT PARISHIONERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A MASS TAPING AT MERCY HOME FOR BOYS & GIRLS ON SATURDAY MARCH 31, 2012
Transportation and Breakfast included! The Mass will be on TV this autumn, dress appropriately (Fall colors). Bus leaves promptly at 9:30 a.m. from the SRB parking lot! Please call or stop by the rectory to register. Cost is only $10.00…..Seating is limited
FRIDAY FISH FRY’S
St. Ferdinand Parish 3131 N. Mason
Doors open at 4 p.m. Through March 30th
Irish American Heritage Center 4626 N. Knox
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
March 11, 2012 3rd Sunday of Lent Page Seven
St. Robert Bellarmine catholic school
Come see what we do at school!
Visit a Saturday morning Preschool & Kindergarten Open House!
March 10 and April 28 10 am to 12 noon
6036 W. Eastwood Ave. (Eastwood & Austin)
Families can learn about our programs and teachers will give brief presentations in their classrooms.
Children are welcome.
To attend, please RSVP to the school office:
773-725-5133 or [email protected]
Visit srb-chicago.org For more details about curriculum, enrichment
programs, test scores, tuition, athleics, our Summer Program and more.
Page Eight 3rd Sunday of Lent March 11, 2012
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY Edward Bell (Army) Gy. Sgt. Timothy R. Hogan (Marines) Raymond Weernink (Navy) Brig. Gen. Tau’aika ‘Uta ‘atu (Tongan Defense) Captain Dan Allen (Army) Ln. Corporal Kurt Williams (Marines) Mike Janson (Navy) First Lieutenant Brian G. Lutz (Army) Bernard Brennan, (Marines) Pvt. 2 Michael Rosenthal (Army) Martin Durcan (Navy) Pvt. Colleen McDonald (Army) Ewa Dabrowski (Navy) Capt. Kevin P. O’Grady (Air Force) Capt. Daniel C. Ouper (Air Force) Airman Daniel Roger Cimon (Air Force) EM3 Abraham Ubi (Navy) Pvt. 1 Michael Barry (Army) Capt. Patrick J. Collins (Army) Corp. Armando Bolivar (Marines) Sgt. Scott Pekar (Marines) Capt. Albert Eiffes (Air Force) Sgt. Joseph Konieczny (Army Specialist Samuel Stanciel (Army) Specialist Sean Cheker (Army)
Daily Scripture Readings
Monday 2 Kgs 5:1-15b/Lk 4:24-30
Tuesday Dn 3:25, 34-43/Mt 18:21-35
Wednesday Dt 4:1, 5-9
Thursday Jer 7:23-28/Lk 11:14-23
Friday Hos 14:2-10/ Mk 12:28-34
Saturday Hos 6:1-6/Lk 18:9-14
Sunday 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23/Eph 2:4-10/Jn 3:14-21
Weekly Schedule
Monday, March 12 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm Children’s Choir (C)
7 pm - 8:30 pm Parish Lenten Mission @ St. Pascal’s
Tuesday, March 13 7 pm - 8:30 pm Parish Lenten Mission @ St. Pascal’s
Wednesday, March 14 7 pm - 8:30 pm Parish Lenten Mission @ St. Pascal’s
Thursday, March 15 7 pm Choir (MR)
Friday, March 16 2 pm & 7 pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday, March 17 After 5pm Mass - Girl Scout Cookie Sale (V)
Sunday, March 18 After all Masses - Girl Scout Cookie Sale (V)
10 am Girl Scout Mass (C) 12 Noon Mass - R.C.I.A. 2nd Scrutiny
March 17/18, 2012 Mass Presider Servers Lector Auxiliary Ministers
5:00 PM Fr. Fackler L. Kalayil, L. Kalayil,
L. Meyering T. Kerin
E. Stecker, P. Zyburt, P. Fergus, K. Fergus, B. Frere, C. Bell, G. Ignarski
8:00 AM Fr. Fackler J. Brosnan, K. Brosnan,
C. Keane M. Skowron
E. Clarke, P. Harrison, P. Gross, J. Gross, D. Thurber, S. Thurber, N. Hester
10:00 AM Fr. Donahue A. Bonifazi, J. Carlson,
M. Griggs Girl Scouts R. Loch, C, Zaker, D. Porretta
12:00 PM Fr. Donahue B. Greifelt, J. O’Brien,
G. O’ahu Soriano TBD P. Mullane, M. Zaker, A. Smolen
Mass Schedule Weekdays - Monday - Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Weekends - Saturday Evening at 5:00 p.m., Sundays at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 12:00 noon Holy Days - 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Parish Office & Rectory Rev. Neil E. Fackler, Pastor
Rev. Scott Donahue, Resident Rev. Michael A. Goergen, Pastor Emeritus
Tony Delgado, Deacon James Schiltz, Deacon
Virginia Underwood, Secretary Christina Zaker, Adult Education Kathy Goetz, Business Manager
4646 North Austin Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60630
Tel. 773/777-2666 Fax 773/777-2770
Website: www.srb-chicago.org
Religious Education Office
Marilyn Krawczyk, Coordinator Joyce Schoenecker, Admin. Asst.
6036 West Eastwood Avenue Tel. 773/286-0956
St. Robert Bellarmine School
Carrie Mijal, Principal Chris Wilson, Secretary
6036 West Eastwood Avenue Tel. 773/725-5133
Office of Music Director
Jean Tuohy 6036 West Eastwood Avenue
Tel. 773/286-0956
Bulletin Deadline:
Thursday 12 Noon 10 days in advance Submit articles either by
in person at the rectory, fax 773 777-2770 or email at [email protected]
Pulpit Announcement Deadline
Friday by 7:30 p.m. in the rectory.
Rectory Office Hours Monday - Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Closed from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. for lunch)
Saturday - 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday - 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Weddings Arrangements to be made with a priest or deacon
at least six months in advance. Please contact the rectory for date and time
availability before making other arrangements.
Baptisms Celebrated the second and fourth Sunday
at 1:15 p.m. Parents need to register at the rectory office. Please note: there are no baptisms scheduled
during the season of Lent. Preparation Class is on the last Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the rectory.
Confessions/Reconciliations Saturdays 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
or by appointment.
Anointing of the Sick 1st Saturday of the month after the 8:30 a.m. mass.
Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction Third Wednesday of every month.
Adoration begins after 8:30 a.m. mass. Benediction at 5 p.m.
Please sign up at the rectory office.
New Parishioners Welcome to Saint Robert’s!
Please register at the rectory office.
Novena Mother of Perpetual Help Novena is offered on
Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the church.
Recitation of the Rosary Monday through Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
