St. Bernard Parish Page 2 Homer Glen, Illinois

Mass Intentions For the Week December 14 ~ December 22

Saturday, December 14

4:30 PM †John Serevino

Sunday, Dec 15 Third Sunday Advent

8:30 AM †Mary Ellen Ryan

10:00 AM †Richard Gerard

11:30 AM †Karen King

Monday, December 16 Immaculate Conception

9:00 AM †Anthony & Frances Cecich

Tuesday, December 17

9:00 AM Communion Service

Wednesday, December 18

9:00 AM †Deceased Members &

Benefactors of the Augustinians

Thursday, December 19

9:00 AM The People of St. Bernard’s

Friday, December 20

9:00 AM †Kenneth Krivickas

Saturday, December 21

4:30 PM †Aleksandra Kubit

†Bridget Daly

Sunday, Dec 22 Fourth Sunday Advent

8:30 AM †Ben Armijo

10:00 AM †Sharon Grill

11:30 AM †Kate Ludwig

Today’s Readings

First Reading - The barren deserts will rejoice and

flower. Tired bodies will receive strength.

Aching hearts will be made glad.

(Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10)

Psalm - Lord, come and save us. (Psalm 146)

Second Reading - Be patient, for the coming

of the Lord is as sure as the rain.

(James 5:7-10)

Gospel - Tell of what you hear and see: The blind

regain their vision, the crippled their

movement, the deaf their hearing.

(Matthew 11:2-11)The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969,

1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights

reserved.

HOMER HOPES

I am frequently asked to sign a form for a

person attesting that he/she is an active

Catholic so that he/she can be a godpar-

ent or sponsor for the Baptism or Confirma-

tion of a child. But so often the person

making the request, in fact, is NOT an active Catholic. He

or she may be a very nice person, very involved in the

civic community, or a favorite aunt or uncle, but not an

active Catholic. Maybe they were baptized Catholic but

have not been active in the Church for a long time. So,

to ask me to sign such a form would be asking me to lie.

A sponsor or godparent for a sacrament in our Catholic

community is supposed to be a good example of what it

means to be an active Catholic.

And what is an “active Catholic” today? First of all, it

does not mean a perfect Catholic. We are all sinners striv-

ing to become saints. So, no one should be surprised that

we all fall short of any definition of active Catholic from

time to time.

We always used to use the six precepts of the Church

to help us identify an active Catholic. (Google them if

you forgot them and see if you are measuring up.) But in

our modern, secular and hectic world, we may need

some new perspectives.

The Eucharist is still an essential mark of our Catholic

community. It is “the source and summit” of our spiritual

identity and relationship to Christ. Yet, so many of our

Catholics no longer attend Mass. So, to expect them to

go from NEVER attending to attending EVERY Sunday

may be a tall order.

I have frequently suggested – hopefully in a pastoral

and non-judgmental way - that folks who have fallen

away should try to attend Sunday Mass at least more of-

ten than not. That would mean joining the community for

Mass at least a couple times a month. From my experi-

ence, this would be the minimum for someone to consid-

er himself/herself an “active Catholic.”

I would also encourage the “fallen away” Catholic to

become involved in some service effort of the communi-

ty, if he/she is not already.

For someone to be an active Catholic, he/she needs

to demonstrate a sincere appreciation for these two key

elements of our faith—Eucharist and service. Anything less

for a baptized Catholic makes him/her an “inactive”

Catholic, one who may be a good person and still ac-

cess the services of the Church (e.g., last rites, funeral,

Christmas & Easter, etc.) but probably not a good pro-

spect to be a sponsor or godparent for a young child.

Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA

Pastor

Third Sunday of Advent Page 3 December 15, 2019

Readings for the Week of December 15, 2019

Sunday Third Sunday of Advent

Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; Jas 5:7-10;

Mt 11:2-11

Monday Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc,

8-9; Mt 21:23-27

Tuesday Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17;

Mt 1:1-17

Wednesday Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25

Thursday Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17;

Lk 1:5-25

Friday Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38

Saturday St. Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor of the Church

Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12,

20-21; Lk 1:39-45

Sunday Fourth Sunday of Advent

Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Rom 1:1-7;

Mt 1:18-24

Pray For Our Sick Relatives and Friends † † † †

"Life is precious, handle with prayer."

For the sick, especially

Deacon Chris McCaffrey, Jeff Korkus, Dan Kardar,

Susan Strzyz, Richard Panush, Mike Urbanik,

Danny & Frank Sapyta, Patricia Reilly, Bill Jacobs,

Irene & Darrold Stenson, Jodi Musselman, Ed Glorioso,

Marlys Ptak, Michael Reid, Arlene Stengl, Margaret Blazek,

Brian Raimondi, Kathleen Vanderplow, Al Wanninger,

Iolene Holland, Mandy Semenik, Judy Riley, Bernie Smith,

Jonathan Cannon, Maryann & Hank Owen,

Kathleen Reese, Lois King, Jody Fuchy, Sandra Pope,

Louise Karkula, Karen Horting, Winifred Kasper,

Evelyn Lopezalles, Dorothy Johnson,

Ray & Barb Nino, Mike Nino, Megan Guinea,

Jeremiah & Teresa McMahon, and Rich Waliczek, Jr.

† † † †

Christmas Eve/Day Liturgy Sign up sheets for Altar Servers, Proclaim-

ers, Eucharistic Ministers and Ushers for the

Christmas Eve and Day Masses are located

at the end of the Holy Family Table. Mass

times are 3:00pm, 5:00pm & 10:00pm on

Christmas Eve; 9:00am & 11:00am on Christ-

mas Day. Please prayerfully consider filling in

an opening.

Christmas Flowers &

Decorations

You are invited to contribute to the church’s

Christmas flowers, greenery, and decorations

through a memorial gift. The designated enve-

lope in your church envelope packet for December has the

special line designation “In Memory Of” on the back. Extra

envelopes for the Christmas Flowers may be found at the

church entrances. For each deceased person (or couple) you

would like remembered, we suggest an offering of $5 or more.

Just drop the envelope into the collection basket anytime dur-

ing Advent. The names of all those memorialized will be listed

in the bulletin the weekend after Christmas.

Thank You! For the generous support you have shown

to St Coletta’s in our Thanksgiving food drive.

Because of your generosity, we’ve collected

many bags of food and household items for

their clients (see the pictures below!). St. Co-

letta’s relies upon the generous support of

people like us and they are grateful for our

help.

If you would like to learn more about their

programs and services, volunteer opportuni-

ties or schedule a tour, please contact them

at information@stcolettail.org or visit their

website at www.stcolettail.org.

St. Bernard Parish Page 4 Homer Glen, Illinois

This Week at St. Bernard’s (*See Article)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

4:30pm Charitable Action Ministry

6:00pm Knights of Columbus Christmas

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

11:30am Happy Hours

4:30pm R.E. Grades 1-3

7:00pm R.E. Grades 4-6

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

4:30pm Children’s Choir

7:00pm Adult Choir

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

7:00pm Advent Penance Service at OMGC

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

9:00am Delivery to St. Benedict

3:30pm Confessions

SUNDAY, DEC. 22 FOURTH SUNDAY ADVENT

3:00pm Christmas Decor

Liturgical Ministers for the Weekend of December 21st

and December 22nd

(names subject to change)

Date Saturday, December 21

4:30pm Sunday, December 22

8:30am Sunday, December 22

10:00am Sunday, December 22

11:30am

Presider Fr. Jerry Nicholas, OSA Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA Fr. Pat Tucker Fr. Pat Tucker

Proclaimers Jim Gow

Mary Gow Teri Gruca

Ralph Barzditis Jean Bak

Sandy Weber Judy Timmel

Connie Wojcik

Eucharistic

Ministers

Eileen Roe Rose Niemiec

Gina Kazmierczak Jim Gow

Dorothy Pachuta Deacon Kevin Jeanie Pecor

Joe Bard Jim Paruskiewicz

Pam Santucci Marie Cozzie Patti Smejkal

Lori Paruszkiewicz Betty Drzal

Phil Meegan Marian Schouten Mary Jo O’Connor

Pat Carlucci Carol Day

Jurate Harris Greg Grill

Shawn Felgenhauer Michael DeFilippis Therese Gasienica

Altar

Servers

Rebecca Kazmierczak Hanna Rasmussen

K. Nissen K. Nissen

Deacon Kevin

Sharing Tree 2019 Please note: If you chose a Green or Red

Star, those items are to be re-

turned THIS weekend, Dec. 14/15.

This deadline is imperative for the

timely delivery of the items to the

recipients, for Christmas.

Thank you for taking the time

to support St. Benedict’s in the

Englewood neighborhood in Chicago, and

the families in need around us.

This Photo

St. Bernard’s Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lector / Proclaimers, & Usher /

Greeters…..

It is time to share with me your dates you WISH to serve

or CANNOT serve in the new year, JANUARY, FEBRUARY &

MARCH. My firm deadline is Monday, DECEMBER 16th @

5:00 PM.

I will send your schedules by email as soon as I put the

new schedule together.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US IN MINISTRIES AT MASS,

we would love to have you begin for this New Year. Let me

know; we will train you.

Deacon Kevin Ryan

St. Bernard Parish

(708) 927-5204 (Cell / Text)

stbdeacon@comcast.net (office email address)

deaconkib@comcast.net (Cell phone email address)

Oplatki - Christmas Wafers

The Christmas Wafer (Oplatki)

commemorates a custom many centuries

old. It is a tradition among Polish, Slovak and

Lithuanian families, which has been

adopted by many other ethnic groups.

We have a limited amount remaining of the Christmas

Wafers (Oplatki) available in the foyer. Suggested

donation is $4.00 per package.

“May the blessing of almighty God the Father, Son and

Holy Spirit come down upon all who partake of this wafer.

May he grant us peace in our lives, length of our days and

joy in all we do. Amen.”

Third Sunday of Advent Page 5 December 15, 2019

Baptisms

Griffin Carter was Baptized at

St. Bernard’s on November 30, 2019.

Congratulations to the Guzan Family!

Griffin Carter Guzan, son of

Breanne (Chentnik) & Brad Guzan

Parish Finances

Fiscal Year July 1, 2019—June 30, 2020

Budgeted Weekly Amount……………….......$11,977.55

Collection for December 8…………….….......$9,430.49

Online Giving Week of December 2..............$3,158.00

Total for December 8…..................................$12,588.49

Budgeted Weekly YTD……….……..…..…....$265,665.65

Total Actual Year to Date…….…..…………$243,621.05

We Give Thanks to the Lord for your Generosity!

Looking Ahead: Planning Your

Christmas Mass Attendance…

For Christmas Masses last year, additional chairs

were added to the worship space to accommodate

about 700. We will attempt to do the same this year.

To help you and your family plan your Christmas Mass

attendance, we share with you the numbers in at-

tendance at last year’s Christmas Masses:

Christmas Eve

1st Mass -- 639

2nd Mass – 504

10:00 pm -- 404

Christmas Day

9:00 am -- 326

11:00 am -- 495

The first Mass of Christmas Eve everywhere is al-

ways packed, especially with our many Christmas

visitors. If your schedule allows, we encourage you to

consider attending one of the less crowded Masses

to help St. Bernard’s accommodate as many as pos-

sible this Christmas.

This year, the Adult Music Ministry will sing at the

3pm Christmas Eve Mass with Caroling starting at

2:30; the Adult Music Ministry will sing again at the

9:00 am Mass on Christmas Day. The Children’s Choir

will sing at the 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass with carol-

ing starting at about 4:30.

Keeping Christ in

Christmas Poster Contest

The Knights of Columbus ‘Keeping

Christ In Christmas Poster Contest’

winners have been selected. The K

of C chose 1st & 2nd place winners from each grade

level at St. Bernard and Our Mother of Good Coun-

cil Parishes. Congratulations to the following stu-

dents were the winners from St. Bernards:

1st Place – Julia Farley – 1st Grade

1st Place – Jessica Kwiatkowski – 6th Grade

1st Place – Christina Misura – 8th Grade

2nd Place – Megan Marusarz – 3rd Grade

2nd Place – Hannah Farley – 4th Grade

The above winners received a trophy at our

12/11/19 Religious Ed class.

All the posters will now be sent on to Springfield to

be judged in the state competition. Good luck to

all!

Share the Care Thank You! Religious give thanks. “‘Thank you’ hardly seems ad-

equate to convey what it means to us,” says a Cath-

olic sister of the financial assistance her community

received from the Retirement Fund for Religious.

Prayer-filled thanks for your donation to last

week’s collection for our retired and infirmed Reli-

gious nuns and priests!

ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS

St. Bernard’s along with Our Mother of Good

Counsel Parish will join together for a Reconciliation

Service to be held on Friday, December 20 at

7:00pm at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church,

16043 S. Bell Rd., Homer Glen.

Please prepare early for this great feast of Christ-

mas and join the parish family in receiving the Sac-

rament of Reconciliation.

INDIVIDUAL CONFESSIONS FOR CHRISTMAS AT ST. BERNARD’S

Individual confessions will be heard Saturday,

December 21 from 3:00pm to 3:45pm.

Sunday and Holy Day Masses celebrated at

St. Bernard’s Church Campus, 13030 W. 143rd St. (Just west of Bell Rd.)

Saturday Evening Mass ...........................................................................................4:30 PM

Sunday Mass ............................................................................. 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30 AM.

Holy Day Mass ..........................................................................As announced in bulletin.

Weekday Mass ........................................................................................................ 9:00 AM

(Communion service on Tuesday)

St. Bernard Parish DirectoryPARISH OFFICE

14135 Parker Road

Homer Glen, IL 60491-9692

Tele: (708) 301-3020 Fax: (708) 301-0738

Email: st.bernardsrectory@comcast.net

https://stbernardhg.org

Office Hours

Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Religious Education Office

14135 Parker Road

Homer Glen, IL 60491-9692

Email: st.bernardsrep@comcast.net

Pastor ....................................... Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA

jmccosa@gmail.com

Pastor Emeritus………………….……….Fr. Martin Gabel

Deacon............................................Deacon Kevin Ryan

deaconkib@comcast.net

Coordinator of Religious Ed .............Mrs. Margie Wilson

st.bernardsrep@comcast.net

Director of Music Ministry....................... Mrs. Julie Kane

music.saintbernard@gmail.com

Business Manager……………………...Mrs. Patricia Bass

st.bernardsbusmgr@comcast.net

Parish Secretary.............................. Mrs. Mary Ponschke

st.bernardsrectory@comcast.net

Web Master………………………….Mr. Connor Jennings

bernardparish1978@aol.com

St. Bernard’s appreciates the assistance of the

following priests:

Fr. John Merkelis, OSA; Fr. Joe Mostardi, OSA;

Fr. Terry Deffenbaugh, OSA; Fr. Kevin Mullins, OSA;

Fr. James Halstead, OSA; Fr. Jerry Nicholas, OSA;

Fr. John Sponder; Fr. Ed Mikolaczyk

Religious Education ClassesContact Office

BaptismsParents are expected to be registered in the parish, and are required to register for and attend a Baptism Preparation Program before scheduling the Baptism.

ConfessionsOn Saturdays as scheduled in the bulletin (generally first and third Saturdays at 3:30pm) and at any time upon request.

MarriageMarriages should be arranged at least 6 months in advance. CHURCH ARRANGEMENTS ARE TO BE MADE FIRST.

FuneralsArrangements for a funeral are made with the Rectory through the Funeral Director.

Sick CallsCall the Rectory at any time. If there is anyone at home who cannot get to Mass or the Sacraments because of illness or advanced age, please let Father know.

Hospital CallsIf you or one of your Catholic neighbors is entering the hospital, please let us know. Time and distance permitting we will do our best to visit you.

Parish BoundariesNorth: 135th Street; East: Will-Cook Road; South: 151st Street; West: King Road and its extension.

New ParishionersAll new families are welcome and should be registered in the parish. This may be done by visiting or calling the Rectory.

Mass Times at our Sister Parish

Our Mother of Good Counsel

16032 S. Bell Rd., Homer Glen, IL

Weekdays Monday - Friday….....8:00 AM

Saturday…………...………………...5:00 PM

Sunday………..……………...8:30,10:30 AM

Search “St. Bernard Parish Homer Glen” and give us a like to keep

yourself up to date with parish

events, an-nouncements, reminders, and

more!

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