Volume 2015 No.2, Soring-Summer Marianne McKeague, Editor

Recognize the above header? It’s the header of our new Website: www.stalexander paish.org Check it out! and read about it on page 2.

Fr. Clive celebrated his First Mass at St. Alexander Parish on May 17th, followed by a reception in the hall attended by Father’s friends, and family along with the St. A’s Community.

Our transitional Deacon this past year, now Fr. Clive Otieno, honorored our parish by asking to say his first Mass here! A priest’s First Mass is a special blessing for a parish and the attendees! St. Alexander’s graciously accepted this blessing both at the Mass and at the parish luncheon after.

Fr. Clive’s First Consecration

Fr. Clive’s First Blessings

St. Alexander Parish Rev. Mark Cote, Pastor John Boyle, Deacon Christopher Cochran, Deacon John Gibbons, Deacon Julio Jimenez, Deacon James Krueger, Deacon Matthew Tretina, Deacon Christopher Lankford, transitional deacon

Parish Center 630-833-7730 FAX 630-833-3127

Parish Office Hours M-Th 9-12am and 1-8pm Friday 9am to 1pm Saturday 9-12 noon

Website: www.stalexanderparish.org E-mail: stavpark@hotmail.com Bulletin e-mail: stasbulletin@att.net

Pastoral Associate / Ministry of Care Deacon Christopher Cochran Susan D’Alessandro, Parish Secretary Annmarie Baughman, Parish Registrar Jonell Stetz, Music Coordinator

Faith Formation 630-832-0506

Ann Krueger, Director Denise Renken, FF Secretary E-mail: stasreligioused@att.net

MASS SCHEDULE Monday through Friday 8:30am Saturday 5:00pm Sunday 8:30 and 10:30am Domingo Misa español 6:00pm

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Eternal Father Adoration Chapel 2nd floor , Fr. Kennedy Center 3:00pm Sunday

through 12 midnight Friday

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Attendance at a pre-Baptismal Preparation Class is required. Pre-registration is necessary prior to class. 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month,

12:00pm Bautizmo 3er domingo de mes 12:30pm

SACRAMENT of RECONCILIATION Saturday 4 to 4:45pm Domingo Confesiónes 5:30 to 6pm

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Arrangements must be made

AT LEAST SIX (6) months in advance and before making other arrangements.

NEW PARISHIONERS are always welcome! Please call the office (see above) and ask for a form to be mailed, or go online to the parish website: www.stalexanderparish.org: scroll down to the bottom of the Home Page (to the footer)and under Forms download the Parish Registration form. Return either by mail or drop off at the Parish Office or in the weekend offertory collection.

Page 2 Catch the Spirit, Spring-Summer, 2015

Through our R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) we give thanks for the four people who were graced with the sacraments of initiation at our 2015 Easter Vigil. Please join in welcoming: Erika Castro, Nichol Castro,

Jorge Ortiz and Alyson Wilcek, We are grateful to our sponsors: Betty St. Louis, Merry Snyder, Robert Garbacz, Gregorio Ortiz, Margo Rodriguez, Margie Perez, and the Catechetical Team of Linda Siebolds, Larry Elmore, and Deacon Chris Cochran. In addition 5 young people also received their sacraments: Roberto Alcala, Ariana Gil, Mariestrella Huerta, Laila Teran and Lizbeth Volante.

Usually this issue of the newsletter has a special feature on the events of Holy Week, with accompanying pictures; at left is our Easter altar this year. However, from Easter to the feast of Pentecost, the complete picture story of Holy Week and Easter 2015 at St. Alexander’s was on

our new website: www.stalexanderparish.org

in the scrolling banner across the top of the Home Page. Currently, that banner is featuring the stained glass windows in our church. The goal is to change this scrolling banner every few months

to feature various aspects or events of our church, and our parish. Our past 4 or 5 bulletins are also available in case you missed one, or need to refer to something. (You may need to move your mouse to the upper right of the cover to the pop-out icon tt to read the inside pages.) The site has a host of new accessibility features: in addition to being accessible on cell phones, etc., by choosing a language at the upper left, it can be read in English or Spanish. A search button at the upper right can search all pages for a particular word or phrase. There are direct links to our Bulletins/Newsletters, our ‘Catholic Store’ and in Catholic News links to our Diocese, Deanery, etc., even the Vatican and the Pope’s Twitter. In Our Parish are links to pages on Spiritual Life Ministries, Sacraments, our Parish Council and Administration, Outreach Ministries and History. Each week, the Home Page features a message from Fr. Mark, or one of the deacons, or elsewhere. At the bottom of the Main Page, is news of three upcoming events. These will also be changed to reflect the events of our many ministries and organizations. By the time this issue reaches you, we hope that our Parish Calendar, now “Under Construction” will also be available for you.

Catch the Spirit, Spring-Summer, 2015 Page 3

Welcome, Deacon Christopher Lankford!

Saturday, September 26 followed by a Luncheon in the Gathering Space hosted by the

Council of Catholic Women.

Save the date for the Mass of the Anointing

(his autobiography as of August, 2014; thus many references are from 2014, and not current) I’m the youngest one in my family. My mother, Theresa, is a Registered Nurse for the Illinois Department of Public Health and my father, Steven, works as a member of the Technical Services Team at the Elmhurst Public Library. I also have one older sister named Stephanie. She is married to Matthew Gollan. They currently live in Irvine, California, and just had their first child, Grace. I've wanted to be a priest since I was 4 years old. There was a priest at my parish when I was very young who always talked to my family after Mass. It was his talking to my family and me every Sunday and just being a friendly person that planted the seeds of a vocation in my heart. I went to Notre Dame School for Pre-K - 8th grade. In 5th grade I became an Altar Server. This had a huge impact on my vocation. After Notre Dame I attended Hinsdale Central High School. In my high school years I became an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, helped in the training of new altar servers, and served as Master of Ceremonies for the Easter Triduum. It was in 2008 at the ordination of three new priests that the Holy Spirit really gave my heart the push to try seminary. Seeing the ordination reignited all the feelings and desires about wanting to become a priest that I had previously. Before the ordination my mind was pretty much set on going to College of DuPage. I had thought about studying culinary or criminal justice, but at the very least getting some of my core classes taken care of. However, when Mass was over I talked to a seminarian I met at St. John Vianney College Seminary when I had visited the campus in 2007. We got talking about how after seeing the ordination, I really felt the

desire to go to seminary, but how I thought it was too late to apply since it was already June. He reminded me “It is never too late!” So I asked Fr. Burke for an application, applied, was accepted, and the rest is history! This past year I finished my 6th year of seminary. It was quite an exciting year. For the majority of my second semester I lived at St. Matthew Parish in Glendale Heights. This was part of the internship program Mundelein Seminary has seminarians do during their second year of theology. It was a wonderful experience. I met so many great new people and families, was able to minister in a parish setting, and I feel my vocation to the priesthood was even further confirmed! This summer I'm currently participating in the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at Elmhurst Hospital. It is an opportunity to be a chaplain in a hospital for 11 weeks and experience pastoral ministry in that setting hands on. I have had a lot of powerful moments during my CPE experience and have truly been able to see the healing hand of God at work in his people.

Saturday, August 1 Joliet Diocesan CCW Leadership Day Thursday, September 10: Salad Supper and 2015 Service Awards Presentation Saturday, September 26: Host and Serve the Luncheon after the Parish Mass of the Anointing

Deanery Fall Gathering, time and place TBA For details on any/all of the above, contact Joyce Splan, joyce117@comcast.net or 279-6740

Our CCW website: http://www.stalexanderparish.org/ Our Parish/Outreach Ministries/CCW has information on the above plus our current board, a review of our recent events (including a few slide shows of them), our upcoming events, ongoing ministries, programs and projects, web site statistics and archives.

Page 4 Catch the Spirit, Spring-Summer, 2015

We are proud to announce Elizabeth (Betty) St. Louis as

2015 CCW Woman of the Year!

Born in Chicago, she, (2nd oldest of 12 children), her parents and siblings moved to North Villa Park and initially became members of St. Alexander’s Parish where she attended grades 1 and 2. They soon transferred to the newly established St. Joseph Parish in Addison before the church building was erected. She completed grade school at St. Joseph and high school at Immaculate Conception High School. Betty attained her nursing diploma at St. Anne’s Hospital, Chicago and her Nursing Degree from Marquette University where she met Jim. They were married in 1975 and upon completion of his teaching degree they moved to Villa Park. As parishioners since 1978, their three sons; Jake, Adam and Nathanial attended and completed their elementary education at St. Alexan-der’s. Betty served a term as treasurer of the Parent’s Club during that time. Betty’s nursing career began at Elmhurst Hospital. Many of us saw her there in the 38 years before her recent retire-ment. Jim and Betty were on the Baptism Team and she was a sponsor for RCIA in 2003, 2005 and is doing so again in 2014-15. Betty has been a Eucharistic Minister for 8 years and now leads the Sunday Evening Bible Study. Betty has supported the Council of Catholic Women by attending many of their events and programs. Last year she was a model in the fashion show for the Spring Luncheon, and in 2014, her crockpot of Chili took a prize in the Knights of Columbus/CCW Chili Cook-Off, the first woman to do so! Betty’s leadership talents blossomed when she attended CRHP in 2006, then Lay Director in 2007 and Spiritual Di-rector for many years following. As if her numerous ministries were not enough, her tireless spirit has her dedicated to the Casserole Ministry and her quest for increased spirituality has led her to deliver the Eucharist to a homebound friend each Sunday directly after the 8:30 am Mass. Since Jim died in 2009, Betty spends much of her valuable time with her grandchildren; Sophie and Carter. Betty has a deep spirituality and is forever grateful to the loving parishioners of St. A’s who embraced her with warmth and love during her time of grief in 2009.

Congratulations, Betty, and thank you for your leadership and dedication to your many St. A’s ministries.

Betty Sulita St. LouisSt. Alexander Woman of the Year

2015

Betty in her roles as St. A’s WOY: CCW rep at Holy Thursday celebration; Spring Luncheon honoree, May Crowner

Betty receives her WOY certificate

from Bishop Siegel...

...and a blessing from Fr. Mark.

Catch the Spirit, Spring-Summer, 2015 Page 5

Eternal Father Chapel of Eucharistic Adoration St. Alexander Eternal Father Adoration Chapel will celebrate its 17th year anniversary this June! Our doors opened in June of 1998 allowing anyone to come and adore our Lord in His Chapel almost every day and night throughout the years. The Chapel is open from Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM through Friday evenings at Midnight. Please stop in to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Do you have a loved one whom you would like to honor or a family name you would like to commemorate? To aid in refurbishing and beautifying the Chapel, donations are gratefully accepted

and your dedication will be honored. Current donations total over $9,000. Our goal is $20,000 which will allow for asbestos abatement of the floor, new flooring, additional lighting and reconditioning of the pews. Donations up to $100 will be honored in a Remembrance Book. Donations of $100 or more will be honored with an engraved dedication plate on a shared wall plaque. Donations of $500 or more will be honored with an engraved dedication plate on an Adoration Chapel pew. Donations (with your specific dedication) may be placed in the offertory basket at weekend masses marked “Adoration Chapel Renovation” or online at ParishPay (on the “Gifts” tab at www.stalexanderparish.org under “Adoration Chapel Renovation”). Those who donate online may forward their dedication to bbbadklatt@comcast.net so your gift may be acknowledged properly. Are you interested in making a weekly visit to the Adoration Chapel and would like to spend one hour with Jesus? We have many present Adorers who would love to share their hour with you. Please see the weekly bulletin for open hours or contact Bob or Barb Klatt if you would like to sign up for an hour. The Adoration Chapel will also be hosting Hospitality weekend July 18/19. Current Adorers will be available to answer any questions and to help sign up those interested in committing an hour to the Chapel. Please prayerfully consider adopting one hour of your time. It will be life-changing and faith-building! Mark your calendar for the next Friday night Holy Hour on Friday, June 26! Confession and praise and worship music will begin at 6:30 PM with the Holy Hour beginning at 7:00 PM. The Holy hour will conclude with Benediction and a special blessing. A light reception will follow. Please plan to attend!

Casserole Ministry Thank you St. Alexander for your continued support of this vital ministry. To date, St. Alexander has provided 411 casseroles to Franciscan Outreach to feed the hungry in Chicago. Along with those casseroles, this amazing parish has donated a total of 39 bags of additional items including toiletries, cookies, hats, gloves and scarves. Through your generous donations, a one-time gift of $250 was given to Franciscan Outreach to meet immediate needs of those they serve. Thank you for reaching out to help those who are in need. Please see the bulletin every month with updates on this ministry and future casserole distributions! If you have any questions, would like additional information or are interested in getting involved with this ministry, please contact Barb Klatt or Betty St. Louis.

Blanket Drive Update This past March St. Alexander, in conjunction with St. John’s in Villa Park and St. Joseph’s in Addison, conducted a blanket drive. Your response was overwhelming! Thank you to all who donated new twin blankets for Franciscan Outreach! The total count of blankets delivered to Franciscan Outreach just before Easter was 210 with St. Alexander donating 142 blankets! Also delivered were 11 sets of twin sheets, and 4 large comforters. Those who are supported by Franciscan Outreach will feel the love of God in a very tangible way! Thank you, St. Alexander’s for answering the call to help those in need!

One of several 1st Communion Celebrations at St. Alexander’s in 2015

The Fr. John Barrett Council of the Knights of Columbus, #8365,* will hold its annual Golf Outing this fall. It will be on Sunday, September 27, with dinner at 6pm in the Parish Hall. Check our parish bulletins near the end of the summer for details of this and other K of C events, or call George Laarveld: 630-833-9603.

* Council #8365 recently changed its name from the Villa Park Council #8365, tothe Fr. John Barret Council #8365. A celebration of the new name was held at a 5pm Mass this winter, and many members of Fr. Barrett’s family were able to attend.

Page 6 Catch the Spirit, Spring-Summer, 2015

Mary’s Circle, the senior women’s group of the Council of Catholic Women meets from March to October on the last Thursday afternoon of those months. Call Mary Tomaso @630-833-1033 for a schedule of events.

To all St. Alexander Seniors: We have a senior group, called the Rebounders, who meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 1:30pm. It gives our seniors time to socialize with each other, listen to speakers on various subjects, and sometimes to play games. This year we had our annual Pizza Party, Horse Race game, a speaker for Lent and a program to improve our memories. Coming up is our Ice Cream Social, the Mayflower Value Tour presentation, and our Christmas Party and grab bag game,… of course, coffee and treats. All seniors are welcome, drop in at our next meeting. Check the meeting or call Roy for more info @ 630-2749-3484. Hope to see you!

The Compassionate Friends, a self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child of any age, from any cause meets in the Parish Center on the second Monday of every month at 7:30pm. The meetings provide a safe place for families to talk about their child and know that they are not alone on their long grief journey. Meetings are open to any adult (18 years or older) regardless of race, religion, child’s age or cause of death. All are welcome. More information can be found on the national website www.compassionatefriends.org or our chapter website www.westcentraltcf.org. Call Mary Collins at 630/941-0726 with questions.

Do you have Publisher© software? Would you like to share your skills with it? St. Alexander Publications Committee is in need of a 3rd editor for the parish’s thrice-annual newsletter (one issue of which you’re reading now). Like many internships nowadays, it is unpaid, but the experience looks good on a resumé. For more information, send us an email including your phone number at sta.newsletter3@gmail.com

Catch the Spirit, Spring-Summer, 2015 Page 7

Congratulations to Tom Danielson, an 8th grader, whose Science Fair Project: “The Fire is Burning” was awarded GOLD at the Illinois State Science Fair on May 2, at Southern Illinois University in

Carbondale.

Christ Renews His Parish (CHRP) is a parish and personal renewal program, structured so that it becomes part of normal parish life without becoming another parish organization. Rather, it supports other parish ministries and organizations and sends renewed individuals into these groups. Though people experience it at different levels of intensity, most agree it is an authentic encounter with God. St. Alexander Parish is approaching its 20th year for these men’s and women’s weekends.

2015 Men’s CHRP March 7th and 8th

2015 Women’s CHRP

March 21st

and 23rd

Kelly McNamara was recognized as Willowbrook High School’s February recipient of “88’s Best” during the April 13th District 88 Board of Education meeting. When she graduates, McNamara will have completed seven Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses, along with a lengthy list of honors courses. But that’s in addition to her swimming prowess. Paul Anderson, Head Coach of the Addison Trail-Willowbrook Swim Team, said McNamara is the most decorated swimmer in the team’s history – male or female.

Alumni Kelly McNamara,

with Principal Dan Krause.

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Save the date events

For reservation deadlines, and more detailed information on all of the above events, see the Weekly Bulletins immediately preceding each event.

Catholic Saints Camp Pre K-8th graders

June 15—19th

9:30am - 12:30pm

Call 630-832-0506 for more information

Save the date events

Knights of Columbus

Golf Outing / Dinner

Sunday, September 27th

Dinner at 3:30pm in the Gym

CCW Salad Supper and presentation of Service

Awards to deserving women of St. Alexander Parish

Thursday, September 10th at 6:30pm in the Alexander Room

Mass of the Anointing Saturday, September 26th

*** 10am Confessions *** 11am Mass With lunch to follow in the Gathering Space

St. Alexander Parish Newsletter 000343Newsletter

CHURCH NAME and ADDRESS St. Alexander Church #000343 300 S Cornell Avenue Villa Park, IL 60181

TELEPHONE 630-833-7730

EDITOR CONTACT Marianne McKeague Home phone 630-833-2183 Home e-mail marianne33@att. net

This issue was compiled with the following hardware and software: SOFTWARE MS Publisher 2013

Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Windows 8.1

PRINTER Brother MFC-J430W

NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 through 8 (This is the 9th page)

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS Entire issue should be printed in full color Printed on 8½ x 17" paper, folded and glued in center, and then re-folded to 5½ x 8½" size. Print 1200 copies

JS Paluch: 847-678-9300 Rose, trainer 847-233-2772 Tina in newsletter submission