St. John of the Cross Parish...& Owner of Healing Gardens at Stone Hill Farm in St. Charles Deborah...

St. John of the Cross Parish

5005 Wolf Road ~ Western Springs 60558 ~ 708-246-4404 ~ www.stjohnofthecross.org

December 8, 2019

Second Sunday of Advent

SJC www.stjohnofthecross.org December 8, 2019 Second Sunday of Advent

From the Desk of Fr. Marc Reszel

Nine months prior to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8 the Church celebrates her Immaculate Conception. It is under this title that Mary is the

patroness of the United States and of the Archdiocese of Chicago. This year December 8 is an Advent Sunday causing the Marian Solemnity to be transferred to Monday, December 9. The obligation to attend Mass on December 8 however is not transferred. Our parish Mass will be at 9:00am. In Rome, the column commemorating the dogma of the Immaculate Conception is located near the Spanish Steps. Traditionally, the Marian statue is crowned by the city’s youngest firefighter with the Holy Father in attendance. A replica of that statue, sometimes called the DIME, is found in front of the Main Chapel at Mundelein Seminary. The name refers to the images at the column base: David, Isaiah, Moses, and Ezekiel. On December 14 the Church celebrates the feast day of St. John of the Cross. Locally the Memorial of the parish patron is elevated to a Solemnity. Please consider joining us in seeking the intercession of the 16th Century Spanish Mystic Priest for our parish. A coffee reception will follow the 9:00am Mass this Saturday in the Community Room. Remember that God comes into our lives in ways and at times that we least expect. Be watchful. Advent tries to make certain that we are ready. Advent is about the mystery of the Divine breaking into our lives. Let us continue to pray for one another and for our parish. Father Reszel

Blessings on the Second Sunday of Advent.

Outreach News

Bring your Share Christmas Gifts to the Parish Center

TODAY—Sunday, December 8 Noon-7pm, or

Monday, December 9 3pm-8pm, or

Tuesday, December 10 Noon-8pm.

Our gifts will be delivered to grateful recipients on

December 11 and 12. Thank you!!

LOOM SALE TODAY

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 AFTER MORNING MASSES

PARISH CENTER Loom Sale: woven wearable art made by and benefitting refugee women living in Chicago.

Come enjoy Fair Trade Coffee, chocolates and cookies

while you shop! A limited amount of these fantastic

products will be available for purchase. Proceeds from Fair Trade sales

support Catholic Relief Services.

For 30,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who benefit from the Retirement Fund for Religious—service is a way of life. Most ministered in Catholic schools, hospitals, parishes, and social services, usually for little or no pay. Today, hundreds of religious communities lack enough savings for retirement and eldercare. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious offers vital support for necessities, such as medications and nursing care. Thank you for your generosity.

Retirement Fund for Religious Second Collection Today


Advent Evening Taizé Prayer December 10 at 7pm

Advent Soup for the Soul

continues on Thursday, December 12 & 19

at Noon and 6pm RSVP on our website to attend.

Advent Reconciliation Service

December 17 at 7pm

Morning of Meditation “Welcoming God into Our Lives” December 21

from 9:30am-12:30pm

Bishop Barron’s

Advent Gospel Reflections contains the full Gospel reading for

each day, a daily reflection from Bishop Barron and space for journaling

and answering reflection questions. RSVP on our parish website.

(Quantities are limited.)

Advent Soup for the Soul

Ready the Way

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

8 Second Sunday

of Advent In today’s Gospel we hear John the Baptist proclaiming in the desert, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Reflect on ways you can do more to evangelize this season.

9 Solemnity of the

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mary said,” Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” On this great feast, reflect on how God is calling you to serve him.

10

As Jesus reminds us in the Gospel today, the Lord our God is seeking his lost sheep. Go to confession this Advent season and enjoy Christmas with a clean heart and a peaceful soul thanks to God’s mercy.

11

Take time today to bless the family crèche. Go to our parish website home page under resources for a special blessing you can use.

12

On her feast day, pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe, that she may help us never see others as burdens, especially migrants to our country and communities.

13 Memorial of St.

Lucy In honor of St. Lucy, Sweden celebrates a festival of lights on this day. Do some research on an Advent tradition that is native to your heritage today.

14 Memorial of St.

John of the Cross There are 10 days left in Advent. In honor of a saint known for his deep spirituality and compassion, reflect honestly on your own spiritual journey this season so far.

Weekly Advent Calendar

Advent Program at The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii Saturday, December 14 from 8:30am-3pm. The Shrine’s Day of Reflection will challenge each of us to take a prophetic stance as we look at the meaning of Christ’s Good News and explore what it means to prepare the way with courage and joy. The programs includes opportunities for silence, small group reflection, and individual confession. RSVP by December 11 ~ $25 at ourladyofpompeii.org or 312.421.3757.

Oplatki Traditional Christmas wafers are available in the Parish Center office for $2 per package.

Welcome Home Bishop Barron Bishop Barron will be celebrating the 11am Mass at St. John of the Cross Parish on Sunday, December 22.


God of power and mercy open our hearts in welcome.

Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy

so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory,

for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

WELCOMING GOD

INTO OUR LIVES

ADVENT MORNING OF MEDITATION Guest speaker:

Deborah Marqui Meditator, Psychotherapist

& Owner of Healing Gardens at Stone Hill Farm in St. Charles

Deborah will share with us on Fr. Thomas Keating’s

Welcoming Prayer The morning will include periods of meditation and sharing.

All are welcome Saturday, December 21

10:00am - 12:30pm, Hospitality 9:30am St. John of the Cross Parish Center

5005 Wolf Road, Western Springs

Sponsored by the SJC Christian Meditation Groups (wccm-usa.org, wccm.org)

Free will offering appreciated. Reservations requested but not required. Contact: Betsy—708-246-8315 or [email protected]


Lifelong Learning


Background on the Gospel Reading In this week's Gospel Reading and next week's, our Advent preparation for Christmas invites us to consider John the Baptist and his relationship to Jesus. In this week's Gospel, Matthew describes the work and preaching of John the Baptist. John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets of Israel, preaching repentance and reform to the people of Israel. In fact, the description of John found in this reading is reminiscent of the description of the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). In this reading, John directs a particularly pointed call to repentance to the Pharisees and Sadducees, parties within the Jewish community of the first century. John marks the conversion of those who seek him out with a baptism of repentance. Other groups in this period are thought to have practiced ritual washings for similar purposes, and John's baptism may have been related to the practices of the Essenes, a Jewish sect of the first century. John's baptism can be understood as an anticipation of Christian baptism. In this passage, John himself alludes to the difference between his baptism and the one yet to come: “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11). In this reading, John makes very clear that his relationship to the Messiah yet to come (Jesus) is one of service and subservience: “. . . the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals” (Matthew 3:11). In the context of Matthew's Gospel, today's passage is followed by Jesus' baptism by John, an event that is attested to in all four of the Gospels and appears to have been the start of Jesus' public ministry. John's preaching of the coming of the Lord is a key theme of the Advent season. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus in the first century, we, too, are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by our repentance and reform of our lives. We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives, as John did, the coming of the Lord. Loyola Press

Prepare the way of the Lord.

Living the Gospel As human beings we desire consistency, predictability, and stability. Though it’s good to experience new things, not many of us thrive on doing new things all the time. Our lives may be punctuated by difference, but regularity reigns. Even the liturgical cycle of readings is regulated, and each Advent we read from John the Baptist’s fiery preaching. Even so, it’s good for us to be shaken up a bit and jostled from our regular routine, as John the Baptist is doing today. We are reminded that we need to repent, turn away from selfish interests and turn toward God. This interior renewal is nothing less than a dying to self and rising with Christ, the paschal mystery. What regular routines do we need to abandon? From what in our lives do we need to turn away? What does turning toward God look like in our own time and place, in the midst of the relationships we have? Going to church, being Catholic, or knowing about God is not enough. An interior reorientation toward God and the values of his kingdom is demanded.

To the Point • As we prepare for the feast of Christmas, often thought of (and advertised) as one of the happiest and most joyful times of the year, we hear some of the most challenging gospel passages. Today’s ends with the ominous warning that Jesus comes with “winnowing fan in his hand,” ready to “clear his threshing floor / and gather his wheat into his barn, / but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Despite the starkness of this language, St. Paul assures us in his letter to the Romans that all of the Scriptures have been written with one purpose in mind, so “we might have hope.” • Where do we find hope in this gospel? Perhaps it is the hope of redemption. John the Baptist preaches repentance to the people of his day, and they respond by acknowledging their sins and being cleansed in the Jordan River. Even the Pharisees and Sadducees whom John calls “a brood of vipers” are not turned away from this redemption. Instead they, too, are invited to this baptism of repentance in order to give up their prideful ways and “produce good fruit.” • In December 2014 Pope Francis began his annual address to the Roman Curia by clarifying what we really celebrate at Christmas: “It is our encounter with God who is born in the poverty of the stable of Bethlehem in order to teach us the power of humility.” John the Baptist tells us the one who is coming “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” With hope, we could consider this fire as a purifying flame ready to free us from the crippling effects of pride and beckoning us to embrace the humility of Christ. ©Living Liturgy

Monday Gen 3:9-15, 20 Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 Luke 1:26-38

Tuesday Isa 40:1-11 Ps 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13 Matt 18:12-14

Wednesday Isa 40:25-31 Ps 103:1-2, 3-4,8 and 10 Matt 11:28-30

Thursday Zech 2:14-17 or Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab Jdt 13:18bcde, 19 Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47

Friday Isa 48:17-19 Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 Matt 11:16-19

Saturday Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19 Matt 17:9a, 10-13

3rd Sunday of Advent Isa 35:1-6a, 10 Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 Jas 5:7-10 Matt 11:2-11

http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/2kings/2kings1.htm#v8

Prayer


Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. To the point: Gabriel’s first words to Mary identify her as “full of grace.” Even before Jesus is conceived within her womb,

she is already filled with God’s favor. Gabriel’s naming speaks to each of us as well—how God looks at each one of us in love and wonder and sees the core of our being, created in his own image, full of grace. Can we claim this identity for ourselves?

God of Mary, the angel Gabriel proclaims that with you, “nothing will be impossible.”

Hear our prayers that, renewed in faith and strengthened in love,

we might go forth to bring Christ to others. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our brother. Amen.

FOR REFLECTION

As the model disciple, Mary shows us the way to live a life completely devoted to Christ. How would you like to emulate Mary

more fully in this coming year?

St. Paul writes to the Ephesians, “We were also chosen, / destined in accord with the purpose of the One.” What specific purpose

do you think God has for your life? How are you living out this purpose? ©Living Liturgy

All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager

welcome at his coming and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven,

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever.

Reflection: Bridget Bearss, RSCJ, Executive Director of the Stuart Center

and Erin Everson, Communications

A small green wreath of hope, four candles symbolizing the weeks of willingness to remain a bit longer in the darkness, before we awaken and walk in the light of Christ. In this time, we prepare to make way through the clutter to our own "Bethlehem," holding space in the circle to believe that something new is possible ...

Prepare me, Advent. Prepare me

to be transformed, to transform,

to courageously listen and speak. Prepare me

to cover the wreath with greens of renewal, to light one more candle in prayer each week,

to linger in suspense and anticipation. Prepare me

to stay awake and aware, to seek Christ in all life,

to be the manger. Prepare me.

https://bbox.blackbaudhosting.com/webforms/linkredirect?url=http%3a%2f%2fstuartcenter.org&srcid=17388413&srctid=1&erid=1261025595&trid=811cbe2e-abdb-4adc-9e98-9141add48b24&linkid=190319025&isbbox=1

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

If you have been searching for ways

to bring the holiness of the season

into your home, join us for

Family Style Preschool on Saturday December 14.

Together we will explore

the Seasons of Advent and Christmas

through music, crafts, and Bible stories.

Preschoolers and grown-ups will also find ways

to become a little more like the Holy Family.

Parents (or grandparents) are invited to bring their preschoolers to

the Parish Center from 10:45am to Noon. Register online at

www.stjohnofthecross.org.

Suggested donation $10 per family.

Mark your calendar for upcoming dates:

February 15, 2020 Living Like Jesus and

March 21, 2020 The Season of Lent.

Youth Catechesis Family Style Preschool


Spotlight on Service One of our YC 8th graders collected donations of winter wear from his small faith group and delivered them to a group home in LaGrange for adults with special needs. The recipients were thrilled to receive several bags of warm coats, hats, mittens, and scarves just in time for winter. The student and his family were able to briefly visit with the residents who were excited to have visitors as well!

YC Schedule K-6th Grades December 8-9 1st Grade Parents attend with child K-6th Grades December 15-16 5th Grade Parents attend Prayer Service 7th-8th Grades in Homes December 8, 15 Adapted Catechesis December 8, 15 Family Faith Connections December 8

Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God, Teach me true generosity.

Teach me to serve you as you deserve. To give without counting the cost,

To fight heedless of wounds, To labor without seeking rest,

To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward Save the knowledge that I have done your will.

Amen. St. Ignatuis of Loyola More parish 8th graders worked on Flyer Day &

collecting food at Harvest Saturday.

http://www.stjohnofthecross.org

High School Youth Ministry

November “Gratitude Through Service” So many ways our SJC teens helped this November!

Many of the Boys Church League Basketball Teams shopped for Thanksgiving food and cold weather clothing for St. Francis Food Pantry and Beds-PLUS. Our grade level home groups made

meals and /or served food at Ronald McDonald House, Inspiration Café, St. Blase and Feed My Starving Children. Many, many hands and feet volunteered to distribute flyers, make boxes and collect

food for our Flyer Day and Harvest Saturday weekends. Our teens totaled 500 service hours during the month of November!! Job Well Done!

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vice

Freshmen packed meals at Feed My Starving Children

Seniors served dinner at Ronald McDonald House

Sophomores served guests at Inspiration Café in Chicago

Over 50 SJC teens helped on Harvest Saturday to collect 1000 boxes of food that were delivered to area food pantries.

THANK YOU to all who helped to make Harvest Saturday a HUGE success!


More High School Youth Ministry Parish School

Honoring Catholic Education The Dr. Adalbert L. and Mildred J. Vlazny Scholarship Endowment was created in their memory by their children to honor their commitment to Catholic Education. Dr. and Mrs. Vlazny were founding members of St. John of the Cross Parish and served in numerous volunteer positions during their five decades as members. The Vlazny Scholarship is awarded annually to a SJC Parish School student. For more information about the Scholarship go to: http://tinyurl.com/04j43vp.


ALPHA ALPHA for TEENS is coming on Sunday evenings on January 12—March 15 following 5pm Mass from 6:15-7:30pm in the Parish Center. Come join teens from SJC, SFX and St. Cletus, as we come together for food, fellowship and faith. The ALPHA series for TEENS offers you a chance to eat, have fun, watch a video together and explore all of those great questions in life you want to talk about with your friends! Register online to secure your place to explore ALPHA for TEENS! College Gathering All of our SJC college folks are invited to December 22 5pm Mass to welcome you home for the holidays. College Connection Teens and Adults, don’t forget to come and meet your pen pal after Mass. With one semester of the 2019-2020 school year behind you, all college-aged SJC teens are welcome to come share your experiences and catch up with SJC friends! See you after Mass in the Community Room for Hot Cocoa and Cookies.

Fr. McDonnell Catholic High School Scholarship Each year through fundraising efforts, the Women’s Club is able to offer scholarships to 8th grade students in YC and our parish school and current high school students of our parish to help defray Catholic high school tuition costs. Applications are due February 11th and can be found on the home page of the Parish website.

CHECK OUT WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT! St. John of the Cross Parish School started the first week of Advent with an all school prayer service followed by an introduction to our Advent service project with Thumbuddy Special. Thumbuddy Special supplies equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, bath chairs, adapted bikes, and ramps and computers for children with special needs. Every Christmas Season Thumbuddy Special also sponsors needy families in low income communities. Student Council members sponsored pictures with Santa to raise money for the Student Council activities as well as donate to the Thumbuddy Special Service Project.

Next Week at St. John of the Cross Parish School: Monday, December 9 Advent Prayer Service 8:45am Tues/Wed, December 10-11 Secret Santa’s Workshop Friday, December 13 All School Liturgy 9:00am

Today the Church praises smallness. God's works begin by sprouting from a seed, from little things. Jesus speaks about this smallness of the Kingdom: the small heart, humble, that is open to the revelation of the Lord. Pope Francis @ Pontifex Dec. 3

http://tinyurl.com/04j43vp

Women’s Club News

Light the way for family & friends this Christmas … Begin a holiday tradition your children will love!

Mark your Calendar Ladies!

Women’s Club Dine and Demo Cooking Night will be January 23 from 7-9pm

in the Parish Center with Dee Dee Saracco.


Each Luminaria Kit is $10 and includes 5 white bags, 5 long burning candles (10+ hours) and enough sand to assemble your luminarias. Order Deadline: December 18. Pick Up After Masses on December 21-22 in the back hall of the Parish Center. Kits will be labeled with your name. Order online at www.stjohnofthecross.org. Or by cash or check (made out to SJC Women’s Club) with payment to the Parish Center. Free delivery to Seniors. Include your delivery address.

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Senior Address:

______________Luminaria Kits x $10 ______________ $ Total Purchase a luminaria in Honor of/in Memory of a loved one for just $5. Their name will be displayed on a lit luminaria outside of church on Christmas Eve. One name per luminaria. Luminaria in Honor of: ______________ $ Total Enclosed for Luminaria(s) Outside Church on Christmas Eve

Sponsored by the SJC Women’s Club in partnership with Village True Value Hardware.

Infant Baptisms Welcome

St. John of the Cross Parish congratulates the following families who had their babies baptized on December 1 by Deacon John Schopp assisted by the Francis Family. Pictured from the left are Omar and Lauren Vazquez with Connor Martin, Peter and Stephanie Grasso with Tessa Anne, Timothy and Leia Grady with Patrick James, and Nicholas and Nicole Conteduca with Adriana Grace.

We also congratulate Kevin and Jennifer McCarthy who had their son, Graham Keller, baptized last Saturday by Fr. Marc Reszel assisted by Nancy and Joe Polacek. Pictured on either side of Graham are his godparents, Layla Svendsen and Jack Behrhorst.


Please help us welcome our new members to the St. John of the Cross Parish faith community: Natalie and Jack Healy and Family Hailey and Robert Wichmanowski and Family Isabelle and Patrick Wagner Jeanne and Andrew Hendrie and Family Laura Plomero and Jose Rebolledo and Family Katherine and David Figus and Family Jodi and Matt Speiser and Family Frances and Michael Levar and Family Nga and Nick Basile and Family Patricia and Joseph Schmid and Family If you recognize the name of a friend or neighbor be sure to extend a welcome and encourage them to become involved at SJC. If you would like to register to become a member, please contact Elizabeth Russell-Jones in the Welcome Center or visit our website at: www.stjohnofthecross.org/welcome. For more information call 708.246.4404x155 or email [email protected] or stop in the Parish Center.

mailto:[email protected]

Parish News

Job Openings at SJC Maintenance SJC is looking to hire a custodian to work the second shift from 2pm-10:30pm in the parish school. This position is full-time with benefits. Contact Plant Manager Frank DiPompeo for more details. Extended Day Program Aide After school help is needed in the SJC Extended School Day Program. Hours are from 3:15-5:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Days working are flexible. Virtus training and background check are required for all parish employees. Job requirements include general supervision, reading with students, checking homework, and the responsibility of releasing children to their parents. Contact Antonia Adducci (LRC/STREAM lab) with questions and interest. [email protected] or call 708-292-1112.

Join the SJC Marriage Prep Team The SJC marriage preparation team, PROMISE, is looking for you and your spouse to help prepare engaged couples for a happy, healthy Catholic marriage. The PROMISE ministry team serves on two Saturdays a year discussing various aspects of a good marriage such as finances, communication, and spirituality with engaged couples who have an upcoming wedding at SJC. The commitment would be preparing an informal talk, approximately 1 hour in length, about your assigned subject matter and sharing your thoughts or experiences as the other married couples present throughout the 1 day pre-Cana retreat at the Parish Center. The current team has been working together for many years and would love to on-board some new recruits. Our next session is 1/25/20 and any interested couples would be welcome to observe any portion of the day before making a firm commitment. As Fr. Dave once told us..."this is wonderful ministry because it is a ministry of affirmation". The room buzzes with love and gratitude for good partners and strong marriages. Please consider joining us in this rewarding ministry! To discuss further please contact Kerry Sheehan at 773-580-7887 or [email protected].

LOSS Support Group Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) is a non-denominational program that provides a safe, judgement-free environment intended to help survivors heal from the emotional and spiritual trauma of losing a loved one through suicide. Participants learn to draw strength and hope from one another as they begin to share experience and process a complex range of emotions within a caring and confidential community. Licensed counselors help facilitate all sessions. Call LOSS @ 312.655.7285 or for more information. This group meets in the Parish Center on the third Thursday of each month at 7pm. Nourish Support Group Nourish is for anyone juggling the challenges of life, health, career while caring for a loved one. Nourish provides practical and emotional support, shared experience and useful tools, all within a Christ-centered context. Discover the blessings that come from caring for another. Anyone is welcome to join us the second Thursday of each month from 1-2pm in the Parish Center. Upcoming Topics: December 12—The Spirituality of Asking for and Receiving Help; January 9—Staying Organized and Preparing for What's Next. www.nourishforcaregivers.com

The Week Ahead Monday, December 9 10:30am Meditation as 11th Step 12:30pm Secret Santa 2:30pm Eucharistic Adoration 3:00pm Share Christmas Gift Drop Off YC Sessions 7:00pm Athletic Board Meeting 7:00pm Boy Scouts Tuesday, December 10 9:00am Secret Santa 12:00pm Share Christmas Gift Drop Off 7:00pm Taize Prayer 7:30pm Christian Meditation Wednesday, December 11 9:00am Secret Santa 9:30am Faith Sharing Group 9:30am Wednesday Morning Bible Study 1:00pm Prayer Shawl Ministry 2:30pm Christian Meditation 3:30pm Mystics Study Group 3:45pm Cherub Choir Rehearsal 7:30pm Traditional Choir Rehearsal Thursday, December 12 9:00am Secret Santa 12:00pm Advent Soup for the Soul 1:00pm Nourish 3:45pm Youth Choir Rehearsal 6:00pm Advent Soup for the Soul 7:30pm Ensemble Rehearsal Friday, December 13 4:00pm Girls’ Etiquette Tea Party Saturday, December 14 8:00am Christian Meditation

Parish Hospitality in the church Community Room following 9:00am Mass on our patron saint’s feast day. 10:45am Family Style Preschool Sunday, December 15 YC Sessions 12:00pm Baptisms


Save the Date: SJC Trivia Night IX

Hosted by the SJC Men’s Club

Saturday, January 25 Mark your calendar

to join us!



It’s becoming increasing difficult in today’s world to trust anything or anybody, for good reason. There’s little that’s stable, safe to lean on, trustworthy. We live in a world where everything is in flux, is flux, where everywhere we see distrust, abandoned values, debunked creeds, people moving on from where they used to be, contradictory information, and dishonesty and lying as socially and morally acceptable. There is little left of trust in our world. What does this call us to? We’re called to many things, but perhaps nothing more important than fidelity, to be honest and persevering in who we are and what we stand for. Here’s an illustration. One of our Oblate missionaries shares this story. He was sent to minister to a cluster of small Indigenous communities in Northern Canada. The people were very nice to him but it didn’t take him long to notice something. Basically every time he scheduled an appointment the person wouldn’t show up. At first, he attributed this to miscommunication, but eventually he realized the pattern was too consistent for this to be an accident and so he approached an Elder in the community for some counsel. “Every time I make an appointment with someone,” he told the Elder, “they don’t show up.” The Elder smiled, knowingly, and replied: “Of course, they won’t show up, the last thing they need is to have an outsider like you organizing their lives for them!” So the missionary asked: “What do I do?” The Elder replied: “Well, don’t make an appointment, just show up and talk to them! They’ll be nice to you. More importantly though, this is what you need to do: Stay here for a long time and then they will trust you. They want to see whether you’re a missionary or a tourist. Why should they trust you? They’ve been betrayed and lied to by most everyone who’s come through here. Stay for a long time and then they’ll trust you.” Stay for a long time and then they’ll trust you. What does it mean to stay for a long time? We can hang around and not necessarily inspire trust, just as we can move on to other places and still inspire trust. In its essence, staying around for the duration, being faithful, has less to do with never moving from a given location than it has to do with staying worthy of trust, with staying faithful to who we are, to the creed we profess, to the commitments and promises we have made, and to what’s truest inside us so that our private lives do not belie our public persona. The gift of fidelity is the gift of a life lived honestly.

Our private honesty blesses the whole community, just as our private dishonesty hurts the whole community. “If you are here faithfully,” writes Parker Palmer, “you bring great blessing.” Conversely, writes Rumi, “If you are here unfaithfully, you bring great harm.” To the degree that we are true to the creed we profess, the family, friends, and communities we’ve committed to, and to the deepest moral imperatives within our private soul, to that degree we are faithfully with others, and to that degree we are “staying with them for a long time”. The reverse is also true, to the degree that we are not true to the creed we profess, to the promises we’ve made to others, and to the honesty innate in our own soul, we are being unfaithful, moving away from others, being the tourist not the missionary. In his Epistle to the Galatians, St. Paul tells us what it means to be with each other, to live with each other, beyond geographical distance and other contingencies in life that separate us. We are with each other, faithfully, as brothers and sisters, when we are living in charity, joy, peace, patience, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, perseverance, and chastity. When we are living inside these, then we are “staying with each other” and not moving away, no matter any geographical distance between us. Conversely, when we are living outside of these we are not “staying with each other”, even when there is no geographical distance between us. Home, as poets have always told us, is a place inside the heart, not a place on a map. And home, as St. Paul tells us, in living inside the Spirit. And it is this, I believe, that ultimately defines fidelity and perseverance, separates a moral missionary from a moral tourist, and indicates who’s staying and who’s moving away. For each of us to stay faithful, we need each other. It takes more than a village, it takes all of us. One person’s fidelity makes everyone’s fidelity easier, just as one person’s infidelity makes everyone’s fidelity more difficult. So, inside a world that’s so highly individualistic and bewilderingly transient, when it can feel as if everyone is forever moving away from you, perhaps the greatest gift we can give each other is the gift of our own fidelity, to stay for a long time. Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser

What Constitutes Fidelity?


Prayer Requests We Pray for Our Sick Rodrigo Ajates, Kathy Antczak, Beth Beutell, Robert Bright, Sarah Cook, Fran Domanskis, Aggie Frolik, Magdalena Goslawski, Tommy Grady, Karen Hult, Thomas Ivaska, Cheri Jeffrey, Don King, Peggy Koucky, Nancy Lohr, Bobbie Misiora, Ernie Misiora, Loretta Palekas, Al Piorkowski, Alison Saegebrecht, Marilyn Scallon, Rachael Schopp, David Skrzypcznski, Wendy Workman Stulgim, Shawn Sweeney, Jawara Vashhani, Robert Vitale We Pray for Our Loved Ones Serving Our Country Staff Sgt. Steven Foody, Sergeant Sebastian Grabacki, Staff Sgt. Joshua Tischler USAF Pararescue, Sgt. Daniel Pett, MAJ. James Maicke, Staff Sgt. Larry Waszak, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Strafaci, Seaman Riley Strafaci, Seaman Emily Strafaci, Sgt. Michael Grabarek, Spc. Douglas Junius, PFC Kevin Lawinger, Lieutenant James Viano, First Lieutenant Caroline Lorenzini, Captain Emily Kopec, Petty Officer 2nd Class John Ilg, LCDR Kyle Harken, US Navy, Fr. Filbert Ngwila, Army Chaplain, ETN3 Joseph Kula, US Navy, Col. Mark Blanek, US Army, 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Greenberg, US Army, Chandler Muszynski, Master of Arms US Navy We Pray for Our Beloved Dead Patricia Turano, wife of Renato, mother of Lisa, Renee, and Mario, grandmother of 9 John McGovern, husband of Mary, father of Mary, Meg, John, Maureen, Rita, Tom, Katie, Lizzy and Tom William Moylan, father of Catherine Mini, grandfather of 3 Michael Makovic, brother of George Helen Krisciunas, wife of Alfonse

Mass Remembrances Monday, December 9, 9:00am Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

† Margaret Albertson † William Pileggi † Maria Fairman Tuesday, December 10, 9:00am Advent Weekday

† Christian Hionis † Thomas Stack

Wednesday, December 11, 9:00am Advent Weekday; St. Damasus I

† Brian and Pat Donovan † Peggy Ruth Lumm

Thursday, December 12, 9:00am Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

† Margery Buckingham † Our Beloved Dead Friday, December 13, 9:00am St. Lucy

† Margaret Kirtley † Daniel Junius † Edward Cox Jr. Saturday, December 14, 9:00am St. John of the Cross

† Don Vollmer 4:00pm Mass of Anticipation † Phyllis Yocum † Falco and Partipilo Families † Fr. David Dowdle Sunday, December 15 Third Sunday of Advent

7:30am † Margaret Feeney † Gerald Mozdzierz † Robert Bures 9:00am † Patrick McNaughton † Geraldine De Rosa † Christopher Lasek † Bernard Dillon Jr. 11:00am † Dianne Kassis † John Szczerba † Dolores Kall † John Peter Devona † Robert Caplice † Robert Dolan 5:00pm † Nancy Gene Chebuhar † Andrew Pollard † Victoria Filosa Living Remembrances in Italics

Honor a loved one (deceased or living) with a Mass

Remembrance. The person’s name will be printed in the Sunday bulletin, mentioned at Mass, and a card will be given to you or sent to the person you designate. The cost is $10 per Mass Remembrance. Call or stop in the Parish Center office for Mass Remembrances in 2019 and 2020.

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Low gluten hosts are available by contacting a Sacristan

or Usher before Mass in the sacristy.

St. John of the Cross Parish Center 5005 Wolf Road Western Springs, IL 60558 708-246-4404 Parish Center Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00am-8:00pm Friday 9:00am-6:00pm Saturday 8:00am-5:30pm Sunday 8:00am-7pm Parish School Office 708-246-4454 Youth Catechesis Office 708-246-6760

Rev. Marc W. Reszel, Pastor [email protected] Rev. Jesudas Gudime, Associate Pastor [email protected] Senior Deacon Joe Pepitone [email protected] Deacon John Schopp [email protected] Deacon Rich Voytas [email protected] Bill Bright, Director of Outreach [email protected] Janet Caschetta, Director of Youth Catechesis [email protected] Marguerite Chrusciel, Finance Manager [email protected] Frank DiPompeo, Plant Manager [email protected] Mary Beth Drafz, Digital Communications Coor [email protected]

Kathleen Gorman, Principal [email protected] Jessica Koch, Director of Music [email protected] MJ Martin, Director of Parish Operations [email protected] Katie Pruitt, High School Youth Minister [email protected] Theresa Reyes, Front Office Coordinator [email protected] Elizabeth Russell-Jones, Welcome Coordinator [email protected] Pat Surdyk, Liturgy & Music Assistant [email protected] Christina Turlek, Financial Assistant [email protected] Steven Weigand, Pastoral Associate [email protected]


Lord God Almighty, you sent John the Baptist to call your people to repentance. May we heed that same message, speaking to us through the ages. Grant us the courage to turn away from all that keeps us from you, so that we may embrace the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

Join us after the 9am Mass on Saturday, December 14, the feast day of our parish patron saint. We will gather in the community room of church for coffee. Bakers are welcome to share some sweets!

Advent Evening Taizé Prayer Tuesday, December 10

at 7pm in Church

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VINCENT T. VERSACI, DDS, PCGENERAL DENTISTRY

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DUPLEX ELECTRIC

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INTERIOR / EXTERIOR Fine painting of walls, ceilings & woodwork

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Complete painting/staining of exteriors

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Exploring your business telephone options

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JEN MCGINN JEN HUBL 312.622.0326 708.655.0163 Lifetime Parishioner

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Caring For Our Community For 39 Years630.703.9131 www.powellfuneraldirectors.com

Brian R. Powell, Sr.

Brian R. Powell, Jr.

HEALTH CAREDr. Zachary Stelmack

CHIROPRACTORAnthony Gajkowski

LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST708-246-6611

600 Hillgrove Ave., Ste. 3Western Springs, IL

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BREAKFAST & LUNCHOpen 7 Days | 7am - 3pm

900 Plainfield Rd.Willowbrook 630.541.8958www.LumesBrunchCafe.com

Napleton’s Countryside Mazda6060 S. LaGrange Rd., Countryside

708.354.2700www.napletonscountrysidemazda.com

Buy Local from the

St. John of the Cross Family!

HAVE YOU CONSIDEREDFENWICK?

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GREAT COVERAGE - 97% of all households attending church take at least onechurch bulletin home every Sunday. GREAT VALUE - 70% of all households are aware of and look at the advertising inthe church bulletin and 68% of households surveyed when making a choice betweenbusinesses are inclined to choose the one who advertised in the church bulletin.

Learn More About Advertising In Your Parish BulletinCall us at 1-800-621-5197

Email: [email protected]

IN YOUR LOCALCHURCH BULLETIN?WHY ADVERTISE

009239 St John of the Cross Church (A) www.jspaluch.com For Ads: J.S. Paluch Co., Inc. 1-800-566-6170

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATEDProviding Distinguished Service Since 1923

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Air Conditioned Restaurant & Carry Out-Seating for 200-Delivery ServiceCALL 354-4500 YOUR ORDER WILL BE READY 5525 LA GRANGE RD.

OPEN DAILY11:00 AMDAILY &SUNDAY2:00 PM

FOOD&

LIQUOR

JOHN C. SKREKO, DDSGENERAL DENTIST Since 1981

CARE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY • Reconstruction • Root Canals • Extractions, Oral Emergency

6961 Vine StreetIndian Head Park708-246-1263

John F. O’Connell III, D.D.S.Restorative &

Implant General Dentistry

930 N. York Rd.,Suite 120

Hinsdale 630-455-1666

Complete PsychologicalEvaluation & Treatment

Individual - Marital - FamilyLorraine D. D’Asta, Ph.D.

and AssociatesHINSDALE 655-9040

FAMILY DENTISTRYKevin E. Collins, DDS, PC475 W. 55th St., La Grange

Office 708-354-5575After Hours Emergency – 708-408-3676

Maloney & Company, Ltd.Certified Public Accountants & Consultants

Specializing in Personalized Accounting, Tax and Consulting ServicesFor Individuals and Family Owned Businesses

61 Ogden Avenue, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514Dan Maloney, Parishioner Email: [email protected] (630) 887-0500

WINE TASTINGS • EVENT PLANNING • GIFTS

On York • ½ Block North of Ogden Ave.

3821 S. York Road, Oak Brook • 630-325-6550

pvwealthmgt.com708.246.2366

4365 Lawn AveSte. 5

Western SpringsFee-Only RIA & Parishioner

Root Canal Treatment, Dental Implants,

Wisdom Teeth Extraction, Emergency

Treatment, & Sedation

• Evening and Saturday Hours

• Most dental insurances accepted

Drs. Munaretto & Sommers, Parishioner 475 W. 55th Street, Suite 208, LaGrange(708) 579-0488 www.cameods.com

CHOOSE A TRUE LOCAL PLUMBER

708.417.8441Lic.# J16531 - Bonded - Insured

Frank Tramontana, Parishioner

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NOTRE DAME FAMILY CENTERRev. James Watzke, Ph.D.

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[email protected]

KIRSCHBAUM’S BAKERYQuality and VarietyFull Service Bakery

825 Burlington Ave.Western Springs 708-246.2894

COLDWELL BANKERMARY ELLEN “O’HARA” CONSIDINE

Nee: CaplisCell # (773) 704-4250V. Mail (773) 687-5181

[email protected]

PC MDPC & MAC Sales & Service

Networking • WIFI • Internet(630) 789-3971 Tom

[email protected] www.pcmd.comWE STILL MAKE HOUSE CALLS!

THE SUSAN SEMANATEALLSTATE AGENCY

915 55th St., Ste. 101 • Western Springs

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Quality Work – Reasonable Prices

DEMMISPLUMBING

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Camden Law Office, LLC630-789-5896

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Jim Gruszka, Handyman(708) 601 8833

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Anthony BaroneCPA, MBA, MST

AB CPA, Inc.Personal and Individual Income

Tax PreparationBusiness Accounting and

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[email protected]

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www.graceintegrated.comMental health practice serving

individuals, couples and families. Group therapy for couples and

addictions meeting now.

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Saint MargaretSunday MissalAn ideal companionfor personal prayer.

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St. John of the Cross Parish...& Owner of Healing Gardens at Stone Hill Farm in St. Charles Deborah...

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