November 23, 2003

Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
November 23, 2003

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the One who is
and Who was and Who is to come, the almighty."
Revelation 1:8

Mass on Thanksgiving Day will be offered at 9:00 a.m.

Day	Time	Mass Intention	Requested by	Click button below for reading of the day
Saturday	8:00	Please Note: This Mass canceled until further notice.		For Saturday For Sunday
Saturday	4:30	Edward Buldak	�	For Saturday For Sunday
Sunday (Today)	8:00	Mass for the People	�
	10:00	Peggy Henneberry	Nancy Woodhead
	11:30	John T. and Lillian Ward	Family
Monday	8:00	Communion Service
Tuesday	8:00	Virginia Nussbaum	�
Wednesday	8:00	Ann Paone	Bill Steward Family
Thursday	9:00	Herb and Lena Schiek	Family
Friday	8:00	Peg O'Brien	Mary Kay O'Brien
	8:00	Please Note: This Mass canceled until further notice.		For Saturday For Sunday
	4:30	Joseph Krol �	Family	For Saturday For Sunday
Next Sunday	8:00	Jack Fitzgerald	Joyce Hutten
	10:00	Mass for the People	�
	11:30	Deceased members of the Lottie Buldak Family	Ann Buldak

Liturgical Ministers' Schedule for Next Sunday
Day	Mass	Eucharistic Ministers	Greeters	Lectors
Saturday	4:30	Melissa Trafton Pete Valek Judy Valek	Mary Lou Pellegrini Ange Pellegrini Betty Bravato	Sr. Jane Braun
Sunday	8:00	Tom Ponce Kathy Wilhelmi Carrie Hodge	Virginia Garvey Rita Blackburn Doris Pantol	John Randich
	10:00	Laura Orr Jay Adler Patti Adler	Carol Johnston Jim Johnston Jim Dietz�	Jack Maffeo
	11:30	Chuck Peterson Vern Jordan Liz Jordan�	� � �	Rick Rapp

Lord God,
On this day of Thanksgiving
we ask your blessing
on our family, our friends,
our home, our health
and on this food
we are about to eat.

We thank you
for this time together
and the many gifts
that you have given us.

Help us to remember
in this time of bounty
those less fortunate.

And may your love consume
us all that we might share in your glory.
Amen.

Life Issues

The ultimate task is to preach in a modern way but clearly and without compromise... I'm referring primarily to the life issues -- abortion, capital punishment and physician-assisted suicide. Catholics face pressure on other important issues, especially regarding sexuality, such as contraception, homosexual marriage and cohabitation outside of marriage. The genetic issues, including experimentation on embryos and certain fertility techniques, are also a source of conflict between faith and popular opinion. The church is often accused of being "primitive" with regard to these, but the purpose of the gospel is to guarantee the right relationship of human beings to God and to each other. How can that be primitive? The church has a clear role to play in preserving the dignity of the individual and promoting society's common good.

Archbishop Charles Chaput, interview with Thom Beal, deputy editor of Rocky Mountain News

Father Jim�s Corner

Our power is shut off, and suddenly we become thankful for electricity.

Our garbage is not picked up, and suddenly we become thankful for the garbage collector's weekly stop.

A good friend dies, and suddenly we discover how much he meant to us.

Our water becomes too polluted to drink, and suddenly we appreciate pure water.

Why is it, Lord, that we take for granted the uncounted blessings of life until they are removed from us?

We take for granted, the mind you have given us, the rain and soil combining to produce our food, the love of family and friends surrounding us.

Today we thank You for being patient with us, for not forgetting us when we forget You, for loving and forgiving us, for those who understand us, for laughter and joy, for being with us now.

Most of all we thank You for not withholding the blessings of life from us even though we take them for granted. Take us from worship into the world where we turn words of thanksgiving into deeds of service

Author unknown

With Gratitude,
JML

Take my hand, dear Mother Mary,
Hold me firmly lest I fall.
I'm so nervous when I'm walking,
Humbly on your strength I call.
Watch me when I'm at the crossing,
Guide me when I'm on the stairs.
Let me know that you're beside me,
Listening to my trusting prayer.

Dioceses throughout the country are participating in a compliance audit conducted by independent auditors. The audit will determine whether dioceses are implementing the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" which the bishops adopted last year. The Charter is a comprehensive framework for dealing with sexual abuse by clergy of children and youth. Below are the pledges that the bishops make in the conclusion of the Charter.

We pledge most solemnly to one another and to you, God's people, that we will work to our utmost for the protection of children and youth.
We pledge that we will devote to this goal the resources and personnel necessary to accomplish it.
We pledge that we will do our best to ordain to the priesthood and put into positions of trust only those who share this commitment to protecting children and youth.
We pledge that we will work toward healing and reconciliation for those sexually abused by clerics.
We make these pledges with a humbling sense of our own limitations, relying on the help of God and the support of his faithful priests and people to work with u s to fulfill them. Above all we believe, in the words of St. Paul as cited by Pope John Paul II in April, 2002, that "where sins increased, grace overflowed all the more: (Rm 5:20). This is faith's message. With this faith, we are confident that we will not be conquered by evil but overcome evil with good; (cf.Rm 12:21).

The complete Charter is available from (diocesan source) and can be found on the web site of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

We express our sympathy and pledge of prayers to:

Barbara Sukley and family on the death of her father, Margo Scholari; Jackie Buldak and family on the death of her mother, Peggy Ferak, and to the family of Mary Lagen.

May they rest in peace.

I received your very generous Adopt-A-Mission check from the Glenmary office in Cincinnati. Please know that I am grateful to you and the members of St. Pat's. Your continued support of our mission work in Northeast Mississippi has meant a lot to me.

We continue to be busy with many activities. Our St. Francis Food program serves 430 elderly and poor families each month. In October our county had one of the highest unemployment rates in the state and we noticed an increase in the number of people seeking assistance. Susan Sweet, our Pastoral Associate, is now in her second year of work at St. Francis. She has developed a high quality religious education program and is a steady pastoral presence in the parish. I continue to serve St. Francis as well as three other mission churches in Mississippi. We are fortunate that we have very devoted lay pastoral coordinators in these missions.

I remember you and the members of St. Pat's in my prayers and Masses. I hope to see you in2004! Thank you for your support. The funds are a great help to our many ministries and to keeping the Catholic Church present in rural Mississippi.

May God Bless you and keep you safe.

Peace in Christ,

Rev. Timothy Murphy
Pastor

A prayer group entitled "Helpers of God's Precious Infants" has been organized through the Joliet Diocesan Life Office for persons to pray at the four abortion clinics located in Joliet Diocese (DuPage County) and one in Rockford Diocese (Aurora). It is an international organization founded in 1989 by Msgr. Philip Reilly of Brooklyn, N.Y. that is committed to maintaining a loving and prayerful presence outside of abortion mills. Volunteers are needed. Call 815 838-1002 or your Catholics for Life Parish Coordinators for information.

Prayer Places and times:

Access Health Center LTD
1700 75th Street
Downers Grove
Wednesday, 10:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m.
Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Joan Bannon 744-6771
Stacia Knox 741-4985

It costs nothing but creates much. It enriches those who receive without impoverishing those who give. None are so well off that they can get along without it, and none so poor but are richer for its benefits. It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature's best remedy for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody until it is given away. To smile then is to look at others with eyes of Christ, to know how to love them and smile at them, through our tears if need be, is to breathe in advance the atmosphere of heaven.

In Memoriam
11/23/1978	Robert J. Smith
11/23/1988	Berbard Muentnich
11/23/1991	Harold Murphy
11/23/1993	James Wisniewski
11/23/1998	Carmen Oldani
11/24/1992	Bernard Duffy
11/24/1998	Margaret Galligan
11/25/1988	Ernest Hettman
11/25/1991	Gina Nelligan
11/25/1991	Gary Volling
11/25/1991	Joseph Skorupa
11/25/1994	George Haller
11/26/1980	Edward Walsh
11/26/1992	Martin Borgra
11/27/1980	Madeline Weed
11/27/1980	Olive Fischer
11/27/1987	Edith Burgess
11/27/2000	Phyllis Kubinski
11/28/1981	Frances Carpenter
11/29/1997	Michael Yack
11/29/1997	Joseph Krol

Plan now to attend the national March For Life 2004, January 21-23. A great opportunity for teens, young adults and families to take a stand for the sanctity of life and let their voices be heard by our nation and its leaders! A bus trip (lodging and food included) has been organized by the Diocese of Joliet Life Office and they invite and encourage you to participate! The cost of the trip is $150.00. Please call (815)838-1002 regarding registration and other details. Registration and payment deadline for this event is December 5. Limited availability -- call today!

Special Thanks to