Beginning on Tuesday, September 14, we will resume our School Masses at 8:35. With rare exceptions all School Masses will be offered on Tuesdays. Please consult the bulletin.

Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II makes me muse a bit about the beautiful paradoxes in which we experience God. Silence is a realm in which one can hear God, he says.

It is:
In the quite of our lives that we hear His voice more clearly
in the darkness of our lives when we begin to see Him more clearly
in the depth of the night sky where we feel part of heavenly creation
in the depth of our sorrow that we can truly feel His love
in the light of truth that often we are blinded by our own insensitivity
in our proudest moments that we are always called to humility
in our weakest times when we are strengthened by faith
in the eyes of our children that we see almighty God's love reflected
in the time we spend in prayerful asking that we receive God's grace
in simple bread and wine that we are gifted with His presence
in spending an hour with Him that we touch eternity.

Last Sunday you contributed $7,999.00 to your parish. Sincere thanks for your continued generosity.

After a very short summer we will resume our club meetings on September 23 at 1:00 p.m. Dues for the coming year are still only $5.00. You can pay your dues before the meeting if you wish by enclosing money or check in an envelope marked "Young at Heart" and drop into the collection basket. All Seniors 55+ are warmly welcome!!!

Ads in our parish bulletin have dropped off dramatically in the last year. As you may know, our weekly bulletin is fully paid for by our faithful advertisements. Interested persons are asked to contact J. S. Paluch Ad Department at 1-800-566-6170.

Please mark your calendars for a special evening on November 6 when our Alumni and Development Committee will host our Ninth Annual Shamrock Gala. As you well know, this is a major fund raiser for our school. We are hopeful that we'll, once again, have a full house at the Renaissance Center. Valet parking will be provided. Mark your calendars.

If you want a purpose driven life, start looking first by learning how to read and understand the message of the Bible.

Here you will discover the source of all and begin a relationship knowing life's purpose and have the will to make the decision to follow Jesus, the Living God within you.

This Bible Study will begin September 29 - Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 at Our Lady of Angels - a 10 week study.

Call Joe Bannon at 744-6771 to register. Your cost is your attendance.

The 17^th Annual Bishop's Mass for Persons with Special Needs will be held on Sunday, September 16^th at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Joliet, at 1:00 p.m. The Mass will not be held at the Cathedral this year due to construction. Also, please note that the Mass will begin one hour later this year. Bishop Imesch will reside at this special liturgy. A luncheon will be held in the parish hall immediately following the Mass. To make a reservation for the luncheon, please call Ed Jahnke at 1-815-727-6411 (Ext. 265) by Tuesday, September 21.

On Saturday, October 2, the Catholic Woman's League of Joliet is having its Opening Reception Luncheon at Al's Steak House. The business meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. The luncheon will be served at 12:00 noon. At 1:00 p.m. Diane Elliott of the Joliet Dulcimer Society will entertain.

Your check of $10.00 is your reservation and should be mailed by September 27 to: Mrs. Carmella Salvatore, 2909 Facel Vega Drive, Joliet, IL. 60433.

Join the parishioners of St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church in Joliet at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12, for A Living Rosary Prayer Service prayed by candlelight before the Marian Shrine on the church's north parking lot.

A living Rosary is made up of different persons representing beads of the rosary. Each leads the prayer for that bead while the group responds. Prayers will be recited in the many different languages that characterize the Joliet area.

All are welcome. Refreshments will be served in the Nativity Room following the service. In case of inclement weather, the Living Rosary service will take place in the church. To participate as a "bead", or for more information call the parish office, 815-726-4031.

Parents who strive to understand teenagers and who want to help them reach their full potential may wish to consider these guidelines:

1. Be firm, but not rigid. Your stance and posture is valuable witness.
2. Be watchful and vigilant; do not be naive, but do respect your child's privacy.
3. Respect individuality. You will not find your specific child in this article or in any textbook. He or she is a unique person, not a series of stages and Phases.
4. Love them, no matter what, and tell them that. When things go wrong or blow up in your face, keep loving them. You can admonish and correct later, after the immediate crisis has passed.
5. Maintain your own personal goals and keep them high.
6. Develop and cultivate your own relationship with God. Your own personal view of God is the most precious treasure that you can give to your child.
7. Keep growing yourself. Your teenage is changing and developing. Try to keep pace by expanding your own horizons.
8. Concentrate on substance, not style. Long hair and jeans may be disturbing but they certainly will not be fatal. Save your energy for the crucial issues.
9. Communicate by listening before you speak.
10. Honor and respect the needs that young people have.

NB) God Bless and protect all parents and their children.

God Bless!

Father Jim

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is an opportunity for adults to come and find out more about the Catholic Church. It is a process which encourages adults to determine if the Roman Catholic faith is the one to which God is calling them.

Through meetings with other adults interested in learning more about the church and its beliefs, the R.C.I.A. can provide an avenue to becoming a member of the Catholic community. The process is aimed at faith formation for those who wish to prepare for Baptism and is adapted for those already baptized who are now interested in membership in the Catholic Church.

R.C.I.A. is an open group and anyone who would like to know more about what is involved is invited.

Classes will begin September 19, 2004. For more information please call Loretta Crawley at 744-1145.

On Saturday, September 18, the third Saturday of the month, the Pro Life Ministry of St. Patrick will be praying at the Access Abortion mill. If you have not had this experience before, think about joining us this coming Saturday. We leave Joliet about 7:30 in the morning and pray at the clinic for about one hour. If interested call Joan Bannon at 744-6771 or Stasia Knox at 741-4985.

Please note meeting date changed from September 15 to September 22!

Anyone interested in becoming a Block Captain is welcome to attend this meeting as a guest and join as a Block Captain if interested.

St. Anne Parish, 1800 Dearborn Street, Crest Hill, will have a pancake breakfast on Sunday, September 19 in their parish hall. Serving will be from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The menu will consist of pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice, milk, and coffee. The cost is $4.50 for adults and $3.00 for children ages 6-10 years. Children 5 and under are free. For more information, please call 722-3222.