5005 S. WOLF ROAD WESTERN SPRINGS 60558 708-246-4404

WWW.STJOHNOFTHECROSS.ORG

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS PARISH DECEMBER 9, 2012

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Saturday, December 15 Our Morning of Meditation begins at 8:30 a.m. with hospitality. At 9:00 a.m. Drs. Karen and Tim Pedigo will speak on Christ Jesus, Be Born in Us in the Parish Center. Saturday & Sunday, December 15-16 Enjoy holiday cheer and hospitality after all Masses in the Parish Center and have an opportunity to sign up to take part in a 5 session Rediscover Catholicism book seminar and faith sharing series beginning the week of January 7th. Tuesday, December 18 is our Parish Advent Reconciliation Service at 7:00 p.m. Scripture and song invites reflection and individual confession and absolution. 12 priests will be available. This hour long service is appropriate for families and adults. Saturday, December 22 Private confessions will follow the 8:00 a.m. Mass. Additional priests will be available.

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CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Christmas Vigil - Monday, December 24 4:00 p.m. Church Children’s Choir Carol Prelude 3:30 p.m. 4:15 p.m. First Floor School Multi-Purpose Room Cantor, Flute Carol Prelude 4:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Second Floor School Gym Cantor, Trumpet Carol Prelude 4:15 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Church Cantor, Flute & Cello Carol Prelude 5:45 p.m. 10:30 p.m. Church Traditional Choir, Brass Quartet Carol Prelude 9:45 p.m. Christmas Day - Tuesday, December 25 7:30 a.m. Church Cantor, Flute & Cello 9:00 a.m. Church Contemporary Ensemble, Guitar, Drums, Instruments 10:45 a.m. Church Traditional Choir, Trumpet, Flute, Cello 12:30 p.m. Church (*This Mass begins 15 minutes later than the usual start at 12:15 p.m.) 5 Alive! Teen Choir, Guitar, Drums, Flute, Trumpet

** There will be no 5 p.m. Mass on Christmas Day Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Monday, December 31, 2012—5:00 p.m. Anticipatory Mass Tuesday, January 1, 2013—10:00 a.m. Holy Day of Obligation

A Gift for You: Re-Energize Your Faith Life! Book Study and Faith Sharing Seminar at SJC

Enjoy holiday cheer and hospitality after all Masses next weekend, Saturday & Sunday, December 15-16 and have an opportunity to sign up for the book study. Or you may register on our parish website home page.

A Gift from SJC St. John of the Cross Parish is pleased to share a copy of Rediscover Catholicism with our parishioners, and we invite you to participate in a 5 session Book Study—Faith Shar ing Ser ies beginning in January. There is no cost for the book or to participate in the Book Study. Get your book after Mass today! Plus See Matthew Kelly Live

We also encourage you to take part in Matthew Kelly’s Passion and Purpose Live event at our parish on Feb. 2. Tickets are $39 per person and are available in the Parish Center and on our website. The ticket price includes all event materials and take-away items. We expect this to be a sell-out event so purchase your tickets early. Seating is limited. Consider giving a gift of faith formation for Christmas! Invite your teen, sibling, spouse, parent, or neighbor to take part in our Rediscover Catholicism Book Study and to attend the Passion & Purpose Live event. These are 2 opportunities for you to be in conversation about our Catholic faith and its powerful impact in our lives.

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Reflections on the Gospel

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Monday Isa 35:1-10 Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14 Luke 5:17-26

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

Wednesday Zech 2:14-17 Jdt 13:18bcde, 19 Luke 1:26-38

Thursday Isa 41:13-20 Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab Ma 11:11-15

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

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

3rd Sunday of Advent Zeph 3:14-18a Isa 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 Phil 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18

Living the Gospel John proclaims that we must “prepare the way of the Lord” by repenting. Isaiah and John both describe repentance as a leveling and a straightening out of the uneven and crooked shape of our lives. When the paths of our lives are not straight and smooth, we can at best move only tentatively as we sort out life’s entanglements. We cannot be free to enter wholeheartedly into our journey toward God. If our eyes are too closely focused on the rocks and crags of our lives, we cannot see the presence of God beckoning us toward smoother going. Isaiah’s image of a straight and smooth way is a metaphoric, descriptive definition of repentance. It is Isaiah’s (and Advent’s) way to call us to faithful living in right relationship with God. Smooth paths are those which increase our love for God and others, prompting us to bring others along the same smooth and straight path on which we are journeying toward final fulfillment with God. The Liturgy of the Word challenges us to take the real events of our everyday lives—all the suffering and pain, all the anxiety and hopelessness, all the joy and peace—and see them as means to recognize the presence of Christ to us. These events are deeds enacted in love increased, knowledge shared, discernment embraced, righteousness integrated into the very fabric of our being. In this way we make our Advent something more than the preparation for a single-day feast of a birth. This is what Advent is all about—recognizing the presence of Christ in our lives as salvation already come because God’s Word has already been spoken to us. Christian living challenges us to stop our busyness long enough to hear that Word, to be overshadowed by the Word, to allow the Word to make straight and smooth our paths. Closing Prayers

May we grow in right relationship with God and each other, embrace repentance, and allow God to lead us along straight and smooth paths. May we live Advent in such a way that our repentance leads to new life.

Our Father . . . Living Liturgy 2012

Readings for the Week ————————————————————————————————

Meditation by Richard Rohr Advent: Learning How to Receive If Jesus is the archetype of what the gift is and how a gift is given, Mary is the archetype of how a gift is received. The amazing thing is that the Scripture says nothing especially positive about Mary. No credit rating is stated; it doesn’t say she prayed a lot or regularly went to the temple. No heroic anything. Mary seems to know she is nothing according to her own Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). She clearly knows and fully accepts she stands under the total mercy of God. Mary knows she did not earn this. It was all mercy, mercy, mercy. Divine choice says something about the chooser much more than the one who is chosen. In the spiritual world, all worthiness is given. Our only job is to fully and freely receive. Mary was a supreme receiver station. From an unpublished talk given in Tucson, Arizona

Prayer: Teach me to be receptive.

Year of Sunday Mass: Question of the Week

How is Eucharist my bread for the

journey, nourishment for the “desert” times of my life?

For Reflection: · My daily living is along a smooth path and opens up for others the way to the Lord when I . . . · Repentance means to me . . .

drink KNOW THE MASS, ONE WORD

AT A TIME

It makes perfect sense. Before we drink, we must pour what we are to drink. At Holy Communion, when we drink from the chalice, we know there has been a prior ritual action of preparation, the pouring of wine that includes a drop of water symbolizing the union of the humanity and divinity of

Jesus. We also know from Jesus’ words of institution that what we drink has been poured in another sense. In Jesus’s name, the priest says, “Take this all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Take and drink what has been poured into this chalice. Take and drink what has been poured out on the cross for your salvation. When we drink from this chalice, we know we can only do so, because the suffering and self-sacrificing love of Jesus has first been poured out for us.

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Second Collection Annual Religious Retirement Fund

This year’s annual appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious asks parishioners to share in the care of religious women and men who dedicated their lives to education, health care and social service ministry. This special collection will be taken up today. Thank you for your generosity.

Second Sunday of Advent: Lord Jesus, you are the one announced by John, for whom the world is waiting. Think of a nearby river and imagine you are going there to preach the salvation of God. People might question you especially if you stay at the river, sleep there and eat only what you can find or catch with your hands. If no one comes, you will preach to the birds. But if they do come, perhaps out of curiosity to see the spectacle, you will baptize them in the waters of repentance and wash them clean so that they can receive forgiveness of their sins. John the Baptist was incredibly brave to do what God called him to do. He did it so that the ancient scripture of Isaiah would be fulfilled. Today’s Gospel calls each of us somehow to go down to the river and preach. It calls us to be a herald’s voice in our modern-day desert of apathy. It calls us to be highway builders through difficult terrain, leveling mountains, filling valleys, making for others a straight, smooth path so that by our lives we can lead them to see the salvation of God.

Blessing the Manger (Each prayer is said as the figure it names is placed in the manger scene.)

Bless this manger, O Lord, a sign of your love for us in Christ. (Blessing Mary and Joseph) Bless this household of faith as you blessed Mary and Joseph. (Blessing the angel) Bless these Advent days; guide the world with your angel messengers. (Blessing the shepherds) Bless our daily work; may it always point the way to Christ. (Blessing the animals) Bless all earthly humbleness: fill the world with your presence. (Blessing the Magi) Bless all who seek you; make your Church a true witness. (Placing the Christ child) God of all joy and peace, hear the prayers we offer today and each day. God among us, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Harvest Saturday 2012 Thank YOU from Crossroads

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Crossroads

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CALENDAR EVENTS: Dec. 9 Soph & 4th grader service 3-4:30 p.m. in PC Home Groups meet Dec. 21 All Kairos Christmas Reunion 6 p.m. Jan. 4-6 Frosh-Soph Retreat

PARENTS OF TEENAGERS

Here’s a conversation starter for you and your teen:

How does our family keep Christ in Christmas? More specifically, how do we honor Advent,

the season of preparing and waiting for the Christ child to be born?

When you focus on the hows and the whats you will see the

importance of the whys so much more boldly!

Tom, Katie, Jane & Molly Pruitt, Chris Marquette, Katie Hayes, Mary & Terry Stadler What a joy it was to share this amazing conference with our awesome ministry leaders. We celebrated the first Sunday of Advent mass with over 2400 adults who bring Christ to the youth of our church. This weekend provided us a chance to join in song, dance, conversations, reflection, listening to inspiring keynotes and time to talk through what we want for our youth...enlivening our service to our teenagers. I am grateful beyond belief & excited to see how our youth ministry will continue to grow. We will share personal reflections over the coming weeks. ~Katie Hayes

Our Crossroads Contingency to the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry 2012

Parish School Youth Catechesis

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Our students began the holiday season this week in a very beautiful way. In the beginning of the week, an all class Advent prayer service was held. After the prayer service, the students adjourned to their classrooms and participated in an all school service project.

Each student gave gifts of winter hats, winter gloves, scarves, socks, a n d a r t supplies. Each child in the entire school prepared one i n d i v i d u a l l y -wrapped gift

which also included a hand-made card and a few pieces of holiday candy. In all, over 600 gifts were prepared for Share Christmas. Recipients of this year's service project include St. Thaddeus, St. Barbara's, St. Thomas of Canterbury, Our Lady of Charity, St. Mark's, Kolbe House, Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly and Blessed Sacrament. Many of our students decorated ornaments to hang on our trees in downtown Western Springs and our student council spent time decorating the trees. Finally, please join us as we celebrate the feast of St. John of the Cross at our all school liturgy on December 14. Bishop Manz will be celebrating the Mass with us and Sr. Mary Paul, our superintendent, will be addressing our students. This will be a wonderful celebration. Upcoming Dates: December 10 Advent Prayer Service Gym, 9:15-10 a.m. December 14 All School Liturgy Church, 9:15 a.m.

1st Reconciliation at

St. John of the Cross Church

Youth Catechesis Office yc@sjcross.org * 708-246-6760 * www.stjohnofthecross.org/yc

Sunday during class ~ Monday 8:30am-7 p.m. ~Tues thru Thurs 8:30am- 4 p.m.

YC Schedule Classes K-6 10:15-11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, Dec 16 6:15-7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec 10, 17 FFC Noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb 3 Home Groups and Special Needs Sunday, Dec 16

On Saturday, December 1st St. John of the Cross celebrated 1st Reconciliation with 176 second grade students of the parish. After preparing in the classrooms and at home, the children shared a retreat and then experienced the loving mercy of our Lord Jesus through reconciliation. It was a spirit filled day. Thank you to all those who helped to form these beautiful children.

During the Year of Sunday Mass YC will celebrate five Masses at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Children will be

active participants in the Mass - Join us December 9th at 9:00 a.m. Mass

Watch throughout the year as YC celebrates the Year of Sunday Mass!

Outreach

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Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts at the Chicago Ridge Mall as a fund raiser for Aunt Mary's Storybook Project. Through this project new books are sent to the children of prisoners, the forgotten victims of crime and imprisonment, with a CD of the parents reading the stories to the children. Your help is needed at our fund raising gift wrapping stations. We need help wrapping Christmas gifts and inviting shoppers to participate. The cost to the shoppers for the gift wrapping is a donation to Aunt Mary's Storybook Project. We would welcome shoppers from your church to utilize our gift wrapping service, as well as volunteer. Volunteer a couple or more hours. Whatever your schedule allows. This is also a great opportunity for our youth service hours. Our gift wrapping tables are just in front of Kohl's in the mall which is located at 95th and Ridgeland. Times are: 12/8 & 9: Sat: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sun: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 12/15 and 16: SAT: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. SUN: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. 12/21, 22, and 23: all days 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. 12/24: Monday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (8-10 volunteers for all hours) To volunteer contact Jana Minor at jmminor1986@sbcglobal.net 630-406-8184 or Jenny Acosta at jxacosta@gmail.com 815-228-3894 Our web site is www.cjtinc.org Aunt Mary's Storybook Project is a program of Companions, Journeying Together, Inc

LIVESTOCK FOR LIFE Give someone on your list

The Gi that Con nues to Give

Help our brothers and sisters at our Sharing Parish—Holy Cross in Jinja, Uganda. Your donation supplies a hen, goat or pig (and training) to a specially selected family; the animal provides income for the family and the church. Please complete the form and return it to the Parish Center with your check for $40 made out to SJC. We will mail you a Gift Card.

Gi for:_____________________________________________________________ Given by:___________________________________________________________ Send Gi Card to:__________________________________________________

Kolbe House Cares! Last week Deacon Pablo of Kolbe House had to turn down a request for a pair of men’s jeans or pants………there were simply none left in the Kolbe House ‘closet’ to give. Imagine. Can you fit one more item on your To Do list this week? New or gently used men’s jeans or casual pants are urgently needed at Kolbe House. All sizes are welcome – particularly 34, 36 & 38 waists and length of 30 or 32. Drop off boxes are in the church narthex or the Parish Center entry hall. Your generosity is much appreciated. Thank you!

Honoring Life's Complexity

In a lecture recently, I made the point that Jesus shocked people equally in both his capacity to thoroughly enjoy his life and in his capacity to renounce it and give it up. It was one and the same Jesus who, at a lavish supper with a woman at his feet bathing him in perfume and affection, could tell his uncomfortable hosts that he was thoroughly enjoying the moment without a trace of guilt and who could tell the same people that the deepest secret of life is to give it all up in self-sacrifice without a trace of thought for yourself. After the lecture, a young man came up to me and questioned me about the first prong: How could Jesus give himself over to that kind of enjoyment and pleasure? My answer: Precisely because of the other part, his capacity to renounce. One relies on the other, like the two wings on an airplane. Jesus had a shocking capacity to enjoy life because he had an equally shocking capacity to give it up. That is also true of many other aspects of Jesus' life and ministry: He could condemn sin, but love the sinner; be fiercely loyal to his own, even as he shocked them in his love of those outside their circle; and he could walk in the greatest freedom anyone has ever known, even as he acknowledged that he did nothing on his own. And that kind of complexity, that kind of capacity to hold near opposites together in a healthy tension, is one of the marks of greatness. Great people do exactly that. Let me offer some examples: Dorothy Day, soon to be canonized a saint, stood out for exactly that reason: she carried both the non-negotiable Gospel-demand for social justice as well as the non-negotiable Gospel-demand for proper morals and proper religious practice. She was radical and pious. Usually we do not see the same person leading both the peace march and the rosary. Dorothy did both. Most of us can't. We can do one or the other. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's writings continue to inspire people across every type of divide for the same reason. He had the capacity to hold together, at one and the same time, two seemingly competing loves. He was born, he says, with two incurable loves and sensitivities: a love of God and a sense of the other world that he could never betray and an equal love for this physical world and its facticity and beauty. Both were undeniably real to him, both took his breath away, and he tried to live in a way so as to not betray either of them, despite the tension this created in his life. It gave his writings a rare depth. Most other writing, secular or religious, honors only one of those

poles to the denigration of the other. We see the same kind of complexity in the writings of Therese of Lisieux. On the one hand, her focus is radically otherworldly, the vision of someone who sees this world as ephemeral, flimsy, and of little value. Yet, at the same time, she shows herself as almost unhealthily attached to the good things of this world, the love of family, of nature, of beauty. Therese could write eloquently about wanting to die and leave behind this shadowy film we call life and at the same time feel resentful if she wasn't receiving daily affirmations of love from her family. And she saw no contradiction here because there isn't any. Both are healthy, when they are held together. St. Augustine offers another example. He wrote more than six thousand pages and, within those pages, he said things that have helped trigger anything from negative feelings about sex to forced religious conversions; but he also said things that laid the roots of most orthodox Western theology for the past seventeen hundred years. He was able to hold a lot of things in tension. Sadly, we are not his equal and instead pick and choose pieces of his thought to the detriment of his overall vision. Carlo Carretto, the Italian spiritual writer who died recently, also stood out for his capacity to hold seemingly contrasting truths in tension. It is rare to see in the same person his particular combination of piety and iconoclasm, his fierce loyalty to the church and his strong criticism of it. For him, the two depended upon each other. One is healthy only because the other is also there. Great minds and great persons properly honor complexity. Nowhere is this clearer than in Jesus. He carried all truth, in all its complexity. Unfortunately, we, his followers, are not up to the master. That's why there hundreds of different Christian denominations today. That's also why there are liberals and conservatives both in our churches and our society. We find it easier to carry smaller pieces of the truth than to carry the tension of being loyal to its bigger picture. But simplicity and clarity aren't always our friends. Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, and award-winning author, is President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com.

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Choose and Cut Your Christmas Tree Marmion’s Abbey Farms

850 Butterfield Road, Aurora, Ill Marmion Farms has expanded their farm this year in hopes of creating a better experience for families. We offer free hot chocolate on the weekends, free sleds for families to use and wood burning warming fires to help chase the chilly winter air. We’ve added a new barn warming station and a seasonal store along with our freshly made donuts. 100% of the money earned from the Christmas Tree Sales helps finance the ministries of the Monks of Marmion Abbey. Call 630-966-7775 for more information.

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Parish News

Dear Friends, This is John McGivern, and I am writing to invite you to a very special Christmas concert, taking place here at St. Edmund Parish on Saturday, December 15 at 8 p.m. We are welcoming the William Ferris Chorale for another encore performance. This is an excellent choral ensemble, and I promise you an evening filled with beautiful music of the season. Please come as my most welcome guest and feel very welcome to bring a friend or two along as well. Following the concert, we will offer an assortment of holiday beverages and some delicious dessert too! I hope you will mark your calendars and join me for this very special evening. Kind regards, Fr. John McGivern

Christmas Wafers (Oplatki) The Christmas Wafers (Oplatki) have arrived. If you would like to purchase them, please come to the Parish Center. Each envelope (three per envelope) is $1.50.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel! We have a free gift to help you prepare to receive Christ anew this Advent!

Join Father Thomas Acklin as he leads us in a Novena prayer from Dec 17–25, including helpful meditations on the prophetic “O” Antiphon titles for Christ.

Go to www.relevantradio.com – keyword “Advent” – for audio links and schedule. Chicago 950AM, Chicago West 930AM, NW Indiana 1270AM

Moms of Young Children All are welcome!

FRIDAYS 9:30-11:00 in the Parish Center

*NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE FOR THIS FRIDAY'S MEETING* Friday, December 14 - We will celebrate Moms' Club Christmas at the Grand Avenue Community Center at 4211 Grand Avenue in Western Springs. Please join us with your little ones for a Christmas Celebration! Please contact Colleen Whittingham at whitting910@yahoo.com if you have any questions. Please contact Ellen Twomey at ellenkoz@yahoo.com if you would like to be added to the email list.

News about Fr. Kieran Kemner, OFM

On Tuesday, December 4th, Fr. Dennis Koopman, OFM, talked with Carolyn Briddle, Fr. Kieran's sister who lives in Quincy. She said that Fr. Kieran is "doing better." He is getting up to walk with his

walker, with help, about twice a day now. His color is good. He remembers all his friends. Carolyn reads all his mail to him. Kieran's eyes are still very bad. His handwriting is very bad. Carolyn pins his cards and mail on his bulletin board in his room. Fr. Kieran is keeping all his friends' intentions in his prayers. His address: Sunset Home, 418 Washington St, Room 210, Quincy, IL 62301. He has no phone in is room. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

It's not too late to order Market Day for December pick up. Please note the date change for orders due is Thursday Dec. 13th and pick up is Monday Dec. 17th, 2:30-3:30 p.m.!

This Week at SJC

Monday, December 10 9:30 a.m. Senior Club Planning Meeting 10:30 a.m. Step 11 Christian Meditation 10:30 a.m. Secret Santa, Parent Association 2:30 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration 2:30 p.m. Spiritual Journaling 3:30 p.m. Girl Scout Registration Tuesday, December 11 8:30 a.m. Parent Association Meeting 9:30 a.m. Focus on Sunday Scriptures Group 1:30 p.m. Sr. Josephine’s Bible Study 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays with Mary 3:30 p.m. Girl Scouts 7:00 p.m. RCIA 7:00 p.m. Teacher Recognition Trust Wednesday, December 12 9:00 a.m. Women’s Club

1:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Meeting 2:00 p.m. Christian Meditation 7:00 p.m. Christian Meditation, New Era Meeting 7:30 p.m. Christian Meditation Friday, December 14 11:30 p.m. Senior Luncheon 7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts Movie Night Saturday, December 15 7:00 a.m. Christian Meditation 8:30 a.m. Morning of Meditation 9:00 a.m. Luminaria Set Up 5:00 p.m. Rediscover Catholicism Book Study and Hospitality Sunday, December 16 Rediscover Catholicism Book Study Registration and Hospitality after all Masses

Sponsored by the SJC Women’s Club in partnership with Village True Value Hardware. Questions? Please contact Katie Pruitt at

iboilers@gmail.com or 708-822-9427.

Each Luminaria Kit includes 5 white bags, 5 long-burning candles (10+ hours) and enough sand to assemble your luminaries. Free home delivery for seniors!

Order Deadline Today, December 9th Pick-up Dates: Sunday, December 16th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Or 23rd from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Parish Center

Order online at www.stjohno hecross.org To order, complete the form below and return with payment to the SJC Parish Center by 12/9. Make checks payable to SJC Women’s Club. Last Name: ____________________________ First Name: ___________________ Email: ____________________________________ Phone: ___________________ Pick-up Date: please circle one December 16 or December 23 ______ Luminary Kit(s) x $10 = Total Due ______________ Each kit contains 5 bags, 5 candles and enough sand to assemble the luminaries

Seniors check here for FREE Delivery! Address For Delivery:______________________________________________

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Eternal Rest Grant unto These, O Lord Nancy Drehdr, mother of Laura Timmel

Frank LaGiglio, Jr., cousin of Frank Socco Helen Mamola, mother of Loretta LaPiana and

Joan Roberts Laura Minoris, daughter of Gloria Deizman

Lord Hear Our Prayer

Pray for our Sick

Angie Babicz Melissa Beacom Tracy Bucciarelli

Garth Christie Connie Crane Ashley Davis

Mary Sue Donohue

Kimberly Edwards Karen Hult

Ruth Ilg Tom Jass

Emily Johanns Lois Corrine

Johnson Helen King Rita Koziol Ray Kula

Cathy Laskey Greg LaValle Yvonne Lowry Chick Meehan Moon Meehan

Marie Miller

Joan Nicholson Tommy Niemeyer

Nancy Olin Jean Onesto

Greg Palaschak Terry Peterson

Barbara Redling Fabian Saldana Kathie Saldana Rita Shelhouse Bob Sturenfeldt Christian Zacher

Mass Intentions Monday, December 10 6:30 Rose Scwicksup; Robert McGuire 7:45 Estella Cronk; Dorothy Pelko Tuesday, December 11, St. Damasus, I 6:30 Brian Donovan 7:45 Margaret Albertson; Joseph Piszczor Wednesday, December 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe 6:30 Joanne Lewis; Patrick McNamara 7:45 Klien-O’Sullivan Families; Mary Schaffer Thursday, December 13, St. Lucy 7:45 Margaret Kirtley; Helen Nolan Friday, December 14 St. John of the Cross 7:45 Special Intention; Rita & John Tiberi Saturday, December 15 8:00 Our Beloved Dead; Sharon Haggerty 5:00 Muriel Albertson; Margaret F. Ullmayer Sunday, December 16 Third Sunday of Advent 7:30 Chester Miller; Peggy Abhalter 9:00 Henry Spetter; Janet Florczak 10:45 SJC & Kolbe House Parishioners 12:15 Clyde Masters; Joanna Costigan 5:00 A. George Zurowski; Eugene Garvy Italics—Living

God of love, ever caring, ever strong,

stand by us in our time of need. Watch over who is sick,

Look after him/her in every danger, and grant him/her your healing and peace. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Wedding Banns Brian McGrath & Megan Brewer

As we review our Annual Report at this time of year, we continue to acknowledge the many ways in which we have grown in faith and fellowship together throughout the whole year. We have socialized, prayed, witnessed and celebrated our faith in every season with every age. We are continually humbled and thankful for all you do to support our parish with your time, talent, and treasure. We strive to be welcoming, living out our mission as a parish community loving God and one another. Each of us is called to discover, to grow, to be all God has asked us to be. Our parish is a blessing in our lives, providing for our families – every day – encouraging us to live our Catholic faith. Our Parish Finance Council continues to promote online giving. Many of you already pay your bills or purchase things online. Making your donations electronically will work to your benefit as well as our parish’s. Go to our Giving page on our website www.stjohnofthecross.org to donate electronically.

Together let us join hands to make our parish be all that it can be.

Trying to get in touch with us? More info is on our website: www.stjohnofthecross.org

Fr. David P. Dowdle, Pastor ddowdle@stjohnofthecross.org Fr. Filbert F. Ngwila, Associate Pastor fngwila@stjohnofthecross.org John Schopp, Deacon john.schopp@newhemispheres.com Bill Bright, Outreach bbright@stjohnofthecross.org Janet Caschetta, Youth Catechesis jcaschetta@stjohnofthecross.org Jim Clauer, Worship jclauer@stjohnofthecross.org Kathleen Gorman, Principal gorman@sjc.pvt.k12.il.us Katie Hayes, Crossroads khayes@stjohnofthecross.org Jessica Koch, Music jkoch@stjohnofthecross.org MJ Martin, Operations mjmartin@stjohnofthecross.org

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John Wilsonjwilsonpainting@yahoo.comCell (630) 337-8946Office (708) 246-5604Parishioner

COMPASSIONATE HOME CARE• Meals • Personal Care • Companionship• Light Housekeeping • Laundry • Errands

630.323.7231 www.MaryAndMikeCare.comMichael & Mary Doepke, RN • ParishionersState Licensed

JesusA to Z

Michael O’Neill McGrath, OSFS

A colorful Catholic ABC bookfor kids and families! Includesa glossary of questions to help

adults pass on their Catholic faith.007199 9 x 12 Hardcover

$16.99 each • Special Offer — 2 for $25.00!

800-566-6150 www.wlpmusic.com

HEATING & COOLING708.352.3131JC ASK FOR

PARISHIONER

DISCOUNTwww.JCComfort.com

009239 St John of the Cross Church (B)

HASMERGED

WITH

Enhancing Our Ability to Provide theHighest Level of Service in the Following Areas of Law:

• Personal Injury • Mediation • Estate and Guardianship Litigation• Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration

708.246.4911 www.clgattorney.com 630.571.0222

MARY ANN COVONEAttorney At Law • Parishioner

Our Family Keeping Your Family Comfortable Since 1951

Call Hoekstra Today! (630) 968-0896

Valuable CouponSave $10 Off Your AnnualFurnace or A/C Tune-Up,Save $25 Off A Combo!

Special Parishioner Discount

Rob’s on the JobHandyman Service

Repairs - Maintenance - AssemblyWe’ll turn your “Honey Do” list into a “Honey Done” list

630-441-0648www.RobsontheJob.com

Insured Bonded

Blessed Art ThouMMootthheerr,, LLaaddyy,, MMyyssttiicc,, QQuueeeenn

Art by Brother Michael O’Neill McGrath, OSFSPrayers by Father Richard N. Fragomeni

Hardcover book $$3399..9955800-566-6150World Library Publicationsthe music and liturgy division of J.S. Paluch Co., Inc.www.wlpmusic.com

POLSKI WYROB WEDLIN FRESH & SMOKED POLISH SAUSAGEHOMEMADE PIEROGI EUROPEAN IMPORTED FOODS

DINNERS TO GO PARTY PLATTERS / CATERING7145 S. Kingery Hwy., Willowbrook

(SE Corner Plainfield & Rt. 83 Next to Michael’s)

630.655.2200 www.LassakDeli.com

Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd.Practice specializing in orthodontics

708-352-4500922 S. La Grange Rd.La Grange, IL 60525

www.awesomebraces.com

Dr. Thomas S. FlachDr. Clodagh T. Ryan

Family Practice• Pediatrics • Women’s Health• Adult Medicine • Geriatrics

Most Insurance PPO, HMO, Medicare512 Hillgrove Ave. 708.246.4376Western Springs Parishioner

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

Depression - Anxiety - StressFamily - Separation - Divorce

Sub Abuse - Medicare - EspañolOakbrook Terr. 630.691.1114

www.jspaluch.com For Ads: J.S. Paluch Co., Inc. 1-800-566-6170

323-4610Restoration & Collision Work515 Blackhawk Dr., Westmont

Al Machacek, Owner

Maloney & Company, Ltd.Certified Public Accountants & Consultants

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

7650 S. County Line Road, Burr Ridge, IL 60527Dan Maloney, Parishioner Email: dan@maloneycpa.com (630) 887-0500

Kitchens • Bathrooms • AdditionsDan MaddenParishioner 246.8898708

Gregg Communications Systems, Inc.Telephone Equip. Voiceover IP (VoIP)

38 Years in BusinessMary Dine 630-571-7000 www.greggcomm.com

Independent Senior Living in Downtown LaGrange

708.354.7600 www.lagrangepointe.com

CHICAGO TILE BROKERS

CUSTOM INSTALLATIONS

• NATURAL STONE

• GLASS • CERAMIC

708.259.8955WESTERN SPRINGS

ADRIAN GONZALEZ, PARISHIONER

KEENAN ROOFING AND SOLARIF YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR IS UNBECOMING TO YOU

YOU SHOULD BE COMING TO US!• WINDOWS • SIDING • GUTTERS • SOFFIT • FASCIA

FREE CONSULTATIONSFX Parishioner 708.937.9400

Full Service Women, Men & ChildrenFirst Time Client Only - Offering

$5.00 Off Men & Children Cuts$10.00 Off Women Cuts

$15.00 Off Chemical Services

James ApostalPaolo Romano

Susie KareyLauren Ottley

708-784-0777Call for Convenient Appointments

and Walk-Ins Welcome923 Burlington Ave., Western Springs

VINCENT T. VERSACI, DDS, PCGENERAL DENTISTRY

4471 Lawn Ave., Ste. 200 Western Springs(708) 246-6006

www.VersaciDental.comEMIL J. COGLIANESE, JR.

COGLIANESEFUNERAL HOME

7508 SOUTH COUNTY LINE RD.BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 630-654-8484

Law Office ofKevin J. Moore, P.C.

Parishioner• Business Law• Civil Litigation

708.246.15954365 Lawn Ave., Ste 7

Western Springswww.KJMooreLaw.com

PC MDPC & MAC Sales & Service

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

support@pcmd.com www.pcmd.comWE STILL MAKE HOUSE CALLS!

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

Office 354-5575After Hours Emergency – 354-2281

John F. O’Connell III, D.D.S.

Restorative and Implant

General Dentistry

930 N. York Rd., Suite 120

Hinsdale, IL 60521

(630) 455-1666

ALLMAKEAPPLIANCE

REPAIRAll Major Kitchen

And LaundryAppliances Repaired

579-5262325-5100

Forever Hardscapes, Inc.• Patios • Driveway

• Retaining Walls

• Accessories

• Brick Pavers

• Natural Stone • Bluestone

• All Work Guaranteed

• Install • Design • Restoration

Free Estimates630-908-7950

www.foreverhardscapes.com

LIZA’S TOUCHFull Service Hair Salon

Anniversary Sale

Inside Hair Salon Suites6972 S. Wolf Rd.Indian Head Park 708.783.1910

Spring Sale at Liza’sPerms, Color or Hilites

$45.95 and up.

NEW MANAGEMENTUPDATED MENU

QUALITY MEALS PREPARED DAILY5545 S. LAGRANGE ROAD

COUNTRYSIDE • 708.352.3600WWW.BEEFNBRANDY.COM

VEHICLESWANTED

$500 to $5,000• Cars • Vans • SUV’s • Trucks

$50 DONATEDto Parish at Closing

708.516.8888

WINE TASTINGS • EVENT PLANNING • GIFTS

On York • ½ Block North of Ogden Ave.

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

ZAWASKI & ZAWASKIReal Estate Appraisers & Consultants, Ltd.------------------------------------

3848 Lawn AvenueWestern Springs, IL 60558

Office: (708) 784-1445 • FAX (708) 784-1446

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATEDPROVIDING DISTINGUISHED

SERVICE SINCE 1923COUNTRYSIDE

1025 W. 55th Street708-352-6500

DOWNERS GROVE301-75th Street630-964-6500

Val VlaznyAttorney At Law

• Trusts • Wills • TaxesParishioner 630-357-8668

Pisa PizzaWE DELIVER

708-352-00085440 S. LaGrange Rd., Countrysidewww.pisapizza.samsbiz.com

pvwealthmgt.com708.246.2366

4365 Lawn AveWestern Springs

General Contractors • Construction ManagersDistinctive Residences • Renovations • Additions

Remodeling for Handicap AccessibilitySeniors • Disabled Veterans • Safety InspectionsCraig J. Workman, Parishioner • 630.421.3400

CAMEOENDODONTICS

Practice Limited to EndodonticTherapy and Dental Implants

(708) 579-0488Keith Sommers, DDS, Parishioner

• 475 W. 55th Street, Suite 208, LaGrange• 3116 Oak Park Ave., Berwyn

• 7234 W. North Ave., Elmwood Parkwww.cameoendo.com

Massage Therapy and Spiritual Direction• Deep Tissue • Pregnancy• Swedish • Energy WorkSr. M. Clancy, SSND

IN PRACTICE SINCE 1990LaGrange ParkHomer Glen

Gift Certificates Available

PATH TORELAXATION

708.288.9065KIRSCHBAUM’S BAKERY

Quality and VarietyWedding & Party Cakes

825 Burlington Ave.Western Springs 246-2894

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

009239 St John of the Cross Church (A)

ALLAN E. POWERPlumbing & Heating

Plumbing Repairs, Sewer RoddingBathroom Remodeling Lic #058-132085352-1670 804 Arlington, La Gr.

• Communions• Graduations• Birthdays• Picnics

• Backyard Fun • ConcessionsJackie or Patti

Our Lady of the Woods Parishioners800.383.DINO (3466)

www.dinojumpchicagoland.com

Carol L.KlimaMartin

Attorney At Law, Parishioner• Real Estate • Trusts • Probate Licensed in Illinois & Florida

(708) 246-7570

VViillllaaggee HARDWARE“Help is just around the corner”835 Burlington • Western Springs • 708-246-0892

MON. THU. 8 AM-8 PM; TUE. WED. FRI. 8 AM-7 PM SAT. 8 AM-5:30 PM; SUN. 9 AM-3 PM

TheCOMMUNITY BANK of WESTERN SPRINGS

A branch of Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company®

1000 Hillgrove Ave., Western Springs, IL 60558 708-246-7100

www.jspaluch.com For Ads: J.S. Paluch Co., Inc. 1-800-566-6170

We Are Casual Dining$5.00 OFF your total bill when

you spend $25.00 or more.MUST BRING IN THE COUPON TO BE VALID AND

CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER.• Small Banquets • Gift Certificates Available800 Hillgrove Ave., Ste 100

Western Springs 708.783.1500www.800westrestaurant.com

• On-Site Adult Care Facility• Homemaker Services

• Senior Social Activities• Personal Care

(At Home or At Our Facility)Alexandra Sulik, RN MSN NP

708.299.4364www.youngathearthc.info

Complete PsychologicalEvaluation & Treatment

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

and AssociatesHINSDALE 655-9040

Barbara’s Elegant TouchCustom Catering 5 Star• Event Planner • Servers

• 3 Chefs • BartendersSet Up • From Appetizers to Desserts

Formal Dining 2 to 400 people12 Yrs. Experience

www.barbaraseleganttouchstaffing.com

630-341-3337Barbara Gilleece Hired for Private Parties

Alexandria Z. Meccia, M.D.DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF LAGRANGE

Parishioner 708.482.32135201 S. Willow Springs Rd.

Suite 430 LaGrange

CLEANING SERVICESHomes, Condos, Offices

Honest, Family Owned BusinessExcellent References, Low Prices

312-296-8042 (New Number)

• INSTALLATION OF BRICK PAVERS

AND OUTDOOR MASONRY

• LANDSCAPE DESIGN & BUILD

• PAVER MAINTENANCE & SEALING

FREEESTIMATE

www.prairiepathgroup.com

Since 1990

708.354.2182

Dwight A. Frey, DDS, PC

630.323.4060Complimentary Exam and Consultation

28 W. Chicago Avenue • HinsdaleFreyOrtho.com

915 BURLINGTON AVE.WESTERN SPRINGS, IL 60558708-246-0380

Mon.-Fri. 8-6 - Sat. 8-5:30Sundays (Seasonal) 10-4

www.caseymarketonline.com

CONBOY’S-WESTCHESTERFUNERAL HOME

A Family You Can Rely On...Today and Tomorrow.

10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester

708-562-5900Parishioner

Peter Conboy

Jean Conboy Hanson

Matthew Conboy

ED THE PLUMBERED THE CARPENTER

Best Work • Best RateSatisfaction Guaranteed AsWe Do All Our Own Work

Lic# 055-026066Parishioner Discount708-652-1444

GARAGE DOORSAND OPENERS

Family Owned & Operated Since 1947ALL MAJOR BRANDS

CUSTOM GLASS SECTIONSSALES & SERVICE

FREE IN HOME ESTIMATE708.458.2345 www.AR-BE.com

Ask For Parishioner Discount

National Academy of

Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.

MEMBER

academy ofspecial needs

plannersCharter Member Since 2006

708.253.2561

ACT-SAT TEST PREP(The Route to a Higher Score)

Individual SessionsFlexible Scheduling

Local Availability 708-505-4351higherscore@comcast.net

BILL BRENNAN, Agent• Auto • Home • Life • Health

• Long Term Care • Bank643 S. LaGrange Road, LaGrange

708.354.1180Billinsuresme.com Bill@Billinsuresme.com

• Siding • Soffit • Fascia• Gutters • Roofing

FREEESTIMATES

Ask For Parishioner Discountwww.goreckiexteriors.com

708.670.4146

CHOOSE A TRUE LOCAL PLUMBER

708.417.8441Lic.# J16531 - Bonded - Insured

Owned & Operated ByFRANK TRAMONTANA, Parishioner

of Western Springs

Join us for our Saintly Senior Club

Annual Christmas Luncheon* Friday, December 14th

11:30 a.m. SJC Parish Center

Please RSVP to the Parish Center by Monday, December 10

Name: _____________________________

Phone: ____________________________ Number of Reservations: ________

Amount Enclosed: _____________ Cost: Members $15 Nonmembers $20 Questions? Call Trudy Schmitt at 246-4696.

*Enjoy a festive luncheon of roast beef, baked ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, butter beets, coleslaw, kolacky, and beverage. “We 2” will entertain! Be sure to come!