TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

CORCORAN’S CORNER

September 8, 2019 Page Two

It’s Good To Be Back… I’ve been back for two weeks now, and boy is the circus tent up and all going at full throttle. It is good to be back. Party, Party, Party… We plan on three parish celebrations in three months: On Sunday, Sept. 22, at 10:00 AM Mass, we will have a “Coffee and…” to wish Kyle Groves well as he leaves our parish. Kyle did wonderful work with our teens and young adults. He began doing youth ministry at St. Patrick’s Par-ish in Lake Forest, IL, this past July. We want to thank him, give him our blessing, and wish him well. On a weekend in October (yet to be set) we will have a party to celebrate our Director of Liturgy, Claudia Nolan’s 30 years of ministry to our parish community. Claudia is retiring at this time, and we definitely need to celebrate her goodness to our community. Watch this space for details. Finally, block out Sunday, Nov. 17, when our parish will celebrate Fr. Bill Gubbins’ 90th birthday. The celebration will begin at the 11:30 AM Mass with a party to follow. It is wonderful to have great people to celebrate. Religious Education Program… Our parish Religious Education Program begins a week from this coming Monday, Sept. 16. Last Wednesday the catechists had their opening meet-ing. What a great group. One catechist has served this par-ish for nearly 30 years or so. Another for about 20 years. We also have three brand new catechists. They are gener-ous with their time, talent, and in sharing their faith with the next generation. We are always “tweeking” the program to make it better. For example, we receive information from the public schools on children with special needs. But we are now also seeking direct input/tips from the parents of special needs children on how to make the classroom set-ting better. It is a small thing, but one that can have a great impact. The formal information may detail in a clear way the problems/special needs that the students are encountering, but having actual tips to respond to these challenges is a big step forward. I think we will be off to a great start. Seniors of Seton… The Seniors of Seton began their new 2019-2020 calen-dar year last week. They had over 200 people present on a rainy post-Labor Day Tuesday. What a turn out! As all are welcome, we had people from 12 parishes: St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Stephen, St. George, St. Julie, St. Damian, Sa-cred Heart, St. Alexander, St. Francis, St. Michael, St. Ber-nard, St. Anthony, and St. Mary. Seeing the great turn out, I said I was going to start charging them “seat money”. Decades ago, as people entered church they would donate a small sum, say 10 cents as “seat money”, and then make their church offering of $1.00 at the time of the collection. Those days are long gone. But some of the members re-member “seat money” from their childhoods. Our Seniors of Seton is a rapidly growing and vital par-ish group. They are off to a great start. Start Spreading the Word… Once again this year, our parish will be working together with St. Stephen Parish and St. George Parish in a com-mon R.C.I.A. Program [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults]. This is a program for those who want to convert to Catholi-cism; for baptized Catholics who have never completed

their Sacraments of First Eucharist, Reconciliation, and/or Confirmation. Our program will be held on Thursday nights beginning in mid-September, from 7:00-8:30 PM. Each par-ish hosts eight sessions, and the program runs through Lent in 2020, ending on Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020. The beauty of a cooperative program is that there is a much larger pool of instructors to draw from in the three parish staffs. Sessions will begin at St. Stephen Parish, then transfer on to us, and conclude at St. George Parish. Spread the word and have interested candidates contact me at the parish office: 708-403-0101. We already have two potential candidates interested in pursuing this program from St. Elizabeth Seton Parish. Around the Corner… Our St. Elizabeth Seton Men’s Club resumes this Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 7pm, in the McBrady Center. Our St. Elizabeth Seton Women’s Club resumes on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 7:00 PM. in the McBrady Center. “White” Lies, “Damnable” Lies, and Statistics! I have to admit I am a “numbers guy”. Paying attention to the numbers intrigues me. Since the start of the year I have noticed a decline in Mass attendance, particularly at, but not limited to, the 8:30 and 11:30 A.M. Masses. This de-cline worries me. I am left wondering is there anything we as a community can do to draw people back into regular attendance? Demographically we are a stable community. We do not have a major/massive move in our population numbers. We are an aging parish. Condos that were bought by a retired couple see one spouse pass away. Parents and children living in a house, see children grow up and move away. Demographically this leads to a natural population decline. But on top of this is a national trend in all denominations of the Millennial generation having a different pattern of attending worship. They are not connecting in the same way as prior generations had. Our decline in Mass atten-dance reflects these trends. The difficulty of course is so much of our parish life requires people developing strong parish bonds and engaging in parish life and activities. Less people regularly attending means less people will step for-ward and engage in service. Similarly, less people attend-ing means less people contributing to support the many missions of a vibrant parish. When parishes close or con-solidate, people who remain wonder what is happening. What has happened is that parishes have shrunk and can not sustain themselves. [Added to this of course is a grow-ing severe shortage of priests needed to staff parishes and celebrate the Eucharist. But that is another topic for another time.] We need to put our thinking hats on as to how to re-spond to these new and continuing challenges. These challenges while worrying, can also be invigorat-ing. Always remember we are the Church that witnessed the Crucifixion. We have been at a worse spot before. The challenge is to our religious imagination to come up with new ways to connect others with the Lord, and his body, the Church. The short term will be a trial, ah, but the long term—great days ahead.

Keep Smiling,

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Sat., Sept. 7 (5pm) Kevin Janik; The Purgatorial Society Sun., Sept. 8 (7:15am) For All Parishioners; Joan Cronin (8:30am) John LaBanca; Lee Ann Murray (10 am) Kathleen Trybula; Norman Rosinski (11:30am) John P. Malloy; Margaret Mikuzis Mon., Sept. 9 (9 am) Gerald Broderick; John Hunt Tues., Sept. 10 (9am) Kelly Mann; Jacob Manka Wed., Sept.11 (9am) Edward Kudia; Margaret Flynn Thurs., Sept. 12 (9 am) Richard Allen; Kathleen Hunt Fri., Sept. 13 (9 am) Russell F. Tarver, Jr.; Jeannette O’Sullivan Sat., Sept. 14 (5pm) Ellen Connolly; William Fitzgerald Sun., Sept. 15 (7:15am) Matt Kocher; Felix Tomasiewicz (8:30am) Grace E. Beissel; For All Parishioners (10 am) Estelle and Willard Bush; Constance Rosenthal (11:30am) Patrick Sheran; Elizabeth Gatto

We remember the sick, infirm, and those recommended to our prayers, that they may experience the healing power of Christ: Mike Hall Nancy Sasso Larry Ohlendorf Hanna Butler Michael Pawlak Ed Larke Kevin Fonte Henry Pajol And for our deceased: Gladys Murphy Pedro Leon “Heavenly Father, accept the prayers which we offer for them.”

MASS INTENTIONS

PLEASE PRAY FOR

Ryan Connolly Kristina Kosa (Children: Jack and Robin) Brian Whittle Maria Munoz (Child: Everett)

WELCOME

STEWARDSHIP

COLLECTION FOR 9-1-19: $21,138.79

KIDS COLLETION: $21.07

Thank you for your generosity.

Pray for these couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage: Kristen Hranicka and Oliver Campbell; 9-14-19 Mary Carberry and Jeffrey Busking; 9-28-19

WEDDINGS

Congratulations to these parents on the baptism of their child on 9-1-19: Cynthia Cosette, child of David and Colleen (Folgers) Lamonte Wyatt Edward, child of Jennifer Gula

BAPTISMS

NEXT WEEK IS SOUP KITCHEN SUNDAY

SEPTEMBER 15

Volunteers are always needed… Please call Nancy Arredia

at 708-873-1957.

The Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen at Daybreak Center in Joliet has new procedures and volunteers are required to be registered online:

To register online please visit:

catholiccharitiesjoliet.volunteerhub.com JOIN CODE: seorland

Daybreak Shelter Soup Kitchen Address: 611 E. Cass St., Joliet

Volunteer time: 9am-1pm #1—CREATE AN ACCOUNT (Required only once for your first time.) #2—REGISTER while online for the THIRD SUNDAY of the month you wish to volunteer for. #3—PLEASE SIGN IN when you arrive at the Daybreak Center. There will be someone there to assist you if you have any questions.

FOR REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE If you find that you need assistance with registration or have any questions, please contact Bernadette Kemp at 708-532-5635 (home phone). She can help you CREATE AN ACCOUNT TO REGISTER for the day in which you are planning to volunteer. Please do not hesitate to call.

Our thanks and blessings always, St. Elizabeth Seton

Social Action Ministry

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TRUE AND FALSE NOTIONS OF FREEDOM By Reverend Ronald Rolheiser

CS Lewis tells the story of his conversion in a little

autobiographical piece entitled, Surprised by Joy. His journey has some things to teach us.

F or years CS Lewis was blocked from committing himself to faith precisely because of his keen,

uncompromising intellect. Brilliant, searching, skeptical of easy answers, he was unable to picture to himself how the great events of Christ’s life and resurrection could have hap-pened. Moreover, he saw commit-ment to faith as somehow selling short one’s freedom. In all of this, he was constantly challenged by JRR Tolkien, the author of Lord of the Rings, a friend and a practicing Roman Catholic. Lewis recalls how, on many an evening, Tolkien and he would have dinner together and then walk the streets of Oxford for hours, arguing faith and religion. On one such evening, shortly before Lewis’ conversion, Tolkien challenged him to this effect: “Your inability to picture for yourself the mysteries of Jesus’ life is a failure of imagination on your part!” Lewis was stung by that remark, but realized too its truth. Not long afterwards he converted to Christianity and, as Surprised by Joy puts it, on the night when he finally, first, knelt down to acknowledge his faith he did so not in a burst of joy and enthusiasm, but “as the most reluctant convert in the history of Christendom.” Parts of him were still in rebellion, but he knew he needed to kneel in a cer-tain acquiescence because, as he put it, he had come to know that “the harshness of God is kinder than the soft-ness of man and God’s compulsion is our liberation.”

Happiness and freedom, are paradoxical in the extreme. You can only have them by giving them away. Giving away freedom is what makes us free,

just as jealously hoarding it is the ultimate enslavement. S cripture speaks of truths that were “hidden since

the beginning of the world.” What Jesus reveals about the relationship of love and freedom is one of

these truths. What does he reveal? That the essence of love is a certain obedience, a free acquiescence, a giving over of one’s freedom, a laying down of one’s life for love, morality, duty. Freedom doesn’t achieve its purpose by claiming itself for itself, but by giving itself away. There is a great paradox in that and we see it stun-ningly portrayed in the scene where Jesus stands before Pilate during his trial. From every outward appearance, Jesus is unfree. He stands before Pilate and the crowd,

shackled, helpless to walk away, seemingly a victim. Yet, in all of literature, one will never find an image of someone more free than Jesus at that moment. When Pilate says to him: “Don’t you know that I have the power to set you free or put you to death,” Jesus answers, “You have no power over me. Nobody takes my life. I lay it down of my own free will.” Pilate under-stood exactly what that meant:

You can’t make a saint into a victim or a martyr into a scapegoat.

You can’t take by force what some-one has already freely given over.

Scholastic philosophy used to make a distinction around the notion of freedom that partly captures this. It

spoke of freedom as “freedom-from” and “freedom-for.” The former designates a certain adolescent ideal, where freedom means lack of restraints, lack of duty, lack of moral inhibition, the capacity to do whatever you like. The latter designates the purpose of freedom itself, namely, the capacity for self-donation in love, for altruism, for morality, for duty, for service. This is not something we understand or accept easily. We are all too easily seduced by the idea that freedom means “freedom-from”—from duty, from moral restraint, and from anything else that inhibits or ties us down. Duty, morality, and religion are then seen as unhealthy weights, shackles to be shed. But that’s a dangerous, unhappy, notion. I n Mark’s Gospel, the disciples of Jesus are cast in a

particularly bad light. They don’t just abandon Jesus during his passion and death, they misunderstand,

betray, and get things wrong all the way along. That’s partly the point of Mark’s Gospel. For him, it’s difficult, indeed impossible, to come to faith in Jesus unless we share precisely in the cross by giving away our freedom as Jesus did, freely, without resentment. In Mark’s view of things, discipleship can only be grasped existentially, by participation in what lay at the heart of Jesus’ mission, his giving away his freedom to his Father. Simone Weil, a fiercely independent mind who died fighting for freedom, was once asked: “What are you searching for?” Her answer, in essence: “I’m searching for someone to be obedient to because without obedience we inflate and grow silly, even to ourselves.” It was precisely this realization that drove a reluctant CS Lewis to his knees in genuflection. God’s harshness is softer than our kindness and obedience in love is what sets us free.

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me

cannot be my disciple.”

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2019-2020 Teen Choir Starts Sept. 11! Fifth Grade to High School Seniors

“All God’s Children have a place in the Choir! All God’s Children have a place in the choir! Some sing low, some sing higher.”

REHEARSALS WILL BEGIN SOON! If you are interested in joining the Teen Choir, please fill out this sheet and return it to the parish office. Rehearsals will start on Wednesday, September 11, from 6-7pm, in the Church. Please provide your parent’s e-mail address below and the rehearsal schedule will be e-mailed. Questions? Please email Mrs. McKeague at lm@steseton.com or call 708-403-0101 x112.

Name ___________________________________ Age/Grade ________________________________ Street ___________________________________ City/Zip _________________________________ Phone Number ______________________________ Parent’s E-mail:____________________________ Parent Signature ____________________________

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Who might be interested? Adults who are: not yet baptized; baptized in another Christian denomination or were baptized Catholic but have not yet received the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.

For information call the office at 708-403-0101.

Have you considered exploring the Catholic Faith? Know someone who might be interested?

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Men’s Club News

UPCOMING EVENTS

General Meeting Wednesday, Sept. 11 McBrady Center Doors open 7pm Meeting starts 7:30pm

Join us for our First Meeting of the 2019-2020 Year We will open our year with a brief Mass starting at 7pm sharp. Meeting and Food to follow! Dues are $40 a year.

Join us and see what the Men’s Club are all about!

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The “Season of Creation” is Celebrated from

September 1 to October 4

During these days Christians around the world will be celebrating the Season of Creation by praying and acting together to protect our common home. The theme of this year’s Season of Creation celebration is “The Web of Life.” Catholics are uniting with others in the Christian fam-ily to protect every creature in God’s beautifully complex web of creation. The Season of Creation is a special time to join together to live the Catholic faith and care for God’s creation. To love God, we must honor all that God has created. To love our neighbor requires us as Christians to preserve and protect all that sustains life. Below are some great tools you can use/emulate to help spread the news, inspire, advocate, pray and take action for Creation Care. These were assembled by the Archdiocese of Chicago team. The following web links contain opportunities for engagement in schools, and legislative action, in addition to local gatherings to pray and demonstrate our commit-ment to protect God’s Creation. Please visit:

https://mailchi.mp/archchicago/are-you-ready-for-the-season-of-creation?fbclid=IwAR3Jgn-uBEAJ_j6gIlEGd

-GhthsRkyc00-eHDrS4oNIJreRoEC0fmhKnl08.

https://pvm.archchicago.org/human-dignity-solidarity/care-for-creation-ministry/season-of-creation

TINLEY PARK PARK DISTRICT JOB OPENINGS

Part Time Service Team Attendant

Responsibilities include greeting visitors and answering phones, processing registrations and rental permits, and performing daily office operations such as opening and closing procedures. Various shifts available for preferred candidate possessing good communication, computer, and leadership skills. Applications can be found at http://www.tinleyparkdistrict.org/employment-opportunities/ and submitted to employment@tinleyparkdistrict.org or to Human Resources Supervisor, 8125 W. 171st St., Tinley Park, IL 60477.

Part Time Laborer Responsible to perform general park, field, and custodial maintenance, site cleanup, and snow removal. Desired candidate will hold a clean, valid Driver’s License, good decision making and park maintenance skills, and ability to work in various weather conditions. Required pre-employment physical and drug screening, and availability to work on average 10-20 hours per week. Weekend availability preferred. Applications can be found at http://www.tinleyparkdistrict.org/employment-opportunities/ and submitted to employ-ment@tinleyparkdistrict.org or to Human Resources Supervisor, 8125 W. 171st Street, Tinley Park, IL 60477.

Faith in Place Green Team Summit Register for the Fourth Annual Green Team Summit at The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, on Saturday, Sept., 14, from 10am-5pm! This will be a special Green Team Summit celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Faith in Place and the work of Green Teams throughout Illinois. This FREE event (which also includes admission to the Field Museum) will convene hundreds of people of di-verse faiths from neighborhoods across Chicago and cities across Illinois for an action-packed day of connecting and networking about environmental justice. Several Catholic leaders will be in attendance! Whether you're a seasoned veteran or looking to get started, the Green Team Summit will provide valuable and practical tools and resources to care for our common home. The Archdiocese of Chicago is proud to be a sponsor and partner of Faith in Place-look for our table at the event! This event is FREE, available lunch is $5 but you must register for it by Sept. 11 at: https://www.faithinplace.org/get-involved/register.

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

MISSED OUR FIRST MEETING HELD

SEPT. 3? DON’T WORRY!

New members can join at any one of the monthly meetings or in the parish office. Cost is $20/member.

NEXT MEETING IS: TUESDAY, OCT. 1

Tickets for the November 5th catered luncheon by Jack and Pat’s will be on sale for $8.

SENIORS OF SETON

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SAINT OF THE WEEK SAINT CYPRIAN

D. 258 CYPRIAN IS IMPORTANT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT AND PRACTICE IN THE THIRD CENTURY, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN AFRICA. Highly educated, a famous orator, he became a Chris-tian as an adult. He distributed his goods to the poor, and amazed his fellow citizens by making a vow of chastity before his baptism. Within two years he was ordained a priest and chosen, against his will, as Bishop of Carthage. Cyprian complained that the peace the Church had enjoyed had weakened the spirit of many Christians and had opened the door to converts who did not have the true spirit of faith. When the Decian persecution began, many Christians easily abandoned the Church. It was their reinstatement that caused the great controversies of the third century, and helped the Church progress in its understanding of the Sacrament of Penance. Novatus, a priest who had opposed Cyprian’s election, set himself up in Cyprian’s absence (he had fled to a hid-ing place from which to direct the Church—bringing criticism on himself) and received back all apostates without imposing any canonical penance. Ultimately he was condemned. Cyprian held a middle course, holding that those who had actually sacrificed to idols could re-ceive Communion only at death, whereas those who had only bought certificates saying they had sacrificed could be admitted after a more or less lengthy period of pen-ance. Even this was relaxed during a new persecution. During a plague in Carthage, Cyprian urged Christians to help everyone, including enemies and persecutors. A friend of Pope Cornelius, Cyprian opposed the fol-lowing pope, Stephen. He and the other African bishops would not recognize the validity of baptism conferred by heretics and schismatics. This was not the universal view of the Church, but Cyprian was not intimidated even by Stephen’s threat of excommunication. He was exiled by the emperor and recalled for trial. He refused to leave the city, insisting his people should witness his martyrdom. Cyprian was a mixture of kindness and courage, vigor and steadiness, cheerful and serious, so that people did not know whether to love or respect him more. During the baptismal controversy his feelings must have con-cerned him, for it was then that he wrote his treatise on patience. Saint Augustine remarks that Cyprian atoned for his anger by his glorious martyrdom. His Liturgical Feast Day is September 16. COMMENT The controversies in the third century remind us that the early Church had no ready-made solutions from the Holy Spirit. The leaders and members of the Church of that day had to move painfully through the best series of judgments they could make in an attempt to follow the entire teaching of Christ and not be diverted by ex-aggerations to right or left.

UPCOMING EVENTS Don’t want to be left behind?

Please bring your date book and check book to the monthly meetings. Space is limited for activities.

LAKE GENEVA TRIP—WEDNESDAY—SEPT.25 SOLD OUT!

For those with a paid reservation, bus departs west parking lot of church promptly at 10:30am.

CANDY FACTORY TOUR—MERRILLVILLE, IN w/LUNCH at WARSAW INN

WEDNESDAY-OCT.16 $57/pp. After a tour of the Albanese Candy Factory, we will enjoy a wonderful buffet at Warsaw Inn, Lynwood, IL. Buffet includes many options beginning with salad and ending with a homemade dessert bar. Flyer at monthly meeting and in parish office. Full payment due at time of reservation. Bus departs west lot promptly at 11:30am.

NEW ENGLAND and CAPE COD AUTUMN FOLIAGE

DEPARTS OCT. 8, 2020 Mayflower Tours presents an exclusive 8-day itinerary for SOS which includes free airfare if booked by Nov. 30, 2019. $3,099 pp/twin room with an additional $1,099 for single room. Included in the trip price: 13 meals, airport transfers, sightseeing (listed in flyer). A few highlights are: City tour of Boston; Lobsterbake on Cape Cod; Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard; Tour of Newport, RI; Back roads of Vermont; Vanderbilt’s Breakers Mansion; Mount Washing-ton Cog Railway; Kancamagus Scenic Byway; Cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee, Kennebunkport. For more detailed itinerery, flyer is available at monthly meeting and in parish office. Deposit due at time of reservation. Additional payment information in the flyer.

SAVE THE DATE LOU MALNATI’S

FUNDRAISING GIVEBACK EVENT NOV. 11,12,13,14

TINLEY PARK LOCATION

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The Biblical Institute This September 2019, the Diocese of Joliet Biblical

Institute is registering new students for: Year 1 Classes

Wednesdays, 7-9pm Cathedral of St. Raymond (Joliet)

Year 2 Classes Mondays, 7-9pm

St. Margaret Mary Parish (Naperville) This is a comprehensive program and covers every book of the Bible with an emphasis on both scriptural scholarship and the faith development of the program’s participants. Begins mid-September. Register before the September 30 deadline! For information, brochure and registration forms visit: www.dioceseofjoliet.org/bidj.

"Living in the Presence of God" Women's Monthly Morning of Reflection

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 10am-1:30pm Mount Assisi Campus, 13820 Main St., Lemont

Each month's Morning of Reflection will include prayer, meditation, and time for sharing. Continental Breakfast and Lunch will be served. $30 Donation requested. Hosted by Our Lady of the Angels Ministries. Please RSVP by Sept. 16 to Carrie Peters at 630-257-7844 ext. 223.

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You are invited to join in an hour of quiet time and learn about Centering Prayer. The Centering Prayer Group meets on the second Monday of each month in the Gub-bins Center for Faith Formation (NE corner of 167th and 94th Ave.). Our next meeting is October 14. For informa-tion please contact Marge Quinn at 708-460-5357

NATIONAL SEAT CHECK Saturday, Sept. 21

10am-2pm Tinley Park Fire Dept. Training Lot

7750 W. 183rd St., Tinley Park

(east lot next to Police Station)

The Tinley Park Police child passenger safety technicians will be participating in National Seat Check. Child safety seats need to be installed so that technicians can verify that they are properly installed. Please clear the clutter from your vehicles so that technicians can view the installation. For more information, please call 708-444-5300 or visit www.tinleypark.org.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO CENTERING PRAYER

FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER…

2020 Golden Opportunities Books ARE HERE!

Still Only $20!

Golden Opportunities saves thousands of dollars at a variety of your favorite LOCAL merchants that include dining pleasures, casual dining, entertainment, sports, retail, more! Available in the Parish Office or SOS Meetings.

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ST. ELIZABETH SETON PARISH INFORMATION

New Parishioners We welcome new members. All are invited to participate in the life and mission of the parish. A complete listing of parish services and organizations is available in the parish office and on our parish website. Please visit the parish office to register or obtain the registration form on the parish website. Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Saturday, between 4:15-4:45pm. Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated twice monthly at 1pm. Reserve your time by calling the parish office early. Limit of six children per Sunday. Baptismal Preparation Couples preparing for the birth of their child should contact the Pastoral Center to register for a one night seminar, focusing on a parent’s role in faith development. This session is mandatory prior to the Baptism. Anointing of the Sick is available in the Church every Monday after the 9am Mass. For those who are ill or facing hospitalization, it is appropriate to receive the sacrament once every six months. Call 708-403-0101 for information. Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Adults, 18 and older, who wish to become Catholic are enrolled in a formation process (RCIA) that includes prayer, dialogue, instruction, and introduction to the Church’s life and values, rituals and traditions. For in-formation call the parish office 708-403-0101. Ministry of Care is available to give Communion to the housebound, to visit and pray for hospitalized and/or to arrange for the Anointing of the Sick. Please call the Pastoral Center for assistance. In the Hospital? Because of HIPAA Privacy regu-lations hospitals can no longer contact the parish re-garding your hospitalization. It is the responsibility of you or a family member to notify our parish. We desire to offer whatever spiritual support we can. Please call the Pastoral Center. Sacrament of Marriage Couples planning to marry are asked to make arrangements six months in advance. Wedding Workshops are offered throughout the year. They provide engaged couples with guidelines and suggestions for the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage. The workshop covers topics ranging from readings and music to flowers and video taping. Adult Choir sings at all 10am Sunday Masses, as well as at a number of special liturgies. Teen Choir sings at the 11:30am Sunday Masses. Moving? Please call the office at 708-403-0101.

9300 West 167th St., Orland Hills, IL 708-403-0101

www.steseton.com

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ST. ELIZABETH SETON PRAYER/OUTREACH MINISTRIES

Social Action Ministry How we serve: Soup Kitchen in Joliet; Sharing Parish with St. Procopius Church; Pro Life Ministry: COURAGE Program, Mother’s Day Flowers For Life, Life Chain Sunday, Diaper Drive; Respond Now Outreach; SWIFT (South West Interfaith Team); Environmental Ministry; Speaker nights.

Seton Rosary Group All are invited to pray the Rosary each Tuesday/Thursday in the church, by our statue of the Mary, after 9am Mass.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy Divine Mercy Chaplet each Wednesday following the 9am Mass.

Creation Care Team Ministry A cross-parish Renew My Church initiative taking action to pro-mote positive environmental change through education, individ-ual action and community outreach in the spirit of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si. Second Monday each month, Gubbins Center, 7pm. Call Andy Panelli, 708-301-8038.

Heart Warmers Meal Ministry Heart Warmers is an outreach program where Seton volunteers deliver homemade meals to people of our parish community when they are experiencing times with medical, health, new baby, recovery, or grief issues. To schedule receiving a meal or to become a meal provider contact Barb Cristofaro at 708-349-7493 or heartwarmers-ses@att.net.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Shawls are prayerfully created, blessed, and distributed to those who have a need for the spiritual, physical or emotional comfort. Knit or crochet in your home and/or at the twice-monthly meet-ings. To become a knitter or to obtain a shawl, call the parish office at 708-403-0101.

Seton Sowers-Newborns in Need If you knit/crochet/sew, your skills to make clothing/blankets for premature newborn babies at the University of Illinois Hospital. We meet monthly in the O’Mara Hall. Donations of yarn/fabric/baby toiletries/supplies accepted. For information/meeting dates, contact Carol Dimer at 708-479-6994.

HOPE Employment Ministry HOPE is open to everyone. All of our services, to both job seek-ers and employers, are free. We meet the first Tuesday of each month in O’Mara Hall at 7pm. Our meetings consist of network-ing, resume review, guest speakers and open forums. Contact Arnie Skibinski at askibinski@steseton.com.

Alcoholics Anonymous If you have a problem with alcohol and feel a sincere desire to stop drinking, you are welcome to attend a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in the O’Mara Hall, Thursdays, 7:30-8:45pm. AA is a fellowship of men and women sharing their experience, strength, and hope so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover. The only require-ment is a sincere desire to stop drinking.

Families Anonymous If your life has gone astray due to living with someone who has a substance abuse problem, attend a Families Anonymous on Mondays from 7-8:30pm at Palos Hospital, 123rd and 80th Ave., Palos Heights (Ambulatory Care Center, Rm. 1). Call 708-429-2507 or 708-269-9853.

St. Vincent de Paul Society Anyone within parish boundaries in need of assistance from SVDP, may call the parish office at 708-403-0101.

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LIVING the

WORD

LIVING the

WORD

NEXT WEEK’S FOCUS: ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

We can sometimes think too highly of ourselves, and at other times we have a falsely low self-image. God calls us to an honest evaluation of our lives.

FIRST READING Why should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of Egypt?∙ (Ex 32:7-11, 13-14). Moses went up Mount Sinai to meet the Lord. The peo-ple who remained at the base of the mountain decided to take their gold jewelry and make a golden calf that they would worship. God offers to destroy this people and to make a great people come from Moses. He calls them a stiff-necked people. After everything that he had done in their behalf, they should not have doubted him for a second. Yet, they seemed to use every occasion to rebel against the Lord. Moses implored God to have mercy upon his people. He reminded God of the history of God’s relationship with them. God had acted in Abra-ham’s, Isaac’s, and Jacob’s behalf. He had promised his people the land and a great number of descendants. How could God know go back on his promises? SECOND READING The grace of our Lord has been abundant (1 Timothy 1:12-17). Saint Paul was a great sinner. He opposed the ways of the Lord when he persecuted Christians in the early days of the Church. He calls himself a blasphemer, per-secutor, and arrogant man. Instead of punishing Paul, God forgave him and used him as an instrument of his mercy. He was visible proof that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. This is really the story of each one

of us. We have been forgiven by the Lord. We should be willing to share our story with all who are willing to hear. We are frequently ready to share the stories of our victory, but it is just as important to share the stories of our weaknesses (and how God worked through those weaknesses to show his strength).

GOSPEL There is great rejoicing in heaven and among the angels when a sinner repents (Luke 15:1-32 [1-10]). Luke’s is a gospel of compassion and the forgiveness of sins. Two short parables deal with God’s attitude toward those who are sinners. God is not out to get them. He is not sitting in heaven planning his revenge against those who have sinned. Rather, he is actively seeking out those who have sinned so that he might offer his forgiveness. God is always filled with mercy. A shepherd leaves 99 sheep in the wilderness so that he might seek out the one that is lost. When that sheep is found, the shepherd responds with great joy. This is remarkable. It means that Jesus’ mission is not for those who are religious and righteous, but for those who are sinners and alienated. Typical to Luke’s Gospel, when a man’s story is told, there is a woman’s story told immediately afterward to balance it… in this case the Parable of the Lost Coin and is a parallel story to the first one. REFLECTION These readings call us back to earth when we sometimes think ourselves better than others. We are all sinners, and as St. Paul reminds us, Christ came into the world to save sinners—and that includes us. Feeling God absent, the Israelites built a molten calf and broke the command to have no images of God. Moses called God to task: Re-member your promises and be faithful to them. The Lord relented. Moses had the courage to ask God for a kind of altitude adjustment. Paul persecuted the early Church but his encounter with the merciful Jesus changed him, and led to Paul becoming a trustworthy witness to God’s all-inclusive mercy. Jesus is addressing tax collectors and sinners and invites them to adjust their attitudes. When something lost is found, fear and rash judgment become renewed trust and rejoicing. Do you see yourself as unworthy of God’s merciful love, or better than others because your sin is not as great as theirs, or entitled to special treatment because you’ve been “good”? Have you built your own molten calf? Name the kind of altitude adjustment you need to celebrate and rejoice that God has found you where you were lost.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

Scripture Reflections for 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

September 8, 2019 Page Sixteen

Monday Col 1:24-2:3

Lk 6:6-11

Tuesday Col 2:6-15 Lk 6:12-19

Wednesday Col 3:1-11 Lk 6:20-26

Thursday Col 3:12-17 Lk 6:27-38

Friday 1 Tm 1:1-2,

12-14 Lk 6:39-42

Saturday Nm 21:4b-9 Phil 2:6-11 Jn 3:13-17

Sunday Ex 32:7-11,

13-14 1 Tm 1:12-17

Lk 15:1-32

READINGS FOR THE WEEK [September 9-15]

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Respond Now opened in 1969 as a “referral and emergency care center” to bring together the efforts of six churches.

Five decades later, the agency is still providing a way for South Suburban neighbors to help each other, an achievement that will be celebrated at Flossmoor Station on Sept. 19 with a fundraiser where community mem-bers can raise a glass and share their support. Respond Now, originally founded to help struggling families in six suburbs, now addresses housing, hunger, and health issues for 14,000 families annually in 22 suburbs: Chi-cago Heights, Park Forest, Sauk Village, Lynwood, Create, Monee, Peotone, Beecher, University Park, Steger, South Chicago Heights, Matteson, Richton Park, Olympia Fields, Glenwood, Ford Heights, Lansing, Thornton, Homewood, Flossmoor, Calumet City, Hazel Crest, and East Hazel Crest. When it was founded in 1969, Re-spond Now’s mission was to provide a way for South Suburban residents to help their neighbors in six suburbs. A single employee, whose salary was paid by Catholic Charities, led dozens of volunteers as they determined the need and how to meet it. Today the organization is still volunteer-driven, with more than 6,000 hours contrib-uted every year, and supported financially by area businesses, churches, and individuals as well as grant fund-ing. The fundraiser on Sept. 19 provides a chance for the community residents to hear live music, mix and min-gle, and lend their support in honor of Respond Now’s 50th anniversary. Additionally, Flossmoor Station will sell a signature beer during September for the social service agency, with a portion of the sale price going to Re-spond Now. More information is at respondnow.org.

September 8, 2019 Page Seventeen

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Page Eighteen September 8, 2019

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME September 8, 2019 Page Nineteen

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

A FINAL THOUGHT FOR YOUR WEEK

COST OF DISCIPLESHIP By Deacon Ross Beaudoin, Celebration Magazine

Being a disciple is more than

being a follower…

I n today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a clear call and instruction on

“discipleship.” We see instances in the Gospels of people who were followers of Jesus who turned away when they were challenged to become disciples. Discipleship involves accepting and integrating into our lives the teachings and values of the one whose disciple we become. One clear experience of discipleship for me has to do with encountering and living with the poor at the border of Mexico. A group of us were living with other volunteers in Tijuana. Those who were guiding our experience had specific challenges for us. Among them was that we eat what was offered and not seek our own food. Another was to beg outside a grocery store, asking for food for those who were hungry. A third challenge was that we set aside things that used energy — such as hair dryers, etc. — that the poor probably did not own and couldn’t afford the utility bill to operate. In this experience, we were challenged to internalize and activate the message of what it means to live in solidarity with people of God who do without much of what we considered ordinary, or even necessary. We were challenged to become disciples of Jesus. Some of our group accepted the challenges. Some struggled with them and decided to go along only for the time being. A few rejected the challenges outright. Those who fully accepted the challenges became disciples. In today’s Gospel, Jesus lays out a clear challenge to his followers. To paraphrase: “You must not let any person in this world stand in the way of your following me.” “Figure out what it is going to take for you to

become my disciple. Don’t be unprepared.” And, finally, “Renounce any possessions that stand in the way of being my disciple.” D ietrich Bonhoeffer, a

German Lutheran pastor in the first half

of the 20th century, wrote a book titled The Cost of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer himself knew that cost firsthand. As a disciple of Jesus, Bonhoeffer risked everything, including his life, in order to resist Hitler and the spread of Nazism. Bonhoeffer contrasted the cost of discipleship with what he called “cheap grace.” Cheap grace implies that the believer wants to have forgiveness without really being repentant, to have baptism without living the life of the Church, to have Communion without really believing, and to be a disciple without accepting the cross. In other words, “cheap grace” means wanting to be a Christian without Jesus Christ! In contrast to “cheap grace,” Bonhoeffer defines the costly grace of discipleship

this way: “Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus; it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a person to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” Bonhoeffer argues that as Christianity spread, the Church became involved with the state, and secularization set in. The call to discipleship became exclusive to religious professionals like monks and nuns. Ordinary Christians, even some clergy, saw their Christian life as a practice of keeping rules rather than submitting to the “yoke of Christ” in full discipleship.

Today it is still as true as it was in the time of Jesus: Not all followers are disciples, but all

followers are called to become disciples.

Page Twenty September 8, 2019

Lord, in every age and moment of our lives you have been our refuge.

You teach us by our Church’s tradition and by our own experience.

Yet we must continually turn to you. Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain wisdom of heart. Amen.

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

9/14 & 9/15 5:00PM 7:15AM 8:30AM 10:00AM 11:30AM GREETERS J. Gaskey

T. Grebenor C. Labus J. Lennon S. Lennon C. Lennon D. Mires M. Pahl/ K. Pahl G. Roy/G. Roy K. Roy/M. Roy

E. Briette B. Majer W. McGlashan A. McGlashan J. Niemiec

L. Allen C. Bannon F. Caputo M. Crance R. Cubalchini M. Cubalchini S. Giovanazzi O. Lopez, Jr.

D. Ahern W. Bric J. Grant D. Kujawa M. Moore M. Moore

A. Durkin E. Esparza E. Esparza M. Hattar J. Islas/L. Islas S. Klean F. McCarthy S. Potts T. Waters/A. Waters J. Waters

LECTORS T. Wojcik R. Coe

L. Mata E. Espina R. Velcich P. DeWilkens

M. O’Sullivan S. Roethle

ALTAR SERVERS

S. Boertlein N. Kaslewicz I VanAlst

A. Bermabe C. Bueche O. Royce

A. Noone E. Gacek N. Oliver

M. Reiter L. Reiter S. Fratto

C. Jaeger L. Becker R. Talusan

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

K. Gagliardi M. Gabrione J. Janiak J. Murphy J. Connelly G. Yakes M. Garcia J. Paluch M. Paluch T. Doyle D. Cristofaro B. Cristofaro

D. Flynn A. Bramasco J. Federico T. Federico K. McSwain F. Mankowski D. Nykiel M. O’Connor

L. Kocsis L. Kocsis L. Austin J. Austin J. Misiunas T. Leeson M. Galka J. Juds C. Kirk C. Hayward W. Dendler K. Oliver

E. Barin E. Federico M. Fehrenbacher K. Petrey M. Quinn K. O’Sullivan S. Juska I. Juska R. Grill P. Ihnat M. Ihnat S. Weishaar A. Weishaar

M. Merino K. James S. Villegas J. Bilas T. Wolski R. Dollah J. Holmquist C. Holmquist T. Scorzo M. Miller

SACRISTANS C. Nolan M. Garcia

J. Federico T. Federico

C. Kirk M. Fehrenbacher R. Dollah

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT

WWW.STESETON.COM

Join us on FACEBOOK St. Elizabeth Seton Church-Orland Hills

Page Twenty One September 8, 2019

Pastoral Staff Rev. William T. Corcoran, Ph.D., Pastor Rev. John Zurek, Associate Pastor Rev. William Gubbins, Resident Priest Rev. William T. O’Mara, Pastor Emeritus Deacon: Frank Gildea Deacon: Dennis (Barb) Cristofaro

Claudia Nolan, Director of Liturgy

Linda McKeague, Director of Music

Parish Office Staff Donna Stolinski, Business Manager Darlene Raila, Communications Director Joan Nemec, Receptionist Karen Mirecki, Receptionist Karen Opyd, Receptionist

Religious Education Staff Diana Barracca, Catechesis Mary Vlaming, Catechesis

Youth/Young Adult Ministry Kyle Groves, Director Bruce Hall, Coordinator

Athletics Bob Myjak, Director

Maintenance Staff Raymond Yanowsky, Director of Maintenance Laurie De Mik-Renn, CJB Day Maintenance Supervisor Marie Makuch, Staff Joseph Shake, Staff Dan Kosty, Staff

REGULAR MASS SCHEDULE Monday-Friday: 9:00 am

Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday:

7:15, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30am

St. Elizabeth Seton Church 9300 W. 167th Street Orland Hills, IL 60487

Parish Office: 708-403-0101 Religious Education: 708-403-0137

PARISH OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8:30AM-4:30PM

SATURDAY: 1PM-6PM SUNDAY: 8:30AM-1PM

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School WEBSITE: WWW.CJBSCHOOL.ORG 708-403-6525 Interim Principal, James P. Antos Administrative Assistant, Cindy Labriola Devlin