St. John of the Cross Parish

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

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2020

Lauren Mae May for OpalMaeDesigns

   From the Desk of Fr. Marc Reszel

Today is celebrated as the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The final week of this anticipatory season focuses our attention on the proximate preparations for Christmas. We notice this liturgical shift in the change of the Advent Preface to Eucharistic Prayer at Mass and with the introduction of the O Antiphons - the verses of the familiar O Come, O Come Emmanuel - to the Church’s evening prayer. For the safety of our parishioners and others, pandemic protocols have limited the worshipping assembly to 20% of capacity. Registration / reservations are required for all those attending parish Masses. Once we are full, we cannot allow others to enter. Sign up at stjohnofthecross.org. The Eucharist was never cancelled at our parish, but Covid has caused us to reconfigure and reimagine our celebrations of sacraments. Since March, we have made our Masses and other services available via our parish website. Thank you to those who made a Giving Tuesday or other-time donation towards the costs of upgrading the technology infrastructure in the church with permanently mounted high-resolution cameras, hard-wired audio inputs, and multi-camera views. The controls, the monitor, and the processor are now at the rear of the church near the sacristy in a custom roll-top desk matching the style of the woodwork in

the church. With this new equipment, we will continue to livestream and record the daily (Monday – Saturday) Mass at 9:00am and at least one Mass (currently the 4:00pm Saturday) for each Sunday. Additionally we will livestream and provide Holy Communion to the Parish Center, Multipurpose Room, and School Gym at 4:00pm and 6:00pm on December 24 and at 11:00am on December 25. Sign-up for these additional Christmas sites at stjohnofthecross.org. Let us continue to pray for one another and for our parish. Father Reszel

All glory be to God on high, And on the earth be peace;

Goodwill henceforth from heav’n to all Begin and never cease.

Christ is born so that we might become the Children of God.

Advent Blessings

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God of Love, your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us. He is a sign of your love. Help us

walk in that love during this last week of Advent, as we wait and prepare for his coming.

We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Loyola Press

From Cardinal Cupich Advent Prayer

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Christmas 2020 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Each one of us carries treasured memories of joyous Christmas celebrations. This year, the Christmas we are about to celebrate will be different. Because of the pandemic and the changes at work in our society, this season will no doubt have a more somber and restrained tone. And yet the very heart of our Christmas celebration does not change and, indeed, may be more important than ever. To celebrate the birth of Jesus summons us to remember that the Word became flesh. In Jesus, God became one with us in all things but sin. In Jesus, God understands the joy and grief of our human condition from the inside. The great blessing of Christmas is Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us—the blessed assurance that God walks with us on our joyful and challenging life journey. In his recent encyclical, Fratelli tutti, Pope Francis reminds us that we are all sisters and brothers to each other, ultimately linked together in Jesus Christ who is Son of God and Son of Mary. As brothers and sisters, let us hold each other in the mystery of the Word made flesh. Let us pray for each other. I will certainly remember you, and I ask you to remember me. And although this may be a different kind of Christmas, it may also be one of the most meaningful. God bless you and your loved ones and keep you safe in his providential love. Sincerely yours in Christ,

Litany for Advent Response: Come, Lord Jesus!

(Revelation 22:20)

In the times when we find it hard to pray,

In the times when we struggle to think of You, dear Lord,

In the times when we are too

occupied by business,

In the times when we act so unloving,

In the times when we find it hard to forgive,

In the times when we lack compassion towards our neighbors,

In the times when we don't want to love,

In the times when we do not want to be

quiet and listen to You.

In the times we fail to read Your Holy Word,

In the times we fail to worship You especially on the Sabbath,

In the times when we want only to

think of ourselves.

In the times when we do not want to get involved in social issues,

In the times when we want to have

more material possessions,

In the times when we do not want to examine our consciences,

In the times when we forget You on arising,

In the times when we fail to turn to You

during the day,

In the times when we forget You on retiring,

In the times when we put off living

as if this day is the last,

In the times when we fail to long for you,

Come, Lord Jesus!

Christian Brothers

Outreach Thank YOU!!

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Thank you to everyone who donated toys, gift cards and checks to Share Christmas!! We are also so

grateful to our Share Chairpersons, Jeannine Sur and Colleen Murphy, & Director of Outreach Bill Bright

for their endless leadership, energy and enthusiasm.

Lifelong Learning

Monday Song 2:8-14 or Zeph 3:14-18a Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 Luke 1:39-45

Tuesday 1 Sam 1:24-28 1 Sam 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd Luke 1:46-56

Wednesday Mal 3:1-4, 23-24 Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10, 14 Luke 1:57-66

Thursday 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 Luke 1:67-79

Friday Christmas Isa 52:7-10 Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 Heb 1:1-6 John 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14

Saturday Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 Matt 10:17-22

Sunday Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gen 15:1-6; 21:1-3 Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40

Background on the Gospel Reading This Sunday we read the story of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary about the birth of Jesus. This story is found only in Luke’s Gospel. On this fourth Sunday of Advent, the liturgy shifts our attention from John the Baptist to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Both John and Mary serve as important figures for our reflection during the season of Advent; they both played instrumental roles in preparing the way for Jesus. Last week we reflected on John the Baptist’s announcement that the Savior was among us, although not yet recognized. This week we reflect upon Mary’s example of faith and obedience to God, traits which permitted her to receive the angel’s message that God’s Son would be born as a human person, as one of us. We are familiar with the story of the Annunciation, and it is fitting that we recall how God announced the birth of Jesus as we make our final preparations for our celebration of the Incarnation. The angel Gabriel visited Mary, a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph. Mary greeted the angel’s news with awe and wonder and asked how it could be possible that she could give birth to a child. In his reply, the angel Gabriel announced the seemingly impossible reality: the child to be born would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and would be God’s own Son. The angel reported to Mary another miracle; her relative Elizabeth was also pregnant despite having been thought to be unable to have a child. Mary’s response to the angel, which is called her fiat, is an example of complete faith and obedience to God. The story of the Annunciation calls to our attention God’s wondrous action in human history. God chose a human person to give birth to his Son so that all humanity would know God’s salvation. Mary, already full of God’s grace, was able to cooperate in this great plan for our salvation. Thus Jesus was born as one of us, fully human and also fully divine. This is the mystery we prepare to celebrate at Christmas, the mystery of the Incarnation. In the model of Mary, we pray that we will be people of faith who recognize God’s saving plan for us and are able respond with obedience. Loyola Press

Living the Gospel Every Advent we are challenged to have the attentiveness of Mary to the flutter of Christ-life that stirs in the womb of our complacency. So often our world seems starved of stars; and so often we watch or participate in rituals of mourning for acts of terrorism, natural disaster, the local tragedies of road deaths, or other dark events. Usually in these rituals there are candles: small pieces of self-consuming wax and flame that say light has more right to exist in our world than darkness. This is the message, too, of our Advent wreath as we light the last of its four candles. But those candles, like all ritual candles, will burn out. It is up to us, disciples of the Light of the world, to catch fire from Christ’s mystery and bring something of this fire and light into our own lives and, especially, into the lives of those for whom Christmas may not be a feast of joy but a time of darkness that stirs painful memories of those with whom they can no longer celebrate because of death, separation, divorce, family quarrels. For the friendless, the homeless, the abused, Christmas may arouse bitter comparisons and regrets. The fire we catch from Christ, our readiness to be consumed like him in the flame of loving service of our sisters and brothers, may be as simple a gift as a visit, a letter, a phone call, an invitation to a meal, a present on the parish “Giving Tree.” But it will mean that, together, we will truly celebrate something of a “Happy Christmas.” ©Living Liturgy

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God who spoke creation into being, you spoke to Mary through the angel;

Mary brought forth your son who recreated the whole world. Allow us a

small part in helping you speak and create today; help us not to be afraid, that we also may find favor with God.

Amen.

Today’s Gospel narrative of Mary’s “yes” seems especially fitting today. Her assent to God’s will opens the door for the in-breaking of God’s love through Jesus. We are invited to seek God’s will, say our own “yes” and through our response, bring Christ’s love to all. Reflection: Think about all the ways you will know and share love in the next few days and weeks. Be mindful of the “reason for the season” of Christmas, which is that God desires so deeply that we know and live his love that he came to be one with us in Jesus Christ.

Advent Meditations

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Free Will A young girl, 15 years old, is given an invitation of a lifetime. Surrender to God’s will. It was a choice. With free will, it is always a choice between “yes” and “no.” It could have been “no,” and life would have gone on. But with extreme courage and trust, not knowing how it will all turn out, she said “yes.” Frightened and unsure, she trusted. God’s will became her will, one and the same. It changed history. One can imagine, when God chose Mary, she already cultivated a deep relationship with Him. A close friendship, a divine friendship. Friendship with God is what we called grace. With His invitation to do His will, they became closer. Her dedication to Him was a self-offering to God’s concerns and purpose. God chose Mary. Mary chose to do God’s will. Through our baptism, we have been chosen as well. We are invited to do God’s will. We can say “yes” or “no.” Because of free will, we can choose to give or withhold ourselves from God. Mary surrendered her will to do what God asked of her. We are invited and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the same. We, too, can change history. To know, love, and serve God in this world and the next. Meditation: In what sense have you been chosen? What practical ways can you strengthen your relationship, your friendship with God? Think about others who have dedicated their lives to God’s purpose. How can you emulate them? Pray for them. ACS Technologies

An Instrument of Peace St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) observed that in developed nations, loneliness is their greatest poverty. The feeling of being unwanted, unloved, terrified, thrown out of society – it is a spiritual poverty which is harder to overcome than any material poverty she ever encountered. She related a time when she visited a beautiful home for senior citizens. It was magnificent. It had forty residents and they lacked nothing. They were all attentive to the door, but none of the faces had a smile. A religious congregation ran the place and Mother asked the sister on duty, “Sister, why doesn’t anybody smile? Why do they look constantly at the door?” The sister replied, “The same thing always happens. They are always waiting for someone to come to visit them. They dream of a son or daughter, some member of the family, or a friend coming through that door to visit them.” Mother continues, “Loneliness was an expression of their poverty, the poverty of seeing themselves abandoned by relatives and friends. The poverty of having no one coming to visit them is the poverty that older people feel the most.” With Covid-19 lockdowns, we are witnessing that same loneliness and isolation, not only in senior residences and nursing homes, but among those adults of any age living alone during lockdown. Today, Christ reveals an antidote to such loneliness and spiritual poverty. “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.” He challenged the disciples to personally feed the crowd with all they had – seven loaves of bread and a few fish. It wasn’t much, but it was something. He did not want the crowd sent away to fend for themselves, rather for his disciples, for the community, to break bread together. In doing so He healed them. They ended up with seven baskets of leftovers! How many times have we discovered the miracle of reaching out and being with someone? The ministry of presence overcomes the sickness of being unwanted, unloved, terrified and thrown out of society. It does not take much, but it can have a profound effect on a person’s life. Today’s Challenge: Consider the ministry of presence today – visit someone who is all alone (you don’t have to look to far, perhaps someone in your family). If you can share a meal together, fabulous! If a meal isn’t possible, consider a personal visit. If that is still impossible, consider making a phone call and checking in with them. Listen to them. Tell them you love them. Feed their soul. ACS Technologies

Music Ministry: Reflections on the O Antiphons

Part of the rich prayer tradition of the Catholic Church, the Liturgy of the Hours is the formal prayer of the church that marks the hours of the day, sanctifying the passing of time. The Liturgy of the Hours combines hymnody, psalmody, scripture, and prayer, and is prayed at set times throughout the day. Antiphons are the one-line prayer sung or recited like bookends before and after the psalms and canticles. The antiphon for the Magnificat – a prayer that is said daily as a part of Vespers or Evening Prayer – during the last week of Advent is special. Each antiphon begins with an invocation of the Messiah in a particular title from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

17 December: O Sapientia (O Wisdom) 18 December: O Adonai (O Lord) 19 December: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) 20 December: O Clavis David (O Key of David) 21 December: O Oriens (O Dayspring) 22 December: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations) 23 December: O Emmanuel (O God with Us)

You may recognize these titles as the verses from the traditional Advent chant, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” When put together, the titles in Latin form the reverse acrostic, ero cras. E mmanuel R ex Gentium O riens C lavis David R adix Jesse A donai S apentia The English translation of ero cras is “tomorrow, I will come.” In these days of the last week leading to Christmas, the O Antiphons bring an intensity to our Advent preparation. This year, SJC Accompanist Keith Kalemba has prepared seven musical reflections on O Come, O Come Emmanuel, highlighting the antiphon for each day. Be sure to follow us on YouTube and Facebook to view these videos. We hope you will enjoy them as a part of your own Advent preparation.

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High School Youth Ministry

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Advent Week 4 LOVE The whole meaning of Christmas can be explained

in one little four letter word…LOVE. God sent His gift of pure love to us that first Christmas.

Love descended from heaven to be born of a virgin. Love lay in the scratchy hay of a manger in a meager barn in Bethlehem.

All of God’s Love was robed in the delicate skin of a baby and wrapped in swaddling clothes.

This final week of Advent, help us to reflect on the magnitude of love

that was made manifest in Jesus. Merry Christmas!

Here are our some of our favorite things you can do to be present this season: 1.Take regular breaks from electronics. For many people, phones are the biggest barrier to being fully present with others. Be on social media less so you can be social more. 2.Be inquisitive. Ask people what’s going on in their lives, and listen carefully to their replies. Extra points if you ask at least two follow-up questions. 3.Notice and celebrate the “good.” Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, pay attention and soak in the joyful moments you experience this season. Bonus ideas: 1.Christmas music—Every time you hear “O Holy Night,” thank Jesus for his presence with you and commit to being more present with others. 2.Family moment—Give your family your attention this season. Don’t check out when things start to drag a bit; instead, break out in a rousing rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” (Of course, Bruce Springsteen’s version is the best.) youthministry.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM!!

Parish School

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The SJC School Parent Association (PA) has been busy this year! Our goal has been to support the teachers, staff and students during this year of unique learning. We’ve been able to raise funds to provide things like special lunches for the whole school and treats for teachers as a way to reward them for their extra patience and hard work. These sharing opportunities are open to all parishioners. Please take a look at some of what we’re currently working on: Angel Gift Fund: The Parent Association sponsored Angel Gift Fund is officially underway! This program was created to provide an opportunity for all parish school families to contribute to a monetary Christmas gift fund distributed to all teachers and staff members. The PA encourages families to support the Angel Gift instead of giving individual presents to teachers and school staff. To contribute please go to www.stjohnofthecross.org/school/ and click on the Angel Gift icon. Dine Shop and Share: Get ready for the holidays! The SJC Parent Association has partnered with Minted to give back! You’ll save 20% on their products (excluding fine art prints) now thru December 31. Load up on Christmas cards, thank-you notes, invitations, gift ideas, etc. They’ll donate 15% of all SJC sales back to the PA. Please go to minted.com and use code FUNDRAISESJC. AmazonSmile: AmazonSmile is a simple and easy way to support our parish Youth Catechesis program, Teacher Recognition Trust and the School Parent Association every time you shop. When you shop AmazonSmile, you will find the same prices and shopping experiences as with Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases to St. John of the Cross. Go to smile.amazon.com on web browser and login with your Amazon credentials. Follow the steps to elect St. John of the Cross Parish as your current charity election. To activate AmazonSmile on your Amazon Shopping app, go to the menu under Programs and Features and follow the onboarding instructions to activate AmazonSmile on your device and choose St. John of the Cross Parish as your charity.

Merry Christmas from St. John of the Cross Parish School. We wish all of our families, teachers and staff a blessed and safe Christmas. The weeks leading up to the arrival of Jesus were filled with excitement as we celebrated Advent in our school. Each week began with an all school virtual prayer service lighting our Advent Wreath. In the classrooms each of our teachers prepared their students with a variety of projects to teach the importance of the season along with creative gifts to bring home to celebrate the joy of Christmas. Learn more about St. John of the Cross Parish School: www.stjohnofthecross.org/school

YC Reflections

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Suzanne -- Thank you for the Advent calendar. My daughter absolutely loves seeing what is in store for each day! It is a wonderful way to celebrate the season. Merritt - My mom and I played the game Stump the Shepard. It was fun. This activity helped me learn more about Jesus, the church and the Eucharist. I would like to learn more Bible stories. Will -- The Church is a community of people that all share the same faith and belief in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It helps to understand that all people in the Church have the same beliefs in Jesus. This makes me more confident knowing that if I ever have doubts or questions, there are many people I can rely on to help me find answers. Also it makes me feel good to know that many others are sharing the same prayers and songs. Ezekiel 36: 24-28 talks about how God will bring all of his believers to the same place to live together and cleanse us. This represents the Church and how all of us have a place to pray together while also being forgiven for our sins. This month I collected food with my parents for Harvest Saturday. We collected a lot of food! It's hard to imagine that so many people need food, when we have so much. Our neighbors were very generous. This reminded me that even people who are not part of our Church are very caring and kind, just as Jesus wants. I hope that our effort will help others feel better. I'd like to learn more about where the food goes and how many families need food regularly. It would be great to collect that much food more than once or twice a year. Breton Family - We chose the teaching bedtime prayer activity. "Now I lay me down to sleep" was a prayer I would say as a child and it brought back memories. As a child, this prayer was part of my nightly routine before I went to sleep. It would be nice to see if my children incorporate it into their routine as well Bielski Family -- Forgiveness coloring page was great for them since they like art and easier to keep their attention while talking about forgiveness leads to maintaining friendships and understanding no one is perfect and having realistic expectations about relationships and making mistakes. Keeps you aware that it’s not worth being that stubborn to hold a grudge and be upset, angry, hateful, leads to bad outcomes, emotional pain, revenge, etc. if the other party realizes they made a mistake. Even Jesus pleaded for forgiveness to the Father on the cross for people’s ignorance so you need to be open minded and understanding to avoid war or worse outcomes. Schaefer Family– We listened to the Be Not Afraid video and learned that we should not be afraid because Jesus will always help us. We are praying for all the people who are sick. God will always look after us like a shepherd looks after his sheep. We are most thankful for our family and that we can still go to school. We pray for our Great Grandma and Great Pa who went to heaven together this month. We listened to the Be Not Afraid video. Geiersbach Family -- We watched Remember the Titans together because Will likes football and we thought it would be a fun but instructive bonding time. We were able to discuss the issue of racial discrimination and that we should treat everyone nicely regardless of skin color. Will would like to learn more about discrimination in Jesus' day.

Every month YC students and their families reflect on Sunday Mass and how they have experienced faith together as a family. Here we share some of their reflections and Zoom photos as they learn about Advent.

Parish Life

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

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Infant Baptism St. John of the Cross Parish congratulates families who have celebrated the sacrament of baptism. On December 6 Deacon Joe Pepitone, assisted by Baptism Team Leaders Meg and Frank Munaretto and Laura and John Nolan, baptized the son of Michael and Edna Tallarico. Pictured below is Ricardo Romero Tallarico with his parents, big brother and godparents.

SJC thanks our parish Scout Troop 117 for graciously donating the wreaths that are hung on our parish buildings. Thank you Scouts for 25 years of giving to our parish!

Volunteers Are Needed for Christmas Please consider volunteering to be a greeter or usher at one of the Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Masses. Many hands are needed to offer Mass in 4 locations. Please email Gale Voytas at gvoytas@stjohnofthecross.org or Ginny Grecco at piglover911@gmail.com to help. Adult Confirmation Classes St. Cletus and St. John of the Cross Parishes will be hosting a Confirmation prep program for any adult Catholic who has received First Holy Communion, but not the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is open to all parishioners at St. Cletus, St. Francis Xavier, and St. John of the Cross Parishes. Sessions will be held on Monday nights on Zoom, January 11, January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, and February 22. We will meet on Zoom from 7-8:30 p.m. Registration is required. Please use this link to sign up: https://stcletusparish.com/learn/adultconfirmation/ For more information, please contact Barb Campbell at St. Cletus (bcampbell@stcletusparish.com) or Steve Weigand at St. John of the Cross (sweigand@stjohnofthecrossparish.com).

SJC Bereavement Ministry Did you know our parish has a team of volunteers who are trained to assist families when planning a funeral Mass for a loved one at SJC? Families meet with one of our Bereavement Ministers on a phone conference call or via Zoom to plan the Mass. In preparation for this meeting, it is often helpful to be familiar with funeral readings, psalms and hymns. We encourage families to visit our parish website under the Pastoral Care tab and click on Bereavement. There you will find a selection of Old Testament and New Testament scripture readings (first and second readings), appropriate psalms (sung by the cantor between the two readings), Gospel readings (usually selected by the celebrant, but ask if there is one you would like) and various hymns sung throughout the Mass. Also, watch the video on what to expect when you return to Mass during covid to see the safety protocols followed in our church. To schedule a funeral or if you have questions, please call MJ Martin, Director of Operations at 708-822-1627.

When I was a young boy growing up in a Catholic community, the catechesis of the time tried to inspire the hearts of the young with stories of martyrs, saints, and other people who lived out high ideals in terms of virtue and faith. I remember one story in particular that caught my imagination and inspired me, the story of a third-century Christian martyr, St. Tarcisius. As legend (or truth) has it, Tarcisius was a twelve-year-old acolyte during the time of the early Christian persecutions. At that time, Christians in Rome were celebrating the Eucharist in secret in the catacombs. After those secret Masses someone, a deacon or an acolyte, would carry the Eucharistic species, the Blessed Sacrament, to the sick and to prisoners. One day, after one of those secret Masses, young Tarcisius was carrying the Blessed Sacrament on route to a prison when he was accosted by a mob. He refused to hand over the Blessed Sacrament, protected it with his own body, and was beaten to death as a result. As a twelve-year-old boy that story enflamed my romantic imagination. I wanted to have that kind of high ideal in my life. In my young imagination, Tarcisius was the ultimate hero whom I wanted to be like.

We’ve come a long way from there, both in our culture and in our churches. We’re no longer moved romantically much by either the saints of old or the saints of today. Yes, we still make an official place for them in our churches and in our highest ideals, but now we’re moved romantically much more by the lives of the rich, the famous, the beautiful, the pop stars, the professional athletes, the physically gifted, and the intellectually gifted. It’s they who now enflame our imaginations, draw our admiration, and who we most like to imitate. In the early nineteenth century, Alban Butler, an English convert, collected stories of the lives of the saints and eventually set them together in twelve-volume set, famously know as Butler’s Lives of the Saints. For nearly two hundred years, these books inspired Christians, young and old. No longer. Today, Butler’s Lives of the Saints has effectively been replaced by People magazine, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, Time magazine, and the multiple other magazines which chronicle the lives of the rich and famous and stare out at us from every newsstand and grocery-store check-out line. In effect, we have moved: from St. Tarcisius to Justin Bieber; from Therese of Lisieux to Taylor Swift; from Thomas Aquinas to Tom Brady; from St. Monica to Meryl Streep; from St. Augustine to Mark Zuckerberg;

from Julian of Norwich to Marianne Williamson; and from the first African American saint, St. Martin de Porres, to LeBron James. It’s these people who are now enflaming our romantic imagination and inviting our imitation. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that these people are bad or that there’s anything wrong with admiring them. Indeed, we owe them some admiration because all beauty and talent take their origin in God who is the author of all good things. From a saint’s virtue, to a movie star’s physical beauty, to an athlete’s grace, there’s only one author at the origin of all that grace, God. Thomas Aquinas once rightly pointed out that to withhold a compliment from someone who deserves it is a sin because we are withholding food from someone who needs it to live on. Beauty, talent, and grace need to be recognized and acknowledged. Admiration is not the issue. The issue rather is that while we need to admire and acknowledge the gifts of the talented and the beautiful, these are not always the lives we should be imitating, unless they also radiate virtue and saintliness. We shouldn’t too easily identify human grace with moral virtue. But that’s a problem. As well, one of the weaknesses in our churches today is that while we have vastly upgraded and refined our intellectual imagination and now have better and healthier theological and biblical studies, we struggle to touch hearts. We struggle to get people to fall in love with their faith and especially with their church. We struggle to enflame their romantic imagination as we once did by invoking the lives of the saints. Where might we go with all of this? Can we find again saints to enflame our ideals? Can the fine work done today by Robert Ellsberg on hagiography (on the lives of the saints and other moral giants who have passed before us) become the new Butler’s Lives of the Saints? Can secular biographies of some moral giants in our own age draw our imitation? Is there a St. Tarcisius out there who can inspire the young? Today, more than ever, we need inspiring stories about women and men, young and old, who have lived out heroic virtue. Without such ideals to emulate, we too quickly identify moral virtue with human grace and deprive ourselves of higher spiritual ideals. Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a theologian, teacher, and award-winning author. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com. Now on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser

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From Saint Tarcisius to People Magazine: Our Evolution in Admiration and Imitation

Once again, during these Advent days, Lord God, we are blessed to hear a

divine announcement to Mary. Her Son, to be born shortly,

will be called holy— indeed, Son of God most high.

Mary’s bewilderment is ours, too: how can it be that we deserve to have

the divine Son of God come among us and teach us the lessons of holiness?

We live in the midst of a great mystery, and we ask for faith that can help us truly understand. We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen. Rev. LeRoy E. Clementich, C.S.C.

Pope Francis on December 8 decreed a special year dedicated to St. Joseph for the global Catholic Church, offering the 1.2 billion members of the faith an opportunity to obtain indulgences as the world continues to undergo the "grave tribulation" of the coronavirus pandemic. The special year, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the 1870 naming of St. Joseph as patron of the universal church, will run through Dec. 8, 2021. Francis announced the move with an unexpected decree from the Vatican's apostolic penitentiary, which was accompanied by a letter from the pontiff. In the papal letter, titled Patris Corde ("With a Father's Heart"), Francis says he had been thinking about the move for some time but his desire to decree the special year "increased" as the pandemic unfolded. The pope compares Joseph, Jesus' foster father, to the many unheralded essential workers keeping society afloat in times of social distancing and remote work. "Each of us can discover in Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble," writes the pontiff. "Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation." The decree from the apostolic penitentiary offers a plenary indulgence to Catholics who choose to take part in the special year in one of six outlined ways. Although such Catholics are obliged, as usual, to also make a confession, receive the Eucharist, and pray for the pope's intentions, the decree recognizes that some will be unable to do so in line with pandemic social distancing measures. The six ways Catholics can celebrate the year include:

Meditating for at least 30 minutes on the Our Father prayer;

Undertaking a work of spiritual or corporal mercy in the example of Joseph, who is called a "just man" in Matthew's Gospel;

Reciting the holy rosary among your family or with your partner;

Entrusting your daily work to the protection of Joseph, or invoking the intercession of Joseph in trying to find employment;

Reciting the Litany of St. Joseph, or making another similar prayer, on behalf of persecuted Christians; and,

Making an act of piety in honor of Joseph on the 19th of the month or on Wednesday, the day traditionally dedicated to the saint's memory. Read the entire article under Resources on our parish website or go to at https://www.ncronline.org/news/coronavirus/francis-decrees-special-catholic-year-st-joseph-father-unnoticed-worker

Items that Caught our Eye . . .

SJC www.stjohnofthecross.org December 20, 2020 Fourth Sunday of Advent Page 13

As a litigation attorney, I have spent my career training my mind to think within the adversarial process, relentlessly questioning even the most basic concepts. Unfortunately, my approach often spills over to aspects of life beyond the practice of law. When I read today’s gospel, for example, I see faith and reason at a crossroad. I wonder how Mary could be so accepting, so faithful. I put myself in her place and find myself asking, “Why would God choose me?” Wouldn’t God want someone of prominence or royal heritage? Wouldn’t I be skeptical of this angel and his message? And yet, despite the gravity of the announcement and without knowing its implications, this young woman readily accepted her role in the life of the one to be born at Christmas. She couldn’t know that she would cradle him in her arms both after his birth and after his death. The annunciation in the Gospel of Luke is the story of boundless faith. And it is the very origin of discipleship. As soon as Mary says yes to the divine plan, she gives herself over completely to God’s will and becomes the first disciple of Jesus. Even her haste in immediately leaving her home to visit Elizabeth in Judea demonstrates her total unyielding commitment to God by acting on the message. Mary’s surrender to the will of God is so powerful for me that my crossroad becomes one clear path. Faith is not reason’s adversary after all. But when the moment comes for me, will I put aside my own will, my critical thinking, to say “yes” to God with no equivocation? That is the essence of the Annunciation for me. Perhaps 2020 is not the annus horribilis (bad year) whose end cannot come soon enough. In the great adversity and calamity we have faced, maybe this is the time of urgent need to place our complete trust in God’s plan. And maybe, too, it is a season to broaden our perspective of the mantra, “Be vigilant.” As Advent brings Christmas Day, this is the time to watch with great anticipation, great vigilance, as our Holy Mother delivers to the world the one who will deliver us! faith@nd.edu. Edward C. De Vivo ‘78 J.D.

We Pray for Our Loved Ones Serving Our Country

Staff Sgt. Steven Foody

Sergeant Sebastian Grabacki Sgt. Michael Grabarek

2nd Lt. Nathaniel Greenberg, US Army LCDR Kyle Harken, US Navy

Petty Officer 2nd Class John Ilg Spc. Douglas Junius Captain Emily Kopec

ETN3 Joseph Kula, US Navy PFC Kevin Lawinger

First Lieutenant Caroline Lorenzini MAJ. James Maicke

Chandler Muszynski, Master of Arms, US Navy 2nd Lt. Ryan A. Peters, US Army

Seaman Emily Strafaci Seaman Riley Strafaci

Staff Sgt. Joshua Tischler, USAF Pararescue Lieutenant James Viano Staff Sgt. Larry Waszak

Please go to our parish website to sign up to attend Mass. When church is filled at 160 people (20% of capacity

according to archdiocesan and CDC guidelines), additional people cannot be admitted. We urge you to plan ahead and

sign up for Mass early so that you are not disappointed. Thank you for your understanding.

MAKE SPACE FOR CHRIST

The story doesn’t suggest that the innkeeper was malicious or inhospitable. It says only that “there was no room in the inn.” In short, the man was booked up, full, there was no room for further guests, he already had all he could handle.

No room! No place for more guests! Booked up! No space for hospitality!

In these expressions, I see the reason why there is so little of Christ left in Christmas. It is not so much, I believe, our excesses in shopping, decorating, or partying that deprive Christ of a place, as it is our busyness, preoccupations, hurriedness, and agenda which fill the inn and leave no place for him. Our hearts and lives are too full for Christ to have a place.

That sounds like a harsh judgment, and it is. Looked at from the outside, our lives often do look selfish, inhospitable, idiosyncratic, and un-Christian. However, we are not bad people, nor are we, deep down, inhospitable. Beneath all the hurry, pressure, and preoccupations, our hearts are warm, unselfish and welcoming.

Then why aren’t we warmer and more hospitable? In brief, because we haven’t the time. There is not enough space within our lives for Christ.

Love and hospitality are not abstract. To have Christ in our lives involves something much more than creating time for him, time for the poor, time for hospitality, time for celebration, time for prayer, time for the itinerant couple who show up unannounced on a busy night.

We must create some room in the inn! Ron Rolheiser

There is no pandemic or crisis that can turn off the light of Christmas As you see, in the Square the Christmas tree has been raised and the Nativity scene is being set up. In these days, also in many homes these two signs of Christmas are being prepared, to the delight of children… and adults too! They are signs of hope, especially in this difficult time. Let us be sure we do not stop with the sign, but get to the meaning, that is, to Jesus, to the love of God that he revealed to us; get to the infinite goodness that he made shine on the world. There is no pandemic, there is no crisis that can extinguish this light. Let us allow it to enter our heart, and let us lend a hand to those who need it most. In this way God will be born anew in us and among us. -Pope Francis 12.06.20 Angelus

SJC www.stjohnofthecross.org December 20, 2020 Fourth Sunday of Advent Page 14

Karen Antczak Beth Beutell Robert Bright Jason Bujak Scott Cabaj

Robert Cabaj Joan Dvorak

Raymond Dybala Sandie Eckrich

Mary Alice Feeley Aggie Frolik

Mary Jamrozik Marilyn Korna Peggy Koucky Lee Lepinske

Joseph Martorano

John Munch Loretta Palekas

Mary Phillipp Arline Plechaty

Jorie Pollard George Popp, Jr.

Elizabeth Raz Juan Reyes

Cristian Rivera Maria Rodriguez Suzi Schenkel

Shawn Sweeney Gloria Topia

Patrick Wingert

We Pray for Our Sick

We Pray for Our Beloved Dead

Jerome Feit, father of Antonia Adducci

Rev. Marc W. Reszel, Pastor mreszel@stjohnofthecross.org Rev. Brian Kean, Associate Pastor bkean@stjohnofthecross.org Senior Deacon Joe Pepitone joepepitone@comcast.net Deacon John Schopp john.schopp@newhemispheres.com Deacon Rich Voytas rvoytas@gmail.com Bill Bright, Director of Outreach bbright@stjohnofthecross.org Janet Caschetta, Director of YC jcaschetta@stjohnofthecross.org Marguerite Chrusciel, Finance Mgr mchrusciel@stjohnofthecross.org Frank DiPompeo, Plant Mgr fdipompeo@stjohnofthecross.org Mary Beth Drafz, Digital Comm Coor mbdrafz@stjohnofthecross.org Kathleen Gorman, Principal gorman@sjc.pvt.k12.il.us Jessica Koch, Director of Music jkoch@stjohnofthecross.org MJ Martin, Director of Operations mjmartin@stjohnofthecross.org Katie Pruitt, HS Youth Minister kpruitt@stjohnofthecross.org Theresa Reyes, Receptionist treyes@stjohnofthecross.org Christina Turlek, Finance Assistant cturlek@stjohnofthecross.org Gale Voytas, Ministry Assistant gvoytas@stjohnofthecross.org Steven Weigand, Pastoral Associate sweigand@stjohnofthecross.org

If you want, the virgin will come walking down the street, pregnant with Light, and sing!

—St. John of the Cross

SJC Parish Center 5005 Wolf Road

Western Springs, IL 60558 708-246-4404

Visit our parish website:

www.stjohnofthecross.org Sign up to attend Mass on our parish website.

Confessions

A priest will hear your confession after daily Mass Monday-Saturday.

Please sign up for Mass and see the priest after Mass.

SJC Parish School

708 51st Street Western Springs IL 60558

708-246-4454

Youth Catechesis 708 51st Street

Western Springs, IL 60558 708-246-6760

Mass Remembrances Thursday, December 24 Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Vigil 4pm John DenBesten James Houston Claudine Snow 6pm Alice and Al Sobey 10:30pm Ron Reszel Friday, December 25 Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord 7:30am Shirley Kazragis Bruno & Lucille Shukis Thomas Ryder Clem & Trini Prieto John Joseph Wheelihan Rita Blaney 9:00am Galvin & Grogan Families Bette Fash John Burke 11:00am Ramon & Gloria Sanchez Walter & Patricia Cebula Chester Cebula Dolores Accettura Richard Sprague Ron Reszel Saturday, December 26, 9am St. Stephen Gina Petrecca Our Beloved Dead 4pm Evening Mass Joan Berngen Connie Cibelli Sunday, December 27 Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph 7:30am Fr. Joe McDonnell 9am Jack & Bette Fash Irene Musur 11am Deacon Tom McGorey Dolores Blecha 5pm Charles Sugrue Living Remembrances in Italics

SJC www.stjohnofthecross.org December 20, 2020 Fourth Sunday of Advent Page 15

Mass Remembrances Monday, December 21, 9am Advent Weekday; St. Peter Canisius Reggie Cook Ron Reszel Jack Schaus William Albertson, Sr. Tuesday, December 22, 9am Advent Weekday Eileen Dempsey Gina Petrecca Wednesday, December 23, 9am Advent Weekday; St. John of Kanty Patrick Woods Joan Swade Ron Reszel Thursday, December 24, 9am Advent Weekday Margaret Cochran William Siffermann Therese Sue Baker

Proclaim to all peoples the glad tidings.

God our Savior is coming to us.

Christmas Schedule of Masses

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Mass Schedule (Sign up today! Limited seating.)

Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24 4:00pm Church

Livestreamed in the Parish Center, School Multi-purpose Room and School Gym

6:00pm Church Livestreamed in the Parish Center, School Multi-purpose Room and School Gym

10:30pm Church Christmas Day, Friday, December 25

7:30am Church 9:00am Church 11:00am Church

Livestreamed in the Parish Center, School Multi-purpose Room and School Gym

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God / The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord Mass Schedule

(Sign up opens on December 23.)

Thursday, December 31 4:00pm and Friday, January 1 9:00am

At this time the dispensation from Sunday Mass remains in force. To keep our parishioners safe, the elderly and those who are medically compromised are encouraged to stay at home and participate through livestreamed and televised Masses. A worship aid can be found on our website for weekend and holy day Masses. For your safety during COVID, participants must sign up at www.stjohnofthecross.org to attend Mass. Watch our video on attending Mass at SJC during Covid on our website. Sign up for Christmas Eve and Day Masses opened on Thursday, December 10 at 10am and will close when filled or on Wednesday, December 23 at 10am. Unfortunately no walk-ins will be allowed as we are required to stay within our attendance limit as set by the Archdiocese and the CDC. To enable more people to participate, our Christmas Eve 4pm and 6pm Masses and Christmas Day 11am Mass in church (160) will be livestreamed in the Parish Center (40), Multi-purpose Room (100) and School Gym (100). Attendance limits are noted in parentheses. Holy Communion will be distributed in each location. Sign up for Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Masses will be open on Wednesday, December 23 and will close on Wednesday, December 30 at 10am. Weekend Masses during the Advent and Christmas season will follow our regular Mass schedule: Saturday 4:00pm, Sunday 7:30am, 9:00am, 11:00am, and 5:00pm. Our 9:00am weekday Mass and Saturday evening 4:00pm Mass will continue to be livestreamed and available on our parish website. The 4:00pm Mass on December 24 and 31 will be livestreamed and available on our parish website. More details can be found on our website.

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