St. Mary of Gostyn Catholic Church June 21, 2020

Page 2 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gift of Faith Before the apostles leave to begin ministering in the world, Jesus warns them that there will be people who will hate them and try to hurt them. He tells them to fear no one, and reminds them that God is aware even of a fallen sparrow. I want my children to share my faith. Not because they will be damned if they don’t, but because faith can get them through pretty much anything. When you are certain that God is not just with you but in you and believe you are taking the Spirit in with every breath, you can’t help but feel invincible in a healthy, non-destructive sort of way. I’m not saying you can leap from rooftops or stop a bullet in midair, but with faith in an ever-loving God, it is easier to feel like you can face any obstacle or enemy and know you are going to be okay. Consider the early martyrs who walked into amphitheaters singing hymns, ready for death, or modern martyrs who worked with the poor in developing countries and were shot to death for their efforts. Understand I am not saying they didn’t feel fear when they saw the lions or faced the gunmen. I am saying they could breathe in the Spirit of strength and courage and know that ultimately they would be fine. Death is not the end. They were invincible, and would live forever in God. Witness this kind of faith to your children. Try this little exercise with them when they are hurt or afraid. Hold their hands and teach them to take in slow, deep breaths. Ask them to picture themselves breathing in God’s strong, all-powerful Spirit, breathing in God’s strength and courage. Ask them to consider their situation and decide what the worst thing that can happen is. Remind them that no matter how things turn out, God will always be with them; God is always in them. In this world of escalating fear and uncertainty, you will be teaching them a life skill that will help them cope with whatever the future may bring.

Bringing Home the Gospel • PastoralCenter.com

From the Pastor . . .

This weekend we celebrate the third weekend of reopening our church to celebrating Masses. I want to thank the staff, the Reopening Coordinating Committee, and volunteers for their assistance in making this transition smooth and relatively painless. At the end of this month, we should be entering phase 4 of the governor's reopening plan. At that time we hope to be able to adapt even more to what we normally consider our routine. At phase 4, (July 6) we intend to resume our Daily Mass Schedule prior to the pandemic— Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday—6:15 AM ; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—8:00 AM. Mass on Saturday morning will resume at 8:00 AM. Please note that Mass continues to be changed from the previous schedule on Saturday evening to 4:00 PM. Confessions will be heard after the 8:00 AM Mass on Saturdays – 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM. This change is made to be more convenient for people to attend; and also gives us time to disinfect and prepare the church for Mass at 4:00 PM. There will not be confessions prior to the 4:00 PM Mass. We have resumed Funerals, Weddings, and Baptisms. Please call the Parish Center Office for information about scheduling these events. We will not resume meetings/events on campus until we get the go-ahead from the Diocese, which we hope will be at the end of this month, phase 4. Thank you for your continued support of our parish in the offertory collection. Both during the time of the suspension of Masses and since we have resumed Masses in church, you have continued to contribute faithfully to our parish. We have been able to financially keep up to date with all our obligations and expenses. As we continue to move along toward "normalcy," please continue to pray for our parish, it's families and members, especially those who are still homebound because of illness or special needs and are unable to be with us in person. We continue to upload Sunday Mass on our website for people to pray if they are not able to be with us in church. It is so good to be able to Minister to parishioners in person once again!

June 21, 2020 Page 3

Wondering how you can make a

difference for a student who wants to attend St. Mary of Gostyn School and at the same time save on your state taxes?

We have had tremendous success as a Parish utilizing this State funded program to help families who have tuition support needs. This year, we have had 24 students receive 50%, 75% or 100% tuition scholarships for the 2020/21 School year due to the generous donations to Empower Illinois in our School’s name by several of our Parishioners. We have received +$80,000 in funds through the program for these 24 students.

The need is growing. We now have an additional 11 students needing help with their tuition this year, which amounts to approximately $41,000 in addi-tional funds.

If you have not heard about this program, simply stated, for every dollar that you donate to this fund, you get a 75% tax credit on the following year’s state income tax return.

It is that simple. To get more information, please go to the Empower Illinois website at:

https://empowerillinois.org/donors/donate/

We thank those who have generously given to this fund for St. Mary’s. If you need additional infor-mation about enrollment, registration, and/or tuition assistance, please reach out to our School Office and we will help you discern what options are available to you.

Money Plus Oneself

Over a hundred years ago, a young women schoolteacher attended worship and heard a sermon which focused on the need for missionaries. When the time for the offering came, the young women placed $10.00 on the plate and a note which read: “I give $10.00 and Myself, - Mary I McClellan.

God surely took notice of Mary's gift and vow. It was not long afterward that she met and married a young man, James W. Lambuth. In 1853 they were sent by their denomination to China. The two missionaries founded an orphanage for homeless children, a Christian school for girls, and the Lambuth Bible School. The gift of “$10.00 and myself” resulted in great work for Christ in a very needy land.

Only God knows what can happen when we not only give our gift, but ourselves as well.

Page 4 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020 6:00 PM - June Mattson req. George Mattson TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 9:00 AM - John Anderson req. Joyce Duffy 12:00 PM - Derek Singleton req. St. Mary of Gostyn Parish WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 9:00 AM - Christa Lenski req. Family 6:00 PM - Mary Ann Ostrowski req. George & Shelby Vogrin Russ Sprague req. Sanderson Family THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 9:00 AM - Audrey Waechtler req. Jim & Diane Massura FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 9:00 AM - Nick Almeida req. St. Mary of Gostyn Parish 12:00 PM - Ann Schramm req. Mary Schramm SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2020 4:00 PM - Charles Miriani req. Jan Miriani Jerry Papievis req. Mary Ann Papievis Joseph A. Kowalkowski req. Wife SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020 8:00 AM - People of the Parish 10:00 AM - Harold Schramm req. Family Roger Primmer req. Terry & Bonnie Hagen 12:00 PM - Jamie Kumle req. Cathy Prochazka 6:00 PM - Living Intention for the Grandchildren of Leonard & Bernadette Cudzilo req. Cudzilo Grandparents

Stewardship

Our Catholic Faith with Fr. Keith: The late Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, once said, “Our society permits everything, but forgives nothing.” His words seem more true to us today than over a decade ago when he first spoke them. The hypocritical intolerance of political correct-ness has taken on a new intensity as public figures and private citizens are targeted for past mistakes. This “cancel culture” demands justice but instead ruins lives as people lose employment and friendships. In a culture that lacks mercy how could we ever expect true justice? Like all virtues, justice is acquired by acting in a just manner. It is a cardinal virtue, a ‘hinge’ required for living in a right manner, along with prudence, temperance, and fortitude. Justice is a quality or habit which perfects the will and inclines it to render to each person what properly belongs to them. The object of the virtue of justice is the other person’s rights, whether natural or bestowed by Church or State. All virtues are the moderation between an excess and deficit, as the axiom virtus in media stat describes. Justice is the balance on a spectrum between selfishness and selflessness. Our faith elevates such ethical principles to a Christian morality, conforming ourselves to a greater resem-blance to Christ. For example, grace perfects justice with mercy. A legitimate desire to make a more just society cannot be corrupted by actions of vengeance, retribution, or reparation. Mercy must invigorate all our actions with a forgiveness and reconciliation that is neither easy, simple, or convenient. We must rise above our base and animal instincts and reverence the inherent goodness in each and every person, no matter how fallen. One moment of sin does not define an entire life. In his homily at World Youth Day in Toron-to in 2002, Pope John Paul II preached “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son.” When we remember this true identity, the more we will respond to sin with justice: mercifully as the Father has first been merciful to us.

A CALL TO STEWARDSHIP

Weekly Collection 06/14/2020 $28,511.50

Weekly Goal (Fiscal Year 19/20) $29,500.00

Goals to Date Sunday Goal to Date $1,445,500.00 Christmas Goal to Date $110,000.00 Easter Goal to Date $90,000.00 Collections to Date Sunday Collection to Date $1,372,681.86 Christmas Collection to Date $107,579.39 Easter Collection to Date $63,514.00 Total (Short of) Goals to Date $(101,724.75)

Thank you for your continued support and generosity. We are very grateful!

Kevin Braasch Michael Martel Natalya Brechlin John Svoboda Christopher Fountain Nathan Kijowski Bob Lang Zachary Frana

Pray for our Military Let us pray for all of our military personnel, especially the men and women of our parish who are serving

in harm’s way:

Timothy Randazzo Kyle Ng Christopher Randazzo Joe McSweeney Maggie Benhart Kevin Hanlon Brendan Vrtis

In Sympathy

Our deepest sympathy to the families of Bridget O’Driscoll Margaret Ruopp

The following persons have requested prayers from our parish community:

Karli Brown Hugh Toner Maureen Toner William Hennessey Mary Kaye Sally Moll Kris Grazys

Prayer Requests

Youth Ministry

Patricia Wright Nancy Gatto Sharon Kling Sandra Stevens Joseph Leto Bob Earley

June 21, 2020 Page 5

We will send them a free gift too!!

Baptism St. Mary of Gostyn Parish Family welcomed the following children to the Catholic Faith through the Sacrament of Baptism recently: Brooke Mae Barrett, Daughter of Ryan & Jenna Barrett Lucas Renato Englert, Son of Mark & Meghan Englert Burke William Stella, Son of Nicholas & Kelly Stella Leonard Allen Wanta, Son of Leonard & Ashley Wanta

Page 6 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Adult Faith

topic night ONE

One topic. One night. One faith. Date: June 30th at 7:00pm Speaker: Father Keith Topic: Why is marriage only between a man and a woman?

This One Night One Topic will be offered both in person, in the Church, and via Zoom. Similar to Mass and safe sea ng capacity restric ons, ad-

vance reserva on is required. Email Kelly at kjohn-son@stmarygostyn.org or see website for registra-

on and/or Zoom invita on: www.stmarygostyn.org

one holy catholic apostolic church

Marriage Matters "Love does not consist in

gazing at each other but in looking

outward together in the same direc on."

(Antoine De Saint-Exupery)

Look out over your life. What is your most cherished

common goal? The book, 10 Great Dates: Connec ng Faith Love and Marriage, helps couples jump-start deeper

connec ons and conversa ons, to share together what’s important in life.

Available at the Parish Center: borrow it like a library book, or contact Kelly at

kjohnson@stmarygostyn.org

https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/Campaigns/73486/Respond

NEW PARISHIONERS: We are happy to welcome new members to our community, and encourage you to register either in person at the Parish Office, or register online through our website, www.stmarygostyn.org.

BAPTISMS: St. Mary of Gostyn offers baptismal preparation sessions on a monthly basis. If this is your first child, you will need to participate in a baptismal preparation session before you can receive a date for your baby’s Baptism. Parents are the first and primary educators in the practice of the Faith. Godparents play an important role in the faith life of your child. While considering godparents for your child, be aware that at least one must be a baptized and confirmed Catholic who is active in his/her faith. Please call the parish office at 630-969-1063 to register for a preparation class and to schedule a baptismal date.

BECOMING A CATHOLIC: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process of welcoming and preparing adults for the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation - for full membership in the Catholic Church. Unbaptized adults, adults baptized in another Christian faith, and baptized Catholics with little or no formal religious education are invited to participate. Please call the Parish Office for further information.

ANNULMENTS: We are available to help anyone who is in need of information about how to apply for an annulment. Please contact the Parish Office at (630)969-1063.

SACRAMENT of ANOINTING: The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is available at regularly scheduled liturgies throughout the year, or by appointment. You may ask the presiding priest before any Mass for an anointing. Communal Anointing Masses are held on the 1st Saturday of the month in August, December and April at the 8:00 AM Mass. The Eucharist will also be brought to those who are ill, upon request. Please notify the Parish Office if members of your family are in the hospital or homebound.

FUNERALS: Arrangements are usually made by the Funeral Home or by a family member. A member of our Bereavement team will meet with you to plan the Funeral Liturgy. Eulogies can be given at the Wake Service, Interment at the Cemetery or at the Funeral Luncheon, but not at the Mass of Christian Burial.

MARRIAGES: Arrangements should be made at least six months in advance to provide ample time for preparation of this sacrament.

PRAYER GROUPS: Monday evening Rosary at 6:30 PM in the Church; Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM in the Parish Center chapel.

RECONCILIATION: Confessions are heard Saturday, 3:30 to 4:30 PM in church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also available by appointment. Please call the Parish Office (630-969-1063) to arrange to have your confession heard by a priest.

St. Mary of Gostyn Parish

CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS St. Mary of Gostyn #255 444 Wilson Street Downers Grove, IL 60515 TELEPHONE (630) 960 - 3565 ext. 245 CONTACT PERSON Moira Barker SOFTWARE MSPublisher 2003 Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Windows XP Professional PRINTER HP Laserjet 4000n SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION June 21, 2020 NUMBER OF PAGES 1 THROUGH 8 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE PRINT 800 BULLETINS - THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE LAST FEW WEEKS.