May 8, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
“The ‘breaking of bread’ – as the Eucharist was called in earliest times – has always been at the center of the Church’s life. Through it Christ makes present within time the mystery of his death and resurrection.” Apostolic Letter of Blessed John Paul II, The Year of the Eucharist 2004.
As Blessed John Paul II recognized, the Eucharist is at the center of our life in the Church. This is true across our universal Church, but even more importantly it is true here in our own community. Every Sunday we are invited to the Table of the Lord to celebrate God’s love, to be inspired by the Word of God and nourished with the Bread of Life. We are drawn into the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. This is not a perfunctory or routine matter. Such important celebrations should not be hurried or rushed by artificial time constraints. This central celebration of our community life should allow us sufficient time to experience true fellowship with God and each other, especially on our friendship weekends.
Accordingly, after consulting with the leadership of parish and liturgical ministries, we have concluded that our current schedule does not commit enough time to our Eucharistic celebrations. Rather than rushing our liturgies so we can get on to the next one, it is important to space the liturgies to accommodate our needs as a community. Similarly, we need to add additional time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation so we can make sure the needs of the Parish are being met. We have decided to modify the Sunday Mass and Reconciliation schedule as follows:
Saturday
3:30 – 4:30 PM – Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions) or by appointment.
5:00 PM – Sunday Vigil Mass
7:00 PM – Misa en Español
Sunday
7:30 AM, 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM – Sunday Mass
These changes will take effect the first weekend in June: June 2-3, 2012. Please mark your calendars.
I know that adjustments to the schedule can be challenging, but we hope that you will appreciate and enjoy the additional time we have incorporated into our schedule. Together we can grow in our celebrations of the Mass, and enrich our shared community life in Christ.
+ + +
“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art. Art must make perceptible, and as far as possible attractive, the world of the spirit, of the invisible, of God. It must therefore translate into meaningful terms that which is in itself ineffable.” Blessed John Paul II, Letter to Artists, Easter Sunday, April 4, 1999.
Our use of artistic images in the sanctuary and on the Church grounds has a special role in bringing our journey of faith to life. Blessed Pope John Paul II in his letter to artists spoke eloquently of the power of our sacred spaces to communicate the “world of the spirit.” Here at St. Pius X we are blessed to have many sacred images that enrich our experience in this sacred space and on our grounds. The leadership of the parish and liturgical ministries and I believe that a few changes are in order to enhance our appreciation of this artwork and communicate our core values as a parish.
Originally, a renovation project envisioned commissioning a purchase funded by a restricted donation of two five foot statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph to be installed on the sides of the focal wall behind the altar. This purchase had been made before I assumed the duties of the administrator of the parish. In light of this new addition to our collection of sacred art, we will have to adjust the statuary in the worship space.
The existing statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Joseph will be removed. They will find a home at the parish of Fr. Herb Essig, who in return will make a donation to our parish. The statue of St. Pius X, our patron saint and his relics will be placed in one of the coves. The opposite cove will be paneled and lighted to accommodate the statue of Christ the King presently displayed in Shimanek Hall. The lettering “Saint Pius X” and “Restore all things in Christ” will be added respectively in each cove. This change will give expression to our core values as a parish honoring St. Pius X, and will emphasize our life in Christ.
We also realize that young families with their sometimes “overjoyed” or “uncomfortable” little ones could use an area in the gathering hall to participate in Mass without trying to constrain their children and without worrying about disturbing those around them. We would like to create a family corner consisting of three rows of chairs behind the main glass doors in the corner where St. Francis now stands. This adjustment will permit the parents and children to have a little breathing room while attending Mass. The statue of the Holy Family from Shimanek Hall will mark this area. The Family Corner is meant to be used only by the families with young children as needed when there is no way to console or contain exuberance. Everyone is always encouraged to be seated with the entire community in the Sanctuary.
Finally, I am pleased to inform you that Bishop Daniel Conlon will make a pastoral visit and celebrate the Rededication of the Sanctuary with us on Saturday, June 23 at the 5:00 PM Mass. Bishop Conlon will also celebrate the 7:00 PM Mass in Spanish. His visit is our motivation to attend to these details in advance. We welcome the opportunity to have Bishop Conlon join us to rededicate our renovated Sanctuary and we want to be prepared for this special visit.
It is my hope that you will see all these adjustments serving all of us well as we continue our journey of faith together.
Sincerely yours in the Risen Christ,
Father George Zieba, CR
________________________________________________________________
Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2012
To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything
He has given us — and He has given us everything.
Every breath we draw is a gift of His love,
every moment of existence is a grace,
for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted,
is never unresponsive,
is constantly awakening to new wonder
and to praise of the goodness of God.
For the grateful person knows that God is good,
not by hearsay but by experience.
And that is what makes all the difference. Thomas Merton
Dear Parishioners,
This year, the theme of the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal is “The Kingdom of God is at Hand.” God constantly gives to us. His grace is ever present. His blessings are abundant. We can demonstrate our gratitude to God and help build the kingdom of God in our own parish and our own diocese by making a generous gift to the CMAA. We are a diocese that covers seven counties and serves approximately 660,000 Catholics. The importance of the CMAA is that it provides most, if not all, of the funding for the 31 ministries that serve hundreds of thousands of people in our diocese, throughout our country, and the world. Some of the funded ministries touch the parish, its staff, and the local community.
Catholic Charities receives funds that enable it to provide many services, including but not limited to: thousands of children are provided with school supplies and health-related services; more than 155,000 nights of shelter and housing are provided to the homeless; thousands of families received mortgage assistance, help with paying their utilities, and assistance in meeting their basic needs for food and clothing; over 225,000 meals were provided to individuals, and over 1,300 households received vouchers for food and other necessities. The Catholic Schools Office, among its many responsibilities, provides oversight, assistance, and direction to our 48 elementary schools with over 16,000 students, and to the 7 high schools with over 5,500 students within our diocese. The Religious Education Office provides oversight, guidance, support, training, and services for Directors of Religious Education, Religious Education teachers, and Religious Education programs across the diocese that reach over 50,000 students a year. The Appeal provides for the funding of the Office of Vocations: for the tuition, education, and living expenses of seminarians–our future priests; Diaconate training and education; and clergy continuing education. The Appeal helps fund Young Adult and Youth Ministry programs that serve approximately 25,500 of our youth and young adults. And the Appeal is used to fund diocesan efforts that reach so many of those in need through its missions work, its Peace and Social Justice initiatives, and its many outreach programs.
This is not a “special collection.” This Appeal is for our diocese, of which we are all a part. The Appeal program allows for your donation to be made all at once, or you can make a pledge that allows for 10 monthly installments, should you wish to spread out your payments. As part of the Diocese of Joliet, we can multiply the expression of the Word of God and touch many thousands of people whom we could never reach on our own or as a parish.
A significant gift to the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal will touch the lives of many others in a very positive way. The Annual Appeal provides a significant portion of the budget of the Diocese of Joliet. Most dioceses in the country conduct an appeal, once a year, to help with the costs of providing services and programs to their parishes and people. The Diocese of Joliet is no exception.
As you review the work enabled by your contribution to the CMAA, please reflect on God’s gifts to you. He has given you all that you have. Your gifts to our parish, to the diocese, and to the work of the church throughout the world should be given in gratitude for the continuing gifts that God gives you. He never forgets you.
Sometimes it is difficult to envision how one pledge can help an organization the size of our diocese, how it can make a real difference. But each pledge does make a difference because all parishes participate in the campaign and the gifts of many enable our diocese to deliver needed education, ministry and services. Our combined gifts not only signify our gratitude to God, they glorify Him by enabling the work of our diocese.
If you received your pledge form in the mail, please complete it and mail it back or bring it to Mass. Our parish goal is $ $61,884. With your support, we can reach and exceed this goal. After our parish exceeds its CMAA goal in paid pledges, 50% of any additional funds are returned for use in our parish.
I would like to thank you in advance for your great stewardship and your generous commitment to support our Diocesan Church Ministries. I also invite you to join me in offering this prayer:
Lord God, You alone are the source of every good gift, of the vast array of our universe, and the mystery of each human life. We praise you and we thank you for your great power and your tender, faithful love.
Everything we are and everything we have is your gift, and after having created us you have given us into the keeping of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Fill our minds with His truth and our hearts with His love, that in His Spirit we may be bonded together into a community of faith, a parish family, a caring people.
In the Name and Spirit of Jesus, we commit ourselves to be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us, to share our time, our talent, our material gifts as an outward sign of the Treasure we hold in Jesus.
With gratitude and prayer,
Fr. George Zieba, CR
