St. Patrick Church - Stpatricklemont.org

St. Patrick Church
Serving Lemont, Illinois
December 25, 2011
The Nativity of the Lord—Christmas
MASSES
Saturday Mass — 5:00 PM
Sunday Masses —
7:30 AM - 10 AM - Noon - 5 PM
Daily Mass-Mon, Tues & Wed 8
AM
CONFESSIONS —
Saturday—4:15 PM—4:45PM
-or- by appointment with Fr. Kurt.
SICK & HOMEBOUND: Call the
Parish Office if you wish to receive
communion or a pastoral visit from a
priest or one of our Ministers of Care.
BAPTISMS: Baptisms are held on
Sundays at 1:30 PM. Preparation
Classes are required and are
scheduled by appointment. Please call
the Parish Office for more information.
MARRIAGES: Couples wishing to be
married at St. Patrick Church need to
make an appointment with Fr. Kurt at
least six months prior to the desired
wedding date. Please call the Parish
Office before booking your reception
hall. You are most welcome at St.
Pats.
TO PARISHIONERS & THOSE WHO
PARTICIPATE WITH US: We warmly
welcome you and kindly ask you to
register at the Parish Office. If you
have moved, married and remain in
our parish, have a seasonal address
or change of address, please notify
our Parish Office.
PARISH OFFICE: Located in the Rectory
200 E. Illinois Street
Lemont IL 60439
(630) 257-6134 (office)
(630) 257-0401 (fax)
stpatricklemont@sbcglobal.net (e-mail)
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
*The Parish Office will be closed on:
Mon., Dec. 26th, Fri., Dec. 30th & Mon. Jan 2nd.*
PARISH SCHOOL:
20W145 Davey Rd.
Lemont, IL 60439
(630) 783-2220
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:
205 Cass Street
(630) 257-8012
PARISH WEBSITE: www.StPatrickLemont.org
PARISH STAFF
Rev. Kurt D. Boras, Pastor
Rev. Richard J. Shannon, Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Mr. Joseph R. Winblad, Senior Deacon
Ms. Renee Payne, Principal
Ms. Linda O’Connor, Liturgy & RE Coordinator
Mr. Neil Windt, Director of Music
Miss Janelle Pasch, Choir Instrumentalist
Ms. Rosarita Hennebry, Music Director Emerita
Mr. Michael Lundberg, Tri-Parish Youth Minister
Ms. Louise Cummings, Parish Business Manager
Mrs. Cathy Barrett, Liturgy and RE Assistant
Mr. Dale Hennebry, Buildings & Grounds Manager
Mrs. Sue Raymond, Secretary, Bulletin Editor,
Personal Assistant to the Pastor

Page 2 DECEMBER 25, 2011
Dear People of St. Patrick:
Perspectives From Fr. Kurt: Our Parish Family
I share these hope-filled words with you from the
great prophet Isaiah that we will hear proclaimed in
our midst on the Feast of Christmas, the Birth of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: “Rejoice, for a child is
born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion
rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, the Prince of Peace.”
In my name, and in the name of all of our staff here
at St. Patrick Parish, I wish you and your loved ones
true Christmas joy and peace. Whether this is the
first time you are visiting us or whether we are the faith
community you regularly call home, I hope you will find
our Christmas celebrations war, welcoming, inspiring,
joyous, and faith-filled. As we celebrate the “Prince of
Peace” among us, may we give special thanks this year
for the official end to the War in Iraq. May we warmly
welcome back home our returning men and women from
the military and thank them most sincerely for their
courageous service. May we remember in our hearts
and prayers all those brave soldiers who paid the
ultimate sacrifice with their very lives so that we might
enjoy the freedoms we share. And perhaps most
importantly, may we pray for and work tirelessly
towards being true witnesses to peace in our world
today.
I want to thank all those who very generously shared
their time and great talents to make Christmas 2011
here at St. Patrick so meaningful. My thanks to Dale
Hennebry and his band of volunteers who dusted,
mopped, sprayed and in every way helped to make our
Church sparkling clean. Our cleaning volunteers were:
Marge Breier, Richard & Linda Rybski, Trisha Greaney,
Sandy Voltarel, Carol & Mel Zagorski, Mary & Walter
McCarthy, and Walter McCarthy, Jr.
I want to thank Shari Simone, the Art and
Environment Committee, the Liturgy Team, and all
the Church decorators who brought great Christmas
beauty and spirit to our Church and Parish Hall. I want
to thank Linda O’Connor of our staff and our Liturgy
Team members for the prayerful planning of our Advent
and Christmas liturgies. Our Liturgy Team members
are: Linda O’Connor, Cathy Barrett, Neil Windt,
Roseanne Garavan-Oskielunas, Shari Simone, Jane
Doyle, and Jim Prew. I want to thank all the servers,
sacristans, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, priest
celebrants, and Deacon Joe for all your faithfulness
and spirit of cooperation.
The Nativity of the Lord—Christmas
December 25, 2011
I want to thank our ushers for your welcoming
spirit, especially to those folks visiting us for the
first time. My thanks to all our visiting musicians for
sharing your gifts and talents with us. Thanks to Police
Chief Kevin Shaughnessy and the Village for your help
with traffic control. And last, but certainly not least, I
want to thank Neil Windt, Sue Raymond, all our
cantors, adult choir members, quartet, guitar ensemble,
and Young People’s Choir and their parents, for helping
us “make a joyful song to the Lord!” May God truly
reward you all for your goodness! And I hope you all
get a well-deserved rest.
The Century Club Christmas ornaments have
arrived. If you contributed to this program, you can find
your individual ornament with your name on it on the
windowsills in alphabetical order around the church.
Thank you again for your generosity. You once again
have made this fundraising effort a very fine success.
Thanks to the generosity of one of our families here
at St. Patrick, you will get a copy of the best selling
Matthew Kelly book entitled: Rediscover
Catholicism. Many people who have read the book,
including myself, recommend it highly. Please enjoy the
read! I ask that you simply take one per family if
possible. If anyone is interested in starting a group book
discussion or a systematic study of this fine spiritual
work, please feel free to give me a call at the Parish
Office. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.
A study guide can be found on the following website:
www.DynamicCatholic.com or on our parish website.
Please remember Patty Krengiel in your thoughts and
prayers. She is the wife of Don, mother to Corey, Kelley,
and Katie, and friend to many in the community! Patty
is in the RCIA process this year with the desire to
become a fully initiated Catholic. We are proud of you,
Patty! May God guide you on the journey.
Finally, please mark down this upcoming date in your
calendars. Friday, March 23, 2012 at 7:30 P.M in our
Church, our second “Redeemed!” concert, with all of
our choirs and visiting musicians performing, will take
place. Last year’s concert was simply an outstanding
effort by all. I hope you can join us. Plans and
rehearsals are already well under way.
Wishing you much Christmas peace and joy,
Fr. Kurt

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD—CHRISTMAS Page 3
ASK FATHER KURT
Q: Dear Father Kurt, I am a divorced Catholic.
First of all, I’d like to ask, can I receive the
sacraments of the Church Could I ever become a
Eucharistic Minister and distribute the precious
Body and Blood of our Lord I have been told by
some family members and “friends” that I am
“excommunicated or that I should not be receiving
communion.” Is this true
A: Dear Friend, I am glad you brought these concerns
to my attention. Sometimes there is a great deal of
misinformation shared by well-meaning people about
what the Catholic Church teaches “officially.” This, I
think, is true especially when it comes to marriage and
divorce.
A divorced Catholic person is not excommunicated
(not barred in any way from the Church)! A divorced
Catholic may receive the sacraments of the Church,
including Communion and a Catholic Christian burial.
Thus if “official” Church teaching says, a divorced
Catholic can receive the sacraments, they can also be a
public minister of Communion. This is not just
because Fr. Kurt says it is so, this is the official
teaching of the Church as it is described in the Revised
Code of Canon Law.
Canon Law is the Church’s pastoral “rule book” if you
will. It addresses the rights of Catholics by virtue of
their baptism. If you would like to check up some
more on your question for yourself, consult the
marriage section of the Code of Canon Law http://
www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3V.HTM or
you can talk to a canon lawyer from the Archdiocese of
Chicago at 1-312-534-8280. As a pastor, I hope you
hear from me that if you have not been gathering with
us at the Lord’s table or receiving the Eucharist, you
are most welcome at the table of the Lord. If you
would like to talk first, I would welcome that
opportunity to do so in a pastoral and confidential
manner. Use the following link to see more on Canon
Law and participation in the Eucharist. http://
www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P39.HTM
The next following link will take you to the Code of
Canon Law: http://www.vatican.va/archive/
ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM
If a divorced Catholic remarries without receiving an
annulment first, then the situation gets a little trickier.
However, all is not lost! I would encourage you to
seek out a priest or a representative from the Church
you feel comfortable talking with about your human
challenges and questions. There is a way the Church
can welcome you to the sacraments again in this
particular situation of being re-married “outside the
Catholic Church.” It is referred to as the “internal
forum solution.” Your concerns, questions, and
eventual well formed decision of conscience, would be
dealt with confidentially, privately, and in a one-on-one
manner. Again, thank you for your heart felt question.
I believe you are not the only one who has questions
and perhaps received some misinformation about what
the Catholic Church teaches.
And to all those well meaning
“friends” out there of mine, I will
try to say this to you with all due
respect and loving care. Please
fight the temptation to be “of
help.” Leave delicate emotional
situations & conversations to
those who have been trained to
handle such issues. Sometimes
just thinking we are being of help
can make a situation worse.
Good luck to all on the journey.
Let’s ALL get back to and
Celebrate the Sacraments.
CHRISTMAS COLLECTION: CHRISTMAS FALLS ON
A WEEKEND THIS YEAR. WE WILL BE TAKING UP
TWO COLLECTIONS AT CHRISTMAS MASS, ONE FOR
YOUR CHRISTMAS OFFERING AND ONE FOR YOUR
REGULAR WEEKEND CONTRIBUTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! FR. KURT
Visit: www.CatholicsComeHome.org/Advent

Page 4 DECEMBER 25, 2011
Renee Payne, Principal
630-783-2220 St. Patrick Church, RE
Visit: www.StAls-StPats.org
Linda O’Connor, Director 630-257-8012
The St. Alphonsus-St. Patrick Teachers,
Staff and Students would like to wish all
parishioners a very merry Christmas. We
are grateful to know that you are a part of
our lives and your prayers and support
help to make us a wonderful school.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Baby Bottle Update
Thank you to all who participated in the fundraiser for
the Women’s Center for Greater Chicagoland. The
RE classes and parishioners raised $1628 for young
women in difficulty pregnancy situations and their
newborn babies. Thank you for answering God’s plea
to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
The St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick Celtics Football Team was honored by the
village at a recent board meeting for "its success both on and off the
field". The JV team was recognized for the team's first Catholic Grade School
Conference championship, and the entire organization was recognized for the
success of the food drives it has held the past 2 years, greatly benefitting the
food pantries and the community. The proclamation noted that the primary
goals of the program are to foster the principle of team play, self discipline,
good sportsmanship,
scholarship and Christian
values. Mayor Brian Reeves
presented coaches Dan
Wollenberg and Dan
Brannigan with the
proclamation.

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD—CHRISTMAS Page 5
YOUTH CHOIR
CHRISTMAS PARTY 2011
We sang, decorated the tree and cookies, ate,
and had a great time. We have been preparing
long and hard for Christmas Eve, this was our
time for a little bit of crazy fun!
Merry Christmas
from the St. Patrick Youth Choir!
OFFICE CLOSINGS OFFICE CLOSINGS OFFICE CLOSINGS OFFICE CLOSINGS
The Parish Office will be closed on Monday December 26th, Friday December 30th & Monday January 2nd
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Have a safe and blessed week.
Christmas 2011
ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“God is closer to us than we are to ourselves,” said St. Augustine, and that closeness, through the
power of the Holy Spirit in the wondrous mystery of the Incarnation, becomes visible in Jesus Christ. It
also becomes visible in how we treat each other and how we radiate the hope Christ brings to the world.
The Word made flesh reconciles God and his human family and all creation; that is God’s interpretation
of the Christmas crib.
The giving of oneself to others constitutes the nature of God; therefore, Jesus never comes alone. To genuinely
celebrate his birth, we cannot put individuals or entire peoples in boxes in order to dismiss them from our lives. Likewise,
if we climb into a box to separate ourselves from others by our attitudes or actions, the Word made flesh cannot speak to
us, transform us or save us. Moreover, if we allow our faith to be boxed in by our secular age, it becomes a personal
hobby without any public presence, witness or role.
By her response, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46), Mary shows complete trust and faith in God; her active
cooperation with god is a model for all. As Pope Benedict emphasizes in God Is Love, “In these words she expresses her
whole program of life: not in service of neighbor—only then does goodness enter the world.”
God has spoken and the eternal Word is made flesh. With the courage born of our faith, we proclaim in word and
action, in our very flesh and bone, that Jesus Christ our Savior is born. It is our turn to speak, to one another and to the
world. A blessed Christmas to all of you and to all those whom God has given you to love—Merry Christmas!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.
Archbishop of Chicago

Page 6 DECEMBER 25, 2011
MASS INTENTIONS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24— Vigil – Christmas
4:00 pm Katherine Wozniak
—Family
4:05 pm Lourdelle Gambla
—Bruno & Rita Risatti
6:00 pm Ruth M. Nowak
—Linda & Richard Rybski
11:00 pm Deceased Members of the Patrick
Hennebry Family
—Family
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25— Christmas
10:00 am Joe Friscia (anniversary of death)
—Joe’s Sisters
Sp. Int. Rosarita Hennebry
—St. Patrick Choir & Cantors
12:00 noon Mary Hutchinson
—Friends & Family
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26— St. Stephen, martyr
8:00 am Stephen Nevell
—Mary Nevell
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27— St. John, apostle
8:00 am Deceased Members of the First
Catholic Slovak Ladies Association
—FCSLA Branch S455
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28—The Holy
Innocents, martyrs
8:00 am Victoria Haverland
—Dennis Mary Ellen Hennebry
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31— Vigil – Solemnity of
Mary, The Holy Mother of God
5:00 pm Katherine Wozniak—Family
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1— Solemnity of Mary, The
Holy Mother of God
7:30 am Mary Hutchinson
—The Rinke Family
10:00 am Teodora C. Catolico
—Sowalha Family
12:00 noon Eva Horkey
—Jane Doyle & the Horkey Family
The Lemont Knights of Columbus Council #1599 celebrated
its 100 year anniversary on December 10, 2011. There are
not many Lemont civic organizations that exist with 100 years of
continual community service history. The council has seen its
members serve in both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and other
armed conflicts. Several of these Knights did not return from
these conflict arenas. The Knights were a much larger
organization in the day before the numerous other civic clubs
were invented. The council had over 300 members during the
1940s & 1950s when Lemont had a much smaller
population. The council owned a council hall for many years on
Canal Street.
The council has and continues to provide service to the
four Catholic churches in Lemont besides assisting
numerous local youth, adult and special need population
needs. The Knights participate with the national "Tootsie Roll"
Day each year. This fund raiser generates thousands of dollars
each year for service to mentally challenged people in
Lemont. 100% of these funds are given to civic organizations
that service these special need people each year. The Knights
took the leadership last year to help create a scholarship
program fund along with the VFW & American Legion for boys
to attend Scout camps who have financial difficulties. The
Knights organized & contribute to making sure hearing impaired
persons of Lemont have masses provided with an
interpreter. Youth sport groups have been supported over the
years by the Knights. We supply volunteers for the Kops for
Kids program among other civic voluntary projects. We serve
the community when asked.
We strive to make the community aware there are
alternatives to abortion through Right to Life programs. We
financially support efforts of relief to natural disaster areas of
our state, nation and other countries. We contribute to the food
pantries in helping those less financially fortunate. We support
our parishes when the need is called.
The council has over 65 members. Members participate
earning different degrees of training and awareness of being a
Knight in service. Many people are aware of our Fourth Degree
members who are seen often in a tux, cape, plume hat and
swords. These regalia Knights provide escort service to our
bishops and priests besides funeral and community
services. Tradition is still an important part of being a Knight.
Service to God, church, & country are the basic core of our
existence. The original charter members are all passed, but
their vision of service lives on with our Council.
I would encourage any Catholic male over 18 years of age
to consider becoming a Knight. It is an excellent way to
serve your faith, church, family and community while having
comradeship with men who serve the goals of the order.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Porter
Lemont Council 1599
Grand Knight
630 257-2321

III. Zachary Eriksen & Elizabeth Kickels
III. Thomas Lynch & Erin Burruss
May God bless them on their journey!
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD—CHRISTMAS Page 7
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22
Tuesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:1a, 2-8
Wednesday:1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Mt 2:13-18
Thursday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35
Friday: Sir 3:2-7, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3;
Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or Heb 11:8, 11-12,
17-19; Lk 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]
Saturday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Jn 1:1-18
Sunday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
"There is genius in Catholicism, if we just take
the time and make the effort to humbly
explore it. [So] let's decide, here and now,
today, to begin to explore the genius of our
faith, to be part of the solution, and to step it
up a notch."
"God never goes back; he always moves
forward. [So] let us press on toward the future
God has envisioned for us and for the Church. It is time for us
to become a people of possibility again. Too much of what
we do is governed by a very limited way of thinking. We
gravitate toward what is manageable, rather than imagining
what is possible."
Matthew Kelly; Rediscover Catholicism.
Next Weekend:
PRESIDER SCHEDULE
The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother
of God
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31st:
5pm-Fr. Lou Zake
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1st:
7:30am-Msgr. McNamara
10am-Fr. Lou
Noon-Fr. Lou
*NOTE: There is no 5 P.M. Tri-Parish Mass on New
Years Day**
We pray for . . .
The Sick of our Parish
If you would like to have someone who is ill
prayed for at Mass, please call the Parish
Office (630-257-6134). The name of that
person will be announced in church and will
be added to the prayer column in the
weekly bulletin.
Herminigilda Abante
Kevin Anderson
Sr. Eugene Baiardo
Lynn Callahan
Eileen Cattoni
Jo Gallegos
Rick George
Peg Kickels
Suzette Kitzmiller
Gerald Liberty
Zachary F. Eriksen
Steven Korbus
Kody Peters
Chad Peters
Judy Murray
Helen O’Leary
Joanne Pick
Ethel Roman
Anthony Rybski
Florence Rybski
Cory Steck
Richard Waliczek
Sue Winblad
and we pray for . . .
Our loved ones in the military
Maj. Leslie Rafferty
Ryan Rudman
Kevin Thomas
Ryan D. Wedel
We would like to pray for all of our loved ones who are serving
in the armed forces. If you would like to submit a name for the
list, please fill out the form below and mail it to the Parish Office
or place in the Sunday collection basket. Please include your
name & phone number.
Name: __________________________________
Requested by: _____________________________