ST. FERDINAND CHURCH - Parafia św. Ferdynanda w Chicago

August 30, 2009 Twenty-second Ordinary Sunday Page ThirteenON A WEEK UP NORTH, AND GOING TO CHURCHCopyright 2009 by John B. Reynolds (john@jrwrites.com)So we’ve just now returned from a week up north. My wife andson and daughter and I spent it in a cabin about fourteen mileswest of Minocqua, WI. More precisely, we spent it in Cabin No.6--Stickeen--at the Sandy Point Resort and Disc Golf Ranch.Gail found the place on-line. When I told a guy about the tripbefore leaving, he wished me bright, sunny days and cool nights.We had some of each. We also had some dark, gloomy days andcold nights. That’s OK, though. It was a rare chance for the familyto be together in one place for a few days, and I loved eachraindrop and ray of sunshine that came my way.We went for the cabin experience--campfires, hiking, stargazing--and we got it. The disc golf was gravy. And good gravy, by theway. Seems the current owners of the resort--Mike and MicheleCozzens--brought the sport to the northwoods and the disc golfersfollowed. Remember Field of Dreams? “If you build it, theywill come.” Disc golf is simple enough. Players throw a Frisbeelikeplastic disc toward a contraption made of chains that stopsthe disc and drops it into a metal basket. In regular golf, playersuse different clubs to accomplish distance and lift. In disc golf,different discs. An absolute rookie, I used the same disc all theway through. I didn’t break 100, but I had fun.I also had fun talking with Michele, who, as it turns out,is a writer, as well. Even though I already had two books in mybackpack, I bought her novel A Line Between Friends and hadher sign it because I like supporting fellow authors when I havethe personal opportunity to do so. But it was something she toldme about her first nonfiction work (I’m Living Your Dream Life– The Story of a Northwoods Resort Owner) when she learned ofmy weekly column that caught my attention. Specifically, Micheletold me of the FAQ section in her book, where she wrotethat whenever guests inquired as to the location of the nearestchurch, “I don’t even ask anymore because I know they’re lookingfor a Catholic church. Only Catholics go to church whileon vacation.”Guilty as charged, I shared a laugh with my host overthis, but later that evening, I spoke with my wife about Michele’sobservation and wondered why it might be so. Gail and I knowsome Christian friends who feel very connected to their respectivechurches, so much so that when these friends are away forthe weekend, they have no interest in attending elsewhere. Catholicshave that whole “Sunday obligation” thing going on, true,but we have that “universal” thing going on, too. It may be thatvacationing Catholics, while feeling part of a church back home,also feel part of the Church when out in the world. Per St. Jamesin today’s second reading, “Be doers of the word and not hearersonly.” Perhaps Catholics, by attending Mass on the road, are insome small way doing exactly that. It made Michele Cozzenstake notice anyway. So if you ever find yourself up north andlooking for a church on a Sunday morning before heading out fora round of disc golf, just ask her. She’ll tell you where to go.Support StaffMrs. Dorota Gołda, Parish SecretarySr. Bernadetta Gościniak, Administrative AssistantLiturgicalMrs. Betty Hotcaveg, Lector CoordinatorDeacon Irv Hotcaveg, Coordinator of Eucharistic Ministers &Ministers of CareMs. Jane Lohrmann, Scheduler of Ministers of Care to the HomeboundParish CouncilMr. Ralph Barnhart-President, Mrs. Mary Bucaro, Mr. GilbertDeJesus, Mrs. Sophie Kass, Mr. Stan Mastalerz, Mr. AntonioSupan, Violet Del Vacchio. ExOfficio Members: Dr. LucineMastalerzParish Finance CommitteeMr. Tom Bucaro, Fr. Jason Torba, Mrs. Mary Ann Barnhart,Mr. Gene Szaben, ExOfficio Members: Mr. Martin Wojtulewicz-Parish Accountant, Sr. Bernadetta Gościniak, Dr. Lucine MastalerzParish Organizations and Prayer GroupsAdult Scripture Study: Miss Ameriga Cesaroni, CoordinatorBoy Scout: Mr. Vince Clemente, CoordinatorFish Fry: Mr. & Mrs. Rich (Pat) Wenzl, CoordinatorsFriendship Club: Mrs. Patricia Flynn, PresidentGirl Scout: Mrs. Joyce McGinniss, CoordinatorKnights of Columbus—Mater Christi Council:Mr. Camilo Trujillo, Grand KnightLadies of St. Anne: Mrs. Violet DelVecchio, PresidentSt. Ferdinand ParishLegion of Mary: Mr. Thomas Sobczak &Miss Aurora Almeida, Co-PresidentsLegion of Mary, Juniors: Mrs. Emma Camara, PresidentIrving Park Catholic Woman’s Club: Mrs. Dolores SchoeweMarket Day: Mrs. Connie Glorioso, CoordinatorPol. & Eng. Altar Servers: Fr. Robert Pajor, ModeratorPolish Club of the Good Shepherd: Mr. Andrzej Parada, PresidentPolish Rosary Group: Mrs. Helena Lesak, PresidentPolish Saturday School: Sr. Genowefa Potaczała, DirectorPolish School Parents’ Assn.: Mrs. Władysława Mitoraj, Pres.Serduszka: Ms. Iwona Raszyk, Music TeacherRadość: Miss Marzena Kulesza, Music TeacherSt. Ferdinand Athletic Boosters: Mrs. Ann Liedke &Mrs. Tammy Sammarco, Co-chairpersonsSt. Ferdinand Family & School Assn., Mrs. Marta RobakSt. Ferdinand Polish Highlanders Club:Mr. Tadeusz Kulasik, PresidentSt. Ferdinand School Board:Mrs. Mary Ann Barnhart, ChairpersonSt. Vincent DePaul Society: Mr. Ralph Barnhart, PresidentTeens of Our Church (TORCH):Mr. & Mrs. Rob (Irene) Heidelbauer, Youth MinistersThe “Faustinum” Association of Apostles of the Divine Mercy:Fr. Jason Torba, ModeratorThe Home Church Movement: Fr. Tomasz Sztandera, ModeratorUshers Club: Mr. Peter Holod, PresidentPro-Life Coordinators: Tony Mangiaracina, Helena Lasak