Saint Edmund Parish Echoes - St. Edmund Parish

Saint Edmund Parish EchoesReaching out from the heart of Oak ParkMarch 24, 2013Parish Office188 S. Oak Park Avenue Oak Park, Illinois 60302; Telephone: 708-848-4417; Fax Line: 708-848-0049Parish Center Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9am - 8pm Friday 9am - 4pmSaturday 9am - 3pm; Sunday 9:00am - 1pmVisit the parish web-site at stedmund.org. You may also e-mail us from the web-site.Parish School and School of Religious Education200 S. Oak Park Avenue Oak Park, Illinois 60302School Telephone: 708-386-5131 · School of Religious Education Telephone: 708-848-7220 · Shared Fax Line: 708-386-5616Rev. John McGivern, PastorMs. Peggy Leddy, Pastoral AssociateMrs. Maria Allori, Development CoordinatorMrs. Janet Bennick, Coordinator of Religious EducationMr. Donald Giannetti, Parish AssistantMrs. Kathleen Halfpenny, Director of MusicMrs. Laverne Johnson, Parish School SecretaryMrs. Christine A. Rousakis, Manager, Parish OfficeParish Administration and StaffMr. Michael Sweeney, Parish School PrincipalMr. Al Vargas, Facilities ManagerMr. Thomas Dwyer, Permanent DeaconRev. John Lucas, In ResidenceRev. John O’Callaghan, S.J., Weekend PresiderRev. Christopher J. Devron, S.J., Weekend PresiderRev. Msgr. Richard Hynes, Weekend PresiderAll are welcome. An entrance ramp and push-bar automatic door is located at the eastern entrance of the church.Personal hearing devices are also available from the ushers/greeters.

Palm Sunday of the 3 Lord’s PassionHoly WeekWe seem to have domesticated the cross. It is a fixture inour churches and so the sight of it does not startle us.2,000 years ago it more than shocked the Romans andGreeks; it revolted and repelled them. They viewed thecross much as we do the hangman’s noose or the electricchair- the brutal instrument of a violent death.Paul named the paradox of the cross, “a stumbling blockto the Jews and foolishness to the gentiles. Christians seeit as the power and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1:10)The cross is a sign of contradiction, especially to“Conventional Wisdom”. C.W. tells us: Blessed are thewealthy for they shall be joyful. Blessed are the ruthlessfor they shall be successful. Blessed are the proud andpowerful for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are thevengeful for they shall destroy their enemies.The cross bears a different message: Blessed are the poor.Blessed are those who mourn the uncounted millions ofaborted infants. Blessed are those who weep for the swollenbellies of the hungry children of the world. Blessedare those who struggle to bring peace to vengeful peopleand justice to those who have been denied it. Blessed arethose who forgive their enemies “because they know notwhat they do.” Blessed are those who are not embarrassedby the cross and the message it bears.The cross is the sign of a love that sets no conditions andknows no limits. A symbol of death, it reminds us that joynot death, will have the final word in our lives.This paradox can be seen all through the Lenten liturgy.On the Second Sunday of Lent, the Church gave us anEaster gospel - the story of the Transfiguration. Just beforesetting out for Jerusalem and his date with death, Jesusgave his apostles a glimpse of the risen, glorifiedChrist. We will see more of this paradox on Good Fridaywhen the cantors sing: “Through the cross you broughtjoy to the world.”Lent is not a period of mourning. It is a period of joy. Theparadox of the cross is that death has been swallowed upin victory, one we will share with the risen Christ. Weproclaim this faith of our each time we make the Sign ofthe Cross.Rev. George DyerFr. Dyer is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago,a theologian and acclaimed author.hosannaHoly Week and Easter LiturgiesWe will soon be entering into one of the holiest weeks ofour year. This week cannot be business as usual, for itrequires us to be more watchful, more attentive and morealert. The Paschal Mystery is a sign of the interruptivepower of God’s grace in our lives. We are invited to journeydeeper into that mystery.Please make every effort to attend these sacred liturgicalceremonies. A list of all our services follows below:Spy Wednesday, March 277:30pm: Tenebrae: A Service of DarknessThis is a beautiful and hauntingchoral meditation on darkness andlight, death and new life.Holy Thursday, March 287:30pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supperafter mass until 12am: adoration ofBlessed Sacrament11:45pm: Night PrayerGood Friday, March 299:00am: Morning Prayer7:30pm: The Passion of our LordHoly Saturday, March 309:00am: Morning Prayer11:00am: Blessing of Easter Food, Murphy Hall7:30pm: Easter Vigil - the first Easter mass!Easter Sunday masses:The Resurrection of our Lord8:00am, 9:30am and 11:30amThere is no Easter Sunday 6:00pm liturgy.GOD BLESSPOPE FRANCISHoly Thursday and Good Friday CollectionsAlthough the envelope in your packet states, “For a SpecialCharity”, the Holy Thursday collection this year willsupport the Oak Park/River Forest Food Pantry.The Good Friday collection will be for the Holy Land.These Christians depend on this special collection fortheir daily lives.Please be as generous as your abundance allows.

Parish School NewsClasses will not be in session on Good Friday, March 29. Spring break will begin on Good Friday, March 29. Classeswill resume on Monday, April 8.4Happy (hoppy) Easter!School of Religious EducationFaith sharing will continue for children and their families in the Religious Education program this week by participatingin the Holy Week services offered at St. Edmund. See the schedule on page 3 for service times. These beautiful servicesare a perfect teaching moment for young people learning about the faith. Awareness is offered into the sacred traditionsof Holy Week in the Catholic Church.Classes will not be in session today or next Sunday, Easter Sunday. We wish you and your families a blessed Easter!Offertory for Weekend of March 16/17Please note that due to the Easter holiday, the Echoespublication for Sunday, March 24 was published earlierthan usual. Monetary figures for the weekend of March16/17 will be published in the April 7 issue of the Echoes.Rochetta-Wessies Scholarship Availablefor Catholic High SchoolsCurrent Eighth Grade students of St. Edmund ParishSchool and St. Edmund Parish School of Religious Educationare invited to come to the Parish Center office topick up a Catholic high school scholarship applicationpacket. The Catholic high school scholarship is $5,000per year for the first two academic years and $2,500 tuitionper year for the remaining years. The scholarship ispayable to the Catholic high school of the recipient’schoice. The criteria for selecting the winners of the scholarshipsare: academic standing, financial need and serviceto the school, parish and community.Two scholarships are generally awarded each year. Theentire application must be completed to be considered fora scholarship. We must have tax records from the mostrecent year available to evaluate financial need. Completedapplications are due in the Parish office no later thanTuesday, April 9. Please contact Don Giannetti at 708-848-4417, extension 205 to obtain further information.Save the DateSacrament of the Anointing of the SickSunday, April 2111:30am massWeek at a GlanceSunday March 242:00pm Easter Egg Dying Murphy HallMonday March 251:00pm Eucharistic Adoration Murphy Hall7:00pm Cantors/Choir ChurchTuesday March 269:00am Faith Sharing Murphy Hall9:00am P.A.D.S. Lunch-Making Murphy Hall1:30pm Faith Sharing Off-SiteWednesday March 273:30pm Children’s Choir Murphy Hall7:00pm Evening Bible Study Parish School7:30pm Tenebrae Service ChurchThursday March 287:30pm Mass of the Lord’s ChurchSupper11:45pm Night Prayer ChurchFriday March 299:00am Morning Prayer Church7:30pm The Passion of Our ChurchLordSaturday March 309:00am Morning Prayer Church11:00am Food Blessing Murphy Hall7:30pm Easter Vigil ChurchSunday March 318am Easter Masses Church9:30am Children’s Choir Church11:30amChurchA blessed Easter to all.

5Annual Parish Fundraiser: Saturday, May 18An Elegant Evening …... catches theAloha Spirit!Attend the Hawaaian Island-Inspired Gala on Saturday, May 18Delicious food, live entertainment and an exciting auction await! Come and support the parish and enjoy thecompany of our wonderful parish family and friends. We have a new venue (River Forest Country Club) and anew format for the evening. This event promises to be the best gala ever!Earn Your “Lei” and Become an Underwriting AngelJoin the crew of special Underwriting Angels! Whether you are able to sponsor an entire category or not, yourgenerosity will go a long way in ensuring a successful fundraising event!Play the Cash Raffle and Stash Some CashBuy a cash raffle ticket for $50! With $10,000 in cash prizes, you have the chance to win one of the followingprizes: $5,000, $3,000, or $2,000. Plus, there are several $200 Early Bird Prizes! LaVerne Johnson, Raffle Coordinator,can match you with a winning ticket after weekend masses or you may call the Parish School office at708-386-5131.Donate to the AuctionDo you have a collectible, or some other special something that you would like to donate...an original oil or watercolorpainting, a piece of crystal or a vintage piece of jewelry? We are also looking for people to donate interestingexperience packages. Here are some ideas: a sailboat cruise on Lake Michigan, a wine tasting event, a cake-of-the-month, a vacation condominium or house, airline miles, spring and fall window washing, an afternoontea for a group of parish ladies, or another interesting idea you might have!You may contact Chairperson Maria Allori at (708)848-4417, extension 212 or at mallori@stedmund.org regardingany opportunities you may have. If you have supported the fundraiser in years past, thank you! We arecounting on your support this year, too. If you have not been able to do so previously, this is the year to join us!We need the help from EVERY individual with St. Edmund’s only fundraiser of the year.

6Helpful Holiday Hints for Grieving Individuals1. Recognize and acknowledge that you are grieving.• Be gentle with yourself.• Understand that your energies are naturally directed towardyour loss and your healing. So you may not havethe energy you’re accustomed to having this year.• Avoid caustic people; you don’t need the aggravation.• Let people know it’s okay to talk about the deceased ifit really is. Otherwise direct them away from the topic bytelling them you want to catch up on what is going on intheir lives.2. Anticipate the day.• If it’s too soon or too painful, don’t go or don’t participate.Send your regrets; people who care about you will understand.• Remember that sometimes the anticipation is far worsethan the actual day.• How have you observed this day in the past? Recall thisday from the past when you shared it with your loved oneand acknowledge the ways in which it will be differentthis year.• Identify the people, traditions, and activities that areimportant to you regarding to this day.• Consider creating some new traditions.3. Make a plan you can be comfortable with.• Eliminate the unnecessary and the too painful.• Find a way to honor your relationship and your memories,a way to include your loved one in the spirit of thisday. If doing this will involve others, it‘s best to talk itover with them beforehand so they are not taken by surprise;if necessary, compromise to come to a comfortableconclusion.4. Provide a cushion or buffer for yourself on this day.• Tell your best friend or confidante how you are feelingabout this day, as well as how you are going to getthrough it. Ask him/her to stay close for support throughoutthe day.• Build in some alone-time, quiet-time or time when theexpectations you or others have for you can be suspendedin order to give you time to tend solely to your emotionalneeds.5. Keep your options open.• Sit in the back or near a door.• Have an escape route planned along with a get away car(ride home) and driver in case things get to be more thanyou can handle.• Make it known that you will leave if you need to; giveyourself permission to do this without recrimination ifyou find it necessary.6. Remember that it won’t be this hard next year.Our Jewish Friends Celebrate PassoverPassover is the 8 day observance commemorating thefreedom and exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian rule.Passover begins on the 15th night of the Jewish month ofNissan, this year (2001) the first night of Passover beginsat sundown on Monday, March 25.The Pharaoh had decreed that all Jewish male babies wereto be killed because he felt that the Jewish people werebecoming too strong. One couple decided to try to savetheir infant son. They put him in a basket, and floated himon the river. He was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter. Shecalled him Moses, which means, take from the water andshe raised him as her own. When Moses grew up, he hadmuch empathy for the Jewish slaves, and when he foundout that he was a Jew, he wanted to help his people. Hetried to get the Pharaoh to free the Jewish slaves, but thePharaoh refused. Moses had a special relationship withGod.There were 10 plagues (Blood, Frogs, Lice, Beasts, CattleDisease, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, Slaying of theFirstborn) placed upon Egypt, but still the Pharaoh wouldnot let the Jews go. Finally, after the 10th plague, he relented.The Jews gathered up their belongings quickly noteven having time for their bread to rise, so they had tobake it and take it the way it was. This is why the Jewishpeople eat matzah during Passover. While fleeing, Pharaohchanged his mind, and sent his army after the Jews tobring them back. God parted the Red Sea for them tocross, and as soon as they were safely to the other side,the waters closed, drowning the Egyptian soldiers. TheJews were saved.Passover is celebrated today in homes by having a seder.Seder means order, and the Passover story is read in aspecial order from the book called a haggadah. Haggadahmeans "to tell" and the Jewish people tell the story oftheir (and our) ancestors, and remind themselves that theyare now a free people. There are different parts of the sederand during the meal, they eat traditional and symbolicfoods that remind of the adversity of their people. One ofthe things that is done is to dip a spring vegetable into saltwater. The vegetable is a sign of spring, or rebirth, andthe salt water represent the tears of the slaves. They eatbitter herbs, to remind them of the bitterness of slavery.They eat a special mixture, called Charoset, which ismade of apples, nuts, wine, and cinnamon that remindsthem of the mortar from which the slaves made theirbricks. The name Passover comes from when the Angelof Death passed over the Jewish homes because beingforewarned, they put lambs blood on their doors, so thatdeath would spare their first born child.Nancy HershThe Kid's Domain, www.kidsdomain.com(c) 2001 Attitude Network, Ltd., part of theglobe.com network