Embrace the Grace - Weekly Reflection
 St. Jerome famously said, “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.”
Time spent in sacred scripture, especially the four gospels, is time spent with God’s Word. No doubt, reading the Holy Bible and praying with scripture can be intimidating, but spending time in sacred scripture, we must.
The liturgical season of Advent is just around the corner. Make a promise to select one of the four gospels and pray through it as we make our way to the Christmas season. Avoid the consumerism hype we already see going on and use Advent to prepare your mind and heart for the true meaning of Christmas, which is the Incarnation (the Word of God becoming flesh).
As you read through the gospel you selected, don’t worry about completely understanding every little detail. Simply allow the sacred word of God to wash over you. Let’s use this analogy: I don’t completely understand how the rays of the sun make their way into earth’s atmosphere when I go to the beach to bathe in the sun. And yet, by putting myself in position on the beach, I get a sun tan.
Spending time with the Word of God puts us in a position to receive what the Lord desires us to receive. When we create the right conditions, God speaks to us in a very intimate way; a way we’d never experience if we didn’t open up the Bible.
This Advent, do yourself a favor and open up your Bible to spend time with a friend.
Fr. Bob
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Choir Practice Date Change
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, choir practice for next week (Nov. 20th) will be moved up to Tuesday (Nov. 22nd) at 7 PM at the St. René Goupil Rectory. There will be no practice on Wednesday (Nov. 23rd). For questions, please call David Boyle at (773) 767-1523 ext. 225.
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Sign-up online! Once we have enough volunteers committed to any ministry, follow-up communication will be sent out. Thank you for your interest!
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Attention Two Holy Martyrs Parish Lectors:
A Lectors Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 21st, at St. Symphorosa Church at 6 PM. At this meeting, Lectors will receive their Cycle A Book as well as hear words from Fr. Bob. We expect to se  e you there! |
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A Message from the Archbishop of Chicago, Blase Cupich
November 12, 2022
 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In so many ways—large and small—the pandemic has upended our lives together. Families and, in a special way, young people, have faced distressing struggles. The pandemic made our connections with one another challenging and difficult. Exactly in that moment when we truly needed supportive relationships with one another, we found ourselves separated. Sadly, this included the relationships and connections that we have in and through the Church.
We did our best to move forward and any parishes offered on-line Sunday Masses, and went even further and established prayer lines and reached out to those in need. The TV Mass that I celebrated helped to keep us connected as a community of faith in Chicagoland. So many of you have told me how healing and comforting those Masses have been.
In the meanwhile, we are in a new moment. With vaccinations and boosters, restrictions on public gatherings have eased up. Many people feel more comfortable returning to Church. Yet, we know there are some elderly and immuno-comprised persons who are still not ready to return. And they should not return. These vulnerable brothers and sisters have an excusing cause for being absent and for this reason I will continue the TV Mass on ABC for the present time. But for the rest of us, I have decided, in consultation with my advisors, to lift the general dispensation from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass as we begin a new Church year on the First Sunday of Advent, November 26-27.
My hope is that the First Sunday of Advent will provide us with a fresh start to take up again our life together as a community of faith that gathers to worship God. I have asked our pastors to begin the Masses on November 26-27 with the traditional lighting of the Advent wreath. After the homily your pastor will lead the community in a renewal of baptismal promises, acknowledging that we owe our obligation to participate in Sunday Mass to God but also to each other. Our common profession of faith and of our desire to turn away from sin, will be concluded by a sprinkling rite with the waters of baptism.
Let this occasion of our renewal of faith and life, which we all so much want, provide us with a fresh start as we recommit ourselves to worship God and to be supportive of each other week after week as we gather around the Table of the Lord to be nourished and renewed.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
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MASS INTENTIONS
It is an ancient and noble practice to pray for the living and the dead at Mass. The greatest and most powerful prayer we have is the Mass since the fruits of the Mass are the very fruits of Jesus' redemption made present to us. Therefore, many of us seek to book a Mass intention for our loved ones. In our parish, there are many requests for scheduling Mass intentions.
Guidelines for Mass Intentions
- A Mass intention may be requested for a Mass for the following reasons:
- A deceased loved one.
- A living person who is sick or suffering.
- A living person who is celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special moments in their life.
- In thanksgiving to God (including the Lord Jesus or the Holy Spirit).
- In thanksgiving for a prayer from a Blessed or a Saint.
- Or for a prayer intention (so long as the intention does not contradict Church teaching).
- A Mass intention may not be requested for a prayer intention that contradicts Catholic moral doctrine.
- There is a limit of four (4) intentions per Mass. If a given Mass has four intentions on a given day, please choose another Mass.
- Lengthy intention listings cannot be published in the Bulletin and must be edited for brevity. Since publishing the intention in the Bulletin is to notify the family and friends of the intention, we suggest omitting middle initials, titles, etc. Each intention is limited to either two names or one group. Please indicate if the person for whom the Mass is requested is living or deceased.
- A $10 donation is to accompany each Mass request. Intentions will not be recorded until the stipend is received. Canon Law requires that all stipends taken for Mass Intentions be said for the intention as designated.
- Please note that Mass intentions may be requested for Sundays, most holidays, and weekdays throughout the year. Mass intentions cannot be scheduled for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, News Years Day. One Mass every Sunday and one Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation must be scheduled for the intentions of our parishioners, known as Pro Populo (For the People), as required by Canon Law.
- Announced Mass requests will be granted as close to the requested date and time as possible. If it is not possible to comply with the primary request, the next closest date and time will be scheduled.
**Mass intention requests to be published in the bulletin must be submitted to the parish office by Monday at 12 PM before the proceeding weekend’s liturgy.**
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Upcoming Meetings:
Wednesday, November 30th
Super Senior Club Meets at Flannery Hall
All meetings commence at 11:30 AM
♠ The Super Senior Club is seeking poker players to join our group! ♣ |
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We thank our generous sponsors and guests who made our annual Grateful • Thankful • Blessed Dinner a success. Minus expenses, we raised $16,249.10! Be on the lookout for our St. Symphorosa School Advisory Board Casino Night in March 2023!
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The 2022-2023 Faith Formation Calendar is available here and on our website. Families should look at all upcoming events, Family Masses, and class dates. For questions, please contact the Faith Formation Coordinator, Peggy at (773) 767-1523 ext. 226. |
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For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
Romans 14:8
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