Queen of Angels Catholic Parish Chicago

Jesus’ Love and Fidelity

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

Today we reach the climax of the Lenten season, Holy Week. Rather than focus immediately on the high point of this week, Easter Sunday, I invite you to stay with the core of this Lenten time, Jesus’ journey through his passion and death. In whatever ways each of us has spent the past six weeks, hopefully we allowed God to lead us in a renewed direction toward the goal of life—drawing closer to God.

There were a variety of opportunities in this parish to let this happen, including the parish missions in Spanish and English. If you chose to participate in one of these missions, I am sure your spirit was fired up to live in a renewed way the direction in which God is leading you.

All of today’s readings, including the psalm response, refer in some way to the suffering servant. Isaiah gives graphic descriptions of the physical torture this servant would undergo. St. Paul clearly states that Jesus emptied himself of his divine prerogatives as God and took on the form of a slave. And though Jesus chose to be broken and humiliated, he was fulfilling the destiny mapped out for him by God.

Announcements, April 1, 2007

GOLDEN WEDDING PLANS The Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, September 9 at Holy Name Cathedral, 751 N. State St. Couples married in 1957 who are interested in attending this celebration are asked to contact the Parish Center at 773-539-7510. Call the Family Ministries Office at 312-751-8351.

CONSIDER MINISTRY OF CARE Please consider the Ministry of Care, taking an  hour or two one  Sunday a month to visit those who cannot come to Mass or who are hospitalized at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Call 773-539-7510.

Holy Week 2007 Mass Schedule

We Remember: Jacqueline Eyer, Joseph Sanchez, Gary Crye, and Members of the Parish Remembrance Society
We Pray For: David Deering and Bill Zander

MONDAY, APRIL 2—       
Is 42:1-7|Ps 27:1,2,3,13-14|Jn 12:1-11
      7:00  MORNING MASS
  For the People of the Parish
      9:00  MORNING MASS
  Members of the Drennan Family 
  (both living and deceased)

TUESDAY, APRIL 3— 
Is 49:1-6|Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17|Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
      7:00  MORNING MASS
  † Parish Remembrance Society
      9:00  MORNING MASS
  † Patrick Gibbons

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4—
Is 50:4-9a|Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34|Mt 26:14-25
      7:00  MORNING MASS
  † James Sullivan—Birthday
      9:00  MORNING MASS
  † George Fernandez—Birthday

THURSDAY, APRIL 5—  HOLY THURSDAY
7:30 MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
  † Mae Grondin

FRIDAY, APRIL 6— GOOD FRIDAY
Is 52:13-53:12|Ps 31:2,6,12-13, 15-16, 17, 25|Heb 4:14-16, 5:7-9 | Jn 18:1-19:42
        NO MASSES CELEBRATED

SATURDAY, APRIL 7—HOLY SATURDAY
Gn 1:1-22 or 1:1, 26-31a | Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 or 
Ps 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20 and 22 | Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 | 
Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 | Ex 14:15-15:1 | Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 | Is 54:5-14 | 
Ps 3-:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13| Is 55:1-11 | Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 | Bar 3:9-15, 32 | 
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 | Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28 | Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3-4 | Rom 6:3-11 |
Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 | Lk 24:1-12

       7:30  EASTER VIGIL OF THE LORD’S RISING
  † Josephine Abruscato

SUNDAY, APRIL 8—EASTER
Acts 10:34a, 37-43 | Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 | Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8 | 
Jn 20:1-9
8:00 † Eufrosina and Narciso Dimaano
9:30 † Deacon Dick Hankett
      11:00 † Elizabeth Majewski
      12:30 † Pastor Gonzalez

Holy Week 2007 at Queen of Angels

Monday, April 2—
♦ Church Cleaning, All Day
♦ Alcoholics Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Upper Voss
♦ Boy Scout Meeting, 7 p.m., Lower Church

Tuesday, April 3—
♦ Church Cleaning, All Day
♦ Overeaters Anonymous, 5 p.m., Upper Voss
♦ Respect Life, 7:05 p.m., Upper Voss
♦ Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., Lower Voss

Wednesday, April 4—   
♦ Church Cleaning, All Day
♦ Parent Teacher Conferences, noon, School
♦ Overeaters Anonymous, 5:30 p.m., Upper Voss
♦ Chorister Rehearsal, 6:15 p.m., Lower Church
♦ Adult Choirs Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m., Upper Church

Thursday, April 5—
♦ All School Seder Meal, 10 a.m., Guild Hall Gym
♦ School Closes for Easter Vacation, 11:45 a.m.
♦ Parish Office, Guild Hall Gym Close Early, 6 p.m.
♦ Adult Choirs Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m., Upper Church
♦ Circulo de Oración, 7 p.m., Lower Church
♦ Bi-lingual Holy Thursday Mass, 7:30 p.m., Church

Friday, April 6—
♦ Estaciones de la Cruz, 12 mediodía, Iglesia
♦ Adult Choirs Rehearsal, 2 p.m., Upper Church
♦ Parish Office, Guild Hall Gym Close Early, 2 p.m.
♦ Liturgy of the Lord’s Death, 3 p.m., Church
♦ Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., Church
♦ Liturgia de la Muerte del Señor, 7:30 p.m., Iglesia
♦ Las Siete Ultimas Palabras de Jesús, 9 p.m., Iglesia
♦ Church Closes, 10 p.m. 

Saturday, April 7—
♦ Singers and Contemporary Choir Rehearsal, 10 a.m., Lower Church
♦ Blessing of Easter Foods, 1 p.m., Church
♦ There is NO 5 p.m. Mass
♦ Adult Choirs Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m., Upper Church
♦ Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m., Church
♦ Jane’s Egg Basket distribution, after Mass, Church

Sunday, April 8— 
♦ Choristers Rehearsal, 9 a.m., Lower Church
♦ Jane’s Egg Basket distribution, after all Masses, Church
♦ Choristers Rehearsal, 9 a.m., Lower Church
♦ Children’s Liturgy of the Word, 9:30 a.m. Mass, Church
♦ Singers Rehearsal, 10:15 a.m., Lower Church
♦ There is NO 6:30 p.m. Four-Church Sponsored Mass at St. Benedict

“Ama al Pecador, Odia al Pecado”

CON DIOS NADA ES IMPOSIBLE

En el evangelio de hoy San Juan nos relata uno de los acontecimientos más conocidos de la Biblia, el de Jesús y la mujer que cometió el adulterio. Es una historia del amor y perdón de parte de Jesús. Es un ejemplo de la profundidad del amor de Dios y como nos perdona.

Para los escribas y los fariseos quien les traen la mujer ante Jesús, la historia tiene un resultado un poco inesperado. Ellos intentan apedrear a la mujer según permite la ley de Moisés, tanto como poner una trampa para Jesús. Esperan que Jesús diga algo que viola la ley de Moisés para poder condenarlo a él también. Jesús se da cuenta de sus pensamientos malignos y les da una respuesta que no se puede cuestionar. Simplemente dice, “El que no tenga pecado, que eche la primera piedra.”

También el curso de los eventos sorprenden a la mujer. A ella la agarraron en su pecado, la llevaron ante Jesús y los fariseos habían dicho públicamente su pecado. La situación tuvo que aparecerle a ella muy sería. La pobre estaba hincada ante Jesús con sus brazos sobre su cabeza esperando que la primera piedra cayera. Estaba muy sorprendida cuando al fin podía abrir los ojos para ver a nadie menos Jesús, quien le dijo quo no la condenaba tampoco, pero que evitara este pecado en el futuro. Nadie le había hablado de esta manera nunca. La emoción de que Jesús podía amarla a pesar de sus pecados la embargó.

Happy Birthday Deacon Ben Nieves-- Someone You Should Know

Deacon Bienvenido Nieves (which translates to “Welcome Snow” in English) is a native of Puerto Rico, came to Chicago in 1960 and was ordained a deacon in 1975.

Ben has always been involved in many areas of the church, teaching catechism to children and adults, Cursillos, Hermana de la Familia de Dios, retreats, Renew, baptism preparation and baptisms.  At Queen of Angels, Deacon Ben’s ministries include citizenship classes and baptisms as well as baptism preparation for parents and godparents.  He also leads a weekly Scripture and spirituality prayer group.  A community leader in Humboldt Park, Ben has worked for various causes to make life better for residents.

Bienvenido has always felt a special call to serve the Lord.  He said, “I know the Lord is with me at all times and this gives me great joy. My life is like waves in the sea, when the waves are high, things are going well and the Lord elevates me higher, feeling his joy and presence.  When the waves are low, things not going well, the Lord picks me up, giving me strength and patience to continue the journey.”

Announcements, March 25, 2007

KEEP SENIORS IN THEIR HOMES! As we prepare to celebrate Holy Week, let us remember that Jesus didn’t just die on Calvary but continues to die each day through the most vulnerable, including our senior brothers and sisters. Please come prepared to lend your support on Palm Sunday by signing a petition in the Gathering Space to increase senior services.

Help keep seniors in their homes and communities! Many healthy senior citizens are forced into nursing homes because the services offered in Illinois’ Community Care Program are not comprehensive enough to allow them to age in their homes.

Here is an opportunity for you to make sure our state legislators act on behalf of seniors and ensure that the Community Care Program provides seniors with the services they need to continue living in their homes and contributing to our communities. After Masses on March 31 and April 1, Palm Sunday, members of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus will be collecting signatures on a petition supporting the idea of reforming the Community Care Program. Please sign on!

LENTEN ROSARY OF HOPE A Multilingual Rosary and Fast for Immigration Reform will begin at noon Wednesdays during Lent (through April 4) at Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn. The event is sponsored by the Priests for Justice for Immigrants (PJI). Call 312-751-8390.

Mass Schedule & This Week at Queen of Angels, March 26 - April 1, 2007

Monday, March 26—
♦ Parish Office, Guild Hall Gym Close Early, 6:30 p.m.
♦ Lenten Mission, 7 p.m., Church
Tuesday, March 27—
♦ Overeaters Anonymous, 5 p.m., Upper Voss
♦ Parish Office, Guild Hall Gym Close Early, 6:30 p.m.            
♦ Lenten Mission, 7 p.m., Church

"I Have Come That You May Have Life and Life in Abundance"

Presented by Father John Cusick, Director, Young Adult Ministry Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Mark your calendars for 7 p.m. on March 26 and 27...

By using Gospel stories, this two-evening parish mission will focus on the invitation and challenge presented to us by Jesus Christ to be fully alive. In a world that sanctifies mediocrity, that thrives on sameness, that practically demands everyone to be and act like everyone else, the call of Christ to the fullness of life—lived by each one of us every day—can be a difficult task.

What does it mean to be fully alive at our work place, in family life, in our schools and social and spiritual communities? What happens when we try and miss the mark? Do we get second chances? Great people are built on great dreams. What are the spiritual practices we can employ to keep God’s dream for us alive? How do we never forget Christ’s call in our lives?

Rejoice and Celebrate

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

It appears as though the readings for the Lenten season can’t tell us often enough about God’s gracious love for each of us and God’s willingness to forgive. We may not see this directly, but Jesus had a way of communicating that wonderful truth to us. He was a great storyteller and traditionally, we have called these stories parables.

Let us recall for a moment last Sunday’s gospel of the fig tree that had not borne any fruit. When the owner of the orchard thought it was time to get rid of the tree, the gardener asked to give it another chance. Rather than have it cut down, the gardener told the owner to wait until next year to see what would happen.

Is that how God is with each of us? We are always given another chance to change our lives. We are always forgiven so that we can start over. Maybe that is why we come face to face with this great gift each Lent. God gives us another opportunity to change, to come back to God if our life’s journey turned out a bit crooked.