Announcements, June 22, 2008

CARDINAL GEORGE TO SHARE HIGHLIGHTS OF POPE BENEDICT XVI’S VISIT TO UNITED STATES Catholics from across the Archdiocese are invited to join Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago for a prayer service followed by a reflection on his time spent at Pope Benedict XVI’s side during the Holy Father’s recent visit to the United States.

The Cardinal will discuss the impact of the Holy Father’s visit on the American Catholic Church, and the current and future influence of the visit’s theme, Christ Our Hope, at 7 p.m. Monday, June 30 at St. Thecla Parish, Falcon Hall, 6725 W. Devon Ave.

SUMMER TOILETRIES COLLECTION St. Vincent DePaul Society (SVDP) is collecting individual sized toiletries for the Franciscan Outreach Ministry, which runs one of the largest case management programs and shelter for the homeless in the city of Chicago. We are also collecting larger sizes for Girls and Boys Town in Back of the Yards, a new transitional shelter for teens. Enjoy your summer vacation and please bring a few toiletry souvenirs for the less fortunate. A collection basket will be in the back of church.

SHOP WITH THE ANGELS THIS SUMMER Grocery shopping, birthday gifts, housewarming presents... these are all part of summer. Shop With the Angels for your needs and benefit the parish, the Lyman Scholarship Fund or your own tuition account. Gift cards are a great way to let the recipient get “just what they’ve always wanted” or to make your own shopping more convenient. See a Shop With the Angels representative in the back of church following Mass on Sunday to see what it’s all about, or see Nancy at the Parish Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Every Friday, the Blessed Sacrament is placed out for veneration and prayer from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. To reach the Adoration Chapel, enter the church through the Claremont door, walk up the stairs, turn to the left and then to the left again. Walk down the passage behind the altar and enter the former baptistery, where the Eucharist is exposed for veneration. Feel free to bring your bible, rosary, books and thoughts. Spend some time with Jesus in the form of the Blessed Sacrament. This is an excellent way to build special devotions into your week.

Visitors are asked to register their attendance in the sign-in book when attending Adoration. The book is located in the chapel. You may sign up for a particular hour of prayer every week. At some time during the day, before or after work, while out running errands, stop by the chapel for some quiet time with the Lord. Help us keep vigil with the Lord by making time on Fridays for these beautiful moments of prayer. Call Christine Murphy at 773-561-9072.

GTHS SUMMER BOYS CAMPS Boys incoming to fourth, fifth and sixth grades are invited to participate in Gordon Tech Boys Basketball Camps from 9 to 11 a.m. weekdays. Incoming seventh and eighth grade boys are invited to camp from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Camp dates are July 7 to 11; July 14 to 18; July 21 to 25; or July 28 to August 1. Fee is $80 and includes a GTHS basketball shirt. Contact Head Coach Shay Boyle at shayboyle@hotmail.com or call 773-539-3600. Camp will be at Gordon Tech High School, 3633 N. California.

PRAY THE ROSARY The Rosary is prayed every Saturday morning after 9 a.m. Mass. Come for Mass and stay for the Rosary. People are needed to lead the prayers of the Rosary. Please call Joann Salas at 773-583-1371 or email jasnetworks@myibocs.com

IS GOD CALLING YOU? Jesus tells us, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father” (Matthew 10:32). God calls men and women to the priesthood and religious life to acknowledge Him before the world. Is God calling you?

For more information about the priesthood, contact Father Joe Noonan at 312-751-8298 or at jnoonan@archchicago.org.

For more information about the religious life, contact Sister Peter Mary Hettling, CSJ at 312-751-5245 or at phettling@archchicago.org.

WOMEN’S CENTER THANK YOU We are very grateful for your generous gift of $377 on May 9, 2008 to support the life-saving mission of The Women’s Centers of Greater Chicagoland. Your support provides the much needed intervention, counseling and practical assistance that women contemplating abortion deserve.

A recent thank you note received from a client said, “My contact with The Women’s Center affected my life immensely. It changed me. My counselor had such a loving and caring spirit. Being pregnant and then evicted were such a shock to me, but not as great as the surprise of the uplifting support and encouragement I got from you. Thank you.”

We are so grateful for your support of our work which gives us the opportunity to protect women and their unborn children from the terror of abortion, and give them the love and support they need, deserve and appreciate. God bless you!

Mary Strom Executive Director The Women’s Center

INTENCIONES DE MISAS Para pedir una intención especial para una misa en inglés o español, por favor visite el Centro Parroquial durante horas de oficina. Las intenciones serán ofrecidas en el día que usted escoja, entre semana, domingo, día de guardar o misas de día festivo a través del año. La donación sugerida es de $10 por misa. Favor de llamar al 773-539-7510.

BLUE CAN RECYCLING For recycling to be effective, it is necessary to follow the guidelines. As a reminder, items to put in the blue cart include glass jars and bottles; aluminum cans, foil and pie tins; tin or steel cans; cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, etc.; cardboard (flatten boxes); plastic bottles and con- tainers; telephone books; magazines and catalogs; junk mail; paper bags; office paper and file folders; and newspapers and inserts.

Bagged yard waste should be placed next to the blue carts — not inside the cart.

Household hazardous waste and electronics should be taken to 1150 N. North Branch, two blocks east of the Kennedy Expressway at Division Street.

Take used and rechargeable batteries to any Chicago Public Library or Walgreens Store.

For more information, call 311 or visit www.bluecartschicago.org.

MASS INTENTIONS Intentions may be offered in the name of friends or relatives, living or deceased, for those in need of extra prayers or in honor of a beloved saint. Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, feasts of patron saints and other dates special to you or your loved ones are great opportunities to remember them in prayer through a Mass intention. Intentions may be placed for Sunday, weekday, holy day or holiday Masses. Suggested donation to Queen of Angels is $10 per Mass. Call 773-539-7510.

IS IT TIME FOR FIREWORKS? For a really exciting fireworks display, how about putting the spark back into your marriage by making a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend? The next weekend dates will be Sept. 19 to 21 or Nov. 14 to 16. For information and reservations, please consult the website at www.mechicago-gary.org or call Kris and Jim at 800-442-3554.