IT IS I: DON’T BE AFRAID Now matter how strong the winds, Jesus is there to take our hands and guide our marriage. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends will be September 19-21 or November 14-16. Come renew your sacrament! For reservations or information, visit www.mechicago-gary.org or call Jim and Kris at 800-442-3554.
SHOPPING WITH THE ANGELS You or your gift recipients can “get just what they’ve always wanted.” See a Shop With the Angels representative in back of church after Mass on Sunday or at the Parish Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Call 773-539-7730.
OUR OWN AMBASSADOR Congratulations to Ashley Krysztopik, an eighth grader at Queen of Angels School, who was invited by the People to People Ambassador program to play basketball in their Youth Friendship Games this summer in The Netherlands. The team won the Silver Medal, losing to the reigning Dutch team. Way to go, Ashley!
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, and spend some time with Jesus in the form of the Blessed Sacrament. This is an excellent way to build special devotions into your 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. Call Christine Murphy at 773-561-9072.
SUMMER TOILETRY 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 Chicago. Larger sizes are also being collected for Girls and Boys Town in Back of the Yards, a transitional shelter for teens. A collection box is in the back of church.
MEN’S RITE OF PASSAGE Join others for the Men’s Rite of Passage, August 13-17, with Father Richard Rohr, OFM. The program is a five-day, four-night, deeply prayerful and soulful experience that builds on the classic patterns of male initiation through simple and moving rituals and teaching. Each day includes group prayer, major teachings on central masculine spirituality themes, quiet time for reflection and sharing in the context of a “home group.” These teachings have met with an enthusiastic response, touching more than 3,100 men worldwide. Contact Ed Duffy at ed@icompass.org or register online at www.malespirituality.org.
PRAY THE ROSARY The Rosary is prayed every Saturday morning after the 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 jasworks@myibocs.com
MATERNITY BVM THANK YOU Dear Parishioners of Queen of Angels,
Many thanks to you all for the very generous check of $3,202.00 which we recently received from you. It could not have arrived at a better time! As always we are most grateful to you all for your generous financial and prayerful support of our work and ministries here at Maternity B.V.M.
Our summer festival is fast approaching and we pray God will bless us with good weather. We have great parishioners to work with and to share community.
May the new year which seems to take off when school begins be filled with many blessings for you all.
—Father Tom Pelton
THOUGHT OF BEING A PRIEST? Most Catholic men have. If so, then the following is an ideal opportunity for you. Men of college-age and older are invited for an Exploring Priesthood Weekend retreat to learn about, reflect upon and discuss with seminarians and priests the possibilities of diocesan priesthood in Chicago. Exploring Priesthood Weekend will be October 3-5. Contact Father Joe Noonan at 312-751-828 or jnoonan@archchicago.org.
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.
ESTACIONAMIENTO Por favor no bloquee la entrada o salida de un auto en el estacionamiento de nosotros dejando su auto en los pasillos del estacionamiento. Si todos los espacios están llenos cuando usted llega, es necesario encontrar estacionamiento en la calle. ¡Gracias!
NOTHING TO FEAR A rabbi was asked why God sends trials and troubles into human lives. “Because God gets lonely for his people” was the reply. There is some resonance with this wisdom in today’s Gospel, as Jesus makes his disciples get into a boat without him and goes off alone while they venture into stormy waters. Of course, neither Jews nor Christians believe that the Almighty plays this sort of whimsical game with them, but there is some truth in the statement that we don’t turn to God for saving help until we’re in a bind.
Peter’s role today, as it is throughout the New Testament, is to be a sign or to represent each member of the church and the whole church. Our story is the tale told about Peter’s faith today. What can bolster our faith is that even when Christ calls us to face bravely the tempests of life, if we are walking through them with our eyes fixed on him in faith, we have nothing to fear. Even when we falter or sink, simply crying “Lord, save me!” is enough to help us know the steady grasp of God’s hand. Then, sheltered inside the walls of faith, the storms we endure lose their power over us.
NADA QUE TEMER A un rabino le preguntaron porqué Dios envía pruebas y tribulaciones a los humanos. “Porque Dios siente la ausencia de su pueblo”, fue la respuesta. Hay ecos de esta sabiduría en el Evangelio de hoy, cuando Jesús hace que sus discípulos se suban a la barca sin él y se va por su cuenta mientras ellos se aventuran en aguas turbulentas. Por cierto, ni judíos ni cristianos creen que el Todopoderoso hace este tipo de jugadas antojadizas con ellos, pero tiene algo de verdad la afirmación de que no acudimos a Dios pidiendo que nos salve sino cuando estamos en un apuro.
Hoy el papel de Pedro, como aparece en todo el Nuevo Testamento, es ser un signo o representación de cada miembro de la Iglesia y de toda la Iglesia. Nuestra historia es el relato que se narra hoy sobre la fe de Pedro. Lo que puede aumentar nuestra fe es que aunque Cristo nos llama a encarar con valentía las tormentas de la vida, si las atravesamos con los ojos de la fe fijos en él, nada hemos de temer. Aunque demos un traspié o nos hundamos, basta gritar “¡Señor, sálvame!” para conocer la firmeza con la que Dios nos toma de la mano. Entonces, protegidos dentro de los muros de la fe, las tormentas que nos azoten no nos vencerán.
EXPOSICIÓN DEL SANTÍSIMO LOS VIERNES Haga los viernes un buen día para orar y estar con el Señor. La iglesia estará abierta los viernes desde las 9:30 a.m. hasta las 5 p.m. Entre por la puerta en la Claremont, suba las escaleras y vire hacia la izquierda. Suba cinco escalones más y pase por la sacristía y detrás del altar. Ahí entrará en la capilla de Veneración. El Santísimo estará expuesto. Traiga su Biblia, rosario, libros y sus pensamientos, y pase algún tiempo con el Santísimo. Favor de llamar al Centro Parroquial al 773-539-7510.
