February 12, 2017

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Joseph Church,

7240 W. 57th St., Summit, Illinois 60501-1324

The Ladder of the Divine

“We are all tempted by the devil to fall

from God’s Grace.”

This week, Jesus continues with His Sermon on the Mount. In this third installment from the Gospel of Matthew, we hear Jesus talk about the Law of the New Covenant. Recall, that the hallmark of the Old Covenant was the Ten Commandments. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is giving the new Law for the New Covenant. As the Son of God, Jesus’ authority is greater than that of Moses. Jesus proclaims the new Law, the righteousness leading to perfection, which the Old, Mosaic Law and the prophets could not do and only pointed to something greater to come. The Church Fathers teach us that Jesus, the Son of God, who is the author of the Law and prophets, did not come to abolish the Law and prophets, but to fulfill them. In this part of the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus goes beyond the mere physical commands and external actions prohibited in the Mosaic Law against anger/murder, lust/adultery, oaths, and violence/vengeance. Jesus goes goes beyond the Mosaic Law found in the Old Testament, which only prohibits certain wrong external actions. In the

new Law, Jesus goes deeper, to the heart and will of the person. The external action is secondary. What is primary is the in the will of a person. The root of sin lies in a person’s heart and will (choice to sin). In the new Law, Jesus wants to eradicate the root of sin inside a person, at the heart, so that it cannot develop and become an external action.

The righteousness that Jesus is talking about in this part of the Sermon of the Mount is not easy. We are all tempted by the devil to fall from God’s grace. The image that we see this week is a very beautiful Byzantine icon entitled the Ladder of Divine Ascent (12th century), from the Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai. This icon is based on the writings of John Climacus, or St. John of the Ladder. John Climacus (c 579-649) takes his surname from his book The Ladder of Divine Ascent, which became one of the most important devotional texts of the Middle Ages, especially in the Eastern Church. The Greek word for ladder is Klimakos.

St. John became abbot and superior to all the religious on Mount Sinai around 600. It was then that he wrote The Ladder, which reiterates the conflict between the lure of temptation and the pursuit of holiness. It is a battle which cannot be won without liberating oneself entirely from the world. In stark contrast to modern thinking, which does not believe in hell (even though Jesus talks about the fire of Gehenna in this part of the Gospel), St. John held that guilt and the fear of damnation were essential starting points for spiritual progress. The Ladder is composed of 30 rungs or steps, each representing a particular vice or virtue encountered in the ascent towards spiritual fulfillment. In this icon, we see souls trying to ascend in holiness on top of the ladder, ascending higher towards Christ in heaven. We also see souls slipping and falling off the ladder, and being pulled down by demons to hell. The soul proceeds from the dread of hell into the grace of hope. This journey up is not easy, but is possible with help from God, bestowing grace and help in the heart and soul. St. John teaches that “prayer is the mother and daughter of tears, the expiation of sin, a bridge across temptation, a bulwark against affliction.” Those who persevere to the Ladder’s topmost rung will be rewarded by the experience of a Divine love that transcends all earthly delight.

February 11 is the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. Since the Blessed Mother is patroness of the sick, St. Pope John Paul II also instituted February 11 as the World Day of the Sick, and invited all to pray for the sick and offer one’s suffering with Mary. Please pray for all sick people around the world this week. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Good Help, help us with her maternal care and St. Joseph pray for us.

Vivat Jesus! Live Jesus!

Fr. Bob’s Briefs

Esta semana, Jesús continúa con Su Sermón en el Monte. En esta tercera entrega del Evangelio de Mateo, oímos a Jesús hablar de la Ley del Nuevo Pacto. Recordemos que el sello distintivo del Anti-guo Pacto fueron los Diez Mandamientos. En Su Sermón de la Montaña, Jesús está dando la nueva Ley para la Nueva Alianza. Como Hijo de Dios, la autoridad de Jesús es mayor que la de Moisés. Jesús proclama la nueva ley, la justicia que conduce a la perfección, que la vieja ley mosaica y los profetas no podían hacer y sólo apuntaba ,na algo mayor por venir. Los Padres de la Iglesia nos enseñan que Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, autor de la Ley y profetas, no vino a abolir la Ley y los profetas, sino a cumplirlos. En esta parte del Sermón del Monte, Jesús va más allá de los meros mandamientos físicos y acciones externas prohibidas en la Ley Mosaica contra la ira / asesinato, lujuria / adulterio, juramentos y violencia / venganza. Jesús va más allá de la ley mo-

saica que se encuentra en el Antiguo Testamento, que sólo prohíbe ciertas acciones externas erróneas. En la nueva Ley, Jesús va más profundo, al corazón y la voluntad de la persona. La acción externa es secundaria. Lo que es primario es el de la voluntad de una persona. La raíz del pecado está en el corazón y la voluntad de una persona (elección al pecado). En la nueva Ley, Jesús quiere erradicar la raíz del pecado dentro de una persona, en el corazón, para que no pueda desarrollarse y convertirse en una acción externa. La justicia de la que Jesús habla en esta parte del Sermón del Monte no es fácil. Todos somos tentados por el diablo a caer de la gracia de Dios. La imagen que vemos esta semana es un icono bi-zantino muy hermoso titulado La Escalera del As-censo Divino (siglo XII), desde el Monasterio de Santa Catalina en el Monte Sinaí. Este icono se basa en los escritos de Juan Clímaco, o San Juan de la Escalera. Juan Clímaco (c 579-649) toma el ape-llido de su libro La escalera de la Subida Divina, que se convirtió en uno de los textos devocionales más importantes de la Edad Media, sobre todo en la Iglesia de Oriente. La palabra griega para escale-ra es Klimakos. San Juan se convirtió en abad y superior a todos los religiosos en el Monte Sinaí alrededor de 600. Fue entonces que escribió La escalera, que reitera el conflicto entre el atractivo de la tentación y la búsqueda de la santidad. Es una batalla que no se puede ganar sin liberarse totalmente del mundo. En contraste con el pensamiento moderno, que no cree en el infierno (aunque Jesús habla del fuego de la Gehena en esta parte del Evangelio), San Juan sos-tuvo que la culpa y el temor a la condenación eran puntos de partida esenciales para el progreso espiri-tual. La escalera está compuesta de 30 peldaños o escalones, cada uno representando un vicio o virtud particular que se encuentra en el ascenso hacia la realización espiritual. En este icono, vemos almas tratando de ascender en santidad sobre la escalera, ascendiendo más arriba hacia Cristo en el cielo. También vemos almas resbalando y cayen-do de la escalera, y siendo derribadas por los demonios al infierno. El alma procede del temor del infierno a la gracia de la esperanza. Este viaje no es fácil, pero es posible con la ayuda de Dios, concediendo gracia y ayuda en el corazón y el alma. San Juan enseña que "la oración es la madre y la hija de las lágrimas, la expiación del pecado, un puente sobre la tentación, un baluarte contra la aflicción". Los que perseveran en el peldaño más alto de la escalera serán recompensados por la experiencia de un amor Divino que Trasciende todo el placer terrenal. El 11 de febrero es el Memorial de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes. Dado que la Virgen es patrona de los enfermos, San Juan Pablo II también instituyó el 11 de febrero como el Día Mundial de los Enfermos, e invitó a todos a orar por los enfermos y ofrecer los sufrimientos a María. Por favor oren por todos los enfermos de todo el mundo esta semana. Que la Santísima Virgen María, Madre de Buena Ayuda, nos ayude con su cuidado maternal y San José ruega por nosotros. Vivat Jesus! ¡Viva Jesús!

Informes del Padre Bob

W dzisiejszym fragmencie z Ewangelii według świętego Mateusza, Jezus kontynuuje Kazanie na Górze, mówiąc o Nowym Przymierzu. Istotne miejsce w Starym Testamencie zajmowało Dziesięć Przykazań. Teraz, tak samo istotne dla Nowego Testamentu będzie Nowe Przymierze, które Jezus daje ludziom. Jako że jest Synem Bożym, władza Jezusa przewyższa autorytet Mojżesza. Mesjasz ogłasza Nowe Prawo, które wiedzie do doskonałości. Dawni prorocy nie mogli czegoś takiego głosić; zapowiadali jedynie, że nadejdzie Ktoś większy od nich. Ojcowie Kościoła nauczają, iż Chrystus, Syn Boży, nie przyszedł na świat po, by obalać Prawo i proroków, lecz po to, aby je wypełnić. W tej części Kazania na Górze, Pan wykracza poza Prawo Mojżeszowe, zakazujące pewnych działań – odwołuje się On do samej woli i serca człowieka. Działanie zewnętrzne odgrywa tutaj drugorzędną rolę. Grzech ma swoje źródło w woli i sercu

człowieka (w jego zdolności do wybrania zła). Poprzez Nowe Prawo, Jezus pragnie zwalczyć impuls grzechu u źródła: w woli i sercu człowieka, aby nie mógł się on przerodzić w działanie. Prawość, do której nawołuje Pan, nie jest wcale łatwa. Szatan przecież stale kusi nas do sprzeciwienia się woli Bożej. Widzimy tu piękną, XII-wieczną bizantyjską ikonę, zatytułowaną: "Drabina do raju". Znajduje się ona w klasztorze św. Katarzyny na Górze Synaj. Ikona powstała w oparciu o traktat autorstwa św. Jana Klimaka, żyjącego na przełomie VI/VII wieku. Owy traktat (opisujący cnoty zycia duchowego w klasztorze, konieczne do zbawienia) stał się w średniowieczu jednym z najważniejszych dzieł religijnych, zwłaszcza w Kościele Wschodnim. "Drabina" po grecku to "klimakos". Około roku 600, św. Jan został przeorem wspólnoty na Górze Synaj. W tym też czasie napisał traktat "Drabina do nieba", o konflikcie między pokusami czyhającymi na każdego człowieka, a jego dążeniem do świętości. Jeżeli nie uwolnimy się całkowicie od doczesnego świata, ta bitwa nigdy nie zostanie rozstrzygnięta. W przeciwieństwie do współczesnego toku myslenia, negującego istnienie piekła (nawet mimo tego, że w dzisiejszej Ewangelii Jezus wspomina o ogniach w dolinie Gehenny), święty Jan utrzymywał, że najważniejszymi punktami odnowy duchowej są żal za grzechy i lęk przed wiecznym potępieniem. Drabina do nieba składa się z trzydziestu szczebli, z których każdy przedstawia konkretną cnotę lub wadę na drodze do doskonałości duchowej. Na tej ikonie, widzimy dusze zmarłych pragnące dostać się po drobinie do nieba. Niektóre z nich są ciągnięte przez demony do piekła i spadają z drabiny. Dusza ucieka przed piekłem ku nadziei wiecznego życia. To trudna podróż, możliwa tylko dzięki Bogu udzielającemu człowiekowi pomocy i łaski. Ci, którzy dotrą na ostatni, najwyższy stopień drabiny, zostaną nagrodzeni doświadczeniem najcudowniejszej Miłości, która przewyższa wszelkie ziemskie przyjemności. 11 lutego przypada wspomnienie Matki Bożej z Lourdes. Jako że Matko Boża jest Patronką chorych, Jan Paweł II ustanowił w tym dniu również Światowy Dzień Chorych, zachęcając do modlitwy za chorych i ofiarowania własnego cierpienia Maryi. Pamiętajcie w modlitwie o wszystkich chorych na całym świecie. Święta Maryjo, Matko Nieustającej Pomocy, miej nas zawsze w Swej opiece. Święty Józefie, módl się za nami.

Vivat Iesus! Chwała Jezusowi!

Z biurka Ks. Proboszcza

CALL ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL AT (708)

458-2927, OR VISIT stjosephsummit.com FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ST. JOSEPH

SCHOOL AND TO REGISTER. WHEN YOU CALL, ASK FOR

LARRY MANETTI, PRINCIPAL.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN - Thank you to all of you that attended our open house. We have registered some new families. If you, or someone you know is thinking about registering at St. Joseph, have them call me and set up a time to tour the school and talk about financial assistance. Registration is open for new families.

Families that are attending St. Joseph School are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Forms will be sent home. If you have any questions, please call the school.

SACRAMENTS - Confirmation is scheduled for Friday, April 7 at 7 p.m. in the church. Congratulations to all our Confirmation candidates.

Easter is Sunday, April 16 this year. St. Joseph School students will be on Easter break from April 17 to April 23. On Monday, April 24, students return to school.

Students will receive their First Holy Communion at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6 in church. A reception will follow afterwards in Centennial Hall. Congratulations to our students receiving First Communion.

SOCIAL EVENTS -There are many exciting events coming up that students and their families and parishioners can look forward to.

-Our next POTBELLY’S DINING NIGHT OUT will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Potbelly’s on 57th Street and Harlem Avenue. 25% of your bill goes back to St. Joseph School.

-On Friday, Feb. 24, we will be having a CHESS TOURNAMENT in Centennial Hall.

-Our CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DINNER will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Centennial Hall (For more information, see page 7 in this week’s bulletin.)

-The St. Joseph Parents Club is once again hosting the KNIGHTS BALL on Saturday, April 1. More details will follow.

-The St. Joseph Chess Club Parents’ Association will be hosting a TEXAS HOLD ‘EM tournament from 6:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday, April 29 in Centennial Hall. More details will be coming soon.

St. Joseph School and Church are alive and well. We want to thank all the parents and parishioners who have stepped up to leadership positions, and the members of the various organizations who keep us going. We couldn’t do without your support.

Have a good week. God Bless.

Lawrence Manetti, Principal

St. Joseph School: A Community of

Faith, Knowledge and

Service. 708-458-2927

You’re A Winner! 52 Pick-Up News

Dennis Feltz

#2756

Parishioners needing a donation statement for income tax purposes should call the

rectory at (708) 458-0501. Parishioners who have donated to the To Teach Who Christ

Is campaign and would like a donation statement should call (312) 534-8500.

Thank you.

GO ST. JOSEPH KNIGHTS!

Weekly Collection Report The Weekly Parish Budget $ 9,500.00 Sunday Collection Feb. 5, 2017 $ 6,892.45 Thank you for your generosity! Gracias por tu generosidad! Bog zaplac za ofiary skladane na tace!

COMMUNION MINISTERS Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 5:00 PM. Deacon Ben, J. Bambera, A. Flores, G. Kujawa Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017 7:30 AM Sr. Agatha, B. Koran, R. Kosowski 9:30 AM S. Madonna, J. Sheehan, G. Zaja, P. Zaja 11:00 AM Cynthia, Hermila and Victor Duque, Angelica Jimenez ********************************************************** ALTAR SERVERS Saturday, Feb. 18, 2016 5:00 p.m. Leia Baena, Sofia Flores, Stephanie Romero Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017 7:30 a.m. Mia Gonzalez, Angel Perez, Gabby Schaffer 9:30 a.m. Sam Dudlo, Samantha Garza, Draven Quante 11:00 AM David Alvarez, Reyna Cortez, Sofia Flores ********************************************************** LECTORS Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 5:00 PM J. Bambera Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017 7:30 AM E. Dominguez 9:30 AM S. Madonna 11:00 AM Janet Valdovinos - First Reading Maria Garcia - Second Reading

MASS INTENTIONS

Monday, February 13 8:30 a.m. †Souls in Purgatory Tuesday, February 14 8:30 a.m. †Gladys & Joseph Pechnick/Family †Ron Van Raalte/Anniversary/Cousin Dee Wednesday, February 15 8:30 a.m. St. Joseph Parish Benefactors Thursday, February 16 8:30 a.m. No Mass Friday, February 17 8:30 a.m. †Edmund Gorecki/Gorecki Family Saturday, February 18 8:30 a.m. †St. Joseph Parishioners 5:00 p.m. †Peggy Neligan †Michael Bialobak/Bryan & Maryann Anton †Frank Jurczewski/Daughters †Helen Kujawa/Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Kujawa †Frank Kuncic/Wife †Julia Wulkowicz/Anniversary/Family Sunday, February 19 7:30 a.m. †Margaret Powers Kurcz †Patrick Jude Kurcz †Joseph P. Kurcz For Intention Known to God 9:30 a.m. †Joe Kula/The Clarks 11:00 a.m. †Armando Gutierrez/Family 12:30 p.m. St. Joseph Parishioners

The Rosary is recited every Saturday after 8:30 a.m. Mass.

All are invited to participate.

ST JOSEPH SCHOOL

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DINNER

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2017

3:00 TO 7:00 P.M. CENTENNIAL HALL: 5641 S. 73RD AVE, SUMMIT

TICKETS $10.00 PRESALE

$15.00 AT THE DOOR

ORDER YOUR TICKETS THROUGH THE SCHOOL OR RECTORY FOR PRESALE PRICING

TICKETS CAN BE WAITING FOR YOU AT THE DOOR

ON THE DAY OF THE DINNER PLEASE MARK THE ORDER FORM WITH AN X IF YOU WANT YOUR TICKETS AT THE DOOR

_______________Please detach and send along with your payment__________

NAME_____________________________________________________________

HOW MANY TICKETS__________ X $10.00 = ________________

LEAVE TICKETS AT DOOR____________________

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL

THANK YOU!

LA COMISION MINISTERIAL DEL VICARIATO V

LES OFRECE: FORMACIÓN PARA MINISTROS DE LA

COMUNIÓN A LOS ENFERMOS Presentado Por: Diácono Eddie Ortiz

LOS MIERCOLES, 15, 22, 29 DE MARZO y 6 DE ABRIL 2017

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM En la Parroquia:

Santa Rita de Cascia 6243 S. FAIRFIELD AVE. ‐ CHICAGO, IL 60629

‐2309 En el sótano de la escuela Fairfield Academy

en el Salón San Agustín. Entrada en el estacionamiento.

Para más información y registración comuníquese con:

Jenny Meehan al 773-434-9600 Atención: Es necesario tener la aprobación de su párroco para participar en este taller.

GRATIS PARA PARROQUIAS DEL VICARIATO V

NO NIÑOS POR FAVO

FORAN FUNERAL HOME 7300 W. ARCHER AVE., SUMMIT

IS “STEPPIN’ OUT”

To enjoy the beginning of spring at

THE CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDENS ORCHID SHOW

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

The group will begin the day with a concert, “Morning Music with the Orchids,” by the Silverwood Duo.

Participants are invited to bring their cameras to take pictures of the biggest flower show of the year. They

will view over 10,000 orchids blooming all at once. The group will have time to explore the park and its

attractions on its own. A buffet lunch will be served by CulinaryLandscape.

The bus leaves at 8 a.m. and returns at 3:30 p.m. to

the Foran Funeral Home parking lot, 7300 W. Archer Ave. The cost is $66 per person, which includes the

tour and lunch. Reservations are due by Monday, March 10 by calling

708-458-0208. Seating is limited.

Join the “Steppin’ Out” coordinators Dee Kountis and Sharon Jeninga as they tour

The Chicago Botanic Gardens.

GIVE HIM ETERNAL REST

JOSEPH KULA

Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful through the mercy of God rest in peace!

CONGRATULATIONS!

To the following St. Joseph Parishioners and St. Joseph School Graduates who made the

second block Honor Roll at Trinity High School!

First Honors

(3.75 GPA or above)

Courtney Hughes, Class of 2017 Stephanie Saenz, Class of 2019

Congratulations are also extended to the

young men from St. Joseph who made the A and B Honor Rolls at

St. Laurence High School!

A Honor Roll David Padilla

B Honor Roll

Immano Garcia Anthony Beltran Diego Palacios, Joey Bukowski

Zachary Paprzycki

HOLY NAME SOCIETY

The Holy Name Society will be drawing the

winner of the first raffle of 2017 at their Feb. 14 meeting.

All those who were mailed tickets are urged to turn their raffle stubs and payments into the

rectory. Those who do not want their tickets are asked to turn them back into the rectory for

others to purchase.

Winners will be announced in the bulletin.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH

7240 W. 57th Street Summit, IL 60501

(708) 458-0501 stjosephchurchsummit@yahoo.com

stjosephparishsummit.org www.facebook.com/stjosephsummit

OFFICE HOURS

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

BULLETIN DEADLINE: 2:00 p.m. Wednesday

PARISH STAFF

Pastor: Rev. Robert Stuglik Weekend celebrant: Rev. Joseph Stobba, OSA

Deacon Benedict Michalowski Parish Secretary/Bulletin Editor: Mrs. Joan Hadac

Adult Choir Director/Organist: Mrs. Darlene Donarski Pianist/Children’s Choir: Mrs. Anna Dron Ray Polish Choir Director: Mr. Aleksander Jazowski

Facilities Director: Mr. Vincent Slisz

SUNDAY MASSES Saturday: 5:00 PM ENGLISH

Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM. ENGLISH 11:00AM SPANISH 12:30 PM POLISH

CONFESSIONS

Saturday 4:00 - 4:30 PM

WEEKDAY MASSES 8:30 AM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday

(8:30 AM Wednesday - School Mass During School Year) Thursday—No Mass is Celebrated

8:30 AM Saturday

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL School Principal: Mr. Lawrence Manetti 5641 S. 73rd Ave. (708) 458 - 2927 stjosephschoolonline.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/groups/stjosephschoolonline www.stjosephsummit.com ST. JOSEPH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Moderator: Mr. Jason Porod Assistant: Mrs. Penny Davis (708) 458-2927 HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ POLISH SCHOOL 5641 S. 73rd Ave. 708-415-0458 MINISTERS OF CARE: If you are homebound, and would like to receive Holy Commun-ion, please call the parish office to make arrangements.

Beatrice Aguirre Alicia Anderson Donna R. Azzaline Laura & Phil Behm Ann Bolek Kimberly Boll Brittaney Boubin *Stanislaw Brzostowski Estella Mazzula Cronk Patricia Diaz Mary DiGangi Wladyslawa Dobros Susan Dotson Eleanor Dzielak Don Erich Robert Erklin Rexnalda Fonseca Esperaza Franco Helen Frank Miguel & Julia Gutierrez *Silvia C. Herrera Rich S. Jandura Denise M. Jandura Chester and Virginia Janeczko Millie Jercha Ted Kuldanek *Hank Lampke Geri Lauer Deacon Ben and Sylvia Michalowski Dolores Michaels Karen Mocnik

Anthony Montaneo Joyce Netecke Ed and Alice Nowak Mary D. Owens *Iris Eliza Peterson Leonardo Alexandros Peterson Meg A. Radcliff Juanita Ramos Fr. Stanley Rataj Robert Regep Carmen Rodriguez Bridget Rollins Jennifer Sampres Eileen Sheedy Lorraine Simich Ed Skowronski Kurt Stein Theresa Stypula Aurora Rose Swaekauski Scarlette Grace Swaekauski Irene Szarley Josephine Tipner Ricardo Varajas Ellie Wesolowski Pamela Wojdyla Patrick J. Woods Joanna Zieba Emily Zwijak *Most recently added

LADIES OF THE ROSARY NEWS BEADS ... Monthly Mass The Ladies of the Rosary gather on the first Sunday of the month at the 7:30 a.m. Mass to attend Mass as a group. All ladies of the parish are invited to attend and celebrate with the group. General Meetings General meetings of the Ladies of the Rosary are held at 6:30 p.m. in Centennial (School) Hall, 5641 S. 73rd Ave. This month the Ladies will be hosting their Valentine party and playing bunco. Everyone is asked to bring only one prize for the bunco games. All women of the parish are welcome.