Today we celebrate the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Both the first reading from the Book of Wisdom and the second reading from the Letter of St. James speak about wisdom. In the Book of Wisdom people choose to fight

with the just one, rather then change their own ways. The amount of energy put into trying to fight, argue, or disagree with another person would be better spent on doing good and looking for areas of compromise or agreement. Think of all the good we could do if we used energy for good rather than get stuck in anger, resentments and hurts. Sounds like wisdom to me! In the Letter of St. James wisdom is peaceable, lenient, docile, full of sympathy and kind deeds. If we plant those traits by our words and actions, we will harvest the same. Wisdom tells us that whatever we sow is what we will reap. Today we celebrate Seminary Sunday in the Archdiocese. We take time to pray for vocations and for the facilities and staff where our new priests will be trained. Over the last few months we once again have heard a lot about the abuse or misdeeds of priests, yet there are still men who choose to answer a call to religious life. We need these men to lead

(Continued on page 3)

Fr. John’s Column

Harsh, contentious words spring forth from these first two readings. Jealousy, scheming, judgment, selfish ambition, revilement, torture, insincerity, greed, possessiveness: They are quite a comprehensive — though not foreign — list of ungodly human behaviors! Yet, if we are truly honest with ourselves and closely examine our own consciences, we can embrace some of our ancestors’ sins as our own. We can also recall times when we have been the recipients of others’ sinful natures. People we considered friends or colleagues may have lied to us or used us to achieve selfish ambitions; others may have

judged us unfairly, been jealous or tried to disparage the gifts God has bestowed on us. And yet, whether we are in the role of sinner or saint, God enters in. The writer of Mark’s Gospel typically portrays Jesus’ disciples as faithful, but often clueless about Jesus’ mission. Today’s Scripture is a perfect example. As Jesus talks to the disciples about his impending death and resurrection, they don’t appear to show concern or query their teacher about his mysterious, disturbing words. Rather, they quietly begin to debate who among them is the most faithful disciple, as if to secure their place as Jesus’ successor. (Little do they know what that will involve!) How many times have we looked past another’s words, needs or suffering before calculating how their loss may benefit us? Has one person’s job loss opened up an opportunity for our own advancement? Do we avoid listening to others’ problems because we are too busy with our own? To remind his friends of his mission, Jesus, who is love incarnate, embraces and holds up a child to remind them who is first and most exalted in his kingdom: a child, the most vulnerable, the one who has nothing to give, nothing to take. We see this human tendency to hoard and covet continue with the people to whom James wrote — those who professed to be followers of Jesus Christ, but

(Continued on page 3)

PANCAKE BREAKFAST TODAY AFTER ALL MASSES—ISAIAH HALL

Thanks Holy Name Society!

On the Inside...

The Lord Upholds My Life Sue Robb

Sunday, September 23, 2018—Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Calendar .................... Page 2 Shawl Ministry .......... Page 3 Seminary Collection . Page 4 Liturgy & More …....Page 5 School…………….....Page 6 Movie in the Park ..... Page 7

This Week at St. Agnes Masses for the Week

Saint Agnes Parish and Catholic School Mission...to welcome, nurture, and serve the people and children of God— generation to generation, guiding souls and growing minds.

St. Agnes Parish Information

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 5:00 PM Eduardo & Juanita Villa by Maria Robles 5:00 PM Saia & Marchigiani Families by Lois Marchigiani SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 7:30 AM Carol & Ken Blue 9:00 AM Andy Pulec by Steve Wegrzyn Family 11:00 AM Butch Brown by Danny Corradetti

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Nothing Scheduled TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 3:00-3:45 PM Kid’s Choir 6:30-8:00 PM Religious Ed 1-8 7:00 PM Ensemble WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 6:30-7:30 PM Religious Ed-High 7:00 PM RCIA 7:00 PM Chancel Choir THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Nothing Scheduled FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 10:00 AM Shawl Ministry SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Nothing Scheduled SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Nothing Scheduled

BAPTISMS: 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month. Please call the Parish Office at least one month before the date of the Baptism to make arrangements. Must register to attend class which is held the first Wednesday of the month. MARRIAGES: Engaged couples should make arrangements with the pastor at least six months before the wedding date. No arrangements should be made before the desired date has been confirmed after an initial interview has taken place. ADORATION CHAPEL: The Adoration Chapel is opened seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Please call Cecelia Leal-Camacho 254-3755 or Juan Rangel (Spanish) 362-4161 to sign up or for info.

PARISH: 1501Chicago Road Chicago Heights, IL 60411 Rev. John Siemianowski, Pastor Rev. Tom Kasputis, Associate Pastor Rev. William T. O’Mara, Resident Assistant PARISH OFFICE: Kay Ashby ……………...708-709-2694 Web Site……...www.saintagnes.us Email………….parish@saintagnes.us DEACON: Dave & Carol Brothers….708-755-7252 DIRECTOR OF MUSIC & LITURGY: Carl R. Opat……………..708-709-2696 DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT: Karen Zerante…………... 708-709-2092

RCIA/MARRIAGE PREP: Carol Brothers ..................... 708-709-2699 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Teri Klopp…………………708-754-0713 MINISTRY OF CARE COORDINATOR: Call Parish Office ................ 708-709-2694 SCHOOL OFFICE: Matthew Lungaro, Principal Karen Hamilton ................... 708-756-2333 SCHEDULE OF MASSES: Sundays:………...7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Saturdays ...................................5:00 p.m. Holy Days………As scheduled CONFESSIONS: Saturday ............................ 4:00-4:30 p.m.

Page 2 Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 23, 2018

Kindly Note…. While our church is being redecorated, there will

not be an 8:15 School Mass on Thursday mornings. Please join Father John and Father Tom at St.

Kieran’s for the 8:00 Mass, Tuesday through Friday mornings!

PARDON OUR DUST...REMODEL WE MUST!

SHAWL MINISTRY FRIDAY @ 10 O’CLOCK

Fr. John’s Column Continued Continued

our parishes and walk with us in faith. Along with woman religious and lay people, priests in every age step up to say yes to Christ and to the Kingdom. Today we ask you to pray for those men and our seminaries and we ask that you financially help support the training of our future priests. Thank you for your support. October 6th we will be hosting pet blessings at both parishes in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Kieran will have there blessing at 10:00 AM in front of the rectory and St. Agnes will have their blessing at noon in the parish parking lot. Both locations are rain or shine and will be moved indoors if the weather is inclement. For those who would like we encourage you to bring a food item for donation to the South Suburban Humane Society located in Chicago Heights. Today the Holy Name is hosting their fall pancake breakfast. Please consider joining us for pancakes and sausage. It is a great way to build camaraderie and to have a great breakfast. The breakfast runs form 7:30-12:30 PM in Isaiah Hall. Thanks to the Holy Name. Just a note on the church renovations. After a few glitches along the way the decision is once again to restore the church to how it looked before the repairs were needed. This way the church will be ready for the weddings we have scheduled for October. We will do the major renovation during the winter after the Christmas Season. That way if anything unforeseen happens we have time to complete the project. Finally, there are two upcoming events hosted by the Southwest Interfaith Team, SWIFT, that all parishioners are invited to. On Sunday, September 30th St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orland Park will host the movie “The Sultan and the Saint”. The movie begins at 3:00 PM. On October 14th from 2:30 to 5:30 pm, SWIFT will hold a forum at Faith United Methodist Church in Orland Park. The forum is entitled “Women In Our Faith”. If your schedule permits, please take advantage of these offerings.

(Continued from page 1)

whose actions did not reflect Christian behavior. James’ letter reminded them that true peace and wisdom comes from loving and upholding others, not possessing them or succumbing to one’s own passions, pleasures and ambitions. When we pray, how many times do we ask wrongly because we ask without considering the impact our answered prayers will have on others? In the refrain of today’s responsorial psalm, we find our mantra for the day ... for our week ... and for our lives. Among the thousands of treasured and beloved words and phrases contained in the 150 psalms, we can rest peacefully in these five simple words: “The Lord upholds my life.” … The Lord upholds my life. When we live each day with this mindset — this deeply embedded truth — all our sins and the sins of those who have hurt us lose their power. Those five words are the salve for those who have inflicted pain upon us. When we focus on our earthly desires, they are the reminder of where our hearts and lives must truly rest: in Jesus who is waiting to embrace us, bring us back into right relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters. We are challenged today to take stock of the times we have failed to look at the suffering of those around us as we go through life securing our own pleasures. We go forth this week, into a world where sometimes we are judged and sometimes we are the judgers, where sometimes our selfish ambitions blind us from seeing and attending to the needs of others, where our jealousy and insecurity cause us to compare ourselves by earthly standards and forget God’s unconditional love, may we remember those five words that bring us back to our center: Say it with me: The Lord upholds my life ...

Stewardship of Treasure Week of September 16, 2018

Budget: $10,000.00 Actual: 6,017.67 - 3,982.33

September 23, 2018 Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Page 3

Discipleship

Shawl Ministry

Pet Blessing

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 12 NOON

ST. AGNES PARKING LOT RAIN OR SHINE!!

ALL GOD’S CREATURES… GREAT & SMALL

The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. — James 3:18

Please join the Shawl Ministry on Friday morn-ing, September 28 at 10 AM. Baby blankets are given to babies being baptized at St. Agnes

and are a lovely keepsake for the families. Please call Ann w/questions at 756-2635.

Please join in for an hour or so of knitting, cro-cheting or just a time of prayer and fellowship.

Beginners are welcome.

Page 4 Twenty Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time September 23, 2018

Readings for the Week

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — The wicked say: With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test (Wisdom 2:12, 17-20). Psalm — The Lord upholds my life (Psalm 54). Second Reading — The wisdom from above is full of mercy and good fruits (James 3:16 — 4:3). Gospel — Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me (Mark 9:30-37). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, Interna-tional Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Prv 3:27-34; Ps 15:2-5; Lk 8:16-18 Tuesday: Prv 21:1-6, 10-13; Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44; Lk 8:19-21 Wednesday: Prv 30:5-9; Ps 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163; Lk 9:1-6 Thursday: Eccl 1:2-11; Ps 90:3-6, 12-14, 17bc; Lk 9:7-9 Friday: Eccl 3:1-11; Ps 144:1b, 2abc, 3-4; Lk 9:18-22 Saturday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12a; Ps 138:1-5; Jn 1:47-51 Sunday: Nm 11:25-19; Ps 19:8, 10, 12-14; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

With thanks for the little acts of kindness that make the days fly by… to our Holy Name families, serving up their delicious pancakes...to Linda, the “cross lady”...to our choirs, cantors and musicians, back in tune...and again, thanks to all for your un-derstanding during this time of sprucing up our church...and the list continues...

With Kind Thoughts

Are you homebound because of illness, disability, or age? Are you residing in a nursing home? We would like to keep you connected to the parish family by visiting you and bringing you the Eucharist. We are the Ministers of Care of St. Agnes parish, prepared and commis-sioned through an Archdiocesan program to serve you in these situations, be they temporary or long-term. But we cannot re-spond to your need unless you make us aware of it. Hospitals and nursing homes do not notify us about your admission or discharge. Privacy laws restrict them from doing so. So please let us know of your need, or the need of a family member, by calling the parish office.

Sick or Homebound?

Rosaries for Missions

HEY! HEY! Hey! It’s Pancake Day!

Sunday, September 23 Isaiah Hall After All Masses

HOLY NAME PANCAKE BREAKFAST When you support the Holy Name…

you support St. Agnes!

Seminary Collection Sept 22/23 The Seminarian Education Fund provides support for the training and education of men studying for priesthood in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The fund helps to cover the cost to educate each seminarian as they proceed through the various stages of formation before ordination as a priest for Chicago. Today we ask that you be as generous as you are able and to also remember our seminarians in your prayers. You may also make a donation directly to: Seminarian Collection Stewardship & Development Office 835 N. Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611

2019 Mass Intentions

The Mass Book for 2019 is now open. Please call Kay in the parish office, 709-2694 to set your masses up or stop by. A mass intention is a lovely and thoughtful way to re-

member an anniversary of any kind or to remember a loved one in sympathy.

The normal donation is $10 per mass. Thank you.

Our friends at St. Lawrence O’Toole recently hosted their Summer Mission speaker, Father Boniface from the Archdi-ocese of Monrovia. One of the things that Father is looking for are rosaries for the families and students of his parish. They are in need of 2,000 rosaries! Therefore, St. Law-rence is asking for the help of their neighbor parishes… If you have rosaries that are looking for a good home, please bring them to St. Agnes before September 23rd. There is a basket for your rosaries by the elevator, near the statue of St. Agnes. Thank you for your support!

Liturgy Corner & More

September 23, 2018 Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Page 5

Our pet blessing is set for Saturday, October 6th at 12 Noon. Animals of every kind are welcome to receive a special blessing in the spirit of St. Francis. Bring your pet—all kinds and all sizes are invited to the pet blessing! We will

gather in the parish parking lot...rain or shine. See you there! A small donation of pet food/supplies would be appreciated.

Any donations will be given to our local animal shelter.

If it’s the first Saturday of the month, then it’s time to ring bells at the 5 o’clock Mass! BELL CHOIR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 5 O’CLOCK MASS

3:30 REHEARSAL New season, new members...come and join us. Call 709-2694 for information.

Bell Choir

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION How long have there been parochial schools in the United States? Longer than you may imagine. The Jesuit fathers opened Saint Mary School in Philadelphia in 1782 in the first light of independence. Catholic and Protestant squabbles about the nature of education forced the Fathers to make this risky and innovative venture in the heart of the city. The school was closed by a devastating fire in 1902, but reopened in 1968 as St. Mary Interparochial School, the first example of a shared parochial school. It is also the only Catholic school within the confines of a national park. This is the “Mother School” of this uniquely American institution. Many parochial schools, espe-cially in “national parishes,” were established to preserve the culture and language of the “old country,” and also to protect young people from prejudice. In other countries, Ireland for one, the Church is author-ized to run national schools, sometimes under the sponsorship of a parish. In still other places, such as Quebec, publicly-funded “separate schools” were administered by the Church. Wherever the state funds Catholic schools, normally enroll-ment is guaranteed to all applicants. The Quebec system was dismantled in 1998 when the state decided to reorganize schools along linguistic lines rather than religious affiliation. Parochial schools require considerable sacrifice, but they en-dure as a distinctive treasure of the Church in the United States. —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

HOW DO WE TREAT THE MESSENGER? Let’s not be too hasty in defining who is “the wicked one” and who (namely us) is just! We are very quick to label others as evil, because we tend to label ourselves as good guys. We don’t like it when we are brought up short by a prophetic voice that brings us some bad news about our own behavior. We don’t like to be reproached for trans-gressions of the law or charged with violations of our train-ing. We may condemn and abuse those who bring us up against these truths about ourselves when, if we were really good, we would thank them for helping to keep us on the right path. This is the way they treated the prophets and the way they treated Jesus. Is this also the way we treat those whose message we don’t like? Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Page 6 Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 23, 2018

SCHOOL NEWS …..

KEYS TO SUCCESS!

When you run on DUNKIN’… They give Saint Agnes School 3% back!

Just save and deposit your receipts in the Sat-urday/Sunday Collection from any of the Dunkin Donutsat the following locations and we will do

the rest! 2353 183rd St., Homewood (near Walt’s)

17579 Halsted St., Homewood (near Target) 431 West 14th St., US Rt 30,

Chicago Heights (in the Mobil gas station) Also, as a BONUS, if you buy MOBIL gas at

the above Chicago Heights location, St. Ag-nes School will get $0.01/gallon back! Receipts from these transactions can be dropped in the collection basket as well.

Thank you, St. Agnes Home & School Assn.

Dear Friends, Please help St. Agnes School earn money from Box Top$ for Education! Each and every little one helps reach our yearly goal of $1000. Please put the Box Top$ (worth 10 cents each!) in the church collection at any time. (No expired ones, please. The company does not accept them. Thank you so very much for participating in this school project. Mrs. Christie Box Top$ Coordinator

September 23, 2018 Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Page 7

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