St. Elizabeth Seton Church Describe Themselves, "[We Are] FAIR TRADE CRAFT FAIR a Young and Dynamic Organiza- Tion…Made up of Committed Saturday, Nov
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CORCORAN’S CORNER Notes On My Trip... classical works by a pan flutist and pianist [who There’s no place like home. I am glad to be are a married couple] in a ‘drawing room back. My 12-day holiday in Ireland went very setting’ in the private home of a doctor. well. I had unusually dry, sunny, clear, and This was my night with the Dublin gentry— crisp weather—especially for November, and people who had spent the afternoon shooting especially for Ireland. The only rain day was wild birds in the Wicklow Hills—and not my when I was in the car driving from Ballyhaunis typical experience in Ireland. It was all great to Castlebar to Limerick. The two days I fun nonetheless, and a change of scenery and needed very good weather [due to deliberately pace. not bringing an overcoat] was when we had the family gathering for Mass and dinner in Trim, and at Our Lady’s Shrine of Knock. Both days Shhhh! Now Don’t Tell Anyone… were sunny and suit-coat weather! The luck of I hope you can keep a secret. Do you know the Irish held. what the best kept secret is in the Catholic I had a great visit with all but one of my first Church? By my accounting, the best kept cousins, and their families. My cousins children secret is how wonderful the celebration of are now having children of their own, so it is Mass is on Thanksgiving Day! Since fun to meet the next generation. All the Thanksgiving Day is not a Holy Day of gatherings of the family were terrific. Lots of Obligation, no one “has” to come to church on stories, laughs, and fun. that day. As a result everyone who does come In my late Aunt and Uncle’s homestead in to Mass on that day, knows precisely why they the Gaeltucht [native Irish speaking] area of are there: to give thanks to God for some very Rathcairn, Athboy in County Meath, one of specific things in their lives that they are very their granddaughters and her husband are now grateful for. The prayer response of the raising their own children. The house went congregation that day, along with the heartfelt from one of housing senior citizens, to one with singing is a pure joy. So please, do not tell toddlers in it. A change they would have anyone that we are having our Thanksgiving enjoyed seeing. The little four-year-old ’”young Day Mass at 9 AM on Thanksgiving morning, lady of the house” gave me a good laugh. I had Nov. 28, 2013. Let’s keep it a secret just just had a light lunch, and been talking with her between ourselves, or at least keep it as a mom, and I turned to the little one, and said “Jesuit secret”. [A Jesuit secret is something that tomorrow I would be dressed differently. you tell one person at a time!] She gave me a puzzled look, and said, “We will all be in Sunday clothes.” And I said, “Yes, but I would be dressed as a priest.” She The Financial State of Affairs… immediately blurted out: “You are not!” with the This weekend, at all of the Masses I hope to definite tone of a child who knows what she is give a brief verbal report on the financial state talking about. And she could not believe I was of the parish, in terms of the 2012-2013 fiscal a priest, because I was not wearing my clerical year that ended last June 30, 2013, prior to my garb at the time, was having lunch at her table, arrival as pastor. and joking around with her family. It was a cute I primarily want to thank all of you for your family moment. tremendous generosity in support of St. “Culture Vulture” that I am, one of my first Elizabeth Seton Parish. The amount of money cousin’s daughters, Aine Nic an Roigh [King], that you have donated to our parish, to the is finishing her Ph.D. in architecture at Archdiocese of Chicago, to other important University College Dublin, and is also an church and world good causes, is staggering. accomplished musician [she and her two This is a very generous congregation. It is also sisters who are studying medicine had just an involved and committed community. The backed up a classical strings performance hundreds of people involved in parish on the “Late Show” in Ireland]. She invited me leadership, ministries, catechetical education, to a Dublin Philharmonic Society concert of and parish organizations shows a truly lived faith, and is a sign of the great vibrancy of the A Christmas Smorgasbord… community. Also the skills and talents that are Over the next several weeks leading up to shared by so many, benefit us all. It is quite a Christmas Day, St. Elizabeth Seton tale to tell. parishioners will have a number of opportunities I also want to give some detail about some to imitate God the Father’s generosity in gifting ongoing challenges that we will continue to face our world with Jesus. Christmas celebrates the as a parish, and the work that is being done mystery of the incarnation—God becoming simply to gather information before we could man. We see God the Father’s love for our even think about planning. I want to give a brief world in giving us his only son, and taking on roadmap of where we will be going in the our very nature. We respond in faith by months ahead. believing in Jesus as our savior, and in love by celebrating bonds with family, friends, and Santa's Helpers... community. For so many of us it “would not be This weekend, Nov. 23 and 24, we will have Christmas” if we did not “do” something for a wonderful Fair Trade Marketplace in the someone else. Making a friendly call, sending a church hall sponsored by Fair Trade vendors. Christmas card or e-mail, giving a gift, doing The items on sale are made by third world some random act of generosity and kindness vendors, are of good quality, and support are ways that we all have of “getting into the people striving to make a better life for spirit of the season” and of making Christmas themselves and their families. for others. Our parish provides a number of wonderful opportunities for people to be involved in Advent Reconciliation Service... assisting others. Whether it is the drive for the Our Parish Advent Reconciliation Service special need adults of St. Coletta Homes; the will be held on Sunday, Dec. 1st at 7pm in the Ham or Turkey Drive or the Christmas Gift church. Celebrating the Sacrament of Drive for our sharing parish, St. Procopius; the Reconciliation is one of the finest ways that Toy Drive for Respond Now, supporting Fair we have to truly prepare for the Feast of the Trade internationally, or through St. Vincent de Incarnation, the birth of the Prince of Peace Paul, we all have our favorite ways that we at Christmas! seek to make Christmas for others, and for ourselves. Please appreciate that you have a veritable smorgasbord of good causes that you can A Living Nativity... assist. While you may be tempted like I am to As part of our Annual Christmas Toy Drive just pull up a chair at a smorgasbord and dive for Respond Now of Chicago Heights, we are in eating it all — common sense eventually enacting a "Living Nativity" at the Cornerstone kicks in for me, and I choose a little of this and Building where all the toys are to be dropped that which are my favorites. We may all love a off. The "Living Nativity" will run from 9am-2pm buffet, but we can not eat it all. Similarly, as on Sunday, Dec. 1st. Our youth are enacting these drives roll out over the coming weeks, this and there will be a live donkey and a pick those which tug at your heart. sheep. All good "elves" are also welcome to enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies! Keep Smiling... You Snooze, You Lose... We have been invited by our sharing parish, St. Procopius, to join them for a celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday, Dec. 7th at 5pm. More information, and sign-up information is forthcoming. With the St. Elizabeth Seton Annual Music Gala on Sunday, Dec. 8th, it will be quite a weekend of celebration. These are things that will make our Advent Season bright! Page Four CHRIST THE KING November 24, 2013 NEXT SUNDAY’S FOCUS: WAKE UP — IT’S ADVENT! As the Church’s calendar turns over to a new year, we get new opportunities to re-visit our spiritual lives, and ask if we are truly ready for the Lord to come into our lives. FIRST READING The Lord will gather all nations into the eternal peace of the kingdom of God (Isaiah 2:1-5). We hear of a prophecy that speaks of the ment would not be one of war and destruc- LORD’S blessing that would accompany the tion. Rather, it would establish justice future judgment that the LORD would deliver throughout the world so profound that the upon Israel and her enemies. The blessing weapons of war could be destroyed for they would be centered upon Mount Zion, the would never be needed again. While this year mountain upon which the temple was built. certainly began with the birth of Jesus that we Even though the mountain was not the high- are now awaiting with hope and expectation, est mountain, it would be given a special it will only fully be realized when Jesus re- Reflections for prestige in the coming era.