As people of God, as Catholic Christians, we have learned that if Jesus Christ was going to be our guide to fol- low, we had to get to know how he sees things. We have to learn to see ourselves, others, and the world around us more and more as Christ does. Only then will Jesus be the real cen- ter and guiding hand in our lives. And only then will we begin to live the kind of interior peace and exterior fruitful- ness that we really want to live. I was thinking of at least three things to speed up the process of learning to see all things as God sees them. First, we can spend time every day alone with God in prayer. I guess it’s no news to any of you. A Christian without a daily God-time is like a cell phone without a battery - good for nothing. Second, we can study what the Church teaches about itself, inside of getting all our Church news from non-Catholic news sources or highly personalized blogs. I am serious. In today’s world of massive information flow and access we need to be con- stantly up to date about what’s going on in our world. And remember that Jesus has promised to guide and protect his Church and its official teaching throughout history. The New York Times, The Associated Press, and the Drudge Report have no such di- vine guarantee. True, reading Church teaching is more demanding than reading the lat- est blog posts - but we are always willing to go the extra mile for someone we love, and Jesus is certainly someone we love. Third, we can cultivate friendships with people who love God and follow Church teaching. Friends are like elevators: they either take us up closer to God, our true purpose of life, or they take us down and away from him. It's up to us to choose which friends we will follow. Let Christ be our guide, teacher and master. We should know him well enough that we can bring to him all our dilemmas, questions, and doubts. I can't guarantee that seeking all answers in Christ will always be easier, but I can guarantee that it will al- ways be better.

+ Rev. Roger D. Kutzner

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available by appointment. Please call the parish office at 708 258-6917 or e-mail [email protected]. Page 2 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME September 13, 2020 COLLECTION SUMMARY September 1— 6, 2020 Cassidy Novak, Lavergne Sigrist, Sunday Offertory* $3,574.00 Fr. Jim Lennon, Dan Mott, Char- Budgeted $3,365.38 lie Kooy, Bob Schwiesow, Butch Plus $ 208.62 Assumption $ 10.00 Kmak, Jo Furtek, Rita Hall, Rose Holy Land $ 25.00 Bailey, Julie Hayes, Emily Klamkin, Jeanne Providing for Our Future $ 25.00 Gaffney, Barbara Castaneda, Kelly McVey, Lo- Christ is Our Hope $ 10.00 rianne Mihelic, Gerald Koldash, Irene Manning, Adult envelopes used / distributed 51 / 583 the Robert Polacek family, Rich Harms, TJ Stef- Children’s envelopes 0 / 82 *Includes Online Givers anski, Linda Galica, Christopher Adamsick, Ni- ———–—————————————————————————–——-————————————————–————————————-————— cole Mikulich, Frances Librera, Frank Woss, El- Many thanks to all our parishioners for your support of the Parish. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. lie Wilson, Lucas Woss, those affected by ———–————————————————————————————–——-——————————————–————————————-———— COVID-19 and those that go unnamed. Secure ONLINE GIVING is available at GiveCentral.org. Please put in zipcode Our PRAYER LIST has been refreshed. Names 60468 to find the St. Paul portal. will be posted for four weeks and removed if the ———–———————-——————–—–——————————————-—–-————–———————––——————–—–———–—–-——–—–—–———–——– FORGIVENESS office is not contacted with a request to stay on the list. Nearly ten years before, a son and father had parted ways when the business they shared Please note that only names given with permission of went bankrupt. The son blamed the father. They the person or family member will be added to the list. did not speak to each other again. CMAA PLEDGE REPORT Then the father became seriously ill. The for mother called the son and told him he had better ST. PAUL the APOSTLE come soon. The son walked sheepishly into the hospital room. The father motioned his son to him Monthly pledge payments for and whispered: “Did you ever think you could do CMAA pledges should be anything that would keep me from loving you?” made in the next few days. Resentment and anger are foul things, the Since we have reached our goal in paid pledges, 70% of the amount over goal will be returned to our parish for first reading from Sirach tells us. Remember the our needs. last things. Stop hating. Live by the command- Results through Sunday, September 6, 2020: ments. As St. Paul writes to the Romans, we are to live for the Lord and die for the Lord. PARISH GOAL $17,600 Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel reminds AMOUNT PLEDGED: $25,988 us of God’s compassion. The immense sin of hu- AMOUNT PAID: $21,986 manity has been forgiven and stricken from the REMAINING BALANCE $ 4,003 record. We are to forgive others in the same way. DONOR COUNT: 123 2020 REBATE: $ 3,050 Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Are you a Catholic man 18 years or older? Do you want to volunteer for your church and community? Are you ready to put your Faith into Action? Come learn about the Knights of Columbus! You can obtain information by contacting Membership Coordi- nator Dan Mott at 708 277-7086 or [email protected]; contacting Grand Knight Brian Grismer at 630 567-0957 or [email protected]; visiting with any current member of the Knights or visiting our website at www.kofc.org. The Mission Statement of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church As disciples of Jesus Christ, we strive to grow in relationship with Him, live the Faith, and share His Good News with others. Page 3 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME September 13, 2020 MASSES SCHEDULED for September 12—20, 2020 A reservation to attend Mass in person is necessary. Please visit www.eventbrite.com/e/holy-mass-at-st-paul-the-apostle-in-peotone-tickets. If you do not have access, please call the parish office at 708 258-6917.

Sat 9/12 4:00 pm— +Louise Kotel req by the James Kelly Family People of the Parish Sun 9/13 10:30 am— +Elsie Meinhart req by the Hagemaster Family Mon 9/14 7:15 am— +Jim Balmer req by Family Tue 9/15 7:15 am— Communion Service Wed 9/16 7:15 am— +James Egelski req by Family Thr 9/17 7:15 am— +Chris Ziolkowski — 45th birthday remembrance req by Family 6:00—8:00 pm ADORATION Fri 9/18 7:15 am— +Barbara A. Nowak req by Betty Fontana Sat 9/19 4:00 pm— +Mary Svejkovky — birthday remembrance req by the Prium Family Sun 9/20 10:30 am— +Adolfo Sumera req by the Henderson Family People of the Parish

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and the Diocese of Joliet are overjoyed to invite all the people of the Diocese of Joliet and throughout the Church to join us in celebrating the installation of our new bishop, Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks, later this month. On the eve of the Installation, Bishop Hicks will join our priests for a Vespers Service of Welcome at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus. This will begin at 7pm on Monday, September 28, 2020. Bishop Hicks will be installed as the sixth Bishop of Joliet by the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, the Most Reverend Archbishop Christophe Pierre, on Tuesday, September 29 at 10am. The Installation Mass will take place at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus. Due to the gathering limitations in place during COVID-19, participation will be by invitation only. Both events will be livestreamed for all to join us virtually at www.dioceseofjoliet.org/ or http://www.youtube.com/DioceseofJolietIL. Bishop Hicks will begin his service to the Diocese of Joliet on September 30. Heartfelt thanks are extended to the following who are serving as the Installa- tion Committee. They are devoting much time and effort to the planning and execu- tion of the Installation. In addition to these, many volunteers are being called upon to facilitate the events. Co-Chairs: Very Reverend Richard Smith, Pastor – Holy Spirit, Naperville; Maureen Harton, Diocesan Attor- ney, Diocese of Joliet Committee Members: Reverend Ryan Adorjan, Carlos Briceno, Dr. David Castronovo, Sister Judith Davies, OSF, Deacon John Freund, Julie Grzadzinski, Nora Labanauskas, Reverend Burke Masters, Chris Nye, Deacon Len Penkala, Alex Rechenmacher, Elisabeth Román, Brian Schroeder, Danielle Schumacher, Sister Sharon Stola, OSB. The continued prayers of all in the Joliet Diocesan Community are welcome as we rejoice in the unfolding of our history.

Those who have not sent back the registration form need to do so immediately so that a seat will be reserved for you child! This is due to limited seating capacity for each class. We are beginning TODAY, Sunday, September 13, 2020 at 9am for K-through 4th grade and Sunday, September 20 grades 5 through 8. They will alternate weeks. 1st Communion and Reconciliation are being scheduled with individu- al families. Confirmation is still on hold at this time and the date will be scheduled by the Diocese. We are looking for subs for all classes, aides and adult volunteers to help with sanitation and taking temperatures prior to entering building..

RE / FF Office 708 258-9580 / Fr. Roger cell 708 989-0565 / Deacon Jim cell 708 373-0311 There will be a FINANCE COUNCIL MEETING on Monday, September 21, 2020 at 7pm. Page 4 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME September 13, 2020 SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (c. 344-407) / September 13 “Speaking truth to power” may have become just another cliché, but doing precisely that cost John “the Golden Mouth” (Chrysostom) his diocese and, after exile and a forced march, his health and life. “Renowned for eloquence, heroic in suffer- ing” (Sacramentary), John’s scriptural insights still comfort and challenge. Mystical theologian, he bids Eastern Christians, whose principal Divine Liturgy bears his name, to lift up their hearts to “God ineffable, beyond comprehension, invisible, beyond understanding, existing forever, always the same.” Model pastor, he warns Roman Catholics in the Liturgy of the Hours not to neglect God-in-the- flesh: “Would you honor Christ’s body? Do not scorn his nakedness, honoring him here in church with silken robes, while neglecting him cold and naked outside. What use to burden Christ’s altar with golden chalices, while Christ himself starves to death? What use dressing the altar with gold- woven cloths, while denying the shivering Christ Have you gone through all your the clothes he needs? Do not adorn the church go-to recipes during the last 6 while ignoring your needy brother: he is the most months? Are you looking for precious temple of all!” (Saturday, Twenty-first some new ideas? Week in Ordinary Time) —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. The Joliet Diocese Council of Catholic Women has produced a NEW COOKBOOK that con- Our congratulations are tains 678 recipes from great cooks around the Diocese. extended to The cost is $20 and they can be Matthew Gordon Culver and obtained by calling Mrs. Jane Hannah Evangeline Day Granger, Treasurer, at 815 468-3534. All proceeds benefit the Bishop Blanchette Scholarship Fund, who were married on which awards annual scholarships to students to at- September 4, 2020. tend Catholic high schools in the diocese.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of MRS. DOROTHY H. KELLY, 78, who passed away September 3, 2020. +May she rest in peace.+

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH 511 N. Conrad Street / Peotone, IL 60468

CHURCH OFFICE TELEPHONE: 708 258-6917 CHURCH OFFICE FAX: 708 258-3061 CHURCH OFFICE E-MAIL: [email protected] PASTOR: Rev. Roger D. Kutzner / 708 989-0565 DEACON: Mr. James Kelly / 708 373-0311 / [email protected] Page 5 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME September 13, 2020 The Peotone Senior Assistance Center is in operation the third Thursday of the month, this Thursday, September 17 from 10am—3pm by appointment only at St. Paul the Apostle. Calls will be returned to mes- sages left at 708 258-6917. This is part of our Respect Life Ministry, whose mission is to protect the vulnerable and provide sen- iors, low income and disabled persons with assistance from county state and federal programs, including Medicare, Social Security, Illinois License Plate Discounts, and services offered through Catholic Chari- ties. We are also a certified SHIP site (Senior Health Insurance Program). The center is staffed by three vol- unteers who serve the community without cost.

St. Michael the Archangel, Please note the dispensa- defend us in battle. tion from Sunday Mass and Ho- Be our protection against ly Days of Obligation continues. The Diocese of Joliet still advis- the wickedness and snares of es that the elderly and those with the devil; May God rebuke underlying medical conditions stay at home and partic- him, we humbly pray; And ipate through livestreamed and televised Masses. do thou, O Prince of the While our parish staff and volunteers will at- Heavenly Host, by the power tempt to take appropriate precautions consistent with of God, thrust into hell Satan and the advice of public health authorities, parishioners and guests should understand that they assume the risk of all evil spirits who wander through the world contracting COVID-19 any time they enter a public for the ruin of souls. space since such precautions do not eliminate the risk Amen. of infection. Welcome to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church Additional volunteers are needed Our warmest wishes to all who celebrate with us. If you are not registered at St. Paul or need to make changes, to help at each weekend Mass! please fill out this form and place it in the collection bas- ket or mail to the parish office (511 N. Conrad Street / Please contact the parish office if Peotone, IL 60468). you are available to greet, usher ______Name and / or sanitize. ______Address ______Check out our WEBSITE— City StPaulPeotone.org. ______State Zip Code (____)______Please go to the REGISTER circle at the Phone ______bottom of the page and fill out the Parish Email Address Registration form so we can update our ( ) New Parishioner, please contact me ( ) New Address or New Phone Number records and add email addresses! ( ) Moving—Please remove from membership list ( ) Email –Please add email address to your records SCRAP METAL DRIVE ( ) Interested in becoming Catholic ( ) Send Envelopes St. Patrick RE (Wilton Center) will hold ( ) Interested in Religious Education their annual scrap metal drive in their ( ) Interested in Ministry Programs ( ) Would like to be contacted by a priest east parking lot on Saturday, October 10 from 8am—Noon.