Mary Nativity 706 North Broadway Street Joliet, IL 60435 Pastor: Father Kish Weekend Associate: Father Gerald Nicholas, O.S.A. School Principal: Mrs. Gina Pestrak Music Director: Mr. Donald Legerski Office Manager/Bulletin Editor: Miss. Taylor Lofdahl Maintenance Supervisor: Mr. Mick Joutras Maintenance Manager: Mr. Larry Tomasic Business Manager: Mrs. Mary Nemanich “Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son St. Mary Nativity Parking Lot Masses Saturdays: 4pm of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, Sundays: 7am, 11am, 5:30pm & 9am in Polish unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it Radio Station: 96.9 FM remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” Jn 12:23-24 Weekday Masses in Church 8:30am: Monday, Wednesday, Friday Parish Office Hours: at Holy Cross Monday – Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm 8:30am: Tuesday & Thursday Fridays 8:30am – 3pm at St. Mary Nativity 7:00pm: Monday—Saturday in Polish at Holy Cross MASKS Required

Rectory Office (815) 726-4031 LiveStream Rectory Fax (815) 727-4393 Monday– Friday 8:30am & 6pm Rosary Sunday 9am Mass School Phone Number (815)-722-8518 www.facebook.com/pg/SMNandHC www.stmarynativityholycross.com Holy Cross Kościół Świętego Krzyża 830 Elizabeth Street Joliet, IL 60435 Mailing Address: 901 Elizabeth Street Joliet, IL 60435

Parochial Vicar: Father Tomasz Sielicki Holy Cross Organist: Mr. James Grzadzinski Polish Organist: Mr. Mariusz Madej Business Manager: Mrs. Mary Nemanich Polish School Principal: Dorota Grzegorzewicz 5th Sunday of Lent March 21, 2021

A Leer From Fr. Jerome Kish The Church is Non-essential

“The Church is not essential.” That’s message we’ve heard throughout this year of virus lockdowns and phased re-openings. Remember last year? The grocery stores were open. The liquor stores were open. But the churches were closed. Why? Because we were told that the church is not essential. Food and drink are essential, but not the church. Apparently, church is optional. You can take it or leave it. And a year later, many people have left it. They have left the church and not returned. Can’t you pray anywhere? Do we really need the church? Did God really say to keep his day holy there?

Well, I actually agree with one thing: the church is non-essential. But that’s because she is SUPER-essential! This is how Jesus speaks. We worry about food and drink and he says, “My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink!” Or how about this from our Lord, “Whoever eats this Bread will live forever!”

Yes, we eat. Then we eat again—on the same day and more than once. Why? Because we get hungry. Then we get weak. Is it pointless? Should we just give up then, and not eat? No! Then eventually we’ll die. But that cannot be avoided; remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return. Why do we eat, we who are the children of God? Because every meal nourishes us to serve God today. But every meal only postpones our funeral. Is there some food, that if you ate it, it would make you live forever?

Yes! And that food is Christ. “Whoever eats this Bread will live forever!” Is that true? Is the Eucharist, Holy Communion, truly the Bread of Eternal Life? Don’t we bury Catholics just like everyone else?

Well, not all Catholics. Think of the Blessed Mary. We don’t go and visit her grave, like we do St. Peter and St. Paul in Rome. That’s because she was assumed, body and soul into heaven. How could that happen? Because she feasted on Christ! She lives forever! She lives now! Have you seen her picture? You can. If you travel to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, you can see her picture. God left it there around the year 1530, so it shows her at about 1550 years old. She sure looks beautiful for her age.

Not convinced? Go to Lourdes, France some 300 years later. How did she age in that time? Let’s ask someone who actually saw her, not just a picture. said, “She is so lovely that when you see her once, you would willingly die to see her again.”

Still not convinced? Let’s travel to Fatima, Portugal around 1917. At this time our Blessed Mother is about 1937 years old. In Fatima, not one but three children there tell us how beautiful Mary is. She is living forever! Why? Is it vitamins and daily fiber? Was it a miracle vaccine to cure the Spanish flu? Absolutely not! It is because she feasted on her living Son, True God and true man. She is filled with his life. She is full of his grace. His life is eternal life. It is super-essential. Human life is essential; God’s life which is from above, is super-essential.

Only God can feed us and strengthen us to reach heaven. Only God can take us from this land below to his home above. It’s why we pray, “Give us this day our super-essential bread.” Although we say ‘daily bread’ in English, it is epiousios in Greek and a more literal translation is ‘super-essential.’ Christ himself is our super-essential Bread and the only place you can receive him is in his of the Eucharist in his . The world is filled with wonderful prayers and wonderful food, but it is only in the true Church of Christ that you find his Body and Blood. That is why the Church is super -essential. If the Food of Heaven is super-essential in itself, so is the place where you receive it. If you doubt that, look at the first of all Jesus’s disciples—his beautiful Mother.

Well, she’s our Mother, too, given to us by Christ himself as she stood at the foot of his cross. Good Mother that she is, Mary feeds us with the Body and Blood of her Son. Do you want to live forever? Receive the mercy of Christ in Confession. Feast on the Body of Christ in Holy Communion. Who tells us to do this?

The Blessed Virgin Mary, now about 2040 years old and still looking beautiful because she is still nourished by the Super -essential life of her Son. She is calling us back from fear and stagnation to get up and eat, for our own good. Speaking for the whole Church, a super-essential Church, Mary says, “Take and eat—it is his Body given up for you.” During these final weeks of Lent, may we all prepare well for our Easter Holy Communion.

With my prayers, Fr. Jerome

2 | SAINT MARY NATIVITY AND HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCHES

St. Mary Nativity (SMN) and Holy Cross (HC) Lent / Easter Schedule 2021 We are still under Covid capacity restrictions of about 50 people for both St. Mary Nativity and Holy Cross churches. Currently for your convenience and safety all weekend Masses and Easter Masses will be held in the St. Mary Nativity parking lot. Listen in on your radio at 96.9FM. Daily Masses are at 8:30am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Holy Cross and on Tuesday and Thursday at St. Mary Nativity. Every weekday, including Saturday, a Polish Mass is offered at Holy Cross at 7pm. While in church all are required to wear masks, keep a six-foot distance, and sanitize our hands. Please sign in when you attend. We will do our best to keep you updated by Flocknote, the bulletin, Facebook, and mailings. Please contact the parish office to receive text and emails by Flocknote. Sunday Masses: Saturday Vigil at 4pm, Sunday 7am, 9am in Polish, 11am, and 5:30pm. A Mass is livestreamed at 9am on Facebook and Youtube. Stations of the Cross: Friday: SMN at 6pm; HC at 12pm and in Polish at 6:30pm March 28: Palm Sunday: Regular Sunday Mass schedule. Confessions: English: Tue, Mar 30 and Wed, Mar 31 from 6:30-8:30pm SMN Polish HC: Mon,Tue,Wed (March 29-30-31) 5:00pm-6:50pm; from 7:40pm on as needed if penitents present, max till 9:00pm

THE SACRED TRIDUUM: Reservations are required for all Holy Week Services due to capacity limits. Please call the Parish Office. April 1: Holy Thursday St. Mary Nativity Holy Cross 8:00-9:30am Individual Confessions (No morning Mass) In Polish 7:30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper. 7:00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper Adoration continues until Midnight Adoration continues until 11pm

April 2: Good Friday St. Mary Nativity Holy Cross 3:00pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion 10am-12pm Confessions 7:30pm Stations of the Cross 12pm Stations of the Cross 8pm-9pm Confessions In Polish: 6:30pm Stations of the Cross 7:00pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion followed by Adoration

April 3: Holy Saturday: There is no 4pm Mass on Holy Saturday! St. Mary Nativity Holy Cross 12pm Blessing of Food Baskets in the Parking lot 10am-11am Confessions 11am Blessing of Food Baskets

In Polish: 7:30pm Solemn Easter Vigil Mass 1pm 2pm and 3pm Blessing of Food Baskets 8:00pm Solemn Easter Vigil Mass followed by the Resurrection Procession

APRIL 4: EASTER SUNDAY RESURRECTION OF THE LORD [Parking lot at SMN] St. Mary Nativity Holy Cross 7:00am, 9am Polish, 11:00am. Livestream at 9am There is no 5:30pm Mass on Easter Sunday

April 5: Return to regular daily Mass schedule.

April 10,11: Return to regular Sunday Mass schedule

April 11: Divine Mercy Sunday Reservations required.

SMN: 3pm Holy Hour (not a Mass). HC Polish 3pm Divine Mercy Chaplet followed by Mass.

“SAVED BY GRACE.” EPHESIAN 2:8 |3

St. Mary Nativity & Holy Cross News St. Mary Nativity & Holy Cross Mass Intentions Saturday March 20th 4:00 PM † Julia Fordonski "Birthday" by Family (SMN) † Vincent Parrish by Marge Zanella & Family (SMN) Stewardship in Faith Collection 7:00 PM † Józef Garczek (HC) Sunday - March 14, 2021 † Zofia Szaflarska (zam. rodzina Janik) (HC) † Anna Kalata (HC) St. Mary Nativity $ 6,980.00 † Anna Guzy (20. rocznica śmierci) (HC) Holy Cross $ 2,290.00 Sunday March 21st 7:00 AM † Mary Crosetto by Daughter (SMN)

9:00 AM For the People of the Parishes (Live Stream) 9:00 AM † Józef Klikuszowian (zam. parafianie) (SMN) 11:00 AM † Jelinek by Terry Gruber (SMN) 8:30 AM Mass on 5:30 PM † Juluis Roark by Gloria & John Wilson (SMN) Tuesday April 6th Monday March 22nd and Thursday 8:30 AM † Frank Mandel by Larry & Lauire Pottorff (HC) April 8th will be 7:00 PM † † † Stanislaw and Rozalia Bednarz (2nd Anniversary) held at Holy Cross & Krystyna Tylka by Family (HC) Church. Tuesday March 23rd 8:30 AM Linda Linko (SMN) 7:00 PM † Tedd Kozlowski by Family (HC) Wednesday March 24th 8:30 AM † Ray Page by Wife, Jean (HC) You Can Help Your Marriage – Do you feel 7:00 PM † Stanisław Morawa (HC) alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue … or have you Thursday March 25th just stopped talking to each other? Does 8:30 AM Holy Souls of Purgatory (SMN) talking about it only make it worse? 7:00 PM Dziękczynna za łaski otrzymane za wstawiennictwem NMP (HC) Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) helps couples through difficult times in their Friday March 26th marriages. This program has helped 10’s of 8:30 AM † Kevin Hansen by Mike Hansen (HC) 1000’s of couples experiencing difficulties in 7:00 PM † Józef Klikuszowian (zam. Staszek z rodziną) (HC) their marriage. For confidential information Saturday March 27th about or to register for our next program beginning with a weekend on April 16-18, 4:00 PM † Erma Bensen by Marge Zanella & Family (SMN) 2021 call 815-351-6968 or email: † Christopher Vining by Friend & Family (SMN) [email protected] or visit the web 7:00 PM † Jan Zając (zam. Koło Różańcowe) (HC) site at www.HelpOurMarriage.com † Maria Janik (HC) † Bolesława Łowisz (3. rocznica śmierci) (HC) Week of March 21, 2021 † Kajetan Domalewski (HC) † Jan Sielicki (9. rocznica) (HC) Flame of Faith Candle Sunday March 28th Palm Sunday Saint Mary Nativity 7:00 AM For the People of the Parishes (SMN) 9:00 AM For Our Doctors and Nurses (Live Stream) For Those Who Are Ill 9:00 AM † Stanisław Kalata (SMN) Today is filled Holy Cross 11:00 AM † Joyce Senffner by Ken & Mary Ellen Spiegel (SMN) with Hope and For Those Less Fortunate 5:30 PM † James Phinney & Sam Lee by Pat Phinney (SMN) Promise.

4 | SAINT MARY NATIVITY AND HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCHES

St. Mary Nativity School News

Catholic Elementary School Teachers and Instructional Assistants Needed As they prepare for a 2021-2022 school year marked by an unprecedented growth in Catholic elementary school student enrollment, Principals of Diocese of Joliet Catholic Elementary Schools are seeking passionate and dedicated professional educators to fill 100-125 full and part-time teaching and Instructional Assistant positions. Applicants must hold appropriate state licensure and be devout and practicing Catholics who exhibit a passion for and commitment to Catholic Education. Please view complete vocation descriptions and apply online at www.applitrack.com/dioceseofjoliet/onlineapp. Should you have questions, do not hesitate to contact Karen Udell, Assistant Superintendent of Leadership & Personnel, at 815-221-6123.

Congratulations to the following winners.

Name Date Amount Seller Naborina Morales Thursday March 11th $20 School Family Stephanie Piazza Friday March 12th $20 School Family Arlene Finkle Saturday March 13th $40 Self Chris Boban Father Jerome's Birthday March 14th $500 Self Matt Olson Monday March 15th $20 Self Daisy Zavala Tuesday March 16th $20 School Family Martina Ortiz Wednesday March 17th $50 School Family

Winners’ Names will be posted on the school’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StMaryNativitySchool and on the school website at www.stmarynativity.org

“SAVED BY GRACE.” EPHESIAN 2:8 |5

Register your TEAM Online beginning Saturday—March 20

Online Raffles GO LIVE on Monday—March 22

All are invited to attend! Can’t make it? Visit our website www.stmarynativity.org to purchase raffle tickets and to donate! Check out the list below with some of our raffle items! 8 Tickets - LEWIS UNIVERSITY, PHILLIP LYNCH THEATER LUCANO'S GIFT CARD 81 TicketsNight Hotel - LEWIS Stay UNIVERSITY, and Gift Certificate PHILLIP forLYNCH Dinner THEATER 1HARRAH'S Night Hotel CASINO Stay and & HOTEL Gift Certificate for Dinner MACIANO'S GIFT CARD HARRAH'SPizza for a CASINOYear - DOMINO'S & HOTEL PIZZA PIZZA FOR U GIFT CARDS PizzaHEROES for WESTa Year GIFT - DOMINO'S CERTFICATE PIZZA EL PRIMO GIFT CARDS HEROESJOLIET CATHOLIC WEST GIFT ACADEMY CERTFICATE SPIRIT BASKET HOME CUT DONUT GIFT CARDS JOLIETCHICAGO CATHOLIC FIRE SOCCER ACADEMY CLUB SPIRIT MERCHANDISE BASKET HEY HOTDOG GIFT CARD CHICAGO2 LARGE WOODEN FIRE SOCCER PICTUE CLUB FRAMES MERCHANDISE Paint - SHERWIN WILLIAMS 2MICHAEL LARGE WOODEN KORS PURSE PICTUE FRAMES Donuts for a Year - MILANO'S BAKERY MICHAELMERICHKA KORS’S GIFT PURSE CARD Games - ACCELERATE INDOOR SPEEDWAY & EVENTS MERICHKA’S GIFT CARD and much more……… Thank you for supporting the students of SMN!

6| SAINT MARY NATIVITY AND HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCHES

Thank you to everyone who has already pledged a gi to the 2021 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal (CMAA). Every gi , large or small, brings us closer to our St. Mary Navity parish’s goal of $40,200.00 and our Holy Cross parish’s goal of $10,300.00. If you have yet to make your gi , please prayerfully reflect on how you can best support the CMAA. If we raise more than our goal, 70 percent of the amount over goal will be returned to us for our use. This is an amazing opportunity for our parishes. ST. MARY NATIVITY AND HOLY CROSS PARISHES SPIRITUAL ADOPTION PROGRAM 2021 You are invited to spiritually adopt a baby. Archbishop Fulton Sheen encouraged this pracce by praying that one parcular child’s life be spared aboron and be allowed to connue to live. Simply name your baby, begin to pray for your baby on March 25th and connue to pray every day unl Christmas Day. Our parishes will present our babies as a Christmas gi to our Lord on Christmas day. A Patroness for the Pro-life movement: Blessed Margaret of Castello NINE DAY NOVENA IN HONOR OF Bl. MARGARET OF CASTELLO April 5 - 13 “Blessed Margaret of Castello worked miracles during her life me and hundreds a erwards. She was a model of piety, paence, faith, and forgiveness. For those who work in the prolife movement, Margaret of Castello is a powerful intercessor. She herself was deformed [and marginalized]. She ministered to the ill, the unrepentant, and the dying. Whatever the life issue may be, Margaret has had some experience with it. Prolifers should feel confident in asking her intercession in all areas of prolife concerns. The prayers of an [forgoen] saint, who ministered to the [forgoen], are powerful indeed.” For more informaon, please see priestsforlife.org Prayer cards and the novena pamphlet will be given to you at sign up. These will be placed in plasc for your safety. If you prefer, please feel free to send an email to lauriepoorff@yahoo.com. I will be happy to take the name of your baby and send the prayers to you. Help Socially Isolated Seniors During the Pandemic and Beyond! Catholic Charities’ Senior Companion Program is looking for people 55 years and older who are interested in visiting with another senior who is homebound and living in Will County. This is strictly a friendly visit, no homecare duties are involved. During COVID, Senior Companion volunteers call clients weekly (in-person visits will resume when it is safe), may drop off pre- ordered groceries or medications, and can even make window visits. Volunteering as a Senior Companion is a fantastic way to meet new people and give back to the community. In Will County, call Kathy at 815-724-1178 or email [email protected]. For more information about the programs and services provided by Catholic Charities, visit catholiccharitiesjoliet.org Illinois bishops issue letter urging Catholics to fight repeal of parental notice of abortion law Stop the Repeal of Parental Notice of Abortion! Illinois House Bill 1797 & Senate Bill 2190 seek to dismantle current law requiring an adult family member be notified when a minor girl seeks an abortion. Our Illinois bishops have written a letter to Catholics across Illinois, urging them to contact their state lawmakers and tell them to vote “no” on HB 1797 and SB 2190. Read the letter and email or call your state lawmakers by visiting https://www.ilcatholic.org/

“SAVED BY GRACE.” EPHESIAN 2:8 | 7 Compliments of T.Z. LANDSCAPING, LLC • Maintenance • Mulch Fred C. Dames 1503 Clement St., Joliet, IL 60435 GENERAL • Fertilization • Deliveries FUNERAL HOMES Friday Fish Frys • Monthly Ethnic Dinners MACHINE & TOOL • Landscaping • Yard Clean Up Open Daily @ 2pm Large capacity machining • Brick Landscaping • Snow Removal for maintenance & Dine in, Carry out • All Welcome Tyler Zurliene (815) 685-1072 741-5500 production www.croatianculturalclub.com Tom Zurliene (815) 685-1271 CNC Machining TZLANDSCAPING@GMAILCOM www.fredcdames.com 815/723-3154 348 Caton Farm Rd. 727-4342 Parish Supporter

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