Saint Mary Nativity 706 North Broadway Street Joliet, IL 60435 Pastor: Father Jerome 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
St. Mary Nativity Parking Lot Masses “Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from Saturdays: 4pm Sundays: 7am, 11am, 5:30pm & 9am in Polish the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen Radio Station: 96.9 FM to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw Weekday Masses in Church anyone but Jesus alone with them. –MK 9:7-8 8:30am: Monday, Wednesday, Friday at Holy Cross Parish Office Hours: 8:30am: Tuesday & Thursday Monday – Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm at St. Mary Nativity Fridays 8:30am – 3pm 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 Mass & 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 2nd Sunday of Lent February 28, 2021
A Leer From Fr. Jerome Kish I am the Greatest!
There was a great fighter named Cassius Clay. He became a Muslim and changed his name to Muhammed Ali. He loved to tell everyone how great he was. “I am the greatest!” he would say, “I float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, the world’s greatest boxer is Muhammed Ali.” Of course, some of his bragging can be chalked up to the foolishness of youth and bright light of talent. But it was about five years ago that Ali died, old and weak; even I could have beat him. Sinful pride infects us all, so we should pray for him, not look down on him. Ali was great, but not the greatest. That title belongs to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the greatest fighter.
What are the battles of Christ? He fights temptation, and even the tempter—and comes out victorious. He fights sin and conquers it with forgiveness. He even fights death, wrestling with it all the way to the grave. Even there he is a winner by rising from the dead on that first Easter Sunday. Jesus Christ is the undefeated champion of the universe. Yet the infinite greatness of Jesus is united to most perfect humility. Jesus conquers even sinful pride by power of humility.
We see the humility of Christ expressed in St. Luke’s gospel. Jesus points to the wisdom of Solomon and the preaching of Jonah. Jesus doesn’t say, “Solomon was great; I am the greatest. Jonah was great; I am the greatest.” Jesus does not have to point to himself, because he simply and humbly reveals himself. His approach? He says, “There is something greater that Solomon and Jonah here.” He is saying, “Look I made Solomon and Jonah. They are great. But God is always the greatest and you need to see that I am God.”
We also see the beauty of humility in the Blessed Virgin Mary, that Virgin most humble. In her prayer the Magnificat she says, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. God who is mighty has done great things for me.” Mary saw great things going on within her and around her. She realized great things come from God. Instead of praising herself, she praised God.
This is a great and humble attitude for our parishes to take on, too. God does great things for us at St. Mary Nativity and Holy Cross. Your parking lot Masses have opened up Sunday worship to many people outside the parish. Your parish school has been on campus, healthy and growing in holiness since the beginning of the school year. Both parishes find themselves in a stable financial position in the midst of a worldwide pandemic shutdown. Thanks be to God!
St. Josemaria Escriva, in his book “The Furrow” reminds us that there are signs that we personally lack humility. Lent is a great time to prayerfully go over those points and see if any apply to ourselves. · Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say; · Always wanting to get your own way; · Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners; · Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so; · Despising the point of view of others; · Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan; · Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honor or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own; · Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation; · Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you; · Making excuses when rebuked; · Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you; · Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you; · Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you; · Refusing to carry out menial tasks; · Seeking or wanting to be singled out; · Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige...; · Being ashamed of not having certain possessions...
Let’s not be discouraged if many or even all the points apply to ourselves. The sin of pride is the first sin and as I said, it infects us all. Yet Jesus humbly accepted even death, death on the cross, so that he could fill you with the greatness of his divine life. With Jesus, let’s fight to the death to be more like him. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like yours.
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 Stations for Married Couples at SMN: Wed, March 3rd 3:00pm and Tues March 16th 7:00pm 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.
“THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION.” PSALM 27:1 |3
St. Mary Nativity & Holy Cross News St. Mary Nativity & Holy Cross Mass Intentions Saturday February 27th 4:00 PM Holy Souls of Purgatory (SMN) † Erma Bensen by Marge Zanella & Family (SMN) Stewardship in Faith Collection 7:00 PM † Józef Klikuszowian (zam. Holy Cross Rosary Group) (HC) † Anna Kasperek (HC) Sunday - February 21, 2021 † Aniela Garczek (HC) St. Mary Nativity $ 11,989.50 † Jan Leja (HC) Holy Cross $ 1,943.00 Sunday February 28th 7:00 AM † Tony Lisy by Sara & Tony Leone (SMN) Ash Wednesday 9:00 AM † Ed Kraske by Barb Liles (Live Stream) St. Mary Nativity $ 515.00 9:00 AM O Boże błog. dla Eweliny z okazji urodzin (SMN) Holy Cross $ 623.00 † Florentyna Sielicka by Family (SMN) A Patroness for the † Czesław Dziobek (3. rocznica śmierci) (SMN) Pro-life movement: 11:00 AM † † Rose & Joe Sparazynski by Family (SMN) Blessed Margaret of † Rickki Butts by Mona (SMN) Castello 5:30 PM For the People of the Parishes (SMN) NINE DAY NOVENA IN Monday March 1st HONOR OF Bl. MARGARET 8:30 AM For Our Deceased Loved Ones (HC) OF CASTELLO April 5 - 13 7:00 PM O zdrowie i opiekę Matki Bożej dla rodziny Rzepka(HC) “Blessed Margaret of Castello Tuesday March 2nd worked miracles during her life 8:30 AM † Anthony Velez by Denise Adelmann (SMN) me and hundreds a erwards. She was a model 7:00 PM † Jan Zając (zam. Koło Różańcowe) (HC) of piety, paence, faith, and forgiveness. For Wednesday March 3rd those who work in the prolife movement, 8:30 AM † † Steve & Adeline Jenco by Steve & Linda Jenco (HC) Margaret of Castello is a powerful intercessor. 7:00 PM † Józef Jurczyk (HC) She herself was deformed [and marginalized]. She ministered to the ill, the unrepentant, and the Thursday March 4th dying. Whatever the life issue may be, Margaret 8:30 AM † William Pedersen by Wife (SMN) has had some experience with it. Prolifers should 7:00 PM O łaskę wiary dla dzieci proszą rodzice (HC) feel confident in asking her intercession in all Friday March 5th areas of prolife concerns. The prayers of an [forgoen] saint, who ministered to the 8:30 AM † Dorothy Adelmann by Denise Adelmann (HC) [forgoen], are powerful indeed.” For more 7:00 PM O Boże błog. i opiekę MB z okazji urodzin dla Kasi i całej rodziny (HC) informaon, please see priestsforlife.org Saturday March 6th Prayer cards and the novena pamphlet will be 4:00 PM † Erma Bensen by Marge Zanella & Family (SMN) given to you at sign up. These will be placed in † † Ceil & Joe Vidmar by Family (SMN) plasc for your safety. If you prefer, please feel † Joseph D'Atri by Carolyn Baitinger (SMN) free to send an email to 7:00 PM O zdrowie i Boże błogosławieństwo oraz opiekę Matki Bożej lauriepoorff@yahoo.com. I will be happy to dla Stefanii Czopor (HC) take the name of your baby and send the † Józef Klikuszowian (zam. Maria Kulon) (HC) prayers to you. Sunday March 7th Flame of Faith Candles 7:00 AM † Rosendo Rosas by Cecilia Martinez (SMN) 9:00 AM For Our Families (Live Stream) Week of February 28, 2021 9:00 AM O Boże błog. dla Agnieszki z okazji urodzin (SMN) Saint Mary Nativity O Boże błogosławieństwo dla Anety i Edyty z okazji urodzin (SMN) Christine Mauzer O Boże błog. i opiekę MB z okazji urodzin dla Renaty Zimy (SMN) † Mieczysław Sokołowski (zam. rodzina) (SMN) Holy Cross 11:00 AM † Mary Traina by Margie & Joe Anderson (SMN) For Those Who Are Homeless 5:30 PM For the People of the Parishes (SMN) Today is filled with Hope and Promise.
4 | SAINT MARY NATIVITY AND HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCHES
St. Mary Nativity School News
“THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION.” PSALM 27:1 |5
ST. MARY NATIVITY AND HOLY Feast of Faith CROSS PARISHES SPIRITUAL Do you want to learn more ADOPTION PROGRAM 2021 about the Catholic faith? Have you ever thought You are invited to spiritually adopt a about becoming Catholic? baby. Archbishop Fulton Sheen Or are you a Catholic who encouraged this pracce by praying needs to catch up on your that one parcular child’s life be Sacraments? Then join us for spared aboron and be allowed to a Feast of Faith! These are connue to live. Simply name your weekly meengs with our pastor Fr. Jerome baby, begin to pray for your baby on th Kish. It’s an opportunity to learn more and ask March 25 and connue to pray every day unl Christmas quesons along with others like you. We’ll meet Day. We will be taking your name as a spiritual parent and th on Wednesday nights at 7pm in the Navity the name of your baby a er all Masses on March 20 and Room. Please call the parish office at March 21th. Our parishes will present our babies as a 815-726-4031 to let us know you’re coming. Christmas gi to our Lord on Christmas day. PRAYER REQUESTS FOR SLEEPING Special Staon of the Cross ST. JOSEPH Devoon for Married Couples If you have any special requests for St. “For this reason a man shall leave Joseph please write them down, put them in an envelope his father and his mother and be marked “Sleeping St. Joseph”, and place them in the joined to his wife, and the two shall become collecon basket any weekend between February 27/28 one flesh” and March 13/14. We will place them under the Sleeping Staons of the Cross for Married Couples will be St. Joseph figure on his feast day, entrusng him to work held at SMN on them in his dreams. Wednesday March 3rd at 3:00 pm and Remember the Holy Souls in Tuesday March 16th at 7:00pm Purgatory this Lent while This is an opportunity for couples to pray together and celebrate their holy union that parcipang in the Staon of the symbolizes the marriage of Christ and His Cross! Church. "If a ray of heavenly light could draw aside For informaon or quesons call the veil from your eyes, you would see these Jim and Jane Richards at 815-744-7660 or email suffering souls hovering around each staon [email protected] with upraised arms imploring you, 'Have pity on me, have pity on me! In pity for us, make the Way of the Cross for me, your father, your mother, your friend.' " Monthly Food Collecon -St. Leonard of Port Maurice “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,” SAVE THE DATE: Hours for the Lord Lenten Confessions th th The Catholic Parishes of the Joliet Area will offer March 6 - March 7 Confessions in English and Spanish from 3pm unl 7pm on Look for the blue marked container Friday, March 26, 2021 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Needed: any food items including baby food, 1711 Burry Circle, Crest Hill. (One block north of Theodore Diapers, Baby clothes Street.) Burry Circle is midway between Plainfield Rd and **No other clothing is being accepted at this Raynor Ave. ALL ARE WELCOME! Pre-registraon is not me** necessary. Protecve face masks and safe distancing are All donaons will be given to our neighbors, required. the St. John’s Food Bank. 6 | SAINT MARY NATIVITY AND HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Please pray for our sick Thank you to everyone who has already
pledged a gi to the 2021 Catholic Ministries Mary Bellos Paul Morris Vietta Bews Phil May Annual Appeal (CMAA). Every gi , large or Sheri Bokholtt Ann Christopher Borsom Robert Nasenbeny small, brings us closer to our St. Mary Navity William Brenc Raymond John Nickel parish’s goal of $40,200.00 and our Holy Cross Charlotte Brown Andy Orosco Joyce Ozella parish’s goal of $10,300.00. John Drnek Willard Perkins Bob Eberhard Nick Pervan Dosseh Houeai Elise Mildred Pruss If you have yet to make your gi , please Jim Flannery Ronald Pruss prayerfully reflect on how you can best support Anthony Gregory Amy Rabb Jessica Grabowski Father Pete Rossa the CMAA. If we raise more than our goal, 70 Anthony Harames Steve Senisais percent of the amount over goal will be Haramas Nancy Serdar Janet Horvath Ashley Smith returned to us for our use. This is an amazing Harriet Kazlauskas Adam Speirs opportunity for our parish. James Kozar Scott Speirs Janet Mary Therese Stefanech Our pastor recently mailed a pledge envelope Jerry Lakota Carol Thomure Darlene Likar Joseph Trubich to everyone in our parish. Please either return Frank Lozano Diann Cerpen-Verlare Pat Magetic Susan Ward it, or the pledge card you received from the Mike Majetic Bernard Zolecki diocese, in the mail. You may also make a Gabby Matlak John Need prayers or know secure gi online at jolietdioceseappeal.org or Charlene Molnar someone who does call Pat Weiskop (815)-723-7141 text DONATE to (815) 205-1949.
Congratulations to the following winners. Name Date Amount Seller
Drake DeBenedetti Thursday February 18th $20 School Family
Andrew Olson Friday February 19th $20 Jerry and Judy Olson (Donated to School) Rachel Barrios Saturday February 20th $40 School Family Jane Ferguson Sunday February 21st $150 School Family
Jackie Thiery Monday February 22nd $20 Pat Fisher
Tony DeNardis Tuesday February 23rd $20 School Family Amy Martinez Wednesday February 24th $20 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
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