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Home , Thomas the Apostle

Serving Hyde Park’s Catholic Community since 1869

January 24, 2021 Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Parish Offices: Hours: Weekdays: 7am-3pm, Mon.-Fri. said to them, Located at 55th & Woodlawn 5472 S. Kimbark Avenue Chicago, IL 60615-5297 Phone: (773) 324-2626 Fax: (773) 891-0602 [email protected] Fr. Dan Costello Extension 107 : Deacon Kurt Davis Parish Office: Lisa J. Couch, secretary (773) 324-2626 Parish Voicemail box, ext. 0 Director of Parish Operations Paula Jones, ext. 109 Music Ministry Matthew Merz Liturgist Jennifer Davis Bulletin Editor Lissa Romell Parish School Erin Monahan, Principal 5467 S. Woodlawn Avenue St. the Apostle Parish Chicago, Illinois 60615-5299 telephone: (773) 667-1142 Mass Schedule Confession Fax: (773) 891-0602 Sunday Saturdays, 2:30-3:30pm. www.stapostleschool.com 8am & 10am Baptism Monday-Friday Please contact the Parish Office. 8am Marriage Saturday Please make arrangements eight months in advance. 8am & 4pm Membership Holy Days Please register at the Parish Office or online at 8am www.stapostleparish.org under “Contact Us”. Please don’t forget the poor boxes. Come visit us at www.stapostleparish.org Page 2 St. Parish Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

We’re so glad you’re here and invite you to journey If you or a loved one in faith with us. We believe the is the wish to receive a sacrament of God’s saving presence in the world. telephone visit from a Our goal is to provide a spiritual home where all minister of care—to are welcome, where the healing, reconciling, pray or simply talk— liberating love of God flows through us to all people. please call Lisa at 773- If you have any questions about our parish, 324-2626, & she will please call or email our parish office. arrange for a Minister of Care to call.

Today’s Readings 3:1-5, 10  Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9  1 Corinthians 7:29-31  :14-20 Dr. Herman Neal, Irene Koenen

We encourage you to prepare yourself for next weekend’s liturgy by reading and praying the scriptures (visit www.usccb.org).

Next Sunday’s Readings Deuteronomy 18:15-20  Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9  1 Corinthians 7:32-35  Mark 1:21-28 Weekday Mass Intentions

Weekly morning masses are being live-streamed at 8am, Monday-Saturday, via our Facebook page. Please join us! Please remember those listed below in your prayers this week. MONDAY, January 25 WEDNESDAY, January 27 FRIDAY, January 29 Conversion of St. Paul Readings: Heb 10:11-18  Ps 110:1, 2, Readings: Heb 10:32-39  Ps 37:3-4, 5 Readings: Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22  Ps 3, 4  Mk 4:1-20 -6, 23-24, 39-40  Mk 4:26-34 117:1bc, 2  Mk 16:15-18 Those sown on rich soil are the ones Of its own accord the land yields Go into the whole world and proclaim who hear the word and accept it and fruit... Mk 4:28 the … Mk 16:15 bear fruit thirty and sixty and Robert & Mary King

Rudy Comeaux, Jr. hundredfold. Mk 4:20 SATURDAY, January 30 Andy Malden Rosemary Hampton Readings: Heb 11:1-2, 8-19  Lk 1:69- Kermit Hart (Birthday blessings!) TUESDAY, January 26 70, 71-72, 73-75  Mk 4:35-41 Sts. Timothy and Titus THURSDAY, January 28 Faith is the realization of what is Readings: 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5  Ps St. hoped for. Heb 11:1 92:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10  Mk 3:31-35 Readings: Heb 10:19-25  Ps 24:1-2, 3- Lawrence E. Lewis Jr. Stir into flame the gift of God that you 4ab, 5-6  Mk 4:21-25 Rudolph Comeaux, Sr. have. 2 Tm 1:6 Nothing is secret except to come to

& Willie Mae Carter light. Mk 4:22 deceased Ronald Bennett

Please Make Your Gift to the 2021 Annual Catholic Appeal

Come, follow me … and bring hope to the World

Many families in our parish will be receiving the Annual Catholic Appeal mailing from Cardinal Cupich. On behalf of those served by the ministries, parishes and schools who receive funding from the Appeal, we thank you for your gifts. Please return your response as soon as possible. The Annual Catholic Appeal offers a wonderful opportunity to answer Jesus’ call to “Come, follow me … and bring hope to the world.” This is especially important during these trying and challenging times. Many in our parishes are affected financially by the pandemic, and we encourage giving at all levels to support this initiative. When we financially support the work of our parish, our archdiocese and the throughout the world, we experience a feeling of deep gratitude, especially when we contemplate God’s many gifts to us personally. By sharing our wealth through gifts to the 2021 Annual Catholic Appeal, we demonstrate our commitment to the Church and each other. Thank you for your generosity. St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Page 3 Thoughts from Fr. Dan Costello Parish Administrator Dear Parishioners & Friends worship site at Holy . of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, St. Thomas the Apostle Our Gospel this weekend seems rather fitting for parish, St. Thomas the this week in at least a couple of ways. With the not-so Apostle School and Holy -good news about being imprisoned, Angels School will remain in Jesus moves forward with his public ministry as His their current structures. This begins a new chapter of Father called him to carry out. And what does he do? Catholic presence and ministry in our geographical He begins to call others to join Him in what he knows area. hopeful we can all embrace this new reality is a fulfillment of His Father’s with a healthy, positive outlook. plans for Him and for all Although our parish structure is humanity. Have you ever not changing with this wondered if this took place as announcement, we all would cleanly and quickly as the benefit from being open to Gospel is written? I know I change and growth and be have always wondered about especially prayerful for our the “rest of the story” in that neighboring parishioners who were Simon, Andrew, James, will be undertaking quite a and John complete strangers to transformation in this period of the Lord or had they some prior transition through the rest of the interactions which gave Jesus year. the impression these were “the If you are like me, whenever I guys” to pick to follow Him? have experienced a significant Regardless, these calls to follow change or step in growth, that the Lord have continued for two millennia as our along with any pain that accompanies it, a good presence together today attests. amount of prayer is helpful and absolutely necessary This week in our country, a new federal to fully realize God’s hand and God’s plan in government administration begins their term of whatever is happening. The Lord continues to call leadership, called to serve by the American people. each of us to grow into the persons he created each of Just as Jesus moved on from the not-so-good news us to be and whenever there is growth, there is always with His plan to carry out His Father’s wishes, our a change and it is often not without discomfort or a government and our people must now move on to the myriad of other emotions and feelings which cannot work of unifying our country and doing the hard work be dismissed. On the contrary, they deserve our of caring for the poor and oppressed, laboring for attention and a willingness to work through them as justice and peace. It is an opportunity for a new part of the natural process of grieving loss and beginning. growing into something new. Ask any caterpillar! Another opportunity for a new beginning has been Thanks be to God we have a vibrant parish announced this week as the initial discernment of the community of parishioners who are faith-filled, Renew My Church process which has taken place mutually-supportive, and trusting in the Lord. May since last July in our part of the Archdiocese. As you we be open to all the graces He has in store for us. know, we are a part of the “Bronzeville-Hyde Park Let us hold each other in prayer these days and grouping” consisting of St. , St. Anselm, weeks and months and let the grace of the Lord and Corpus Christi, St. Elizabeth, Holy Angels, and St. the Holy Spirit be our firm foundation to continue Thomas the Apostle parishes. Perry building the Kingdom of God as we have been called announced Thursday evening that St. Ambrose, St. to do. And so we pray, “Lord, help me Do The Next Anselm, Corpus Christi, St. Elizabeth, and Holy Right Thing!” Angels parishes will unite into one parish with one ~Fr. Dan Costello Page 4 St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Two Thumbs up for STA E-Learning

All STA students participated in 2 full weeks of remote learning at the start of the month. STA’s 2nd graders give everyone two thumbs up!

Dates to Remember

January 27 Home Run Inn Take ‘N’ Bake Fundraiser Orders Due

January 28 8th Grade Graduation Planning Meeting at 6 pm

January 31-February 6 Catholic Schools Week

February 3 Virtual Prospective Family Open Houses Pre-K—3rd: 5:30 pm Order Pizza & Support STA! 4th-8th: 6:30 pm ——————–———————— This month you can support STA by ordering one of

STA’s Website: Home Run Inn’s delicious Take ‘N’ Bake Pizzas!

www.stapostleschool.com Home Run Inn will donate 40% of your order total back to STA! Here are the details: Follow STA on Social Media! Visit STA’s Home Run Inn fundraiser page: Facebook: @stapostleschool Instagram: @stthomasapostle https://hrifundraising.raisely.com/st-thomas-the-apostle-school Order your pizzas on the website by Wednesday, January 27, 2021. Online Reviews If you have questions regarding this fundraiser, please contact Mrs. Howard We appreciate the encouraging ([email protected]). Thank you for your support! words we have received from our community. Thank you for your support! In an effort to continue Save the Date: Virtual Open House showing our STA pride and come together as a community, please Wednesday, February 3, 2021 consider leaving an online review for STA on one of the available Pre-K—3rd Grade — 5:30—6:15 pm outlets. These include: Facebook, 4th—8th Grade — 6:30-7:15 pm Google Reviews, Niche, Great Schools and Private School On Zoom—Link will be emailed to registrants.

Review. Thank you! STA’s Virtual Open House offers prospective families the opportunity to learn about the faith-based environment and academic curriculum, as well as getting a virtual tour of the school building. STA’s Administration and Admissions Coordinator will be present to answer any questions you may have. Please sign-up in advance on the school website: www.stapostleschool.com.

We look forward to connecting virtually! St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Page 5

“Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year” May 2020-May 2021

On 24 May 2015 begin or continue integrating Laudato Si’ and the principles of Integral Ecology into your life. Francis signed Laudato Si’, the watershed encyclical letter that called the world’s Pray attention to the increasingly Laudato Si’ urges us to become more aware of our precarious state of our connectedness. Care for one another and creation common home. Five years on includes understanding that “everything is the encyclical appears ever connected” (LS, no. 91) and that the economy, politics, more relevant. The multiple community involvement, and technology all affect the “cracks in the planet that we future of the planet and humankind. Set a time to pray for inhabit” (LS, 163), from the melting ice caps in the Arctic to all those affected by our changing climate. the raging wildfires in the Amazon, from extreme weather Consider committing this Lent to daily reflections on the patterns around the world to unprecedented levels of loss of Season of Creation; you can find them here: https:// biodiversity that sustain the very fabric of life, are too evident catholicclimatecovenant.org/resource/lenten-reflections- and detrimental to be ignored any more. Pope Francis’ season-creation. prophetic words continue to ring in our ears: “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to Act children who are now growing up?” (LS, 160). The poor Learn how climate affects the vulnerable. Visit https:// communities around the world are already the early and www.crs.org/climate-change. disproportionate victims of the current ecological degradation Calculate your carbon footprint. Visit https:// and we cannot remain indifferent any longer to the www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/ increasingly desperate “cry of the earth and the cry of the Educate yourself through a compelling new series of poor” (LS 49). videos on climate feedback loops, narrated by Richard The fifth anniversary of the encyclical Gere. Each video is 10-15 minutes and they are available comes in the midst of another watershed moment - a at https://feedbackloopsclimate.com/. global pandemic - and Laudato Si's message is just as Changes to lifestyle and consumption prophetic today as it was in 2015. The encyclical can indeed habits can make a big difference. For provide the moral and spiritual compass for the journey to example, get a re-usable water bottle, create a more caring, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable take shorter showers, walk, bike or world. We have, in fact, a unique opportunity to transform the take public transportation instead of present groaning and travail into the birth pangs of a new way driving, recycle, compost food waste, of living together, bonded together in love, compassion and and buy energy efficient appliances. solidarity, and a more harmonious relationship with the Support local efforts to solve natural world, our common home. Truly, COVID-19 has environmental problems. Community made clear how deeply we are all interconnected and groups around the country are interdependent. As we begin to envision a post-COVID working to make city, county, and world, we need above all an integral approach as “everything state-wide changes that can make a is closely interrelated and today’s problems call for a vision big difference. Find out what is going capable of taking into account every aspect of the global on locally and get involved. crisis” (LS, 137). We are now midway through the Special Laudato Si’ Advocate Anniversary Year (from 24th May 2020 – 24th May 2021) Contact your members of Congress announced by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human to share Pope Francis’ message and Development. The hope of the Church is that this anniversary urge action to address climate year and the ensuing decade will indeed be a time of grace, a change. true Kairos experience and “Jubilee” time for the Earth, and for humanity, and for all God’s creatures. This anniversary For more information year invites us all to “ecological conversion” in “action”. The http://www.vatican.va/content/ urgency of the situation calls for immediate, holistic and francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/ unified responses at all levels - local, regional, national and -francesco_20150524_enciclica- international. We need, above all, “a peoples’ movement” laudato-si.html from below, an alliance of all people of good will. As Pope www.catholicclimatecovenant.org Francis reminds us, “All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own WeAreSaltAndLight.org culture, experience, involvements and talents” (LS, 14). www.usccb.org/environment We invite you to consider some of the following ways to Page 6 St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

From Pope Francis Catechesis—Prayer for Christian Unity

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! During this time of serious hardship, this prayer is even In this catechesis, we will reflect on the prayer for more necessary so that unity might prevail over conflicts. It is Christian unity. In fact, the week of the 18th to the 25th of urgent that we set aside preferences to promote the common January [was] dedicated specifically to this – to ask God good, and so our good example is fundamental: it is essential for the gift of unity to overcome the scandal of division that Christians pursue the path toward full visible unity. In the between believers in Jesus. After the last decades, thanks be to God, there have , He prayed for His own, been many steps forward, but we still need “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21). to persevere in love and in prayer, without This was His prayer before the Passion, lacking trust or tiring. It is the path that the we could call it His spiritual testament. Holy Spirit gave rise to in the Church, in Let us note, however, that the Lord did Christians and in us, from which there is no not command that His disciples be turning back. Ever onward. united. No, He prayed. He prayed to the To pray means to fight for unity. Yes, Father for us, so that we might be one. fight, because our enemy, the devil, is the This means that we are not able to one who divides, as the word itself says. achieve unity with our own strength. Jesus asks the Holy Spirit for unity, to Above all, unity is a gift, it is a grace to create unity. The devil always divides. He be requested through prayer. always divides because it is convenient for Each one of us needs it. In fact, we know that we are not him to divide. He fosters division everywhere and in any way, capable of preserving unity even within ourselves. Even the while the Holy Spirit always joins in unity. In general, the apostle Paul felt a painful conflict within himself: wanting the devil does not tempt us with high theology, but with the good but inclined toward evil (see Rm 7:19). He had thus weaknesses of our brothers and sisters. He is astute: he grasped the root of so many divisions that surround us – magnifies others’ mistakes and defects, sows discord, between people, in families, in society, between nations and provokes criticism and creates factions. God has another way: even between believers – and inside us. The Second Vatican He takes us as we are, He loves us so much, but He loves us Council stated, “the imbalances under which the world labors as we are and takes us as we are; He takes those of us who are are linked with that more basic imbalance which is rooted in different, He takes sinners, and He always nudges us towards the heart of man. For in man himself many elements wrestle unity. We can evaluate ourselves and ask ourselves if, in the with one another. […] Hence he suffers from internal places in which we live, we nurture conflict or fight for an divisions, and from these flow so many and such great increase of unity with the tools that God has given us: prayer discords in society” (Gaudium et spes, 10). Therefore, the and love. What fuels conflict, instead, is gossip, always solution to these divisions is not to oppose someone, because talking behind peoples’ backs. Gossip is the most handy discord generates more discord. The true remedy begins by weapon the devil has to divide the Christian community, to asking God for peace, reconciliation, unity. divide families, to divide friends, to always divide. The Holy And this is valid, first of all, for Christians. Unity can Spirit always inspires unity. be achieved only as a fruit of prayer. Diplomatic efforts The theme of this Week of Prayer specifically regards and academic dialogue are not enough. These things are love: “Abide in my love and you shall bear much done, but they are not enough. Jesus knew this and opened fruit” (see Jn 15:5-9). The root of communion and love is the way for us by praying. Our prayer for unity is thus a who makes us overcome our prejudices to see in humble but trusting participation in the Lord’s prayer, others a brother or sister to be loved always. Then we will who promised that any prayer said in His name would be discover that the Christians of other confessions – with heard by the Father (see Jn 15:7). At this point, we can ask their traditions, with their history – are gifts from God, ourselves: “Do I pray for unity?” It is Jesus’s will but, if they are gifts present within the territories of our diocesan we inspect the intentions for which we pray, we would and parish communities. Let us begin to pray for them and, probably realize that we have prayed little, perhaps never, when possible, with them. We will thus learn to love and for Christian unity. And yet, the world’s faith depends on appreciate them. Prayer, the Council reminds us, is the it; in fact, the Lord asked that we be one “so that the world soul of every ecumenical movement (see Unitatis might believe” (Jn 17:21). The world will not believe redintegratio, 8). Therefore, may prayer be the starting because we will have convinced it with good arguments, point to help Jesus make His dream come true: that they all but if we will have borne witness to that love that unites us may be one. Thank you. [20 January 2021] and draws us near, yes: it will believe. St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Page 7

St. Thomas the Apostle LIVE Mass on Facebook A convenient way to give to St. Thomas the We continue to stream Mass Apostle Parish—especially in this time of live daily on Facebook at 8am. Covid-19—is through online donations via Visit https:// GiveCentral. You can use this website to www.facebook.com/ make donations to STA using your credit card, debit card or electronic checking St.ThomastheApostleHydePark payments. You can make both one-time and recurring donations. To take advantage /live/ for the livestream and to of this convenient option, visit www.givecentral.org/location/136. We are grateful watch previous Masses. for your support, now more than ever. Thank you.

We have resumed public Masses on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Given the current restrictions on attendance (up to Please Remember in Prayer: Parishioners & friends who are ill: 20% capacity of our church), we are using Sign-up Genius, an Jenny Aniceto, Estrella Alamar, Dorla Allen, Lucas Allen, Romulo Barreno, Betty Black, online tool that allows you to Dorothy Bonds, Emil F. Coccaro, Romy Crena, Esther Dionisio, Sr., Marilyn Epps, reserve space for you and those Sebastian Farmer, Fr. Jack Farry, Foley, Joan Gallagher, Lina Garcia, Fr. Karl in your household for Mass Gersbach, Giles, Pamela Graniczy, Alyce Hammonds, Kathleen Holden, Wm. G. ( https:// Howard, Maria Jimenez, Olga Jimenez, Carolyn Jones, Connie Jose, Charlie King, Mary www.signupgenius.com/ Lerps, Mark Lewis, Corrine Lipinski, Linda Loggins, Mankowski Family, Maridel Moffett, go/9040448A9AA2CA0F49- Anastacia I. Mebane, Clara Morgan, John Moore, Chris Mureiko, Caridad Neal, Carmen reservations). To help ensure Orendain, Edmond Peirre, Agnes Pelt, Sr. Jamie Phelps, David Nathaniel Robinson, Dick that everything runs as smoothly Russel, Nelson R. Sample, Elizabeth Scott, Zahari Simmons, Bobby Sims, Olustee Smith, and peacefully as possible, Coletta Tinley, Charles Walker, Sr., Jo Washington, Julia Washington, Terrance Watson, please review the Parishioner Richard West, Mavis Willis, Marie Bijou Wong, Joan Yedinak Reopening guide online (https:// stapostleparish.org/parish-life/ For those who have died. reopening-our-parish/) and contact us with any questions at May God grant them eternal joy and peace. 773-324-2626.

The Hyde Park Kenwood Food Pantry is open to give out groceries from 10am until 1pm on Saturdays at the Hyde Park Union Church at 56th and Woodlawn. For more information, contact Jan at [email protected].