ST. BENEDICT PARISH Confirmation 2021 The following Confi rmandi spent the past two years preparing to receive their final Sacrament of Initiation. They completed service hours in their homes, our parish community, and in the larger community beyond our boundaries. They connected with their sponsor, their Saint, and were Alexis Elizabeth Morrissey able to grow in faith and develop a deeper relationship with Christ with the Fabian Peter Munante guidance of our dedicated teachers, catechists, parents, and sponsors. Claire Teresa Murphy Thank you to all in our community who prayed for Carlos Gerard Penaranda these young people as they prepared. Zalia Cecilia Perez Sydney Paul Periolat Gregory George Alegria Owen Sebastian Goergen Maximilian Lawrence Pydych Michael Almodovar Isabelle Cecilia Grady Anna Dymphna Queroz Juliana Angela Merici Apezzato Erin Catherine Guilfoyle Bryanna Catherina Rea Annalyn Adelaide Atwood Lucy Catherine Hawk Jack George Rich Mary Jayne Catherine Aylward Sophie Madeline Hey Austin Paul Rieckelman Alexandra Elena Barrios Peter Francis Hortatsos Mateo Luke Rimando Arianna Dymphna Barrios Finley Finbar Hynes Megan Dymphna Rivera Nora Cecilia Beach William Sebastian Hynes Peter Francis Roarty Sean Anthony Brannigan Mason Christopher Jurewicz Lauren Genevieve Ruder Grace Francis Cantu Lucinda Catherine Kirkland August George Ruf Amia Mary Carreno Moira Maria Angelica Koleno John Patrick Russell Addison Catherine Casey Anthony Raymond Kraman Tiernan Sebastian Ryan Thomas Gregory Claffey Francesca Cecilia Kromkowski Maura Joan Schumacher Riley Cecilia Clary Alex Sebastian Lagges Lily Gabriella Schwartz Abbie Maria Contreras June Catherine Lamb Francesco Sebastian Sessa Annabella Catherine Contreras Sophia Hildegard Lee Isabella Teresa Shifrin Daniel Brendan Dace Olivia Alexandra Leydon Juliana Cecilia Stanton William Kateri De Allaume Colin Joseph Lindquist Kelsey Fiacre Sullivan Olivia Caroline Divizio Aidan Francis Lish Quinn Joan Urquhart Jolien Rose Dizon Serafina Joan Malven James George Van Dyke Ethan Dominic Eustaquio Claire Abigail Mangan Margaret Catherine Walsh Bailey Lucy Ferguson Michael Joseph Marsico William Matthew Zakaras Sydney Cecilia Gaietto Frederick Michael Matvias Daniel Sebastian Rink, Christina Michael Galiano Isabel Gemma McCarthy will be confirmed at Morgan Catherine Gallagher Maeve Galintine McCarthy St Ignatius of Loyola in Denver, CO Gianni Michael Giunta Kara Agnes Menke Darjus Segovia, will be confirmed at Gavin Sebastian Glibowski Oscar William Moffitt St Ambrose in Grosse Pointe, MI Anya Gianna Molla Moore ST. BENEDICT PARISH AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL The Steward MAY 2, 2021 | FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER “Let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” — 1 JOHN 3:18 THE YEAR OF Saint Joseph By Fr. tom refermat, associate pastor brother. One of the gifts he inherited was a group A few years ago I was on a vacation to a usual of rare relics from various saints. He had asked the spot where each day I concelebrated Mass local parish if they wanted them with the condition with the local priest. After years of visiting this place, that they put them on display. The local parish I got to know many of the weekday parishioners. One refused them, so he was looking for a parish who such man was also a Minister of Care for a few sick would take them and put them on display for all to in the parish. One day, we sat down and he began see and venerate. to tell me a story. He was taking care of an elderly He offered the relics to me. After a few days gentleman whose brother was a priest. The FOLLOW US ON of thinking what I could do, I accepted priest had died, and the elderly gentleman the relics and agreed to place them in a inherited many artifacts from his priestly prominent place in my parish in Chicago. @STBENSCHICAGO ST. BENEDICT PARISH & PREPARATORY SCHOOL 2215 W. IRVING PARK ROAD CHICAGO, IL 60618 | WWW.STBENEDICT.COM MASS SCHEDULE: Saturday 5 PM Sunday 8 AM and 10 AM RECONCILIATION: Saturdays 11 AM The following day, he handed me a set of around six 1st (May Day) was attributed to Saint Joseph the relics. These were no ordinary relics, but some of Worker, who reminds us that work can be sanctified them contained very rare items that are not given when dedicating your work to God. out anymore. There was a piece of the veil of the The reason why I mention all of this is that the Virgin Mary, a relic of Saint Anne (Mary’s mother), Holy Father has declared this year, 2021 as the and a piece of the cloak of Saint Joseph. Each relic Year of Saint Joseph. From December 8th, 2020 contained the paperwork that authenticated the until December 8th, 2021 the Universal Church relic as real. will highlight Saint Joseph to celebrate the 150th With a little budget, I knew that these saints Anniversary of Saint Joseph being declared Patron deserved a special honor in my parish. I was able to of the Universal Church (declared in 1870). contract a carpenter who cut a board for each saint. During this year, plenary indulgences can be In the top of the board was a poster of the icon of gained if we honor the saint. Actually, the actions the saint. Below the icon a little hole was drilled to are quite general and allow for a great amount of allow for the relic to be safely and securely placed. creativity on the Faithful’s part. Here are some of They continue to hang in the back of Saint John the ways in which you can gain a plenary indulgence Vianney Parish in honor of the saints whose relics I for the Year of Saint Joseph: had received. A. Meditate on the Our Father for at least Each relic held a special place in my heart and 30 minutes I learned many things about these saints. One of B. Perform a Corporal or Spiritual work of the relics was a piece of the cloak of Saint Joseph. mercy, inspired by the life of Saint Joseph At first, I was disappointed that I did not have a first (this can be pretty creative) class relic, but a mere second class. A first class C. Pray the Rosary with family or a couple, relic is a piece of the saint’s bone or body; a second modeling the virtues of the Holy Family class relic is something that was used by the saint, D. Dedicate with confidence your daily such as a piece of clothing, a book, or a shovel. After work to the protection of Saint Joseph the searching online, I discovered that there are no first Worker, including the efforts of those who class relics of Saint Joseph. This was puzzling to me. are unemployed or seeking a more Why would the second greatest saint, second only dignified work to Mary, not have a tomb or a place to be laid after E. Devoutly recite the Litany of Saint Joseph death? F. Devoutly recite another approved prayer to There is an old legend that says that there are no Saint Joseph. first class relics of Saint Joseph because the body Of course each plenary indulgence can be gained of Saint Joseph was taken up into heaven sometime once per day with the prescription of going to Mass after his death. Now of course it must have that day, confession within 8 days (before or after happened after Christ’s death and resurrection, but the act), and a prayer for the Holy Father. Because there are no relics of Saint Joseph’s body. the coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult Saint Joseph is known as the patron saint of a to get to daily Mass and/or confession, the Apostolic holy death. This is because it is believed that Saint Penitentiary has allowed for those who cannot get to Joseph died before Jesus’ public ministry, since Mass or confession during the prescribed time, to go there is no mention of Saint Joseph seeing Jesus when they are able. Some places may be in lockdown or being with Mary. So sometime in Jesus’ teenage or make it difficult to get to Mass or confession. years or early adulthood would have been the In any case, Saint Joseph is a saint whom I hold time Saint Joseph died. If this happened, then it is close to my heart and look up to him as a great assumed Saint Joseph was surrounded by Jesus and example for someone who worked hard, said little, Mary at the time of his death. What a beautiful gift and guarded the Holy Family. As an example, Saint to have our Lord and our Lady at your side at your Joseph reminds me to guard families and grow in deathbed. Hence, he is the patron saint of a happy holiness by doing my best when I work. I don’t always death. live up to this great saint, but aspire to continue Yesterday, May 1st, we also celebrated Saint to try. I hope this year of Saint Joseph may not Joseph, the Worker. In 1955, Communist countries go unnoticed, but inspired us to stay close to our celebrated International Workers’ Day on May Lord as Saint Joseph did, and guard Him in our own 1st. To counteract and Christianize the feast, May families. Saint Joseph, pray for us! FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER | May 2, 2021 | parish.stbenedict.com | Page 3 Written by THE May 2, 2021 FAITHFUL DISCIPLE Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 9:26-31 | 1 Jn 3:18-24 | Jn 15:1-8 GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE + Go Today’s readings are at once challenging and reassuring. Challenging, because we are to remain in Christ, by “[keep- ing] his commandments and [doing] what pleases him”; and reassuring, because we know that the Holy Spirit is with us and we can “have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask.” As Jesus says to us, “I am the vine, you are the branches … without me you can do nothing.” Through the Eucharist, the sacraments of the Church, Sacred Scripture, and in belonging to a faith community, God gives us many ways to grow closer to Jesus, and to direct our life toward him.