TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME . RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY Our heartfelt congratulations to Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School named as a 2018 Blue Ribbon for Academic Excellence Award Winner by the United States Department of Education Page Two TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME . RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY October 7, 2018 Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School is proud to be recognized for a second time as a NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL 2008 and 2018 In 2008, when Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School first became eligible to apply for Blue Ribbon status, we were honored and proud to be named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. It is with great pride that we share the news that Cardinal Bernardin School — your parish school — received their second recognition in September 2018, as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. To receive the award once is a distinguished achievement. To receive the designation twice is an honor very few schools will ever achieve. This award, which recognizes our students’ achievement through their hard work and dedication, would not have been possible without the exemplary efforts of our exceptional teaching and support staff, the engagement of our dedicated and supportive parents, and of course, the long-standing commitment of the pastors of our four sponsoring parishes. Additionally and importantly, CJB school wants to thank the parish staff and the parishioner families of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Julie Billiart, and St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr for their prayers, support and encouragement over the years. We are now prouder than ever to be YOUR PARISH SCHOOL. CJB SCHOOL REGISTRATION Cardinal Bernardin School is a regional, multi-parish school – for 3-year-old through 8th Grade students serving the parishes of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Julie Billiart, and St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr. Please contact Mrs. Cynthia Devlin at 708-403-6525 extension 127 or email [email protected] for registration information. And, please “save the date” of Sunday, January 27, 2019 (1pm until 3pm) for our Catholic School’s Week OPEN HOUSE. Be sure to tell your family and friends with school-aged children! October 7, 2018 TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME . RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY Page Three CORCORAN’S CORNER Silver Jubilee Celebration… Congratulations to Harold and Carol Davis, Long-time St. Elizabeth Parish Deacon Frank Gildea “Christifidelis Award Winner”… celebrated his 25th Anniversary as a deacon for the Arch- This Sunday afternoon, Oct. 7, at Holy Name Cathedral, diocese of Chicago this past May. Minor health issues, and Cardinal Blase Cupich will bestow the Christifidelis Award summer vacation schedules did not allow us to celebrate to long-time St. Elizabeth Seton parishioners Harold and this milestone until now. This Sunday, Oct. 7, at 10:00 AM, Carol Davis. They will be joined by awardees from par- we will celebrate this anniversary with a Mass of Thanks- ishes across our Archdiocese of Chicago, who through their giving. Please plan on joining our parish celebration for service and faithfulness, have enhanced the life of our local coffee and cake after this 10:00 AM Mass in the downstairs parishes. Carol and Harold have been active members of O’Mara Hall. many parish organizations. Harold is a sacristan, volunteer for Social Action Ministry, and member of our Men’s Club Parish Ministry Fair… and Seniors of Seton. Carol is involved as a Eucharistic This weekend of October 6/7, and then on October Minister, Minister of Consolation, Social Action Ministry 27/28 we will hold our parish Ministry Fair that highlights all member, SWIFT (Southwest Interfaith Team) parish repre- our parish activities, ministries, and organizations. This sentative, member of Seniors of Seton, Women’s Club, and weekend our focus is on educational as well as parish life Scripture Study. Harold and Carol have participated on organizations, activities, and ministries. October 27/28 we many parish building campaign drives, and Renew My will focus on Human Concerns and Spiritual Life organiza- Church initiatives. They have been a home away from tions, activities, and ministries. These groups offer us all a home for over 25 seminarians over the years as they have chance for formation, growth, service, and camaraderie. fostered Hispanic seminarians from Casa Jesus, Mundelein Visit the tables in the Narthex and check out what they Seminary and Columban Missionaries. We congratulate have to offer, and consider being part of them. A parish- them on this well deserved recognition. By accepting this ioner shared a story with me that while he has been active award they represent so many others in our parish that in the parish for many years, his spouse recently joined a make our local church a vital and vibrant community, group she had interest and talent in. People continue to reaching out in ministering to a much wider community. discover their niche in order to use the gifts that God has Rites of Enrollment… given them, and build up his kingdom here on earth. Next Sunday, Oct. 14, at 10:00 AM Mass, we will have the Rite of Enrollment for parish 2nd graders who will receive A Blessing of Children Today... the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy This weekend, October 6-7, at all Masses, we will bless Communion in the coming year. Please keep the children all children who are aged five and younger. October 2nd and their families in your prayers during the year ahead as was the Church’s Feast of the Guardian Angels, and we they prepare for these sacraments. bless our youngest parishioners at this time of year, asking At 10:00 AM Mass on Sunday, Oct. 21, we will have the God to protect them. Rite of Enrollment for all parish 7th graders and their families as they begin a two-year period of preparation to receive the Thanks to All… Sacrament of Confirmation in 2020. Seventh and 8th grades Thanks to our Women’s Club, Men’s Club, and the Sen- are important periods of formation in a teen’s life. Please iors of Seton for “hosting and sponsoring” last weekends keep them in your prayers as they enter this challenging reception celebrating Bishop Ron Hicks’ ordination as period of growth and formation. bishop. It was a wonderful afternoon. The choir, musicians and liturgical dancers enhanced our rejoicing and thanks to For the “Eagle-Eyed”... God with their musical and artistic gifts. The goodies at the Some of you may notice this weekend that I have reception were very good, and their was a great spirit of had minor surgery on my left eye. [No...not to warmth and joy in the parish. The parish gifted Bishop Ron remove lines, wrinkles and bags!]. I needed a with a sum of money for vestments he will need. cornea debridement. Apparently our corneas should be smooth like a pool ball. Mine have valleys and ridges. Annual Appeal… So this past Wednesday the doctor went in with a You may remember a weekend last February that I sponge and a chemical to smooth my cornea. They preached on the Archdiocese of Chicago Annual Catholic offered me a pill to put me in “La-La Land” or anesthesia Appeal while under the weather with the flu and 103° fever. to knock me out. I chose the anesthesia for their sake. In April, we received the early results showing that we had If I was conscious at all I would have fought them to the only achieved about $54,000 of our $70,173 goal. The re- death and it would not have been pretty. Believe me, cent September update shows that we reached — and sur- they want me put out. It takes 30 days for a full recovery, passed — our goal with $70,562 pledged! At first I thought and then they will do my right eye. If all goes well I my illness really screwed up the appeal this year — and should be well enough to be functioning this weekend, that I did not even get a sympathy vote! But at the end of though maybe using dark glasses, and looking like a the day you all came through most generously. Thanks! “man of mystery”. Page Four TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME . RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY October 7, 2018 CORCORAN’S CORNER School Award a 2018 Blue Ribbon Award school are chosen for this distinction each year by the De- partment of Education. To reach that high level of achieve- for Academic Excellence... ment, to maintain it for a decade, and to be recognized This past Monday, Oct. 1, the United States Department again for such a high standard is something rightly to be of Education announced that our Cardinal Joseph Bernar- proud of and to celebrate. As one of the four parishes din Catholic School was one of forty-nine 2018 Blue Ribbon which sponsor this regional Catholic School located on our for Academic Excellence winners. parish campus, is a wonderful moment for our parish com- The Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School first received this munity which has so strongly supported this excellent distinction ten years ago in 2008. In the intervening years school. the school has remained such a Blue Ribbon for Academic In an era when the “meme” in the media is that Excellence School, by maintaining its standards and “teachers can not teach, students are not learning, and scores. But in December 2017, it applied again for official our schools are failing,” at least in our corner of the world consideration for this distinction. The school did so after we are doing something outstanding and worthwhile in my encouraging [nagging] them for the past three years forming the next generation.