March 29, 2015 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Parish Office: 773.486.4300 Masses: Parish Fax: 773.252.5346 Monday-Thursday: 7:00 a.m. Friday: 8:30 a.m. School Office: 773.486.1334 Saturday (Vigil): 5:00 p.m. School Fax: 773.486.1782 Sunday: 8:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., www.stjohnberchmans.org 11:30 a.m. (Spanish), & 6:30 p.m. 2517 Logan Boulevard Chicago, IL 60647 Reconciliation (Confession): Saturday: 4:00 p.m. Weekdays: by Appointment S A C R E D P A S C H A L T R ID U UM Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord March 29, 2015 Wayne’s World Will You Make This Week Holy? Dear Friends, We can learn a lot about life and living in Christ from the Letter to the Over the last several days we have had hints of Philippians. Jesus turned the Jewish expectation of Messiah upside down. spring, a touch of summer and a reminder that winter He came not as royalty but in poverty. He served rather than allowed himself can still bite us. In the midst of it all the Church to be served. He lived humbly and obediently. What we learn from the universal prepares for the springtime of Easter. We’ve Suffering Servant, and from the Passion of Christ, though, may direct us in want almost made it! As we declare we’ve almost made it, a different way than we to go, certainly in a way contrary to the way let’s hear these words from the Roman Missal and take modern society would have it. them to heart. Jesus does not refuse his divine vocation; he does the will of the Father, Dear brothers and sisters, whether it is easy or difficult. Only when we humble ourselves do we allow since the beginning of Lent until now we have God’s Spirit to dwell in us. Only when we obey the Lord God do we find prepared our hearts by penance and charitable works. true freedom. Only when we empty ourselves can God fill us with his never- Today we gather together to herald with ending love. In our own personal and communal suffering, the Lord God will the whole Church the beginning of the celebration indeed be our help. Holy Week allows us to reflect on these truths. of our Lord’s Paschal Mystery, that is to say, These days define who we are as Catholic Christians; they give us a of his Passion and Resurrection. purpose, and promise us that we can live forever. I guarantee you that if For it was to accomplish this mystery you invest your time into truly entering into the mysteries Holy Thursday that he entered his own city of Jerusalem. (7:30pm), Good Friday (3:00pm in Spanish and 7:30pm in English), and Holy Therefore, with all faith and devotion, Saturday (7:30pm), you will not be disappointed. The Passover of the let us commemorate the Lord’s entry into the city Lord, the Paschal Mystery is upon us. Will you make this week holy? for our salvation,following in his footsteps, Please do. And bring your friends! Let’s fill the Church this week! so that, being made by his grace partakers of the Cross, With a joyful hope I invite you to revel in the accounts of everything we may have a share also in his Resurrection and in his life. that happens this week. I cannot stress to you enough how important it is So many people have asked how the Church determines the date of for Catholics to truly enter into the events of this week. March 29 – April 5, Easter each year. The answer might surprise you. It involves the sun and 2015 has the potential of changing us forever. Let’s not just live as if it’s just the moon. In the Roman Catholic Church we celebrate Easter on the first another week. Make this week holy. Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The vernal equinox Peace, occurred last Friday, March 20. The full moon is actually Saturday April 4 and the first Sunday after that is April 5. Church days begin at sundown on the evening before the actual day. So, Saturday April 4, 2015, at sundown, under the light of the full moon, we will begin our Easter festivities at Saint John Berchmans (which, by the way last for fifty days!). I hope you’ll join us. Much happens, though, before Saturday’s sundown. Today we enter For Easter, may I suggest that you invite one or two friends to join us as the holiest week of our liturgical year. We join Jesus as he prepares for his we celebrate? Help to spread the word that all are welcome at Saint John passion, death and saving resurrection. In the processional Gospel, which we Berchmans. Invite your friends and neighbors to the three-day liturgy of the read after blessing the palms we will carry and place in a prominent spot in Triduum, or have them join you to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord on our homes, Jesus instructs his disciples to go ahead of him and prepare the Easter Sunday morning. The best gift you can give someone is the joy the Passover. The disciples do exactly as Jesus commands and in doing so unleash Easter victory offers. I hope we have a full church at each of our very special the drama of the Paschal Mystery. Maybe even unwittingly they participate in services. the saving power of Christ’s selfless love. Those words of Jesus and the actions of his imperfect disciples urge us to join him on his journey this week - and throughout our lives. Our Mission: Rooted in Christ, touched by His love and mercy, the Saint John Berchmans community finds unity in its diversity, proclaims by Word, Sacrament, and service, that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and declares that all are welcome in this place. 2 March 29, 2015 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord THE YEAR OF THE SACRAMENTS POPE FRANCIS’ VISION OF HEALING AND COMMUNION (JULY 2014 - JUNE 2015) Parish Announcements TAKE IN Individual Christians are never meant to be closed in on themselves. Jesus says, “Love one CHURCH CLEANING FOR EASTER another as I have loved you.” In effect, the Please join us on Sunday, March 29th as we join together in cleaning our disciples of Jesus live lives open to others. The same is true for Christian spiritual home in preparation for Easter. We will begin at 2pm. families built on the foundations of the sacrament of Marriage. These families, if they are to be true to their Christian identity, are centers HOLY THURSDAY ADORATION of hospitality. They take in others. They receive them and support them. They make a space, especially for those who are most in need. On Holy Thursday, we will again have the Exposition of the Blessed Taking in others and caring for them, of course, does not mean that Sacrament following the 7:30pm Mass until midnight. Please consider families are disrupted or meant to be without their own integrity. It committing some time to pray with our community in the presence of the does mean that every family has a mission that it must discover. This Blessed Sacrament before Good Friday. mission is to be a receiving presence in this world, whether that is in a soup kitchen or through adoption or more direct care of relatives in HOLY THURSDAY BUS PILGRIMAGE need. In every case, the Christian family lives beyond itself. Also on Holy Thursday, following the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Saint John Berchmans will continue the beautiful tradition of visiting the Blessed Sacrament in seven churches around Chicago. Transportation will be provided, so reserve your spot on the bus by signing up in the vestibule. 2015 Annual Catholic Appeal Suggested donation is $5 or $10, payable on the bus. Debt Reduction Program BLESSING OF THE EASTER FOODS Please join us at 12 noon on Holy Saturday, April 4th for the traditional “Your Gift Gives Twice” blessing of the Easter Food. All are welcome to bring their Easter meal for a special blessing. EASTER EGG HUNT Holy Week and Easter Schedule St. John Berchmans Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Easter Sunday Holy Thursday: April 2nd immediately following the 9:45am & 11:30am Masses. Come out after Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper - 7:30pm (Bilingual) Mass and join us in the courtyard. Parents, please be mindful that many Good Friday: April 3rd small children participate in this event. This is the perfect opportunity to 3:00pm (Spanish) & 7:30pm (English) share a lesson in Christian charity with your children, by asking the older ones to help the little ones. This way it will be enjoyable for all. Blessing of Easter Foods: April 4th ~ 12:00pm ANOINTING MASS Holy Saturday: April 4th Easter Vigil - 7:30pm (Bilingual) On Saturday, April 11th there will be an anointing Mass at 5:00pm. All those who are ill in body or mind are welcome to come and be anointed. Easter Sunday: April 5th Mass of the Resurrection - 8:15am & 9:45am (English) 11:30am (Spanish) All are Welcome at Saint John Berchmans! At the Easter Vigil Mass, after a great deal of preparation and inquiry, the members of our RCIA If you are new to our church or just visiting, please stop and introduce yourself.