28th Sunday in Ordinary Time — October 15, 2017 Knights of Columbus Bishop Roger L. Kaffer Council #10944 St. Andrew the Apostle, Romeoville, IL Present A CHILI COOK OFF Saturday, October 21, 2017 505 Kingston Dr. Romeoville, IL Doors open at 5:30 PM after Mass $10 Admission includes: 5 Tickets to Vote for the Best Chili in the area ~ Samples of Contender Chili College Football on TV ~ Cash Bar (featuring Cold Beer and plenty of seating) Unlimited (Eaten at the Event): Hot Dogs and Chili made by our Knights The Opportunity to Buy Additional Supporting Votes for your favorite Chili Hourly basket raffles and a raffle drawing for 4 Chicago Bears tickets Tickets at the door $10 each—if bought in advance 2 for $15 Call Marc 708-268-5566 Page Two October 15, 2017 Mass Intentions This Week E=English P=Polish S=Spanish Ch=Church Monday, October 16 Drama Club 2:30 pn —6:00 pm Parish Hall Saturday, October 14 Prayer Vigil Charismatic 6:30 pm—9:30 pm St. Mary Back Room 204 8:00 AM —Martin Hozjan by Marian Incavo 4:00 PM — Frank and Josephine Kamradt by FrankKamradt Legion of Mary 7:00 pm—9:00 pm Conf. Room A 5:30 PM — John Ray by Elizabeth Ray Tuesday, October 17 Sunday, October 15 Drama Club 2:30 pn —6:00 pm Parish Hall 7:30 AM—(E-Ch) Margaret Homerding by Robert and Rosalie Parish Council 7:00 pm—9:00 pm Parish Office Braasch Rosary 7:00 pm — 7:30 pm St. Francis Room 8:45 AM— (S-Ch) Sr. Anibel Calderon by Sra. Bertha Calderon RCIA 7:00 pm—9:00 pm Conference Room A Sra. Mary H. Ochoa by Deacon Jesse and Polish Mass 7:15 PM Mona Tagle Sr. Donicio Chavez by Guadalupe Chavez Wednesday, October 18 9:00 AM—(E-Hall) Richard Kleffman by Diane Kleffman 10:30 AM—(E-Ch) Ruth Rychetsky by Family Food Pantry 10:00 am — 12:30 pm 10:30 AM—(P-Hall) Intention of Celebrant/Person Drama Club 2:30 pn —6:00 pm Parish Hall 12:00 PM—(E-Hall) Parish Family Adoration 5:30 pm —7:00 pm 12:00 PM—(P-Ch) Collective Mass Intention Curcillo Ultreya 7:00 pm —Room 113 Monday, October 16 Charismatic Group 7:00 pm — 9:30 pm —Church 7:30 AM—Paul and Walter Kowalski by Joan Spanish Adult Choir 7:00 pm — Room 102 AA Meeting 7:30 pm — St. Mary Center (B) Tuesday, October 17 Thursday, October 19 7:30 AM—Robert Duffels by Mary Duffels and Family Drama Club 2:30 pn —6:00 pm Parish Hall Wednesday, October 18 Children’s Choir Practice 4:30 pm—5:30 pm 7:00 AM—Richard Prokopec by Family School of the Word 6:30 pm—9:30 pm Room 105 8:00 AM—Debbie Jurcab by Mom and Dad Adult Choir Practice 7:00 pm—9:00 pm Thursday, October 19 Friday, October 20 7:30 AM —The Deceased Members of the Searcy and Dombrowski Families by the Searcy Family Drama Club 2:30 pm —6:00 pm Parish Hall Friday, October 20 Saturday, October 21 7:30 AM —John Browne by Family School Play 10:00 am—3:00 pm Parish Hall and Kitchen Saturday, October 21 K of C Chili Cook-Off 5:30 pm—11:30 pm Spanish Adoration 8:30 pm—11:30 pm Room 105 and 8:00 AM —Joseph & Bernice Wojciechowski by Daughters Church 4:00 PM — Donna Kamradt by FrankKamradt 5:30 PM — Richard Kapla by Monica Samson Sunday, October 22 Sunday, October 22 RCIA 11:00 am —1:00 pm Conference Room A 7:30 AM—(E-Ch) Parish Family 8:45 AM— (S-Ch) Sra. Mary H. Ochoa by Deacon Jesse and Mona Tagle 9:00 AM—(E-Hall) Thomas Scanlan by Family 10:30 AM—(E-Ch) Andy Wisniewski by Sedlacek Family 10:30 AM—(P-Hall) Intention of Celebrant/Person 12:00 PM—(E-Hall) Margaret Homerding by Mitzie Weck 12:00 PM—(P-Ch) Collective Mass Intention October 15, 2017 Page Three Rev. Gregor Gorsic, Pastor (815) 886-4165 ext. 317 My dear family of St. Andrew the Apostle! RESPECT LIFE! This month of October is dedicated to Our Mother Mary, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, and she is our “Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” Life is precious at all stages, from conception to natural death. It is unfair and untrue to say that those who care for the unborn child do not care for that child after it is born. The whole purpose of our Project Gabriel angels, our parishioners and volunteers, is to help and walk with pregnant women not only through their pregnancy but also for one year after the birth of the child, or more as needed. One of our Project Gabriel angels is our parishioner MaryEllen Peterek, who when asked to reflect on a Pro- Life cause, decided to share her informed thoughts and her experience regarding Capital Punishment. Let us respect life at all stages and remember, we live in times of mercy, God’s Mercy extended and meant for all! Let us extend that mercy as God calls us to. So here below follows this beautiful reflection on the gift of life, even the life of someone who’s committed crimes against others. Our Mother Mary’s message of life seems more relevant than ever! Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!!! In the loving Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Fr. Gregor —————————————————————————— CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND THE DEATH PENALTY (reflections by parishioner MaryEllyn Peterek) In The Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states that the death penalty is permissible in certain cases if the “guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined.” The Church also teaches “that if there are other means available to defend people from the ‘unjust aggressor,’ these means are preferred to the death penalty because they are considered to be more respectful of the dignity of the person and in keeping with the common good.” Because today’s society makes possible effective means for preventing crime without execution, the Catechism (quoting Pope St. John Paul II) states that “the cases in which execution of the offender is an absolute necessity are very rare if not practically nonexistent.” (2267,88) In January 1999, Pope John Paul II, without changing Catholic teaching, appealed for a consensus to end the death penalty on the ground that it was “both cruel and unnecessary.” He said that the criminal offender should be offered “an incentive and help to change his or her behavior and be rehabilitated.” Pope Francis advocated that “capital sentences be commuted to a lesser punishment that allows for time and incentives for the reform of the offender.” The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops states that “Our fundamental respect for every human life and for God, who created each person in his image, requires that we choose not to end a human life in response to violent crimes if non-lethal options are available.” As Catholics, we believe in a consistent ethic of life from conception to natural death. “Where life is involved, the service of charity must be profoundly consistent. It cannot tolerate bias and an indivisible good. We need to show care for all life and for the life of everyone” (Evangelium vitae, 87). The death penalty violates this consistent ethic. According to a 2014 study, at least 4% of those sentenced to death in the United States are innocent. For every 9 people who have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, 1 person has been exonerated after being proven innocent. The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes it clear: “The deliberate murder of an innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being, to the golden rule, and the holiness of the Creator” (2261). Besides executing innocent people along with the guilty, the death penalty also does not often bring healing to victims’ families. For many victims’ families the loss of another life is not the answer. “Pursuing the death penalty would not be the way we would want to honor our daughter’s life, nor would that decision have helped us deal with the painful reminders of her unfulfilled hopes and dreams” (Vicki Schleber, Catholic Mobilizing Network speaker). Over 85% of the nation’s top criminologists believe the death penalty is not a deterrent. Many states where the death penalty has been abolished, the murder rate has fallen significantly. Many law enforcement officials argue that the death penalty does not serve as a deterrence and only re-directs vital resources away from addressing the real cause of crime. In short, the 5th Commandment is “thou shall not kill.” It gives no further explanation than that. That seems to include the government as well. On a personal note, I had an argument with a co-worker one day, a fellow-Catholic, whose reason for not believing in abortion but at the same time believing in the death penalty, was because “the unborn were innocent and criminals were not.” My reply was that I believed, “Life is not a reward for good behavior, it is a free gift from God!” Page Four October 15, 2017 The Society of St. Vincent DePaul St. Andrew the Apostle Conference …neighbor helping neighbor... Our helpline 815-886-4165 ext. 304 All calls are confidential with callbacks within 24 hours. Interested in restarting the 50/50 raffle? What is involved: In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus say: Organize “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” Coordinate ticket printing To give thanks for all that God has given to you, have Stuff and mail you considered answering the call to help serve the envelopes with raffle tickets Poor by joining the Society of St.