Sun. November 21 Solemnity of Christ the King
8:00 Frank Deneen
by Adeline & Jerry Deneen
11:00 People of St. Gerard Majella

Mon. November 22
8:00 Living & Deceased Members of the
Parish
Tues. November 23
8:00 All the Elderly of the Parish
Wed November 24
8:00 All the Sick & Care Givers in the Parish
Thur. November 25 Happy Thanksgiving
8:00 People of St. Gerard Majella
Fri. November 26
8:00 Communion Service

Sat. November 27
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 People of St. Gerard Majella

Sun. November 28 First Sunday in Advent
8:00 All Service Men and Women
11:00 All in Need during this Advent Season

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of November 13th and November 14th. The amount collected was $1,117.53.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK

Linda Jones
Charlotte Ryan
Rita Schreiber
Lou Grimm
Corine Murphy
Ann Dytrych
Julie Laur
Adeline Deneen
Betty Nemecek
Helen Blaha
Betty Paschal
Ann Mysliwiec
Lottie Fik
Gloria Dompier
Eileen Desidero
Bernadine Smith
Lorraine Jarvis
Joseph Scofield
Eugene Orris
Margaret Lee
Roselee Gacke
Brittany Dubs
Lillian Coughlin
Dorothy Loeffler
Cameron
Campbell
Shaun Deneen
Eleanore
Thielmann
Marge Straub
Anyone who is ill in our parish and would like to receive Holy Communion; call (708) 331-8400. If you can be removed from the sick list at this time, please call the parish office.

DATES TO REMEMBER
November 21 Parish Thanksgiving Dinner (2 PM)
November 24 Choir Rehearsal (7 PM)
November 29 SGM Players Meeting (7 PM)
December 6 Parish Council Meeting (7 PM) at Linda's
December 19 Pancake Breakfast

THE GIVING TREE
Our parish will once again be sponsoring a "Giving Tree". The tree will be located in the back of church by the piano. Please take an ornament and buy a Christmas present for the child indicated on the ornament. We ask that all presents be returned (placed under the tree) by no later than December 13th.

THE WOMEN'S CENTER
In the past 20 years we have helped 27,000 mothers and children. We thank God for sending so many wonderful people to help us in this ministry to families.
Last year 1,675 children and adults attended our annual client Christmas parties. At the party each family enjoyed a light meal. The children had their picture taken with Santa Claus, and they received toys and apparel. We extend in this ministry to families. We extend a big "thank you" to those who provide the gifts through sharing trees. Can you, or do you know a business which can, provide a donation of food (e.g. chips, cookies, hot dogs, buns, fruit, desserts, candy, kool-aid) and/or Polaroid film? Please call Carroll at (773) 794-1313.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
The Women's Center is looking for the following volunteers: 1) Professionals with computer, marketing, Power Point presentation development and writing skills. 2) People on Saturdays to assist our clients with the selection of clothing and other material needs from our Family Room. 3) People to sort clothing donations. You can name your own hours anytime Monday through Saturday from 9 AM until 5 PM. 4) People for phones to handle Christmas party responses. 5) People to assist in our counseling offices. Please call (773) 794-1313 for information on any of these opportunities to be helpful.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS
Hear yea! Hear yea! We are starting our 18th year selling the Entertainment coupon books for St. Gerard Majella. The books sell for $20.00 each with the church getting $4.00 for each book sold. We need your support! Buy a book and save big when you visit participating restaurants. See Norm Cole (333-5188), Lee Palys (331-7254) or DoDo Dove (331-6603) for more information or to purchase a book.

CHRISTMAS CHOIR
Rehearsals for St. Gerard Majella's annual Christmas choir will be held each Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM in the church. We encourage and invite everyone to join us. We will carol before the "midnight Mass" on Christmas Eve and sing during the Mass.
Here is an opportunity for you to participate and be an active part of the Mass. Music is an important form of prayer.

MASS AT HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL
We have two tickets available for the 150th anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on December 8, 2004 at 5:15 PM. If you would like to attend this Mass, please call Linda in the parish office. The tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Cardinal George will be celebrating this Mass.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Are you looking for a fun volunteer opportunity? Consider joining the volunteers at Neat Repeats Resale. All proceeds from our stores in Orland Park and Worth benefit the Crisis Center for South Suburbia. There are a variety of volunteer positions available. We are looking for donation transporters and sorters, as well as volunteers to work evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To learn more about volunteer opportunities call (708) 361-6860 or (708) 364-7605.
The Crisis Center of South Suburbia is a non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter and comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence.

VOCATION RETREAT FOR WOMEN
Do you think you might have a vocation to be a Sister? You are invited to a weekend retreat for single women to discern if God is calling you to Religious Life. Learn about Religious Life with time to reflect and share with others who are searching. Friday night to Sunday noon, November 19-21, 2004. Given by the Sisters of the Holy cross at St. Mary's at Notre Dame, Indiana.
Call (574) 284-5653 or email at maryssong1@aol.com for information and reservations.

FOSTER CARE INFORMATION
If you'd consider opening your home and your heart to someone in need of a home, you might plan on attending one of the following foster parenting classes. Everyone is welcome, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or economic circumstances.
For more information call (312) 655-7200.

SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.
However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.
A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm.
This should give the heart attack victim time to get to the hospital.

CELEBRATION OF GIVING
Catholic Charities is sponsoring a month-long effort to collect Christmas gifts for thousands of children and families they serve called Celebration of Giving (Unwrap the Spirit).
Sponsor-a-family reaches out to families who are most in need, responding to their basic wishes for items such as clothing, household items, books, or school supplies. To sponsor a family, contact Shannon McClowry at (312) 948-7174.
This is a wonderful way for your entire family to understand the true meaning of Christmas and help a family struggling to make ends meet.

WHAT IS YOUR CATHOLIC IQ?
The answers for last week's questions are 1 (c), 2 (d), 3 (a), 4 (a), 5 (c).

Our questions this week are:
1. The feast usually celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas is called the feast of (a) the Three Kings; (b) the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; (c) St Wenceslaus; (d) St. Stephen.
2. The custom of using an Advent wreath originated with (a) German Lutherans; (b) New England Puritans; (c) Byzantine Ukrainians; (d) Greek Orthodox.
3. Catacombs were (a) underground networks of burial chambers; (b) used extensively by early Christians; (c) often places used to celebrate Mass venerating martyrs; (d) all of the above.
4. On the last Sunday of the Church year, we celebrate the feast of (a) Our Lord Christ the King; (b) the Assumption; (c) the Transfiguration; (d) the Annunciation of the Lord.
5. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the patroness of the United States under the title (a) Our Lady of Lourdes; (b) Theotokos; (c) Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception; (d) Our Lady of Medjugorje.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
"Brothers and Sisters; Let us give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light." Colossians 1:12

How do you thank God for making you an heir to the kingdom of Heaven? How do you care for and support that kingdom that you will inherit some day? These are the questions that every good steward must answer.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Jesus reigns as king from His cross, granting entrance into paradise. The cross ties together the heavens and the earth and all around it. The cross is the ladder by which we climb to the heavenly wedding banquet; it is the place where time and eternity meet; it is the flowering Tree of Paradise. The cross is the bridge over the gulf between this world and the next. The cross is where the flow of the Holy Spirit enters into time and space and where we are sucked up into the sweet presence of the Trinity.