Mon. February 21
8:00 Charlotte Ryan
by Fr. Joseph Altman
Tues. February 22
8:00 Evelyn & Vicki Jackson
by Frances & Daniel Smith
Wed February 23
8:00 Daniel Geist
by Geist Family
Thur. February 24
8:00 Communion Service
Fri. February 25
8:00 Tony Hernandez
by Sr. Catherine
Sat. February 26
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 Catherine Rasinski
by Norm & Rita Cole
Sun. February 27 Third Sunday of Lent
8:00 Doris Boysen
by Jean & Fred Willey
11:00 People of St. Gerard Majella

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of Feb. 12th and Feb. 13th. The amount collected was $1,262.87.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK
Linda Jones
Ann Knight
Rita Schreiber
Lou Grimm
Corine Murphy
Ann Dytrych
Julie Laur
Adeline Deneen
Betty Nemecek
Helen Blaha
Betty Paschal
Ann Mysliwiec
Lottie Fik
Osie Dompier
Eileen Desidero
Bernadine Smith
Lorraine Jarvis
Clara Migas
Eugene Orris
Margaret Lee
Roselee Gacke
Brittany Dubs
Lillian Coughlin
Dorothy Loeffler
Cameron
Campbell
Shaun Deneen
Eleanore
Thielmann
Marge Straub
Jorge Rodriguez
Della Herrod
Tess O'Hern
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
Feb. 21 Women's Guild Meeting (7 PM)

ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL
There will be a second collection taken up at all Masses this weekend for the annual Catholic Appeal. Please be as generous as you can.

LENTEN REGULATIONS
Following are the regulations for abstinence and fasting to be observed by Catholics during Lent:
A fast abstinence is prescribed for Good Friday, Mar. 25th, and recommended for Holy Saturday, Mar. 26th. Fasting is observed by all Catholics between 18 and 59. Those bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one's needs, but eating solid food between meals is not permitted.
Abstinence from meat is observed by all Catholics 14 and older on all Fridays of Lent.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross will be celebrated every Friday evening during Lent starting at 7:00 PM. Everyone is encouraged to participate in this traditional observance. If you know someone who would like to attend but prefers not to drive at night, why not offer to drive them to church?

MISERICORDIA CANDY DAYS
Misericordia is looking for volunteers to help with their "candy days" sale on April 29th & 30th, 2005. In 2005, Misericordia must raise almost $10 million for program costs not covered by the government.
For more information call (773) 273-2768 or visit www.misericordia.org.

A DAY AT THE RACES
The Archdiocesan council of Catholic Women (ACCW) is sponsoring an outing on Saturday, March 5, 2005 to the Hawthorne Race Course (3501 S. Laramie Ave. Stickney/Cicero, IL.) "They're off" at 11:30 AM. There is ample parking available: Valet -$5.00, Preferred -$3.00, and General -$2.00. There is no parking fee for buses. For a fee of $35.00 you will dine at the Finish Line Buffet Turf Club and can enjoy the excitement of the racing. The deadline for making your reservations is February 25, 2005. You can contact the ACCW at 155 E. Superior St. Chicago, IL. 60611.

ACCW SCHOLARSHIP
The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women will be awarding a $500.00 scholarship to the candidate who meets the group's requirements and submits the best 300 word essay using the subject: "What it means to be a Catholic Women in the World Today". For more information contact the parish office or the ACCW Scholarship Committee.

WOMEN OF GRACE
Women of Grace Conference comes to Chicago, IL. Johnette Benkovic, founder and director of Living His Life Abundantly International, Inc., and Women of Grace, invite you to attend the Chicago Women of Grace Conference at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare Hotel - April 22-24, 2005. For registration information, call (800) 558-5452 or visit www.womenofgrace.com today! Seating is limited.

KEEPING IN TOUCH
Two members of our parish have moved away to live with family members. They would love to hear from their St. Gerard Family. If you have a chance, please send a note to Rosalee Gacke at 754 Savannah Lane Crystal Lake, IL. 60014 and Lil Coughlin at 12805 Silver Creek Austin. Texas 78727. You will brighten their day.

CLEANING THE CLUTTER
You can clean the clutter out of your closets and use those extra things to create a home for a refugee family. Every month refugee women and their families arrive in the Chicago area. They fled violence and persecution in their homelands, and our government invites them to rebuild their lives in our community. These families have left everything behind, arriving usually with only the clothes they are wearing.
You can help by donating those sheets and towels that no longer match your décor, the glassware and dishes which "might come in handy someday", the things that you have kept because they are too good to throw away but are no longer being used.
For more information call (312) 773-8433 or (630) 307-1400. But don't delay. You can clean out the clutter - and change a life!

MOVIE DAY
The SGM Players will be showing the Mel Gibson movie "The Passion" in Shevlin Hall on March 13th at 12:30 PM. This depiction of the last days of Christ is graphic in nature and viewer discretion is recommended. During Lent we are compelled to think about what Jesus did for us. The club chose a Sunday afternoon for this viewing to better accommodate the parishioners attending St. Gerard Majella Church. Bring a comfortable chair and invite others to see this stirring film with you.

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
We would like to have a choir for Easter. We need your help. For only a small investment of your time and talent you can be an essential part of our church's Easter celebrations. Watch the bulletin for rehearsal dates and times.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Our sister church, Ascension/St. Susanna will be presenting the Living Stations of the Cross on March 11th. We will give you more information as it becomes available.

GAME NIGHT
The SGM Players are interested in hosting a "game night" at St. Gerard. It would be open to anyone. You bring the game you want to play and hopefully some friends to play it with you. It doesn't cost anything, but it would be nice if you brought a treat to share. We already have yahtzee, cards, dice, dominos, and scrabble.
If you are interested, let Linda or Eric know. That way there will be enough tables and chairs set up. We will pick a date sometime in March after we find out which date is better for the most people.

WHAT'S YOUR CATHOLIC IQ?
The answers to last week's questions are: (1) a; (2) c; (3) b; (4) d; (5) d.

1. The technical term that designates the similarities in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke is (a) Synoptic; (b) Arian; (c) Canonical; (d) Evangelist.
2. The pope who has canonized more saints than any other pope is (a) Paul VI; (b) John Paul II; (c) Pius XII; (d) John XXIII.
3. The vessel used for wine and water at the consecration of the Mass is (a) a chalice; (b) an alb; (c) a purificator; (d) a chasuble.
4. A popular Lenten parish program of the Catholic Relief Services is (a) Lenten Lentils; (b) Operation Rice Bowl; (c) Monastery Soups; (d) Meager Meals.
5. The ashes used on Ash Wednesday (a) are considered a sacramental, not a sacrament: (b) are made from previous Palm Sunday palms; (c) are a symbol of repentance; (d) all of the above.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
We do special things through out the season of Lent. Sometimes we pay so much attention to what we are doing or giving up that we forget to pay attention to Jesus, the Son of God. In this weeks Gospel we hear about Peter, James, and John with Jesus at the top of a mountain. Here they see Moses, and Elijah standing with Jesus. What a remarkable moment it must have been for Peter, James and John as they saw Moses and Elijah, men who played meaningful roles in the history of the Jewish people. And there, on the mountain top they see their friend Jesus in the company of these religious giants.
Then they hear God's voice telling them to pay attention to Jesus in their midst. God said, "This is my beloved Son...listen to Him."
As God wanted the Apostles to bring their attention attentions solely on Jesus, we also need to bring our attention to Jesus during this special season.
Dear God of Wondrous Things,
As we live these days of Lent, we learn more about your saving love for us. Help us to grow closer to you through these days of prayer and fasting.
Amen.