Mon. March 14
8:00 Tony Hernandez
by Marie Craig
Tues. March 15
8:00 The Sick & Caregivers in the parish
Wed March 16
8:00 Nikki Grimshaw
by Kevin Fagan & Linda Thusing
Thur. March 17
8:00 Communion Service
Fri. March 18
8:00 All the Elderly
7PM Stations of the Cross
Sat. March 19
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 Joseph T. Gill
by Joanne Mensching & Family
Sun. March 20 Palm Sunday
8:00 SR. M. Patrick PBVM
by Sr. Katherine & Sr. Lou
11:00 Ann Gilbert
by Fr. Bob Gilbert

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of March 5th and March 6th. The amount collected was $1,813.00.

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
Tess O'Hern
Clara Migas
Eugene Orris
Margaret Lee
Roselee Gacke
Brittany Dubs
Lillian Coughlin
Dorothy Loeffler
C. Campbell
Jorge Rodriguez
Shaun Deneen
E. Thielmann
Della Herrod
Marge Straub
Julius LoCicero

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
March 20 Movie Afternoon "The Passion" (12:30 PM)
March 21 Women's Guild Meeting (7 PM)

EASTER FLOWERS
We will once again be decorating our church with beautiful Easter flowers. Please be as generous as you can in the Easter flower envelope. As with all things, the cost of decorating the church has also increased. Thanks to several parishioners donating their time and talents, we will have new Easter banners this year. If you would be interested in designing, cutting out or sewing new banners to be used at various times of the year, please let the parish office know. This is a way to help your church when you have limited time.

WOMEN'S GUILD
On March 12th and 13th the Guild will be taking donations for the USO. These donations are our way of sharing and showing we care for the men and women in the service of our country. The money is used to brighten their lives especially those stationed such a long way from home and loved ones.
The Women's Guild will be hosting their annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale at church this year. Please stop by the new social room (formerly the cry room) and purchase some of the ladies homemade goods.

POP TABS
The Guild is still collecting pop tabs. The money collected from the recycling of these goes to help support Ronald MacDonald House.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS
For those who purchased an Entertainment book, now is the time to look through the book again. Start using some of those coupons you were saving or forgot about. When planning your vacations see how many coupons you can use to save money on your trip.

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.

MOVIE DAY
The SGM Players will be showing the Mel Gibson movie "The Passion" in Shevlin Hall on March 20th at 12:30 PM. We had to change the date because of the availability of the equipment we use to show the film. 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.

THANK YOU
Dear St. Gerard Majella Parishioners,
My family and I would like to express our gratitude and extend our thanks to everyone for their support during this sad time in our lives. We will miss Grandma greatly, but your prayers and Mass intentions help ease our sadness. We are so overwhelmed and amazed by the kindness and thoughtfulness given our family by the parishioners of St. Gerard Majella. As you keep us in your prayers know that you are also in our prayers.
God Bless You,
Fr. Bob Gilbert and Family

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
The Easter Choir has begun rehearsing on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM. We hope that many parishioners will join us in this ministry.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Our sister church, Ascension/St. Susanna will be presenting the Living Stations of the Cross on March 18th at 7:00 PM. Those that attended this event last year found it to be a moving experience.

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 hold our game night on April 26. If this date is not good for you, let us know.

REPAIRS HAVE BEGUN
The repairs to the front wall of the church are expected to be completed before Easter. It will be nice not to see the plaster falling away from the wall. It has taken awhile to get all of the vendors on the same schedule so that this task could be done. Pray for no more leaky roofs.

MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY
One of our parishioners, Jorge Rodriguez, is in a nursing home. He would like very much to hear from people at St. Gerard Majella. Jorge is the man in the wheelchair who attended the 11:00 Mass when ever he could get here. I realize this is a busy time of year, but if you have a moment send him a note or better yet go visit him. His family is small and he has had to give up his little dog now that he is in a home. Hearing from someone would really brighten his day. The address is Jorge Rodriguez (Integrated Health Services) 5400 west 87th Street, Burbank, IL. 60458.

CONGRATULATIONS
The parishioners of St. Gerard Majella would like to congratulate Dee Dee Creigh on being nominated for the Bowen Humanitarian Award. This award is presented to people in recognition for their work at their church and humanitarian efforts towards others. Ms. Creigh will be presented with her award on April 2, 2005 at a dinner at the Lexington House. Dee Dee is the secretary at our sister parish, Ascension/St. Susanna.

WHAT'S YOUR CATHOLIC IQ?
The answers to last week's questions were: 1. a; 2. c; 3. d; 4. a; 5. b.
1. The traditional gesture that symbolizes the conferring of ministry is (a) genuflection before the altar; (b) kissing the bishop's ring; (c) the laying on of hands; (d) crossing oneself with holy water.
2. On or about his 75th birthday, a bishop is expected to (a) receive a bonus; (b) offer his resignation to the pope; (c) become a cardinal; (d) move to a new diocese.
3. Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me" (a) at the Last Supper; (b) on Mt. Calvary; (c) in the Beatitudes; (d) just before he ascended into heaven.
4. The saint who is called the patron of the universal Church is (a) Dominic Savio; (b) Joseph; (c) Christina the Astonishing; (d) Teresa of Avila.
5. The shout that greeted Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem before the Passover was (a) Hosanna!; (b) Crucify Him!; (c) Alleluia!; (d) Glory!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Stop, don't walk, hospital, no turning, no parking these are all signs we encounter in our everyday lives. They are signs that give us specific information. Other sings such as a red light give us information without using words. Some signs we see we make assumptions about the information it is giving us. For example, if we see a person wearing a crucifix, we assume they are Catholic.
John's Gospel (chapters 1-12) is often referred to as the "Book of Signs". It is hear that we find the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. In these chapters of John's Gospel we learn about seven different stories about Jesus that point to God. Most people feel the story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life is the greatest sign God has given us.
Jesus calling "Lazarus, come out" is a sign to all believers that in Jesus, who will die and rise, we too will be called to eternal life. We do not need to fear death. Through our belief in Resurrection we will have eternal life with Jesus.

Holy God, we praise you in everything we do. May we live here and now with peace and joy, so that our lives become signs of Jesus here and now. Amen.