Mon. April 4
8:00 Marge Parker
by Lou & Shirley Grimm
Tues. April 5
8:00 Ann Gilbert
by Mary Ellen Joren
Wed April 6
8:00 The Elderly of the Parish
Thur. April 7
8:00 Special Intentions for Jenniffer Thusing
by Linda Thusing
Fri. April 8
8:00 Communion Service

Sat. April 9
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 Daniel Geist
by the Geist Family

Sun. April 10 Third Sunday of Easter
8:00 People of St. Gerard Majella
11:00 Ann Gilbert
by Bob & Marlene Gilbert

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of March 26th and March 27th. The amount collected was $1,702.50. The Easter collection was $3,086.00.

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
Julius LoCicero
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
Karen Beeson

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.

A LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This April marks the nation's third annual observance of National Donate Life Month. This is a time to remember those heroes who gave life through organ and tissue donation. It is also a time to remember those who have received the gift of life and those waiting.

Most especially, this observance reminds us that there are still many more people who await the gift of life. Their futures are uncertain, for our nation is experiencing a critical organ shortage. In Illinois alone, more than 4,500 men, women, and children are waiting and hoping for transplants that will save their lives. Last year, more than 320 Illinoisans died waiting.

Please join Catholics and communities across the country as they take part in numerous events and campaigns to promote donor awareness. The message is simple: Be a donor, sign a donor card and tell your family.

I ask your support of this campaign by helping to promote this message. We remind all Catholics of our faith's support for donation and transplant as one of the highest expressions of human compassion and giving. These basic principles upon which our Catholic faith is based.

Please consider participating in National Donate Life Month by discussing our Church's teachings and statements on donation and transplantation with your families, friends, and co-workers. Please consider the faith-based decision to give the gift of life.

With more than 87,000 Americans waiting for lifesaving organ transplants and thousands more waiting for life-enhancing tissue or cornea transplants, I encourage you to participate in this campaign. To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit www.giftofhope.org

I ask you to consider supporting National Donate Life Month in honor of those who gave, on behalf of those who receive...and with hope for those who continue to wait.

Sincerely yours in Christ
Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.
Archbishop of Chicago

DATES TO REMEMBER
April 11 Parish Council Meeting (7 PM)
April 18 Women's Guild (7 PM)
April 26 SGM Players Game Night (7 PM)

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As a means of expressing the commitment we have made to protect children, the Archdiocese of Chicago is joining other church groups, child protection agencies, and civil agencies by engaging in activities that will keep the protection of children at the forefront in our parishes, schools, and agencies.
Let us ask God's blessing that we may keep joy and trust alive in the .children entrusted to our care. Thank you for all you do to protect children.

Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal

Last year, over 100,000 children in Illinois were reported abused or neglected, but through public awareness and education programs, such as the one presented in the Archdiocese of Chicago, these devastating numbers can be reduced.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. You are invited to join in this effort to stem child abuse. The primary symbol of child abuse prevention is the blue ribbon worn by individuals. Trees, with blue ribbons tied to their branches, is another public witness to child abuse prevention.
Prevent Child Abuse Illinois invites you to get involved this year, and make this the best Child Abuse Prevention Month Illinois has ever seen.

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.

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
We would like to renew our church's Resurrection Choir. After Easter we would like to hold a rehearsal for the "Resurrection Choir" on either a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. While we know it is difficult to add another commitment to your busy schedules, this is an important ministry to the parish family. Please consider joining this ministry and returning to this group if you have helped in the past.

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.

SISTER OF PROVIDENCE
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., are planning a benefit fund-raising excursion on Lake Michigan May 21, 2005.
The journey on the Odyssey begins at 11 AM at Chicago's Navy Pier. The event will include a delicious meal, music, silent auction and a raffle for an Abusson rug, which retails for $5,600. The Odyssey will return to the dock by 1:45 PM.
Cost of the cruise is $65 per person, $10 of which is deductible.
The Sisters of Providence are also offering a Chicago-area retreat. Providence at the Heart of Our Lives is the focus for a spring retreat April 15-17 at the Warrenville Retreat Center in Warrenville, IL.
Sisters of Providence Mary Alice Zander and Susan Paweski will lead the retreat. The retreat commences with a social gathering at 7 PM Friday and culminates with brunch at 1 PM Sunday. Eucharistic Liturgy will be offered Sunday before brunch.
For more information, contact Sr. Susan Paweski at (773) 463-2478 or at alumni@spmw.org.

THANK YOU
We want to thank Jean Willey and her wonderful crew of parishioners for decorating the church for Easter. As always they have done a marvelous job. We also wish to thank the "Easter Choir" for all of their efforts during Holy Week. Jim Prekelis and Shirley Harms are the guiding forces behind the beautiful music during the Easter season. We were delighted so many parishioners chose to be part of the choir this year.

CARDINAL'S SCHOOL FUND
Did you go to a Catholic school? Then don't forget the Cardinal's School fund, established to help archdiocesan schools face financial challenges.
The tax-deductible fund is seeking critical donations because increasing costs jeopardize the future of many Catholic schools. For more information, call (312) 752-5250 or visit www.archchicago.org.

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

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Doubting Thomas! How many times have we called someone that? Today's gospel is about Jesus and the Apostle Thomas. Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples. He could not believe when they said they had seen Jesus. The next time Jesus appeared Thomas as there. When he saw Jesus for himself he proclaimed, "My Lord and my God". Jesus tells Thomas; "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed". That is Jesus' message for us also.
God of things seen and unseen, thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. We have not seen but we believe. Amen.