Mon. Oct. 24
8:00 Julius Lo Cicero
by Frances & Daniel Smith
Tues. Oct. 25
8:00 Jack Farrell
by Marilyn Manion
Wed Oct. 26
8:00 Jack Farrell
by Marilyn Manion
Thur. Oct. 27
8:00 Communion Service
Fri Oct. 28
8:00 Lou Grimm
by Frank & Lorraine Kula
Sat. Oct 29
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 Henry Wilson
by Ascension/St. Susanna Parish
Sun. Oct 30 the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
8:00 Ann Gilbert
by Mr. Bob Gilbert
11:00 Cecil Derrick
by Rosie & Betty Paschal

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of Oct. 15th and Oct. 16th. The amount collected was $1,119.00.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK
Lauralee Dove
Ann Knight
Rita Schreiber
Len Murphy
Corine Murphy
Ann Dytrych
Bill O'Connor
Adeline Deneen
Betty Nemecek
Helen Blaha
Betty Paschal
Ann Mysliwiec
Linda Jones
Osie Dompier
Eileen Desidero
Bernadine Smith
DoDo Dove
Terry El
Eugene Orris
Margaret Lee
Bunny DuBois
Brittany Dubs
Lillian Coughlin
Dorothy Loeffler
C. Campbell
Marge Straub
Shaun Deneen
E. Thielmann
Della Herrod
Bob Sitniewski

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.

If you wish to put someone on the sick list or remove a someone's name please call the parish office. Thank you.
A LETTER FROM FRANCIS CARDINAL GEORGE

Dear Friends in Christ,

World Mission Sunday is an opportune occasion to increase our awareness of the urgent necessity to participate in the mission of Christ. Mission is a way of being church. Our discipleship is rooted in a personal conversion to Jesus Christ. Christ in the Eucharist continually transforms us into witnesses of his own love and mercy.

Mission calls us not only to live our faith fully but also to share it freely by reaching out and proclaiming the good news to those who are without a church family, unbelievers, inactive Catholics and any who seek full membership with us from other religions and other Christian traditions. These outreach activities are part of the essential missionary character of being Catholic.

We are called to transform the world in Christ by living out our faith in family, neighborhood, workplace and society. We demonstrate our faith in the priorities we work for and in the way we relate to others. Our goal is not simply to change individuals; we want to change the world.

Mission requires the support not only of prayer and sacrifice, but also of concrete material offerings. I take this opportunity to recall once again the valuable service rendered by the Pontifical Mission Societies (Propagation of the Faith) who assist the 1150 dioceses around the world that bring good news to people who do not yet know Christ. You have been generous in the past. This year with the tsunami in Asia and the hurricane disaster in the USA, thousands of churches, clinics, schools and religious houses need help to rebuild. I ask you to join the mission effort by supporting the Pontifical Mission Societies with spiritual and material cooperation.

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

DATES TO REMEMBER
Oct. 28 Guild Card & Bunco Party (7 PM)
Oct. 25 SGM Players (7 PM)
Oct. 30 Ministry Meeting (9 AM)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES
Religious Education classes will be from 9:00 - 10:30AM each Sunday. You can register at that time please call, (708) 331-8400 and arrange a time. The fee will remain at $30.00 per child.

SPECIAL THANKS
To all the gentlemen attending 5:30 PM Mass last weekend that were kind enough to move and store the ladder used to repair one of our Church lights.
HOLY NAME SOCIETY
The Holy Name Society is again selling the Entertainment Coupon Books. This year it is $25.00 per book and contains additional discounts. See Norm Cole, Lee Palys, or DoDo Dove for an edition or more information.

RCIA
St. Gerard Majella and Ascension-St. Susanna Parishes would like to issue an invitation to any and all adults interested in being instructed in the Catholic faith. RCIA classes will begin in November. Anyone interested in becoming Catholic, making a sacrament (such as First communion or Confirmation), or perhaps looking for a way to return to the faith can contact the parish office (708) 331-8400 any week day afternoon. We will be glad to assist you in meeting any of these needs. You can also contact the office if you have any questions or wish to register.

MINISTRY MEETING
All ministers of the Eucharist or commentators are asked to attend a "Ministry Meeting" on October 30, 2005 at 9:30 AM in the Gathering Center at Church. If you are not a reader or Eucharistic Minister, but would like to become one, please attend this meeting also. We encourage everyone to consider becoming a member of one of these vital church ministries. The rewards are great and the time it takes to participate is minimal.
Greeters, ushers, and all other church ministries are also invited to attend this meeting.
Please note that the time listed in last weeks bulletin was wrong. The meeting will start at 9:30 AM. Thank you.

GERARDIAN GUILD HALLOWEEN PARTY
The Gerardian Women's Guild will be hosting a Halloween Card and Bunco party on Friday, October 28, at 7PM in Shevlin Hall. The tickets are $5.00 per person and the party is open to all. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling Rita Cole. The wearing of costumes is optional, but there will be no costume contest.
Everyone had a great time last year. You'll want to be there this year. Everyone who attends is asked to bring a "treat" to share with others.
If you would like to donate a gift to be used as a door prize at the party please contact Rita Cole at (708) 333-5188.

"COME AND SEE"
A "Come and See" reflection Weekend, sponsored by the Sisters of the Presentation, is being offered October 29-30, 2005. This reflection weekend will be held at the Sisters of the Presentation motherhouse in Dubuque, IA. Catholic women, college age and older, who are interested in exploring the option of religious life are invited to participate in this weekend.
For further information contact: Sr. Carmen at (563) 588-2008.
For more information call (708) 333-8379.

ST THOMAS MORE HOLIDAY BAZAAR
St. Thomas More parish located at 81st and California in Chicago will be holding a Holiday Bazaar on November 20th from 8 AM to 4PM. They are seeking exhibitors for the event. Space is limited, so if you would like a spot please contact Phyllis Spizzirri at (708) 952-0681 by November 4th if you want a spot or more information. If there is no answer, please leave your name and phone number and your call will be returned. There will also be bottled water, tea, coffee, food and soft drinks catered by Barlano's restaurant.

LIVE-IN EXPERIENCE VOCATIONAL RETREATS
Attention prayerful single men and women! St. Procopius Abbey, Gethsemani Abbey, (for men) and Poor Claire Annunciation Monastery, St. Joseph, St. Joseph Passionist (for women) and Franciscan Friars are now offering "Live-in Experience" vocational retreats. Learn about these exciting vocations first hand. Pray and work with the monks and nuns and enjoy vocational talks. There is no cost but space is limited. These retreats are popular so make your reservations soon. Call toll free (800) 221-1807.

"IN THE HUDDLE WITH BISHOP PERRY"
Dads, sons, single guys don't miss this local event! "In the Huddle with Bishop Perry as a Catholic man, What's God asking of me?"
Check out the Event lineup: food, beverages, and guest speakers: Bishop Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Rev. Paul Campbell, LC, Chaplain East Lake Academy.
This event is being presented by Catholic Men of Chicago Southland (CMCS) on Sunday, October 23, 2005, 4:00 - 6:00 PM at St. Lawerence O'Toole Parish, 4101 St. Lawerence Ave, Matteson, IL. The cost is $10.00 per man, $7.00 each for two or more. For reservations call Frank (708) 935-1897. Limited seating.

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

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
The Gospel message for today is clear: We should love the Lord with all our being, and our neighbor as ourselves. We want to follow Jesus' teaching about loving God with our whole heart and soul and mind. This is the greatest of all the commandments. Learning to love God is a life-long commitment. We have to get out among the people and into the world to learn to love God. Faced with delights and disappointments and frustrations and satisfactions of our relationships with others, we learn to love God. We cannot love God and hate the people who live next door to us or in a country far away. We can not love God and be more concerned about ourselves than others.
We will never learn everything there is to know about God. But we can learn to love God with our whole heart and soul and mind if we love others as ourselves.