Mon. Dec. 5
8:00 Julius Lo Cicero
by Bill & Mercedes Mayoros
Tues. Dec. 6
8:00 Deceased Members of the Fagan Family
by Melanie & Kevin Fagan
Wed Dec. 7
8:00 Janet Matis
by Joe Matis
Thur. Dec. 8 Immaculate Conception
8:00 People of ST. Gerard Majella
7 PM People of St. Gerard Majella
Fri Dec. 9
8:00 Lou Grimm
by St. Gerard Majella Parish
Sat. Dec. 10
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 PalmAlyce Dorja
by Marilyn Manion
Sun. Dec. 11 Third Sunday of Advent
8:00 Special Intentions
by Craig Family
11:00 Julius Lo Cicero
by Deloros Vock

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of Nov. 26th and Nov. 27th. The amount collected was $1,457.05.

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
Eddie Bauer
Diane Koscis

Anyone who is ill in our parish and would like to receive Holy Communion; call (708) 331-8400. If you can be removed or added from the sick list at this time, please call the parish office.

DATES TO REMEMBER
Dec. 5 Parish Council (6:30 PM)
Dec. 8 Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of
Obligation)
Dec. 11 Pancake Breakfast/Bake Sale (7AM-1PM)
Dec. 12 Parish Reconciliation Service (7 PM)
Dec. 13 Women's Guild Party (6:30 PM)
Dec. 14 SGM Players Christmas Sing-a-long (7PM)

PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE
Our parish will celebrate a Reconciliation service on Monday, December 12th at 7:00 PM. We encourage all to attend. This is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves for Advent and the coming of Our Savoir. As Catholics we are obligated to observe the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year. This is truly a special moment between you and God.

CHRISTMAS CHOIR
In preparation for our Christmas celebration, we would like to invite everyone to join the Christmas choir. Rehearsals will be 7:00 PM Tuesday evenings in the church. We will carol before Mass and then provide the music for the Christmas Eve Mass.
The Christmas season is always special. Come and a part of the celebration for our Lord's birth.

GIVING TREE
We are going to try something a little different this year with our Giving Tree. We can not guarantee the deliver of gifts received after Dec. 18th. We would also like to give you a different option this year. If you wish to take a gift tag for child, God bless you. However, if your shopping time is at a premium, you can choose to make a monetary donation to one of several charities. Envelopes for these donations will also be placed on the tree. We will see to it that the charities receive these gifts.
We will also provide a box for a food drive. Canned goods and non-perishable foods would be greatly appreciated. Toiletry items and cleaning supplies are also much needed items.
We are always overwhelmed by the generosity of our parish. Your thoughtful gifts are a blessing to many families.

SGM PLAYERS
The SGM Players are hosting a Christmas Sing-a-long on Dec. 14th in the church. Please join us for an evening of Christmas carols, hot chocolate, and doughnuts. If we can find the music, we will be glad to sing your favorite carol. We are even willing to try "Grandma Got Run Over By the Reindeer".
Come out and have some fun. Every one knows how to sing Christmas songs. We will even pick you up and take you home if you call ahead of time.
Take a few minutes from the busy holiday season and just have some old fashioned fun. This is an event the entire family can enjoy.

SECOND COLLECTION
There will be a second collection taken up on Dec. 10th and 11th for Retirement Fund for Religious Appeal. We encourage everyone to be as generous as possible to this fund. The fund helps support those many men and women retired from Religious orders who have faithfully served the Lord and the community for so many years. We are remembered daily in the prayers of grateful retired religious. They ask for God's blessings on each of us and our parish community.

HANDEL'S MESSIAH
St. Clement Church (642 West Deming Place Chicago) will be presenting Handel's Messiah by candlelight on Saturday, Dec. 3rd at 7:30 PM and again on Sunday, Dec. 4th at 3:30 PM. These concerts are presented in "historic" fashion, utilizing an orchestra of period instruments and the full score. Thrill to the sound of Handel's greatest masterpiece and experience it's powerful message of hope, joy, and redemption.
For tickets or more information call St. Clement Church at (773) 281-0371.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST
The Holy Name Society will once again be flipping pancakes for our enjoyment. The men will be cooking and serving their delicious all you can eat pancakes and sausage on December 11th from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
To volunteer to help or for more information call Norm Cole at (708) 333-5188.
The Women's Guild will also have a Holiday Bake Sale and Raffle at the Breakfast. You can contact Rita Cole or Frances Smith for more information.

WINTER COAT DRIVE
Winter is fast approaching. Our church would like to help others by providing useable winter clothing for those less fortunate than ourselves. There will be a collection box provided at the back of church on December 3rd.
The clothing (winter coats, hats, scarves, mittens, etc.) will be donated to Catholic Charities.
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FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
December 8th is the day we celebrate the patronal day of the United States of America, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this Holy Day of Obligation, our church will celebrate two Masses, one at 8:00 AM and the other at 7:00 PM. Mary is a wonderful Advent model for us as we await the coming of the Lord into our lives each day. In the Virgin Mary we have an example of fidelity to God's call. The angel Gabriel told Mary to rejoice. God's gracious gift of eternal life, made present in Christ, will put an end to death. Mary had the courage to welcome the Son of God into her very self. Let us be inspired by her.

WOMEN'S GUILD NEWS
The Women's Guild will be hosting their Annual Christmas Party at Carlo's Restaurant on Tuesday, Dec, 13th. The cost is $15.00 per person and reservations must be in by Dec. 5th. Please call, Rita Cole at (708) 333-5188 to confirm your reservation.

WHAT'S YOUR CATHOLIC IQ?
The answers to last weeks questions are: 1.

This week's questions are:
1. At the end of the most holy rosary Catholics are encouraged to say a prayer called the "Hail, Holy Queen". Which word is missing from this part of that prayer: "Hail, our life, our ______, and our hope". (a) sweetness; (b) counsel; (c) mother; (d) guide.
2. If you visited Jerusalem would you be able find a tomb where it is believed that the body of Mary was assumed into Heaven? a. (yes); b. (no)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Today the holy season of Advent opens up before us. Christmas stands four weeks away, shining as a beacon, summoning us to walk through this sacred time of waiting with hearts awake to and alert for the coming of the Lord.
Over the weeks to come, we focus on Jesus in a special way. We rejoice in His coming into our midst two thousand years ago; we celebrate His coming to us every day, in the Eucharist and in our loving exchanges with others; and we focus on the coming of Jesus in the future, in all His glory. During Advent, throughout the liturgical year, and in every day of our lives we constantly watch for Jesus.

Loving God and Father,
Thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus Christ. He is in our midst - and we watch for His coming in glory.
Amen.