Mon. Dec. 19
8:00 Lou Grimm
by Kevin & Melanie Fagan
Tues. Dec. 20
8:00 Special Intentions
by Jenniffer Thusing
Wed Dec. 21
8:00 Living & Deceased Members of
the Grimm & Tragnitz Families
by Lou & Shirley Grimm
Thur. Dec. 22
8:00 Communion Service
Fri Dec. 23
8:00 Special Intentions & Thanks
by Lottie Fik

Sat. Dec. 24
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 No Mass
10:00 People of St. Gerard Majella
Sun. Dec. 25 Christmas Day
8:00 People of St. Gerard Majella
11:00 People of St. Gerard Majella

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of Dec. 10th and Dec. 11th We collected $986.42 and $506.20 for the Religious Retired.

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
Mary Lesniewski
Dave Van Etten
Mr. Bob Gilbert

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
Jan. 8 CCD classes resume at 9:00 AM

GIVING TREE
All gifts and donations should be turned in by today. This assures that people will receive the gifts before Christmas. We want to thank every one for their generosity.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR
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.

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. The clothing (winter coats, hats, scarves, mittens, etc.) will be donated to Catholic Charities.
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VICARIATE VI JR. HIGH YOUTH DAY
A gathering for Jr. High youth, 7th & 8th graders, the event is an interactive day that highlights Catholic identity and faith. There will be music, games, small group activity and much more. The event will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2006 from noon to 5:00 PM at Seton Academy located at 16100 Seton Road South Holland. The cost of $8.00 includes lunch, program, and symbol.
Those interested in going should contact Linda Thusing in the parish office for more information. The deadline for registration is January 9, 2006.
They are also seeking adults to help with the logistics of the day.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES SCHEDULE
Dec. 24 8:00 AM Service
Dec. 24 9:30 PM Christmas Caroling
Dec. 24 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass
Dec. 25 8:00 AM Christmas Day Mass
Dec. 25 11:00 AM Mass
Dec. 31 5:30 PM Mass
Jan. 1 8:00 AM Mass
Jan. 1 11:00 AM Mass
Please note that there will be no 5:30 PM Mass on December 24th. There will be a regular service at 8:00 on Saturday mornings on Dec. 24th and 31st.

THAT JOYFUL TIME OF YEAR
The holiday season is a time full of joy, cheer, parties, and family gatherings. However it can also be a time of stress and anxiety. Here are some helpful ideas to prevent the "Holiday Blues". Keep the expectations for the season manageable. Set realistic goals for things that need to get done and the amount of time needed to accomplish these tasks. Leave "yesteryear" in the past and look toward the future. Life brings changes. Don't set yourself up in comparing today with the "good ol' days". Do something for someone else. Enjoy activities that are free, such as driving around to look at holiday decorations. Try something new. Lastly, save time for yourself!

CHRISTMAS CHIOR
Time is running out! Everyone is busy juggling schedules! The choir will be changing its last rehearsal before Christmas Eve to Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM in the church. We hope this gives more people an opportunity to practice the music before "Midnight Mass". We can still use more singers. This is an inspiring way to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Please come and share your voice with us. The songs will all be familiar to you and you won't regret being a part of the choir. Our church has revitalized the Resurrection choir, now let us revitalize the Christmas choir. It is a joyous way to celebrate Mass with your fellow parishioners.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Our Religious Education students have completed their first semester of classes for this school year. The children have been diligently studying their lessons under the watchful eyes and guiding hands of Sr. Catherine, Fran Jurek and Sandra Thomas. Our older children have made their Confirmation, but continue their studies. Our younger students are busily learning their prayers and preparing for their first Reconciliation and First communion.
The children are off for the Christmas holidays. They return to classes on January 8th at 9:00 AM. They wish the parish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

WOMEN'S GUILD BAKE SALE
The Women's Guild would like to thank all the lovely ladies who donated to the Bake Sale. Everything was wonderful. A big thank you goes out also to everyone who purchased the donated items. We sold out!

MASS OF HOPE AND HEALING
On the feast of the Holy Innocents, Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at 6:30 PM, a Mass of Hope and Healing will be held at St. George Church (6707 West 175th Street in Tinley Park). This Mass is for all who mourn the loss of a child, whether your loss occurred recently or long ago. Everyone is welcome.

NATIONAL VOCATION AWARNESS WEEK
The observance of National Vocation Awareness Week is celebrated annually in conjunction with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. As we renew our baptismal vows we strengthen our covenant with God. We ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us as we respond to God's call.

SENIOR EDUCATION
Experts agree that as we age, genetics play only a small role in health and well being. To find out more information about controlling our lives and lifestyles, order your free pamphlet, "Living Better Longer", by calling (708) 371-0400 ext. 1216.
The pamphlet is compliments of the Crestwood Senior Education Institute.

THANK YOU ST. FRANCIS
St. Francis of Assisi gave the world many beautiful gifts, including the beloved Christmas crèche. In Grecchio, Italy, in 1223, he set up the first nativity scene to help those who couldn't read - which would have been most people in those days - delight in the story of Jesus' birth. Although most of us can read, we still enjoy and learn from the crèche. We have to thank Martin Luther for giving us the Christmas tree under which we place our crèche.

WHAT'S YOUR CATHOLIC IQ?
The answers to last weeks questions are: 1. (b); 2. (c); 3. (c); 4. (b); 5. (c).
This week's questions are:
1. The Divine Praises (a) are a series of praises beginning "Blessed be God";
b) are often recited after Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; (c)
were written by a Jesuit to counteract widespread blasphemy and
profanity; (d) all of the above.
2. Homiletics is the study of (a) running a parish; (b) stewardship; (c) giving sermons; (d) homemaking.
3. "If you find an object that someone has lost, the Church teaches that (a)
you should leave it where you find it; (b) you should give it to the poor; (c) "finders keepers; (d) you should try to return it to its owner if possible.
4. Nowadays the Church's sacrament of forgiveness is called (a) the sacrament of reconciliation; (b) the sacrament of penance; (c) confession; (d) all of the above.
5. The energetic disciple whose name was changed from Saul following his encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus was (a) Stephen; (b) Paul; (c) Timothy; (d) Barnabas.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Our Advent waiting is nearly at an end. Today the angel Gabriel comes to Galilee and greets the Virgin Mary, and she accepts the invitation to become the mother of God's Son. Just as Mary welcomed the Son of God in her womb, so, too, do we welcome Him into our lives.
Today's readings are all about promises made and fulfilled. In the first reading the Lord God promises David an heir who will make his kingdom firm. In the Gospel that promise is fulfilled as the Blessed Virgin Mary, betrothed to Joseph of the house of David, says "yes" to the invitation to become the mother of Jesus. Mary is assured by the angel that nothing is impossible for God. Over this final week of Advent, we give to God all that might be troubling or worrisome. We can believe the angel's message to Mary.
`God of All Creation,
We believe in your power and might. We believe that nothing is impossible for you. We give you our hearts, just as Mary did. Amen.