Sat. Jan. 7
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 Joseph T. Gill
by Helen Gill, Joe & Antoinette,
Joanne and family
Sun. Jan. 8 Epiphany of the Lord
8:00 Juluis LoCicero
by Len & Lorraine Murphy
11:00 In Honor of Celia Barna as a
````` Thank you for your Generosity
by Parish Family

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of Dec. 24th and Dec. 25th. The amount collected $ 1,872.05. The Christmas collection was $2,880.00.

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
Mr. Bob Gilbert
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
Jan. 8 CCD classes resume at 9:00 AM
No Parish Council or Women's Guild Meeting this month

THANK YOU
The Parish wishes to thank everyone for all the work they did to make our Christmas Mass so special. Jean Willey and her crew of decorators did a wonderful job of making the church look beautiful and festive. The Christmas choir led us in lovely music making Christmas Mass even more blessed. On Behalf of our church family, we thank everyone who worked.

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.

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.

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.

A LETTER FROM THE SISTERS
Dear St. Gerard Majella Family,
We wish you all the blessings of this holy Christmas season. We thank you for your love and making us feel so much a part of the St. Gerard Majella family. We plan to spend Christmas with our families in Iowa, but our thoughts will be with you.
We pray you enjoy the blessings of Christmas and peace in the New Year.
Our love,
Sr. Catherine and Sr. Lou

THANK YOU ALL
We want to thank everyone for their generous support of the "Giving Tree" project. Your gifts allowed us to help many families have a better Christmas. The three charities also received a substantial amount to support their worthy causes.

A LETTER FROM KOLBE HOUSE
Dear Parishioners of St. Gerard Majella,
There's nothing much romantic about stables, being born poor, a homeless, friendless stranger. But that's the way of all the countless ways, that our God chose to become human. Jesus is still born and lives among the poor, the cast-aside, the suffering, and the imprisoned. To see that and to celebrate that is the true "miracle of Christmas".
We of Kolbe House, in the name of those we serve, humbly thank you for continuing to see God in the poor and marginalized, and for so generously supporting our Gospel work.
May your Christmas be blessed with peace.

Rev. Lawrence J. Craig, Executive Director,
And the staff of Kolbe House

MARIAN CATHOLIC
The entrance exam for Marian Catholic High School will be given on Saturday, January 14, at 8:00 AM. Students taking the exam should have with them two #2 pencils and the $25.00 Archdiocesan test fee. Calculators may be used. No pre-registration is necessary.
For more information, please visit our website: www.marianchs.com or call (708) 775-7565.

TAX DONATIONS
If you would like a copy of your yearly donations to the church, please contact the parish office. Please give us time to send this information to you.

WOMEN'S CENTER
The Women's Centers' 22nd Annual Life Banquet will be on Sunday, February 12th at the Crystal Palace in Park Ridge. The speaker will be Fr. John Trigilio, co-host of the EWTN series Web of Faith and Council of Faith. If you have an item or a service to donate for our silent auction, it would be most appreciated.
Phone (773) 794-1313 for information.

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

This week's questions are:

1. St. John the Baptist died (a) in a sword fight; (b) of pneumonia; (c) by being beheaded and having his head served on a platter at Herod's birthday party; (d) in a chariot accident.
2. People in the Middle Ages called pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth (a) the seven deadly sins; (b) original sin; (c) venial sins; (d) the fruits of fear.
3. The pope's salary (a) stays the same as when he was elected; (b) parallels that of Italy's head of state; (c) is zero; (d) is negotiated annually.
4. One of the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary is the (a) Visitation; (b) Resurrection; (c) Crucifixion; (d) Transfiguration.
5. Of the following books of the Bible, the one that is not considered one of the Minor Prophets is (a) Isaiah; (b) Micah; (c) Nahum; (d) Zephaniah.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Today we continue the celebration of the Christmas season as we mark the eighth day since the birth of the Lord. We are told that the shepherds find Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus at the manger. These shepherds become true evangelizers, making known the message of Jesus' birth.
January 1st is the celebration of the solemnity Mary, Mother of God. A mother brings life. Through Mary, our world is blessed with the glory of God in the Son of God, the eternal life. As a mother, Mary loved the world and cared for all people so much that she faithfully gave her life to God and opened herself to God's will.
Today's Gospel tells us about Mary and how she welcomed the simple shepherds who hurried from the fields around Bethlehem to find the infant of whom the angels proclaimed "a savior...Messiah and Lord". Mary, the Mother of God, listened to the shepherds' amazing account of a multitude of angels proclaiming the glory of God in the birth of this child. And she "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart". Mary, the Mother of God, is our mother too.

Dear God,
Just as Mary reflected on the events surrounding Jesus' birth, so, too, do
we ponder the many blessings You have showered on us. As the scriptures
proclaimed, let us pray that this new year will see ever - new blessings of
peace poured out on our weary world.
Let your face shine upon us and be gracious to us, O God of mercy and
love. Hear the prayer we raise to you in the name of Jesus, Son of God and
Son of Mary, who is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.