Sat. Jan. 28
8:00 Purgatorial Society
5:30 Sophia Sasso
by Marge & George Petrakis
Sun. Jan. 29
8:00 Linda Cecsarini
by Gloria Dompier
11:00 Rose Janda
by Jenniffer Thusing & Bob Groth

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of Jan. 14th and Jan 15th. The amount collected was $1,309.33.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK
Tom Gibbons
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
Chloe Ochoa
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
Virgil Barron
Dorothy Barron
Mr. Graves
Loretta
Szewczyowski

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. 24 Parish Finance Committee Meeting (7:30 PM)
No Parish Council or Women's Guild Meeting this month.

THANK YOU
St. Gerard Majella would like to thank the Mi Jack Corporation for their generous donation to our parish. We appreciate their thoughtfulness and will put the funds to good use. The Mi Jack Corporation has always been a great supporter of local churches and the community.

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.

WOMEN'S GUILD NEWS
The Women's Guild will be hosting their annual Valentine Luncheon on Saturday, February 11th. The Luncheon will start at 11:30 AM and continue to 1:00 PM. Tickets are $5.00 for adults, children ages 4-10 are $3.00, children younger than 4 are free. Take out dinners are also available for $5.00. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information and to reserve a place, call Frances Smith (708) 339-0315 or Joan Sitniewski (708) 333-0755.
` Set up for this event will be Friday, February 10th at 7:00 PM. Volunteers are requested to bring side dishes, salads, and desserts (chicken and roast beef are provided). We will also need volunteers for the kitchen and clean-up the day of the luncheon.
It's time to fill the cookie jar. Again the U.S.O. is asking our help. Please be generous in giving to their Annual Cookie Jar drive. Our service women and men are doing a great job in serving our country. The collection will take place on February 11th and 12th after each Mass.
Please watch the bulletin for news about our annual St. Joseph's Table. This year the Women's Guild will be hosting the Blue Army. It has been many years since they have prepared a meal at our church. Everyone is invited to attend this free-will offering event. Please watch the bulletin for more information.

ACCW NEWS
The ACCW is having their Christian Unity Prayer Breakfast with the Church Women United group on January 17th at the Holiday Inn North shore (5300 West Touhy Ave., Skokie, IL.). The event begins at 8:30 AM and tickets are $16.00. For more information call Effie Alexandra @ (708) 339-6831.
The ACCW Vicariate VI will have their annual fund raiser on February 11th. Tickets are $10.00 and you can call Effie Alexandra for information about this event also.

DWELL IN MY LOVE SUNDAY
His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George invites all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Chicago to pray for peace in our world and a conversion of heart as we seek to eradicate the sin of racism wherever it exists and work to build welcoming and inclusive communities where we live, work, and worship.

ARCHDIOCESE RESPONDS TO HIGHER ENERGY COST
We are all familiar with the large increases in gasoline, oil, and natural gas prices. Some of the largest increases are a result of the impact of recent hurricanes on production in the Gulf of Mexico. However, even without the hurricanes we have been experiencing rising energy prices as a result of strong worldwide economic growth and limited increases in production. In other words, even after the price spikes that resulted from the hurricanes dissipates, we do not expect prices to fall back to the levels we experienced for the prior five years. We need to adjust our operations to a scenario of higher prices.
One way the Archdiocese is responding to this need is to continue to work with Exelon to reduce the expected increases by locking in additional purchases when prices drop.
No parish could adequately budget for such increases. Each member of the parish is asked to consider this unexpected increase in the church's utility bills when making their weekly contribution. While we appreciate the individual is also experiencing increases in their home bills, any small amount you can donate would be greatly appreciated.
Let us all pray for a mild winter.

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. If you are able to send a self-addressed stamped envelope, it would be appreciated.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Help support Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the nineteen benefiting charities, by purchasing tickets to the 2006 First Look for Charity taking place Thursday, February 9, 2006, at McCormick Place. Guest will receive an all-access pass to over 1,000 different vehicles, exhibits, competition vehicles, and antique and collector cars on display at the Chicago Auto Show, on the eve of opening to the public.
Tickets are $200.00 and proceeds from all tickets purchased on behalf of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago will benefit Catholic Charities' Maternity & Adoption Department.
For more information or to purchase tickets directly from Catholic charities, contact Erin Kavanagh at (312) 655-7912 or visit www.catholiccharities.net/firstlook.

PARISH FINANCE COMMITTEE
There will be a meeting of the Parish Finance Committee on Tuesday, January 24th at 7:30 in the Parish Meeting room in the school building.

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

This week's questions are:
1. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, Catholics knew the name of sacrament of anointing of the sick as (a) "extreme unction"; (b) "last rites; (c) "last anointing"; (d) all of the above.
2. Reconciliation and anointing of the sick are traditionally considered sacraments (a) of healing; (b) for sinners trying to get into heaven; (c) developed by the Romans; (d) of initiation.
3. The words the priest prays to conclude the celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation are (a) an act of contrition; (b) the priest's confession; (c) absolution; (d) a penance.
4. The modern way of celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation emerged in the sixth century in Europe. It was developed by (a) missionary monks; (b) Henry the VIII; (c) Pope John Paul; (d) the Vatican

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
In today's Gospel, we read about Jesus calling four of His disciples: Simon and Andrew, who are brothers, and James and John, also brothers. We read that Simon and Andrew "abandoned their nets" and that James and John "left their father". Now no one ran around taking notes about what Jesus, son of the carpenter from Nazareth, was doing. So we don't know if things happened exactly as they are presented in the Gospel, or if there was more conversation or other activity. What is clear, however, regardless of any other detail, is that Simon and Andrew abandoned their livelihood, and James and John left their family. Jesus called these men, they heard the voice of Jesus speaking directly to their hearts, and they responded. At all cost, they were willing to respond to Jesus' invitation to follow him.
The call of Jesus today does not result in our abandoning or leaving anything or anyone. The call of Jesus today is to love with compassion and justice and kindness and patience with an immediate response.

Dear God,
Your Son, Jesus, calls us to follow him in what we are doing, right where
we are. Help us to hear that call and to follow him, even when it may not be
easy or make us popular. Bless us with the courage of your Holy Spirit.
Amen.