Sat. Apr. 8
8:00 Catherine Kalicky
by Melanie & Kevin Fagan
5:30 Lou Grimm
by Dolores Vock
Sun. Apr. 9 Palm Sunday
8:00 Scott Scheckel
by Lee Palys Family
11:00 Joan Roskos
by Hallie D'Amore

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of March 25th and March 26th. The amount collected was $963.43.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK
Jack Seniw
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
Marie Craig
Brittany Dubs
Mr. Graves
Dorothy Loeffler
C. Campbell
Marge Straub
Shaun Deneen
E. Thielmann
Della Herrod
Sandra Thomas
Virgil Barron
Dorothy Barron
Toni Velez
Loretta & John 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
Apr. 2 First Reconciliation (10 AM)
Apr. 3 Parish Council (7PM)
Apr. 4 Easter Choir Rehearsal (7 PM)
Apr. 7 Stations of the Cross (7 PM)
Apr. 9 Guild Bake Sale (All Masses)
Dinner & Theater (3 PM) Shevlin Hall
Apr. 17 Guild Election of Officers (7 PM)
Apr. 23 Ministry Meeting (10:00 AM)

DINNER AND THEATER
Ascension St. Susanna and St. Gerard Majella will be co-hosting a Dinner and Show event on Sunday, April 9, 2006 at 3:00 in the afternoon in Shevlin Hall. We invite everyone to attend and have some fun and good food. The Dinner will be first, followed by a one act play presented by the children (plus a few adults) of both churches. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12. For more information or to purchase tickets call the parish office.

WOMEN'S GUILD MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Once again it is time to invite all women of St. Gerard Majella Parish to join the Women's Guild. Our meetings are only one hour each month. Dues are $5.00 for the year. A real bargain! Envelopes will be in the back of the church. They can be dropped in the weekly collection basket at each Mass. We have a wonderful and dedicated group of ladies. They help at all the parish functions and events. It is through their help and hopefully your help in the future that we will continue to have such a vibrant and devoted group to aid our church.
If you have questions please call Shirley Roskos at (708) 560-0071.

WOMEN'S GUILD NEWS
The Women's Guild will be accepting nominations for club officers at their March 20th meeting. Anyone interested in running for office should contact Frances Smith and/or attend the meeting on March 20 at 7 PM in the school meeting room. This organization does a great deal of good for our parish. Every woman in the parish is strongly urged to join this organization. You will enjoy the fellowship of the women in the parish and contribute to the well being and energy of our parish.

ITALY TRIP
Travel to Italy with adults in the Marian Catholic High School community on the journey of a lifetime, May 25-June 8. See the beauty of Italy's major cities from the Lake country to Positano in an educational but relaxed context. All meals, tours, 14 nights superior hotels, airfare from Chicago: $4,095.00. See www.maianchs.com or call Kim at All About Travel (708) 755-1562 for details.

MINISTRY MEETING
There will be a meeting for all the present and future members of the following ministries: Readers, Eucharistic, and Ministries of Care. Father Gilbert would like to review procedures and train new members of each ministry. The meeting will be held on April 23rd, at 10:00 AM in the Church Gathering Center. All are encouraged to attend. Coffee and doughnuts will be served.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Apr. 10 Parish Reconciliation Service (7 PM)
Apr. 13 Holy Thursday Mass (7 PM)
Apr. 14 Good Friday (7 PM)
Apr. 15 Easter Vigil (7 PM) No 5:30 Mass
Apr. 16 Easter Masses (8 & 11 AM)

The above schedule shows the times and dates for Holy Week. You are strongly encouraged to attend all the Masses. On Thursday, Apr. 13th, Friday, Apr. 14th, and Saturday, Apr. 15th there will be no morning (8 AM) Masses celebrated. On Saturday, Apr. 15th there will be no 5:30 PM Mass. On Monday, Apr. 10th, there will be a parish Reconciliation Service at 7 PM in the church.
If you have any questions, please call the parish office.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Friday, October 6th through Sunday, October 8th in Chicago at the only international conference of famous converts to the Catholic Church, "Path to Rome" come and hear the stories. Also featured are John Gummer, Anglican convert, member of British Parliament; Bro. Anthony Aarons, former Anglican priest from Jamaica; Alex Jones, ex-Pentecostal pastor, Detroit; and many other great converts. Cardinal Francis George, OMI. Archbishop of Chicago will give the opening prayer and greeting. Join us after the conference for a tour of inspiring Catholic and cultural sites of Chicago and other parts of Illinois. Weekend prices as low as $79 before Sept. 24. To register go to www.pathorome.com or call toll-free (800) 654-7945.

SENIOR HOUSING
Are you a senior citizen or friend of a senior citizen looking for affordable housing in a community setting?
Look no further. The Bishop Goedert Residence, opening April 1, offers supportive, subsidized housing for seniors on the Hines VA Campus. The residence consists of 70 one-bedroom apartments, common areas featuring a laundry room and game room, and a front desk monitored 24 hours a day. Residents must meet certain income requirements.
For more information or to apply, please call the Housing Development Corporation at (312) 655-7440 or TTY at (312) 948-6992.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER EVENING
The Family Ministries and the Respect Life Offices of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in conjunction with Gordon Tech High School are, sponsoring a Mother-Daughter evening program for high school-aged girls and their mothers. The program will be offered on Sunday, April 23, at Gordon Tech. There will be two national speakers, a delicious buffet and music. The topic will be the true beauty of God's gift of womanhood in today's world. For more information call Maria Garcia at (312) 751-8273.

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

This week's questions are:
1. The Apostle who was a tax collector was (a) Philip; (b) John; (c) Matthew; (d) Simon.
2. The saint from Uganda who gave his life in 1886 rather than submit to an evil anti-Christian king was (a) St. Charles Lwanga; (b) St. Philip Neri; (c) St. Anthony of Padua; (d) St. Anthony Claret.
3. The early Church deacon who was martyred by being roasted on a grill was (a) St. Paul; (b) St. Lawrence; (c) St. Benedict; (d) St. Michael
4. When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane for his Father's help before he was crucified, he prayed, "Let this cup pass from me, (a) Father, who art in heaven"; (b) hail, Mary, full of grace"; (c) blessed be the merciful"; (d) but not my will but thine be done".
5. Jesus instituted the Eucharist (a) at the Last Supper; (b) the night before he died; (c) using the bread and wine of the Passover meal; (d) all of the above.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
"I will be their God, and they shall be my people." This statement is at the heart of the new covenant God established with the house of Israel. God promised to "remember their sin no more". This Lenten Season has offered us opportunities to recall the covenant God established at the moment of our baptism. In that moment, we became the people of God. Too often we forget this covenant and turn away from God. Lent is all about returning to the Lord with our whole heart. Let us remember the faithfulness of our God and offer thanks for the gift of the Lord Jesus, who, as today's letter to the Hebrews tells us, is "the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."

God of life and love,
give us the joy of your salvation.
Sustain a willing spirit within us.
Hear our humble prayer,
and shelter those most in need.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.