Sat. Apr. 29
8:00 Special Intentions for Osie Dompier
by Linda Thusing
5:30 Dorothy Randal
by Norm & Rita Cole
Sun. Apr. 30 Third Sunday of Easter
8:00 Robert Gilbert
by Mungovan Family
11:00 Anne Kerris
by Lednicky Family

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of April 15th and 16th. The weekly amount collected was $1,317.80. The Easter collection was $2,915.00. The total collected for Easter flowers was $323.00.

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
Jackie Weirbicki

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. 23 Ministry Meeting (10:00 AM)
Apr. 30 First Communion Parents' Meeting (9:30)
Apr. 30 Women's Guild Luncheon (12:30)
May 7 May Crowning (10:45 AM)
May 7 First Communion (11 AM)
May 8 Parish Council Meeting (7 PM)
May 13/14 Annual Flower Sale

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 newly elected officers for the Women's Guild are Shirley Roskos (President), Sue Klaus (Vice President), Betty Paschal (Treasurer), Linda Thusing (Secretary), Sr. Catherine (Recording Secretary), and Fran Jurek (Membership Chairman). Congratulations to all of you and a huge thank you to all of last year's officers. This organization does many wonderful things for our parish and we are extremely appreciative of all their efforts and support. The installation of officers will take place at the 11:00 Mass on April 30th. This will be followed by a dinner at the Northwoods Restaurant in Homewood.

SPECIAL THANKS
A heartfelt thanks to the Tom Gibbons family for continuing his dedication in beautifying the outside planters in front of the church with live plants. Thank you also to the Palys family for the beautiful lilies placed at the Blessed Virgin statue this Easter. We are truly blessed at our parish by all our members willing to step up and got all the jobs done that make our parish a family not just people attending the same church.

EASTER THANK YOUS
Again Jean Willey and her crew did a fantastic job of decorating the church on Holy Thursday and Easter. The church looked wonderful. Shirley Harms and the choir did a great job with the music. It is always a pleasure to hear voices ringing through out the church at Mass. Thank you so much to all the people who worked behind the scenes. Everyone's efforts where appreciated.

MORE GOOD NEWS
St. Gerard Majella Church's favorite alderman, Gerry Dudeck, has worked her magic and gotten the City of Markham Water Department to resolve our plumbing issues at Shevlin Hall. Many laborious hours outside (including a swift clean-up) resulted in "happy plumbing" for us. Thank you, Gerry and all who contributed their time and effort in solving this problem.

MINISTRY MEETING
There will be a meeting for all the present and future members of the following ministries: Readers, Eucharistic, and Ministries of Care. 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

FR. JOE'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 21st at 1:00 PM. We will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Fr. Altman's ordination as a priest. There will be an afternoon of great food, friendship and fun. The festivities will be held at the Orland Chateau located at 145 LaGrange Road in Orland Park.
Please join Fr. Joe, his family and friends from Ascension / St. Susanna, St. Daniel the Prophet, St. Julianna, and St. Gerard Majella in celebrating this milestone in our pastor's life.
To reserve your seat, please call the parish office any weekday afternoon. Reservations must be made and paid for by May 7th. The cost of the event is $50.00 per person. The cost of the tickets will cover the meal and a special remembrance for Fr. Altman.
This would be a lovely opportunity to show our pastor how much we appreciate all that he does for us.
There will also be a card in the back of the church in the coming weeks for everyone to sign and write messages on.

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY
The Easter season continues with the celebration of Good Shepherd Sunday on May 7th. It is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The world-wide Church invites us to honor all Christian vocations. We are called to be united as one flock under the guidance of our one shepherd, Jesus. By our baptism we are called, chosen, and sent to carry on the mission of Jesus.

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

This week's questions are:
1. The bread that the Israelites ate in the wilderness after they fled from Egypt was called (a) bagels; (b) pita; (c) tortillas; (d) manna
2. In Roman times, the general name for the region that included Judea, Samaria, and Galilee was (a) Turkey; (b) Tel Aviv; (c) Palestine; (d) Yemen.
3. Before becoming pope, Pope Benedict XVI was known as (a) Angelo Roncalli; (b) Karol Wojtyla; (c) Albino Luciani; (d) Joseph Ratzinger.
4. The term "Four Evangelists" refers to the (a) four Gospel writers; (b) four horsemen of the Apocalypse"; (c) first four Apostles Jesus called; (d) four cardinal virtues.
5. The pope who revised the calendar as we have it today was (a) Leo the Great; (b) Gregory XIII; (c) Pius XII; (d) Louis the Pious.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
The celebration of the Easter mysteries of Christ's death and resurrection cannot be confined to just one day. Therefore the Church graces us with fifty days to savor the paschal mystery. Today is the eighth day of Easter, the day that completes the Easter octave. The Gospel tells us more about Jesus risen from death to a new life, how he appears to the disciples, extends to them his peace, and sends them forth. Every day this week, the Gospel has proclaimed details about the resurrection. Although we cannot see and touch the Risen Lord, as the Apostles and disciples in those days following the Resurrection, he is no less with us. As God's adopted children we open our ears to listen to the word that has the power to strengthen our faith, even in times of doubt. Remember that at the moment of our baptism we become Christ for others.
Risen Jesus, let our faith be so strong that we know you are with us in all things, every day.

O God, you sent your Son to be our resurrection and life.
Through the love and mercy that raised him from the dead,
hear and answer our prayers.
We ask this in the name of Christ
through the power of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen.