Sat. June 24
8:00 Osie "Bill" Dompier
by Liden / Bill Families
5:30 Robert Gilbert
by Norm and Rita Cole
Sun. June 25 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8:00 Julius LoCicero
by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Cusack
11:00 Joan Berls
Bob Berls

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of June 10th & June 11th. The weekly amount collected was $ 1,173.35.

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
Art Rankin
Eileen Desidero
Bernadine Smith
Chloe Ochoa
Nora El
Eugene Orris
Margaret Lee
Marie Craig
Brittany Dubs
Mr. Graves
Dorothy Loeffler
C. Campbell
Theresa Bauer
Shaun Deneen
E. Thielmann
Della Herrod
Sandra Thomas
Virgil Barron
Dorothy Barron
Judy Jones
Elbert Wiley
Marian Nemeth
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
August 5, 6, 11, & 13 Murder Mystery Dinner

THANK YOU
Sr. Catherine and Sr. Lou would like to thank the parish for making their "back-yard gathering" a wonderful success. The cool weather did not seem to deter anyone, and we got to have a nice visit with many parishioners.
The warmth brought by all in attendance was felt over the dampness and cool breezes. Many spent a joyful afternoon lounging around, enjoying pleasant conversation with each other over a dish of ice cream and homemade cookies.
We feel blessed and loved by having the Parish of St. Gerard Majella as our "extended family".
Love,
Sr. Catherine and Sr. Lou

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Kevin Mensching and Julie {Trenda} Mensching, on their Saturday, June 10th Marriage here at St. Gerard Majella. We bless them as they embark together a new life together. May your union bring you happiness and joy.

WITH HEARTFELT SYMPATHY

The St. Gerard Majella Parish Family is thinking of all who have suffered the loss of a loved one, we wish you hope in the midst of sorrow, and we offer our comfort in the midst of pain.
We extend our prayers and sorrow to Marie Craig and family, in their bereavement, over the loss of their son and bother, Fr. Lawrence Craig.
To Linda Thusing, our parish secretary, for the recent loss of her father, Osie "Bill" Dompier.
Grant us your mercies, O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon them.

HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES
Dear Rev. Altman,
Please extend our gratitude to the ladies of St. Gerard's Women's Guild for the very generous donation in support of the programs at Hope Community Services.
You can be assured that the funds will be used wisely to assist low income families in our community who are faced with unanticipated emergencies that threaten them with hunger, eviction, foreclosure, or the loss of essential utilities.
Thank you again, and please call upon us should anyone in your parish be in need of our help.
Best wishes,
Anne Brady (Executive Director)

A LETTER FROM SR. BARBARA
Dear Srs. Catherine, Lou, and Ladies of the Women's Guild:
Thank you for the generous contribution of $55.00, which I received from you! Sister Catherine told me that yo uhad a St. Joseph's dinner and made St. James [Social Care] the recipient of your profit!
With summer vacation here and the children home, our need for food is even greater! We will be able to keep all the families supplied because of friends like you folks in Markham!
I would love to come to your September meeting and meet all of you! How great it will be to put faces on the Women's Guild! I'll be in contact with Sr. Catherine as to the date.
May the Holy Spirit shower you with gifts of wisdom, peace and love.
With great gratitude,
Sister Barbara

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
The parish office will open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM during the summer. You can leave a voice mail at any hour. In case of emergencies, please call Ascension at (708) 333-0931.

TAIZE PRAYER
We are pleased to announce the continuation of Taize prayer at St. Michael church. On every second Sunday of the month, we will be hosting a monthly prayer gathering in the style of the Taize community of France. We hope you will join us for this beautiful prayer experience of music, meditation, and fellowship.

KNIGHTS OF PETER CLAVER
The Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary of Ascension-St. Susanna will host a Luncheon on Sunday, June 25, 2006 recognizing Emerging Leaders (young adults 18 to 35) for their dedication to and hard work in their Church and community, to bring change. The Luncheon, "Our 2006 Shining Stars" will be held at the Ascension-St. Susanna Parish Hall (153rd & Vine Ave., Harvey) from 3:00 - 6:00 PM. Tickets are $35.00 per person.
For ticket information, please contact any of the following: Frankie Cameron (708) 672-8409, Elaine Johnson (708) 333-3240, or Grace Dawson (708) 596-5099.
Thank you for helping us to encourage and support our young adults.

ANGELS HAVE WHEEELS
All Medicare recipients should now be aware that if they suffer from conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders, and have difficulty walking or propelling a standard wheelchair they may be eligible to receive an electric wheelchair by Medicare.
For more information on Medicare eligibility contact Gregory at (800) 810-2877.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY

Did you know that an Illinois worker would need to work 2.4 full-time jobs at minimum wage ($6.50/hr) to afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent price $802? [2006 Report on Illinois Poverty]
Want to help? Contact the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Breaking the Cycle of Poverty, Archdiocese of Chicago, 155 E. Superior, Chicago IL 60611 (312) 751-5333 Phone, (312) 787-1554 Fax, or email at esegura@archchicago.org

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

There are no questions this week.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

We are a people who schedule, plot, and plan. Even in the summertime, we live in a world of adjusted clocks and tight schedules. We are obsessed with time, striving to own it, stretch it, or save it, if only to waste it in the end. Thank goodness that we are reminded that God's salvation-"God's Saving Time"-is always at hand. Thank goodness that we are able to plot the time of summer in order to consecrate it and there encounter the God who orders not only all things, but all time as well.
Whatever grows around us on the windowsill or in the garden, whatever appears fresh at the market, can remind us of plotting time and of the surprises of time's unfurling, the benevolent time of God's coming. That is why this time is as good a time as any to nurture the inner ear, the inner eye, and to move to the rhythm of God's saving time, God's surprising salvation.

In Louisiana's Cajun country, folks invite one another over to "pass a good time, cher." We who are church are here to pass a good time, to tend to one another, to tend to God's good earth and our good gardens. We are here to be wide-awake to God's saving time within all and through all.
We pass a good time here but once, however, so we must take time to proclaim God's timeless faithfulness through summer's short nights and to sing of God's endless kindness at summer's fresh new dawn. We must give ourselves and others the time to grow and prosper under the watchful eye of God, who, as an old prayer reminds us, dwells with us in time "beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene and bright with . . . resplendent glory."