Sat. July 8
8:00 Purgatorial Service
5:30 Dorothy Randall
by Randall Family
Sun. July 9 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8:00 Bernard Craig
by Marie Craig & Family
11:00 Lou Grimm
by Marilyn Manion

THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of June 24th & June 25th. The weekly amount collected was $1,141.80.

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
Marian Nemeth
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

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 19, 20, 25, & 27th Murder Mystery Dinner

THANK YOU
St. Gerard Majella would like to thank our sister parish, Ascension/St. Susanna for their generous donation of $700.00. Our two churches share more than our pastor and associate pastor. We share a strong religious background, faith and a caring concern for each other's needs.

SUMMER PRODUCTION
There is murder in the air! This summer the SGM Players will be hosting a "Murder Mystery Dinner". If you would like to be a part of this event, please contact Linda in the parish office. We need actors, singers, kitchen help, people to sell tickets, promote the production and a million other jobs.

A LETTTER FROM SR. BARBARA
Dear Sr. 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 you had 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

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)

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.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY
Did you know that an Illinois worker would need to work 2.4 full-time jobs at the minimum wage ($6.50/hour) to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the fair market rent price of $802.00? [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 or call (312) 751-5333, fax (312) 787-1554 or email at esegura@archchicago.org.

THEOLOGY-ON-TAP
The parish of St. Joseph in Homewood is once again proud to be hosting Theology-on-Tap. Last year marked this exciting program's 25th year. With your help, we can make the next 25 years better!
Theology-on-tap is a special program fro young adult Catholics, married or single, in their 20's and 30's. St. Joseph parish is located at 17951 Dixie Highway, Homewood, IL. Upcoming dates for meetings and the topics to be discussed are as followed: July 9th (Living the Mass: How One Hour a week Can change Your Life by Mr. Joe Paprocki); July 16th (The Spirituality of the Kingdom by Fr. Michael Wanda); July 23rd (The Bible on Relationships: Roadmap for Life by Ms. Judy Chiarelli); and July 30th (The Spirituality of Good Relationship). All are at 7:00 PM and are free. Refreshments will be provided.
` For more information call Anne Marzullo (708) 308-8309.

JOYFUL AGAIN!
If you have been recently widowed and are still struggling with the loss, or if you have been widowed for some time and need something to get you "over the hump" because you seem to be stuck in one spot, this program is designed to help you move on with your life while treasuring your past and its precious memories. The next retreat/workshop will be held at Holy Family Parish, Inverness, IL. All are invited. The Joyful Again! Retreat is for both men and women (all ages) who have been widowed and are still trying to find hope and joy in their lives. The retreat will be on August 12 & 13, 2006. The cost is $75 which includes meals.
For further information call (708) 354-7211.

HELP WANTED
Eastern Will County Senior Services is looking for a senior center assistant who has the potential to take over as Executive Director within the near future. This organization serves the communities of University Park, Park Forest, Steger, Crete, Beecher, Peotone, and Monee.
To apply you must be willing to be involved in all phases of Senior Center operations. Telephone, reception, and good customer service skills are required. Data entry and basic computer skills desirable. 20 hours/week, some weekends. Must be eligible for Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Please call Ken Noth for more information at (708) 534-2323.

PHONE A FRIEND
Our church is always concerned with the needs of our parishioners. We try to look out them all week long, not just on Sunday. An area of concern for us is our long time parishioners who may be spending many hours during the week without talking to another person. Therefore we would like to develop a new "club" called "Phone a Friend". Everyone can become a member. It's easy. It doesn't matter how old you are, your health status, your income, your ability to get a around. All you need to do is once a week call a few people and see how they are doing. If they need help in any way, you call the office and we will arrange for them to receive assistance.
We think everyone involved (the caller and the one called) will find this an enjoyable experience. If you are interested, please contact the parish office. Please call if you want to receive a phone call or if you want to make the phone calls. We are always interested in helping others. If you are interested in chairing this new club, please call the office.
If you can think of any other ways we can aid our parishioners, please call the office.
Thank you.

ADOPT TROOPS & FAMILIES
This July 4th Catholic Digest is launching a very special program to bring spiritual comfort and support to our military troops and their families and to support the Archdioceses for the Military Services, USA.
You can send a Catholic Digest subscription to a service member or their family to say "Thank you for your Sacrifice". A portion of each subscription will be donated to the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, to support its mission and ministry as its chaplains reach out to our brave men and women in the armed forces.
For more information, contact Catholic Digest, Adopt Troops & Families, P.O. Box 6015, New London, CT 06320, visit online at www.CatholicDigest.com/military or call (800) 321-0411.

THE WOMEN'S CENTER
The Women's Centers are in the process of adding on-site ultrasound services for their clients. They are seeking professional service volunteers in the following areas: Medical, Legal, Architecture, Construction, Electrical, Plumbing, and Finance. Please call Kathy Michalak, Committee Chairman at (815) 445-1432 for more information.
They are also seeking volunteers on Saturdays at their Des Plaines and Cicero Avenue offices. Call Katie at (773) 794-1313 for more information.
As always there is a continuing need for baby supplies of all types from furniture, to baby shampoo and lotion, to cribs, to car seats to clothing. If you can help, please call (773) 794-1313.
Thank you for your generosity and we can provide tax receipts.

THANK YOU
St. Gerard Majella would like to thank Checkpoint Industries for their generous donation of $150.00 to our parish in the memory of Osie Dompier.

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

This week's questions are:
1. Which of the following is not a precept of the Church: (a) attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation; (b) confess your sins at least once a year; (c) receive Holy Communion at least once a year, during the Easter season; (d) regularly receive a copy of the Catholic New World newspaper.
2. What is the fifth and final glorious mystery of the most holy rosary? (a) the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen in Heaven; (b) the final unity of all Christians; (c) the return of Jesus on the clouds of Heaven at the end of time; (d) the New Jerusalem.
3. When Jesus became "lost" and was found at the Temple, how did he explain his absence; (a) "I heard people singing and praying"; (b) "Did you not know that I had to be about My Father's business?"; (c) "The priest invited me to come in and talk"; (d) "My feet hurt from walking and I needed to sit down for a while".
4. In the Stations of the Cross, Jesus fell three times. Which stations depict the falls? (a) stations 4, 10, and 11; (b) stations 2, 6, & 12; (c) stations 5, 8, and 13; (d) stations 3, 7, and 9.
5. Pope John Paul II said that God saw His creation of the world as "very good". Where does this concept originate? (a) Abraham; (b) the teachings of Jesus Christ; (c) the Biblical Book of Genesis; (d) Noah.

If you have a question we can use, please call the parish office.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
The Gospel this week deals with putting our trust in Jesus. By opening our eyes to the presence of God within the people around us and by opening our ears to hear the Jesus' words to us, we will to be strengthened at a font of healing, forgiveness and love. Jairus and the women afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years were people of tremendous faith. They approached Jesus, almost fully expecting that He would help them. This kind of trust in the Lord Jesus is a wonderful example for us. We need not be afraid to approach the Lord in our need. We need to trust that He will come to our assistance.
Hear, O Lord, the prayers we offer
And show your favor on our needs,
That we may give you thanks forever.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.