THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of Aug. 12th & Aug. 13th. The weekly amount collected was $1638.00.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK
Jack Seniw
Ann Knight
Loretta Wiley
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
Jackie Weirbicki
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
Joan Sitniewski

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 19th & 27th Murder Mystery Dinner
September 17 SGM Parish Fest

SUMMER PRODUCTION
There is murder in the air! This summer the SGM Players will be hosting a "Murder Mystery Dinner". Tickets are now on sell. Dinner Shows will be $15.00 per person and will include a four course meal and a beverage. There will also be a "bar" at which a "Ginger ale Martini", a "Root Beer" or other pop can be purchased. There will also be a "Cabaret Show" performed by the youth of the parish ages 3 to 18. The patrons of the speakeasy are encouraged to join in the fun by dressing in "1920's outfits". You don't have to, but it will add to your enjoyment of the evening.
When you purchase your ticket, you will be given a password. Everyone knows if you knock on the door of a speakeasy, they won't let you in without the password. There has to be some way to make sure the place doesn't get raided.
Those who purchase their tickets in advance will be entered in a special drawing. Tickets are limited and as you know dinner shows sell out fast. Don't miss out on the fun, but your tickets early.
Show dates are Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 27th.
We decided to only have the dinner shows. Since Sal, the head chef, refused to cook four lasagna dinners in a row, there will be only the one show each weekend.

A PARISH FEST
Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 17, 2006. We would like to celebrate the feast of our patron saint, Saint Gerard Majella, a month early by holding an outdoor picnic and community get together. Each organization in the parish will sponsor a booth or event for the afternoon. There will be music, food, crafts, dancing, etc. If you would like to host an event or booth, please call Linda or Kevin in the office. So far we have the Holy Name Society manning the bar-b-que grills, the Women's Guild will host a bake sale, the CCD children will run relay races, Anne's dance group will be putting on a show, The SGM players will be singing a few old-time songs, there a few craft and information booths spoken for.
There will also be a booth set up to accept donations of canned goods for the food pantry at Ascension. In anticipation of winter there will also be a box for donations of formally own but still usable coats and winter gear.
Watch the bulletin for more information, but in the mean time think of something you would like to contribute or do.
Plan on bringing the entire family and ask a few friends to join us.

MARRIAGE BANNS
The banns of marriage are announced for John J. Brefczynski and Diane DuBois for the second time.

CONGRATULATIONS
The parish would like to congratulate Sandra Thomas on being nominated to receive the Fr. Augustus Tolton award for outstanding Black Catholics. Mrs. Thomas has been an active member of St. Gerard Majella for over 30 years. During most of that time she has taught our youngest students in the parish's religious education classes. For the past two years she has found great joy in educating our fifth graders. Mrs. Thomas is very active in the lives of the children not only at our parish but also in our community.

NATIONAL HURRICANE RECOVERY COLLECTION
Bishop William S. Sakylstad, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has announced that the bishops of the 195 US Catholic diocese have approved a special National Collection for Hurricane recovery to be taken up at all Masses. We will have a second collection for this program taken up at all Masses on the weekend of August 19th and 20th.
This collection will provide direct assistance to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and Diocese of Biloxi for the recovery of their churches and other Catholic institutions. Checks may be made payable to the Archdiocese of Chicago, with a notation that the funds are to be directed to Hurricane Recovery.
If you wish to mail your donations please send them to:
Hurricane Recovery
Archdiocese of Chicago
P.O. Box 1979
Chicago, IL. 60690-1979

BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK
Waterford Estates cordially invites you to attend any of the entertainment, educational, or health programs they host. These programs are free of charge and take place at their facility located at 14700 S. Kedzie Ave. in Hazel Crest.
They are offering a free blood pressure check on August 17th at 10:00 AM. On August 22nd at 2:00 PM Ingalls Health Seminar will host a speaker on the effects medications can have on you. On August 28th at 9:00 AM, there will be free cholesterol and blood pressure checks done.

LEARN THE BIBLE
The Chicago Catholic Scripture School of the Archdiocese of Chicago offers Catholic biblical scholarship and long-term faith formation. In two years, you study the foundational books of the Old Testament and the New Testament. In four years, you study every book of the Bible. Classes begin September 23 at St. Xavier University. For more info call (312) 243-3700.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING
The next series of Natural Family Planning classes begins: Saturday, Sept. 9th at St. Stephen's Parish in Tinley Park. For more information call Jeff or Laura at (708) 633-7392.

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

This week's questions are:
1. The pope who gave his name to a popular egg dish was (a) Benedict XIII; (b) Boniface IX; (c) John Paul II; (d) John XXIII; (e) none of the above.
2. In the Middle Ages many people went on pilgrimages because (a) border crossings were easier in those days; (b) pilgrimages were acts of devotion, a means of asking for a saint's intercession, or a substitute for harsh penances; (c) pilgrimages were trendy after Chaucer wrote "Canterbury Tales"; (d) bishops were partial to them; (e) all of the above.
3. The Bible tells us that in the dessert, John the Baptist ate (a) date-nut bread; (b) loaves and fishes; (c) yogurt; (d) grasshoppers and wild honey; (e) none of the above.
4. On the liturgical calendar, Mary's birthday is celebrated on September 8th because (a) that date is nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception; (b) a pope wanted Mary's birthday celebrated on the date of his own birthday; (c) the Church needed a Marian feast in the fall; (d).all of the above; (e) none of the above.
5. The Church Father who single-handedly translated the Bible from its original Greek and Hebrew into Latin was St. (a) Julian of Norwich; (b) Benedict; (c) Jerome; (d) Thomas More; (e) all of the above.

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

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Filled with the Holy Spirit, we are gathered together to heed the words of Saint Paul to the Ephesians. We address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as we give thanks always in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The figure of Holy Wisdom issues an invitation to us in today's first reading from the book of Proverbs. She invites us to eat and drink at her table. We feast at the table of Wisdom, eating of the very stuff of salvation: the sacred word of God.
Mass holds the potential to transform us and fashion us more closely into the image of Christ for the life of the world.

God of wisdom,
you spread a rich feast before us today.
Listen to our prayers
and help us to care for the good things of this world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.