THANK YOU
Thank you to all whom contributed to the collection on the weekend of Aug. 19th & Aug. 20th. The weekly amount collected was $989.86.

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
Lorretta
Szewczykowski
Rosie Paschal

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 27th Murder Mystery Dinner (3 PM)
September 17 SGM Parish Fest (12:30 PM)

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 date is Sunday, August 27th at 3:00 PM.

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 as well. 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.

SENIORS MANGING MONEY
If you are interested in hearing an educational talk on the #1 fear of seniors (running out of money before you die), call the parish office. If enough people are interested we will have a speaker come out to the parish and present a workshop on this subject.

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.

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.

FAMILIES EFFECTED BY DIVORCE
A Mass for Families Affected by Divorce will be celebrated on Sunday, October 1, 2006 at 2:00 PM at St. Ann Parish in Lansing. Bishop Garcia-Siller will be the celebrant at this Mass, and a reception will follow. This is a healing Mass for anyone - husbands, wives, children, family and friends - who has seen a marriage end in divorce and felt the effects of that separation.
Some people who experience divorce and remarriage have left the Catholic faith, often taking children and other family members with them. Come and experience the compassion and understanding of our community.0

WHY THE CROSS
On September 16 (9:30 - 3:30) Dominican Center of Evangelization invites all the adults for a day of spiritual refreshment that will focus on the meaning of the Cross and suffering in Christian life. The speaker of the day is Fr. Mark Kreis, the Bible scholar and associate pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Rockford, IL. RSVP by September 10 to Sr. Margaret Lekan, OP at (708) 458-3040 or srmargaret@sistersop.org.

CARMELITE RETREAT CENTER
When I am an old woman, I'll wear purple and I will not whine! Join Sr. Jane Schlosser, RSM, and Mrs. Mary Burd at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien, IL. on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This delightful program honors the "wise women of purple" with red hats or not! This fun-filled celebration offers insight and reflection on growing older, wiser and more grace-filled. The evening begins with wine and appetizers followed by dinner and program. Cost: $45/person. Please pre-register by September 6th. Call the Spiritual Center at (630) 969-4141 to register.

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

WHAT'S YOUR CATHOLIC IQ?
The answers to last week's questions are: 1. (a) Benedict; 2. (b) acts of devotion; 3. (d) grasshoppers & honey; 4. (a) nine months; 5. (c) Jerome.

This week's questions are:
1. Which Jesuit saint, born in Holland, made a Doctor of the church, was an advisor to Popes Pius IV, Pius V, and Gregory XIII? (a) St. Peter Paul Mary; (b) John Paul I; (c) Benedict I; (d) St. Peter Canisius; (e) none of the above.
2. `St. Andrew Kim Taegon was (a) the first native born Korean priest; (b) the son of converts; (c) baptized at age 15; (d) arrested, tortured, and beheaded for helping missionaries; (e) all of the above.
3. Which saint was a follow student who changed the life of St. Francis Xavier by asking him to be one of five men who started the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)? (a) Ignatius Loyola; (b) Peter Claver; (c) Alphonsus Liguori; (d) John Vianney; (e) none of the above.
4. St. John Neumann had to go to which country to be ordained because the bishop in Bohemia thought there were enough priests in his country (a) Russia; (b) United States; (c) China; (d).Peru; (e) none of the above.
5. St. John Chrysostom is one of the Greek Fathers of the Church. He was a true prophet, which is someone who (a) comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable; (b) likes to tell other people what to do; (c) prays all day and never leaves the monastery; (d) accepts money for his predictions and visions; (e) none of the above.
If you have a question we can use, please call the parish office.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Just as Joshua gathered the tribes of Israel together in ancient times, so, too, does the Holy Spirit gather us together at Mass. Here we turn to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Him we find sustenance for our journey of faith. His word and the sacrament of His body and blood fill us with strength as we seek ways to feed the poor and comfort those who are in need.
No one ever said that the Christian life would be easy. Sometimes we find the teachings of Jesus hard to follow. Just when we think we are following the ways of the Lord, he asks us to do more. We might be tempted to turn away. May the word of God prompt us to respond to Jesus the way Peter did. May Peter's words become our own: "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
God our creator, we know that our prayers reach to the heavens.
Hear and answer the prayers we voice on behalf of those in need.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son, who is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.