Letters from a Pastor to His People

Today we celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. All the big holy days of June are finished and now we once again enter Ordinary Time. I see Ordinary Time as the necessary space to actually live out our faith. The big feasts fill us with hope and give us courage for the work ahead, but now we are called to put the faith we received from Jesus and the Apostles into practice. The Gospel today tells us what we are to do. Jesus appoints seventy-two people to go before him to prepare his way. They are to spread good news of peace, hospitality, health, and hope. They are reminded to not get bogged down on the little things; rather we should keep to the message of light and peace, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Those who were sent came back rejoicing, because all that Jesus told them came to pass and many received the good news joyfully.

Today we are the descendants of Jesus’ followers. We too are called to spread good news. We also are reminded to not get caught up on petty things, but rather focus on what is important and life giving. We also know like, Saint Paul, that everything we have and everything we do comes from the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We ask the Lord to help us bring peace, hospitality, and hope into our daily lives.

In the last year, Barb Ernat, one of our staff members in charge of hospitality, began a program for young families called Meet, Greet and Play. The idea was to bring families together who have young children, infancy to school age, so they could meet other families in the same boat as them. We began on Saturday mornings once a month. We have been pleased with the turnout and decided to change it up for the summer. The change is moving it to Sunday, after the 9:30 AM Mass. So on July 13th, we will offer our Meet, Greet, and Play Day! We invite young families to join us in the parish office library and backyard to meet other families and let the children meet other new friends as well. Call the office if you need more information.

The Saint Juliana Friendship Club is sponsoring a paddle wheel boat excursion on the Fox River on Thursday, August 14th. Reservations are required. A sandwich lunch will also be provided. Last month the Friendship Club hit the casino in Michigan. I am assuming there were no big winners, since I still see all the members each week. Consider joining the Friendship Club and bring a friend as well.

Finally, we hope everyone had a great Fourth of July holiday. God has entrusted us with a country with freedom as our foundation. Our faith encourages us to not hoard the blessings we received, but to share them with all who are in need. May we continue to prosper as a nation and be a sign of peace and generosity to the world. 

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. We don’t often get to celebrate the Apostles on a Sunday. Peter and Paul were the great missionary disciples of Jesus. Their lives were devoted to sharing the story of Jesus. Wherever they went, they preached the “good news” that was given to them by Jesus. They gave their lives so that the Gospel might reach the end of the earth. Both disciples formed local churches and commissioned followers to continue the work that had been entrusted to them from Jesus. We follow Peter and Paul as disciples of Jesus. For over two years we have worked on creating disciples at Saint Juliana who would share their journey of faith. When our personal stories are told, others are freed to share their stories as well. Through these stories of joy, hope, sadness, and reconciliation, we realize that God is alive and has been working in our daily lives. We joyfully sing God’s praises.

During the summer I hope you take time to consider joining one of our parish evangelization experiences. In early fall we will once again be hosting our Alpha program. Through hospitality, video presentations, prayer, and shared dialogue, believers can deepen their faith. Those searching can find a safe place to ask questions and hear stories of others on the journey. We will also host The Chosen again this fall. Many have found this series to be helpful and challenging on a journey of discipleship. The program builds community as we watch the series together with others and share how the stories impact our lives. For those who have already begun a journey and now want to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, we offer the OCIA program. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults allows for academic input and lively discussion on the basic dogma and doctrines of our faith. It is a time for inquiry and decision. Those who choose will receive the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation at the Easter Vigil in the spring. This fall we will also be offering classes on beliefs, traditions, and practices in the Catholic Church. The Mind and Heart series will offer more for those who already believe. Finally, we also offer adoration each week as time away with the Lord. Prayer is one of the central pillars of our faith. If you are interested in learning more about any of these programs check out the parish website, bulletin, or call the office and we will be glad to share more details. 

July 1, 2025 we end the fiscal year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the financial support you have shown Saint Juliana. Through weekly giving, the Generation to Generation campaign, the Annual Catholic Appeal, and other gifts, you continue to keep the parish and archdiocese strong. God blesses us each day, and you pass that blessing on in so many ways. Thanks you!

Finally, I would ask prayers for Jim McHale one of our finance committee member who passed away suddenly this month. Jim was not only active in finance, but was an active participant in the Alpha program. We are saddened by his death and ask God to welcome him home. Also we offer prayers for his wife Terri. Eternal rest grant on to him, O Lord.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus tells us that we share both a human and a divine nature. We are of this world, and we are of God’s world which is yet to appear. How do we survive in everyday life? As humans, it takes a certain amount of healthy food to keep our bodies strong and our energy levels up. But we also have needs for our spiritual fitness as well. Jesus gave us his Body and Blood as nourishment and strength for the spiritual journey. Every time we gather for the Eucharist, we are included in the one sacrifice that frees us from sin. We are made new in the sacrifice of Jesus. We are also nourished for the work ahead. When we eat the Body of Christ, we become the Body of Christ. This transformation allows us to do the work that Jesus has entrusted to us. What is that work? We are called to be a light to the nations. We are called to be hope in our world. We are called to be forgiveness. We thank God for the precious gift of his Body and Blood.

Today, Sunday June 22nd, we will host a class on the teachings of the Church surrounding the pope. There has been much excitement in the past month as we saw Pope Leo XIV ascend to the papacy. Last week the archdiocese hosted a large event at Rate Field to celebrate Pope Leo XIV, who hails from Chicago. With all of the excitement now, people are asking: How is a pope elected? Who gets to vote? What power does the pope have over the Church and in the world? These and many other questions will be answered. The class begins at 12:15 PM in the parish office library. So plan on joining us as we highlight the doctrine and tradition surrounding the papacy.

During the summer we are already beginning to organize classes for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The OCIA is designed for adults who are interested in learning about the Catholic faith and receiving the Sacraments of Initiation. It is for those who have never been baptized. It is for those who have been baptized in another Christian faith, but now would like to join the Catholic Church and receive the sacraments. It is also for baptized Catholics who may have never received the Eucharist or confirmation after their baptism. The classes begin in September and always begin with an inquiry component. So if you or a family member fit one of these groups and would like to journey with other adults, please call the parish office and ask for Marie Dombai. Marie can answer questions and pass on your information to Chris Floss who runs the OCIA. Now is the time.

Today we celebrate Trinity Sunday. Last week we celebrated Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us. Today we celebrate God himself. We celebrate all the ways that we experience God in our lives. God the Father is seen as a creator. God the Son was sent to redeem us. And God the Holy Spirit was given to us to guide us and give us strength—three ways we experience good, but only one God. We personally might have other ways we feel God is present in our lives. God is mercy, hope, light, and joy. But in the many ways we experience God, there is a unity that the Trinity represents. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one. Just like the Trinity, we are called to work for unity. We are strongest when we are united. Whether it is in faith, family, workplace, or nation, unity strengthens all our endeavors. We pray that we will follow the example of the one God head and work for unity in our lives.

Time for a few “thank yous” this weekend. I would like to start with all of the ladies of the parish who knit and crochet the blankets we give to our young families at baptism. It is an added blessing from the parish that tells a young family that they are not alone on this journey of faith. The blankets symbolize all the support they will receive from our Saint Juliana faith community over the years ahead. They are an invitation to embrace the faith and community for their children. So, thanks to all who are knitting.

Thanks to all of choirs, cantors and musicians as they begin their summer break. We are blessed to have so much talent in the parish. Music enhances our liturgical celebrations. Often the music will “catch” us even if the homily or scripture didn’t. Thanks to Glenn and all our music ministers.

Now two invitations. First, if you like to knit and want to help with the baby blankets ministry, please call the office and we will put your talents to use. Second invitation, if you would like to sing talk to Glenn, or call the parish office and we will get you in touch with Glenn. The more voices we have, the more we sound like angels.

Happy Father’s Day to all of our dads. Like our moms, dads sacrifice so much for all of us. Their guidance, strength, and support allow us to go out and become the men and women we are meant to be. Thanks to the fathers!

Finally, this week I will be away for my first United States Catholic Conference of Bishops meeting. The last half year has been a learning curve for me. This week will be another first. Pray for all the Bishops as we come together for the Conference. May we also experience the unity we find in the Trinity.

Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. It is the official end of the Easter Season and traditionally seen as the beginning of the Church. On this day, the long-awaited Holy Spirit comes to the disciples. In the form of wind and flames, the Spirit descends on the disciples. They begin to proclaim the good news of Jesus, and everyone hears them in their own language. No matter where they came from or what language they speak, everyone understands the disciples' teachings. The people are amazed. 

This is a day for all of us to remember the gifts we have been given by God. Your gift is not my gift. Each of us is created and blessed with different gifts. Jesus calls us all to use our gifts to spread good news. We are all called to be a flame of faith ignited by the Holy Spirit. The sacrament of Confirmation celebrates the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are in each one of us. We pray that we will use our gifts for God’s glory in our world.

This week we begin our Totus Tuus summer youth camp. The Totus Tuus summer camp is run by seminarians and college-age students in the archdiocese. Along with parish adults and catechists, it is a week to celebrate the gifts we receive through our faith. Through prayer, catechesis, games, and group activities, the campers build a stronger relationship with Jesus and with each other. Thanks to Marvin Bornschlegl for leading the camp, and thanks to all of the volunteers who will be helping during the week.

This coming Saturday, June 14th, the archdiocese is hosting an afternoon celebration of Pope Leo XIV. The celebration will be held at Rate Field, White Sox park. The gates open at 12:30 PM and there will be music, prayer, Jumbo Tron videos, and a whole lot more. The afternoon will end with the Sunday vigil Mass being celebrated at 4:00 PM. Cost is $5 dollars for parking and $5 for a seat. The seat charge will be donated to local charities, but it is necessary for the White Sox organization to have seats for all those who will be participating. We look forward to celebrating our very own Pope Leo XIV.

A big parish thanks to Marie and Tom Dombai and all their volunteers who worked to make the Saint Juliana parish picnic a success once again. The picnic is a great way for parishioners to come together and just relax and catch up with one another. So often we are all running in different directions, but for one afternoon we were able to slow it down. We hope everyone had a great time.

A big welcome back to Fr. Prasad. Fr. Prasad went home to visit family and friends, and he was sorely missed. We are glad he was able to spend the time with his family and even happier that he is safely back with his Saint Juliana family.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. There is always initial sadness when someone we love is no longer with us. Family members may have moved far away. Relationships may have ended, and we do not have the same connection with friends or family.  Or we experience the death of a spouse, a family member, or a friend. The initial feeling is one of emptiness or sadness. Eventually though, in most cases, we begin to transition from sadness to a gratefulness for the time we had. Our memories allow us to move beyond the grief. This is the experience we have today in the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus is no longer physically in our presence. We now experience him in the stories (memories) given to us, the actions we participate in (Eucharist), and in the promised Holy Spirit. Today, like the original disciples, we pray and wait for God’s spirit to fill us and send into the world to spread the Good News!

Today Saint Juliana is hosting our parish picnic at Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. The day begins with a 12:30 PM Mass under the pavilion. There will be food, games, music, and animals for everyone to enjoy. Thanks to everyone who has been working on planning, set up, and takedown. The picnic is another way for us to build parish community. See you all this afternoon.

This past week the Saint Juliana Class of 2025 graduated. We wish the class well as they move on to the next part of their life journey. Faith, academics, and relationships will be the pillars that help them succeed in the future. Congratulations to all of our parish students who are graduating from grade school, high school, and college. These important moments of transition help us reflect on where we have come from and where we are going. Please keep all the graduates of the parish in your prayers.

This coming Saturday, June 7th, we will be hosting Meet, Greet, and Play for our young families in the parish office yard. We invite young parents with young children, babies- through early school age, to join us and meet other parish families with children in the same age group. There are refreshments for children and parents alike. The goal of Meet, Greet, and Play is to connect parishioners with other parishioners who are in the same stage of life and may have the same concerns as other young parents. Join us this Saturday, June 7th.

Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear about the controversy concerning Gentiles who have come to believe in Jesus. The question was whether they needed to be circumcised like the Jews in order to become members of the Church. In other words, did the Gentiles need to become Jews before they became Christian? Today it might seem like a petty argument, but at the time it was a huge question. Eventually it was decided that circumcision would not be a requirement for becoming a follower of Jesus, but rather baptism was all that was needed. But like all big decisions in life, the controversy persisted even after the decision was made. Though there are many things in life that separate us and divide us, Pope Francis and Pope Leo call on us to build bridges of understanding. Dialogue helps us to understand our similarities—many times as important or more important than our differences. Let’s all heed the call to build bridges in our world.

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. It began as a day to honor all those who gave their lives in defense of our country. It is also a day for us to remember all of our family and friends who have died. Many will go to the cemetery this weekend. We will clean up the graves of our beloved dead. As believers of Jesus we also gather to celebrate the resurrection that we believed is promised to us in baptism. Throughout the Archdiocese Masses will be celebrated in the Catholic cemeteries at 10:30 AM on Monday morning. We invite you to join us for these celebrations of our loved ones.

As we finish the academic school year, I encourage you to register for Saint Juliana School, or the St. Juliana religious education program. Too often we forget as the summer progresses to register our children and then we find ourselves scrambling or shut out when we remember in late summer. Now is a great time to make sure your children have a spot in next year’s programs. You can register for the RE program online (information is in this bulletin). For SJS registration, I encourage you to call the school office.

Next Sunday we will have our parish picnic at the Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. We hope you and your family will join us for the picnic. There will be food and games for everyone. There will also be a petting zoo and pony rides for the children. In addition to our regular Masses at the church, we will also be celebrating Mass under the pavilion at 12:30 PM. Check this bulletin for details.

Finally, on Saturday, June 14th, the archdiocese will be having a massive celebration of Pope Leo IV. It will be held at Rate Field (White Sox park) during the afternoon. There will be music, and exhibits along with a Mass at 4:00 PM. We have reserved a bus for anyone who would like to go by bus. Cost will be $10 and includes bus and admission. For those who want to drive themselves, parking will be $5 and $5 for an admission ticket. Pope Leo is a blessing to the whole Church, but in a special way we claim him as one of our own. Please consider joining all of Chicago for this historic event. Call the parish office to reserve your tickets.

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday we continue to hear the stories from Paul and Barnabas about what God is doing in the world. They go from town to town proclaiming Jesus as Lord, and the people believe. Eventually Paul and Barnabas will come home to Jerusalem and face the first crisis of the new Church there. A decision will need to be made about Gentiles who want to follow Jesus. After much consternation and discussion, Peter will go along with Paul and allow Gentiles to become followers simply through the act of baptism. All throughout Church history there are times of crisis and concern. We believe that the Holy Spirit, Jesus' spirit, always guides our decisions and ways. The short gospel reminds us that Jesus wants us to love one another. This is what disciples have proclaimed throughout all of history. We now receive that same mandate.

This has been quite a week. With the installation of Pope Leo the XIV, the Church once again focuses on its mission to go and make disciples. Like the first disciples, we are called to share our stories of wonder and faith with the world around us. Pope Leo calls us to be bridge builders who work to unite the world, all Christians, and our families. Love which makes room for forgiveness is a key to that message. So continue to pray in thanksgiving for our new pope and ask God to give him the strength he will need for this new ministry.

Hard to believe that we are already halfway through May. At Saint Juliana that means both the school and religious education programs are preparing to close up shop for the summer. This means extra Masses, graduations, and programs at many levels. It is a time of expectation for our soon-to-be grade school graduates. On one hand they are celebrating their completion of grade school, but on the other hand there is concern for the high school years ahead. We look forward to celebrating all the exciting moments with all our parish students.

Thanks to the Knights of Columbus for bringing the Blessed Carlo Acutis Marian Aparitions exhibit to Saint Juliana. The exhibit reminds all of us how important our Blessed Mother is to all of us. Thanks also to all of the volunteers who helped set up and take down the exhibit, along with those who acted as docents during the exhibit. Thanks especially to Marie Dombai who organized the whole weekend.

There are always ways to get involved at Saint Juliana. We are looking for women who would like to be on the women's retreat team. The next retreat will be held during Lent of 2026, but preparation will begin by the end of the summer.

We also need help with the parish picnic. This year the picnic will be held on June 1, 2025 at the Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. So please purchase your tickets—and sign up to help!

Volunteers are also needed for the Totus Tuus youth camp which will be held on June 8-13. Volunteers are the backbone of all of the Saint Juliana activities. Please consider helping out if you are able. Contact the parish office for more information about getting involved.

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter. In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch and are preaching the good news, Jesus Christ, to the Jewish faithful of the area. The leaders do not accept the words of Paul and Barnabas. In fact they throw them out of the synagogue. But then Paul makes a great claim and tells the people that since the Jews rejected the “light,” it would be given to the gentiles. Now anyone who heard the word of God and believed would be saved. We are the descendants of the gentiles. We are part of a great multitude of people who heard the good news and believed. We ask Jesus to help us be witnesses to his work on earth.

In 2027 Saint Juliana will be celebrating it’s 100th jubilee. This is a major event for a parish, and we are looking for input on how people want to celebrate this joyful event. On Tuesday, June 10th, at 6:30 PM we will be having a meeting to discuss possible ways to celebrate our jubilee. At the meeting I am asking people for ideas on how to celebrate. They might be things from our past, or they might be events you have seen at other parishes. This will just be an idea meeting. No decisions will be made. Once we have the input we will sit on it for a bit and let the Holy Spirit guide us as we move forward. We want this to be a parish-led celebration. So everyone is invited to join us as we begin to plan for the celebration.

This weekend the parish is hosting the Blessed Carlo Acutis Marian Apparitions exhibit in the Ahearn Center. We encourage everyone to take some time after Masses this weekend to go visit the exhibit highlighting the Marian visits that have happened around the world. Saint Juliana is one of the first parishes to show the exhibit. Thanks to all of the volunteers who have worked to bring the exhibit to Saint Juliana.

The Knights of Columbus are selling flowers this weekend in the back of the church in honor of Mother’s Day. All the proceeds from the sale go to the Women’s Center. There are a variety of bouquets and prices, so why not treat your mom to a beautiful bunch of flowers? Let Mom know how much she means to all of you.

Summer is fast approaching. The parish picnic is scheduled for Sunday, June 1, 2025. There is something for everyone at the picnic. The picnic will be held at Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. So invite your family and friends to this kickoff to the summer. More information is in this bulletin.

Totus Tuus summer youth camp is also coming once again to Saint Juliana this June. The camp will be held on the week of June 8th. More information is again available in the bulletin or on the web page.

Finally we would like to wish all of our mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. Thanks to all of the Moms who have given us life, nurtured us and cheered our successes. We appreciate all that you do! 

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter. The Easter celebration extends all the way to Pentecost. It is a reminder that Jesus’ death and resurrection are central to our faith. The gospel today once again gives us another resurrection story to ponder. In it the apostles are out fishing. Jesus waits for them on the shore. After a bad night of fishing, Jesus tells them to cast off the other side of the boat. Reluctantly they do as Jesus asks and the nets fill up. When they get to shore they share a breakfast with Jesus, and then Peter and Jesus have a hard conversation. Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Many theologians say it is in response to the denials Peter made before the crucifixion. In the end, the outcome is clear. Peter and the other disciples are called to tend to the believers and help lead them to Jesus. This is our call as well.

This Tuesday Saint Juliana will celebrate our parish Confirmation. I have been on a Confirmation marathon for two weeks. I have celebrated nine confirmations in ten days. I have to say that the Saint Juliana Confirmation will be special, as I know the children and their teachers and catechists. I have spoken to the Confirmation classes in the past two weeks and they are ready for the Holy Spirit. Please join me in prayerful celebration as the students continue their journey of faith.

Congratulations to all of the children who received their First Communion this Saturday during two great celebrations. The students were well prepared. Thanks to the parents and teachers who have walked with the children. Your baptismal promise is fulfilled as you pass on the faith to these children. As a parish please keep the children in your prayers.

 This week the cardinals in Rome will begin the conclave process which will elect the next pope. I encourage everyone to pray for the cardinals who will make this important decision. The process for selection of a new pope fascinates everyone; but for the Church, we believe the outcome will be the work of the Holy Spirit. God will choose who is called to lead us in this time. Our job is to pray and joyfully accept God’s decision.

The parish picnic is coming soon, and we hope you will all join us for the celebration. The picnic is held at Bunker Hill Woods, Grove 5. It is set for Sunday, June 1st. Invite your family and friends. It is another way for us all to gather as a parish family. I have been practicing my potato sack racing skills for the day. If you want to help with the picnic please call Marie Dombai in the parish office.

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter. This is also Divine Mercy Sunday. Saint Faustina had visions about the mercy of God flowing from the heart of Jesus. This stream of mercy was endless. Saint Pope John Paul II created this celebration in honor of God’s mercy. The Easter message is a message of mercy. Jesus gives his life so that we can be forgiven. The Easter celebration continues until the Feast of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit descending on the Apostles is another sign of God’s care and mercy for all of us. Fr. Prasad will have a Divine Mercy celebration at 3:00 PM in the church today, Sunday, April, 27th. We invite everyone to join in the thanksgiving for God’s mercy.

It was with tremendous sadness we woke up on Monday of this past week to learn about the passing of Pope Francis. Since then prayers, Masses, and other celebrations have been offered in honor of the first South American-born pope. In choosing the name of Saint Francis, the pope began his pontificate as a champion for the poor, the outcast, and the foreigner. The person in front of him took precedence over doctrine. Church leaders could debate doctrine, but it was the person in front of him who was important. He saw the Church as a big family, and as his last public event, traveled through the crowds on Easter. It is fitting that he celebrated Easter—our feast of new life and resurrection here on earth—and then went home to continue the celebration with God and all the saints in heaven. Please continue to pray for Pope Francis and in the days ahead for the cardinal’s as they begin the conclave to choose Pope Francis’ successor. 

As we continue the celebration of Easter it is a time in which we celebrate the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. We will be celebrating First Eucharist here at Saint Juliana on Saturday, May 3rd. We will celebrate Confirmation at St. Juliana on Tuesday, May 6th. Please include in your prayers all of the children who will be receiving the sacraments this year.

Finally, thanks to everyone who helped with the Easter celebrations. I was very pleased with the numbers of people who chose to celebrate with us. Faith gives us hope! Pope Francis entitled his autobiography Hope. We all came together as a sign of God’s hope. Whatever part you played in our celebrations are hopeful reminders of a church that is alive in all her members. Happy Easter, Saint Juliana!

Prayer at the Passing of Pope Francis

Dear God,

We thank You for the years of service Pope Francis gave to our Church: his encyclicals, his prayers, his pilgrimages, his work for a brighter tomorrow. May his life and service remind us of our ultimate goal — You and You alone. Amen.

“On the first day of the week."

This one phrase is filled with so much meaning. In our Gospel this morning, Mary of Magdala comes to the tomb and is one of the first to see that the tomb is open.  She runs to share the distressing news with Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. But when the disciples return to the tomb and see that it is empty, it is John who sees and believes. This will be the first confirmation that Jesus is alive. 

Easter is a day of transformation. Death is conquered, and darkness is replaced with light. That is what we all celebrate in our parish and in our homes. Through our belief in Jesus and the relationship that we have fostered with him, we can joyfully proclaim that Jesus is alive! This is the Easter message. We believe that any darkness in our own lives, in our own world, can be transformed to light in Jesus. The symbols of resurrection surround us on this Easter morn. Water, flowers, eggs, chicks, lambs, music, and delicious food remind us that God has given us an abundance of life in Jesus and his resurrection. The Eucharistic celebration is the living embodiment of the life Jesus gives us. All we have to do to receive his life is say, “Yes.”

This past winter we all experienced a bit of transition at Saint Juliana. On December 20th, 2024 the Holy Father, Pope Francis, appointed me an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago. On February 26, 2025 I was ordained a bishop at Holy Name Cathedral and became the Vicar of Vicariate II. All this happened while retaining my position as pastor of Saint Juliana Parish. The upside of this is that I am able to remain in the parish and walk with all of you. If there is a downside, it is that now I will also lead and care for about forty more parishes in Vicariate II. I am a firm believer that God gives us what we need to accomplish his work on earth, so I am confident that this new adventure will unfold just as the Lord is expecting. We all simply need to be open to God’s work

During Lent, while all that was going on, Saint Juliana continued to be a beacon of light in renewal and evangelization. Parishioners participated in daily Mass, adoration, Alpha, bible studies, The Chosen, as well as the men’s and women’s retreats. The Taizé reconciliation service brought comfort and healing to many. And our weekly Stations of the Cross reminded us of the gift we received in Jesus’ death and resurrection. This excitement and growth in our faith is what Easter is all about. We are all called to share that “Good News” with one another. 

On behalf of Fr. Prasad, Fr. Roger, the parish and school staff, and myself, we wish everyone a blessed Easter.

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, and we begin our journey into Holy Week. The week begins in triumph as Jesus is welcomed into Jerusalem with “Hosannas” and joy. But as Holy Week continues, the story shifts and we see Jesus’ impending death on the horizon. But Jesus’ death is not the end. Jesus’ resurrection is the final chapter! Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins is accompanied with the new life we have received in his resurrection. I encourage everyone to join us for all of our Holy Week celebrations.

On Holy Thursday we begin the celebration of the Easter Triduum. These three days—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil—are seen as one celebration. Once the celebration begins on Holy Thursday, it does not end until the completion of the Easter Vigil. On Holy Thursday we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We will begin the celebration at 7:00 PM. During the celebration we hear the Gospel of Jesus’ final supper with his apostles. This meal signifies the Eucharist that Jesus gives us through his death and resurrection. During that meal we are reminded of our call to serve one another. Jesus gets up from the table and begins to wash the feet of his apostles. During our service, we also will wash the feet of our parishioners as a sign of that service. Finally the evening ends with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

On Good Friday we will have two services. The first is at 3:00 PM. This is the Passion of the Lord. We once again listen to the Passion Gospel. After the gospel is completed we offer universal petitions for the world. The second part of the service is our Veneration of the Cross. During this time we expose the cross as the sign of our redemption, and then venerate it by kisses, bows, genuflections, or touch. Finally, this service concludes with our reception of the Eucharist. At 6:00 PM on Good Friday, we will have our stations of the Cross.

The Easter vigil begins at 7:30 PM. Rituals of light and darkness are celebrated. New water of baptism is blessed and through the telling of our story of salvation from the beginning of time to Jesus, our faith comes alive once again. We also celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation with the elect, who have been on their own journey of faith. This night we begin our Easter celebration.

There will be no morning Masses celebrated on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. There will be morning prayer celebrated on Good Friday and Holy Saturday at 9:00 AM. On Holy Saturday we will have a blessing for food to be used at our Easter celebrations. Check this bulletin on page 3 for the time of the blessing, as well as the rest of the Holy Week schedule.

Once again I invite you to join us for all of the Holy Week celebrations.

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The theme for this week is presented to us in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah. He tells the people, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not, see, I am doing something new.” We are shaped by the things of the past. They make us who we are, but yet we are told to be open to what is to come. In the gospel, Jesus is asked what to do to the women caught in adultery. The old option is to stone her. Jesus comes up with something new for the scribes and pharisees, as well as the women. He tells the scribes and the pharisees who have no sin to cast the first stone. Eventually no one is left. Finally Jesus tells the women to sin no more. Lent gives us new eyes. To see events and things in our life in a new way. Jesus tells all of us to go and sin no more.

Thanks to all of the eighth graders who participated in the Living Stations of the Cross. Stations of the Cross began as a substitute for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to experience the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Because most people will never get to Jerusalem, the Stations developed so we could participate in the journey from wherever we are. Almost every Catholic church has stations on their walls or outside in a garden. By participating in the Way of the Cross, we participate in Jesus Passion and death. The presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross are a way to bring this devotion to the next generation. They are just as unlikely as the rest of us to get to the Holy Land, but yet they can participate in this journey of faith in our local church. So thanks again to all of the eighth graders who were able to participate, and to Janie Lidgus and Glenn de Castro for all their help.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Traditionally all around the world our Christian churches will fill up as we begin Holy Week. In one week, we will see as our whole faith in Jesus Christ unfolds before us. It is a time to remember why we are here. The week begins with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, but is quickly replaced with Jesus’ passion and death. In between we celebrate the last supper he shared with his disciples, and finally we experience the new life we received on Easter morning with his resurrection. I encourage everyone to join us for as many of the Holy Week celebrations as you can. A strong effort during Holy Week will help make the Easter joy even better.

Thanks to the Saint Juliana Men’s club who hosted our Final Four bash this weekend. Through the events they sponsor throughout the year, they contribute to the life of Saint Juliana. This year the Men’s Club have made a commitment to our Generation to Generation Capital Campaign. Through their help, we will be able to continue to move the faith forward for years to come. Next weekend the Saint Juliana Mother’s Club will hold their Big Night Out bash. Their efforts help the school community in so many ways. Thanks to everyone who generously support the Men’s Club and Mother’s Club at Saint Juliana.

Finally, Holy week schedules are a bit different, and attendance at many of our celebrations are high as well. It is a time for all of us to welcome all the extra family and guests who will join us for the Easter celebrations. So check the bulletin or website for times of services, and come early. 

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The story of the Prodigal Son is a story of sin and redemption. It is also a story about the love of a parent for his child. A father had two sons—one chose to obey his father and the other chose to squander his life and inheritance. Eventually the destitute son chooses to come back home and face his shame and his father. It is the story of the father that captures our hearts in the Lenten season. Every day that his son is missing, the father goes out and looks for his lost son. When he is finally sees his son, the father, filled with compassion, goes out to meet him. He puts beautiful clothes on his son and rings on his fingers. He restores his son to his original place in the family. This is a story about God. God waits for all of us and is ready to throw a party when we turn from sin and become his light in the world once again. Lent is a season of homecoming in our faith. Through our Lenten prayer, activities, and charity, we once again choose light over darkness. God is waiting for each of us.

This week the men of the parish had their Lenten retreat. About twenty-five men of the parish gave six hours of their weekend to prayer and reflection. I often hear people ask why they need a retreat. I myself have asked that same question at different points in my life. I have come to believe a day away allows us to put the everyday responsibilities on hold and allows us to think. We live 24/7. Often even in sleep our minds can’t stop. A day without phones, work, or distractions allows us to reset. We get a chance to refocus ourselves on what is important in our lives. Thanks to the men who prepared this day of reflection and thanks to the women who also led the women’s retreat.

Another Lenten activity available to you this season is adoration on Tuesday evenings. Fr. Prasad is presenting a “Lenten Walk with Jesus” during the adoration period. We also have Stations of the Cross every Friday at 6:30 PM in the church. Reconciliation is offered an hour before the Stations. On April 4th, some of our eighth grade students will present the Living Stations of the Cross. Parishioners are invited to either presentation at 2:00 or 6:30 PM. Daily Mass is also another activity that is available at 8:30 AM. I hope these days of Lent enhance the Easter celebration for all of us.

We continue to have our prayer basket in the back of church. As parishioners add their prayers to the basket, other parishioners take one out and pray for their fellow parishioners. It is another way to connect us spiritually with our fellow parishioners. It also changes the focus of our prayer. It helps us look beyond ourselves and our needs to the needs of others. Please take a petition card this weekend and together we will raise up our prayers to God. 

Finally, thanks to all the parishioners who showed up for the lector and Eucharistic minister training meeting last Sunday. We will work quickly to get you on our Sunday schedule. Thanks to Marie and Tom Dombai for hosting the meeting.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Lent. In the first reading from the book of Exodus we are reminded of God’s covenant with us. Seeing the suffering of Israel in Egypt, God picks Moses to go and tell the people the covenant is not exhausted. God will prevail. We are part of that covenant. God will save us, but we must also respond to God’s call. In the gospel, Jesus tells the people that we need to repent. We have to turn away from evil and follow God. He gives the example of the fig tree that after three years will not produce figs. The owner tells the caregiver to cut it down. The caregiver asks for one more year, before he has to destroy the tree. The owner relents and gives the caregiver and the tree one more year to produce. Is this the year given to us? Will are lives show repentance and light? Will we produce fruit under Jesus’ care?

Thanks to the Saint Juliana Fine Arts Association for another great spring production. Mean Girls, Jr. tells a tale of hurt, and redemption. It calls everyone to find their better self. It also calls us to be who God created us to be. The children and their advisors worked very hard to get ready for the play. We are blessed to have a vibrant fine arts program at Saint Juliana. Thanks to everyone who came to the shows over the weekend. Your support allows the Fine Arts Association to thrive!

This week the women of the parish had their spring day of reflection. Over fifty women participated in the retreat. The team worked hard for over six months to prepare the program. For those who participated it was another chance to reflect on their relationship with Jesus and share how that relationship has changed their lives.

This coming Saturday, March 29th, the men will host their day of reflection. You can still sign up by calling the parish office or talking with Deacon Tom Dombai. Thanks to the men and women who worked hard to give us these days of reflection.

Today we begin our first Scrutinies for the Elect who will be receiving the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil this year. The Cycle A readings will be used at the 9:30 AM Sunday liturgy for the next three weeks. You can find the QR code for these readings in the bulletin on page 4. Please pray for our Elect as they more fully enter into the Easter mystery.

Finally, in the back of church there is a basket with prayer petitions from our parishioners. I encourage those who are willing, to take a card from the basket and pray for that petition through the season of Lent. We are a family of faith who are strengthened when we pray for each other.

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Lent. Today’s gospel reading is the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up the mountain to pray. While they are there, Jesus is transfigured before them. He begins to glow, and his clothes become dazzling white. The disciples want to capture the moment. They don’t want it to end. But God has other plans. God speaks from the cloud acknowledging who Jesus is, but then it is over. The disciples are dumbstruck, but when they regain their composure, everything is back to normal. The disciples tell no one about what happened. Transfiguration moments are not that frequent in our lives. They may come only once or twice in a lifetime. Once we have an experience like the disciples did though, it becomes a marker for the rest of our life. The transfiguration moments feed us in the ordinary days of life. Knowing God is with us allows us to live as disciples.

This week we will have our Rite of Sending for our OCIA candidates. They have each been on an individual journey to a new relationship with God and Jesus. They all have different reasons for beginning the journey, but together now they can see the Easter sacraments. We will send them to Holy Name Cathedral today for the Rite of Election. Cardinal Cupich will accept them into the Elect with others from all over the archdiocese. We continue to pray for them on this journey and promise to be examples for them of living faith. Next week we will celebrate the Lenten Scrutinies with them as well. Congratulations to these Elect of God.

Last weekend we asked you to list prayer intentions on cards during our celebration of the liturgy. We received a lot of cards listing prayer intentions for our parishioners. This week I am asking those who are willing to take a card from the basket in the back of church and pray for the intention listed. Carry the intention card with you during this Lenten season and pray for the needs of another parishioner. Prayer builds community and family. We believe in the power of prayer, and together we will build a faith family who prays for each other and lifts each others’ needs to God. These prayers are outward-looking prayers. These intentions call us to look beyond our own needs.

Last week we celebrated Mass with our Confirmation candidates and their sponsors. We were reminded of all God offers us through scripture. We asked the candidates and their sponsors to take time to reflect on the stories given to us each week at our liturgy. The bible teaches us and guides us on our life journey. Please pray for these students and sponsors as they continue to prepare for their Confirmation on May 6th, and please keep praying for the bishop who will confirm them—me! Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

Finally, over the next two weekends we will be holding retreats for the women and men of the parish. Information is included in the bulletin. Please consider taking some time out of your busy schedules to reflect on how God works in your own lives. Please also pray for the teams of parishioners who will be hosting the retreats.   

Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent. Saint Paul writes to the Romans, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” This past week at my ordination as bishop, the book of the gospels was held over my head as a reminder of Paul’s words. God is that close to all of us. Jesus’ words and actions fill our hearts and direct our lives. This first week of Lent we are reminded of the power of temptations in our lives. In the short term there are many things that look shiny and good and we often try to grab for them, but at what price? This week we are encouraged to judge wisely and make decisions that will give us life. Jesus is our compass who leads the way.

This week began my first week as bishop and pastor. I wanted to make sure everyone is aware that I will remain pastor of Saint Juliana, even as I take on the duties of vicar of Vicariate II in the Archdiocese of Chicago. As pastor I will continue to oversee Saint Juliana and, whenever possible, continue participating in the activities that I am already a part of. As vicar of Vicariate II my duties will include the oversight of about forty additional parishes that begin in Lincoln Park and form a wedge out to the Mission of Our Lady of Hope in Rosemont. There is a second staff to help me in my role as bishop. My initial work will be trying to coordinate two calendars into one. Then it will be necessary to make scheduling decisions that work for the vicariate, the parish, and me personally. Basically, we are teaching an “old dog”— me—some new tricks. With the help of both staffs, I believe we can make accommodations that work for everyone. Everyone will need to be patient as I embrace my new reality. More to come, as I become aware of it!

I would like to take a moment and thank everyone who made my ordination celebrations so special. I especially want to thank Fr. Prasad for coordinating my Mass of Thanksgiving and Felicitation ceremony. As I have stated before, the success of a pastor is due to all of the people who support his work in a parish. So, my Mass of Thanksgiving is really an acknowledgment of all the ways you have made me successful as your pastor, and all the ways you have supported and strengthened Saint Juliana. Priests and bishops will come and go, but it is your day-in and day-out journeys of faith that continue to make Saint Juliana strong. We need strong, faithful men and women in our parishes. That is why I continue to encourage people to look for ways to update, strengthen, and share their faith. Jesus is the center of who we are and all the good work that we do. Thanks also to all of the liturgical groups who made the celebration so beautiful. A special thanks to all of the choirs that came together for the occasion. I am full of gratitude and am thankful to all of you!

Now it is time to once again focus on the Lenten season of preparation. I encourage you to participate in daily Mass, adoration, and Stations of the Cross. Sign up for the women’s or men’s retreats. Come to an Alpha session on Tuesday evening or jump into the small faith-sharing group that will meet on Mondays. There are many opportunities to reignite your relationship with Jesus. All it takes is for you to make a decision and say yes! Check out the bulletin or parish web site for information on all that is offered.  

Today we celebrate the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings today are preparing us all for the season of Lent. Are we ready to do the work necessary to honestly look at our spiritual health? In the gospel we are told to take the log out of our own eye before we look for splinters in other people’s eyes. In other words, we should not be judging others. Also in the same gospel, we are told that good produces good, and that evil produces evil. It is up to us to make a choice for good. So this week as we begin the season of Lent, let us all seek ways to bring more good into our world and weed out the bad in our own lives.

I would just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make to make the celebration of my ordination to auxiliary bishop of Chicago so beautiful. There were a number of celebrations throughout the week and each one reminded me of how lucky I am to have such a great family, good friends, and parishioners who have made my ministry so fulfilling. Wherever God has called me, I have always found generous, joyful people who work hard to live their faith and serve one another. The Holy Father calls us to be people of hope! I see hope in each one of you every day of my life. Now together we will walk in a new way. I am still learning what it means to be bishop, but I know with your help and support we will bring more hope and light into our world. Thank you all.

This afternoon I will be celebrating my first Confirmation. I will be calling on the Holy Spirit to fill the children who will receive the sacrament. I will also be asking that same spirit to work through my life as well. Every day we need that same spirit to fill our hearts and lives. I look forward to having the chance to celebrate that spirit with young people and their families. God gives us so much power! We just need to ask for it! Wish me luck.

Lent begins this Wednesday. The visible sign of ashes on our foreheads reminds us that our time on earth is limited and that we are called to bring about the kingdom now. We take forty days to transform and renew ourselves so that we will be ready to receive all the gifts presented to us at Easter. I encourage you to take time for prayer and fasting during the Lenten season. We have many opportunities to take time and reflect. Check out the bulletin or parish web page to see what may fit in your schedule. Each of our journeys is different, but our goal is the same—to know Jesus more fully and to continually invite him into our daily lives.

Finally, make sure you support the scouts pancake breakfast Sunday in the school cafeteria. Before the fast of Lent, there is always room for delicious pancakes!

Today we celebrate the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today’s gospel is full of lessons from Jesus. Jesus starts with telling his disciples that they should love their enemies. He encourages the disciples to do good to those who have harmed them. Wow! This is not the lesson the disciples were hoping for. It was probably their hope that those who lorded over them would be removed, and they would assume higher office. But for Jesus, higher status is related to who can love the most, forgive the most, or serve the most. This lesson is for us as well. Lessons learned are lessons lived. There are some today who are trying to limit Jesus today. They want to relegate Jesus to an hour on Sunday and let the rest of the hours, days, and years be lived out in freedom and without moral teaching. Being a disciple, being a baptized Catholic Christian is a 24/7 job. The last line of the Gospel is important: “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Today across the Archdiocese we are holding our Annual Catholic Appeal. Many of you have been contributors from the start of the Campaign in the 1990s. Cardinal Bernardin, Cardinal George, and now Cardinal Cupich ask all of us to support the Church beyond our parishes. Many of you have done that through your gift to the Generation to Generation Campaign last fall and won’t be able to support the annual appeal this year. That is fine. Each of us is asked to do what we can, when we can. As always, I thank you for all the ways you work to make Saint Juliana and the archdiocese strong. Thank you!

This Tuesday, February 25th, the fourth season of Alpha will get underway. Alpha begins with a shared meal at 6:30 PM. Then a short video is shown, and the participants discuss the topic from the video. It is a way for participants to think about their faith and then express that faith to others. The team have all been participants in the past and now will share the program with all the new participants. There are no boundaries on Alpha, so invite your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. All are welcome.

Next Sunday the Cub Scouts are hosting a pancake breakfast in the School Hall. It will be a great way to support the scouts and have a great breakfast. It also is the last Sunday before we begin the season of Lent. So join us for a delicious pancake Mardi Gras!

Lots of good things to celebrate in the parish. Yesterday Frank Rottman received the Order of Reader. Frank is working toward the diaconate, and the first step along the way is reader. Frank has been reading since he was in grade school, so he passed this milestone with flying colors. Keep Frank and his wife Mary in your prayers, and also pray for other men who might be considering the diaconate as well.

Finally, this week is a week of celebration for me, my family and the parish. Today much of my family will be gathering for a pre-ordination celebration. We don’t often get everyone together so we are taking this moment to gather and celebrate. On Wednesday, February 26th, the archdiocese will ordain five of us as bishops. This celebration will be held at Holy Name Cathedral and begins at 2:00 PM. The whole ordination will be livestreamed. Then next Saturday, March 1st, at the 5:00 PM Mass we will have a parish celebration of the ordination. I said it when I was first named as one of the candidates for bishop. Priests are successful because of all the faithful parishioners around them who support them and love them. I have felt your love and support from the first day I arrived at Saint Juliana. So this whole week of celebrations is really a celebration of all of you. You support your priests, you keep the parish strong, and you work hard to create a piece of the Kingdom right here in Edison Park. Thanks to all of you!

Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, we are reminded to stay close to the source of all life. Jeremiah uses the image of a tree that is planted near running water. The tree stretches out its roots to receive the benefit of the stream. Because it has this source of life, the tree never withers, even when the heat comes. Jesus is our source of life. In the Gospel of Luke today, Jesus teaches the people on the plain. He gives them a lesson that we have come to know as the Beatitudes. It is a lesson filled with hope for those who are suffering now. It also is a directive for those who can ease the suffering of others. If we have the ability to help others, we should do so now. Through Jesus’ teaching we continually partake in his life giving water.

Lent is fast approaching. Lent is a time to get close to the Lord and be mindful of his teachings. Early in Lent we will be having two retreats. One of the retreats is for women, and the other is for men. The teams for both of the retreats have been preparing for the retreats since the fall. I encourage everyone to consider taking the time on a Saturday and participating in the retreats. The women’s retreat will be held on Saturday March 22nd. The men’s retreat is a week later on March 29th. These are two opportunities to get closer to the source of life-giving water, Jesus. We hope to see you there.

Next Tuesday, February 25th, we will begin our next Alpha session at Saint Juliana. Alpha is another way for all of us to grow in our faith. Alpha is a soft entry point for people who are searching for meaning in their lives. It is also a place for those who may have walked away from Jesus or their faith. Finally, we have seen that Alpha has been beneficial even for people who are strong in their relationship with Jesus and strong in their faith. The program pushes those faithful to express their faith and share it with others who are searching. So if you are looking for another opportunity to recharge your relationship with Jesus, join us on February 25th.

Congratulations to all of the Cub Scouts who received their religious awards last weekend. The Parvuli Dei Award and the Light of Christ Award are given to students who have worked with their parents on strengthening their relationship to Jesus. The Light of Christ award is given to second graders as they are preparing themselves for Holy Communion. Parvuli Dei is given to fourth graders who are continuing to build their relationship with the Lord. We are proud of these boys and their parents who are constantly working to build a strong relationship with Jesus.

Thanks to everyone who donated to the Saint Vincent de Paul food drive on Super Bowl Sunday. It is always great to remember those less fortunate then ourselves. On a day when everyone in the country is celebrating football and food, it is good you were all so generous in your donations for those who are hungry. Thanks to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society for hosting the food drive and reminding us to share our gifts when we are able.

Finally, next Sunday the Archdiocese will be asking everyone to support the Annual Catholic Appeal. I will be speaking at all of the Masses.

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. All three readings today speak of unworthy people who have been entrusted by God to do great things. The prophet Isaiah, Saint Paul, and Peter all find themselves in unchartered waters. Yet God speaks to each of them and transforms their weakness into power—power to spread God’s teaching and light throughout the world. God wants to transform us as well. Most of us stand before God and are very aware of our shortcomings and sins, yet God doesn’t give up on us. Rather God will always work to help us find our good and use it for God’s delight.

Thanks to the Alpha participants who spoke at all of our Masses last Sunday. In a couple of weeks, we will begin our fourth Alpha journey. I encourage everyone to consider trying Alpha out. Also, if you do, bring a friend with you. It is always easier to do new things when you have a friend by your side. The cards in the pew can help you register and get more information. If by chance you are a bit less techy like me, call the parish office and we can help you register. 

Today the Saint Vincent de Paul Society is having their Souper Bowl food drive! On a day when many of us will be overeating and drinking, it is good we are reminded to also help those who are hungry. The Saint Vincent de Paul society is always working to help those who might need a lift up. We are blessed to have them in Saint Juliana Parish.

This week the bishop elects of the archdiocese will be going on retreat together. Ove the last month I have gotten to know the other four men better. They are very good and generous, and we will be blessed in Chicago to have them as bishops. I ask you to please pray for us. We stand before all of you aware of our shortcomings and sins, as well as our gifts. With your support and prayers, we too hope to be transformed into the best we can be. Also know that we will be praying for each of you as well. You are the communities that have formed us and continue to walk with us on our journey in Christ Jesus. Thank you.

Wednesday, February 26th will be the bishop ordination. The celebration will begin at 2:00 PM and it will be livestreamed. Once they give us the link for the livestream, we will publish it in the bulletin. Because there are five of us, there are limited tickets that were available for the ordination. On Saturday, March 1st, at 5:00 PM I will be celebrating a Mass of thanksgiving with the parish here at Saint Juliana. It will be a chance for me to say thank you to all of you who have been a part of my journey. These are exciting days, and every one of them has opened my eyes to God’s call for me.

Finally, on March 2nd, the scouts will be hosting a pancake breakfast. It is a perfect celebration before we start the season of Lent. Invite your family and friends and support the scouts in the parish. The scouts will be selling tickets at all Masses next weekend, or you can purchase them at GiveCentral. See the bulletin for more details.

Today we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord. As the Gospel states, “When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” We don’t often celebrate the Presentation of the Lord on a Sunday, but today the feast falls on a Sunday in Ordinary Time and takes precedence. Mary and Joseph are doing what every faithful Jew would do with their firstborn son. They realize the blessing they received in Jesus’ birth and present him to God in thanksgiving. This was a normal tradition up until they encounter Simeon and Anna. Simeon and Anna are two devout Jews who are waiting for the promised savior. On seeing Mary, Joseph, and the child Jesus, both Simeon and Anna breathe a sigh of relief because they recognize the child as the long awaited savior. This was news to Mary and Joseph. Though they had experienced unusual occurrences since and during the time leading up to and after Jesus’ birth, they are still amazed. What does God have planned for their son and each of them? As we celebrate the Presentation this year, we may ask ourselves the same question: What does God have planned for you? Have you been listening? Are you willing to say yes to God’s plans? What are the things that cause fear or hold you back?

As we enter the month of February, we begin to experience more light. The temperatures may still say “winter,” but the light fills us with hope for what is to come. We often bless candles on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This symbol reminds us of who we are. When we are told that all the world is dark and we have to be afraid, the Presentation reminds us that we are people of light. Jesus’ presentation reminds us that we are called to unleash the light into the world around us. I encourage everyone to reflect on that thought. Are we people of light? Have we been caught up in darkness and forgotten who we are in Christ? Light will conquer darkness unless we hide it under a bushel basket. Jesus calls us to be lampstands in the face of darkness.

Next weekend the Saint Vincent de Paul Society will be holding their annual Mary Berg “Soup”-er Bowl food drive after all of the Masses. This drive is a visible sign of the light that you bring into the world. Many find it difficult provide for their families and themselves. Your gifts of non-perishable foods or monetary donations turn their darkness into light. Please contribute as you can. Thank you.

This month I will be meeting with Bishop Bartosic to give a report on the state of Saint Juliana. I wanted to once again take this time to thank all of you for your continued support of the parish. The parish is in excellent shape. We just completed the Generation to Generation capital campaign and exceeded expectations, raising $1, 390,000. We were well over our goal. In a few weeks we will once again be asked to support the Annual Catholic Appeal. This past year we exceeded our goal and will be receiving $7,000 back in rebates. This past year we replaced all the windows in the school, replaced the fence on Touhy, and resurfaced the parish parking lot. Through the Generation to Generation pledges and gifts, we now hope to begin renovations on the parish office building for more meeting space and accessibility. These are the tangible things that I will report to the bishop. For all of them, I say thank you.

Less tangible, but just as important, is how so many of you are choosing to push yourselves in your own faith development. We are running out of space as more and more of you are participating in programs and prayer like Alpha, The Chosen, bible study, adoration, men’s and women’s retreats, Friendship Club, Cancer Support Group, book clubs, Saint Vincent de Paul, OCIA, Missionary Spirit Team, to name a few. The growth in these programs and others like them are the sign that the parish continues to grow and remains vibrant. Thanks to all of those who are leading us and challenging us to share our faith with each other. I look forward to sharing the Saint Juliana “good news” with Bishop Bartosic. 

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the first reading from the book of Nehemiah, and in the gospel, we are once again told that God is nearby,  that God is present in our time. In the book of Nehemiah God is present in the law that was given to Israel. Ezra read the law to Israel out loud. It took hours to get through all the laws. The people welcomed the laws and saw it as a sign that God was with Israel. In the gospel we hear from Jesus himself. Jesus picks up the scroll in the synagogue and reads from the prophet Isaiah. It begins with, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” When he finishes the passage, he tells the people that the passage is fulfilled in their hearing. In other words, he is the anointed one of God. Paul also speaks of God present in the community of believers. So, God is with us in the law, in the community, and in Jesus himself. We only need to accept His presence.

This weekend we begin the celebration of Catholic Schools Week at Saint Juliana. Several events are planned for the school children, the faculty, and the parish this week. It is a week to celebrate the impact Catholic schools have had on the Church and the world over the years. After our 9:30 AM Mass today, there will be an open house in the school. If you haven’t been in the school for a while, we encourage you to take a tour and see how Saint Juliana is preparing children to be future Christian leaders.

Seasons one and three of The Chosen are now being shown at Saint Juliana on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings. Everyone is invited to attend. After each session, there is discussion of how we also are chosen and how we live out our call to be disciples of Jesus. Check the bulletin or web page for more information.

In February we will begin our fourth Alpha program. Alpha brings people together to share a meal, watch a video on a different topic each week, and then discuss the video with others on a journey of faith. It is a place people can reconnect with their faith in Jesus and search for new ways to find him. Once again please check out the bulletin or web page to register for this fourth season of Alpha. 

Finally, I encourage everyone to pray for our OCIA (new name for RCIA) candidates as they are in their final preparation for reception of the Easter sacraments. Pray also for the team who has led them along the way. In the coming month they will celebrate the Rite of Election at Holy Name Cathedral. They are filled now with joyful expectation for the sacramental gifts to come.

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Winter Ordinary Time is sandwiched between the Christmas festivities and the Lenten preparations for Easter. It is a time to regroup and renew after a wonderful but exhausting season of celebration of God coming to us. This week we have the story of the wedding at Cana in our Gospel. Even with all the best of preparations and plans, the wedding is running short of wine. Mary steps in and asks her son to take care of it. Jesus seems reluctant, but in the end, there is an abundance of good wine. What can we learn from this Gospel? Well, sometimes even when we have done our best, and worked as hard as we can, we fall short. When that happens, it is good to ask God to intervene and give us what we need. Another lesson comes from Mary. At this point in her life Mary is confident in God and her son. She tells the waiters to do what he tells them. She doesn’t worry about the outcome, because with God all things are possible.

Thank you to everyone who filled out our Parish Pulse survey last weekend. As I said last weekend, it is a quick snapshot on how we are doing as a parish. We hope to hear if you are being fed spiritually. Is your relationship with Jesus growing? Are there programs we are doing that have been helpful? Would you recommend Saint Juliana to someone? Our hope is to do the survey every six months. This first survey will be our baseline, and, in the future, we will be able to see if we have grown spiritually and where we still need more work. I know I sometimes ask a lot of you all but thank you again for your participation in this important tool.

This weekend please include President Trump in your prayers as he once again assumes the office of president. Pray also for the new Congress who were sworn in a few weeks ago. We are blessed to live in a democracy where we all have a vote in the direction of the country. May God bless our country and the men and women who defend it daily.

I also encourage everyone to pray for our first responders here at home and those who are fighting the fires in California. We too often take for granted the sacrifices they make to keep us safe. We also pray for all of the families who now find themselves asking, “What’s next?” As a family we need to work and come up with ways to once again bring stability to their lives. This will be a long process. But as followers of Jesus we are in it for the long haul. Thanks again to our first responders.

Next weekend we begin our celebration of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. Our Catholic schools come in many shapes and sizes. Our schools are there for grade school, high school, and college students. The charisms may be different at different schools; but there is one constant, and that is Jesus Christ. With Jesus as center, our children grow spiritually, academically, and wholly as a person. Thanks to all our parents and grandparents who are able to support Saint Juliana. We are a family that walks in the pathway of Jesus. Next Sunday our children will participate at some of the Masses and there will be an open house in the school following the 9:30 AM Mass.

Today we end the Christmas season with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Though the stable scene is still up and the Christmas trees as well, our story of faith has fast forwarded to Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan. God’s affirmation after his baptism is a reminder for all of us that Jesus truly is God with us. Just as this baptism was the beginning of Jesus’ public journey, our baptism is our pledge and promise that God will be with us as we journey as well. As we grow in faith, we begin to experience the God who is in us and around us. Each of us grows into our relationship with Jesus at our own speed. No two journeys are the same. May we all be renewed and recommit to Jesus on this celebration of his baptism.

So much has happened over this Christmas season. First, I would like to say thanks to everyone who made our Christmas celebrations so meaningful. Thanks to our cantors, choirs, musicians, and Glenn. The music was uplifting and joyful. Thanks to our lectors, and Eucharistic ministers, both of whom fed us through word and sacrament. Thank you to the ushers who made everyone feel welcome at Saint Juliana. Thanks also to those who decorated the church and reminded us of God’s glory and beauty. Thank you to all the children who served at our celebrations, so many of us began in their shoes. A final thanks to everyone who showed Prasad, Roger, and me kindness through the holiday season. Though we try, we sometimes miss sending everyone a thank you. You all have made the holidays so special. Now we once again go back into ordinary time and experience the Lord’s call in our daily lives.

As we began the New Year, the Generation to Generation, Answer the Call Capital Campaign far exceeded our goal of $1,215,000. We are now over $1,400,000 and more gifts and pledges continue to pour in. Thank you all for a generosity that ties each of us to the past while we look joyfully into the future. We hope that as 2025 continues we will begin architectural and permitting work for the projects in the former convent. Accessibility and meeting space will serve us all as we look to the future. I will keep everyone abreast of our progress going forward.

This weekend we have asked everyone to do a short survey about Saint Juliana and how we are doing on evangelization and outreach. Some of you may do it immediately using the QR code in the bulletin (page 9). Others may choose to take it home and then fill it out. The survey is short, but through it we want to know if we are meeting your spiritual needs as we work to become disciples of Jesus. Please fill out a survey if you are able.

Besides the normal Christmas gifts I usually receive from family and friends , I received a surprise over the Christmas holiday as well. On December 20th, I was named an auxiliary bishop of Chicago. Since that day my life has sped up and filled up. The ordination is set for February 26th at Holy Name Cathedral. We have many more meetings to go before I know what the future looks like for me and the parish. I know God has a plan, and I hope that in the next few weeks that plan will be clearer. I have always believed that the success of a priest or bishop comes from the people who walk with us. I have never had a bad assignment because I have been blessed with people like you throughout my ministerial life. Thank you! Please keep me in your prayers as we navigate the road ahead. 

Today we continue the Christmas celebration with the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The family is the foundation of society. We are formed through the connections of our family. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters all weave together to make us who we are. Sometimes our families are chosen. Because of distance or experiences, we create family with friends, neighbors, or coworkers. It is the connection with other people that is important. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are a great model for all of us. Their lives were chaotic. Their lives didn’t necessarily go as planned. Yet what was the common theme for each of them? They all had a faith that God was central to their lives. With God as their rudder anything could be handled. Through our baptism we are part of the Holy Family. We too have access to the rudder who is Jesus Christ.

Today I would like to give a big thanks to our Saint Juliana family. The Saint Juliana commitment weekend for the Generation to Generation: Answer the Call capital campaign put us over our goal by almost $185,000! To date we have collected gifts and pledges totaling $1,400,000. Your generosity is not a surprise to me, because since coming to Saint Juliana I have experienced so many examples of your giving spirit. Truly as needs have risen, you have all answered the call. Saint Juliana is a generational family that is built on the foundation of the past with a focus on the future. The Generation to Generation campaign will add to the legacy we leave for the future.

I would also like to thank in a special way our mighty campaign team. Our parish team was small, but it did great things. Thanks to Donna Furlan and Ray Balcarcel who were enlisted for our staff team. Thanks also to our parishioner team. This team included Todd and Melody Steffen, Steve Baggio, Fran and John Pelrine, David Plier, Chris and Maureen Floss, and Bob Ryan Jr. With all their help we once again achieved our goal. Thank you all for the time and effort you gave to our campaign. Now we get to begin the exciting work of adding meeting space to the parish office building and making it accessible for everyone. 

This week as we welcome in the New Year, we will celebrate one Mass at 10:00am on New Years Day. On January 1, we not only celebrate the beginning of the new year, but we also continue the Christmas celebration with the feast of Mary the mother of God.  The new year allows all of us a chance to commit once again to building a better world. Just as Mary said yes to God’s call, we too are asked to build up God’s Kingdom through our lives and actions. Please join us for our New Year celebration. 

The parish offices will be closed for January 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. We will be checking the phones for emergencies.

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. It is almost here! The celebration we have all prepared for is about to happen. When I was a child, an Advent calendar was a great way to build up to the Christmas celebration. Each morning, we woke up and opened another door as we moved through the month of December. We counted how many doors were left to open. It was a time of great anticipation. Now as an adult I still look forward to Christmas with excitement and hope. However now I want to experience the crowds at our Christmas celebration. I want to sing Christmas carols I haven’t sung for a year. Though I love the Christmas radio stations, they focus more on reindeer, snowman, bells, etc., but not so much angels, shepherds, mangers, and Jesus’ birth. Our mouths water for the meals we will share, but I really look forward to time spent with family and friends. In the craziness of these final few days of Advent I encourage you to take some quiet time in front of the manger and tree and give thanks for all of the blessings God has given us. God truly is with each of us.

This fall Saint Juliana embarked on the Generation to Generation: Answer the Call capital campaign. On the heels of installing new windows throughout the school, we began preparations to make the parish office building (former convent) accessible and to add more meeting space. Because of the work we are doing on evangelization, the need for more meeting space has become a necessity. Each new project, renovation, or repair is a lasting reminder of the hopes and dreams of the Saint Juliana family. As the title of the campaign says, for “Generation to Generation,” families have found a home at Saint Juliana, and we look joyfully to what lies ahead. Now that we have reached our goal for the campaign, 80% of any new pledges will remain in the parish. Please consider a gift during this Christmas season.

This week we gather for our Christmas celebration. There will be two Masses on Tuesday, Christmas Eve at 3:30pm and 5:30pm. On Wednesday, Christmas Day, we will celebrate Mass at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:00am. All our Masses will have bigger crowds then we are used to. Many families join us for the celebration, so please offer a heartfelt welcome to everyone who chooses Saint Juliana this Christmas. Also, just a reminder once again, parking will be crazy for the celebrations, so if you live close and the weather is good, consider walking with your family to church.

During the holiday season, the parish office will be closed on December 25th, 26th, and 27th, and we will also be closed on January 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. We will check voicemail during those days.

On behalf of Fr. Roger, Fr. Prasad, our deacons, the parish and school staff and myself, we hope everyone has a very joyful Christmas celebration.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent. The Church celebrates Gaudete Sunday which is Latin for “Rejoice.” As we gather, our salvation is near. We prepare to celebrate the first coming of God in the Christmas story, while we also prepare ourselves for when God will come again. Our first two readings speak to us of joy; and in the gospel, Jesus tells several people how they are to prepare for God’s coming again. As we celebrate the waning days of the Advent season, we ask God to help us prepare ourselves in ways that transform us and our world.

This Thursday, December 19, we will once again host the Saint Juliana Living Nativity. The animals will be here between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00pm. The eighth grade is working on the story as well as the music. Barb Ernat is getting the hot chocolate and cookies lined up and the Scouts are preparing a small bonfire to keep us all warm. All we need now is you, your families, and your neighbors. All are welcome, and it is a simple way to get together with parish friends to remember how lucky we are to have Jesus with us. Thanks to everyone who is working on this celebration.

Thanks to Glenn de Castro and all the choirs, cantors, and musicians who gave us the beautiful Taizé reconciliation service earlier this month. The soft lighting and abundance of candles reminded us of the “light” we wait for. Jesus the light of the world is coming, and we celebrate the Lord’s dawn. The service was a reminder to embrace the Advent season of preparation and action. We are blessed to have such talented people in the parish who share their gifts with us every week.

Christmas is fast approaching. Please remember these are our busiest celebrations of the year. If the weather is nice, and you live close, I encourage you to walk to church for our Christmas Masses with your family. Parking is always difficult. Oftentimes I see people drive and then drive back home and walk because of the parking. Come early if you want a spot in the parking lot. Also please be respectful of our neighbors. We cannot park in front of driveways or fire hydrants. Being crowded is a great problem to have! I hope we have standing room only at all the Masses.

Finally last week we had our commitment weekend for the Generation to Generation campaign. I want to thank everyone who generously gave to the campaign. Your gifts assure us that the parish will be around when you need it for school, religious education, weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc. We reached our goal of $1,215,000. Now that we are over our goal, 80% of all pledges that come in will stay in the parish. We hope to begin some of our projects in the 2025 calendar year. Thanks to everyone who participated in the campaign and thanks to the parish team who have worked for months making it a success!

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. In the gospel we hear John the Baptist in the desert proclaiming, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” We often associate Advent with quiet waiting and expectation for the coming of Jesus once again. But John’s proclamation is clear, and we are called to act. Just as we all read the signs of the season—Christmas carols on the radio, stores filled with decorations, movies proclaiming the season, Black Friday deals—we begin to move and prepare our homes for what each of us will be our traditional Christmas. We don’t just sit and hope it will happen, rather we go out and make it happen. John the Baptist calls on us to do the same spiritually. We are not just supposed to sit and wait. We need to actively prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming.

There are several ways for us to prepare ourselves for the Lord. Last Thursday, December 5, at 7:00pm we had our Taizé prayer and reconciliation. The service included song, readings, and silence. Whether you chose to avail yourself of the sacrament of reconciliation, just the hour of prayer settled those who attended and helped prepare them for the Lord. We hope you can take some quiet time for yourself this week.

On Wednesday, December 11th, at 7:00pm and again on Thursday morning December 12th, The Chosen series Christmas celebration will meet at Saint Juliana. There will be Christmas carols, hot chocolate, and cookies for all. Then we will show the “Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night.” Everyone is invited, and feel free to bring some friends.

On Thursday, December 19th, at 7:00pm we will also have our Living Nativity in the parish parking lot. The animals and actors are ready to share the Christmas story with all our parishioners and neighbors. Once again hot chocolate and cookies will be served. These are just a few of the ways to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Always check the bulletin or web page to see what is coming up during the holiday season.

Today at our 9:30am Mass we will celebrate our Rite of Acceptance with the RCIA. These individuals have been preparing themselves to meet the Lord in the Easter Sacraments. Today they make a public declaration of their intent to prepare and receive the sacraments, and we declare our welcome, prayers, and example as they make this journey. Congratulations to Jackson Grisheau, Kylie Konior, Bailey Scianna, Tony Scianna, and Cynthia McAlister, and thanks to Chris and Maureen Floss, and the RCIA team for all of your work in preparing our candidates.

This week is our commitment weekend for the Generation to Generation capital campaign. To date the campaign has raised $1,100,000 in gifts and pledges. That is just above 90% of the parish goal. Four of the fourteen parishes in the pilot wave of the Campaign have already reached their goal, and we are hoping that this weekend we also will reach our goal of $1,215,000. At all Masses every family will be asked to fill out a pledge card. Whether you already gave a pledge, will make it today, or even if you can’t at this time, all will be asked to complete a card. The Cardinal is grading me on participation, so don’t get me in trouble. Together we will meet and possibly exceed our goal. Thanks!

Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent. Jeremiah tells Israel and all of us that the days of the Lord are coming. That God is going to fulfill his promise and that justice will reign over the earth. The Gospel of Luke says the same thing. Luke tells the people that when it seems darkest, when natural disasters happen, we are to stand erect and face the danger. Our faith in the one to come will give us courage in times of trouble. As we light the first candle on the Advent wreath, we are reminded to live in the light and to focus our lives so that more light may come into our world.

This week we invite everyone to join us for our Taizé evening of reconciliation and renewal. We will gather on Thursday, December 5th at 7:00pm in the church. Through music, stillness, and prayer, we will experience the light we are waiting for. Jesus, the light of the world, calls us to prepare ourselves and our world for his birth. During the service, the sacrament of reconciliation will be available for those who would like to receive the sacrament. Whether you choose to receive the sacrament or not, the evening will bring healing and peace. In the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, take some time to experience stillness and peace.

Next weekend we will be celebrating the Rite of Acceptance at our 9:30am liturgy. The Rite of Acceptance is the first public statement made by the RCIA candidates as they continue their journey to the Easter sacraments. The candidates will proclaim their readiness to continue in the process and we as a parish accept their promise and tell them we will be praying for them on the journey. We also promise to be good examples of living faith for them as well. Please join us next Sunday as we celebrate with the candidates and the team.

We are now beginning the final push for our Generation to Generation capital campaign. Over the last few weeks, we have had a great response to the campaign and now have a total of $1,021,000 in gifts and pledges. These gifts come from about 150 of our 1,800 registered families.  I am sure that when the rest of our families make their pledges, we will top our goal of $1,215,000. We hope to complete the pledge process in the next two weeks. Then we can joyfully celebrate our Christmas celebration knowing that we have worked to strengthen Saint Juliana for generations to come.

Today we celebrate the last Sunday of the Church year. We celebrate the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The feast of Christ the King is the natural follow-up to the preceding weeks that spoke of the end times. We are faced with death. We are aware that our sins are holding us back.  We know that we don’t always answer the call to bring about the kingdom in our world. So what can we do? We are to rely on Jesus. Our faith in Jesus as king of a universe that we can only imagine is what allows us to have hope. Hope that conquers sin. Hope that conquers death. And hope that in Jesus we can bring about the kingdom through our words and actions. Even if all else may fail us, we have a king who knows us and protects us. Jesus is the true king, the center of our being as Christians.

This past week we finished our third season of Alpha. Through Alpha many parishioners have strengthened their faith in Jesus and recommitted themselves to share their faith stories with each other. Alpha creates leaders who reflect on their faith and then share their stories with other friends, family, and coworkers. It is through the sharing of faith stories that others are emboldened to look at their own journey of faith. They answer the question with fresh eyes; how has God touched my life? Where have I or my family encountered Jesus. As we take a break for the holidays, the newest participants of Alpha will be trained on leading small groups, sharing their stories, creating hospitality, and listening to others as they start their own journey of renewal in Jesus. This is the heart of evangelization, and the journey continues.

Thanks to all the leaders who led Alpha this fall. Your commitment to your own faith journey is a sign to all of us. Thanks also to the participants. You have received a gift that we hope you will share with others. Finally, a big thanks to Marie Dombai who has led the Alpha program for the parish. We now encourage the parish to pray and consider if Alpha in the winter might be right for you. Keep watching for upcoming information.

This past week we also finished the second season of The Chosen. The Chosen has been another path of evangelization that many have taken. It is always great when there is good media that speaks of our faith in Jesus. The Chosen has been a series that looks at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. It pushes those who watch to answer the call of discipleship. What is God asking me to do? Again after the holidays we will begin showing the third season of The Chosen (and a chance for those who missed seasons one and two to join us and catch up!) We hope you will join us and bring along some of your friends. 

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving I would like to report on the progress of the Generation to Generation capital campaign. We have made great progress and are now past 70 % of the parish goal. We have received gifts and pledges totaling over $850,000. As we all rely on our faith and parish to give us hope, I hope that all of you will consider giving some gift to the campaign. Your gift does become a legacy for generations to come. Thanks to everyone who has already committed to the campaign.

Finally, this week the nation celebrates Thanksgiving. It is a time to gather with family and friends and remember the blessings we are freely given by God. For those who are able, we invite you to join us for morning Mass on Thanksgiving. The Mass on Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 8:00am so that everyone can get home before the Edison Park Turkey Trot takes over the neighborhood. Good Luck to the runners and walkers, and we hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we celebrate the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time. We are nearing the end of the Church year. Next week we will end the Church year with the Feast of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Our readings today mimic the daily readings we have been hearing for the last couple of weeks. The readings ask us, are we prepared for the end times? Unless something dramatic happens, our personal end time will be our death. When we live our best life in Jesus Christ, we do not fear death. We see it as a continuation of our life here on earth. Our prayer is one of hope and expectation.

This week we have published the Annual Fiscal Report for Saint Juliana. This report is for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2023 and ending on June 30, 2024. Our Sunday and Holy Day income rose slightly. Our school income grew more substantially as we enrolled more children. The biggest jump in income this year was on interest and investments.

On the expense side we added new staff to both the school and parish side of the ledger, so salaries and benefits increased. After that some expenses increased slightly and others went down.

So the net operation income for the parish was $383,154.

Extraordinary income was $112,122 and extraordinary expense was $496,797. The extraordinary expense was due to payments that occurred in the fiscal year for the new school windows. This was a planned expense. So, when we put together the operation and extraordinary report we ended the year down ($1,521).   

Once again you have shown your support and commitment to Saint Juliana. Thank you for your ongoing generosity for our daily needs and your support of projects that prepare the parish and school for the future.

We have listed several big projects that were completed in the fiscal year and have also included the new renovations to the former convent that will be part of the Generation to Generation: Answer the Call campaign.

Our sacramental stats have remained consistent, and our October count rose slightly, bringing us back to our count before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, we are a year into the co-implementation plan on evangelization with the Archdiocese. We have seen a jump in both leadership and participation in activities and programs that bring us closer to the Lord. This really is the goal of the Church. We are called to open ourselves to new encounters with Jesus and then share those stories with our families and friends. Thank you all for your continuing support of Saint Juliana. 

Today we celebrate the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today our first reading from the Book of Kings and the gospel speak of generosity. In both readings the main character is a poor widow who chooses to share what little she has, not knowing where her next meal will come from. In the first reading, the prophet Elijah asks the widow for water, and some cake to eat. She is about to prepare her last meal for herself and her son, yet she invites Elijah to join them. Because of her generosity they have enough flour and oil to last a year. In the gospel Jesus is watching people give to the temple treasury. Wealthy people are giving a lot, but it is from their surplus. Eventually a widow comes and gives two coins. Jesus celebrates the widow’s generosity because it came from her need, not her surplus. Each of us is asked to share with others from the blessings we have received.

It is a joke among Catholics that we do guilt better then any other religious group around. Today I am going to help keep the joke going by asking everyone to prayerfully consider the blessings you have received throughout your life and then, like the widows in our readings today, prayerfully consider a gift to the Generation to Generation: Answer the Call capital campaign. To those who have much, much is expected. We often hear people who feel that things aren’t going well. We don’t feel that we have an abundance of money, or we feel our bills are too high. Like you, I know those feelings; but in the end, it seems like I do always have what I need. God is generous. And I am now asking you to be generous as well.

To date the Generation to Generation campaign has exceeded $779,000 in pledges. This is about 65% of the parish goal of $1,215,000. That 65% has come from about 71 families. Now we are asking everyone else to consider being part of the parish success. We plan to use our portion of the funds to make the former convent totally accessible and to add much needed meeting space. Every generation of parishioners has made lasting contributions to Saint Juliana. Our school is an example of that. Even though it looks like one building, the school is made up of five buildings that were built to meet the needs of the time. Your five-year pledge will not only help us in the present, but will be used by generations to come. So please consider helping.

In the past two weeks everyone should have received a packet of information in your home as well as a pledge card. Today after all the Masses I will have a presentation in the school cafeteria on the campaign. We also will have several of the volunteers present to answer your questions as well. We need all of you. Join us after this weekend’s Masses.

After this weekend we are asking that everyone turn in their pledge cards at the masses on November 16th and 17th. Hopefully we will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving as a parish knowing we have reached our parish goal and are providing for the future.  

Today we celebrate the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. November marks the last month of the Church calendar. The month begins with our celebration of All Saints and All Souls. On All Saints we were presented with all the people who have followed Jesus faithfully and are considered models for us to follow. The saints were not perfect. We can relate to them because, like us, they also sinned. But still their lives give some example of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. On All Souls we celebrate our personal saints, our family and friends who have gone before us but are not forgotten. Their gifts and traits live on in all of us. We celebrate and commend them to God. Beginning this weekend we have set up our Tables of Remembrance in the sanctuary of the church as a place to remember and celebrate our loved ones. They are still with us; and as we celebrate together, these pictures represent their spirit in our midst. The tables will remain up through our celebration of Thanksgiving.

In the first reading from the book of Deuteronomy and in the gospel, we are given two commands. The first command is to love God with our whole being and to make God the center of our lives and decisions. The second command extends that love of God to our neighbors. I think the love of neighbor is the lived experience of loving God. If we don’t love the people around us, can we truly love the God who created everyone? That is the question given to us this weekend. 

This week Fr. Prasad will begin a bible study program. The group will meet twice a month on the first and third Monday of each month. It will be held in the parish library in the office building. Each session will last one hour. I encourage everyone to consider joining the group, especially as we near the beginning of the Advent season. The first topic will be the epistles of Saint Paul. Check out the bulletin or web page for more details.

This week all registered parishioners of Saint Juliana should have received a small packet of information on the Generation to Generation Capital Campaign. Next weekend, November 9th and 10th, after all of our Masses, we will be having Generation to Generation gatherings in the school cafeteria. These gatherings will be a chance for the whole parish to learn about the campaign and what we hope to do with the campaign proceeds in the parish. It is also a chance for us to answer any questions you may have about the campaign. To date about sixty families have generously made a five-year pledge that has brought our pledge total to $700,000. That is about 58 percent of our parish goal. Now we need all of you to prayerfully consider a gift to the Generation to Generation campaign.

Today we celebrate the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and we hear that Bartimaeus is a blind man begging on the roadside. Through his encounter with Jesus, who is on his way to Jerusalem, Bartimaeus can now see. Because of this miraculous encounter, Bartimaeus follows Jesus to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus is strengthened and willing to follow the Lord wherever he is led. What blindness are we hoping to be shed of in our lives. Do we let our encounter with Jesus in the scripture and the bread and wine, transform us? Are we ready to take on the good and bad that seem to be a part of life?

Last weekend we celebrated marriage by blessing couples who stepped forward asking to have their marriages blessed. I think one of the vows a couple agrees to is to stand together for better or for worse. We all love to celebrate the joyful moments in our lives. We want to gather people around us to let them know how lucky we are, yet in marriage the worse often strengthens us. The commitment to love one another through good times and bad is the commitment that Jesus asked of his disciples and Bartimaeus. It is the same commitment Jesus asks each of us. Congratulations to all of our married parishioners who celebrated their marriage last weekend. 

Last Sunday we also are celebrating the commitment the students have made as they prepare to receive the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation this spring. These students are now in the second year of their preparation for the sacrament. They promised to continue to walk with Jesus and seek a transformation of themselves and the world. This commitment is not to be taken lightly. Their parents, families, and teachers have been their guides. Now we as their faith family accept their commitment and assure them of our support. Please keep our Confirmation students in your prayer in the months ahead. Then in spring we will joyfully celebrate their reception of the Holy Spirit.

Today at all of our Masses we will celebrate the Anointing of the Sick. We believe that through the Anointing of the Sick we can receive healing. Sometimes the healing is physical, but other times we receive a healing of our spirit. People have come because of physical illness, psychological illness, and just old age. We all want to be made new and we call on the Lord to heal us. Please pray for those in the Saint Juliana family who have come forward to receive this blessing.

This Friday we celebrate All Saints Day. We gather to celebrate the men and women whom the Church has put before us as examples of holiness. The saints weren’t perfect, but through some aspect of their lives they helped bring about the kingdom. Please join us for Mass in the morning at 8:30am or 7:00pm in the evening.

Next Saturday, on the Feast of All Souls, we will have our parish remembrance for those in the Saint Juliana family who died in the last year. We will call the names of our deceased and light a candle in their memory. The candle is a reminder to all of us that our loved one’s light still burns brightly. Please join us for this celebration of remembrance on November 2nd at the 5:00pm Mass. Also we will once again have our tables of remembrance in the front of church to remember our loved ones in the month of November. So please add a picture to our tables.

Finally, we invite everyone to join Fr. Prasad as he begins a twice a month bible study in November. The group will meet on the first and third Monday of each month. The study lasts an hour and begins at 6:30pm. Fr. Prasad will begin with the epistles of Saint Paul. Please call the parish office to sign up for the class.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today we are reminded that there is one person who saved us, and that is Jesus. The prophet Isaiah predicted that Jesus would come and shoulder all our sin and weakness. In the letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded that even though Jesus was God, he was also one like us. He was flesh and blood, yet he didn’t sin, but rather bore our sins. The sacrifice of Jesus plays out in the gospel as the disciples ask Jesus to give them leadership in the coming kingdom. Jesus asks them point blank if they can bear the load of sin, hurt, frustration, and anger of the world. They reply with a resounding yes. Then Jesus sends them out to serve the world. How will we answer the same question? Are we ready the shoulder the burdens of those around us? Are we ready to serve the whole world, including those we love and those we don’t?

This weekend we celebrate the gift of marriage at our 5:00pm Mass. During this celebration we ask all couples in attendance to rededicate themselves to each other in the presence of the community. For many it will be the first time they publicly declare their love since their wedding day. I believe privately they have declared their love repeatedly through action. Today the Saint Juliana family joins them in asking God’s continued blessing on their journey ahead.

This weekend we are hosting our October fall hospitality Sunday. We invite everyone to hang around after the Masses and catch up with neighbors and friends. This Sunday we will also have a Saint Juliana information booth set up for anyone who might have questions about something that is happening at the parish. Our bulletin and web pages are full of information, but sometimes it is nice to have a person-to-person chat about something you have seen or heard. We may not be able to answer every question, but we will make sure that someone gets back to you quickly. Thanks to Barb Ernat and the Hospitality Team for their work at building up the community. We are always stronger as a community!

Next weekend we will be celebrating Anointing of the Sick at all of our weekend Masses. The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing within the Church. We can receive the sacrament multiple times, often as we face health issues or as we get older. We believe the sacrament can provide healing—sometimes that healing is physical and sometimes it is in the form of peace to face whatever is ahead. We encourage those who need the sacrament to join us next week.

For those who know me, I am not one who likes to talk about money. I sometimes think it comes from starting life in a large family where the treasure we had was each other, rather then lots of money. That being said, this fall the parish and I chose to be part of the pilot for the Generation to Generation: Answer the Call capital campaign in the archdiocese. By now everyone should know that it is a five-year pledge campaign to raise money for accessibility and more meeting space in our former convent. As I write this, I want to thank the first fifty-five families who have pledged to the campaign, for a total of $650,000. We are already halfway to our goal! I now ask everyone to prayerfully consider what gift you will make to the campaign. For some of you, Saint Juliana has been your home for generations. For others, you are just starting out. It has been a place of support, healing, and strength in good times and in difficult times. Please answer the call and make a pledge for the future. In the coming weeks you will be receiving calls from parishioners or myself asking your support. Please answer the call as you are able.

Thanks to Cindy Brennan our parish health coordinator for taking time to distribute flu shots to our parishioners who wanted them. It is always nice to be able to get some of our services locally. Cindy is a great person to call when we have health questions. Thanks, Cindy!

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The question posed this week is whether we want wisdom or possessions. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom makes clear that wisdom is the correct choice. The writer says that if we possess wisdom, live by wisdom, and follow God, other blessings will come as well. In the gospel, Jesus answers the young man who is asking to be justified, telling him he has done good things and only one stumbling block remains—his possessions. We struggle daily for our possessions. Then we worry about them and forget other more important things like relationships. The man went away sad because he had many possessions. The reading doesn’t say he didn’t listen to Jesus. I always hope eventually he made the right choice and began to take care of the poor. We can have both, possessions and wisdom.

Next Saturday, October 19th, we are celebrating our Saint Juliana marriage anniversary Mass at the 5:00pm Mass. Many of us pick special anniversaries and decide to celebrate them. We encourage all our married parishioners to join us for a blessing and recommitment to your marriage. You might be married twenty-five years, fifty years, or more. You might be married two months or seven years. Every marriage deserves to be blessed by God and celebrated in the community. So please join us next Saturday, and during the Mass we will renew vows and ask God to bless your love once again.

The archdiocese is once again taking count during the month of October. You may ask what we are counting. At Saint Juliana wisdom has shown us what is important. We are counting who may have been touched by programs like Alpha, The Chosen, bible study, adoration, or retreats. What really counts is how many people feel closer to Jesus today and if they are sharing that story of closeness with others. With that in mind I believe we have a great October count of recommitted Catholics who are opening themselves to opportunities to encounter Jesus anew! I encourage all of you in the coming year to be included in the October count of recommitted followers of Jesus. Don’t let an opportunity to meet Jesus pass you by.  

Thanks to all the parishioners who supported the Mission Spirit Team’s Uncle Pete’s fall lunch return and all of you who supported the Saint Vincent De Paul coat drive. Sometimes we don’t even get a chance to announce these drives at the Mass, yet both have become a part of Saint Juliana and you always step up. Thanks to all the volunteers who collect and disperse your generosity. Go Saint Juliana!

Finally, we have had several good weeks as we unfold the Generation to Generation capital campaign. As of this bulletin, we have collected $550,000 in pledges. This represents 45% of our parish goal. We need everyone helping to successfully reach our goal of $1,215,000. In the back of church, we have some simple renderings to show what some of the work will look like.  Please help us keep the momentum going. Consider prayerfully a five-year pledge to the Generation to Generation capital campaign.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week the readings talk about creation, relationships, and marriage. In the Book of Genesis, God is looking for a suitable partner for man. The whole story of creation is the story of God’s love that flows into creation of the world and all living things. God’s love doesn’t stop there, though. He wants the man he created to be happy. God creates a partner that is his equal, and both are made in the image of God. And God says it is good. The gospel continues a discussion on relationships, and asks what we are to do when relationships break down or fall apart. First and foremost, couples need to put their time, effort, and energy into ongoing building up of the marriage they entered before difficulties arose. We live in a society that looks for instant and constant gratification. All of you who are married know that life isn’t always perfect. Sometimes it is in the struggle that our relationships can get stronger. But sometimes even with our best effort, our relationships break down. Two thousand years after Jesus’ conversations with the Pharisees, the Church still tries to grapple with the breakdown of marriage.

When a marriage comes to an end, the Church asks couples to go through an annulment process. The annulment process helps the couple recognize things that they missed when they began their marriage or things within the marriage that led to the breakup. Was a couple immature? Did they not understand the sacrifice that marriage entails? Were there things beyond their imagining that made the marriage fail? Finally, the Church takes all the information gathered and asks, “Why wasn’t God’s grace present?” We believe that God’s grace is present in our sacraments, so when a marriage ends the Church tries to find an answer. In thirty-five years, I have found the annulment process to be helpful for couples who are looking to move on from a failed marriage. It allows couples to have a fresh start. I encourage everyone who has experienced a divorce or knows someone who has to consider the annulment process. Self-reflection is never a bad thing.

Today at our 9:30am liturgy we will be celebrating with all the students who are receiving their First Communion in the spring. It is a Mass in which the parish lets the children know that we support them and are excited for them. These children are excited as well. It is also a time for parents to recommit themselves to the weekly celebration of the Eucharist as well. We believe that Jesus is the center of our lives. Every week we put Jesus front and center in our celebration, and then we invite him to be the center of our being through our reception of the Eucharist. The children are excited about inviting Jesus into their lives. Please pray for all our First Communion families.

Fr. Prasad is continuing home visits in honor of our Blessed Mother. Fr. Prasad leads the rosary and then blesses the participants, as well as their home. Call the office if you would like a visit from Fr. Prasad and our traveling Blessed Mother.

Finally, thanks to everyone for your response to the appeal made last week for the Generation to Generation: Answer the Call capital campaign. Appointments are being made and pledges are coming in. We are now at 40% of our goal, with $478,000 being pledged.  We will soon have a thermometer in the back of the church to track our progress. Please pray for the success of the campaign and join us in making it successful.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The first reading and the gospel today speak about jealousy in ministry. The question is who has the right to proclaim God’s good news. In the first reading God takes some of the spirit given to Moses and shares it with seventy other elders. Two more elders weren’t present when the spirit was bestowed, but they also seem to have received the spirit and are prophesying. The seventy are jealous that the two also received the spirit. In the gospel, John tells Jesus that there are people driving out demons in Jesus’ name and they are not part of his following. Jesus and Moses are both glad that others are proclaiming the good news. They both hope that everyone will speak and spread the good news. Jesus also encourages all of us to spread the faith as well. Our words and actions are an example for others of all that God can do in the lives of people who believe and proclaim his good news.

This week as we begin the month of October, Fr. Prasad and parishioners will once again be visiting homes in honor of our Blessed Mother, Mary. October and May are dedicated to our Blessed Mother. Fr. Prasad began the visits last year and looks forward to bringing the image of Mary to our parishioners’ homes and saying the rosary with everyone there. The visits also include a blessing for all present and a blessing on the home. Please call the parish office if you would like to schedule a visit in October.

This past week Saint Juliana has begun the second season of The Chosen. Parishioners gather and watch an episode of the show, and then discuss what the episode and discipleship mean in their lives. The Chosen is presented twice a week on Wednesday evenings beginning at 7:00pm, and a repeat is presented on Thursday mornings beginning at 9:30am. Please join us for season two!

Next Sunday we will celebrate the commitment Mass for the children who will be receiving their First Communion this year. We invite families to join us at our 9:30am liturgy. The children will receive a blessing as they say yes to learning more and more about Jesus and work to make Jesus a part of their daily lives. We ask all the parish to join us in prayer for these young children.

This coming Saturday, October 5th, in honor of Saint Francis, we will be having our blessing of pets. The blessing will take place at 9:00am after the morning Mass in front of the church. Saint Francis of Assisi had a great love and devotion to all of God’s creation. He saw all of us as stewards of the earth God gave us. Today Francis is more relevant then ever as we discuss climate change and the impact people have on the planet. Near his feast day, we ask Francis to watch over the pets that have become part of our families. Join us if you would like to have your pets blessed this year.

Finally, next Sunday, October 6th, Fr. Elliott will officially be installed as the pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish in Orland Park. Our Lady of the Woods is located at 10731 W. 131st St., Orland Park, IL. Fr. Elliott served Saint Juliana for three years after being pastor of Saint Pascal Parish. We knew he wouldn’t be with us for long, and last July he was named pastor of Our Lady of the Woods. Fr. Elliott’s installation Mass will be held at 11:00am, and there will be a light reception after the Mass. Everyone is invited to the celebration. Please pray for Elliott and his new parish community.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the gospel this week, Jesus tells the disciples that the one who serves others will be the greatest in the kingdom. He says we must gently care for each other as we do a child. In the book of Wisdom, we see people are not ready for Jesus’ teaching. Rather than spend their time doing good for each other, they use their time to trip each other up. They do not want to change themselves, but rather think everyone else needs to change. Saint James in the second reading tells us that wisdom is peaceable, gentle, compliant, merciful, and full of good fruits. Where do we fall? What do our words and works show the world?

This weekend we begin the public phase of the Generation to Generation: Answer the Call capital campaign. Over the last two months, several parishioners have been asked to be early participants in the campaign. They also have been asked to help us get the word out as the campaign builds and ask their friends and neighbors to join as well. The Saint Juliana Parish goal for the campaign in $1,215,000. To date, we have collected $360,00 in cash and pledges and are at thirty percent of goal. We are one of fourteen parishes in the pilot phase of the campaign. The campaign is a multi-year pledged campaign that runs for five years from the start date in each parish. The archdiocese and the parish each have projects that will be part of the campaign. All money collected in the campaign is split 50/50 with the archdiocese. This morning at all the Masses you will hear me speak on the campaign. If you haven’t yet, soon after this weekend you will be receiving calls from volunteers who are working to make our campaign a success. I ask you to please welcome the volunteers and consider making a gift to the Generation to Generation campaign.

Saint Juliana will use the funds raised to continue renovations in the parish office building (former convent). These renovations will include making the whole building accessible and adding more meeting space for parish and school use.

There will be two pieces to the accessibility portion of the project. The first will be an exterior ramp built on Osceola to make the current first floor of the building accessible. Presently you must climb five steps to access the office and meeting rooms on the first floor. The second piece of the accessibility will be adding an elevator inside the building so people can access the chapel (three steps down), the first floor, and the second floor of the building. This will make the whole building accessible and usable for all parishioners.

The second piece is adding more meeting space on the second floor of the former convent. We presently have three meeting spaces on the first floor. These were created when Fr. James renovated the first floor. Each space has a different capacity, with the biggest holding about 55 people. We plan on creating a new room upstairs that would accommodate about 75. We will also include a full kitchen. Aside from the new meeting space and kitchen, we will also provide office space for all the staff. Because the school is now full at 570 children, we need the meeting space for school and parish alike.

The archdiocese has three main foci: evangelization, priest care, and help to parishes and schools who need financial help due to demographics and economic situations.

Evangelization: The first phase of Renew My Church was structural. It was “right sizing” the archdiocese for future ministry. This structural piece was painful and included closing and merging of parishes. Now though the important part of renewal has begun with a new emphasis on evangelization. Saint Juliana has been a pilot for this new evangelization for about a year. We are blessed to have Brian Romer Niemiec as an extra staff team member given to us by the archdiocese to help us begin to build a culture of evangelization in the parish. If everything goes well, every parish in the future will have a “Brian” helping with outreach and culture building.

Priest care: This is often seen as seminary training, but now Cardinal Cupich has initiated a more comprehensive program to help priests at all stages of their priesthood. Like many of you, we now are asked to set yearly goals—in spirituality, education, and health. The archdiocese helps us with the goals and provides resources to help us meet our goals. The second piece of priest care is the actual health and wellbeing of our priests. Presently we have about 220 retired priests in the archdiocese. We have about 310 active priests. Those numbers will soon become equal. This has put a large strain on healthcare costs for priests, and the pension fund that supports priests in retirement. Sometimes it is important to hear, but a priest receives $1,500 monthly as pension. This portion of the collection will make sure that at least that small amount of pension is still available as priests retire in the future.

Help for parishes and schools who struggle financially: Before Renew My Church, 70% of parishes needed some financial support from the archdiocese. 30% of the parishes still need financial help. This piece will help those parishes and schools who have difficulty meeting their financial obligations.

You all have generously supported campaigns in the past which have kept Saint Juliana strong. Ten years ago, you supported our last capital campaign, the To Teach Who Christ Is Campaign. Besides completing all the original projects in that campaign, we were also able to put all new windows in the school this past summer. As a parish we live out the Generation to Generation theme! I ask you once again to support this new campaign as we look to the future of Saint Juliana. 

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Letter of Saint James, we are told to show no partiality to anyone. In other words, we are being told not to judge anyone. Saint James uses the example of encountering a rich person and a poor person. Do we treat each of them the same? Or better yet, do we reach out to the one in need and lift them up? Saint James tells us that God has done that for us. God has lifted us up and called each one to come to the table. In the gospel, Jesus is passing through areas that were often off limits to the Jews. A deaf and mute man was brought to Jesus for healing. He did not ask the man’s status, religion, or nationality. Jesus took him aside and healed him. God knows no partiality.

This weekend we will honor our first responders at the 11:00am Mass. First responders live out the commandments we hear today in our readings. By their lives, the first responder answers every call. They don’t choose which calls they will take and which they will refuse. Every call is important. They often put their lives on the line for all of us. We expect it of them. Police, firefighters, and EMTs are living examples of what the scripture teaches us today. I probably would also add in nurses and doctors as well. First responders deserve our admiration and respect. Today we say thank you to all of our first responders.

This week I want to take a moment and acknowledge one of our parishioners who has decided to pursue the diaconate. Last year, Frank Rottman met with me and asked if I would support his inquiry into the deacon formation program of the archdiocese. Just like priests, we need deacons, and so I wholeheartedly gave my support. Frank and his wife, Mary, finished the year of inquiry and will now begin a three-year program that will end in his ordination. As pastor I am excited that Frank and Mary have accepted this call to service in the Church. Their “yes” to this call of service is a call to all of us to serve the Lord. Thanks to all our deacons serving at Saint Juliana and thanks to Frank and Mary. And if you are thinking, don’t we already have a Rottman as deacon?—that answer is yes. Frank’s uncle John Rottman is one of four deacons at Saint Juliana. The parish has a rich history of deacon service. So please join me in praying and supporting Frank and Mary on this journey!

This week we will begin our fall Alpha program. There has been a great response to Alpha and through it we are raising up parish leaders who see the need for welcome, hospitality, and dialogue as we journey and encounter the Lord every day of our lives. Evangelization is recognizing all the ways God is a part of our lives, how we are transformed by those encounters with God, and then sharing those stories with others. When we gather and share our stories, others realize that they also have had encounters with the Lord. Become a part of our living evangelization in the parish and join us for this fall season of Alpha.

Next Sunday, September 15th, we will begin the 2024-25 RCIA program. I encourage everyone to invite family and friends to join the RCIA if they are baptized Catholic but did not receive any other training or sacraments. If someone was baptized in another Christian tradition and now would like to become Catholic they also should join, and finally those who have never been baptized but now are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Church. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is for you. Chris Floss leads the program on Sunday mornings. Call the office if you have questions.

Finally, next week at all of our Masses we will be blessing teachers and catechists from the parish. Our teachers in the school, and our catechists help pass on the faith to our children. They deserve our gratitude and prayers.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings this Sunday speak about laws. One question posed is do we have to follow the law? Another topic is the purpose of laws. Are some laws more important then others? Jesus, through his ministry, did categorize laws. He picked two laws to highlight. He asks all of us to love God and love our neighbor. In other words, are the things we do, our actions, done with love of others and God in mind? Jesus doesn’t condemn laws that create civil society. He doesn’t fight the need for governments and laws, but Jesus does change the focus of all our laws and actions. Do we keep them because they show love of God and neighbor?  Do our laws and actions lift all the people in our lives up and not just a few we are comfortable with? 

This weekend we also celebrate the national holiday of Labor Day. God and nation asks us to celebrate the work we have been given to do. We believe that work gives us dignity. By our work we are a part of a bigger whole. Our nation is formed by hard working people who see their work as part of the great work that is the United States of America. Please pause this weekend to pray for work for all who are seeking employment. And celebrate the work you have been entrusted with at this point in your life.

Registration continues for the new season of Alpha. Over fifteen people have already signed up. Alpha asks us all questions of life. Together with parishioners, we then get share our faith and belief on the topics presented. Alpha is a safe place to ask questions. Please join us for this third season of Alpha.

The RCIA program is also about to begin. The Rite of Christian Initiation is designed for adults. It is for adults who want to learn more about our Catholic faith. There are Catholics who have been baptized but then did not receive any of the other sacraments. RCIA is for you. There are Christians of other denominations who have been baptized in other faith traditions but now want to become Catholic. The RCIA is for you. And there are many people who have never been baptized and want to know who Jesus is and what a relationship with him can do for them. RCIA is for you. Please call the parish office and ask for Marie Dombai to register for our RCIA classes.

Next week we will celebrate the work our first responders do every day. We want to pray for them and let them know that we support them. When there is a crisis or disaster, a first responder answers the call and puts themselves in danger so we can be safe. Sacrifice is the center of following Christ and we see it over and over again in the men and women who answer the call to serve. We encourage first responders to come in uniform so we can recognize your work and say thank you. Join us next Sunday for this important celebration.

This past week the Chicago Public Schools opened their doors. Now all of our children are back in school. I encourage you to drive safely on Touhy for the children of Saint Juliana and Ebinger. Other incentives are the tickets being given out when you don’t. Someone asked me why we put speed cameras up. The cameras are a city and county function. But safety is for all of us. We pray for a safe year ahead for our children.

Today we celebrate the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. In both the first reading from the Book of Joshua and in the Gospel of John, people are given a choice. They must decide whom they will choose to follow. We all like options; the more the better. But making the choice between several options can be difficult. We often put off the decision until it is too late. No decision becomes a decision. I do believe the world has become more complex. We did have fewer options fifty years ago then we do now. But we still had to make choices. Jesus asks us to choose him. All the other “shiny” objects in our lives distract us from what is important. We may want money, fame, promotions, possessions, etc., but they will not bring lasting happiness. Jesus, the “Bread of Life,” will. The prophet Joshua and the people of Israel chose the Lord. Jesus’ disciples also chose the Lord. So, what will we choose to bring us happiness? 

Last Wednesday Saint Juliana School began the 2024-25 school year. Prior to opening day the teachers and school staff gathered for a retreat. As we continue to work on evangelization, it made sense that our teachers and staff should also take some time to reflect on their relationship with the Lord. Each day our teachers and staff work to help our children build a relationship with Jesus. So it made sense to spend time with the Lord in prayer and reflection. After the retreat, the meetings began. This Wednesday, August 28th, we will have a parent meeting and open house for our school families. On Thursday, August 29th, we will speak to our religious education families at a mandatory meeting. These events are important so that everyone has a clear knowledge of the expectations of our children and parents. I look forward to being with you at these important meetings.

Thanks to Brian Romer Niemiec for leading our evangelization leadership team training for the parish. This two-session training is a way to continue the parish work of evangelization. The more people who experience these opportunities to reflect on their relationship with Jesus will help the parish incorporate evangelization in all programs we run in the parish. Fifteen parishioners have taken the time to participate in the program. Thanks to Marie Dombai and Brian for the presentations.

On September 10th, we will begin our third Alpha at Saint Juliana. The team is ready and registrations are already coming in. Thanks to Leo Miller, Jon Peters, John Pelrine, and Chris Floss for speaking at the Masses last weekend. They did a great job describing their experiences with the Alpha program. Please feel free to call Marie Dombai in the parish office for more information or use the QR code from the bulletin to get more information.

This past week we finished season one of The Chosen. We will begin season two on September 25th and 26th. Parishioners gather and watch an episode each week and then take time to discuss the episode afterward. You can join us for season two even if you were not able to be with us for season one. We can help people catch up on the first season. Again, call the office and ask for Marie Dombai if you would like more information on this program.

Finally, thanks to Barb Ernat and her hospitality team for the great back-to-school block party last weekend. All of our schools have different start days, but the party was a great way to celebrate all students and teachers. Our families had a fun time and the hot dogs were delicious. Our prayers go out to everyone as the new school year begins.

Today we celebrate the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus continues what today we call the “Bread of Life” discourse. He tells his disciples and followers that he is the bread that gives life. He tells us we must consume—or maybe we need to turn it around—we need to be consumed by this living bread. Every culture in the world has a special bread that is a sign of life. It may be fry bread for Native Americans, Italian bread for dipping, Irish soda bread with butter, the list is endless. Bread sustains our physical life; Jesus sustains our spiritual life. Often we try to fill our needs with things that do not give us life, such as power, alcohol, status, or recognition. The Bread of Life needs to be our all. Jesus needs to be our all! Do we feel this need, this hunger for the Lord?  Or are we trying to be filled by things that will not give us life?

Today at all of our Masses we offer blessings on all students returning to their studies. This may be first-time students in our three- or four-year-old preschools, or it may be adults pursuing a doctorate. Many of our college-age students are already in week two of studies. The new school year is a time of new beginnings. It is a time to start fresh and commit ourselves to the work ahead. This time is always a great time to also recommit to our faith. Millions are recommitting to their education journey and millions of us also can recommit to our journey with Jesus. Today after our 11:00am Mass we will be hosting our back-to-school block party for all of our students and families. It doesn’t matter where you go to school, our commitment is the same. Please join us today at noon.

I also want to give a shout out to our teachers, principals, and school staffs. They do not get the recognition and thanks they deserve. The teachers build the foundations that all of us live on. When they do their job well, our society is blessed. Make sure you say thanks to all the teachers you know. Make sure they know how thankful we are for their ministry.

Registration is now open for the fall Alpha program. We have completed two successful Alphas and we look forward to the next one beginning on September 10th. Alpha gathers people together to ponder and discuss the big questions of life. It leads participants on a gentle journey to Jesus and faith. For those who already walk with the Lord, it is a renewal of their faith. For those who never knew Jesus or have walked away from him, it is a first step to building that relationship with the Lord. We have a great team ready to welcome you this September.

Last call for religious education registration. Registration has been open since May and now it is time to begin another year. Friday is the last day for registration.

Finally, a joyful celebration for Deacon Bob Ryan and Peggy his wife. After thirty-nine years as an active deacon at Saint Juliana, Bob is officially retiring. For more then forty years, the Ryans have dedicated themselves to Jesus, faith, and our parish. They took classes together, went on retreats, and served Saint Juliana in so many ways. They also raised a family at the same time. They have been the ultimate multi-taskers! And Saint Juliana Parish has been the recipient of their love and dedication. Don’t worry—Bob and Peggy are not going anywhere. They will still be a part of the heart of Saint Juliana. Congratulations, Bob and Peggy!

Today we celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our readings today remind us of the strength we receive through our relationship with God. In the first reading from the Book of Kings, Elijah is ready to give up. He has found success in vanquishing the prophets of Ba’al, but now he has once again fallen into fear. He runs to the wilderness; and rather than ask God for help, Elijah asks for death. God will have none of this. God is the God of life and not death. So, Elijah is told twice to get up and eat so he has the strength for what is ahead. Elijah lets go of his fear, does what God asks, and can walk for forty days and nights on his next mission.

Jesus in the gospel tries to convince his disciples and those who are following him that he is the one who will nourish them. He tells them to bring their fears, their concerns, their needs, and he will give them life. We are Jesus’ newest disciples. We to are encouraged to lay our hopes and worries at the feet of the Lord. In the end though it will come down to trust. Do we trust Jesus with our hopes and dreams? Are we willing to lay our burdens at the feet of the Lord?

I invite everyone to join us for our Saint Juliana Parish back-to-school celebration next Sunday at our 11:00am Mass. We will offer blessings to all those returning to school this fall. Everyone is included—preschool, grade school, high school, college, or tech schools. It doesn’t matter if you are in a Catholic school or a public school. We all need blessings for our journey ahead. We will also offer a blessing for our teachers as well. After Mass we will have a celebration in the street in front of the church. It will be a chance to reconnect with friends we haven’t seen over the summer. Thanks to Barb Ernat, our school and parish ambassadors, and our hospitality team for organizing the event. And thanks to the Men’s Club and Mother’s Club for financially backing our celebration.

Thanks to everyone who supported the Saint Vincent de Paul school supply drive last weekend. I remember growing up how important it was for me to be able to go to school with fresh supplies—a new notebook, pencils and paper, scissors and such! Your generosity helps young learners succeed. Thanks to the Saint Vincent de Paul group for reminding us how important these little gifts can be in the life of a child.

Thanks to Tammy and Dan Pritt for all of the beautiful landscaping around the church and parish. Not a week goes by when someone doesn’t tell me how nice everything looks. Tammy and Dan enjoy doing the work and have taken most of it on by themselves. So just a shout out to the Pritts for all their work at Saint Juliana.

Today we celebrate the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings today ask everyone to remember who it is we rely on. In the first reading the Israelites are angry that Moses has led them into the desert. They forget the years of pain and slavery they endured in Egypt. Somehow, they think the past was better then their present and future. God reminds them that they exist because of him. He also tells them they need to rely on his goodness and providence. So, each day God feeds them. He doesn’t give them any extra. Every day they receive what they need for that day, fowl in the evening and manna in the morning. Saint Paul tells the Ephesians that they shouldn’t rely on their old ways or habits, but rather Jesus is the new way that brings light and life. Finally, Jesus confounds everyone in the gospel by telling the people he is the true bread from heaven. He is the food for our soul not just our body.

We are beginning the crunch time for the start of school, religious education, RCIA, and fall parish programing. Dan and Carlos have been working hard to make sure the school and surrounding property are once again in tip top shape. There is limited time and space for registrations for Saint Juliana School and the Saint Juliana religious education program. I encourage everyone to make sure your child or grandchild has their space reserved. Ms. Scotkovsky, our principal, and Mary Petrash, our Religious Education Director, have worked hard filling positions for the coming year. And now the teachers and catechists are beginning their preparation for the year ahead.  We look forward to once again welcoming back our children for the new year.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in also revving up. Chris Floss, our coordinator, has been in contact with those who have already shown an interest in the program. The RCIA is a pathway for people to become Catholic. Participants gather, and together they learn about the Catholic faith. It is a place to bring questions as they journey toward the Lord. In the beginning the RCIA group discuss what it means to have a relationship with Jesus and then how that is lived out in the sacraments in the Church. If you know people who might be searching in your family or circle of friends, encourage them to call the parish office and we will connect them with Chris. Everyone of us has a part in the mission to invite others to Jesus. 

Thanks to everyone who was able to support our summer Mission Appeal. Fr. John Khongsai appreciated the welcome and support he felt at Saint Juliana. This is another way that we can participate in the missionary discipleship of Jesus.

Today we celebrate the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Two of our scripture readings today tell stories of hungry people being fed. If that were the only story, there might not be any reason for us to even think more about the stories. But we hear in both that there wasn’t enough food to go around, yet everyone was fed. We also marvel that in both stories there was extra bread leftover. These are stories that speak to us of God’s care. God gives an overabundance of care to us. We don’t always recognize the blessings we receive, so these readings remind us to go back and look at the blessings we have received in life. Then like God, we are called to share our blessings and not hoard them. Blessings aren’t supposed to be hidden in a closet or put under a bushel basket. Rather they are to be shared with people hungry for them. We live in a society that tells us there aren’t enough blessings for everyone. We are told to build up our own blessing stockpile and don’t worry about others. Jesus tells us that our blessings will grow in relationship to how we share them with others. May we all strive to be as generous as Jesus.

Today we are having our summer mission appeal. Rev. John Khongsai will be speaking today at all our Masses about the mission work going on in the diocese of Imphal in the state of Manipur in Northeast India. Know that you can make an immediate difference by donating to this mission appeal. We will have an actual collection today for the church in Manipur. Please be as generous as your means allow.

As summer continues, we are preparing for some fall programs in the parish. The RCIA program will once again begin in early September. The Rite Of Christian Initiation of Adults is a program for those ready to join the Catholic faith. These might be family or friends who have never been baptized, but now would like to know Jesus and receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. The RCIA is also for those baptized in another Christian faith tradition that now want to join the Catholic Church and profess their faith in the Catholic Church. Finally, it is also for those who were baptized as Catholics, but for whatever reason have not received the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist.   I encourage you to call us if you fall into one of these groups and want to begin a journey toward the sacraments. Chris Floss is our RCIA director and he would be glad to answer any of your questions. If you call the office, we will put you in contact with Chris.

We still are in need of catechists for the upcoming religious education year. The classes meet on Wednesday evenings beginning at 6:15pm. You may be concerned that you can’t make all the classes. I encourage you to think about asking a family member of friend to teach jointly with you. That way if you need to miss a class there will be seamless transition. Two adults in a classroom are always great as well. Please contact Mary Petrash if you are able to volunteer for this ministry this year.

Today we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Last weekend we witnessed the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump. Both former president Trump and current president Joe Biden agreed in their separate statements that there was a need to end all violence in our politics and work needed to be done to unite the country. As a parish we join them both in their prayer for unity and an end to violence. Paul speaks to the Ephesians today about unity and peace.  Obviously, there is disunity in the followers of Jesus in Ephesus. I quote St. Paul, “For he (Jesus) is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall on enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of two, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it.” As followers of Christ, we are called to work for an end to all division in our world and bring and end to divisions that threaten all of us with violence.

This Saturday, July 27th, the Saint Juliana Book Club is meeting and will be discussing John Steinbeck’s book, Travels with Charley in Search of America. Everyone is invited to join the discussion beginning at 9:15am in the parish office building.

Parishioners continue to meet for viewing and discussion of The Chosen. There is one group meeting on Wednesday evening at 7:00pm and another group meets on Thursday morning at 9:30am. Everyone is invited to these discussions as well.

Calling all golfers! The Saint Juliana Men’s Club is hosting their annual golf outing on Saturday, August 17th at the White Pines Golf Course. This is one of the Men’s Club’s biggest fundraisers. Please come out and support the Men’s Club and all their charitable work.

I don’t even want to mention school yet, but the St. Vincent De Paul Society will be hosting their annual school supply drive on August 3rd and 4th. Once again any donations you can offer would be greatly appreciated. 

Next weekend we will host our summer mission appeal. Each year we have two opportunities to participate in mission work. The first is the yearly collection for the propagation of the faith. The second is the summer mission appeal where we receive groups from around the world who ask for our prayers and financial support for their missionary work. This year we will be welcoming a representative from the diocese of Imphal in Northeast India. We thank God for the courage that Christian missionaries have shown in the diocese and I encourage you to be as generous as you can be for the collection.

Finally, thanks to our scouts for their work at cleaning up the cars of the parish. Thanks to all of you for supporting the Boy Scouts and their activities. This weekend Chris Zayia is collecting funds for his Eagle Scout project. He plans to build raised vegetable planters for the residents of Saint Benedict Village. Please consider helping if you are able.