Listen Up! · Faith concepts ”stick with us”, according to researcher Kara Powell, through give-and-take conversations among parents and children. That means it’s important

October 2019

Listen Up!

“God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Today’s parents of young children probably heard this old saying many times when they were kids. Maybe you’ve said it a time or two to your own children. The symbolism rings true: Listening more than we speak shows that we care about people’s needs and feelings. Listening also helps us understand others better and grow closer to them. That applies to our faith lives, too. Because listening is an integral component of worship and prayer, it’s vital for maintaining a strong relationship with our Creator. God speaks to us through his Word, through his answers to prayer, and through our fellow Christians traveling on this journey with us. Being a good listener—to people as well as to God—is an acquired skill. Even

adults need reminders and practice to remain alert, open, and attentive to one another and to God. That’s especially true these days, when many distractions and other “voices” threaten to pull us away from faithfully following our true Leader.

Faith concepts ”stick with us”, according to researcher Kara Powell, through give-and-take conversations among parents and children. That means it’s important to listen as much—or more than!—you talk. Kids’ questions and observations provide a window into their faith development and into how we can encourage continued growth. Listening has a powerful effect on the person who’s listening as well as on the person who’s being listened to. It helps us make connections with one another, shows respect, and incites our curiosity. Listening well also makes us better speakers. We can communicate more effectively when we’ve taken the time—and remained silent long enough—to hear out someone else. Listening is just the first step, however. We also need to act on what we’re hearing and put our learning into practice. James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only”!

Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)

October's Bright Blue Weather

O suns and skies and clouds of June, and flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour October's bright blue weather!

Visit http://www.potw.org/archive/potw10.html to see the entire poem.

K-8 Faith Formation Classes

will take a break the week of Columbus Day!

We will have no K-8 classes Monday thru Wednesday, Oct. 14th, 15th & 16th.

CARE FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL EARTH

REUSE AND RECYCLING RESOURCES Provided by SCARCE

799 Roosevelt Rd. Building 2, Suite 108 Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

630-545-9710 www.scarce.org

SCARCE is committed to keeping “stuff” out of landfills by finding ways to reuse or recycle it. SCARCE collects the following items. Please bring them to SCARCE during our regular business hours ONLY. Please deliver items in boxes—we have extras you can use. DONATIONS OF 10+ BOXES MUST CALL AHEAD TO SCHEDULE DELIVERY.

Any and All Books

Keys (household, luggage, car)

Holiday Lights

35 mm Film Canisters

Hearing Aids

Corks

Box Tops for Education

Any and All LP Records

Cords (phone, computer)

Any and All Musical Instruments

Eye Glasses and Sun Glasses

October’s Most Popular Saint—St. Francis of Assisi

Francis was born Giovanni di Bernardore, but because his father called him Francis, so did eve-ryone else. He was baptized shortly after his birth in the town of Assisi in central Italy in 1182. His father, Pietro di Bernardone, was a successful cloth merchant, and Francis grew up with a love of fine clothes and good times. He led the other young men of the town in enjoying good food and drink, singing, and dancing.

But when he was a teenager, Francis joined the military forces from Assisi in their fight against Perugia, another town in Italy. When he was twenty, he was taken prisoner. A year later, sobered by jail and sickness, he underwent several religious experiences in quick succession. In one of these, while he was praying in the run-down chapel of Saint Damiano outside Assisi, he heard a voice from the crucifix telling him, "Francis, go repair my house, which is falling in ruins." Francis

went quickly back to the city, sold his horse and some cloth from his father's shop, and came back to give the money to the priest at Saint Damiano. Francis's father, furious that his son wasted his money on churches and beggars, took him before the bishop to bring him to his senses. When the hearing began, Francis calmly took off all of his clothes, gave them to his father (the astonished bishop quickly covered Francis with a cloak), and said that he was now recog-nizing only his Father in heaven, not his father on earth. He lived his life from this time on without money and without family ties.

St. Francis is the Patron Saint of Ecology, a title honoring his boundless love of animals and nature. His Feast Day is October 4th.

October Sunday Gospel Snippets

October 6, 2019—Luke 17:5-10 Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time There are two related teachings that Jesus offers to his disciples when they cry out for an increase in faith. The first is the familiar re-minder that faith, even just a little, will enable the followers of Jesus to do wondrous things. But this uplifting and inspiring teaching is quickly followed by the second teaching, a caution about knowing one's place in God's plans. Even when God works wonders through us, with our mustard seed-sized faith, we must not seek praise. When we are graced enough to cooperate with God, the work we do is nothing more than our obligation to God as faithful stewards. And yet, our faith enables us to believe that what we have offered in ser-vice to God, as his servants, can be made to produce a hundredfold. October 13, 2019—Luke 17:11-19 Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ten people afflicted with leprosy cry out to Jesus. Struck with pity, Jesus heals all 10. However, only one is described as glorifying God and returning to thank Jesus. The one who returns is a Samaritan, a foreigner. In the Jewish circles in which Jesus lived, Samaritans were looked down upon because of the differences between the two communities in their observance of Judaism. It is significant, there-fore, that Jesus commends the Samaritan for his faith, which has been his salvation. Another lesson for us in this Gospel has to do with salvation. All 10 of the lepers were given the gift of healing, but in his gratitude to God for this gift, the Samaritan found salvation. Our salvation is found in recognizing the gifts we have been given and knowing to whom we must offer our thanks. October 20, 2019—Luke 18:1-8 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s Gospel is a parable about a widow who constantly nags a corrupt judge about rendering a just decision on her behalf. The par-able seems to present prayer as nagging God for what we want, but such a reading misses the point. God is not like the judge in the par-able, worn down by requests and coerced to respond. We must un-derstand Jesus to be saying that if even an unjust judge responds to the persistence of the widow, how much more so will God listen to our prayers. God wants us to be like the persistent widow, staying in relationship with God, confident that he hears and answers prayers. October 27, 2019—Luke 18:9-14 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s Gospel is another parable about the attitude we must have when we pray. A loud and boisterous Pharisee is praying in the Temple at the same time as a repentant tax collector. The parable reminds us that when we pray, we must remember our need for God in our lives. If we are too full of ourselves, there is too little room for God's grace to work in us. October 30, 2016—Luke 19:1-10 Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Once again, Jesus is in the company of a sinner of the worst kind—Zacchaeus, a tax collector and a cheat. Zacchaeus has climbed a tree to get a better look at Jesus as he passes by. But Zacchaeus is overjoyed when Jesus tells him to come down because Jesus has decided he will be staying at Zacchaeus’ home. Zacchaeus admits to his sins and vows to give to the poor and to repay anyone he has cheated. Jesus’ parting words to the grumbling townspeople: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

What do you know about St. Margaret Mary Alacoque?

St. Margaret Mary is the Patron Saint of our Parish, but many of us know very little about her. So here’ s few facts: Margaret Mary was chosen by Christ to arouse the Church to a realization of the love of God symbolized by the heart of Jesus. Her early years were marked by sickness and a painful home situation. “The heavi-est of my crosses was that I could do nothing to lighten the cross my mother was suffering” she said. Margaret Mary entered the Order of Visit-ation nuns in 1671 at the age of 24. In 1674, Margaret Mary had the first of three visions of Jesus. The request of Christ was that his love for humankind be made evident through her. His human heart was to be the symbol of his divine-human love. And so we remember St. Margaret Mary for her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Margaret Mary died at the age of 43 while being anointed. Her last words were “I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus.”

Her Feast Day is celebrated on October 16th.

PRAY FOR US,

O BLESSED MARGARET, THAT WE MAY BE MADE WORTHY

OF THE PROMISES OF CHRIST.

MEDIA MADNESS

MOVIE Title: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy Rating: not yet rated Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chiwetel Ejiofor Synopsis: This live-action movie is Disney’s sequel to Maleficent (2014). When Aurora accepts Prince Philip’s proposal, her wicked fairy godmother forbids the marriage, saying, “Love doesn’t always end well.” Jolie said her title character goes “full wings, full horns, full crazy” in this film. Our Take: Based on the trailer and plot, this movie promises to be dark and intense. Like most “family friendly” fare released in October, it has a supernatural focus that may make parents uneasy. Keep younger children away and use caution with older kids.

MUSIC Title: Growing Up Artist: Josh Lovelace Synopsis: This is the second “family album” from Lovelace, a father and member of the pop-rock band NEEDTOBREATHE. As a longtime fan of children’s music, Lovelace wanted to create positive, reflective songs that spark conversations among people of all ages. His first family album was 2017’s Young Folk. Our Take: The concepts and lyrics on this album are full of love and wonder. Lovelace encourages listeners to be kind and accepting, to cherish their time together as a family, and to remember that they aren’t alone. Although the album isn’t billed as Christian, Lovelace and his band have roots in the faith community.

Games, Sites & Apps

Luigi’s Mansion 3 In this Nintendo Switch game, Gooigi, a green doppelganger, helps the timid hero navigate obstacles in a haunted hotel. Upgraded ghost-hunting equipment in-cludes the Poltergust G-00 vacuum cleaner. ScareScraper mode is for multiplayer action. The game, released on Halloween, is rated E.

Official Average Boy Focus on the Family produces this podcast, which explores topics ranging from Christian stewardship and service to manners, friendship, and technology. Children and parents can listen to the entertaining episodes together and use them as springboards for valuable discussions. Best for ages 8 to 12.

Picture Dots Designed by the New York Hall of Science as part of its Noticing Tools suite, this free app for ages 3+ builds curiosity and STEAM skills. After parents upload photos, young “content creators” can personalize them to tell stories, make and record sounds, find patterns, and more. Also available in Spanish.

CULTURE & TRENDS

Safer Students? Sales of bulletproof backpacks soared this fall, as back-to-school shopping coincided with several mass shootings. The pricey knapsacks are marketed as potential shields, though there’s little evidence they provide protection. Some experts fear the packs may increase kids’ anxiety. (various sources) Don’t Mess With Halloween A petition to move Halloween to the last Saturday in October has morphed into an effort to add a National Trick or Treat Day on that Saturday. Groups trying to boost children’s safety ran into pushback from those who insist the holiday is fine as is. (USA Today)

QUICK STATS

Kid-Less for the Climate More than 450 people (80%

of them women) have joined the new BirthStrike movement, pledging not to have children because of global warming. (ctvnews.ca) Violence at Home Every year, one in 15 children is exposed to domestic violence, and 90% are eyewitnesses. A boy who sees his mother being abused is 10 times more likely to abuse a female partner as an adult. (ncadv.org, womenshealth.gov)

This page is designed to help educate parents and isn’t meant to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our goal is to help

you make informed decisions about what your children watch, read, listen to, and play.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 K-8 Classes Meet

2 K-8 Classes Meet

3 4 5

6 7 K-8 Classes Meet

8 K-8 Classes Meet

9 K-8 Classes Meet

10 11 12

13 14 Columbus Day

No K-8 Classes

15 Columbus Day

Break; No K-8 Classes

16 Columbus Day

Break; No K-8 Classes

1st Reconciliation Parent Mtg;

7pm; Upper Rm

17

18 19

20 Parent

Sacrament Retreat Option 1 12-3pm;

Upper Room

21 K-8 Classes Meet

22 K-8 Classes Meet

23 K-8 Classes Meet

24 25 26

27 28 K-8 Classes Meet

29 K-8 Classes Meet

30 K-8 Classes Meet

31 Happy

Halloween!

October