St. Mary of Gostyn Catholic Church · 2020-06-30 · Children, of course, are not the burden; however, the financial and emotional cost of raising them sure can be at times. Labor

St. Mary of Gostyn Catholic Church July 5, 2020

Page 2 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I Will Give You Rest Jesus tells his followers about the great love his Father has for all people. He continues his teachings concerning the burdens in life and asks us to allow him to help.

We don’t have to have birthed children to know about labor and burdens. Children, of course, are not the burden; however, the financial and emotional cost of raising them sure can be at times. Labor and burdens are a part of every person’s life. I think that is Jesus’ point. We need to accept this fact meekly and humbly; figure out which burdens are rightly ours, accept his help, and then get on with carrying them.

Picture all your problems on a rickety cart with a “T” shaped wooden yoke attached. Imagine yourself and Jesus putting the yoke on, and pulling the weight together. Heads bent by the wooden bar, you and Jesus are walking in step. You are focusing on his feet and yours. You are breathing in sync—you breathe in and he breathes out.

I remember my Lamaze training before the birth of our last two sons. Focus and breathing were an important part of that process. During those labors my husband was

my coach. We breathed and focused together, and the labor was bearable, far easier than my first three experiences.

I also remember the days I take my problems with me to centering prayer. I say a simple prayer and place them in Jesus’ and my rickety cart. I sit still, focusing on Christ’s presence, slowly breathing in and out. Those are my good days, when my problems are bearable, and I’m even sometimes able to help shoulder someone else’s burdens.

Family Response Talk about some of the problems the world

is facing. Say a prayer together mentioning some of those problems.

Personal Response Who do you know that could use some help

carrying their burdens? How can you help?

What do you want to remember from last week?

What are you looking forward to next week? What are your concerns?

A Lighter Burden

For the past several weeks, Jesus gave instructions and warnings about how challenging it is to follow him. Yet today’s reading gives the opposite impression: “come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest ... for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus’ listeners were familiar with the image of a yoke because they were used to harnessing animals to do work in the field or to pull humans in carriages or cargo on wagons. In Judaism, the yoke was also a metaphor for the religious laws spelled out in the Old Testament.

Over time, religious leaders (mostly the Pharisees) added to the 613 official written laws, creating an oppressive burden for an ordinary Jewish citizen. Several times in Matthew’s Gospel Jesus, lashed out at the Pharisees for making it almost impossible (especially for poor people, who were the majority of the population) to live by all the rules, and for not lifting a finger to help them.

In contrast, Jesus simplifies all of his religion’s laws into two: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. For people struggling to keep track of hundreds of rules about how to wash your cups and utensils perfectly, what foods can and can’t be on a plate together, what kinds of clothing fiber you could or couldn’t wear, or what you could and couldn’t do on the Sabbath, having only those two laws to follow was easy and light in comparison. Instead of having to worry about whether they were breaking any rules, Jesus’ disciples could judge any decision with the measure of whether an action expressed love for God, self, and neighbor. That was the yoke Jesus was inviting them to carry—not the yoke of the Pharisees who cared more about the letter of the law than the spirit of the law.

Word of the Week Pastoral Center / PastoralCenter.com.

With the start of the new month and our second month of in person worship in our Church, we are so happy with the weekly attendance at Masses on Saturday and Sunday as well as during the week. We have taken every care to ensure your safety.

Beginning the weekend of July 4th, we will no longer have a volunteer sign up for each Mass. All of you are carefully following the directional arrows, socially distancing and sitting in the appropriate designated areas, so we feel like we no longer need to direct you. We will be adding our “regular” ushers back into Masses for any assistance that we may need. Our thanks to those who stepped up to help with Greeting for these Masses.

We also have invested in a “fogger” to spray down the Church in between Masses that will disinfect all the surfaces in a much more efficient way, still providing the sanitation that is necessary in between Masses. It will be here in early July. Again, we thank those who have stayed after each Mass to help clean the Church.

We are also returning to one lector per Mass. Sign up for lectors is on our website.

We are working hard now on our plans for reopening our School and our other Parish facilities to the public. Those Ministries who have been waiting patiently will be able to assemble in the Church, Parish Center and Gathering Place in the month of July. We will reach out to those Ministries let you know the guidelines for use of the facilities within the next week. We are excited as we continue to “Welcome you back” to St. Mary’s.

July 5, 2020 Page 3

From the Pastor….

Page 4 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

PRAYER FOR THE SELECTION OF A NEW BISHOP

As our diocese awaits the selection of a new Bishop, pray the following prayer each day as we seek God's guidance:

Lord God, you are Eternal Shepherd and guide. In your

mercy grant the Diocese of Joliet a Shepherd who will walk in your ways, and whose watchful care will bring us your blessing. In your love for us, give us the joy of receiving a

Shepherd who will be an example of goodness to your people; and who will fill our hearts and minds with the truth of the Gospel. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives, and reigns with You and the

Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 6:00 PM - Lillian Grams req. Mauser Family Gloria Merzlock req. Mauser Family TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 9:00 AM - Mary Ann Landry req. Esther Byrne 12:00 PM - Pete & Marilyn Zubak req. Graczyk Family WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 9:00 AM - Audrey Waechtler req. Mary Schramm 6:00 PM - Bernice Rydzewski req. Barbara & John Purtell THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 9:00 AM - Loretta Ocwieja req. Family FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 9:00 AM - Brendan Ansier req. St. Mary of Gostyn Parish 12:00 PM - Gene Delury req. Mike & Mary Signer SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2020 9:30 AM - First Communion 1:00 PM - First Communion 4:00 PM - Peter Bensen, Sr. req. Jim & Barb Holmes George Drobney, Sr. req. Julie Isenberger Loretta Ocwieja req. Family SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020 8:00 AM - Lydia McBride req. Frank & Dianne Czopek 10:00 AM - Jim & Ann Mudra req. Karen & Emil Mudra 12:00 PM - People of the Parish 6:00 PM - Jon Neidlinger req. Nell Family

Stewardship

Our Catholic Faith with Fr. Keith: Saint Luke recounts a simple yet profound question in his Gospel, Jesus “was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples’” (Lk 11:1). Prayer is the most fundamental and necessary foundation for a relationship with God. The privacy of our prayer is where we encounter God but also where we open ourselves to Him in a disposition of vulnerability and honesty. The more we disclose the truth about ourselves to Him, the deeper He is able to minister to our needs and desires. If prayer is a conversation with God, then we need to listen for His voice. This process of listening is known as discernment. We begin by noticing our thoughts, feelings, and desires. Seeing these interior move-ments permits us to both acknowledge them to ourselves and to relate them to God. It is important to determine if a particular desire, for example, is from oneself, the good spirit, or the evil spirit. When we make such a judgement it frees us to act in obedience to the inspiration of the good spirit or to reject the falsehood of the evil spirit. This formula for discernment is summa-rized as see, judge, act. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, is one of the great spiritual masters in our Catholic tradition who explicated the discernment of spirits. He describes the feeling of closeness to God as consolation and the feeling as if we are separated from Him as desolation. In prayer and discernment we do not seek after the consolation, despite the peace and freedom experienced, but after the God who consoles us. The object of prayer and discernment is greater unity with God. Saint Ignatius’s famous Suscipe prayer provides an excellent example for us: “Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me. Amen.”

Due to the early production date of this bulletin, the June 28th collection was unavailable.

Prayer Requests

Kevin Braasch Michael Martel Natalya Brechlin John Svoboda Christopher Fountain Nathan Kijowski Bob Lang Zachary Frana

Pray for our Military Let us pray for all of our military personnel, especially the men and women of our parish who are serving

in harm’s way:

Timothy Randazzo Kyle Ng Christopher Randazzo Joe McSweeney Maggie Benhart Kevin Hanlon Brendan Vrtis

The following persons have requested prayers from our parish community:

Karli Brown William Hennessey Mary Kaye Sally Moll Kris Grazys Maurine Taylor Breanna Deaton

Patricia Wright Nancy Gatto Sharon Kling Sandra Stevens Joseph Leto Bob Earley Franco Albian Mark Gowgiel

July 5, 2020 Page 5

Youth Ministry

S V D P F O O D P A N T R Y

We have been receiving requests as what we need the most in our FOOD PANTRY. We need canned Green Beans and Corn. Aldi restricts a purchase of these items to four cans of each Veggie. Donations

may be dropped off during pantry hours (8 to 11am) on Wednesday’s.

Thank you for your support.

CALLING GARDEN HELPERS!

The SMG Children's Garden needs you, for just an hour and in a

socially distant, safe way. Follow this link to sign up and

a coordinator will let you know how to help. Thank you!!

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30e0844ada82ea02-smgchildrens

Adult Faith

Page 6 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 5, 2020 Page 9

NEW PARISHIONERS: We are happy to welcome new members to our community, and encourage you to register either in person at the Parish Office, or register online through our website, www.stmarygostyn.org.

BAPTISMS: St. Mary of Gostyn offers baptismal preparation sessions on a monthly basis. If this is your first child, you will need to participate in a baptismal preparation session before you can receive a date for your baby’s Baptism. Parents are the first and primary educators in the practice of the Faith. Godparents play an important role in the faith life of your child. While considering godparents for your child, be aware that at least one must be a baptized and confirmed Catholic who is active in his/her faith. Please call the parish office at 630-969-1063 to register for a preparation class and to schedule a baptismal date.

BECOMING A CATHOLIC: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process of welcoming and preparing adults for the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation - for full membership in the Catholic Church. Unbaptized adults, adults baptized in another Christian faith, and baptized Catholics with little or no formal religious education are invited to participate. Please call the Parish Office for further information.

ANNULMENTS: We are available to help anyone who is in need of information about how to apply for an annulment. Please contact the Parish Office at (630)969-1063.

SACRAMENT of ANOINTING: The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is available at regularly scheduled liturgies throughout the year, or by appointment. You may ask the presiding priest before any Mass for an anointing. Communal Anointing Masses are held on the 1st Saturday of the month in August, December and April at the 8:00 AM Mass. The Eucharist will also be brought to those who are ill, upon request. Please notify the Parish Office if members of your family are in the hospital or homebound.

FUNERALS: Arrangements are usually made by the Funeral Home or by a family member. A member of our Bereavement team will meet with you to plan the Funeral Liturgy. Eulogies can be given at the Wake Service, Interment at the Cemetery or at the Funeral Luncheon, but not at the Mass of Christian Burial.

MARRIAGES: Arrangements should be made at least six months in advance to provide ample time for preparation of this sacrament.

PRAYER GROUPS: Monday evening Rosary at 6:30 PM in the Church; Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM in the Parish Center chapel.

RECONCILIATION: Confessions are heard Saturday, 8:30 to 9:30 AM in church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also available by appointment. Please call the Parish Office (630-969-1063) to arrange to have your confession heard by a priest.

St. Mary of Gostyn Parish