I received a phone call from Tabitha Hearn, whose son Brendan was in the ICU at Provena. Her nine year old son Logan saved his brother’s life by performing CPR on him (the eighteen month old son accidentally fell and drowned in a three foot pool). Tabitha asked me to offer the Anointing of the Sick for her son Brendan, which I did that night.
When I met with the family, Tabitha told me that while her son was in the ICU, Logan brought a rosary with him, placed the rosary on his brother’s chest and asked God to help his brother. He assured his mother that God would take care of his brother. When I arrived, the son had recovered fully and was sleeping. I spent a little time with them, celebrated the anointing with the family and went on my way. I am told that Brendan was released from the hospital shortly afterwards.
As a sign of thanks, the fire department drove Logan to St. Patrick’s school on a fire truck last week. Logan is in the fourth grade at our school. Read more about the story
U.S. BISHOPS CALL
FOR NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT
FOR 'NEW THINGS' IN TODAY'S ECONOMY
IN LABOR DAY STATEMENT
WASHINGTON-With millions unemployed and U.S. workers experiencing tragedies such as mining deaths in West Virginia and the oil rig explosion and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Americans must seek to protect the life and dignity of each worker in a renewed and robust economy, said Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York. Bishop Murphy addressed these issues in the 2010 Labor Day Statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), entitled A New Social Contract for Todays New Things, which can be found in English and Spanish.
Bishop Murphy, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, compared the challenges faced by todays workers to the changing society of the Industrial Revolution addressed by Pope Leo XIII in the 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum (Of New Things). CONTINUE STORY
TAKE A STAND FOR LIFE! SEPTEMBER 22 to OCTOBER 31
40 days of prayer and fasting
40 days of peaceful vigil
40 days of community outreach
You can help make a life-saving impact by joining the vigil at:
Access Health Center
1700 75th Street
Downers Grove, IL 60516 Visit the Life Office page
The annual Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) 2010 was held the weekend of June 25-27, 2010 at Lewis University hosting more than 800 dynamic youth from around the Diocese of Joliet. The theme of “Thy Will Be Done’ was lived out in so many ways during this wonderful weekend! From the powerful and life changing Reconciliation service along with Adoration, dynamic leadership skills workshops, and the new prayer experience where the students had the opportunity, with God’s help to intimately encounter and reflect upon a specific prayer experience. Many stories continue to pour in regarding the changes that the YLC has made in the lives of these young people.
Thanks to the generosity of the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal, these young men and women received the love of Christ in their hearts and will continue to be a shining example of that love. ~Paul Mach, Youth Ministry
Check out how the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal has changed the lives of some of our brothers and sisters within our Community.click here
Thank you for your Continuing Generosity!
Amidst all the changes life sends our way, there is always one thing that remains constant… God’s everlasting love for us. Far too often our eyes are clouded by what is happening around us, and perhaps we feel helpless. In our time of need we seek Jesus, who will guide us to the Father of all promises, who is worthy of our trust. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” When we choose him as our only driving force and the arbiter of every decision, each step we take paves the world with hope in him. We can be instruments of hope for others in their time of need by serving the Lord Jesus faithfully!
These difficult economic times have had an impact on countless individuals within the Diocese of Joliet, perhaps including you or members of your family. We are writing today to ask you to help bring the light of hope to these people in need. Your gift to this year’s Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal will ensure the continuation of services offered through the various ministries and agencies that the appeal supports. You, too, can change lives by being a living testament of the love of Jesus. Together, we can use our gifts to serve one another and be “One in the Body and Blood of the Lord.” Please give prayerful consideration to making your gift today. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity, and may the love of Christ be always in your heart.
Bishop J. Peter Sartain presents:
BREAD FOR LIFE - COVENANT FOR LIFE
Join Bishop Sartain as he reminds us that as Jesus gives Himself
to us in the Eucharist to be our spiritual nourishment,
He also draws us into a deeper relationship with Him
and with all the members of His mystical body, the Church. Click for brochure
IN YOUR PRAYERS, please remember Father Robert Schuler who entered eternal life on Wednesday, August 11, 2010.
Father Schuler was born on December 21, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph and Dorothy (Redmond) Schuler. He was baptized at St. Alexander Parish in Villa Park. Father Schuler studied at Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corners, Wisconsin.
After his ordination to the priesthood on June 3, 1989 at the Cathedral of St. Raymond, Joliet, Father Schuler was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Peter Parish, Itasca on June 21, 1989. He then served as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Raymond from June 22, 1994 until June 21, 1995 at which time he was appointed as parochial vicar at Notre Dame Parish in Clarendon Hills. Father Schuler served as pastor of Notre Dame Parish since June 19, 1996.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, August 16.
IN YOUR PRAYERS, please remember Father Stanley Orlikiewicz who entered Eternal Life on August 13, 2010.
Father Orlikiewicz, born in Chicago on June 3, 1927 to Stanislaus Orlikiewicz and Anna Gierut Orlikiewicz, was baptized at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish (Polish) in Chicago. He received his education at Sacred Heart of Jesus Grade School, St. Mary High School & St. Mary College in Orchard Lake, Michigan. Priestly studies were completed at St. Mary Seminary University in Baltimore where he received his S.T.B. and S.T.L. degrees. Following ordination to the priesthood on May 30, 1953 at the Cathedral of St. Raymond by Bishop Martin D. McNamara, Father Orlikiewicz was first assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish in Elmhurst, then to St. Mary Parish in Downers Grove (1955).
Father Orlikiewicz was named pastor of St. Mary Parish in Paxton and St. Joseph Parish in Loda (1958). Subsequent pastorates include Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in Elmhurst (1964), St. Mary Parish in Downers Grove (1970) and St. Walter Parish in Roselle (1982). In 1985, Father was named Rector of Cathedral of St. Raymond where he served until his retirement in 2002 to St. John Vianney Villa in Naperville.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Father Orlikiewicz served as Diocesan Director of Ecumenism (1986 onward).
The body of Father Orlikiewicz will lie in state at the Cathedral on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Thursday, August 19, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Cathedral on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.
2010 Priest Assignments
FOR PASTORS, PAROCHIAL VICARS, NEWLY ORDAINED,
CHAPLAIN, AND RESIDENTS. continue...
News you can use
DIOCESE OF JOLIET WELCOMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Bishop J. Peter Sartain was pleased to announce the appointment of Father John M. Belmonte, S.J., a Jesuit Priest, to the position of Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Joliet, effective July 1, 2010.
ORDER OF MALTA
The Order of Malta is a 900-year old organization of Catholic lay men and women who steeped in the tradition of “administering to the sick and the poor and spreading and defending the Catholic faith.” Currently, there are 3000 Knights and Dames of Malta in the United States. (www.maltausa.org). We are committed to the mission of bringing a greater awareness of the Catholic faith not only to church people, but to all others who are hungry for learning about God’s love.
LIGHTING THE PATH TO OUR FUTURE:
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
On Thursday, January 28th, 2010, Bishop J. Peter Sartain released the following status report on the Strategic Plan for the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Joliet.Read more...
DIOCESE WELCOMES NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP
On January 19, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., in the Cathedral of Raymond Nonnatus,
Joseph M. Siegel was ordained as our new Auxiliary Bishop.
Read more about Bishop Siegel in our January issue of Christ Is Our Hope Magazine
Do you have a petition for Bishop Sartain’s prayer list?
(¿Deseas que el Obispo rece por alguna intención en especial que tú tengas?)
You may send it to him at (Escríbele a): Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List (Lista de Oraciones del Obispo Sartain)
Diocese of Joliet; 425 Summit St. Joliet, IL 60435-7193.
LATIN MASS
In his Apostolic Letter "Summorum Pontificium,” Pope Benedict XVI expressed his wish that Masses celebrated according to the "Extraordinary Form" of the Roman Rite (sometimes referred to as the "Tridentine" Latin Mass) be made available wherever there is a stable group of the faithful who wish to participate in Mass in this form. It is in this spirit that Bishop Sartain has established The Diocese of Joliet Latin Mass Community and has invited the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (www.fssp.com) to provide priests for this new ministry. Fr. Joseph R. Valentine, FSSP, has been appointed Chaplain of the community and is based at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Naperville. The Latin Mass is celebrated each Sunday at 12:00 Noon at St. Bernard Church, 1301 Sterling Ave., Joliet; and at 5:30pm at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, 36 N Ellsworth St., Naperville. Daily Masses are celebrated at Sts. Peter & Paul Church (the time varies, so please contact the parish office for information: 630-355-1081). Fr Valentine will also be available for baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc., in the traditional rite as the need arises. Latin Mass Community weekly bulletins can be downloaded at www.jolietlatin.org All are welcome; please join us!
The VIRTUS PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN™Program
is on-going in the Diocese. This program represents a commitment to the safety and well being of the children of our communities. For more information about VIRTUS, see VIRTUS Online™. Click here for more information including policies, reporting, background checks, resources and other references. Click here for a workshop schedule.
The annual Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) 2010 was held the weekend of June 25-27, 2010 at Lewis University hosting more than 800 dynamic youth from around the Diocese of Joliet. The theme of “Thy Will Be Done’ was lived out in so many ways during this wonderful weekend! From the powerful and life changing Reconciliation service along with Adoration, dynamic leadership skills workshops, and the new prayer experience where the students had the opportunity, with God’s help to intimately encounter and reflect upon a specific prayer experience. Many stories continue to pour in regarding the changes that the YLC has made in the lives of these young people. 
IN YOUR PRAYERS,
NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
