Fr. James Hurlbert, Pastor
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Dear Friends, Last year’s St. Patrick Day Corned Beef Dinner committee met last week, and we are looking ahead for ways to possibly expand the event beyond the 6-9 pm dinner for adults. While we want to keep that “signature” part of the event intact as-is, we thought it worth exploring how to beef up the “after party” and maybe even look to something more family friendly (and less expensive) on the front end of the evening- perhaps using the gymnasium or even a tent on the lawn. We also hope to expand involvement on the various committees, which include set-up/clean-up, bar, raffle, baskets, add book, etc. If you’d like to get involved, please let me know. In any case, mark your calendar for March 4th! I’d like to take this opportunity to say a public “thank you” to Mrs. Katie Thompson, who has served as Assistant Principal at our Bridgeport Catholic Academy for the past seven years. Katie is moving to a new position at CPS to help them in their teacher recruitment efforts., but stayed on for the start of this school year to help us get things up-and-running. Mr. Dan Flaherty will assume the primary responsibility for administration of that school while retaining his oversight role for both our schools. Mrs. Julian Jurisic has demonstrated incredible leadership at our St. Gabriel Catholic School and will manage day-to-day operations there while finishing up her principal certification- a mere formality from my perspective. We continue to “feel our way” along as we seek to leverage opportunities for collaboration that will enhance our parish’s educational ministry. May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! Dear Friends,
Each October all of the parishes in the Archdiocese count the number of people attending Mass on the weekend. As you might guess, we have been in steady decline for several decades (hence the closing and merging of so many parishes over the years). When I was ordained, I think we had 500 parishes in the Archdiocese. Seven years ago we had about 350 parishes. We now have about 260 (some with multiple sites, like ours). In 1990 (the year I was ordained) the average Sunday count in October was 582,000. In 2000, it was 561,000; in 2010 it was 457,000. In 2019, the Fall before the COVID pandemic, it was 365,000. In 2021 it was 214,000. Our parish average in 2021 was 422 (combined, all four Masses). I am pleased to report that we saw an uptick in 2022, something that I’m sure you’ve noticed just by looking around. Here are the stats: The average for the 4:30 Mass was 96 people; for 8am Mass- 75; for 9:30- 181; and for 11- 179. The weekend average was 531 people. I am thrilled to see us increasing, and I will feel like we’ve turned the corner here once we double that- which I know we can do. Along with our Archdiocese having half the number of parishes and less than half the number of worshipping (practicing) Catholics since 1990, we also have about half the number of active diocesan (parish) priests. Are we on a “sinking ship?” My faith tells me that the “Barque of Peter” cannot sink, though it is stronger in other parts of the world right now. To be sure, we have a number of very strong parishes in our Archdiocese, and there are some very strong dioceses in our country. Catholicism continues to grow in Africa and Asia, even while it is declining in Europe and North America. It is still strong in Latin America, although Protestant Evangelical churches now draw many former Catholics there. On another note: recall that we remember and pray in a special way during the month of November for those we love who have died. Our “Book of the Dead” is on a podium in the front of each church during this month, beside the Easter / Pascal candle (which is always lit for funerals). Feel free to inscribe the names of anyone who has died in that book, and we will pray for them at our Masses. May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! Dear Friends,
The Cardinal has asked all parishes to take up a special collection next weekend to help cover the costs associated with caring for the refugees and asylum seekers that have been sent to Chicago from overburdened southern States. Catholic Charities is managing some of this work, and while most of its budget comes from government contracts, our participation is also important and needed. As you have probably read or heard, the number of those petitioning for refugee or asylum status is greater than ever. While the crisis of illegal entry of so many into our country requires greater political response, the human plight of those arriving is heartbreaking. Since most of them are fellow Catholics, we should be extra motivated to want to help them. Tuesday, November 1st, is All Saints Day- a holy day of obligation (like a Sunday) for Catholics. Mass in the morning will be at 8:05am at St. Gabriel (as it is all Tuesdays). We will have a Mass at Nativity of Our Lord at 10:00am for the students at BCA (others also invited) and at 7pm at Nativity of Our Lord. The following day, November 2nd, is All Souls Day. On this day we pray in a special way for all those we love who have died. While we will commemorate all the faithful departed at the regular 8:05am at Nativity of Our Lord, we will have a special solemn Mass at St. Gabriel in the evening at 7pm. All are invited, especial those mourning the loss of a loved one. We have sent out special invitations to families of those whose funerals we have celebrated at our parish during the past year. May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! Dear Friends,
Those of us who attended the concert with Kenned MacIver and Carl DeSanti could not have been more impressed and wowed! Thanks to both of them for a wonderful evening of music. Their love for music shone throughout, and listening to them perform was a real treat. Thanks also to Kathy Bailey and the members of our choir who did so much to prepare for and host the dinner and the concert. As always, plenty goes on “behind the scenes,” and Kathy in particular went above-and-beyond the call of duty to organize this great event. On Friday, the 14th, the 7th and 8th graders from our schools joined about 5,000 of their peers at the UIC pavilion at an Archdiocesan youth event called, Holy Fire. This is modeled on the National Catholic Youth Conference held every two years in Indianapolis. It is a kind of spiritual revival, with high energy Christian music, high energy speakers talking about topics relevant to teens, some time for prayer and fun. The Archdiocese puts this on every two years, and it is considered a part of their confirmation preparation experience. Remember that October is the month of the Rosary and also Respect Life month. How about praying a rosary for the intention greater legal protection for the unborn? And pray for other lives that deserve more attention and respect: the developmentally disabled, the mentally ill living on the streets, those with insufficient resources to feed their families… the list goes on… May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! Dear Friends,
Our parish is blessed with two schools, one on each campus. This Sunday our Bridgeport Catholic Academy is hosting an Open House from noon (after the 11:00 am Mass) to 1:30. I encourage everybody to take a walk through our school buildings to see them- whether you have children or not. Since our education ministry is our primary ministry right now, it’s good for parishioners to get in and see the spaces that have been dedicated for this purpose. I have come to appreciate the warm, welcoming environment in both of our schools and the engaged community of families involved with them. I want to welcome Lori Serpico to our parish staff. She is coming on board as an assistant to me, and to manage the secretarial/organizational side of our Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation programs. She will work part-time at our parish offices at our Nativity of Our Lord campus. Many may already know Lori, as she serves as a lector, is on the Parish Council and is a BCA school mom. Parishioners come and go, that is true. But sometimes we lose people who have had a particularly strong impact on the parish and its ministries. Judy and Steve Garrity are moving up to Wisconsin, and we will certainly feel their loss. Steve’s health issues have forced him to cut back some of his involvement of late, but Judy has led the Wednesday evening Rosary group, Saint Gabriel Catholic School’s rosary group, our monthly Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, the Divine Mercy novena, prayer memorials seeking secure legal protection for the unborn and for victims of abortion… just to name a few things. Godspeed to you both; come back to visit often! May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! Dear Friends,
Remember to get your tickets for this Friday’s concert: Kenned and Carl’s concert, Musical Memories- an evening of live musical favorites! There is also a dinner package available for those able to get here earlier. Tickets are available after the weekend Masses and in the rectory and parish offices. More information on this is in the bulletin and on our website. Please pray for the 7th and 8th graders of our schools who will be attending the Archdiocese’s HOLY FIRE youth rally this coming Friday. This event, taking place at the UIC Pavilion, is modeled on the National Catholic Youth Conference that takes place in Indianapolis every two years, drawing over 20,000 high school students from around the country. It involves high energy praise music, high energy presentations along with plenty of prayer. This is intended as a confirmation preparation event, but that is not the focus. And while the style of this event does not appeal to everybody, it is different from what our kids have probably experienced before, and so it might create another possible entry point for their spiritual development. Introducing our young people to various forms of Christian spirituality and expression will hopefully lead more of them to develop a personal relationship with Jesus and a deeper connection to the Church. I would like to reach out to parishioners and invite you to consider helping with a liturgical ministry in the parish. At both of our churches we could use a few more Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Communion. If you are at least 16 years old, are baptized, confirmed and have made your First Communion, attend Mass regularly and are willing to dress up a little for the Masses when you are scheduled… you are a candidate for this! There will be some training involved, so don’t worry about feeling unprepared. Some people tell me that they don’t feel “worthy”… none of us is worthy! I’m certainly not worthy to do what I do. But the Lord calls us to serve His community, and so even us unworthy ones need to accept that invitation. In addition, our parish could really use a few more Ministers of Care, who visit our homebound and bring them communion. If you would like to help with this, or even just get a little more information about it, please let me know. You can call or email me, or talk to me after Mass. May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! Dear Friends,
Thanks to all who made last Saturday’s Rock the Block such a success! I want to offer a special word of our thanks to the leaders of BCA’s Home and School Association who put to much work into the event: Amanda Canino, Dana Dedina, Jennifer Gigliotti, Cathy Guisti, Lisa Morris, Andrea Scalise, Michelle Scalise and Toni Vittori. The weather was perfect and the turnout was, I was told, the best ever. It was a joy for kids and adults from our entire parish to come together for this. Our parish is blessed with two schools, one on each campus. This Sunday our Saint Gabriel Catholic School is hosting an Open House from 10:30am (after the 9:30 Mass) to noon. Open House at BCA is in two weeks, on the 16th, and will be from noon (after the 11am Mass) to 1:30pm. I encourage everybody to take a walk through our school buildings to see them- whether you have children or not. Since our education ministry is our primary ministry right now, it’s good for parishioners to get in and see the spaces that have been dedicated for this purpose. I have come to appreciate the warm, welcoming environment in both of our schools and the engaged community of families involved with them. I would like to reach out to parishioners and invite you to consider helping with a liturgical ministry in the parish. At both of our churches we could use a few more Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Communion. If you are at least 16 years old, are baptized, confirmed and have made your First Communion, attend Mass regularly and are willing to dress up a little for the Masses when you are scheduled… you are a candidate for this! There will be some training involved, so don’t worry about feeling unprepared. Some people tell me that they don’t feel “worthy”… none of us is worthy! I’m certainly not worthy to do what I do. But the Lord calls us to serve His community, and so even us unworthy ones need to accept that invitation. In addition, our parish could really use a few more Ministers of Care, who visit our homebound and bring them communion. If you would like to help with this, or even just get a little more information about it, please let me know. You can call or email me, or talk to me after Mass. May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! Dear Friends,
Be sure to mark Friday, October 14th, on your calendar! I am excited for this upcoming concert by our parish vocal music minister and choir director, Kenned MacIver, and music director, Carl DeSanti at the Auditorium at Saint Gabriel campus. For many years Kenned and Carl worked together as a duo performing popular music at local clubs. We have all come to appreciate their musical gifts at our Masses; it will be fun to hear them perform from their repertoire of popular music, focusing on well known show tunes. For those who would like to also gather for dinner beforehand, a limited number of spots are available. Information on reserving tickets for the concert (and for the dinner) is in today’s bulletin. I mentioned at the Masses last week that the work on the St. Gabriel Bell Tower will be completed in the coming weeks. I am grateful for all who have and continue to contribute to this project. Based on what we have received and the pledges that have been made, we should be able to cover the cost without having to take out loan. Did you know that the majority of the square footage of our parish buildings is dedicated to our educational ministry? Over the next two weeks we will be hosting Open Houses at our parish schools, Saint Gabriel Catholic School and Bridgeport Catholic Academy. We will start next Sunday, October 2, at Saint Gabriel, and all parishioners are welcome to visit the school there after the 9:30 Mass (the school will be open until noon, so even if you do not attend that Mass, feel free to stop by). In two Sundays, October 16, we will do the same at BCA, following the 11am Mass (until 1:30). Even if you do not have children at or approaching school age, feel free to tour our schools. If you graduated from one of them and would like to see if anything has changed: feel free to walk through. Our faculty and staff extends a warm welcome to all. May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! Dear Friends,
Please pray for our parish Evangelization Team and the ALPHA pilot program that began last week. To do a “test run” of this program, which is at the heart of the Archdiocesan Renew My Church Evangelization effort, members of our Evangelization team invited about 30 parishioners to participate in this trial run. This will hopefully help us to develop a model that is suited for our parish and those we seek to engage when we move forward with it in the Winter/Spring. Next Saturday is Rock the Block, on our Nativity of Our Lord campus, sponsored by BCA’s Home and School Association. All are welcome- adults and kids alike, from our entire parish. I have heard great things about this event, which had to be canceled the past two years because of COVID. Details are in the bulletin and on the BCA website. By now I hope that all our registered parish households have received the State of the Parish newsletter that was sent out through the mail. If you did not receive it, we have copies available in each church and in the parish offices. You can also view it via the parish website www.nativitystgabriel.org I think it is interesting to review some of the highlights of the past year, see statistics about parish life and ministry, and examine the financial performance of our parish and school operations. If you are not yet formally registered in the parish, I invite you to register. This can also be done via the parish website, or by stopping into the parish offices at Nativity or the rectory office at Saint Gabriel. May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today!ere to edit. Dear Friends,
Each year when September 11th rolls around my thoughts turn to that morning in the year 2001 when a series of coordinated terrorist attacks rocked our nation and the world. It launched a military response by our government with effects that continue to impact us. My sense is that the heightened sense of threat to which we have become accustomed will not subside anytime soon. While our military engagement seems to have quieted down for now, it feels like tensions among world powers are heating up. I always hoped I would not witness a big war in my lifetime; these days I’m not so sure. Fueling my concern is the rapid secularization we have seen in Western democracies. To be sure: Christians have been at fault for much savagery and war. But I am convinced that in the past, when Christian faith and discipleship were more pronounced, this helped to keep our worst demons at bay. War among the “religious” is bad enough. What will war among the irreligious be like? May the anniversary of this terrible attack serve to keep us focused on the values of our democracy and the underlying Christian faith required to sustain it. And may the Holy Spirit be with those working for the cause of Peace. Shifting gears to something fun: Rock the Block makes its comeback next Saturday. I look forward to experiencing this one-day fest after having heard so much about it. More information can be found in this week’s bulletin, on our parish Facebook page, and on the BCA website. Hosted by BCA’s Home and School Association, the event is open to the entire parish. I want to sincerely thank Mary Kay Sopron for 30+ years of volunteering to launder the Mass linens (purificators, albs, amices, etc) at Saint Gabriel. This has truly been a labor of love for her, but she is ready to “retire” from this ministry. I could not be more grateful to her for all she has done. So… I am putting out a call now to see if anyone might be interested in taking over for her. If so, please check in with me. May your week reflect the encounter with Christ we experienced at Mass today! |
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