Historic St. James at Sag Bridge Church 10600 S. Archer Avenue | Lemont, Illinois 60439-9344 | (Ph) 630.257.7000 | (Fx) 630.257.7912

Email: stjames1833@att.net | Website: www.historicstjames.org Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Saint James At Sag Bridge

Altar & Rosary Society WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? The Altar and Rosary Society is having a Membership Drive and is hosting a Bake Sale. What do they do with the money? This is partial list: Supplies for our vacation bible school, Flowers for the May crowning, Relic cabinet, Vest-ments, Altar candles, Refrigerator and coffee pot for Sag Hall, Vacuum for Church cleaning, $500 for FOCUS missionary, $200 for Women’s Center, $200 for Zacchaeus House celebra-tion. The labor donated is priceless. Please support your Parish so the good works can con-tinue.

Pres: Barbara 708.257.9129 V.P. Linda 630.257.8252 Sec: Judi 630.243.9414 Treas: Chris 708.330.5216

Mass Schedule

WEEKENDS: Saturdays: 5:00pm & Sundays: 8:30, 10:00 & 11:30am HOLY DAYS: 7:00am & 7:00pm

WEEKDAYS: Mon, Tue, Thu 8:15am & Fri 6:00pm

WEDNESDAY: Adoration at 5:00pm & Mass 7:00pm

CONFESSION SCHEDULE: Wednesdays 6:15-7:00pm & Saturdays 9:30-10:00am other-wise by appointment.

BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS & FUNERALS: Contact the rectory office.

SICK & HOMEBOUND PASTORAL CARE: Please notify rectory.

RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: Wed, Thu & Fri: 9:00am to 2:00pm.

CLERGY: Fr. Tom Koys, M.A.,S.T.L., Pastor, Fr. Edward Gleeson, Pastor Emeritus Fr. Robert Coleman, Resident Deacon John Wilkinson, C.K.M. Deacon Doug Szarzynski

Twenty-Fourth Sunday

in Ordinary Time September 15, 2019

Zacchaeus House Benefit Luncheon 2019

Page Two September 15, 2019

FROM THE DESK OF, FR. THOMAS KOYS, M.A.,S.T.L., PASTOR

A HUMBLE PLEA TO CATHOLIC WOMEN

Kerry Robinson has an article in the Chicago Catholic in which she makes a plea that women need to be more pre-sent at the tables where church decisions are made. At one point she states, “Each of us is inherently myopic on our own or within our own uniform groups.” My plea to Ker-ry, and women like her is simply to push for greater clarity in what she means. This greater clarity is essential at this point in history, because the phrase and the idea of “our own uniform groups” is terribly loaded with ambiguity. My plea, is to break down the debates and the reasoning and the arguments that necessarily precede “decision mak-ing”. As long as such discussions are avoided while refer-ences are made to “our uniform groups” she becomes a cat-alyst of confusion. A plea for a “seat at the table” because you are a member of a certain identity group, albeit a won-derful and Godly group, namely “womanity”, only inspires more “identity politics” within the church. What must be made clear today, is that “womanity” is not a “uniform group”. There are divisions within “womanity” just as there are divisions in Washington D.C. But here’s the sad reality of today’s “womanity”. The concept of “women’s rights” today is almost exclusively wedded to the causes of abortion, contraception and divorce rights and today so called same sex marriage and transgenderism can be added. These are major issues that go silent at almost every deci-sion making table that I’ve sat at in the past 35 years of priesthood. And if that silence is broken, the women (and many of the men present) usually take the dissenting posi-tion and argue against the beautiful and powerful teachings of Catholicism. I submit, that many of the men who do sit at the “tables of decision” also lack the deep understanding of these key issues facing not only the church, but society at large. My dear “sisters in the faith”, please do not in-crease the power of identity politics within the church. Our Lord’s teachings are difficult and challenging in their own right. If the fullness of the faith is not our first priority, then pushing for a seat at the table reminds us of the re-quest put to Jesus, “Promise me that my sons will sit one at your right and left in your kingdom.” We must not forget Our Lord’s response, “Can you drink of the cup of which I am to drink?”

A special moment at the picnic. Check out these great t-

shirts: “Rosary: for Best Results, Use

Daily”

2019 ACA “Come, Follow Me… and Share the Word”

Today we wish to recognize those who not only support our parish, but those who have made a gift or pledge to the 2019 Annual Catholic Appeal of the Archdiocese of Chicago. On behalf of those who will be served by your contributions, thank you to all who have already complet-ed their pledge payments, as well as those who are still making payments.

For those of you who have not had an opportunity to make a pledge or a gift this year but wish to support the ministries and services funded by the ACA, please con-tact the Annual Catholic Appeal Office at (312) 534-7959 or online at www.annualcatholicappeal.com. Remember that when our parish exceeds its goal in cash received, all additional funds received are returned for use in our par-ish.

GREAT SERIES AT KINGSWOOD ACADEMY

On September 20th, our first speaker will be Dr. There-sa Farnan, Ph.D., who is a Consultant to the United

States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth and an adjunct member of the philosophy department at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Dr. Farnan will be discuss-

ing how legislation and government are affecting schools and our children. This is a free event open to the public. We are inviting all Kingswood Academy Alum-

ni and their families back to Kingswood for this free event. Call Tammi: 630-887-1411 or market-

ing@kingswoodacademy.org

Fr. Koys at the River Rendezvous event with the beautiful Des Plaines River in the background.

Parish Picnic Winners 40” TV – Solis Family 32 “ TV – Ron Augstyn Wagon – Charlie Hughes Travel Slow Cooker – Dave O’Dell Slow Cooker – Walt Noonan 3-Cup Chopper – Frank O’Toole

Twenty-Fourth Ordinary Sunday

TAKE LINES OUT OF TEXT ~ LIVING THE WORTHY LIFE BY MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM Life Worth Living was a popular television show featuring Bishop Fulton Sheen that first appeared on the Du Mont TV Network on Tues-day night February 12, 1952. Today in the spirit of the same mes-sage, I dedicate a series of articles entitled Living The Worthy Life. Since it has been almost seventy years since the beginning of that show, much has changed in America and world-the largest of which is the focus of today’s article-our view of the world and our view of our-selves in it. In the last show of Spring of 1952, Bishop Fulton Sheen told his audi-ence, “The whole world is sick- our greatest problem is com-munism.” Today those words appear to some to be outdated but are they? He continued by explaining that America would not fall unless from within. “Something died in the western world. When a civilization begins to die there begins to be seen vultures that will pick apart soci-ety. Communism is the scavenger of a dying civilization. It picks apart the dying civilization from within and consumes it.” Then in the first ten minutes of show he explained that after the con-version of Russia, that country will be force of well being for the west-ern world. He then explained that this would be because “Russia has fire and zeal.” Now, many may not see how these comments are worthy today. The problem is that they are horribly wrong. In the 1950’s many people embraced the Church. Church attendance was over 60% each week, Today less than 20% of all Catholics attend Church weekly and great-est problems facing the Church today is the simple fact that less than 10% of the children are attending Church weekly. To some this means that Bishop Sheen was wrong and that somehow America has tried Christianity and somehow it has failed. We should just move on to embrace another God. When people call of the little “g” of govern-ment to replace the big “G” of God this is nothing more than theft. GK Chesterton answered this question the best when he wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” Because almost seventy years after Bishop Sheen began his TV min-istry we are need of some strong words on this subject, I have decided to write this article. Are you just going through the motions of life? If you are you are like millions of other Americans-living life without real-izing they are doing so with little or no meaning. Are you trapped in a maze of competing situations that seem to be sucking the living ener-gy right out of your soul? Well, if you are, you would be a typical person living in the US. The US, the once greatest nation in the world, is now facing the problem that the youngest generation will not live at the same level as their parents. This is a problem and this problem worries most people- but is it the problem that many of us actually worry about? The answer is a re-sounding no. The problem really is how we view things. Or to put it another way, we simply lack eternal clarity. Many of us think day by day. We wake up- live that day and then do it again and again, again and again. We are stringing together a series of one day experiences. We are not think-ing about the eternal. Yet soon enough we all know that we will face the eternal. My question here is why not plan for it today. Why not? Are you happy? Are you truly happy? I was talking with a student the other day and they mentioned that they were anxious about the future and nervous. I am telling you right here and right now, unless and until you live a Christ centered life you will be anxious and nervous- you will be that until you change the way you think GK Chesterton wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” This is the theme of article- our ideals are not wrong- we simply have not tried them.

Are these almost the same words as Paul wrote in his letter? We can not just read about something- we must act upon it. We can not simply talk about something we must do it. We are not simply Catholic by lip service- we must be Catholic by thought, word, and deeds. Service is not for others, it is for us. We should do something to build up the community not to build us up. Inflated opinions of our-selves will deflate us in the eyes of others. In his 1931 essay entitled, a young Father Fulton Sheen wrote, “ America, it is said, is suffering from intolerance - it is not. It is suffer-ing from tolerance. Tolerance of right and wrong, truth and error, virtue and evil, Christ and chaos. Our country is not nearly so overrun with the bigoted as it is overrun with the broadminded.” Whether it was the Maccabees of the Old Testament or Paul in the New Testament right is right and we should not try to make what is right by what is going on in a community. These words were written almost 90 years ago yet it is as fresh and crisp as if it were penned today. Things have not changed, that is why the Bible is important yesterday, today and tomorrow. Paul traveled around Anatolia and set up many local parishes. Once he left- prob-lems appeared. He did not cause the problems. People did. We can not make morals by following the whims of the majority of people. Right is right now and forever. Some things do not change. Should we change our morals like we change our clothes? Paul explained it this way, “Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear news of you, that you are standing firm in one spir-it, with one mind struggling together for the faith of the gospel, not intimidated in any way by your opponents.” Paul knew that if you do not live what you believe, you will end up believing what you live. This is why Paul was so upset with some of these Churches. People have free will and may exercise not in the very best of ways. Do not become one of those people. This is true today. We can not nor should not express our belief in something and then act the opposite. What are we saying here? Will our actions speak louder than our words? Take up your cross. Take up your cross. Do not make Crosses for others and do not crucify others for the same thing that we are doing our self. Remember on the TV show Life is Worth Living, Bishop Fulton Sheen explained it this way, “ Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right.” We must stand up and fight for what is right. We should follow the words of Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill when he said, We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. We must fight, fight and fight.” We are in a war and many of us do not realize we are in it, let alone realize that we are slowly losing this battle. Today the battle lines are carefully drawn- but these have always been drawn. What is right now is still what was right at the time of Christ. Christ did not and will not desert us but can we say the same about us? Did we desert Christ? If you realize that we need to get back to Christ and live accordingly then you have understood what it takes for Living The Worthy Life. Remember embrace Christ and his teachings. Do not be led astray, men or women who advocate the convenience of living differently, the acceptance of the unacceptable, or arrogance of redistribution. Living for today will not help you for the hereafter if you do so only to pile up riches here on earth. Know yourself, know your Church, and most of all know the teachings of Christ. Make sure you are living a Christ centered life and life you will be living will be the worthy life. The choice is now yours- what are you going to do about it? Are we doing what we want or are we doing what He wants?

Our weekly Offertory collection from the week of September 8, 2019 was $2,720.00. Collected enve-lopes were 95. Zacchaeus House was $851.00.

OUR MANY THANKS TO OUR REGISTERED FAMILIES USING ENVELOPES & THE CASH-AND-CARRY FOLKS.

Our CHURCH CLEANERS FOR FRI – 9/20/19 Are Barbara, Irene, Bronislawa & volunteers. If

you are interested in volunteering, please contact the rectory office at 630.257.7000.

Our beautiful bouquets of flowers surrounding our altar were made by the

generosity of JIM & MARIANNE MILLER

VOTIVE OFFERINGS FOR THE WEEK OF 9/8/19 St. James Altar & Rosary Society Preservation of St. James In Loving Memory of John Radzajewski In Memory of Lillian Simanavicius In Memory of Zig Simanavicius

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH Sts. Cornelius, Pope & Cyprian, Bishop Martyrs 8:15 AM Jozef F. Gandel Josef & Marija Bohinec

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH St. Robert Bellarmine 8:15 AM For St. James Church & All the Poor Souls in Purgatory & Vincent Harrington

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH 7:00 PM Margaret Cruickshank Pat Kubik

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH St. Januarius 8:15 AM Joseph Altieri Bill Channell

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH Sts. Andrew, Kim Tae-Ğon, Paul Chŏng, Ha-Sang 6:00 PM John & Antonete Gradisher

Twenty-Fifth Ordinary Sunday SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST St. Matthew 5:00 PM 59th Wedding Anniversary ~ Norman & Ruth Kaminski & Michael J. Kaminski Barb & Leon John Pieprzyca

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND 8:30 AM Daniel Starha 10:00 AM Birthday Blessings & Health ~ Janusz Szaradzinski 11:30 AM For St. James Church & All the Poor Souls in Purgatory

25TH ORDI-NARY SUNDAY 9/21 & 9/22/19

Celebrant

Altar Servers

Lectors

5:00 PM 9/21/19

Fr. Tom Koys

Ramirez Ramirez Ramirez

R. Augustyn

8:30 AM 9/22/19

Fr. Tom Koys

A. Wilson M. Wilson M. Wilson

M. Dillenburg

10:00 AM 9/22/19

Fr. Tom Koys

M. Lawler T. Lawler A. Pawlikowski

J. Jackson

11:30 AM 9/22/19

Fr. Tom Koys

D. Estrada G. Estrada A. & I. Gallager

J. DeRoche