Parish Staff: Rev. Michael J. Novick

Pastor

Mr. William Doerr

Mr. John Rangel

Mr. Edward Winter

Deacons

Mrs. Sally Doerr

Lay Minister

Mr. Mark Schusteric

Director of Maintenance

Mass Schedule: Saturday: 5:00 PM

(Sunday Vigil)

Sunday: 8:30 & 11:00 AM

Monday-Saturday: 8:30 AM

Holy Days: 6:30 & 8:30 AM,

and 7:00 PM

Reconciliation:

Saturdays from 4:00 PM—

4:30 PM or by appointment.

St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church 4101 St. Lawrence

Avenue, Matteson, IL 60443

708-748-6090

Website: www.slotoole.org E-mail: slotparishoffice@slotoole.org Pastor’s e-mail: frnovick@slotoole.org FACEBOOK PAGE: St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish

p 2 March 12, 2017

Hey! What’s with that bell? By now, you know that we have been starting our weekend Mass with a bell toll. We have been doing this for several years now. Some people are noticeably uncomfortable by the sound. “What happened to the music?” “That bell is so annoying.” Actually, that is part of the point of the bell tolling.

Everyone is accustomed to picking up their song books (well, not everyone) and the cantor announcing what the opening hymn is. It can be so “normal” to us that we can become complacent. The bell tolling is a little bit of a “shake-up and wake-up.” I have noticed after the first toll of the bell that many people are taken aback. They turn around to look at the procession. In fact, their turning to see is a very intimate engagement with the ministers. The second toll around the middle of the church already has the people wondering “okay – where is this going?” With the third toll (which, for one of our music directors, would be as I bow before entering the sanctuary, as if my head were the hammer of the bell), I tend to feel that there is a sense of eagerness to begin the prayer, from myself as well as the community.

“Father, that is SO antiquated.” It is. Traditions tend to be old. Go away from the Mass for a moment and look at some of your family traditions around the holidays. Are any of them things you learned from your family as you were growing up? I was watching a show on PBS on how different Middle Eastern cultures might celebrate Easter. The Greeks have many traditions, one of which is taking their hard- boiled egg and knocking together the “smaller pointed end” of the egg to see whose is stranger. I have no idea where it comes from, but the narrator said it was an “age-old” tradition for the culture. So, because it’s old, they should just stop doing it? No.

I did try to bring some of the Church’s tradition with me when I came here over 8 years ago. When I was a child, St. Christopher’s Parish would use the “Mass parts” (the Holy Holy and the Lamb of God) sung in the traditional Latin chant. The Kyrie was sung in Greek (many think that is Latin, too). I will be the first one to admit that when I went to the seminary, I was less than in favor of the Latin. It happened to be because I didn’t want to learn the Gloria and the Memorial Acclamation. Then, even at the Cathedral, I had to learn a little more Latin in singing the Our Father. As of today, I can sing the Latin Holy Holy (Sanctus) and the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) in my sleep. The Kyrie? No problem. I would need a refresher course on the other three songs. And I really could not imagine singing the Creed in Latin (which is also valid).

My point is that I came to a deeper appreciation for the tradition. I still tend to pick and choose the various pieces because of their familiarity. While we may not be singing those Latin parts this year, it is important that these are not lost to future generations. Our children will somehow need to carry on the Church of the past, present, and maybe even learn some new settings for the future. If it’s not taught to them, then it will fade into obscurity. I pray that never happens.

Respectfully,

Fr. Mike

March 12, 2017 p 3

On Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017, we are having a

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny!

There are going to be some BIG surprises! We are looking for

DONATIONS of plastic Easter Eggs and Candy for the day. If you would like to help with a donation, please drop it off in the Church or at the Parish

Office.

Pro-Life News

• With the start of Lent, Soup & Prayer will be back on Wednesday evenings in the Parish Office. We are looking for volunteers to bring soup, bread, and soda. If you are interested, please contact the Parish Office

• Friday nights will have Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM in the Church. • OUR LENT PARISH RECONCILIATION

SERVICE WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 AT 7:00 PM IN THE CHURCH.

• Lenten Regulations (from Ash Wednesday to the Paschal Triduum)

Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent. Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59.

Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one‘s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. The special Paschal fast, as well as abstinence, are prescribed for Good Friday and encouraged for Holy Saturday

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, falls on a Friday this year. Cardinal Cupich has given a general dispensation to Catholics from abstaining from meat on this day. Instead, Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago who choose to make use of this general dispensation are asked to substitute another form of penance for the Lenten Friday abstinence.

Our St. Patrick’s Day Dinner is this Saturday, March 18, starting immediately after the 5:00 PM Mass.

Tickets will be on sale this weekend after all of the Masses—WE MUST TURN IN A FINAL COUNT TO THE CATERER ON MONDAY MORNING—so please buy your tickets immediately. Also, we are looking for donations for the sweet table at the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. If you would like to help with this or any other parts of this fun-filled event, please contact the Parish Office. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

March 12, 2017 - Second Sunday of Lent:

In the Gospel Jesus is transfigured and a voice from

heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased: Listen to Him.” Do we listen to Jesus when he asks us to take care of our brothers and sisters who are suffering? Your gift in the St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box will help the poor to celebrate the grace of God’s love this Easter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All interested readers are invited to join the next meeting of the O’Toole Book Club on March 21, at

4:00 PM, in the Parish Office. Our book for March is The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, by Sandy Tolan. The story takes place in 1967. It recounts

multiple changes in Palestine and Israel, where both Jews and Arabs want to live on the same land. Two young people meet when one of them, a Palestinian, travels to the family home, abandoned nineteen years earlier. The other young person, an Israeli, lives in the home. Their relationship brings the Arab-Israeli conflict down to the human level. This is such a timely topic as the struggle for peace between these two groups continues. Mark your calendar! Read the book! Join us for a lively discussion! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for your generous contributions last weekend to the Collection for the Church in Central & Eastern Europe! As a

Parish, your generous response

will help restore the Church and build the future in over 20 countries. If you missed the collection, it is not too late to give, visit www.usccb.org/nationalcollections, click on the “How to Give” link on the left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Knights of Columbus Nina Council 3602

Lenten Fish Fry Fridays are back! 3/17, 3/24, 3/31,

4/7 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Location: St. Irenaeus Gym 78 Cherry, Park Forest

Carry-outs will be available ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The St. Lawrence O’Toole Kwanzaa Ministry group is looking for more people who might be

interested in joining their ministry. Please contact the Parish Office for more information.

p 4 March 12, 2017

ST. LAWRENCE O’TOOLE’S 3rd

ANNUAL Shamrock Spring Fling Craft Show Sunday, April 30, 2017

9:30 AM - 2:00 PM Join us in our SULLIVAN CENTER for our Annual Bazaar!

We will have: Crafters & Vendors

Breakfast Hot Dogs, Chips & Refreshments

Raffles!! Come on out and enjoy a fun-filled day and get some Mother’s Day

shopping done! For information, please contact:

Lucy Klotz @ 708-534-5327

Anella Anderson, Bill Anderson,

Michael Arbuthnor, Gloria Bucek,Chuck Bulger,

Hannah Butler, Marge Buttice, John Cook, Robert Fuhrmann, Irene Gehrke,

Ed Heveran, Katie Hofkamp, Evalena Jones, Mary Elizabeth Jones,

Rev. Donald Kirchner, Martha W. Lewis, Arlene Milewski, Marge Neel, Paul Redus,

Michael Reynolds, Lisa Recupido, Edward Rook, Bonnie Shewski,

Mara & Marko Subasic, Gloria Thorne, Margaret Thorne, Ronald Vergara,

Ig Zielinski III, Marie Zielinski

The recently deceased… Pray for

and the sick….

For the Weekend of 2016 Extraordinary Ministers

5:00 PM: 8:30 AM: 11:00 AM:

Lectors 5:00 PM: 8:30 AM: 11:00 AM:

Greeters 5:00 PM: 8:30 AM: 11:00 AM:

Altar Servers 5:00 PM: 8:30 AM: 11:00 AM:

Living Stewardship

March 12, 2017 2nd Sunday of Lent “Go forth from the land of

your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” GENESIS 12:1 God calls all of us to leave behind our old ways and to follow Him, placing our complete trust in Him. Some of the old ways that we may have to struggle to leave behind might be materialism, selfishness and greed. Yet God promises to show us a new land and a better way to live. STEWARDSHIP PRAYER Open your hearts to the love God instills in them. God loves you tenderly. What he gives you is not to be kept under lock and key, but to be shared. The more you save the less you will be able to give. The less you have, the more you will now how to share. Let us ask God, when it comes to ask God for something, to help us to be generous. Mother Teresa—In My Own Words

PLANNED GIVING Remember St. Lawrence O’Toole in your estate plans. St. Lawrence O’Toole has been blessed over the years to have received some generous gifts from parishioners and friends who have included our parish in their estate plans. If you would like to include SLOT in your plans, please contact the Parish Office.

Sunday, March 12 Robert Hamper req. by John & Diane Janowiak, Carol Winter req. by The SLOT Couples’ Group, Heinz Family req.

by Family Monday, March 13 Mrs. Vivian Rapier-Estes req. by Family Tuesday, March 14 Carol Winter req. by Danny & Jane Stocker Wednesday, March 15 Sandra Prete req. by Chuck & Mary Seputis Thursday, March 16 Rev. James Patrick Galivan req. by Tom & JoAnn Schutzius Friday, March 17 Robert Mikolajczyk req. by Chuck & Mary Seputis Saturday, March 18 Fran Milazzo req. by The Fuhrmann Family, Carol Winter req. by Tom & Pricilla Dehler Sunday, March 19 Carol Winter, Reuben Novick, Virginia Simpson

John Cook,

Anella Anderson, Bill Anderson, Michael Arbuthnor, Gloria Bucek,

Chuck Bulger, Hannah Butler, Marge Buttice, James Luis Crespo,

Justine Daniel, Robert Fuhrmann, Irene Gehrke, Katie Hofkamp, Bea Jaquez, Evalena Jones,

Mary Elizabeth Jones, Marge Neel, Lisa Recupido, Flor Regalado, Edward Rook,

Mary Seputis, Bonnie Shewski, Mara & Marko Subasic, Gloria Thorne,

Margaret Thorne, Ronald Vergara, Marie Zielinski

The recently deceased Pray for

and the sick….

For the Weekend of March 18 & 19, 2017 Extraordinary Ministers

5:00 PM: Christine Bailey, Mary Anne Erzinger. Eileen Fuhrmann

8:30 AM: Dale Heath, Mary Olney, Mary Slayton 11:00 AM: Mary Lou Gingras, Clyde Sana, Lori Sana,

Mary Sobolewski, Diane Sutkowski Lectors

5:00 PM: Sabina Fritzgerald 8:30 AM: Les Easter 11:00 AM: Odette Gueringer

Greeters 5:00 PM: Louis Bulger, Sharon Twardowski 8:30 AM: Caroline Huerta, Flora Krupa 11:00 AM: Linda DeFranza, Bettye Roseman

Altar Servers 5:00 PM: Chuck Seputis 8:30 AM: Johann Laran, Jozef Laran, Xavier Ortega 11:00 AM: Cornelius Johnson

Ushers 5:00 PM: Vincent Padilla, Jessie Sierra 8:30 AM: Peter Klisurich, Victoria Panozzo 11:00 AM: John Kouba

A Prayer for Those Serving in the Military

Lord, Hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Lord and

Savior. Amen

If there are parishioners currently serving in the United States military, we would like to know. Please contact the Parish Office @ 748-6090 x100 or slotparishoffice@slotoole.org, and let us know the name of your dear one and they will be remembered in the prayers of our community and the name posted in the bulletin. Please indicate branch of service and

rank.

2nd Lt. Christine Shirley—Air Force Master Sergeant Michael McGeever—Air

Force Master Sergeant Heriberto Garza—Army

Sergeant 1st Class Sean Heath—Army

Warrant Officer Mark Panozzo—Army Airman 1st Class Christopher

Garbaciak—Air Force Specialist Alisha D. Grezlik—Army Corporal Michael L. Ford—Army

Reflecting on God’s Word Lent is an invitation to journey more deeply into the heart of God. What God asks of Abram is a willingness to trust that God will lead him. Abram is called from the very beginning to place his trust in the Lord and in the Lord’s promises. We are told that Abram is seventy years old at the time he goes forth. I remember someone remarking, “Imagine coming in the house

and saying to your wife, ‘Honey, we have to pack up and go I know not where.’” We are told simply: “Abram went as the LORD directed him” (Genesis 12:4a). Abram’s faith translates into trust that God is leading him. Jesus brought the three apostles up a high mountain. Mountains often served as the meeting place of God and the prophets—Moses and Elijah come to mind. When Jesus and the three reach their destination, Jesus is transformed before them, face and clothes shining. Suddenly Moses and Elijah are talking with him. You can understand Peter wanting to stay there. But this is not journey’s end. That will happen on a hill outside Jerusalem. For now they hear words meant also for us this day: “This is my beloved Son . . . listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). We are asked to journey with Jesus for forty days—sometimes it may be into the desert of testing, sometimes up a mountain for a moment of blinding clarity. In both places we know Jesus as the beloved Son who trusts in the Father’s will. Lent invites us to make that same journey into trusting the Father.

—James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R. Copyright © 2013, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Living God’s Word God has called us to a holy life (1 Timothy 1:9). This week, as we journey with Jesus into the presence of the Father, listen for how the Father may be speaking to you now. Ask God to open your ears and eyes to recognize the beloved Son’s presence.

Copyright © 2013, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO The Cross of San Damiano ~~ St. Francis of Assisi prayed before the cross and head the Lord say to him “Renew My Church”

A Prayer for “Renew My Church”

Lord Jesus, you speak to us today, as you spoke to holy men and women who have gone before us. In every age and in our own time, you call to us and say: Renew My Church. Pour out the gift of your Holy Spirit upon us, and so enable us

May we remain in the holy company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles, and all the saints. May their example and presence inspire us with patient confidence in the work of your grace. We ask this of you who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

to hear you clearly to listen to each other attentively to imagine our future boldly to discern your direction wisely to persevere in your holy will courageously to stay together in charity to surrender our own plans readily to embrace the greater good to hand on your gifts to future generations.

This week at O’Toole

Sunday, March 12, 2017 8:30 AM: Mass C 11:00 AM: Mass C Monday, March 13, 2017 8:00 AM: Rosary C 8:30 AM: Mass C Tuesday, March 14, 2017 7:45 AM: Rosary C 8:10 AM: Morning Prayer C 8:30 AM: Mass C 9:15 AM: Morning Scripture Study PO/M 6:30 PM: MOC Training School Wednesday, March 15, 2017 8:00 AM: Rosary C 8:30 AM: Mass C 6:00 PM: Soup & Prayer PO/M 6:15 PM: PADS O’TOOLE 7:00 PM: Lent Reconciliation Service C 7:00 PM: Catholic Men’s Fellowship PO/M Thursday, March 16, 2017 7:45 AM: Rosary C 8:10 AM: Morning Prayer C 8:30 AM: Mass C 6:00 PM: Irish Dance O’TOOLE Friday, March 17, 2017 St. Patrick’s Day 8:30 AM: Mass C 9:15 AM: Eucharistic Adoration C 6:30 PM: PADS O’TOOLE 7:00 PM: Stations of the Cross Saturday, March 18, 2017 8:10 AM: Morning Prayer C 8:30 AM: Mass C 9:00 AM: Rosary C 4:00 PM: Reconciliation C 5:00 PM: Mass C 6:00 PM: St. Patrick’s Day Dinner SC/G Sunday, March 19, 2017 8:30 AM: Mass C 11:00 AM: Mass C

Our Weekly Offering

Budgeted Weekly Goal: $ 8,076.00 Total Given Last Week: $ 6,982.00 Total Given Electronically: $ 1,015.00 Total Offering: $7,997 .00 Total Envelopes Used: 107 Total PARISH PAY Users: 54

Saints & Special Observances:

Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Lent; Daylight Saving Time begins;Girl Scouting Sunday

Friday: St. Patrick; Abstinence

Saturday: St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Readings for the Week:

Monday: Dn 9:4b-10; Ps 79:8, 9, 11, 13;

Lk 6:36-38Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20; Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17,

21, 23; Mt 23:1-12

Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31:5-6, 14-16;

Mt 20:17-28Thursday: Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 16:19-31 Friday: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a;

17b-28a; Ps 105:16-21;

Mt 21:33-43, 45-46 Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20;

Ps 103:1-4, 9-12; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Sunday: Ex 17:3-7; Ps 95:1-2, 6-9;

Rom 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-42 [5-15,

19b-26, 39a, 40-42]

Sacramental Information: Baptisms: The first and second Sunday of each month at 12:30 PM. NOTE: Expectant parents should phone the Parish Office 2 months before the birth of your baby to arrange for required Baptismal Preparation Classes. Weddings: Arrangements for Marriage should be made by calling the Parish Office no later than four months prior to the proposed wedding date. Attending Pre-Cana is required. Funerals: Arrangements can be made by a family member by calling the Parish Office. Pastoral Care of the Sick: To arrange for communion to be brought to the sick, the elderly, and the homebound, please call the Parish Office @ (708)748-6090. Pro-Life Phone Numbers: Pregnancy Counseling Hotlines: Carenet/Heartbeat—1-800-395-HELP, Birthright—1-800-550-4900, Project Rachel, (post-abortion healing) - 1-888-456-HOPE Natural Family Planning information: St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee—call David & Elba (815) 939-0949, St. Stephen’s in Tinley Park—call Jeff & Linda (708) 633-7392, For Spanish classes—call Don & Fidelia (630)628-9850. For more information or to order the Couple to Couple League Home Study Course please call (800) 745-8252.

“...from the cloud came a

voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with

whom I am well pleased;

listen to Him.”

- Matthew 17:5