Thomas Becket. St. Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time OCTOBER 21, 2018

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1 OCTOBER 21, 2018 St. Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Thomas Becket MASS TIMES Saturday: 4:30pm Sunday: 9:00am & 12:30pm 7:30am & 10:45am Polish Weekdays: 9:00am Mass: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday Friday 7:00pm Mass in Polish PARISH PHONE NUMBER (847) PARISH PARISH STAFF Pastor: Rev. Chris Kulig Pastor Emeritus: Rev. John Roller Deacon Couple: Tony and Doreen Jannotta: (847) Administrative Assistant: Krystyna Maciorowski Parish Secretary / Bulletin Editor: Liz Mika: emika@stbmp.org Business Director: Patrick Reynolds: preynolds@stbmp.org Religious Education & Formation: Renata Sosin: (847) rsosin@stbmp.org Music Director: Paula Kowalkowski pkowalkowski@stbmp.org (847) Maintenance: Mariusz Klimek 1321 Burning Bush Lane Mt. Prospect, IL

2 Anointing of the Sick Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, October 21 at the 12:30pm Mass. This sacrament gives the grace of the Holy Spirit, encourages devotion to God and trust in His will. This sacrament may be repeated if the person recovers after being anointed, but falls ill again. Also, if in the course of the same illness, or old age, their condition worsens. Sakrament Namaszczenia Chorych odbędzie się w niedzielę 21-go października podczas Mszy Św. o godz. 12:30pm. Każdy może być namaszczany kilkakrotnie w ciągu swojego życia. Często ludzie proszą o ten sakrament w momencie śmierci. Jest to niepoprawne podejście. Ten sakrament udzielany jest chorym, dlatego, że wierzymy, że pomoże im powrócić do zdrowia. Sakrament Namaszczenia Chorych może przyjąć każdy niezależnie od wieku. Wskazany jest on zwłaszcza dla osób cierpiących fizycznie lub emocjonalnie. Feast of All Saints Thursday, November 1 9am English 6pm Bilingual 8pm Polish All Souls Day Envelopes are now available in the lobby of the church. Names of our deceased loved ones will be listed in the Book of the Dead. This book will be displayed in the church throughout the month of November. Uroczystość Wszystkich Świętych Czwartek, 1 listopad 9am w jęz. angielskim, 6pm dwujęzyczna, 8pm w jęz. polskim Koperty na WYPOMINKI znajdują się w przedsionku kościoła. Książka z nawiskami naszych bliskich zmarłych wystawiona będzie przez miesiąc listopad w kościele. Nazwiska zmarłych będą również czytane przed i podczas polskich Mszy Św. przez cały listopad. MASS OF REMEMBRANCE ALL SOULS The Bereavement Ministry of St. Thomas Becket would like to extend a very special invitation to everyone to attend a bilingual Mass of Remembrance on Friday, November 2nd at 7pm. During this Mass we celebrate those who have gone before us in death. Those who have lost their family member during this past year are receiving special invitations, but everyone is most welcome to participate. If you like, you may bring a framless picture of your loved one. These will be displayed on the Resurrection Altar through the month of November. After Mass coffee and light refreshments will be served in the parish hall. November 2nd is also the First Friday of the month. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and confessions will be from 5:30pm to 7pm. WSPOMNIENIE BLISKICH ZMARŁYCH DZIEŃ ZADUSZNY W piątek, 2-go listopada o godz. 7pm odbędzie się specjalna dwujęzyczna Msza Św. ku wspomnieniu naszych bliskich, którzy odeszli przed nami do wieczności. Specjalne zaproszenie otrzymują ci, którzy stracili członków rodzin w przeciągu ostatniego roku, ale wszyscy są zaproszeni do wspólnej modlitwy. Zdjęcia zmarłych (bez ramek) można przynieść i będą wystawione przez miesiąc listopad na Ołtarzu Zmartwychwstania. Po Mszy Św. zapraszamy do sali parafialnej na lekki poczęstunek. 2-gi listopad to także Pierwszy Piątek miesiąca. Adoracja Najświętszego Sakramanetu i spowiedź odbędzie się od 5:30 do 7 pm. 2 l Welcome to St. Thomas Becket Catholic Community

3 OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten. Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Most often, the abuser is a member of her own family. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Studies suggest that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually. Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup. Everyday in the US, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. Ninety-two percent of women surveyed listed reducing domestic violence and sexual assault as their top concern. Domestic violence victims lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the US alone the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs. Based on reports from 10 countries, between 55 percent and 95 percent of women who had been physically abused by their partners had never contacted non-governmental organizations, shelters, or the police for help. The costs of intimate partner violence in the US alone exceed $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion are for direct medical and health care services, while productivity losses account for nearly $1.8 billion. Men who as children witnessed their parents domestic violence were twice as likely to abuse their own wives than sons of nonviolent parents. If you are a victim of domestic violence, or know someone who is, and need help, please contact one of these numbers: *WINGS 24 hr. Hotline and Counseling Services and Emergency Shelter at (847) *National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hr. (800) *National Dating Abuse Helpline (866) * In an Emergency dial 911 Seminarian Elliot Zak has been reassigned to a different parish as of September 1st. His studies require him to have more exposure to Spanish language. He will be here on Saturday, October 27th. Youth Group members are invited to come for a final meeting with him. Elliot will be missed very much in our parish. We wish him God s choicest blessings in his studies and on his road to priesthood. Kleryk Elliot Zak został przeniesiony do innej parafii ze względu na potrzebę doskonalenia języka hispańskiego. Młodzież z grupy zaproszona jest na pożegnanie w sobotę, 27-go października o godz. 5:30pm w sali parafialnej. Życzymy mu wszelkich błogosławieństw w dalszej nauce w drodze do kapłaństwa. HAT & MITT & COAT DRIVE - THANK YOU! Through your generosity: 186 hats, scarves, pairs of mittens and coats were collected. Thank you to Joyce Walorski, Prudy Mazzei, Linda Menconi, JoRene Anderson, and Mickey Bachara for sorting, taking a count and delivering these warm items to needy children from Euclid and Frost Elementary Schools. Thank you for your continuing support. Poprzez Waszą hojność uzbieraliśmy 186 czapek, szalików, rękawiczek i kurtek, które zostały dostarczone biednym dzieciom w szkołach Frost i Euclid. Serdecznie dziękujemy za wsparcie tego programu. October 21, 2018 Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time l 3

4 The Spiritual Life committee is offering an opportunity to read an outstanding Catholic/Christian book and discuss it with other parishioners in a faith sharing format. The sessions are on the following Tuesdays: October 30 and November 13 after the 9am Mass. The book is: The Return of the Prodigal Son, written by Henri Nouwen. All are welcome. October is a month of the Holy Rosary You are invited to pray the Rosary before the daily 9:00am Mass about 8:30am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in October. Październik Miesiącem Różańca Świętego Różaniec w jęz. polskim będzie odmawiany w każdy dzień od poniedziałku do soboty o godz. 6:30pm. Serdecznie zapraszamy do wspólnej modlitwy. Attention Business Owners, Professionals and Self Employed We would like to thank our current advertisers for renewing their ad and thereby continuing their support of our church. Our bulletin is a primary way we use to communicate with you. Through our arrangement with the Liturgical Publications Inc, the church does not pay for the bulletin printing, which saves us thousands of dollars every year. Our bulletin is supported through the generosity of the advertisers many of whom are our own church parishioners or members of our local community. Please support our advertisers with your patronage. Tell the business owner that you appreciate their support of our church through their advertising in the bulletin. We print 750 bulletins every week and on Christmas and Easter This is a quick, practical, and business savvy way to reach many people. A strong and vibrant bulletin is good for our community and a strong business community is good for our church. To obtain information about advertising in our bulletin, please contact the church office or call Jeff Hansen or jhansen@4lpi.com. Jeff will be in our parish from October 22nd to the 25th if you would like to stop by and see him. Keep in mind; our advertising sponsors make the bulletin possible. 10-CIO DNIOWA WIELKOPOSTNA PIELGRZYMKA DO ZIEMI ŚWIĘTEJ - KS. KRZYSZTOf KULIG I KS. ROBERT PAJOR MARZEC 11 do 20, 2019 Szczegóły na ulotkach umieszczonych w przedsionku kościoła lub w biurze parafialnym. 10 day Lenten Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Chris Kulig and Fr. Robert Pajor March 11-20, 2019 Detailed information can be found on the trip fliers in the lobby. UWAGA SŁUŻBA LITURGICZNA Szkolenie / Powtórzenie dla wszystkich (nowych i obecnych) Szafarzy, Lektorów, Zakrystian i Marszałków w jęz. polskim odbędzie się w niedzielę, 21-go października o godz. 5pm. Po spotkaniu serdecznie zapraszamy na poczęstunek abyśmy wszyscy zapoznali się lepiej. Bóg zapłać za Waszą służbę. 4 l Welcome to St. Thomas Becket Catholic Community

5 50th ANNIVERSARY PICTORIAL DIRECTORY Please sign up for your professional photography session here in our parish. Your family picture will be in our directory and you will receive a FREE 8x10 photo! You can sign up online through our parish website: and choose: 50th ANNIVERSARY or a representative will be in the hall after all Masses on the weeknds of October 7 & 14 to help sign you up. Photography dates are on October 23rd thru the 27th. Please contact Liz for more information: Parafia Świętego Tomasza Becketa będzie obchodzić 50 lat powstania we wrześniu 2019 roku. Prosimy zapisać się na profesjonalną sesję zdjęć w naszej sali parafialnej, każda rodzina otrzyma bezpłatnie zdjęcie o wymiarach 8x10 i zdjęcie będzie załączone w parafialnym pamiętniku. Rejestracja na sesje jest dostępna przez naszą stronę internetową: wybierz 50th Anniversary lub po Mszach Św. w sali parafialnej w weekendy 7-go i 14-go października. Daty zdjęć to: październik. Prosimy o kontakt z biurem parafialnym w celu uzyskanie dalszych informacji Elżbieta SAVE THE DATE New Year s Eve Dinner & Dance Monday, December 31, 2018 from 8pm to 2am in parish hall Music by the Rangers Band Full sit-down dinner & hot h'dourves after midnight Free bottle of alcohol & champagne for each table New Year s Eve accessories $80 per person please come and celebrate with us! SYLWESTER 31 grudnia: 8pm-2am Gra Rangers Band Gorący obiad i przekąska po północy Butelka alkoholu i szampan na każdym stole Akcesoria noworoczne $80 od osoby serdecznie zapraszamy! The SPRED community here at STB want to thank you for your generous support last weekend when we were selling Tootsie Rolls for the Knights of Columbus. The money raised will stay in the community and helps support SPRED group here at STB. Thank you to those who helped us selling especially Dorota and Daniel Riordan, JoAnne Kudla, Dan Grossman, Mike Hoban, Andrew, Ania and Daniel Pawlowski, Karolina Chwala, Halina Wojnicki and her granddaughter Addie, Krystyna Maciorowski, Sebastian, Ryan Cichon, his mother Robbie and Papa Sam, and Michael, Jack, Doug, and Bethanne Ausnehmer. Once again, thank and we will see you next year. Gloria Konkey, Leader Catechist of the STB SPRED Community Grupa SPRED, czyli nauka religii na osób specjalnej troski, działająca przy naszej parafii serdecznie dziękuje wszystkim za poparcie ich poprzez zakup cukierków Tootsie Rolls w zeszły weekend. October 21, 2018 Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time l 5

6 This year, why not buy your Halloween candy from the Knights of Columbus? All proceeds will benefit intellectually challenged individuals in our community. Your candy purchase will help support organizations such as: Misericordia Home, St. Alphonsus SPRED, St. Raymond SPRED St. Thomas SPRED, Special Olympics, St. Joseph s Home Clearbrook, Riverside Foundation 50.5 oz. Tootsie Roll Bars - $10.00 (Filled with Bite-Size Tootsie Roll Candies) Please call Michael Hoban at with your order and leave a message. Please be sure to include the number of items you would like and an address and phone number/ address to confirm and ensure delivery. Make checks payable to Knights of Columbus Council To insure delivery before Halloween, orders should be received by 10/22/18. As always, thank you for your support in this drive. 6 l Welcome to St. Thomas Becket Catholic Parish Community

7 MANNA FUNDRAISER AT STB Are you stuck coming up with the perfect birthday gift for someone special? Or perhaps you have begun your Christmas shopping list? Or do you just need to run out to Jewel for some milk or need gas for your car but don t have cash on hand? Here at St. Thomas Becket our MANNA gift card program can solve all of these. It does not cost you anything no shipping charges, no hidden fees, no coupons, no parking hassles, no checkout lines, all is taken care of while you come to church for Mass! How does it work? On the last weekend of each month an order form is printed right inside our bulletin. It lists all the companies (and they are plentiful!) that participate in the program and the percentage that THEY pay us for each purchase. You make your selections and return the form with payment (check or cash) the following weekend. For example, if you would like 4 gift cards to Jewel at $25 each, fill out the form and turn it in with a payment of $100. On the form you will see that MANNA pays us 4% for you order. Your gift cards for a total value of $100 will be waiting for you after Mass the following week. Gift cards are then used at Jewel just like cash and we get a cash donation from MANNA of $4. This is a fundraiser that we offer every month of the year: last weekend of each month order form is in the bulletin, first weekend of each month orders are collected, second weekend of each month pick up your cards. To date, our parish has earned $3,608 for the placed orders. Please look for the order form next week and try it it is a win/win for all! If you have any questions regarding this program please call me at: Wishing you a blessed weekend Liz Mika PROGRAM MANNA Brak pomysłu na idealny prezent urodzinowy dla kogoś wyjątkowego? A może zaczęta jest już lista zakupów świątecznych? Czy może po prostu trzeba wybiec do Jewel po mleko lub potrzeba gasoliny a nie ma gotówki w portfelu? W parafii Św. Tomasza Becketa program kart gotówkowych MANNA rozwiąże wszystkie te problemy szybko i bezstresowo. Nasz program MANNA nie ma ukrytych opłat, kuponów, kosztów dowozu, szukania parkingu czy też długich kolejek przy kasie. Wszystko załatwiamy szybko i bezpiecznie gdy przychodzimy do kościoła na Mszę Św! Jak to działa? W ostatni weekend każdego miesiąca drukowany jest formularz na zamówienia bezpośrednio w naszym biuletynie. Wymienione są tam wszystkie firmy (a są one liczne), które biorą udział w tym programie. Dokonujemy wyboru i zwracamy formlarz z płatnością (czekiem lub gotówką) w następny weekend. Na przykład, jeśli potrzeba 4 karty gotówkowe do Jewel w wysokości $25, wypełnia się formularz i zwróca się go razem z opłatą na $100. Na formularzu widać, że MANNA płaci nam 4% za to zamówienie. Zamówione karty gotówkowe o pełnej wartości $100 są gotowe do odbioru w następny weekend. Karty używane są w Jewel tak jak gotówka a program MANNA płaci nam $4. Program ten oferujemy co miesiąc: ostani weekend miesiąca forma w biuletynie, pierwszy weekend miesiąca odbieramy zamówienia, drugi weekend miesiąca karty są gotowe do odbioru. Z dniem dzisiejszym nasza parafia otrzymała $3,608 za złożone zamówienia. Serdecznie zapraszamy do zapoznania się i skorzystania z tego program, forma na. Chętnie odpowiem na wszelkie pytania: Życzę miłego weekendu Elżbieta Mika October 21, 2018 Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time l 7

8 COMING UP THIS WEEK Sunday, October 21, :30pm Anointing of the Sick 5pm Liturgical Ministers Training (P) Food Drive Monday, October 22, :30am Rosary (E) Tuesday, October 23, :30am Rosary (E) 9:45am Bereavement meeting 2-9pm Life Touch picture sessions Wednesday, October 24, :30am Rosary (E) 2-9pm Life Touch picture sessions 7pm Choir Thursday, October 25, pm Life Touch picture sessions 6:30pm SPRED Friday, October 26, :30am Rosary (E) 2-9pm Life Touch picture sessions 7pm Mass (P) Saturday, October 27, am-4pm Life Touch picture sessions 5:30pm Youth Group meeting MANNA order forms in bulletin Sunday, October 28, :45am HS Confirmation Class MANNA order forms in bulletin CHILDREN S CHOIR Rehearsals are on Sundays after the 9am Mass. Please contact Paula for more information: MINISTRY SCHEDULE FOR OCT 27/28 MASS TIME PRESIDER MUSIC/ CANTOR LECTOR EUCHARISTIC SACRISTAN MINISTERS 4:30pm Rev. Chris Kulig Paula K. Val G. Mary K.. Patty W. Lee M. Fran G. Mira L. Maggie B. Maggie B. 7:30am Rev. Peter Wojcik Adam W. Karolina C. Halina S. Karolina C. Piotr J. Jozef D. Halina S. 9:00am Rev. Peter Wojcik Sandy Marie L. Daisy K. Edyta W. Krystyna M. John K. Marie V. Daisy K. JoRene A. 10:45am Rev. Chris Kulig Adam W. Antonina S. Halina W. Antonina S. Marcin B. Agnieszka A. Halina W. 12:30pm Rev. Chris Kulig Sandy Beverly Darlene M. Linda M. Marlena K. Grzegorz K. Linda W. Bricks in our Memory Garden can be ordered to mark any special occasion in your life, or for your deceased loved ones, or just in thanksgiving. Bricks can be ordered anytime through the parish office, but will be sent for production on the 1st of each month. They will be installed in the garden one month later. For more information please call Liz at the parish office. Cegiełki w naszym Ogrodzie Pamięci mogą być zamawiane ku czci pamięci naszych zmarłych lub na każdą inną specjalną okazję: ślub, chrzest, dziękczynna, etc. Cegiełki będą wysyłane do producenta 1-go każdego miesiąca i będą zainstalowane miesiąc później. Informacja w biurze parafialnym: Elżbieta (847) l Welcome to St. Thomas Becket Catholic Parish Community

9 MASS TIMES 4:30pm 9:00am & 12:30pm 7:30am & 10:45am Polish Weekdays: 9:00am Mass: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday Friday 7:00pm Mass in Polish Saturday: Sunday: READINGS OF THE WEEK Readings for the Week of October 21 Sunday: Is 53:10-11/Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 [22]/Heb 4:14-16/Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45 Monday: Eph 2:1-10/Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4ab, 4c-5 [3b]/Lk 12:13-21 Tuesday: Eph 2:12-22/Ps 85:9ab-10, 11-12, [cf. 9]/Lk 12:35-38 Wednesday: Eph 3:2-12/Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 [cf. 3]/Lk 12:39-48 Thursday: Eph 3:14-21/Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, [5b]/Lk 12:49-53 Friday: Eph 4:1-6/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [cf. 6]/Lk 12:54-59 Saturday: Eph 4:7-16/Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 [1]/Lk 13:1-9 Next Sunday: Jer 31:7-9/Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 [3]/Heb 5:1-6/Mk 10:46-52 Observances for the Week of October 21, 2018 Sunday: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time; World Mission Sunday Monday: St. John Paul II, Pope Tuesday: St. John of Capistrano, Priest Wednesday: St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop Next Sunday: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Priesthood Sunday Catholic Cemeteries: www:catholiccemeterieschicago.org Give Central On line donation system accessible through our website: PARISH PHONE NUMBER (847) PARISH FAX NUMBER (847) PARISH stthomasbecket@stbmp.org PARISH WEBSITE PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/ Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm Thursday 8:00am - 2:00pm Saturday Closed Sunday Closed INFORMACJE PARAFIALNE Parafia Świętego Tomasza Becketa zaprasza całą wspólnotę polskojęzyczną do wspólnej modlitwy i nabożeństw. Msze Św. w jęz. polskim niedziela: 7:30am i 10:45am piątek: 7:00pm w jęz. angielskim sobota: 4:30pm niedziela: 9:00am i 12:30pm Parish Mission Statement We, the parish family of St. Thomas Becket, are a community of believers united in Christ, who dedicate ourselves to proclaim the Good News and foster a sense of belonging. As we gather together in prayer and worship, we draw our nourishment from His word and the Bread of His Table. With shared responsibility we go forth to serve and affirm our sisters and brothers. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we strive to build the Kingdom of God within and beyond our parish. My, Parafia Świętego Tomasza Becketa, jesteśmy wspólnotą wiernych zjednoczonych w Chrystusie, którzy troszczymy się o Boże dziedzictwo i z oddaniem głosimy Dobrą Nowinę. We wspólnym gromadzeniu się i modlitwie, karmimy się Jego Słowem i Chlebem z Jego Stołu. Sunday, October 21, :30am Czesława Lewandowska Kamil Jackowski Kathleen Paleczny-Colvin Irena Ciszek 9:00am Margaret Mary McCarthy Kathy Keane Camille Chmela 10:45am Tadeusz Moczybroda SPECIAL: Marta Wadowski urodziny SPECIAL: Maria i Kazimierz 40 rocznica ślubu 12:30pm Władysław Baran Anka & Stanko Uglesic Jerry & Violet Dorkin Anthony & Maria Dorkin Peter Jabek and deceased from family Slava Marcelic Monday, October 22, :00am Emilia Mika Tuesday, October 23, :00am Jean Cullen Wednesday, October 24, :00am Adam Kulig Thursday, October 25, 2018 NO MASS OR SERVICE Friday, October 26, :00am Teresa Val Pawlak 1st death annv 7:00pm Władysław Baran Saturday, October 27, :30pm Ann & Sam Pacenti Sunday, October 28, :30am Kamil Jackowski SPECIAL: Ewa Wasilewski o szczęśliwą operacje 9:00am Margaret Mary McCarthy Marianna Karas Camille Chmela Eva Scaramella 10:45am Władysław Bulat 12:30pm Władysław Baran Val Pawlak Z poczuciem wspólnego obowiązku podążamy w służbie naszym braciom i siostrom. Pod przewodnictwem Ducha Świętego dążymy do budowania Królestwa Bożego wewnątrz i poza naszą parafią. October 21, 2018 Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time l 9

10 To Register in Our Parish, for Baptisms & Weddings Please call the rectory to make arrangements: Sacrament of Penance Friday: 6:15pm-6:45pm, Saturday: 3:30-4:15pm. First Fridays of the month: 5:30pm-6:45pm and ADORATION: 5:30 6:45pm REJESTRACJA DO PARAFII, SAKRAMENT CHRZTU I MAŁŻEŃSTWA Prosimy o kontakt z biurem parafialnym w celu ustalenia daty: PreCana - przygotowanie do Sakramentu Małżeństwa - obowiązkowe. Kurs w języku polskim w naszej parafii odbędzie się w dniach: 26 styczeń i 6 kwiecień 2019r. SAKRAMENT POKUTY Piątek: 6:15pm-6:45pm i Sobota: 3:30pm- 4:15pm. PIERWSZE PIĄTKI MIESIĄCA Spowiedź i Adoracja Najświętszego Sakramentu: 5:30pm-6:45pm, Msza Św. w jęz. polskim: 7pm Forgiveness after an Abortion All mothers of conscience will suffer feelings of guilt and remorse. There is only one permanent solution for a grieving mother: a solution based on reality, not on denial or pretense. This solution is FORGIVENESS. Our merciful God loves us and wants to forgive us and help us find peace. However, forgiveness is a gift that must be received to take effect. Just like any other gift, we do not receive forgiveness until we choose to receive it. God does not want anyone going through life punishing themselves for having an abortion or being part of an abortion. Women who have had an abortion can accept God's gift of forgiveness and if more help is needed, seek professional help. Attending a retreat like Rachel's Vineyard and Project Rachel (which are very active in our nation) can be very helpful: Many women who have had abortions carry understandable bitterness toward men who used or abused them, toward parents and friends who were insensitive to their predicament, and towards those who misled or pressured them to abort. God wants women to take the forgiveness He has given them and extend it to others. This frees them from the awful burden of resentment and bitterness. After accepting God's forgiveness, a wonderful way to heal and give something back (for a woman who has had an abortion) is to commit herself to the pro-life movement in defending life and reach out to other prospective mothers in crisis pregnancy situations. In this way, God uses us to help others and share with them His love and guidance. WHY DO WE DO THAT? CATHOLIC TRADITIONS EXPLAINED Question: What is a transitional deacon? Answer: There are two types of deacons in the church. Both are members of the clergy. Both have the same liturgical role. Both have the service of the community as their primary work. One is called a permanent deacon, usually a married man ordained as a deacon with no intention of becoming a priest. They preach, baptize, witness marriages, conduct funeral services, and look after the needs of the poor. They also visit the sick and take Communion to them, although they cannot celebrate the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. They might also assist the pastor in his administrative duties. Permanent deacons are usually well known and respected in their communities and have roots there. A transitional deacon is one who functions as a deacon for a period of time prior to ordination as a priest. His diaconate assignment serves as a kind of internship of ordained ministry. During his year or two as a deacon, he will learn the practical aspects of parish life, getting a firsthand look at the life of a priest. His work has a different focus than a permanent deacon in that he is looking forward to ordination as a priest. 10 l Welcome to St. Thomas Becket Catholic Parish Community