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The meeting on January 26th School Principal Mrs. Arlene Baumann, Director of Administrative Services Barb Armalis, and myself had with Sr. Mary Paul and other members of the leadership staff in the office of Catholic Schools was to review our school’s budget for the next fiscal year. At the conclusion of the meeting, while acknowledging both the austerity of our budget proposal and the need for financial assistance from the Archdiocese, Sr. Mary Paul expressed the conviction of the richness and diversity and excellence of our school, and the value she sees in St. Bernadette’s continuing to offer the quality education that it has for the past sixty+ years. She acknowledged the obstacles that exist (demographics within parish boundaries, being somewhat “landlocked”), and agreed that our primary need is to enroll more students in all grade levels. Sister pledged that she would do what she could do to attain the financial assistance we need; but she expects us to do all we can do to increase our enrollment, and work with the office of Catholic Schools in a special outreach to the employees of Little Company of Mary Hospital. At the conclusion of the meeting, Sister stated that “we are to plan to be open for the coming school year”. The school budget for the coming year projects (at this time) an enrollment of 99 students in K-8 (based on current enrollment) and 24 in Pre School. We are looking at a tuition increase between 3% & 5%, with fees remaining the same as they currently are. This would produce a deficit of $180,000, which is our request for a grant from the Archdiocese. Increased enrollment would affect two areas: it would decrease the cost per student and decrease the grant amount needed. The Archdiocesan Finance Council has directed the Office of Catholic Schools to decrease the total amount given in grants and loans in each of the next three years, so even the acceptance of our request is a great testimony to the value that OCS leaders see in St. Bernadette Catholic Academy. Much work on our part needs to be done. If you are interested in being part of this opportunity and challenge, please call me or Mrs. Baumann. For a longer term commitment please consider becoming part of the School Board. For a more limited involvement, I’m sure there is a committee just waiting for you.
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Important Notice from the Archdiocesan Office of Ministerial Evaluation
Dear Parishioners, Your Pastor, Father Gary Miller, is participating in the Periodic Review of Priestly Ministry as required by Archdiocese of Chicago policy. Each priest in parish ministry is reviewed approximately every five years. The process was designed by the staff of the Office of Ministerial Evaluation in consultation with Cardinal George, the Episcopal Vicars, members of the Priest Placement Board, and priests currently serving in local parishes. Father Gary, and the parish staff have generated lists of parishioners who will be asked to participate in the process by completing a Survey Form. If you do not receive a Form and would like to participate, please contact Kathleen Leggdas, Director of the Office of Ministerial Evaluation, to request a Survey be sent to you. You may call 312-534-5265 or make your request by e-mail to ome@archchicago.org. Electronic forms are not currently available however. Information that you provide, including written comments, will be treated confidentially. At the completion of the Review Process, an overview of the results will be published in the Parish Bulletin. Above all, this is an opportunity for you to express gratitude for all that he has accomplished and to offer helpful suggestions regarding directions for future ministry for him and for your parish. Thank you for your willingness to provide constructive comments regarding what you value and what you identify as areas for growth. Sincerely, Kathleen Leggdas, Director
Office of Ministerial Evaluation ***************************************************************************
I have a little personal plea—my diabetes is causing some complications at opposite ends of my body.—dry eyes and some pain in the left foot. If I seem to be somewhat out of sorts (especially on weekends), it is probably because I am experiencing some personal frustration as well as pain. Please don’t think I am becoming less friendly. I am working with good doctors trying to resolve these situations.
*************************************************************************** Little Company of Mary apologizes for any inconvenience that the construction may cause as they improve their campus. For the most up-to-date information on LCM’s Campus Transformation Project, log onto www.LCMH.org/transformation. For any additional questions, please feel free to contact the Hospital’s marketing director Kelly Cusack at 708.229.5049 or kcusack@LCMH.org. These projects, to the extent that they concern our parish or involve church property (including property we lease to them) has been reviewed by the Archdiocese.
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A REFLECTION ON GRATITUDE To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us -- and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference. Thomas Merton
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Silence is important in our liturgical worship. The Church specifies moments of silence at Mass—after the Scripture readings, the homily, between invitation to pray and the prayer itself, after all have received Holy Communion. These silent times are not meant to be passive, but to allow each of us as individuals and members of our community to grapple with what we have heard God say to us in the Scriptures and how we can best respond to His initiative of grace in us. Periods of silence assist us in enduring the frenetic hassles of life. There are so few moments when silence is available to us. Perhaps this Advent you will be able to indulge just a little in this most precious of gifts you can give yourself.
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Now, if someone can start doing that, a next easy step is to add the four types of prayer (Praise, Thanksgiving, Contrition and Petition at the end of Jesus' name. Here's something I came up with -
Jesus, I worship you as our Savior and the true Son of God. (Praise) Jesus, I thank you for the gift of your cross and for my salvation.. (Thanksgiving) Jesus, I am sorry for my sins and ask for your forgiveness. (Contrition) Jesus, I pray for eternal life with you and the angels and saints. (Petition)
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Prayer for Unity Lord, make us... One with our brothers and sisters here in love And one with saints that are at rest And one with angel hosts above And one with You, forever blest.
****************************************** Many thanks to Linda and Walter Kosary of Kosary Funeral Home for once again this year sponsoring our parish calendars, available beginning today.
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Please, if you need to bring a phone to church, remember to turn it off or to silent “ring”.
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If
you wish to send a note or card to Bob Sutton, his new address is: 1620 W 2nd St. Cresson, PA 16630
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Daily prayer for life Heavenly Father, as the author of life, touch with compassion the hearts of those women and men who, with your help, have conceived human life and now think of abortion, not parenthood. Help them to understand that their newly created child and all children are made in your image and likeness, made for eternal life. Dispel their fears and helplessness and give them true and generous hearts to love their babies and give them birth and all the needed care that a parent alone can give. And when your children turn away from you through abortion, penetrate their hearts to seek your loving forgiveness and healing power. Finally, Lord, soften the hearts of the abortionists, and enlighten all elected officials to accept your loving grace and to recognize and protect the inviolability and sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Amen.
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I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage you to patronize the various businesses and services that advertise in our bulletin. They make this weekly publication possible.
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If Sunday Mass is the “source and summit of our
spiritual life”, I’ll
be happy to speak with anyone, or attempt to answer any questions,
regarding the annual report. Give me a call, send me an e-mail, or talk to
me after Mass. And, please, if there is someone you know who has quit
coming to Sunday Mass, invite them to come with you and rediscover the
richness of the Lord. A PRAYER TO THE SPIRIT Holy
Spirit, Is
someone you love serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan, or elsewhere?
Please send me his/her name and assignment for inclusion in the prayers of our
community.
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