All are welcome. An entrance ramp and push-bar automatic door is located at the eastern entrance of the church.

Reaching out from the heart of Oak Park

Parish Office 188 S. Oak Park Avenue Oak Park, Illinois 60302; Telephone: 708-848-4417

New Parish Center Office Hours during COVID-19: Monday - Saturday: 10am - 3pm Sunday: closed

Visit the parish web-site at stedmund.org. You may also e-mail us from the web-site. Follow us on Twitter at: St. Edmunds-Oak Park or @edmunds_oakpark

December 6, 2020

Saint Edmund Parish Echoes

Parish Administration and Staff Rev. John McGivern, Pastor Ms. Peggy Leddy, Pastoral Associate Mrs. Maria Allori, Development Director Deacon Thomas Dwyer, Parish Business Manager Mr. Donald Giannetti, Parish Assistant Mrs. Kelly Dobbs-Mickus, Director of Music

Mrs. Christine A. Rousakis, Manager, Parish Office Rev. John Lucas, Weekend Presider Rev. John O’Callaghan, S.J., Weekend Presider

School of Religious Education 200 S. Oak Park Avenue Oak Park, Illinois 60302

School of Religious Education Telephone: 708-848-7220 Visit the parish web-site at stedmund.org. You may also e-mail us from the web-site.

Religious Education Program Administration and Staff

Mrs. Janet Bennick, Coordinator of Religious Education · Ms. Kaydee Sproat, Program Secretary

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Staff Notes all the days of our life. You, My child shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

At a Papal Audience in October 2003, [Saint] Pope John Paul II spoke about this beautiful canticle. He said:

Indeed, we have before us a benediction proclaim-ing the saving actions and liberation offered by the Lord to his people. Thus, it is a ‘prophetic’ inter-pretation of history, the discovery of the intimate, profound meaning of all human events that are guided by the hidden but active hand of the Lord which clasps the more feeble and hesitant hands of men and women.

Every morning I pray this beautiful canticle as a part of my morning prayer. It reminds me of the witness of John and how he heralded our Lord’s coming. I am re-minded, too, of John’s birth, of his father and mother, and somehow, in the midst of my prayer, these prophetic words of Zechariah become my own. I pray, “Lord, help me prepare your Son’s way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. Help me to be an instrument through which the dawn from on high shall break upon us to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Allow me to guide others’ feet into the way of peace”. Though I pray this prayer every morning, it is during the season of Advent that they take on even greater meaning as I recall more keenly that preparing for the Lord’s return has everything to do with being his eyes and ears, hands and heart today. I invite you to join me in praying these beautiful words of Zechariah every morning during this season of Advent. Perhaps they will touch your heart the way they pierce mine. Perhaps they will become a clarion call for each of us to follow in the line of great prophets like Elijah and John, to become the bridge between this world and the return of Jesus who will offer us life and love in the next.

In today’s Gospel reading, we heard the story of the Lord’s great herald, John the Baptist, who, we learn, was a rather eccentric figure. John’s attire was that of camel hair. He ate insects and wild honey. He roamed in the desert. John would have been hard not to miss. Though this image of John seems rather peculiar, it would have been a recognizable figure to the people of Israel. They read and prayed their Scriptures. In John, they would have also recognized the great prophet Elijah. John, then, is a key figure in that he is a bridge be-tween the great line of Jewish prophets who preceded him, and the Lord Jesus, our Messiah, who immediately followed. Perhaps you recall the story of John’s birth. The an-gel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, a priest, in the temple area and told him that his wife Elizabeth would give birth to a son who would prepare a way for the coming Lord. Zechariah did not believe and was silenced by Ga-briel until the prophecy would be fulfilled. Of course, Zechariah had reason to doubt: he was an old man and Elizabeth was far beyond her years of fertil-ity. When John was born, the people gathered and pre-sumed that the infant would be named after his father.

When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.

It was at this point that Zechariah spoke, what I think, are some of the most beautiful words ever uttered. They are now called The Canticle of Zechariah.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to His people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy Covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD!

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Second Sunday of Advent

Tuesday, December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Mary, the mother of God is known by many honorific ti-tles. She is Queen of Heaven and Queen of the Universe. We call her Mother most Holy. She is known as our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Guadalupe, to name only a few. Mary, as the Immaculate Conception, is the patroness of the United States. This day is typically a holy day of obli-gation, though the obligation has been abrogated this year. Nonetheless, we encourage you to join us for mass at 7:00pm on this important day, to take the time to ponder how, in God’s wisdom, Mary was conceived without sin and therefore, the perfect vessel through which God’s son could enter the world.

Weekly Wednesday 7pm Advent-Christmas Night Prayer via Zoom

You are invited to join your fellow parishioners on Wednesday nights during Advent and Christmastide at 7pm. We will gather virtually via Zoom for about 20 minutes, and the worship aid will be on screen for ease of participation. All are encouraged to create a comfortable prayer space, perhaps with an Advent wreath, Christmas tree, or a single lit candle. This simple celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours will help prepare us to welcome Christ into our hearts during this holy season. Our first night prayer is De-cember 2 at 7pm.

Use the following link to join us on Zoom:

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/5174332945?pwd=NHB4Mk1FS0U3aDZ4MVFJMEZBR08wQT09 Meeting ID: 517 433 2945 Passcode: 0qS78k

Part 1 of Advent Until December 16 until December 16

During the first weeks of Advent, the Church gives us daily readings from the prophet Isaiah. These foretell the coming of the Messiah. Rather than a continuous Gospel narrative familiar to us for most of the year, this part of Advent offers a variety of Gospel readings that support the First Reading of the day. After two weeks of Isaiah readings, we hear the foretell-ing of a Messiah from other prophets—in Sirach, Num-bers, Zephaniah and returning to Isaiah. With each pass-ing week, the prophets speak more clearly of the coming of a Savior. For the first part of Advent, we listen to an-ticipation, expectation, hope and promise in the First Reading. In listening to the Second Reading, we learn for the fulfillment or connection with the Gospel.

Join us at 2 pm Today, December 6

'Tis the Season: Holiday Traditions from Radio's Golden Age! for a one-hour Zoom presentation

Contact Mary Darnall for Zoom link @ mary_darnall@sbcglobal.net

For many people, the holidays are a time of traditions—and there were plenty of entertaining traditions during the "Golden Age" of radio, from Jack Benny's annual shopping trips to Lionel Barrymore's portrayal of Ebeneezer Scrooge. Join radio historian Steve Darnall for a presentation filled with classic seasonal sounds from radio's past, designed to spur the imagination and share a bit of Yuletide spirit.

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Making A Difference In Helping People With Disabilities Feel Welcome

There are many things that we, as individuals can do to help people with disabilities feel welcome in our church, so that all persons may bring their gifts to the altar of God. Golden Rule: I will consider someone first as a person with abilities and then as a person who may need assistance to use their abilities.

1. I will treat all people as people first - as I would like to be treated.

2. I will speak directly to the individual with a disability, not to the nearby family member, companion, interpreter, or the canine companion.

3. I will offer to shake hands when introduced to a person with a disability. (Persons with limited hand use or who wear an artificial limb may shake hands. (Shaking the left hand is O.K., too.)

4. I will place myself at eye level, in front, for easy conversation with a person in a wheelchair, with crutches or with a walking frame.

5. I will offer assistance and wait until the offer is accepted. I will then ask for instructions.

6. I will be patient and wait for the person with difficulty speaking rather than speaking for the person. I may help by asking short questions that require short answers, a nod or a shake of the head.

7. I will see the wholeness of spirit beneath the surface of someone with a disability and overcome the tendency to turn away or ignore the person.

8. I will treat adults with developmental disabilities as adults, not as children. I will use first names only when using the same familiarity for all persons.

9. I will get the attention of someone who is hearing-impaired by lightly tapping their elbow or shoulder, or by waving my hand. I will look directly at the person and speak clearly, slowly and expressively to establish if the person can read my lips.

10. I will guide a person with visual impairments by giving verbal clues to steps, curbs, escalators or doors.

Pathways Awareness Foundation 123 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606

If you want peace, work for justice.

- Pope Paul VI

Practice Fair Trade Throughout the Year October is Fair Trade Month. Fair Trade empowers farm-ers and farm workers to invest in their communities, pro-tect the environment, and develop the business skills to compete in the global marketplace. By supporting Trade Fair, you can help build a more just economy that bene-fits people and the planet. Twelve ways you can support Trade Fair throughout the year: 1. Vote. Every Fair Trade purchase you make is a vote for a better world. Vote with your dollar, look for the Trade Fair Certified label, and buy Fair Trade coffee, tea, chocolate, rice, sugar and other products whenever you shop. Go to www.transfairusa.org to learn where to buy Fair Trade certified products at over 40,000 retailers worldwide. 2. Ask. If you don’t see Fair Trade products in your favorite coffee shop or grocer, ask for them! Fill out a comment card or talk to a store manager. 3. Donate. We rely on your tax-deductible contributions to Catholic Relief Services and TransFair USA to be able to continue our work with farmers and farm workers in some of the poorest communities in the world. 4. Host. Host Fair Trade House par ties. Product tast-ings are great ways to raise awareness and educate others in your community about the importance of Fair Trade. Resources can be found on Transfair USA as well as through Catholic Relief Services. 5. Join. Sign up to join our on-line community! Keep abreast of new Fair Trade products, creative promotional campaigns, and Fair Trade’s impact on farmers. 6. Celebrate. October is Fair Trade Month and World Fair Trade day happens every second Saturday in May. 7. Learn. Read about why Fair Trade is needed and how Fair Trade also effects the environment. 8. Introduce. Host a Fair Trade gather ing. 9. Start. Get involved with a local Fair Trade Group. 10. Fundraise. You may request a Human Hands Consignment catalog. Call 312-751-8367 or e-mail acurry@archchicago.org. 11. Give. Give Fair Trade items as gifts. 12. Serve. Be active in educating and serving others as a tangible way to live their lives and make a difference for the world’s poor.

www.transfairusa.org

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Spiritual Week at St. Edmund Parish We Pray for our Sick Eternal Rest Grant unto These, O Lord

If you had previously scheduled someone to be prayed for at a particular mass that is not currently taking place, we will follow up with you when that mass resumes.

Readings for the Week Consider praying the daily mass readings at home. Log on to usccb.org and follow the link to the “Daily Readings.”

Monday: Is 35: 1-10, Lk 5: 17-26 Tuesday: Gn 3: 9-15, 20, Eph 1: 3-6, 11-12 Lk 1: 26-38 Wednesday: Is 40: 25-31, Mt 11: 28-30 Thursday: Is 41: 13-20, Mt 11: 11-15 Friday: Is 48: 17-19, Mt 11: 16-19 Saturday: Zac 2: 14-17, Lk 1: 26-38 Sunday: Is 61: 1-2a, 10-11, 1 Thes 5: 16-24 Jn 1: 6-8, 19-28

Carol Bonus, Dudley Cuj, Ron Fernandopulle, George LaGesse, Tom Norris, Philip Rice, III

Deborah Smith, Irv Schmidt, Kelly Scott, Paula Stumpe, Violet Zaklan

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Sunday, December 6 through Sunday, December 13 Sunday December 6 2:00pm Zoom Holiday Tea Off-site Wednesday December 9 7:00pm Zoom Advent Christmas Night Prayer Off-site

Most parish-related activities / meetings are taking place virtually. Call the parish office with questions.

Next weekend, the Saturday, 12/12 5:30pm liturgy and the Sunday, 12/13 liturgies at 11am and 5pm will take place with a limit of 50 people. You must register to attend by logging on to the parish website: stedmund.org and click on the “RESERVATIONS” link. You may also call the parish office at 708-848-4417 x2011.

Ken Darre, long-time parishioner

Rick Dunleavy Sister Mary Willard, Reagan, OP

former teacher of St. Edmund Parish School

Anniversary Sunday Today On the first Sunday of every month, the parish will offer a special blessing upon all couples who will celebrate their wedding anni-versary in that month. If you were married in the month of December, plan to receive this special blessing after all of the masses this weekend.

Offertory for Weekend of November 21/22

Budgeted…………………………………….$11, 300.00 Weekend collection………………………….$ 6, 492.50 Weekly shortfall/surplus…………………….- 4, 807.50

Offertory for Weekend of November 28/29

Budgeted……………………………………..$11, 300.00 Weekend collection………………………….$ 7, 387.50 Weekly shortfall/surplus……………………..– 3, 912.50

Our Jewish Friends Celebrate Hanukkah The Talmud explains that this eight-day celebration be-

gins the 25th of Kislev from the Jewish calendar. Hanukkah begins this year, then on Thursday, December 10 and continues for eight days. (The celebration of the Jewish holy days begins at sundown of the preceding day, and ends at sundown on the final day).

We’re on Twitter! Follow us:

St. Edmunds-Oak Park or @edmunds_oakpark

“To every thing there is a season,

and a time for every purpose under heaven..” - Ecclesiastes

During this Coronavirus pandemic, many are tempted to fear, anxiety and perhaps even despair. Every crisis in life is also an opportunity to turn to our beloved Savior in trust and com-plete abandonment so as to rest in His merciful hands. To rest in the hands of God means we are secure, despite the uncer-tainty of life. Prayers and resources for healing and hope may be found at:

www.mycatholic.life