October 30, 2022

Dear Parishioners,

A friend recently sent me this prayer-poem…

I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brains to work.

I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome.

I asked for patience and God put me in situations where I was forced to wait.

I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.

I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities.

I received nothing that I asked for and I received everything I needed.

My prayers have all been answered.

Zacchaeus was looking for something. He wasn’t quite satisfied with his life. He received what he was looking for – not an answer to his question or a solution to his dilemma, but a person: Jesus Christ.

When we “climb our trees” (carry our crosses), we will have our prayers answered. We will see and encounter Jesus Christ. 

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Tuesday is the Solemnity of All Saints. Our Masses that day will be: 6:25am, 8:30am, 10am (school), 12pm, and 7:30pm. On Wednesday, the Feast of All Souls, our Masses will be: 6:25am, 8:30am, and 7:30pm (a special Mass of Remembrance for all the deceased from our parish). Father Nick will celebrate a special Mass for the Knights of Columbus, for all the deceased Knights, on Thursday, November 3rd at 6:30pm.

You’ve probably noticed Formed banners in the entryways of the church. Our parish has obtained a membership so each of you can access this website/app. It’s free for you – all you need to do is put in ‘St. Paul of the Cross Parish.’ You’ll find videos, audiobooks, movies, and a great deal of other content. If you’re looking for wholesome videos and movies for your children or grandchildren – a better alternative to TV! – this can be a great resource. It’s just a little gift we wanted to give you all to assist your own faith formation.

Our evangelization team has organized an event, “The Word on the Street,” which will be held on Tuesday, November 15th at Harp & Fiddle in Park Ridge. It will have a sort of “Theology on Tap” feel to it with drinks, appetizers, and me giving the inaugural talk on God’s Mercy and the Seven Deadly Sins.

The Archdiocese is taking up a special second collection for asylum seekers the first weekend of November. Chicago has already welcomed over 3,000 asylum seekers and this collection will allow the church to continue to help these individuals in their time of need. Please see inside the bulletin for more details.

Speaking of collections, we will soon be publishing our Parish Annual Report. Thank you to the finance council for their work in putting this together, as well as their oversight of our parish’s finances. Please, if you don’t already, consider signing up for Electronic Giving. This is a much more convenient and reliable way to give. Please reach out to our Director of Operations, Sandra Labouvie, if you have any questions regarding electronic giving options. Either way, thank you again for your contributions.

Thank you again to all who participated in the parish rosary last Saturday and to those who contributed gift cards and donations for our Social Services Ministry. And thank you to all who facilitated the Baby Bottle Drive. Please remember to turn in your baby bottles if you haven’t done so already.

Your servant in Christ,