[Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010] At Holy Name Cathedral, at 11 a.m., nine priests concelebrate the funeral Mass of Father Gerry Weber.  The sermon is given by Father John Cusick.  Bishop Tim Lyne, a classmate of the deceased, presides.  Bishop Ray Goedert also concelebrates. Father Weber was a writer and publisher during his priesthood; he contributed much to the life of the Church, especially in the catechisms he wrote.

The same day, a massive earthquake strikes the capital city of Haiti.  The government of that country estimates that 200,000 people are killed.

[Jan. 17] At the request of Cardinal Francis George, President of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, San Rocco has a special collection for the people of Haiti. This second collection is taken up immediately after the regular collection and is presented in the procession.

[Jan. 18-21] Father Gilligan goes on retreat up in Mundelein, with other priests of the local vicariate.  The retreat master is Father Kevin Huber, of the Diocese of Gary.  The retreat is a good occasion for priests to evaluate pastoral service to people. 

[Jan. 22] Father Gilligan meets with Father Dave Simonetti of St. James parish, Sauk Village, to discuss common pastoral challenges.

[Jan. 24] Before Sunday Mass, at 9:15 a.m., the children and teachers involved in religious education go over to the church building.  Bernie Barassa is welcomed as a catechumen in a brief liturgy, with only the Gospel as a Scripture reading; the Rtie of Christian Initation is followed, the RCIA.  Her mother, Evelyn, is also present, gives her consent, and participates in the rite.  During the Mass that follows at 10 a.m., we also pray for Bernie and her family.  During Lent, Bernie will participate in the usual scrutinies, as with other candidates for baptism. The First Scrutiny is on the Third Sunday of Lent.

[Jan. 26] The finance committee of San Rocco Oratory meets in South Holland.  Pete Ruhl, formerly of Citizens Bank, presents his summary of recommendations, based on the recent audit by Crowe Horwath. The committe considers first of all how to implement the recommendations given for the counting and deposit of the Sunday collection.

[Feb. 9] Father Gilligan makes his annual report to Bishop Perry, on the state of things at San Rocco Oratory.  The report concerns the Sunday bulletin, the choir, the finance committee, unusual expenses in 2009, religious education, membership, and appropriate delay of baptism, in the case of parents who do not go to Mass on Sunday. 

[Feb. 17] Ash Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., a Liturgy of the Word, with distribution of ashes, takes place at The Park in Olympia Fields. At 7 p.m., another Liturgy of the Word also includes the distribution of ashes, as usual, at San Rocco Oratory.  After that, a Vigil liturgy is celebrated at Panozzo Funeral Home in Chicago Heights, for the late Raffaele  ("Ralph") Biasella, who died Feb. 14.  He was 100 years old.

[Feb. 18] We celebrate the funeral of Raffaele Biasella.  He was the father of Emidia Bonanotte, wife of Cleto. 

[Feb. 19] As in years past, on Fridays of Lent, we pray together Stations of the Cross and Vespers, from the Leaflet Missal prayerbook.