Fr. Terry's weekly bulletin articles.
Playlist for Sacred Whispers Thanks to so many of you who attended the Sacred Whispers evening of spirituality in popular music last Wednesday. Thanks to Dawn Mayer and a team of volunteers who provided hospitality in the courtyard following. Thanks so much to Gene Garcia and Kristen Berryhill, who produced the images, music and lyrics
Read MoreThe Seed and Soil of God’s Fruitful Word Perhaps you have noticed that I say a lengthy prayer accompanied by a simple ritual as I hold up the Gospel Book prior to proclaiming the Gospel when I preside at Mass. The prayer is inspired by Matthew’s version of the parable of the Sower and the
Read MoreWhat Makes America, America Our founding pastor, Fr. Med Laz, has written several books, and his latest is very timely, for this weekend and this season of our nation. It is entitled What Makes America, America. On this 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, Med offers both timely and enduring reminders of the core…
Read MoreSome Updates We have begun construction of a new display of our tabernacle. You will see a LARGE TEMPORARY wall that is keeping the construction dust and activity hidden. This TEMPORARY wall will be up for most of the summer, and the project is expected to be complete by mid to late August. Thanks for your flexibility and
Read MoreHappy Father’s Day We acknowledge and honor our fathers this weekend. As is our custom, we will all bless the fathers and father figures in attendance at each Mass this weekend. Our Holy Family custom shows our appreciation for the roles and examples that fathers are in our community and beyond. A woman named Sanora
Read MoreTHANK YOU During my homily at 5:00 pm Mass last Saturday, I used the conjunction words of The Body andBlood of Christ to talk about other conjunctions in our lives, such as Family and Work, Family and Friends, Faith and Work, Song and Dance, Physical and Spiritual, among others. One of the others that I mentioned was Gift and Gratitude…
Read MoreBody and Blood of Christ ’26 Body and Blood from Bread and Wine. This is one of the most evolutionary and transformational movements in all of Christianity. We, as Catholics, adhere to the reality of this change, which conveys Jesus’ intention to give himself to us in a very real way. The Second Vatican Council
Read MoreTrinity Weekend We join the universal church in celebrating God’s very identity this weekend. Our belief is that the One True God is made manifest in our midst in an ongoing way as three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The one God has created all, chosen to be one of us, and is active
Read MorePentecost Wind is created by changes in temperature and pressure in the atmosphere. The sun’s heat strikes the relatively round earth at various angles, creating various degrees of heat and cool, and the flow between the two creates atmospheric movement that can’t be seen, but its effects are clear. We know this living in the
Read MoreAscension We mark a historically unique event in church history this weekend with Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Our first reading references the earlier book, meaning the Gospel of Luke, which tells of all Jesus did until he was taken up into heaven through his ascension. We believe that Jesus ascended bodily into heaven, leaving…
Read MoreHappy Mother’s Day We extend our gratitude this weekend to all of the women in our lives and our faith community who give us life. Many of them have literally given us life, namely our biological mothers. Let us all take some special time to reflect on the physical traits and qualities that our biological mothers have
Read MoreMay The fifth month of the year always seems to usher in spring to the fullest. Even here in Chicago, May can have some cold days, but mostly in this part of the world, we see flowers bloom, and trees become green with leaves, and life buds with hope and possibilities. This time of year,
Read MoreConfirmation We welcome our Vicar, Bishop Timothy O’Malley, on Sunday for the Sacrament of Confirmation. I am so very proud of these teens, most of them sophomores in high school, who will take a major step in making their faith their own. Each confirmand writes me a letter stating why they want to be confirmed,
Read MoreEmmaus and Renewed Mission Our Movement of Growth Leadership Team has been meeting for almost two years. This team is composed of parishioners and staff and has identified six key topics for our Conversations in the Spirit to focus on. Over 500 people have participated in these conversations thus far. Each conversation begins…
Read MoreTriduum Thanks Holy Week and the Triduum require so much dedicated effort in order to lead our folks in prayer. My heartfelt appreciation to: Gene Garcia and the Liturgical Arts staff, including Judy Petrie and many talented musicians and singers as well as the many who served as Proclaimers, Eucharistic Ministers,…
Read MoreHappy Easter! He is Risen! Welcome Visitors If you are visiting Holy Family for the first time or have only visited us on a limited basis – Welcome! We are very glad that you have joined us in prayer on the most important Feast Day in all of Christianity – Easter! This day is a
Read MoreEnter Into Holy Week Since leading several retreats around the country focused on encouraging people to ENTER into Holy Week, I have come to a much deeper appreciation of the role Palm Sunday plays in these most sacred upcoming days. Jesus ENTERS into the holy city of Jerusalem. He ENTERS into the institution of the
Read MoreA Vibrant Parish Mission I want to thank so many who helped to make our Parish Mission last week such a vibrant and inspirational event. Thanks to so many Adult Faith faithful who served where needed in the details of setup and hospitality. To Karen McHale, who spent hours at the airport waiting for Frank
Read MoreInterfaith Competition I attended St. James Grammar School in Arlington Heights. We had very good basketball teams, of which I was an active participant. Our arch rival was Our Lady of the Wayside, also in Arlington Heights. Both schools are members of the same athletic conference that our students here at Holy Family…
Read MoreOf Manty Lenten Things Our rich Catholic tradition drives many of Lent’s practices and themes, starting with the scriptures on Ash Wednesday that set a tone which is further developed on the First Sunday of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, we always hear from the Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 6:1-6, 16-18) telling us to do three
Read MoreWe are LED Into Lent The word LED is pivotal to our Gospel this weekend and, therefore to all of Lent. The passage from Matthew begins with Jesus being LED into the desert. It goes on to tell us that the devil LED Jesus to the Temple in the Holy City of Jerusalem and then LED
Read MoreGenerating Kindness I have been inspired by the positive response to our 40 Days of Kindness initiative. So many of you have reiterated that it is something we all need these days. Don’t forget that we are encouraging you to DO acts of kindness AND to engage others, even others far away from Holy Family,
Read MoreThere is A LOT Going on in the Coming Weeks and Months FM This Weekend This Sunday at 9:00 am, we will celebrate our monthly multi-generational Eucharistic experience called FM. These Masses bring a particular energy and family unity as we encourage at least three generations of families to gather together and celeb…
Read MoreHoly Family, How Much Kindness Can We Generate? What the world needs now is more kindness. Divisions among us are causing an escalation of disrespect and hatred. Recent Pew polls indicate that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that the many acts of violence and hatred in our world are being fueled by our
Read More1.17.26_Fr. Denis Manuel Carneiro_Holy Family Parish Inverness_Removal Letter Download
Read MoreConversations in the Spirit We are steadily increasing the number of conversations that we have conducted, focusing on six key areas for growing our community spiritually and physically. We are calling these CONVERSATIONS IN THE SPIRIT. I have come to appreciate that some of you are intimidated by this title. Many Catholics are no…
Read MoreWe are Moving Quickly Each year, the early life of Jesus is covered very quickly in our liturgical cycle. He was born on Christmas, a little over two weeks ago, acknowledged as a member of the Holy Family two weekends ago, visited by Magi last weekend, and now baptized as an adult this weekend. The
Read MorePriesthood is My Star Sometimes, though not always, on the Feast of Epiphany, I like to share something very personal that the story elicits in me. This year, I want to use it as an example of how we can Be More of the people God is calling us to be. My prayer with this passage from
Read MorePriesthood is My Star Sometimes, though not always, on the Feast of Epiphany, I like to share something very personal that the story elicits in me. This year, I want to use it as an example of how we can Be More of the people God is calling us to be. My prayer with this passage from
Read MoreHoly Family Each year as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family with the universal Church, I am reminded that our founding pastor, Fr. Med Laz, commissioned us to not only follow the example of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, but for us to BE a Holy Family. It is a
Read MoreAngelic Messages to Mary and Joseph We are reading from the Gospel according to Matthew for most of the coming year. The author begins the book with a long genealogy situating the birth of Jesus in a line of Jewish heritage. This sets a scriptural stage for Advent and Christmas. This week’s passage that we
Read MoreSome Special Offerings This Advent Here are some activities and points of reflection to deepen your Advent spirituality this year. All Parish Reconciliation Service – Wednesday, December 17, 7pm in Church. This is a service combining large group and one-on-one with one of several priests. Scripture, Music, Examination of Conscien…
Read MoreAdvent 2025 We begin a new church season this weekend as Advent launches our preparation for Christmas, our preparation for discipleship, a new manifestation of Jesus Christ, and the new and eternal Kingdom. Those are the primary themes of the Gospel of Matthew that we will hear proclaimed during almost all of…
Read MoreChrist the King As always, I am inspired by the insights of Christ the King by my friend and theologian, Jack Shea. In his book “The Spiritual Wisdom of the Gospels for Christian Preachers and Teachers” (Liturgical Press, Luke, Year C, pages 319-327), reflecting on this Feast, Shea focuses not on the title King more
Read MoreThe Temple, The City, Destruction, and Perseverance Both last weekend and this one, the Gospel passages have used the Temple in Jerusalem as a physical sign of something spiritual. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ destination is Jerusalem. The entire Gospel is written as His journey TOWARD Jerusalem. The…
Read MoreRun Home We have just concluded another long and dramatic professional baseball season. I entered college as a broadcast major, and even now, I sometimes think about how I would call a home run as an announcer. Many famous announcers have their unique way of calling this most exciting baseball feat, and they have all
Read MoreMy Letter to Cardinal Cupich I met with Cardinal Cupich six months ago and we discussed my future with you here at Holy Family. You may know that Associate Pastor and Pastor term limits vary from diocese to diocese. However, there are exceptions based on a number of factors. Appointments of priests are always based
Read MoreBe More For the past two years we have used the simple statement BE MORE as a guide for our overall spiritual enrichment here at Holy Family. I first introduced it based on the sacred action that is essential to the Eucharist. The Documents of the Second Vatican Council urge us to embrace the Eucharist
Read MoreThe Jesus Invitation Perhaps you have noticed how Jesus engaged people in his mission. His was not a general invitation. He looked into the eyes of people who had the talent he needed and he asked them directly to join him. In other words, he did not hang a sign on a tree indicating that
Read MoreWelcome Our New Development Director, Nick Fiddick Nick brings a wealth of organizational and ministerial background in a brand-new position as Director of Development for our ENTIRE community here at Holy Family. He will lead efforts for BOTH our Parish and our Academy to advance our mission and expand support for all of our ministry
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