Gala 2020 is NEXT Saturday, February 22 at Concord Banquets in Kildeer. It is a great way to celebrate our entire Holy Family in 70’s style as we sing We are Family! together. A special thanks to this year’s co-chairs, Julie Siska and Kathy French, for their hard work and planning, countless generous volunteers and our Operations staff.
Even at this late date, there are still ways that you can support this all-parish event. Cash and Class Raffle tickets are available for $100, giving you a chance to win $5,000 or a year’s Academy tuition. Consider syndicating your bidding by pooling resources with someone else in attendance as you bid on auction items to increase your chances of winning. Academy student artwork will be displayed for your purchase beginning this week, and special opportunities to purchase unique experiences with our teachers called “Teacher Treats” will also be available.
We are in the third week of a three-weekend pledge process in support of the Annual Catholic Appeal. Last weekend we heard a very genuine message from Cardinal Cupich asking us to help heal a broken world through our generosity in this Appeal.
Your financial gift to the Annual Appeal will support:
PARISH COMMUNITIES
• Parishes and Catholic Schools serving financially challenged communities
• Parish rebates back to Holy Family if we exceed our goal of $170,000
OUR ARCHDIOCESAN MINISTRIES
• Evangelization efforts to help spread our faith through Youth Ministries, Parish Vitality Initiatives and Liturgy enhancement
• Religious Education for youth, young adults, campus ministry and adult formation
• Continuing Education for priests, staff, and lay ministers and volunteers serving in parishes
• Human Dignity and Solidarity Efforts that promote respect for life at all stages, peace and justice, support for immigrants and Kolbe House prison ministry
THE WORLD
• Catholic Relief Services to assist the poor and vulnerable and those suffering from natural disasters around the world
No money donated to the Annual Catholic Appeal has been or will be used to defray expenses related to misconduct issues.
We have some thought-provoking messages from Matthew’s Jesus this weekend concerning rules, regulations and religious details, all of which our Jewish brothers and sisters refer to as the Law.
Christian religions are also filled with details that give our faith practice structure. Very often as religious institutions grow, so do the details of their practice. Jesus makes a statement that seems to always put the Law, and consequently other religious practices, into perspective. We hear him say in Matthews Gospel this week that he has not come to “…abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.” Jesus was very faithful in his practice of Judaism. He learned that from Mary and Joseph. He was always respectful of a law that gave his spiritual journey structure. As he grew, and particularly in his public ministry, he was perceived as breaking that law often. His comments this week give depth to the law by encouraging reflection on and attention to things that lead up to a stated law. For example, he strongly suggests that not committing murder can be addressed by attending to unhealthy habits and uncontrolled emotions.
He seems to strongly suggest that self-reflection and self-examination for the original hearers, and for us, can get us closer to embracing his fulfillment of the LAW.
Lent is coming. Mark your calendars. Ash Wednesday is February 26. Our schedule of Mass and service times can be found on page 4 of this bulletin.