NO CLASS THIS WEDNESDAY
Have a Happy Thanksgiving
Pass the Hat - An Enchanted Evening
More on the Beatitudes
St. Emily and St. Thomas Becket Parishes
November 20, 2018
Dear Families,

I don't know about you, but I'll be baking pies on Wednesday night. Since it is the day before Thanksgiving, there will be NO CLASS this Wednesday.   We'll be back together on November 28.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with you and your gathered family and friends.

Masses will be at 8:30 AM at St. Emily and 9:00 AM at St. Thomas Becket on Thanksgiving Day.

A big Thank You to all the families (about 70 parents) who came to our Back to School Night.  The catechists were delighted that you made the trip.  We hope that you got a better idea of what we are doing in the classroom with your children each week.

We've had unseasonably cold weather, so it makes sense to take note of our Emergency Closing procedure. It is a good idea to visit the site below and sign up for alerts, in case we need to close on a class night.

A date to save -  Breakfast with Santa  will be December 15 at St. Emily with two sittings at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. More details to come.

St. Emily has begun a Queen of Hearts Raffle.  The raffle pot builds until the Queen of Hearts is drawn. Drawings are held weekly.  Come to the St. Emily office to buy tickets. It's a fun and exciting way to support the parish.



dinnerdanceSt. Emily Dinner Dance
Save the Date for February 9
We'll Pass the Hat on Thursday, November 28

St. Emily is hosting a Dinner Dance on February 9, 2019 .  Save the date and make plans to join us.

Religious Education has been asked to help donate a basket for the Silent Auction.  Look for the top hat next week, as we pass the hat. You might not have had cash on you last week, but we'll be there one more time and give you the chance to contribute.

We ask that each family contribute between $2 and $5.  However, any amount will be welcome!

The proceeds from the dance will help to maintain, heat and light the school building, which your family uses each week. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
sundayschool
Was your child in our Sunday pre-school?
Come Back And Sing!
December 16
 
St. Emily's Sunday School is celebrating 10 years!

To mark this milestone, we would like to invite all former Sunday school students to join us in singing "Light One Candle" (our traditional Advent song) after communion during the 9:30 AM mass on December 16.  

We will have a brief practice on December 9 after the 9:30 AM mass.  Please contact Barb Zediker at barbzediker@comcast.net or 847.650.5308 with questions and to let us know if you will be able to sing with us.
youthYouth Ministry

Join in the fun
Middle School and High School
  • December 2 - 7:00 pm
    All Grades Social Meeting
For more information, contact David Mika.
Christmas Party
christmas_ornaments.jpg

St. Emily Women's Club
All are welcome

Join the women of St. Emily for their annual Christmas party on December 5 at 7:00 PM in Hajdu Hall.

Full details are here.  Come to make new friends and enjoy yourself.
beatitudes
Living the Beatitudes

More in our exploration of Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation,  Gaudete et Exsultate.   Pope Francis now moves on to consider each Beatitude in turn.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

The world tells us exactly the opposite: entertainment, pleasure, diversion and escape make for the good life. The worldly person ignores problems of sickness or sorrow in the family or all around him; he averts his gaze. The world has no desire to mourn; it would rather disregard painful situations, cover them up or hide them. Much energy is expended on fleeing from situations of suffering in the belief that reality can be concealed. But the cross can never be absent.

A person who sees things as they truly are and sympathizes with pain and sorrow is capable of touching life's depths and finding authentic happiness. He or she is consoled, not by the world but by Jesus. Such persons are unafraid to share in the suffering of others; they do not flee from painful situations. They discover the meaning of life by coming to the aid of those who suffer, understanding their anguish and bringing relief. They sense that the other is flesh of our flesh, and are not afraid to draw near, even to touch their wounds. They feel compassion for others in such a way that all distance vanishes. In this way they can embrace Saint Paul's exhortation: "Weep with those who weep" (Rom 12:15).

Knowing how to mourn with others: that is holiness. (#75-76)
emergencyclosing
Emergency Closing Information
Know how to be informed

We hope that all our Wednesdays are sunny and dry, but it is Chicago and we realize that winter weather is no joke.

If we find it advisable to close, we will send a blast email to all families that day.

We will also post any closings at the  Emergency Closing Center.  Please check there to make sure.   You can also sign up there for email alerts that tell if and when the Religious Education program cancels.

Dates to Save
  • November 21 - No Class for Thanksgiving Break
  • December 2 - First Sunday of Advent
  • December 19 - Eucharistic Adoration in the church.
  • December 26 and January 2 - No Class
  • January 9 - Class resumes
  • February 9 - St. Emily Dinner Dance
Quick Links
St. Emily Parish
Catherine Crino, DRE
847-299-5865
St. Thomas Becket Parish
Renata Sosin, CRE
847-296-9051
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