Author: Francis Li

Second Sunday of Easter
April 7, 2013

Easter Celebrations 2013

St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church and School
Archdiocesan Center for Chinese Apostolate
聖德力華人天主教堂
218 W. Alexander, Chicago, Illinois 60616 ∙ (312) 842-6777 Fax (312) 567-1389
StTherese@ArchChicago.org ∙ www.sttheresechinatown.org
Like Us on Facebook: facebook.com/sttherese Twitter @StThereseChi
StTherese@ArchChicago.org ∙ www.StThereseChinatown.org

Mass Intentions
April 7, 2013 Second Sunday of Easter -Sunday of Divine Mercy
8:00A.M. + Jack Lee by Farlen Lee and Family
9:30A.M. + Sr. Catherine Patrice, SSND by Sr. Caritas Wehrman
+ Eric Yun by Lushia and Tim
MON. April 8th The Annunciation of the Lord
8:00A.M. + K. Gee Yong by Mei Fung Yong
+ Jean Toy by Woody and Gerri Moy
TUE. April 9th Easter Weekday
8:00A.M. + Lena Roti by Marion
+ Jean Toy by Marie Chan
WED. April 10th Easter Weekday
8:00A.M. + Chau Sim Lee by Rose Lee
+ The Poor and Forsaken Souls in Purgatory
THU. April 11th St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr
8:00A.M. Thanksgiving by Rose Lee
FRI. April 12th Easter Weekday
8:00A.M. + Rose Capinegro, Birthday remembrance by Marion
SAT. April 13th St. Martin I, Pope and Martyr
8:00A.M. Thanksgiving by Rose Lee
5:00P.M. Friends and Parishioners of St. Therese

Congratulations and Thank You
As we continue to celebrate the mystery of the Risen Lord in this Easter Season, we see a lot of signs of new life in our faith community. I have been always amazed by the wonderful things that take places in our parish. They are signs of God’s grace working in us and signs of our response to God’s call with commitment.
Congratulations to all who were baptized, confirmed, and received First Communion at Easter Vigil in our parish: Frances Han, James Lin, Ada Wang, Therese Hayashi, and Mina Tse. Their new membership not only adds life to our parish and Church, but is a concrete reminder of our own discipleship. The risen Lord calls us to have life and to be a part of the body of the Lord; though we are many, but one baptism, one Lord, and one mission.
Thanks to all of our RCIA catechists, sponsors, and families for accompanying them on their faith journey. You not only taught them about the teachings and practices of our Church, you have modeled a life of discipleship for them.
Thanks to all who worked so hard for our Triduum celebrations. From decorations to choir, from hospitality to cooking, from feet washing to church visits, from liturgical ministers to preparing of the Easter Vigil fire- all volunteers selflessly contributed much of their time and talents to our Triduum worshipping experiences.
Jesus, “I Trust in You!”
On this second Sunday of Easter, we also celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. Through St. Faustina, a Sister of Our Lady of Mercy, Jesus wants all souls to know his mercy. It is in trusting the mercy of our Lord, the followers of Christ can experience the kind of peace that the risen Lord speaks about in today’s Gospel. Knowing the significance of this message, Pope John Paul II proclaimed the feast of Divine Mercy Sunday as a universal feast day of our Church. This day calls us to venerate the Image of the Divine Mercy, receiving Reconciliation and Communion, and reciting the Divine Mercy Chaplets. By these devotions, we come to know the mercy of God better and we trust the Lord more. Our God is a God of mercy. We are called to be a Christian of Mercy and a Church of Mercy.
May the Risen Lord deepen our faith!
~Peace, Fr. Francis

From the Desk of Fr. Francis
Greetings of Christ’s Peace and Joy! Hope you all had a blessed week.

As part of our efforts during this Year of Sunday Mass, the congregation is asked to pay special attention to two things during Mass:
Word of the Week: Witness
What do we ‘witness’ when we celebrate mass together?
Response of the Month: The entire congregation should join their voices in singing all the hymns with the choir.
When we raise our voices in song: i) we are recognizing God’s presence in the midst of the congregation; ii) it is a way of connecting to one another as one body; iii) we are proclaiming our faith and our gratitude for God’s love.
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Hospitality Schedule for April 14, 2013
GREETERS: Rose Marie Lau, John Moy, Lauren Yee
RECEPTION VOLUNTEERS: Elisa, Renee, Rita
——————————————————————————————————————— ♪♫ Choir Corner
April 7, 2013—Sunday of Divine Mercy - Cantonese Mass
PROCESSIONAL: p. 144, #220– THE WORLD REJOICES
OFFERTORY: p. 33, #83– LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
COMMUNION: p. 40, #94– SONS OF GOD
RECESSIONAL: p. 141, #216– JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY
Liturgy Committee Meeting—will take place on Monday, April 8 at 7:00pm.
First Communion Retreat- for our school and CCD children on Saturday, April 13th at school from 10:00am to 1:00pm followed by rehearsal in church from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
Planning Masses—Next Sunday’s Mass has been prepared by two families of our parish. The family of Richard Co and the family of Gordon Yee have made the preparations and will actively participate in the celebration. If you would like your family to participate please contact Sister Caritas. Our next preparation liturgy will be for a June celebration.
MINISTRY OF CARE—Many people in our parish family at times are too sick to come to Church. Some people are in the hospital. As a parish family we are concerned about their wellbeing. In the ancient and long tradition of our Church, we can bring the Holy Eucharist to them when we visit. We would like to increase our number of trained ministers of care. Please contact Father Li or Sister Caritas if you are already trained for Ministry of Care or if you would like to be trained.
Landings Spring Session—will start on Thursday, May 17th at 6:30pm in the St. Francis Assisi room in church. If you know of any inactive Catholics who may benefit from this, please contact Sr. Anji or Cita Orendain through the parish office at 312-842-6777 or by email at: landingsatsttherese@gmail.com.
Conversational English—We are still offering conversational English classes four times a week and are now accepting new students for the Spring sessions. If interested, please sign up at the church entrance table. Schedules can be worked out with the instructors.
Family: The Foundation of Society
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)
The USCCB states that preserving family unity is the cornerstone of comprehensive immigration reform.
Please let our elected officials know we support family union. Send an e-postcard to the U.S. Senate and Congress asking that they pass immigration reform that includes family reunification at www.justiceforimmigrants.org/
Office for Immigrant Affairs and Immigration Education
3525 S. Lake Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60653
Elena Segura (312) 534-5333, esegura@archchicago.org
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month— The Office for the Protection of Children & Youth for the Archdiocese of Chicago along with communities across the country, takes this opportunity to help increase awareness of child abuse and its prevention. It is appealing to individuals, schools, businesses, hospitals, religious organizations, and social services agencies to join together to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect.
Contact Prevent Child Abuse Illinois at 217-522-1129 or visit their web site at
www.preventchildabuseillinois.org for ways you can help prevent child abuse in your community.
Chicago
www.archchicago.org/departments/protection/protection.shtm

News and Events

Please remember in your prayers those who are
ill, hospitalized, and homebound...
Sarah Phillips Marie Balestri Carmella Scanlon
Natasha Chang Lucille Iasillo Carmen (Rails) Balestri
Dominic Barbaro Winnie So Vincent Thome
Barbara McElroy Ken Barber Rose Perez
Ramona Zavala Lauren Mandel Nicholas Tobar
Michael Howley YoYo Damico Ruth Barone
Bernie Presto Baby Jessa Piotrowski Dolly Roti
Lina Andriacchi Fr. Walter Johnson, MM Sister Noel Devine
Su Zhen Liao John Galvin Michele Young
Sister Elizabeth Lee Barbara Maung Wu Wai Hing
Shirley A. Bills Roseann Gurgone Lan Ying Yee
John Palenik Alice Young Frank Nardi
David Leung John Piegari Leonard Louie
Bai Xue Sister Agnes Christina James Longo III
Richard Tobar Joseph Leung Jane Lee
Betsy Young Mary Balestri Pam Ecklund
If you wish to add a name or remove your name from this list, please call the parish office.
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“Blessed are those who have not seen...”
Soon we will begin to see many plants, trees, and grass, turn green. We will see buds on trees and flowering plants. The mystery of the Spring season will gradually become very visible. While we are aware of the cycle of the season and the freshness of life it brings, we are awed by the mystery. Teachers of botany and biology can explain the process to us, yet there is still the mystery of why one plant lives and blooms and another dies. What makes one seed come to full life and another never even has a shoot.
Our spiritual life is also a mystery. At Baptism we were GIVEN the gift of faith. Faith is a kind of knowledge, different from the merely human way of knowing. Faith enables us to believe truths beyond reason. Faith is that virtue, or way of acting, which makes us assent and consent to the truths which God has revealed and which the Catholic Church professes and teaches.
Today’s Gospel contains many important things. The last part of the Gospel deals with the Apostle Thomas, who has been living perhaps a week, without accepting that Jesus is alive. All the others had seen Jesus but Thomas refused to believe and even set conditions for his coming to faith. Jesus appears again and Thomas’ “issues” are addressed. Thomas makes a profound profession of faith “My Lord and My God.” Jesus acknowledges Thomas’ faith but He also acknowledges ours. “Blessed are those, Thomas, who have not seen and yet believe.” Yes, that’s us. That is the profound gift and mystery of Catholic, Christian life. We have not seen but we still BELIEVE. WE assent, accept and live out this mystery of faith. Jesus is Alive. Alleluia!
~Sr. Caritas
In all my Love and Power, “I will be with you always even to the end of time.”
It’s intriguing what qualifies as power in our world. As I write this, debates are ongoing about the right to carry concealed weapons. Whether such a right keeps people safer is in question, but certainly it makes people feel more powerful. The 2012 presidential campaign is in full swing, months before anyone casts a vote. Our democratic process is marvelous, but the campaign to determine who gets presidential power is sadly, a messy and undignified process. And my husband and I are currently overwhelmed by the power of nature as water seeps (and sometimes pours) into our home. We thought our house was a powerful as Noah’s ark, but it’s proving far less mighty.
We certainly have the ability to wield power, but we often forget that ultimate power belongs to God. Our Ascension readings remind us that no human power can compare with “the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19). As if Jesus’ incarnation and his resurrection weren’t enough of a display of God’s power, now Jesus ascents to heaven to his glorified place with the Father. God’s might actions make our guns, authority figures, and defenses seem weak by comparison.
Perhaps we forget God’s great power because it’s not as visible as our human displays of power. Yet God continues to work mighty deeds– we know of amazing miracles that can be ascribed only to God’s power. But also, God’s power works in us– the Church. We have to be open enough to let God work through us, and that can be a challenge.
But Jesus promised to be with us always. If we trust in his very real power moving through us, we’ll be amazed at what can be accomplished in our friendships, families, neighborhoods– even in our world.
- Janel Esker
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Did Jesus’ body ascend into heaven?
I’ve always heard that Jesus ascended into heaven body and soul. Why would Jesus need his body in heaven?
- Judy
Dear Judy,
The Gospels do not use “body and soul” language with respect to the Ascension. Mark 16:19 and Luke 24:51 say that Jesus was simply “taken up” into heaven.
However, if we are speaking of bodies, souls, heaven , and the Ascension, it might be good to remind ourselves that in the Apostles’ Creed we proclaim our belief in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Sometimes it seems that Christians are hoping only that some spiritual part of ourselves, a “soul,” will go to heaven and remain there happily with God forever. But that is not our hope.
After his death, Christ did not ultimately become a disembodied spirit. He gained a new kind of body. Christ ascended into heaven not as a soul carrying useless baggage, but as the first fruit of a new creation and as a pledge of the ultimate marriage of heaven and Earth.
Christ’s resurrected and ascended body is a foretaste of what we hope for ourselves. We don’t long to enter a heaven where bodies will be unnecessary. We hope for the day when all things will be transformed and, in our resurrected bodies, we will enjoy the glorious union of Heaven and Earth.
- Byron Miller, CSsR

DALCAMO
FUNERAL HOME
470 W. 26th St.,Chicago, Il 60616
312-842-8681
Family Owned & Operated
Since 1939
Bernard Dalcamo Matthew Dalcamo Jr.

AJIICHIBAN
(CHICAGO)
2117-A S. China Place.
Chicago, Il 60616
312-328-9998

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Call for Reservations:
312-842-0088
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* Hong Kong style cuisine, hotpot, breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner.
* Baked goods and cakes for special occasions.
* Upstairs now open for more seating and large parties.
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Chicago, IL 60616
Hours:
Everyday - 8:00am -2:00am
Friday and Saturday 24 hours
TEL: 312.842.2228

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Business Hours: Sun-Thurs: 9am-11pm
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(312) 842-0701

2237 S. Wentworth Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
Tel. (312) 842-7500 Fax. (312) 842-5872

Church Stained Glass Window Repair Update
(Before) (After) The entire exterior work for our church window repair and broken stained glasses have completed. Unfortunately, this is not the end of the project. As with fixing up any old windows, there is a higher chance of surprise. It’s now been confirmed that we need to replace a few of the moon-shaped top window frames on the inside. With the additional work on the inside window frames, our estimated total cost of this project is now $55,000. We expect to begin the next phase of this work in April, 2013.We need your support for this project. If you would like to make any donations, please mark your contributions with “Window Repairs.” Thank you to all who have already made a donation:
Paul &Cindy Lau: $2000 Francine Caruso: $100
James &Akina Moy: $1000 Bonnie Tse: $100
Dan & Pam Spano: $190 Kevin Wu (Sweet Station): $100
Shu Man & Florence Yu: $300 Frank S. Scuito: $100
Chris & Darlene Lowe: $500 Peter Blais: $50
N. N.: $200 Teresa Au: $50
N. N.: $100 Phyllis & Rose Marie Centofanti: $100
Sacred Heart Ladies Club: $1000 Wendy Fluder: $100
The May Family: $2105 Frank & Sophie Nardi: $500
Betsy Young & Woodie Lee: $50 Dominic Barbaro: $200
Wanda Stearns: $50 Richard & Rita Young: $200
Lucille Salerno: $100 Edy & Lisa Gunawan: $100
Santa Maria Incoronata : $ 1000 Annie Lowe: $100
Albert & Bernie Wong: $200 Menacita Chan: $100
Rose Cho: $2000 Gemma Wong: $200
Dominic Lai: $380 Jennifer Chan & Jorge Morales: $50
Robert Lee: $10 Tony Lin & Sharon Wong: $355
Larry A. Pusateri : $500 Wendy Sin: $500
Eugene & Geraldine Kwan: $100 The Tse Family : $53
Gene & Teresa Lee: $200 Renee & George Fong: $53
Gary & Linda Leong: $200 The Urso Family: $500
Wesley & Sharon Wong: $100 Gertrude Chan: $50
Sandra Moy: $100 Leonard & Elaine Louie: $1900
Sharon Yu: $1000 Joseph and Natia DiFazio: $100
Ray Lin (The Lin Family): $500 Lucille Salerno: $500
Mr. & Mrs. William Moy: $50 Joseph & Bernadette Zito: $100
Andrew & Eva Feng: $1900 Michael & Sevila Schiml: $150
Fr. Francis Li: $100 Mr. & Mrs. Francis Degnan: $75
Amy C. Floyd: $200 Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Briglio: $100
Karen L. Zewe: $50 Mr. & Mrs. John Lusak: $1000
Peter Tse: $100 Agustin & Donna Gonzalez: $200
Joe & Margaret Cabello: $100 Josie Lia Kawazoye: $50
Tony & Mary Ann Nudo: $100 Sonny Spalla: $200
Janet & Albert Moy: $300 Dorothy Albanese: $100
Janet Fecteau & Al DiFranco: $50 Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Oi: $1000
Marion B. Roti: $100 Theresa Scopacasa and Jane Pivac: $100
Monica Lam: $100 Antoinette Choate & John Tangren: $1000
Caecilia Payton: $60 The Family of Michele Morelli: $1000
Teresa Au: $50 Felicia Kristanto: $200
Nick & Ellen Andriacchi: $200
BULLETIN TOTAL AS OF 04/03/13: $28,781
A plaque of remembrance will be placed in the church in gratitude to all the donors at the end of the project.
*If you would like to have your name listed differently as shown from above, please contact the parish office at 312-842-6777.