September, 2007

Religious Education resumes in September While registration began in April 2007 for the Church of the Holy Spirit 2007/2008 Religious Education program, registration continues for new families and those who may have missed registration and would still like to participate. CHS begins new parish year; check these dates The pastoral staff and a few other groups have been working on a series of events in September and October as we begin a new parish year. (See also online parish calendar, linked below, and other individual stories.) Pastor’s Perspective / Perspectivo del Párroco e This is our second annual online fall edition of Spirited Times, which is part of our ongoing effort to be creative and careful stewards of the resources of time, talent, and treasure that we, the members of Church of the Holy Spirit, provide to support our mission and ministry.  En el Espíritu… Noticias A continuación le ofrecemos algunas historias de esta edición de Spirited Times, el periódico editado cuatro veces al año por Church of the Holy Spirit y enviado por correo gratis a todo los feligreces registrados en la parroquia. Avalanche attendance for Vacation Bible School A record number of attendees – an avalanche you might say – joined the cowpokes at Church of the Holy Spirit this summer for Vacation Bible School (VBS), with theme of Avalanche Ranch. Fall Festival, Sat., Sept. 29: come to Mass, bring a dish, eat, visit, dance Back by popular demand, parishioners are planning a Fall Festival on Saturday Sept. 29 – this time with a Hawaiian theme. Know someone who needs a visit in the hospital? Please call Call us if someone you know needs a visit in the hospital. As of Jan. 1, 2003, federal regulations prohibit hospitals from notifying the parish of patients who are parishioners. Las clases de inglés empiezan en septiembre Una vez más Church of the Holy Spirit va a ofrecer clases de Inglés.  Los niveles serán para principiantes, intermedios y avanzados. Learn Vatican II richness and reforms with Fr. George Called by many the most authoritative voice on issues of Catholic life and faith today, major Vatican II documents will be studied at Church of the Holy Spirit for six weeks, starting Sept. 19. Make a joyful noise, join a choir: Youth Ensemble starts season Sept. 23 The Youth Ensemble, which accepts young people from 7th through 12th grades, officially kicks off its season Sept. 23, with a preview Teen Mass on Sept. 9. Outreach: Baptisms, 1st Eucharist for horse racetrack families Church of the Holy Spirit outreach ministers welcomed families of workers from the Arlington Park Racetrack to celebrate Baptism and First Eucharist on... Prayers for turnaround show early results: Increased donations and some staff cuts help donations cover expenses Church of the Holy Spirit Finance Committee figures show that efforts to control expenses and increase regular Sunday donations seem to be producing positive results. Prophets provide perspective; are we listening? The prophet Jeremiah told those in power things they didn’t feel comfortable hearing. He wasn’t serving the interests of the privileged and was tossed into a cistern, left for dead. Prophets provide perspective for us, if we listen. Puppet ministry spreads Good News across ages, cultures Imagine a ministry in which children of different cultures and ages come together united by a desire to have fun, share creative talents with the community, and grow in their relationship with God. Retreat: Perhaps this is your year Retreat with Church of the Holy Spirit for two days of reflection and prayer mixed with a bit of singing, learning, and spiritual renewal. You’ve likely heard about it—this is the fourth year parishioners have provided this experience. Perhaps this is your year. Women: Get enriched at the well starting Sept. 11 The 2007-2008 “Women at the Well” series at Church of the Holy Spirit begins September 11. Will you join us? Be sure to mark your calendars. You won’t want to miss any of these programs, co-sponsored by Church of the Holy Spirit and Alexian Brothers Hospital Network! Welcome, Fr. Matthias Feldmann Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, has entered into collaboration with Loyola University, Chicago entitled Crossing Over. This program has been inspired by the desire of the Catholic Church in Germany to learn from model parishes in America how what we are doing might help them revitalize their own parishes. 100 ministries Nearly 100 active ministries allow people of Church of the Holy Spirit help those within our faith community and beyond. Ministries are categorized as worship, education/formation, pastoral outreach, administration, and social. More than 50 are coordinated in or have related ministries in Spanish.