Dear Friends in Christ,

This weekend we welcome Fr. Robert (Bob) Gielow, C.M., as our homilist at all the weekend Masses, to open the Word of God and to invite us to attend our parish mission, this Monday – Wednesday (see p. 5 for a schedule).  Each evening will begin with 6:30 pm Mass which includes his parish mission talk.   The parish mission theme is: “Been there, Done that, Now what?”  Each evening at 6 pm prior to the 6:30 pm Mass, Fr. Lawrence will be available for confessions.  On Tuesday after the 6:30 pm Mass, we will also have confessions with Fr. Bob, 2 other priests & myself.

What is a parish Mission?  A parish mission is special time in a parish community when the community gathers together to gain further insight into a faith filled life.   It is a time for grace & renewal of the parish through services and talks filled with stories, examples & meaning.  Come to the parish mission & go to confession as ways to prepare for the season of Lent which begins Feb. 22^nd with Ash Wednesday.  See the Ash Wednesday schedule on p. 8.

On Wednesday evening, a free will offering will be taken up, to help fund this Vincentian Parish Missions ministry. It is their policy that there is no cost or charge to the parish. The Vincentian Parish Missions assume the cost of air flight travel & any mission materials.   The parish is only asked to be responsible for Fr. Bob’s stay and meals at the rectory.  I ask you to be generous on Wednesday.

Who is Fr. Robert (Bob) Gielow, the priest who will give the mission?  He was born in LaSalle, Illinois in 1943.  He attended St. Vincent DePaul High School seminary in Lemont, Illinois & graduated in 1961.  He then entered the Vincentian Fathers & Brothers novitiate in 1961.  After 2 years as a novice, he completed his college education at Saint Mary’s Seminary in Perryville, Missouri where he was awarded a B.A. degree in Philosophy.  Fr. Gielow completed his theology studies at DeAndreis seminary in Lemont, Illinois & was ordained in May, 1971(52 years as a priest).

Upon receiving a Masters degree in Counseling from Southwest Missouri State, he joined the faculty of Regina Cleri Seminary in Tucson, Arizona.  After 4 years in Tucson, Fr. Bob joined the faculty at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.  During his 8 years at the University, he served as Director of Campus Ministry & as Director of Athletics.  After completing his Masters degrees in Divinity & Religious Studies, he became Director of Vocations for the Midwest Province of the Vincentians.  He served in that capacity for 4 years & upon completion of a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies at Loyola University in 1987, he joined the Vincentian Parish Mission team.  Fr. Bob’s twin brother, Fr. Richard Gielow, C.M., is also a priest & serves on this Vincentian Parish Mission team. (Material taken from the Vincentian web site: https://www.vpmc.org/).

Starting at 6:30 pm on Monday, Feb. 20^th, we begin the preparation sessions for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  If you are a baptized Catholic, have received your First Holy Communion but lack Confirmation, this preparation is for you!  See p. 10 for more info.  “Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the ‘sacraments of Christian initiation,’ whose unity must be safeguarded.  It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.   For ‘by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit.  Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread & defend the faith by word & deed.’" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1285).  One of the requirements to serve as a godparent for Baptism or a sponsor for Confirmation or to distribute Holy Communion is the reception of Confirmation.

This Wednesday, Feb. 8^th, is the International Day of Prayer & Awareness against Human Trafficking (our modern-day slavery).  “Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.  Every year, millions of men, women & children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the U.S.  It can happen in any community & victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality.   Traffickers might use the following methods to lure victims into trafficking situations: violence, manipulation, false promises of well-paying jobs & romantic relationships.   Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime.  Traffickers look for people who are easy targets for a variety of reasons, including: psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, lack of a social safety net, natural disasters & political instability (including escaping the Ukraine & other challenging nations).” (https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking)

Human trafficking is a huge plague on our society and affects the entire world.  The above paragraph does not do justice to the immensity of this problem. Cf p. 5 for a prayer.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us! 

Fr. Lawrence W. Jozwiak

Pastor