[Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010] At Holy Name Cathedral, at 11 a.m., nine priests concelebrate the funeral Mass of Father Gerry Weber.  The sermon is given by Father John Cusick.  Bishop Tim Lyne, a classmate of the deceased, presides.  Bishop Ray Goedert also concelebrates. Father Weber was a writer and publisher during his priesthood; he contributed much to the life of the Church, especially in the catechisms he wrote.

The same day, a massive earthquake strikes the capital city of Haiti.  The government of that country estimates that 200,000 people are killed.

[Jan. 17] At the request of Cardinal Francis George, President of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, San Rocco has a special collection for the people of Haiti. This second collection is taken up immediately after the regular collection and is presented in the procession.

[Jan. 18-21] Father Gilligan goes on retreat up in Mundelein, with other priests of the local vicariate.  The retreat master is Father Kevin Huber, of the Diocese of Gary.  The retreat is a good occasion for priests to evaluate pastoral service to people. 

[Jan. 22] Father Gilligan meets with Father Dave Simonetti of St. James parish, Sauk Village, to discuss common pastoral challenges.

[Jan. 24] Before Sunday Mass, at 9:15 a.m., the children and teachers involved in religious education go over to the church building.  Bernie Barasa is welcomed as a catechumen in a brief liturgy, with only the Gospel as a Scripture reading; the Rtie of Christian Initation is followed, the RCIA.  Her mother, Evelyn, is also present, gives her consent, and participates in the rite.  During the Mass that follows at 10 a.m., we also pray for Bernie and her family.  During Lent, Bernie will participate in the usual scrutinies, as with other candidates for baptism. The First Scrutiny is on the Third Sunday of Lent.

[Jan. 26] The finance committee of San Rocco Oratory meets in South Holland.  Pete Ruhl, formerly of Citizens Bank, presents his summary of recommendations, based on the recent audit by Crowe Horwath. The committe considers first of all how to implement the recommendations given for the counting and deposit of the Sunday collection.

[Feb. 9] Father Gilligan makes his annual report to Bishop Perry, on the state of things at San Rocco Oratory.  The report concerns the Sunday bulletin, the choir, the finance committee, unusual expenses in 2009, religious education, membership, and appropriate delay of baptism, in the case of parents who do not go to Mass on Sunday. 

[Feb. 17] Ash Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., a Liturgy of the Word, with distribution of ashes, takes place at The Park in Olympia Fields. At 7 p.m., another Liturgy of the Word also includes the distribution of ashes, as usual, at San Rocco Oratory.  After that, a Vigil liturgy is celebrated at Panozzo Funeral Home in Chicago Heights, for the late Raffaele  ("Ralph") Biasella, who died Feb. 14.  He was 100 years old.

[Feb. 18] We celebrate the funeral of Raffaele Biasella.  He was the father of Emidia Bonanotte, wife of Cleto. 

[Feb. 19] As in years past, on Fridays of Lent, we pray together Stations of the Cross and Vespers, from the Leaflet Missal prayerbook. 

[March 7]  Today, following the recommendation of the recent audit, a new procedure is begun, for processing the Sunday collection.  At least three people count the donations immediately after Mass, total it up, and bring it to the night deposit right afterwards.  Mike Prisco helps coordinate this work; he is familiar with the procedure for some years.  A stamp is used to endorse the checks.   A roster is used to record the amounts given and the names given of those donors who wish to have their donations documented.  A tamper evident bag, with a deposit log, is prepared each Sunday.  This procedure is intended to give greater security to the processing of the collection. 

[March 10] Cardinal George speaks at the monthly meeting of the Homewood Rotary Club, on the relationship between religion and public life.  His talk is given at the Flossmoor Country Club, with about 200 people attending.

[March 24] Adele and Jesse Propst have their baby baptized at Sunday Mass, Angelo James Propst.  Angelo's older sister, Jessica, regularly serves at Mass with us.  The family is from Midlothian.  Like many others in the San Rocco family, they drive in to 22nd Street on Sunday morning.  In the afternoon, the DiGiovanni clan celebrates its annual reunion, with a St. Joseph Day Table, at the Lutheran church hall in Steger.  The Lutherans have a bigger kitchen. 

[March 26] In addition to Stations and Vespers, Benediction is celebrated in the evening at San Rocco Oratory.

[March 30] Father Gilligan gives a talk on the most important days preceding Easter Sunday.  He does this in the afternoon at St. Stanislaus Parish, Posen.

[April 4]  Easter Sunday brings San Rocco Oratory a full house, in part because of the baptism at this Mass of Sofia Rose Patrizi, daughter of Louis and Anna.  The family flew in from Naples a week ago.  The choir performed well, doing Sunday Morning, In Bread that Is Broken, We Bring You Praise, One Is Holy, and Morning Has Broken, all in full, four-part harmony.  This was the first time the choir sang Morning Has Broken.  All these songs were directed by our guest musician, Dennis Peters, from Holy Ghost Church in South Holland.  Dennis also played the organ for most of the songs.  Mary Jones was in town for Easter break and helped with the soprano section. The Easter collection was $1,279.

Carmella Johnson, the grandmother of the baby baptized, said that this baptism "was the most beautiful I have ever seen."  The liturgy itself, especially with traditional singing, can be inspiring and memorable.  Carmella is the sister of Frances Pena.   

[April 6] The finance council of San Rocco Oratory meets in South Holland.  The new collection procedure is evaluated; it seems to be going well.  (Leroy Czarnecki and Paul Preuss have been helping regularly.  There are about eight others who rotate their service, week by week.) Noteworthy is the fact that, for the past two months, the Sunday collection has increased.  Some bills, however, remain outstanding because we do not yet have the funds needed. We also consider a new budget for the coming fiscal year, studying what Pete Ruhl has carefully prepared, from the Quickbooks program.   Special consideration is given to landscapting and snow plowing work at the oratory.  John Graham is getting competitive bids for both services. 

[April 7] The large banner of the risen Christ is installed in the sanctuary, for the Easter Season.  This new banner, paid for by Chicago Archdiocese insurance, replaces the similar banner that was destroyed in the 2007 fire.  As in years past, the banner covers the large crucifix on the back wall and is in place up to and including Pentecost Sunday. 

[April 11] We celebrate the funeral of Rose Romano, mother of Rose Marie Vena, wife of Larry Vena. 

[Wednesday, May 5] Bob Rigali comes down from Daprato-Rigali Studios, on the northwest side of Chicago.  Bob studies the statue of St. Rocco, which his firm had refurbished after the December, 2007, fire; Bob considers developing a shrine for the statue, in the same location.  On this day, in the late afternoon additional security cameras are installed around the church building and the hall, especially protecting the air conditioners. Video evidence is useful for the police.    Signs are also mounted, warning of this new security.

[May 8] A special meeting is held in the church hall and the church proper, with the confirmandi, the sponsors, and family.  Final instructions are given by Yvette Betancourt, Lucy Czarnecki, and Mary Rodriguez, the catechists.  Marta Planera and the catechists help prepare the church, as well.  Father Gilligan meets with the people and answers questions. Additional chairs are set out towards the front.

 A leak in one of the furnaces brings an emergency technician in from Nicor; he shuts off the gas, for satety.  The leak will be fixed Monday or Tuesday; in the meantime, there is no heat in the church building.

[May 9] At 9:30 a.m., Bernie Barasa is baptized at the baptismal font, by Father Gilligan. Her fellow students and their families are present, gathered in the open space in front of the font.  As usual, those present take part in the liturgy by singing responses and acclamations.

 At 10 a.m., Bishop Perry begins to celebrate Mass with the San Rocco community; he is assisted by Deacon Ray Deabel and Deacon Dennis Rozak.  Bishop Perry preaches the sermon; he also gives confirmation and first Holy Communion. During the sermon, Bishop Perry asks the parents and sponsors to do their best to raise the children Catholic; he also gives public honor to the mothers and grandmothers present.  In this liturgy, Bernie is confirmed by Bishop Perry and receives her first Holy Communion.  In our religious education program, there are eight chldren in total. Photographs are taken after the Mass; after that, there is a simple reception in the St. Anthony hall, to the east of the main parking lot.

The Sunday buleltin on this day includes a statement from Pope Benedict, reaffirming the conclusions of the 2005 synod of bishops in Rome.  In 2007, the Pope repeated their teaching that "many people lack a good understanding of confirmation."  Therefore, he asks bishops to study the matter, in their local and regional conferences.  (For us, that's the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.)  Then, says the Pope, the bishops are to decide which order of the three sacraments of initiation best represents the Eucharist as the climax and summit of Christian initation.  The bishops' conferences, he says, are to make this decision "in close conjuction with the Roman Curia."  In other words, they are to figure out whether confirmation would best precede first Communion or follow it. Just in case they have trouble making the right decision, they will have the help of the Curia, that is, the head of the Congregation for Divine Worship, who as of today is Cardinal Canizares.

Because today is Mothers' Day, we sing after Communion the hymn Love without Limit.   

[May 23] Today, Pentecost Sunday, is the last Sunday of Easter.  After today, the Easter candle is removed from the sanctuary and put back in its place, in the baptistry.

[May 30] Because tomorrow is Memorial Day, the choir sings (for the first time) a special arrangement of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  Although several members are absent, nonethelss, the choir does an excellent job.  This arrangement is by the renowned English composer, John Rutter.  Celeste Jones directs and accompanies the hymn from the piano.

[Saturday, June 5] Today, at 11 a.m., we celebrate the baptism of the daughter of Abby and Chris James (MacKenzie).

[June 6] Today, the Feast of Corpus Christi, Dennis Peters comes once again as guest organist and choir director.  At the end of Mass, we march outside in procession, to the grotto for the Corpus Christi devotion.

[Tuesday, June 15] At 6:30 p.m. in South Holland, the finance council of San Rocco Oratory meets.

[Saturday, June 26] Today, we celebrate the funeral of Cesare Panici, twin brother of Rosario.

[July 4] Again, the choir and people sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic, using John Rutter's arrangement.

[Sunday, July 11] For their 50th wedding anniversary, Armando and Giovanna Zomparelli receive a special blessing, right after Sunday Mass.  Their extended family is there to celebrate with them.   

[Saturday, July 24] At l p.m., we celebrate the Quincenera of Anali Gomez,  sister of Sara.  Except for the three collects and the sermon, the Mass is entirely in Spanish.  At the end, several gifts are blest and presented to Anali.

[Sunday, July 25] As he did last Sunday, Father Tommaso Petrongelli presides at Sunday Mass.  Four songs are sung in Italian, during the course of the liturgy.     At 5 p.m. Father Gilligan celebrates Mass also at St. James parish, Sauk Village.  

[Aug. 4] The finance committee of San Rocco Oratory meets in South Holland.  The annual report is reviewed carefully, so that it can be submitted on time.   Because of unusual, one-time expenses in the past year, our financial reserves are exhausted.  As things stand, we are just getting by, Sunday after Sunday.  The committee suggests that we ask the congregation to give more generously. The committee recommends that Yvette Betancourt take over administration of the hall, from Fred LoBue, who is retiring from this task.  He lives too far south now (in Grant Park), to drop by the hall as needed, he says. 

[Aug. 8] For the San Lorenzo festival, Mayor Alex Lopez himself takes part in the procession from the Amaseno Lodge.  Livio Planera is the master of ceremonies. Sunday Mass begins around 11:30, with a full church.  The choir is well prepared. The singing is excellent, on the part of the people and the choir. The litany of St. Lawrence is sung at the beginning of Mass.   The Sequence (hymn before the Gospel) also commemorates St. Lawrence. During the preparation of the gifts, as the statues are incensed, the people sing in honor of St. Rocco. At the end of the Roman Canon (the first Eucharistic Prayer), the bread is blest.  It is distributed at the end of the liturgy. 

[Aug. 9] At St. Anthony's in Frankfort, we celebrate the funeral of Dennis Nardoni, 67.  He is survived by his mother, Ann, his wife, Claire, and numerous children and grandchildren.  Dennis was a faithful member of San Rocco Oratory; he helped build the new church.  The funeral is held at St. Anthony's because of the large number of participants; there are about 600 people.  The country of St. Lucia sent up ten representatives, because Dennis' resort there is a major part of the local economy.  Father Gilligan presides, at the request of Claire; Father Greg Skowron, pastor, concelebrates.  Deacon Bill Boucek helps with the liturgy. The choir director and organist is Lisa Kristina, originally from St. Agnes, Chicago Heights. The First Reading is proclaimed by Jim Kaberna II; the Second Reading, by Denise Nardoni. 

[Aug. 13] Many members of St Rocco Oratory join people from other parishes at the showing of the movie, The 13th Day, about the Fatima apparitions in 1917.  People gather at the Holiday Star Theater in Park Forest.  Afterwards, Father Dave Simonetti delivers some reflections and answers questions, right in the theater.

[Aug. 24] We celebrate the funeral of Mary Dalie, nee Sylvester, 90.  In earlier years, she was an active member of St. Rocco parish. The readings are proclaimed by Christy, a granddaughter; the eulogy is given by Ryan, another granddaughter.

[Aug. 27] Mayor Alex Lopez, 44,  dies suddenly, of a heart attack. He is a member of St. Agnes parish, Chicago Heights.

[Sunday, Aug. 29] The First and Second Readings are proclaimed by two 10-year olds, from the Onofrio familly; one of the Mass intentions is for Margaret Onofrio.  Joe and Susan Grilli celebrate 50 years of marriage.  Mike Prisco announces that Mike Jr. and his wife Monica have a new baby girl.  Laura Ludwa comes by, from The Park in Olympia Fields, to say good-bye to her many friends at San Rocco; she is moving to California.  At the end of Mass, Jeremy Garcia receives a special blessing; he is now three years old.  Afterwards, Carl and Celia Bauer join the Oratory; they live in the neighborhood, on the Hill.

[Sept. 2]  In the morning, Father Gilligan presides at the funeral of Margaret McInerney, a resident of the The Park at Olympia Fields. This Mass takes place at Infant Jesus of Prague Church, Flossmoor.  

[Sept. 5] After Sunday Mass, we celebrate the baptism of Sullivan ("Sully") James Smith.  He is the great grandson of Dolores Renzi. He is also the son of James and Gina Smith. After Mass, Brian and Dawn Moreno join the Oratory community.

[Sept 16] Over the air conditioner on the south side of the hall, a set of two night lights are installed, with a motion detector.  These lights are a deterrent to thieves, in addition to the signs in two languages,  video cameras, cages, and 400 feet of barbed wire already installed.

[Sept. 19] The San Rocco community welcomes two new members:  Amy Green and her daughter, Tatiana.  They live on the hill, in the neighborhood.  Amy is the granddaughter of Carl & Celia Bauer.

[Sept. 20] At a local priests' meeting, at Infant Jesus of Prague parish, pastoral concerns dominate the discussion.  Steve Kubiczky of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council is present.  He asks the priests  to get lay people to join this council, especially people from this area.  This council is a group of lay people from all over the diocese, to give advice to Cardinal George.  The southern suburbs, however, are not well represented. As of now, there is only one representative, from St. Jude's in South Holland. 

[Sept. 21] The San Rocco finance committee meets in South Holland.  With Yvette Betancourt, the committee reviews policies for the use of the hall, as well as the annual report recently submitted.

[Sept. 23] At 7 p.m., we celebrate a Mass for the Dead, in memory of Gino Bragaloni, who passed away one year ago at the age of 65.  His son, Tom,  and his family are here from Latina, Italy, in part, for this liturgy. Gino's daughter-in-law, Marzia,  has prepared a memorial statement for the occasion.  Other family members and friends also take part in the Mass: Rosemary Petrongelli reads the memorial of Gino; John Ianucci reads the first Scritpure reading.  Matteo Petrongelli, 7, serves the Mass.  Marilyn Jobbe helps with Communion.  The widow, Rita Bragaloni, is the niece of Italo and Americo Petrongelli.

[Sept. 26] At 11:15 a.m., we celebrate the baptism of Ariel Bretvelt, daughter of Kenneth Bretvelt and Erica Bauer, daughter of Carl and Cecilia Bauer.  The parents were married in 2006; the family is from Watseka, Illinois. 

Also, today, Bill and Gerri Reichert join the San Rocco community; they are from Crete.

[Saturday, Oct. 2] We celebrate the Quinceneras of Yesinia Munoz, sister of Elizabeth.

[Sunday, Oct. 3] This is Respect Life Sunday.  We sing "Lord of All Life."

[Friday, Oct. 8] We celebrate the funeral of Sue Ziccardi, mother of Ken, who gives the eulogy. Her grandson, John, reads the First Reading from Ecclesiastes.  Frank and Kayla, grandchilldren, serve the Mass.  Sandra, daughter-in-law, helps with Communion.  Jeanette Dandurand leads the singing and plays the organ, as needed, to help the people participate.

[Saturday, Oct. 16] From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Bishop Perry's Men's Conference meets in the hall at San Rocco Oratory. After breakfast, Father David Simonetti speaks on "Holding on to our faith in difficult times."  This is a gathering for men only.

[Sunday, Oct. 17] During Sunday Mass, we celebrate the baptism of Nena Lucia Prisco, daughter of Michael and Monica Prisco.

[Oct. 19] Priests of the Chicago Archdiocese meet at the Drury Lane in Oak Brook.  Father Michael Joncas flies down from the Minneapolis/St Paul Archdiocese, to help us implement the new translation of the Mass, due to go into effect in Advent, 2011.

[Sunday, Oct. 24] A spaghetti dinner is held in the hall, from noon until 5 p.m.  Cost is $10; those five and under are free.  Mayor Sam Ciambrone organizes this event.  With attendance in excess of 300 individuals, this dinner is a great success. 

[November 7] During the month of November, a table of remembrance is set up in the vestibule.  Presented on this table are numerous photos of deceased friends and relatives, as well as holy cards from funerals. 

[November 25] Thanksgiving Day Mass is celebrated at 9 a.m., to allow more time to cook the turkey, as usual.  The usual bin for food for the poor is set up in the vestibule of the church building.  This food is distrbuted through the Jones Center in Chicago Heights.

[November 28]  In the Sunday bulletin, the annual financial report is published for the congregation; a copy is sent to the regional vicar and the director of finance for the Chicago Archdiocese.

{Saturday, December 25]  The Christmas liturgy is well celebrated and well attended.  After numerous rehearsals in November and December, the choir sings various Christmas carols before Mass.  During the liturgy, they sing both the Angels' Carol and Still, Still, Still, by John Rutter, as well as Of the Father's Love Begotten and a new setting of Silent Night, by Ron Klusmeier. As usual for Christmastime and Eastertime, we sing the Missa de Angelis for the Kyrie, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei.  For the Gospel Procession, the choir sings Mozart's Alleluia: Round of Praise. Incense is used, as on other major feasts.

[Tuesday, Dec. 27] At St. Agnes Church, we celebrate the funeral of Tony Anselmo, father of Lou.  Father John Siemanowski presides; Father Gilligan concelebrates.  Although Tony was able to join in Mass often at San Rocco, especially in the past few years, his home parish is St. Agnes. There is a small lead group, the "Resurrection Choir" which helps the congregation in their sung prayer.  Carl Opat, parish music director, leads the singing.

[Wednesday, Dec. 28] At San Rocco, we celebrate the funeral of Rosario Panici, twin brother of the late Cesare Panici. Both have been regular participants in Sunday Mass, faithfully.  The church building is filled, with participants from as far away as Amaseno, Italy, and Toronto, Canada.  Some of the prayers of the Mass, notably the collects and the Eucharistic Prayer, are proclaimed in Italian.  Rosario is survived by his wife, Filomena, and numerous descendants.

[Friday, Dec. 31] Again at San Rocco, we celebrate the funeral of Raymond Rossi, husband of the late Genevieve, who was buried from San Rocco a year ago in December.  Raymond is survived by his daughter, Pam.  His grandson, Graham, reads the Scripture, as he did a year ago.