may 29, 2011 sixth sunday of easter - Parafia św. Ferdynanda w ...

May 29, 2011 6th Sunday of Easter Page FourCatholic Cemeteries of the Archdioceseof ChicagoMemorial Day Field MassesMonday, May 30, 201110:30AMCatholic Cemeteries invite you to join them for a FieldMass at cemeteries throughout the Archdiocese:• MARYHILL Cemetery, Niles, IL—Celebrant: Francis Cardinal George O.M.I.• ST. ADALBERT Cemetery, Niles, IL—Celebrant: Most Rev. Thad J. Jakubowski• ALL SAINTS Cemetery, Des Plaines, IL—Celebrant: Most Rev. John R. Manz• ST. JOSEPH Cemetery, River Grove, IL—Celebrant: Rev. Msgr. Michael M. Boland• ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL Cemetery,Palatine, IL— Celebrant: Most Rev. Joseph Perry• MOUNT CARMEL Cemetery, Hillside, IL—Celebrant: Rev. Marco Mercado• QUEEN OF HEAVEN Cemetery, Hillside, IL—Celebrant: Rev. Michael A. WulschFor information about Masses at other locationsplease check the Catholic Cemeteries website atwww.catholiccemeterieschicago.org or call708-449-6100Memorial Day — Monday, May 30MASS ScheduleSt. Ferdinand Parish will observeMemorial Day with one special Massat 9:00AM.NO MASSESat 7:00am, 8:00am and 7:00pm.In observance of Memorial Day ourParish Office will be closed.Across the country, Memorial Day is too oftentreated simply as the beginning of summer or,at least, of the vacation season. The elaborateMemorial Day celebrations of years past, which usedto be found in every town and city, are now few andfar between. Even among those who still observe MemorialDay, its original meaning has often been lost.As Chuck Sweeny, a columnist for the Rockford RegisterStar, once pointed out in a Memorial Day column,Memorial Day is not meant to honor veterans or thosecurrently serving in the Armed Forces; instead:It's the day we honor the memories of the armed forcesmembers who never made it to veteran status becausethey were killed fighting for their country in wars, policeactions, peace-keeping missions or terrorist attacks.When I was growing up, our entire village would turnout for the Memorial Day parade, which would end atthe village cemetery, where a bugler would play tapsand the names of all the local men (and boys) who haddied in any war would be read aloud. When the ceremonyended, people would spread out through thegraveyard, visiting the resting places of friends andloved ones, offering prayers and introducing the youngto those who had gone before.That's why, to me, Memorial Day always seemed themost Catholic of American holidays. Respect andhonor for the dead, and the connectionbetween the body that lies inthe ground, awaiting resurrection,and the soul that has gone before it--these are very Catholic themes.And much like All Souls Day(November 2), Memorial Day is avery special time to pray for thesouls in Purgatory, especially thosewho died in the service of ourcountry.