Dear Parishioners and Friends!

What a wonderful gift we have in a mother. How meaningful she is in our life. She is the embodiment of concern, love, happiness and selflessness -- the personification of the very best. When she is absent, the world becomes empty and hollow. Every year, we at St. Jerome's celebrate a mother, a virgin, a handmaid, a woman of humility. Her name is Mary (in original Aramaic -- Miriam -- meaning glorified). Each year on August 15 we leave our jobs, our homes, our obligations, and come to St. Jerome's Church. Coming to her is always like coming home and so it is again this year -- we will once again gather together to honor and celebrate her. We begin our preparation with our 9 day Novena, which will be different this year. 

The schedule for each night, as well as the names of the participating priests, can be found on this page. Our Novena begins Tuesday, August 6 and continues through Wednesday, August 14.  The Mass schedule during the Novena is as follows: weekdays  7:00 P.M., Saturday 5:30 P.M., and  Sunday 6:00 P.M. The rosary will be recited  half an hour before mass. Assumption Day Mass Schedule: 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. The procession begins after 9:00 A.M. mass and is followed by the solemn high Mass at 11:00 A.M.

Our BIG RAFFLE (1st prize $3,000) is a special excitement. We have enclosed two parish raffle tickets and would appreciate your support in buying or selling the tickets.  The drawing will be held on the feast day at 10 P.M. Please return your ticket stubs with the money as soon as possible. If you need more raffle tickets, please feel free to call the rectory. Thank you for your support.     As  has been our tradition throughout many decades, we will be serving:

- Delicious homemade food such as BBQ lamb and pork as well as other specialties.

- There will also be plenty of other Croatian delicacies available as well.  

- To order a whole lamb or  half of a lamb, please call the rectory in advance.

- You will also be entertained by live tamburica music, and this year five bands will perform.

- Games, bingo, and various other attractions for children will be there.  There will be some other good surprises....We thank you in advance for all your help.

May God bless you!  Gratefully yours,

Fr. Joe and Fr. Tomislav 

VELIKA GOSPA NOVENA 

Aug. 6, 2002 Tuesday 7:00 P.M. Fr. Joe Grbes, St. Jerome, Trust/Importance of the Family
Aug. 7, 2002 Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Fr. Paul Maslac, Sacred Heart, Milwaukee, The Faith Business and its Challenges
Aug. 8, 2002 Thursday 7:00 P.M. Fr. Jerome Kucan, guardian-Franciscan monastery, The Understanding of the Eucharist
Aug. 9, 2002 Friday 7:00 P.M. Fr. Mike Yakaitis, University of Chicago, Ecclesia/Church and Mary
Aug. 10, 2002 Saturday 5:30 P.M. Fr. Marko Puljic, custos of the Franciscans, Christian Virtues
Aug. 11, 2002 Sunday 6:00 P.M. Fr. Steve Bedenikovic, Sacred Heart,Chicago Sacraments - general
Aug. 12, 2002 Monday 7:00 P.M. Fr. Tomislav Puljic, St. Jerome, Discipleship/ How to be Catholic Today
Aug. 13, 2002 Tuesday 7:00 P.M. Fr. Marko Kozina, Franciscan monastery, Blessed Mother, the Channel & Link...
Aug. 14, 2002 Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Fr. Nick Dugandzic, Blessed Stepinac parish, "God's Most Precious Gift, the Gift of Each Other".

August 15, High mass at 11:00 A.M. Main celebrant Fr. Dusko Moro, OFM, a Franciscan father from Sinj and professor of theology in Split, Croatia.