St. Matthew hosts Columbine speaker
The Peace and Justice Committee and Youth Ministry of St. Matthew Parish, 1001 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, will host a speaker from Columbine High School at 7 p.m. April 1. Heidi Johnson was in the the school library at the time of the shooting. She will share her experience and answer questions from area teens.

Follow the path of Jesus in Oak Forest
Members of the Oak Forest Council of Churches, including St. Damian Parish, invite area Christians to follow the path Jesus walked the last week of his life. The service begins at 2 p.m. on Palm Sunday, April 8, at Oak Forest United Methodist Church, 159th Street and Laurel Avenue, and moves on to the other churches. There will be a dramatic reading and music at each stop. A bus will be available to transport some people; those with vans are encouraged to drive and invite people to ride along. For information, call the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection at (708) 687-2170.

Pathways offers youth leadership prizes
Pathways Awareness Foundation is offering young people up to $1,000 in prizes for showing how their parishes are demonstrating leadership in including persons with disabilities in their youth communities. Called Junior Open Hearts, the awards are similar to the group’s landmark efforts to honor houses of worship that display such openness to those with disabilities. Deadline for entries is April 6. For information, call (800) 955-2445.

New K of C council for firefighters
The Knights of Columbus is starting its first Firefighter and Paramedic Council in its 119-year history, and invites all Catholic, male firefighters to consider joining. Father Thomas A. Mulcrone will serve as chaplain. Firefighters or paramedics who wish to join or are already members of other Knights of Columbus councils can attend meetings at 7 p.m. April 19 and 20 at the Chicago Fire Academy, 558 W. Dekovan in Chicago. For information, call John Muldoon at (708) 349-8926 or Bill Kugelman at (773) 267-5839.