Racism conference set for September
Pastoral leaders in Catholic schools and parishes are invited to “Building Communities of Love,” a conference on racism from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13 at Lexington House in Hickory Hills. The conference, sponsored by the Office of Catholic Schools and the Office for Racial Justice, will include a keynote address from Cardinal George and focus sessions led by Crossroads, an interfaith ministry for racial justice. Cost is $25 per person before July 15, $30 per person after July 15, or $100 for five people from the same parish, school of institution. For information, call Sue Hayden at the Office for Catholic Schools, (312) 751-5217.

AIDS conference includes silent auction
The 14th Annual National Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry Conference will be held July 19-24 at Loyola University’s Lakeshore Campus. The event will include a silent art auction open to the public from 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 23 A limited number of $25 tickets to the annual awards dinner are also available. Call toll-free (877) 311-6226 for information. All proceeds support the National Catholic AIDS Network.

Annual novena in honor of St. Anne
Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2751 W. 38th Pl., home of the National Shrine of St. Anne, will hold a novena in her honor beginning July 18 and concluding July 26, her feast day. Morning Mass and service will be at 9:30 a.m. weekdays, 10:30 a.m Sundays. Afternoon services will be at 2 p.m. weekdays, 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information about speakers and special events, call (773) 927-2421.

Go ‘Beyond the Sound Bite’ on Mideast
Holy Cross Father David B. Burrell will moderate “Beyond the Sound Bite: a Free Public Forum Toward Ending the Violence in Israel” 7-9 p.m. July 15 in McDonough Hall at St. Giles Parish, 1101 Columbian Ave., Oak Park. Panelists include Aaron Cohen, editor of the Jewish United Fund News; Cindy Levitt, coordinator of an organization working for a just solution to the conflict in Israel; and Ghada H. Talhami, a professor of politics at Lake Forest College. For information, call Patrick O’Brien at (708) 848-1555.