a column of benevolent gossip
Parish potpourri
— The Blue Island Knights of Columbus honored all the religious sisters serving their local area at a Mass May 19 at St. Isidore Parish (Blue Island), with dinner and entertainment afterward. . . . When St. Cyprian Parish (River Grove) had a walk-a-thon May 12 as part of its 80th anniversary year, pastor Father Gene Gratkowski led over 250 walkers in the three-mile trek. His T-shirt read: “Leader of the Flock,” and the flock pledged over $20,000. . . . St. Matthew’s (Schaumburg) is blessed to have Chef Lou Buchenot. Each year he treats the seniors to his gastronomic skills. A culinary arts instructor at Harper College for 35 years, he also does a class on “Wines of the World.” The seniors munched on a variety of wholesome salads with homemade dressings May 9, with some Chef Buchenot-humor on the side. . . . LTC Ray Niles returned safely to St. Juliana’s (N. Oketo) after two years of active duty in the service, and formally thanked his parish family for all their prayers. . . . When Prince of Peace Parish (Lake Villa) does its “e-Bay on the lawn, only better” rummage sale June 14-16, they hope to clear at least last year’s grand total of $33,000. Kevin Hanrahan says big ticket items make the difference.On a Marian Mission
— Daughter of St. Paul Sister Anne Flanagan visited the Marian shrine of Covadonga last year, in a region of Spain that never fell under Muslim rule. The people had prayed to Mary, and built the shrine in thanksgiving. Flanagan came home wanting to rekindle the devotion of saying The Angelus. Her logic: We admire Muslims who put aside everything to pray five times a day— the Angelus is the Christian’s “call to prayer” three times a day. Remember how it starts? “The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary; And she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary full of grace ...” Flanagan and some friends, put together a gorgeous YouTube promo of the Angelus on the Internet, showing the words, and sacred scenes, with the Daughters of St. Paul choir singing “Ave Maria.” You can go to www.YouTube.com and type “Angelus” in the search line to view it. If you want a copy of The Angelus in large print, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Church Clips, 640 N. LaSalle, Suite 390, Chicago, IL 60610. (Write “Angelus” in the corner.)Small world?
— On June 3, St. Emeric Parish (Country Club Hills) celebrates the 1,000th birthday of its patron saint with a dinner- dance at Gaelic Park. He was the son of the 11th century’s St. Stephen, King of Hungary. The 15th century explorer, Americus Vespucci, was named for St. Emeric, and America was named for him. Without St. Emeric the new world might have been called “Not India.”People making news
— Congressman Henry Hyde selected our own Misericordia to receive the proceeds from one of his retirement celebrations in Washington D.C. Sister Rosemary Connelly, Father Jack Clair and Kevin Connelly attended the event. . . . At Father George Clements’ recent 50th jubilee celebration, he and the audience enjoyed the evening’s keynote speaker as Lou Gossett, Jr., who played Clements in the 1987 made-for-TV movie “The Father Clements Story,” took the mike. . . . Father Chris Doering, pastor of Our Lady of Victory (W. Agatite), will be walkin’ the line as “the man in black” when he performs on stage at St. Bart’s carnival (W. Addison) 7 p.m. June 8 doing the legendary Johnny Cash.‘The green party’
— Irish Fest 2007 happens May 25-28 at Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th St., Oak Forest. Tommy Makem, American English, Tommy Fleming & Band from Co. Sligo, so many more entertainers; the finest in live Irish theater and storytelling, Gaelic football, a red hair-and-freckle-face contest, Irish dog breeders exhibit—call (708) 687-9323 and find out for yourself, bucko.‘That’s amore’ and more
— If you’ve ever enjoyed linguine and clams in a restaurant like La Fontanella’s at 24th and Oakley (Chicago’s other Little Italy), you were in St. Michael Parish (24th Place). Lee DeMars has written a brief historical overview of the parish’s struggle to survive during a wave of Fascistas who held sway there after WWI. Finally a heroic Scalabrini pastor rallied parishioners and St. Michael prevailed. DeMars and his wife Therese grew up in the neighborhood. DeMars interviewed Sister Augustine, principal for 50 years, shortly before she died. He says “It’s a great story that has mostly gone untold. Even today when I’m in the neighborhood, people repeat what their grandfathers said about the era.” Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope at Church Clips, 640 N. LaSalle, Suite 390, Chicago, IL 60610. DeMar’s will send his story: It’s an offer you can’t refuse.Biloxi or bust
— Catholic New World staff writer Kristine Peterson is back from a week in Katrina-ravaged Mississippi. A group of 15 students and staffers from Dominican University (River Forest) teamed up to work at three house repair sites, organized by a parish St. Vincent DePaul Society in Biloxi. Tom and Phyllis O’Connell of Incarnation Parish (Palos Heights) veterans of 10 volunteer trips to the area, showed them the ropes. Anyone interested in helping can contact Mary Frances Ford at [email protected]. Over-thecounter meds, bandages, and such are needed at the Biloxi clinic, at (228) 267-0008.Golden day
— Richard and Therese Dvorak of Divine Providence Parish (Westchester) will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary June 8, renewing vows at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Melrose Park). It’s the parish where Therese and her nine siblings grew up and where she was married. Richard grew up in St. Simeon’s (Bellwood) with five siblings. Therese has two brother priests, Fathers Alex and Gino Dalpiaz, C.S. The Dvorak’s four children and eight grandchildren will help them celebrate with family and friends.
Send your benevolent gossip to Church Clips, 640 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60610; or e-mail to [email protected].
Issue of May 27 – June 9, 2007
The following items are condensed. For the complete articles, please read the print edition of The Catholic New World. To subscribe, call (312) 655-7777.
News Update
Documentary to be shown
Film screenings of “The Invisible Mexicans of Deer Canyon” will be held at three locations June 8-9. The film will be shown at Basil/Visitation Parish, 842 W. Garfield Blvd., June 8 at 7 p.m.; Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S. Cornell Ave., June 9 at 1 p.m.; and Seven Holy Founders, 12400 S. Ada St., Calumet Park, June 9 at 7 p.m.
Following each screening, the film’s director and writer, John Carlos Frey, will lead a panel discussion about the film. The film details the inhumane conditions in which many immigrants in the United States live. The presentation will be in Spanish and English. The screenings are sponsored by the Vicariate VI Hispanic Ministry Office, the Romero Scholarship Program at CTU, and the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform. For more information, call (708) 785-6168 or email [email protected].
News Digest
Pope tells Latin Americans to focus on Jesus
On a five-day visit to Latin America, Pope Benedict XVI identified a host of social and religious challenges and said the church should respond by focusing more clearly on the person of Jesus Christ.
“This is the faith that has made America the ‘continent of hope.’ Not a political ideology, not a social movement, not an economic system: faith in the God who is love —who took flesh, died and rose in Jesus Christ,” the pope said on the final day of his May 9-13 visit to Brazil.
Lemont student wins contest
Ben Groselak, a fifth-grader at Saints Cyril and Methodius School in Lemont, has won the national American Immigration Lawyers Association essay contest. Groselak won the Chicago area essay contest in the fall and then entered into the national competition. His essay was in response to the prompt, “Why I am glad that America is a nation of immigrants.”
Ben and his family will travel to Orlando, where Ben will read his essay during the American Immigration Law Foundation’s benefit dinner June 15. In addition, his essay will be recorded into The Congressional Record and a flag will be flown over the Capitol on his behalf.
New pastoral letter in works: cardinal
Cardinal George announced plans for a new pastoral letter at a May 11 event for archdiocesan employees.
The event was a discussion, prayer service and reception at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, in honor of Cardinal George’s 10th anniversary as Archbishop of Chicago, for staff members at the Pastoral Center. The event, hosted by Chancellor Jimmy Lago, included the presentation of a new poster featuring a map with all the parishes in the archdiocese.
Cardinal George said he has begun working on the letter, which will focus on spirituality and faith as a Catholic way of life, but not yet settled on its final form.
Cardinal honored by USML/Mundelein Seminary
Cardinal George received an honorary degree from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary at the May 5 convocation. Later that day, Father Thomas Baima, the provost, read an announcement at the gala dinner given in honor of the cardinal’s 10th anniversary as archbishop of Chicago.
Pope Benedict on politicians and Holy Communion
During a press conference on his flight to São Paulo, Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI discussed whether Catholic legislators who support abortion should continue to receive Holy Communion. His visit to Latin America happens to come in the wake of the Socialist Party’s successful efforts to legalize abortion in Mexico.
Some Mexican bishops have implied that Catholic legislators who voted to legalize abortion will have automatically excommunicated themselves when the first abortion occurs.
Ordination 2007
Cardinal George ordained 13 new priests for the Archdiocese of Chicago May 19 at Holy Name Cathedral.
Most of the men hail from Poland, Central and South America and Africa, with one born and raised in the Archdiocese of Chicago. They range in age from 26 to 42, and many pursued other careers before discerning God’s call to the priesthood.
In his homily, the cardinal told the soon-to-be-ordained that modern society has difficulty understanding their ministry and their mission.
Program helps people answer God’s call to serve
God calls all shapes and sizes to serve in parish ministry. On May 20, 39 individuals received certificates for completing “Called & Gifted,” a two-year formation and academic program for volunteer parish leaders. Bishop Francis Kane was the main celebrant at the 3 p.m. celebration Mass at Incarnation Parish, Palos Hills.
Participants meet once a week for academic courses on topics such as Scripture, church history, peace and justice, catechism and the sacraments. In addition, they meet one Saturday a month for a spiritual formation day.
