a column of benevolent gossip
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Pastor's pooch —
OK, “pooches” this time. Father Ray Devereaux, pastor of St. Beatrice Parish (Schiller Park), has two gentle Swedish Valhunds ( herding dogs and cousins of the Corgi). He’s had Rill for 10 years, and he got Aidan as a puppy two years ago. Aiden sleeps under the secretary’s desk, barks dutifully at strangers, but takes his behavior cues from the secretary. As sole resident in the rectory, Father Devereaux says the pooches are companions who “wrap everyone around their paws.” -
Recalling 'Reek Sunday' —
Croagh Patrick, the second highest mountain in Ireland, became a pilgrimage magnet after St. Patrick himself spent Lent on its summit. On Reek Sunday (last one in July), 25,000 pilgrims climbed the mountain, many in their bare feet. The tradition has been uninterrupted for over 1,500 years. “Croagh Patrick has over 100,000 visitors annually with up to 30,000 pilgrims expected July 29,” according to Irish Catholic Church spokesmen. -
Be a good scout —
The nuns at the Poor Clare Monastery in Palos Park (12210 S. Will Cook Road) are looking for Boy Scouts and/or adults who want to be “good scouts.” It can be a badge project or an act of charity to complete some landscaping work, clearing paths, and maybe build a little bridge over a creek on the monastery grounds. You know, make it a spot for meditation rather than mosquitos. You can’t believe how many prayers of thanks helpers will receive! Volunteers can call the convent at (708) 361-1810. -
Parish potpourri —
They love softball at St. Linus Parish (Oak Lawn). Over 90 players participate in the Men’s Club league on Wednesday nights. . . . Cub Scout Pack 60 of St. Joseph Parish (Libertyville) recently received a letter of appreciation from Commander J. T. Barnhill of the U.S. Navy for the packages they sent an adopted battalion in Iraq. The collected items cost over $100 to ship to the outfit of the dad of one of the scouts. . . . The marching band of St. Eugene Parish (W. Foster) along with Immaculate Conception School (W. Talcott), took part in the July 4th Oriole Park Community Club parade, playing good Americana. . . . Congratulations to BVM Sister Laurene Brady, former parishioner and graduate of St. Mary of Celle School (Berwyn), celebrating her 50th year of religious life. She is currently serving in Ghana. . . . Ten members of the Biloxi Rescue Crew from St. Barbara Parish (Brookfield) continued their volunteer work at the Greater Food Depository in Chicago. . . . “Hot hymns” are hot items at St. Catherine-St. Lucy Parish (Oak Park). The entrance and recessionals on summer weekends are favorite hymns parishioners have submitted in advance. . . . LaVerne Edbrooke of St. Mary Parish (North Riverside) becomes new director of the trendy Fra Angelico Art Foundation in Riverside. . . . Tommie Howard is retiring after 18 years on the maintenance staff at Old St. Mary’s Church (S. Michigan), including its famous move from Wabash Ave. . . . Holy Rosary Parish (E. 113th St.) hosted a successful outdoor summer jazz concert July 20 with a barbeque and balmy weather. . . . Msgr. Michael Schmitz, pastor of the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (S. Woodlawn), ordained by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1982, just celebrated his 25th anniversary of priesthood. -
Loomin' large —
Fr. Mike Nacius, pastor of St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish (Matteson) is featured on two large billboards visible on I-57 and the Bishop Ford expressways. The “product” he’s pushing is clean air! Due to his parish’s participation in the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus “Clean Air Counts” program, they say they’ve reduced air pollution by more than 4,500 lbs. by installing energy-efficient lighting, and they’ve cut energy costs as well. -
Old home week —
St. Michael Parish (Orland Park) welcomed back a 1974 graduate of its school, Joseph Dowling. Ordained by Cardinal George in the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (the Cardinal’s community), Father Dowling celebrated his first Mass at St. Michael’s July 15. His parents, Joseph and Shirley, still parishioners, were present, along with his proud siblings. Dowling is an alum of Marist High School and Notre Dame University. He worked in the computer industry and as a teacher before joining the Oblates. -
Oops —
Clips is late with this school story: lucky students of St. Ladislaus (N. Lockwood) had a visit before summer vacation from two retired Tuskegee Airmen, Lt. Robert Martin and Col. Julius Jackson. During the day on which the heroes were honored and entertained, they fascinated the children with tales of their WWII adventures as the first group of African-American pilots in history. This year the surviving 300 men of the original 1,000, received the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington D.C. -
Going, going gone —
selected antique furnishings, books and art from the Sisters of Providence novitiate and St. Mary-of-the- Woods College will go on sale at an on-site auction Aug. 9-12 in Terre Haute, Ind. Proceeds will be divided between each institution. Restoration will then begin on the retained artwork. Event is free; visit: www.Sistersof Providence.org. -
Internet wisdom —
Experience is something you don’t get until after you need it.
Send your benevolent gossip to Church Clips, 640 N. LaSalle St., #390, Chicago, IL 60610; or e-mail to [email protected].
Issue of August 5 – August 18, 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
Annual labor justice day set
Since 1996, Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) has sponsored the annual Labor in the Pulpit program each Labor Day weekend.
The program recognizes the connections between faith and work and encourages churches to incorporate labor justice into their services during Labor Day weekend. IWJ organizes guest speakers and provides a variety of worship resources, including prayers, sacred texts, responsive readings, bulletin/newsletter inserts, and theological reflections on worker justice and Labor Day. For more information, visit www.iwj.org/outreach/labor_day.html.
Charities’ fests include fun, info
Catholic Charities will host free back-to-school fests from noon-4 p.m. Aug. 18 at local church sites.
The free festivals of games, food, snacks, soda, prizes and raffles, will also tell families about Catholic Charities’ programs for children from infancy through school age. The programs include Head Start, childcare and after-school care.
Fest sites include St. Bronislava, 8716 S. Colfa Ave.; St. Joseph, 4800 S. Paulina St.; Our Lady of Lourdes, 1449 S. Keeler Ave.; and St. James, 611 Maple St., in Maywood. Call Sylvia Barrera at (773) 446-6237 for more information
News Digest
Pope urges end to war’s ‘useless slaughter’
Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to the “useless slaughter” of war and asked that “the rule of law” replace the recourse to weapons.
When people succumb “to the temptations of evil” and launch violent conflicts and wars, “this stupendous garden that is the world” is opened up to hell, he said.
Document on nature of church aimed at Catholics, prelate says cardinal says
The recent Vatican document emphasizing that only the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of the means for salvation was created primarily as an instructional tool for Catholics and should not be read as a diminishing of other faith communities, according to the churchman who signed it.
On the contrary, said Cardinal William J. Levada, who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which issued the document July 10, the narrative itself points out that “outside the Catholic Church elements of holiness and truth do exist and that the Holy Spirit is working in those other communities and churches as well.”
CRS pairs up parishes, farmers to feed people
Conrad Muyaule, an agronomist working in his native Zambia, knew corn was not the best crop for the sandy soil and hot growing seasons of the Mongu district.
More traditional crops, such as cassava and sweet potatoes, would grow better, he reasoned, and provide small-scale farmers with a high-quality food source.
Muyaule is preaching that message as part of the Multiplication of Cassava and Sweet Potato Program, in cooperation with the Diocese of Mondo and Catholic Relief Services. It’s a program that would not be possible without the support of U.S. parishes and farmers, and the Foods Resource Bank, a consortium of 16 Christian relief and development agencies.
So far, the project has helped 700 farmers, said Muyaule. While it was once difficult to persuade farmers to participate, it has become easy, especially after a drought year that saw most of the corn crop fail. Corn was once subsidized by the Zambian government.
McCourt sees God’s humor in humanity
Malachy McCourt has written eight books, appeared in half-a-dozen movies, another half-dozen plays, did four soap operas, wrote articles for National Geographic and the New York Times, hosted at least two talk shows, claims to have once smuggled gold into India, and last year was the Green Party candidate for governor of New York, promising to recall the state’s National Guard from Iraq, and provide free health care and education all the way through college.
He only got 5 percent of the vote, but that’s not bad for a grade school dropout who years later received what may have been the only honorary elementary school diploma ever awarded by the Irish school system.
