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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Leftovers —

    This candid photo by Karen Callaway was taken while on assignment for a different story (see P. 32). It shows Father Melvin James , SVD , during a Mass in the chapel at Techny , with a family bringing up the gifts. Can you find the little stealth gift-bearer?
  • New beginnings —

    With news of the recent reopening of Loyola University’s Madonna della Strada Chapel , comes awareness that Steve Betancourt , former director of music and organist at Immaculate Conception Church (W. Talcott), accepted that position for Madonna della Strada Chapel in recent months. He assisted in the dedication ceremonies of the newly restored chapel and will assist the university in building their program of music for worship, as well as facilitate the installation of a newly constructed 70-rank pipe organ during the fall of 2008.
  • Show your colors —

    This is a pink and blue “Support Life” ribbon magnet (3-7/8” x 8”) available from Illinois Right to Life for a $4 donation (shipping included). It can be placed on a car or other surface that will attract a magnet. Call (312) 422-9300 to order by using a charge card or send a check to make your donation to: Illinois Right to Life Committee, 65 E. Wacker, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601.
  • Milestones —

    Sr. Marilyn Kofler , completed 11 years of ministry at the arch’s Pastoral Center Sept. 28, while marking 46 years of service to the people of God as a Sister of Providence. . . . Daughter of St. Paul Sister Thecla’s 50th anniversary was celebrated at the 11 a.m. Mass Sept. 30, at Old St. Mary Church , (S. Michigan). She had a chance to make her retreat in Rome this year with other jubilarians and had a pilgrimage to Fatima .
  • Parish potpourri —

    St. Dismas Parish (Waukegan) invites “children’s adoration of the Blessed Eucharist” from 3:15-3:45 p.m. every second Tuesday. The whole family is welcome, especially the kids. . . . Anna Belle O’Shea’s first liturgy as the arch’s new director of liturgies and music at the Office for Divine Worship , happened to be at 3 p.m. Oct. 7, at Holy Name Cathedral (N. State). It was also the same liturgy where her dad, Joe O’Shea of the St. Vincent DePaul Society , and Queen of Martyrs Parish (Evergreen Park), was one of the honorees of the Christifidelis award. . . . St. Odilo (Berwyn) parishioners will be planting 700 flower bulbs starting at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 3 ! . . . Edward Lilly , music director at St. Ferdinand Parish (W. Barry), from 1976-1988, celebrated his 60th birthday by giving an organ recital at St. John Brebeuf Church (Niles).
  • Long blue line —

    Students of St. Richard School held a special celebration in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, Oct. 1, the patron saint/protector of police and law enforcement officers among other entities. So they honored the CPD as well. Commander Leo Schmitz and officers of the 8th District attended the prayer service and met with students.
  • Onward huskies? —

    The Catholic New World’s former intern and recent staff reporter, Kristin ( Krissy ) Peterson , is spending a year in Bethel, Alaska, a town of about 6,000 people on the tundra of southwest Alaska. As a resident in the Joliet Diocese , Krissy is writing a journal periodically in the Tribune’s TribLocal.com blog. She calls her stories “ From Homer Glen to Alaska .” Here’s an excerpt from her first entry (there are others online): “I moved here at the beginning of August to work as a Jesuit Volunteer . I work full-time as the youth minister at the one Catholic church in Bethel, and I live in a community with five other volunteers, who work at different sites. … In a way, Bethel is a lot like other small towns in America. But the difference is that in most American small towns you can just go to the next town over if you were bored and wanted to go to the mall or the movie theatre. In Bethel, there is no next town over, and there are no roads that could take you there, and there aren’t any movie theatres or malls anyway. To many people, Bethel would sound boring, but my five housemates and I have really learned to enjoy some of the simple joys in life.” Clips will print some excerpts from Krissy, a recent alum of Dominican University (River Forest), from time to time, but you can go to http:// www.triblocal.com/Homer_Glen/Detail_View/view.html?type=stories&action=detail& sub_id=5751 and read her inspiring saga.
  • School days —

    When Mercy High School alumni celebrated their annual luncheon Oct. 20, one of the VIPs was Helen Docherty Harper , class of 1928, the earliest alum present. Growing up in Nativity of Our Lord Parish , (Bridgeport), and later St. Sabina (W. 78th Pl.), she’s now, at 99, a parishioner in St. Thomas More (S. California). A retired public school teacher, Harper volunteered at Dirkson Middle School in Calumet City into her 90s. (Mercy opened on S. Prairie Avenue in 1926, and the last “Mercy” graduation was 1972. After that it was known as Unity .) . . . St. Joseph High School (Westchester) marked its 50th anniversary Oct. 13 at a homecoming game and party.
  • Happy Halloween !