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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • God bless EWTN —

    Jan. 22 was the 35th annual March for Life -that-never-happened, if you watched any TV channel, except for Mother Angelica’s TV and radio network. A hundred thousand marchers carrying signs from “Grandparents for life,” to campus ministry banners and Knights of Columbus — Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox Christians, evangelicals — and the media ignored it. “Who has eyes to see, let him see” — sooo Biblical.

  • Live! It’s Saturday Night —

    They’re lining up for tickets to Resurrection Health Care’s Monarch Ball , March 1 at the Hilton Chicago. The gala’s big attraction, after honorary chair Cardinal George , will be SNL veteran comedian/ impressionist Darrell Hammond . Perfect timing during an election year, since he’s renowned for his take-no-prisoners, pitch-perfect impersonations of political honchos.

  • Onward and upward —

    A poll taken in 1999 to determine the “ Top 100 Catholics of the 20th Century ” saw Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen finish fourth behind Pope John Paul II , Mother Teresa and Padre Pio . Saintly company. On the diocesan level, Archbishop Sheen’s cause for sainthood will close with a 10:30 a.m. Mass Feb. 3, celebrated by Bishop Daniel Jenky , CSC , at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Peoria, Ill. At that time all documents, books and testimonies from people who knew him personally will be certified and forwarded to the Vatican . The Congregation for the Causes of Saints will then begin examining his writings and public teaching. The Mass and ceremonies will be televised live at 10 a.m. central time, over EWTN , with Ray Arroyo and Fr. Andrew Apostoli discussing the events. The show will be repeated at 11 a.m. Feb. 4. . . . A Chicago connection is Anna Belle O’Shea in Queen of Martyrs Parish (Evergreen Park). Her great grandmother was Sheen’s great aunt.

  • Parish potpourri —

    “ St. Ignatius Parish, Chicago, The First Century ,” is now on many a coffee table in homes along the North Shore. With 224 pages and over 200 color photos, the memento is $50. Call (773) 764-5936 to order this 100th anniversary keepsake book. . . . Aaron Petrulis , a Knight of Columbus and lifelong active parishioner of Nativity of Our Lord Parish (W. 37th St.), recently received a department commendation by the Chicago Police Department . . . . A new statue depicting Our Lady of Grace was dedicated Dec. 8 at St. Terrence Church (Alsip). She welcomes people at the entrance of the church and parish center.

  • Junior Clips —

    St. Anthony Parish (Roseland) celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Cultural Group and Dance Troupe for youth, guided by Alicia Renteria . They practice for two hours on Wednesdays and Fridays.

  • Onward huskies? —

    Here’s the latest out of Bethel, Alaska, from Jesuit Volunteer and former Catholic New World staffer Krissy Peterson : The historic Kuskokwim 300 dog sled race was Jan. 18-20, and begins in Bethel, Alaska, where Krissy is stationed. It recalls the first regular monthly mail route in 1906 when the Moravian Missionaries arrived in Bethel. Krissy says traditionally Jesuit Volunteers man at least one of the checkpoints. She worked the layover site in Kalskag, helping to record the time mushers arrived and how many dogs they had. She saw how the mushers put their dogs’ need for food and shelter above their own comforts. The race has no age or gender discrimination and attracts the world’s top mushers. It’s second to the Iditarod . Weather this year was mild.

  • How it works —

    Our Lady of Hope Parish (Rosemont) calls it the Sandwich Ministry . During a weekend, 400-600 sandwich bags are distributed at all Masses. The enclosed instructions say to include chips, fruit, cookies, napkins, etc. with a sandwich, and return the filled bags the following weekend. Next, they are delivered to St. John Brebeuf Church (Niles) and a man known as “ Uncle Pete ” delivers them on his daily visits to shelters, schools, individuals and families.

  • Handle with care —

    A new Way of the Cross booklet meditates on Christ’s hands — those he used in life to bless and heal. The illustrations by Fulvia Simonato are contemplation- in-art. The brief paragraph accompanying each station is written by a different mega-Christian, from popes ( John XXIII and Benedict XVI ) to Dorothy Day and Archbishop Oscar Romero . You can read these stations in church, chapel, with a shut-in or at the dining room table with the family. Call Pauline Books & Media for “ My Wounded Hands ,” at (312) 346-4228. It is $2.95 plus shipping.

  • Years of grace —

    Mercy Sister Carol Mucha recently marked 50 years of religious life. She knew it was a big deal, and celebrated accordingly with fellow sisters, family members and friends. The Mass at St. Alexander’s (Palos Heights) was followed by a luncheon where the panorama of those service-filled years was woven by those who lived them with her. Now serving her community in St. Louis, Mucha was a principal and teacher in the arch for many years.