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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Recycled, not retired —

    Father George McKenna , “retired,” has a new inspirational book out, “Wisdom from the Pulpit.” Besides ministering in the arch for many years, his two biggest claims to fame are founding Midway Airport Chapel and making the three-minute homily his grace note. I read through half these 247 pages waiting for a tune-up on my car last week. These 80 pintsized homilies are meant to be savored, perhaps one day at a time. Commentaries often start like mini-travelogues, because McKenna is a frequent flyer. He takes the reader to Paris, London, to the Holy Land that he knows like Chicago, or Alaska, where he served as a missionary. He tells about the remarkable woman who wrote the song, “ Let There Be Peace on Earth .” And how he would like to put Post-It “thank you” notes to God all over his room — the way grateful pilgrims put their “Merci’s” on the walls of the main church at Lourdes . The book is simple, yet he connects life’s dots in a profound way. It’s $11.95 plus shipping from CMJ Marian Publishers in Oak Lawn, at (888) 636-6799.

  • Show must go on —

    St. William Parish (N. Sayre) has a long reputation for talented stage productions. Their Harlem Nights Players , putting on “ Raising the Roof2 ” March 28-29, have a human interest note. Singer Laura Benson , a veteran performer in past productions, is a single mom with three special-needs kids. Benson had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer a year ago. She received chemo, transfusions and lost all her hair as well as 80 pounds. Then last month her doctors declared the cancer in remission, and she’ll stand before the stage lights again this year. The proceeds go to replacing/repairing the roofs of four buildings on St. William’s campus.

  • Family tree —

    A number of parishes in the arch were founded by Catholic Luxembourgers . There is a newly formed Luxembourg American Cultural Society looking for ancestors of those early parishioners. The LACS Web site is www.luxamculturalsociety.org.

  • History alive! —

    Students at St. Dorothy School (7740 S. Eberhart) will see American Civil War history as never before, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 11. Pastor, Father Bob Miller , with a new book out on religion and the Civil War (see Page 15), has arranged for special guests “in costume” and speaking “in period” like President and Mrs. Lincoln , Harriet Tubman , Frederick Douglass , members of the U.S. Colored Troops (Buffalo Soldiers), Confederate Chaplain Fr. James Sheeran, CSSR , and others. There will be real musket-firings outdoors as well. The public is welcome.

  • Bring it back —

    Ron Dubin , Mendel High alum, is planning this summer’s pre-season Prep Bowl Kick-off Classic at Soldier Field to honor the ’68 Mendel Monarch City Championship Team . Members of the historic squad are asked to participate. Dubin is also looking for pictures and/or video for the Jumbotron scoreboard show. In the meantime, Dubin says, “I need to find the Championship Trophy , anyone know who has it?” Class of ’68, check your closets and garages. Reach Dubin at: rond [email protected].

  • Counting blessings —

    Mary Hallan Fiorito , executive assistant to Cardinal George , e-mailed Clips a photo of her family’s newest arrival, Frances , born Feb. 1 at Loyola Hospital . (Is she named for anyone we know?) Daddy, Kevin , is doing fine, although Baby Frances had everyone anxious for a while. Now a bouncing almost-six-pounds, she is finally tube- and monitor-free and home with her two big sisters, Gemma , 6 and Lucy , 4. The family worships gratefully at St. Vincent Ferrer Church (River Forest).

  • Chicago connection —

    BVM Sister Joan Michael’s big brother, actor/comedian Bob Newhart , replaced Darrell Hammond at Resurrection Hospital’s March 1 Monarch Ball . When the Writers Guild strike ended Hammond had to go back to his Saturday Night Live gig. (Newhart is a St. Ignatius College Prep and Loyola University alum.)

  • Not so dormant —

    While plants sleep in winter, there is plenty of activity these days in the chicken coop at St. Raphael the Archangel Church (Antioch). Father John Jamnicky’s hens, or “the girls” as he calls them, have been religiously laying about a dozen eggs every day or two. Parishioners and visitors buy them as fast as they’re produced. Father plans to put the “nest egg” from sales toward building St. Raphael’s future edifice. The present church is located on a farm, a half-mile east of Route 45 on Route 173. Visitors are always welcome. For info about buying some eggs, call the parish office at (847) 395-3474 and ask for Farmer, I mean, Father Jamnicky.

  • Parish potpourri —

    St. Ferdinand Parish (W. Barry) Scout Troop 51 spent a day recently at Starved Rock State Park , climbing and watching American bald eagles who have migrated here from the North. . . . A plaque was presented to Arthur and Theresa Malinowski for coordinating the annual Christmas gift drive at St. Martha Parish (Morton Grove) for 20 years. . . . The St. Linus Hawks football team (Oak Lawn) are proud of 1994 grad,and once a Hawks offensive lineman, Dave Deihl . He went on to Brother Rice and was #66 on the Giants’ winning Super Bowl team 2008.