Advertisements ad

Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • ‘Take your soul for a stroll’ —

    St. Celestine’s (Elmwood Park) has again set up a temporary labyrinth in their gym until March 21 as a Lenten prayer tool. Unlike a maze, ancient labyrinths have only one path to follow, so there’s no confusion or dead end. They are designed to help us find our way. This year the labyrinth will be open to the public 3-9 p.m. March 17-19, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Holy Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Good Friday.

  • Irish dance and story —

    Old St. Pat’s (W. Adams) did their celebration of Celtic song, dance and story at Symphony Center on Michigan Avenue March 10. It was the North American premiere of “ The Relief of Derry Symphony ” by Shaun Davey . Special guest narrator was “ Frasier’s ” Martin Crane , John Mahoney , who often worships here in Oak Park.

  • Heavy ‘mettle’ —

    We just celebrated the feast day of St. Katharine Drexel March 3. Next November will mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of this strong woman who accomplished extraordinary things serving Black and Native American people. Her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament ministered at (now) St. Elizabeth’s (E. 41st St.), and Drexel Boulevard is named for Mother Katharine. Her famous quote: “Nothing happens by chance.”

  • Why stop at three cheers? —

    Nancy Huber , religious education director in the arch’s Catholic Office of the Deaf , received the Pastoral Worker of the Year award recently in New Orleans. Huber is the fourth person in the country to get the prize. And she deserves it. Her “parish” is the whole archdiocese, but on Sundays she is busy at St. Francis Borgia Deaf Center (W. Addison) doing catechetical classes, signing the children’s liturgy and doing RCIA for deaf adults at a signed and spoken Mass. Huber says she “stumbled on deaf education” as a student at DePaul . Through her 47-year career she’s interpreted weddings, baptisms and other church events for deaf adults and served in countless other ways.

  • The Big 2-5 —

    “Rainbows,” begun by Suzie Yehl Marta of St. Francis de Sales Parish (Lake Zurich), is celebrating 25 years “guiding kids through life’s storms.” Kids, teens and parents will gather for pizza and puppets at Stage One Productions in Des Plaines, April 6. Call (847) 952-1770, Ext. 29 for tickets. Every year, 15,000 local youth attend Rainbow groups in schools and other sites. . . . Bella Voce (Beautiful Voices) marks its 25th anniversary with three April concerts of sacred and secular choral music at Protestant churches in Chicago, River Forest and Evanston. Visit www.bellavoce.com for dates and tickets to performances by Chicago’s premier a cappella vocal ensemble. ‘Parousia’ is not a dessert — If you’re a special kind of kid age 10-14, you will be “amped” (charged up) over a new little know-it-all book called “ Look It Up! ” Written by a managing editor of an archdiocesan newspaper, it holds “ Over 600 definitions for Catholic Kids and Their Parents and Teachers .” It’s perfect fodder for a confirmation class trivial pursuit game or for Johnny to check his mom’s infallibility. And “infallibility” is in there, arranged alphabetically, with a phonetic pronunciation guide, plus fun graphics and other surprises. Under 100 pages, it’s available locally for $12.95 + shipping from Pauline Books & Media , at (312) 346-4228. (Note: “parousia” See Second Coming. )

  • Love a parade? —

    The Chicago Nurse Parade had a 10-year tradition. The last one took place 50 years ago in 1958. Initiated by a Servite priest, participants always ended up in Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica (3121 W. Jackson). The parade will be honored at a 2 p.m. anniversary Mass at the basilica, May 4. Today’s nurses are invited to renew the Florence Nightengale Pledge , and any who marched are especially welcome. Those who remember Chicago’s Nurse Parade and those who would like to honor the nursing profession are invited to be on hand when the St. Peregrine Award is presented. (The basilica is the national shrine of St. Peregrine.) The three nurse-authors of a recent photo-book about the famous march will be signing books after the Mass.

  • Parish potpourri —

    St. Alphonsus Parish (W. Wellington) attracts folks with their “ Ten Minute Catechism ” class after some of the weekend Masses, synthesizing the writings of Pope Benedict XVI . . . . Father John Chrzan , pastor at St. Joseph Parish (Summit), had the lead in “ He Lights Up Our Lives, the Life and Hard Times of Jesus ,” March 16 at the parish. He was Jesus of Nazareth in the 30 scene, three-act production. . . . St. Patrick Church (Wadsworth) had a reception Feb. 23 to fete Mary Ann Brinkmann’s 20 years of service to its youth ministry. . . . Mary Ann Collins of St. Gertrude Parish (W. Granville) was named Edgewater Chamber of Commerce “ Sweetheart of Edgewater .” . . . St. Viator Parish (W. Addison) third graders wrote 30 commercials for God. Here’s a sample: “God is like… I-Hop , come hungry, leave happy.” “Like Home Depot , you can do it, He can help.” . . . Nothing to cry about now in the children’s cry room of St. Joseph Church (Libertyville). The new colorful mural was painted by their school’s talented art teacher, Mark Abbate .

  • Irish words o’ wisdom —

    You can accomplish more with a kind word and a shillelagh than you can with just a kind word. . . . Questioning is the door of knowledge.