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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Idea Exchange —

    To mark its 50th anniversary year, St. Lawrence O’Toole (Matteson) had its first annual spring “ Get Out and Bike ” ride, at 11 a.m. May 17, from the church to Frankfort, Ill., on the historic Old Plank Trail. They rested, munched and made the 15- mile round trip in about 2 hours. Kids under 12 brought along an adult.

  • Quite a splash —

    Thousands of walkers supported the Beverly Breast Cancer Walk on a wet Mother’s Day, May 11. Nine years ago it was just a walk among friends, now it raises more than a million bucks for Little Company of Mary’s Comprehensive Breast Health Center (Evergreen Park).

  • It’s Sister Immaculata! —

    St. George Parish (Tinley Park), planning for its 75th jubilee in 2009, is putting together a memorabilia book. Two early alums of the school recently found one of their first teachers, Mantellate Sister Mary Immaculata Rubino , 92, living at Mother of Sorrows Convent (Blue Island). Sister recognized the two “girls,” and asked by name about other students she had taught at the parish from 1949-1952. (There are still two Mantellate Sisters teaching in the school.) Sister Immaculata will celebrate her own 75th jubilee May 25. You can send her greetings to: 13811 S. Western Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406.

  • Mary’s month —

    There’s a neat video made by 50 prayerful young people in Spain on 50 reasons to say the rosary. It’s quick and free at youtube.com. Just type in “May Feelings.” If it puts someone in the mood to pray a rosary, but they need help, type in “How to pray the rosary” and find a couple youtube sources.

  • Patience —

    Dolores Weiss of St. Mary’s (Buffalo Grove) sent a request to the Vatican last October for an intercessory holy card for the beatification of Pope John Paul II (per a notice in Clips ). On March 19 she received her card, which was touched to a piece of the pope’s clothing. Weiss says it was worth waiting for. “It’s something precious to me.”

  • Saintly update —

    Bishop Fulton Sheen’s cause opened officially in Rome April 15. Crates that had been sealed during a special Mass in Peoria, Ill., Feb. 3 were unpacked and unsealed. Two boxes held more than 6,500 pages, as well as Archbishop Sheen’s 67 books. Many were donated by people wanting to help complete the library to facilitate research into his life and works. Usually a sainthood summary is more than 500 pages. Sheen’s will be around 20 volumes at 300 pages per volume. . . . Servant of God Mother Josepha Stenmanns , (1852-1903), will be beatified June 29. She is the German nun co-foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit . Their motherhouse is in Techny, but the missionary sisters also minister elsewhere in the arch and around the world.

  • Parish potpourri —

    St. John Cantius Parish (N. Carpenter) will hold homeschool graduation June 14 for elementary and high schoolers. . . . St. Joan of Arc Parish (Skokie) got a first-hand report on the recent papal visit in its May 4 bulletin. The byline was parishioner Mary Ann Ahern’s of NBC5 News . Reporter Ahern covered the beloved JPII in Cuba, Toronto, Denver, NYC, South Carolina and Rome. She says she has a favorable impression of Pope Benedict XVI’s style.

  • Winning pinch-hitter —

    Scalabrini Bishop Lawrence Sabatini , pastor of Holy Rosary (N. Western), filled in at a confirmation service last month in Downers Grove, when Joliet Bishop J. Peter Sartain was unable to be there. Bishop Sabatini, who celebrated his 78th birthday May 15, confirmed 120 souls in a mere two hours and 10 minutes. (Former missionaries have staying power.)

  • Love a parade? —

    It is described as the first Family Christian Parade in downtown Chicago. The organizers, “ Brothers & Sisters United for Christ ,” are planning floats, school bands, choirs, clowns and giveaways for 10 a.m. June 6, starting at Columbus and Balboa, near Millenium Park . Its faith-based organizers want to celebrate community and help foster unity among the churches. Parades need people. They invite Christians and non- Christians to participate, and “give back to the city of Chicago” through service. Their Web site is www.bsucfoundation.org.

  • Catholic connection —

    “Hidden Truths, the Chicago City Cemetery and Lincoln Park ,” a 12-month project by Pamela Bannos is fascinating. You’ll need a computer to appreciate her meticulous research because it’s not a book yet. The artist peels off “layers” of the City that Works and how it used to be. “From 1843 through 1859, the only graveyards in the city of Chicago were in the area of the southern edge of Lincoln Park and the neighborhood now known as the Gold Coast.” The Catholic Cemetery was part of a cluster: City Cemetery, Jewish Cemetery and Potter’s Field . If you go to her Web site: hiddentruths.northwestern.edu you can peek at newspapers from the era of Bishop William Quarter and at books about other early prelates. You can read about the Chicago Fire’s destruction of the cemetery grounds, and find the answer to why, even in 2008, mysterious skeletal remains keep turning up in the nicest parts of town.