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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Onward huskies —

    Kristan “Krissy” Peterson , former staff writer at Catholic New World , is winding up her year in Bethel, Alaska, with the Jesuit Volunteers . Her latest blog in the Trib on line, reflects how deeply she has connected with the Yup’ik people there. She writes in part: “I have noticed how differently people communicate here.” Whether in English or Yup’ik “their speech is a slower pace. I think the pace of their speech goes along with the pace of their lives. Life travels slower here. There is no reason to rush.” Krissy says, “Yup’ik people are usually more comfortable with longer periods of silence than white Americans. They also don’t feel the need to fill every moment of quiet with endless chatter.” She is also having fun with non-verbal communication. “It is very common, especially among children and young adults, to raise your eyebrows to mean ‘yes.’ This is something my roommates and I now enjoy doing to communicate with each other.” She has found the people very direct in speech. “There is an older Yup’ik lady from our church who has become a friend and mentor to me this year.” When they speak on the phone and Krissy asks how she is doing, “She always tells me exactly how: cold because it is raining outside, tired because she just finished cutting fish, sore because she fell on the ice and hurt her shoulder… she never just says, ‘I’m good.’” Check out Krissy’s current blog “ From Homer Glen to Alaska XV ” at www.triblocal.com.
  • Wild about butterflies —

    St. Mary of Vernon Church grounds in Indian Creek has been officially designated a certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation . While their native plant gardens are just in the beginning stages, the almost 300 wildflowers planted so far more than qualify the site for the award. An official Wildlife Habitat sign will soon be posted in the prairie garden path near their Cardinal flowers (semi-aquatic plants with tall spikes of tubular bright red flowers and pollinated by hummingbirds). As stewards of the earth, St. Mary Parish welcomes back songbirds, frogs, butterflies, bees and pollinating insects. Mosquitoes, not so much.
  • ‘Hosannah in the highest’:

    St. Joseph Church (Summit) held a special trilingual service when Cardinal George came to bless a new tabernacle placed prominently in the sanctuary. It was designed and built by sculptor Stefan Niedorezo . The ceremonies included a three-block procession led by the cardinal, Father John Chrzan , the new pastor and a Knights of Columbus honor guard.
  • Parish potpourri —

    St. Denis Parish (S. St. Louis) held a concert last month “to celebrate the love of music” of the late Kevin Duhon , long-time parish music director. The concert was performed by the choirs and musicians he had directed. Duhon died suddenly a year ago. . . . St. Giles Parish (Oak Park) blessed their new outdoor statue of Mary and Child in front of the Corrigan Building July 20. . . . St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish (Matteson) will invite its families to design a sidewalk square with the parish 25th anniversary as the theme on Sept. 7. A bucket of chalk and a square are $5 with ice cream afterwards. . . . The Men’s Coalition of St. Dorothy Parish (S. Eberhart) are rolling up their sleeves as volunteers. Their golden-aged parishioners who need two or three hours’ help in minor repairs, garage clean-up or grass-cutting can fill out a form and send it to the rectory. . . . Father Dan Mallette , pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland , and Father John Smyth of Maryville fame, joined the nearly 1,000 “close friends” at Catholic philanthropist Richard Driehaus’ 66th birthday bash recently at Lake Geneva. An alum of St. Margaret’s, his party included the jazz-rock band “ Blood, Sweat and Tears ” and a peek at his collection of vintage cars.
  • Fruit o’ the vine —

    Nativity of Our Lord Parish (W. 37th St.) will host a wine and cheese party Sept. 20 (doors open 6 p.m.). You can taste and judge locally vinted wines provided by a half-dozen Bridgeport-area home brewers — all located between Bubbly Creek and Sox Park . (Bathtub gin not eligible.) Admission is a bottle of your favorite wine to share. Participants, of course, must be 21 or older. Call (773) 927-6263 to reserve a space.
  • Ouch! —

    Margaret Mickey Paluch of St. Paul of the Cross Parish (Park Ridge) recently took a bad fall and underwent surgery for a broken leg. She will be in rehab for some time so prayers are very much appreciated. Most of our parishes use the Paluch “ Missalette ,” and she has touched the lives of priests and laity in the arch in many ways. Cards and prayers can be sent to Mrs. Paluch c/o The Paluch Co., 3708 River Rd., #400, Franklin Park, IL 60131.
  • Filling heavenly space —

    There are CDs available from the “ Restoration of the Sacred ” concert recorded last fall in the Monastery of the Holy Cross (S. Aberdeen). The CD features the music of Chicago composer par excellence Kevin Allen . (He wrote a Kyrie for three voices while still a student at Holy Angels School on E. Oakwood). Conductor Timothy Woods says unabashedly, “If you never thought ‘modern’ sacred music could be truly beautiful, you need a copy of this CD!” (The cost is $15 + $2 shipping. Call Woods at (815) 806-0066, or e-mail him at [email protected] for how-to-order information.
  • Zen sarcasm —

    “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.”