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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Don’t be ‘square’ —

    They call it the “Cube of Love .” It is many things. It’s a small cube (but some are big enough to toss around in the yard), with a saying printed on each side. Gospel-based, it teaches children (or adults) “the art of loving. ” Someone rolls the cube like a dice. Whatever saying lands on top, you have to live it that day. Love everyone / Love Jesus in the other / Be the first to love / Share the other’s hurt or joy / Love your enemy / Love one another . The idea behind the cube is to change the world one moment, one person, one group at a time. The Cube of Love has resolved conflicts and violence in schools, in families and in different cultures. Basically, it helps foster kindness. As a classroom tool it comes in a kit with instructions for the teacher, “The Cube of Love” book and a mountable cube. The fall issue of “Momentum,” magazine of the National Catholic Educational Association , will carry an article on the clever cube’s charisma. For classroom kits, at $19.95, call (847) 229-0230, Ext. 180, or e-mail livingcity@livingcitymagazine. com. Soft rubber 2 x 2 inch cubes in red or blue with white printing are $5 each, plus shipping, from the Mariapolis Center , locally at (773) 285-2746.

  • Here and there —

    The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the CPD will host their annual public candlelight vigil, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Gold Star Memorial Park in the shadow of Soldier Field . The ceremony honors police officers fallen in the line of duty. The organization also benefits injured officers and family members of the fallen or injured. . . . There’s a new St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral in Bellwood. It’s drawing crowds of Catholic Indian immigrants and their families, happy to have a central place of worship and a mother church here. It’s the denomination’s first ecclesiastical seat outside India. Tradition says the Apostle Thomas founded the church in India in 52 A.D.

  • Parish potpourri —

    The Blessed Sacrament Society of Holy Angels Parish (E. Oakwood) will recall by-gone congeniality at their Old Fashioned Southern Tea , 1:30-4 p.m. Sept. 21. There will be prizes for “best dressed lady-in-a-hat and best dressed gentleman-in-asuit.” . . . St. Linus Parish (Oak Lawn) tries to attract late-night adorers to its eucharistic chapel by coaxing benign insomniacs and night owls to offer an hour. Their reward: “perfect silence and the One who truly understands you is waiting.” And you might even doze off. . . . St. George Parish (Tinley Park) saw their annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs get an end-of-summer pruning last week, thanks to volunteer gardeners. . . . Tomatoes are getting ripe in Queen of Martyrs (Evergreen Park) parish garden. Their St. Vincent de Paul Society will deliver them to eager clients soon. . . . St. Viator Parish School (W. Addison) will teach Spanish this fall, pre-school through eighth. Teachers will come daily from DePaul University’s master’s program. The youngsters’ school day will be extended to accommodate the innovation. . . . The Fine Arts Council of St. Mary of the Woods Parish (N. Moselle) will present soprano Christine Steyer and Italian tenor Franco Martorana , bass-baritone Paul Geiger and accompanist Anatoliy Torchinskiy at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. For tickets, call (773) 763-0206.

  • Holy roads —

    Ever wonder what the difference is between a tour and a pilgrimage? Motivation, for one thing. A neat 24-page pamphlet from Liguori Publications says pilgrimage is: “to journey as a means of spiritual exercise.” It says the first destination of Europe’s early Christians was back to their faith roots — the Holy Land , and then later to other shrines. Walking, biking, flying — today’s pilgrimages are still communal or group experiences. Order a copy of Therese Johnson Borchard’s “ How to Make a Pilgrimage ,” read it and pack it next to your shampoo. It’s $1 + $3 shipping/handling, at (800) 325-9521. . . . Looking for a pilgrimage off the beaten path in the middle of the French countryside? “ Joan of Arc vs. the French Revolution ,” is the theme, and you’ll stay next door to Joan’s birthplace in Domremy . Prayerful, peaceful with some study and discussion time, French quarters, cuisine and wine. Relaxed side trips to Rheims and other appropos sites. Dates are July 11-23, 2009. Group limited to 18. The tour guides are knowledgeable. Contact Chris and Catherine Snidow , (214) 327- 4579, or visit www.pi l grimwitnesses.com.

  • Memories —

    Grads from the first two classes, 1958 and 1959 of Mother of Sorrows High School (Blue Island), celebrated together this month. Fifty years changes the landscape, but Diana Venters came from Georgia wearing her high school blue and gold sweater! Their first chemistry teacher, Joan Malatesta, joined them, along with two religious alumnae, Servite Sister Gesuina , and Dominican Sister Mary Ellen O’Dea. Mantellate Sisters staffed the school until it closed. . . . Father Frances Lawlor , who served briefly as an alderman of the 15th Ward in the early 1970s, celebrated his 70th jubilee as an Augustinian recently. . . . Claretian Father Severino Lopez will celebrate his 90th birthday at the senior facility across from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (E. 91st St.). He still visits the sick in hospitals and celebrates Sunday Mass. Father Lopez was ordained in 1944.