Advertisements ad

Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Let’s hear it for the BVMs —

    It was 1833, Andrew Jackson was president. Four young Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary , with Mother Mary Frances Clarke , arrived in Philly from Ireland. Their goal was to teach Irish immigrant kids. Eventually they headed to Chicago, making their way via missions they founded in Iowa. The legendary Father Arnold Damen , pastor of the prestigious Holy Family Church on 12th Street, had invited them here. Nine sisters rolled up their sleeves in 1867 to teach more than 700 students in two schools in the parish. (Holy Family would miraculously survive the Chicago Fire in 1871.) In the halcyon decades that followed, the BVMs staffed 36 grade schools in the arch , four high schools and Mundelein College for women (now part of Loyola University ). After a year of celebration, the sisters will mark the end of their community’s 175th anniversary with a Mass of thanksgiving at 2 p.m. Nov. 1 at Holy Family , 1080 W. Roosevelt Road. A reception will follow at nearby St. Ignatius High School Commons . Former students and friends are invited. For more info, call Sister Francilla Kirby at (312) 243-6125. . . . A new CD of 27 sung musical compositions spanning 150 years, representing the work of 15 BVM composers and writers, is available. Send a donation with your name and address to: Office of the Secretary, BVM Center, 1100 Carmel Dr., Dubuque, IA 52003.

  • Good news/bad news —

    Again this year, St. Juliana School (W. Touhy) is lining up a group of volunteers in grades seven and eight for its snow-shoveling brigade for parishioners. It’s an apostolate of junior high teacher, Mrs. Lidgus . She matches kids with folks nearest their home and makes sure kid and customer know the rules. Parishioners make arrangements through the parish business office. Any gratuity is also voluntary, and if it snows on the weekend you’re on your own. The bad news? Snow is a’comin’.

  • Living large —

    The Little Sisters of the Poor epitomize folks who have “respect for life.” Georgetta Steiner , a resident with the sisters on N. Lakewood Avenue, became a Catholic at the Easter Vigil in 2008, just after her 99th birthday. Georgetta has some hearing and vision loss but treasures her faith. Another resident, Lottie Janasky , is currently celebrating her 103rd birthday with grandchildren from around the country. Lottie, according to Sister Maureen , takes pride in being able to read the daily menu for her friends. . . . When Mercy High School alums had their yearly reunion Oct. 4, Helen Docherty Harper , Class of ’28 was on hand at age 100. She is from the first four-year graduation class of Mercy, and her granddaughter, who accompanied her, was from the first graduation class of Queen of Peace High School (Burbank) established in 1962.

  • Adoption not abortion —

    “Choose Life” specialty license plates are currently being sold in 17 states. Petition drives supporting the plates in Illinois are doing well. The proper forms have been registered and approved by the Federal Court. But an appeal in the 7th Circuit Court is still pending. In the meantime, you can keep the idea to help fund adoptions front and center, by ordering a joyful plate “holder.” Its logo also lists www.chooselife.org and fits your present license plate. They are $20 + $3 shipping if you call (847) 526-1152. Jim Finnegan of Transfiguration Parish (Wauconda) is one of the folks behind Illinois Choose Life . He also gathers with the God Squad to set up the manger scene at the Daley Center each year. Mark your calendars, the nativity goes up at 11 a.m. the Saturday after Thanksgiving . It comes down the Saturday after Christmas .

  • Goin’ to the movies —

    Pope Benedict attended the screening of a new documentary film, “ Testimony .” It’s based on the book “ A Life with Karol ” by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz , archbishop of Krakow, JPII’s secretary for 39 years. The pope commented after the screening that the movie reveals (as did the book) previously unknown episodes in Pope John Paul II’s life, especially his courage and suffering. “Thanks to this film” those who did not know him “have a way of appreciating his valour and evangelical passion,” he said. “Testimony” was filmed in the Vatican, Poland, Portugal and Germany and narrated by Dziwisz and British actor, Michael York .

  • Modern martyrs —

    During the recent World Synod of Bishops dedicated to “ The Word of God ,” a bishop from Latvia recalled modern heroes who gave their lives for having or reading the Bible. His address elicited tears from some in the audience. The bishop spoke of the Soviet era, when no religious books could be printed. “Our Latvian people did what the first-century Christians did,” he said. “They learned the passages of the holy Scriptures by heart. Still today in Latvia there is an oral tradition alive. We stand on the shoulders of our martyrs to proclaim the Word of God. Our grandchildren remember their grandfathers and grandmothers, who died for their faith and they like to be, in their turn, the ‘heroes’ of faith.”

  • Help for veterans —

    St. Hubert (Hoffman Estates) Job and Networking Ministry along with Support4Vets will co-host a free resume assistance event for former military, 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 1 at St. Raymond’s, Lincoln and Elmhurst avenues, in Mount Prospect. The reviewers (all vets themselves) will work oneon- one to help sell your skills and offer suggestions. (Bring a copy of your current resume, no matter how it looks.) The event is non-denominational, and vet’s family members are eligible. For more info, call Bob Podgorski at (847) 925-6005.