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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Popcorn anyone? —

    Playwright Vicki Quade takes on good movies/bad movies in her latest fun production, “Sunday School Cinema,” at the R o y a l George. Father George Clements was one of the VIPs in the audience recently during “Sister” Elaine Carlson’s performance. The bishop of Abeokuta, Nigeria, was a guest in Clements’ party. Everyone in the audience is asked to name their fav movie. Father Clements liked Spike Lee’s “ Miracle of St. Anna ,” but the bishop’s favorite movie was “Ben Hur.” (They watch Turner Classic Movies in Nigeria?)

  • Parish potpourri —

    Transfiguration Parish (Wauconda) is reviving their respect-life meetings after a hiatus of five years. . . . St. Linus Parish (Oak Lawn) honored all veterans Nov. 10 at a Mass. Speaker was local U.S. Marine Corps vet 1st Lt. J.J. Konstant , a Brother Rice grad, twice wounded in the Iraq- Afghanistan War. Konstant’s rescue of some trapped soldiers is a story in the book “ Victory Point ” by Ed Darack , due out soon. . . . Parishioners at St. Jude the Apostle (South Holland) volunteer an hour of their time Monday mornings to clean their church. . . . St. Celestine Parish (Elmwood Park) blessed a record 72 pets on the feast of St. Francis . But St. Thomas of Villanova blessed a Bengal tiger (it was a Beanie Baby). . . . Boy Scout Troop #965 of St. Juliana Parish (N. Osceola) will cook a Thanksgiving feast in the woods at their camp along the Fox River this year.

  • Baby-friendly? —

    On Nov. 7 the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it’s OK for our state officials to keep the “abortion debate” off license plates, even though 18 other states have such plates. It ruled that when the Secretary of State’s office refused the “Choose Life” plates it was “on the reasonable rationale that messages on specialty license plates give the appearance of having the government’s endorsement, and Illinois does not wish to be perceived as endorsing any position on abortion.” Since we already have an “I am pet friendly” plate — how about changing our slogan to: “I am baby friendly.” Still too controversial?

  • Cancelled stamps —

    The high holy days of greeting cards is approaching. Leave space around the cancelled stamps when you cut them off envelopes and mail them to: Franciscan Missions , P.O. Box 130, Waterford, WI 53185. It will help fund the missions.

  • Virtual family —

    Some members of the Chicago Catholic University Club traditionally get together on Thanksgiving for dinner at a restaurant. If relatives are miles away they can still celebrate a down-home dinner together as one, big, happy “family.” The club is for practicing Catholics over age 50 with some college. For more info on events or membership, call (773) 545-8336.

  • E-mail retreat —

    Kolbe House, the arch’s jail ministry, will start its Advent e-mail retreat Dec. 1. Send an e-mail to kolber [email protected] and every Monday you’ll receive a different Scripture passage, a suggested action and a prayer. Your address is kept private and there is no solicitation. Or visit www.kolbehouseministry.org.

  • ‘Kids, meet Baby Jesus’ —

    How much is catechesis and how much is fun , with a children’s Advent calendar? Here is a joyful journey to the manger that suggests an act of love under the flap each day. Colorful, with stay-on glitter, $5.95 plus shipping. . . . “ The Road to Christmas Day ” is the age-old story from Gabriel to Elizabeth , to Bethlehem’s Baby , shepherds and kings. It’s retold simply with bold drawings accenting the story. Hardcover, 32 pages, 8inches by 11 inches, perfect for kids ages 5-8. $14.95 plus shipping. . . . To help accent the “real Christmas” children ages 6-10 can “ Make Your Own Nativity Set ,” with 15 creche figures to cut out and color. Twenty pages, $8.95 plus shipping. . . . A neat Christian stocking stuffer is “ My First Christmas Sticker Book ” for $6.95 plus shipping. All from Pauline Books & Media, at (312) 346-4228, or visit their store at 172 N. Michigan or on the Web at www.pauline.org.

  • Knights’ message —

    Early Christians used secret signals to convey a message of solidarity. Today we can be more overt. The Knights of Columbus have a 2-inch lapel button that says: “ It’s OK to say Merry Christmas to me. Keep Christ in Christmas.” Call the Illinois State Council in Kankakee at (847) 935-2262 to order a minimum of five buttons. And about those religious secret signs — they say during times of persecution Christians started crossing their fingers as a secret sign of recognition (like we do now for “luck”).

  • Screwtape? —

    The American Humanist Association will spend $40,000 on a “godless holiday” ad campaign on metro buses in Washington, D.C. The ads ask, “Why believe in a god?” “Just be good for goodness sake.” Religious groups realize the season marking the Savior’s birth is a lonely one for atheists, but they point out trying to “do good” is also based on belief in God.