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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Christmas-lovin’ town —

    This book is a monument to small town faith in action, and a tribute to its young people. “ The Cross and the Water Tower ” is based on a true story of what happened in 1989 when the village of Wauconda faced an atheist grinch, and triumphed. The history inspired coauthor cousins Mary Mangan, 18, and Kevin Sullivan Mooney , 19, other teen cousin contributors and illustrator cousin Patrick Mangan , 17, to write the saga. The authors say, “We kept the name of the town as a tribute to the true story,” but they’ve fictionized the characters. For over 40 years the town had a cross mounted on a water tower. Villagers decorated it with lights every Christmas. But the cross bugged the American Atheists, who threatened to sue. The adventure builds as young people form a club to try and find a way to save the cross. Transfiguration Parish (Wauconda) united with local Protestant churches and townspeople in 1989 and came together in a surprising solution that continues to today. Cost is $18.95 plus S&H, at amazon.com or www.The- CrossandtheWaterTower.com.

  • Sound of music —

    Polish Christmas CDs or cassettes recorded by the Lira Singers include Polish folk songs, Polish carols and one even teaches basic Polish-English songs, prayers, days of the week and more, are available by calling (773) 508-7040.

  • Essay contest —

    “Speakout Illinois ” is sponsoring an original essay contest for students ages 14-18, on: “How would you convince a pro-life friend to become more actively involved in the fight against abortion?” E-mail no more than 750 words by Jan. 28 to info@generationsforlife. org. First prize is $1,000, second is $500. Must be present at TeenSpeak Illinois conference Jan. 31 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center, to win. Call Illinois Right to Life Committee at (312) 422-9300 for info.

  • Parish potpourri —

    Old St. Patrick’s Church (W. Adams) has added a sign language interpreter for the 5 p.m. Mass on Sundays for people in the second or third pew on the St. Joseph side of the sanctuary. . . . The Tuesday morning Bible group at Transfiguration Parish (Wauconda) is forming a new ministry asking volunteers to provide transportation for parishioners to go shopping, to Mass, or to the doctor. . . . Children gathered to decorate homemade “ Cookies with Love ” at St. Joseph Parish (Libertyville) before families delivered them to a nearby senior center. . . . Father Gene Smith , assistant pastor at St. Barnabas (S. Longwood) read Dylan Thomas ’ classic “ A Child’s Christmas in Wales ” in his beguiling Irish brogue at the senior club luncheon Dec. 2.

  • Somethin’ in your Irish —

    Mike Houlihan of Christ the King Parish (S. Hamilton) has published, “Hooliganism,” compiling his best columns from the Irish American News and elsewhere. West Side Irish will probably view it as a bit uncouth here and there. Because it is. South Siders may rank it beside the Book of Kells . Mike’s a family man with an eclectic career, mostly in the byways of entertainment, including writing and performing an acclaimed one-man play, “ Goin’ East on Ashland .” The stories within these 216 pages include the obligatory name-dropping to make a good story better. For the throngs who frequent the yearly St. Patrick’s Parade on Western Avenue, “Hooliganism” will stir memories of local watering holes, parishes and funeral homes. But Houlihan also does N.Y.C., L.A. and even Cubs country. While the boyo never won a Pulitzer , he has been refused membership at the Union League Club . The book is $25 plus S&H. Houlihan’s play is also out on DVD. Order from either (312) 431-8700, or at wwwmikehoul ihan.com.

  • ‘Hear-hear’ —

    President Bush recently bestowed the Presidential Citizens Medal on Father John P. Foley , S.J ., at a White House ceremony. Foley is founder of the Cristo Rey Network that has helped educate thousands of young people in the U.S.A. Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School in Chicago and St. Martin de Porres High School in Waukegan are among the 22 schools in the network.

  • Ho, ho, ho —

    Having worked many years for former Catholic New World editor Tom Sheridan , Clips can guarantee he’s a funny man. On any summer morning he might sing out “ I’ll Be Home for Christmas ,” from his office for no reason. And he did keep a rubber clown nose handy. So it’s not surprising Sheridan has published “ The Book of Catholic Jokes .” But they aren’t his jokes — and perhaps some didn’t have a Catholic tag until he revised them to read, “A Jesuit was driving a car …” or “A catechist asked her class …” I liked the one that starts, “ Karl Rahner , Hans Kung and Benedict XVI …” If you are not inundated by jokes on the Internet, this is a neat little book to take to the home-bound and share a laugh. There’s also a couple chapters on why we should laugh more. Get it at amazon.com for $8.75, plus S&H.