Advertisements ad

Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Star-gazing —

    During his Angelus address on the day of winter solstice, Dec. 21, Pope Benedict mentioned 2009 is designated UNESCO’s International Year of Astronomy. It will commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of a telescope to observe the cosmos, including lunar craters. Then the pontiff praised a few popes who knew their astronomy,“ There have been practitioners of this science among my predecessors of venerable memory, such as Sylvester II , who taught it, Gregory XIII , to whom we owe our calendar, and St. Pius X , who knew how to build solar clocks.”
  • Re-gifting, aka de-cluttering —

    The Franciscan Missions can use somethings old, somethings new, things to recycle or reuse. Like gold jewelry, silver, stamp collections, musical instruments, sewing supplies, medals, watches and clocks, even if they’ve forgotten how to tick. Ship to: Attn: Fr. Sereno Baiardi, OFM / Franciscan Missions / 940 N. Browns Lake Dr., Burlington, WI 53105.
  • Parish potpourri —

    St. Monica Parish (N. Nottingham), known for its exceptional chefs, is selling its 60th anniversary cookbook with over 300 recipes for $20 + S&H, or pick them up at the rectory, call Traci at (773) 774- 3276. . . . Don’t forget, the sacred first-class relic of Mother Francis Cabrini will be venerated at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii (W. Lexington) for the next couple of years until the renovation of the National Shrine of Mother Cabrini in the arch is completed. . . . A new DVD is available with more than 1,000 images from Holy Rosary Parish’s anniversary Mass last May through the merger Mass in June with St. Anthony Parish (Roseland). It is $5, plus S&H, by calling (773) 468-1200. . . . St. Matthew Parish (Schaumburg) has begun monthly coffee and hospitality after Mass. . . . Parishioners of St. Nicholas (Evanston) celebrated the dedication of Oldershaw Hall recently, named for pastor emeritus Father Bob Oldershaw. Parishioner/artist Vicky Schwarz painted his likeness, framed it and hung it in the hall.
  • Junior Clips —

    St. Christina (S. Homan)

    Boy Scout Troop 17 honored Kevin Toussaint , a junior at Marist High School , as he became an Eagle Scout recently. He is also on the National Honor Society . . . . St. Patrick High School will involve the expertise of professional designers in the production of its spring musical, “ West Side Story.” They will include Bill Bartlet (set design) and Kevin Bellie (choreography) from Circle Theatre , John Sanchez from HARPO Studios (light design) and Rachel Sypniewski from Broadway Costumes (costume design).
  • Shhhhhhhh —

    “A day within the walls” is not the diary of Scooter Libby . It’s a peek at the cloistered life of religious men and women in various monasteries around the country, like the Poor Clares in Rockford, Ill., and others. It’s part of a new informative Web site, www.cloisteredlife.com launched Nov. 5 by the Institute on Religious Life . It received 1,300 electronic visits in a recent month. The focus is on communities dedicated to prayer, rather than outside work. Just searching the site is like a mini-oasis in the midst of your hectic day. Try it. Ahhh, silent serenity.
  • Younger than springtime —

    Mount Assisi Academy (Lemont) is lovingly referred to as “The hill.” Its alumnae met recently in reunion and wanted to prove they weren’t “over the hill” just because their alma mater rests atop one in the southwest suburbs. More news: Last month an anonymous donor presented the school with a gift of $40,000 to support its endowment fund established in 2007.
  • St. Paul rocks —

    Helen Suire of St. Frances of Rome Parish (Cicero) has done it again — distributed another little booklet for her friends on an aspect of the faith. For Christmas 2008 it was “Walking and Praying in the Footsteps of St. Paul.” It’s written from the perspective of an angel who frequents Suire’s church and parish school. After giving ideas how others will mark the Year of St. Paul, Suire suggests if you can’t do anything special, “then extend a smile to someone who needs one. You would be surprised what a smile can do.”