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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • ‘Ed’s Jingles’ —

    Ed Stare, longtime

    parishioner of St. Celestine’s (Elmwood Park), is head usher at 11 a.m. Sunday Mass and serves on the parish’s finance council. Ed’s idea to remind folks to support their parish during summer’s slow weeks is catching on. (He may have had the successful old Burma Shave road signs in mind.) The parish has also invited Ed-wannabes to join in a monthly jingle contest, from June through Labor Day.Each bulletin carries three or four new jingles.Here’s a sample: “As you travel the mountains and hills, we still need to pay our bills. Thank you.” Or “On vacation at the beach, our collection basket doesn’t reach. Thank you.” And “At your cottage or on your boat, your parish needs to stay afloat. Thank you.”
  • Oh no, summer can’t be over! —

    Christmas in July” at Ss. Faith, Hope and Charity (Winnetka) is the time when parishioners traditionally fill the food pantry shelves for Catholic Charities in Des Plaines. . . . The St. Julian Eymard Choir (Elk Grove Village)is beginning rehearsals Aug. 6 for their Advent program of Festival Lessons & Carols!
  • Parish potpourri —

    For his Eagle Scout project, Rocco Buttliere of St. Mary’s (Buffalo Grove) got other scouts to help him paint the hallways near the parish activity center.. . . St. John of the Cross Parish (Western Springs) feted teachers Fran Mahoney for 25years of service and Roger Bialcik for 40years of service to their school. . . . Parishioners of St. Fabian’s (Bridgeview) walked a labyrinth in nearby Nottingham Park July 26.. . . Sacred Heart Parish (Palos Hills) will “Celebrate America” Aug. 2 with a family picnic until dusk on church grounds. . . . St.John Vianney Parish (Northlake) is hosting a special novena to its patron saint who is also the patron of priests, in honor of the Year for Priests. Each evening July 27-Aug. 4, Mass was celebrated by a different priest. . . . Brian Fife’s band is performing at St. Stephen’s Family Fest (Des Plaines) at 7:30 p.m. Aug14. Their music ranges from rock, pop to jazz. Brian’s active in music ministry in a number of suburban parishes. . . . Jim Stoner, St. Margaret Mary’s (W. Chase) school athletic director, will retire his whistle after 14 years in a variety of dedicated athletic service to the kids. The parish partied with Jim and his family July 30. . . . Sister Mary Thomasina Molik marks her 70th jubilee as a Missionary Sister of St. Peter Claver, at 5 p.m. Mass Aug. 2, celebrated by Bishop Thomas Paprocki, at St. Joseph Church (Summit).
  • GK:

    “The world is not lacking in wonders,

    but in a sense of wonder.” That’s pure G. K.Chesterton. A witty prolific English writer (1874-1936), also called the “prince of paradox,” received into the CatholicChurch in 1922, and now (trumpets,please): his beatification was proposed this month by England’s Chesterton Society. Others say he should be named “father of the church of the20th century.” His works range from apologetics to mystery novels to poetry — remember “The Hound of Heaven”? “The Chesterton Review” is still being published twice a year, exploring the life and work of this original thinker, and his “romance with orthodoxy.” Google The Chesterton Review, or phone(800) 526-7022 in East Orange, N.J., to subscribe.
  • Idea exchange —

    St. Bernadette Parish (Evergreen Park) is setting up a parish pro-life telephone tree to call state legislators when bills relating to life issues are up for a vote in Springfield. One has to be 18 years ofage or older and a registered voter to join.
  • Bonanza?

    Father Michael Owen, newly ordained priest for the arch, is a former parishioner of St. Alphonsus (W. Wellington).Yara Prieto, a young woman from the same parish was recently consecrated as a Little Sisterof the Poor in New York. Now Sister Maria Lourdes de Caritas, she grew up attending St. Alphonsus School. Alex Hernandez, a young man from St. Al’s, accompanied pastor Father Jim Hurlbert to the consecration. Alex will be attending St. Joseph College Seminary of Loyola in the fall.
  • American Catholic original —

    Baltimore’s Basilica and National Shrine of the Assumption will have historic items on exhibit through Sept. 27. Newly restored, it was the first great sacred space built in the United States after the adoption of the Constitution. The only building that could compete with it in 1821 was the Capitol itself. It is open 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., seven days a week. For guided tours, call(410) 727-3565.