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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Who’s coming to dinner —

    The new (1998) religious order of Canons Regular of St. John Cantius (N. Carpenter) expect the royal family to join them and guests at their Sept. 27 banquet at the University Club of Chicago. That would be: Her Imperial and Royal Highness, Maria Anna, Princess of Galitzine, granddaughter of Blessed Karl of Austria, and her husband, Prince Piotr D. Galitzine. They will honor the religious community dedicated to helping Catholics rediscover the sacred through a renewal of solemn liturgies, sacred art and music, instruction in catechetics and Catholic culture. (Blessed Karl, the last of the Hapsburg monarchs, died in 1922 and was beatified Oct. 3, 2004.)

  • School bells/wedding bells —

    Sandria DeSapio, principal of St. Matthias/Transfiguration School (N. Claremont), married Benny Morten, principal of St. Ann School (S. 18th St.), on July 25 in New Jersey. Former pastor of St. Matthias Parish, Father Terry Keehan, and current administrator, Father John Sanaghan, took part in the ceremony. The principals were back from their honeymoon in Italy in time for the first day of school.

  • More memos on meds —

    The Catholic Medical Association conference is in Springfield, Ill., Oct. 22-24. There’s a great round-up of speakers, including Father Benedict Groeschel and Ray Arroyo from EWTN, Father Tad Pacholczyk columnist in The Catholic New World, and others. Go to www.cathmed.org for more info. . . . The Illinois Right to Life Committee has a “Patient Self-Protection Document” (PSPD) to protect a person’s right to life. It’s a life-affirming durable power of attorney for health care, in case there’s a moment you can’t make that decision for yourself. IRLC also has a “Hospice Checklist” to help in finding a hospice that respects life until natural death. The PSPD is $2 to cover mailing, with extra copies $1 each. You can order from (312) 422-9300 or go to www.IllinoisRighttoLife.org.

  • Didja know? —

    The bishops’ conference of England and Wales wants to get “tweenagers” interested in Bible lore. They have a Web site for ages 11 - 13. Among other neat ideas, it carries a monthly “Bible Detectives’ Quiz” with prizes for those who can follow the simple clues. Truth be told, www.Yfaith.co.uk is a rather cool kids’ site. ... Catholic Charities’ publication for seasoned citizens, “Keenager News,” (not for tweenagers) just turned 40. In 1969 its circulation was 100. Today it is mailed to more than 100,000 seniors’ homes. Amazing how free publications can survive, thrive and spread the good news. Keenager gets help from reader donations and a few paid advertisers defray their costs. . . . The Salesians have a new autumn online course called “Introduction to the Devout Life.” It’s taught by a priest/professor at Catholic University of America. Based on the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, it runs from Sept. 20-Oct. 31 and costs $80. Check it out at www.desales.edu. It come from DeSales University.

  • He is the man —

    Wayne Messmer, aka Mr. Star Spangled Banner for his solo voice at sporting events, is on the road. Because Blessed Damien of Molokai will be canonized Oct. 11, Messmer is dusting off the powerful one-man play he’s performed in the past. Organizations are booking Messmer as a fundraiser for their parish, school or charity. His Chicago area premiere of Aldyth Morris’ play, “Damien,” is 8 p.m. Nov. 6, at the Chapel in Winnetka. Call (773) 484-0581 for tickets and to arrange a performance during this “Year of the Priest.” (There’s a statue of Damien in our Capitol Building in National Statuary Hall!). . . . BVM Sister Ann Credidio, who used to teach at Holy Family School here (W. Roosevelt) is going to Damien’s canonization in Rome. She runs Damien House in Guayaquil, Ecuador.