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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • The poor souls need you! —

    She’s not a “Ghost Buster.” Author Susan Tassone is a “Purgatory Buster.” Her latest little book, “Praying with the Saints for The Holy Souls in Purgatory” is a blueprint for becoming an apostle for holy souls. Tassone is your diminutive lady-next-door who moonlights as a warrior. This is her fifth book on the holy souls. Her one-note mantra, “free the holy souls,” is compelling. This time she writes on the saints’ concern for the poor souls. The Vatican’s Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples wrote the preface. Tassone writes in the language of ordinary Catholics: “Purgatory is an emergency entrance to heaven for those who have wasted grace on earth.” Uh-oh, I’m a poor-soul-in-waiting. The book answers lots of “burning” questions about the holy souls. Other useful chapters deal with Gregorian Masses, and why almsgiving (like those pesky charity requests in your mailbox) is a way of doing penance for the holy souls and helping the living, too. The book is packed with great stories of saints’ devotion to the holy souls through the ages. The reader doesn’t close this book frustrated by wanting to do something, but not knowing where to begin. At the end the author lists pages of seasonal (not just November) “actions” to do on behalf of the poor souls. Like, “Fast on Fridays from gossiping or smoking; pray for those who have died when you read the obituary page; join a parish bereavement committee; teach children to pray for the holy souls in their night prayers.” There’s even a novena taken from thoughts Pope Benedict XVI has voiced about the poor souls. This book calls a person to supernatural charity: “… It is from us alone that the holy souls in purgatory expect relief. … We are their only resource. … Heaven encourages them; we deliver them.” (Published by Our Sunday Visitor, $9.95 + shipping, at (800) 348- 2440, or at amazon.com.)

  • Parish potpourri —

    Congratulations to Matt (Vasco) Matteoni of St. John Brebeuf Parish (Niles), who received the Ozanam Award from the St. Vincent DePaul Society last month. He’s been a member of his local conference for over 35 years, and is still coordinating activities like the soup kitchen and clothing drives. . . . Bishop Ray Goedert came, spoke and re-energized his friends at St. Barnabas (S. Longwood) recently. He was there to mark the 30th anniversary of the parish’s Christ Renews His Parish program, begun when he was their pastor. More than 1,000 Barnabas parishioners participated in CRHP in the 1980s and 90s. . . . St. Eugene Parish (W. Foster) has a deal with a friendly florist who gives back $3 for every five re-useable vases turned in by parishioners. Last year the school earned $300. . . . Mary Ellen Matheson retired this fall, with a song in her heart, after 20 years as director of music at St. Viator Parish (W. Addison). . . . Neighbors from St. Hilary’s (N. California) went to the theater in Millennium Park last month to see parishioners Charles and Brigid Gerace perform in a play based upon stories by Carl Sandburg. . . . Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Therese O’Donnell decided to retire to the mother house in Wisconsin after years of service at St. Louis de Montfort Parish (Oak Lawn.) She had also been principal for 25 years and took on many other roles.

  • Use ’em or let someone else —

    Do you have missals, prayer books, medals, scapulars, crucifixes, statues and/or rosaries that are not being utilized? A gentleman named Peter Gaidos will send them on to the missions for you. Mail them to him at 738 Gatewood Road, #131, Garland, TX 75043-3398. (NO old greeting cards, sorry.)

  • Sheen Ahoy! —

    Looking for a heavenly cruise vacation? “Ship, Sunshine & Sheen,” is the theme of a first-class, seven-day cruise sponsored by the Catholic Post, Peoria’s diocesan paper. Daily Mass, rosary, educational sessions on Archbishop Fulton Sheen, videos, and friendly socializing, while touring places like Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, leaving from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 9. Call Tom Dermody at (800) 340-5630, Ext. 275.

  • Something different —

    St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church in Bridgeport (W. 32nd Street) will host artist Katherine de Shazer for an icon writing workshop on weekends starting Nov. 13-15. She employs the Byzantine Russian tradition using egg tempera paints. Call her at (262) 268-8192 (in Wisconsin), or e-mail to [email protected] for more information.