This week, The Catholic New World, marks the start of February, Catholic Press Month and African-American Heritage Month. Catholics applaud moratorium on executions When Gov. George Ryan announced his decision last week to halt executions in Illinois, he did what dozens of religious, civic and civil rights organizations had been asking for months.Ryan’s decision, disclosed to news outlets days before his Jan. 31 official announcement, came in the wake of the exoneration of the 13th death row prisoner since Illinois reinstated the death penalty in 1977. Since then, the state has put 12 people to death. Full text available Black Catholics: Young, gifted and self-determined An estimated 1,500 students from Chicago archdiocesan schools learned about African-American Catholic History at the annual African-American Heritage Month Mass. Full text available Poor must be counted Cardinal George issued a proclamation encouraging all residents of the archdiocese to cooperate with the census because the official count—taken at the beginning of every decade—affects virtually all aspects of life in the archdiocese.The Office for Peace and Justice and social service and civil rights groups are focusing on poor and immigrant communities, both of which are traditionally undercounted.
Evangelization teams come to Chicago A national evangelization team—one of 10 sent out by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn.—will be in the archdiocese Feb. 11-23, holding retreats in Chicago at St. Bede Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish on 44th Street, Sacred Heart Parish in Winnetka and Our Lady of the Ridge Parish in Chicago Ridge.Al Theis, a lay pastoral minister at St. Bede the Venerable Parish, first brought a NET team to St. Bede about six years ago after hearing about it from a former NET member. The parish has invited them back every year, and spread the word throughout the archdiocese.Next year, the archdiocese’s Office for Evangelization will help coordinate the NET visit.
Interview Religion viewed through opinion-maker’s eyes
Parish Pride Our Lady of the Snows Church, near Midway Airport, doesn’t care what the weather is outside, worshippers feel warmed in the sacred space of this church dedicated in 1960.
Church Clips Slam, bam Rams — Jeff Zgonina, the St. Louis Rams’ mighty defensive tackle, once wore the colors of Carmel High School in Mundelein, graduating in 1988. They knew when he earned All-Lake County, All-State and all the other honors in football and lettered in basketball, hockey and track, he was going places—right to Super Bowl 2000! A seven-year NFL vet, he’s also a graduate of Purdue where he was All-American and Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year.
Briefs: Auto show gala benefits MisericordiaMisericordia Heart of Mercy is one of 12 charities that will benefit from the Chicago Auto Show’s black-tie event, “First Look for Charity” from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at McCormick Place South. Tickets cost $125. For more information, call (630) 424-1636. Archdiocese plans jubilee for artistsArtists are invited to a celebration of the jubilee year with Cardinal George at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Queen of All Saints Basilica, 6280 N. Sauganash Ave. The evening will include a prayer service and a blessing of artists, followed by a reception and a talk by the cardinal. For more information, call the Office for Catechesis at (312) 243-3700. Free inter-cultural concerts plannedThe Lira Singers who specialize
in Polish music, and Ngoma, comprised of singers form Chicago’s
African-American community, will offer free joint concerts. The
first is at 3 p.m. Feb. 13 at St. Isidore Church, 1811 Burr Oak,
Blue Island. The second is at 3 p.m. Feb. 20 at St. Denis Church,
8301 S. St. Louis, Chicago. For more information, call the Lira
Ensemble at (773) 508-4070 or (773) 539-4900. |