A weekly column of benevolent gossip

Joan Wester Anderson

Chicago connection — Author Joan Wester Anderson, of St. James Parish (Arlington Heights), has a new five-star winner in bookstores, “Forever Young,” an authorized biography of actress Loretta Young. Anderson, known for her many books on angels and “The Power of Miracles,” got a full page in Nov. 16’s Chicago Sun-Times for her latest work. She was also interviewed in a lengthy segment on “20/20” Nov. 24 with Barbara Walters. Anderson acknowledged that the late actress, a Catholic, had read her books and had invited her to move in for two weeks to hear the “rest of the story,” including the star’s faith journey. Anderson’s earlier interest in angels was sparked by an incident on Christmas Eve 1983. Her son and his roommate were rescued from certain death in subzero temperatures and gale-force winds by a man who brought them to safety, and then “disappeared,” unseen by others and leaving no tracks beside theirs in the snow.

‘And the winner is …?’ — Well, it could be any one of three sacred CDs by Choir and Strings of St. Thomas More Parish (W. 81st St.), submitted by Lord Chancellor Productions for nomination for an upcoming Grammy Award. Nominees then go through screening and category placement (from jazz to “Latin”) by 150 experts in various fields. Eventually five finalists in each category are chosen before the vote for winners of the recording industry’s most prestigious award. Stay tuned, but in the meantime, the “Ave Verum Corpus,” “Christ Mass,” and “Ave Maria” albums are available in both CD and cassettes by calling (773) 436-4444.

Artistic timeline — Joseph Malham, talented local icon- ographer, a parishioner at St. Mary of the Lake (N. Sheridan), will have his exquisite icon panels shown at a free holiday exhibit called “Through Windows Sacred: Images of the Eternal.” Malham, of Greco-Assyrian descent, studied in Rome as well as at Loyola of Chicago, and his works are ver-ry collectible. The show, 6-10 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Hilton Arts Gallery, 400 S. Green, will also premiere reproductions of rare works from the Vatican Library ranging from maps to illuminated manuscripts, that will be available to the public for the first time here.

People, places — Sister Maureen Langton, CSJ, is this year’s winner of the Serra Foundation Award for her work in Vocation Ministries. . . . Part of the Museum of Science and Industry’s annual Christmas Around the World exhibit will be a decorated Slovak Christmas tree, with imported ornaments, sponsored by Father John Spitkovsky’s Catholic Slovak Union that covers Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The exhibit runs now to Jan. 7 and will display 45 various ethnic trees. . . . Three of the 15 students chosen for the Jeopardy! College Tournament last month were alums of Catholic schools here. Eventual champion Pam Mueller went to Regina Dominican and is at Loyola now; Carl Gilbertsen at the U of I and Dave Sabath, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, both went to St. Ignatius.

Hallmark, look out — As St. Simon Parish (S. California) readies for its 75th anniversary, it has fashioned a handpainted glass Christmas ornament with a medieval stained-glass image of St. Simon and packaged it in a redlined box. Price is $20 each, plus $5 if shipped. A stand is available. Call (773) 436-1045. . . . St. Denis Parish (S. St. Louis) came up with a glass ornament to mark its 50th anniversary. At $15, with a display stand, the proceeds help the parish. Call (773) 434-3313.

Junior Clips — Leo High School (S. Sangamon) alumni, Windy City Veterans and the American Legion held a memorial observance at the Leo War Memorial in the school’s courtyard for Veterans Day. Erected in 1965 to the Leo men who fell in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, the memorial now has permanent lighting.

Wag’s corner — John J. Lyons of St. Juliana Parish (N. Osceola) has a big question mark: “Which will happen first, a Bulls’ win or a U.S. president elected?”