A weekly column of benevolent gossip

Bells, books and candles — The Monastery of the Holy Cross, a Jubilee Pilgrimage site here, has dedicated three refurbished bells from closed churches in the arch and installed them in its bell tower on Nov. 27. As the former Immaculate Conception Church at 3100 S. Aberdeen in Bridgeport, it has not had bells for more than 50 years. Following an ancient Christian custom, the bells now have names. The largest, at 1,505 lbs. is named St. Geoffrey, for an 8th century Benedictine said to have taken one of the first copies of St. Jerome’s Vulgate Bible to Rome. The middle bell, 850 lbs., is named St. Hildegard, after a 12th century Benedictine Abbess and mystic. The smallest one, 575 lbs., is named for St. Benedict who wrote the rule the monks follow. This one will be heard most often as it calls the monks to prayer several times each day. Open to the public, Masses at the monastery are 9 a.m. Sundays; 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon on Saturdays. The Divine Office, chanted here daily, is open to the public from Tuesday-Saturday. For hours and information on the monastery’s bed-and-breakfast/retreat accommodations, call (773) 927-7424. A sacred concert for the close of the Holy Year will feature the vocal group Triskelion and a string quartet, at 3 p.m. Jan. 6. The monks’ Web site address is: www.chicagomonk.org.

Return visit — Tibetan spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama, will visit Lithuania in late June 2001. He had been one of the first international figures to visit Lithuania after the country restored its independence in 1991 and has been invited to give a lecture at Vilnius University and tour its center for oriental studies. The religious expatriate will also visit neighboring Estonia and Latvia. While Lithuania recognizes Tibet as part of Red China, it supports the rights of small nations to self-determination. Lithuania itself spent 50 years under Communist rule. . . . And by the way, Jan. 1-7 is National Immigration Week, established by the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Pastoral Services to Migrants and Refugees.

More on Creche collectors — Back in 1953 the pope became concerned that Christmas trees were taking attention away from Christmas Cribs in family homes so he encouraged an effort to popularize the Nativity scene again. A small group called European Crib Friends became popular, but in Britain, it took a countess in 1983 to begin reviving creche art. She motivated crafts people to make their own masterpieces and collected folk art creches from around the world for an international exhibit. The show included priceless creches from museums and private collectors and she invited diplomats from all the countries represented to the glittering event. The British Crib Competition in 1987 received a letter and blessing from Pope John Paul II. The Anglo-Celtic Society today has enthusiasts from the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and even an English-speaking group from Zimbabwe.

Idea Exchange — Our Lady of Victory Parish (W. Agatite) is planning a parish e-mail directory. It’ll be distributed to those who take part who have e-mail or web addresses and become a service provided by the parish to keep people connected. Chain letters and other “time-wasting items” won’t be welcome.

Junior Clips — Carmel High School (Mundelein) junior Kevin Horton recently won first place in Irish dance competitions in Illinois and Indiana and placed eighth in the North American Championships held in San Francisco last summer. He’s qualified numerous times at the annual world meets in Ireland. . . . Mother Guerin High School (River Grove) student volunteers worked on a Habitat for Humanity project in November.