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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • Up close and personal —

    As a boy of 14, Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI ) had a cousin, a couple years younger than he, who had Down syndrome . In 1941, despite the family’s pleas, Nazi “therapists” took him away. “Mentally handicapped” children could not remain with their parents. They later learned he died. This was probably the future pope’s first experience with the concept that some people are “disposable.” Friends say his personal experience has added to Benedict’s consistent pro-life view that opposes abortion as well as euthanasia and assisted suicide.

  • Over the river —

    And through the woods, to Thanksgiving Day Mass, 9 a.m. Nov. 27 at St. Raphael (country) Church (Antioch). That’s where the chicks and antelopes roam free, but you have to pay for a dozen fresh eggs, (847) 395-3474. . . . And you might want to order some special placemats for Thanksgiving dinner from the arch’s Family Ministries Office . The 11x17-inch, two-sided plastic mats protect the table cloth and teach the faith simultaneously. Each shows the Grace Before & After Meals — but also the Angel of God and Morning Offering. The Memorare, Angelus and prayers and mysteries of the rosary are on the reverse side. Along the border float the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Available in English, Spanish ($2 each) or in Polish ($2.50), from www.familyministries.org or call (312) 751-8351.

  • Honk if you’re Polish —

    The Polish American Congress says before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, a group of Polish artisans were recruited by Capt. John Smith and arrived at Jamestown in 1608. They were glassworkers and theirs was the first “factory” in America. When the English denied the Poles the right to vote they went on strike and finally the Brits gave in. PAC just celebrated the 400th anniversary of the Poles’ arrival this Oct. 1 in Jamestown, N.Y.

  • It’s nice to be needed —

    Members of Southwest Archdiocesan Singles , a social club begun in 1979 for the single, widowed or divorced who are eligible to marry in the Catholic church, need a chaplain. Their former chaplain just became a parish administrator. The club would like a priest, perhaps retired, or a married deacon to join in their meetings and outings, or just be available to answer members’ questions in situations regarding church teaching. Call Joe Rice at (773) 229-2273 and see if it’s something you’d enjoy doing.

  • People person —

    Gwen Currin of St. Dorothy Parish (S. Eberhardt) threw herself a happy 90th birthday party for 96 of her closest friends Oct. 12. The joyful mix of folks came from her parish, the Legion of Mary where she’s been active since 1960, through her awardwinning work with the AIDS Pastoral Care Network and just all kinds of pals who care about her. Gwen says “Sometimes I can’t believe my age myself.”

  • Parish potpourri —

    Music director Robert Mockus , has been on the job for 20 years at St. George Parish (Tinley Park), balancing contemporary with traditional music to please all the people all the time. His choirs keep growing! . . . The St. Nicholas (Evanston) recent rummage-sale-in-the-rain, netted about $46,208. They made $10,175 on used cars alone. . . . St. Pascal Parish (W. Irving Park) for the umpteenth year hosted a scary haunted house from Oct. 17-26 as a school fundraiser. . . . St. John Fisher Parish (S. Washtenaw) celebrated its 60th anniversary Nov. 2. . . . St. James Food Pantry (S. Wabash) received a financial grant of $40,000 from the Kraft Employee Fund in Glenview. . . . The recent membership appeal by the Men’s Society of St. Giles Parish (Oak Park) increased their e-mail directory from 250 names to almost 500. The parish’s recent appeal for liturgical ministers garnered 62 new people in various ministries. . . . St. Joan of Arc (Skokie) parishioners will gather at their sharing parish, St. Agnes of Bohemia (S. Central Park) Nov. 8 to paint their school lunch room and clean the storage area. . . . St. Mary of Celle Parish (Cicero) needed volunteers with time and elbow grease for a project. AGLO-Chicago stepped into the breach. A Unity Garden and shrine area, with treasured statues and plants saved from the merged Holy Rosary and St. Anthony churches, is now in place with some newly donated evergreens and top soil. . . . St. Gertrude’s (N. Granville) put on another rocking parish play in October. . . . A group of parishioners at Old St. Mary’s (S. Michigan) will accompany their Paulist Fathers on a pilgrimage to Rome honoring the Year of St. Paul , Nov. 8-15.

  • Ann and Andy —

    Experienced sewers can join Joanne’s Raggedy Ann Club. At a meeting 9:30-10:30 a.m. Nov. 15 in St. Edna’s Hurly Center , 2525 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, sewers will receive patterns and doll-making tips with info on when and where to drop off completed dolls. The club, begun in 1997 as the Raggedy Ann Club , donates dolls to children in need, many in hospitals and in difficult situations. Call Patricia at (847) 870-7419 for more info.

  • From “If the Bible Was Written By College Students...”

    “Instead of God creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh, he would have put it off until the day before it was due and then pulled an all-nighter.”