Catholic New World - Newspaper for the Archdiocese of Chicago

FINDING GRACE
The Power of Prayer

“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” -St. Therese of Lisieux

Prayer, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is a gift from God. It is where we meet God and where we offer ourselves to him and where we struggle to understand how profoundly he has offered himself to us. Without prayer, we have no relationship with Our Father, the one we address when we pray as Jesus taught us.

Young adults bring grace to the Philippines

Students transition with the help of God’s grace

Through the eyes of gratitude

Table of Contents

Cardinal serves parishioners
at his last anniversary event

In the last event for the celebration of his 10th anniversary, Cardinal George thanked and honored approximately 200 parishioners at a June 24 dinner in the courtyard at Holy Name Cathedral.
During the afternoon event, the church leaders became the servants. Cardinal George, along with several bishops and priests, donned aprons and scuttled around the courtyard, bringing dishes of food to the tables and individually serving each parishioner.

McCormack pleads guilty;
sentenced to 5 years in prison

Father Daniel McCormack pleaded guilty July 2 to five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse stemming from charges that he molested five boys between the ages of 8 and 12 at St. Agatha Parish and at Our Lady of the Westside School between 2001 and 2005. He was immediately sentenced to five years in prison.
The Archdiocese of Chicago announced in a statement that it will now institute proceedings under church law to “seek Father McCormack’s separation from the ordained priesthood.”
McCormack was removed from active ministry in January 2006 when he arrested on charges of molesting two boys; subsequent charges were added as more victims came forward.

Pastor’s pooch— Annie, part Lab and part shepherd, was a gift from a parish family and the runt of the litter. She belongs to Father Fred Pesek, pastor at St. Ann’s (Lansing). Born during Game 2 of the World Series, Oct. 23, 2005, “so the White Sox is her favorite team,” he says. Her favorite drink is water with ice cubes; fave food: dry Eagle Holistic Chicken and Rice. Can she fight? “Annie licks everyone who comes to our parish office,” Pesek says.

People are different … no doubt about it. I say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who walk into a room with a TV and turn it on, and those who walk into a room with a TV and turn it off. But I don’t think that’s what most people mean when they talk about diversity.

Jimmy Lago has served as chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago since 1999, essentially acting as a kind of chief administrative officer for the Pastoral Center, assisting Cardinal George as he leads the faithful. But he didn’t set out to become chancellor of one of the largest archdioceses in the United States; he planned to be a social services administrator and has a master’s degree in social work.

Founded in 1927, this parish spurred the growth of Berwyn. Known since the 1920s as the national shrine to the souls in purgatory, it is probably the only church in the country named for the saint who helped establish All Souls Day. On July 4, 1962, ground was broken for the present air-conditioned church, designed by Andrew G. Stoecker.

FINDING GRACE The Power of Prayer