Gearing up for third Festival of Faith

All in archdiocese are invited to two-day gathering in Rosemont

Catholics from all corners of the Archdiocese of Chicago are invited to celebrate their faith, and their relationships with one another, at the third Catholic Festival of Faith Oct. 16- 17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Violence on our own turf

Parishes in areas of Chicago that see high rates of shootings and homicides have some advice for saving youth

There were 511 homicides in Chicago in 2008, and nearly four times as many shootings. While the Chicago Police Department has released crime statistics showing murders are down slightly this year, you couldn’t tell it in certain neighborhoods where the violence is worse.

Mural in Back-of-the-Yards designed to help reconcile

Violence is nothing new in the Back-of-the- Yards neighborhood, but a Precious Blood priest, a group of young men and other neighborhood residents are trying something new to change things: a few coats of paint, and artwork designed to bring people together.

Priests share favorite movies about priests

If you haven’t heard, Pope Benedict XVI declared a “Year for Priests” in June. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father on June 19, 2010.

Raising expectations for 40 years

It might have been easy for Mercy Sister Rosemary Connelly to let the 132 children and babies with Down syndrome at Misericordia Home back in 1969 continue to lie in their beds day and night. Doctors told her the kids would never amount to anything.

Anger management through eyes of faith

One of my favorite movies of all time is “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” a story about a genetically engineered superhuman (Khan) who has a Captain Ahab-like obsession with revenge against Admiral Kirk for marooning him some 15 years earlier.