Issue of January 17th – January 30th
Annual Catholic Appeal stayed steady in 2009
2009 may have been a down year for the economy, but the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Annual Catholic Appeal weathered the storm without major disruptions.
Priests, religious: Immigration reform still needed in U.S.
Undocumented immigrants still exist, their families still need help and the U.S. immigration system still needs reform.
That was the message put forth by the Priests for Justice for Immigrants, the Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants and the archdiocese’s Office for Immigrant Affairs and Immigration Education during a press conference and prayer service at Holy Name Cathedral Jan. 8.
Prayer breakfast challenges men to be leaders
On the morning of Jan. 9, with NFL football playoff games waiting and chilly temperatures inviting most to enjoy the warmth of their homes, a diverse crowd of more than 100 men filtered into the basement of St. Victor Church in Calumet City for a mixture of food, faith and a firm challenge.
Knights support seminarians here spiritually, financially
Illinois State Vocation Support Program turns 25
Is God calling you to be a priest?” Many men are asked this question, but what happens if they respond to God’s call to the priesthood?
A future for St. Boniface
The four crosses atop the towers of the former St. Boniface Church will likely continue to watch over the West Town neighborhood, as plans to redevelop the church building are expected to move forward this year.
Life of St. Damien of Molokai portrayed on local stage
Father Damien de Veuster was always a personal hero for Wayne Messmer. And since November, Messmer, who is known to Chicago Wolves and Cub fans as Mr. National Anthem, has portrayed his hero in the one-man play “Damien” by Aldyth Morris in a Winnetka chapel.
Catholic Charities streamlines benefits, help for needy clients
Imagine not having a job, enough food or enough money to meet your expenses.
Then imagine what it would be like to have your heat cut off when the temperature outside is below freezing.
Calling all seniors at Catholic high schools
The Office for Catholic Schools, in partnership with the Catholic New World, is sponsoring its second essay contest with the theme for Catholic Schools Week 2010 of “Dividends for Life.”
High school students respond to violence with purpose, passion
Like many Chicagoans, Briana Martinez saw the video clips of 16-year-old Fenger High School student Derrion Albert’s fatal beating at the hands of other Chicago teens. With horror in her eyes but faith in her heart, Martinez, a senior at De La Salle Institute, resolved to turn Chicago’s September tragedy into positive action.
NCEA award winners, board dinner, poetry contest among latest school news
Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 in the 255 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Local school activities include special Masses, open houses and visits from archdiocesan and civic representatives. For more information about events visit the Catholic schools’ Web site schools.archchicago.org.
Things looking rosier for Academy of St. Priscilla
Parents, teachers pleased with school at Divine Savior
Its board chairman calls it “a wonderful little school for little people.” Its parents are engaged in recruiting neighbors and friends to come and see for themselves.
Sr. Stephanie’s last letter from Tanzania
In December 2006, Resurrection Sister Stephanie Blaszczynski, former president and principal of Chicago’s Resurrection High School, left on an epic journey to start a secondary school for girls in the remote area of Buturu, Tanzania. Only 2 percent of girls there who complete seven years of primary school make it to this higher level.
‘Holmes’ filled with fun and witty banter
The movie “Sherlock Holmes” is many things, as is the old boy himself. This new take on the world’s most famous and favorite pipe-chomping sleuth is a macabre-lite dark comedy; a psychological-crime-supernatural thriller; as well as an action-packed detective period-piece.
Tania in wonderland — Tania Mann, a Dominican University alum, was a staff writer at Catholic New World until mid-2008 when she went off to Rome to seek her fortune. Well, at least to be assistant editor at L’Osservatore Romano’s English edition. (She’s also fluent in Italian.)
As I write this, the view out my window is a symphony of white and gray. The snow that was falling has stopped, but the skies have not cleared.
The roads are clear, however, and traffic continues to move, while the water in Lake Michigan — today a bluish gray, at least out to the point where white ice and snow float on the water, heaves slowly up and down, as though even the waves are tired.
Springfield Dominican Sister M. Paul McCaughey has been superintendent of Catholic schools since the summer of 2008. Since she was named, the economy has nosedived and unemployment has skyrocketed, making tuition payments more difficult for thousands of school families. Schools in the archdiocese have lost enrollment overall, but many are holding their own. In the meantime, Sister Paul and her staff are working to find ways to continue providing a faith-filled education to all students who want one. She discussed the state of the schools with assistant editor Michelle Martin.
