■ BENEFITS

St. Laurence High School: “Evening of Baskets and Bucks,” Las Vegas-style gaming with NCAA men’s basketball tournament on 15-foot screens, 4 p.m.- midnight March 20, $50/person, includes food, 5556 W. 77th St., Burbank, call (708) 458-6900, Ext. 253 for tickets.

St. Joseph School (Summit): gala, reception 6:30 p.m. March 20, dinner 7:15 p.m., $70/person, dancing to DJ music, silent auction, raffle, at Mayfield Banquet Hall, 6072 S. Archer, go to www.sjsbenefitball2010.com, or call school at (708) 458-0501.

■ DEVOTIONS

Memorial Mass for Chiara Lubich: founder of Focolare Movement, 3 p.m. March 13, Fr. Thomas Baima, celebrant, at St. Mary of Providence Chapel, 4200 N. Austin, reception follows, (773) 285-2746.

Our Lady of Peace Parish Revival: 7-9 p.m. March 9-10, Fr. Larry Dowling, 7851 S. Jeffrey, (773) 704-6756.

■ DINNERS/DANCES

St. Benedict’s Fish Fry: 39th annual event, Fridays, 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. and 4-7:30 p.m. March 5-26, $8/adults, $3/aged 12 and under, for carry-outs call (708) 385-9266, at 2339 York, Blue Island, (708) 385-8510.

Polish Dinner: home style, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. March 7, $9/plate, also kids’ hot dog special, games, polka music, at St. Staniskostka School cafeteria, 1255 N. Noble, (773) 278-2470.

St. Patrick/St. Joseph Table: 2- 5 p.m. March 14, raffle, $8/adult, $4/ages six-12, St. Denis Parish Center, 8300 S. St. Louis, (773) 434-3313.

Fish Fry and Lenten Program: dinners $6.95/person, 5-9 p.m. March 5 and 19, in St. Barbara Parish Center, 4015 Prairie, Brookfield, also Stations of the Cross 6:45 p.m. every Lenten Friday in the church, followed by adult formation series on faith renewal, (708) 485-2900 for more info.

St. Cajetan Fish Fry: 5-7:30 p.m. March 5, varied menu, $25/families, or $8/adult, $5/seniors, in Memorial Hall, 11200 S. Campbell, (773) 238-4100.

St. Joseph/St. Patrick Dinner: 5-8:30 p.m. March 6, with Eddie Korosa Jr., one-man band, $15/person, St. Turibius Hall, 5646 S. Karlov, (773) 581-2730.

St. Patrick/St. Joseph Dinner- Dance: doors open 6 p.m. March 13, Irish dinner, live music of Jerry Armstrong and band, $25/person, at Sacred Heart Parish Center, 8245 W. 111th St., Palos Hills, call Sue at (708) 974-3969 for tickets.

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner: 6 p.m. March 6, in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish Hall, 4646 N. Austin, Irish dancers and folk band, $22/person, cash bar, advance tickets only, call Rose Ann at (773) 481-2063.

St. George Parish: fish fry, 5-8 p.m. March 5, 6707 W. 175th St., Tinley Park, (708) 532-2243.

Lenten Meals: 4-8 p.m. March 5 and 19, fish fry with lunch takeouts noon-2 p.m.; 5-7 p.m. March 12, cheese enchiladas, at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 11533 S. Prairie, (773) 468-1200.

St. Gregory the Great Parish: 10th annual fish fry, 4:30-7:30 p.m. March 19, at high school cafeteria, 1677 W. Bryn Mawr, (773) 561- 3546.

Lenten Fish Fry: 4:30-7:30 p.m. March 5, 19, St. Malachy Church/School, 2252 W. Washington, hosted by reunion committee, call (312) 733-1068 for info.

Friday Fish Fries: 5-8:30 p.m. March 5, 19, dine in or carry-out menu, cash bar available, in St. Raymond de Penafort Parish Life Center, Highway 83 at Elmhurst Avenue and Lincoln Street, Mt. Prospect, (847) 253-8600.

St. Ferdinand Parish: Lenten Friday fish fry, doors open 4 p.m. now through March 26, varied menu, eat in, carry out or drive up orders, entertainment each week, 3131 N. Mason, (773) 622-3022, to order 4-7 p.m. Fridays.

■ ENTERTAINMENT

William Ferris Chorale: Fauré “Requiem,” with combined voices of Elmhurst’s Spirito Singers, 7:30 p.m. March 13, at Madonna della Strada Chapel, Loyola University, 6453 N. Kenmore; and 3 p.m. March 14, at St. Cletus Church, 600 W. 55th St., La Grange, for tickets call (773) 325-2000.

Chicago Chorale: performing Durufle’s “Requiem,” with organist Thomas Weisflog and cellist Sophie Webber, 7:30 p.m. March 27, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 5472 S. Kimbark, call box office at (773) 306-6195.

“Little Saint of the Poor”: play based on life of recently canonized St. Jeanne Jugan, founder of Little Sisters of the Poor, performed by Theater of the Word, 2 p.m. March 7 at St. Mary’s Home, 2325 N. Lakewood, and 7:30 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Home, 80 W. Northwest, Palatine, (847) 358-5700.

“Harambee”: music, movement, prayer, food, 5:30 p.m. March 6, closing African-American Tolton Week, $50/person, at Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S. Cornell, RSVP to (773) 371-5410.

“The Wizard of Oz”: musical, 7:30 p.m. March 12-13, 19-20, and 2 p.m. March 14 and 21, with St. Louise de Marillac Players, in parish center, 31st Street and Harrison Avenue, LaGrange Park, call (708) 352-7388 for more info.

■ EXHIBITS

“A Touch of the Poet”: 40 artists display varied media works based on work of an Irish writer, from Oscar Wilde to C.S. Lewis, March 5-April 3, free reception 6-9 p.m. March 5, Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox, call Frank Crowley at (773) 612-6584 for days and times.

■ JOB MINISTRY

Hope Employment Support Ministry: open forum, 7 p.m. March 2, free, in St. Elizabeth Seton Church Hall, 167th and 94th Avenue, Orland Hills, stevesitzberger@hotmail.com or call (708) 712-2837 for more info.

St. Hubert Job/Networking: “Resume Review,” 9 a.m.-11 a.m. March 4, Queen of the Rosary Church, 750 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove Village; “Electronic Job Search,” 7-9 p.m. March 8, at St. Raymond Church, 301 I-Oka, Mount Prospect, call (847) 925- 6005 for more info and programs.

■ LECTURES

First Friday Club of Chicago: Sojourners’ Jim Wallis, author, theologian, luncheon noon March 5, $35/guests, at Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson, RSVP by March 2 to (312) 466-9610.

DePaul Geographical Society: Thomas Graff, “A Photographer in Nigeria,” 23-year-old university student who spent a month “shooting” in Nigeria, 1:30 p.m. March 6, Schmitt Center, 2320 N. Kenmore, $1.50/seniors, (773) 325-7871.

Tom Peterson: founder “Catholics Come Home, Inc.,” independent, non-profit Catholic apostolates, including local media campaign inviting inactive Catholics back to church, noon March 12 luncheon, $30, hosted by Catholic Citizens of Illinois, at Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson, RSVP to Maureen at (708) 352-5834 by March 9.

Fr. Thomas Baima: “A Claim on your Conscience? How Catholics Understand the Teaching Authority of the Church,” noon-1:30 p.m. March 14, free, St. Catherine Laboure Parish, 3535 Thornwood, (847) 729-1414.

Ekklesia: Fr. Robert Pawell, OFM, “Spiritual Vision of Celtic Spirituality,” 9:15 a.m. March 17, $6, St. Giles Parish Hall, 1101 N. Columbian, Oak Park, (708) 383- 5536.

Lumen Christi Institute: Mark C. Murphy, Georgetown University, “The Authority of Law in Recent Catholic Political Philosophy,” 4:30 p.m. March 2, third floor Swift Hall, University of Chicago, 5735 S. University, (773) 955-5887.

“Ethics of Shareholder Disputes”: James Voigt on “When is it okay to go for the throat?”, 4-5 p.m. March 11, hosted by Integritas Institute, at John Paul II Newman Center, 700 S. Morgan, (312) 226.1880.

■ MEETINGS

Catholic Alumni Club of Chicago: 6:30 p.m. March 6, Nino’s Restaurant, 9237 Ogden, Brookfield, then a movie in La- Grange, call Marlene to RSVP at (708) 450-8280 by March 5.

St. Mary’s Young Adults: Sunday nights following 7:15 p.m. Mass at St. Mary of the Angels Church, 1850 N. Hermitage, then go for drinks and good company to one of the local establishments, bring friends, call Kevin at (312) 909-3009 for more info.

■ MISSIONS

“Lent: Season of Hunger”: with Bible scholar Fr. Bill Burton, 7 p.m. March 4, at St. Cajetan Church, 2445 W. 112th St., (773) 238-4100.

Fr. Alfred McBride, OPraem: author, scholar, will preach Lenten mission, starting with all weekend Masses March 13-14, and talks 7 p.m. March 15-17 with confessions March 17, at St. Raphael the Archangel Church, Route 173, half-mile East of Route 45, in Antioch, (847) 395-3474.

Fr. Donald Senior, CP: “Answer the Call,” featuring president of Catholic Theological Union, 7:30 p.m. March 8 and March 10, mission begins with a simple soup supper at 6 p.m. in St. Barnabas Church Hall, 10134 S. Longwood, for more info, call (773) 779-1166.

■ RESALE/RUMMAGE

Children’s Clothing Resale: spring/summer items, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. March 13, cash only, hosted by St. Christopher Mother’s Club, 14611 S. Keeler, call Connie at (708) 612-1255 to register to sell.

■ RETREATS

Day of Recollection for Religious: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. March 6, with Fr. Bernard Pietrzak, at St. Mary of Providence, 4200 N. Austin, call Sr. Ann Schaffer at (773) 545-8300, Ext. 307.

Theresian Day of Reflection: Sr. Joan Merlo, “Women at the Foot of the Cross,” check-in 8:30-9 a.m. March 6, day ends 4 p.m., $50, includes lunch, materials, St. Mary of the Lake Seminiary, Mundelein, RSVP to (847) 949- 8597.

Men’s Silent Retreat: memorial for Mario “Motts” Tonnelli, March 26-28, Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, 420 W. County Line, Barrington, call Mairon Koziol at (773) 774-1711.

Retreat for Busy People: “Listening for God in the Heart of Life,” with Sr. Kathy Sherman, CSJ, 9 a.m.-noon March 16, 18, 23 and 25, $120/four days, at The Well, 1515 W. Ogden, LaGrange Park, (708) 354-9200.

Spirituality to Heal from Abuse: with Fr. Patrick McAteer, SJ, March 26-28, $50/person for commuters, $140/person for weekend, double occupancy, meals included, Marytown Retreat Center, 1600 W. Park, Libertyville, RSVP to (847) 367-7800, Ext. 225.

■ REUNIONS

St. Columbkille Alumnae: annual luncheon, noon April 18, $35/person, at Fountain Blue, 2300 S. Mannheim, Des Plaines, helps Sisters of Providence retirement fund, RSVP to Charlene Swintek, (847) 427-1981.

■ SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Soup for the Soul: meatless soups and fellowship, 7-9 p.m. March 9, 16, 23 with different speaker weekly, in St. Bernardine School cafeteria, 815 Elgin, Forest Park, (708) 366-0839.

Msgr. Kenneth Velo: Lenten talk, 7:30 p.m. March 9, Our Lady of Ransom Women’s Club, in hall, 8300 Greenwood, Niles, (847) 823-2550.

Steve Ray: author of “Crossing the Tiber” and DVD series “The Footprints of God,” March 24 talks: 11 a.m. “From Baptist to Catholic,” 5 p.m. “Amazing Life of St. Paul w/dinner, and 7:30 p.m. “The Pain of the Crucifixion,” at St. Francis de Sales, 135 Buesching, Lake Zurich, must pre-register at www.stfrancislz.org under events, or call Pam at (847) 382-7619.

“The Word Burning”: Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. March 3, 10, 24, with Bob Wheeler, Sr. Mary Therese Johnson, UP and Sue Matthews, $15/each week, at The Well, 1515 W. Ogden, LaGrange Park, (708) 354-9200.

“Jesus, Easter and Pentecost in a New Universe Story”: with Michael Morwood, author, 7-9 p.m. March 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 6, $125/overnight, $75/commuter, at The Well, 1515 W. Ogden La- Grange Park, (708) 354-9200.

“Conversion: Spiritual Challenge of Life”: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. March 16, with Fr. David Simpson, OCarm, $40/person includes lunch, at Carmelite Spiritual Center, 8433 Bailey, Darien, RSVP by March 9 to (630) 969- 4141.

Spiritual Spa Day: presenter Coleen McGeady-Ambrose 8:30 a.m.-noon March 25, $10, at Felician Sisters Convent, 3800 W. Peterson, hosted by Queen of All Saints Parish, RSVP to Chris at 773-685-0051.

■ POTPOURRI

Massage: Support for Body, Mind and Spirit: 9:30 a.m.-noon March 11, $30, includes snacks, at The Well, 1515 W. Ogden, La- Grange Park, call (708) 352-4247.

36th Annual Catholic Band Director’s Festival: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 13, 10 different school bands, open to public, at St. Mary School, 50 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, for more info, call band director Richard Case, at (847) 359-3536.

Palm-Weaving Workshops: 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. March 20, hands-on learning, $35/person, bring scissors, other supplies on hand, at Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, 1224 W. Lexington, call Mary before March 16, at (312) 421-3757, Ext. 323.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends: April 23-25, or June 11-13, for more info or for reservations, call Jim and Kris, (800) 442-3554, or go to www.wwmechicago-gary.org.