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a column of benevolent gossip

• Making the devotion known —

  Mark Endres of Madison, Wis., is part of that growing number who prays faithfully to the Divine Mercy for, well, mercy — for themselves “and for the whole world.” A couple years ago Mark saw a billboard honoring the devotion begun by St. Faustina, but he couldn’t afford a billboard. So he started distributing flyers. Then he produced 3 x 10 bumper stickers, which got him interviewed on EWTN. This year he is also offering a Divine Mercy 1.5 x 5 refrigerator magnet.
  New Divine Mercy refrigerator magnet.
  Mark has a special offer for churches in the arch. If they order 100 of his magnets to pass out on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11, and mention they saw the offer in Church Clips, he’ll include an extra 100 at no cost. (He also has magnets in Spanish and Polish.) If individuals order one, they’ll get one free; order 50 and get 50 more free. His number is (608) 354-9654 or go to www.divinemercybumperstickers.com.

• Milestones —

  March 4th is the only day of the year that is also an action: “March Forth!” It is also the birthday of the honorary chair of prolife Feminists for Life, Patricia Heaton
  Patricia Heaton
  (star of “ Everybody Loves Raymond”). . . . Marie Badke celebrated her 90th birthday in style with family members Feb. 21. First she went to a grandson’s hockey game, then noshed at a giant family breakfast. Marie, who raised five children in St. Adrian Parish (S. Washtenaw) has been an active parishioner at St. Linus (Oak Lawn) for many years. So she received a special blessing at their 4 p.m. Mass, and then enjoyed a birthday dinner. Her 16 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren helped other family members play an original “Gram Game” to close the day. They had to guess what came first, “Refrigeration or Gram?” “Prop planes or Gram?” “Phyllis Diller or Gram?” (you get the idea). When Marie finally stopped laughing, she fell asleep.

• Music that ‘transfigures’ —

  If you have a child prodigy, make sure he/she keeps practicing. Kevin Allen
  Composer Kevin Allen
  attended Holy Angels School (E. Oakwood) K through 8. He practiced his trumpet during recess and after school. Franciscan Sister Lorrainne Quella says he also sang in the school choir and was an altar server. Allen recalls composing his first sacred music, “a setting of the Kyrie for three voices, in sixth or seventh grade.” Today Allen is a composer of opera, chamber and orchestral music and fills a unique niche in music for the Roman Rite. The world premiere of his newest work, “Transfiguration” is 4 p.m. March 21 at historic Notre Dame de Chicago Church, 1334 W. Flournoy, performed by the Lincoln Chamber Ensemble, conducted by Timothy Woods. Tickets are available at (815) 806- 0066. Allen’s goal, “to increase the beauty and splendor of the ceremonies of the church,” is also manifested in his latest CD, “Restoration of the Sacred,” recorded in concert and available by calling the number above.

• Saint of Lost & Found —

  “Pray to St. Anthony.” We’ve all done it when an item can’t be found. (We can also ask him “to find” things for us like strength or serenity.) He was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi, was a great preacher and died in 1231. Last month, some 200,000 people processed past his relics in a special 80-hour showing in Padua. When the saint’s coffin was first opened 30 years after his burial, most of his body had returned to dust. “However his tongue remained fresh, seen as a sign of his gift of preaching.” Anthony’s relics were last displayed in 1981, on the 750th anniversary of his death, so this was a biggie.

• Success —

  Students at Northridge Prep in Niles, an Opus Dei-run boys high school, got an earful of advice last month from Tom Monaghan. The Domino’s Pizza founder and former owner of the Detroit Tigers (World Series winners under his ownership), laid out his life’s guiding principles. The humanitarian also co-founded Ave Maria College and school of law, as well as built a new cathedral in Nicaragua.

Send your benevolent gossip to Church Clips, Catholic New World, P.O. Box 1979, Chicago, IL 60690-1979; or e-mail to dmadlener@catholicnewworld.com.