a column of benevolent gossip

• Under the big top —

  “Pro-Life Night at the Circus”
  Pro-Life Night at the Circus, Aug. 16, in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
  is Aug. 16 with shows at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. in Maryknoll Park, 845 Pershing, Glen Ellyn, Ill. You can call Illinois Right to Life at (312) 422-9300 to reserve tickets or just show up early. The Carson & Barnes performers include trapeze and high wire artists, jugglers, clowns, motorcycles and performing animals from around the world. It’s the oldest family-owned circus in America. (Ten dads are out of work in a homeschool group. You might consider calling with a credit card for a deserving kid or family. Adults are $20, kids $10, those under age 2 are free.)

• We get letters —

  Clips heard from Xaverian Father Michael Davitti
  Fr. Michael Davitti
  , former pastor of St. Therese Parish in Chinatown. He emailed from the airport in Yangon, capital of Myanmar (formerly Burma). He had led a group of his former parishioners on a religious and cultural pilgrimage to Thailand and Cambodia. They were heading back to Chicago. Now Father is en route to a monastery that borders China for a month of reflection. His next missionary assignment in the new year will be in the Philippines.

• ‘On my honor’ —

  The Boy Scouts’ 2010 National Jamboree was held in Virginia a few weeks ago. Msgr. John Brady, of the Archdiocese of Washington, a priest 60 years and a scout chaplain, says he found his religious vocation at the jamboree in 1950. According to a Catholic News Service article, Brady was a senior at Georgetown University and scoutmaster of his parish troop at the time. He was one of more than 20 priest- and deacon-chaplains at this year’s event that gathered 30,000 scouts to mark the 100th anniversary of scouting. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger, 74, of Evansville, Ind., part of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, once again spent a month in advance of the jamboree as chaplain at a Boy Scout ranch in New Mexico. . . . St. John Brebeuf Parish (Niles), one of many parishes in the arch that hosts Catholic scouting, is home to Troop & Pack 175 and Troop & Pack 821. Nick Mazur and Jeff Gianakopoulos of Troop 175 recently joined the ranks of Eagle Scouts.

• Chicago connection —

  Daughter of St. Paul Sister Helena Burns
  Sr. Helena Burns
  was a speaker at the firstever National Theology of the Body Congress, July 28- 30 in Pennsylvania. Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia celebrated Mass with 450 participants from 11 countries and 111 U.S. dioceses. This unique theology was outlined 30 years ago by Pope JP II, as the cardinal said, “spelling out, in many details, God’s plan for humanity.” . . . Here in the arch, the Daughters hold a Theology of the Body Study Group on second Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-noon, led by Father Thomas Loya (another conference speaker), at Pauline Books & Media, 172 N. Michigan, as well as live online. It will begin again this fall, (312) 346-4228. (Sister Helena also reviews movies for Catholic New World.)

• Parish potpourri —

  Quan Minh Nguyen of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish (Palatine) professed first vows as a Capuchin friar July 31 in Milwaukee. He’ll join 10 other friars at their formation house in the arch to continue studies. . . . St. Linus (Oak Lawn) traditionally has an annual blessing of college students at all Masses the first weekend in August. . . . Mark Payton of St. Francis of Assisi Parish (Orland Park), a recent St. Rita High School grad, has signed with the Texas Longhorns’ baseball team at the University of Texas. Payton will be the team’s only non- Texan. His St. Rita coach calls him the greatest player he’s worked with in his 14-year career. . . . Christina Linehan, pastoral intern at St. Gertrude Parish (W. Granville) is off to join a L’Arche community in Erie, Pa. You can explore www.larchechicago.org and learn about this amazing ministry. . . . Sister Judith David, SSJ TOSF, marks her golden jubilee Aug. 21, at a Mass at Clare Oaks Chapel (Bartlett). She is pastoral associate at Immaculate Conception Parish (W. Talcott).

• One sentence sermons —

  We set the sail; God makes the wind. / Kindness is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

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.