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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • The season’s ‘Reason’ —

    This is the 25th year the Nativity Scene will grace Daley Plaza on Dearborn Street. If you want to see the volunteer “God Squad” in action,
    Yearly labor of love for the God Squad, raising the Nativity Scene at Daley Plaza.
    they start at 9 a.m. Nov. 27 (the Saturday after Thanksgiving), and finish with a prayer service around 11 a.m. This sole religious exhibit in downtown Chicago disappears from our midst the Saturday after Christmas. Try to make it a family experience.

  • Parish potpourri —

    St. Dorothy (S. Vernon) parishioners were walkin’ the walk, doing door-to-door evangelization, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, Sept. 18-Oct. 23. They started with prayer and coffee and ended up back at the rectory with lunch at 12:30 p.m. . . . Festivities for the 70th anniversary of St. Vincent Ferrer School (River Forest) Oct. 9 featured DJ Dick Biondi. Father Dennis Woerter, OP, class of ’82, is now the associate pastor, soccer coach and school campus minister. . . . Old St. Mary’s (S. Michigan) may reserve a “parish table” each month for its retirees and downtown workers at The First Friday Club, to socialize over the important issues of the day. . . . St. Isidore Parish (Blue Island) celebrated its 110th anniversary last month. . . . About 16 ladies in St. Joseph Parish (Libertyville) get together Monday afternoons to play that oriental game of skill, strategy and calculation: Mah Jongg. . . . Since St. George Parish garden (Tinley Park) had a bumper crop this year, Father Ken Fleck drew names from the children’s Sunday envelopes to give away freebies out of the parish pumpkin patch. . . . Booklets are available from St. Martha Church (Morton Grove) detailing the saintly Who’s Who in their extensive Relic Chapel, for $1 + postage. Call (847) 965-0262. . . . St. Catherine of Alexandria (Oak Lawn) just dedicated an adoration chapel in their former convent. It will be open Monday-Friday 3-6 p.m.

  • Growth spurt —

    The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Mich. (the order seen on Oprah’s TV show last February), will purchase the financially strapped John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. The sisters are outgrowing their present facilities. (This past August they welcomed 22 aspirants.) Some features of the 100,000-square-foot building and grounds near Catholic University of America, will remain, such as the “Polish Heritage Room,” housing memorabilia from a pair of skis to prayer books that belonged to John Paul II.

  • Story time —

    “The Children’s Catholic Book Club” meets monthly in the basement clubroom of St. John Fisher Rectory (S. Fairfield). October’s book was “Mother to the Poor: The Story of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta,” published by Pauline Books & Media. About 35 kids
    Book club members look over a children’s book on the life of Mother Teresa Oct. 26.
    sat in a circle on the rug. They were eager to talk about the story. This fun evening (there is always a craft session and a snack) is separate from their Catholic school studies. Some moms take turns carpooling from three neighboring parishes. Amy Goggin, the mom who started the idea a couple years ago, surprised the kids this evening by introducing a real, live Daughter of St. Paul, Sister Barbara, from the downtown bookstore. To find out more, call Amy at (708) 499-2090 or visit Gogginreg@comcast.net.

  • Keeping busy —

    Out in Western Springs at St. John of the Cross Parish, they can’t wait to celebrate BVM Sister Josephine O’Brien’s 70th anniversary. She still teaches at least two Bible study classes a week and keeps everyone on their toes. The parish will party with her Nov. 21. . . . Jesuit Fathers Phil and Bob Grib are part of the popular band, the Brighton Park Connection. Its half dozen or so musicians play polkas as well as Big Band favorites (check out YouTube). Phil plays clarinet and sax, Bob is a drummer, and they both vocalize. It began in 2004 as a group of friends from different professions with musical talent in common. Call Father Phil at St. Eugene Parish (W. Foster), (773) 775-6659 to schedule a booking. Ask him about their polka CD, $13+ shipping.