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Church Clips by Dolores Madlener

Dolores Madlenera column of benevolent gossip

  • The APYC (Archdiocesan Pastoral Youth Council) are teens who encourage their peers to act with them in an advisory system for the arch. They also work with the arch's Office for Councils. Each rep gathers info from peers in their parish/ school/youth group on a topic chosen by Cardinal George and feedback is shared up the ladder. On July 19 the APYC met for their yearly luncheon with the cardinal and a photo.

  • ‘Buon giorno’ —

    St. Zachary Parish (Des Plaines) is about to initiate its first regular Italian language Mass, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m., a short reception follows. It will be a new tradition on the second Sunday every month, thanks to the efforts of the parish’s Italian Catholic Federation. For more info, call (847) 956- 7020.

  • Fervor on the front burner —

    Maybe it’s the economy, maybe it’s health issues, maybe it’s family stuff — but close to 500 Catholics flooded St. Rita Shrine Chapel in St. Rita High School (S. Western) Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. It was the monthly solemn novena to the wife, mother, widow, and Augustinian nun, St. Rita, born in Cascia, Italy in the 14th century.

    If TV were Catholic, St. Rita’s life story could fittingly be titled “Desperate Housewife,” suffering heroically just about anything today’s woman can experience. She even lived the tragedy of “gang” violence. Canonized in 1900, she’s the patron of “hopeless” causes.

    The men and women who gather at the shrine on the first Thursday each month (consistently between 450 and 500), sing with gusto, and pray the Mass and novena prayers loud and clear. They mingle as a faith community in the busy foyer afterwards, or light candles at the many shrine altars devoted to various saints in the chapel. It is something to witness.

  • Idea exchange —

    St. Celestine Parish (Elmwood Park) is showing seven films in July and August from “Quo Vadis” to “A Man for All Seasons” covering major periods, events and persons in Catholic Church history in popular movies. The idea is based on Steve Weidenkopf ’s series, “Epic: A Journey through Church History.”

    Along the same lines, Pauline Books & Media has “Lights, Camera, Faith: the 10 Commandments” with a study guide and three movies suggested for each commandment, depending on the depth of your audience. And of course their three volumes of “Lights, Camera … Faith” each exploring some 70 pop movies in the light of Sunday Scriptures with film commentary and reflections. Available at amazon. com or at (312) 346-4228.

  • Milestones —

    Wedding photo of Heather and Tom Bresler, Aug. 1, 1942.

    St. Margaret Mary parishioners (W. Chase) danced in the streets at their 90th birthday block party July 28. . . . Deacon Tom Bresler and wife Heather, now retired in Tennessee, who served Holy Cross Parish (Deerfield), celebrated their 70th wedding anniver sary Aug. 1. How did they mark it? Happily! By going to Mass together and being with their family. In 1978 Tom founded Aid for Women, a local prolife outreach for women in crisis pregnancies. In 2011 Aid for Women opened Heather House a dorm-type residence on the campus of Maryville, for those women in dire need of housing for themselves and their children. . . . After 41 years of teaching at St. Colette School (Rolling Meadows) Ron Mazzoni has retired. But in another sense Mazzoni continues his work by teaming with the school board to establish the Ron Mazzoni Scholarship Fund. . . . Amos Palmer of St. Mary Queen of Apostles Parish (Riverdale) celebrated his 97th birthday July 6. . . . Little Sisters of the Poor’s St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly (Palatine) is one of only three facilities, out of about 500 nursing homes in the Chicago Metro area, that recently received the highest ranking – 5 stars in each category by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

  • Speaking of movies —

    They taught us: “When they are all alone, foreigners prefer to speak English to each other.” (Internet wisdom)