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On February 12, Fr. Mike, Alison Conlon, and Tom Justic met with Cardinal Cupich, Fr. Jason Malave and other members of the archdiocesan committee on Renew My Church to present the petition from the people and friends of Holy Family asking the Cardinal to reconsider his decision to end Sunday morning Masses at Holy Family as part of the merger with Notre Dame de Chicago. Cardinal Cupich indicated that he would review the petition and inform the parish of his final decision soon.

Special congratulations go to our children who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation on February 10. Our prayers continue for them as they prepare for their First Holy Communion. A note of thanks to Fr. Lucas Laniauskas SJ for helping in celebrating this wonderful sacrament .with our children

A Parish Consultation has been scheduled at Holy Family Parish for Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Two members of the Priests Placement Board, the Bishop, and the Dean will have three separate meetings with the following groups to gather input about the qualities needed in the new pastor for the combined parish; 4 PM – meeting with the Parish Staff and Permanent Deacons; 6PM – meeting with parish leadership and Grouping Discernment Team from both parishes (members of Parish Council, Finance Committee, etc.); 7 PM – meeting with all interested parishioners from both parishes in a Town Hall format to discuss the strengths and challenges of the parish and the qualities needed in their next pastor. Input from parishioners is very important in the process. Both pastors and current staff members have been asked not to attend this session to allow people to express their opinions openly. For more information on the process, click on the title link or picture to see a information from the archdiocese.

Just as parishioners did in 1871 as the Great Chicago Fire was burning, and as generations did later as the wrecking ball threatened the parish in the 1980's, the rosary was prayed in front of the Shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Help to ask that Sunday AM Mass be preserved at Holy Family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph...Pray for Us.

Fr. Mike informed the parish that a meeting with Cardinal Cupich has been scheduled for February 12 to further discuss the issue of the Sunday AM Mass. As he did last week, Fr. Mike once again tied his remarks to the scripture readings saying that "Holy Family gives us love; And love endures all things; Love overcomes all things; Love never fails." He emphasized that ours is a petition of prayer, not of anger. He also mentioned that he is hoping to be able to present our 60' scroll as well as the names, as of February 3, of 220 online signatures to the archdiocese this week. Fr. Mike asked that we continue to pray

Click on the title link for a complete listing of the news coverage on the Renew My Church decision petition.

The people of Holy Family gathered at the 9:45 Mass on January 27 to pray that the archdiocese will continue to offer a Sunday morning Mass once the merger between Holy Family and Notre Dame de Chicago is complete. On January 23, parishioners and friends found out from representatives of the archdiocese that once the merger is complete, no Sunday morning Mass will be offered. At that meeting, people were also frustrated that they were not allowed to verbally ask questions or make a statement. In his homily, Fr. Mike made a respectful appeal to the Cardinal, based on the scripture readings for the day on behalf of the people of Holy Family, to reconsider the decision. Following Mass, people were invited sign a petition to the Cardinal, given an opportunity to speak, and to pray the rosary to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The petition will be given to the Cardinal this week. Friends who were unable to sign the petition at Mass, may join the online petition by click the title link or picture.

All friends of Holy Family are asked to join us on Sunday, January 27 at the 9:45 Mass to pray for yet another "Miracle on Roosevelt Road” Unless another "miracle" happens, and the decision to end the 9:45 Mass stands, this inspirational service will no longer be an option for those who find comfort in our Lord within the walls of this sacred space. The 9:45 Mass is the heart and soul of the parish, offering a warm welcome and hospitality to all. People find great spiritual and cultural richness at Holy Family, as fellow Catholics from all walks of life, from the neighborhood, and the entire Chicagoland area call this Chicago treasure home. Following 9:45 am Mass, attendees will have an opportunity to sign a petition, vocalize their feelings about this painful decision, and offer prayers as a community of faith. Please be with us this Sunday to offer one another support and to pray for a change of heart by the archdiocese. An online petition can be signed by clicking on the title link or picture.

On the evening of January 23, a packed church of friends and parishioners of Holy Family, as well as other members of the Litlle Italy grouping, were informed by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Robert Casey, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Fr. Jason Malave, the Cardinal's Liaison for Renew My Church, that Holy Family and Notre Dame de Chicago will merge to form a new canonical parish. Additionally, parishioners were told that the Cardinal has decided that no Sunday morning Mass will be allowed at Holy Family, and that parishioners and friends who want to attend Sunday morning Mass must attend Notre Dame. The Sunday evening Mass at Holy Family and the thriving Marriage Ministry may continue. A new pastor will take over the new as yet to be named parish on July 1, 2019. Depending on the new pastor, the current Mass schedule may continue until June 30, 2020.

Those in attendance at the January 23 meeting to hear the Cardinal's decision on the future were disappointed and frustrated that they were not allowed to stand up and ask their questions or make a statement regarding the Cardinal's decision. Only questions written on the 3x5 card were taken, allowing no follow up questions. However, two parishioners were able to voice their opinions, but it is unfortunate that, considering the impact felt by parishioners regarding the decision, all in attendance who wanted to comment were not heard.

Thank you to the Crosse family for hosting our first monthly Hospitality gathering of the New Year! Rita Crosse, her son Mike Crosse, daughters Sharon Cox and Carrie Igoe and son-in-law Martin Igoe offered us a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and warm camaraderie on a cold winter morning, and it was much appreciated!

On January 23, 2019, an update on the Cardinal's decision as to the future of the churches in the Little Italy grouping will take place at Holy Family at 7:00 PM in the church. In addition to Holy Family, the grouping includes Notre Dame de Chicago, The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, and the St. John Paul II Newman Center. For the past several months, teams from all the churches in the grouping discussed possible scenarios for the future and obtained feedback from interested parishioners and friends as part of the Renew My Church process. This feedback on various scenarios was presented to the Renew My Church Executive Committee in December. All parishioners are highly encouraged to attend this meeting. For more information, click on the title link or picture.

Please join together and pray for an End to Human Trafficking … Modern Day Slavery which continues to impact our communities and world. January has been designated as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. There are more than 40 million people who have been affected by human trafficking worldwide. #humantrafficking The Knights of Peter Claver National Social Justice Committee, Human Trafficking Sub-committee is reaching out to our Claver families worldwide in an effort to provide awareness of this terrible scourge on human dignity that impacts our communities. We pray for the survivors and victims of human trafficking in all its forms. (January 11th - February 8th) Please click on the title link or picture for a printable prayer card.

During Poverty Awareness Month, join the U.S. Bishops, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Catholic community in the United States in taking up Pope Francis' challenge to live in solidarity with the poor! A calendar of events and daily reflections are available by clicking on the title link or picture.

The Chicago Tribune has run two must read articles on Renew My Church. Both articles contain detailed information about the Renew My Church process and why this change is needed for the archdiocese, and how parishioners are being impacted. Fr. Mike was interviewed for both articles and shares his insights. "Chicago's Catholic Church in transition: What parishioners are saying" can be found by clicking on the title link or picture. A link to the second article, "Chicago Catholics struggle to build future with fewer priests as parishes shrink, cash dwindles" can be found in the next news story.

To view the Chicago Tribune article, "Chicago Catholics struggle to build future with fewer priests as parishes shrink, cash dwindles", please click on the title link or picture.

As we find ourselves wrapping up one year and beginning another, it seems appropriate to reflect on blessings and to give thanks. So, we offer thanks...for all of you who bless us with the gift of your presence, Sunday after Sunday; to all our ministers who go the extra mile by showing up when scheduled, and arranging their holiday plans to serve at our Christmas Masses; to our decorating "elves" who beautify our church and edify us with their handiwork; to our choir and Clive, who help us pray with music week after week and especially at Christmas; to all who were so generous to our weekly collection, our annual Christmas Appeal, and the special collections that keep popping up, and to the special needs of our parish. Thank you all so much! Peace! Fr. Mike

On the Feast of the Epiphany, Fr. Brian Paulsen, S.J., Provincial for the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus, began Mass by offering on behalf of the Jesuit community his deepest and sincerest apology to the victims of clerical sexual abuse, their families, and the entire Holy Family community. In addition, Fr. Paulsen took time to answer questions from the community and meet with survivors after Mass. We applaud Fr. Paulsen for coming to Holy Family to help victims heal, and to publicly state ways in which everyone must work together to prevent this tragedy from ever happening again.

Fr. Brian Paulsen S.J, Provincial of the USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus, will celebrate the 9:45 Mass with the Holy Family community on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, and to continue to shed light on what has been in the darkness for too long. Fr. Paulsen will also be available for questions after Mass. For more information and to view the list of the names of those Jesuits with an established allegation of sexual abuse of a minor in this region since 1955, please click on the title link or picture.

Thanks to all who participated by providing gifts for the young people on our tree. Your generosity is deeply appreciated. May you feel the peace of the season in you life.