Chicago, IL 60608
Holy Family Day 2019
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A grateful parish celebrates
Fr. Mike's ministry-
Hundreds of parishioners, friends and supporters attended the 9:45 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 23, termed, “Holy Family Day,” to celebrate and thank Fr. Mike Gabriel for his five years of significant leadership and ministry to the people who attend Chicago’s second oldest Catholic church.
Parish Council President Odell Gordon said, “Fr. Mike’s pastoral and spiritual leadership has been a blessing for this community since the moment he arrived. His leadership over the past few difficult months have been especially meaningful.”
Addressing Fr. Gabriel as he begins his new assignment as Associate Pastor at St. Gertrude’s parish in the Edgewater community, Gordon said, “Fr. Mike you recognized what a special place Holy Family is. Your love of this parish and your willingness to advocate for this community at great risk to yourself will never be forgotten. Your name will be remembered alongside all of the beloved pastors who have stood at this altar and ministered to this community.“
On behalf of the parish, longtime parishioner Nora Jackson presented Fr. Mike with a memento of his tenure -- a miniature sculpture of the Holy Family.
Rev. Jeremiah Boland, Holy Family’s immediate past pastor who concelebrated the Mass, said, “ Fr. Mike, I don’t know how you did it. You have been the best shepherd a parish could have.”
In his homily, Father Mike Gabriel commented on the parish’s participation in the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Renew My Church process.
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"First, we did nothing wrong. We went into these meetings with open minds and hearts, our team engaged in very hard conversations, many of these meetings were emotional. Unfortunately, as we found out later after the fact, this decision was made before we even started this process because the building is owned by the Society of Jesus. Other than who we are owned by, this decision is something that never should have happened. But most important is, 'We did nothing wrong.'
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"Second, I have heard folks say, as well as I have at time reflected while sitting in this church - What would Fr. Arnold Damen think? The expression used often was he must be turning in his grave. All of the nickels and dimes, sweat and tears in building this magnificent church building, and this magnificent parish, what must the past think of the present?
"As I have pondered the numbers of the past generations that have walked through those doors - Would they think, we did not do enough? I feel I can answer that question? Yes, we have honored the faith of all the people who have walked through those doors," said Fr. Mike.
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