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.
This Sunday, December 30, in honor of the Feast of the Holy Family, tiny fragments from the manger that held the infant Jesus, the veil of his mother, Mary, and a thread from the cloak of St. Joseph will be displayed and venerated. The fragments, which were brought to the Vatican in the 5th century, were released by the Vatican in 1972, and were a gift to Holy Family from our neighbors, the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. These tiny fragments will be on display in a crystal reliquary in the church. To accommodate visitors, the church will be open all day beginning with Mass at 9:45 AM and concluding after the 5:00 PM Mass.
The Church continues to reckon with the sex abuse scandal by priests and the failure of leaders to protect children entrusted to their care. On December 17, the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus released all the names of Jesuits with established allegations of sexual abuse of minors. Jesuit priests staffed Holy Family Church from our founding until 1989. The Provincial, Fr. Brian Paulsen SJ, will address the Holy Family community on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, at the 9:45 Mass 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, please click on the title link or picture.
On Friday, December 20, our fantastic food pantry volunteers distributed approximately 1,600 chickens to those in need in the neighborhood for their Christmas dinner. Each family was able to take home at least two chickens to make sure no one would be hungry around their holiday table. Special thanks to our friends at Sts. Faith, Hope, and Charity Parish in Winnetka for their kind donation.
On Saturday, December 15, Santa and his elves hosted approximately 300 eager Holy Family kids, family, friends and neighbors to breakfast. It was wonderful morning with many smiles from the children, as well as a special feeling of gratitude to all the volunteers and sponsors. Santa would especially like to thank Ed and Lauren Worm from Joe's on Weed, all the supporters of the Kandy Kane Ball, and the parishioners from our sharing parish, St. Raymond de Penafort in Mount Prospect, for their kindness and help. Please see the Photo Albums for more pictures from the event.
On December 10, the priests and writing team members from the Little Italy Grouping presented the Feedback Summary document to the Executive Committee of the Renew My Church Commission. The Feedback Summary reflects feedback received from our parish meetings, as well our groupings conversations, on the scenarios that were presented outlining various structural changes for the grouping. The Executive Committee will now discuss our feedback and prepare a recommendation for the Renew My Church Commission. The Commission will then meet with the Cardinal to review the recommendation, after which a final decision will be made by the Cardinal. A meeting will be held in one of the parishes to update parishioners on the status of the Cardinal's decision. This meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 23, 2019. To view the Feedback Summary and other information on Renew My Church, please click on the title link or picture.
The Knights of Peter Claver is the largest historically African-American Catholic lay organization in the United States. The Order is named for St. Peter Claver, the Spanish Priest who ministered to African slaves. Court #143 is comprised of members from St. Malachy, Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Martin de Porres. We are involved in spiritual, financial, social and service projects that make a difference in our parishes and community-at-large. We are actively seeking new members to help carry out our mission. Meetings are usually held the second Sunday of each month at St. Malachy+Precious Blood Rectory, 2242 West Washington Blvd at 12:30 PM. For details, please contact Vice Grand Lady Elese Dennard at (312) 834-9615 or Grand Lady Robin Watson at (773) 822-1239. We hope you will join us!
The annual Cardinal's Christmas Concert was held on December 9 at Holy Family to a packed church. The concert featured Cardinal Blaise Cupich and The City Lights Orchestra conducted by Rich Daniels. Highlights included the Cardinal's reading of the Gospel Christmas Story According to Luke, Suzanne Palmer, Bruce Henry and Catherine O'Connell's stunning vocals, as well as an old fashioned Christmas Sing-a-Long. The spirited music in such a beautiful setting left all attendees with a warm feeling in their hearts. Special thanks to Cardinal Cupich, Rich Daniels, the wonderful musicians of The City Lights Orchestra, and the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208.
Perhaps a special woman or man religious shared with you love, faith, and a belief in all that you could become. Maybe you knew more than one. Today these sisters, brothers, and religious order priests may be elderly, and their religious communities may struggle to meet retirement needs. A second collection will be taken on December 9 at all Masses in support of these wonderful people who have given so much. To make an online donation, please click the picture or title link. For more information, please visit www.retiredreligious.org