 There is a centuries-old tradition — particularly in the churches of Great Britain and New England-- to paint church doors red. There are many possible reasons. Red symbolizes the Blood of Christ, through which we enter into the Church. Red also signifies the tongues of fire at Pentecost, a sign that the Holy Spirit is within the doors. Red doors also recall the sprinkling of the door lintels of the Israelites with the blood of lambs on the night of Passover. Beginning in the Middle Ages, red doors indicated a place of sanctuary which offered physical safety from outside evils.
Our parish’s former artist-in-residence, Joe Malham of Trinity Icons, chose the shade of red from the palette of Augustus Pugin, the master of 19th Century Gothic Revival design. Cardinal Mundelein, in designing St Thomas of Canterbury Church, based it on a Connecticut Meeting House to reference the New England roots of American Christianity. By painting the doors red, we honor Cardinal Mundelein’s inspiration. The Filipinos of St. Gregory hosted the parish Santacruzan on May 21. This celebration honors the Blessed Virgin Mary and commemorates the finding of the true Cross by St. Helena. The first Santacruzan hosted by the Filipinos of St. Gregory was in 1988! It was a joy to have this wonderful event restored after COVID-19 disrupted traditional celebrations in 2020 and 2021. After 4:30 PM Mass, there was a procession around the block to the gym for a reception. Thank you to the Filipinos of St. Gregory for all you have done for our parish! Mass & Procession On Sunday, May 22 at 4:30 p.m. there will be a Solemn Choral Evensong for Rogation Sunday at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Chicago, celebrated according to Divine Worship: Daily Office, the Ordinariate form of the Liturgy of the Hours. The Rev. Richard Kramer (Moderator of the Curia for the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter) will officiate, and noted liturgical musician and composer Kevin Allen will direct the music.
The event is an initiative of St. Gregory’s Hall: A Home for Catholic Culture. Established in 2022 with the appointment of director Mark Franzen, St. Gregory's Hall is a ministry of Mary Mother of God Catholic parish that promotes the Church’s spiritual, theological, and liturgical traditions to catechize and build community in the parish, and evangelize the neighborhood. St. Gregory’s Hall presents a unique approach to parish vitality in an era when Catholic churches across the U.S. are merging and closing. With the leadership of Fr. Bob Cook, OFM Conv. and the community of Franciscan friars who staff the parish, St. Gregory’s Hall serves as one wing of outreach among others that include a soup kitchen, a food pantry, devotions, and the Liturgy of the Hours, forming an integrated vision of Catholic community and Christian discipleship. Hosting Fr. Kramer for an Ordinariate liturgy is a wonderful opportunity to share the riches of the Anglican liturgical patrimony with Catholics in Chicago. It also provides the chance to minister to the Ordinariate members in Chicago who are currently without an Ordinariate church community. "Because of my family’s strong Anglican heritage and my many happy memories of worshipping in this glorious tradition, having an Ordinariate liturgy in Chicago is deeply significant to me on a personal level—and it truly is a dream come true that I can share this historic language and rich musical tradition with my children and husband,” said Eleanor Schneider, parishioner at St. Gregory the Great and member of the Ordinariate. “More than that, I am delighted to see this liturgy add its own voice to the diversity of liturgical styles, languages, and rites already living and breathing within the Archdiocese of Chicago, an addition which further enriches our collective worship experience.” The Solemn Choral Evensong will take place at 4:30 p.m. at St. Gregory the Great Church (5545 N. Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60640) and will be followed by a light reception. RSVP is encouraged but not required. Please contact Mark Franzen at [email protected] or 773-561-3546 with questions or to RSVP. You can also RSVP on the Facebook event page. This article was first published at the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society. |