We need volunteers!St. Thomas of Canterbury church (4827 N. Kenmore) has been selected as a site for this year’s Open House Chicago, the annual free event organized by the Chicago Architecture that takes visitors behind the scenes in great places and spaces across the city. It will be open to the public on Saturday, October 19, from 10am to 5pm.  VOLUNTEER
Are you able to greet and welcome visitors, track attendance, be generally available in an around the church to answer questions, and be a gracious host? Then this is your opportunity to shine! Please call Dorothy Julian at 773-561-5343 or Jane McCarthy at 773-334-2555 for more information. "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me." -Matthew 25:40  As you all know, many people find refuge on the steps of our three churches. In response, a group of parish volunteers has come together to better serve our neighbors in need. Most folks on the street are just looking for kindness and direction. This group will be the parish's first response (rather than calling 911) when someone is making a home on parish property or disrupting parish activities. Our hope is to get to know our neighbors in need and see how we can connect them to community resources.
Help us grow this new ministry! If you or someone you know, are curious about our group, please join us for the next meeting on Sunday, September 15 at 10:30 AM in the Parish Center (5545 N. Paulina - next to St. Gregory the Great church). If you have any questions, you can email our group secretary Stephanie Held.  Anyone in our parish trained as a Eucharistic Minister, or interested in this ministry, is invited to learn more about our parish’s plans to incorporate both the bread and wine (both species) during communion at Sunday Masses.
Join us at the upcoming coffee socials to receive an update!
If you have any questions, you can email Jenéne Francis. La parroquia María, Madre de Dios celebró una misa especial de vigilia dominical en honor a la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, patrona de Cuba, el sábado 7 de septiembre a las 5:30 p. m. en la iglesia de Santa Ita (5500 N. Broadway). La misa en español honró el importante papel de nuestra Señora en la historia y el espíritu de Cuba. Mary, Mother of God Parish celebrated a special Sunday Vigil Mass in honor of La Virgen de la Caridad de Cobre, the patroness of Cuba, on Saturday, September 7 at 5:30 PM at Saint Ita church (5500 N. Broadway). The Mass in Spanish honored our Lady's significant role in the history and spirit of Cuba.
 We wish to give Fr. Bob Sprott, OFM a full-hearted thank you for his service to Mary, Mother of God Parish. In addition to his role as a scholar-in-residence for our parish cultural center, St. Gregory’s Hall, he has also performed many sacramental duties like offering Masses, visiting the sick, and celebrating funerals.
Fr. Bob is taking a year-long sabbatical to work at a parish in the outlying suburbs of London, England. The parish is St. Dunstan, and it is paired with St. Hugh of Lincoln in adjacent Knaphill. He will be assisting the priests responsible for both parishes. We give thanks to God for the gift of Fr. Bob Sprott, OFM, as he embarks on a sabbatical in England. May the Lord continue to bless him and his ministry. Please bless also the Friars, who still serve our parish. Amen!
Read below to get to know Kaylee and see what kind of work she will be doing over the next couple of weeks! If you would like to learn more about the parish history project, contact our Communications Coordinator Stephanie Held. What will you be doing for the parish archive? My role is to combine and organize the historical papers and artifacts of St. Ita, St. Gregory the Great, and St. Thomas of Canterbury. I am creating a history room at the Parish Center (next to St. Gregory the Great) where parishioners and community members can access original materials. My job also includes writing a set of guidelines so that items can be used, preserved, and added to the collection in the future. Why should parishioners at Mary, Mother of God Parish be excited about this project? The parishioners are the most important part of this project! As I organize and inventory the collection, my goal is to make this history as accessible as possible. Once the guide to the collection is completed, I highly encourage parishioners to come to the history room and browse the archives. These records are meant to be explored for any reason, be that research or just for fun! What has been the best part of the project so far? Or what are you most looking forward to? The best part of the project so far has been reading about the construction of all three churches! The archives have extremely detailed records of the manufacturers and artisans involved in all parts of the building process, which is not always guaranteed for buildings over 100 years old. If you ever have a question about a stained-glass window, for example, the archives are the place to go. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my free time I like to do fiber arts like crochet and cross stitch, despite the best efforts of my yarn-obsessed cat. The Mary, Mother of God Parish Archive In-Progress
(El Archivo Parroquial de María, Madre de Dios, en marcha) |
