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Pope Leo XIV Proclaims a Special Jubilee Year for the 800th Anniversary of the Death and Transit of St. Francis of Assisi!
You can find out about upcoming Jubilee events throughout the Archdiocese, by clicking here. This decree grants the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence for those who visit any Franciscan Conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis. This includes our three parish churches! The plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions:
Año Jubilar Franciscano (enero 2026 - enero 2027)¡El Papa León XIV proclama un Año Jubilar Especial con motivo del 800 aniversario de la muerte y tránsito de San Francisco de Asís!  (Sourced from vaticannews.va) Nos complace anunciar que Su Santidad ha decretado un Año Jubilar especial (del 10 de enero de 2026 al 10 de enero de 2027) para celebrar el aniversario del paso al Cielo de San Francisco de Asís. Este es un don para toda la Iglesia, no solo para la Familia Franciscana, y una ocasión para una auténtica renovación espiritual. San Francisco sigue siendo extraordinariamente relevante en nuestra época, y el Papa León invita a todos a «convertirse en santos en el mundo contemporáneo, siguiendo su ejemplo», convirtiendo la esperanza en verdadera caridad y un verdadero compromiso con la paz. Puede informarse sobre los próximos eventos jubilares en toda la Arquidiócesis haciendo clic aquí.
Este decreto concede la posibilidad de obtener una indulgencia plenaria a quienes visiten cualquier iglesia conventual franciscana o lugar de culto dedicado a San Francisco. ¡Esto incluye nuestras tres parroquias! La indulgencia plenaria se concede bajo las condiciones habituales:
¿Desea saber más sobre las indulgencias? Haga clic aquí para leer un excelente artículo de Vatican News. This year, we join with all the parishes in Cook and Lake counties to kick off the Archdiocesan capital campaign, Generation to Generation: Answer the Call. Our goal at Mary, Mother of God is to raise $1,025,000 in pledges that are payable over five (5) years. Fifty percent of the funds from these pledges will go toward spiritually renewing our church, supporting our priests, and assisting vulnerable communities. The remaining fifty percent goes to restoring and enhancing the worship space at each of our churches. When you receive your invitation to participate in this historic effort, please pray for the success of the Generation to Generation campaign and please discern a multi-year pledge that is right for your family. If you would like to contribute, click here to contact our parish Director of Stewardship, Dorothy Julian.   It is with profound sorrow yet deep reverence that we announce the passing of Maria Leonor Ivan, née Ramirez, a woman whose life was marked by grace, devotion, and a radiant spirit that touched all who had the privilege of knowing her. Born on April 29, 1934, in the vibrant city of Bogotá, Colombia, Maria Leonor’s journey came to its peaceful close on May 4, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois.
Maria Leonor was a talented singer, especially in the realm of opera, and found joy in playing the piano. Her musical gifts found a special home in the St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church choir, where she was a dedicated member for an impressive 40 years. Her voice and devotion enriched countless services and brought comfort and inspiration to her community. Maria Leonor was a very joyous and noble individual who cherished being surrounded by compassionate and loving people. She would light up the room with her smile and had a natural way of including others making them feel welcome and valued. She lived by many of the virtues found in quotes and sayings that she held close to her heart, embodying humility, perseverance and faith in her everyday life. Her deep religious conviction as a devout Catholic was central to her life's purpose and activities. From her earliest days, she embraced a rich cultural heritage and a steadfast faith that would guide her through a life full of love and meaning. Among her proudest accomplishments was her cherished role as mother and grandmother. She leaves behind her loving daughter, Leonor, (Jimmy) Lamperis, and her adored grandchildren—Anastasia, Sophia, and John Lamperis—who carry forward her legacy of love, faith, and strength. In addition, she was a treasured aunt and great-aunt to many, her extended family mourning the loss of a truly special soul. Maria Leonor was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jeno Ivan. She was also the youngest of eight siblings, a cherished daughter of Arcadio Ramirez and Delfina Ramirez, née Rojas, both of whom, along with her seven siblings, preceded her in death. Friends and family will meet for a visitation on Saturday, May 9th, from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 5545 N. Paulina, Chicago. Interment will follow at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles. Maria Leonor Ivan’s life was a symphony of love, faith, and music—an opus that will continue to resonate in the hearts of her family, friends, and all fortunate enough to have known her or heard her sing. As we bid farewell, we hold onto the memories of her tender devotion and unwavering joy, treasures that will forever illuminate our lives. *Obituary courtesy Anello Funeral & Cremation Services Splashes of Spring colors now greet our catechism students at the Monsignor Klasen Building (Memorial Gym). Catechesis of the Good Shepherd showed off its beautiful new artwork following last month's parish social at St. Gregory the Great. Thank you to artists Eva Niewiandomski and Kayla Placencio, who painted the murals for the classrooms.
Interested in enrolling your child in our Montessori-style catechesis? Details: stgregoryhall.org/cgs.html 📸: Mark Franzen, Eva Niewiandomski, & Jonanna Stramel
Alerta: Estafa por correo electrónico dirigida a feligresesLos feligreses han recibido correos electrónicos fraudulentos de alguien que se hace pasar por el P. Alejandro López, solicitándoles que compren tarjetas de regalo. NO respondan a estos mensajes; en su lugar, repórtenlos de inmediato a la parroquia.
Nuestro clero y personal NUNCA solicitarán dinero, tarjetas de regalo ni información personal confidencial por correo electrónico o mensaje de texto. Si reciben un mensaje en el que se les pide hacer esto, llamen de inmediato a la oficina parroquial al 773-561-5343.   Volunteers restocking the Food Pantry on Wednesday afternoon (March 25, 2026). Last year, the Food Pantry at St. Thomas of Canterbury church served 15,119 individuals, the highest number since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2023, the number of households coming to the pantry has nearly doubled. To keep up with demand, volunteers work diligently every week to pick up donations, stock shelves, and help patrons shop during open hours. “I truly look forward to working at the pantry each week and often plan my schedule around it,” parishioner Donna Donovan said. “The people I volunteer with have become like family. We all work hard toward a common goal, and everyone is so friendly and willing to help one another.”  Br. Donald Thielsen, OFM Conv.; Dennis’ sister Maureen; Aaron Donelson; and Dennis Donelson. Dennis Donelson has been a key member of the Soup Kitchen team for over seven years. For him, the mission is personal. “My late son Aaron was a member of the community that the Soup Kitchen served,” Dennis said. “I felt an obligation to support it with my time and abilities to help pay it forward.” The parish's Soup Kitchen, located at St. Thomas of Canterbury church (4827 N. Kenmore), is open for dinner service from 5:30-6:30 PM on Tuesdays and Fridays. Dennis has fond memories of Aaron helping out in the Soup Kitchen and finding unique ways to use his God-given talents. “He was great to have around to help me keep our guests in line; especially since he was a 6’4” tall mountain of a man,” Dennis said. “He would tell complete strangers that he was the ‘Director of Security’ with a big smile on his face.” Dennis said his favorite part about volunteering is knowing that his efforts are “helping people that are struggling with the challenges of low income, mental health, isolation, and drug or alcohol addictions to stay nourished and cared for.” Ways to Support the Soup Kitchen
 If you’ve volunteered or eaten at the Soup Kitchen, over the last five years, you can thank Jennifer Franco for her leadership. Since 2020, she made sure the kitchen was stocked and staffed for service every week. “Being the volunteer coordinator was not something I had planned to do, but I felt God had asked me to give it a try,” Jennifer said. “It ended up being one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life.” We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Jennifer and wish her the best in her new endeavors. "The Soup Kitchen is important to our parish on so many levels. Most importantly, it’s a ministry to see Christ and to serve Christ in others — those in need who come for a meal and the volunteers. It also is important because we learn to be Christ to others. In this way, Christ remains the center of our work and mission — bringing us love, joy, and strength.” - Jennifer Franco  We are here to journey with you. Assisting you where we can. Let us help you. Click the button below to request help and someone from the St. Vincent de Paul Society will respond as quickly as possible. If this is an emergency, please call 911 or 311 for immediate assistance.
 Mary, Mother of God Parish has a variety of groups that can help grow your prayer life.
The Sunday Prayer Group of the Blessed Virgin Mary provides a remote option every week for parishioners to come together and pray the Rosary. The group meets in person for special occasions at St. Thomas of Canterbury church (4827 N. Kenmore). We are blessed to have so many committed prayer groups! Contact the parish office to get involved. Editor's Note: this post initially identified the group as the Legion of Mary |
