Mary, Mother of God Parish
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Franciscan Jubilee Year (January 2026 - January 2027)

1/10/2027

 
Pope Leo XIV Proclaims a Special Jubilee Year for the 800th Anniversary of the Death and Transit of St. Francis of Assisi! ​
We are delighted to announce His Holiness has decreed a special Jubilee Year (January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027) to celebrate the anniversary of the passage of St. Francis of Assisi into Heaven.
 
This is a gift for the entire Church, not just for the Franciscan Family, and is an occasion for authentic spiritual renewal. St. Francis remains extraordinarily relevant in our own era, and Pope Leo invites everyone to “become saints in the contemporary world, following the example of [St. Francis],” turning hope into real charity and a real commitment to peace.
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"Scenes from the Life of St. Francis: (4) Death and Ascension of St. Francis" by Giotto di Bondone
Read the Decree
​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:
  1. Sacramental confession
  2. Eucharistic communion
  3. Prayer according to the intentions of the Holy Father, with a heart detached from sin (that is, deep down truly desiring to let go of all sins)
Want to learn more about indulgences? Click here to read a wonderful article from Vatican News.

​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!
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(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.
Lea el decreto
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:
  1. Confesión sacramental
  2. Comunión eucarística
  3. Oración según las intenciones del Santo Padre, con un corazón despegado del pecado (es decir, con un profundo deseo de liberarse de todos los pecados).

¿Desea saber más sobre las indulgencias? Haga clic aquí para leer un excelente artículo de Vatican News.

Holy Week Photo Album (2026)

4/11/2026

 
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Add to the Holy Week Photo Album! Please email any photographs you take to the parish office.  All contributions are appreciated and will be added to the digital album below.
¡Contribuya al álbum de fotos de la Semana Santa! Por favor, envíe por correo electrónico a la oficina parroquial cualquier fotografía que tome. Todas las contribuciones son bienvenidas y se añadirán al álbum digital que aparece a continuación.

Clicking on the accordion folder below will open it to show photos from each day of Holy Week 2026.
Al hacer clic en la carpeta desplegable de abajo, esta se abrirá para mostrar fotos de cada día.
Palm Sunday

Masses

*Photos courtesy of parish volunteers Luana Lienhart, OFS; Silvia Tellez, OFS; and Mitch Legan
​
Holy TUesday

Tenebrae

Watch the video to see and hear the final procession!
*Photos and video courtesy of Communications Coordinator Mitch Legan
​
Holy Wednesay

Covered Statues & Images

*Photos courtesy of Communications Coordinator Stephanie Held
​

Holy Thursday

Mass of the Lord's Supper

At the end of Mass, the Eucharist was processed out of St. Ita church and taken to St. Gregory the Great church for Adoration.

Eucharistic Adoration

*Photos courtesy of parish volunteers Luana Lienhart, OFS; Silvia Tellez, OFS; and Communications Coordinator Stephanie Held
​
Good Friday

Private Prayer with the Statue of Christ's Body

*Photo courtesy of parish volunteer Steve Mosklain and Communications Coordinator Mitch Legan
​

Stations of the Cross

*Photos courtesy of Communications Coordinator Mitch Legan
​

Celebration of the Lord's Passion

*Photo courtesy of parish volunteer Luana Lienhart, OFS; Silvia Tellez, OFS; and Communications Coordinator Mitch Legan
​
Holy Saturday

Blessing of the Easter Baskets

*Photos courtesy of Communications Coordinator Mitch Legan
​

Easter Vigil

*Photos courtesy of parish volunteer Luana Lienhart, OFS
​

Easter Sunday

Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord

*Photos courtesy of Communications Coordinator Stephanie Held
​

*Photos courtesy of parish volunteer Steve Moskalin and Communications Coordinator Mitch Legan

Easter Card 2026

4/5/2026

 
English | Español | Tiếng Việt
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Ash Wednesday (2026)

2/18/2026

 
What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season and falls 40 days (minus Sundays) before Easter. The number 40 is significant in the Bible. There were 40 days of rain during the great flood and Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert. After 40 days there was transformation. A sinful world was cleansed and a carpenter began a messianic ministry. 

​
The Lenten season offers the Church the same opportunity. Through prayer, fasting, and alms giving, we are called to prepare ourselves for Easter and draw nearer to God.​
¿Qué es el Miércoles de Ceniza?
El Miércoles de Ceniza marca el comienzo de la Cuaresma y se celebra 40 días (sin contar los domingos) antes de Pascua. El número 40 tiene un gran significado en la Biblia. Hubo 40 días de lluvia durante el gran diluvio y Jesús ayunó durante 40 días en el desierto. Después de 40 días hubo transformación. Un mundo pecador fue purificado y un carpintero comenzó un ministerio mesiánico.
 
La Cuaresma ofrece a la Iglesia la misma oportunidad. A través de la oración, el ayuno y la caridad, estamos llamados a prepararnos para la Pascua y a acercarnos más a Dios.

8:30 AM Mass at St. Thomas of Canterbury

12 PM Mass at St. Gregory the Great

5:30 PM Mass at St. Ita

*Photos courtesy of parish volunteer Luana Lienhart, OFS and Silvia Téllez, OFS​

Lunar New Year Celebrations - Year of the Horse (2026)

2/15/2026

 
On Sunday, February 15, the Vietnamese and Laotian communities hosted a Lunar New Year celebration for our parish at St. Thomas of Canterbury church. The 8 AM Mass was celebrated by Fr. Bang Cong Tran, SVD, Fr. Thien Nguyen, SVD our pastor Fr. Alejandro Lopez, OFM Conv., and Dcn. Jo Thuan Than. Attendees were serenaded by the wonderful voices of the Vietnamese Choir directed by Hoa Pham and accompanied by Fr. Thomas Fetz, OFM Conv. on the flute. Everyone was given a red envelope with money inside, a traditional gift of the Lunar New Year.

​After Mass, gifts were given to the celebrants and to key leaders of Vietnamese and Laotian communities at the parish. Then everyone gathered for the Lunar New Year party in the basement social hall of the church. The reception was overflowing with food and fun. There was even a game of Bingo!
​
Vào Chuá nhật, ngày 15 tháng 2, cộng đồng người Việt và người Lào đã tổ chức lễ đón Tết Nguyên đán cho giáo xứ tại nhà thờ Thánh Thomas Canterbury. Thánh lễ lúc 8 giờ sáng do Cha Bang Công Trần, SVD, Cha Thiên Nguyen, SVD, cha xứ của
chúng ta, Cha Alejandro Lopez, OFM Conv., và Phó tế Joseph Thuan Than cử hành. Khách tham dự được thưởng thức những giọng hát tuyệt vời của dàn hợp xướng Việt Nam do Hoa Pham chỉ huy và Cha Thomcas Fetz, OFM Conv. đệm sáo. Mỗi người đều được tặng một phong bao lì xì đỏ có tiền bên trong, cùng với lộc Xuân có ghi một câu trích trong Kinh Thánh, một món quà truyền thống của Tết Nguyên đán.

Sau Thánh lễ, quà tặng đã được trao cho những người tham dự và các vị lãnh đạo quan trọng của cộng đồng người Việt và người Lào trong giáo xứ. Sau đó, mọi người cùng nhau tham dự tiệc Tết Nguyên đán tại hội trường tầng hầm của nhà thờ. Buổi tiệc tràn ngập thức ăn và niềm vui. Thậm chí còn có cả trò chơi Bingo!
​
​

Holy Mass

Decorations

Serata di Spaghetti 2026

2/7/2026

 
Grazie! Grazie! Mary, Mother of God Parish for making Serata di Spaghetti a success! (If you don't speak Italian. Thank you! Thank you!) We are grateful to all the Parishioners who attended as a Guest, Volunteered their time and talent, or supported with a generous sponsorship/donation of the event. 
​

We especially thank YOU, that is Everyone at the parish, for your prayers and participation in all the fundraising efforts for Mary, Mother of God! Through events like Serata di Spaghetti and Tastes of Summer, your generous monetary donations, and any sharing of your time and talents we ensure the blessings of the Parish for all.

*Photos courtesy of parish volunteer Luana Lienhart, OFS and our Pastor Fr. Alejandro Lopez, OFM Conv.
Grazie! Grazie! ¡A la Parroquia María, Madre de Dios, por hacer de la Serata di Spaghetti un éxito! (Si no habla italiano, ¡gracias!). Agradecemos a todos los feligreses que asistieron como invitados, ofrecieron su tiempo y talento, o apoyaron con un generoso patrocinio o donación para el evento.

¡Les agradecemos especialmente a ustedes, es decir, a todos en la parroquia, por sus oraciones y participación en la recaudación de fondos para María, Madre de Dios! A través de eventos como la Serata di Spaghetti y Sabores de Verano, sus generosas donaciones y cualquier donación de su tiempo y talento, aseguramos que la Parroquia bendiga a todos.

*Fotos cortesía de la voluntaria parroquial Luana Lienhart, OFS y nuestro pastor P. Alejandro López, OFM Conv.

Parish Annual Report 2024-2025

10/31/2025

 
English | ​Español
With pleasure, we present to you the Mary, Mother of God Parish Annual Report, covering all three of our worship sites and spanning the last fiscal year (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025). We have so many reasons to praise and thank God!

As you read this report, should you have any questions please contact the Parish office via email or via phone at 773-561-5343.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.

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Holy Week Photo Album (2025)

4/20/2025

 
​Check out the parish's digital photo album for Holy Week! (Click "Read More" to see all of the photographs.) You can add your own photos of the celebrations and devotions to the album by emailing them to the parish office.
View the Full Album!
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May the glory and the promise of this joyous time of year bring peace and happiness to you and those you hold most dear. May Christ, Our Risen Savior, always be there by your side to bless you most abundantly and be your loving guide. Amen

Read More

Chalices Engraved In Honor of the Filipino Community

4/17/2025

 
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​In memory of Howard & Lorien Kimlin
- Filipinos of Mary, Mother of God Parish (2025)
On Holy Thursday, we again began offering the Precious Blood of Christ (consecrated wine) as a fuller sign of Communion at Mass. Earlier this  year, the Filipinos of Mary of God Parish donated the funds to purchase the chalices necessary for the distribution of Precious Blood. The chalices have been engraved in honor of this generous gift.

Entrevista a la comunidad: La Caridad de Cobre

9/21/2024

 
El sábado 7 de septiembre, la comunidad cubana de la Arquidiócesis de Chicago se reunió para una misa especial con nuestra parroquia en la Iglesia de Sta. Ita para honrar a la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, la querida patrona de Cuba. Esta celebración en español destacó la influencia perdurable de la Virgen en la fe y el espíritu del pueblo cubano. Los periodistas del "Católico" tuvieron el privilegio de hablar con Delia González, organizadora desde hace mucho tiempo, quien compartió con nosotros el significado de "Cachita" y la fuerza unificadora que brinda a través de la oración.

La Hora Católica: Misa y Más
https://youtu.be/B2F1TTThyC0

Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre -"símbolo religioso más fuerte, más poderoso que los cubanos tienen."
https://youtube.com/shorts/erI0Qo5XvXA
​

Delia González - "está el sentimiento hacia Dios y es la Madre de Dios."
https://youtube.com/shorts/l8oYsw5Exuw


On Saturday, September 7, the Cuban community of the Archdiocese of Chicago gathered for a special Mass with our parish at St. Ita Church to honor Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, Cuba's beloved patron saint. This Spanish-language celebration highlighted Our Lady's enduring influence on the faith and spirit of the Cuban people. Reporters from the Chicago Catholic had the privilege of speaking with long-time organizer Delia Gonzalez, who shared with us the meaning of "Cachita" and the unifying force it provides through prayer.

Click the links above to watch the videos.
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MARY, MOTHER OF GOD PARISH - MASS SCHEDULE

SAINT ITA CHURCH
​
5500 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640
773-561-5343

Monday & Wednesday: 5:30 PM
(4:45 PM Adoration, 5:15 PM Vespers)
Tuesday: 8 AM
Thursday: 8 AM, 7 PM (español)
Friday: 8 AM
       *First Friday Devotion: 7 PM
Saturday: 8 AM, 5:30 PM (vigil)
Sunday: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM (español), 5:30 PM

Confessions: After daily 8 AM Mass and every Saturday from 4 - 5 PM 
ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY CHURCH
​
4827 N. Kenmore
Chicago, IL 60640
773-878-2114 
​
Weekdays: 8:30 AM
Sunday: 8 AM (Vietnamese/Lao), 11:30 AM (English)

Eucharistic Adoration: Every Tuesday from 9 AM - 7 PM

Confessions: After daily 8:30 AM Mass 

ST. GREGORY THE GREAT CHURCH
5545 N. Paulina
Chicago, IL 60640
773-561-3546

Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM
​
Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Every second Wednesday at 4 PM​

Get Help From the St. Vincent de Paul Society at the parish:
Request Assistance
  • About
    • ABOUT THE PARISH
    • OUR CHURCHES
    • CONVENTUAL FRANCISCANS
  • Mass & Confessions
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    • SACRAMENTS
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