May the peace of the Lord – through the intercession of Saints Gregory the Great, Ita, Thomas of Canterbury, and Francis of Assisi – be upon you.

On behalf of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Council, the Friars, and parish staff, we present you with the Mary, Mother of God Parish Annual Report for 2023-2024. As you read the report, if you have any questions, please email the Parish office.​

​Present: Soledad Andrade, Frank Ativie, Lucy and Maria Cordon, Kokou Dagawa, Eunice Daniels, Mark Franzen, Fr. Alejandro Lopez, Br. Ayub Mwenda, Jack Nuelle, Lionel Osaghae, Joyce Ramirez-Knight, Susan Silvano, Deacon Paul Spalla, Cheryl Sporlein, and Fr. Bob Sprott.
 
Not present: Ms. Christine Boyd, Friar Tarcisius Bucca, Fr. Thomas Fetz, Stephanie Held, Yasha Hookens, Robert Krug, Chris Grant, Greg Lindeman, Heberto Machado, Jr., Mercedes Mac Laughlin, Michael Magada, Fr. Romert Morales, Lorena Nava de Machado, James Murphy, Eva Niewiadomski, Deacon Juan Ramirez, Vince Singvongsa, Deacon Ron Stricker, Diane Trinh and Friar Jason Warrer.
 
Guest: Ellen Credille
 
Opening Prayer

Introduction Welcome to new members of the PPC. An amendment was made to the minutes from December 7 about the location: meeting was held in the Rectory Basement not Jubilee Hall. Approval of Minutes from the 12/07/2023 meeting approved through a first motion from Mark Franzen, followed by a second motion from Lucy Cordon. Followed by unanimous approval. 

​The Mary, Mother of God Parish Building & Grounds Committee has been busy since our last report. This newsletter brings you up to date with projects completed by our Facilities and Maintenance staff since then.

One of the more visible projects are the lantern lights in front of Saint Ita church. The solid bronze fixtures were completely restored and are now lit for the first time in decades. Many thanks to Mike Mahoney at Mahoney Metals in Niles, IL who donated his time and material to recast one of the missing doors and repair many of the other bronze components. Also, to one of our parishioners, Sheila Stranc, who lent her stained-glass artesian skills to hand fit and replace all the glass. The lanterns were installed with solar controlled LED lights. A new sound system was also installed in the church.
 
At St. Thomas of Canterbury, the church wireless mic system was replaced. The panic bar exit door hardware was upgraded on all church doors. With the Parish assuming operation of the Food Pantry and the continued operation of the Soup Kitchen, new equipment was installed, and the space was thoroughly cleaned.
 
Numerous projects were completed at the St. Gregory the Great campus. At the Msgr. Klassen Memorial Gymnasium, several steam heating pipes were replaced. The gym level bathrooms were cleaned and painted, new lighting was installed, and repairs completed on bathroom fixtures and privacy stalls. Annual maintenance of the gym floor was completed over the Christmas holidays. The Social Hall kitchen was deep cleaned and painted. Old cabinets were removed and replaced with chrome wire shelving. New flooring and ceiling tiles were also installed. Refinishing of the exterior church doors was started in the Fall and will be completed once Spring arrives.
 
The Committee is working on the 2024/2025 Capital Project Plan and Budget for the Parish which will be presented to the Finance Council in April. The Parish maintenance staff routinely completes a variety of projects in-house, too many to elaborate here, enabling the Parish to redirect its financial resources elsewhere. Many, many thanks to Ed Prause, Facilities and Maintenance Director, and his staff for their excellent work.
 

Best regards,

Ed Stranc Jr.
Chairperson - MMoG Building & Grounds Committee

Present: Soledad Andrade, Friar Tarcisius Bucca, Lucy and Maria Cordon, Kokou Dagawa, Eunice Daniels, Stephanie Held, Yasha Hookens, Robert Krug, Fr. Alejandro Lopez, Heberto Machado, Jr., Michael Magada, James Murphy, Lorena Nava de Machado, Mercedes MacLaughlin, Fr. Romert Morales, Eva Niewiadomski, Lionel Osaghae, Joyce Ramirez-Knight, Susan Silvano, Deacon Paul Spalla, Fr. Bob Sprott, and Friar Jason Warrer.
 
Not present: Frank Ativie, Ms. Christine Boyd, Fr. Thomas Fetz, Mark Franzen, Chris Grant,
Greg Lindeman, Deacon Juan Ramirez, Vince Singvongsa, Deacon Ron Stricker, and Diane Trinh.
 
Guest: Ellen Credille
                                                                                                                                              
Opening Prayer from Friar Jason Warrer, meeting began at 7:05pm. Approval of Minutes from the 09/27/2023 meeting approved through a first motion from Robert Krug, followed by a second motion from Lorena Nava de Machado. Followed by unanimous approval.  

Present: Soledad Andrade, Frank Ativie, Lucy and Maria Cordon, Kokou Dagawa, Eunice Daniels, Mark Franzen, Stephanie Held, Yasha Hookens, Robert Krug, Greg Lindeman, Fr. Alejandro Lopez, Mercedes MacLaughlin, Fr. Romert Morales, Lionel Osaghae, Joyce Ramirez-Knight, Vince Singvongsa, Deacon Paul Spalla, Fr. Bob Sprott, and Friar Jason Warrer.
 
Not present: Ms. Christine Boyd, Fr. Thomas Fetz, Chris Grant, Heberto Machado, Jr., Michael Magada, James Murphy, Lorena Nava, Eva Niewiadomski, Deacon Juan Ramirez, Susan Silvano, Deacon Ron Stricker, and Diane Trinh.
                                                                                                                            
Opening Prayer from Friar Jason Warrer, meeting began at 7:02pm. Approval of Minutes from the 06/15/2023 meeting approved through a first motion from Robert Krug, followed by a second motion from Frank Ativie. Abstention from Greg Lindeman.

​Mary, Mother of God Parish Pastoral Council
Minutes April 17, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

Present: Soledad Andrade, Fr. Bob Cook, Lucy and Maria Cordon, Kokou Dagawa, Eunice Daniels, Fr. Thomas Fetz, Stephanie Held, Yasha Hookens, Peter Jansen, Robert Krug, Greg Lindeman, Mercedes MacLaughlin, Michael Magada, Fr. Romert Morales, Eva Niewiadomski, Lionel Osaghae, Joyce Ramirez-Knight, Susan Silvano, John Stimler, Diane Trinh and Friar Jason Warrer.

Not present: Ms. Christine Boyd, Mark Franzen, Chris Grant, Pat Kenny, Heberto Machado, Jr., Lorena Nava, Deacon Juan Ramirez, Vince Singvongsa, Deacon Paul Spalla, Fr. Bob Sprott, Deacon Ron Stricker, and Deacon Bede Thigpen.
​
Guests: Rosemary Ihejirika, Pamela Matamabazo and James Murphy
Meeting began at 7:20pm with opening prayer from Friar Jason Warrer. Minutes from the 02/16/2023 meeting were approved with unanimous approval.

1. Welcome new members: Susan Silvano, Eva Niewiadomski, Stephanie Held, Frank Ative, and Peter Jansen. Thank you to retiring members:  Maggie Flynn, Jane McCarthy, Kerry Reed, and Remedios Ryan.
2. Operations
   1. Deacon Bede Thigpen is healing from surgery at the House of Studies until the end of May. Will be ordained either end of summer or early fall.
   2. Fr. Robert Melnick’s last Mass was April 16. He is being transferred to the Shrine of Maximilian Kolbe in Marytown.  
   3. Fr. Alejandro Lopez arrives before 5/8 and will then take office.
   4. Fr. Bob Cook will move to the SGG rectory after 5/8 to help with the transition.  
3. Parish Staffing
   1. Scott Kumer has been hired as organist for SGG at 4:30pm. Will also be the assistant director to Dan Lagacy. Start day is 4/15.
   2. Stephanie Held will be our summer intern for communications, and also help SGH and Director of Stewardship Dorothy Julian.
4. Physical Plant
   
   1. Mural for SI is unfinished; exposed live wires need to be covered by ComEd. Project should be finalized by end of Spring.
      
   2. A campaign will begin for the new church sign at STC. Former artist-in-residence Joe Malham designed the new STC fixture. Building and Grounds Committee is working on the JH kitchen/bathroom accessibility project. Winter has been mild - snow removal costs were smaller.
      
   3. 1-year trial has begun for Passages’ use of the gym Saturday mornings. As SGH expands, use of the gym will increase and availability to school will be limited.
5. Outreach
   1. Soup Kitchen numbers have increased after dropping during COVID. Now it serves 90/100 per night.  During COVID, homeless shelters were dispersed. As a result, the Food Pantry numbers increased. Greater Chicago Food Depository area restrictions are easing, and the numbers for the FP are increasing each month. A portrait of Jim Eder by SGH artist-in-residence Sarah Crow will be installed in the SK on May 5.
   2. Canterbury House serves Parish through prayer, outreach, fellowship, and Catholic social thought. Currently one full-time live-in community member, James Murphy, and one part-time live-in member, Scott Moringiello (scholar-in-residence at St. Gregory’s Hall).
      
      1. Prayer: Morning prayer Mon. and Wed. 7:45am @ CH, Tues. and Thurs. @ St. Francis Catholic Worker 7:45am, Fri. at Wilson Abbey (Jesus People Community) 7:45am. Adoration Tues. 9am to 7pm @ STC. Compline the Sun.’s of Lent at 7:30pm at STC.
         
      2. Outreach: Every Mon. 1-5pm, CH opens to people living outside. Partnering with Thresholds social workers, who help with housing connections, healthcare and other services. Working with Saint Vincent DePaul Society and Pope Francis Center to expand Mon. efforts. Helps SK with weekly food run. Currently has 2 interns from Loyola University who helped build the raised garden beds at STC. Loyola Department of Sustainability is supporting urban farming efforts. CH and SGH working with Hank Center for Catholic Thought at Loyola to do a 2024 conference on life and thought of Peter Maurin. Supporting and working with St. Francis Catholic Worker. 
         
      3. Catholic Social Teaching and Fellowship: Roundtable discussions twice a month on Thursdays with potluck dinner. Solidarity Gardens - growing food for FP, SK and neighbors. Communion & Liberation - Tues.’s 7:30pm @ CH led by Danuta Mirka. CH hosted the MMoG Young Adult Group.
6. Saint Vincent DePaul Society - guests Rosemary Ihejirika and Pamela Matamabazo
   1. The Saint Vincent DePaul Society began 190 years ago in Paris when students were trying to explain Christianity and how they were serving; they modeled themselves on Saint Vincent DePaul’s way of serving. The Daughters of Charity were created as a result. SVDPS is in 152 countries with 850k people; 90k of which in the US.
   2. SVDPS composed of Conferences, which are localized to Regional Groups. They are attached to a Parish that serves as their physical/spiritual home, shared with people with like-minded goals and objectives interested in helping others. Archdiocese of Chicago has 10 districts, with 9 Conferences; those are divided into councils. Rosemary Ihejirika is the District President for the Conferences. Goal is to gain more partnerships and memberships to help friends in need.
   3. Parish leadership should grow spiritually and in friendship by examining their works and their community to work together. Pope Francis Center in Logan Square was created to work 1:1 with people on a long-term basis.
7. St. Gregory’s Hall
   1. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: 3/9 Family Stations of the Cross. 5/13 First Communion with RE students. 5/21 Easter Egg Hunt and Open House for prospective families.
   2. Adult Faith Formation: March weekly reading group on T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets” led by Fr. Bob Sprott, OFM. 3/25 Lenten Retreat talk by Fr. Bob Sprott on “The Practice of Prayer: Suggestions from a 14th Century English Spiritual Writer.” April-May weekly course with Scott Moringiello on Encyclicals of Francis and Benedict XVI. 4/18, Conversation with Michael Heinlein, author of Glorifying Christ: The Life of Cardinal Francis E. George, OMI.  
   3. Sacred Art: 3/25 Lenten Retreat with talk by Sarah Crow on “Praying with the Blessed Virgin Mary in Art.” 2nd Saturdays: Monthly life drawing with live model.
   4. Church Tour and Art Workshop: Dates TBA  
   5. Sacred Music Program: 4/16 Divine Mercy Sunday Mass with Bishop Perry, Vox Fidelis Children’s Choir and St. Gregory’s Schola directed by composer-in-residence Kevin Allen.
   6. Upcoming: 5/21 and 6/4, Sacred Music talks by Kevin Allen. 6/13 Choral Mass for the Feast of St. Anthony.
8. School Report
   1. 4/21 First Communions at 5pm. 4/25 Confirmation at 7:00pm. 5/26 Graduation. Strong enrollment for next year. All who have applied have a Tax Credit Scholarship for this year. St. Francis and St. Joseph pledged to do the same for next year. We are over halfway funded.
   2. Ms. Christine Boyd received the Saints & Scholars 2023 Veteran Principal Award. Criteria included demonstrated long-term dedication to Catholic education and significant school leadership ability.
9. Liturgy and Worship
   1. Holy Week (4/2-4/9)
   2. Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter in discussion with letter to the Cardinal to allow the Mass at SGG.   
10. Religious Education and Sacraments
    1. Religious Education students from the 2nd year Confirmation class participated/volunteered during Holy Week. Confirmation practice will be on 4/22, First Communion practice on 5/6. C will be 4/25 and FC 5/13.
    2. RCIA has 8 new people. 2 adults were Baptized, 6 received First Communion and Confirmation. Mystagogy continues. RCIA members are expanding to other parts of the Parish; someone is joining the choir. For next year, 7 people are already enrolled. RICA had 3 candidates who received Confirmation. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Confessions the weekend of 4/15.
11. Parish Life
    1. Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent, Compline on Sundays in Lent. Parish Penance Service 3/20. Days of Recollection – parish charismatic groups 4/1, English Retreat at SGG 3/25, Spanish at SI 3/19. SGH:  TS Elliot’s Four Quartets, The Confession of St Augustine. Triduum of Holy Hours for Healing—Bishop Bartosic (3/27-29). SGH Divine Mercy Mass (4/16). Fr Robert Farewell (4/16).
12. Upcoming
    1. Author Michael Heinlein Talk (4/18). Pedro Calungsod Mass (4/21). Confirmation (4/25). First Communions (5/13). May Crowning (5/14--Mother’s Day). School Graduation (5/26).

New Business Knights of Columbus Blood Drive 5/14. Fr. Bob’s Farewell Tour SI: 4/30 after 12:30pm and 5/7 after 8:30am and 10:30am. STC: 4/23 after 8am and 11:30am. SGG: 4/30 after 9:30am.

Next Meeting TBD on Fr. Alejandro Lopez’s arrival 

Closing Prayer by Fr. Bob Cook, meeting adjourned at 8:55pm