Bilingual Stations of the Cross last Friday, March 15 at Saint Ita church. Viacrucis bilingüe del pasado viernes 15 de marzo a la iglesia de Santa Ita. Photographs courtesy of Wesley Kinard.
In preparation for Good Friday, the students from the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd religious education program prayed the Stations of the Cross with their parents and our Pastor Fr. Alejandro Lopez, OFM Conv. About 25 students attended and the group used a Stations booklet specifically designed for children. Fr. Alejandro had a different child lead the prayers at each station and students also carried the processional cross and candles. At the end, Father blessed everyone with the Relic of The Most Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd fosters the relationship between God and children in harmony with children’s development. It is grounded in Scripture and the liturgy and framed by the education principles of Maria Montessori. Photos courtesy of Damian Chlanda.
On Tuesday, March 12 our parish hosted a Taizé Prayer service to pray for peace. At 7:15 PM peopled gathered at Saint Ita church to pray for the end to conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, our country and throughout the world. El martes 12 de marzo nuestra parroquia organizó un servicio de oración en Taizé para orar por la paz. A las 7:15 PM la gente se reunió en la iglesia de Santa Ita para orar por el fin de los conflictos en Ucrania, Medio Oriente, nuestro país y en todo el mundo. Photos of the evening courtesy of Damian Chlanda.
Mary, Mother of God Parish Pastoral Council Meeting Minutes, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 7:00 p.m. St. Ita Jubilee Hall 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 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. ¡Estamos agregando otra Misa diaria! Los jueves en la iglesia de Santa Ita, ahora habrá una misa a las 5:30 PM en inglés (4:45 PM Adoración y 5:15 PM Vísperas) y una misa a las 7 PM en español. Comuníquese con la oficina parroquial si tiene alguna pregunta a 773-561-5343 o officemmog@archchicago.org. We’re adding another daily Mass!
On Thursdays at Saint Ita church, there will now be a 5:30 PM Mass in English (with 4:45 PM Adoration & 5:15 PM Vespers) and a 7 PM Mass in Spanish. Please contact the parish office with any questions at 773-561-5343 or officemmog@archchicago.org. On Saturday, March 9 parishioners and visitors participated in the Lenten Retreat hosted by our cultural center, St. Gregory’s Hall. At 9 AM, participants came to St. Gregory the Great church for a spiritual conference with Byzantine Catholic priest and iconographer Fr. Thomas Loya. Fr. Loya offered reflections on the spiritual and theological use of sacred images in prayer and liturgy with special focus on how “Christ the Bridegroom” can aid us in our Lenten journey. Afterwards, there was a light reception. Starting at 11 AM, participants joined artist-in-residence Sarah Crow for an icon workshop. They created their own icon of Christ the Bridegroom in an environment of prayerful reflection, entering deeper into the mystery of Christ's passion. In the Eastern Catholic tradition, this icon is present near the table where the Eucharistic gifts are prepared during Mass. It reminds us of all the things Christ gave to us as his beloved. He is the bridegroom that suffered humiliation, torture, and death for his bride the Church. Look below to see photos of the retreat courtesy of Damian Chlanda. Part 1: Spiritual ConferencePart 2: Icon WorkshopFinished IconsMeet the newest member of our parish staff and local Conventual Franciscan community, Br. Ayub Mwenda! Read Br. Ayub’s interview so you can get to know him a little bit better and see what work he’ll be doing around the parish. What drew you to Franciscans? I first learnt about the Conventual Franciscans through a Catholic Magazine which landed into my hands back in High School. I read about St. Francis of Assisi for the very first time and the good works the friars were doing in Kenya while following in his footsteps. I took a piece of paper and a pen and wrote to the friars requesting to become one of them. I was invited for the Come and See program and I would say, it was during this program that I fell in love with the way of life the friars were living. I made a definitive decision to become one of them. Where were you before coming to Mary, Mother of God Parish? I have been serving in the Diocese of Green Bay as an Administrative Assistant in the Parishes of St. Patrick, Stephensville, WI and St. Denis, Shiocton, WI. When I first arrived in the United States (February 15, 2019), I served in this Parish as Pastoral Associate and also as the Director of the Outreach Ministry. It feels like coming back home to see familiar faces and also encouraging to see them still keeping the faith. What will you be doing here at the Parish? I am assigned here to manage the operations of our Parish Food Pantry. What are some of the things you enjoy in your spare time? During my spare time I like to run a lot. While I was here, I participated and completed the Chicago Marathon and it is in my bucket list to do it again. I am also an avid reader. I read as much as I can and wherever I can. I also enjoy learning new languages and watching soccer games. Entrevista con Br. Ayub Mwenda OFM, Conv.Conozca al miembro más nuevo de nuestro personal parroquial y de la comunidad franciscana conventual local, el Hno. ¡Ayub Mwenda! Lea la entrevista de Hno. Ayub para que puedas conocerlo un poco mejor y ver qué trabajo realizará en la parroquia. ¿Qué te atrajo de los franciscanos? Conocí por primera vez a los franciscanos conventuales a través de una revista católica que llegó a mis manos cuando estaba en la escuela secundaria. Leí sobre San Francisco de Asís por primera vez y las buenas obras que los frailes estaban haciendo en Kenia mientras seguían sus pasos. Tomé un papel y un bolígrafo y les escribí a los frailes pidiéndoles ser uno de ellos. Me invitaron al programa Ven y Mira y diría que fue durante este programa que me enamoré de la forma de vida que llevaban los frailes. Tomé la decisión definitiva de convertirme en uno de ellos. ¿Dónde estaba antes de venir a la Parroquia María, Madre de Dios? He estado sirviendo en la Diócesis de Green Bay como Asistente Administrativo en las Parroquias de St. Patrick, Stephensville, WI y St. Denis, Shiocton, WI. Cuando llegué por primera vez a los Estados Unidos (15 de febrero de 2019), serví en esta Parroquia como Asociado Pastoral y también como Director del Ministerio de Extensión. Se siente como volver a casa y ver caras familiares y también es alentador verlos todavía manteniendo la fe. ¿Qué vas a hacer aquí en la parroquia? Estoy asignado aquí para administrar las operaciones de nuestra Despensa de Alimentos Parroquial. ¿Qué le gusta hacer en su tiempo libre? Durante mi tiempo libre me gusta correr mucho. Mientras estuve aquí, participé y completé el Maratón de Chicago y está en mi lista de deseos hacerlo nuevamente. También soy un ávido lector. Leo todo lo que puedo y donde puedo. También disfruto aprender nuevos idiomas y ver partidos de fútbol. If you would like a statement of your 2023 contribution to Mary, Mother of God for tax purposes, please print out the below form and return it to the parish office. You can mail the form, drop it off in person to 1220 W. Catalpa, or drop it in the collection basket at Mass. Si desea una declaración de su contribución de 2023 a María, Madre de Dios a efectos fiscales, imprima este formulario y devuélvalo a la oficina parroquial. Puede enviar el formulario por correo, entregarlo personalmente en 1220 W. Catalpa o dejarlo en la canasta de recolección en Misa.
The Finance Council works with the Pastor to balance long-term financial goals against short-term financial needs of our parish. Together they strive to meet the spiritual needs of our faith community and the needs of the buildings that are the “bricks and mortar” of the parish. In other words, to pay for today’s bills while ensuring the Parish’s future vitality. We are looking to fill two volunteer vacancies.
If the chance to use your critical thinking skills to help direct the financial future of Mary, Mother of God Parish piques your interest – or if you know someone who would be perfect for this opportunity – please email our Pastor, Father Alejandro Lopez, OFM Conv. (Include your name, telephone number, and email address.) Here is a group photo of our RCIA catechumens, candidates, and sponsors from the recent Rite of Election held at Holy Name Cathedral on Sunday. Mary, Mother of God Parish is excited to be accompanying so many who wish to join the Catholic Church! What is RCIA and the Rite of Election?
Each year on Holy Saturday during the Easter Vigil, thousands are baptized into the Catholic Church in the United States. Parishes welcome these new Catholics through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The Rite of Election is part of the process of RCIA and includes the enrollment of names of all the Catechumens seeking baptism at the coming Easter Vigil. Typically, on the first Sunday of Lent, the Catechumens, their sponsors, and their families gather at the cathedral. The Catechumens publicly express their desire for baptism to the diocesan bishop. Their names are recorded in a book, and they are called the Elect. |
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