Solemn Choral Evensong Comes to St. Gregory the Great Church

On Sunday, May 22 at 4:30 p.m. there will be a Solemn Choral Evensong for Rogation Sunday at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Chicago, celebrated according to Divine Worship: Daily Office, the Ordinariate form of the Liturgy of the Hours. The Rev. Richard Kramer (Moderator of the Curia for the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter) will officiate, and noted liturgical musician and composer Kevin Allen will direct the music.

The event is an initiative of St. Gregory’s Hall: A Home for Catholic Culture. Established in 2022 with the appointment of director Mark Franzen, St. Gregory's Hall is a ministry of Mary Mother of God Catholic parish that promotes the Church’s spiritual, theological, and liturgical traditions to catechize and build community in the parish, and evangelize the neighborhood.

St. Gregory’s Hall presents a unique approach to parish vitality in an era when Catholic churches across the U.S. are merging and closing. With the leadership of Fr. Bob Cook, OFM Conv. and the community of Franciscan friars who staff the parish, St. Gregory’s Hall serves as one wing of outreach among others that include a soup kitchen, a food pantry, devotions, and the Liturgy of the Hours, forming an integrated vision of Catholic community and Christian discipleship.

Hosting Fr. Kramer for an Ordinariate liturgy is a wonderful opportunity to share the riches of the Anglican liturgical patrimony with Catholics in Chicago. It also provides the chance to minister to the Ordinariate members in Chicago who are currently without an Ordinariate church community.

"Because of my family’s strong Anglican heritage and my many happy memories of worshipping in this glorious tradition, having an Ordinariate liturgy in Chicago is deeply significant to me on a personal level—and it truly is a dream come true that I can share this historic language and rich musical tradition with my children and husband,” said Eleanor Schneider, parishioner at St. Gregory the Great and member of the Ordinariate. “More than that, I am delighted to see this liturgy add its own voice to the diversity of liturgical styles, languages, and rites already living and breathing within the Archdiocese of Chicago, an addition which further enriches our collective worship experience.”

The Solemn Choral Evensong will take place at 4:30 p.m. at St. Gregory the Great Church (5545 N. Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60640) and will be followed by a light reception. RSVP is encouraged but not required.

Please contact Mark Franzen at mfranzen@archchicago.org or 773-561-3546 with questions or to RSVP. You can also RSVP on the Facebook event page.

This article was first published at the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society.