The Old St. Mary's Community Newsletter
Thursday, May 6, 2021
MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR

Hello Mom!
 
Yes, I am talking to you on behalf of us all.
 
Thank you for being my mom!
 
Thank you for the look of love that comes from your eyes when you make me feel better and stronger, and the look of love that comes from your eyes when you ask me to grow wiser and turn me away from something that would hurt me. 
 
Thank you for the gentle touch of your hand that pulls me along to keep going or that tugs me back when I need your security, those hands that work in so many ways to provide food, a clean and beautiful environment, but also slap back dangers, clear obstacles from my way, and hold and shield me when I get caught in something beyond me.
 
Thank you for your presence, early in my life when I needed you for everything, a little later when I needed you for some things, and of course that teenage time when I needed you for nothing (or so I said – but you knew that was not true, even if I didn’t), and still later your presence as friend, mentor, sounding board and someone who needed me in new ways, because I, like you, keep discovering the grace of who I am with all my flaws and needs, my abilities and capabilities that are strengthened in not being alone.
 
I say “grace” intentionally because a mother is a gift of God. And when we say, “Hail Mary, full of Grace,” the gift of God’s love is so nakedly revealed as to make us tremble at its marvelousness. Mary is indeed mother of us all, and mother of our mothers, bringing to full circle the love God gives, the love our mothers give and that we give to them.
 
On this Mother’s Day weekend our hearts are joined with Mary in asking blessings on our mothers, giving thanks to God for them, and asking his special love to be with them, when they are preparing for motherhood, when they are actively mothers, and when the day comes, they go beyond us to that future home of eternity with God.
 
Again – thanks Mom! God Bless you!
 
Now, on to the rest of the week’s announcements.
 
Fr. Brad
SUNDAY WORSHIP AID
Sunday Worship Aid
May 8-9, 2021

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
The Paulist Fathers and Staff of Old St. Mary’s
wish all mothers a
Happy Mother’s Day!
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
MOTHER'S DAY COLLECTION
Please join Catholic Charities in bringing God’s infinite mercy and profound hope to mothers and children who make up the largest group of people we serve at Catholic Charities.

Your support will provide food, shelter, housing, counseling, maternity assistance, childcare, domestic-violence support and other life-changing programs.
 
You can contribute online at www.catholiccharities.net/donate or mail your check directly to Catholic Charities at 721 N. LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60454.
 
Thank you in advance for giving to Catholic Charities to help the mothers, children, and seniors from our community who are struggling. 
PRIEST ANNIVERSARIES
During the month of May,
we celebrate the
ordination anniversaries of the
Paulist Fathers serving
Old St. Mary’s Church
  
Patrick Johnson, CSP - May 4, 1974
Daniel McCotter, CSP - May 16, 1981
Bradford Schoeberle, CSP - May 27, 2000
Stuart Wilson-Smith, CSP - May 20, 2017
 
Please keep them in your prayers.
LITURGICAL MINISTERS NEEDED
While we're excited to be gradually increasing our in-person attendance at weekend Masses, we need more help from liturgical ministers moving forward. If you're interested in serving as a lector, eucharistic minister, or especially a sacristan (or if you've served in any capacity prior to the pandemic and are ready to return to service), please contact Scott Williams at swilliams@oldstmarys.com. Any necessary training will be simple and brief, and we'll be able to accommodate your schedule, every little bit helps. Thank you!
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN

The Annual Paulist Appeal, which takes place each January, provides annual financial support for our day-to-day operations such as vocations outreach; formation and education of our seminarians and novices; care for senior Paulist Fathers; and our ministries such as Busted Halo and Landings International. ministries, offices and programs. The Annual Paulist Appeal provides a base-level funding which allows these Paulist initiatives to do their good work from year to year. The Hope for the Future campaign focuses on long-term, strategic priorities which can only be addressed through an extraordinary fundraising effort. Together, the two efforts will strengthen Paulist parishes and centers this year and for years to come.
 
To learn more about the campaign, please visit the Hope for the Future webpage at paulist.org/future.

PAULIST NATIONAL PENTECOST RETREAT
REGISTER FOR MASS
Please visit our website www.oldstmarys.com to register for Mass
 
You can also call 312-922-3444
Remember to call before 4 PM on Saturday to sign up for
Masses occurring that weekend


All Masses and liturgies have limited seating. You must make a reservation to attend. This is necessary for the purpose of contact tracing.

If you have recently traveled or a member of your family is sick with Covid or you or they are waiting for test results, PLEASE keep everyone safe and do not attend.

Remember, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation remains in effect until further notice. All of our Masses are livestreamed.

If you attend Mass and subsequently test positive for COVID-19, please contact the Church so we may let others know who attended that Mass of possible contamination.
WAYS TO DONATE TO OLD ST. MARY'S CHURCH
If you don't wish to set up an account with Give Central, you can make a donation to Old St. Mary's using Quick Pay through Zelle from your bank account.

Zelle is a quick way to pay people you know and trust in minutes.

The email address to use when setting up your gift is give@oldstmarys.com.

For more information about Quick pay through Zelle or to see if your bank has this feature, visit Get Started with Zelle

Text to Give - 1.312.626.0164 - text GIVEOSM (not case sensitive)
Old St. Mary's Church is Chicago's First Catholic Parish Established in 1833
Served by the Paulist Fathers since October 12,1903.

Phone Number: 312.922.3444
Old St. Mary's Church
1500 S Michigan Ave,
Chicago, IL 60605
312-922-3444