Serve at Mass

In this Issue

Highlighted News

Our fall Alpha course has begun but it's not too late to register and join us!

In a world of isolation, anonymity, and keyboard-warriors, Alpha offers a space for honest and open conversations about life’s biggest questions. So come join us in conversation, community and discernment. Invite your friends who never go to church, have no faith at all, or are full of faith -- all are welcome!



• In-Person: Mondays - 6:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Location: Lincoln Commons (2350 N Lincoln Ave, 60614)
• In-Person: Thursdays - 8:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Location: Saint Clement Chapel
• Online: Mondays - 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Register here and join us!



Questions? Please contact our dedicated team leader Sarah Lowrey.

Celebration of Catechetical Sunday

Sunday, September 17

Each year, the Catholic Church in the United States designates the third Sunday in September as “Catechetical Sunday”— a day on which to celebrate and pray for the Church’s mission to teach the Gospel to all people. This year's theme is: "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened." With these words from the Gospel (Matthew 11:28), the Lord Jesus offers an invitation to follow Him and the promise that He doesn’t want to add to our burdens; he wants to lighten them. This theme reminds us that the object of all catechesis is Jesus himself.  The role of the Catechist is, first of all, to be a disciple - one who draws close and rests in Jesus - and then to be a witness to others and a companion as they too come to know Jesus.

I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to our catechists who make our Religious Education program such a successful and fruitful ministry. Our catechists spend untold hours preparing and teaching on Sundays to pass on the Catholic faith to a new generation of believers. Thank you for sharing the gift of faith. May God bless you for your dedication and generosity

- Marta Stepniak

Director of Evangelization, Children’s and Leader Development

Prayer for Catechists

Loving Father, pour forth your Holy Spirit upon all catechists that they might become living instruments of your Word to others. Help them to be faithful witnesses to Gospel life so that your Church may become ever more alive. Let the fire of your live enkindle their hearts that they may be instruments of drawing others to love of you. Amen.

[adapted from A Catechist’s Prayer, USCCB]

Faith formation for children:

Register for Religious Education

Opening day - Sunday, Sept. 24

All 1st through 8th grade students are welcome to join our Religious Education program! Students will attend bimonthly classes on Sundays after the 9:30 a.m. Mass for a total of 15 classes throughout the academic year. For more details and the calendar of classes, visit clement.org/RE.

SAVE THE DATE - OPENING DAY: On Sunday, September 24, we’ll have a special blessing for our catechists at the 9:30 Mass, followed by a reception for families where you will be invited to meet your child’s catechist for the year. We look forward to welcoming new and returning families on Opening Day! 

Register HERE for the 2023-24 academic year.

Thank You for supporting our School Supply Drive!

Thank you for supporting our annual School Supply Drive! We collected over 600 items, donating over 60 folders, 80 spirals, hundreds of pens and pencils, and more to Lawrence Hall. They are so grateful for our support! Thanks again to all who participated!

Belong

Fall Faith Lift - Lydia Institute

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 7:00 p.m., courtyard

Women of the parish are invited to the Lydia Institute's Fall Faith Lift, an inspirational evening that's sure to leave you uplifted and spiritually strengthened. If you've never attended a Lydia event, this is the perfect event to get a taste of what this ministry offers. Feel free to invite a friend!

Register here and we look forward to seeing you!

14 new members to be fully initiated in the Church! 

Sunday, September 24, 11:15 a.m. Mass 

Join us in celebration on Sunday, September 24 at the 11:15 a.m. Mass as 14 of our RCIA members will be fully initiated into the Catholic Church! Let us pray for them as they take this exciting next step and welcome them into our parish family. They are:

• Victoria Alexis 
• Helen Baca 
• Edward Camargo 
• Brenna Cooney 
• Jonathan Coleman 
• Alexandra "Lexi " Coleman 
• Edward Gross 
• Anas El Haoua 
• Tara Lynn Macek - Raju 
• Taylor McNulty 
• Tracy Michaels 
• Charity Taitt 
• Evan Jeffrey Stark 
• Andrew Wegner 

Following Mass, we will hold a reception for them in Fireside. Please join us!

Interested in becoming Catholic or fully initiated into the Church?

Next RCIA program begins September 25 

Interested in learning more about becoming Catholic? Are you a baptized Catholic who needs to complete the sacraments of Initiation (Eucharist and Confirmation)? This is the program for you! 

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is the process by which new members are brought or otherwise fully initiated into the life of the Church. It is a program of prayer, conversion, learning, and faith sharing. All are welcome to join us and learn more! Our next program will begin on September 25 and will continue to meet on Monday nights from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 

For more information, visit our website or contact Fr. Matt Litak. 

Hymns of Light & Life - Concerts Under the Dome

Monday, October 2, 7:00 p.m.

Join us for a sing-a-long festival of hymns, psalms and sacred songs as we kick-off our 2023-2024 season of Concerts Under the Dome. Led by Schola Clementis, this event is sure to lift your spirit and fill your heart with song. This event is presented in collaboration with NPM Chicago.

Admission is free, but donations are encouraged and will help cover the cost of the event. A suggested donation of $15 per guest ins encouraged. 

A reception will follow in the church basement.

Register here and join us!

Schola Homecoming Mass

Sunday, October 1

All choristers, past and present, are warmly invited to the annual Schola Homecoming Mass on Sunday, October 1st. Scores will be provided ahead of time.

Please RSVP to Jeremy Kiolbassa, Director of Music, to participate

Program

9:30 a.m. Rehearsal (choir room)

11:15 a.m. Mass

12:15 p.m. Reception

Pray

Join us in worship!

Weekend Mass & Presider Schedule

WELCOME! We invite you to join us in worship this weekend at all Masses, and we welcome you to join our livestream.

Saturday, September 16

• 5:00 p.m.: Fr. Ken Simpson

Sunday, September 17 -- Changed Mass schedule on 9/17 due to Fall Fest

• 8:00 a.m.: Fr. Matt Litak
• 10:00 a.m.: Fr. Peter Wojcik
• 7:00 p.m.: Fr. Peter Wojcik

Staff Scripture Reflection excerpt:

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Fr. Matt Litak, Associate Pastor and Director of Formation

"Ultimately, we all know which is the better kingdom to live in and from which to live. The challenge is to keep that ideal in front of us. Are we living from this place of stress and harshness? Or are we challenging ourselves and our habits in terms of how we see one another and speak about one another? Do we strive to see each person as God sees us? To do so is the start of the Kingdom."

Read full reflection here.

Mass Intentions

We invite you to honor a loved one with a Mass intention. The names of Mass intentions are read at Mass. Requesting a Mass intention means that you are asking that the grace of Christ’s sacrifice in his death and resurrection be applied for a particular purpose, for example, for a deceased person or a living person who is ill or in thanksgiving for a favor received.

To schedule your intentions, please visit, email, or call the parish office. You may also schedule your intention online or via our parish App. (To download our App, simply search for “Saint Clement Chicago” in the App Store or Google Play.)

This week, we will pray for the following intentions:

Saturday, September 16, 2023 

5:00pm Darrell Ready (Deceased)

5:00pm Leoncia Del Pilar (Deceased)

Sunday, September 17, 2023 

8:00am Robert Donohue (Deceased)

10:00am Plaza: Louise Cosmer (Deceased)

Thursday, September 21, 2023 

8:30am Simon Aspinall (Deceased)

Baptisms this Weekend

This weekend we joyfully welcome the following to our community through the sacrament of baptism:

• Xavier Philip Sherlock, son of Michael and Grace Sherlock (Crowe)

May the newly baptized live always as members of Christ's body, keeping the flame of faith alive in their hearts. Congratulations, we welcome you with great joy!

September Weddings

Congratulations to the members of our parish family celebrating the sacrament of marriage this month! May God's blessings and graces be with them in the years ahead, through all their joys and sorrows

• Christina Cervantes and John McGurk
• Sarah Koop and Chris Melillo
• Mary Kate Calk and Mark Croghan
• Claire Sexton and Pat O'Neill
• Macy Tabachka and Joseph Brunner
• Carrie Bartholomew and Michael Faerber
• Morgan Scott and Billy Ryan
• Tracy Greco and Joseph Kosin
• Abigail Shipp and Patrick Nodan
• Laurel Thompson and Steven Dye
• Ingird Mena Martin & Dan Courtney - Girona, Spain
• Rebecca Lade & Nicholas Wolfgram - Milwaukee, WI
• Mary Claire Aranowski & Evan Kovatch - Notre Dame, IN
• Grace Brechbill & John McDonough - Fort Wayne, IN
• Emily McNierney & Caesar Fukuda - Ft. Myers, FL

Helping children process the liturgy in a kid-centered way: Children's Liturgy of the Word

Begins next Sunday, Sept. 24 at 9:30 Masses

Join us next Sunday, September 24 when we will once again offer Children's Liturgy of the Word for children ages 4-7 during our 9:30 a.m. Sunday Masses. Children will process from Mass and meet in Fahey (the large room in the parish center) to hear God's Word especially for them, with songs, videos and other activities. After the homily, kids are brought back to their parents for the remainder of Mass.

This ministry not only helps children process the liturgy in a kid-centered way, but helps their parents hear the Liturgy of the Word at Mass without distractions.

Volunteers Needed

Looking for a way to give back to your community? Consider volunteering for CLOW! Email Barbara Sifter to learn more and sign up. Thank you for your support!

Serve

Boys' & Girls' Basketball Coaches Needed at Saint Clement School

Saint Clement School is seeking basketball coaches for the 2023-2024 season. The season begins the last week in October and will end in late February. Teams practice in the evenings during the week Monday - Friday and the majority of the games are played on Saturday mornings, early afternoons.

If you are interested in coaching and would like to hear more about the position, please contact athletic director Tony Hoolehan via email or 219-776-6211 for more information.

Help support our Friday Sack Lunch & Hospitality Program

Thank you for participating in our Friday Sack Lunch and Hospitality program through the summer! With the closing of various other breakfast/lunch programs in the area, we have seen our morning attendance almost double week over week. Please consider signing up to provide sack lunches for one of the dates below. You can sign up on our website, or through our parish app. 

• September 22  
• October 6
• October 20

Questions? Contact Martina Ricca.

Serve at Plaza Hospitality

Consider helping out at our weekly Sunday morning plaza hospitality, which we offer after the morning Masses! Sign up once or as often as you can, individually or collectively with a friend, your family, or a small faith group -- however the Spirit moves you! It's a wonderful way to give back to our community.

Sign up here to serve in September and beyond!

Serve at Mass

Join us in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ by serving our Saint Clement Parish community at Mass! We invite you to volunteer for a Liturgical Ministry. Come help to welcome and greet others, distribute Holy Communion, assist in the liturgy as an altar server, or prepare the church or chapel for Mass.

Questions? Ready to sign up? Contact Lori Howard

Musicians Wanted!

Do you sing, or play an instrument? Consider becoming part of the Saint Clement Music Ministry! We are in search of choristers, cantors, and instrumentalists to serve at all weekend Masses.  

SCHOLA CLEMENTIS

This choir sings at the 11:15 a.m. Mass. Schola tackles advanced repertoire from Gregorian Chant to modern music. The ability to read music is essential, and previous choral experience is recommended. Schola rehearses on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. 

SERAPHIM CHOIR

This choir sings at the 7 p.m. Mass and is popular with young adults. Seraphim explores a variety of choral music, mostly in 3-part harmony. Music reading is not required but is helpful. Seraphim rehearses on Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. 

CHAPEL CHOIR

This choir sings for the 9:30 a.m. Chapel Mass. Chapel choir is known for their upbeat and lively music. Chapel choir rehearses at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. 

Whether you are an accomplished musician or an enthusiastic amateur, there is a place for you in our music ministry. Though we strive for excellence, you’ll find that each ensemble provides a welcoming and supportive environment.

To learn more about our ensembles and how to get involved, contact Director of Music, Jeremy Kiolbassa

Help with our Livestream!

Attention high school and college students!

We're looking for some more Livestream Technicians to join our team! In this hourly-based role, you will help us provide quality livestreaming of our Masses and other programs. Prior experience is not necessary, as we can provide training on our equipment.

Please reach out to Leo Rubinkowski if interested

Prepare & serve dinner at Lincoln Park Community Services

Twice a month, Saint Clement volunteers serve dinner for the Guests at LPCS! Volunteers can participate by cooking onsite at LPCS or by preparing part of a meal at home and dropping it off. Upcoming dates:

• Friday, October 20 (6-8 p.m.) at 600 W. Fullerton -- 3 spots available
• Monday, November 13 (6-8 p.m.) at 1521 N. Sedgwick -- 4 spots available

Contact Martina Ricca with questions or to sign-up.

Catholic Charities Soup Kitchen

Volunteers greatly needed to help support the upsurge of Migrants

On the 3rd Friday of the month, Saint Clement volunteers assist volunteers from Holy Name Cathedral in serving Catholic Charities' Friday supper. Join us on our upcoming date:

• Friday, October 20 (4:00 - 6:30 p.m.) 

Please note, Catholic Charities is in desperate need of volunteers for their supper program at this time. They are serving over 200 individuals and need help packaging and distributing dinner meals. Because of this situation, additional volunteers are greatly needed and will have a strong impact. 

Volunteers are to report to Catholic Charities (721 N. La Salle) by 4:00 p.m., will begin serving at 5:00 p.m., and be wrapping up by 6:30 at the latest. 

Contact Martina Ricca with questions or to sign-up.

St. Mary of the Lake service opportunity

Saint Mary of the Lake in Uptown runs a weekly soup kitchen on Wednesday nights. With the growing number of refugees from South and Central America, the needs of the pantry continue to grow. As a part of this program, volunteers also provide sack lunches to the guests at the soup kitchen. These sack lunches ensure each guest who comes to the soup kitchen for dinner may also have a meal to-go. 

Volunteers may signup to provide 5 sack lunches by emailing Darlene Kelly.

Give

Baby Bottle Virtual Drive

Over the next few weeks, Clement parishioners are invited to support Aid for Women, a Catholic, pro-life organization which provides women with the free, quality care and support that empowers them to choose life for their unborn children. In years past, parishioners have been able to fill an empty baby bottle with change and return it to the parish. This year, we ask that all support is done through Aid for Women directly through online donations here.

Questions? Contact Cece Moran at Aid for Women to learn more. You are invited to read their Annual Report here.

Clement Commits Partner Organization Highlight

Alpha USA

As a stewardship parish, Saint Clement Parish has made a commitment to give of our "first fruits" to needs beyond our parish. We honor this commitment through Clement Commits, which donates 10% each fiscal year from our parish collections. As this past year’s Clement Commits funds have been distributed, we wanted to highlight some of our recipient organizations with a few updates on their mission and programs.

This week for a Clement Commits update, we highlight Alpha USA! 

With Saint Clement hosting its first week of the Fall Alpha Course, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the Alpha organization and the work it does across the world. Alpha USA offers content and guidance for all churches in order to provide spaces for all to discuss some of life’s biggest questions. The support of the Alpha program through Clement Commits enables the program to offer the Alpha course at little to no cost for thousands of churches and ministries. It is through the Alpha course that many have found and maintained a relationship with Jesus. 

At Saint Clement Parish, we just began our Fall Alpha course this past week. There's still time to join in these sessions! Learn more & register for our Fall Alpha course.

Thank you for helping us exceed our Annual Catholic Appeal goal!

The Annual Catholic Appeal is a fundraising campaign that supports the parishes, schools, ministries, programs and agencies that serve the educational, physical and spiritual needs of the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Annual Appeal also serves people around the world, regardless of religious affiliation, whose lives are devastated by natural disasters, illnesses, wars and famine and plays a crucial role in providing ongoing support to our dedicated clergy and seminarians. Your support directly impacts the lives of those in need, embodying the spirit of compassion and love.

On behalf of our whole Saint Clement community, we extend our deepest gratitude to the 206 individuals who have supported the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal, pledging a remarkable $182,962. Your generosity and commitment have helped us exceed our parish goal of $158,751. We encourage all members of our parish to consider making a pledge to help us raise even more money to support the essential programs and services provided by the Annual Catholic Appeal, ensuring the growth and vitality of our faith community.

To make a pledge, please visit clement.org/give. Your contribution, no matter the amount, will make a significant difference in the lives of many. Thank you once again for your unwavering support and dedication to our Chicago community.

Annual Archdiocesan collection for Seminarian Education this weekend

The Seminarian Education Fund provides support for the training and education of men studying for priesthood in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The fund helps to cover the cost to educate each archdiocesan seminarian as they proceed through the various stages of formation before ordination as a priest for Chicago. Please support the men seeking to answer God’s call to a life of service as a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago. We also invite you to read this letter from the Cardinal about this fund.

Clement Commits: 10% goes directly to those in need

Saint Clement Parish supports this Archdiocesan collection through our Clement Commits program. Through Clement Commits, we donate 10% of our general collections to various programs serving the diverse needs outside of our parish. Visit clement.org/ClementCommits for more details.

In Fiscal Year 2023, we donated $8,000 to the Seminarian Education Fund through Clement Commits.



If you wish to make an additional donation, please click here to donate.

Learn

Every week we share a few updates and photos from Saint Clement School! To learn more about Saint Clement School, please visit stclementschool.org or contact Noreen Valle.

Saint Clement School looking for Substitute Teachers, Recess Monitors, and After-School Care

Recess Monitors and After-School Care Needed

Saint Clement School is looking for energetic, enthusiastic individuals to supervise, lead, and manage large groups of school-age (3-year-old through 8th grade) children during lunch and recess, and during the after-care program. Safety is our number one priority, therefore only those who are willing and able to provide supervision with the utmost diligence will be considered. 

The ideal candidate will be able to:

• facilitate organized play and activities.
• take initiative to guide students in following expectations in the cafeteria, recess, and after-care program. 
• demonstrate behavior management skills and facilitate social conflict resolution according to school guidelines.
• Be responsible, dependable, and reliable.

Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age
• High school diploma, at minimum
• Education and/or childcare experience required- 1+ years
• Complete Catholic School compliance requirements- including fingerprinting and FBI background check

Pay: starting at $19 p/hr

Hours are (not to exceed 26 total hours):

• Monday-Friday
• Lunch/Recess: 10:15-12:45
• Aftercare: 2:45-6:00

Creation Care North Pond Tour Recap

This past Sunday, a group of Saint Clement nature lovers gathered after the 9:30 Mass to take a walk around the North Pond of Lincoln Park. Together, we experienced the bounty and beauty of God’s creation. We shared our knowledge and love for the history of the pond, its plants and animals and took photos of what we found interesting. We bonded over the awesome sight of two blue herons taking off in flight and soaring over our heads, wondered about milkweed bugs and witnessed a capture of a monarch and found a beloved caterpillar and more. We are filled with gratitude for God’s gifts of nature, and for one another.  

Click on this link to a map created from our walk around North Pond and photos! 

If you’re interested in learning more about these events and the Creation Care Ministry at Saint Clement, email us! 

Spiritual Gifts Workshop

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 6:45 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

For those who have completed Strengths for the Journey and know their top 5 strengths, now take the next step by taking Saint Clement’s Spiritual Gifts Assessment and explore how your spiritual gifts can work together with your strengths to set concrete goals in your spiritual life. The Workshop will be conducted on September 26 from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Learn more & register here!

Strengths & Gifts for the Journey

Thursdays in October, 6:45 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Discern your spiritual calling and set specific goals in your spiritual life by identifying and exploring your personal strengths and spiritual gifts. This small group in-person course will be offered in four sessions on each Thursday night in October from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.   

Learn more & register here!

Growing in Grace

Saturday, September 30

Everybody has a story. Telling our stories even to ourselves gives us insight into where we have been, where we are going and how we might get there.

What does your story tell you about where God is and what God has in mind and heart for you?

On September 30, Growing in Grace invites you to explore the arc of your story, noting moments of grace, loss, triumph, joy, and other important times in your life. You will use paper, pencils, crayons, and markers as tools to visually represent your story in whatever makes sense to you. We will then invite you to share whatever part of your story you care to.

We will gather on September 30 at 9:30 a.m., and our program will be held from 10 - 11:30 a.m. in the chapel. Register here and join us!

Growing in Grace (GIG) is a ministry targeted for those 50+ years of age.

Afternoon Book Club

Monday, Sept. 25, 1:00 p.m., Fahey I

All are invited to join the Afternoon Book Club to discuss the book The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. Questions? Please contact Rick Jones.

Men's Spirituality Series

Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18, & 25, 7 p.m.

Are you a professional man seeking personal and spiritual growth? Look no further! We are thrilled to invite you to our 4-week series tailored specifically for you. Join us as we explore the keys to balancing work and personal life, building authentic relationships, navigating stress and burnout, and cultivating spiritual growth.

October 4 - Nurturing Your Spiritual Growth with Marco Oropeza (Partner at Aberdeen Advisors), Jason Samikkannu (GM & COO at AmTab Manufacturing Corporation), and Fr. Ken Simpson (former pastor at Saint Clement Parish)

October 11 - Unlocking the Power of Balance with Hans Montgomery (Managing Director & Partner at BCG) 



October 18 - Conquering Stress and Burnout with Jim Hoeg (Portfolio Manager, Alyeska Investment Group) 

October 25 - Forging Authentic Connections and Building Successful Networks with Jay Flaherty (Managing Partner of Corby 2.0)

Register here & join us!

Flannery O'Connor: Hidden Grace

Series led by Fr. Tom Hickey

Thursdays, October 19 & 26, and November 9 & 16 at 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Join us for a captivating exploration of the short stories of Flannery O'Connor with Fr. Tom Hickey. O'Connor, a renowned American writer, delves into the lives of economically poor, Southern rural Bible Belt fundamentalists, creating characters that are strange, grotesque, and darkly humorous. Her Catholic faith shines through her writings as she explores the workings of God's grace in hearts and souls that often resist it.

For the first sessions, we will be reading and discussing the following stories: "Revelation," "Good Country People," "A Good Man is Hard to Find," and "A Temple of the Holy Ghost."

To participate, you can purchase The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor through Amazon, most bookstores, or borrow it from the public library.



Come and immerse yourself in the captivating world of Flannery O'Connor's short stories, and engage in thought-provoking discussions with Fr. Tom Hickey. We look forward to seeing you there!

Register here & join us!

Resources

Have easy access to sign-ups, Fr. Peter's weekly video, daily scripture, and more through our Parish App!

We invite you to download and explore our parish app today! You'll be able to sign up to serve as a Liturgical Minister or for our Friday Morning ministry, watch Fr. Peter's weekly video, and more! To download, simply search for Saint Clement in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Or, you can text stclementapp to 77977. It's that easy!

Click for a video overview of our parish app to learn more!

Job postings from the community

Looking for a job? Looking to add members to your team? We have created a job board as another way to serve our parish family and community. 

Visit the Community Job Board here.

Interested in joining the Saint Clement Parish team? We currently have positions open! Learn more about open positions at Saint Clement.

Outreach: An LGBTQ Catholic Resource

Welcome! God loves you and we see you! Outreach is an LGBTQ Catholic Resource created by Father James Martin, S.J. and several others. They hope to offer news, resources, and community for LGBTQ+ Catholics and their allies. Click here to learn more & check for updates!

Join the Laudato Si' Platform

The Archdiocese is one of nine dioceses around the world chosen to help launch the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. Saint Clement will be going through this process and we are encouraging all parishioners to register on the platform found at laudatosiactionplatform.org.

How will you participate in the Season of Creation?

September 1-October 4, 2023

“Prophet Amos cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.” More information here.

Click here for His Holiness Pope Francis' Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

National Migration Week/World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023

The World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) is an opportunity for global church and the Catholic faithful to engage in prayer, reflection, and action on behalf of our brothers and sisters who are forced to flee their homes. National Migration Week is a uniquely US-based celebration that builds on the ideas put forth in WDMR and shaped accordingly to American public. In 2023 we will celebrate National Migration Week September 18 – 24, which culminates with WDMR that Sunday the 24th.

This year’s theme, “Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay,” shines a light on the root causes that drive migration. In many instances, war and conflict have left people with no option but to abandon their homes and seek safety elsewhere. The Syrian conflict, for example, displaced millions, creating one of the largest refugee crises in modern history. More recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom fled to neighboring countries in search of safety. In both cases, migration is not a choice, but a necessity for survival.

Learn more as well as ways to participate in this special week here.

National Migration Week Prayer

Shared by the Archdiocese of Chicago

God, Father Almighty,

grant us the grace to work tirelessly

for justice, solidarity and peace,

so that all your children may enjoy

the freedom to choose whether to migrate or to stay.

Grant us the courage to denounce

all the horrors of our world,

and to combat every injustice

that mars the beauty of your children

and the harmony of our common home.

Sustain us by the power of your Spirit,

so that we can reflect your tender love

to every migrant whom you place in our path,

and to spread in hearts and in every situation

the culture of encounter and of care.

National Migration Week Mass

September 24, 5:15 p.m., at Holy Name Cathedral

In celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, all are welcome to the National Migration Week Mass on September 24 at 5:15 p.m. at Holy Name Cathedral. Click the flyer to learn more.

Young Adult Evening Prayer

Young adults ages 18+ are invited to pray online together with other young adults and School Sisters of Notre Dame from across the U.S. and Canada on the Tuesday, September 26 at 7 p.m. CT.

Learn more and register for the Zoom link at ssnd.org/events/9-26-23/.

Questions? Please contact [email protected].

Quigley Days

September 30

Quigley Days is designed for highschoolers ages 13-18 who desire to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, build brotherhood, and learn about and discern the priesthood.

Join Fr. Tim and some of our seminarians for our first Quigley Days of the year on September 30 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. After pick-up from the parishes, we will have Mass and adoration at St. James in Arlington Heights, and then have lunch and go to Paintball Explosion in East Dundee. Please register here if you would like to attend.

Contact Katie Hazen with any questions.

Joyful & Alive: Conversations about religious life

How do you discover God’s invitations in your life? Are you curious about religious life? Single women ages 18-45 are welcome to bring their questions to a casual, online conversation with School Sisters of Notre Dame on Sunday, October 8 at 3 p.m. CT. Learn more and register for the Zoom link at ssnd.org/events/10-8-23/.

Questions? Please contact [email protected].

Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Medals

Are you a leader or mentor of youth in American Heritage Girls, Campfire USA, Girl Scouts USA., or Junior Knights and Daughters of St. Peter Claver? Did you know the Archdiocese of Chicago has Catholic medal programs for youth, aged 5-18? Youth in grades 7-12 who complete these programs will be invited to the annual Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Medals Ceremony. The Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Medals Committee is a group of volunteers dedicated to helping Catholic youth in these organizations grow in their devotion to their faith through the implementation of these programs.

If you would like more information about these programs for your youth, please contact Staci Thomas, Secretary at [email protected].

Pilgrimage to France

April 8-17, 2024

Join Fr. Tim Monahan and the Vocation Office April 8 - 17, 2024 on a pilgrimage to France to pray for an outpouring of Vocations in the Archdiocese of Chicago! Cardinal Blase Cupich will join the pilgrimage from April 12 – 17. Further details found here.

Please complete the initial inquiry form and the Vocation Office will reach out to you with more information, including how to officially register for the pilgrimage. Please note that this pilgrimage will include a fair amount of daily walking and requires stamina and good physical health to participate.

Deadline to register is December 8, 2023

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

This observance promotes greater awareness of the risks of suicidal thoughts and behavior for people around you and encourages those at risk to connect with needed treatment services.

• Talking about suicide is very important if you are worried about someone who may be struggling, or you feel suicidal. Discussing suicide does not make it more likely to happen. Showing you care helps reduce the risk of suicide.
• Individuals in crisis may withdraw from others and their usual activities, talk about dying, show stark personality changes or large emotional swings, and/or appear depressed.
• If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

We invite you to learn more through this flyer, including how you can help someone who may be feeling suicidal.