The Weekly Parish Newsletter

Friends, it's another busy weekend at Old St. Mary's!

But first, a public service announcement:

Artificial intelligence has made email scams more convincing than ever. Whenever you receive an email that claims to be from an OSM staff member, be sure to verify it's actually coming from their oldstmarys.com address! In recent days, parishioners have received emails that appear to be from me, asking you to purchase thousands of dollars of gift cards. They have also received messages purporting to be from Ace or Elise, asking you to share contact information. As these emails are generated from publicly-available information, we have no way of preventing them from reaching you.

Back to the news.

This weekend's bulletin features a reflection from Elizabeth Milman, our parish counselor from Claret Center, on the combination of gratitude and grief we often feel at this time of year. I've already shared it with friends of mine around the country.

The School has just kicked off the annual Blue Ribbon Appeal. All funds raised in the 2026-27 academic year go towards bonuses to recognize the hard work of our wonderful teachers. Thanks for any contribution you can make to this great cause!

At the 11 am Mass this weekend, we celebrate the Rites of Welcome and Acceptance for those in the OCIA process. This is the moment they transition into formal catechumenate/candidacy to prepare for the Easter sacraments.

Please note: because the rite begins at the baptismal font, people arriving late will be asked to wait in the commons for 5 minutes before they can enter the worship space. Thanks for your understanding.

At all 4 Masses this weekend, we will offer a blessing for all of our military veterans. Thank you for your service! 

Between the Masses in the gym, we celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation for half of our Sunday Faith Formation students and their families. We thank Fr. Jerry Bleem, OFM for assisting us. (Fr. Francis Kong, OFM will join the other half of our students and families next weekend.) Families, please arriving at the gym no later the 9:45 am, as we're on a tight schedule!

And don't forget: there's training for new lectors after the 11 am Mass this week, and there will be training for Eucharistic ministers after the 11 Mass next weekend. Walk-ins are welcome, but if you can, send an email to Ace to RSVP.

Please be sure to check out all the other announcements in the bulletin and in the graphics below, including Fr. Bob's seminar, some lovely Our Lady of Guadalupe apparel for sale, a renewed call to donate hygiene items and canned fruit for St. James' Food Pantry, and a stewardship update.

Thank you for being part of the OSM Parish & School Community!

November blessings,

Rich

Rev. Richard R. Andre, C. S. P.

Pastor

PS -- Please offer a prayer for all of our deceased Paulist brothers. This morning, Fr. Dan, Fr. Bob, and I celebrated our annual Mass for them, and then we headed out to Queen of Heaven Cemetery to visit the graves of those brothers buried in Chicago (see image above).

We will be holding a Lector Training on Sunday, November 8, following the 11:00 AM Mass, led by our Director of Liturgy and Music, Ace Gangoso. This is an opportunity for both current lectors and those interested in understanding of the role of the lector and grow in the art of proclaiming God's Word at Mass. 

Join OSM Young Adult Escarlet Arana, a mental health professional, for the first of two workshops around mental health on Sunday, November 8 after the 4:00 PM Mass.

This talk will focus on the importance of mental health, emotional awareness, and personal healing. Topics will include understanding emotions, recognizing emotional wounds, developing healthy coping strategies, setting boundaries, and knowing when to seek professional support. The goal is to help us recognize our emotional needs and take practical steps toward well-being.

Join us for Lectio Divina, an ancient Christian practice of prayerfully reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture. Lectio Divina invites us to slow down, listen, and allow God’s Word to speak to our lives in the present moment. Through reading, silence, reflection, and prayer, we become more attentive to how God may be speaking to us through Scripture today. No previous experience is necessary. Come as you are and spend some quiet time listening to the living Word of God. Our group is led by Aimee Tracy.

Please note that there will be no confessions 4 :00-4:30 pm on Saturday, November 14. We apologize for any inconvenience.

We will be holding a Eucharistic Minister Training on Sunday, November 15, following the 11:00 AM Mass, led by Margie Halliwell. We invite you to prayerfully consider sharing your gifts through this ministry of service and hospitality!

The Archdiocese of Chicago will undertake a synodal process from Fall 2026 to Summer 2027, culminating in an Archdiocesan Ecclesial Assembly on June 12, 2027. This synodal process is a time for the Church to pray, reflect and listen to one another. It provides an opportunity to be attentive to where the Holy Spirit is leading us as a Church and community of faith, as we seek to remain faithful to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ. 

Join the Synodal Listening Session that will take place at Old St. Mary's on Saturday, November 21, from 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM. 

Free legal services are available by Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) for individuals who meet CVLS’s income eligibility requirements. Meets every 3rd Saturday of the Month. Common legal matters include wills, powers of attorney, small estate affidavits, adult guardianship, and consumer issues. For more information or to make an appointment, call 312-332-1624. Parish Center Lobby.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we invite our young adults to gather for an evening of reflection & conversation. What are we grateful for? Where have we encountered God's presence and blessings in our lives, even in unexpected places? Join us as we take a moment to pause, give thanks, and reflect on the people, experiences, and gifts that have shaped our lives this year.