The OSM Weekly Newsletter

Dear friends,

As the leaves begin turning, Old St. Mary's continues to be a very active place! 

The biggest news: now that Fr. Dan has completed upgrading our website, live streaming, and communications systems, we're ready to hire a Pastoral Associate for Communications and Outreach! Please share the job description with everyone you know.

Be sure to check out this newsletter and the bulletin for more than 20 events and announcements. A few for your attention:

• We need more volunteers to sustain our Children's Liturgy of the Word ministry at the 11 AM Sunday Mass, and we also need Baptism Hospitality ministers at both Sunday morning Masses. 
• Br. Praveen Gabriel, OFM Cap., our student intern, will introduce himself at the end of Sunday Masses this weekend.
• We have a variety of special events happening on Oct 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 28, and Nov 10.
• We have great plans for celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe in December, but donations for the event are lagging behind where they've been in recent years.
  
• Anyone 18 years or older is welcome to join our pick-up basketball game at our Open Adult Gym on most Sundays at 5 pm.

I'll be giving a retreat to the Paulist Associates of Columbus, OH this weekend, so I've written this weekend's bulletin reflection to apply the gospel to the upcoming elections.

It's a beautiful time of the year, friends! Enjoy!

Blessings,

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

Pastor

We're hiring! This person will be a member of the pastoral team, not only coordinating our communications strategy and telling our story, but also serving as a liaison to the ministries that reach out to our neighbors: greeters, hospitality, live streaming, and the Social Justice Committee.

Learn more below, and lease share this job description with those you might think would be a good fit for this position! 

Every time we offer Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLW) at our 11:00 AM Sunday Mass, we are delighted to see so many children eager to participate! But we need your help to keep this wonderful ministry going.

We don't currently have enough volunteers to offer CLW consistently, and we would love to change that! No teaching experience is necessary, and all materials are provided! Please consider giving a little of your time to help make this ministry possible for our children. You don't have to commit to every Sunday, and your presence can make a real difference! Email Elise to sign up.

Baptism is a joyful occasion in the life of our parish, and we’re looking for volunteers to help welcome and accompany families as they celebrate this special moment!

Our Baptism Hospitality Ministry is in need of volunteers at the 8:30 and 11:00 AM Sunday Masses. Volunteers arrive about 30 minutes before Mass to help reserve pews, welcome families, walk them through what to expect, and assist the priest during the celebration.

If you regularly attend either of these Masses, this is a wonderful and easy way to share your time and help make an important moment in a family's faith journey even more special. Interested in helping? Contact Lauren to sign up.

Br. Praveen will introduce himself at all Masses on Sunday, October 18.

My name is Praveen, and I’m originally from India. I am a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and am in my ninth year of religious life. On June 5, I professed my solemn vows, making a lifelong commitment to the Capuchin Order. After completing seven years of formation in India, I moved to the United States in 2025.

My educational background includes studies in philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in English. I am now pursuing a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and an M.A. in Systematic Theology at Catholic Theological Union as I prepare for ordination, and this year I am serving as an intern. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here, meet new people, and learn through hands-on experience as I prepare for my future ministry.

Back by popular demand! Join us for another fun flower-arranging class with Agnes Macalinao, Fr. Dan's mom! Learn how to create your own beautiful potted floral arrangement using fresh flowers and seasonal greenery. 

Only 4 spots left - $30 per person to cover flowers and supplies (you get to take home the arrangement afterwards!).

Register by end of the day on Thursday, October 15.

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.

Warm up those muscles, because next weekend’s Youth Ministry Night will be "Body Builders"! We’ll be running relays and exploring how the Church is led, from the Pope to the bishops and priests – and how every one of us has a role in building up the Body of Christ.

The Paulists are taking a Young Adult group to World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, Korea (August 1 - 10, 2027)! Come learn more at our Zoom info session. We’ll share details about the pilgrimage, travel plans, cost, fundraising, and what it means to experience World Youth Day alongside young adults from Paulist communities across the country.

All young adults ages 18–39 are welcome. Register to receive the Zoom link.

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.

Walgreens will host a flu shot clinic at Old St. Mary’s on Sunday, October 25, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the Parish Center. Stop by and get your flu shot as we head into the colder months!

Stop by for a simple wine & cheese social for Young Adults after the 4PM Sunday Mass! A great way of getting to meet your fellow young adults at Old St. Mary's.

Join our Claret Center intern, Elizabeth Milman, for a workshop on "Finding Meaning." We’ll explore some of the different things that can give our lives a sense of meaning and purpose, including relationships, values, service, spirituality, faith, and personal growth. It will be an interactive and reflective workshop with some discussion and activities, and people can engage with the topic from wherever they are in their own lives and beliefs.

Remember your departed loved ones in our parish ofrenda altar in the Commons. Bring photos, preferably framed, to the ofrenda between Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. Please label them with your name and phone number.

Making decisions about medical care, especially as we or our loved ones approach the end of life, can raise difficult questions. How does our Catholic faith guide us in making these decisions? What should we consider when planning for our own care or accompanying someone we love?

Join Fr. Bob Cary, CSP, for a two-hour seminar exploring Catholic teaching on care at the end of life. Fr. Bob will introduce basic principles of Catholic bioethics, discuss the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services issued by the U.S. Catholic Bishops, and offer practical guidance on medical powers of attorney, including Illinois law and resources from the Illinois Catholic Conference.

The session will also include a review of relevant documents to help participants better understand their options and make informed decisions consistent with their faith.

Join us on December 12 as we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! Honored as the Patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds us of God's tender love, especially for the poor and marginalized, and of Mary's maternal care for all God's children. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us!

Help make this celebration possible! Please consider making a donation to support this beloved parish tradition. Your generosity helps us share the joy  of this special feast with our entire community.

Join us for our annual Simbang Gabi celebration, a beloved Filipino Advent tradition filled with faith, joy, color, and community! As we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas, we gather in prayer and thanksgiving, surrounded by the beautiful glow of parols, traditional Filipino Christmas lanterns that symbolize the light of Christ.

Our celebration has become a cherished tradition at Old St. Mary’s, bringing together parishioners, families, and friends to share in the joy of the season. And, of course, a festive Filipino fiesta follows Mass!

Please consider donating to help defray the costs for Simbang Gabi. Your generosity makes our celebration possible!