Posts in Parish Life
KABABAYAN: A Celebration of Filipino Identity

Saturday, January 30th at 8PM CST

This Saturday! Hearing in Color, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to sharing music, stories, and composers that have been historically excluded from musical spaces, is excited to present KABABAYAN. A free live stream, KABABAYAN is a multimedia event that celebrates the unity and diversity of Filipinos, and the complex connection to the Filipino identity through art and music…

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Renew My Church: Final Decision on Wrigley Field Grouping

Effective July 1, 2021, St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes will unite to form a new parish called St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish with one pastor and pastoral team. Fr. Dorantes will serve as pastor of the united parish. St. Andrew and St. Benedict will remain separate parishes while establishing a covenant for ministry between the two parishes, with particular emphasis on spiritual renewal and the Five Strategies of Building the New Reality…

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Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, on Today’s Attack on Democracy at the U.S. Capitol

We pray for peace at this bracing moment in U.S. history, a history that has been marked by one of democracy’s greatest virtues—the peaceful and orderly transition of power. May our elected officials heed the counsel of their better angels to stand up for the Constitution they swore to defend, to speak the truth, and to recognize threats to democracy, no matter their source…

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Renew My Church: Update and Proposed Scenarios

The Archdiocese of Chicago is undergoing a process called Renew My Church, which calls for both a spiritual and structural renewal of our parishes. Originally, our parish was scheduled to begin this process in fall of 2021. However, we received word last week that the Archdiocese of Chicago has decided to accelerate this process, and it began last month. Fr. Steve explains how the process has progressed, where we are now, and the proposed scenarios for reconfiguring our grouping…

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Serving others during a pandemic? What can I do?

Have you or someone in your family been wondering how we can safely serve others during the pandemic when social interaction is limited? It takes a little creative thinking but there are definitely people who need help during these times that we can serve. Keep reading for suggestions.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”~ Mark 10:45

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Black Lives Matter: A Family Rally for Racial Justice

This event hopes to support parents and families as our community and city works to change the systems that add to inequality and systemic racism. We hope, through the rally, to share a simple message of experience, strength, and hope for families and especially, children of color. The Black Lives Matter: A Family Rally for Racial Justice would like to quiet the fear that children and families may be feeling in light of the protests in our city.

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Archdiocese Announces Plan to Re-Open Churches

May 13, 2020

Dear Friends in Christ, These fifty days of Easter, leading to Pentecost, are marked by unprecedented suffering, as humanity has fallen victim to a perilous contagion. In addition to the threats to our physical wellbeing, we are suffering spiritually as the Covid-19 pandemic has required restrictions of our worship and active participation in the sacramental life of the Church. Surely, there have been moments in history when governments and rulers have persecuted Christians and banned their public worship. This is not one of them. Rather, the present restrictions come in response to an extreme medical emergency as local, state and federal authorities – specifically public health officials – legitimately fulfil their responsibilities to safeguard human life and the common good…

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Send Us Your SELFIES for Holy Week

We are asking all of our parishioners and parish friends to send in photographs of themselves to be used to create a “photo congregation” for Holy Week. We will print your photographs and place them in the pews of the church for our live-streamed Holy Week liturgies. Be sure to tune in to see yourself on the screen!

Please submit your photos by Wednesday, April 8th at NOON.

Photos should be emailed to Elaine Lindia, Pastoral associate, at elindia@stbenedict.com

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COVID-19 Updates

Based on current guidelines from local public health departments, which recommend the cancellation of public gatherings involving 250 or more people, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, mandated the suspension until further notice of all liturgical services effective Saturday evening with the  regularly scheduled weekend services. In addition, he has mandated the closing of schools operated by the archdiocese, and to close the Pastoral Center and related agency offices until further notice.

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Archdiocese Update: Sacramental Practices

March 24th, 2020

As all residents of the state comply with the order to stay at home and refrain from non-essential activities, we are nonetheless painfully aware that being cut off from the sacramental life of the church, especially the Eucharist, creates a great hardship for our people, indeed for all of us. However, we make this sacrifice for the common good, convinced that we, like all citizens, have a responsibility in preventing the spread of COVID-19. In fact, doing so will ensure that our people can return to the sacraments as soon as possible…

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