Photo Gallery Celebrating Epiphany with Three Kings parade Following a Multilingual Mass, hundreds of parishioners from St. Ferdinand and St. Ladislaus Churches on Chicago’s Northwest Side processed down Belmont Avenue during a Three Kings Parade on Jan. 5, 2025. The annual event celebrates Epiphany when the magi visited baby Jesus. The parade mirrors processions that take place in Poland each year on Jan. 6, the traditional date of Epiphany. The parade includes horses, costumed characters dressed as the Holy Family, magi, angels, shepherds and others in the Nativity story, dancers and Christmas caroling. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Vatican St. Peter’s Holy Door sees more than half million pilgrims in two weeks More than half a million pilgrims crossed the threshold of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the first two weeks after Pope Francis opened it
Vatican Pope urges war-torn world to walk through door of peace on Christmas As millions of pilgrims prepare to cross through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis called on individuals, nations and the global community to take a transformative step toward peace and reconciliation by walking through the "door of salvation" that is Jesus Christ.
Photo Gallery Posada prays for immigration reform The Archdiocese of Chicago hosted the 19th Annual Posada for Immigration Reform on Dec. 13, 2024 with stops along the one-mile walk at Immigration Services Center, Metropolitan Correctional Center, DePaul University, Federal Plaza, and ending at Old St. Patrick’s Church. The archdiocese's Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity-Immigration Ministry sponsors the posada pilgrimage symbolizing Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and their traveling from place to place seeking rest and shelter before the birth of Jesus Christ. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Photo Gallery Indian Creek parish creates a night in Bethlehem Over 80 parishioners at St. Mary of Vernon Parish in Indian Creek presented “A Night in Bethlehem & Live Nativity” on Dec. 15, 2024. In the vestibule of the church, guests entered a Bethlehem market depicting a village with various activities including 10 booths selling artisan goods such as wooden spinners and dreidels, bread and cheeses, small instruments, ornaments, pottery, spices and textiles. Parishioners dressed up in costumes and interacted with visitors. Later, everyone gathered in the church for storytelling with angels, shepherds, Joseph, Mary and the wisemen while the choir sang carols followed by the live Nativity scene. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Vatican Pope names Consolata Missionary as the first woman dicastery prefect Pope Francis has appointed Consolata Missionary Sister Simona Brambilla to be the first woman to lead a Vatican dicastery, naming her prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.
Chicagoland Josephinum Academy making plans to stay in Wicker Park Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart, a 134-year-old high school for girls, is hoping to take control of its future with an agreement to buy the property on which its facilities stand and launching a capital campaign with a goal of $23 million.
Chicagoland Catholic Charities’ fund helps cover funeral expenses for those in need It was in 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when an anonymous donor gave $2 million to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago to help people who could not afford to pay for funeral, burial or cremation services for their loved ones.
Chicagoland Taller de José offers helping hand to those in need For the roughly 1,300 people who seek help from Taller de José each year, the organization offers a listening ear and a helping hand as well as time on the phone and lots of shoe leather.
Chicagoland Vocations event asks, ‘Who Will Fill These Shoes?’ When Father Vic Ivers, already long retired, celebrated his last Mass at St. Joseph Parish in Libertyville in 2014, he stopped at the end of Mass, took off his shoes, laid them in front of the altar and said, “So now who will fill these shoes?”
Chicagoland Father Martin Marren reinstated to ministry On Nov. 16, Cardinal Cupich sent the following letter to Our Lady at St. Germaine, St. Gerald, St. Cajetan, St. John Fisher, St. John Neumann, St. Gianna and St. Barnabas Parishes informing them of the reinstatement of Father Martin Marren: