St. Sabina unveils statue of Jesus weeping over gun violence victim

Just days before the Easter Triduum, Father Michael Pfleger and St. Sabina Parish unveiled a bronze statue of Jesus weeping over the body of a man with bullet holes in his back on March 25.

Jesus’ message to followers is nonviolence, speaker says

The heart of Jesus’ message to his followers is nonviolence, Father John Dear told an audience at St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills on March 7, and those who would be followers of Christ must also commit themselves to opposing a culture of violence.

New Tolton Peace Center

On May 24, Catholic Charities was honored to have Cardinal Cupich bless our newest service location, the Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center and the beautiful peace garden in the community of Austin. Catholic Charities was thrilled to be offered this space, which was a generous gift from Austin Bank of Chicago and enables us to bring a host of new programs and the promise of hope to an area challenged by violence, poverty, homelessness and unemployment.

Catholic Charities opens Tolton Peace Center in Austin

Catholic Charities recently opened a center in the city’s Austin neighborhood to be a hub for social services and violence prevention efforts along with offering families and individuals trauma therapy.

On Corpus Christi, parish takes Jesus to neighborhood streets

After a recent fatal shooting in the neighborhood and increasing incidents of crime, parishioners from Resurrection Parish, 3043 N. Francisco Ave., took to the streets on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 3, to pray for peace and to bless the neighborhood.

Violence prevention director draws inspiration from pope

Last month, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that former FBI agent Phil Andrew would be its first-ever director of violence prevention initiatives. The position grew out of Cardinal Cupich’s April 2017 announcement of an effort to strengthen the work of current anti-violence programs in parishes and schools and other archdiocesan ministries, such as Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Catholic Charities and Kolbe House, the archdiocese’s jail ministry.

Boyle: Treat the disease of violence, not the symptoms

Jesuit Father Greg Boyle wrote the book on helping former gang members turn their lives around. Literally. The author of “Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship” (2017) and “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” (2010) spoke at the First Friday Club in Chicago on Jan. 5.

Sunrise service held to pray for an end to violence

On Aug. 26, the Black Deacons of Chicago held their eighth annual Sunrise Prayer Service and Mass at Oakwood / 41st Street Beach, 4100 S. Lake Shore Drive. Worshipers gathered to pray for nonviolence, the healing of families, schools and communities.

Young people ‘camp out’ to spread peace

For 12 hours Aug. 4 and 5, St. Michael the Archangel Parish at Damen Avenue and 48th Street was the place to be for neighborhood residents who wanted to play basketball, watch their kids get their faces painted or jump in a bouncy house or sit down and share burgers and tacos with their neighbors.

Advertising