An icon of St. Josephine Bakhita by Franciscan iconographer Robert Lentz is seen in 2013 at All Saints Catholic Church in Houston. St. Josephine was born in the Darfur region of what is now Sudan. Her feast day is Feb. 8. (CNS photo/Octavio Duran)
The Archdiocese of Chicago announced June 17 that the new unified parish that includes the current Queen of the Universe, 7114 S. Hamlin Ave., and St. Adrian, 7000 S. Washtenaw Ave., will be named Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish, beginning July 1. The new parish name was selected by parishioners of both parishes and was among the several names presented to Cardinal Cupich for his decision. The St. Adrian and Queen of the Universe church sites will retain their consecrated names, and both will remain active worship sites of the new parish. In the next step, the archdiocese’s tribunal will issue a decree “erecting,” or establishing, the parish under canon law, which formalizes the process. A new pastor will begin his assignment July 1. “The church has called this community to give voice to a new parish name that reflects, as Mary does so well, the Divine Mercy of Jesus,” said Father Jason Malave, the cardinal’s delegate for Renew My Church. “Throughout history, when God bestows a new name on someone it indicates a new mission. Our parishes are embarking on the mission of Renew My Church: make disciples, build community and inspire witness to strengthen and grow our faith in new, creative ways.” Also announced, St. Adrian is now home to a shrine to St. Josephine Bakhita. St. Josephine was a Sudanese-born former slave who became a Catholic Canossian nun in Italy, living and working there for 45 years. St. Josephine was canonized in 2000 by St. Pope John Paul II. She is the patron saint of Sudan. The archdiocese describes Renew My Church as the local church’s response to Christ’s call to make disciples, build communities and inspire witness. This is a multi-year process for the archdiocese to strengthen parish vitality and better align its resources and its mission.
Grants from Lilly Endowment to help spiritually renew parishes Three organizations in the Archdiocese of Chicago have received grants from the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative to support projects aimed at helping parishes engage in ongoing spiritual renewal.
Day of Renewal invites leaders to deeper understanding of the Eucharist Hundreds of parish leaders and clergy attended the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Day of Renewal on Sept. 25 at the Rosemont Theater in Rosemont.
Parish leaders to gather for Day of Renewal Sept. 25 in Rosemont Archdiocesan priests, clergy serving in parishes and parish leaders will gather at the Rosemont Theater for a Day of Renewal on Sept. 25. It is the first time leaders from across the archdiocese will gather since in the Renew My Church Summit in 2018.