The Archdiocese of Chicago released updates on four Renew My Church groupings between Jan. 26 and Jan. 28. Over the past several months, the groupings’ feedback and discernment teams, made up of representatives from each of the parishes and schools, met to review and discern the future parish, school and church structures for their respective areas. Based on their meetings and discussions with the larger parish communities, they submitted feedback reports to the Archdiocesan Standards and Recommendations Commission, which includes representatives from across the archdiocese. The commission reviewed the reports and other materials and information, including demographic data, financial summaries and parish and grouping trends. Over the course of the past several weeks, Cardinal Cupich, the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops and Presbyteral Council discussed the commission’s recommendations. Based on those discussions and prayerful consideration, the following decisions have been made: St. Cecilia-St. Colette grouping This grouping includes St. Cecilia Parish in Mount Prospect and St. Colette Parish in Rolling Meadows. Effective July 1, St. Cecilia and St. Colette will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host a regular schedule of Masses that will be determined by the pastor in consultation with parish leadership. St. Cecilia will be the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept. The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within archdiocesan guidelines, and submit up to five options to Cardinal Cupich. Each church will retain its name. Prospect grouping The Prospect grouping includes St. Alphonsus Liguori parish and school in Prospect Heights and St. Thomas Becket Parish in Mount Prospect. Effective, July 1, St. Alphonsus Liguori and St. Thomas Becket will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host a regular schedule of Masses that will be determined by the pastor in consultation with parish leadership. St. Thomas Becket will be the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept. The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within archdiocesan guidelines, and submit up to five options to Cardinal Cupich. Each church will retain its name. St. Alphonsus Liguori School will continue in its current structure. However, future viability will be revisited if the school is unable to maintain financial independence. Arlington Heights-Buffalo Grove-Wheeling grouping The Arlington Heights-Buffalo Grove-Wheeling grouping includes Our Lady of the Wayside parish and school, Arlington Heights; St. Edna Parish, Arlington Heights; St. James parish and school, Arlington Heights; St. Mary parish and school, Buffalo Grove; and St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Wheeling. All parishes and schools will retain their current structures. Hanover Township grouping The Hanover Township grouping includes St. Ansgar Parish in Hanover Park, St. John the Evangelist parish and school in Streamwood and St. Peter Damian Parish in Bartlett. The commission and Presbyteral Council recommended taking more time for additional discernment on the needs of Spanish and Polish ministries. Once the results of that discernment are clear, and a recommendation made on pastoral needs, options for parish structure will be reviewed. St. John the Evangelist School will continue with no changes.
Last Mass celebrated at St. Bernadette Church in Evergreen Park Members of the former St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park bade farewell to the church with a Mass and procession June 30 to their new parish, St. Gianna.
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.