Our Lady of Guadalupe novena and feast day : Novena Dec. 3-11, 6:30 p.m. rosary, 7:30 p.m. Mass; Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., fiesta in Carmel Hall; Dec. 11, 11 p.m. Mass with mariachis; midnight, mariachi music for Our Lady of Guadalupe; Dec. 12, 4 a.m., mañanitas in Spanish; 5 a.m. Mass followed by menudo; 6 p.m. English Mass; 7 p.m. late Mass; at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Shrine, 1101 N. 23rd Ave. Melrose Park; for details, visit olmcparish.org or call 708-344-4140.
Welcome for St. Juan Diego relic : Dec. 9, 4 p.m., the Shrine of All Saints at All Saints Parish, St. Martha Church, welcomes a \relic from the bones of St. Juan Diego after Mass; with music and dancers from Mexico; reception follows; all welcome; 8500 Georgiana Ave., Morton Grove.
Worldwide candle-lighting for the loss of a child : Dec. 10, 6:45 p.m, hosted by the Elizabeth Ministry at Queen of All Saints Basilica, 6280 N. Sauganash Ave.; nondenominational service in conjunction with the Compassionate Friends organization to honor the memories of children of any age who have died, at any time, for any reason; all welcome to participate; service will also be livestreamed on parish website; for information or to request that the name of a loved one be read, email [email protected].
Feast of St. Lucy : Dec. 13, Mass and blessing of the eyes, 6:30 p.m. Spanish and 7:30 p.m. English; at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Shrine, 1101 N. 23rd Ave. Melrose Park; for details, visit olmcparish.org or call 708-344-4140.
"Come to Us: Christmas Praise & Worship Night" : Dec. 15, 7 p.m.; featuring St. Catherine of Alexandria music ministry; at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, 10621 S. Kedvale Ave., Oak Lawn; for details call 707-425-2850 or visit parish.scaoaklawn.org
Living Nativity and Simbang Gabi celebration : Dec. 16, 3 p.m., living Nativity with live animals, music and Christmas readings in multiple languages presented by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish and St. Therese Chinese Catholic School; 5 p.m., Mass and Simbang Gabi celebration, with Filipino food following the liturgy; all events at St. Barbara Church, 2859 S. Throop St.; for details, visit StMotherTeresaParish.org.
Posadas Navideñas : Dec. 16-23; 7 p.m. with drinks and piñatas in the gym; at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Shrine, 1101 N. 23rd Ave. Melrose Park; for details, visit olmcparish.org or call 708-344-4140.
Convivium Marianum : Dec. 17, 7 p.m.; join Bishop Bartosic in a prayerful contemplation on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Scripture and song; sacred music, readings and prayer honoring Mary and preparing us for the coming of her son; for details, visit stgregoryhall.org or call 773-561-3546.
Advent Taizé prayer service : Dec. 18, 7 p.m.; at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church; 10621 S. Kedvale Ave., Oak Lawn; call 708-425-2850 or visit parish.scaoaklawn.org.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament : Fridays, 2-4:15 p.m. in St. Peter's Church, 110 W. Madison St.; all invited to participate; for information, call 312-372-5111 or visit stpetersloop.org.
Requiem Mass and devotions for poor souls in purgatory : 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays; hosted by the St. Odilo Purgatorial Society at the National Shrine of the Poor Souls, St. Odilo Church, 2244 East Ave., Berwyn.
Pro-life Mass : First Saturday of the month, 8 a.m.; followed by praying the pro-life rosary; at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 3745 S. Paulina St.
Eucharistic adoration : Every day, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; St. Francis Borgia Parish Prince of Peace Chapel; 8033 W. Addison St.
Holy hour of healing : First Saturday of the month, 6 p.m.; led by Deacon Mike Ciciura at St. Alexander Parish, 7025 W. 126th St., Palos Heights; for those suffering from physical, spiritual or psychological illness; includes adoration, Benediction and individual prayers of healing; for details, call 708-448-4861 or email [email protected].
Communal First Saturday devotion : First Saturday of every month at St. Zachary Parish, 567 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines; 8:15 a.m. Fatima prayers; 9 a.m. Mass followed by 15-minute meditation; call 847-956-7020 for details.
Taizé prayer : Second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., streaming on holycrossparish.net or in person at Holy Cross Church, 724 Elder Lane, Deerfield.
St. Peregrine Healing Mass : Second Saturday of the month in Spanish, third Saturday of the month in English; 11 a.m.; at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica; 3121 W. Jackson Blvd.; call 773-638-5800, ext. 19, for information.
Eucharistic adoration and young adult fellowship : Wednesday evenings; adoration at 8 p.m. at Marytown, 1600 W. Park Ave., Libertyville; young adults gather afterward at Culver's, 803 E. Park Ave.
"Music of the Masters: Handel’s Messiah" : Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.; sacred choral music for Advent and Christmas, including choruses and solos from Handel’s "Messiah" and more; at Queen of All Saints Basilica, 6280 N. Sauganash Ave.; free-will offering; for information, visit qasparish.org or call 773-736-6060.
"Holiday Joy and Fanfare" : Free family concert presented by the South Holland Master Chorale; Dec. 3, 4 p.m., at St. John Neumann Parish, 17951 Dixie Hwy., Homewood; Dec. 10, 4 p.m., at Christ Our Savior Parish, 880 E. 154th St., South Holland; for details, visit southhollandmasterchorale.org or email [email protected].
St. Peter's Church annual Christmas concert : Dec. 6, 12:15-1 p.m., Chiasa Nuova presents local professional musicians performing holiday favorites; everyone invited; free-will offering; in St. Clare Auditorium at St. Peter's Church,110 W. Madison St.; for information, call 312-853-2376 or visit stpetersloop.org.
Handel's "Messiah" : Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.; presented by the Apollo Chorus of Chicago at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St.; $50, students $35; visit apollochorus.org or text APOLLO to 90206 to purchase tickets. December 9 @7:30pm Holy Name Cathedral 735 N State St | Chicago, IL 60654
"Holy Ground" premiere : Dec. 14; shows at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; premiere of documentary film about the founding of Chicago and its Catholic roots narrated by Fr. Greg Sakowicz; at the Landmark Glen Theater, 1850 Tower Road, Glenview; showtimes to be announced; for details, visit the Facebook event page at facebook.com/events/307784908641422.
Concerts to prepare for Christmas : Dec. 15 and 16; 7 p..m. each evening; Martin Valverde will offer two-hour concerts in Spanish at St. Augustine Parish, Midlothian; tickets $30-$110; for ingformation or tickets, visit StAugustineMidlothian.org and 708-388-8190.
"A Mass for Troubled Times" : Presented by the South Holland Master Chorale; May 19, 4 p.m., at All Souls Parish, 3010 Ridge Road, Lansing; for details, visit southhollandmasterchorale.org or email [email protected].
Display of Nativity sets and open house : Mount Assisi Convent Dec. 3, 1-4:30 p.m.; at Mount Assisi Convent, 13900 Main St., Lemont; in celebration if the 800th anniversary of the first Nativity display in 1223 by St. Francis of Assisi.
St. Francis Borgia monthly bingo : Third Saturday of every month; doors open 5:30 p.m., bingo starts 6:30 p.m.; $25 for 10 regular bingos and two specials; food and raffles available; in the St. Francis Borgia Stokes Center, 8025 W. Addison St.; for information, call the school office at 773-589-1000.
"How Churches Can Use AI and Other Helpful Tools" : Dec. 11, 6-7:30 p.m.; in the St. Joseph, Libertyville, Parish Center, Loughry Room, 121 E. Maple Avenue, Libertyville; part of the Communications 101 training series; learn how to use artificial intelligence, ChatGPT and other helpful tools to improve marketing; preregistration required at stjoseph-libertyville.org; for information, call Abby Daniels at 847-990-1212 or email [email protected].
Reading Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales : Mondays, Jan. 15 through March 18; 6-8 p.m.; weekly seminar on the great work of early English literature led by Fr. Bob Sprott, OFM; for details, visit stgregoryhall.org or call 773-561-3546.
"The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed" : Jan. 17, 2024; 7 p.m.; via Zoom; offered by Jessica Lahey as part of Nazareth Academy's Parent Speaker Series; free registration required; for details or to register, visit nazarethacademy.com, under the Student/Parent tab.
"Social Media 101" : Jan. 22, 6-7:30 p.m.; in the St. Joseph Libertyville Parish Center, Loughry Room, 121 E. Maple Avenue, Libertyville; part of the Communications 101 training series; preregistration required at stjoseph-libertyville.org; for information, call Abby Daniels at 847-990-1212 or email [email protected].
"QR Codes 101" : Feb. 29, 6-7:30 p.m.; in the St. Joseph Libertyville Parish Center, Loughry Room, 121 E. Maple Avenue, Libertyville; part of the Communications 101 training series; preregistration required at stjoseph-libertyville.org; for information, call Abby Daniels at 847-990-1212 or email [email protected].
"The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen’s Wellness and Academic Journey in Today’s Competitive World" : March 19, 2024; 7 p.m.; via Zoom; offered by Cindy Muchnick as part of Nazareth Academy's Parent Speaker Series; free registration required; for details or to register, visit nazarethacademy.com, under the Student/Parent tab.
"How to Use Canva" : April 8, 6-7:30 p.m.; in the St. Joseph Libertyville Parish Center, Loughry Room, 121 E. Maple Avenue, Libertyville; part of the Communications 101 training series; preregistration required at stjoseph-libertyville.org; for information, call Abby Daniels at 847-990-1212 or email [email protected].
To Be Joyful Again : First and third Thursdays of each month; 7 p.m.; non-denominational support group for widows, widowers or anyone else who has lost a significant other meets at Holy Family Parish, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness; all welcome; contact Peggy Emerson at 224-595-3613 or Bob Boho at 847-438-2884 for more information.
St. Constance/St. Robert Bellarmine Young at Heart Senior Group : Second Monday of the month; doors open at 11:30 a.m., meetings usually go to 3 p.m.; spiritual and social club for seniors 60 and older; Borowczyk Hall, ground floor, 5843 W. Ainslie St.; dues $10 per year; meetings end with bingo; COVID-19 protocols including masks required; for information, call 847-258-4428.
Vocations pilgrimage to France : April 8-17 with Fr. Tim Monahan and the Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago; register by Dec. 8; visit vocations.archchicago.org/events/pilgrimage-to-france for details.
"A Night in Bethlehem & Live Nativity" : Dec. 10, 2 p.m. or 5 p.m.; at St. Mary of Vernon Church, Indian Creek; visit the interactive town of Bethlehem, listen to the story of Jesus’ birth, visit a live Nativity, pet live animals, sip hot cocoa and eat Christmas cookies; admission is boxed and canned food items for SMV Sharing Hands Food Pantry; for information, visit maryofvernon.org.
Medieval Nativity illumination workshop : Dec. 16-17, artist Sarah Crow leads a two-day workshop on medieval Nativity illumination, perfect for Christmas cards or gifts; create a reproduction of a 14th-century image of the Nativity; for details, visit stgregoryhall.org or call 773-561-3546.
Register for 2024 Chicago Marathon with Team OLA : Team OLA, the running team of Our Lady of the Angels Mission, has guaranteed race entries and offers race weekend accommodations and training help from Sr. Stephanie Baliga; supports the mission's efforts to help 3,000 families a month in West Humboldt Park with food and basic necessities; for information, visit missionola.com/marathon.html or contact Sr. Stephanie at olamission@ gmail.com or call 773-486-8431.
Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites : For confirmed, practicing Catholics 18 and older who want to deepen their relationship with Jesus and feel called to a life of prayer as a lay person in the world; to learn more, contact Margaret at 773-505-5793 or [email protected].
Joyful Again! : April 13-14, 2024; for widowed men and women; at St. Mary’s Retreat House, Lemont; all welcome; for information, call 708-354-7211, e-mail [email protected] or visit joyfulagain.org.
Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House : Variety of individual and group retreats; offerings include evening, day and weekend retreats; 420 W. County Line Road, Barrington; all welcome; for more information or to register, visit at jesuitretreat.org or call 847-381-1261.
St. Elizabeth Seton High School Class of 1975 : Seeking members to plan for 50th anniversary reunion; email [email protected].
Group spiritual direction : Tuesdays Nov. 21, 28; Dec. 5, 12; 1:30-3 p.m.; facilitated by Br. Guillermo Morales, OFM and Sr. Fran Sulzer, FSP; lower level meeting room; St. Peter's Church,110 W. Madison St.; all invited; for information, call 312-372-5111 or visit stpetersloop.org.
Advent evening of recollection : Dec. 6, 6 p.m.; Mass, dinner and reflection by Fr. Richard Fragomeni; in the gym at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 22nd Ave. and Cortez St.; $20 donation; last day for reservations is Nov. 30; for information or reservations, call 708-344-4140.
Christian meditation : Tuesdays at 7 p.m.; facilitated online with Cenacle Sr. Anelie Arao, practicing the meditation form taught by Christian meditation pioneer Fr. John Main; free; to register, visit cenaclesisters.org/ministry/retreats-programs.
Centering Prayer : Mondays at 10 a.m.; facilitated online by Jackie Herbach; free; for details visit cenaclesisters.org/ministry/retreats-programs.