The Archdiocese of Chicago released updates on two Renew My Church groupings on Sept. 16 and 20. 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 feedback 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: Melrose Park-Northlake Grouping The Melrose Park-Northlake Renew My Church Grouping includes St. Charles Borromeo Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Shrine, both in Melrose Park, and St. John Vianney parish and school, Northlake. All three parishes will remain in their current structures. St. John Vianney School will remain in its current structure, subject to maintaining future financial and enrollment viability. St. Frances of Rome and St. Mary of Celle Grouping The St. Frances of Rome and St. Mary of Celle Renew My Church Grouping includes St. Frances of Rome parish and school, Cicero, and St. Mary of Celle Parish, Berwyn. St. Frances of Rome and St. Mary of Celle will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. The parish will be known as St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds Parish. Both churches will continue to host a regular schedule of Masses. The specific schedule will be determined by the pastor in consultation with parish leadership. St. Frances of Rome will formally be designated the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept. There are no changes to St. Frances of Rome School. Next Steps Over the next few months, the archdiocese and the current parish pastors will support the communities in their transition to the new parish and school structures. The archdiocese’s Renew My Church accompaniment team will work with local leaders to ensure the uniting faith communities and staff are supported through this time of change. All parishes will embark on the next phase of renewal to become a stronger, more sustainable and capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ, building communities and inspiring witness. For more updates about Renew My Church, visit renewmychurch.org.
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.