Photos

Cross ministry promotes family prayer time

For over five years, Sergio Robles, a parishioner and deacon-candidate at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, 6200 S. Lawndale Ave., has made hand-carved crosses for students in the school and religious education program that are used to promote praying the rosary with their families. Crosses were blessed during a special Mass Oct. 14, 2018. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The hand-made crosses as seen in the shop where Sergio Robles works, Hoffman Furniture Restoration, 4724 W. Rice St., on Oct. 8. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Robles cuts an old pew from his parish to make the crosses. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Robles trims the wood. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Robles assembles the pieces together before putting on final touches. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Robles glues the pieces together and uses a finishing spray before putting on final touches. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Robles applies finishing spray to a cross. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Sophia Sierra, a second-grader at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, adjusts the rosary she placed on her cross as her mom, Annette Gutierrez, sits next to her during Mass Oct. 14. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Children brought their crosses to Mass to be blessed. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Rosaries are wrapped around the crosses. Children brought their crosses to Mass to sit with their families. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Massgoers extend their hands in blessing during Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Youth in the choir examine their crosses before the blessing Oct. 14. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Children raise their crosses to be blessed by Father Salvador Den Hallegado during Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students hold up their crosses and close their eyes as holy water is sprinkled on the crosses. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Families give a "thumbs up" during the homily. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A boy places flowers near the new shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe towards the end of Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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