Thanks to all who participated in making the Ecuadorian Festival of Jesús del Gran Poder (Jesus of Great Power) a success. The festival made $2,006 that will be used for the needs of the church. The First Prize of $300 went to Raquel Morelos, and Victoria Toledo took the Second Prize of $200. We are especially grateful to the Vega Family for their work each year on Jesús del Gran Poder
Next July, Queen of Angels and St. Matthias Parishes will merge to become a new parish. The archdiocese’s Priest Placement Board is working to identify a pastor whose gifts and skills will fit well with the particular needs of the new community. The board will propose a candidate for Cardinal Cupich, who will make the final appointment decision. All priests across the archdiocese, including the current pastors, may apply to become pastor of the new parish.
This week, representatives of the Placement Board will meet with our parish staff, the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Finance Council. The staff and councils from St. Matthias will also be present and contribute to this conversation. The purpose of this consultation is to gather input from leaders about the current state of both parishes, the expectations and challenges for the staff, and all that the pastor does to support each parish. The Placement Board takes this input into consideration. Because Father Larry McNally from St. Matthias and Monsignor Jim Kaczorowski are both candidates to be the new pastor, they will not be part of these conversations.
Parishioners are also asked to share their input. There is a simple, two-question form which we invite all parishioners to complete, either in the back of church after Mass or on the parish website:
Online version (type in your answers)
The paper form can be returned directly to the Priests’ Placement Board or brought to the parish office or the church gathering space. Comments can remain anonymous.
Please pray for this process, so that the new parish receives the best leadership available. We will need to pray for a successful transition and renewal that will lead to greater discipleship, community and witness for our parish, your loved ones, and our entire Church.
Please read the letter that Cardinal Cupich has written to the parishioners of Queen of Angels and St. Matthias regarding the consolidation of our parishes and schools.
Letter from Cardinal Cupich dated December 4, 2019: English * Español
This letter is also printed in the December 15, 2019 bulletin.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word is a special time at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass for our younger parishioners to listen to the Mass readings, pray, and explore how the scripture intersects with their lives in a child-friendly environment. Children start the Mass with their parents in church, receive a blessing and go to the Lower Church with their Catechists for the Liturgy of the Word, and return for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
If you are not able to attend the 9:30 Mass on Sunday or on Sundays were we are not able to offer Children’s Liturgy of the Word you can access many of the resources used by this ministry online. The reading in kid-friendly language are available here. Handouts related to the readings can be found here.
The annual appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious (RFR) will be December 7-8 to help hundreds of sisters, brothers and religious order priests provide for the current and future needs of senior members. Tens of thousands of elderly religious benefit. This fund addresses the significant lack of retirement funding for Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests, which is compounded by rising healthcare costs and decreased income. Proceeds from the appeal underwrite educational programming, services, and resources that enable religious communities to evaluate and prepare for long-term retirement needs. Next week, please be as generous as you are able. Get more information here.