LUMEN magazine

LUMEN

For Friends of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Jazz’n on the Steps

TOGETHER, WE PRAY

Your gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal gives our parishes the resources they need to support the ministries, programs and agencies that serve the educational, physical and spiritual needs of the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago and beyond.

Thank you for your gift.

Determining the best asset to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity

Front cover: Natalie Battaglia Photography

Annual Catholic Appeal/ Lumen Cordium Society

Brendan Keating, JD Chief Development Officer

312.534.5271 bkeating@archchicago.org

Melissa M. Babcock, CFRE Senior Director of Development 312.534.8197 mbabcock@archchicago.org

Barbara Shea Collins Director, Annual Catholic Appeal

312.534.7944 bcollins@archchicago.org

Regina Zielinski Coordinator, Annual Catholic Appeal 312.534.7615 rezielinski@archchicago.org

Carla Beecher Editor, Lumen magazine

Natalie Battaglia Photography

On Thursdays throughout the year, St. Cletus Parish provides a weekly food pantry to Lyons Township residents in need. Kendall Grant, director of social concerns, trains volunteers and leads the food pantry.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As last year’s synod on synodality ended, the concluding report underscored a very significant theme for our life in the Church. The report spoke of co-responsibility for the Church’s mission. In other words, all of us, in virtue of our Baptism, have a responsibility to carry on the Church’s mission, which is nothing other than a continuation of the mission of Jesus Christ. And we know that Jesus came to bring the good news of the coming of God’s kingdom and invite us to a conversion of heart and a life of faith and trust in the good news. We carry that mission forward to others in our broken and wounded world.

Our theme for this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal is Together at the table. There, at the table with the Lord and each other, we continue to reclaim our responsibility. There, we find the energy and encouragement to carry on the mission. It is the Eucharistic table, his altar, that gathers us and sends us. We must never forget that we do not carry on the mission individually or alone. No, it is always in communion with our sisters and brothers. It is always together.

I am grateful for the Annual Catholic Appeal and the other ways of supporting the life and activities of the Church that we have in the archdiocese. They allow us to extend our reach and take up our co-responsibility for the mission. Together, we help parishes in need, Catholic schools, religious education, ministerial formation, peace-making, respect for life and worldwide disaster relief through Catholic Relief Services.

May the good Lord help you draw close to his table to be together and assume your co-responsibility for the mission of the Church. And may he bless all your efforts.

Natalie Battaglia Photography

Our core priorities

As the Archdiocese of Chicago continues to embrace a new missionary age, it is inviting others into a relationship with Jesus Christ by focusing on four major initiatives that will allow the Church to “meet

the missionary moment” of the times.

Spiritually renew our parishes

As we embark on spiritually renewing our parishes, we are focusing on meeting people where they are along the pathway of Christian discipleship. Beginning with those who profess no faith at all while also recognizing that many people raised Catholic may be on a pathway of engagement at earlier points than we assume. For those exploring their faith, we will have online workshops and curated content that will start from these spiritual opening points and invite people to explore a relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church.

Additionally, we are developing a learning program for parish teams and focusing on formation training that will produce invigorated pastors, freshly equipped staff and lay leaders.

Renew our commitment to priests

Archdiocesan priests give their lives in service to our communities and our faith. They are there for us through every phase of life, from baptism to last rites and at all of life’s milestones. They deserve our prayers, our gratitude and our support.

To support seminarian education, professional and pastoral development and care for the health and wellbeing of priests, the archdiocese has launched the Priest Fund. Through these investments, we commit to forming priests at every stage of their vocation so they may be renewed and supported to lead the renewal of their parishes. As Catholics, it is our responsibility to care for our priests as they care for us, with respect and appreciation for a life of ministry to the people of Chicago.

CONTACT US

Assist parish communities

Some parishes in the archdiocese serve communities that do not have the financial means to fully fund a thriving parish. Most of these parishes have strong Mass attendance and robust community engagement but struggle to support basic parish necessities, emergency repairs or new ministries.

The newly launched Parish Vitality Fund will support these parishes by helping fund facility repairs and improvement for high-priority projects and core ministries, and by helping ensure parishes have enough staff to adequately serve local communities.

This initiative will help see that every faithful Catholic in the archdiocese has an inspiring community in which to explore and deepen their faith and that every neighborhood has a place to encounter Christ.

Scholarships for Catholic school families

Demand for quality Catholic education is growing, and the archdiocese is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that a Catholic school education is accessible to all families and that its schools remain a central place for children to encounter and renew their faith in God. However, the recent ending of the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program is presenting significant financial challenges for many Catholic school families.

To help ensure that a Catholic school education is accessible to every family, the archdiocese is working to offer more scholarships for eligible students.

For more information and to find out how you can make a difference, please contact Brendan Keating, the archdiocese’s chief development officer, at bkeating@archchicago.org or 312.270.4027

Do we really build the kingdom of God?

Regularly, I come across articles and even hymns that speak about how we are to “build the kingdom of God.” I wince, not because the authors have bad intentions but because they are so wrong about the coming of God’s kingdom. Let me explain.

When Jesus began his public ministry, his proclamation was forceful and clear. He said, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Jesus’ contemporaries would have understood the meaning of “the kingdom of God.” Very simply, the coming of the kingdom or reign of God means that God is taking hold of this world of his creation. God is reclaiming sovereignty; as he does so, he is healing, restoring and transforming all creation.

Jesus preaches the nearness of the kingdom of God the great and determinative fact of our existence. Then this fact summons us to repentance, a conversion of heart that would open us to God’s plan and to believe and trust in the gospel, the good news.

As you can begin to understand, the coming of the kingdom of God is God’s work. It is God taking hold of our world and our lives. We are not responsible for making God’s kingdom arrive. We do not build it. As the great German biblical scholar Rudolf Schnackenburg said, “God’s reign comes on its own terms.”

Does that mean that we have no role to play or that we are merely passive bystanders to the coming of this kingdom? By no means. The

coming of God’s kingdom is a great gift of grace. And every grace is entirely from God, but God wants our free human response and cooperation with his gifts. What does that mean or look like for the coming of the kingdom of God?

First, it means that we long and pray for the coming of God’s kingdom. We do this every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer and say, “Thy

those actions and works that pave a way for its coming in our world. When we work for justice, peace, compassionate care of those in need, and truth, all this signals a way of creating space for the coming of God’s kingdom in our midst. We do not, by dint of our own efforts, make the kingdom come. We do, however, foster its arrival by clearing a path or, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, we

“God’s reign comes on its own terms.”

kingdom come.” That simple yet profound petition expresses the deep longing that we have for God to fulfill his word and work and take hold of this tired and wounded world. It is an urgent prayer. It also helps us to see that our current position in this “vale of tears” is not the endpoint of our existence. There is more to come, and it is all in God’s hands. The theologian Karl Rahner says that every prayer of petition that we make is wrapped around this single prayer of “thy kingdom come,” for in that kingdom every good is contained. So, our first “work” for the kingdom is prayer.

A second and very important contribution that we make to the coming of God’s kingdom are

“prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

So, we can return to our original question: Do we really build the kingdom of God? We can clearly say, “No, we don’t.” At the same time, we are not passive bystanders. We are people who long for that kingdom and pray urgently for its arrival. We welcome the kingdom into our own lives through our repentance and faith. We prepare the spaces in our world for God’s work with our works of justice, peace and compassion.

Father Louis J. Cameli, STD, is the Cardinal’s delegate for Christian formation and mission for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Karen Callaway/ Chicago Catholic

Saint Rita of Cascia

Patron saint of impossible causes, marriage problems, abused women and mothers

Several years ago, I visited the house of Saint Rita of Cascia in Roccaporena in the Italian region of Umbria. I stood outside the door to her house and saw a stone sink where she washed the family clothes. In that simple place, I sensed a saint who was also a real person. This good and holy woman, born in 1381 and died in 1457, lived a life that was both ordinary and extraordinary.

Early in life she wanted to become a nun and devote her life to prayer. But her parents pressured her to marry a quick-tempered nobleman, Paolo Mancini. For most of the 18 years of their marriage, he abused her and was unfaithful to her. She persevered, prayed, and did everything she could to call him to a better life. Before he died a violent death inflicted by a rival feuding family, Saint Rita had convinced him to change his ways.

Her two sons were determined to avenge their father’s death, and so continued the spiraling vendetta. Again, through her prayers, that act of vengeance was averted.

After her husband’s death, she was able to enter an Augustinian monastery and dedicate her life entirely to prayer. Even during her lifetime, people recognized that her prayers for them were especially effective. With her history and experiences, she quickly became a patron of impossible and lost causes, of those struggling with marital difficulties, and of women and mothers who suffered abuse. She was also invoked to bring about reconciliation for warring and feuding parties.

Today, people who find themselves caught in impossible circumstances and extreme difficulties in family life continue to find in her an advocate and model. Her life and her intercession in heaven even now give witness to the truth of Saint Paul’s words: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Saint Rita’s birthplace at Roccaporena, near Spoleto, Italy

Miguel Cabrera (1695–1768) , Saint Rita of Cascia (Santa Rita de Cascia)

Museo

Nacional de Arte, Mexico City

How to be at the table together

Learning to be a synodal and missionary church

In the winter issue of Lumen, I wrote about the 2024 theme of the Annual Catholic Appeal—Together at the table. In an age and culture of significant disconnection, I suggested that being together at the Lord’s table was necessary for our physical, psychological, social and spiritual health. In these reflections, I want to carry that theme forward and explain how we can learn to live together at the table. It does not happen automatically. It does take some intentional and deliberate steps.

WE EMBRACE A CULTURE OF ENCOUNTER

Pope Francis has frequently called for “a culture of encounter,” an environment and way of living that prizes how we can meet and be with each other in all our commonality but also our uniqueness and differences. In his encyclical Fratelli tutti, he develops this theme: On Fraternity and Social Friendship. For example, he draws on the Second Vatican Council, the philosopher Gabriel Marcel and his teaching, and writes:

“Human beings are so made that they cannot live, develop and find fulfillment except ‘in the sincere gift of self to others.’ Nor can they fully know themselves apart from an encounter with other persons: ‘I

communicate effectively with myself only insofar as I communicate with others.’ No one can experience the true beauty of life without relating to others, without having real faces to love. This is part of the mystery of authentic human existence. ‘Life exists where there is bonding, communion, fraternity, and life is stronger than death when it is built on true relationships and bonds of fidelity. On the contrary, there is no life when we claim to be self-sufficient and live as islands: in these attitudes, death prevails.’” (n. 87)

When a culture of encounter is described as Pope Francis has done, it seems easy to want to embrace it and to live it out as we meet others. However, for many of our contemporaries, embracing a culture of encounter is difficult. Recently, for example, I

was with another priest on a crowded elevator. Every person on that elevator— apart from us—was laser-locked on to their phone screens. My priest friend said that people are fundamentally afraid to see each other, much less, meet each other. They hide in their phones in public places. I think he was right. If you want to embrace a culture of encounter on your way to being together at the table, then you must begin by breaking through a gravitational pull to isolation that can for whatever reason grip us. Then, we must move deliberately and want to be together with others. In this process, there is a firm element of decision. You must deliberately and intentionally move beyond yourself and your world to go out to others. And that decision is grounded in a healthy psychology and, even more deeply, in a spiritual commitment that recognizes that God made us for communion with him and each other.

WE LISTEN

Every genuine and meaningful encounter that people have with each other requires listening. That is the essential connector with God, with others, and with our own selves. Karl Rahner, the great German theologian of the 20th century, described the human person as a hearer

others.

of the word. For Rahner, that capacity to receive God’s transcendent word connected us with our creator. By extension, we can also say that our capacity to receive each other’s word connects us in the human family that God gathers.

in our own thoughts and preoccupations that we block out voices other than our own. From the beginning, Adam and Eve’s story tells us this is so. Their original sin was blocking out the voice of God and choosing to listen to their inclinations. In

“No one can experience the true beauty of life without relating to others, without having real faces to love.”

As true and as beautiful as this might sound, we should not ignore the great challenges of real listening. It has always been a perennial human challenge to listen because we can so easily be wrapped up

our day, the noise coming from social media, texting, entertainment platforms, political life and chatter around the watercooler can swamp us and remove our ability to listen to God and each other.

If we want to listen well to really encounter each other and be together at the table, then we must decide. Once again, it is a matter of being deliberate and intentional and trying to clear the noisy clutter of our lives and to move into a receptive space. This is the discipline of listening. It may help to identify who we are listening to as we come together at the table. At the foundation of everything else, we listen to God. And we listen in the many ways that God speaks to us—in our thoughts, feelings and imagination, the church community, the sacraments and life of worship, and other people, especially loved ones. We listen to ourselves, to what

To embrace a culture of encounter, we must begin by breaking through a gravitational pull to isolation that can for whatever reason grip us. Then we must move deliberately and want to be together with

is happening deep within us. We listen to others known and familiar and those outside our usual circles. As Pope Francis has reminded us, we listen to the earth to which we are deeply and inextricably connected.

WE SHARE

We must want to be together at the table, and we must want to embrace a culture of encounter. We must also learn to listen so that we can truly meet each other. Finally, to be together at the table, we must be willing to share with others. This sharing shapes how we are at the table. The image of being together at the table suggests that we are

eating. There is, however, a distinctive way to be at the table. And it is far more than a matter of consumption. As a real encounter, we are gathered at the table to share. But what exactly do we share?

At the center of the table is the Lord Jesus present to his believing disciples. So, we share the presence of the living Lord. That happens as we hear God’s word and partake of the Eucharist. We become his mystical body in that sharing of the Lord and with the Lord. Another dimension of sharing is embedded in sharing the presence of the Lord. We also share ourselves with others. We share faith and a firm conviction that we can trust the Lord and walk confidently into the future. With that essential sharing, other things follow, such as genuine affection, compassion, a willingness to forgive

and a desire to see others flourish. All this is no small thing. Obviously, in a world that seems to bend in on itself, this sharing stands out as remarkable and transformative and a victory over selfcenteredness and selfinterest.

The sharing we experience at the table leads us from the table to a world in need. We take

paths allow us to share the threefold gifts of time, talent and treasure.

Just before Communion time in the Mass, we hear momentous words: “Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb,” that is to say, “Blessed are those summoned to be together at the table, the Lord’s table.” As we reflect on that great blessing of being

“Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.”

what we have been given and continue sharing, especially with those in need. And that takes us back to our beginning of our reflections—the Annual Catholic Appeal. Certainly, the Appeal is not the only pathway to share from the table with those in need, but it is a very good route to travel. Other

together at the table, we recognize our part and our call to embrace a culture of encounter, cultivate our capacity to listen and open our hearts in generous sharing. May the good Lord continue to call us to his table and prompt us to come forward with generous hearts and spirits open to his action.

Natalie Battaglia Photography

Natalie Battaglia Photography

When we come together at the table, we share our faith and a firm conviction that we can trust the Lord and walk confidently into the future.

Jazz’n on the Steps at St. Moses the Black

Margaret Murphy-Webb, a retired Chicago police officer and lifelong jazz singer, wanted to offer free music on the South Side. As the music teacher at Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy, Murphy-Webb approached Pastor Father Matt O’Donnell of St. Moses the Black Parish about making that dream come true.

“Father Matt became a good friend, confidant and ‘partner in crime,’” Murphy-Webb said about bringing free live music to the neighborhood.

As a founder of the South Side Jazz Coalition—a nonprofit that unites people, builds community and helps advocate for justice in safe cultural spaces—Murphy-Webb was looking for a place where the SSJC could offer a venue for people to gather, play and listen.

“We started playing in Wilson Hall at Augustus Tolton on Tuesday evenings, but we wanted to expand that to be outdoors, in part because of the pandemic. Father Matt suggested that we play right on the church’s front steps on Sundays. That’s how Jazz’n on the Steps was born.”

The free, monthly outdoor concert on the steps of St. Moses the Black Parish is offered monthly

on the fourth Sunday afternoon between June and September; if the weather is good, there’s music in October, too. In the winter months and during inclement weather, Jazz’n takes place in Wilson Hall inside Augustus Tolton.

Murphy-Webb says the crowd can rise to 400 people on Jazz’n Sundays. Father Matt always comes out to welcome everyone to St. Moses the Black. “Jazz’n on the Steps allows us to continue our Sunday celebration by enjoying great music and building a stronger community,” he said. “Jazz music is good for the human spirit, and we are grateful to partner with a wonderful organization that is bringing healing and hope to our city.”

“Jazz’n on the Steps gives seniors a place to go, and people feel safe and have a great time,” added Murphy-

Margaret Murphy-Webb is a founder of the South Side Jazz Coalition and Jazz’n on the Steps.

Photo provided by

Margaret Murphy-Webb

Natalie Battaglia Photography

Jazz’n on the Steps

Fourth Sunday, May–Sept.

4–7 p.m.

St. Moses the Black 331 East 71st Street, Chicago, IL

Jazz Jam

Second Tuesday year-round 7–10 p.m.

Parish Ministry Center 450 East 78th Street, Chicago, IL

Webb. “We are creating safe spaces and giving people something to look forward to.” She stresses that she is invested in creating a new generation of jazz fans.

“Jazz’n is for all ages; I want to infect young minds with jazz. We had a young boy walk by Jazz’n and tell us he wrote a song, so I told him to go on the steps and sing it to express himself. Another young man pointed to a trumpet and asked, ‘What instrument is he playing?’ This generation needs music!”

On Jazz’n Sundays, there is always a vendor or two providing affordable homestyle food, and the feeling of community is joyous. Murphy-Webb’s nickname at St. Moses the Black is “Jazz Cop,” because everyone knows how serious she is about free art, about music’s incredible ability to bring people together. In addition to the camaraderie that art creates, creating

Summertime Jazz’n on the Steps concerts usually draw a large crowd of parishioners and neighbors who enjoy an afternoon of music and food from local street vendors.

safe spaces is also critical, “Seniors need to be able to be outside and enjoy Chicago; we are giving them that safe space. I also always say, put an instrument in a child’s hand, and maybe it will keep a gun out of it,” Murphy-Webb said.

“Jazz’n on the Steps is one big family and our Ravinia on the South Side at St. Moses the Black.”

The legacy parishes of St. Clotilde, St. Columbanus and St. Dorothy have united to form St. Moses the Black Parish— a community focused on making disciples, building community and inspiring witness.

Natalie Battaglia Photography

The Catholic Parishes of Oak Park Migrant Ministry answers the call to serve

“No cuesta nada soñar,” is a common expression at the Catholic parishes of Oak Park. It means, “It doesn’t cost anything to dream.”

The phrase motivates the volunteers in the ministry as they try to accommodate an ambitious new request from the Village of Oak Park to expand the ministry’s offerings as more migrants from Central and South America make their way north.

“We’re helping them, but they have brought a beautiful blessing to this community in Oak Park,” said Rev. Carl Morello, pastor of Ascension and St. Edmund Parish that oversees the ministry. “We’ve got people who are Christian, Jewish, non-faith-goers all working together for the same purpose—and that is to support and help these migrants.”

The ministry began to provide services to migrants in June 2023 at St. Catherine-St. Lucy Church. Operations were later transferred to the St. Edmund School building on South Oak Park Avenue because it was able to house between 80 and 120 individuals on its grounds.

Although showers are no longer available, migrants still receive snacks, clothes and other necessities. Families, rather than individuals, are prioritized for this temporary shelter, which is open through June. After that, nobody knows what will happen, Morello said.

and fruit while kids who are either too young to be in school or not yet enrolled play with toys, look at books and relax.

People from all different faiths as well as nonreligious individuals volunteer their time to help migrants, Woznica said. Roughly 35 to 40 volunteers come to help every Tuesday and Thursday, added Woznica’s husband, Don, in addition to volunteers who sort clothing and reorganize donations on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“This ministry is unique because it has pulled everybody together,” said Maria Allori, director of development for Ascension and St. Edmund Parish. “People really feel very aligned with the mission [of] this kind of work.”

“We are the body of Christ in action. The church is at its best when helping those in need.”

– Rev. Carl Morello, pastor

One of the ministry’s dreams is to help migrants find opportunities for jobs and housing, Woznica said. For those interested, English classes are available at the school and are taught by a volunteer during the week. The ministry is hoping to expand services to Saturdays for those who can’t come during a typical work or school day, Allori said.

The extra space at St. Edmund School has allowed for more efficient organization and distribution of donations, said Celine Woznica, a ministry organizer. Clothes are sorted by gender and size, and socks and underwear are bought, not donated. “We feel very strongly about donations with dignity,” Woznica said. “They [migrants] can actually select and try on something.”

The school also has a dining room and play area for kids. Volunteers hand out food such as toast, ham, cheese

The ministry also has hosted workshops to help eligible migrants apply for temporary protected status, Woznica said. It would also like to offer health, legal and counseling services as well as sacramental services such as baptism and marriage in the future, she added.

“There is a need to really set them [migrants] up for success, so that they can be contributing members of society,” Allori said.

Reprinted with permission from digital Wednesday Journal/ Growing Community Media

Catholic parishes of Oak Park volunteer Celine Woznica talks with Michael Añez, a migrant who is also a volunteer at the St. Edmund Migrant Center.

Todd A. Bannor/digital Wednesday Journal /Growing Community Media

St. Thomas the Apostle Distinguished Preachers Series and a 100-year anniversary

Founded in 1869, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and School, which sits adjacent to the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park, this year celebrates 100 years in its current building. The architecturally significant church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as the first modern Catholic church in the United States because it was not based on European (Italian or German) designs. Architect Francis Barry Byrne, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed and built the sanctuary in 1924 using the then newly popular Prairie Style.

To mark its centennial, the parish is hosting well-known speakers this summer and fall as part of its recently revived Distinguished Preachers Series.

“We have many things to celebrate at St. Thomas,” said Father Michael Trail, who first learned about the series, which dates from the 1950s, after reading about its beginnings in old bulletins when he became pastor in 2021. He restored the program three years ago.

“We’re intentional in the way in which we pray and serve,” Trail said. “Part of that intentionality comes from the careful thought

the parish gives to the Word of God as it relates to its congregants and neighbors.”

With roughly 50 religious orders of men and women in the neighborhood, and many theologically astute parishioners, Trail tries to choose his words carefully when he preaches. “This speaker’s series brings the best of Catholic intellectual thought to life by hosting experts in various areas of theology who break open the scriptures and invite parishioners to think about the word of God in a profound and deep theological way,” he said.

In addition to theological students from the Catholic Theological Union, the Lutheran School of Theology and the McCormick School of Theology, the parish’s neighbors include various religious orders of men and women, as well as parishioners hailing from all corners of the globe who study and work at the University of Chicago and various fields in the city of Chicago.

“We aim to be good neighbors and community members—a presence and beacon of hope in Hyde Park,” Trail said. “This Distinguished Speakers Series is one more way we bring people together.”

2024 DISTINGUISHED PREACHER SERIES

Twentieth Sunday in OT August 17, 4 p.m.

August 18, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Rev. Michael C. Wurtz, CSC, visiting assistant professor of theology, King’s College

Twenty-fourth Sunday in OT/100 Anniversary September 15, 10 a.m.

His Eminence Blase Cardinal Cupich, archbishop of Chicago

Advent Evening Prayer December 11, 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Gennifer Brooks, professor of preaching and director of the Styberg Preaching Institute, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

JOIN US

St. Thomas the Apostle 5472 South Kimbark Ave. Chicago, IL 60615

773.324.2626

Natalie Battaglia Photography

Finding Jesus and the importance of sharing one’s faith with the world

Rev. Thomas J. Boharic, pastor of Mother of the Americas Parish, answers a few questions that reveal much about his relationship with Jesus and how to invite others into finding the love of God.

Can you describe the feeling or moment of accepting Jesus into your life?

Surprisingly, I really didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus—or know it was possible—until I was studying for the priesthood. Then, after being a priest for eight years, I had the opportunity to take a 30-day retreat at a monastery in Arizona to practice the Spiritual Exercises, comprised of meditations, prayers and contemplative practices that were developed by St. Ignatius Loyola to help people deepen their relationship with God. During that experience, it was as if I heard the Gospel for the first time and developed a very, very personal relationship with Jesus. I now feel like he is my best friend, and I want to share that excitement, happiness and joy with others so that they may experience the love of God, too.

Why is it important to share one’s faith?

If you have something that’s beautiful, there should be a desire to share it, and our faith is the greatest treasure we have. Programs are important, but disciples, not programs, make disciples. We need to evangelize ourselves, even as we evangelize. We’re always trying to find the best retreat, the best program. Programs like Alpha are a great framework, but we can’t just put our faith solely in the hope that a program will transform people because ultimately, it’s disciples who bring people to Jesus.

Can you talk about some of the challenges facing parishioners by this new direction of evangelization? We are asking parishioners to do things they didn’t do before. In the past, we focused on Catholics who already were coming to church, or what I call “the bread and butter” activities that were more maintenance activities rather than something new. But now, we are thinking strategically about how to bring people to Jesus by

engaging with them from wherever they’re at in their journey—from those with no faith at all, to atheists, to people who don’t know what they believe.

For example, in my first assignments, I did anti-violence mission work, which included street intervention. I thought that by doing good in the community, people would suddenly just start coming to church. That’s how I evangelized, and there was some truth to that. But just doing good in the community wasn’t explicitly bringing people to Jesus.

What is a next step in evangelization?

Rather than just trying to get someone to attend a Mass, we should work toward bringing them directly to Jesus. Saint Francis of Assisi stated: “Preach the gospel always, but when necessary, use words.” By that I think we need to specifically ask people if we can help lead them to having a personal relationship with Jesus. We can take them by the hand and pray with them so that they, too, can have a life-changing encounter with Jesus. As Pope Paul VI said, “When we preach, we literally need to say the name Jesus.”

How do you describe a “good disciple” and how do disciples differ from one another?

Each one of us is going to live out our discipleship in a different way based on how God created us with our different personalities, our different gifts. One person might get really involved with social justice. Someone else might be called to work with youths or make the liturgy as beautiful as possible. The common denominator is that it all flows from that personal relationship of knowing Jesus and following him in your own specific way.

Natalie Battaglia

Photography

EMPOWERING GIRLS THROUGH CATHOLIC EDUCATION

The Illinois Club for Catholic Women (ICCW) was founded at the urging of His Eminence George Cardinal Mundelein in 1921. Though the charitable organization is now more than 100 years old, its steadfast mission continues to recognize the sacred dignity of every individual, supply compassionate service and assist Catholic charities in and around Chicago. Today, the ICCW is one of the city’s leading charitable providers for the most vulnerable and neglected members of society.

Most recently, the ICCW pledged its support to Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools by establishing the ICCW Scholarship for Girls. This scholarship promises to provide significant tuition relief for approximately 30 female financially under-resourced Catholic

OUR NUMBERS

• 45,321 elementary students enrolled; approximately 6,500 scholarships were granted.

• $38,000 average household income for families of four receiving a scholarship last year.

• Goal: $19 million/year to replace eliminated tax-credit scholarship funds for 3,400 students.

schoolchildren each year.

“The ICCW Scholarship for Girls is especially meaningful at this time, especially when we consider the recent devastating effects of the Illinois Legislature’s decision to terminate the Invest in Kids taxcredit scholarship program,” said Cardinal Blase Cupich.

In addition to individual gifts, the ICCW funds its charitable work by hosting events throughout the year, including luncheons, Christmas gatherings at Misericordia and its debutante ball. The Presentation Ball, which began on Dec. 29, 1958, raises money for the poor and inspires its young participants to sustain the club’s commitment to compassion and social service.

For 66 years, the Presentation Ball has celebrated young debutantes and their families during the Christmas holiday season and has become a beloved Chicago Catholic tradition. At the first Presentation Ball, young women were presented to His Eminence, Albert Cardinal Meyer, for his blessing. Today, His Eminence, Blase J. Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, receives and blesses the debutants who are accompanied by their fathers or other family members.

“The Presentation Ball honors a young woman’s adulthood and welcomes her into a world of civic responsibility and awareness,” according to Irene DeRosa, president of ICCW. “The money we raise through it and other charitable events are helping fund this new scholarship, which is an important way to further the Catholic education of girls throughout the archdiocese.”

In addition, the ball prepares debutantes for increased participation and leadership in charitable social service by raising their awareness of the many ways an individual can spread Christian ideals and make life a little easier for those in need. By extension, this scholarship provides a very real act of that type of service, which can mean so much to Catholic families in need of aid. “This scholarship can make the difference between sending a child to a Catholic school or not. A Catholic education teaches these impressionable young women to live the values of the Catholic Church,” said DeRosa.

“This groundbreaking scholarship will bring education and opportunity to our future female leaders and messengers of God’s peace in this world,” added Cardinal Cupich.

Tricia Koning, Chicago

Photo

Art

Burnt Offerings

A collection of recipes by priests and bishops of the Archdiocese of Chicago and beyond

After a lifetime of cooking, Rev. Ken Fleck, now pastor emeritus of St. George Parish in Tinley Park, sent out a missive more than 20 years ago to archdiocesan priests asking them to send him their favorite recipes for a cookbook he was planning. He got back 339. In 2005, Rev. Fleck self-published Burnt Offerings as a way to “dispel the myth and mystery that sometimes surrounds priests as a ‘breed apart,’” according to the book’s dedication. “We lead prayer, preach, celebrate the sacraments,

visit the sick, comfort the dying, counsel the troubled, and, at times, trouble the conscience,” he wrote. “I hope that those who try the recipes in the book will be able to reflect on the good priests who are ordinary guys with an extraordinary dream. With their faults and failings, skills and talents, they seek to answer the call heard long ago to help and serve—to be Christ for others.”

SUMMER BBQ RECIPES

Spinach Dip

1 pkg. frozen spinach, cooked, chopped and drained

1 c. mayonnaise

1 c. sour cream

1 pkg. Knorr leek soup mix

1 bunch green onions, chopped

A dash Tabasco (optional) French bread slices

Mix ingredients. Chill. Serve in hollowed bread loaf with French bread slices around the loaf.

—Rev. Edwin Bohula (Capt., CHS, USN, Ret.)

Barbecue Hamburgers

4 lbs. ground chuck or round

½ c. breadcrumbs

1 egg

2 ⁄₃ c. chopped celery

2 T. ketchup

2 tsp. mustard

2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. garlic salt

Salt to taste

Blend ingredients with meat and form into patties. Flatten and barbecue over whitehot coals to desired doneness. Apply sauce (right) after turning. Feeds 8–12.

—Rev. Robert Kyfes

Calico Coleslaw

2 c. green cabbage, shredded

2 c. red cabbage, shredded

1 tsp. dried chives

1 c. lowfat plain yogurt or sour cream

3 T. vinegar

2 T. sugar

1 tsp. salt

Toss shredded cabbage with chives. Combine the remaining ingredients to make the dressing. Mix well with cabbage and serve.

—Rev. Joseph A. Lawler

Barbecue Sauce

1 can condensed tomato soup, undiluted

3 T. vinegar

2 tsp. mustard

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. onion salt

½ tsp. garlic salt

½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. sugar

Blend all ingredients in a saucepan over a low heat. Brush on burgers after turning and before serving.

—Rev. Robert Kyfes

Brownies

4 squares unsweetened chocolate

2 ⁄₃ c. butter

4 eggs

2 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1½ c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

½ c. walnuts (optional)

Melt butter and chocolate in microwave. Cool. Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl and stir in chocolate/butter mixture. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add flour mixture. Place batter in a greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes.

—Rev. Ken Fleck

Photo provided by Rev. Ken Fleck

LUMEN CORDIUM

SOCIETY

The Lumen Cordium Society is a special alliance of Catholic men and women who take a leadership role in the work of the Church. As a member, your generosity sets an example of good stewardship as you reach out with love to people and ministries in need of your assistance. While the satisfaction derived from advancing the mission of the Church in Chicago is the greatest reward, the benefits described below are intended to convey Cardinal Cupich’s gratitude for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Regina Zielinski, coordinator, Annual Catholic Appeal, at 312.534.7615 or rezielinski@archchicago.org.

PATRONS

Those donating at the $1,500 to $4,999 level will:

• Be remembered in weekly Masses celebrated St. James Chapel in the Quigley Pastoral Center

• Receive Lumen magazine twice a year

• Be included in the Prayer Intention Book of society members

• Be invited to the annual Mass and reception with Cardinal Cupich

BENEFACTORS

Those donating at the $5,000 to $9,999 level will:

• Receive Patrons benefits

• Receive a subscription to Chicago Catholic, the archdiocesan newspaper

• Be invited to an annual reception at the Residence with Cardinal Cupich

CARDINAL’S CIRCLE

Those donating at the $10,000 to $24,999 level will:

• Receive Benefactors benefits

• Be invited to a Christmas reception with Cardinal Cupich

CARDINAL’S GUILD

Those donating at the $25,000+ level will:

• Receive Cardinal’s Circle benefits

• Be invited to a special dinner with Cardinal Cupich

To recognize more of our generous donors who support the work of the Church, the Archdiocese of Chicago recently instituted three more giving societies in addition to our Lumen Cordium Society.

LUMEN LEADERSHIP SOCIETY

Cumulative Lifetime Giving over $100,000

The Lumen Leadership Society honors families and individuals who have made cumulative lifetime gifts totaling $100,000 or more to archdiocese initiatives, including the Annual Catholic Appeal and To Teach Who Christ Is. Members receive recognition and invitations to special events. If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Shea Collins, director of the Annual Catholic Appeal, at 312.534.7944 or bcollins@archchicago.org.

LUMEN LOYALIST SOCIETY

Loyal Support to the Annual Catholic Appeal

The Lumen Loyalist Society honors those who have made gifts of $500 or more to the Annual Catholic Appeal every year for 10 years. If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Shea Collins, director of the Annual Catholic Appeal, at 312.534.7944 or bcollins@archchicago.org.

LUMEN LEGACY SOCIETY

Planned Gifts

The Lumen Legacy Society honors individuals who have included a gift to the archdiocese, or one of its parishes, schools or ministries, in their estate plans—through a will, trust, retirement account or other financial asset. Membership is also extended to those who establish a gift annuity or name the Annual Catholic Appeal as a beneficiary in their estate plan. If you have any questions, please contact Krystina M. Campbell, JD, planned giving officer, at 312.534.5404 or kcampbell@archchicago.org.

2023 Annual Catholic Appeal

HOW YOUR GIFT WAS USED

$ 3,830,775 Low-income parishes and schools

$ 3,673,422 Parish-based incentives

$ 2,470,472 Archdiocesan ministries

$ 1,420,431 Spiritual renewal efforts

$ 1,051,169 Priest formation

$ 749,210 Scholarships

$ 545,000 Catholic Relief Services

$ 13,740,479 MINISTRIES TOTAL

$ 1,354,190 Cost of the Appeal

$ 15,094,669 TOTAL APPEAL

Support for parishes and schools serving financially challenged communities

After a parish reaches goal, donated funds return to the parish for local use

Outreach initiatives for young adults, families, children and others

Transforming parishes to share our faith in new and creative ways

Education and development for seminarians and priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Tuition assistance for disadvantaged Catholic school families

Support for those suffering from natural disasters around the world

Printing, postage, processing costs for the Appeal

This chart shows how your Annual Catholic Appeal funds were used in 2023 to support these many initiatives and programs.

The Annual Catholic Appeal supports the work of the Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

No money donated to the Annual Catholic Appeal has been, or will be, used to defray expenses related to misconduct issues.

DETERMINING THE BEST ASSET TO FUND A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY

Since January 1, 2023, donors age 70½ or older have had the option of establishing a charitable gift annuity (CGA) with a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Now donors want to know whether it is better to fund a CGA with cash, appreciated securities, or a QCD. There are three critical questions to consider.

1) Can you fund the CGA with long-term appreciated securities?

A gift of appreciated securities held more than one year (i.e., long-term) has four tax benefits: no immediate capital gains tax on the transfer, a portion of the taxable gain is avoided entirely, a charitable deduction produces income tax savings, and a portion of the annuity payment is taxed at the lower capital gains rate. Because of these tax benefits, a gift of long-term appreciated securities is typically more favored over a gift of cash or a QCD in most cases. The greater the appreciation, the greater the benefit.

2) Do you itemize?

With the expanded standard deduction (in 2024: $14,600 for single filers, $29,200 for joint filers, and $32,300 for a married couple filing jointly who are both over age 65) and the limitations on many itemized deductions, only about 10% of taxpayers itemize and therefore can benefit from their charitable deductions.

For non-itemizers (or those who have reached their percentage of AGI limit on charitable deductions), the QCD offers a tax benefit similar to a charitable deduction because

there is no income tax on the QCD withdrawal from their IRA.

If you do itemize, the benefit of a charitable deduction may make cash or appreciated securities held longterm (more than one year) better CGA funding asset options.

3) Will the entire QCD count toward your RMD?

IRA owners who are age 73 or older are required to withdraw a minimum distribution (RMD) from their IRA each year or pay a 25% penalty tax. However, a QCD counts toward the donor’s RMD without income tax on the QCD withdrawal. If the entire QCD can be used to offset your RMD, then the QCD is a tax win. If only part of the QCD can be used against your RMD, then it may be more beneficial for you to consider funding a CGA with cash or appreciated securities. This doesn’t mean that a QCD should never be used if it won’t offset your entire RMD. There are timing and deductibility limits that should be considered, too.

Ultimately, you should rely on your own advisors when choosing the best asset to fund a CGA. Each asset can provide a tax-favorable gift, but some assets may provide more benefit to you than others.

Suggested Best Asset for Funding a CGA

For questions or to receive a free, no-obligation personalized gift illustration for a CGA, please contact Krystina M. Campbell, JD, at 312.534.5404 or kcampbell@archchicago.org

Secure Extra Income For Yourself and the Church

Charitable Gift Annuity

A gift annuity with the Archdiocese of Chicago offers you fixed payments for life and a way to support the Church.

How It Works

• Make a gift of $10,000 or more using cash or securities.

• Receive fixed payments for life—for yourself or a loved one age 60 or older.

• Enjoy tax benefits, including an income tax deduction for a portion of your gift if you itemize, and part of each annuity payment is tax-free through life expectancy.

• Designate remaining funds to support your parish, school, ministry or the archdiocese.

Gift Annuity Rates for One-Life

*Effective January 1, 2024. Rates are subject to change. HIGHER payout rates for 2024!

To receive a free, no-obligation illustration of how you could benefit from a Charitable Gift Annuity, contact Krystina M. Campbell at 312.534.5404 or kcampbell@archchicago.org

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Natalie Battaglia Photography

Sharing in the spirit of fellowship and community, St. Jerome parishioners come together to prepare a delicious meal after Palm Sunday Mass—a time of togetherness during Lent, complete with good food and great company.