Our Lady of the Snows

OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS IS WELCOMING TO ALL

“From the moment people walk through our doors, we want them to feel at home,” said Father Stan Rataj, pastor of Our Lady of the Snows on the city’s Southwest Side. With Mass said in English, Polish and Spanish, parishioners are a multicultural, diverse group of people who welcome everyone.

A kindergartener in Mrs. Gianna Griffin’s class was very excited to share his new puppy with Principal Christina Avis and his classmates during after school pick up in March.

Father Stan Rataj (above) radiates inclusivity as he stations himself at the door before Mass, personally greeting everyone. He blesses them again when they leave. “It’s those little things that make our faith community a family,” he said.

According to Father Stan, parishioners come from near and far to worship at Our Lady of the Snows. Located in Vicariate V just north of Midway Airport, the parish really has no boundaries, he explained. “People settle where the liturgy speaks to them and they feel welcome.”

That generosity of spirit spills over to his flock, who, according to Father Stan, readily embrace their commitment to the Annual Catholic Appeal each year. Much of a parish’s ability to best serve its community comes from a robust ACA throughout the archdiocese.

Seminarian and deacon formation, adult faith development, ministry training, religious education, outreach to the community, all stem from the ACA, he says.

His parish has surpassed its ACA goal every year except the last, when in-person worship was restricted due to Covid. “Parishioners know that every penny over goal comes back to us directly. Over the years, funds have enabled us to remodel the inside of the church, install a new parking lot and re-roof our school building,” he said.

ACA monies also were used to help upgrade their audiovisual system. “We didn’t miss a beat when the pandemic began. We started live-streaming and recording Mass — a vital connection during the worst of the pandemic.” They continue to teach catechism classes online, allowing them to reach even more students — about 300 each week — than they did before the pandemic.

The parish’s can-do spirit took hold when the virus shut down in-person worship. Father Stan and Deacon Franco Foti brought the church to the people. Four or five times, the two rolled through the surrounding neighborhoods in a pickup truck using a bullhorn to call people to their doors to receive a blessing from the 55-gallon drum of holy water positioned on the back. “Last year palms and ashes were delivered in a similar manner,” he said.

Always innovative, always optimistic, Father Stan hopes the next pastor at Our Lady of the Snows will share his vision of inclusion and warmth.

Father Stan, who has “We always look for served the priesthood for ways to serve. How 43 years — the last 12 of can we help people which have been at Our grow closer to God, Lady of the Snows — credits closer to their faith parishioners, staff, the and closer to one school children, parents, another?” teachers and especially the –Father Stan Rataj archdiocese for supporting his efforts.

“Everything we do here that is vibrant and alive comes from our connection with the archdiocese,” he said simply.

Also, perhaps, from the indefatigable spirit that is Father Stan.

“Our Lady of the Snows,” by Francisco López Burgos, is marked with CC0 1.0 Universal

LET IT SNOW

One of Christianity’s oldest devotions is to Mary. Legend has it that she had revealed in a dream to a wealthy childless Roman couple the location where she wanted a church to be built. On the summer morning of 5 August 352 A.D., Roman’s awakened to Esquiline Hill covered in snow, marking the spot for the new church. The Basilica of St. Mary Major still stands there to this day.