Catholic Chicago

Since 1947, Catholic Charities has been holding a Christmas gift collection for clients who might otherwise have nothing to open on Christmas Day. Join Katie Bredemann as she welcomes Melissa Lucas, Interim Director of Volunteer Engagement and Enrique Alonso, Volunteer Engagement Manager for Cook County to celebrate the remarkable achievements that have been made in the past 74 years, and invite the public to join in this fabulous program for 2022 that exemplifies the Spirit of Christmas. 

Chicago Catholic editor Joyce Duriga welcomes Conventual Franciscan Friar Robert Cook, pastor of Mary, Mother of God Parish, and Mark Franzen, director of St. Gregory's Hall, to talk about new unique, geographical parish ministries that emerged out of a Renew My Church unification. 

Hosts:  Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Mark Teresi.  St. Nicholas Cathedral School Continues to Help Ukrainian Families

St. Nicholas Cathedral School has helped Ukrainian families feel at home since they opened. Since the war in Ukraine began last year, the school has welcomed refugee students and their families. The school has held vigils, distributed signs in support of Ukraine, held fundraisers and continues to seek where they may assist. Currently, St. Nicholas Cathedral School has 65 refugee students with children enrolling weekly.

Guest:

Anna Cirilli, Principal of St. Nicholas Cathedral School

Deacon Max Montalvo of Our Lady of Charity Parish in Cicero,IL discusses his involvement in three important ministries:  preparing children to receive the sacrament of confirmation, working with parents in the Pan de Vida Program and working as a couple with his wife with other married couples to bring them closer to Christ and His Church.

Fr. Adam McDonald, SVD introduces Sister Skolastika Wea, SSpS, a Missionary Sister Servant of the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters) to co-host Sr. Lovina and to listeners and viewers. Sr. Skolastika is a new member of the Vocations CAVA family. A native of Indonesia, Sr. Skolastika has been in the U.S. since 2014 and professed her perpetual vows in Chicago in 2018. Visit https://www.ssps-usa.org or check out their Facebook page.  

On this October episode of Fully Alive, Dawn and Ray welcome Cindy Morales, Executive Director of Pro-life Champions to present her short stories about families who chose life against all odds. 

On the second half of the show, the Respect Life Theme of the upcoming year “Called to Serve Moms in Need” is presented along with a discussion around how to be pro-life from conception to natural death. Dawn and Ray share more about the Walking with Moms in Need Initiative: how it helps all moms in need, how to get involved as well as some wonderful things going on in our parishes.

Fr. Michael Trail talks with Valerie Jennings about the National Black Catholic Congress.

October is DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH and an important rally is happening on Saturday, October 8th at St. Katharine Drexel Parish to create greater awareness of this crime that affects millions of Americans each year. Join Katie Bredemann as she welcomes Fr. Chuck Dahm , Director of Domestic Violence Outreach for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Maria Prasek, Intake Specialist for Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Program to discuss this large, upcoming event and the many community organizations joining with Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese of Chicago to reduce the impact of domestic violence in Illinois and aid the recovery of victims.  

Hosts:  Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Mark Teresi.  Our guests today are Mayra Flores and Michael Hoffman.  The topic for the first half of today's program is “Healing Conversations. The Dallas Charter: 20 years of progress of protecting children and healing victims”.  In Dallas, 2002, at their Annual Meeting, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops drafted this landmark document in response to the crisis of sexual abuse of children in the Church.  In the second half of this program we talk about The Annual Mass for Hope and Healing is an opportunity for victims-survivors to find a safe space where they can feel supported and loved. In 1992, the Archdiocese of Chicago put in place policies and procedures to address allegations and issues related to sexual abuse of minors. The Office for the Protection of Children and Youth is committed to continuing the important work to protect children and to accompany victims-survivors of sexual abuse. All are encouraged and welcomed to attend the Mass of Hope and Healing on October 15.

In our continuing exploration of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Desiderio Desideravi, this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy looks at the connection that the Liturgy has to Creation. Pope Francis writes at length of how God uses the very things of his own creation to meet us, to encounter us and to transform us in the liturgy and the sacraments. Hosts Danielle Noe, Timothy Johnston and Todd Williamson discuss this theme of the Letter which was issued on June 29, 2022.