Catholic Chicago

Catholic Charities Behavioral Health Services department has seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking assistance over the past year, with the pandemic creating anxiety, fear and uncertainty worldwide. Join Katie Bredemann as she welcomes Hector Rivera, Senior Department of the Youth Counseling Department, and Michel Lopez-Tinoco, Clinical Manager, Youth & Family Therapeutic Services Program, who will share an update on their programs that are trying to help individuals and families establish positive mental health strategies for life.    

Megan interviews Fr. Alphonse Twizerimana, a priest of the Diocese of Ruhengeri, Rwanda who currently lives at St. Josephat Parish in Chicago while he studies for a PhD in educational leadership at DePaul University. He is the former director of a boarding school in Rwanda and shares about his experience as a missionary and educator prior to his arrival. Megan asks about how he understands the relationship between education and mission. He is both a teacher and a student while living here in Chicago as well. 

Several months ago we interviewed Joe and Elisabeth McCormick who come from very different backgrounds. Their story reminds us that God can intertwine our lives even though we come from distant lands or differing cultures. In His eyes these differences do not matter. If Faith unites us, all other differences melt away. Just like this couple, we can help each other grow in our faith. 

Today Jennifer Delvaux hosts a discussion on Evangelization, Engagement, and Parish renewal. She is joined by Michelle Farrell, Evangelization Lead at Immaculate Conception – St. Joseph, and Mike Bentley, Evangelization Lead at St. Catherine of Alexandria. The three discuss the importance of engaging individuals as leaders led by the Holy Spirit as part of evangelization and parish renewal. Michelle and Mike share how they have used soft entry points and invitations to lift up and engage new leaders.

While all of Catholic Charities programs and services are life-affirming, the Roseland Adolescent Parenting Program is especially designed to support unborn children, and children up to age 3, along with their mothers. RAPP helps young women grow in their skills as competent, educated mothers, which helps them fulfill their goals of happier, more stable lives. Join Katie Bredemann as she welcomes Shavon Parker, RAPP Program Director, and Jessica Allen Porter, RAPP Program Supervisor to discuss how RAPP is helping to build strong communities, one family at a time.   

Hispanic Heritage Month Announcement -- Members of a cultural celebration committee will announce the theme and the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from mid-September thru mid-October, talk about the cultural significance of this celebration and what some schools are doing in observance.  Guests:  Erika Gallardo, Maria (Cooky) Perez-Eraci.

Auxiliary Bishop Mark Bartosic and Fr. Sergio Mena recently blessed a mural painted by student artists at Our Lady of Charity School.  Over the summer, six middle school students and the National Museum of Mexican Art artist M. Zayuri Pacheco painted the mural inside one of the school's hallways of holy people of God.  Guest:  Frank Zarate.

 Greg Richmond, superintendent of Chicago Catholic schools, talks about school enrollment and the beginning of the school year.  

Todd Williamson, the director of the Office for Divine Worship, joins us to talk about a couple of upcoming Archdiocesan celebrations.

For the past 16 years, Fr. Medard Laz, founding pastor of Holy Family Parish in Inverness, has organized an annual fundraiser to help build homes, schools and hospital additions in Haiti.  The fundraisers, in partnership with the nonprofit FOOD FOR THE POOR, took place in person throughout the Northwest suburbs until the COVID-19 pandemic.  This year's fundraiser will take place virtually on September 16 and will feature a conversation with Andre "The Hawk" Dawson, the former Cub and Hall of Famer.