Chicago Tribune

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Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago now offers a natural burial option at the Meadows of St. Kateri, a new section at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, 1185 W. Algonquin Rd., Palatine. This option provides families with new and meaningful ways to honor their loved ones. The Archdiocese of Chicago is the first Catholic diocese in Illinois to offer a natural burial option. An outdoor Mass and blessing of the burial site took place on Sept. 8, followed by tours. (Cindy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Father Benedykt Pazdan, pastor of St. Gianna Parish, presided over the closing Mass at St. Bernadette Church in Evergreen Park on June 30, 2024. Archdiocesan priests, many who formally served at the parish, current and former parishioners, as well as St. Bernadette School alumni, filled the church for the final Mass. As part of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Renew My Church initiative, Queen of Martyrs and St. Bernadette Churches, both in Evergreen Park, unified in 2022 to form one parish called St. Gianna Parish. Pazdan, who serves as chaplain of the Evergreen Park Fire Department, helped move the main crucifix over the altar from St. Bernadette that was placed on the back of a fire truck, and the tabernacle placed inside an ambulance, for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

When Cindy Flores-Mocarski and her husband found their perfect house in 2015 located just three blocks from St. Francis Borgia Parish, where her husband serves as a deacon, she was overjoyed. But unbeknownst to her, a statue of Jesus given to them as housewarming gift would launch a new side ministry. (Karen Callaway & Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic

World-renowned Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, who is known for his emotionally gripping sculptures depicting suffering and hardships, spoke at St. Joseph Parish in Libertyville on May 18, 2024. Several of Schmalz’s life-size bronze sculptures are located throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago. Schmalz has spent 35 years sculpting large-scale works in bronze that are installed all over the world, including churches in Rome and in the Vatican. Much of his artwork focuses on timely issues of social justice, including homelessness, poverty, migration and human trafficking. (St. Joseph Catholic Church, Karen Callaway & Cindy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

The Archdiocese of Chicago concluded its National Migration Week festivities with a closing Mass on Sept. 24, 2023 at Holy Name Cathedral. Auxiliary Bishop Robert Lombardo presided over the Mass, which began with a procession of nations representing 25 countries and featured readings and prayers in 11 languages including English, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Hindi, Luganda (a language spoken in central Uganda), Vietnamese, Filipino, Portuguese, Swahili and Bahasa (a language spoken in Indonesia). At the end of Mass, two migrant families shared their testimonies and the welcome they received through parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago. (Cindy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Bishop Kevin Birmingham was the main celebrant during a special Mass to welcome the Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos statue at Ss. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish on Aug. 14, 2023. The statue visited several parishes where Masses, confessions, processions, rosaries and other traditional devotions take place. (Cindy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Members of various faith, spiritual cultural communities take part in the Parade of Faiths on Aug. 13, 2023 down Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Chicago. The parade was a preview event for the Parliament of the World’s Religions that took place at McCormick Place Aug. 14-18, 2023. The parliament was founded in Chicago in 1893 and has convened six times over 30 years. (Cindy Flores-Mocarski and Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)

A panel discussion on Defending Freedom and Human Rights takes place before the Parliament of the World’s Religions presents the Global Ethic Achievement Award in honor of the late Father Thomas Baima during a ceremony at their gathering at McCormick Place on Aug. 14, 2023. Baima was very involved with the parliament in his lifetime. (Cindy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich ordained five priests for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 20, 2023 at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St. The newly ordained priests, ranging in age from 30 to 35, hail from Barrington, Burr Ridge, Crystal Lake, Mexico and Puerto Rico. (Karen Callaway & Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Students from archdiocesan Catholic schools participated in the Archdiocese of Chicago’s 12th annual prayer service for child abuse prevention and pinwheel planting on April 27, 2023 at the Healing Garden at Holy Family Parish, 1080 W. Roosevelt Road. The outdoor service was led by Bishop Robert Lombardo. As part of the prayer service, students, staff, parishioners and community members planted pinwheels and tied blue ribbons on to trees in the Healing Garden, both symbols of child safeguarding efforts. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Father Daniel Kusa, Associate Pastor, blesses Easter baskets containing food, bread, eggs, butter, wine and flowers at St. Priscilla Parish, 6949 W Addison St., on Holy Saturday April 8, 2023. In many Eastern European countries, it's a tradition to have a basket of food blessed on Holy Saturday. This Catholic ritual has been cherished for centuries and today has been adopted by people of all ethnic backgrounds who enjoy this richly symbolic custom. In Poland, for example, the blessing of the baskets is thought to date back to the 15th century or earlier. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

On July 16, 2022, Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Grob was the main celebrant for a Mass to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Carmel Catholic High School’s founding and the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the school’s football field in Mundelein. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich was the main celebrant at the ordination of 20 permanent deacons at Holy Name Cathedral on May 14, 2022. The newly ordained deacons will be assigned to parishes in Arlington Heights, Blue Island, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Lake Villa, Morton Grove, Oak Forest, Oak Park, Orland Hills, Orland Park, Palatine, Palos Heights, Rolling Meadows, Streamwood, Wauconda and Waukegan. The Archdiocese of Chicago has the largest Catholic diaconate community in the world with 514 active deacons involved in 210 parishes and agencies. Since 1972, the archdiocese has ordained 1,464 men as permanent deacons. Active, retired and inactive deacons total 706, while another 70 Chicago deacons serve in dioceses around the country – from Florida to California. (Karen Callaway and Cindy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Communion and Liberation, a lay ecclesial movement, holds its annual Way of the Cross through downtown Chicago on Good Friday morning April 16, 2022. Auxiliary Bishops Jeffrey Grob and Mark Bartosic led the procession, which made stops at the River Walk, Wrigley Building, Water Tower Plaza and Holy Name Cathedral. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago celebrates the kickoff of a jubilee year with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general, on Nov. 13, 2021. The jubilee year is in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the canonization of Mother Cabrini, who ministered and died in Chicago. (Karen Callaway & Cindy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the canonization of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, and to celebrate the occasion, the national shrine to her, located in Lincoln Park, is launching a jubilee year on Nov. 13, 2021. The year includes a plenary indulgence for those who make a pilgrimage to the shrine, walk through its holy door and complete the necessary requirements.(Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Father Greg Wojcik, administrator, and Father Joseph Mulcrone, resident, bless pets in celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at St. Francis Borgia Parish, 8033 W. Addison St., on Oct. 4, 2021. Oct. 4 marks the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. To commemorate this observance, more than 110 Archdiocese of Chicago parishes and shrines hosted outdoor pet blessings. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich was the main celebrant at a Mass on Sept. 11, 2021 at Madonna della Strada Chapel on Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore Campus. The Mass commemorated the arrival of Angels Unawares, a bronze sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz that depicts angel’s wings emerging from a crowd of 140 immigrants and refugees of various cultures standing on a boat, hoping for a better life. The sculpture, which is a replica of one commissioned by Pope Francis, is traveling the country before being permanently install at The Catholic University of America. (Karen Callaway and Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

On the Nov. 13, 2020, feast day of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Cardinal Cupich ordained three new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago — Bishops Kevin Birmingham, Jeffrey Grob and Robert Lombardo, CFR — during Mass at Holy Name Cathedral. (Karen Callaway and Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)