In the bit of yeast that transforms the whole batch of flour we are again reminded that what we may think is small and of little value can be used by God to transform much in our world. We are called to see the Kingdom in even the smallest things that change our world for the better…
Read MoreWe can choose where we will spend our money and even how we will spend the most valuable of commodities, our time…
Read MoreImagine your child coming home to tell you about a new country they visited virtually, an inspirational guest they were able to speak to and ask questions…
Read MoreFew knew him, and fewer followed in his footsteps…
Read MoreDuring these last several months, the parish continued its plan to update our facilities…
Read MoreEvery now and then we must take the time to reflect on what’s important for others and for ourselves…
Read MoreWelcoming the stranger is an important key to evangelization. How do we evangelize as individuals, as a family, or as an entire faith community…
Read MoreLast weekend, I rediscovered a place of peace and was reminded of its importance in my life…
Read MoreOnce upon a time there were two friends, Alex and Najib. They were friends since they were 8 years old…
Read MoreFather Alex was a very interesting character, short in stature but big in what mattered: heart …
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I have the peace of God that transcends human understanding…
Read MoreThis week we completed our first ALPHA for Youth sequence. The sessions, whether for adults or young people are intended to help participants asks questions and share with each other their thoughts about matters of faith…
Read MoreToday is Mother’s Day, the day which we celebrate and commemorate the blessed sacrifice of all the mothers of the world and their devotion towards the upbringing of the next generation. …
Read MoreEverything we do here is to support our students. We are the helping hands and the guiding light along their journey. We provide opportunities for them to realize their efforts…
Read MoreThe quality of music at Mass can have a profound impact on our experience. Mediocre music can leave us feeling uninspired, or worse, disconnect us from our experience. Good music can lift us up, connecting us to something greater than ourselves. My vision for St. Ben’s has always been that we should be a home for good music, inspiring music, transcendent music…
Read MoreBefore I worked as a youth minister I was a preschool teacher. I worked primarily with 3 year olds. One day the kids were drawing pictures. I asked one of the girls to tell me about her picture. She told me it was a picture of God. Impressed, I told her that no one really knows what God looks like.
Read MoreOver the last couple of weeks I have been commenting on the exhortation by Pope Saint John Paul II “Christifidelis Laici”. I chose to do this in October because the synod of bishops from which the exhortation came, occurred in 1987 through the whole month of October. And this past Monday we celebrated the feast of Saint John Paul II…
Read MoreThe Archdiocese of Chicago developed an award that is given each year for one lay member of each parish in the Archdiocese who lives a life focused on building up the Kingdom and serving people in the world who are in need. It is very difficult to choose only one person each year to receive this award and we spend a long time in discussion. This year our award winner was Kathleen Minneci…
Read MoreThis week’s Gospel begins with the disciples complaining, as they sometimes did, about someone outside their group performing works in Christ’s name. And, as is often the case, Christ immediately begins to correct them. “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us, is for us.” The disciples are engaging in a finger pointing exercise that back fires on them immediately…
Read MoreThis school year we will be graduating our 65th and final senior class. We are not going to phase out the high school quietly and sweep it under a rug. Rather, we have planned a year-long celebration of the gift of our parish high school. For 69 years, the high school has been bringing teenage children to know God’s love for them. Our parish has been serving these young people for almost 7 decades, and that is something for which to be proud. From Father Fasnacht, the founder of the high school, to the School Sisters of St. Francis who dedicated their lives to teaching young people to the current faculty and staff today, we celebrate all those who dedicated themselves to the educational and faith formation of our parish and neighborhood teens...
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