Bulletin Board with News and Events

 Today’s second collection after Communion will benefit the Frances Xavier Warde Catholic School. The Cathedral is committed to put ten kids through that Catholic School this year. The pictures of those youngsters – imaginary characters, but drawn by real FXW Pre-K friends, and representing 10 real children – will be carried to the front of the Cathedral during the 9:30 Mass this Sunday. For the last two weekends and until we get their tuition paid, their portraits will hang in our vestibule. The collection will be at all Masses. Let’s put 10 Cathedral kids through Catholic School this year.

FXW provides us with some interesting facts; I add a few others:

• FXW started with just 35 children in 1989 in a room at Presidential Towers across the road from Old St. Pat’s (OSP) in the West Loop

• This year, 750 Pre-K through 8^th grade are enrolled, a 2000% increase in 19 years

• This year, 210 will receive need-based scholarships

• Our collection provides the major funding for scholarships

• The Chicago kids alone represent 40 zip codes

• All ethnic, racial, religious, and socio-economic groups reflect Chicago at FXW

• As for diversity, if God created him/her, we have a sample at FXW

• Budget is over $7-million (over 2X as much as HNC parish) with 100 employees

• The most recent grads attend St. Ignatius, Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican, Trinity, Mount Carmel, De La Salle and St. Patrick among other high schools

• Older grads can be found at Yale, Michigan, Providence, Dayton, Fordham, Loyola, DePaul, Loras, and Notre Dame among other Universities

• Our faculty is second to none in dedication, diversity, experience, & faith

• Priests at St. Pat’s & Holy Name are familiar parts of an FXW education

• The sacramental prep programs at FXW are true to the Catholic faith

• The OSP facility is a state-of-the-art school, the best for little kids in Chicagoland

• Pre-K through 4^th grade is at Old St. Pat’s; the 5^th thru 8^th grades are here

• Envelopes for today’s collection should be at the end of the pew or at the doors

• You can bring your donation later and drop it with your regular envelope in any basket; mark it “FXW,” and it will get into the correct pocket – I promise

• No real Catholic should avoid his/her obligation to support Catholic elementary education; Holy Name is supporting just 10 Catholic kids

• The governance model of FXW is a forerunner in the future of Catholic education – an Assembly of the Christian Faithful responsible to the Archdiocese, gathering an interfaith Board of Directors who set school policy and hire the Head of School

• Head of School Mary Reiling is as committed a Catholic educator as you will find on a long day’s march

• Cathedral regulars and our many visitors, please support FXW Catholic School.

• Let’s put 10 Cathedral kids through Catholic School this year!

Welcome to Andrew Lyke, Frank Hannigan, and the staff of the Family Ministries Office as they host over 600 couples married in 1957 to Mass Sunday afternoon in the Cathedral offered by Cardinal George. Congratulations, folks! You’re half way!

 The Parish Pastoral Council and The Cathedral Stewards’ Society will participate in next Sunday’s 9:30 Mass. Beginning another year of directing the Christian character of our parish, the PPC will receive a public blessing. The members include Donna Ciszewski (chair); Mary Canavan (vice-chair); Michelle Peltier; Monica Tynan; Betsy Paulose; Bob Kornecki; Chris Manns; Lawrence Palmer; Dorothy Sipiora; Milli Striegel; Lou Casa; John Wolf; Dennis Johnson; and Ann Klocke (staff liaison). They give me invaluable advice, and they set our way in Christ. Over 400 members of The Cathedral Stewards’ Society also have been invited to next Sunday’s 9:30. The Cathedral Stewards’ Society is an honorary association of parishioners and friends of Holy Name Cathedral who demonstrate commitment to stewardship through faithful financial support of the ministries of our parish. Members include those donating at least $25 per week or 2.5% of their income to Sunday/Holy Day collections and other donations to the general parish fund. Their generosity is a source of inspiration and encouragement for the work we all do in the Holy Name of Jesus. For information on joining the Cathedral Stewards, phone Cathedral Stewardship Director Joe Konen at 312-573-4406. Weekly, Joe writes a bulletin piece about the dynamics of stewardship, an essential Christian characteristic. If you want to see a heavy dose of stewardship, come to the 9:30 Mass next Sunday.

 If you miss the 9:30, try the 11:00 Mass next Sunday when Children’s Religious Education Director Sharon Kinsley and her tremendous team of volunteer catechists will be commissioned for the Sunday morning Religion classes by Father Mike Novick at a liturgy marking Catechetical Sunday. Let’s all thank Sharon and those who offer so much time to teaching our faith to Cathedral children who do not attend Catholic School.

 Turn right now to the page-full of information on THE MISSION IS MAGIC – the Cathedral’s 2007 Gala at River East Arts Center (435 East Illinois) from 6:00-10:00pm on Friday, October 5 – less than four weeks away! Deadline for reservations is coming up fast – Tuesday, September 25. Claim your place at the Cathedral’s GALA!  Now!

With reverence, pray that Our Savior protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for His Coming.  Pray at Mass – 6, 7, 8am; 12:10 & 5:15pm – Tuesday, September 11. 

Fr. Dan Mayall