Catalyst Maria students learning life skills

By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

Earlier this month, if you happened to drive by Catalyst Maria School, 6727 S. California, you noticed something fun going on outside. A group of 52 youth leaders, aged 10 to 14, who are students at Catalyst Maria, held their first youth-led community event.

Working with the Southwest Organizing Project, under the tutelage of Youth Organizer Dantay Williams, they have been learning the skills involved in organizing time and money while reaching out to the community to bring people together.

The event included bounce houses, sack racing, basketball, volleyball, softball, food, drinks and music for all to enjoy. What a great idea!

Kathy Headley

Over at St. Rita High School, Deacon John Donahue, president of the school, just announced that the Rev. Tom McCarthy has been named the new Director of Community Relations. He commented that he was very grateful that Father Tom accepted this newly created position.

Donahue was quoted as saying, “No one knows our South Side community better or has a greater relationship with the parishes and people than Father Tom.”

How true that is. I know many of you know Father Tom from his days growing up in St. Adrian Parish, his high school years at St. Rita (Class of 1983), or his 21 years at St. Rita High School as a teacher, campus minister, principal, president and chairman of the Board of Directors.

Currently, he is the director of St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel and has been vocation director for the past 13 years. I know a lot of people are happy about this appointment, which keeps Father Tom close to the neighborhood.

Mary Mother of Mercy Parish, which is the new name given to the combined parishes of St. Adrian and Queen of the Universe, has a new parish logo. It was created from the Icon of Mary Mother of Mercy that is at the entrances of the two churches. Those icons, blessed by Bishop Andrew Wypych, are a copy of the original icon found in Vilnius, Lithuania. When the new name was given to the combined parish, Mary Mother of Mercy became their patroness.

The second Theology and tacos event hosted by the Young Adult group of St. Rita of Cascia Parish is this Saturday, July 30, at 3 p.m. in the garden of St. Rita (behind the rectory), 6243 S. Fairfield.

All adults over the age of 18 are invited to join in. The guest speaker will be Emily Cortina the Coordinator of Outreach and Formation at Kolbe House. Tacos will be served. For more information, call or text (773) 656-0776.

A vendor pop-up will be held by Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant, 3237 W. 63^rd St., this Sunday, July 31, from 1 to 7 p.m. The event features local vendors, food and a live DJ.

Yaya’a Paint Party for kids is going on every Wednesday at the Monarca Event Room, 3300 W. 63^rd St., at 2 and 4 p.m. The cost is $15 per child or two for $25. All supplies are provided and the kids love it. Register by calling or texting (773) 677-2149.

The CircEsteem Around Chicago Summer Tour stops at Marquette Park on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m. CircEsteem’s Youth Performance Troupe has a brand-new show for all ages featuring circus artists ages 12-22. The artists plan to dazzle the crowd with acts of aerial skills, trapeze, acrobatics, juggling, tight wire and clowning. After the show, the audience will be invited into the circus ring to try out some of the skills they just saw performed.

Now back to our questions from last week. We were remembering Steinberg Baum at 3843 W. 63^rd St. What was in that location after the store closed? Judy D. was the first to remember Rustler Steak House, a good place to eat. Bernie M. heard there might have been a seafood restaurant there.

Now, with that thought in mind, Miami Joe seemed to remember a nice place on the north side of the street that they would frequent which had good steaks, pork chops and also served seafood. He tells us there was a canopy that you stood under going in and there were little white lion heads on either side at the entrance. Could that be the same restaurant and what was that one called? I don’t know the answer so I am relying on your memories.

No one guessed the name of the hobby shop on 59^th and Fairfield yet. Ann H was thinking of Trost at first. I know that was on 63^rd and the “warehouse” location was on 47^th I believe. But Ann said she remembers a fellow working at the shop, pretty sure it was 59^th Street, named Richard. He lived in Gage Park.

So, let’s see if anyone can remember the name of that hobby shop on 59^th in the ‘50s and ‘60s and any memories you might have about it.