Father ‘paves’ way for new St. Rita parking lot

Kathy Headley

By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

Anyone within the last 50 years or so, that has visited St. Rita Parish, whether to attend Mass or perhaps a graduation or any event really, if you have parked in the parish parking lot entering off of Fairfield Avenue, you have found the narrow entrance between the curbs can be quite tricky.

And if you hadn’t entered slowly, you may have found one of your front tires, in desperate need of air when you returned to your car.

Well, that has now changed. Among the other recent improvements on the property, Rev. Homero Sanchez, pastor at St. Rita, decided enough was enough and took on the challenge of working with the city and whoever else needed to be involved. And after all of these years, there is now a new and wider parking entrance. Thank you, Father Homero!

Circus Arts Workshop with CircEsteem comes to the Chicago Lawn Library,6120 S. Kedzie Ave., from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29. Kids ages 6 to 18 will have an opportunity to try skills like tight wire walking, juggling, plate spinning, acrobatics and more. I took Kayla last time they came to the library and she had a really good time.

On Wednesday, July 6, parishioners and friends of Nativity BVM will gather at 1 p.m. to commemorate the crowning of Mindaugas, who was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only crowned king. In Lithuania this is a national holiday. Lithuanians throughout the world, will be gathering at the same hour on July 6. Here at Nativity, parishioners will meet outside of the church near the Lithuanian flag.

From 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6, the Monthly Tween Graphic Novel Book Club meets at the Chicago Lawn Library to discuss the book Sheets by Brenna Thummler.

Also on Thursday, July 6, all are invited to join in the Perpetual Novena to St. Rita of Cascia at the St. Rita Shrine, 7740 S. Western Ave., beginning at 7 p.m. As always after Mass, all invited to stay for a slice of the popular Racine Bakery Kringle.

And coming up for seniors, representatives of the office of Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias will be at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie Ave., from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 13 conducting a seminar on the Rules of the Road. Registration is required.

Condolences to the Sisters of St. Casimir on the recent passing of Sister June Puishys. Many may remember her from Holy Cross Hospital where she served as a nurse from 1959 to 1993. For much of that time she worked in the obstetrics department where she doted on the newborns. She was visited by former patients, both moms and babies, time and again. As a matter of fact, two of the ‘preemies’ that she had cared for in the Newborn Premature Nursery many years ago were present at the celebration of her golden jubilee in 2008.

A story from the Sisters related that while living at the Motherhouse, Sister June and her friend, Sister Angeline, connected with nature, making sure the birds, squirrels and even a stray dog were all safe and well-fed. Once a few goslings hatched on the roof and learned to fly off. You may even have seen Sister June escorting the parent geese and their goslings across the street to Marquette Park.

Now let’s return to 1973. When we left last week, we were in search of a 24-hour restaurant and found one on the southwest corner of 63rd and Cicero. Bill N. was the first to remember Skyview. He tells us he worked the graveyard shift for many years and enjoyed stopping off there for breakfast on the way home.

This month in 1973, Ford City was hosting a Fun Fair in the center mall featuring a golf clinic with pro Mickey Farrell and a visit by White Sox third baseman Bill Melton.

Over at the Marquette Theatre, the 20th Century Fox film, “The Poseidon Adventure,” was the main feature. Heading west from the theater and a bit north down Kedzie, was a place to get the very best chicken dinners and hamburgers, at least in my opinion. So let’s head over to 6250 S. Kedzie. Where do you think we are going?