Churches will conduct pet blessings

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By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

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During the first week in October, Christian churches around the world celebrate the feast day (Oct. 4) of St. Francis of Assisi by holding the Blessing of the Animals. This dates back 900 years. Francis, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in Assisi, Italy, began the tradition as a young man. He preached that human beings were given the responsibility over the care of creation.

Generally the blessing takes place outdoors, so throughout the week we will see folks gathering near our area churches with their dogs, cats, birds and other pets. If you would like to join in with your pet, here are a few of the places in our neighborhood, with dates and times, that will offer this traditional blessing: St. Thomas More Mission, in the garden at 81^st and California, Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m. in the garden; St. Rita of Cascia, outside the church on the corner of 63^rd and Fairfield, Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 3 to 3:30 p.m.; St. Clare of Montefalco, in front of the church on 55^th and Washtenaw, Oct. 4 from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Kathy Headley

Seniors, if you are reading this before 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, there is still time to get read for the Silver Sneaker Ball at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie. Get out your formal attire and sneakers, of course.

Sunday, Oct. 1, is the last day to help out St. Michael’s Charity and Students for Life with their “Diaper Drop” at St. Thomas More, 2825 W. 81^st St., for the Women’s Center. The goal is to donate 1,000 diapers and 40 packages of baby wipes for mothers in need. Place your donations into the crib located near the crying room to the left of the altar. For more information, call the rectory at (773) 436-4444.

Over at the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, Community Cinema brings the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock thriller Psycho to the library on Sunday, Oct. 1, beginning at 2 p.m. As you probably guessed, this film is suitable for ages 18 and up.

Teatro Tariakuri, 3117 W. 63^rd St., will be hosting a four-week Capoeira martial arts dance workshop beginning on Wednesday, Oct 4 and continuing through Wednesday, Oct. 25. The workshop is geared toward children ages 7-15. Registration is $35. For more information, call (312) 532-2774.

The monthly perpetual novena to St. Rita of Cascia will be held Thursday, Oct. 5, in the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western, beginning at 7 p.m.

Registration for the next CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) Runs free timed 5K and one-mile event opens on Friday, Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. for participation in the Oct. 14 run. On the day of the event, runners/walkers will meet at 9 a.m. on Mann Drive, just west of the running track. Register at cararuns.org.

Southwest Chicago Homeless Services, 3121 W. 71st St, (formerly known as PADS) will be holding their annual Trivia Night fundraiser next Saturday, Oct. 7 at St. Rita High School, 7740 S. Western. Tickets are $45, which includes a buffet dinner. The theme this year is Oktoberfest. The event will feature a cash raffle, silent auction, split the pot and cash bar throughout the evening. Dinner is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The trivia contest begins at 7 p.m. Contact Karyn Perkins at (773) 737-7070 or kperkins@homelessservices.org for more information.

Bishop Bob Lombardo, of Vicariate III, invites all young adults to a young-adult gathering at St. Rita of Cascia Church, 6143 S. Fairfield, on Tuesday, Oct. 10 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The get-together will include dinner and a talk on humility and Eucharistic adoration. For questions, contact Sister Jaime Mitchell at jmitchell@archchicago.org or (773) 486-8431. RSVP by Sunday, Oct. 8.

Now back to 1981. When we left last week, we were focusing on a building in the Greater Lawn area that was up for auction. While six persons had bid on the property, they would not come up with the $1.5 million the owner was seeking. The building had been shut down six years earlier in 1975 for unsafe practices discovered there. Nancy S. and Bernie M. were the first to identify Von Solbrig Hospital.

Now let’s go over to 59^th Street. Forty-two years ago, a pioneer food mart that had been serving the community for 52 years was changing ownership. The new owners, John Kotara and Dominick Bernardi, remodeled the store in preparation for their grand opening. The new name of the store was Maplewood Finer Foods. What do you suppose the name was of the former food mart at that location?