Church carnival closing

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Two Holy Martyrs’ Family Fest is finished

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By Tim Hadac

Clearing’s last church carnival has folded its tents, apparently for good.

The news came via a two-page announcement in the weekly parish bulletin of Two Holy Martyrs Parish.

In addition to traditional carnival fare like rides, food and games of chance/skill, Family Fest often showcased the talents of neighborhood children. –File photo

“This is a difficult decision that was not made abruptly nor rashly, wrote the Rev. Robert “Father Bob” Regan, parish pastor. “ We looked at concrete numbers and took a wide cross‐section of concerns into consideration before having to come to this conclusion. We are mindful and proud of the almost 30‐year history of the Fest, but we’re also mindful of the challenges we face in today’s climate.”

Family Fest has long been held on the grounds of the parish’s St. Symphorosa campus, 62^nd and Austin.

Regan gave a detailed explanation for the shutdown:

“· Family Fest profits are becoming progressively more challenging to obtain each year.

• City requirements and involvement is growing in complexity and cost. City required ambulance on‐site 2024 equates to $10,000 cost
• Societal security issues and associated safety concerns are more prevalent.
• Suburban festivals were cancelled by teen mobs during 2023.
• All Fest mishaps, safety, security issues place significant liability concerns directly upon the parish With each passing year, the costs of putting on the Fest increase all the while the profit raised for the parish decreases.

“Family Fest’s original mission was to be a fundraiser for the parish.

“More and more mandate‐type demands are being made by the City of Chicago; decisions that have a dollar amount attached to them. We also continue to see increasing costs across the board: tent vendors, food vendors, drink vendors, entertainment acts, etc. And woe to the Fest if we raise our prices.”

Regan said Family Fest expenses exceed $200,000, though he did not say what revenues were in 2023 or what the fundraising goal was. A Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound request for clarification from Regan instead drew this from the parish’s operations director: “This year’s Family Fest made a profit of approximately $66,775. While our goal was $100,000 our annual planning budget was based on a profit of $80,000.”

The pastor continued:

“· Significant upfront expenditures are made prior to the Fest start date, creating increased risk should bad weather occur or another issue that delays/cancels the Fest.

“• Increased security concerns are also a major issue. Last year we were required to sit down with the local alderman and the District 008 police commander to discuss what we are doing or not doing to address safety issues.

“· Neighbors and parishioners alike have expressed safety concerns.

“· Two significant issues occurred at our last Fest. These led to someone being removed from the premises. In one case, injury resulted to security personnel. There are also potential legal liability concerns that are increasing and must be recognized by the parish.

“· Multiple minor injuries were reported during our most recent Fest. These occurred on/around our parish campus. As a result, incident reports were compiled and filed with our insurance company.

“· Police officers at this year’s Fest were physically injured by one of the Fest attendees

“· Social media highlights bits and pieces of incidents and then inflames the situation without having knowledge of the facts. This places the parish in a very negative position, as well as, opening up the potential for lawsuits. Instead of folks viewing Family Fest as a place to have fun and support the parish, there are those who view THM as an institution to be criticized and sued.”

Regan wrote that over the years, “this Fest was welcomed by the community and supported by the neighborhood. While that remains somewhat true today, it is certainly not universally understood as a fundraiser and welcomed by some of our neighbors.

“· Two Holy Martyrs, as well as the Alderman’s office receives a variety of complaints from some neighbors near both campuses. Some neighbors near the St. Rene campus complain that the carnival employees use one of the parking lots. Likewise, those near the St. Symphorosa campus, complain about the week‐long inconvenience of the Fest.

“Finally, we struggle to get the necessary volunteers to help put on a four‐day Fest. Many of the veteran volunteers are choosing to ‘retire,’ and they have earned it! However, the parish is not getting the number of volunteers we need to host the Fest.”

The pastor appealed to parishioners to come up with new, constructive ideas of how the parish can raise revenue in the coming year and beyond.

(Editor’s note: Regan’s full statement appears at the end of this story.)

In his statement, Regan predicted his announcement would be met with a mix of reactions in the community.

He appears to be right about that.

“I’m relieved they’re finally putting that carnival to rest. I dreaded it. I hated it,” said Marge Sadowski, who until recently lived close near 62^nd and Austin. “Every year, the streets and alleys were clogged with cars. We couldn’t get in and out of our own homes. On top of that there was the litter, the men and boys peeing in the alleys, our lawns getting trampled. It was all too much.”

One Clearing resident who asked to remained unnamed said he thinks the shutdown is “not much more than cowardice on the part of parish leadership. I read the church bulletin. You have to read between the lines. If you do that, it becomes clear that they let themselves get spooked by a few gangbanger punks in 2023—both at St. Sym’s and at that festival in Tinley Park.

“Look security is always an issue,” he continued. “You just have to be able to anticipate problems and work to prevent them—and then quickly deal with the one or two problems that slip through your net. Our neighborhood needs strength, not weakness from its leaders. I see this announcement as a clear mark of weakness.”

Gloria Rodriguez-Ramirez said her reaction is one of “sadness. My children enjoyed the sights, the sounds, the rides, the games, all of it. I enjoyed the food, especially sampling food I might not normally try, like Polish food. I think we’ll miss all that.”

Craig Kowal said he kinds it “unfortunate that the people in charge at the parish are letting themselves be bullied by a few old cranks and crybabies in the neighborhood. When you run a public event like this, you’re going to have complaints no matter what. I think the pastor and a few others at St. Sym’s are coming across as too thin-skinned; or maybe they were looking for an excuse to end this carnival, and this is it. I don’t know.”

# # #

(Full statement)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

After much discussion and upon reflection by Parish Pastoral Council, parish staff, and other input, we’ve made the decision to suspend our parish’s annual Family Fest.

This is a difficult decision that was not made abruptly nor rashly. We looked at concrete numbers and took a wide cross‐section of concerns into consideration before having to come to this conclusion.

We are mindful and proud of the almost 30‐year history of the Fest, but we’re also mindful of the challenges we face in today’s climate.

• Family Fest profits are becoming progressively more challenging to obtain each year.

• City requirements and involvement is growing in complexity and cost.

• City required ambulance on‐site 2024 equates to $10,000 cost.

• Societal security issues and associated safety concerns are more prevalent.

• Suburban festivals were cancelled by teen mobs during 2023.

• All Fest mishaps, safety, security issues place significant liability concerns directly upon the parish.

With each passing year, the costs of putting on the Fest increase all the while the profit raised for the parish decreases.

Family Fest’s original mission was to be a fundraiser for the parish. More and more mandate‐type demands are being made by the City of Chicago; decisions that have a dollar amount attached to them.

We also continue to see increasing costs across the board: tent vendors, food vendors, drink vendors, entertainment acts, etc. And woe to the Fest if we raise our prices.

• Family Fest expenses exceed $200,000.

• Significant upfront expenditures are made prior to the Fest start date, creating increased risk should bad weather occur or another issue that delays/cancels the Fest.

Increased security concerns are also a major issue. Last year we were required to sit down with the local alderman and the District 008 police commander to discuss what we are doing or not doing to address safety issues.

• Neighbors and parishioners alike have expressed safety concerns.

• Two significant issues occurred at our last Fest. These led to someone being removed from the premises. In one case, injury resulted to security personnel. There are also potential legal liability concerns that are increasing and must be recognized by the parish.

• Multiple minor injuries were reported during our most recent Fest. These occurred on/around our parish campus. As a result, incident reports were compiled and filed with our insurance company.

• Police officers at this year’s Fest were physically injured by one of the Fest attendees.

• Social media highlights bits and pieces of incidents and then inflames the situation without having knowledge of the facts. This places the parish in a very negative position, as well as, opening up the potential for lawsuits. Instead of folks viewing Family Fest as a place to have fun and support the parish, there are those who view THM as an institution to be criticized and sued.

• Over the decades, this Fest was welcomed by the community and supported by the neighborhood. While that remains somewhat true today, it is certainly not universally understood as a fundraiser and welcomed by some of our neighbors.

• Two Holy Martyrs, as well as the Alderman’s office receives a variety of complaints from some neighbors near both campuses. Some neighbors near the St. Rene campus complain that the carnival employees use one of the parking lots. Likewise, those near the St. Symphorosa campus complain about the week‐long inconvenience of the Fest.

Finally, we struggle to get the necessary volunteers to help put on a four‐day Fest. Many of the veteran volunteers are choosing to “retire,” and they have earned it! However, the parish is not getting the number of volunteers we need to host the Fest.

All the above information combines to make us look at what we are doing, how we are doing it, and why we’re doing it. If an event is losing its mission as a major fundraiser, then we need to take an honest look at it and make choices.

This is also an opportunity to take a fresh look at how revenue needed can be raised outside of weekly collections given through envelopes or online giving. Although the primary purpose of the parish’s existence is spiritual, we realize the economic realities of paying employees, maintaining buildings/property, and providing electricity (along with heat and air conditioning).

Reactions to this announcement will be mixed. That’s understandable, but please trust that this decision was made taking many factors into consideration as well as the parish and community’s best interests.

So, what can you do to help as we move forward?  We are asking our parishioners to think about the blank fundraising canvas that we now have. What new fundraising opportunities can be developed downstream?

Then, as we move into 2024, bring your positive ideas to a parish meeting, where we can discuss options and most importantly identify a THM Fundraising Committee! This group of parishioners will be asked to review new ideas and generate energy while creating a vision for our future fundraising endeavors.

A truly heartfelt “Thank you” goes out to everyone who has attended Family Fest over the years! In addition, unending gratitude is extended to everyone in our parish community who volunteered, planned, sacrificed. donated, sponsored, prayed for dry weather or simply shared some family fun at 62nd & Austin Avenue. As with any successful event, there are countless individuals behind the scenes who have quietly made this parish event special and a signature summer event within our community!  We appreciate everyone’s efforts over these past 3 decades!

The mission of Christ continues at our parish: to hear the good news of salvation, to receive the good news, to share the good news and to live the good news. That never changes.

Peace!

Fr. Bob