Using Lent to help those in need

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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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At this time of year, most every Christian faith takes part in the Lenten Season leading up to Easter, There are many different ways to do that, including giving up a favorite treat, attending special prayer services, etc.

Each year at St. Rita of Cascia Parish, a corporal work of mercy is presented to everyone who wishes to join in.

This year St. Rita is hosting a Wishlist Drive for Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn. The drive will benefit the sick children and families there and is called Give a Smile to a Family and Child.

There is quite an array of new items the church is collecting. They include craft/stationery items like pencils, stickers, markers, stationary sets, construction paper, pipe cleaners, bead kits; card games like Old Maid or Uno; toys like Lego sets, friendship bracelet kits, fidgets; hygiene products; adult/kids activity books like Sudoku, Wordsearch or coloring books.

That is just a sampling of what they are collecting. For a full list, stop by the rectory or check parishstrita.org. Donations will be accepted until March 17, and drop-off can be done on Sundays at the entrance of both St. Rita, 6243 S. Fairfield, and St. Clare of Montefalco, 5443 S. Washtenaw.

St. Adrian Church, 7000 S. Washtenaw, will once again offer Lauds prayer during Lent, Monday through Friday at 5:30 a.m. in the church.

Stations of the Cross will be prayed on Fridays at 7 p.m.

St. Thomas More, 2825 W. 81^st St., will offer Stations of the Cross every Friday at 3 p.m.

During Lent this year, the St. Augustine Young Adults invite anyone ages 18 to 39 to join them for the first of two Lenten reflections on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in the gym at St. Clare of Montefalco Chapel, 5443 S. Washtenaw, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call the parish office at (773) 434-9600.

Some of you may remember Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary Sister M. June (Alphonse Marie) Hoffman who recently passed away. Sister June not only taught at St. Gall School, she was raised in St. Gall Parish.

Kathy Headley

Every year the Chicago Park District, Chicago Sculpture International and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs brings a new sculpture to Marquette Park. It sits just west of the Kedzie bridge, between the lagoon and the fieldhouse. The current statue is by Stephanie Sailer and is titled Nature’s Quintet. For those of you that can’t get to the park to see it, I’ll post a photo on the Chicago Lawn Historical Society Facebook page.

This Saturday, Feb. 24, the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, will host the Kids’ Chess Club from 2 to 3:30 p.m. All skill levels are welcome. This club is recommended for ages 6 to 13.

Then on Sunday, Feb 25, Community Cinema brings the 20^th Century Fox 2016 film Hidden Figures to the library beginning at 2 p.m. This movie is rated PG.

Across the street at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie, remember an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide will be there every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until April 15. Seniors wishing to partake of this service will need to get an appointment ahead of time by calling (312) 747-0440.

Also at the Center, this Wednesday, Feb. 28, Super Bingo begins at 10:15 a.m.

Coming up next Sunday, March 3, Nativity BVM parishioners will gather in the parish hall after the 11 a.m. Mass to celebrate Father Gediminas Kersys’ birthday.

Now back we go to the late 1970s – early 1980s era where we have been trying to remember what restaurant gave Arthur Treacher’s competition. The location was the current home of the Walgreen’s at 71^st and Pulaski. Mary C. was the first to give us the correct answer of Long John Silvers, followed closely by Pat P. and Bernie M.

Here’s a great addition to the Long John Silver’s story: “A lot of boys in the south end of West Lawn were not happy, because that construction basically ruined the largest and best vacant lot (aka prairie) in the immediate area. It ran from 71^st Street north to 70^th Place and was entirely green except for two hard dirt paths that criss-crossed the lot and which were favorites of boys on bikes thinking they were Evel Knievel.” That recollection was shared with me by one of those boys.

Most of us know that actor John C. Reilly grew up in the neighborhood and attended Eberhart School, then Brother Rice High School. As a matter of fact, during our phone conversations over the years I learned that lots of you went to school with him and maybe even acted in one of the plays he performed in at Maria High School. Now, once he was old enough, he got a part-time job as well. So this week’s question is “Do you remember the neighborhood store where he worked?