Work moving forward at Marquette Park

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Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

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In the March 29 edition of the Greater Southwest News-Herald, I wrote a story about a town hall meeting at Marquette Park, we learned of some of the upcoming plans the Park District has for Marquette.

Well, if you have been by the fieldhouse in the past week or so, you know the Park District has lost no time in implementing the planned repairs to the historic building. By the time you read this, the new roof should be completed and the soffits caulked and painted. And then it’s on to the next project on the list.

The roof being repaired at the Marquette Park fieldhouse. –Greater Southwest News-Herald photos by Kathy Headley

For those who read this paper online: Thursday, May 2 is the monthly Perpetual Novena to St. Rita of Cascia at the St. Rita Shrine, 7740 S. Western, beginning at 7 p.m. As always, there will be time for socializing and tasting a slice of Kringle from Racine Bakery following Mass.

On Saturday, May 4, the Sisters of St. Casimir invite all to a special Mass in the SSC Chapel, 2601 W. Marquette Road, in honor of the 25^th anniversary of the return of Mother Maria’s sarcophagus to the motherhouse chapel.

As we discussed last week, after their foundress’ death, the Sisters requested that Archbishop Samuel Stritch allow a holy card to be distributed, praying for Mother Maria’s beatification. From that time on, the Sisters have been on a journey to have Mother Maria declared a saint in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

SSC Sister Margaret Petcavage, who has been vice-postulator for the sainthood cause, explained that once the cause reaches a certain point, the Catholic Church requires the body of the person up for sainthood be exhumed, simply to prove that they were here and had died.

So this Mass on Saturday marks the 25^th anniversary of when Venerable Servant of God Mother Maria Kaupas’ body was exhumed from a plot at St. Casimir Cemetery and brought to rest at the motherhouse. Her sarcophasgus remains in the SSC chapel. Mass begins at 9:30 a.m.

On Saturday, May 4, Dan Ryan Woods celebrates Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Month by offering a self-guided walk while learning of their role in conservation. Meet at the Visitor Center on the corner of 87^th and Western between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Also this Saturday, the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, hosts monthly Family Craft Hour from 2 to 3 p.m. Bring the kids ages 6 to 13 and create simple crafts while listening to music and visiting with other families in the neighborhood.

Community Cinema brings the 2023 Warner Bros. film Wonka to the library on Sunday, May 5 beginning at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, May 5, Nativity BVM Parish will celebrate Lithuanian Mother’s Day and First Communion at the 11 a.m. Mass. There will be a Mother’s Day Novena (bilingual) from May 5 through the 12^th. Prayers will be said for deceased and living moms. All are welcome to bring their requests to the rectory or drop them in the collection basket.

The Marquette Park Run Crew is getting together again this year on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Runners and walkers of all paces and abilities are welcome. Runs are held rain or shine unless lightning or other unsafe conditions are present. Runs are free but you must register ahead of time at CARAruns.org. The group meets at the running track just east of Kedzie.

After the run, everyone is welcome to go across the street to the fieldhouse and stop in for the community dinner hosted by Hope Church. Dinner is from 6 to 7 p.m.

Kathy Headley

Beginning on Monday, May 13 through Tuesday May 21, is the 117^th Annual Solemn Novena to St. Rita of Cascia at the St. Rita Shrine, 7740 S. Western. Masses with novena prayers will be said at 7 p.m. each day.

Now back to 1979. When we left last week, the Marquette Park Lithuanian Homeowners Association and the Marquette Park Civic Association were preparing a proposal to convert McKay School, 69^th and Fairfield, into a different type of learning institution. No one came up with the right answer on that one, so we’ll try it for one more week and see if any of you can guess it.

Perhaps a little more information would help:

Harold Kamar, president of the civic association, who lived at 6601 S. Sacramento at the time, said, “At present our community has one of the foremost high schools for girls, a hospital second to none, and a beautiful church, the envy of many. A first-class college like this would round out this complex nicely.”

He went on to say there was a shortage in this profession that they were advocating training for, and this would make it easy for girls from Maria High School who may be interested, to easily transition into their future career.

What do you think?