News and Events

Media Alerts

March 6, 2024

MEDIA ALERT – St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero Hosts Assembly to Share Important News on the Future of the School on Wednesday Morning, March 6, 2024

WHAT: St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero will host an assembly for all students, teachers, staff and parents to share important news about the future of the school on Wednesday, March 6 at 9 a.m.

Scheduled speakers include St. Frances of Rome School Principal Phil Jackson, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Greg Richmond, Big Shoulders Fund CEO Josh Hale and a current SFR parent.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 6 at 9 a.m.

WHERE: St. Frances of Rome School Auditorium (2nd floor), 1401 S. Austin Blvd., Cicero, Ill. *Enter through doors on Austin for check in at front desk; equipment drop off at 14th Street doors
Contact: Media Relations Office, 312-534-8227.

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 at 7 p.m.

MEDIA ALERT – A Benefit Concert to Support the St. Edmund Migrant Center in Oak Park, IL, Scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 at 7 p.m.; Featuring Performances by Musicians, Artists, and Vocalists from the GIA Music Catalog

WHAT: Ascension - St. Edmund Catholic Church in Oak Park, IL. to host a benefit concert sponsored by GIA Publications, Inc., titled "Faith Can Move Mountains" (Matthew 17:20) on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
Music for the evening will be performed by a lineup of esteemed musicians, artists, and vocalists from the GIA Music catalog. Scheduled performers include Santiago Fernandez, Lesly Palacios, Kate Williams, Adan Fernandez, Peter Kolar, Lourdes Montgomery, Damaris Thillet, and Julio de Leon.
The mission of the Migrant Ministry housed at St. Edmund School is to address the immediate physical needs of our migrant brothers and sisters for warm clothing, shoes, and toiletries, as well as to meet their long-term needs for legal assistance and housing.
While admission to the concert is free, donations will be accepted. Funds raised will cover the costs of asylum application fees and housing expenses for the St. Edmund Migrant Center.
All are welcome.

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Ascension - St. Edmund Catholic Church, 188 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL.
Contact: Media Relations Office, 312-534-8227.

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024

MEDIA ALERT – Catholics Throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago Can Receive Ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 at Parishes, CTA Stations and Local Airports

WHAT: Throughout Cook and Lake counties, parishes will host Ash Wednesday services where Catholics can receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Commuters, by subway train or by air, also have options at CTA stations and at O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 2024 Lenten season, a solemn 40-day period devoted to reflection, prayer, spiritual preparation and fasting before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, as an outward expression of their faith, Catholics may have ashes applied to their foreheads in the shape of a cross.

In addition to parishes hosting services, clergy and their staff will distribute ashes at unique locations.

Cristo Rey Parish (Little Village)   will distribute ashes from 2:30 – 5 p.m. at Manuel Perez Jr. Memorial Plaza, 4345 W. 26th Street. Clergy will be available to also hear confessions during that time.

Old St. Patrick’s Church (West Loop) will distribute ashes at the below locations and times:
• 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. and Noon – 1:30 p.m.: Union Station, 255 S. Canal St., Chicago
• 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.: Morgan ‘L’ stop (Green/Pink line station), 958 W. Lake St., Chicago
• 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.: Bartelme (Mary) Park at the corner of Sangamon Street and Monroe Street

The Faith Table, an interfaith coalition of faith-based institutions united to work collaboratively in building a healthier community, will distribute ashes during rush hour times (7-9 a.m. and 5-7 p.m.) at CTA entrances:

CTA Pink Line: Central Park, California, Kedzie, Damen, 18th Street Street
CTA Orange Line: Western Avenue
CTA Red Line: 63rd Street

The Chicago Airports Catholic Chaplaincy, located at O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport, will offer ashes at Masses and liturgical services throughout the day:

  • O’Hare Airport Chapel information:
    Mass schedule: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
    Liturgical services schedule: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
    Each ceremony will be 30 minutes in length. Holy Communion will only be given at Mass. Ashes will only be distributed during Masses or liturgical services.
    O’Hare Airport Chapel is located in Terminal 2 – Mezzanine Level (Outside Security)
  • Midway International Airport Information:
    Mass schedule: 10 a.m., noon. and 2 p.m.
    Liturgical services schedule: 11 a.m.,1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
    Each ceremony will be 30 minutes in length. Holy Communion will only be given at Mass. Ashes will only be distributed during Masses or liturgical services.
    Midway Airport Chapel is located in Concourse C – Mezzanine Level (Inside Security)
  • For more information about airport services, please call 773.686.AMEN (2636) or visit http://www.cacc.us/ or http://www.airportchapels.org/ashwednesday.html


*NOTE: Filming and photography will need to be coordinated through the Public Information Office with O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport.

WHEN: Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024

Contact: Media Relations Office, 312-534-8227.

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 through Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024

MEDIA ALERT – Palm Burning Ceremonies to Take Place at Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools and Parishes starting on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 through Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024

WHAT: Several Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools and parishes will host palm burning ceremonies to burn the previous year’s palm leaves to create the ashes used that will bless the faithful on Ash Wednesday. Priests will bless the ashes before they are distributed during Ash Wednesday services.

Ash Wednesday is Feb. 14, which marks the beginning of the 2024 Lenten season, a solemn 40-day period devoted to reflection, prayer, spiritual preparation and fasting before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, as an outward expression of their faith, Catholics may have ashes applied to their foreheads in the shape of a cross.
Below is a list of archdiocesan schools and parishes hosting palm burning ceremonies. Please visit this webpage for real time updates of additional schools and parishes participating: https://www.archchicago.org/media-alerts.

*If you plan on covering a palm burning, kindly RSVP to the media relations contact listed below.

Saturday, Feb. 10:
St. Julie Billiart Parish - 7399 W 159th St., Tinley Park
Service will take place , in the Mary Garden after the 4:30 p.m. Mass.
Participants are invited to bring their own palms to burn.

Sunday, Feb. 11:
St. Julie Billiart Parish - 7399 W 159th St., Tinley Park
Service will take place in the Mary Garden following the 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m. Masses.
Participants are invited to bring their own palms to burn.

St. Cajetan Parish - 2445 W. 112th St., Chicago
Service will take place in the Mary’s Memorial Garden, located just West of the church, following the 11 a.m. Mass.

St. William Parish - 2600 N Sayre Ave., Chicago
Service will take place on the walkway to the Chapel (weather permitting), located on the Wrightwood Avenue side, following the 12 p.m. Mass.

Monday, Feb. 12:
St. Edward School - 4350 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago
Service will take place in the school parking lot at 9 a.m.
St. Edward School students will be attendance.

Tuesday, Feb. 13:
St. Benedict Preparatory School - 2215 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago
Service will take place in the courtyard at 8:05 a.m.
St. Benedict Prep students will be in attendance.

St. Clement School - 624 W. Deming Pl., Chicago
Service will take place on the front plaza of the church at 8:05 a.m.
St. Clement School students from the school will be in attendance.

Holy Name Cathedral - 735 N. State St., Chicago
Service will take place in the courtyard at 9 a.m.
The Frances Xavier Warde School students will be in attendance.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church - 5472 S. Kimbark Ave., Chicago
Service will take place in the church parking lot at 9 a.m.
St. Thomas the Apostle School students will be in attendance.

Mother of the Americas Parish - 2226 S. Whipple St., Chicago
Service will take place in the church parking lot at 9 a.m.
Our Lady of Tepeyac School students will be in attendance.

St. Paul VI Parish and St. Mary School - St. Mary Church Worship Site, 105 Herrick Rd., Riverside
Service will take place on the front steps of the church at 10 a.m.
St. Mary School students will be in attendance.

St. Theresa School - 445 N Benton St., Palatine
Service will take place in the faculty parking lot at 9 a.m.
St. Theresa School students will be in attendance.

St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook Parish - 1809 Walters Ave., Northbrook
Service will take place in front of the church steps at 1:45 p.m.
St. Norbert School students will be in attendance.

St. Paul VI Parish - Mater Christi Church Worship Site, 2401 S 10th Ave., North Riverside
Service will take place at the Mother of Mother’s Shrine at 5:30 p.m.

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe - 1170 N River Rd., Des Plaines
Service will take place following the 7 p.m. Mass.

Contact: Media Relations Office, 312-534-8227.