News Releases

Des Plaines – (Nov. 24, 2020) - Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Ill. announced today that celebrations of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Shrine on Dec. 11 & 12 are cancelled due to the on-going pandemic. After consultation with Cardinal Blase Cupich, archdiocesan, and governmental officials on the severity of the local course of the pandemic it was determined that protecting the health and safety of the thousands of pilgrims who yearly visit the Shrine is best accomplished by closing the Shrine grounds and live streaming services.

Chicago – (Nov. 23, 2020) – The Archdiocese of Chicago and Catholic Charities have jointly raised an historic $20 million for COVID-19 relief efforts in response to the vast needs of individuals and communities in Cook and Lake Counties. This fund is one of the largest U.S. Catholic relief responses to COVID-19 and is being deployed to assist thousands of people without regard to their faith, racial, ethnic, or gender identities.

Chicago - (Nov. 20, 2020) – The 50th annual collection for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the U.S. Catholic bishops’ domestic anti-poverty program, will be held at archdiocesan parishes the weekend of November 21-22, 2020. This national collection is the primary source of funding for CCHD’s community and economic development grants and education programs for locally-based programs. Twenty-five percent of the funds collected remain in each diocese to support local anti-poverty projects. In 2020/2021, CCHD will support 24 organizations in Cook and Lake counties with more than $780,000 in grants.

Joliet, Ill. --- (Nov. 16, 2020) – Bishop of Joliet Ronald A. Hicks today announced the appointment of Leah McCluskey Heffernan, MSW, LSW as the director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection for the Diocese of Joliet. The appointment is effective Dec. 1, 2020. Heffernan joins from the Archdiocese of Chicago where she was the director of the Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review in the Archdiocese’s Office for the Protection of Children and Youth.

Chicago - (Nov. 12, 2020) – Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, will ordain three auxiliary bishops – Kevin M. Birmingham, Jeffrey S. Grob and Robert J. Lombardo, CFR, at 2 p.m. on the feast of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, Nov. 13, 2020 at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St., Chicago. Cardinal Cupich will serve as principal consecrator and main celebrant. Co-consecrators of the Mass will be Most Reverend John R. Manz and Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry, auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, will present the mandates from the Holy See at the Ordination Mass. Due to local and state COVID-19 seating capacity restrictions, this year’s ceremony will have limited attendance by invitation only. The Episcopal Ordination will be livestreamed on the archdiocesan YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/M_SEfF4RTQE.

Chicago - (Nov. 9, 2020) – The Archdiocese of Chicago today announced updates on the Markham-Harvey and Back of the Yards Renew My Church groupings.

Chicago - (Nov. 9, 2020) – The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Archives and Records Center is launching an online photo exhibit of Rev. John T. Beyenka, a decorated World War II chaplain and former pastor emeritus of St. Monica Catholic Church in Chicago, on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11. Beyenka served as chaplain for the Army's 351st Regiment of the 88th Division, known as the "Blue Devils,” from 1943 to 1946. He provided spiritual leadership for troops in Italy and Africa and won the Bronze Star for distinguished service under combat conditions. He retired from being pastor of St. Monica in 1983 but continued his priestly ministry until his death at the age of 85 on Jan. 23, 1998 in Wheeling.

Chicago (Oct. 30, 2020) – Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago will host outdoor rosary and prayer services at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in observance of All Saints’ Day, which is Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day, which is Nov. 2. Due to COVID-19, services will be held as drive-in ceremonies at 17 cemetery locations. Queen of Heaven Mausoleum at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside will livestream its service on their Facebook page. All cemetery grounds will remain open for visitors on Nov. 1 - 2 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Guests are required to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 preventive guidelines including wearing masks and maintaining a six-foot distance from others.

Chicago - (Oct. 22, 2020) – The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Immigration Ministry will host its eighth annual Keep Hope Alive benefit virtually at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. Keep Hope Alive is the archdiocese’s annual fundraiser to support Pastoral Migratoria, its local and national immigrant-led ministries and to recognize community leaders who have responded to the needs of immigrant communities. Sister Norma Pimentel, a Missionary of Jesus and executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, is this year’s honorary chairwoman and guest speaker. Pimentel was recently named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.

Chicago - (Oct. 21, 2020) – The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Assistance Ministry will hold its ninth annual Hope and Healing Prayer Service at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Oct., 24, 2020. Due to COVID-19, this year’s service is online and will be the most inclusive ceremony to date with participation from many survivors outside of the archdiocese offering readings and testimony.