So Much New in May

May brings us so much new life each year, but we really BLOOM this year.

Confirmation

Our teens, their families and friends and our Holy Family Catholic Community celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation on May 2.  Bishop Joseph Perry was here to not only represent the larger world and Church into which our Confirmands are embarking, but through the anointing with sacred chrism sealed the presence of the Holy Spirit in and with them. I am so proud of these fine young people who I have watched grow up. Almost all of them are sixteen which means they were born the year I joined all of you here at Holy Family.

They are a mixture of Family Faith students and Academy graduates.  They are a combination of teens who attend local Catholic and public high schools. They have made significant connections between their faith and exciting decisions and challenges that lie on the near horizon for them.

First Communion

We congratulate our second graders from our Family Faith program and Holy Family Catholic Academy who received First Communion on May 3 and this past Saturday, May 17.

I want to thank our Principal Kate O’Brien and our Assistant Principal Laura Clark as well as our former Director of Family and Teen Faith Suzie Malloy for leading the formation efforts that guided these young parishioners as they have prepared for this special day and the journey ahead of being nourished regularly in the Eucharist for the rest of their lives. 

There are special adults who have taught them who I would also like to thank:

Family Faith Second Grade Catechists, 

HFCA Teachers,

Luis Gutierrez, Gwen Hice, 

Jodie Speziale, Michele Wagener, 

Megan Kaiser, Lolita Ranchero, 

Mina Kondraros. Suzanne Martinez

Amanda Patano

Dawn Mayer

We welcome Dawn back to our staff as our Parish Manager and Pastoral Associate. She has led the mission efforts of Franciscans Ministries since 2009 and before that fulfilled many roles on our parish staff here at Holy Family beginning in 1995.

Bob Lanigan

Bob was ordained a Permanent Deacon on Saturday, May 10 at Holy Name Cathedral and will join our staff in several capacities. Please congratulate him and his wife Kristin if you have not already done so.

Pope Leo

Our first American Pope, Leo XIV, has begun a new life of leadership for our universal Church and his papacy will undoubtedly be influenced by his strong roots here in the south suburbs of Chicago. Let us continue to pray for him and his trust in the guiding grace of the Holy Spirit.

Kate O’Brien, PhD

We again congratulate our Holy Family Academy Principal Kate O’Brien for earning her Doctorate in Education from Loyola University recently. This degree is the culmination of so much hard work on Kate’s part and a sign that as a dedicated educator she continues to learn.

Welcome Scott Baietti

Scott brings yet more new life to our staff and community as he will join us as our new Facilities Director. Scott has led facility management efforts at other faith-based facilities, most recently at the LaSalle Manor Retreat Center in Plano, IL. He and his wife have three young children and he brings both youth and expertise to us.

Please give a warm Holy Family welcome to the Baietti family.

Graduation

Holy Family Catholic Academy graduation will be Friday, May 30. We wish our twenty-five graduates well as they enter a new chapter of life in high school. Please continue to pray for and encourage them.