Please read this great article about Blessed Carlo. Maybe you will even see a few quotes from Fr. Tom. ​chicago.suntimes.com/religion/2024/06/03/millennial-saint-carlo-acutis-catholic-chicago-religion

Fr. Tom has a message below about his 3 year term as Pastor coming to an end. Fr. Tom will be making a change in ministry to be an addiction counselor (a lifelong dream of his) please pray for Fr. Tom as his new journey begins on July 1st. 

Dear parishioners, it's with a mix of emotions that I share this news: I'll be stepping down as your Pastor as of June 30th. However, I'm embarking on a new journey as an addiction counselor at Haymarket and pursuing clinical mental health studies, while still serving as a priest. Your support has meant the world, and I'm excited to continue helping our community in this new capacity.
​For your new Pastor Fr. Ed, I would like to ask one thing of you: please accept, support, and love your new pastor as you did me. He is a great guy and an amazing priest whom you are going to love.

- Fr. Tom

On July first the new Pastor of Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish will be, Fr. Ed Howe, C.R. If you would like to know a little more about our future Pastor, here is Fr. Ed's Biography

After attending Our Lady of Victory grammar school and Gordon Tech H.S in Chicago he began formation in the Congregation of the Resurrection in 1982 and professed first vows as a Brother on August 15, 1986. He graduated from St. Louis University with a bachelor and master’s degree in social work.
From 1988 to 1991 Bro. Ed was assigned to St. Hedwig Catholic Church, located in the inner-city Chicago neighborhood of BuckTown where he worked with young people, senior citizens and the homeless. During part of this time, he served as Executive Director of the Near Northwest Neighborhood Network.
In 1989 after a parishioner, on his way to Sunday mass with his family, was hit by a stray bullet from a gang fight, Bro. Ed brought BuckTown residents together to protest an area drug house and gang operation. A grassroots movement called "Drug Free BuckTown" emerged that succeeded in shutting down 22 area drug houses over several years. The effort gained local and national media attention. In 1990 the effort received the Chicago Council on Urban Affairs “Community Organization Award” and was chronicled into the film "Takin' Back BuckTown" which received the 1990 International Television Association "Philo" Award. 
From 1991 to 1992 he was assigned to Weber High School where he served as a counselor, religion teacher, student activities coordinator and soccer coach.
From 1992 to 2003 he worked at his alma mater Gordon Tech H.S. in many capacities which included licensed Social Worker, Head Varsity Soccer Coach, WKGT television studio engineer and later as Director of Technology while residing at St. Hedwig Parish. In 2002 he was inducted into the Gordon Tech Alumni Hall of Fame and in 2004 he was nominated by the late Bishop Edwin Conway and selected by the Religious Brothers Conference of Illinois as “Brother of the Year.” He received an Honorary Resolution from the Mayor and City Council of Chicago for his service to the citizens of Chicago.
From 2003 to 2005, Brother Ed served the Archdiocese of Chicago Department of Communications, Radio & Television Office while continuing to reside at St. Hedwig Parish. His responsibilities included offering multi-media production support for Cardinal Francis George’s press conferences, daily Catholic Community of Faith radio show, developing programming for the Archdiocese Instructional Television service and the television programs Sanctuary (airing on ABC 7) and The Church The Cardinal & You. One of the highlights of this ministry was the production of a documentary about Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI that aired on ABC 7 in April of 2005.
In the year 2005, he was appointed as President and CEO of Gordon Tech HS where he served until 2008.  He was invited to deliver an Invocation before Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Chicago City Council members on March 12, 2008.
In 2008, after serving the church for 22 years, Brother Ed was called to study for the priesthood. He attended Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis Missouri to complete graduate studies. He was ordained as a priest by Cardinal Francis George on August 14, 2010 and was assigned by Bishop Peter Sartain of the Diocese of Joliet a week later as the Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Morris, Illinois. Fr. Ed was asked to build a new church building and served as pastor for 10 years in Morris. 
In 2020, Fr. Ed was assigned to St. Scholastica Parish in Woodridge Illinois where he served until 2024 and was involved in many multimedia projects during the pandemic. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and enjoys photographing eagles.

Pope Francis recognizes a miracle attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis!
From the Vatican:
​
The miracle recognized on Thursday is related to a woman from Costa Rica.

On July 8, 2022, Liliana prayed at Blessed Carlo’s tomb in Assisi, leaving a letter describing her plea. Six days earlier, on July 2, her daughter Valeria had fallen from her bicycle in Florence, where she was attending university.

She had suffered severe head trauma, and required craniotomy surgery and the removal of the right occipital bone to reduce pressure on her brain, with what her doctors said was a very low chance of survival.

Liliana’s secretary began praying immediately to Blessed Carlo Acutis, and on July 8, Liliana made her pilgrimage to his tomb in Assisi.

That same day, the hospital informed her that Valeria had begun to breath spontaneously. The next day, she began to move and partially regain her speech.

On July 18, a CAT scan proved that her hemorrhage had disappeared, and on August 11, Valeria was moved to rehabilitation therapy. She made quick progress, and on September 2, Valeria and Liliana made another pilgrimage to Assisi to thank Blessed Carlo for his intercession.

In the decree released on Thursday, Pope Francis announced he will convene a Consistory of Cardinals to deliberate the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, as well as Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, Marie-Léonie Paradis, and Elena Guerra.

Dear Teachers of St. John Berchmans Catholic School,

​As Teacher Appreciation Week commences, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to the students of our cherished school community. Your vocation as educators in a Catholic setting is not just a profession but a sacred calling, one that molds minds, nurtures spirits, and shapes the future leaders of our faith.

In the footsteps of St. John Berchmans, whose deep devotion to God and commitment to excellence in education serve as an inspiration to us all, you embody the spirit of servant leadership each day. Through your compassionate guidance and steadfast example, you create an environment where faith, academic excellence, and personal growth thrive.

Your role as educators extends far beyond the classroom; you are mentors, role models, and spiritual guides, imparting not only knowledge but also values rooted in our Catholic faith. Your dedication to integrating faith into every aspect of learning fosters a culture of love, compassion, and service, inspiring our students to live out their faith in meaningful ways.

During this special week dedicated to honoring teachers, I want to express my deepest appreciation for your unwavering commitment and selfless service. Your impact on the lives of our students is immeasurable, and the seeds of faith and knowledge you sow today will bear fruit for generations to come.

As a pastor, I am profoundly grateful for your partnership in the mission of our school and the broader mission of the Church. May God bless you abundantly for your service, and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide and inspire you as you shape the hearts and minds of our students.

With heartfelt appreciation and prayers for each of you,

Fr. Tom

Join our 1-Day Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion...

The Devotees of Our Lady of Manaoag invite you to participate in their 9 day Novena, starting on Thursday, April 11th, in anticipation of the Feast Day celebration on Saturday, April 20th.