Home - OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

Migrant Housing at St. Bartholomew Campus

Dear Family of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish,

As you know, the City of Chicago has received more than 22,000 men, women, and children who have arrived in the United States seeking asylum. Many began their journey in Central or South America, arriving at our southern border where they were processed and sent to Chicago, among other cities.

This past summer, many of us had the opportunity to meet with these refugee and migrant families who were sheltering at Wright College. We worshipped with them at the 6:00 PM Mass offered in Spanish at St. Pascal Church. We shared supper with them and provided them clothing and other items. Since then, many of parishioners have provided additional meals and items for the migrant families. Many of our guests from last summer, who have since been placed in more permanent housing, return to Our Lady of the Rosary to participate in the Masses we offer at both St. Bartholomew and St. Pascal churches.

As of November 27, 2023, more than 1500 new arrivals are still waiting for shelter placements. Many of the new arrivals are families with infants and small children. Several are being temporarily housed in tents outside Police stations. The City of Chicago reports that on any given day, its homeless shelter system is filled to capacity. To serve both our own homeless population and our new arrivals, the city needs to increase the capacity of our shelter system. We simply cannot allow anyone, let alone families with babies and small children, to sleep outside during a Chicago winter’s night.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has been in dialogue with City and County officials over the use of its unused or underused buildings to provide temporary shelter for migrant families awaiting placement. As part of those discussions, we offered two unused buildings on the St. Bartholomew campus for consideration - the convent and the empty school building on Addison Street. We are pleased to learn the City has chosen St. Bart’s as its first temporary shelter location with the Archdiocese for a renewable six-month term to house migrant families. The city will fully operate the shelters and pay the expenses involved in their use, including the costs for security, insurance, utilities, and energy. It is their intention to shelter families in these buildings. Both buildings will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Those sheltering at the sites will be subject to curfew regulations. The Chicago Police Department will have an increased presence in the area.

I fully support this endeavor to save lives and to ease suffering of the refugee families who are facing the harshness of a Chicago winter. In faith, hope, and charity, I ask you to also support this response to the emergency we face.

In the near future, representatives of the City of Chicago will hold an information session for our parishioners and neighbors about the shelter at St. Bartholomew. The location for the meeting will be in the Church of St. Bartholomew. The date and time of the meeting is still to be determined.
Based on my experience of your generosity this past summer, I am confident you will show the same hospitality to our new guests as you showed to those, we had among us in past months. May our Blessed Lady, our heavenly patron, her spouse, St. Joseph, and the Holy Child Jesus, once refugees themselves, obtain for you many blessings because of your kindness.

Father Mike O’Connell, Pastor

Watch The Love Grow

The holidays are rapidly coming up, Advent begins and we begin to think about those in our community who are in need financially due to high medical/burial expenses.

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish has been very successful in the past with the “Watch the Love Grow” fundraising efforts by our generous parishioners.

December 3 is the First Sunday of Advent, and we will begin accepting donations after all Masses. For a $5.00 donation, a red ornament will be placed on one of the Christmas trees on the altar. We will be able to “Watch the Love Grow” as the trees gradually fill up with them. Details on the family or families who will receive help will be announced in the near future.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Novena

The Guadalupano Committee invites the community of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish to the Novena from December 3 through December 11. (Click here for the schedule). Each night will include the Holy Rosary and the Apparition narrative “Nican Mopohua” (in Spanish).

The Novena will take place at Saint Bartholomew Church each evening except on Sunday, December 3 and December 10 when it will take place at Saint Pascal followed by the 6:00 PM Mass at Saint Pascal.

On Sunday, December 3, the dance group “Indios de Tepeyac” will initiate the Novena with their performance before the 1:00 PM Mass at Saint Bartholomew and before the 6:0 PM Mass at Saint Pascal. All are welcome!!
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Morning of Reflection

Our Lady of the Rosary Holy Name Society is sponsoring a Morning of Reflection on Saturday, December 9 at 9:30 AM in Heimsath Hall. Father Michael Shanahan will review the book "How God Makes Men" by Patrick Morley. It is not required, but if you would like to review the book prior to the presentation, it is available on Amazon and other sources. The morning will begin with the 8:30 AM Mass at Saint Pascal Church and then reconvene in Heimsath Hall. Everyone is welcome.

Christmas Concert

Our Lady of the Rosary will be presenting a Christmas Concert on Wednesday, December 20 at 7:30 PM in Saint Pascal Church. The concert will feature Pope Francis Global Academy Students, Our Lady of the Rosary Choirs, and Ortegon School of Music Students and Faculty. The suggested donation is $5. Please plan to join us.

Join the Choir

Adults and children of all ages are invited to join Our Lady of the Rosary Children's and Adult's Choir. The Music Ministry also has openings for people in the congregation who play or would like to play musical instruments. No experience is needed. For information, contact [email protected] or 773-286-7871.

Saint Vincent De Paul Food Collection

During the first weekend of each month, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society will collect non-perishable food for its pantry. Items may be placed in the blue barrel outside the Saint Pascal church building at the Dakin Street exit for those not attending worship in person. Items may be placed in the blue barrel inside the Saint Pascal Church building at the Dakin Street exit during that time, or any time that the church is open.

Give Central

To make paperless donations to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, use the “Give Central” website. You can give by using your credit card, debit card or electronic checking payments making either a one-time or recurring donations. Please click here to donate and set up your donation. Thank you for your generosity and support. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!

Mass Schedule

Monday through Saturday
8:30 AM - Saint Bartholomew
8:30 AM - Saint Pascal
Saturday Vigil
4:00 PM - Saint Pascal
4:30 PM - Saint Bartholomew
Sunday
7:00 AM - Saint Bartholomew (Spanish)
8:00 AM - Saint Pascal
10:00 AM - Saint Bartholomew
10:00 AM - Saint Pascal
1:00 PM - Saint Bartholomew (Spanish)
6:00 PM - Saint Pascal (Spanish)