Back-to-School Block Party
On August 17th we had our annual Back-to-School Block Party! This year was our biggest party yet, with well over 1000 neighbors coming to join us for the fun, fellowship, and of course, school supplies. Thanks to the generosity of so many, over 800 brand new backpacks packed with school supplies were distributed to neighborhood children in need. The party also featured an incredible health and resource fair, lots of kids games, an Evangelization table, an outdoor worship band, and delicious food ranging from hot dogs to popcorn to Oberweis ice cream cones. We once again opened the church up to our neighbors and volunteers for Eucharistic Adoration, and we were once again blown away by how many neighbors took advantage of this opportunity for a moment of quiet prayer before Our Lord. Sr. Jaime, who was helping to welcome neighbors into the church, shared a special moment with a little boy who waved “hello” to Jesus when she brought him up to pray before the altar. Be sure to scroll through the pictures below to see that moment captured on camera!
Kid games taking over the street! 
Sr. Kate sharing a laugh with a health fair vendor 
A neighbor placing a candle before the altar during Eucharistic Adoration 
Outdoor worship leaders from St. John, IN 
Neighbors taking a moment before Jesus at Eucharistic Adoration 
Br. Matt helping to keep everything clean and sanitary! 
Our Dominican friends from a local high school even came to help with the kids games 
Sr. Jaime greeting volunteers 
Sr. Laura helping to organize the line for the school backpacks 
Sr. Mia helping to oversee the backpack distribution 
Bishop Bob greeting neighbors at they come into the OC building to receive their backpacks 
Neighborhood children praying in Eucharistic Adoration 
Sr. Alicia taking a quick break from helping on the cooking team 
Sr. Macey leading the kids games area 
Sr. Jaime accompanying a little boy from the neighborhood who is waving “hello” to Jesus 
Our friend Fr. Kevin had a day off and came by to see how he could help – he ended up praying with and offering blessings for hundreds of neighbors of their way into the church 
Sr. Maggie helping a girl with our new fishing game 
View of the block party from the corner of Hamlin
Back-to-School for Franciscans
August is also back to school month for Franciscans! We again hosted a back-to-school staff retreat for teachers, staff, and principals from the schools that our sisters teach at as well as several other schools. This year the theme was reflecting on how our Catholic identity offers us a way out of the culture of perfectionism and teacher burnout that is so prevalent in schools these days. The retreat day included a special meeting with Bishop Bob for school principals, talks by Sr. Alicia and Sr. Laura, testimonies by Sr. Stephanie and a principal in attendance, time for prayer, Mass led by Bishop Bob, and a special keynote address on Catholic identity in our schools by Sr. Gianna Marie, a friend of our community who is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration and an experienced school principal.
In other school news, Sr. Stephanie, Sr. Jess, and Sr. Laura have all officially returned to teaching religion two days a week in their respective schools. Sr. Macey and Sr. Emily resumed their studies in theology at Mundelein Seminary. The novices are gearing up for another round of in-house formation classes beginning in the fall. You can visit this page to learn more about our formation process and the kinds of classes Franciscans take at different points of formation.
Sr. Stephanie’s first day back with her younger students 
Ready for a great back-to-school retreat! 
Our friend Sr. Gianna Marie from the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration came all the way from Indiana to deliver an inspiring key note on Catholic identity in our schools 
At several points during the day, teachers had the option of taking time to reflect and pray in St. Mary of the Angel’s beautiful Adoration chapel. Franciscans and volunteers maintained Eucharistic Adoration throughout the whole of the retreat, interceding for our teacher, students, and schools. 
Bishop Bob preaching the homily at Mass 
Teachers celebrating Mass inside the beautiful St. Mary of the Angels Church 
One of the principals in attendance sharing a beautiful testimony on how she learned to overcome perfectionism and trust God’s call in her life to be a Catholic educator 
Sr. Stephanie helping to lead morning assembly during her first week back 
Sr. Emily having a picturesque contemplative moment looking our on the lake at the beautiful grounds of Mundelein Seminary where she is studying theology part-time
Preparing for Postulants
Finally, August has also been a month filled with final preparations for our three new postulants who will be moving in at the end of the month. Skirts have been fitted and made, the novices have moved down into the cloister to make room for the new postulants to move in, and in general everything is being deep-cleaned and made ready. We feel incredibly blessed to be welcoming another three young women in this year, making for 6 total new additions to our community in just the past year. Please keep our new postulants and all Franciscans in formation in your prayers, and continue to keep the prayers coming for new vocations! If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing up for our vocations prayer team here.
