It is now a long-standing Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago tradition that the Saturday after Thanksgiving is “Christmas set-up day”. Typically, 45-60 volunteers join us to assemble the Nativity sets, haul Christmas trees to their stations, shimmy-up ladders to place the lights, and trim the ceilings, trees, and church with Christmas decorations. One may…
Category: Franciscan
Religious Life Night
On October 17th, our community hosted nearly 100 men and women religious stationed throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago came together for a beautiful night of prayer and fellowship. The evening began with a Eucharistic Holy Hour in the Church that included Evening Prayer and a short exhortation from Bishop Bob on the immense value of…
Pilgrimage to Italy 2024
On the special occasion of a family wedding, five of the Franciscans were invited to attend the celebrations in Italy. The reception was held at a beautiful villa on Lake Como in the southern Alps. It was a joy to celebrate with Br. Matt’s family! After the wedding festivities, the five travelers went on pilgrimage…
2024 Summer Highlights – July
National Eucharistic Congress Almost our entire community and all of our summer volunteers and seminarians made the trip down to Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress. Our community was very blessed to be heavily involved with this incredible event. Bishop Bob spoke on panels and presided and preached at one of the large youth Masses,…
A Sewer went out to sew…
Reflection by Sr. Jess Many people are often surprised to hear that we sew our religious habits (garments) in house. And yet – upon learning that some of us do exercise the homesteading / pre-modern skill of sewing – they often shake their heads in approval – as if they would have expected nothing less…
The Spiritual Life: Poverty, Purity of Heart, & Eucharistic Living
Sr. Alicia recently wrote a beautiful reflection on her experience of the connections between living Franciscan poverty and living a Eucharistic life. Read the full reflection here: https://review.catechetics.com/spiritual-life-poverty-purity-heart-eucharistic-living
The Prayer before the Crucifix
Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our hearts. Instill in us a correct faith, a certain hope, and a perfect love, a sense and a knowledge, Lord, that we may do Your holy and true command. Amen. This prayer was written by St. Francis of Assisi, and thought to be the prayer that…
Eucharistic Adoration: doing is good; being is even better
Reflection by Sr. Alicia I am not totally sure how my parents felt when I told them I’d signed up for the 3 AM hour of prayer on Good Friday when I was 16 years old. Our parish had invited us to “watch an hour” with Jesus, and I certainly didn’t want him to be…