 A SURPRISING DISCOVERY
Last Monday night I went up into the rectory attic looking for an extra lamp,
and then noticed a file cabinet marked “Parish History.” I did not realize
that we had several folders of documents and photographs from the early
years of St. Mary. I was especially thrilled to find the hand written notes of
two meetings held in Lake Forest in April, 1875. A group of Catholics had
gathered to discuss the idea of a new Catholic parish, and then sent the
minutes of the meetings to the Diocese of Chicago. At the bottom of the
page, written in black ink, was the reply of Bishop Thomas Foley. On May
3, 1875, Bishop Foley granted permission for the creation of a new Catholic
parish in Lake Forest.
It was a great thrill to see the genesis of St. Mary’s in these documents.
There were also photographs of the original church built during the tenure
of the first pastor, Father James McGovern. Plus some photographs and information about the present
church built by Father Barry and dedicated by Archbishop Quigley in 1910. Watch for a display of
these photos and documents in our church soon. Mark your calendars for the celebration of the 100th
anniversary of the dedication of our church building, which will be held on Sunday, December 5, 2010
at 10:30am.
UPDATE ON THE ROOF
The work on the church roof is progressing. As the old copper shingles are removed, the workers
inspect the state of the wooden roof. In a few days there will be a crew doing some tuck pointing. I
hope that the new copper shingles will begin to be installed in the next week. So far, parishioners have
donated $235,000 toward this important project. We still need to raise another $145,000 to cover all the
costs. My thanks to the several hundred people who have already contributed to the Raise the Roof
Fund. If you did not receive a letter explaining the roof project, copies are available at the church
doors. I am asking every parish household to please contribute something toward the cost of the roof.
The new roof will last seventy-five years. It will serve our parish today, and is a great gift to the next
two generations of people in St. Mary’s. Thank you!
ON GRIEVING
During the summer, several families in our parish have suffered the loss of a loved one. As human
beings, we are often unprepared when someone we love dies. Grief is very real and we may not know
what our feelings will be like day to day, or even hour to hour. I worry most about young people, who
are still developing a way of voicing what they are feeling inside.
Our parish has several resources that might help a person who is grieving. The pastoral staff is always
available to speak with, either over the phone or in person. If you are concerned about how a young
person is dealing with loss, I highly recommend contacting Lillie Romeiser, our Youth Minister
(847.234.7337). Lillie can be a great help. Also, you’ll find at the doors of our church a number of
useful booklets about loss and grief. In this bulletin, you’ll see a notice about a bereavement program
we offer that helps adults discover healing and hope as they work through their grief. Prayer and
participation in the Mass are very important ways of finding peace at a time of loss. Please pray for
those who need our support and remember to keep reaching out to those who have suffered a loss.
Thank you.
In our Lord,
Father Michael McGovern
mmcgovern94@hotmail.com
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