Franciscans of the Eucharist

As we enter into the celebration of Christmas, we are so grateful for the beautiful coverage in the Christmas Edition of the Chicago Tribune! Manya Brachear (Religion Reporter) and Tony Perez (Photographer) spearheaded the project, and we are in awe and humbled by the article and pictures that capture so much of God’s generosity to us and the men, women and children we love and serve here on Chicago’s West Side!

To read the fantastic article by Manya, please click here.

There is a beautiful video which you can watch by clicking here.

Don’t miss the lovely photo gallery, click here!

God bless and keep you this Christmas and always!

We know Advent as a Season of preparation–a time to allow the Lord to lead us into the glorious mystery of His Incarnation. St. Francis of Assisi had a profound love for the Lord Jesus, and experienced in the glorious Solemnity of Christmas the profound humility of the Lord. Not only did God desire to save His people, but He humbled Himself to become one of us. The most perfect example of poverty comes from Jesus Himself, born in a lowly stable over 2000 years ago!

This Advent, we have been consistently surprised by the joy that the Lord has been giving  to us through a series of miracles to help complete the work on Our Lady of the Angels Church! From benefactors coming through with incredibly generous donations to fantastic coverage in the secular media, this is clear: the Lord desires to use this Church for His purposes, and He will make sure the project is completed.

As we strive daily to follow Jesus in the footsteps of St. Francis, we delight in the consolations God sends our way to remind us that He is always with us, and His providence marks out every day for us! Thank you for your prayers, and count on our prayers for you–not only that you be blessed, but that you are able to receive daily all the grace Our Lord desires to give to you!

Please enjoy this recent article printed in the Chicago Sun Times, which made the front page on the Third Sunday of Advent (December 11, 2011)!

The Archdiocese of Chicago recently produced a segment for The Church, the Cardinal and You featuring the renovations of Our Lady of the Angels Church. Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, introduces the story with host Graziano Marcheschi. Meet Fr. Bob Lombardo, our superior and director, as well as Sr. Alicia, who help share the good news about the Church in this video clip!

+JMJ+

Our Sunday Visitor recently published an article on the Mission, written by our friend Michelle Martin. Let us know what you think! We are really excited to continue to respond to the needs of our neighborhood, to fulfill to the best of our abilites the Mission which the Lord has entrusted to us.

Every day, we are reminded in big and little ways that no matter how much work we do, as St. Francis so humbly witnessed to us, it is really the Lord working through us. Any good we do comes from Him, and we are grateful for all He does in our lives here at the Mission of Our Lady of the Angles!

Sr. Stephanie represents Team OLA in a great interview with Ravi Biachiwal of Chicago’s ABC. Praise the Lord for fantastic media coverage!

Sr. Stephanie joined the ranks of the novitiate on Monday, October 3rd, as we began the celebration of St. Francis’ Feast Day. During Evening Prayer, Sr. Stephanie was presented with the Holy Habit of St. Francis–a simple tunic, cord and a veil (for sisters), promising to live poor, chaste and obedient during this time of further discernment. The novitiate is two years, after which Sr. Stephanie will be eligible to profess first vows.

Not only is Sr. Stephanie sporting a new habit, but she’s also getting ready to lace up her running shoes as she and 12 others run the Chicago Marathon this coming Sunday October 10! Team OLA is set to run the 26.2 mile road race, raising funds to help complete the Our Lady of the Angels Church renovations. A great article about Sr. Stephanie and the Marathon Team was featured in her hometown paper, the Rockford Register Star.

View slide show of Sr. Stephanie’s Investiture!

CBS Clip on Our Lady of the Angels Church!!

The Mission was featured today on CBS Chicago at 5:00 p.m. We are working to rebuild Our Lady of the Angels Church so we can help serve our neighborhood better! Please keep this project in your prayers.

The Franciscans of the Eucharist are a Catholic religious community of men and women serving in Chicago’s West Humboldt Park neighborhood. Our life centers upon our relationship with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Out of our life of prayer flow our apostolates–service to the poor, Evangelization and teaching. We beleive that if you can’t see Jesus in the Eucharist, you can’t see Him in the poor. Come join us as we work to serve our brothers and sisters in need!