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Collection Totals for the Weekend of October 17-18, 2026

WeShare E-Giving Totals for September 2026

SPRED FAMILY MASS

The St. Christina SPRED Program is pleased to announce that we will be hosting our first SPRED Family Mass on Saturday, November 7, at the 4 p.m. Mass.

SPRED (Special Religious Development) is a parish-based ministry that brings together Catechists and Friends with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Within SPRED, we strive to form small communities where Catechists and Friends grow together in faith, as we deepen our awareness of God’s presence in our everyday lives. As part of the mission of SPRED, we then try to cultivate a sense of belonging within our local parish communities and our universal Catholic Church.

A SPRED Family Mass differs from our traditional Mass in a few ways. Because we are not all able to communicate through verbal speech, the SPRED Mass will have volunteers enacting the readings. There are two readings in a SPRED Mass. During the responsorial psalm, a small group of Friends and Family will lead the congregation in gesturing as we all sing together. The Homily in a SPRED Mass is only a few sentences, bringing together the core message of readings. This message will be repeated several times. After the Prayers of the Faithful, the Altar will be set with linens, candles, and flowers, followed by the presentation of the Gifts. At the end of Mass, all of the congregation will be invited to share in Agape (the sharing of light refreshments and friendship) in the back of Church.

The SPRED program serves four age groups: 6-10 year-olds, 11-16 year-olds, 17-21 year-olds, and adults 22 and older. There is a great need to expand our ministry here at St. Christina and in our surrounding parishes. There is no special requirement to become a Catechist. Training is provided by the SPRED program. All you need is a desire to grow in faith, and to befriend another of God’s Children.

If you would like to volunteer for SPRED, or if you know of a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities who would benefit from SPRED, please contact the SPRED office.

SPRED

3525 S. Lake Park Ave.

Chicago, IL 60653

312-842-1039

SPRED@archchicago.org

We hope to see you all on November 7^th at 4 p.m. for a beautiful celebration of the Mass.

November Faith in Action

Did you know that Halloween or All Hallows' Eve to us Catholics, is the start of a two-day remembrance of those in heaven or on their way to heaven? All Hallows' Eve is the Vigil of All Saints' Day, when Catholics remember those who have gone before us to enter our heavenly home.

The Solemnity of All Saints (Nov. 1) is a family day of celebration - we celebrate the memory of our family members now sharing eternal joy and peace in the presence of God. We celebrate that they have reached their eternal goal and ask them to pray for us, so that we may join them in heaven and praise God through all eternity.

Then on November 2, we celebrate All Souls' Day, when the Church commemorates all the faithful departed still detained in Purgatory, and prays in suffrage for them.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030-1031 says, "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven."

In the Bible, Elijah, Jesus and St. Peter prayed for the dead before they were raised and it is recorded in Scripture:

1. Elijah: 1 Kings 17:17-24 - “Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the LORD, 'O LORD my God, let this child's soul come into him again.'"
2. Jesus: raising of Lazarus: John 11:41-42 - "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me."
3. St. Peter: raising of Tabitha: Acts 9:36-41 - “Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed."

The Saints also remind us to pray for those that have died:

"Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them." - St. John Chrysostom

"If during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in Purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death." - St. Paul of the Cross

"As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them, coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say, 'a poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory.'" - Blessed Fulton Sheen

"In our prayers, let us not forget sinners and the poor souls in Purgatory, especially our poor relatives." -St. Bernadette

As we enter the feast of All Saints and All Souls, we should think about and contemplate the last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. And really our focus should be, since we all must die and are destined to judgment, "How then are we to live?"

Let's start by remembering our dead. Some ways to remember the dead are to pray for them every day, have Masses said in church, make a visit to their gravesite, take out photos and tell their stories to new generations or make their favorite meal to commemorate a special time with them while they were here. One day, through the grace of God, they may thank you.



Peace to you,

Pam Waldrom

St. Christina Faith Formation Coordinator

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

We Remember

As we approach November 2, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, our priests, Fr. Ryan Brady and Fr. Wayne Svida, along with our St. Christina Parish family, offer our continued prayers and support to all who have experienced a recent loss.

We Celebrate

On Monday, November 2 during the 7:00 p.m. Mass in church, we will have a memorial of our faithful departed. Our memorial service will take place immediately following the homily of the Mass. The names of parishioners and those buried from St. Christina Church since last October 29, 2025 will be read.

Upon your arrival for the All Souls Day memorial Mass you will receive a candle having the name of your deceased loved one. You and your family will then bring the candle up into the sanctuary and place it on the table which has been prepared on the Blessed Mother side, and there it will be lit. It will be important to be in church before 7:00 p.m. to allow time for family members to bring their candle up into the sanctuary before Mass starts.

If you would also like to have a photo of your loved one placed in the sacred space during November, you may bring the photo when you come for a weekend Mass or a morning Mass and place it in one of the marked containers in the vestibule of the church (containers will be available starting October 24). Photos may also be dropped off at the rectory. Please be sure to put the name on the back, along with your phone number. If you bring a picture with you on November 2, simply bring it up to the ladies in front. You are then welcome to leave the picture and candle in church until November 22, or you may take them with you after Mass on November 2. How fitting to then have the candle in a place of honor for your Thanksgiving Day celebration, on the dining room table or in an appropriate setting.

We Believe

We invite you, your family, and anyone who wishes, to please join us in praying for and remembering our deceased loved ones. While we no longer experience their physical presence with us, our faith tells us we will one day be reunited. Life has changed for them, for their earthly journey is completed and they are at peace. In communion with them, we journey forward in faith. As Saint Pope John XXIII used to say about the dead: they are not dead; they have gone home; they are around the corner; and they are waiting for us.

For any questions, clarifications, or concerns, please contact Deacon John F. Mutnansky at the rectory: 773-779-7181.

Annual Report for July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025

Use the link below to review a copy of the FY 2025 Annual Report from St. Christina, posted in the bulletin on November 16, 2025.

PARISH ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2024-2025 (PDF)