MAY CROWNING AT SAN ROCCO ORATORY, 2013

[Monday, Jan. 7, 2013] At the St. Anthony Hall, on the oratory grounds, Father Rene Mena (pastor of St. Paul's) hosts a meeting of local priests, in what is called the "deanery," i.e., this section of the Chicago diocese. St. Paul's parish has no place with capacity for such a meeting. Both Father Rene and the members of his parish are always welcome on the grounds of San Rocco Oratory.

[Saturday, Jan. 12] Funeral Mass for Edward Duvernay, at Rayner Funeral Home in Chicago, on 71st Street, across from St. Columbanus.  Mr. Duvernay, 101 years old, was a resident of The Park in Olympia Fields; he was a regular participant in Sunday Mass.

[Jan. 14] Funeral of Ida Garcia, 48: a Liturgy of the Word at Panozzo Funeral Home. She was the aunt of Elisa Serrato.

[Friday, Jan. 18] Funeral of Diva Pulcini, 98. She was a faithful member of the San Rocco community. She was said to be the matriarch of the Marchigiana clan.  Diva was the aunt of Paulnita Rees.

[Monday, Jan. 21] Funeral of Maria Planera, 89,widow of the late Raymond Planera, the eldest of four brothers. She was the mother of Anna Planera-Ohren.

[Sunday, Jan. 27] Baptism at 11:15, after Mass, of Massimo Rocco Cournane, child of John Cournane and Nancy Cioe.

[Friday, Feb. 1] Funeral of Father Richard Wojcik, up at Mundelein Seminary.  His whole priesthood was spent teaching music to seminarians.

[Saturday, Feb. 2] Funeral of Father John Collins, vicar for priests, at St Joachim, on the South Side of Chicago.

[Feb. 4] Deanery meeting at Our Lady of Knock, Calumet City. Father Pat Lyons is the host.

[Saturday, Feb. 9] San Rocco Carnivale, over at St. Anthony Hall.

[Tuesday, Feb. 12] Father Allan DaCorte, OFM, visits. He is the brother of Gene DaCorte, who helps San Rocco on the finance committee. Father Allan is treasurer for his Franciscan province.

[Wednesday, Feb. 13] San Rocco finance council meets in South Holland, at the rectory. We evaluate use of the soccer field on our property.  We also review financial reports.

[Feb. 17] On the first Sunday of Lent, a baptism at Mass, for Massimo Amadeo Martinez, child of Jose' Martinez and Natalie Cipolla.

[Friday, March 1] Stations and Vespers, on every Friday during Lent.

[March 4] Funeral of Antonietta Sanelli.

[Sunday, March 10] Coffee, over in the St. Anthony Hall.

[Thursday, March 14] Finance meeting for priests, at St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park. Father Pat Pollard reports on the growing practice of cremation.

[March 20] In Minooka, where he lives now, Richard Van der Hei receives the anointing of the sick.  Thelma and Jake Biamonte drive out to participate.

[March 28] Holy Thursday, Mass at 7 p.m. The choir takes part, directed by Celeste Jones.

[March 29] Good Friday, Liturgy of the Word at 7 p.m.

[March 31] Easter Sunday. The choir sings three motets by Handel.

[April 7] Baptism of Cooper James, at 11:15, child of Christopher James and Abbey Prospero, after Sunday Mass.

[April 8] Deanery meeting at St. Anne, Hazelcrest. The host is Father Ralph Zwirn.

[Sunday, April 14] Deacon Bob Bonta comes to assist at Mass.  Over in the St. Anthony Hall, frittata.

[Sunday, April 21] 25th wedding anniversary of  Rich and Alice Wolff, daughter of Joseph and Lorraine Petrongelli.

[Monday, May 6] At a deanery meeting at St. Stanislaus, Posen, Msgr. John Canary, Vicar General, comes to explain new initiatives from downtown. He is retiring June 30.

[Tuesday, May 7] May devotions at 7 p.m.

[Saturday, May 18] We hold a "sweet sixteen" Mass of Sasha Ayala, daughter of Rosa. It's much the same as a Quinceneras. The church is specially decorated for the occasion, and many guests come.

Over in the St. Anthony Hall, at the same time, there was another celebration in progress, for a First Communion dinner. Eight-year-old Jose' Lopez is the center of attention. He and his four siblings receive a special blessing.

[Sunday, May 19] Pentecost.  Guest organist today is Adriana Berardi, of Oak Forest.

[Thursday, May 23] Cecilia Otto gives a concert at the St. Anthony Hall.

[Sunday, June 2] Corpus Christi is celebrated today. However, because of the cold and rainy weather, the usual outdoor procession is eliminated.

[Tuesday, June 4] At the St. Anthony Hall, fathers of the local soccer teams meet, to plan the season. The meeting is conducted in Spanish; Yvette Betancourt translates as needed.

[Wednesday, June 5] At Christ the King parish, we celebrate the funeral of Father Andrew Greeley.

[Friday, June 7]The Faith and Friendship group meets, to discuss the book, Why Priests? by Gary Wills.

[Saturday, June 8] Liturgy of the Word, a memorial service for Henry Kahsen, brother of Pat Curran, husband of Cynthia.

[Thursday, June 13] Wake of Stanley Kowalski, at Panozzo Funeral Home.

[Saturday, June 22] We celebrate a Requiem Mass for the funeral of Josephine Jones, an old-time member of San Rocco Parish.

[Sunday, June 23] At Holy Family Church, we celebrate a farewell for Msgr. John Canary, retiring vicar general of the Chicago Archdiocese.

[Tuesday, June 25] Funeral of Fran Moore, resident of The Park, at St. Joseph's, Homewood.

[Saturday, June 29] At Heartland Funeral Home, Matteson, we celebrate a Liturgy of the Word for Delphine Carcelli, another old-time member of San Rocco parish.

[Sunday, June 30] After Mass, at 11:20 a.m., Pat and Pam Palanca renew their wedding promises, with family and friends.

[Tuesday, July 9] The local council of the Knights of Columbus meet at St. Anthony Hall. This is their first meeting here; they may well return again, each month. Deacon Gene LaBelle arranged their coming.

[Sunday, August 4] A guest priest comes to preside at Mass: Father David Simonetti, of St. James parish, Sauk Village.

[Friday, August 9] Father Tommaso Petrongelli arrives in Chicago Heights. For the next couple of weeks, he will say Mass each evening at 7 p.m.

[Sunday August 11]  Mass in honor of San Lorenzo. Procession begins at Amaseno Lodge at 11 a.m. Father Tommaso Petrongelli celebrates with the people. Mass begins about 11:30.

[Thursday, August 15] Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Father Tommaso celebrates Mass at 7 p.m.

[Sunday, August 18]  Father Tommaso Petrongelli celebrates his 50th anniversary, at San Rocco Oratory. Mass begins at 11 a.m., an hour later than usual. Afterwards, the St. Anthony Hall is reserved for a special gathering in his honor.

[Sunday, Sept. 8] Deacon Michael Montelone comes to assist at Mass and to give the Sunday sermon. We hold a reception in his honor afterwards, over at St. Anthony Hall. Deacon Michael was baptized at San Rocco; this community is his parish of origin. In today's Mass, he proclaims the Gospel and helps with Communion.

[Oct. 2] The San Rocco finance committee meets at the rectory in South Holland. Yvette Betancourt gives a detailed update on the use of the soccer field. Pete Ruhl submits copy for a sign the committee decided to post outside, for those who use the field. Pete's daughter is a Spanish teacher; the sign will be bilingual. At this meeting, the committee reviews the annual financial report. We also consider previous meetings and correspondence with the new finance director for the diocese, Betsy Bohlen.

[Oct. 6] The annual report for the oratory is published in the Sunday bulletin, as well as the required letter of attestation, from the rector.

[Oct. 12] Quinceneras of Sarah, daughter of Loreta and Fernando Zambrano, at 3 p.m. About 120 people come, to the Mass in the church building and to the celebration at the Serbian Center in Lansing. She's actually sixteen. Celeste Jones plays the organ; her daughter, Mary, sings. Many of the people present do not speak Spanish. Nonetheless, the Scripture readings and the songs are in that language, especially for the father's side of the family and guests who came all the way from Mexico.

[Sunday, Oct. 13] Spaghetti dinner in St. Anthony Hall. Over the course of the afternoon, about 550 people participate.

[Saturday, Oct. 20] At 2 p.m., we celebrate the funeral of William "Billy" Carcelli. His niece, Cheryl, made the arrangements. Since there was a cremation, the body was not present. After the Mass, people gather in the nearby St. Anthony Hall.

[Sunday, Nov. 10] Pizza fritte, in St. Anthony Hall.