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54th Annual
Mardi Gras &
Ministry Awards
​Sunday, February 14, 2021
Virtual on YouTube 
Accessible beginning 4:00 pm and anytime thereafter for your convenience.
ACPD Virtual Mardi Gras Ministry Awards 2021 (Click Here)
  • St. John XXIIII Award: Wilton Cardinal Gregory
  • Cardinal Bernardin Common Ground Award:
    ​Msgr. Patrick J. Pollard
  • ​St. Stephen Award: Deacon Daniel Welter
  • Coordinating Board Awards:
    - Greater Chicago Food Depository
    - COVID-19 Anointing Priests
    - COVID-19 Task Force
    - Mary Kay Gawne
    - Rev. Matthew S. O’Donnell
     Mardi Gras Program-Screen    Mardi Gras Program-Printable
This is our only Annual Fundraiser: Please help to support the vision of Vatican II.  ​25% of donations will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.  (St. Catherine is only hosting the site.)
         ACPD Mardi Gras GiveCentral Donate (Click Here)

or mail check to ACPD 
(Association of Chicago Priests and Deacons)
PO Box 388208,   Chicago, IL 60638

You can also renew your Membership below:

Mardi Gras 2020 WEB page​
View Photo Album of Mardi Gras 2020
ACPD MEMBERSHIP FORM
JANUARY 2020 TO JUNE 2022
1 1/2 year Membership 

Your Support is needed more than ever.
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  Exploring the Gospel of Mark,
​      Year B
 for Prayer & for Preaching
 Fr. Jim McIlhone, using ZOOM
     
   For Priests, Deacons, and anyone
   involved in Liturgical Ministry.

    Wed., Dec. 9, 2020, 7:00-9:00 pm

ZOOM link:
https://zoom.us/j/98939065933?pwd=NEdCNGtBMStHUU9lQkRHK3BpQms5dz09
Meeting ID: 989 3906 5933;- Passcode: 9VR01p

Registration Iink (please provide us with your Email & Phone):
December 9th, 7:00pm (Zoom Mtg) Gospel of Mark, with Fr. Jim McIlhone

There is NO cost to attend.  Click here for brochure.
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               Annual Architectural 3 hour Cruise on Chicago River & Lake Michigan,
​Sept. 2020
Cancelled because of COVID-19                

Patricia Ann Smuck 1936-May 15, 2019

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   I   I​t is with sadness that we heard of Pat's passing.  All who knew her would call her "friend" and "advocate".  Pat was a member of the ACPD Board for over 30 years as a lay associate.  She not only participated in Board meetings sharing her wit and wisdom, but was always involved in whatever nitty-gritty work needed to be done for the Mardi Gras to other events we sponsored.  Pat was always available.  We honored her about five years ago with a special award to recognize her dedication and commitment to supporting priests and our ministry.  
   While Pat will be missed at meetings, We feel sure that she will be our "advocate" from heaven.  If anyone deserves a one way pass directly to heaven, it is Pat. She didn't need a priest's collar for authority, she knew it came with Baptism and Confirmation, and she lived her faith each day.

Fr. Ken Fleck, ACPD chairman
and Board Members

Obituary for Pat Smuch

UPTURN Winter 2019 returns
              Mission Statement of the ACPD
            Established October 24, 1966 - McCormick Place
  1. To cooperate with the Archbishop in the Pastoral Care of the Local Church.
  2. To foster dialogue and support among priests and deacons locally, nationally and abroad.
  3. To nourish collaboration of priests and deacons with others serving in ministry.
  4. To promote locally, ecumenism among the Christian Churches, and to cooperate with and promote interfaith dialogue with other faiths.
  5. To seek cooperative action that promotes peace and justice through the entire metropolitan community, particularly noticing and attending to the needs of the poor and the alienated.
  6. To strive for equality of women and men of all races and cultures.

​ACPD Membership - sup​port the vision of Vatican II and
​Pope Francis by becoming a member.​

NEWS and Statements

COURAGE TO FACE THE FUTURE
Statement on Sexual Abuse with Minors
​August 2018

Anger, shock, grief, and shame" expresses the sentiments of Cardinal Cupich in his letter to the priests of Chicago over the most recent clerical sexual misconduct with children in Pennsylvania.  The depth and breadth of this scandal and the cover up forces us all to stand in the light of truth challenging us to look in all corners of society to protect our children.
 
Has the Church lost its soul? No.  It is forced to face the naked truth of our sinfulness.  We cannot change the past.  However, bringing it to light gives us the opportunity to deal with the truth.  The light of truth gives us the opportunity to make changes, revise policies and commit to rebuilding trust which has been shattered. 
 
While the Dallas Charter of 2002 by the USCCB dealt collectively with priests accused of sexual misconduct with minors, it failed to address the responsibility of bishops who for a variety of reasons covered up these crimes and unwittingly enabled them to continue.
 
The purpose of this letter is not to propose answers or defenses but to endorse the statements already made by Pope Francis, Cardinal Cupich, the AUSCP (Association of US Catholic Priests), as well as other bishops and institutions.  We call for all clergy and laity alike to work together to protect all children.
 
In the light of this scandal we can either give up or use this as an incentive to rise up.  We need to raise up new leadership among the bishops.  Where necessary hold bishops accountable with appropriate disciplinary actions by the Church.  Rather than discourage young men from becoming priests, we need to acknowledge those with strong faith, family support and leadership skills to consider a call to serve as priests of a new generation.
 
Tragedies approached with faith present opportunities for growth.  We can either succumb to despair or commit to reform.  May God guide us and love unite us as we stand together to protect all children.
 
Rev. Kenneth Fleck, chairman
Association of Chicago Priests and its Board