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ACPD 54th Annual Mardi Gras
Ministry Awards
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, 4:00 p.m.
Virtual thereafter at : 
                       ACP established: October 24, 1966, ​McCormick Place
                                                    View Photo Album of Mardi Gras 2020

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St. John XXIII Award
(Award description and past recipients)
Wilton Cardinal Gregory

​   Fr. Ed Mikolajczyk was born and raised on the southeast side of the city known as South Chicago. His home parish was Immaculate Conception (88th Street). He attended the Archdiocesan Seminary system—Quigley South, Niles College, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary.
  After serving a deacon year at Mary Queen of Heaven in Cicero, he was ordained on May 9th of 1973 and assigned to St Walter Parish on the south side. In 1978, he joined the faculty of Quigley South—he taught at Quigley South and Archbishop Quigley for the next 20 years. During that time, he resided at priest at St. Linus Parish in Oak Lawn, Assumption Parish in West Pullman and Our Lady of Victory in Jefferson Park.
   In 1998, Fr. Ed began serving as pastor at Queen of Martyrs Parish in Evergreen Park. He served there with dedication for 20 yrs until retirement in 2018. He now resides at Our Lady of the Woods in Orland Park.
​   In addition to his teaching and pastoral ministry, Fr. Ed has been actively involved with the Presbyteral Council for the past 15 years, including serving as the Vice Chair and Chair of the Council from 2004 to 2010. He was on the Coordinating Board of the ACP from 2004 to 2007. He was appointed to the Priest’s Placement Board from 2011 to 2015. He served as a Consultor to the Cardinal. Even in retirement he remains active, presently assisting at various parishes in the southwest suburbs by presiding at Mass when there is a need.

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Joseph Cardinal Bernardin
Common Ground Award
(Award description and past recipients)
Deacon Enrique Alonso

​   Enrique Alonso was ordained a permanent deacon in 1975. He originally servedat St. Sebastian Parish where he was involved in Hermanos de la Familia de Dios, the Cursillo movement and many small groups in the parish. The late Rev. Joseph Kinane, one of the frst coordinators of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s permanent diaconate program and pastor of St. Sebastian Parish, described Enrique in a letter of recommendation as “one  of our fnest deacons—an intelligent, sensitive man and a true leader… He has had a wealth of experience and again is one of the most respected men I know.” 
   In 1986, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin appointed Enrique as Associate  Director of the Office of the Diaconate. In 1990, Enrique moved to the Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral where he served as director and revamped the formation program for deacons to bring it into compliance with the
USCCB’s new norms. Francis Cardinal George appointed Enrique in 2001 as Coordinator for the Hispanic Diaconate Community as part of the Office of  the Diaconate.
   Enrique has been involved with the National Association of Hispanic Deacons and served as president of its Governing Board.
   During his 44 years of ministry, Enrique has served under four cardinals, three vicars for deacons and in two parishes – St. Sebastian and Our Lady of Grace. During the last fve years, Enrique has been responsible for overseeing the continuing education program for the Spanish-speaking deacons.
   Enrique has a Master of Arts degree from Loyola. He and his wife Juanita will be celebrating 50 years of marriage in September. They have five children and four grandchildren.
   Deacon Richard Hudzik, Vicar for Deacons, says: “It is always enjoyable to watch Enrique’s public engagement with the deacons. I am often reminded of the old commercial that had the line in it, “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen.” So, it has always been with Enrique. When he steps up to the microphone, the room becomes quiet and, time and again, his wisdom and common sense turns the conversation in a fruitful direction. Enrique’s heart has always been one to encourage the deacons to excel at what they do. He knows that the people deserve the best of what we have to offer. The deacon’s ego has to get out of the way so that the Good News might be heard.”

COORDINATING BOARD AWARDS
(Award description and past recipients)

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USML Fr. Augustus Tolton Teaching Parish Program
   The Tolton Teaching Parish Program lies at the heart of seminarian formation at Mundelein Seminary. This innovative program immerses our seminarians in parish life throughout their seminary tenure. Students are assigned to one of more than 80 teaching parishes within the Archdiocese of Chicago, as well as the Dioceses of Gary, Rockford, and Joliet. By remaining at the same parish over 4–5 years, they are able to form true bonds with parishioners and fully invest themselves within the life of the parish. Our seminarians spend time each week at their teaching parish learning practical and pastoral skills from experienced mentor pastors, from “teaching parish committees” comprised of dedicated parishioners, and from regular interactions with the people they encounter every week both inside and outside the church buildings. It is primarily in the parishes that these future diocesan priests learn to acquire the “smell of the sheep.

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Andrew Holmes

​ Everywhere he goes, Chicago community activist Andrew Holmes has his daughter with him. Tamara Sword, his 32-year-old daughter, was shot to death in 2015 while she sat in the passenger seat of a car parked near an Indianapolis nightclub. She was an innocent victim of a gun battle in the parking lot, police said. Two men have been charged in her killing.The FBI Chicago Division honored Andrew Holmes, a community activist in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, in 2016 for his advocacy against violence. Mr. Holmes is an executive board member and president of Operation Restoring Innocence and has participated in numerous community marches against guns and gun violence, as well as gun buy-back collection programs sponsored by community churches and organizations in the city and surrounding suburbs. He regularly speaks at schools and churches about gun violence and mentors children to show them that there is a better life.

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Hope's on the Way

      A faith-based volunteer group of second responders who bring hope to people in need. We are a group of people conscious of our gifts, who are willing to give or share our talents, time, and treasure with those in need. The efforts of Hope’s on the way have many dimensions, from second respondents who have assisted in the rebuilding process in Louisiana and Alabama, to serving the needs locally within our own community.
   HOTW is a ministry of the diaconate community which incorporates the lay community in respondence to Matthew 25: 40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” We address the repair and rebuilding needs of the people of God affected Coordinating Board wards: by natural disasters and poverty. We have travelled as far as Louisiana, New Jersey, Alabama, Mississippi and Washington IL. and as close as the ministries served in our diocese by Aid for Women, Zacchaeus House, Emmaus House, Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph as well as many local parishes. Our ministry has extended to organizing parish organizations to purchase cleaning materials that are sealed in five gallon buckets that have gone on to disaster  ictims in Houston, Omaha, Raleigh NC, Panama City Fl, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. At last count,  we have sent over 3,200 buckets each valued at about $32 for a total value of over $90,000. This program has expanded into our neighboring Diocese of Joliet. We also organize the purchase and shipment of four tractor trailers of bottled water to Catholic Charities in Flint Michigan when they were under a clean safe water crisis. We have participated in ecumenical rebuilding efforts in Louisiana as well as in Illinois.

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Fr. Bob Lombardo & Franciscans
of the Eucharist—Our Lady of the Angels
   
​   Fr. Bob Lombardo came to Chicago in 2005, at the request of Cardinal George, to set up a mission outreach to the poor on Chicago’s west side. Fr. Bob has put his talents to building up the mission of the Church as a priest, construction manager, fund raiser, counselor, accountant, and friend to all: the poor, volunteers, and countless others. Fr. Bob, a Notre Dame accounting alum, answered the call to become a Franciscan and a priest. He did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras, organized youth programs in Manhattan and directed the Padre Pio Shelter in the Bronx. He is a founding member of his community, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs).
   Before coming to Chicago, Fr. Bob held the following positions: Director, Saint Anthony Residence; Director of the Lay Associate Program of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Local Servant (Guardian) of Saint Crispin’s Friary, Director of Saint Anthony’s Free Medical/Dental Clinic, and Vicar General of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. 
   Fr. Bob, director of Mission of Our Lady of the Angels and founder/ superior of the Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago, has been Dean and served on advisory boards. Fr. Bob is a popular speaker and retreat leader.
​   The Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago are a newly established religious community with parallel men’s and women’s branches living and serving at Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. The Franciscans of the Eucharist were officially established canonically by a decree of Cardinal George on September 1, 2010. The work of Mission of Our Lady of the Angels is currently the main apostolate of the Franciscans of the Eucharist. To learn more, visit www.franciscansoftheeucharistofchicago.com.

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Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation—Fr.
David Kelly, C.PP.S.
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   Fr. David Kelly C.PP.S., is the Executive Director of PBMR. PBMR was founded in 2004 to serve young people and families impacted by violence,incarceration, and structural inequality. PBMR works in the Back of the Yards and Englewood neighborhoods. Established in 2012, Restorative Justice Hubs help reduce youth violence and admissions into juvenile courts. Participants engage in a variety of activates, such as “peacemaking circles,” as a means to help youth, families, and communities heal and reconcile.
   Fr. Kelly writes:
   “We have to create communities of hope where we recognize that our lives are intertwined with one another and that what affects one, affects us all. This ethos—the interconnectedness of all—is at the heart of the spirituality that calls us to be ambassadors of reconciliation. It seems to me that at the very core—the very essence—of who we are, has to be the willingness to enter into the tension and messiness of life and witness to the power of God’s love to transform. I have to believe that is our ministry -walking faithfully into the muddled mess of life and giving witness to the transforming power of the Blood of Christ.”
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​Pro Labore Dei - Chicago

   Pro Labore Dei (PLD) serves the poorest of the poor. Pro Labore Dei was founded on May 16, 1990, in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State in Nigeria. Sr. Stella Maris Okonkwo answered God’s call to to “Go out into the street and slum areas where people are suffering and look after the poor.” She began the work in the Bere area of Ibadan with only a few Naira in her pocket.
   From Madison, Wisconsin, Sr. Stella followed the call to Robbins, Illinois 15 years ago. Through the Holy Spirit, the mission grew from 20 lunches to 600 lunches each week. Each Saturday, PLD distributes at the Robbins Police and Fire Station. An Outreach team also uses a bread truck and van to serve 300–400 lunches and groceries through Robbins and Blue Island. The mission added Mondays with volunteers sharing a hot meal with the homeless. Hot food and bagged lunches feed 30–50 people.
   St. John Fisher partnered with Pro Labore Dei in 2014. Their commitment included Christmas gifts, Easter baskets, Thanksgiving meals and back-to school backpacks. SJF Volunteers gather monthly on the fourth Saturday morning to prepare lunches, clothing, personal care items and baby needs. They welcome and need more hands with Outreach on Saturdays.
   Pro Labore Dei serves 26,000 meals a year in Robbins and Blue Island through the generosity of many, but more is needed. They are grateful and blessed to have a personal friendship with those served, remembering that Christ lives in the poor and he encourages us to watch over them. Contact Ann DeAngelis, [email protected]/(708) 502-8424

Program (4:00 - 8:00 p.m.)

  • 4:00 p.m.    Doors Open Social
                       with Open Bar, Beer and Wine
  • 5:00 p.m.     Evening Prayer
  • 5:15 p.m.    Dinner 
  • 6:30 p.m.    Awards Presentations
  • 7:30 p.m.    Raffles​


$60 per person, $440 for a table of 8
includes Wine and Beer

Please RSVP by Monday, February 17
GRAND RAFFLE: $5 per ticket
  • 1st Prize        $500
  • 2nd Prize       $200
  • 3rd Prize        $100
Your support for the ACPD is greatly appreciated.  Please consider placing an Ad in our Program Book.  Ad Deadline is Monday , February 17.  Thank You.   
  1. Back Cover (5.5 x 8.5)       $250
  2. Inside Cover (5.5 x 8.5)      $200
  3. Full Page (5.5 x 8.5)          $150
  4. Half Page (5.5 x 4.25)        $75
  5. Quarter Page (2.75 x 4.25) $50
  6. Benefactor Line                 $25
ACPD Mardi Gras
53rd Annual Dinner
 
Appetizer Table
Chips, Cheese, Veggies,
and hot appitizer
Rolls and Butter

Salad:
Seven Green Mixed Salad
with vinaigrette and dranch dressing
Rolls and Butter
 
Entrees: 
Grilled Salmon with lobster saurce
Herb Chicken
Green Beans Almandine
Mashed Potatoes
 
Desserts:
Assorted Cookies, Brownies, Cheesecakes, Lemon Squares, Coffee and Water

ST JOHN BREBEUF
(northside location)
8307 N. Harlem Ave.
Niles, IL 60714 

Click here for large Google Map
For more information:

Association of Chicago Priests
P.O. Box 388208 (note new PO)
Chicago, IL 60638
[email protected]
cell:312-226-7222
fax: 708-425-2313
Rosario Comancho 
Administrative Assistant

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Dorothy Day Scholarship Awards
are presented to women who are pursing a degree in ministry.