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November 9, 2008

Religious orders use Apostle as touchstone

By Alicia Torres

CONTRIBUTOR

St. Paul wrote these words to the Philippians: “I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the Gospel from the first day until now” (Phil 1:3- 5), but surely intended them for all who have devoted themselves to spreading the Gospel.

In Chicago, two religious communities stand out among the others for their mission in the spirit of Paul. The Daughters of St. Paul and the Paulist Fathers (two distinct communities with different founders) serve the people of Chicago through their ministries in the heart of the city.

Paulists, Daughters

Founded by Issac Hecker and his companions, the Paulists were the first religious order founded in America. This community of priests came to Chicago in 1903 and assumed responsibility of Old St. Mary Parish. Today, the parish continues to flourish in their newly built church at 1500 S. Michigan Ave., celebrating their legacy of serving downtown Chicago for more than 100 years.

Less than two miles north of Old St. Mary’s, the Daughters of St. Paul are headquartered at 172 N. Michigan Ave. The Daughters first came to Chicago in 1979. “We came to Chicago looking for a place. We didn’t know Chicago, we didn’t know North Michigan was the place to be, we just saw a busy street,” said Daughter of St. Paul Sister Helena Burns.

Years later, the Pauline Book and Media Center, with the Daughters living in the floors above, is located in the busiest area of downtown, ripe for evangelization.

St. Paul animates the mission of these two communities in dynamic ways. The Paulists see themselves as missionaries to their own country. The spirit of evangelization, ecumenism and reaching out to the alienated is the bedrock of the Paulist mission.

“The charism of Paul that we would adopt most would be his zeal. At worst you could say Paul was a bit stubborn, but at best you could say he was committed, zealous to reach people, to meet them where they are, to touch their hearts and souls,” Paulist Father Dick Sparks said.

“Paulists are very zealous for preaching and living the Gospel. We want it to touch people’s hearts, we want them to receive it well,” he said.

Another key aspect for the Paulists is their belief in reaching out in their own country. “Our founders really loved America. They thought the American democratic experiment was a wonderful thing,” he said. “They wanted to marry the best of Catholic and the best of the United States.”

Celebrating 150 years, the Paulists carry on this legacy through their work in cities and universities, just like their mission at Old St. Mary’s Parish, which serves the vibrant South Loop neighborhood. Not only does the parish provide an elementary school that grows a grade with each year of success, but can boast (with St. Paul) of a 31 percent Mass attendance increase within the last year under their pastor, Paulist Father Michael Kallock.

Additionally, last month Paulist Father Bob Cary took on a chaplaincy at Northwestern Medical and Law School in downtown Chicago, reaching out to the university community.

Media minds

While the Paulists’ mission in Chicago centers around priestly ministry and presence, the Daughters of St. Paul, founded by Blessed James Alberione, fulfill their mission through presence and media. In Chicago, the Media Center not only invites people to learn more about all things Catholic, but to encounter Jesus himself. “The bookstore is like St. Paul in the marketplace,” said Burns. “The main purpose is to bring the people to Jesus.” This is why there is a Blessed Sacrament Chapel in every Pauline Media Center.

The sisters host events at the center, such as their First Saturday Book Club and Theology of the Body Study Group. They also display their books and media at conferences and facilitate workshops to teach media literacy.

“We want to help people reflect on their secular media experiences. A lot of people have this idea that God and technology don’t go together, that media is this ‘no God zone,’” Burns said.

In this year of St. Paul, both communities acknowledge the great spirit they share with one another in Paul.

“I think St. Paul would have loved Chicago because the people have that Midwestern openness. Paul was not just about getting converts, but also deepening the faith of people. He was always talking about leading us forward,” said Burns.

“Paul knew how to reach out to people and give them every opportunity to come to know Christ.”

Through their efforts, these kindred communities live vibrantly Paul’s openness to the Holy Spirit and love for the people of God.