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November 23, 2008

Remembrances planned to mark tragic Our Lady of the Angels’ fire

Several observances of the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady of the Angels School fire are planned. The fire, which occurred at about 2:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 1958, took the lives of 92 students and three BVM sisters who were teachers.

On Nov. 29, the Chicago-area Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVMs) will host services in two cemeteries. At 1 p.m. there will be a visit to the gravesite of the BVMs at Mount Carmel cemetery (section 22). At 1:30 p.m. there will be a prayer service in the mausoleum chapel at Queen of Heaven cemetery, followed by a memorial at the Our Lady of the Angels monument (section 17).

Following the remembrance rituals, refreshments will be served in the parish hall of Holy Family Parish, 1080 Roosevelt Rd. in Chicago.

For information related to the prayer services at the cemeteries, please contact Sister Marion Murphy, BVM at (312) 243-7207 or (312) 243-2426 or Sister Carol Spiegel, BVM at (312) 563-1951.

On Nov. 30, the Friends of OLA will host “A Day of Remembrance” and a 50th anniversary memorial Mass at 2:30 p.m. at Holy Family Church, 1080 W. Roosevelt Rd. A reception will follow the Mass in the church hall. For information, call (877) OLADEC1.

On Dec. 1, all Catholic schools are asked to join in prayer at 2:30 p.m. for the victims of the fire and their families, for firefighters and for their own schools. A similar prayer service will be held by the Office for Catholic Schools in the archdiocesan pastoral center.