The St. Fabian Annual Irish Mass on “the Tuesday before St. Patrick’s Day”
For the past decade, St. Fabian’s has been celebrating the feast of St. Patrick with an annual festive Mass, followed by free refreshments and entertainment in the parish hall. Welcoming guests from all over Chicagoland, the evening is not only a way for people to honor their heritage, it also allows the parish to reach out and touch people in the larger world beyond the church doors. For all profits from the evening go to charity. Thru the collection taken up at the Mass and the raffle that follows later in the parish hall, the Irish Mass Committee has over the years raised thousands of dollars for those in need. In 2009, they presented a check for over $2300 to Oak Lawn’s Ronald McDonald House. And in 2010, they gave over $1700 to Fr. Pascal Kasanziki, S.X., Xavierian Missionary priest, who in turn will use that money to provide over 14 scholarships for the children of Sierra Leone, Africa, who otherwise would not be able to attend high school.
For the past decade, St. Fabian’s has been celebrating the feast of St. Patrick with an annual festive Mass, followed by free refreshments and entertainment in the parish hall. Welcoming guests from all over Chicagoland, the evening is not only a way for people to honor their heritage, it also allows the parish to reach out and touch people in the larger world beyond the church doors. For all profits from the evening go to charity. Thru the collection taken up at the Mass and the raffle that follows later in the parish hall, the Irish Mass Committee has over the years raised thousands of dollars for those in need. In 2009, they presented a check for over $2300 to Oak Lawn’s Ronald McDonald House. And in 2010, they gave over $1700 to Fr. Pascal Kasanziki, S.X., Xavierian Missionary priest, who in turn will use that money to provide over 14 scholarships for the children of Sierra Leone, Africa, who otherwise would not be able to attend high school.
Musicians who touched many a heart at the 2009 Irish Mass: on clarinet, Mel McGuiggan; on flute: Anna Belle O’Shea; on guitar and vocals, Jim Poynton; on violin, Imelda Kaminski.
Some of the Committee Members and Support Team take a bow at evening’s end at the 2009 Irish Mass: L to R: John McNally, Stan Spanczak, Julie Dahlman, Stan Siemiawski, Hank Dahlman (waving), Mary Meldazis, Dan Dougherty.
Group Hug: Joan Henry, Joe Klochan, Committee Members Ann Klochan & Dennis Newman at the 2009 St. Fabian Irish Mass
Three-hundred-plus fill Kash Hall, to share some delicious soda-bread, buy some tickets for some great raffle-prizes (e.g., restaurant gift-certificates, white-sox- and concert-tickets), and enjoy the lively step-dancing of the Weber Irish Dancers.
The hardworking team at the raffle table in 2009: L-R: front row: Mel McGuiggan (in green Irish hat), Stan Siemiawski, Helen Moran, Ida McElroy; back row: Dan Dougherty, Marlene Dougherty, Bridget McGuiggan;
As Dan Dougherty mans the raffle drum, Bridget McGuiggan pulls a winner!
Irish Musician & Raffle Gift-Wrapper Extraordinaire, Kathy Newman at the 2009 Irish Mass
Fr. Pascal Kasanziki rejoices with a $1700+ check from the 2010 Irish Mass Committee, which will go to provide an education for needy young men and women attending Binkolo Secondary School, Sierra Leone, Africa.
The Weber Irish Dancers can be seen at venues all over Chicagoland--but none more anticipated than their annual appearance at the St. Fabian Irish Mass. In 2010, members Jill Thomas and Andrew Fick (who are both St. Fabian parishioners) also performed in church, closing the preludes with “Candle Dance,” a piece remembering the worldwide missionary work of Irish priests, brothers, and sisters.