Fr. José M. Santiago, OP, Pastor

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Pius V Parish,

We have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day tradition at St. Pius V of celebrating Mass at 11:00 am and then hosting a community dinner in our parish hall. I invite you to join us this Thursday!

Both Mass and dinner are open to all: parishioners, friends, and many who have nowhere else to go for the holiday. The meal is prepared and served by a dedicated team of volunteers led by parishioner and coordinator Yesenia Serva.

Many of those who break bread with us on Thanksgiving are people who have visited our parish soup kitchen and food pantry throughout the year – often sitting side by side with benefactors whose generosity has made all this possible.

Thanksgiving at St. Pius V really started last Saturday as our parish hosted a large distribution of donated turkeys and other foods for families in need. On behalf of all who participated, I thank H. Kramer and Company, Richards Supply, HFS Chicago Scholars, the 12th District of the Chicago Police Department, and Manuel Perez School for their generosity and volunteer spirit in making this happen.

Some of the generous, talented people we honored at Volunteer Appreciation Night on November 19.

Last Saturday we also hosted our annual Volunteer Appreciation Night in the parish hall. Along with food, music, and dancing, we celebrated and thanked the dozens and dozens of volunteers who make this parish such an active and engaged community of faith.

As we pause this week and express our gratitude to God for the many blessings in our lives, I give thanks for the parish family – parishioners, staff, school families, volunteers, and benefactors – of St. Pius V for the spirit of service and love that marks all that we are and do.

May God bless you and your loved ones on this Thanksgiving Day and always!

In Christ’s peace,

Fr. José M. Santiago, OP
Pastor, St. Pius V Parish

Your support allows us to minister to individuals and families in many ways, including the more than 45,000 meals made possible each year by the food pantry and soup kitchen in our parish hall. Please consider a Thanksgiving donation in support of the ministries and social outreach of St. Pius V parish. Thank you!

We celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints (All Saints Day) on Tuesday, November 1 and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) on Wednesday, November 2 with Mass at 8:00 am (our usual daily Mass time), and Rosary at 6:30 pm and Mass at 7:00 pm both evenings in our church.

These are very special days in the cultures of so many of our parishioners who come from Mexico and other Latin American countries. El Día de los Muertos or The Day of the Dead has become popularized and even commercialized in this country but we get back to the faith-filled roots of these celebrations by joining together with our families in our homes and in prayer in our church this week.

Our parish will host a Triduum (three days of liturgy) in honor of the feast day of St. Jude Thaddeus October 26-28 in our church at 1901 S. Ashland Avenue in Chicago.

Each evening’s schedule will include Rosary at 6:30 pm and Mass at 7:00 pm, in Spanish on Wednesday and Friday (October 26 and 28) and English on Thursday (October 27).

For more information please call our parish office at 312-226-6161.