Father Brendan and parishioners at the rally

St. Pius V Parish was well represented at the May Day march and rally yesterday. The traditional May Day event focuses on labor issues, and that was the case this year as well, with a focus on immigrant laborers. About 50 parishioners and staff walked from the church at 19th and S. Ashland to Union Park, where they swelled a gathering of hundreds who marched into the Loop, chanting “Up up, education, down, down deportation” and dancing in the streets.

St. Pius V Parish domestic violence program is again in the national spotlight for its innovative approach to addressing this prevalent issue. This week's edition of Religion & Ethics News Weekly, produced by WNET in New York and broadcast nationwide, includes a 12-minute segment about the church's pastoral response to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. It features Father Chuck Dahm's recent outreach to the community at St. John Berchmans parish in Logan Square and an interview with a couple from St. Pius V who've thrived after participation in the St. Pius V domestic violence program, Hope at St. Pius V.

Watch Churches and Domestic Violence on PBS. See more from Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.

Last Sunday Father Brendan Curran, OP, rolled out the Cherry Red 2013 Ford Mustang Convertible that some lucky person will drive away from the Kermes June 9. Raffle tickets are now being sold at the parish office, after Sunday Masses, and by many parishioners.

Purchase of the $5.00 tickets assures that St. Pius V Parish can continue to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, and counsel the frightened through its many social service programs.

In addition to the grand prize car winner, there will be a $1,000.00 winner and two $500.00 winners. Five hundred dollars will also go to the person who sells the winning ticket.

“Spring must be coming, because the raffle is here,” Father Brendan joked. “I am grateful to our many sponsors whose generosity will help us positively impact the lives of so many people we serve at St. Pius V.”

Father Brendan Curran's 2012 class of Leadership Greater Chicago just left the building. They spent the morning learning about food insecurity, then serving the guests who came to St. Pius V soup kitchen for a hot meal.

Our guests got a well-rounded picture of the nutrition needs in Chicago from:

On October 27, some 300 guests gathered for our annual parish banquet
Celebrating the Harvest. We are grateful to all of our sponsors who made
this event a great success! Please patronize our sponsors to show your
appreciation of their generosity to St. Pius V Parish. Thank you.

                      
Platinum Sponsors

The Illinois Restaurant Association, the Kazma Family Foundation, and the Raul & Linda Lopez family were honored for their service to the parish and the community during the sixth annual “Celebrating the Harvest” banquet, on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, in the church hall.