We were honored to have Bishop Birmingham with us to celebrate the Mass before our Open House, the kickoff to Catholic Schools Week! He even gave a special blessing to all our Bruin athletes.
The “Altar Elves” and their families helped prepare SRB for Christmas at the annual Christmas decorating party. This year, fortified by pizza, Christmas cookies and zucchini bread, they put up all the Christmas trees and wreaths in the church. Thank you for your service!
We celebrated a special Mass on Friday, November 11 to honor our Veterans in our parish and school community. Thanks to all who came out and even shared a bit of their story with us.
Second graders and future First Communicants were blessed at a recent Family Mass.
Blankets, hand-made by our Common Threads prayer blanket ministry, were blessed Sunday, Oct. 9th. They will be distributed to those who are in need of comfort and support. To get a blessed prayer blanket for a parishioner or loved one, contact Deacon Bill at 773-777-2666 or wfrere@archchicago.org. Interested in helping? Meetings are the first Thursday of every month at 7pm in the St. Robert Bellarmine convent.
Photos from our Feast Day / Parish Picnic on October 2, 2022.
Thirteen 4th and 5th graders have committed to becoming altar servers at the SRB worship site. With the help of some of the experienced servers and Deacon Bill, they have completed their initial training. The new servers first serve at daily Masses and then will be serving at Sunday Masses. They wear altar server pins on their albs until they gain enough experience to wear altar server crosses around their necks.
Join fellow parishioners and Deacon Bill as we spend time with Sunday Scriptures:
- Preparing to hear God’s Word
- Learning more about Scripture
- Asking what Scripture is saying to me
- Growing spiritually with others
Starting September 7, Wednesday mornings 9:15 – 10:30 in the SRB Convent Dining Room.
All are welcome – no weekly commitment required, come when you can.
Parishioners gathered earlier this month to say goodbye to Dennis Constanzo, former Music Director, and MaryEllen Cassellman, former faith formation director. Thanks for your years of service at SRB and best wishes!
New Altar Server Training Tuesday, August 30, 3:10-4pm AND Thursday, Sept 1, 3:10-4pm in the SRB Church You must attend both training sessions! Please bring your completed application. Any questions, please contact Deacon Bill at bfrere@srb-chicago.org.
Welcome to Our New Music Director: Marie Blecka
Greetings to the parishioners of Mary, Undoer of Knots. I am happy to announce that I am now the official Music Director of the united parishes of St. Constance and St. Robert Bellarmine. I am grateful to Fr. Robert for appointing me to this position. I’ve been the Music Director of St. Constance Parish since 1990. My job includes playing the English masses, training the cantors, directing the Adult Choir that sings at the 10:30 mass on Sunday, funerals and weddings. Just recently, I retired from teaching Music in grades Pre-K – 8 for St. Constance School, where I taught for 33 years. Besides teaching general music, I coordinated the music for school masses and the sacraments and directed the School Handbell Choir. I plan to continue these same activities for both St. Constance and St Robert Bellarmine churches. With the help of my assistant musicians, Kevin Michelini, Eileen Pavlik, and Grace Bajan, I hope to have beautiful music at both churches.
I have a Bachelors Degree in Music Education with a performance major in organ and a performance minor in piano. Music Ministry has been in my life since I was young. I’ve been singing and playing masses in church since I was 13. I began at Our Lady of Victory, St. Catherine Laboure in Glenview, and then as an assistant at St. Constance beginning in 1976, then Music Director in 1990. On a personal note, I’m married to my husband, Greg, for 48 years, and have three daughters, all who graduated from St. Constance School. My hobbies are knitting, crocheting, and reading.
My goal is to continue enhancing the Music Ministries of the parish. If you have any questions, comments, or would like information on the choir, email me here or see me after any of the masses. Thank you for your support!
Marie Blecka
Music Director of Mary, Undoer of Knots Parish
Fr. Scott Donahue recently celebrated 40 years of service in the priesthood and 25 years with our St. Robert Bellarmine parish community. We celebrated him in a special Mass of Thanksgiving on June 12, 2022.
Scenes from our Confirmation Mass celebrating 38 young people and their gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Photos: Tom Killoran Photography)
We welcome our new Director of Operations, Richard Neyenesch, to our parish. Rich comes to us with a corporate background with experience at both Motorola and Dell Computers. He brings knowledge in project management, finance, customer relations, and building operations, the perfect mix of skills to apply to our parish operations as we combine two vibrant communities at St. Constance and St. Robert Bellarmine. In the coming months, Rich will work to thoughtfully consolidate and streamline our processes under one operational structure and name, Mary Undoer of Knots. Rich will maintain offices as both St Robert Bellarmine and St Constance Campus Rectories. Rich can be reached via mobile phone @ +1 (708) 435-1643 or email @ Rneyenesch@archchicago.org. If you see him around either campus, please welcome him to our parish community!
On March 19/20, Fr. Robert McAleer will be at Mary, Undoer of Knots (St. Robert Bellarmine Campus) to speak on behalf of Unbound.org. Unbound is an international development organization founded by lay Catholics and grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first. To get more information, please refer to www.unbound.org/Myoutreach/FrMcAleer.
A thank you for the “challenge” blankets and food donations for the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels from Sr. Stephanie:
THANK YOU for this amazing donation!!! Please extend our gratitude to ALL who helped out. Please know of our prayers for all of you + see you soon.
God bless,
Sr. Stephanie
Join us as we mark the start of our Lenten journey and prepare for the resurrection of Christ! Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, March 2.
Full Lent Schedule 2022
Ash Wednesday – Wednesday, March 2
8:30am Mass
1:00pm School Prayer Service
4:00pm Prayer Service
7:00pm Mass
Stations of the Cross
Friday, March 4 – 9:00am and 2:00pm
Friday, March 11 – 9:00am
Friday, March 18 – 9:00am and 2:00pm
Friday, March 25 – 9:00am
Friday, April 1 – 9:00am and 2:00pm
Friday, April 8 – 9:00am and 2:00pm
Friday, April 15 – 3:00pm
Reconciliation
Saturday, March 19 at 10:00am – Faith Formation
Tuesday, March 22 at 9:15am and 10:00am – School
Wednesday, March 30 at 6:45pm – SPRED
Wednesday, April 6 at 6:00pm – Parish Reconciliation
Holy Week
Sunday, April 10 – Palm Sunday Mass, Saturday at 5:00pm, Sunday at 10:00am and 12:00 noon
Thursday, April 13 – Holy Thursday – 7:00pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper. Church open until 10pm
Friday, April 14 -Good Friday – 7:00pm Liturgy of the Passion
Saturday, April 15 – Holy Saturday – 1:00pm Blessing of the Baskets. NO 5:00pm Mass. 7:00pm Mass
Sunday, April 16 – Easter Sunday – Mass at 10:00am and 12:00 noon
Other Dates
Sunday, March 6 at 10:00am First Communion Rite of Enrollment
Saturday, March 12 at 8:30am Holy Name Society Lenten Morning of Reflection
Wednesday, March 23 at 7:00pm Confirmation Prayer Service & Practice
Sunday, March 27 at 3:00pm Confirmation
Cardinal Blase Cupich and the Presbyteral Council approved the new name of Mary, Undoer of Knots, for unified St. Constance and St. Robert Bellarmine faith community.
Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life.
You know very well how desperate I am, my pain and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of His children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life.
No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone.
Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot…I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all, You are my hope.
O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution and with Christ the freedom from my chains.
Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.
The Annual Catholic Appeal is an invitation for every Catholic family to respond with a generous heart. Your gift will provide inspiration, education and services to the less fortunate in our Archdiocese and throughout the world. You can make your pledge here.
Our Annual Catholic Appeal goal is $68,765. Read the letter from our Cardinal about how this goal was set and more information on the importance of this fundraiser to our larger Archdiocese community.
The Woman’s Club will meet on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 7:00 pm in Borowczyk Hall; doors open at 6:00 pm for registration. Masks are optional.
Flower and vegetable seeds are on sale. Tulips and daffodils are sprouting. The days are longer. Lent is here. We welcome Spring and are thankful and joyous that we again are able to meet.
Our Lenten program is SPIRITUAL SHARING. Please bring a favorite religious article–a statue, picture, rosary, medal, cross—and tell us what it means to you. You may also share an experience or a memorable trip to a shrine or church. We all have something to share and this brings us closer together as we recall significant events in our lives. Lent is a time to reflect and what better way than to do so with our friends. Light refreshments will be served. There will be a 50/50 raffle. Come and begin to prepare for the glorious feast of Easter.
Common Threads Blanket Challenge (and Food Drive!) 2022
The Common Threads Blanket Ministry once again challenges you and your family to work together in the spirit of Lenten almsgiving. All are welcome to participate!
This year there are three ways to participate from the comfort and safety of your home!
1) Make no-sew fleece Prayer Blankets for the homeless
An instruction packet with templates and information on purchasing the fleece will be provided. There will be a limited number of kits containing fleece for those unable to purchase the material on their own.
2) Make smaller no-sew fleece Baptismal Blankets
These blankets are given to every child baptised at St. Roberts. We’ll provide a kit containing the fleece and instructions for the baptismal blankets.
3) Donate gently used blankets
Perfect opportunity for those who aren’t able to participate in options 1 or 2! Please, clean blankets only.
Materials can be picked up on Saturday, February 19th between 9 – 11am. Drive through the SRB school – convent driveway entering from Eastwood and a volunteer will assist you. No need to get out of your car!
Whether or not you support the Blanket Challenge, you can also take part in our Pop-Up Food Drive. Completed fleece and used blankets as well as food donations (no glass containers please) can be dropped off Saturday, March 5th between 9-11 am. Drive through the SRB school – convent driveway entering from Eastwood and a volunteer will assist you. No need to get out of your car! The food donations, Prayer Blankets for the homeless and the donated blankets will be delivered to the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. For more information, contact Deacon Bill at bfrere@srb-chicago.org or at the SRB rectory.
Blanket Making Instructions
Baptismal Blanket Instructions
Clean Out your Closets for Cub Scout Pack 3949!
Our Cub Scout troop is collecting clothes and household textiles for upcycling and fundraising! All items must be clean and in sellable condition. Please gather clothes and household textiles in bags and bring to our church parking lot on March 19 from 10am – 2pm. Thanks for your help!
Join us for the Rosary and Novena (in Polish) every Wednesday evening starting at 6:30pm @ Constance site – 5843 West Strong, Chicago.
Giving Tree Thanks
Thanks to all who contributed to this year’s Giving Tree collection for the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. Whether you made a donation, packed the cars or delivered the presents – you’ve made a difference! We’re still accepting Gift cards for our STRETCH Fund. Gift Cards should be for $10-$15 dollars (please no large amounts). Suggested stores are Target, Jewel, Aldi, Butera, Walgreens and Walmart. Other options include Ventra cards or McDonalds. Donations should be in a sealed envelope and clearly marked “Giving Tree.” They can be placed in the collection baskets at Mass (SRB) or dropped off at the SRB Rectory. The STRETCH Fund supports those in the parish who might need a helping hand.
Fr. Robert blessed 32 new blankets created by the Common Threads Prayer Blanket Ministry of SS Constance and Robert Bellarmine. Father was then presented with a blanket made especially for him. Each square was created by a different member of the ministry and they were sewn together into one unified blanket symbolizing the joining of our parishes. May the blanket be a reminder of our prayers for Fr. Robert.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our annual food drive for the Mission of our Lady of the Angels. We had double the usual generous amount of food this year! A special thanks to these angels who loaded and unloaded cars and volunteered to help bring the donations down to the Mission. We are grateful for you!
Ever wonder what is involved in becoming a priest or a deacon? Find out more at an upcoming info session. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is speaking to you!
Join us on All Souls Day – November 2 at 6pm for a Mass of Remembrance honoring all the loved ones we’ve lost, especially our parishioners we’ve lost in the past year:
Louise Almazan, Rudolph Bautista, Sarah Birt, Mary Burns, Laura Capo, Gery Citta, James Clarke, Coleman Connelly, John Cooney, Phillip DeFrancisco, Donna Slack Delles, Salvatore Demma, James Fergus, Michael Ficarella, Joseph Glass, James Holt, Rosemary Horn, Marcia Hunt, Janet Jakobsze, Arlene Janke, Josephine Kelley, Hillard Kolasinski, Janice Krzywonos, Carol LaMarca, Joseph P. Little, Stanley A. Malek, Maureen McNamara, Benigno Medina, Sr., Leon Mika, Nicolas Monroy, Mario Oboza, Salvadore Orozco, Maricela Orozco, Paul Panzo, Casimer J. Pekala, Anthony Pirrello, Josephine Puskarz, Eleanor Sachajda, Kathleen ‘Kathie’ Scadura, Charles Schneider, Garrett Schultze, Jerome ‘Jimmy’ Sciortino, Frances Szymczyk, Josephine Thompson, Antonio Torre, Emil Valent, Thomas Walton, Florence Welenc, Theodore Zuba
Our faith formation season opens soon! Please prayerfully consider guiding our young disciplines in grades 3-5. If you love your faith, why not share it? Contact MaryEllen Casselman to discuss it.
All parish men are invited to join the Sts. Constance and Robert Bellarmine Holy Name Society! The HNS meets for Mass and breakfast every 2nd Sunday of the month starting September 2021. Monthly meetings and breakfasts are in Borowczyk Hall on the St. Constance Campus. Bookmark your calendars! This year, we’re meeting 9/12, 10/10, 11/14, and 12/12.
Scenes from Fr. Neil’s Final Mass and Farewell Reception.
Common Threads is back! We meet every first Thursday of the month in the convent dining room from 7-9pm. Come join us and make prayer blankets for parishioners and community members who need healing.
Did you know we have a livestream running nearly every weekend during our 5pm Saturday evening Mass? Subscribe to our Mass YouTube channel and set notifications so you don’t miss us
The SRB Community Spirit Garden donated 838 pounds of food to St. Cornelius Food Pantry this year! A huge thank you to the dedicated group of volunteers who tend the garden every Saturday morning May-November. Here Jan Parker Scalzitti and Mario Villan spread hay to protect the beds for the winter.
We were honored to have Cardinal Cupich join us for the Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine and help us ring in our 90th anniversary!
During this challenging time, our D.O.V.E. Ministry is here to help. Connect for resources or see how you can help this great organization.
If you or someone you know are running low on groceries and are not able to shop yourself, please contact Deacon Bill at bfrere@srb-chicago.org or 773-458-8296.
Faith formation students write cards to residents of a local retirement home to remind them that we’re all in this together.
Online Shop through Amazon to support St. Roberts!
- Go to smile.amazon.com for all your purchases.
- Select Charity of “St Robert Bellarmine School” or “St Robert Bellarmine Church”
- Shop just as you would on Amazon and earn money back for our school and parish! Happy shopping!
More on Facebook:
SRB Parish
SRB Community Spirit Garden
SRB Holy Name Society
SRB Teen Club
Mary, Undoer of Knots Parish - SRB Campus 
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