"Gratitude for the Past, Moving into the Future  with Courage"

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Survival of Black Catholicism
in Bronzeville 

By Larry Cope

This is a day many Black Catholics on the South Side feared. This summer, the legacy parishes of Corpus Christi, St. Ambrose, St. Anselm and Holy Angels will be phased out after decades of existence. These parishes will be unified on Thursday, July 1, 2021, to form a new parish under a new name. The new worship site will be at 615 E. Oakwood Blvd (formally known as Holy Angels) and Fr. Robert Kelly, SDV (Divine Word Missionary) will be the pastor of this new parish. 

This is something we should not fear but embrace. All of us will be a part of developing and cultivating a new spirituality where the strengths of all the former parishes will equal a larger and stronger Black Catholic tradition. This is bigger than saving individual parishes. It’s about the survival of Black Catholicism in Bronzeville. We have to remember that people, not the buildings, make “the church”. Jesus never owned a building, but he still managed to gather his followers to worship.  

So, what brought us to this point of unification?

The fact is that the churches in the Bronzeville area all faced similar problems. Low attendance, decreasing donations, aging buildings, maintenance cost, and growing debt is what brought us to this point. Corpus Christi, for example, once boasted a congregation of 3,000 members but is now less than two hundred today.

Many Black parishes have also struggled with community outreach and evangelization. But as Christians, we are called to do just that. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus gave an order to the disciples to: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” Some of us have not been effectively trained or know where to seek the resources to go out into the community and bring in new members (evangelize).  By unifying the parishes, their resources, and seeking resources from the archdiocese, along with an organized plan for evangelization, the new parish will give us a stronger voice and presence in the community.

We Need You!

Some of us might be skeptical about pulling up roots at our familiar churches where we have worshiped for a lifetime to start over at a new church. Let’s give this new parish a chance. Let’s take the best from every former parish and every individual to create an even better church. Our goal should be a more inclusive church that is open to all people of faith. For every choir member, musician, Eucharist minister, lector, committee member, artist, rapper, liturgical dancer, and anyone who just wants to serve, there is a place for you. For the advocates who believe in the fight for social justice, there is a place for you too. Let this new church be a place where both old and young will be proud to be members.
As we move forward, we must never forget the past glories of Corpus Christi and the other parishes and their place in our history, our Black history. These parishes and especially their schools hold treasured memories and meaning for so many. The Black Catholic Church in Bronzeville shouldn’t be a footnote in Chicago’s history but rather an ongoing, evolving practice of faith.  We also have an obligation as Black Catholics to persevere, nurture, grow and share our faith. 
Change can be hard and closing a church building is heartbreaking. While change makes us uneasy and gets us out of our comfort zone, it could also be a defining moment. We are on the brink of possibly creating a vibrant Black Catholic community that will embrace the best of the old and the new, a parish that truly serves the needs of our community for decades to come.

Jesus states in Matthew 25:37:

“The righteous will answer him and say ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” … Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine you did for me.”                         We are called by Jesus to serve and to go and make disciples.

This is solely the viewpoint of Larry Cope and does not express the views of Corpus Christi or the Archdiocese of Chicago.

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STATIONS OF THE CROSS

 Join us each Friday evening during Lent at 6:00pm. The Stations of the Cross is our prayers of reflection and devotion to follow Jesus Christ in his footprint during his Passion and Death at Calvary.

We will have Stations of the Cross via Zoom in the Chapel

Please join us by dialing toll free number (425)-436-6360. Then enter the access code when asked 139620. Please keep your phone on mute, we are still in the house of the Lord. 

The Stations of the Cross1960.pdf 

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Greetings of peace. I do hope you are all safe. I thank God each time I think of you and during this pandemic, I continue to ask God to be with us all, keep us safe and bless our brave men and women at the forefront of the fight against this virus.

Please see below an invitation to join me at Mass this Sunday via Zoom video. I understand that some of you may not have this set up in your system. So please follow this guideline: go to zoomvideo.us  where you can download the app to your system,(computer, laptop, compatible phones), then follow the instructions for setting up. This will help you join us for Mass this Sunday. 

FreeConferenceCall.com
425-436-6360 use access code 139620
Please be courteous and put your phone on mute. 

Edmund Nnadozie is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Corpus Christi
Time: Sunday's 09:30 AM Central Time (the US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

copy and paste: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89868513747?pwd=Y0U0NW03TFZWVWZsaEszcG9ieCtkQT09

Meeting ID: 898 6851 3747
Passcode: 860235

n/b: 1) Our conference call number and code is still active and am hoping we can use both for this Sunday, especially for those unable to join via zoom.

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,7920424875#,,1#,4920# US (Chicago)
+19294362866,,7920424875#,,1#,4920# US (New York)

Dial by your location
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 792 042 4875
Password: 4920
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdYruJcNy3

       2) Feel free to call me for suggestions, comments and clarifications.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr Edmund.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

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Broadcast Masses

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Archchicago.org/television/broadcast-masses

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Greeting Corpus Christi Family,

 During these difficult times, Corpus Christi Church will provide Prayer Service.

Beginning at 9:30 am every Sunday at FreeConferenceCall.com. 

You can listen through your home landline or cellphone.

Join us by dialing the toll-free number (425) 436-6360. 

When prompted enter the access code 139620. 

Please keep your phone on mute. 

Our prayer service on Sunday will last 30 minutes. 

We hope this message finds you, your loved ones well and safe. God is good…

Sincerely,

Your Corpus Christi Family

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Looking back at how good the Lord has been to us, how are we planning to give to support the church's ministry that reaches out to help all the children of God this year 2020.

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EUCHARISTIC EXPOSITION AND ADORATION 

The Corpus Christi Family encourages you to continue Adoration in your homes. 

The first Friday of the month

 The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed after morning Mass in our Parish Chapel from

8:30 am to 7:30 pm. 

Please find time to come and spend an hour or more with 

Jesus 

Pray for your needs in the new year and for peace.  

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Religious Education

 Catechetic instruction classes are held on the 3rd and 4th Saturday of every month.

Learn more and grow in faith,

Contact Theresa Rhea at 773-671-3890. 

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Read the Chicago Suntimes article "From Slave to a saint?"