Photos

Mothers receive special blessing during holiday Mass

Auxiliary Bishop José María Garcia-Maldonado blesses mothers and those expecting children during Mother’s Day Mass at Immaculate Conception/Five Holy Martyrs Parish, 4327 S. Richmond St., on May 10, 2026. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich ordains 13 men as deacons for archdiocese

Cardinal Cupich was the main celebrant as 13 permanent deacons were ordained for Archdiocese of Chicago on May 16, 2026, at Holy Name Cathedral. The newly ordained deacons will assist the bishop and his priests in ministries of the Word, Liturgy and Charity. These include proclaiming the Gospel, leading intercessions, preaching, preparing the altar, celebrating baptisms, leading the faithful in prayer, distributing holy communion, witnessing marriages, and conducting wake and funeral services. Deacons also identify the needs of the poor and underserved, and shepherd the Church's resources to meet them. The newly ordained deacons will be assigned to parishes in Barlett, Barrington, Chicago, Cicero, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Northlake, Schaumburg, Streamwood and Wadsworth. One permanent deacon from the Diocese of Joliet was also ordained during this Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

St. Peter Claver council and court celebrate 50 years of service

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry was the main celebrant for a Mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary St. Felicitas/St. Ailbe Council/Court 181 at St. Katharine Drexel Parish on April 26, 2026. On April 25, 1976, 11 ladies were initiated into the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary at St. Felicitas Church and Court #181 was established. The court is active in and raises money for various charitable efforts. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Pope’s fellow Augustinians celebrate election anniversary

The Midwest Augustinians celebrate a Mass on May 8, 2026, at St. Jude Church in New Lenox, Illinois, for the first anniversary of the election of their fellow Augustinian, Cardinal Robert Prevost, as Pope Leo XIV. Prevost, the first American elected pope, was elected on May 8. 2025. Parishioners from St. Jude joined the Augustinians for the Mass and a reception afterward. They also sold books related to Pope Leo's spirituality and life. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

School feels close to Pope Leo one year after mock conclave

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, 720 W. Belmont Ave., hosts a food packing event, donation and Mass on May 6, 2026, to mark the first anniversary of Pope Leo’s election. The school went viral last year for holding a mock conclave just days before the real conclave elected Chicago-native Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. Students who participated in the mock conclave travelled to Rome last year and met Pope Leo. To continue to support the pope, the school created Team XIV that meets monthly to watch a video of the pope’s prayer intention for that month and does a service project around the intention. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Pope praises Catholic Extension Society for bringing Christ to remote communities

Pope Leo on May 18 met with members of the Board of Governors of Catholic Extension Society and their families. Addressing them in the Vatican ahead of the Solemnity of Pentecost, the pope said he hoped their pilgrimage would deepen their prayer and strengthen their communion with the successor of Peter and the universal church.

Youth making rosaries to pay the way for mission trip

Members of GodSend, a youth group which includes young people from St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills and St. George and St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr parishes in Tinley Park, assemble and sell rosaries before Mass at St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr Church on May 2, 2026. The youth were inspired to make the rosaries after receiving sets of handmade rosaries earlier this year on a retreat. They are selling the rosaries at Masses to offset the cost of a mission trip to Waterloo, Iowa in July. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Eritrean Catholics gather to celebrate major Marian feast day

Local Eritrean Catholics gather at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, 4827 N. Kenmore Ave., May 2, 2026, to celebrate the Mariam Dearit holiday. Catholics in Eritrea have a special connection to the Blessed Mother through the Mariam Dearit Shrine, which houses a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary inside the trunk of an ancient baobab tree. The Eastern Catholic Mass was followed by a reception with ethnic food. The Mariam Dearit feast day is a major holiday for Eritrean Catholics. Mary, Mother of God Parish is the only church in the Chicago area that hosts monthly Masses for this community. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Seminarians lead procession in Little Village to support migrants

People join seminarians from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary for a procession on April 29, 2026 through Little Village to pray the rosary and show support for the undocumented migrant community who are in fear of deportation in recent months. The group began at Mother of the Americas Church and processed to St. Agnes of Bohemia Church where they stopped for a blessing before going on to Good Shepherd Church for adoration and benediction. A group of seminarians from Chicago and other dioceses attending the university have committed themselves to raising awareness of the plight of people who are undocumented by holding processions in communities where they are present and holding workshops on campus to learn about issues that migrants face in this country. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Catholics gather across the archdiocese to mark Holy Week

Each Holy Week and Easter, parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago mark this most sacred time by taking part in various liturgies and devotions. Here are a few from 2026. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
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