By William S. Bike
FREE DAYS
Free admission is available at the:
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr., every Wednesday after 4 p.m.
DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Pl., every Wednesday.
Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr., the Tuesdays of Dec. 5 and 12.
AFFORDABLE CARE
The open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act runs from now to Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Log on to www.healthcare.gov.
ART CENTER NEWS
The Bridgeport Art Center,1200 W. 35th St., is having its POP!Art exhibition through Friday, Dec. 15. Log on to bridgeportart.com.
WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Chicago Police Department will host a Women’s Law Enforcement Expo, Saturday, Dec. 9, from noon to 3 p.m. at 3510 S. Michigan Ave. Learn more about careers in law enforcement for women.
KEEP FIT
Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens is hosting Hulatics fitness classes Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. through March 24, 2024. Log on to www.hulatics.com. Jazzercise classes are Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Log on to https://www.jazzercise.com/location/chicago-women-s-park-garden. The park is at 1801 S. Indiana Ave.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY EVENTS
Celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at Church of the Holy Family, 1080 W. Roosevelt Rd., on Friday, Dec. 8, at 8:10 a.m. All are welcome. On Sunday, Dec. 10, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Cardinal Blase J. Cupich invites all to his annual Christmas concert featuring the City Lights Orchestra conducted by Rich Daniels. Admission is free. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and no tickets are necessary. For information, contact Regina Zielinski at (312) 534-7615, or r[email protected].
BECOME A MEDICAL ASSISTANT
Learn to be a medical assistant, at no cost, through the City Colleges of Chicago Future Ready Program. The application process is open for January 2024. Classes are offered in the morning and midday at Malcolm X College’s Westside Learning Center, 4624 W. Madison St., and morning and evening classes at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd. Log on to https://pages.ccc.edu/apply/futureready/.
HEATING REPAIR PROGRAM
The City of Chicago Emergency Heating Repair Program provides grants to assist owner-occupants of properties with emergency heating system repair or replacement. Call (312) 744-3653 to request an application.
COLUMBIA EVENTS
Columbia College will present Chicago Vox and the Pop Rock Ensemble in Concert, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12, Music Center Concert Hall, 1014 S. Michigan Ave. On Wednesday, Dec. 13, hear the New Music Ensemble in Concert, 7 p.m. at Recital Hall, 1312 S. Michigan Ave. or the Hip Hop Ensemble and Gospel Band, also at 7 p.m. at Music Center Concert Hall, 1014 S. Michigan Ave. On Friday, Dec. 15, enjoy the SAKAFU 2023 Repertory Performance Works, 7:30 p.m., Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave.
For information, log on to www.colum.edu.
SUPPORT FOR PBIS
Local Congressional Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-7th), and Jonathan Jackson (D-1st) announced a new Congressional Caucus focused on educating policymakers and uplifting the needs of predominantly Black institutions in higher education. The PBI Caucus will unite policymakers who share the goal of understanding and advancing policies to support PBIs.
DE LA SALLE NEWS
De La Salle Institute will offer a make-up opportunity for the high school entrance exam from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. De La Salle is at 3434 S. Michigan Ave. Call (312) 842-7355 or log on to dls.org.
ARTS CLASSES
Donovan Park, 3620 S. Lituanica Ave., hosts arts classes for both youngsters and adults. Call (312) 747-6111.
FREE NURSE VISITS
Family Connects Chicago provides a free in-home nurse visit to mothers who deliver their babies at Mount Sinai Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, St. Anthony Hospital, or the University of Chicago Hospital. Log on to www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/onechifam/home/family-wellness/family-connects.html.
LYRIC OPERA NEWS
Lyric Opera of Chicago,20 N. Wacker Dr., will perform Cinderella and Champion in January and February. For information call (312) 827-5600 or log on to lyricopera.org.
LUPUS INFO
The Lupus Society of Illinois will have its free annual educational event at Rush University Medical Center on Saturday, Dec. 2. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m. on the fifth floor of 1725 W. Harrison St. Call (312) 542-0002.
MONASTERY NEWS
Monastery of the Holy Cross, 3111 S. Aberdeen St., celebrates Solemn Vespers for the First Sunday of Advent onSaturday, Dec. 2, at 5:15 p.m., featuring Gregorian chant by the monastic community, with works by Guerrero and the premiere performance of the hymn Conditor alme siderum by Prior Peter Funk, sung by Schola Laudis.The monastery celebrates Solemn Vespers for Mary, Mother of God on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 5:15 p.m., the monastic community will offer Gregorian chants by Lassus, Palestrina, and Josquin and premiere Funk’s hymn Virga Iesse floruit. For more information, log on to https://chicagomonk.org/solemn-vespers/.
MOTHER TERESA PARISH NEWS
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, the Archdiocese Center for Chinese Apostolate, consists of St. Barbara Church at 2859 S. Throop St., and St. Therese Church at 218 W. Alexander St. On Friday, Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8 a.m. Mass will be at St. Therese, 7 p.m. Mass at St. Barbara. On Sunday, Dec. 10, celebrating the Feast of St. Barbara will be done at the 9:30 a.m. Mass, and also a Mass In Indonesian at 11:30 a.m., both at St. Barbara. On Saturday, Dec. 16, 3 to 5 p.m., St. Barbara will host The Living Nativity Outdoor Spectacular Event, followed by a 5 p.m. Filipino Simbang Gabi Mass in St. Barbara Church and dinner reception to follow. On Sunday Dec. 17, there will be an additional Mass at St. Therese in Mandarin at 12:30 p.m. The Sunday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve 5 p.m. Vigil Mass will be at St. Therese with a children’s pageant. Midnight Mass will be celebrated at St. Barbara Church, preceded by carols at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 24. Monday, Christmas morning, Dec. 25 Masses will begin at Saint Barbara at 5:45 a.m. with carols and 9:30 a.m. Monday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses will be at St. Therese Church. New Year’s Eve Vigil Mass will be Sunday, Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. at St. Therese with benediction. On Monday, New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, there will be a 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Barbara, and a 10 a.m. Mass at St. Therese. All Christmas and New Years’ Day Masses will be in English at both churches. Call (312) 842-6777.
MULLOVA PLAYS BACH
Music of the Baroque will feature violinist Viktoria Mullova in Mullova Plays Bachon Monday, Jan. 29, at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. Call (312) 551-1414 or log on to baroque.org.
OBSERVANCES AND HOLIDAYS
December observances and holidays are: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and beginning of Hannukah, Thursday, Dec. 7; Winter solstice, Thursday, Dec. 21; Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25; beginning of Kwanzaa, Tuesday, Dec. 26; and New Year’s Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31.
OUR LADY OF THE HOLY FAMILY NEWS
Our Lady of the Holy Family,1334 W. Flournoy St., holds Sunday Masses at 9 a.m. in English and 11:30 a.m. in Spanish, as well as a Saturday evening Anticipatory Mass at 5 p.m. in English.
Mass is held at 6 p.m. in the church on Mondays followed by the Holy Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and Confessions. Tuesday through Thursday Masses are at 8 a.m. in the chapel at 1335 W. Harrison St. On Friday, Mass is held in the church at 6 p.m., followed by Adoration and Confessions.
OLHF offers a Friday Food Pantry for area residents facing food shortages. Contact the parish office or just come to the pantry, located behind the church at 1334 W. Flournoy St., from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays.
OLHF will have a Mass of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, Dec. 8, at 9 a.m. in English and 6 p.m. in Spanish; the Our Lady of Guadalupe Misa de las Rosas celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.; a Simbang Gabi Mass on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 5 p.m., followed by a reception in the parish hall; Cocoa and Carols in the parish garden or parish hall on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 5 p.m.; Christmas Eve Sunday, Dec. 24 Masses at 5 p.m. and midnight; and Christmas Day Monday, Dec. 25 Masses at 9 a.m. in English and 11:30 a.m. in Spanish.
Call (312) 243-7400, email [email protected], or log on to www.olhfchi.org.
SAINT IGNATIUS NEWS
Saint Ignatius College Prep will host a frosh/soph parent coffee talk on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 7:45 to 9 a.m. for parents of first- and second-year students about college and the college process. Registration required. For more information, log on to www.ignatius.org or call (312) 421-5900.
ST. PETER’S CHURCH NEWS
St. Peter’s Church in the Loop,110 W. Madison St.,will hold a Chiesa Nuova Christmas Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 12:15 p.m. with traditional Christmas music performed by local musicians. An Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 12, will feature a Mass at 7:30 a.m., Festive Mass at 11:40 a.m., and a Mass at 1:15 p.m. On Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24, Masses are at 4 and 7 p.m. On Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25, Masses are at 9 and 11 a.m. On New Year’s Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31, Masses are at 9 and 11 a.m. On New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1, Mass is at 9 a.m.All are invited to attend. The church is at 110 W. Madison St. Call (312) 853-2376 or log on to stpetersloop.org.
ST. JAMES ON WABASH NEWS
St. James Catholic Church celebrates Sunday Mass at 9:30 a.m. in the church at 21 E. 29th St. The church celebrates daily Mass Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m. in the Tolton Chapel at the rectory at 2942 S. Wabash Ave. All Masses available both in person and on Zoom. The parish offers Eucharistic adoration and reconciliation on the first Friday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. in the church. The parish office, 2907 S. Wabash Ave., is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The Rev. John Edmunds, ST, pastor of St. James, is offering a free three-week Bible study, “What Does the Bible Say About the Mass?”, on Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom beginning on Monday, Dec. 4. Register at https://bit.ly/SJBIBLESTUDY.
St. James will host a Taize prayer service on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. in the church. Light refreshments will follow. This service is free and open to all.
The parish will celebrate Christmas Eve Mass at 6:30 p.m. in the church on Sunday, Dec. 24. Mass for the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25, is at 9:30 a.m.in the church.
All Zoom links and more information can be found at www.stjameswabash.org. Email [email protected] or call (312) 896-1910 for more information.
COAT DRIVE
Second Presbyterian Church is hosting its winter coat drive through Thursday, Feb. 29, Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is at 1936 S. Michigan Ave. Call (312) 225-8951 or log on to 2ndPresbyterian.org.
SHRINE NEWS
The Rev. Richard Fragomeni of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii recently spoke at the New York State Eucharistic Congress. Approximately 8,500 people attended the three-day event. The shrine will hold its Mary and Christmas concert Saturday, Dec. 2, with buffet at 6 p.m., concert at 7:45 p.m., and a reception to follow. On Sunday, Dec. 10, at both the 8:30 and 11 a.m. Masses, the shrine will celebrate the Feast of Santa Lucia, feature the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, and accept food items for Our Lady of the Holy Family food pantry. On the second Sunday of every month, the Sunday Schola quartet sings at both the 8:30 and 11 a.m. Masses. For information, email [email protected] or call (312) 421-3757, ext. 310. The shrine is at 1224 W. Lexington St.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The South Side is considered a mental health service desert, and the stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities keeps many from seeking help. Trilogy, which provides mental health services, is ready to change this situation but needs the community’s help now. Trilogy recently purchased a 24,000-square-foot building in the Chatham neighborhood at 8541 S. State St. and has invested in additional upgrades to the space totaling $3.3 million. Now, Trilogy is turning to the community to raise the final $1.7 million that will make it possible to complete critical renovations and open the new space by launching a capital campaign. For information, call (773) 804-8589, ext. 1008.
INTERMISSIONS
Experience performance art under the direction of Alexandra Pirici Wednesday through Sunday, Dec. 13 through 17, at the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, 4811 S. Ellis Ave., Cobb Hall, 4th floor. Call (773) 702-8670 or log on to renaissance society.org.
SIDEWALK CLOSED
The University of Illinois Chicago is repairing the sidewalk adjacent to 728 W. Roosevelt Rd. The sidewalk will remain closed until late December or early January.
GROCERY STIPEND
Wellness West has launched a Food Connections program, which offers eligible Wellness West members a monthly grocery stipend of $79, delivered through Instacart Health Fresh Funds, that can be used to buy nutritious foods for delivery via Instacart. The digital stipend can be combined with other food benefit programs, including SNAP or eligible supplemental health benefits, allowing members to complete their full shop in one order, creating a more convenient and accessible grocery shopping experience. For information, log on to https://wellnesswest.org/ or call (312) 967-1920.
PEOPLE
Gazette Chicago reporter Sheila Elliott was among the winners from across the United States in this year’s Poets and Patrons contest.
Harold Washington College President Daniel López Jr., PhD, has been elected to serve on the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ Governing Board.
Send news of events held “around the neighborhood” by the 15th of the month before the month they are to occur to William S. Bike, Around the Neighborhood, Gazette Chicago, 1335 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607-3318, fax (312) 243-4270, or email [email protected].