Fox Valley religion events

Gaelic Mass: The 13th annual Fox Valley Irish Festival is a celebration of Irish heritage characterized by music and dancing, eating, shopping, entertainment and fellowship with friends and family. But while festival vendors will provide attendees with food for their bodies, Sunday's main attraction will provide nourishment for the soul. On Sunday, the Rev. Karl Langsdorf of the St. Patrick Fathers will preside over a Gaelic Mass under the tent at 11:30 a.m. at the St. Catherine of Siena Church, routes 31 and 72 in West Dundee. Doors will open at 10:45 a.m. Admission to the Fox Valley Irish Fest area before Mass is free with a donation to the FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville. Irish Fest continues noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. A spirited line up of musical entertainers, a children's "Wee Folk" play area, and three fun runs are just a few of the other attractions to be hosted at this year's event. For information, visit www.foxvalleyirishfest.com or call (847) 426-2217.

Blood drive: First Congregational Church of Dundee, in conjunction with Heartland Blood Centers, will sponsor a blood drive from 8 a.m. to noon in the lower level common area, 900 S. Eighth St. (Route 31 and Angle Tarn), West Dundee. In celebration of the grand opening of the new St. Charles Center, every Heartland blood donor will be entered into a raffle to win Vespa scooters, a Nintendo Wii game system and an iPod Nano. For details, call (800) 786-4483 or visit heartlandbc.org. To be a blood donor, individuals must be 17 or older (16 with written parental permission); weigh at least 110 pounds; be free of cold, flu and allergies and be in generally good health. Donors who have traveled outside the United States within the past year should call Heartland to determine eligibility. Donors must bring a photo ID. Call Londa Krueger at (847) 428-8211 for details or to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

Go Green September: On Sunday, First Presbyterian Church, 240 Standish St. in Elgin, is kicking off this worship year with a "Go Green September" starting with an outdoor worship service. The service will be held at Tyler Creek Upper Pavilion at 10:30 a.m. Music will be led by local folk musician, Peg Lehman. After the service, there will be a potluck lunch and "Ice Cream Sunday." Double Dips will be awarded to newcomers and members who bring a friend. Multiple games and activities are planned for all age groups. The church will continue their "Go Green" emphasis by collecting recyclable electronics during the entire month of September. Also a Harvest Table, sharing produce from members' gardens and kitchens will be available after each worship service. Church school classes will resume at 9:15 a.m. Sept. 14. This will be a month to recognize the congregation's stewardship of God's creation. Join them for worship at 10:30 a.m. For information, call the church office at (847) 742-6365 or visit www.fpce.org.

Good Shepherd fundraiser: Nick's Pizza & Pub in Elgin is hosting a fundraiser to benefit Good Shepherd Lutheran School in Elgin. On Wednesday, 15 percent of the sales generated from the fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. will go to Good Shepherd School. The only requirement is to bring the flyer that is being distributed and is posted on the Good Shepherd Web site at www.goodshepherd-elgin.org. For information, call Good Shepherd Lutheran School at (847) 741-7795, or Nick's Pizza at (847) 531-5550.

Active meditation: Spiritual aspirants having trouble quieting the so-called "monkeymind" when trying to meditate have an option at an event, "Active Meditation" on Thursday at the Center for Spiritual Evolution, 204 Spring St. in Cary. An offering is requested. Call (847) 516-1950 www.newthoughtmchenry.org. In Masaru Emoto's research and book, "The Hidden Messages in Water", the intentional quality of vibrational energy, including music when directed at water, greatly changes the structure of water molecules. This helps explain why music is known as the universal language, and why many songs 'speak' to people, whose bodies are 62 percent water by weight. Emotions are locked into musical memory and carry special vibrations. For those seeking "Good Vibrations" and spiritual experience, a new Active Meditation group is forming. This type of meditation is for anyone wanting to lose their mind in music. All musical selections are prerecorded and include a mix of familiar sounds for easy listening, in a space allowing for fluid physical rhythms or silent absorption of the vibrations.

Pig roast: Carpenter's House Community Church, 201 N. Kennedy Drive in Carpentersville, will hold its second annual pig roast from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 13. There will be live music and a motorcycle show, as well as a petting zoo and pony rides. Carpentersville Fire Department will have one of their trucks on site. Admission is free, though donations are accepted. For details, call the church at (847) 428-0999.

Meditation workshop: Bhante Sujatha, Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk and leader of the Blue Lotus Temple, will offer a "Loving Kindness Meditation Workshop" from noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Center for Spiritual Evolution, a Religious Science Community, 204 Spring St., Cary. There is a $20 donation. This event is an introduction for the beginner and an opportunity for those unable to attend the ongoing Tuesday morning meditation led by Sujatha at the Center for Spiritual Evolution. The workshop will discuss meditation and provide practical instruction in meditation postures, mindful breathing, concentration, Loving Kindness practice, and opening of one's wisdom eye. Loving Kindness Meditation teaches a traditional practice for cultivating love, and applying it as a life-changing force. Dating back 2,600 years, "metta," an ancient Buddhist meditation practice in loving-kindness, is a timeless method for unlocking your heart's immense natural healing resources. Bring pillow, cushion, blanket or yoga mat. Chairs will be available for those who prefer western-style seating. For details, call (847) 516-1950 or visit www.newthoughtmchenry.org.

Westminster fundraiser: Westminster Christian School in Elgin invites you to participate in the ninth annual Phil Sokody Golf Classic on Sept. 15 at Royal Hawk Country Club in St. Charles. The format is four-man scramble with a shotgun start at 1 p.m., and dinner and auction to follow. This event is a fundraiser for Westminster Christian School athletic programs. For information, call Rick Palmer at (847) 695-0310, ext. 231 or register online at www.golfinvite.com/westminster.

Graphic novels: "Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel" is a discussion series examining major works in graphic literature from some of the foremost creators in the field. Featuring a different graphic novel every three weeks this fall, Professor Terrence Wandtke will lead discussions of novels by authors such as Will Eisner, the "inventor" of the graphic novel, and Art Spiegelman, a Pulitzer Prize winner, among others. The series is supported by a grant from the American Library Association and Nextbook. All discussions begin at 7 p.m. in Classroom 221 in the Harm A. Weber Academic Center at Judson University, 1151 N. State St., Elgin. All discussions are free and open to the general public. Books may be found at local libraries or purchased from online booksellers or local bookstores. The Judson University Library has 15 copies of each discussion book available. The schedule will be: Sept. 16, Will Eisner's A Contract with God; Oct. 7, Art Spiegelman's Complete Maus; Oct. 28, Ben Katchor Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer; Nov. 18, Harvey Pekar's The Quitter; and Dec. 9, Joann Sfar's The Rabbi's Cat. For specific questions, contact Judson University Library Director Larry Wild at lwild@JudsonU.edu or (847) 628-2036.

The History of the Mass: Father Francis J. "Rocky" Hoffman will give a presentation titled "The History of the Mass" from 9 to 10 a.m. Sept. 20 at St. Mary Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. Admission is free. Father Rocky is a nationally known speaker recognized for his sense of humor and ability to explain the faith in simple and inspiring ways. His bi-monthly column appears in The Catholic Answer, which is published by Our Sunday Visitor. He is a regular guest on "Morning Air," which is heard on Relevant Radio Station 930 AM WAUR in the McHenry County area. For information, e-mail Joe Marmion at marmionj@aol.com or (847) 658-0504.