Des Plaines parish welcomes Cardinal Francis George
Doreen Bryers of Des Plaines remembers the first service of the newly created St. Zachary Parish in 1962 - it was held outside because the custodian of a nearby school forgot to leave the doors unlocked for the fledgling congregation.
A lot has changed since then, including construction of a new church and school on Algonquin Road in Des Plaines. The much larger and more diverse congregation gathered Sunday with special guest Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, to celebrate the parish's 50th anniversary.
In his homily, George called for unity and recognition of the interconnectedness of all people. He said a globalizing world means actions by individuals here affect Catholics and non-Catholics across the globe.
"Even very private sins have very public consequences, as we have learned in recent years," George said.
Jackie Baccay of Des Plaines has been a member of St. Zachary Parish since 1999. Her son goes to St. Zachary Catholic School, which serves students up to eighth grade.
Baccay found the homily to be spiritually enlightening.
"It really inspired me to reconnect," Baccay said. "This is a time for us to come together and share our beliefs."
Baccay only wished George could make it out to the smaller parish in Chicago's sprawling archdiocese more often.
Pastor Jack Plotkowski said the cardinal visited about four years ago for the funeral of a retired pastor. He agreed to attend Sunday to participate in the anniversary Mass more than a year ago.
Plotkowski said the congregation - which has grown from 250 families in 1962 to about 1,900 families today - has been celebrating the 50th anniversary with one celebration per month since last June. Sunday's Mass with the archbishop marks the end of the festivities that have also included a picnic, golf outing and children's puppet show.
In closing his homily, George mentioned the changing world, one that is becoming more secular as people turn in and push God out. He said he was proud of St. Zachary Parish and acknowledged the work to be done.
"Together we still have a long way to go," George said.