Mundelein Seminary presents award for service to Catholic Charities and Chicago area
Current social distancing safeguards are requiring Mundelein Seminary to host its 27th annual Celebration of Mundelein as an online virtual event at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 16.
This evening of tribute will feature stories from the seminary, interviews with alumni priests, musical performances by seminarians and the presentation of the Joseph Cardinal Bernardin As Those Who Serve Award to Monsignor Michael M. Boland (Mundelein Seminary Class of 1986).
Anyone can register to attend the virtual event by signing up to receive a link to the online video stream at www.usml.edu/celebration. The event will also be streamed on the Mundelein Seminary website and social media outlets on July 16.
Through his visionary leadership of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Monsignor Boland made an immeasurable impact on the Chicago area. The transformational work of Catholic Charities expanded tremendously under his watchful direction, offering hope to those on the margins of society and extending the Catholic Church's social outreach to at-risk groups and communities in creative ways.
"In these difficult times, the Celebration of Mundelein will be a much-needed opportunity to focus on the positive contributions of our alumni priests and the hope our seminarians bring for the future of the Church," said Father John Kartje, rector of Mundelein Seminary. "It is fitting to honor Monsignor Boland for his legacy of charitable work in Chicago, as he epitomizes the faith-filled servant leaders that we aspire to form at Mundelein."
As the seminary's largest fundraiser of the year, the Celebration of Mundelein raises vital funds to benefit transformative formation programs for the more than 150 seminarians studying for the priesthood from 30 dioceses across the country and around the world. This year's event features a matching grant opportunity from an anonymous donor, so all funds raised through the event will be matched up to $50,000.
Additionally, Mundelein Seminary will stream a special online Mass at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, honoring the medical personnel who are heroically responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Father John Kartje will celebrate the Mass and Monsignor Boland will deliver the homily. Many Mundelein Seminary alumni priests have worked side-by-side with these medical professionals across the country as they provide the Sacraments and minister to sick and dying patients in their parish communities. This Mass is an opportunity to pray for all those who have died, their families and the medical first-responders who are putting their own health at risk to help others.
Register online at https://usml.edu/event/medical-personnel-mass/ to receive a link to the Mass video stream on July 19.
About Mundelein Seminary and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary, located on the campus of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, is the major seminary and graduate school of theology for the formation of priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Led by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich as chancellor and Father John Kartje as rector, Mundelein Seminary educates nearly 150 seminarians from 30 dioceses across the country and around the world. University of Saint Mary of the Lake is the oldest university in the Chicago area and is composed of six schools and institutes, all devoted to ministry formation.