<![CDATA[St. Gregory's Hall: A Home for Catholic Culture - Blog]]>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:36:28 -0600EditMySite<![CDATA[Lenten Retreat offers meditation on the Seven Sorrows of Mary through prayer & art]]>Sat, 29 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/sevensorrows
"What better way to encounter Christ this Lenten season than through the eyes of His Mother? I previously was not familiar with the 7 Sorrows Devotion, but since attending this retreat, I've enjoyed incorporating the meditations into my prayer time, contemplating Mary's maternal heart and how it always points us to her Son." -retreat attendee

Fr. Tom Czeck, OFM Conv. became interested in the devotion of the Seven Sorrows when he arrived at the National Shrine of Saint Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown two years ago. In addition to perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the chapel there holds many beautiful works of sacred art, including a series of paintings depicting the seven sorrows. This prompted him to learn more and take up the devotion.
On Saturday, March 29, Fr. Czeck led a spiritual conference, sharing the history, spirituality, and unique power of the devotion to the Sorrowful Mother. He also led attendees through recitation of the Servite Rosary, meditations on the sorrows, and a litany composed by Pope Pius VII.

Attendees were invited to round out their day with confession, lunch, and a painting workshop led by artist-in-residence Sarah Crow, who also shared about her personal devotion to the Sorrowful Mother. Participants created small images using acrylic paint inspired by a mosaic medallion of Mary's heart with seven wounds located at the chapel at Marytown.

​Concentrating on painting in silence for several hours allowed retreat attendees to contemplate more deeply Mary's role in Christ's life, death, and resurrection and how her sorrows can help us reflect on our own sinfulness and be renewed in the hope of Christ's saving power.
Sarah Crow said that "it was so healing to spend the day in the compassionate heart of our Mother, pondering with her the mystery of redemptive suffering through prayer, Reconciliation, and sacred art. As everyone painted their unique icons of the pierced heart of Mary, I felt like I was seeing images of our own hearts blossom into color and beauty by being united with hers."
]]><![CDATA[Series invites Catholics and fellow travelers to see the world, and faith, anew through the poetic imagination]]>Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:24:50 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/poetry
Just as towering cathedrals and vivid paintings reveal the beauty of God, so does the written word.
In the fall of 2023, St. Gregory’s Hall began a Poetry & Faith reading series to explore the mystery and beauty of faith in contemporary poetry. Poets from across the country have been invited to read their work and explore how poetry both forms our faith and forms us in that faith.
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David Mutschlecner reading his poetry.
From the psalms to the work of St. John of the Cross, poetry has always played a central role in the Catholic imagination. It expresses fundamental truths about who God is, who we are in relation to him, and what it is like to live the world as His creatures.

​“Catholics are deeply attuned to poetry,” said Michael O’Leary, a parishioner of Mary, Mother of God Parish and part of the team that created the series. “The language of the entirety of scripture is deeply poetic. Psalms are the heart of the liturgy, and they are poetry. Parables too.”
 
Visiting poets are asked to address the relationship between faith and their poetry and to read some of their work. The diverse array of readers has included Peter O’Leary, David Mutschlecner, Toby Martinez de las Rivas, and James Matthew Wilson.
PictureSaint Thomas and teh Forbidden Birds (Word on Fire Press, 2024)
In May, Wilson, who is the Cullen Foundation Chair in English Literature and the founding director of the MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, read from his recent work Saint Thomas and the Hidden Birds. His reading including a poem inspired by Jacob of Serugh, the 5th century theologian who wrote entirely in poetic verse.
 
Through contemporary poetry, St. Gregory’s Hall hopes to encourage Catholics and fellow travelers to open themselves up to the possibility of faith encountered in the reading of poetry. The founders of the series wanted to offer a unique opportunity for audiences what was different from the traditional coffee shop or university readings.
 
“Obviously there are a lot of deeply spiritual questions in contemporary poetry,” O’Leary said. “And this is a place to share that. I hope this helps open people, especially the non-religious, up to this kind of conversation.”
 
The series has attracted parishioners and non-parishioners alike and fostered a convivial environment for anyone to come into. The size of the audiences has been far beyond expectations with close to 35 people attending one of the most recent readings. Patricia Peterson, a supporter of St. Gregory’s Hall, said she is excited by the response.
 
“St. Gregory’s Hall has embarked on a remarkable effort to engage parishioners and friends in art – cultural expression that offer connection to the spirit and the spiritual,” Peterson said.
 
Amy Alznauer, another member of the organizing team, experienced first-hand how poetry can awaken the senses to the beauty and mystery of faith in way that ideas cannot. The first time she set foot in St. Gregory the Great church was for the poetry and jazz series. She was not even Catholic at the time but was “blown away” by the beauty of the church which seemed to “infuse the poetry with a mean that went beyond itself.” Now, twenty years later, as a Catholic and long-time parishioner, she is thrilled that St. Gregory Hall has again initiated a poetry series.
 
An accomplished author in her own right, Alznauer has co-authored an award-winning memoir, written several children’s books, and has written extensively on Flannery O’Connor.
 
“Hearing poetry aloud, hearing how the author breaks the lines and emphasizes words and slows or speeds the cadence changes how we experience and understand it,” Alznauer said. “It’s something like the difference between being part of Mass and merely reading the Mass in a missalette.”
 
The organizers have approached the series with an open mind and said the process has been unexpectedly interesting and fun. Going into the new year, they plan to reach out to new poets to do readings and expand it to include novelists and contemporary poets reading and reflecting on great works from different historical periods. However, the aim of the series remains the interplay between artistic expression and the divine.
 
“In art, music, poetry, and literature we encounter a form of prayer – whether it be a prayer of longing and darkness or hope and celebration,” Alznauer said. “It can enlarge our perspective and return us to Mass, or to the Soup Kitchen, with a greater belief that far from walling us off from the world, our churches reveal the God who infuses all of our enterprises with beauty and love.”

Stay tuned for announcements as we reboot this series in 2025!
]]><![CDATA[Convivium Marianum 2024]]>Sun, 15 Dec 2024 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/cm2024Picture
We were blessed with the biggest crowd yet at our third annual Convivium Marianum, a unique evening of prayer, lessons, and sacred music honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary!

The combined choir of 30 adults and children performed Mozart's Ave Maria canon from the four corners of the church as a prelude to the celebration.

READ MORE HERE.
]]><![CDATA[Unlocking the mysteries of Caravaggio's "Supper at Emmaus"]]>Fri, 22 Nov 2024 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/caravaggio
On Friday, November 22, artist-in-residence Sarah Crow gave a talk on her recently completed reproduction of Caravaggio's The Supper at Emmaus (1601). She described her methods of using historical materials and methods to match the tone and beauty of the original work as closely as possible.

She also explained some of the subtle theological symbols hidden in plain sight in the painting, which draw from existing iconography in creative and surprising ways. 

Finally, Sarah reflected on the spiritual aspects of spending time with the Baroque master through one of his most famous works, emphasizing his surprising tenderness in his treatment of the subject matter.

You can read a full account on her blog here. 
]]><![CDATA[Mass for Artists on the Feast of St. Luke builds creative community centered on Christ]]>Fri, 18 Oct 2024 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/mass-for-artists-on-the-feast-of-st-luke-builds-creative-community-centered-on-christ
On October 18, St. Gregory's Hall co-hosted a special Mass for artists was celebrated on the Feast of Saint Luke, patron saint of painters.

The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Mark Bartosic and was organized with Chicago Catholic Artists. 

READ MORE ABOUT THE EVENT HERE
]]><![CDATA[Conference will be first ever dedicated to Catholic Worker Movement co-founder Peter Maurin]]>Mon, 01 Jul 2024 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/maurin-conferencePicture
St. Gregory's Hall and Canterbury House are partnering with Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University to host a unique gathering exploring the life, writing, and sources of Peter Maurin September 6-8.

SEE CONFERENCE DETAILS HERE

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE
]]><![CDATA[Transforming the choir loft into a holy place: How the sacred music program is enriching liturgy, inspiring the faithful]]>Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:49:06 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/choir-loft
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​“The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.”
​– Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1156
One of the most famous quotes attributed to St. Augustine is, “He who sings well, prays twice.” By ‘well’ the Doctor of the Church meant with our whole being. He knew that when singing is done as a full-hearted offering to God it becomes prayer. This is why music is an essential part of Catholic worship.
The experience of divine mysteries in the Church’s prayer and worship is greatly enriched by the sacred music she has inherited over the centuries. Firstly, from the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant – composition and singing of psalms – and secondly, from the development of Christian liturgical music over the last two millennia.
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The goal of St. Gregory’s Hall is to draw on this tradition to deepen the experience of the Church’s liturgical life both to catechize Catholics and evangelize the larger community. Under the direction of Composer-in-residence Kevin Allen, parishioners and others have the opportunity to hear and learn beautiful sacred choral music in its appropriate liturgical setting with professional musicians and singers.
Throughout its history, St. Gregory the Great church – now part of Mary, Mother of God Parish – has had a legacy of evangelization through the arts. This included a large, popular choir singing at Mass. However, the group was disbanded during the COVID-19 lockdown and struggled to rebuild afterwards. This was when Kevin Allen was invited to be choir master.

In addition to rehearsing the singers and picking the pieces they sing (repertoire), Allen said his role gives him the opportunity to teach parishioners about the Church’s sacred music tradition – both in technique and appreciation.
“The purpose of the choir is to sing the liturgy,” said Allen, whose original compositions have been played around the world. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The Church has an ancient musical tradition, and this gives us a form to use. It’s less about my vision as a director and more about what the liturgy needs, and the Church tells us what that is.”

When Allen arrived at St. Gregory the Great there was only a cantor and musical accompaniment for Masses. There was no standing choir roster so he made an announcement about auditions and hoped interest would come through word of mouth. The choir today is made up of both long-time parishioners and those new to the Faith.
"The Church has an ancient musical tradition, and this gives us a form to use.
​It’s...more about what the liturgy needs, and the Church tells us what that is.”
Choir member Courtney Roberson said sacred music was a major part of her conversion experience. She was impressed by the choral Masses being offered by St. Gregory’s Hall and asked Allen if the Sunday choir was open to anyone.

“It appealed to my artistic mindset,” said Roberson, who was confirmed in the Church this past Easter. “I grew up singing in church and community choirs, so music is a major part of how I worship.”

Being in the choir has been a major part of Roberson’s formation as a Catholic and has deepened the education she received in RCIA.  She said it is powerful knowing they are singing pieces that Christians have been singing for centuries. Roberson also praised Allen’s insight into the role of music in the liturgy.

“Kevin is very reverent,” Roberson said. “He understands the choir is making the place a sacred space. When you attend Mass, you are witnessing Christ’s sacrifice. It is important that your music reflects why you’re there. We’re there to worship Him. Not to be entertained.”

Margie Creed has sung in the St. Gregory choir for the last twenty years and agrees that sacred music is a “very important” part of Catholic worship.

“I think that singing as part of worship fosters more of a feeling of community than just spoken responses – both within the choir and with the congregation,” said Creed, who is a current choir member. “Whenever I am at a service of any kind, I feel more like I am participating rather than just attending if I am able to sing.”

The St. Gregory choir has doubled in size in just two years and continues to develop their repertoire with more complicated pieces. Allen said the choir members have risen to the occasion and that this growth is only possible because of the Christian charity and mutual trust they have developed.
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​“It’s been a huge stretch in many ways, but they have been happy with the outcome,” Allen said. “There is plenty to learn but fortunately the group is open and there is good will. That’s why we’ve been able to progress is such a short time both liturgically and musically.”

Allen also complimented the camaraderie within the choir.

“We have a great group of folks,” Allen said. “We do have a good time at Thursday night rehearsals. During our breaks, we have coffee and cake. We get to hear about what is going on in everyone’s lives.”

Members of the St. Gregory Choir were also instrumental in forming the Chicago Catholic Choir (CCC), a volunteer choir deeply committed to the Catholic faith. The group is dedicated to bringing passion, faith, and tradition to the experience of choral music and regularly performs at St. Gregory the Great church.

Roberson, also a member of the CCC, said the programs of St. Gregory’s Hall continue to help her build connections and relationships within her new faith community. She also stressed the importance of the Hall as a way for our society to experience Jesus Christ through beauty, goodness, and truth.
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“St. Gregory’s Hall is filling a need by showcasing Catholic art, music, and culture,” Roberson said. “The choral programs and Masses are moving and there is a need for them in our community. The Hall was part of my own conversion experience, and it will continue to do that for others.”
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How can you get involved?
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  • Sing! Both the St. Gregory the Great choir (email) and the Chicago Catholic Choir (email) are looking for new members to join their ranks.
  • Learn! Check out the sacred music workshops and special choral liturgies being held throughout the year.
  • Donate! Make a contribution to support the Sacred Music Program of St. Gregory’s Hall.
]]><![CDATA["Dialogue around Scripture brings us closer as a community"]]>Thu, 02 May 2024 20:48:10 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/dialogue-around-scripture-brings-us-closer-as-a-community
​As part of its outreach mission, Canterbury House hosts a weekly Bible Study on Tuesday evenings at 7 PM. They intentionally meet after the Soup Kitchen finishes serving next door to allow those guests to join the group too. About 10-15 people consistent come together for prayer, fellowship, and active discussion.

Walker Nelson, a senior at DePaul University, is a regular member of Bible Study who also volunteers during the Hospitality Hours at Canterbury House for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Walker offered this reflection on his time in the group and how it has affected the way he sees God's love in the world...
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​Walker Nelson

I began attending Bible Study in the beginning of December 2023. It serves as the perfect medium for anyone who is looking to enhance their faith. At Canterbury House, we review and talk about the readings for the upcoming Sunday’s Mass. This gives each of us attendees a way to familiarize ourselves with and to contemplate the word of God outside of the Church setting and prepare ourselves for Mass each Sunday. ​
We talk about our favorite passages, what may have resonated with us, how we can translate those passages into our daily lives, and the ways in which we are struggling or succeeding in doing so. This dialogue around Scripture brings us closer as a community. Through the Word we can see our interconnectedness and through sharing our experiences we can acknowledge our own flaws in the mutual pursuit of growth. 

Additionally, the fact that most of the attendees are experiencing homelessness and precarity enhances all of our understanding of God’s love and our mission as Catholics to love as Jesus did – as widely and often as possible. In his encyclical Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI wrote that “Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave.”  And further that, “Only if I serve my neighbor can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much he loves me.” 

In a society that is becoming increasingly individualistic and meritocratic and subsequently increasingly ignorant of the dejected, poor, and lonely, coming together to study scripture becomes increasingly important. In reading Scripture and developing our understanding of God's love for us, our capacity to reciprocate that love grows, and we can then live more like how Jesus lived. By very literally giving everyone a seat at the table, we can give those who are dejected, lonely, and poor ‘the look of love which they crave,’ the same way that Jesus did. In that way, the Canterbury House Bible Study not only gives attendees more than just a better understanding of Scripture, but also is an avenue to carry out love for their neighbor in a society where it is difficult to do so.

My favorite memory from Bible Study is from one of our meetings during mid-January. It was brutally cold outside – about -8 degrees, but considering wind chill it felt like about -20. I was dispirited by the short walk I had to make from my apartment to St. Thomas of Canterbury church and frankly debated skipping Bible Study altogether in aversion of the cold. When I got there, I was taken aback by the warm attitudes everyone was displaying. There was a supreme sense of appreciation in the room. Despite a brutally cold day, everyone found solace in our hour and a half together spent inside as a community. I remember looking around the table and seeing such beauty in the gratitude everyone placed in each other’s company, in being inside just for a short time, and in having an escape from the cold outside world. I felt so thankful not only that I was able to be a part of the Bible Study and the mutual pursuit of knowledge, but also of everything I take for granted: my apartment, my job, my able body, etc. That cold day in January helped open my eyes to the importance of community, and how something as small as an hour and a half together each week can make a big difference in someone's life, especially people who have less than myself.

After five months, I can attest to the power of this Bible Study. I believe that my ability to see all people as Jesus did, as beings of incomprehensible beauty and worthiness of love, has been enhanced significantly by attending. When I take the “L” to work or school and I see people that society has cast out, I feel a personal obligation to love them as Jesus did. Since I too, with all my flaws and wrongdoings, am loved by God. Without the Bible Study I can’t say whether or not I would have developed this way of seeing and understanding God’s love for myself and my obligation to reciprocate that love.
]]><![CDATA[The House of Joy (La casa de la alegría)]]>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 16:36:41 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/house-of-joyCanterbury House hosts a growing community of mutual aid & neighborhood support for migrant families  PictureMigrant families staying in shelters come for home-cooked Wednesday Night Dinners at Canterbury House.
What began with a pregnant woman coming to the door for help, has become so much more. Through a collaboration with Mary, Mother of God Parish and the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago, Canterbury House serves as a temporary home of Maricarmen, Jean Pool, and their four children. The family is originally from Venezuela, but after a grueling multi-year journey recently arrived in the United States.

Their story is not unique. Thousands have fled unrest in Central and South America seeking safety and stability. All new arrivals are looking for basic necessities but also to build connections in their new city. This is why Christians must rise to the occasion. As Christ said in Matthew's Gospel, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me."
In the spirit of Christ, Canterbury House Director James Murphy, with help from Maricarmen and Jean Pool, have been hosting a dinner for other migrants every Wednesday. Many who come for this home-cooked meal are staying in local shelters. James said Canterbury House offers respite for these guests who are seeking a welcoming community and enjoy hanging out and cooking together.

“They make this big house feel alive,” James said. “They have so little, but they share it with each other. They bring a lot of joy and Wednesday nights are hilarious.”
“This is a group of people who really depend on and love one another. They depend on God and are filled with faith."
Several neighbors and parishioners have also stepped up to welcome the migrants and help translate during these dinners.

​“There are multiple layers of emotions and things going on at the same time,” said Mercedes Mac Laughlin, a Mary, Mother of God parishioner. “There are a lot of kids running around having fun so its loud sometimes. There is stress. Parents are looking for jobs to provide for their families and there is an underlying fear of being denied asylum.”
PictureChildren and their parents bring joy to Canterbury House and the community of Mary, Mother of God Parish.
Mercedes admires the way everyone comes together to encourage each other. She said each family is at a different stage of settling-in, but they all have the same goal: to try to give their kids a better future.
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“There is a lot of solidarity – sharing resources, information, trying to help each other,” Mercedes said. “There is also a lot of gratitude and faith. The first time my husband and I went to a dinner, the blessing of the meal that Jean Pool did blew me away. He had an amazing trust in God and appreciation for the small things.”

​With the help of each other and Canterbury House, these families have access to food, clothing, and friendship. For the children, the past few months have been the most stable time of their lives, and they really appreciate going to school.

“This is a group of people who really depend on and love one another, and they worship together,” James said. “They depend on God and are filled with faith. They walked thousands of miles with nothing but faith.”
“Seeing their resilience, their faith, their joy, and solidarity towards those that have less, has been a lesson on what is important."
PictureAdults in RCIA program are preparing to enter the Church with the help of Deacon Ubaldo.
Every Sunday, the families and James go to Mass together. They have also hosted a Christmas Novena and a huge party for the Feast of the Epiphany and Easter at Canterbury House. Many are also preparing to receive the Holy Sacraments. Five of the adults have entered RCIA and meet before dinner for catechetical instruction. (RCIA is the Church’s formation program for adults entering the faith and this iteration has been adjusted for the families who may have to move if work takes them elsewhere.) Six of the children are preparing for Baptism, two will be making their First Communion, and three will be Confirmed. They will all receive their Sacraments on the Feast of the Corpus Cristi on May 30th.

“Seeing their resilience, their faith, their joy, and solidarity towards those that have less, has been a lesson on what is important,” Mercedes said. “We should all be providing food, giving rides, and walking with them in their faith journey. These are ways that we can be supportive and help integrate them into our community.”

​With this support, Jean Pool and Maricarmen are adjusting to their new life in Chicago. Recently, Jean Pool passed his driver’s license test and started delivering food to local restaurants. The job came from one of the vendors that support the Parish’s Soup Kitchen, and the connection was made as Jean Pool helped James pick up food donations. Maricarmen is forming a worker-owned cooperative cleaning business along with two other migrant mothers. Be on the lookout for updates as the business launches and they start accepting clients!

By far, the biggest need for migrants is jobs. Both men and women need ways to earn money to meet their housing, food, and transportation needs. Unfortunately, many of those who are working are already experiencing exploitation, being paid significantly below the minimum wage. If you or someone you know, has work that needs to be done or if you have a lead on jobs in the city, please contact Director James Murphy. All information is helpful. Secondary needs include women’s hygiene products and baby items like diapers, strollers, and car seats.
“When an alien resides with you in your land, do not mistreat such a one. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God.” ​- Leviticus 19: 33-34
]]><![CDATA[Convivium Marianum 2023]]>Sun, 17 Dec 2023 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.stgregoryhall.org/blog/cm2023"A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."
On December 17, for the second year in a row, we held our unique service, Convivium Marianum: A Prayerful Contemplation on the Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Scripture and Song.

The evening included readings from scripture, prayers from the divine office of Marian feasts throughout the year, and an exhortation by Bishop Mark Bartosic, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and member of the St. Gregory's Hall board of advisors.

The musical program included beautiful works of sacred music spanning centuries and cultures, including works by Hans Leo Hassler, Claudio Monteverdi, anonymous English hymn "There is no Rose," and original compositions by composer-in-residence and choirmaster Kevin Allen.
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Learn more about Convivium Marianum 2024!
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