Mission of Our Lady of the Angels exists to provide material and spiritual support to the West Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago – one of the most challenged neighborhoods in the United States. The Mission feeds about 1000 families a month, provides additional material and pastoral support to families, youth, and senior citizens, and, most importantly, brings the love of Christ to a neighborhood desperately in need of hope.
For more information on Mission Our Lady of the Angels go HERE
RUN WITH TEAM MISSION OLA IN BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON
MISSION OLA HAS A LIMITED # of GUARANTEED ENTRIES
Regular, guaranteed registration closes December 3, 2019 – SIGN UP TODAY!
MISSION OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS A LIMITED # of GUARANTEED ENTRIES – Regular, guaranteed registration closes December 3, 2019 – SIGN UP TODAY!
Benefits of joining the team:
– T-shirts, pre-race Mass & dinner, place to stay the night before the race, and more…
– Sr. Stephanie (2:53 marathoner, NCAA D1 cross-country and track athlete, as featured in Runner’s World ) can write a training plan for you
– Each team member will get a personal prayer warrior!
Please see the Mission OLA website for more details https://missionola.com/marathon.html
Mission of Our Lady of the Angels strives to bring the hope of Christ to the poor, undereducated, resource depleted, and dangerous neighborhood of West Humboldt Park. The Mission provides this predominantly African-American and Baptist neighborhood a Catholic presence of prayer and service that would otherwise be left without the presence of the Church. Specifically, located at the site of the historic 1958 school fire, the Mission currently runs food pantries serving 1000 families per month, an afterschool program for hundreds of at risk youth (in partnership with the YMCA and the Greater Chicago Food Depository), a Catholic resource center (place for prayer, retreat, Bible study), a community meal program (where families join us in prayer followed by a home cooked meal together), a senior citizens program, as well as many special events.
The Mission is currently renovating the school building on site to be able to increase the capacity and scope of the aforementioned outreach.
ASSISTANCE TO THE MATERIALLY POOR INCLUDES:
-Food Pantry- The Mission currently provides food to about 1000 families each month. (SEE THIS LINK)
-Distribution of Clothing/ Household Goods- Gently used clothing as well as furniture and household goods are distributed at set times as well as for emergencies. (SEE THIS LINK)
-Emergency Assistance- The Mission provides emergency food, material assistance, and referencing to other agencies as requested.
-Afterschool Programming- Hundreds of youth participate in a variety of afterschool, evening and summer programs, many of which are in partnership with the YMCA and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
-Senior Citizens Programming- Each week the Mission hosts about 40 seniors for a program which includes: exercise, computer classes, a Bible study, and lunch. (SEE THIS LINK)
-Community Dinners- The Mission’s newest outreach strives to provide a safe, healthy, and wholesome environment for the families in our neighborhood. The community dinners give neighbors an opportunity to pray, enjoy a nutritious meal, and foster healthy family and community relationships based on Christian values. (SEE THIS LINK)
-Special Events- The Mission hosts several special events each year including block parties, a Thanksgiving party, and a Christmas party. (SEE THIS LINK)
OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THE TREASURES OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH INCLUDE:
-Retreats- Using the former convent building, the Mission provides space for various retreat opportunities (SEE RETREAT PAGE)
-Street Evangelization- During the summer we regularly close the street to host block parties and provide a safe, supervised play area for the children in the neighborhood. During these times, we have the opportunity to share the treasures of our faith. (SEE THIS LINK)
-Preaching- Fr. Bob and the Franciscans of the Eucharist go out to speak at parishes and other Catholic/ Christian groups regularly. (SEE THIS LINK)
-Summer Bible Camps- The Mission hosts Bible camps for the neighborhood children several weeks every summer. (SEE THIS LINK)
-Eucharistic Adoration- Building to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (SEE THIS LINK), the Mission hosts times for volunteers (and soon our neighbors) to join us in prayer to and with our Eucharistic Lord. We believe if you can’t see Jesus in the Eucharist, you can’t see Him in the poor.
LISTEN TO SR. STEPHANIE AND ADAM CARSWELL ON DREAM CHASERS
YOU CAN RUN THE BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON
OR YOU CAN HELP BY CONTRIBUTING HERE
In 2011, Team OLA was started to:
• Raise awareness of the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels
• Offer up sacrifices of time, energy, and physical discomfort for the Mission and those it serves
• Raise funds for the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels
• Have fun!
Between 2011 and 2018, Team OLA sacrificed thousands of hours training for the Mission. The team has been able to raise $654,200 in the process! We are so grateful for all of Team OLA’s efforts.
To contribute go HERE
More stories, news articles and information below:
• https://www.wonderwe.com/teamola2019
• https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/09/09/sister-jess-lambert-engineering-career-to-become-nun/
• https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/chicago-nun-prepares-10th-marathon
• https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/blog/expanded-pantry-first-step-in-major-community-project/