St Ferdinand Church Chicago

09/04/2026

09/01/2026

September 1 — A Day of Prayer, Memory, and Responsibility
September 1 holds profound significance for millions of people worldwide.
It is a day that invites us both to pray for the care of creation and to remember one of the darkest moments in Polish history. Holding these two intentions together reminds us that peace, human dignity, and the protection of our common home are inseparable responsibilities entrusted to every generation.

World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
In 2015, Pope Francis established September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging Catholics across the globe to pause and reflect on the gift of our planet. In his letter announcing this annual celebration, the Holy Father explained that the day offers each believer “a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”
This call invites us to look at the earth not only as a resource, but as a sacred trust — a home we share with all people, and one we must protect with wisdom, compassion, and courage.
May this day strengthen our commitment to peace, deepen our gratitude for God’s creation, and remind us that the future depends on the choices we make today.

08/27/2026

Uroczystość Najświętszej Maryi Panny Częstochowskiej, obchodzona 26 sierpnia, jest krótkim, lecz bardzo wymownym świętem dziękczynienia za opiekę Maryi nad Narodem Polskim oraz czcią oddawaną Jej jasnogórskiemu wizerunkowi.

Święto ma swoje korzenie w XVII wieku, kiedy paulini – po obronie Jasnej Góry przed Szwedami – prosili o jego ustanowienie. Choć początkowo zezwolono jedynie na Msze wotywne, papież Pius X zatwierdził uroczystość w 1904 roku, a pierwszy raz obchodzono ją 29 sierpnia 1906 r.