VBP is Back! Ember Saturday, March 16th, 2pm @ St. Ita's in Edgewater PLUS Save-the-Dates for 2019!

We Are Back in Action!

After a hiatus, we are thrilled to announce an exciting campaign of Holy Masses in the Extraordinary Form planned for the coming year! Working with a quarterly format, we will be focusing on the venerable tradition of the Ember Days.

Since the earliest days of the Church, the Ember Days were observed according to the rhythm of the four seasons. Traditionally, the prayers and fasting were to be offered for all bishops, priests, and deacons, especially priests ordained during this season. Further, these special days allow us to thank our Heavenly Father for the countless gifts, spiritual and material, which we have received but also grant us an occasion to reflect on the growth in our interior life.

You can read more about the Ember Days here:
https://catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2017/12/20/how-observing-the-ember-days-can-enhance-your-spiritual-life/.

Ember Saturday in Lent
St. Ita Catholic Church in Edgewater

Photo credit: Interior - DNAInfo; Exterior - Eric Allix Rogers, by kind permission.

We are so grateful to the Conventual Franciscans and parish of St. Ita Catholic Church
for welcoming us to their stunning French neo-Gothic church,
designed in the 1920s by renowned Chicago architect Henry Schlacks.

Bonus factoid: The impressive Wicks Organ at the parish was funded in a large part
by legendary performer, Bing Crosby!

The setting for the Mass will be Antonio Lotti's splendid Mass for Three Voices and will include Palestrina's heavenly Ave Regina Caelorum.

Ample free parking is available in the lot to the North of the church off Broadway.

Save the Dates!

Saturday, June 15th
Saturday, September 21st

Ember Saturday after Pentecost, June 15th, 1:30pm
at Marytown / The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe in Libertyville.

Ember Saturday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 21st, 1pm
at St. Thérèse Chinese Catholic Mission in Chinatown.

Thank you to all the priests, friars and parishioners of these beautiful and historic churches for welcoming us! We are grateful for your hospitality.

VBP's Last Event:
Rorate Mass in December 2017

Thank you to all 54 people who attended our Advent “Rorate” Mass in December of 2017, concluding a successful and rewarding year! St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Bridgeport was luminous as the candlelight turned to sunrise. A special thanks to the priests and parish of St. Mary’s for their gracious hospitality.

Photo credits: Marc Monaghan

How Can You Help?

Do you appreciate VBP’s work? It takes a lot of time, energy and funds to make these Masses happen! Interested in how you could get involved?

Volunteer: If you are interested in donating your time and talent in any way, please contact us at info@vbpchicago.org. We could always use help with set-up/take-down, advertising, networking and fundraising! Have an idea? Let us know!

Donate: While your faithful VBP organizers, our wonderful chaplain, priests, and acolytes are all volunteers, these Masses still cost money! Costs include the outstanding professional singers, provisions for the festive receptions, and printing and technology costs. You can donate to support this work here. Thank you for your generosity!

VBP is a registered non-profit organization in the state of Illinois. Donations are not tax-deductible.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Let us know at info@vbpchicago.org!

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http://eepurl.com/cmizEP

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