September 28, 2008

Dear Friends:

Mary, Seat of Wisdom recently hosted the September meeting of the Park Ridge Ministerial Association.  Thank you to our hospitality committee for the wonderful luncheon they served.  Along with my colleagues in ministry, I am asking your participation in two important gatherings in the near future regarding the PADS initiative.

At its meeting on Monday night the City Council will be taking up an amendment regarding providing overnight shelter for homeless persons.  The language that has been recommended by the Planning and Zoning Committee would prevent St Paul of the Cross and most of the other churches from providing overnight shelter.  For this reason I asked you last weekend to contact public officials. 

Today, I am seeking your attendance at the City Council meeting tomorrow evening, September 29 at 7:00 PM.  The city council meeting has been re-located to Maine East High School to accommodate the numbers of persons who are anticipated.  Maine East is located at Dempster and Potter in Park Ridge.

The second important upcoming gathering will be the PADS Prayer Vigil.  The vigil will begin at St Paul of the Cross on Sunday evening, October 5th at 7:00 PM.  October 5th marks the opening of PADS shelters in the northwest suburbs. The opening of the shelter at St. Paul was delayed to permit further community input and dialogue.  The PADS Prayer Vigil will give public expression to the broad support and cooperation that exists across denominational lines on the issue of homelessness.  It will also express the sadness and disappointment many in our community feel about the delay.

More details about October 5th will appear in next week’s bulletin.

Your brother in Christ,

Sincerely,