Mission Wish List
Mission of Our Lady of the Angels
Always
Needed!

Canned goods and
non-perishable
foods & supplies.

Maybe your church
or group would like
to sponsor a food
drive for the
Mission.  The food
would be welcome
and is needed!


    So what is still needed?

    We are waiting for the drawings right now. We may still need a bit of review from an
    architect. We'll know more the week of Sept. 15. Then Fr. Bob will be able to make up a
    more definite list of what is still needed.  Here are the priorities:  

  • Boiler
  • Roofing
  • Windows

    If you have any leads for a discount or surplus boiler, roofing materials or windows,
    please let us know.    Fr. Bob is away on silent retreat until Sept. 14, but you can send
    an e-mail to IrishNet@aol.com, call L. Weaver  who can give you more information, at
    312.320.9916, or wait until Fr. Bob gets back and call him at (773) 486-8431.

    In case you didn't know, Fr. Bob graduated from Notre Dame in 1979 with a degree in
    accounting. He worked for Price Waterhouse for a few years until he could no longer
    resist the call to become a priest.   He is extremely skilled at efficiently using resources
    and making the most out of things that others might think worthless.  So if you have
    supplies that might be useful in some aspect of renovating the convent (plumbing,
    electrical, whatever)  just let him know. He might not be able to use them, but they might
    be just what he needs.   Maybe you know a contractor, vendor or supplier who has extra
    materials left over from a project.   Fr. Bob might be able to use them.  It never hurts to
    check. If you are a tradesman of any kind, electrician, architect, plumber,  or engineer
    and would like to get involved, please call Fr. Bob ASAP!  

    Meanwhile other volunteers are working on a plan that will give Fr. Bob the funds for the
    on-going operations -- a plan that will be self-sustaining so that he can focus on the
    good work of the Mission and not have to worry about fund raising month to month and
    year to year.  We will have information about that program (which involves Dominick's)
    posted on the web on or by Saturday, Sept. 13. We are waiting on a few bits of
    information.  Thanks to all those who enthusiastically embraced the concept at the
    Mobile Food Pantry last Saturday.  Even the neighbors we serve in Humboldt Park loved
    it and were the first to sign up!

                                      We can all help build this Mission together.

    He thanks everyone who has taken the time to spread the Word.   The response has
    been awesome.  You have been most generous in giving from the heart.
Why is Fr. Bob stunned?  

When Fr. Bob rode into this town a few years ago, he didn't know what to expect.










He thought, pensively, "I wonder what kind of people live in this City?  Where is
Humboldt Park?   How will I ever renovate the rectory,..... and then Kelly Hall,
......AND then the Convent?" (with virtually no money....)

Less than a month ago (on August 10, 2008) we posted an update on the
renovation of Kelly Hall. We also posted information about Fr. Bob's need to
renovate the convent which will house college kids coming to volunteer with the
Urban Plunge and other service programs. The renovation will also allow Fr. Bob
 to accommodate larger groups that want to come to the Mission  for retreats.     

Since Fr. Bob has virtually no budget to renovate the convent, various groups
and individuals volunteered to take on portions of the convent so that it, too,
could be complete by Christmas when Kelly Hall is ready (see the
August 2008
page for the update on Kelly Hall and the Convent.)

On August 10th, we asked you to spread the word about the Convent to your
friends, families, co-workers, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers and anyone you
thought might be interested in the good work being done at the Mission.
With his ever cheerful demeanor
and eternal hope,
he prayed, as he still does, with
confidence to God, for help from
his friends and those who would
soon become his friends - in
Chicago and across the country.
His prayers have been and continue to be answered - but not just by those he
knows, but by complete strangers- some anonymously.
It was only with your help that the Mission has become more than just a dream.   
We aren't just saying that. It's the truth!

Here's an example:
We noticed that he actually
seems to be glowing.
At first he was shocked by
your generosity.
(Seriously, he was. He walked
around one whole day just saying, "I
can't believe how generous people
are! Isn't God great?!" )
He seemed to float
around the Mission as
the burden became
lighter.

YOU DID A MOST EXCELLENT JOB!!!

Fr. Bob is stunned, and for good reason.  

In less than 30 days, here are just some of the things that have been donated
from various individuals, businesses, and organizations:


160 gallons of white paint
60 room air conditioners
60 beds
sheets for all 60 beds
desks for the 40 bedrooms
dining room furniture
tuck pointing of chimney & back wall
help with clean up and painting by a university group
clean up and restoration of the area around the old boiler
a computer and monitor
all the furniture needed for the common areas - couches, chairs, end tables, etc.
beautiful pure oak wooden doors
and...
An inquiry from a pastor indicating that his parish wants to become actively
involved in the good work of the Mission!!!!  

Father Bob is soooooo happy.  
When Fr. Bob gets back from his silent retreat and sees these photos, your humble web master may get fired from this volunteer job!   : )
In addition to donating
resources, you continue
to donate "yourselves"-
the best gift of all.  Below
are just a few of the
great kids who came to
work at the Mobile Food
Pantry on September 6 -
including,  the Squires
from the Knights of
Columbus in Arlington
Heights to some
beautiful young ladies
from St. Paul of the Cross.
How is your investment portfolio doing?
We invest in stocks.
We invest in bonds.
We invest in real estate.


Invest in the one thing that can make a true difference.


Invest in The New Evangelization
It can change the world.  

Spread the Word.....


It's time to invest in futures!


That's exactly what we do at the Mission.
We invest in the futures of the people who live in the
neighborhood, and in particular in the lives of all those beautiful
children.

We also invest in our own futures as we work together,  building
friendships, stronger families and a better world.

Thanks for joining us! It wouldn't be the same without you.
If you are just hearing about the Mission,
come see us soon!