Brick by Brick: Saint Anne to Help Build
a Chapel in Cuba with Its 2020 Almsgiving
“For the first time in 60 years, Cuban Catholics are able to build churches
where they can gather in faith and create communities of compassion and hope.”
Fr. Jack Wall, President, Catholic Extension
Native Son to Preach at Saint Anne March 15th and 28th
As part of our Lenten Almsgiving efforts, Saint Anne is delighted to welcome Fr. Julio Lam. Fr. Julio will preach at Masses next Sunday, March 15th, and at the Saturday night Mass on March 28th. Though born and raised in Cuba, he is an ordained priest, serving the Archdiocese of Chicago. He will share what it means to the people of Cuba to see Churches beging built and restored.
Father Julio grew up in the Diocese of Pinar del Rio, the diocese where Catholic Extension will build a chapel with help from Saint Anne. He was baptized a Catholic at age 18 and quickly became involved in parish ministries–the youth group, young adult ministry, CCD and the community’s pastoral council. He followed in his father’s footsteps and studied medicine at the University of Havana. After finishing medical school in 2002, the young, aspiring doctor arrived in Miami where he lived for three years. He then came to Chicago in 2006 to enroll in the Emergency Medicine Program at Stroger Hospital.
After three years in Chicago area, Fr. Julio had fallen in love with the city and its people, he had also discerned a call to ministry. And so, he began his studies at Mundelein Seminary and was ordained in May of 2015 by Cardinal Blasé Cupich. He first served in Waukegan and six months ago was named pastor of the newly named Queen of All Nations Parish which unites the churches of Saint Domitilla in Hillside and Saint Simeon in Bellwood.
The Cuba Initiative – Year II Saint Anne’s 2020 Almsgiving will be used to help Catholic Extension build a chapel for the parish of Saint Francis of Assisi (Parroquia de San Francisco de Asis). Fr. Julio’s parents are members of this community in Caldero and are thrilled about how the connections will bring our two communities together. More information about the project can be found on tags hanging from the branches in our Gathering Space.