St. Angela's Green Dreams

In July 2017 we launched our Green Dreams Appeal, the sole purpose of which is to raise funds to make our campus beautiful, green and usable by teachers and children. Click on the image to the left for a pdf file of the Green Dreams Newsletter.

The demolition of the church, convent and rectory have left a great space on the St. Angela School campus, one that challenges and excites us. It is an opportunity for us to make changes to our campus that will make a dramatic difference in the school lives of our children. It offers us expansive play space, "outdoor classroom" space, and a garden to commemorate beloved people of our community, past and present.

Funding this project will be challenging for St. Angela School and was launched in July 2017: Green Dreams! The Green Dreams initiative will not replace the fall annual appeal since the proceeds from that venture are necessary for operating expenses. We invite your participation -- and request your investment -- in any of several ways. Please do not hesitate to contact our advancement office at 773.626.2655 or domeara@saintangela.org if you have questions.)

The Brick Program Continues

Bricks are sold for $125 (4 by 8 inches) and $250 (8 by 8 inches). All bricks will be the "regimental red" shown in the picture to the right. These are new bricks, not recycled bricks from the demolished buildings. They will "planted" at St. Angela in batches of 50 to 100, most likely twice a year, depending on demand. Smaller bricks allow three lines of up to 20 characters each; larger bricks allow six lines of the same size. Bricks can be purchased online, in person at St. Angela School, or by mail. For details, including order forms, please proceed to the Memorial Bricks page.

To pay by check:

Tree or growing things: Mail your check to St. Angela School, 1332 N. Massasoit, Chicago, IL 60651. Please send to the attention of Donna O'Meara.

Brick or brick and tree. Download a brick order form for easy brick design. Mail it, with your check, to St. Angela School, 1332 N. Massasoit, Chicago, IL 60651. Please indicate on the envelope that it contains a brick order.

To pay with credit card:

Download a brick order form for easy brick design. Mail it, with your credit card information, to St. Angela School, 1332 N. Massasoit, Chicago, IL 60651 or scan it and attach it to an email to domeara@saintangela.org

Pay for your brick online with this link and either send the order form in an email or use the "special notes" box on the linked page to send the text you'd like engraved. (We don't recommend using the "special notes" box if your message is long or complicated but we can help you figure out something that works.)

Then what happens?

When we receive a good amount of brick orders we can go ahead and place an order. Once they arrive we will have them placed. We will notify you when this happens . We know you'll want to see your parcel of St. Angela land!

Dear Friends,

Since we announced in January that St. Angela church, convent and rectory would be demolished this summer, we have heard from many alumni: sad, angry, some of them philosophical about change and loss. I understand. I know what it is to let go of things and places that were the backdrop for your life, particularly when you were a child.

But my ministry, and the only ministry left to the St. Angela community now, is to the children who make it their school home. I am sad that a beautiful church is gone. And I am thrilled that we have the opportunity to make a beautiful space for our scholars to play. That we can plant trees that will shade their classrooms, plant grass for them to sit on, and a natural, pretty place in which they can start and end their days.

We will replace vacant buildings with things that grow, and concrete with things that are alive.

So we invite you all to see how they see this change: it is exciting! It is a chance to make our school beautiful. And, no, while it is not what we would have wished for (another marvelous church gone?), it is wonderful for these children.

We hope that you can be glad, be hopeful for them. Celebrate that St. Angela School remains a force for good in the Austin neighborhood and that our scholars will be able to plant a garden, kick a ball around and read a book in the shade.

Perhaps when the dust has settled you can come read with them!

God bless,

Sr. Maryellen Callahan, RSM, President

Playground Improvements

Keeping our campus green, clean and safe takes a lot of work and money. The continuation of Green Dreams campaign is essential to this.

Our playground needed new mulch to maintain the safety to our scholars while enjoying the outdoor space. A special thank you to our partners at Big Shoulders and our volunteers from Saint Alphonsus. They came out and assisted with this project. The playground looks great!