About Us
We Live, We Love,
We Serve
St. Bonaventure Oratory is a regional Catholic community established by the Archdiocese of Chicago and open to all who wish to gather with us in worship and service. We are not a parish church but an oratory, which is a house of prayer. Since we are not a parish church, Mass is restricted to special services Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals are available to those who are active current members of the community and have received permission from the Bishop of Vicariate II. We invite you to join us not only at Mass, but also to share in our many charitable and social ventures. fellowship.
Our Beliefs
St. Bonaventure’s is a regional Catholic community established by the Archdiocese of Chicago and open to all
who wish to gather with us in worship and service. We are not a parish church but an oratory, which is a
house of prayer. Since we are not a parish church, Mass is restricted to the weekend. Baptisms, Weddings,
and Funerals are available to those who are active current members of the community and have received
permission from the Bishop of Vicariate II. We invite you to join us not only at Mass, but also to share in our
many charitable and social ventures. We hope you find a spiritual home with us in kinder, friendly, loving
fellowship.
The Council of Catholic Woman
Happy Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, may this day and the anticipation of Pentecost Sunday be a source of joy and hope to our members and all at St. Bonaventure.
The Women’s Center was delighted to received the generous donation of diapers, baby wipes and formula for the new mothers and infants that they serve. These much needed items were collected at our May meeting in honor of Mother’s Day. The giving spirit of our members, as has been witnessed by ever so many recipients, often seems boundless!
On Easter we were pleased to distribute as our gift to those attending Mass the book Rediscovering the Saints by best selling Catholic author Matthew Kelly. We hope those who have had the opportunity to peruse it are appreciating his insights and the encouragement he provides to explore our God-given potential through examples from the
lives of the saints. We still have some copies available, so if you didn’t receive one or need one for someone else who would appreciate it, please check with a member in the back of church to obtain one.
During May, the month dedicated to Our Blessed Mother, we can't urge it enough: listen to her and pray the Holy Rosary every day. There is no stronger spiritual weapon in the battle against evil than the rosary.
Numerous saints and holy people have testified to the power, comfort and
protection it provides. A fifteen to twenty minute time commitment which
holds such great promise is definitely worth considering. The month of
May is the perfect time to start.
St. Bonaventure Cares (SBC), our brown bag lunch program which usually ends on Palm Sunday, will continue for the foreseeable future. The loyal lunch makers recognized the need and are willing to spend their time
on Sunday mornings to provide these meals. Their commitment and that of the generous donors to SBC are greatly appreciated not only by those being fed from this program, but by all of us at St. Bonaventure. Prayer Blankets are always available for those with health concerns. To request one either ask a member or call Norma at 773-348-7180. Please pray for recently deceased Fr. Healy, our former Rector and our loyal members Pat Patock, Sally McKay and Jean Schattnik, along with Prayer Blanket recipients, especially Father Jim Heneghan and our loyal members Mary Bernd and Josephine Fanucchi.
St. Sebastian Players
Our Mission
The Saint Sebastian Players is a membership-based theatre company performing a wide variety of dramas, comedies, and musicals for the stage. Our emphasis is on collaborative theatre development that brings together actors, directors, writers and technical crews in a supportive environment that fosters learning and growth. We believe in theatre as a way for people of all ages, from all walks of life, to more fully understand themselves and each other, both on stage and off. We encourage the development of original works through readings, studio projects, and mainstage productions.
Our History
SSP began producing theatre in 1982 at its original home, the St. Sebastian parish, located at the corner of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue on Chicago’s North Side. When the parish closed, SSP relocated to its current home, St. Bonaventure, at 1625 W. Diversey. During its history, the company has produced original and previously produced dramas, comedies, and musicals; original audience-participation mysteries for special events; and the Monologue Matchup Competition, as well as provided support for smaller Sebastian Studio Projects produced by company members. For a complete production history, click here.
The St. Sebastian Players run a program of dramatic arts education along with 3 main-stage productions each year in the lower level of St. Bonaventure. The program is designed to bring community attention to the Oratory and raise needed funds for building maintenance.