Encore

Encore For Those 50 And Better
​Inspiring Mind & Spirit Through Learning, Service and Fun

Encore is your invitation to come together with other adults (men and women, single and married) at Old St. Pat’s to share your enthusiasm for life, learning, service, and fun!

Why Encore?
Just look around and you will see  that people aged fifty and older have found many different, significant, and exciting ways to participate in, and contribute to, the life of Old St. Pat’s – with or without Encore; and that’s great! Encore also values the many opportunities that people of all ages have to come together at Old St. Pat’s. We believe the mixing of generations often creates a richer experience. However, we also know that there is great value in coming together with others from within our own age group. Providing these kinds of gatherings is what we’re about at Encore.

What kinds of programs and events does Encore host?
Dinner and theater outings, museum tours, concerts, lectures and workshops, and volunteer service opportunities are just some of the activities that we do. We’re always open to trying something new!

Do I have to join Encore?
No, everyone is welcome. In order to keep people informed about our upcoming events, we may ask you for your contact information, but that’s always optional. There is no formal membership.
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Are there regular Encore meetings?
Yes, there is a planning group that comes together to develop our various program offerings. If you’re interested in attending a meeting, helping to plan, or you have some new ideas for the group, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our Encore co-chairpersons, Kathie Anderson or Peggy McCarthy  at: [email protected]

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Special Tour: National Museum of Mexican Art
Sponsored by Encore

National Museum of Mexican Art
Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

Join us for a private, guided tour of the National Museum of Mexican Art, in historical Pilsen museum.  Founded in 1987, its beautiful works have established it as an arts and cultural organization that  provides positive influence for the local Mexican community.

Located at 1852 W 19th Street, in the heart of the Pilsen neighborhood, street and lot parking is available just east of the museum. Parking: Street or a pay parking lot just east of the museum.

The  one hour tour fee is just $10 per person (non-refundable) and you can register and make payment at the link below. Deadline is Wednesday, April 23 and you'll pick up your tickets at the NMMA entrance that morning.  All ages are welcome.

Following the tour, Encore has arranged for limited seating for lunch at 12:30 PM at 5 Rabanitos Restaurant, 1758 W 18th Street, a short one block walk from the Museum.  Reservations are required and seating is very limited. Sign in at the door.  Separate checks will be available.  Please contact Judy McLaughlin at 630.852.7269,  or 630.667.4203, or [email protected]

Click Here to Register

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Past Events

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Evening with Encore
October 3 at 7:00 PM | Zoom
"Misericordia: More than a Century of Compassionate Care" with special guest, Julie O’Sullivan
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Julie O’Sullivan is the Director of Creative Arts and Marketing Manager for the Misericordia Foundation. The Foundation raises funds to support Misericordia Home, which serves more than 600 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities on Chicago’s North Side. 

Please sign up by noon on Thursday, October 3rd and you will receive an email with the Zoom link no later than 2 pm on Thursday, October 3rd.​

Click Here to Register

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Palmer House Tour hosted by Old St. Patrick’s Encore
Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe St.
October 15 at 11:00 AM 

Led by docents from the Chicago Architecture Center, join us for a one hour tour as we experience the glamor, intrigue and excitement of the Palmer House, a “Grand Hotel” and an official Chicago Landmark. Optional lunch (not included in the $30 fee) following the tour  at the iconic Berghoff Restaurant. Our group will meet in the lobby of the Palmer House at 17 E. Monroe St. at 10:45 am 12:30 p.m. optional lunch at The Berghoff restaurant at 17 W. Adams St.

Click Here to Register

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​An Evening with Encore: ”Celtic Imagination and Sacred Art”
With special guest John David Mooney

John David Mooney is an internationally-recognized sculptor and environmental artist who has executed public sculptures and temporary sculptural works all over the world. Known for his ambitious large scale pieces, Mooney's work has transformed iconic public buildings, lit up skylines and redesigned public spaces. Mooney has consistently taken a multi-disciplinary approach to art, incorporating architecture, urban planning, and history into his work. As an artist, he has also made light his signature, using unconventional light sources as bold sculptural elements.

John David served as the Artist for the renovations of Old Saint Patrick’s and the restoration of Thomas O’Shaughnessy’s holistic Design scheme along with the Architect of the project, Larry Booth.

He is the Founder and Artistic Director of the John David Mooney Foundation, a not-for-profit educational organization that presents international artists and architects to Chicago. It’s Advanced Interdisciplinary Study Center prepares post-graduates with the necessary tools to fulfill their responsibility to society. The JDM Foundation’s Ukrainian Art Bridge Fellowship program brings “at risk” Ukrainian artists and their families to Chicago and supports them with a residency and studios, as well as showcasing their work in the Foundation’s International Currents Gallery. Since Russia’s atrocious aggression, the John David Mooney Foundation has hosted twelve displaced Ukrainians, whose lives have been threatened and work disrupted. The next Ukrainian artist, a sculptor, is scheduled to arrive this March.

Thursday, March 14
7:00 pm
Zoom

Click Here to Register
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St. Brigid’s Tour and Storytelling Session led by Eileen Durkin

In early February 2024, the community of Old St. Patrick’s will join in the worldwide commemoration of the 1500th anniversary of St. Brigid of Kildare, one of the three patron saints of Ireland. St. Brigid is remembered to this day for her extraordinary hospitality, generosity, compassion, creativity, and fiery joy. She was a powerful preacher, the founder and leader of a network of religious communities of men and women, and a tireless advocate for justice and peace.
 
There is no better place in Chicago to celebrate St. Brigid’s Day than at Old St. Patrick’s Church. And given St. Brigid’s reputation as an inclusive leader who “ministered to those whom others will not,” there is also no better time in our Church than now to celebrate a woman of faith who overcame many obstacles to lead her people with compassion and vision. 
 
This Zoom meeting will include a brief virtual tour by Eileen of the statue and three windows in Old St. Pat’s dedicated to St. Brigid. Participants will then be invited to join breakout groups and share a brief story of a person who is a “Brigid” in their life. Following the storytelling, participants will be asked to reflect on common themes that surfaced. Back in the large group, they will be invited to share ideas for incorporating those themes into OSP’s St. Brigid’s Day celebration. 
 
Eileen Durkin is a member of Old St. Patrick’s Church. She has been researching St. Brigid since 1993, when she wrote a dramatic homily for OSP’s St. Patrick’s Day Mass entitled “St. Brigid Wakes Up.” Noting the upcoming celebration of “Brigid 1500,” the Irish government’s institution of St. Brigid’s Day as a public holiday on par with St. Patrick’s Day, and the call of Catholics worldwide for more participation by women in the leadership of our church, she returned to her study of St. Brigid. She has been advocating for the saint’s relevance as a sign of hope both for the people of Old St. Pat’s and for those on the margins of the Catholic Church. As the saying goes, “All are welcome under St. Brigid’s cloak.” 
 
For the record, Eileen believes that there is already a little bit of St. Brigid in all of us and is looking forward to hearing your stories of the modern-day Brigids in our midst. Additional guidelines for preparing and sharing stories will be sent to those who sign up for the Tour and Storytelling session. For background information on St. Brigid’s story, please visit this interactive icon and click all over the image for pop-up details: https://brigidine.org.au/about-us/our-patroness/the-icon-of-saint-brigid/. And for inspiration about the multitude of Brigids surrounding us: view this very brief video: https://youtu.be/hmRB0RpmTE8?si=rrjqRsGDneorrmhN.

Thursday, November 2, 2023
7 - 8:30 pm
Presented via Zoom
Click Here to Register