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.
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 our Encore chairperson, Mary Kay Slowikowski at marykayslowikowski@gmail.com
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.
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 our Encore chairperson, Mary Kay Slowikowski at marykayslowikowski@gmail.com
Upcoming Events
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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 |