Cupich To Visit Ethnic Parishes As He Takes Reins Of Chicago Archdiocese
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As he starts his first few weeks as the new leader of the Catholic church in Chicago, Archbishop Blase Cupich planned to celebrate masses at several ethnic parishes.
On Sunday, Cupich will lead mass at St. Agatha Parish, a predominantly black parish in the Lawndale neighborhood. That's the church where former priest Daniel McCormack sexually abused several boys.
Pastor Larry Dowling said he suspects he knows why his church was chosen as the first place Cupich will say mass outside Holy Name Cathedral.
"My guess is some of this is related to the McCormack stuff, and probably a statement by him to say, 'This is important, we need to continue to focus on it,'" Dowling said. "The parish has been through a lot, in regard to that. It continues to move ahead; I think has healed very well."
The following Sunday, the archbishop will celebrate mass in Little Village, at St. Agnes of Bohemia, the largest Hispanic parish in the Midwest.
On Dec. 14, Cupich will be at St. Hyacinth Basilica, one of the largest Polish parishes in the U.S. The school at St. Hyacinth will close next spring.
The archbishop also will help distribute Thanksgiving turkeys on Wednesday at the St. Columbanus Parish Food Pantry in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. He'll then attend Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless and hungry at a Catholic Charities center in the River North neighborhood.