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It is believed that St Ailbe is a Mythical saint who takes on
the likeness-image of the people who believe in him. The
picture of St. Ailbe to the right is the African American Image
as envisioned by the Artist David Csicsko

St. Ailbe History
The Catholic Church has been canonizing saints for nearly
2000 years. It does this in its wisdom, to offer us models of
styles, of a truly good Christian life. There is no such thing as
a typical saint . Best explained in song "A Saint is just a
sinner who fell down and got up".

St. Ailbe or Ailbeus is venerated as one of the four great
patron of Ireland. His feast is commemorated on
September 12, throughout Ireland and in the diocese of
Emily, Ireland, his feast kept as that of its patron and first
bishop.

The recorded life of Saint Ailbe is a not clear. The date of
his birth is unknown, One of his account of his birth is: born
of a serving-girl by a chieftain who ordered that the baby
should be exposed to perish. A she-wolf raised him along
with her with her cubs, until a hunter found the child in the
wolf’s liar and took him away. Years later he was present
at a run when an aged she-wolf ran to him for protection.
The bishop recognized his foster-mother and gave her
sanctuary and fed her every day thereafter at his own table.
Another account is he was 1 raised by a British Colony in
Ireland.

It is said St. Ailbe returned to Ireland where he preached the
Gospel to a barbarous people. He delivered the eternal
wisdom with commanding authority, such was the force
with which word and example he set forth the divine law, so
evident were the miracles with which he confirmed the
truth, that the sacred doctrine made its way to the hearts
of many of his listeners. He not only brought a multitude
to the faith of Christ but infused into many the spirit of
perfection. Later he is alleged to have gone to Rome
where he was consecrated bishop because of his strong
belief in the Creator of all things.

St. Ailbe is the reputed author of an ancient monastic
rule written in Old Irish which became the basic philosophy
of Irish Monasticism.

The rule instructs the monk that his conscience should be
tender, he must seldom speak, work hard, serve the sick,
deal gently with sinners, be modest in dress, and be wise,
pious, generous, and courteous. St. Ailbe's desire in his
old age was to retire to Thule, the remotest country
toward the Northern pole, (Shetland or Norway) but it is
believed the King guarded to prevent his flight. The date of
St. Ailbe's death is put at 526 or 531 or 551.

Me a Saint!!!

Bulletin Insert
11/2.02

When we think about the Saints, we think about their heroic
deeds and God-Like actions. What we forget is their humanness.
The Saints had their faults too- just like you and me. So how are
we different from the saints? We aren't!

We each have our own heroic deeds to do and God like actions
to perform each day. As you awaken each morning ask God for forgiveness and strength to prepare you for another day of heroic actions, that we all might be His living Saints here on earth..

Father John S. Breslin

CLICK FOR LIST OF AFRICAN SAINTS

CLICK ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SAINTS
REVERED BY ST AILBE CHURCH & PARISHIONERS

SAINT AUGUSTUS TOLTON

SAINT PETER CLAVER

SAINT GUISEPPINE (Josephine) BAKHITA)
WOMAN OF FAITH AND FORGIVENESS

_____________________________________

ST. AILBE STAINED GLASS WINDOW

. by the Artist by David Csicsko

After extensive reading of the many African saints who
sacrificed their lives and demonstrated their faith to God by living the Monastic life. and a visit to Saint Ailbe Church in Chicago to see the people of St Ailbe Church working together, giving of themselves. The artist expressed the following: "The people of St. Ailbe Church are a warm, loving and kind people. They are certainly the people St. Ailbe envisioned when he set up the Monastic rule. The Stained Glass image carries the theme "Rooted
in Faith Strengthened by love" St. Ailbe holds the heart which represents the love, the cross on the head covering represents the faith and he felt that St. Ailbe represented the African American in image and likeness.

__________________________________

MOSAIC MURAL
St Ailbe Revered Saints

On Christmas Eve 2004 at our midnight Mass and then again on Christmas Day, in St. Ailbe Catholic Church, on the west wall below the balcony, the most beautiful MOSAIC MURAL ever seen was unveiled. The congregation was awe stuck, you heard a rush of sounds of surprise and joy and praises to the Lord.

This Mosaic was Designed by David Csicsko and especially created for St. Ailbe Church. David wanted to combine and infuse many elements from the windows into the construction of the mosaic. Constructed by Mosaic Tile Designer, Erin Adams, at her studio in New Mexico. Each glass piece was placed by hand in the design. The smaller glass pieces are three pieces of glass which are infused together. David made several trips to New Mexico to view the development of the mosaic . Erin came to Chicago for the placement of the mosaic and David was present to view his latest masterpiece.

Spend a few moments in prayer as you contemplate this new “shrine” that has been created by our artists in residence David Csicsko and Erin Adams. Two very gifted artists who shared their different gifts but the same spirit.

Some saw it and others did not!

On Christmas Eve at our midnight Mass and then again on Christmas Day, Deacon Bruce brought forth the significance of why the scripture passage 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 took on a new meaning for those who call St. Ailbe their Church home.

St. Paul wrote to the people in Corinth —-

“There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one the Spirit gives wisdom in discourse, to another the power to express knowledge. Through the Spirit one receives faith; by the same Spirit another is given the gift of healing, and still another miraculous powers. Prophecy is given to one; to another power to distinguish one spirit from another. One receives the gift of tongues, another that of interpreting the tongues. But it is one and the same Spirit who produces all these gifts, distributing them to each as he will.”

On Christmas Eve/Day Deacon Bruce spoke about the “different gifts but the same spirit” of St. Josephine Bakhita, Blessed Pierre Toussaint, and Sr. Katherine Drexel. All are depicted in the Mosaic Mural, You will see their names on the left of each saint.

Recently, these three special people have been declared saints or one step away from sainthood by Pope John Paul II in Rome. Several members of our Church were present in Rome when Pope John Paul II declared Josephine Bakhita and Katherine Drexel saints. These three holy and anointed people (Josephine, Pierre, and Katherine) brought forth many gifts during their lifetimes and even beyond their lifetimes.

St. Josephine Bakhita was born in Africa in the Sudan. She was subjected to slavery in the Sudan and was eventually transported to Italy and gained her freedom from slavery. She was introduced to God and began sharing her gifts in God’s service by helping the Daughters of Charity. She lovingly became known as "Mother Moretta", our Black Mother to all she came in contact with.

St. Pierre Toussaint also shared his different gifts through the same Spirit of God. Born into slavery in Haiti, he was brought to New York City as a slave. He was granted his freedom and commenced to do everything possible to help others obtain their freedom. He was a hairdresser by trade and became a very wealthy man. He used his finances to help refuges find employment, and cared for orphans in his own home. He even assisted the white woman who once “owned” him as a slave when she became destitute. He started a school for black children and taught them trades by which they could support themselves. He is buried within St. Patrick Cathedral in New York City.

The next person that Deacon Bruce recognized that shared the different gifts but the same spirit was:

St. Katherine Drexel. She was born in Philadelphia to a very wealthy family. She received a call from God to renounce the fame and fortune she was born into and to minister as a woman religious. St. Katherine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as well as provided personal and financial support to numerous missions and missionaries in the United States. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (S.B.S.) minister primarily among Native Americans and African Americans. She opened, staffed, and directly supported nearly sixty schools and missions especially in the West and South-West United States and in 1925 she established Xavier University of Louisiana West.

All these very special people are reflected in the people who call St. Ailbe their Church home. They are African, Haitian, American men, women and children. Lay and religious alike all have different gifts but the same spirit.

On the Battlefield for my Lord,

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St. Ailbe Catholic Church - 9015 South Harper - Chicago Il 60619
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                                                 Site Index

AFRICAN SAINTS, BLESSED
AND VENERABLE

NAME - YEAR OF DEATH

St. Fulgentius - 533
Bishop Ruspe, Tunisia
St. Paul - 342
Founded Monastic life Thebes
St. Anthony - 346
Founded Monastic life desert of Egypt
St John/Alms Giver - 619
Patriarch of Alexandria
St. Gelasius - 496
Bishop of Rome, 3rd African Pope (492-496)
SS Perpetua & Felicity - 202
Martyred in Carthage
St. Maximilian - 295
Martyred Theveste Numidia
St. Benedict the Black - 1585
First African canonized
St. Zeno - 380
Bishop of Verona
St. Marcellinus - 4th Cent.
African Missionary France
St. Athanasius - 373
Bishop of Alexandria
SS Timothy & Maura - 298
Couple martyred S. Egypt
St. Isidore of Chio - 251
Alexandrian army officer beheaded for his faith
St. Josephine Bakita - 1947 Born Slave canonized 2000
St Julia of Tunisia - ?
Slave Girl crucified for faith
St. Charles Lawanga - 1886
22 court servant martyred & 80 young Anglicans
St. Onuphrius - 4th Cent.
Egyptian Hermit
St. Orsiesius - c.380
Abbot of Tabennisi Monastery Egypt
St Cyril of Alexandria - 444
Patriarch Alexandria (412-444)
St. Shenute - c.450
Founder Monastic life Egypt St. Anatolius   - c.282
Philosopher/Scientist Alexandria
St. Panataenus - 190
Head of Alexandria Catechetical School & Missionary Persia
St. Eugenius - 5th Cent.
Archbishop of Carthage, Tunisia
St. Speratus & Comp. - 180
12 martyrs of Scillum, Carthage, Tunisia
St. Aurelius - 5th Cent.
Archbishop of Carthage, Tunisia
St. Victor I - 199
Bishop of Rome 1st African Pope (189-199)
St. Rutilius - 4th Cent.
North African Martyr
Blessed Isdior Bakanja 1909 Congolese laborer & catechist Martyred for faith
St. Moses the Black - 395
Slave, gang leader, convert, died a martyr of non-violence
St. Poeman - c.387
Desert Monk, holy man encouraged frequent communion
Blessed Victoire                    Rasoantanarivo    - 1894
Founder of Catholic Action
153 Martyrs of Ytuca - c.260
Thrown into quicklime in Utica, Tunisia
Blessed Ghebre Mikha'el
                             -1855
Ethiopian priest & martyr
St. Donatian & Comp. - 484 Martyrs, 6 Bishops Ecclesiastical province of Byzacene
St. Nemesia & Comp. - 257
9 Bishops, deacons & laypersons died in marble quarry
St. Martin de Porres   - 1639
Dominican Order Ministry to poor
St. Matthew - 1st Cent.
Apostle and first Evangelizer of Nubia (Modern Sudan)
5000 African Marytrs -483
Martyred for their faith by the Vandal King Huneric
St. Tekla Hymanot   - 1313 Ethiopian, reformer of Monasticism
St. Elesan - 555
Ethiopian King died as Monk in Jerusalem
St. Laibala - 1255
Ethiopian Emperor revered for his faith
SS. Frumentis & Aedesuys
                                -380
Syriac monks & founders of Church in Ethiopia
St. Michael Aragrave
                              -4th Cent.
One of the first Ethiopian Monks
St. Raissa   -   c.300
Virgin & martyr in Alexandria
St. Catherine/Alexandria
                         - 4th Cent.
Virgin & martyr in Alexandria
St. Cassian/Tangiers - 298
Lawyer, convert, martyred for faith
St. Melchiades -314
Bishop of Rome & 2nd African Pope (311-314)
St. Thais-   c.350
Egyptian penitent, convert after many years woman of the streets,
St. Monica- 387
Mother of St Augustine widow age 40
St. Augustine - 430
Bishop if Hippo Regius, Algeria-Doctor of the Church

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St. Ailbe or Ailbeus is venerated as one of the four great patron of Ireland. His feast is commemorated on September 12, throughout Ireland and in the diocese of Emily, Ireland, his feast kept as that of its patron and first bishop.

St. Ailbe or Ailbeus is venerated as one of the four great
patron of Ireland. His feast is commemorated on
September 12, throughout Ireland and in the diocese of
Emily, Ireland, his feast kept as that of its patron and first
bishop.