Chicago, IL (October 31, 2007)— All Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic school students will attend liturgies on Thursday, November 1, to celebrate the Catholic feast day of All Saints. On Friday, November 2, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, will conduct a prayer service with students at Seton Academy in South Holland in honor of the Catholic feast day of All Souls.

Some Catholic schools will also host special events that commemorate the celebration of Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. This holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico and increasingly in the United States.

St. Rene Goupil School, Chicago

The students and faculty at St. Rene Goupil School will celebrate All Saints Day, Thursday, November 1, beginning with an 8:30 a.m. parish Mass at St. Rene Goupil Church. As is the tradition, the third grade students have prepared the reading and song choices for this Mass, while the second grade students have researched the lives of many saints and have selected their favorite saint to portray during Mass. Immediately after the All Saints Day Mass, the students will visit each classroom and share facts about their portrayed saints’ lives and how they have shaped the Catholic faith. The school is located at 6340 S. New England Ave. on the southwest side of Chicago. For more information, contact Marlene De Santis, principal, at 773-586-4414.

St. James School, Arlington Heights

St. James School will hold its All Saints Day Mass at 2 p.m. on November 1. The first grade students, dressed as their patron or favorite saint, will process into St. James Church before reciting the readings, reading the petitions and bringing up the offertory gifts. The school is located at 821 N. Arlington Heights Rd. in northwest suburban Arlington Heights. For more information, contact Judith Pappas, principal, at 847-255-6746.

Mary, Seat of Wisdom School, Park Ridge

The third grade students at Mary, Seat of Wisdom School will lead an all-school liturgy for All Saints Day. The students have prepared reports on their patron saints to read in class and will dress as their patron saints for a procession into Mass on November 1 at 10:30 a.m. Third grade students will recite the readings, read the Prayer of the Faithful and bring up the offertory gifts during Mass. The school is located at 1352 S. Cumberland Ave. in northwest suburban Park Ridge. For more information, contact Julie Due at 847-825-2500.

St. Colette School, Rolling Meadows

At an 8 a.m. Mass on November 1, many students in grades one through eight that attend St. Colette Schoolwill dress as their patron saint in honor of All Saints Day. The school is located at 3900 Pheasant Dr. in northwest suburban Rolling Meadows. For more information, contact Valerie Zemko, principal, at 847-392-4098.

St. Patricia School, Hickory Hills

At St. Patricia School, an All Saints Day prayer service on November 1 at 1 p.m. will include fourth graders dressed up as saints who will read brief reports on the saint they have chosen . The school is located at 9000 S. 86th Ave. in southwest suburban Hickory Hills. For more information, contact Robert Smith, principal, at 708-598-8200.

Seton Academy, South Holland

On November 2 at 9:30 a.m. Cardinal George will celebrate an All Souls Day prayer service at Seton Academy in South Holland along with the Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago for Vicariate VI. After the liturgy, the Cardinal, Bishop Perry and Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, Superintendent, Office of Catholic Schools, will visit with students and receive a tour of the school. Seton Academy is located at 16100 Seton Rd. in south suburban South Holland. For more information, contact Ingia Jackson, president, at 708-333-6300.

St. Sylvester School, Chicago

After Mass on November 1, first and third grade students at St. Sylvester School in Logan Square will give presentations that will provide a brief, biographical look at a particular saint’s life. Also, intermediate grade students will showcase the altar and ofrendas (offerings) they made for the Day of the Dead. Each grade will tour every classroom to observe all the ofrendas. On Friday, November 2 at 1:30 pm there will also be a prayer service for All Souls Day that will initiate a month-long food drive. The school is located at 3027 W. Palmer Square on the near northwest side of Chicago. For more information, contact Daniel Bennett, principal, at 773-772-5222.

St. Agnes of Bohemia School, Chicago

An all-school Mass will be held on November 1 at 9 a.m. at St. Agnes of Bohemia Schoolin Little Village. All third-grade students will process into church carrying their research projects about specific saints. Many of the students will be dressed as the saint they studied. Additionally, each classroom has created a Day of the Dead altar, featuring ofrendas such as mementos, photos and symbols. The school is located at 2643 S. Central Park Ave. in Chicago. For more information, contact Matt Banach, principal, at 773-522-0143.