The mission of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago is rooted in three pillars:
Prayer
Providing opportunities for reflection and union with God has been a crucial part of the Guild’s life, accomplished through retreats, days of recollection, and the Red Mass.
God has been a crucial part of the Guild’s life, accomplished through retreats, days of recollection, and the Red Mass.
Service
Some notable services provided by the Guild have been pro bono service to immigrants at the request of Cardinal Samuel Stritch in the 1960s and Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in 1970s , the hearings on sexual abuse conducted at the request of Cardinal Francis George in 2002, and our recent adoption of the Catholic Charities Legal Clinic as a service opportunity for our members.
Celebration
Annually we organize the Red Mass at Holy Name Cathedral, the Mass that has opened the Fall Term for courts since 1245 A.D. asking the Holy Spirit’s help for lawyers and judges. In tandem with the Red Mass, we celebrate with a reception with lawyers who have incarnated Christ in the world through their work.
Upcoming Guild Events
News from the Community
From Catholic National Reporter
‘Less than a person’: Formerly incarcerated people say system needs healing
Catholic Criminal Justice Reform Network, a project of the Lumen Christi Institute hosted a dialogue event on February 21: Reconciling Justice: A Community Conversation on Criminal Justice Reform. It was one of a series of such conversations across the country aimed at fostering a “culture of encounter,” as Pope Francis terms it, among those responsible for the criminal justice system and those impacted by it.
Participants shared stories to illustrate the system’s failure to acknowledge the humanity of crime victims, perpetrators, those who are or have been incarcerated, and their families.
By Heidi Schlumpf
February 28, 2024
From Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Judge Thomas More Donnelly works to bring joy to courtroom one bow tie at a time
Known for his signature bow tie and infectious positive energy, Judge Thomas More Donnelly draws inspiration and guidance from his patron saint, mentors and religious beliefs as he strives to bring personality and joy into an often solemn role.
By Grace Barbic
December 14, 2023
From the Chicago Tribune
