WHAT: Archdiocese of Chicago Superintendent of Schools to visit a new Catholic parish elementary school established in the city of Chicago for Hispanic children.

WHERE: Immaculate Conception School
8739 South Exchange Avenue, Chicago
(Note: Exchange Avenue is one-way northbound at 2934 east; one-half block west of Commercial Avenue)

WHEN: Wednesday, September 4, 2002
10:30 a.m.

WHO: Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, superintendent of schools, Archdiocese of Chicago;
Sister Maria de Jesus Nuñez, HIMG, administrator;
Sister Judine Hilbing, O.P., principal;
128 kindergarten through fourth grade children and parents of Immaculate Conception School students

BACKGROUND:
Sister Maria and seven members of her religious community, the Daughters of Immaculate Mary of Guadalupe, a 100-year-old religious congregation, came from Monterey, Mexico, to the southeast side of Chicago three years ago at the invitation of Rev. Michael P. Enright, the parish's pastor, with a prayer and a plan.

Sister Maria and her colleague, Sister Maria Ocampo, HIMG, have master's degrees in pre-school and primary education, respectively, and degrees in catechetics. Other members of the team have similar credentials.

"Our prayer is that the children of this neighborhood will be nourished in their faith, succeed in school and be prepared for life. Our plan is to operate a school for students in kindergarten through fourth grade and then add a grade each year through eighth," said Sister Maria.

To date, Sister Maria's plan is working. According to Sister Judine Hilbing, principal, the 128-primary student enrollment is at capacity for now until the next grade is added.

"While English is the official language of this school, Immaculate Conception students hear Spanish spoken every day by our faculty and staff. Hispanic culture, customs and Catholic faith traditions are integrated into our curriculum every hour of the school day," explained Sister Judine.

Immaculate Conception School was built more than 100 years ago to serve a primarily Polish student body.

Fifteen years ago, the school closed and the building was leased to the Chicago Public School system as a branch of nearby Sullivan School. Three years ago, Immaculate Conception reclaimed some space in the building and opened one grade a year. Next week, with the completion of renovation of public school facilities in the community, the parish will once again reclaim the entire Immaculate Conception School and establish it as a parish school.

VISUALS: Dr. Wolsonovich will present Sister Maria and other faculty members with a large bouquet of flowers; the children of Immaculate Conception school will greet their visitor with several songs in Spanish.