MAMRE
Mamre, Inc. is a non-profit
corporation established in 1987 by generous legacies from Margaret Reid. With
a lay board, it seeks to supplement the needs of a generous grant from the Archdiocese of Chicago for the work of Special
Religious Development. Mamre strives to raise salaries for Community Religious
Workers.
There are over 8000 adults living in community homes and residences in the
Chicagoland area. There are now 140 parish Spred groups, and 15 more parish groups
in the formative stage. Spred grows through the work of CRWs, salaried through
Mamre. Contributions to Mamre help to maintain and expand this important mission.
In 1994, the Mamre
board committed itself to financially support the development of Spred ministry in parishes with Spanish speaking families. All Spred publications, training materials and catechetical sessions are translated
into Spanish to support the development of Spred communities of faith. The Archdiocesan
Spred Center hosts a bilingual Spred group that welcomes persons from parishes who learn about Spred ministry by observing
Spred catechesis. All Spred training courses are available in Spanish.
The name, Mamre, is taken from a scriptural
story in the book of Genesis, Chapter 18.
Abraham was sitting
at the entrance of his tent when he saw three persons coming toward him. He ran
to greet them. Bowing down, he invited them to rest under the tree of Mamre. While they were resting, he ran to his wife, Sarah, who was then up in years and he
asked her to bake bread for the strangers. Then he ran to pick out a steer and
to get some milk. He waited on the three as they sat under the tree. One of them said, “Next year Sarah will have a son.”
Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, and Sarah laughed. The
Lord said to Abraham, “Why? Is anything to marvelous for the Lord?”
Mamre’s logo reflects hospitality,
service, refreshment, laughter, the mystery of new life, the tree of life, the cross and the Russian Icon of the Trinity,
a meal, Eucharist, the long trail, the maze of access.
Mamre Inc. 2956 South Lowe Avenue Chicago IL 60616
