The Grapes of Reflection 2017

The blank slate that was 2017 on New Year's Day is now pretty well filled on this New Year's Eve.

And so once again I shall use the Spanish custom of consuming 12 grapes for the occasion of New Year's as a guide to reflect on what happened in my life in 2017.  While certainly not an exhaustive list, it covers a lot of ground in regards to the major highlights.

Grape #1, trip to Florida:  Certainly it was wonderful escaping to warm and sunny conditions evocative of summer there.  But it was also great being at the celebration of the marriage of my brother Eric and sister-in-law Naomi, and meeting her family.  I also enjoyed visiting with Linda, and just soaking what Florida has to offer along the Atlantic Coast.  And it was one of three trips by train this year.

Grape #2, trip to North Myrtle Beach, SC: I had a fine time being with my extended family to celebrate my Abuela' turning 80.  And it was the second of three trips by train.

Grape # 3, my trip to the Pacific Northwest:  What an action-packed adventure I had, soaking in the sights along the route of the Empire Builder, Seattle and Washington; Vancouver, BC; and Oregon, not to mention a fabulous time visiting with Roy.  With this trip following on the heels of my South Carolina trip, I was able to experience the country literally from coast to coast within a matter of days, with my first visit to the Pacific Ocean.  It stirred in me a greater enamorment for my country.  It was also so fitting to visit Canada in the year when it marked the 150th Anniversary since the British North America Act took effect--and I joined in the celebration on July 1 by attending a concert at Millennium Park featuring the Canadian Brass.  Going to Canada was also the first chance I had to use my US passport, which I got for the first time this year.  And by riding the Empire Builder to the Pacific Northwest, I reconnected with a great trip by train my family had 20 years ago.  (And all three of these trips gave me a chance to send out postcards, as a way to share the trip with family and friends.)

Grape #4, being a train engineer: After having enjoyed train rides so much, especially with three of them in the first half of 2017, I had a thrilling time getting in an engine and learning how to operate it during a visit to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum.

Grape #5, returning to Valparaiso University for the Christ College Golden Anniversary celebration:  There's a certain kind of special feeling that swells inside me when I go back to this place that had a significant role in my life, and I certainly felt it when I was there on September 30 to celebrate a remarkable part of the university community.  It reminded me of why Christ College was a special part of my college experience, as I engaged thoughtfully in discussions of what it means to be human.

Grape #6, serving as an election judge in local elections: I had a great time serving my community and interacting with local citizens participating in the democratic process of the republic, this time around as it pertained to our local area.

Grape #7, working with volunteers at the Oak Park Public Library: I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the volunteers doing shelf reading/organizing at the library, because being a library volunteer as a teen was a great way I got involved in the community.  I started working with the volunteers as a paid staff person back during the summer, and it came as part of a promotion that I received in the department.  Following it came the opportunity to do work at the Chicago NERA office before starting full-time work at the Orland Park Public Library just a little over a month ago.

Grape #8, the ALA Conference in Chicago: One highlight was attending a session where teens offered feedback on books nominated for an award for teen books, including teens who were part of the volunteer program the Oak Park Public Library.  Another highlight was attending Ron Chernow's presentation, and then getting the chance, after a long wait in line, to get his autograph on an advance copy of his Grant biography, as well as the Hamilton biography I got as a gift from Eric and Naomi on Nativity Day 2016.  (This conference made headlines when Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker at the closing session, as she extolled the importance of libraries in our US society.)

Grape #9, the birth of my cousin Micah: It was exciting to welcome in another member of the family, and it was especially beautiful meeting him on the Eve of the Nativity just a week ago when his lovely family came to the family dinner we were having.

Grape #10, marking 25 years in Oak Park: My home is so dear to me, and it was with great delight I celebrated this special milestone anniversary.  And how fitting it was that in this calendar year I got to visit the new OPRF History Museum that opened in the summer after extensive work lasting over two years to rehabilitate the space it now occupies.  It's an impressive place to see after having stopped by to view the progress at various intervals.  The new museum helps me get a better sense of what this place is that I have called home for a quarter-century.

Grape #11, making notable speeches: Upon hearing that Mr. Gates, my former 7th grade language arts teacher and once president of the District 97 board of education, decided not to seek another term, I made it my business to attend a board meeting and speak during the public comment period to offer tribute to his contributions to District 97 as a teacher and as board president.  In May, at a Mass to mark the conclusion of the Religious Education year, Diane Moriarty, the Ascension Director of RE, had me give a speech for my students. The way it turned out, I felt like it was a pretty epic speech as I offered my students some final words of encouragement.  And given the nature of the task before me, I felt like it was one of the most important speeches of my life.

Grape #12, my continued involvement with Religious Education: I realize I mention this each time I write my grapes of reflection post, and I'm delighted to say that I have something new and wonderful to share each time.  I was delighted to spend time with the 8th graders in the 2016-17 RE year that I started with in 2015 when they were in 7th grade.  And now, in the 2017-18 year, I continue teaching 8th grade with another set of amazing students.  I've made some very strong connections with my students, especially in the time I spent with them at a post-Confirmation retreat in March with the 2016 group, and then with the 2017 group at the 2nd annual Holy Fire, and then a week later, the great celebration of their Confirmation.  And I reinforced those connections attending plays at Brooks Middle School, which featured some of my students.  Seeing The Lion King was a true highlight because it is a great story with such profound insights.  The Little Mermaid was excellent, too, and reconnected me with a college class in which we watched the Disney movie version of that story and then discussed it.

My involvement with teaching Religious Education underscores how faith is such an important part of my life, and how vibrant my faith continues to be, like it was nearly 4 1/2 years ago when I graduated from ValpU, where it was rekindled anew.  Somehow, even with all the challenges and difficulties I've faced, my faith still remains vibrant as ever, and overall helps me upkeep a positive outlook on life.  And it's why I come to the end of this year with an upbeat view of the year as a whole, like I typically do when I reach New Year's Eve.  It makes me think of the musical Hamilton, in which the characters sing about how lucky they are to be alive--I was fortunate to attend that musical with my Grandma and see the history of the early United States come alive on stage.  I know I'm blessed because, by faith, I know God is real, active in my life.

And I've reached new frontiers in faith life, with my first time attending Mass outside the United States at the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, and a new record for the earliest I've ever attended Mass, at about 6:10 in the morning at St. Mary of Celle in Berwyn on the Feast day of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe on December 12.

All of this takes place, and is enriched by, the context of community and relationships.  Indeed, Mass is all about our coming together as the Body of Christ to be strengthened and renewed by an encounter with His presence, so we can make His presence known in the world.  I extended the sense of community beyond the weekends to Monday evening gatherings with a faith-sharing group during the weeks of Lent with an awesome group of people.  We had some great discussions about the Gospel readings, and the life of faith itself.  And Ascension Parish celebrated the power of coming together as one in prayer marking 25 years of monthly Taize Prayer Services.  It was also very meaningful to see Roman Catholics and Lutherans come together for dialogue and prayer in commemorating 500 years since the 95 Theses.  Attending a panel discussion for this occasion at Concordia University Chicago was definitely a highlight of this year.

This idea of the impact of joining together as the Body of Christ is what I have been seeking to impart to my RE students, especially as I did in class the week before Confirmation.  I played for them "I Believe", a song written for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with an English version sung by Nikki Yanofsky. (Her image appears around 1:58 in the video.  Please feel free to view this one or either of the other two versions below.)

It appears it was performed at the closing ceremony of 2010 Olympics, but I don't remember it, so it was like encountering it for the first time when I stumbled upon it over the summer, and I quickly became obsessed with it.  As I listened to it, I knew that the lyrics spoke volumes to the life of faith.  Sometimes we tread a path that's lonely, and seems to counter everything the world tells us.  But God wills us to be the best for His Glory.  And great power is unleashed when we come together as one, as the one body of Christ, "the power of you and I"--and yes, I recognize the song's lyrics are grammatically incorrect, but Nikki sure makes it sound great.  This power is like "an invincible force", which is the French version of the song, performed by Annie Villeneuve.  I told my students that the Holy Spirit is "an invincible force" within them, and with it, "nothing can stop them", so that they can make not just the world proud, but make God proud.

Around the time when I was in transition between jobs back in November, I stumbled upon a bilingual version sung by the Utah-based One Voice youth choir.  This performance of it totally mesmerized me, and furthermore offered me great encouragement, in a way I can't fully explain.

The song also speaks to being the change we wish to see in the world, and standing tall for what's right, and standing tall as we make an impact.

Those lyrics offer a great vision for us as we go forth from 2017 into 2018, as we seek to make the world a better place, and do it together, because ultimately, life is enhanced by relationships, and the investments we make in them are ones that are long-lasting.  In fact, all the experiences I shared in the 12 grapes above, as well as many other memorable happenings in 2017, all have to do with relationships.

So I end this year in gratitude that reaches even unto God for all those who were involved in making 2017 so special, who have demonstrated to me "the power of you and I."

2017 News and Events in Review

President Donald Trump did much to set a tone this year, from the day he was inaugurated back on January 20.  He let loose a lot of charged statements while seeking to set a new course for US society, often in direct contrast to President Obama's stances, even making "fake news" a term tossed about all the time.  He made some bold moves like recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing the Obama administration's directives on transgenderism and public facilities, and appointing the distinctly right-wing Neil Gorsuch as a US Supreme Court Associate Justice to take the seat vacated when Antonin Scalia passed away.  The Supreme Court heard some cases on hot-button issues like the Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake for a homosexual wedding.  President Trump also issued some executive orders to address problems with immigration, with its implementation not going so smoothly.  He also sparked a conversation about NFL players refusing to stand for the National Anthem, which spread throughout the country.  Even here in Oak Park, some people took to the knee during the national anthem before football games at OPRF High School, and some OPRFHS District 200 board members did the same during the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of their meetings.

Locally, there was lots of controversy over building highrise developments in Oak Park.  There was also a good deal of conversation about two referenda that District 97 put on the ballot to ensure sufficient funds for operating and capital expenses, leading up to local elections on April 4.  The Cook County Board of Commissioners also approved a tax on sugary beverages to shore up the budget, which caused a major outcry and eventually the Board repealed it.

There were several states that faced big problems approving a budget.  Maine and New Jersey experienced state government shutdowns for a few days at the start of July.  Washington avoided a shutdown with about 40 minutes to spare, after debate over how best to fund schools.  Illinois finally broke past its long-lasting budget stalemate by approving a budget that raised state income taxes, overriding Governor Rauner's veto, a move that followed State Senator Christine Radogno's resignation, after remarking she did everything she could.

In September, Governor Rauner signed HB 40 into law, which provides taxpayer money to fund abortions in Illinois.  There were efforts in Congress to rescind government funds for Planned Parenthood.  Rallies were held throughout the United States in February, seizing the momentum with a Republican president now in office and Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, as part of efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, although it didn't result in any changes.  There was greater success in passing tax reform.

Offering commentary on many of these issues was Stuart Shepard at Family Policy Alliance of Focus on the Family, including through his Stoplight videos.  The final Stoplight video was posted at the end of November.

The Chicago PBS station WYCC also signed off the airwaves, which I wasn't aware of until several weeks after it happened.  (Fortunately, we still have WTTW-PBS in Chicago, which continues to air fine programming, like the Ken Burns Vietnam War documentary.)  Valparaiso University's Law School enrollment dropped so low that the school was shuttered.

Among those departing from their current line of work was Ms. Gullo, long-time Kindergarten teacher at Irving School.  I am glad that I was among those whose lives she impacted at a young age over the years, through all the delights that Kindergarten involves.

Deacon Lendell Richardson bid farewell to Ascension Parish to take on a new asssignment as deacon at St. Bernardine Parish in Forest Park.

Lisa Madigan decided not to seek another term in office, as did US Representative Luis Gutierrez, who cited the reason of wanting to focus on recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, which was hit hard by one of several destructive hurricanes that hit the United States.

Other major weather events that made headlines included wildfires and earthquakes in Mexico.  There was also major flooding in the Chicago area during the summer, which started out quite hot, enough for me to feel it was worth the money to get a pool pass.  The heat subsided in July and it never got quite as hot as it did during that string of days in June.  But it certainly heated up for a stretch of days in September.  Even November and the start of December featured some rather mild days, before a cold snap hit.

The winter at the beginning of the year started off rather cloudy throughout much of January.  Then February followed with some spectacularly mild, and sunny, weather.  All the while, there wasn't much snow, until a significant snow event in March.

It was also in March that there was a terrorist attack near the Houses of Parliament in London, which was not the only terrorist attack in the United Kingdom this year, including one that happened close to elections there in June.

There was great upheaval in Spain as efforts were launched to make Catalonia independent of Spain.  And there was heated activity over issues of race, like in August when a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville lead to violence.  There was also trouble with acts of ill will directed toward Jewish people.

Ill will was also shown toward a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Chicago-O'Hare Airport to Louisville, who was selected to vacate his seat for a crew member.  Troubles also occurred when a power outage hit Atlanta's airport.  This happened right around the time a terrible train derailment occurred on the Cascades route in Washington--something that hit home for me, because I rode that same route, and train number, back in May, although not on that stretch of track that was inaugurated that day.  Another derailment occurred on the Cascades route during the summer.

Long-distance Amtrak train service was one of those services targeted for budget cuts by the Trump administration's budget proposal.  That led to rallies to save train service.

There were also big rallies held throughout the months of 2017 as people vented their disapproval of Donald Trump, including a Women's March in Washington, D.C.

In the midst of a very polarizing atmosphere, one event that united people was the August 21 total solar eclipse that crossed the United States from coast to coast.  There was definitely a huge amount of hype, but certainly for good reason, because witnessing a total solar eclipse is pretty spectacular.  People flocked to spots outside to view the eclipse, even in the Chicago area where only a partial eclipse could be viewed, and it was somewhat cloudy.

While I wasn't there that day, it was apparently a much busier day than usual at the Oak Park Public Library since it hosted a solar eclipse viewing event out in Scoville Park.  The sorting and shelving team had an unusually large volume of materials being returned on the AMH.  That machine was replaced in December, and it's a pretty swell machine that's now in place to handle the return and sorting of materials.

The Oak Park Public Library also took a significant step in making the library more accessible by instituting a fine-free policy.  The library also hired a Multicultural Learning Librarian, Naomi Priddy, to oversee the recently-acquired Multicultural Collection, and expand opportunities for its use by a larger community of people in accessing its wealth of resources about cultures all over the world.

A new wealth of resources was opened to the public when the Bible Museum opened in Washington, D.C.  Mississippi opened a Civil Rights Museum in celebration of its Bicentennial on December 10.  Nebraska marked 150 years as a state back on March 1.

Dominican University marked 20 years since its name change from Rosary College, an anniversary that followed the name change of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science to the School of Infomation Studies, offering informatics studies in addition to the library information science studies.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops marked the centennial of its inception in the form of an organization focused on the war effort during World War I.  It was 100 years ago that the US entered the conflict.

The world's attention will focus on the United States come 2028 when the Olympics come back to this country with Los Angeles as the host city, decided at an IOC meeting that made Paris the 2024 Summer Olympics host city.  That gives us something to look ahead to, even as we wrap up 2017 and take on 2018.

And perhaps greater fruit will be born from the commemoration of 500 years since Martin Luther's 95 Theses, which brought opportunities for ecumenical dialogue and prayer, which we hope continue to bind the wound to Christ's body.  Perhaps it will happen in the spirit that is exhibited by Taize prayer services, which marked an anniversary at Ascension Parish back in October, 25 years of gathering together as one body of people in Christ to praise our God, Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The Blue Matrix That Has...

It was 15 years ago this month that my parents purchased the 2003 bluish Toyota Matrix that they still own.

In the weeks beforehand, I participated in some of their trips to car dealerships to look at new cars, even riding in some cars that they test-drove.  I didn't find it all that interesting to be present as they talked with people about cars, but I made a point to be a good sport about it.  But it was pretty exciting when they brought the vehicle home from the Bredemann Toyota dealer in Park Ridge.

That meant it was time to bid farewell to the bluish Volvo vehicle my family had, the only vehicle I had ever really known up to that point in my life.  It was a fine car and served us well in getting us to our destination on various trips, like our trips to Midwest locations including the Double JJ Ranch in Michigan (the last summer vacation for which we used that car), various trips to St. Louis (including one that tied in Springfield, IL, and Bluffdale Farm), and then to spots further away like Niagara Falls, and another trip to locations in Colorado including Denver and Estes Park.  And it got us around town, like on those days when I got a ride to Irving School.

When I was new to middle school, my parents were in the process of acquiring the new car.  And like the Volvo, it has served our needs well throughout the past 15 years.  It got us around town, like me to school, first Julian, then OPRFHS, and then to Valparaiso University, as well as Dominican University when I didn't bike or go by public transit there for graduate school classes.  It was the vehicle I used to build up behind the wheel experience once I started the process of learning how to drive.  I'm glad my parents have graciously let me use it often throughout the years for short trips in the area, and even the one time I took it to ValpU to bring some of my belongings back home during the week leading up to my college graduation.

And we took some great family trips using the vehicle, including the Outer Banks in North Carolina (2003), Lake Lure in North Carolina (2005), Nashville (2006), Williamsburg in Virginia (2009) right before going to start at ValpU, the Great Smoky Mountain area of Tennessee and North Carolina (2010), and Washington, D.C. (2011).

Indeed, it's a good vehicle that's still working pretty well.  I think back to the days when someone would pick me up from school, and as I walked out of school, it was always nice to see the sight of that bluish vehicle waiting to take me home.  Similar to the home in which I grew up, the Matrix is one of those things that is part of how I have experienced life for the past 15 years, and I'm delighted that my family has had use of it.

Time to Start Celebrating Illinois's 200th Year

Today marks the start of the 200th Year of Illinois Statehood, as it was 199 years ago this day that Illinois became a state.  The Governor's Office of Illinois Bicentennial has a number of wonderful celebrations already listed on its website for the coming year.

I myself am eager to celebrate Illinois over the course of this year, the place where I was born and have been a citizen all my life, which motivates me to think about what's special about Illinois and how it has contributed to the world around it.

In my effort to celebrate this 200th Year of Illinois leading up to the Bicentennial in 2018, I will share 200 things about Illinois in various posts on my blog.

And I'm making popcorn #1 on my list.  It is the official state snack food, as signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich back in 2003.  I think the choice is fitting because there's so much corn grown in Illinois.  Popcorn is a quintessential product of the soil, which suits the Illinois Bicentennial's catchphrase "Born. Built. Grown."

A healthy treat I like to share with people is popcorn I buy at the Oak Park Farmers' Market--#2 on my list--as there are many farmers throughout Illinois who sell their goods at markets like the one in Oak Park.  They sell ears of corn that can be put in the microwave to make popcorn, which pops right off the ear.  And it's just the flavor of the popcorn itself, in a natural state.  Indeed, it's pretty tasty.

So as I get myself into the spirit of celebration today, I eat and share some of that popcorn as I celebrate.

Furthermore, it's quite timely that the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest had an Open House on this day at its recently opened History Museum--#3 on my list.

I went there for a visit in the middle of last month with my then-fellow colleagues at the Oak Park Public Library.  Toward the end of our time there, I mentioned to Frank Lipo, the Executive Director, how appropriate it was to have the open house of the history museum on Illinois's Statehood Day.  He then mentioned to me that the OPRF Historical Society started 50 years ago in response to a call issued by the organizers of Illinois's 150th-year celebration.  They asked what people in local communities were doing to commemorate Illinois history, and that encouraged some citizens in Oak Park and River Forest to start the historical society.  (They even met at the Oak Park Public Library as they got the society started.)

Visiting something like the OPRF History Museum helps focus my thoughts on my place in this state of Illinois, and the place my community of Oak Park has in this state, even as just days ago I pondered the special part Oak Park has played in my life upon the 25th anniversary of moving here.

Even as visitors to the museum get to know the history of this local area, we can be part of commemorating its history as part of the larger story of Illinois, just as those who started the OPRF Historical Society did nearly a half-century ago.  We recall what our history is about, to better understand who we are, as we go forth to be the best in our own place and for the world around us.

On display at the museum is a desk given to a local resident who was part of the Illinois State Constitutional Convention back around 1970.  This story is just one of many local residents who helped shape the world around them.  We reflect their stories as we draw from its richness to make Illinois the right kind of place.

While I am a lifelong Oak Park resident, I was actually born on the North Side of Chicago, and moved here when I was 20 months old.  I can say I've had a truly Illinois experience as I have the mark of the city of Chicago on me, and then went into the suburbs, encompassing a greater sense of being an Illinoisan.  That movement is a good way for me to start focusing on the vastness of everything Illinois has from Cairo to South Beloit, from Quincy to Danville, and everything in between, and that's plenty of reason to celebrate leading up to the Bicentennial Day on December 3, 2018.

25 Years of Home and Place

Today marks the anniversary of an event that has played a significant part of my life:  It was 25 years ago this day, November 28, 1992, that my family moved to the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, IL, and ever since, I have called this place home.

I am so blessed that I have lived here for a quarter-century, and have become intimately familiar with this place, and have been shaped so greatly by it.  More than being just a house, my family home where I grew up on Clarence Avenue has been the place to share what Pope Francis describes as the love and joy of family life, which has enriched me so greatly, and having that love ever present to me throughout my childhood has helped me grow up strong into the person I am today.  In this home I got to enjoy many things that made childhood delightful.  I take great comfort in having such a place that I still hold near and dear to my heart, and can point to as the place where I encountered such love.

This occasion also makes me think again about what Oak Park means to me, just as I did after Dan and Ann Ruggaber came to visit me here in the summer following my graduation from Valparaiso University.

I have a confession to make on this joyful occasion, though.  When I was at Irving Elementary School, I couldn't help but notice that so many of my friends lived in southeast Oak Park, closer to Austin Boulevard, but I lived much further west, and that bothered me.  I was practically jealous of people who lived further east, because I thought the east was somehow superior to the west.  Of course, it makes sense that so many of my school friends lived to the east, because the majority of the Irving School district lies in southeast Oak Park, with just a small section between East and Euclid Avenues, which was transferred over from Lincoln School a few years before I started.  Alas, though, as a child, I just didn't have the full understanding of things that I have now to see all this.  There were even times where it seemed like Irving School had an unfavorable reputation, and I lived in the lone Irving household on the block.  I'm glad to say that whatever reputation Irving had back then no longer exists, and Irving School has become quite sophisticated.  Indeed, I was quite heartened to read an opinion piece in The Wednesday Journal a couple of years ago written by a mom of two Irving alumni I knew, and her opinion, along with those who posted comments below it in the online version, speaks to the sense of pride I feel having been part of the Irving community affixed to southeast Oak Park, with such wonderful neighbors and friends.

Plus, I eventually came to appreciate the area of Oak Park where I grew up, which got underway when I went to Julian.  I was able to see my part of Oak Park as a special piece of the patchwork that comprises Oak Park, offering its own unique contribution to the diversity that Oak Park prides itself in, and which I was able to sense more deeply upon starting at Julian, where I interacted with so many people from all parts of the village.  And in some ways, this continued into high school.

Growing up, I would go to other places, like on vacation, and simply remark, "I'm from Chicago" when asked where I live.  But my view of being an Oak Parker really changed when I left for college and I realized there was a distinct gap between what I considered home and where I was spending much of my time, which made me view Oak Park in the special lens of being home.  So when people started asking me where I live, I would distinctly say "Oak Park".  Eventually, I started saying, "The Chicago suburb of Oak Park", to give people a better sense of where exactly I live, though, frankly, any person who's engaged in enough of a conversation with me to ask where I live is already interested in knowing enough about me so that asking where Oak Park is wouldn't be that much of an added burden.  Besides, it's interesting to think of where people think Oak Park is located in Illinois if they've never heard of it.

While this entire region is dominated by Chicago, I still think that Oak Park has its own unique spot in the metro area, offering particular contributions that make Chicagoland the great patchwork quilt of communities that it has, which is why I saw I'm from "Oak Park" and not strictly "Chicago".

And what a strong sense of community we have here in Oak Park.  While this is a village with a large population, there are so many ways we connect with one another.  As was the case with me as part of the Irving community, all the elementary schools foster a sense of close-knit communities in eight different areas of Oak Park, as even the private schools do, too.  The schools' close-knit community speaks to how we live close to our neighbors, as I know it's the case for me on my block, and also those on the other side of the alley from us. 

The vast network of sidewalks makes it easy to walk places, including the schools I attended in Oak Park.  It's great that I'm able to walk to Church, as many people find driving a more viable option.  Biking is also a feasible option, and I take advantage of it to go to places that are further from home, like the Oak Park main library and downtown Oak Park businesses, where I used to work before starting at the Oak Park Public Library.  We have a nice scene of businesses in Oak Park, including many intriguing restaurant options.  Some have not been able to make it, like Arepa's, which was truly one of my favorites.  But there are other good places around, like Jerusalem Cafe, Grape Leaves, Q BBQ, and Boss Burrito.  Downtown Oak Park is one of many business districts that seeks to offer a distinct flair, just like the Harrison Arts District, with the Buzz Cafe and the Happy Apple Pie Shop.

Being an employee of the Oak Park Public Library has helped me engage with my community on a deeper level.  My work in the sorting and shelving room has allowed me to see the kinds of materials people are checking out through what's returned, and through the holds that come through to be processed for Oak Park patrons.  Being on the other side of things as a staff person has given me a window into the efforts the library has undergone to better serve the community, through projects like the space changes and the more recent implementation of the fine-free policy.

Being hired to work at the Oak Park Public Library was kind of like a dream come true.  I didn't necessarily imagine myself working there as I grew up, but being hired was a fitting thing to have happen to me because of how much of an impact the library had on me.  I went to the Maze Branch of the Library on a field trip in Kindergarten, which is when I got my first library card, and the world opened up to me.  During the summers, I eagerly participated in the children's summer reading program.  I visited the Maze Branch each week during the summer to check in my progress, and then check out books.  I was so eager to mark off as many minutes as I could that as soon as I walked out the door of Maze, my head was in a book, and I read all the way home, removing my shoes with my head still in a book, as I made my way to a seat.  When I got older, I gave back to the community by volunteering to help run the summer reading program.  Truly I have seen the positive impact libraries can have on a community.

So besides just working, I've also been part of discussions about the community.  To facilitate continual staff participate in learning, the library offers Learn While You Earn sessions, which are meetings that cover a variety of topics.  One of these sessions that's held regularly, and which I have attended consistently, are the Story Hours.  They are kitchen-table style conversations to talk about what library staff are learning about the community through work and through being out in the community.

The most recent Story Hour I attended was actually a field trip to the newly-opened Oak Park-River Forest History Museum.  We had the chance to look around the space and hear from Frank Lipo, the Executive Director, who shared about how the space is arranged, how the museum was refurbished from the space that used to be a firehouse and then the office building of the village's public works department, and what their hopes are for the future.  He shared a few stories about some of the artifacts on display:  There was about a piece of art done by a commercial artist who lived in Oak Park for a time.  Years later, some people gave the painting to the Oak Park River Forest Historical Society after finding it under their porch.  Frank strongly grabbed my attention when he said the address of where it was found, across the street a few doors north of where I live.

It's amazing to get a glimpse into what life was like in Oak Park in years gone by, and to see what contributions people made to this village.  I then think about what I've contributed to Oak Park during the quarter-century I've lived here.  The one thing that comes to my mind was the development of the current middle schools in Oak Park.  And by the circumstance of going through District 97 grade by grade in the way I did, I just happened to be in place at the right time to be handed the opportunity to be in the first group of 6th graders to attend the new Oak Park middle schools.  And the middle school I attended was named for an Oak Park resident, Dr. Percy Julian, who was a pioneer himself in science and racial justice.  I'm delighted to have been part of carrying on his legacy of shaping Oak Park for the better.

So yes, I delight in the love of home and family I've had, and the sense of community to which I've belonged.  In great joy this day, I declare myself proudly to be a resident of Oak Park for a quarter century.

Thanksgiving Thoughts 2017

There's always something so special about Thanksgiving Day, an occasion that combines a sense of being part of the United States with the divine and the spiritual, truly making it an American Holy Day.

It's a great occasion for us to remember who we are in relationship with God, the One Who created us and has blessed us in so many ways.  Even reading over President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation, which established this holiday as an annual celebration, I can't help but be struck by how many wonderful blessings the people of the United States could count, in the wealth of their lands, their commercial activities, and even their relationships with other countries.  Such a litany shines brightly in the midst of the trying times of war between North and South.  It's definitely clear that times of crisis are a good opportunity to remember why we are blessed.

Yet it's not enough just to behold and bask in our blessings.  Thanksgiving is truly something that compels us to action.  At the annual Oak Park-River Forest Community of Congregations Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service, a local rabbi talked about a Jewish teaching that says gratitude must spur us on to grow in virtues, by which we serve and love others.  Even as we gave thanks for the sense of community we share with other people of faith, we were spurred on to uphold those values for the making of a better world, especially through the passionate preaching of Pastor Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church.

Even Jesus says, "Those to whom much is given, much is required", in Luke 12:48 NIV, a statement echoed by President Kennedy.  As we take the opportunity to remember our blessings on this occasion, we renew ourselves in the work of making those blessings extend as we reach out to others.

Going to Mass is one important part of celebrating Thanksgiving Day for me, because by going to the table of the Eucharist, I give thanks to God for His gifts to me, and in partaking of Him, I am transformed to live for Him, with Him inside me, that I may be a blessing in the world.  I couldn't hep but think how fitting it is that Thanksgiving Day is on a Thursday, the same day of Holy Week when we celebrate Christ's institution of the Eucharist.  Week after week when I go to the Eucharist, I continue to be called to that transformation so that I may live a lifestyle steeped in gratitude that compels me to offer myself up in love to Him and others, in the model He has given us.

The Protestant Reformation Then and Now

I spent time recently with the story of Martin Luther, on account of the 500th anniversary of the 95 Theses, and also because of his birthday back on November 10.  Combined with my attendance at events for the 500th anniversary, I here share a follow-up to my previous post reflecting on that occasion.

I watched two programs on Martin Luther I had taped some time ago.  The first was a documentary entitled Martin Luther: the Idea that Changed the World.  It combined interviews with experts and dramatic scenes from Martin Luther's life.  The driving theme of the program was Martin Luther's quest to answer the question of how to be a good person, and ultimately, gain Heaven while living in a sin-stained world.  He was overcome with such great guilt, which led to his entering the Augustinian order, putting him in a position to encounter ancient truths in Scriptures that led him to speak out against the Roman Catholic Church.  Having experienced God's graces so powerfully after great anguish caused him to hold unyieldingly to the principles he proclaimed and taught, even when his life was threatened by powerful figures in Europe.

I don't know if I should say this, but I think Martin Luther is a genius.  He had a brilliant mind that drove him to speak out against the Church in a very articulate way, especially through his 95 Theses.  Somehow, those statements launched a movement that would powerfully impact the world, especially when combined with other circumstances at the time, that gave him influence beyond him as a person.  The documentary emphasized how the relatively new invention of the printing press, the first form of mass media, seized on his writings and produced them in large quantities for the masses, which helped his ideas spread like wildfire.  That's when the trouble started, when the authority of rulers was challenged.  The situation, indeed, got rather complicated because there were political circumstances at stake, beyond the theological stakes.  Martin Luther was certainly more concerned with the latter, but others were more concerned with politics, like the Pope, who had so much more political power than in modern times, and even King Henry VIII, who at first defended the Roman Catholic Church, but then cast it aside and established the Church of England to suit his own desires, including his own ideas of power.

I also watched a Rick Steves program on Martin Luther and the Reformation.  There was footage of places in Germany related to Martin Luther, including in Eisleben, Erfurt, and Wittenberg.  But Rick Steves took great care not just to tell about events in Dr. Luther's life, but to furthermore place them in the context of church history and the sociopolitical situation of the time.  Rick Steves indicated that the Roman Catholic Church emerged in a power vacuum after the end of the Roman Empire, and so came to dominate Western Europe for the subsequent 10 centuries, holding sway over the political situation as well as the every day life of people, which, for commoners, he described as being unglamorous.  As tends to happen in the world, those people and institutions that gain great power become corrupted, and Dr. Luther rightly called the Church out on its corruption.  Rick Steves emphasized at the start and end of the program how Dr. Luther's actions also were about progress, as they affected the world order in which societies moved toward lesser influence of massive institutions like the Roman Catholic Church, and greater individual freedom.

These programs piqued my interest in the major writing for which he is known, and so I read the 95 Theses.  There is definitely a strong focus on the practice of indulgences, with an insistence of forgiveness of sins coming by grace through faith alone, and addressing the authority of the Pope.  He offered a lot of food for thought to spark discussion in the university community.

That's the spirit of what Dr. Gard, President of Concordia University Chicago, said in his remarks before a panel discussion held there on the eve of the 500th Anniversary of the 95 Theses.  He mentioned how fitting it was to have this panel discussion at a university, where discussion of ideas is meant to take place.

The panel discussion, entitled The Reformation at 500: an Interdenominational Conversation, featured two people I've personally met: Dr. Philip Ryken, President of Wheaton College, and Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago.  It also included Dr. Matthew Harrison, Bishop and President of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, who I've heard of before, but had only seen in person for the first time at this event.  The panel was moderated by Manya Brachear Pashman, the religion reporter for The Chicago Tribune.  (This page features a biographical profile of each panelist and includes a video recording of the discussion.  If you have an hour to spare,  I highly recommend watching the discussion because of the sharing of great insights, and even a high-five exchanged between Cardinal Cupich and President Harrison, which had something to do with similar views on predestination.)

The panel, from left to right: Dr. Ryken, President Harrison, Cardinal Cupich, and Manya Brachear Pashman

It was clear from the opening remarks that there would be some disagreement among the three panelists, which Ms. Pashman hoped for as a journalist.  One major issue raised was how salvation happens.  Cardinal Cupich talked about how works and faith are equally essential, while Dr. Ryken mentioned that there is no "Christ and", because Christ alone is the One Who makes salvation possible.  President Harrison also remarked that the righteousness of God is a finished act.

President Harrison also talked about the Lutheran Church's divisions, with confessional Lutherans and state Lutheran churches, especially in Europe, which have taken a decidedly progressive stance on issues.  He contrasted these divisions in Lutheranism with how Roman Catholics are not similarly divided, and continue to hold fast to truths of the Magisterium.  President Harrison even talked about how he read works by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and how much depth there is to Benedict's writings.

All three speakers appeared to be in agreement that the Protestant Reformation was an unfortunate event in world history that caused division to Christ's Church, seeking to refer to the 500th anniversary as a "commemoration", rather than something like a "celebration".  Cardinal Cupich deferred from referring to the Protestant Reformation as a "necessity", which implied its inevitability--and that led to the predestination remark that resulted in a high-five exchanged with President Harrison.  I would agree that the Reformation wasn't inevitable, but resulted from a collection of circumstances that came together in a particular way to cause it.

They also spoke about how heartened they were by the very fact that they were all together in one room having this discussion, being open to other's views, even to the point of being willing to face someone saying "you're wrong".  And they talked about ways Christians of all denominations could work together, in efforts to address social ills and encroachments by the government on religious freedom.

It was such a great conversation, and I was a little bit startled when the hour was done:  I felt like they could have kept going for so much longer.  I could have even gone on longer in conversation with a Lutheran pastor named Paul who sat next to me.  Before it started, he turned to me and asked why I had come to the discussion, and that turned into quite a conversation about our involvements in church:  He shared about his work as pastor, and I shared about my teaching Religious Education.

The next evening, October 31, I joined with  Lutherans and fellow Roman Catholics at Holy Name Cathedral for a prayer service.  The co-presiders were Cardinal Cupich of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and Bishop Wayne Miller of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  (How about that for two evenings in a row seeing Cardinal Cupich, and the third time in the month of October.)

Left: Bishop Miller. Right: Cardinal Cupich.

The prayers, songs, Scripture readings, and other readings focused on the Church, the Word of God, the tragedy of the division that resulted from the Protestant Reformation, the renewal that also occurred in the church, and what unites Roman Catholics and Lutherans.

There were great remarks offered in the messages:  We are called to live a Christianity that drives us outward to care for others.  While we are not saved by works, we're known by them.  We open our hands to receive the graces of God in abundance and then release them.  For the One Who binds us together is more powerful than what tears us apart, and how good it is when we live together, like Psalm 113 says.

It was notable that Lutherans were at a Roman Catholic Cathedral, of all places, to commemorate the anniversary of the 95 Theses, which Bishop Miller mentioned in his remarks.  And while I was there, I was kind of reminded of the story of The Sneetches, because at the end of it, no one could tell who was who.  And with the exception of certain clergy and religious people present, I couldn't really tell who was Roman Catholic and who was Lutheran.  And we were all together to join together in prayer, as Cardinal Cupich and Bishop Miller renewed, with their signatures, the 1989 Joint Covenant between the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Cardinal Cupich and Bishop Miller signing to renew the Covenant

It's indeed a great sign to see that we can come together, and be open to one another.  We have much progress to accomplish still--as evidenced in part by people standing outside Holy Name with signs denouncing the ELCA's support for abortion.  But we've definitely made strides since that movement 500 years ago that wounded Christ's vision of unity for His Church, especially in the fact that Protestants and Roman Catholics are coming together, and experience the powerful presence of God among us, Whom we shall one day worship forever in His presence as one multitude of the faithful.

The Energetic and Adventurous Spirit of Josh

At this time of year, we think about those who have departed from us into the realm of Eternity.  Today especially I think about my cousin Josh.

My Uncle Bernie adopted him about 10 years ago, seeking to provide a good life for a teenager, having spent much time working with and empowering teens through non-profit organizations.  Because of some unfortunate circumstances in his family life, Josh definitely needed true love and care, which my Uncle provided for him so abundantly.  Indeed, I remember seeing a photo of my uncle posing with my cousin before they went into family court to finalize the adoption, and Uncle Bernie was beaming with joy.

When Uncle Bernie brought him into our family, I was personally excited.  Being the youngest of the four grandchildren of my mom's parents, I didn't have the chance to welcome a newborn into the family after me, like my older brother and cousins did for me.  I enjoyed having a new family member, because part of me has yearned to play the role of a benevolent "older brother" kind of figure, and I was able to do so for Josh.

My cousin Josh was a rather energetic, adventurous kind of person.  My Mom tells a story from when she was with him and my uncle waiting at family court to finalize the adoption, and Josh looked out at a construction crane in downtown Chicago and expressed his desire to swing around from the top of it.  He also had a sense of adventure during a winter season when he built a shelter outside entirely made of snow and slept inside it.  Like Uncle Bernie, Josh enjoyed outdoor activities.

Josh also enjoyed playing games, both cards and other board games.  I recall a story published in a newsletter about how my Uncle Bernie adopted Josh.  For his first meeting with my uncle, Josh brought a bunch of games with him so they would have something to do together.  He and my uncle must have great minds because my uncle thought alike and brought a bunch of games with him, too, leading the caseworker to remark that they had found their match.  When we had family gatherings, like on holidays, Josh and Uncle Bernie were eager to play some kind of game.

At Church, Josh ran the equipment during Mass in the AV loft, just like Uncle Bernie does.  He was even part of the Knights of Columbus, first as a squire, and then as a full-fledged member once he turned 18.  When he was confirmed, he selected the name Gabriel, one of the prominent angels, the servants who boldly do God's work in accomplishing His purposes, which I found fitting for his personality.

His family background caused him to struggle in life, but there were many times he also embraced a very strong sense of life.  I remember he was once over at my house, and we ended up having a great conversation about life and the nature of our society, the final extended conversation I had with him before his sudden and tragic death.

It was heartbreaking for him to depart from us.  But to the very end, he received the great love of our family, as well as a huge group of his friends who attended.  My Grandma put it best when she remarked that his funeral was one of the best she's ever attended.

Truly his life reminds us of what it means to be a family in which we share the kind of love that nourishes our souls and allows us to live fully the life God desires of us, giving of our love from the heart, mirroring the love we look forward to sharing with Him one day, forever, in His presence.

A New Order, 500 Years Later

The phrase Novus Ordo Seclorum appears on the Great Seal of the United States, which is on the back of $1 bills.  This Latin phrase refers to a new order of the ages that resulted when the United States declared independence.

I think that phrase is fitting to describe what happened on October 31, 1517, when a Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther released his 95 Theses at the local bulletin board, the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany, intending to spark discussion about flaws in church practices and doctrines.  And that act sparked the movement known as the Protestant Reformation, which led to the formation of many new Christian denominations, putting an end to the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe, and also igniting great passions about religion over the coming years and decades.

As I think about this 500th Anniversary occasion, it makes me think about something that Queen Elizabeth II said about the American Revolution on the occasion of her visit to the United States in 1976, the bicentennial year of US independence.  While King George III was ready to give every American a bloody nose, she referred to the American Revolution as a valuable lesson for Britain.

I certainly think something similar can be uttered about the Protestant Reformation as far as Roman Catholics are concerned:  The Reformation was a valuable lesson, and Pope Francis is the kind of person who I picture saying something like that, as a strong reversal of the passionate views expressed by previous Popes who reigned back in the 16th Century.

So if we think of this as a lesson, what have we learned?

I think for Roman Catholics, the Protestant Reformation is an opportunity to be aware of the flaws that resulted from losing focus on the purpose of certain practices, and pondering the issues raised by the Reformers helps steer us back to the right focus.  While I don't know much about the Counter-Reformation, I sense that it was a good response as the Roman Catholic Church sought to refocus itself.

Furthermore, I think this 500-year occasion is a good time for all Christians to think anew about issues of doctrine and practice, both in learning about other denominations and becoming more acquainted with our own, and gaining a better understanding of core Christian principles.  One example that comes to mind is the issue of justification, with the debate on whether it happens by faith versus works.  Beyond the either/or is the discussion about how faith is a gift, but has to be shown in some way to be meaningful.  I find it valuable to think about both sides, no matter what our stance is, because there is merit to both arguments, because the issue is rather nuanced, just like another major concern raised by the Reformers, the issue of Papal authority.

In my life, I have had the opportunity to experience a variety of denominations, which has given me a broader perspective of Christianity, especially as I compare vast differences and note commonalities.  The most notable of these experiences was my time at Valparaiso University.  Before starting school there, I'm pretty certain the only Lutherans I knew well were my piano teacher and her family.  After starting at ValpU, that number skyrocketed.  (It's just like how the number of Jewish people I knew skyrocketed when I started at Julian, whereas before Julian, I can say I only really knew one Jewish person and her family well.)

I got to know a lot about Lutheranism not only because of my Lutheran friends, classmates, and fellow collegians, but also because ValpU itself is a Lutheran school.  Desiring a way to connect with faith more deeply, I attended the services held at the Chapel of the Resurrection in the late morning Monday through Friday, which actually employed a different worship style each day, including traditional Matins, Taize, and contemporary praise band music.  There were a couple of times or so I attended the longer Chapel services on Sundays, and I saw that these services were similar in form to Roman Catholic Mass, using the same readings from the Revised Common Lectionary and having a similar format to communion.

All of this, though, as I came to understand, was a specialized style of Lutheranism that was unique to ValpU, and while the school is officially independent, it leans more toward the progressive style of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  In fact, I had some Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod friends who found the Chapel's style to not be a good fit, and so they attended Roman Catholic Mass at the St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Student Center, even though they couldn't receive communion.  And actually, one of my close friends attended Mass with me one Sunday as part of an assignment for his theology class.  It was a unique opportunity to hear the perspectives of Roman Catholicism from someone coming in from the outside to something new, especially in what caught his attention.

In my desire to know Lutheranism better, I arranged with my good friend Matthew to attend the divine service one Sunday at the Church he attended while at ValpU, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Chesterton.  The way it worked out with my schedule, I went there on October 31, which was Reformation Sunday, and the actual anniversary of the 95 Theses.  Indeed, that was quite a bombshell to tell the pastor after the service ended, who took it pretty well, and was gracious to Roman Catholics in his sermon.  Again, I noticed many similarities to Roman Catholic Mass--Matthew actually would refer to the Lutheran services as "Mass", because, in my understanding, it included the celebration of Eucharist, which involves an encounter with the divinity of Jesus Christ.  (They, however, at that church, used a one-year cycle of readings, focusing on the Gospel of St. Matthew.)

I also saw the heart of Lutheranism, which the pastor expressed so well in his sermon.  He made it clear that this occasion was not about how Lutherans distinguish themselves from Roman Catholics or adhering to a certain denomination as much as it is about a group of people expressing a commitment to the core values of Christian faith, that we are saved by faith, or in other words, "Christ alone. Grace alone. Faith alone."

I think this 500-year anniversary is a great occasion for us to take steps to get to know each other better, even so far as to attend other denominations' church services.  And it's a great opportunity for us to get to know our own core beliefs even better--something that looms large in my mind because this past weekend, a large group of teens at my home parish received the sacrament of Confirmation, in which they publicly professed their faith in the principles of the Roman Catholic Church and their commitment to living them out in the power of the Holy Spirit in which they were sealed.  Being part of their formation has helped remind me of what I believe and why, as well as my commitment to live out my Roman Catholic faith.  Being strong in faith and its core principles enables us to engage in the kind of dialogue that can build bridges.

ValpU President Mark Heckler once remarked at an alumni event that the university holds to the idea that its people have strong faith, and so engage in dialogue with other denominations and religions, which has led to the university's welcoming stance toward other Christians and even religions, like Islam.  I definitely experienced this diversity on campus.  I even think of my close group of friends, with whom I stay in contact, as Roy arranged for us to have regular meetings over the phone, which include Bible study and fellowship time about things happening in our lives.  Our group has incredible denominational diversity: Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), nondenominational Evangelical, Baptist, and me as the Roman Catholic.  How wonderful it is that we share such great friendship with each other, and faith in one God.

Two weekends ago, I was pleased that Father Hurlbert addressed this 500-year anniversary occasion in his homily, because it gives a lot for us to think about as Roman Catholics, and compels us to reach out to our fellow Christians of other denominations.  He mentioned that the big issue that led to the division of Christianity was resolved in 1999, when a group of Roman Catholic and Lutheran scholars, after much study, signed a joint declaration about oneness in belief on the principle of justification by faith rather than works.  Truly this is a chance for us to see what unites us, and to use that to help us bridge the gaps that divide us still, in the hope we can build bridges based on what we share in common.  Indeed, he remarked that the ecumenical movement started because missionaries of different Christian denominations wanted to unite around beliefs, rather than presenting different concepts of God.

I'm heartened to see this progress toward Christian unity, because of the devastation that has occurred because people are divided and so entrenched in their divisions.  It makes me want to utter the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all get along?"  Yet it seems that we can't get along, because as humans, we all have differences on how we express our faith in common principles, which is what led Martin Luther to speak up 500 years ago, after having a profound revelation about the meaning of a passage in Romans 1.

But as we let our passions settle, we make the effort to come together, and we can see that there is so much that unites us.  And as Father Hurlbert said, while much work remains to be in true unity again as one Christian body, there is hope that if we can find common ground on the big issues like justification, we can find progress further.  And ultimately, we together proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ Who Saves, in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the greater Glory of God.

50 Years of Deep Thinking

It's October 29, and that means it's time for the Valparaiso University community to turn its attention to especially recognizing and celebrating Christ College, the Honors College at ValpU.  It marks the day in 1964, when a committee, established by legendary ValpU President O.P. Kretzmann, first met, a committee that would eventually form Christ College.

The recent Homecoming 2017 event at ValpU included festivities on Saturday, September 30, celebrating the Golden Anniversary of Christ College, and I was eager to return to the campus that served as the setting for an extraordinary time in my life, and to celebrate this special part of the university.

I arrived on campus right about 9:30 to get myself ready to participate in the CC 50th Celebration Quiz Bowl Challenge.  When an e-mail was sent out from Christ College seeking volunteers to play on teams, I pretty much jumped at it.  The game was a combination of Jeopardy and Quiz Bowl.  Play started with a toss-up question, and the team that answered the toss-up question correctly was eligible to pick a category and a points amount.

After Teams Fingerle and Piehl played, I then moved into place at the table with my team, led by Richard Schiming.

I thank my friend Tyler Holle for getting this picture of me right before play started.  I am second from the left at the table, in a yellow-colored sweater vest.

We had a good team, with a variety of graduation years represented, ranging from 1969 to 2016.  I was especially pleased to see an American Revolution category.  Another category was about economics, which was fitting for the team leader, Richard, a retired economics professor.

And did I ever get pumped up seeking to answer questions, even though I had some close calls with improperly formatted answers.  We triumphed over Team Schumacher, led by Russ Schumacher, a Jeopardy champion, which qualified us to compete for the championship.  We played off in a series of 5 toss-up questions with Team Fingerle to determine the champion.  Our team ended up placing 2nd, but in the end, we all had fun, and even those not on the championship team went home with a Christ College mug.  Plus, we enjoyed ourselves playing a game answering questions on a variety of subjects, just as in our time in Christ College, we discussed knowledge in a variety of subject areas--so how fitting to have a trivia game as part of the Golden Anniversary celebration.

After the trivia game ended, there was an open house.  I went around with my friend Tyler, who had arrived shortly before the trivia game started.  We looked around Mueller Hall, and mingled with former professors and other fellow Christ College alumni.  It was delightful being back in a place that served as the setting for many memorable learning experiences and then some.

At one point during the open house, Jennifer Prough, one of my former professors who now serves as interim dean, offered remarks, as did ValpU Provost, Mark Biermann.  They both spoke well about the special role Christ College plays at ValpU.  Dr. Biermann, who at the start declared his academic background in the sciences, even went so far as to counter the phrase "soft skills" that are part of the humanities-based Christ College program, alluding society's idea of their uselessness, saying that the skills students acquire in Christ College classes allow them to approach life with thoughtful critical analysis, and enhances their college education overall.  After the remarks, a Lego model of Mueller Hall was unveiled--please see the picture below that I took--an effort spearheaded by Professor Andrew Richter, Dean Prough's husband.

Following the remarks, Tyler and I continued to wander around.

Here I am posing with images of former Christ College Deans Mel Piehl (to the left in the picture) and Mark Schwehn (to the right), which were out on a table in a Mueller Hall hallway.  Thanks to Tyler for taking this picture.

We ended up in a room with Professor Graber, who, along with two Christ College seniors, was leading a discussion about the CC freshman program.  The two seniors are Teaching Assistants, who, one day a week, lead a discussion group of freshmen.  It was a great opportunity for me to think back upon the texts we studied that first semester at Christ College, as well as our freshmen production, and to think about how it fits into our education and even our lives.  One person in the room participating in the discussion was an alumnus who offered memories of the structure of CC when it was in its infancy back in the 1960's/1970's.  I also enjoyed hearing the perspectives of current Christ College seniors.

Indeed, this session made me think about much, including my path to obtaining my MLIS.  I realized that the path I took made a lot of sense, because Christ College gave me a good liberal arts backing to my education that helped me think broadly in a variety of subject areas, and I see that being put to use now in my LIS work, as I interact with a variety of subjects.

The afternoon was an open period, so Tyler and I met with our friend Richard, and made merry visiting over lunch, and then over to his apartment, chatting about our lives and things happening with us.  Tyler and I then went to 4 PM Mass at St. Teresa's, which was a wonderful time to reconnect with a community that played a significant part in my ValpU experience--and actually factored considerably into the autobiographical essay I wrote during my Christ College Senior Colloquium as I reflected on my experiences at that time in my life.  After Mass, I spent time reconnecting with Deacon Bob and his wife Karen, and Oleta and Jim Chester and Mary and Bob Emery, two couples with whom I shared an extraordinary week at St. Augustine in Nebraska during spring break of my senior year.  It was wonderful to see them all.

Then it was time to attend the second installment of festivities for Christ College's Golden Anniversary, an evening reception.  I arrived after the dinner buffet had already opened, which was catered by Don Quijote, a Spanish restaurant in downtown Valparaiso.  (There were many dishes on the buffet tables that weren't really Spanish, like beef sandwiches and meatballs in different varieties, but at least there was paella.  And there was good food there overall, in great abundance.)  Dean Prough, ValpU President Mark Heckler, and Dean Franson all gave remarks.  President Heckler extolled the place Christ College has in the large ValpU community and the significant role Christ College plays.  In tribute to Dean Franson's work at Christ College, especially in providing academic advising services to students, Dean Prough named Dean Franson an honorary Christ College Scholar.  Dean Franson was overcome by such great tribute in her honor, which is well-deserved, given how much she has done for the Christ College community, especially in aiding students through academic advising for classes.

Also during the reception, alumnus Frederick Barton talked about the various careers and other pursuits CC alumni have embarked on in life after ValpU.  He organized his remarks around the theme of the Christ College alumni community is like being its own town, complete with teachers, pastors, judges, and church choir singers.  I was intrigued to see the breadth of what Christ College alumni do with their lives.

Subsequently, there was a short break, which gave the chance for us to mingle.  I talked with former professors, and even met some big names like Russ Schumacher.  Also while mingling, a woman approached me and, like many others did throughout the day, complimented me on my spirited performance in the morning trivia game.  When I looked at her name tag, I realized I had just been approached by Rebecca Pallmeyer, who is a federal judge in Chicago for the U.S. District Court for the Northern Illinois District.

Judge Pallmeyer served as co-moderator along with Dan McAdams, another alumnus, for a panel featuring all the living deans of Christ College, past and current--one of the early deans passed away.

From left to right: Dan McAdams, Rebecca Pallmeyer, and Deans Baepler, Schwehn, Piehl, Kanelos, and Prough.  Picture is mine.

Their remarks ran the gamut from discussing how Christ College got started to the challenge of how an interdisciplinary humanities-based honors college program, like that at Christ College, can remain relevant in this present day and age.  I was also intrigued to learn that the Lilly Fellows program was funded by the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company, which has provided teaching fellowship opportunities, including some of my professors--not to mention offices in the Linwood House, a fascinating spot on campus.  After closing remarks, I lingered a little longer, chatting with professors and others before beginning my nice, long drive back to Oak Park.

I left feeling so glad I participated in the festivities celebrating the institution that was a special part of my studies during four years at ValpU.  The humanities-based program provided a nice compliment to my scientific studies for my major.  Truly, the Christ College program distinguishes itself like no other program in the words summed up by what appears on the back of the Golden Anniversary t-shirts that were distributed: "Read Carefully. Interpret Responsibly. Discuss Thoughtfully."  I think those sentiments express why the Christ College suited me so well.  I like to spend time musing on the nature of life, to get a greater understanding of the question that was ever present before us in Christ College studies: "What does it mean to be human?"

In the quest to answer that question, I was able to engage with so many different ideas in a diversity of texts.  Certainly, the freshmen program is defined by the structure that allows an intense look at several texts.  In the first semester, we did looked at philosophers, most especially Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, a time-honored tradition by which Christ College freshmen are "broken in".  We also looked at the Bible, St. Augustine's Confessions, and Marco Polo's travels, which many disliked, but which I rather enjoyed.  The second semester's first half had a focus on social science, including William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, Jane Austen's Persuasion, and stories by Lu Xun.  There were also the big undertakings of the freshmen program, with more time-honored traditions like creating our freshmen production, which for my class was the story of a Western town called Nugget where the women, led by the mayor's Russian mail-order bride, rebel against the men and banish them.  Then came the freshmen debates in the 2nd semester, giving us the chance to research and craft arguments about major issues at the international, national, state, and university levels.  (At my debate, I gave a speech addressing the US government's plan to move Guantanamo detainees to a prison facility in northwestern Illinois--in a debate that was aired live on the Internet.)  The 2nd semester also gave us the chance to be in research seminars focused on specific topics, resulting in large compositions.  My 20-page essay was about a monument to Confederate soldiers in Oakwoods Cemetery on the Southeast Side of Chicago.

In subsequent years, I continued the Christ College quest with classes like Word and Image, which truly stands out among all classes I've had.  This was the kind of class in which we would, for example, look at an image, and discuss the significance of the image's design and presentation.  Then came a focus on theology with Christian Tradition, looking at the Bible and the writings famous theologians including Origen, G.K. Chesterton, and C.S. Lewis.  Come senior year, I had a class on Justice in the first semester, in which I wrote an essay in which I incorporated ideas from Rod Blagojevich's book The Governor.  Then, in the 2nd semester, I was in Creation Narratives, cross-listed with English and Theology, and taught by renowned author Walt Wangerin, who facilitated our discussions of creation narratives from different cultures.

Throughout all my years, I participated in time-honored traditions, like the freshmen production and freshmen debates of subsequent freshmen classes.  I also enjoyed Thursday evening Symposium sessions, featuring wonderful speakers on subjects ranging from opera to the Higgs Boson particle.  (We had weekly plenary lectures during freshman year, up until Spring Break, with speakers talking on topics related to our texts at hand, including freshmen program professors, ValpU professors, and outside speakers.)

All of this took place in the context of a close-knit community, underscored from the day in May of my senior year in high school when Dean Piehl personally called me to welcome me into the Christ College community.  It continued an orientation the following month when I forged good relationships right away with fellow Christ College freshmen.  And it continued throughout that first year since we as freshmen spent so much time together with our peers, sharing the joys of creating of freshmen production, and the challenges like attempting to understand Aristotle, and weekly essays.  I made connections with other students outside my class, like my teaching assistant for Monday class during the first semester, who was also the same person who led my orientation group back in June.  As a sophomore, I was a "CC big sibling" to two freshmen, which was a nice way to connect with the new group of students.  I had some great professors, and especially during my freshman year, they were so good in helping me while I adjusted to college and the nature of Christ College class work.

Indeed, it's relationships that enhance our life's experiences so much, and certainly this Golden Anniversary celebration was enhanced by spending it with fellow alumni, from my class and others, along with Christ College staff.  Together we muse over this place that is dear to us, reminiscing on the shared experience we had on campus as we thought about what it means to be human, and pondering its continued impact on us and our the world.  For I think we have all come away from our experiences as more well-rounded and thoughtful people.

Here's to celebrating 50 years of Christ College.  Thanks to Tyler for getting this picture of me.

Passing it on, as One Chosen and Called

It's been 12 years since my Confirmation, and since 12 is divisible by 3, that means we've cycled back to the same set of readings that were proclaimed at the Mass of my Confirmation.  They include God's words about using Cyrus for His purposes in Isaiah 45 and Psalm 96 that acclaims God's majesty.  The 2nd reading is a very fitting passage about God's work in the Thessalonians from 1 Thessalonians 5 (including a reference to the Holy Spirit's work), and the Gospel reading is the story in Matthew when the religious authorities pose to Jesus a question about paying taxes to Caesar, to which Jesus's response includes the profound statement, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God."

In the years immediately following my Confirmation, I was eager to get involved in some way in the Confirmation of succeeding classes, because my experience of that sacrament was so profound in my life.  In one of those years--and it may have been three years later in 2008--I was at the Confirmation Vigil on the evening before another group's Confirmation.  Mrs. Ondrla, who at the time was the Ascension Parish Director of Religious Education, told the young people that they should keep their red binders for three years, which contained all the reflection sheets on the readings they did throughout the preparation process.  In three years, the readings would cycle back to those readings they reflected on, which would be an opportunity for them to see that while they change, the readings stay the same.  Indeed, as I think about not only that set of readings, but other sets of readings, especially those that have made an impact on my life--it's amazing to think how true those sentiments ring.

Furthermore, it's amazing to see how the Church endures throughout the ages, under God's guiding hand, from the time God bestowed it upon the Apostles.  It is a great gift that is given to us who have faith in God, to be part of a community of people who share this one faith.

It has certainly been a great gift in my life to have faith and to express it in the Church.  But I realize that God has granted me the gift of faith through people, especially in the context of Church community.

My uncle's home parish is Holy Family, whose feast falls shortly after Nativity Day in late December.  I sent him my special greetings for the occasion one year, and he pointed out to me that family is like the smallest unit of church, as I have also heard it said that family is like a domestic church.  I have been blessed to have so many family members who are committed to faith, and passing it on to me as a member of the next generation, especially my parents, for whom that is an important role they play.  And it extends to my larger family, especially as I've involved people like my uncle in my faith formation as my Confirmation sponsor, a relationship that has extended well beyond that moment before Bishop Kane 12 years ago, even as it involved much in the preparation process leading to October 15.  Even my grandparents, full of wisdom in many years of living, have imparted insights of faith to me.

Then, of course, there are the church communities of which I've been a part.  Other parishes beyond Ascension have been involved in forming me to receive various sacraments, and giving me the opportunity to be involved and use my talents for the glory of God.  Calvary Memorial Church provided vibrant youth groups to help me learn lots about faith in my middle and high school years.  St. Teresa's helped me gain a totally renewed understanding of faith, through the example the various people of the community showed in extending their love to ValpU students by ministering to them, and showing them true care.  And then there were other faith communities of which I was part at ValpU, with opportunities to engage with people of faith among my friends.

And having received this gift of faith, I am now part of the important work of passing it on, which is the crux of what I do as a Religious Education catechist.  In my 8th grade class last month, I talked about the role of Sacred Tradition in the Roman Catholic Church, which touches upon so much of what we do.  In Tradition, our faith is handed on to us from Christ through the ages through various people.  I told my students that I didn't invent faith--it was something passed on to me, as I now pass it on to them.  To illustrate this, I taught my students the Party Hard Like Jesus Christ routine I learned from Father Kevin at St. Teresa's, who created it as a rub-off of his days as a cheerleading coach.  And they got such a kick out of it.

Two days later, I was at Julian Middle School, my beloved former middle school, which some of my RE students attend Julian.  I was there during lunch time on official library business, spending time with the students during their lunch periods.  A group of gals in my class came outside and approached me after they finished eating, and requested that I lead them in what they called "the song", which I then ascertained was the Party Hard Like Jesus Christ routine.  I was tickled that this was happening to me.

As I lead them in having some fun during their lunch period, it dawned on me that I was in the midst of an incredibly profound experience.  I was back at the place that played a significant role in helping me embrace faith as my own, sharing something with my RE students that I learned in college, which was the time in my life when I flourished in faith, and inspired me to channel my newfound zeal for faith in teaching RE and passing on the faith, which has been an important part of my life post-college.  Indeed, so many signifcant aspects of my life came together all at that moment.

Speaking of having an enjoyable time, I joined with my students in a large group from Ascension in having quite an exuberant time at the 2nd Annual Holy Fire gathering of the Archdiocese of Chicago for grades 6-9.  It was incredible to watch their response to the line-up of the gathering, which included Roman Catholic rapper and youth minister Joe Melendrez, motivational speakers (including Noelle Garcia who openly up about her personal struggles as a teen), Eucharistic adoration (which, incredibly, brought a crowd of nearly 4000 to silence), and Mass celebrated by Cardinal Cupich, with words of encouragement from Pope Francis.

During one of the breaks, I was talking with the mom of one of my RE students.  We discussed my involvement in teaching Religious Education.  She told me how I engaged so deeply in this ministry, and even remarked how she saw that, for me, teaching RE is my calling.

That was a profound insight she shared about what I do.  It helps make clear the progression of my faith, from being chosen by God and believing by accepting the gift of faith handed on to me from Him through others, to now being called to live out that gift in a specific way and to pass it on to others.  That's what I think has kept me so energized, is that I have embraced the calling.

And I can only wonder how my faith will keep abounding and growing as I continue to heed the calls God bestows upon me in the years ago come.

In the spirit of Confirmation--and yes, I guess a pun is intended--I think of a wonderful hymn, "God Has Chosen Me", which has been used at Confirmation Masses at Ascension.  (The video below omits the third verse, which is included in this version, and uses that word "call".)

The 2nd verse definitely speaks to my journey in faith, especially in teaching Religious Education, as I "set alight a new fire" in the hearts of my students and bring "to birth a new Kingdom on Earth" as my students live out their faith.

And it started, as St. Paul writes, because the Gospel came to me not in word alone, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much conviction" (1 Thessalonians 1:5).  And it was before God that I made this commitment to acclaim Him as Lord alone, giving Him what He is owed, a life spent living out the faith He granted me and by which He accomplishes His purposes.