White House Milestone

Washington, D.C., received its most distinguished resident for the first time 225 years ago when President John Adams arrived to live in what is now the White House, on November 1, 1800.  This milestone anniversary reminds me of the importance of this building for both its role in our government and how it presents our nation as a whole to the world stage.

I have been inside the White House twice.  Back in 1999, when our family had a spring break trip to Washington, D.C., we got timed tour tickets to go inside.  5 years later, we got access into the White House during a short trip there in December 2004 and we saw the special decorations in place.  20 years later, I was in the Washington, D.C., Metro Area again for time with family in December 2024.  I met a family that went to the White House grounds to see a display of trees for all 50 states, and I took a cue from them and went to see the displays myself.

The White House is not just the residence and workplace of the President of the United States, but also is a living display of who we are as a country, collecting a treasure trove built by each President of items that speak to the USA.  The White House Historical Association does a great job stewarding the history and treasures of the White House, as I've seen through its various offerings, especially on YouTube.

The day after arrival, President Adams wrote to his wife in a letter, "I Pray Heaven To Bestow The Best Of Blessings On This House And All that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof.”  This quotation is now on a mantel in the White House.  May we continue to pray that wise and honest men may humbly acknowledge the important role they take in the office housed in this building.

Dear 1036: The Market and Confirmation Celebration at Home

Dearly Beloved 1036,

October 2025 is a special month.

The 50th Season of the Oak Park Farmers' Market concluded on Saturday.  Since I was little, I enjoyed going to the Market and coming home with goods, like the renowned donuts.  I also enjoyed going there to get apples and a pumpkin to carve toward the end of the season.  More recently, one product that has fascinated me is the microgreens.  After coming home from the market, I enjoyed tossing them on top of some meat and even wrapping it in a tortilla for a delicious lunch.

Also of great note this month, I celebrated the 20th anniversary of my Confirmation on October 15.  To this day, Saturday, October 15, 2005, remains one of the most important days of my life, and I have so many wonderful memories of it.

The Confirmation Mass began at 5 PM, and ended a few minutes after 7 PM.  My family decided to host a celebratory dinner back at home for everyone who came.  Dad, Uncle Bernie, Grandma Vel, Grandpa Jose, and I went to the reception after Mass to get pictures with Bishop Kane and enjoy some treats.  Mom, Grandma Dottie, Aunt June, and Eric returned home.  Eric went to DiNico's to pick up a large pizza, probably the stadium size.  We also had a large pot of soup from a starter mix.

I got many wonderful gifts.  On Dad's prompting, he and Mom got me a book of Bible verses for teens.  Abuela/Grandma Vel and Abuelo/Grandpa José offered me some wonderful gifts, including art images.  The Gospel reading for that weekend's Sunday liturgy, which was used at Mass, was the story of when important religious figures tried to trap Jesus by asking Him if it was lawful to pay the tax or not.  Abuelo gave me a card with an image of a painting of this story.  I keep it in the Bible I got as a gift upon completing Religious Education toward the end of 8th grade at the page with Matthew 22:15-22.  Abuela gave me a hand-drawn sketch of the Holy Family.  She found it at the St. Cornelius rummage sale.  Based on the note written on back, it was given to a priest named Father George upon his ordination.  Grandma also included some Holy Spirit prayers.

The Holy Family is a model for all us for how we can grow in virtue and holiness together as a family and so live fully aware of God's presence.  What flowed forth from special divine encounters like Confirmation brought meaning to what we shared together as a family in you, 1036.

With joy in the Holy Spirit, and with gladness before and gratitude to God, I declare that you shall not fade into the background but remain deep in my heart as that dearly beloved place.

We remain ever connected:

All my relations.

God's blessings,

Paul

Continued Learning in the Spirit

As I mark the 20th anniversary of my Confirmation, I reflect on what I've continued to learn in those 20 years, especially in light of my involvement with Religious Education.

I studied the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially through creating a scrapbook as part of preparing for Confirmation.  My understanding has deepened of those Gifts that are an important effect of Confirmation.  There are gifts that help us to be in tune with God's perspective, and those help us boldly live out our faith.

During my own preparation for Confirmation, I selected the name St. George.  In the 20 years since Confirmation, I've learned so many other amazing saint stories.  It's also inspiring to follow the causes of canonization and see the important steps unfold, like with St. Carlo Acutis, and also Blessed Father Michael McGivney, whose Beatification Mass I watched.  Another inspiring story is that of Servant of God Michelle Duppong.  These saints come from all walks of life, showing that holiness is meant universally for all, and we are called to grow in holiness wherever God places us, so that He may be magnified and glorified.

In the 20 Years with the Holy Spirit

As I reflect on the glorious encounter with God I had on Saturday, October 15, 2005, in the sacrament of Confirmation, I realize how much of a nexus point it was for me.  So much had shaped my life leading up to that moment, especially an abundant appreciation for faith that happened in middle school.  And it was clear something impactful happened.  In fact, a couple of months later, when my literature teacher, Ms. Kinnan, gave us an assignment to write about a transformative experience in my life, I jumped at the opportunity to narrate my Confirmation experience, including the preparation process.

In the 20 years since my Confirmation, so much has unfolded that has been graced by the seal of the Holy Spirit on me.

Here's a list of 20 memorable faith experiences. It's not necessarily an exhaustive list, but is what comes to my mind as I reflect:

From the day of my Confirmation, I have developed a wonderful relationship with Uncle Bernie, my sponsor.

Soon after Confirmation, I started serving as a lector.

Father Loya's Presentation at Ascension in 2007

My involvement at St. Teresa's was a tremendous blessing and included some amazing opportunities, like the Kairos Retreat and the Wilderness Retreat.

Attending Father Ted Mauch's Ordination Mass in person at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary

Attending Deacon Bob Marben's Ordination Mass in person at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary

The St. Augustine Mission Trip

It was so special to visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the first time in 2013, and I've been drawn to return regularly.

Nearby, I've appreciated the National Shrine of St. John Paul II, and I've been drawn to return regularly there.

Joining the Knights of Columbus

Attending World Youth Day 2019

Attending Real Life Catholic event with Chris Stefanick

Discovering the riches of the Theology of the Body teachings

Attending the 2023 National Catholic Singles Conference in Plymouth, MI, and other opportunities with NCSC

The National Eucharistic Congress

Pope Leo XIV's celebration at Guaranteed Rate Field

Participating in the various March for Life events in Illinois, which included serving as a marshal with fellow Knights at the 2025 Illinois March for Life in Springfield, IL.

My involvement with Religious Education has been an enormous blessing.

Joy in the Holy Spirit for 20 Years

With joy in the Holy Spirit, I celebrate the 20th anniversary of my Confirmation today.  It was a significant Kairos nexus point in my life.  My faith had been shaped in so many ways up to this moment of encountering God, and I would be sent forth from it in a powerful way.

As an initiation sacrament, Confirmation is intended to complete the grace that we receive in baptism.  As Father Hurlbert, former Ascension Parish pastor, would tell the youths preparing for Confirmation, all the baptized have an invisible tattoo on the forehead that was traced there at baptism.  As I like to extend the metaphor, that tattoo gets oiled up in Confirmation.  In this sacrament, we receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and His seven gifts, which empowers us to uphold the faith.

I saw a citizenship ceremony 4 weeks ago as part of the Constitution (Signing) Day festivities at the National Constitution Center.  In my career, I've had at least 2 co-workers who became naturalized citizens.  With them in mind, I thought about how naturalized citizens spend years preparing, which includes studying for an oral test on knowledge of the USA and its government.  Then comes the momentous occasion when they take the oath of citizenship, which opens up for them the great opportunity to participate in the USA and its government processes.  I had that in mind when I went to the first of a series of monthly Confirmation preparation meetings that evening.  I got to meet my new group for this year, and I encouraged them at the start of their preparation by telling them about these newly naturalized citizens.  Similarly, we all spend time preparing for Confirmation to have a grounding in faith, and then, once Confirmed, we start an amazing new life with the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit.

For the past 11 months, I've reflected on the preparation process through short posts that focused on the various topics at those meetings:  I started an important journey in November that would make me new.  I learned about the sacraments in December.  I learned about the Creed in January.  In February, I considered service as part of Confirmation and took stock of all I had learned.  I learned about the symbolism in the Church sanctuary in March.  I considered how the Holy Spirit works in the lives of the faithful through those who shared their testimony at the April meeting.  I put my knowledge to work in completing a test in May and considered all that I learned in the process.  I reflected on faith and Scripture as it shows a picture of the Kingdom of God at the summer meeting in July.  I came to understand what Confirmation is all about at the September meeting.  And I came to realize the implications of Confirmation at the retreat in September.

Throughout the months from November to May, we had Scripture reflection sheets to complete, in which we thought in-depth about the passages of Scripture for Mass on Sundays and Holy Days.  One of the reforms of the Vatican II Council was the intention that the faithful would more actively participate in Mass.  Those Scripture reflections helped me ponder more deeply what I was hearing at Mass.  Those sheets were in a red binder that each student had.  Three years after my Confirmation, I attended the Confirmation Vigil for the 2008 group.  Mrs. Ondrla told them to keep their red binders for three years, and then, look at the Scripture reflection sheets as a way to see that while the Scripture readings remain the same in a 3-year cycle, each of us changes.  I still have my red binder with all those reflection sheets, and I read them each time the set of readings comes up again, and I can see how I have progressed in my understanding of faith since 8th grade.

So much of the Confirmation process was learning about what we believe as a Church and why it matters.  I entered into this process having been profoundly impacted by my middle school experience.  As I have mentioned before, interacting with people of other religious and cultural backgrounds at Julian Middle School caused me to turn inward and reflect more on who I am, and I appreciated who I am even more.  With a greater embrace of faith, I knew that it was meant to be something by which I would make a holy impact on the world.  While my Confirmation happened at the beginning of my high school years, it was undoubtedly shaped to be an impactful experience by what happened in middle school.  As I anticipated this anniversary today, I was so delighted that the 20th anniversary of my 8th grade graduation was on Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of the Holy Spirit's working in my life.

Clearly, Confirmation was a new beginning for me, and so much of the Mass that day and the dinner at beloved 1036 Clarence afterwards helped truly make it a time of celebration, like the choir being present to offer music and the dinner with DiNico's Pizza and soup, along with the wonderful gifts I received.  

It wasn't clear what life as a Confirmed Roman Catholic would exactly look like in the first few weeks and months.  I took important steps to make something of faith, like lectoring at Mass, which was an opportunity for me to continue building my understanding of Scripture, and share my gifts and talents.  I thank Mrs. Ondrla for giving me the opportunity to lector at two RE Masses, which then made it a good fit going forward into high school.

Then, when I went to college, I built upon my Confirmation by getting involved at St. Teresa's, and my understanding of faith got even greater.  There was so much more to learn about faith, and St. Teresa's provided a place where I could learn, and experience a community that would empower me in faith.  There's no doubt that being part of St. Teresa's was part of God's big plan for me because I was confirmed on the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila.

I developed such a vibrant faith life in college, and after graduating, as I thought about what I would do in life, I sensed teaching Religious Education would be a great way to channel the great gift of a vibrant faith and act on it by supporting youth in their journey of faith.  My involvement as a Religious Education volunteer, in the classroom, and at Confirmation preparation meetings, has been so rewarding and a tremendous blessing.

The evening before the Confirmation Mass set the tone.  There was a prayer vigil, and I wasn't expecting the Church bells to ring shortly before it started and then a procession with candles up the main aisle to the altar.  Nevertheless, it underscored what had been part of the process all along, that Confirmation would be a powerful encounter with God.  We also chanted the Litany of the Saints, an awesome reminder of our friends in Heaven, and that we share in communion with them, throughout the centuries of the Church.

The readings at the Mass were from the lectionary for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time in Cycle A.  The Gospel reading is from Matthew 22, when Jesus utters the profound statement, as a fine comeback to the schemings of the Jewish religious experts, "Then repay to Casear what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God".

I am in the image of God, created for His purpose.  His gifts to me in Confirmation have allowed me to be a gift.

More recently, I encountered the magnificent encyclical Dominum et Vivificantem, in which Pope St. John Paul II writes about the Holy Spirit.  Here's one sentence that stands out to me: "In our own age, then, we are called anew by the ever ancient and ever new faith of the Church, to draw near to the Holy Spirit as the giver of life."

Indeed, by my Confirmation, I was sealed in the ancient faith of the Church and I was empowered to live it anew with the very life of Christ imparted to me by the Holy Spirit.

Glory to God!

Party like it's 2005: Here I am with my Uncle Bernie, my sponsor on the left, and Bishop Kane to the right.

My Uncle Bernie and I posed by Ascension last Saturday as I approached the anniversary of my Confirmation. Thanks to fellow parishioner Clem who photographed us.

Fellow parishioner Laurie photographed me by the pew where I sat during my Confirmation Mass when I was there this morning for Mass to celebrate.

Dear 1036: Pope Francis Appearances in You

Dearly Beloved 1036 Clarence,

September 2015 was a momentous month when Pope Francis made an apostolic visit to the USA.

I watched live coverage of some events with him on the TV in the back sunroom, a TV that I still have today with me.  I was there on the morning of Thursday, September 24, with NBC to watch his speech to Congress live, the first Pope to address a Joint Session of the US Congress.  After finishing, he emerged on the Speaker's balcony to appear before the crowd gathered on the west front of the US Capitol.  It was a memorable day.

Days later, I watched live the Mass in Philadelphia at the Conclusion of the World Meeting of Families with the assembly gathered along Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  He had so many great insights in his homilies, and I remember so many wonderful words he had to say about the power of family in this homily.  Here's one part of that homily that resonated with me:

"Faith opens a 'window' to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures. 'Whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will not go unrewarded', says Jesus (cf. Mk 9:41). These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children, by brothers and sisters. They are little signs of tenderness, affection, and compassion. Like the warm supper we look forward to at night, the early lunch awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work. Homely gestures. Like a blessing before we go to bed, or a hug after we return from a hard day’s work. Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs which make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life, and life to grow in faith."

Yes, these words speak to what resonates so much with me about my time at you, 1036.  You were the setting for where I shared and received these gestures that showed how real God's presence and His love are in this world.

With memories grounded in such marvelous realities, I declare that you shall not fade into the background but remain deeply in my heart as that dearly beloved place.

We remain ever connected:

All my relations.

God's blessings,

With great joy, gladness, and gratitude,

Paul

The Retreat and the Encounter 20 Years Ago

The Chicago southwest suburb of Darien, IL, has a true spiritual treasure, the National Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux.  That's where I was 20 years ago today.

My Uncle Bernie picked me up in his Jeep and we drove southwest, arriving at the Shrine there between 9-10 AM on the morning of Saturday, September 24, 2005.  We would spend a few hours there with my Confirmation group for a retreat.  He had volunteered to assist with the retreat.  Much of the past 10 months had given me the opportunity to study the faith.  This day would be a Kairos experience, when the meaning of Confirmation went from my head to my heart.

As we got settled in our space at St. Paul Hall, a fellow student, who happened to be in my small group, sitting next to my uncle, expressed some skepticism about whether or not anything meaningful would happen during this retreat.  I have a vague memory of my uncle telling her to have an open mind.

During the first two hours, we had a speaker named Mr. Johnson.  Mrs. Ondrla, the Director Religious Education, remarked that she heard him present before, and the response was so positive from the audience that she booked him well in advance--perhaps like 2 years.  His presentation had a way of drawing us into his message.

For the first hour, he used a variety of humorous anecdotes to ask us about what Confirmation is.  He even started with what he called a "traditional Catholic hymn", and then he started belting a song about respect, though not the Aretha song.  From what I remember, he got people laughing a little, including the student who had just been expressing some skepticism to my uncle.  At one point, I volunteered to go up in front for one of his demonstrations, which I can't remember fully.

After a short break, Mr. Johnson resumed his talk, and it got more serious.  He showed a 60 Minutes clip about a Scottish doctor who had a medical clinic in South America. There, he met a boy with a disfigured face and remarked that if he came to Scotland, he could the care that could help address his disfigurement.  The boy's parents got him to Scotland, and he underwent multiple surgeries to reconstruct his face.  Mr. Johnson used that as an example for what it means to serve for the good of others.  He actually got in touch with the doctor, and told him how he uses this story in his presentations.  Mr. Johnson then shared a story from his childhood when his brother stepped away from Halloween evening with his friends to help him when his got damaged and fashion a new decorative pumpkin.  Mr. Johnson said what his brother did touched him and that memory buoyed him years later when his brother had advanced stage cancer and was near the end of his life.

This moving part of the talk with these examples helped underscore the point he stated about the meaning of Confirmation:  It is a public profession that I will love others in the name of Jesus and in the communion of the saints.  It is love shown for the glory of God.

We then had lunch, which was tasty and Father Larry raved about it, particularly the fries.  We had time outside on the splendid grounds.  Back inside St. Paul Hall, we had some creative activities.  We did a sort of "human bingo" game. We also had the opportunity to create a personalized piece of a Confirmation banner.  We also wrote notes to our future selves.  I drew upon Mr. Johnson's primary point about Confirmation as something for me to remember in the future.  Then we walked to the nearby chapel.  On the way in and out, we walked past an exhibit of the life of St. Therese, which included some of her personal items.  I was especially intrigued by a hand-drawn map.  Our retreat concluded in the chapel, where we sat quietly for a short time while the instrumental version of "Amazing Grace" played.  While some others got unfocused, I felt drawn to this reflective end to our retreat, given what a powerful realization I had about the meaning of Confirmation.

Faith is a great gift that draws us into a relationship with God.  While He is unseen, we acknowledge how He is present and at work all around us.  It's in our life's circumstances that we act upon this gift of faith.  The graces of Confirmation complete what we experience in baptism so that we can put faith in action, responding to whatever circumstances we have in life to be a blessing in the world.  I had grown up thinking of love as something I experience with family.  As I reflect on this retreat, especially Mr. Johnson's presentation, I came to an enhanced understanding of love, like Bishop Barron says often in his homilies, as "willing the good of the other".  And the Holy Spirit shows us the way to meet the needs of the world and edify each other by using what we have received that it may truly be a gift, that beliefs may become action to bless the world.

4 years ago, I went to Mass at the Shrine and a fellow visit photographed me posing with St. Paul Hall in the background.

50 Years of Farm Food and Community Connections

Autumnal Greetings!

The Autumnal Equinox is typically a marker of harvest season getting underway in earnest as the farmers bring forth the bounty of the land for us to partake and enjoy.  The bounty of the land abounds at the Oak Park Farmers' Market.

From my childhood, one part of Oak Park I've enjoyed so much is the Farmers' Market.  Saturday after Saturday during its season, I have found it meaningful to enter the wonderful atmosphere of farm goods, and then some, being sold, and in the midst of it, fostering a sense of community.  It's particularly special this year to celebrate its 50th Season.

As we reach the threshold of summer, it's great to get out and visit the market in the parking lot of Pilgrim Congregational Church on Lake Street.  Interestingly, that parking lot is so integral to the market that once, when my Dad and I attended the Community of Congregation's Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer gathering at Pilgrim Church, my Dad forgot that we could park there.

As a kid, the donuts were easily one of my favorite market products, particularly the cinnamon sugar donuts.  As I've grown older, I've come to appreciate the other sweet treats, particularly at the bake sales that happen week after week.  Other vendors sell a variety of sweet treats, like the Breadman.

As the weeks pass, there's a progression of different products that are in season.  The berries abound in the summer months, and later in the summer comes the corn.  Upon entering September, the squash and apples appear.  I particularly like seeing the wide variety of apples, and I come back week after week in the autumn months to buy apples.

The Farmers' Market offers me a connection to the land, and one great example is the vendor who sells popcorn ears.  I put the ear into the microwave and in 2-3 minutes, the popcorn pops off the ear.  This farmer is in Illinois, so it feels delightful to eat genuine Illinois-grown popcorn.  I hardly eat the kind from the grocery store anymore because I appreciate the natural taste of the popcorn.  Following Aunt Carmen's big 90-year birthday party, I brought out some of it at the after party, and it was a big hit among my relatives.

One of the highlights of the season is the Annual Corn Roast.  It's so delightful to bite into an ear and savor the distinct roasted taste and the sweetness of the kernels as they give way.

A fellow visitor photographed me right before I enjoyed my annual ear from the Corn Roast.

Here's where the ears of corn were offered.

Here's the preparation set up, with a roaster appearing as a big box to the left.

This sign is an indication that it's once again time for the wonderful annual Corn Roast.

Another more recent event that's been added to the calendar is the Pie Bake-off.  This year, it was on Saturady, September 6.  People from the community entered submissions of pies, and I believe one of the rules is that the pie has to include ingredients purchased at the Farmers' Market.  The organizers gave out samples of pies, and I encountered quite a variety of flavors, especially fruit.  Those handing out samples weren't 100% certain of what was in them, but in some cases, I had a good hunch, and there were many good slices.

Above is a table with pies waiting their turn for enjoyment, and below are various samples I ate.

In late April, the OPRF History Museum hosted a panel discussion about the Farmers' Market, with donuts available for attendees to enjoy.  One of the panelists mentioned that every time she visits the market, she sees someone she knows. I had to wonder if that truly is the case for me.  So far this season, I've actually seen at least one person I know on the vast majority of market visits, even those when, because of my schedule, I'm focused on getting in and out more quickly.  And I know one of the vendors, Mary and Matt of Chanticleer Farms, from church.

The Farmers' Market truly combines great products of the earth, lots of treats, and a vibrant sense of community.  So we truly have much to celebrate in this 50th Season, with hopes for many more seasons to come.

In Celebration of Pope Leo XIV

Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV!

It's a particularly special milestone as he reaches 70.

This occasion reminds us of how it's a remarkable time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church with the first US-born Pope.

In the time between the passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV was my final class of the 2024-25 RE year.  Typically, at the start of class, during our opening prayer time, we would pray for the Pope, who had been Francis ever since I started teaching.

At this class, I began acknowledging the vacancy. One student asked me who I thought the next Pope would be.  I wasn't too familiar with the top contenders, and I responded by saying, "I think God is going to give us a surprise", based on the surprises that had come for the past few Popes.

Then came the day the white smoke appeared, which was right around my lunch break at work.  It was stirring to watch the announcement from the loggia, and similar to the election of Pope Francis, I wasn't able to catch the name immediately.  But others sure did, and soon the excitement ensued as we met Pope Leo XIV.

I was profoundly struck by his first words of introduction: "La pace sia con tutti voi!" That phrase is Itlian for "Peace be with you all!"  As he then related, those were the first words of the Risen Christ to the disciples.  Seeing as how we were in the middle of the Easter Season 2025, I was amazed to hear such a statement that connects with the liturgical season at hand.  Furthermore, the life of the Risen Christ is present in the Church and we live that life in this world.

When I heard he selected the name Leo, I thought about Leo XIII.  St. Mother Katharine Drexel had an audience with him and asked him to provide missionaries to serve Native Americans and African-Americans, and he told her to be the missionary.  One of the missions she founded was St. Augustine Mission in Nebraska, where I spent a week of service.

As for his part in the Augustinian order, I think about Confessions, and St. Augustine's powerful line of how we're made for God, and we are only at rest when we rest in Him.  This idea of restlessness, based on what I've heard from Father Tom McCarthy, is that we're constantly striving for God and seeking to realize Him in the circumstances of our world and our lives.

Pope Leo XIII addressed issues related to labor during his papacy.  So far in his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has done so much to address issues of our day, like AI.  He's also given great messages in his homilies to ecnourage the faithful to answer the call to holiness in their lives, especially at the Concluding Mass of the Jubilee of Youth and the Canonization Mass for Saints Piergiorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis.

What surfaced quickly with his election was how astounding it was that he was the first person born in the USA to be elected Pope.  There was a wide consensus that someone from the US wouldn't be elected Pope because of how prominent the USA is in world affairs.  However, Pope Leo XIV, while born in the USA, served for many years in South America, and I think that gave him a broad perspective to have lived on both continents before getting a position at the Vatican.

Furthermore, he has a broad perspective from being born in Chicago, at the crossroads of the USA.  Chicago is in the central part of the USA, with many people and goods passing through the area.  We experience a variety of weather here in the range of four seasons.  From this area, Robert Prevost would go on to serve the church in so many ways, in South America, in his function as an Augustinian priest and then a bishop.  Then, he would go to serve at the Vatican, and surely he got to know the breadth of the worldwide Church from serving in his position as the Dicastery of Bishops.  In the wake of his election, many noted that serving in this role helped him to become so well known in the leadership of the church.  So, yes, he was born in the USA, but also has a wealth of other experience throughout the Americas that I feel has made him suited to shepherd the whole Church.  

At first, I wasn't sure how to take in the reality that someone born in Chicago was elected Pope.  For me, it sank in more deeply when I attended a special celebration held at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 14 hosted by the Archdiocese of Chicago.  There were people who spoke who had known Pope Leo XIV and testified about who he is as a person.  It was also a great time of celebration with so much wonderful music, both in the program during the first part of the event, and then during Mass, which happened later.  I enjoyed the performance of the Leo High School Choir, and I've listened to their performance at the event numerous times.  Especially memorable was being present for his first message broadcast to a US audience.  As a seasoned catechist, I was glad to hear him offer a message especially for young people, with words that are encouraging to all of us, as he spoke about going within to sense God's presence within us.

I am so excited that I was able to attend, and be part of celebrating a famous son of the Archdiocese of Chicago.  It happened on the weekend of Trinity Sunday, and it was a great time to celebrate who we are as as a people and make known the reality of the mystery of the Trinity in our relationships with each other in the Church community, even as broad as the Archdiocese of Chicago and the whole Church universal.  Being at a sports stadium, reminded me of attending sessions of the National Eucharistic Congress inside Lucas Oil Stadium, as I remarked to Sarah Tafoya of Relevant Radio when I saw her.  Indeed, it's amazing the first US-born people was born right in Chicago and grew up in the southern suburbs.

To celebrate his birthday, I went to visit some places associated with him.  First, I went to 10:30 Mass at Christ our Savior Parish in South Holland, the successor parish of his home parish.  I was glad that we sang Happy Birthday for him at the end of Mass, and it sounded so grand on the organ.  (As usual, all photos in this post are mine, unless otherwise stated.)

Inside the sanctuary of Christ our Savior Parish

Outside Christ Our Savior Parish

Next, I drove to Homewood to eat at Aurelio's Pizza, which is his favorite pizza.  I even got to sit in the Pope's Chair in the restaurant.

I thank my server Joe for photographing me at the table with my pizza and then in the "Pope's chair".

Following lunch, I drove to his childhood home in Dolton.  There had been earlier in the day, unbeknowsted to me, a birthday celebration for him, and balloons were still present.  Lastly, I went to see St. Mary's Church, his home parish.  Hopefully the building can be renovated and opened again for people to visit.

A family stopped by to visit the home, and after I took their photo, their daughter took mine.

I've passed by that area numerous times, including visits to Valparaiso.  It was special to pull of I-94 and go in-depth to experience these suburbs, to gain better insight into someone who was one of us, and built immensely upon his Chicagoland roots into a great bloom that reached all the way to the Vatican, that the world may be blessed.

Getting Closer to Confirmation 20 Years Ago

On this evening 20 years ago, I was in the Pine Room at Ascension School for the final meeting that would occur there before the day of Confirmation, which was 1 month and 1 day away.  As Confirmation was approaching soon, sponsors were asked to attend. So my Uncle Bernie was present with me, as I had chosen him as my sponsor.

During this meeting, we focused specifically on Confirmation.  Mrs. Ondrla explained the history of Confirmation.  At one point many centuries ago, to be confirmed, people would stand on the side of a road as a Bishop strolled by on horseback with his arms outstretched to bestow the sacrament.  At another point in history, to emphasize that Confirmation meant becoming a Christian soldier, the candidates would get a slap from the Bishop.

At this point, as I draw nearet to to celebrating the 20th anniversary of my Confirmation, I find it fitting to consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church on what Confirmation is.  This sacrament completes the baptismal grace by granting us an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and 7 Gifts so we are equipped to uphold and defend the faith.  Becuase Confirmation happens in adolescence, some regard it as a ritual in which young people become adults in the church.  Confirmation is the sacrament of Christian maturity, but what I've come to understand in recent years is that it completes our initiation by sealing us with the Holy Spirit and the 7 gifts.

Furthermore, we were taking our part in the greater community of the Church.  So it was fitting at this point, about a month away from Confirmation, that we attended a meeting with our sponsors.  Truly, as confirmed Roman Catholics, we make this profession of faith and are initiated fully into the Church, each of us called to contribute our part to edifying the Body of Christ while confessing our faith. In the spirit of today's Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we confess the name of Jesus Christ, Who submitted obediently to the Father's plan to make possible our salvation and live the experience of Eternal Life even now through the power of the Holy Spirit.

At one point during the meeting, Father Larry offered a few remarks.  Then, as best as I can remember, he asked if anyone had any questions.  When no one raised a hand, he quipped that he could have Bishop Kane come right away to confirm us becuase we were ready.

While I had gained much knowledge, something important would happen before Confirmation, which I will reflect on in a subsequent post.

Walking and Vacationing on Sunshine

September 9, 2025, marks 175 years since California became a state.  With that celebration in mind, I was eager to travel once again to the Golden State and spend time with my great college friends, Tyler and Roy.  In their company, I knew it would be a jolly time, like walking on sunshine in soaking up SoCal vibes in all their varied array.

Wednesday, July 9

It was sunny after a brief shower in Oak Park in the afternoon when I departed my homebase around 1:25 PM CDT.  I got in the car of fellow parishioner Brian and he drove me to Chicago Union Station.  I arrived a few minutes before 2 PM.  Soon afterward, the boarding call came for train #3, the westbound Southwest Chief.  I got in a snaking line in the boarding area, and then got to my seat onboard.  By Amtrak's clock, the train departed right on time at 2:25 PM CDT, although it was something like 2:24:45 PM on my mobile device's clock.

I posed by the Southwest Chief imagery in the corridor leading from the Clinton Street entrance before boarding. I thank the passerby who stopped to photograph me.

(Please note that the vast majority of my vacation was in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) from Friday until Monday.  Times on those days are PDT.  During my days of train travel, times are specified by time zone.)

I immediately began enjoying the scenes out the window as the Chicago skyline appeared behind us as we headed into the Lower West Side, and then into the western suburbs with elegant downtown areas along the tracks, including places where I enjoy biking such as Riverside and Western Springs.  Then the Chicago Metro Area gave way to the farm fields with plenty of soy and corn.

Here's the Chicago skyline as the train headed south out of Union Station.

Crossing the Des Plaines River at Riverside

Above and below are farm fields

Around 5 PM, the train exited Illinois and crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa and quickly reached the Fort Madison station stop, which was the first opportunity to step off for fresh air for a few minutes.  Within the hour, the train crossed the Des Moines River and entered Missouri.  As nightfall advanced, I marveled at the moonrise.  

To the center left is the bridge the train used to cross the Mississippi River

View of the Mississippi River from the Iowa side looking over to Illinois in the background

Crossing the Des Moines River from Iowa (on the right) to Missouri (on the left)

Sunset in Missouri

Above and below are views of the moonrise over Missouri

The train reached the Kansas City station by 10 PM.  While on the platform for another fresh air stop, I had a great view of the nearly full moon.

The full moon appears near the center of this photo of the Kansas City skyline.

Thursday, July 10

I awoke around 6 AM CDT, past Garden City.  Around this time, I began enjoying the sunrise--please see photo below.  

Within the hour, we entered the Mountain Time Zone in Hamilton County, KS, and then we entered Colorado, marked by a Welcome to Colorful Colorado sign along US 50 that paralled the tracks at a distance.

The train arrived at La Junta shortly after 7 AM MDT, and we had another fresh air stop, which was a great chance for me to step out into Colorado.  As the train continued its journey, the mountains rose up in the distance, and then we traveled through the mountains.

Above and below are views of the Rockies as the train travels through the southeast Colorado Plains between La Junta and Trinidad.

Above and below are views as the train traveled south along I-25 from Trinidad toward Raton.  Below shows the train traveling a curve.

Shortly after entering New Mexico, we entered the Raton Tunnel.  Then came another fresh air stop at Raton, where the Scout groups departed.  Continuing along, we passed through mountain highlands with red rocks and also wide open plains.

The train rounded another curve in northern New Mexico.

The eastbound train passing the westbound train

Red rock landscape as the train got closer to Lamy.

Around 5:00 PM, we reached Albuquerque, which was a scheduled service stop.  I had plenty of time to walk a block to the Silver Street Market and get dinner and other groceries.  We were in the thick of desert summer heat, with a temperature display on a building that registered 100--please see photo below.

View from the platform

For dinner, I got chicken tenders with mashed potatoes, and a squash medley, along with fresh-cut watermelon and a piece of Tres Leches cake--please see photos below.  

I enjoyed dinner in the lounge car as the train turned west and traveled through desert with cliff rock formations, paralleling I-40 and Historic Route 66, which put me in the mood to watch cars.  

Crossing over I-40

I stepped off for fresh air at Gallup as the sun was setting--please see photo below. 

Here's the sunset at Gallup, with the last car of the train appearing to the left.

A short while later, we entered Arizona.  Upon reaching Flagstaff around 10 PM MST, I stepped off for fresh air again, and then made my way to the lounge car to go asleep.  

Looking north on San Francisco Street, near the Flagstaff Amtrak station

Here's the full moon over the last car of the train.

Friday, July 11

I woke up to celebrate entering the Golden Gate of California at the Colorado River in the wee hours.

A little while later after the stop at Needles, I watched the sunrise over the Mojave Desert.  At Barstow, we had a brief fresh air stop around 5:45 AM PDT.  I stepped off the train, along with another passenger who was from Japan and riding the train across the US for the first time.

At the Barstow train station

The view from the train past the Barstow station

The sun got higher and brighter as we approached Los Angeles.  The train arrived at Los Angeles Union Station at about 9:30 AM.  

I saw this view of the skyline of Los Angeles as the train neared Los Angeles Union Station.

A fellow passenger photographed me on the platform at Los Angeles Union Station to mark the conclusion of another long-haul through ride for me on the entirety of the Southwest Chief route.

As I walked toward the Alameda Street exit, I saw a piano that was open and available for anyone to play. I sat down and reached down into my memory to play "America, the Beautiful" as best as I could.

Next, I went to visit Los Angeles City Hall, which has an observatory deck at the 26th floor with fantastic views of Los Angeles and the surrounding area.  

Los Angeles City Hall

Here's the north-northeast view. The US Courthouse appears in the foreground and the US Route 101 freeway appears just behind it.  Toward the right in the photo is the Plaza Olvera and Los Angeles Union Station.

Looking northwesterly along the Grand Park promenade

Here's the view looking southwesterly.  Near the foreground, toward the right, is the Los Angeles Times Building.

Here's the southerly view.  Toward the bottom left is the James K. Hahn City Hall East Building and to the right of it is City Hall South.

The east-northeasterly view includes Union Station toward the left.

Reception Hall

A fellow visitor photographed me with a view toward the northeast behind me.

Down on floor 3, there was a special display for the Olympics, past and future, in Los Angeles--please see photo below.

After my visit, I stumbled upon the Olvera Street shopping area.  Subsequently, I attended 12:10 Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.  After Mass, I got a quick lunch of two tacos at the Cathedral's Cafe Galero.  I lingered there for a while.

Then I walked to the Historic Broadway Station to board the A Line train, which was about an hourlong ride to Long Beach.   Tyler picked me up there and we went to walk along the beach.  (I also got some more stamps ahead of the impending price increase.)

The A Lin train at the 1st Street Station in downtown Long Beach

At the beach end of the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier

Looking out onto the ocean at the end of the pier

Tyler photographed me with the beach behind me.

The pier has benches to mark significant dates of battles, as seen above and below.

The pier honors veterans.

The beach

By 6:30, we were at nearby St. Peter Chanel Parish for a young adult faith formation evening with a group Tyler recently connected with.

We were at his apartment complex by 10 PM, and we walked from there a short distance to 7-11 for me to pick up groceries and enjoy a Slurpee for 7-11 day.

The full moon rising, as seen from near the church

The moon shining over Pacific Coast Highway/CA State Route 1, near Seal Beach

A 711 Slurpee for 7-11

Saturday, July 12

I was awake a little bit after 7 AM.  I went on a short walk to nearby St. Mary of the Sea Parish for 8 AM Mass for the Feast of Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, whose story resonates with me.  After Mass, I had a light breakfast.  Then I enjoyed recreation time, riding for a few minutes on Tyler's bike along the trail near the beach, and then I went into the Pacific Ocean waters for a few minutes.

Above and below are beach scenes at Huntington Beach, by the bike/pedestrian path

Along Pacific Coast Highway near Tyler's residence

Shortly after 10 AM, Tyler and I headed to downtown Los Angeles.  We met up with Roy and started ambling around in Little Tokyo.  First, we went to the Asuza Street Prayer Tower, which continues to support the efforts of the early 20th Century Revival that occurred there--please see photo below.  

Then we had lunch at Kouraku, the oldest Ramen restaurant in the US still in operation.  Interestingly, it brought meals to customers using a cat robot, though mine came to me from a person server.

Exterior of Kouraku

The robot server

Here's our table with our meals--mine is toward the right, fried rice.

Once we finished lunch, we strolled leisurely through the nearby Japanese Village Plaza Mall, browsing shops, like a place that had shelves filled with cassette tapes and even sold an 8-track tape.  We also stopped at a couple of sweet shops, including Vita Cane, which sold drinks made from freshly squeezed sugar cane.

Above and below are scenes of the Japanese Village Plaza Mall.

Shelves with cassettes

Inside Vita Cane is the machine that turns the sugar cane into juice.

Here I am posing with my Vita Cane sugar cane juice drink with the Japanese-style bell tower behind me.  I'm fairly certain Roy photographed me here.

Then we walked back to where Tyler had parked his car and headed in a westerly direction to the Getty Center.  We spent about 2-3 hours there admiring the amazing views from its hilltop-like perch and goign inside the galleries to view the incredible collections of artwork.

There's a tram that travels from the parking area to the museum at the Getty Center.

Roy photographed Tyler and me with the Los Angeles skyline behind us.

A display of religious artwork

A book from approximately the 1170s with calendar pages for July and August

I believe this was King Louis XVI.

A super fancy royal bed

View of the Los Angeles skyline

Here's the view of I-405 as the tram descends from the museum to the parking area.

By 6:30, we began making our way to San Jacinto.  We stopped for dinner at In-N-Out, a classic California chain. I got a burger with fries and a vanilla milkshake.  At just about 10:36, we arrived at the Miller home in San Jacinto.

Our In-N-Out meals.

Roy photographed me as I prepared to eagerly eat my first In-N-Out burger.

The food packaging has Bible verses printed on them, as shown above and below.

The exterior of the In-N-Out

Sunday, July 13

The next morning, Roy, Tyler, and I departed shortly after 7:30 for the Miller family church, BreakThrough Church in Moreno Valley for the 8:00 gathering.  I was glad to be there this morning, as I recognized the church from Rogenique and Roy's wedding.  The gathering began with worship music, and then Bishop Charles preached a sermon.

Exterior of the church building

Inside the worship space

Afterwards, we went to Riverside to attend 10:30 Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Right after Mass, we had tacos from a stand set up on the grounds of the church.  

Exterior of the Shrine church

Inside the sanctuary

Taco lunch

Roy photographed me outside the church.

Then we went shopping at two different grocery stores, Superior in Moreno Valley and Vallarta in Hemet.

We then returned to the Miller home to drop off the groceries.  While Roy got busy cooking a feast, Tyler and I went to Perris to visit the Southern California Railway Museum, which had a variety of railcar equipment on display.

Caboose on display

Inside the shed on the left were many public transit vehicles from decades ago, like the vehicle shown directly below.

Inside another shed was this train that was associated with a plantation in Hawaii.

Tyler photographed me on this caboose.

Vintage passenger rail car

We were back at the Miller home shortly before 5 PM.  I spent time with Mom and Dad via videocall, and then brought out my computer for them to greet the Millers.

Around 6 PM, the feast was ready, with taco meat, fish, shrimp, rice, beans, and other sides.  I enjoyed making surf-and-turf tacos.  Rogenique's sisters came, and her brother-in-law.

Here's the feast.

Here's my plate.

Later, I went out for a walk in the neighborhood in the warm evening.  When I returned, I visited with Tyler, Roy, and Rogenique.

Looking north along Lyon Avenue near the Miller Home

Along Lyon Avenue, behind the Miller Home

Mountains in the distance near the Miller Home neighborhood

Monday, July 14

I awoke shortly before 8 AM.  After prayer time, I caught part of the Loopcast, which I enjoy listening to regularly.  Then I had breakfast, read spiritually, and walked around the neighborhood in the bright morning sunshine.

View out the front door of the Miller Home

Bright morning California sunshine

By 12 noon, Tyler, Roy, and I were on the way in the Rogenique-mobile to sightsee.  We looked at the historic depot in Hemet before getting lunch at the nearby Downtown Deli. I got a turkey wrap with a passion fruit drink.  Then we wandered around the block before going a short distance north to visit the San Jacinto Public Library.  After our visit there, we wandered around downtown San Jacinto.  Then we made a brief stop by St. Anthony Roman Catholic Parish.

Historic Hemet Depot

My lunch at Downtown Deli, a turkey wrap with a Passion Fruit drink

View of Harvard Street in Downtown Hemet

The mountain has S for San Jacinto

To the left is the San Jacinto Public Library and toward the background is San Jacinto City Hall.

Inside the library

Mural near the library on a True Value Store

Druding Veteran Memorial park

An anchor to honor the US Navy

St. Anthony Parish

Subsequently, we went to the Maze Rock, which is a rock preserved with ancient petroglyphs.  It was a nice short walk from where we parked through a nature area to see the rock.

The path

Here's the rock, with the artwork appearing toward the right side of the rock, opposite where the dark plaque is.

We were back at the Miller home around 4 PM, and we had leftovers from yesterday's feast for dinner.  Then we got in Tyler's car and we headed to the San Bernardino train station.  On the way there, I was on the lookout for a roadside produce stand, and I was delighted when I saw one where I could buy fresh California oranges to take back with me--please see the photo directly below.

When we got to Redlands, we ambled around in the Gerrard's Grocery Store.  After a quick stop nearby at the A.K. Smiley Library, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, and the post office, we headed to the San Bernardino train station.  The eastbound Southwest Chief was slightly delayed, which gave me further opportunity to bring closure to a wonderful California stay with my friends.  At 7:18 PM, the train arrived.

Here is the arrival of train #4 at the San Bernardino Amtrak/Metrolink station.

As the train headed north toward Victorville, I saw amazing views of the sunset over the arid landscape headed toward the Mojave Desert.  

The sunset, just north of San Bernardino

Above and below are views from the train as it traveled through the Cajon Pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains on the way between San Bernardino and Victorville

Here, the train rounded a curve.

Sunset near Victorville

I lingered in the observatory/lounge car for some time, with a group of teenage volleyball players livening the atmosphere as they made their way to a tournament.

By the time we reached Barstow, it was dark, but befitting its desert location and the date in July, it was in the 90s when I stepped off for fresh air and one final time to walk on California ground.

The last car of the train appearing at the stop at Barstow

Near 12 AM midnight PDT, the train stopped at Needles, and within the hour, had crossed east over the Colorado River into Arizona, and I bid farewell to California.

Tuesday, July 15

I got up to get fresh air on teh platform during the stop at Flagstaff, around 4 AM MST, at which point the volleyball team departed the train.  As the train journeyed east of Winslow, an amazing sunrise emerged over the desert landscape, which was in the vicinity of Petrified Forest National Park.

Sunrise over the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ

At Gallup, NM, shortly after 8 AM MDT, I stepped off for fresh air and to bask in the morning sunshine.

Looking east into the morning sunshine at Gallup

When the train reached Albuquerque around 11 AM MDT, I got off and headed to the Silver Street Market for lunch and other groceries.  I got beef burritos, potato wedges, and cut watermelon for my lunch--please see below. Outside, it was very warm, but not yet hot.

I enjoyed my lunch as the train traveled through the arid landscape of northern New Mexico. It got much quieter, as many passengers had left by the time we reached Albuquerque.  At Lamy, we had the chance for a brief fresh air stop.  When the train arrived at Raton, a huge Scouts group of nearly 120, boarded, and the atmosphere got even more lively.

Soon after the train left Raton, I went to the observatory car to eat my dinner, and struck up conversation with some of the scout leaders. I lingered there a while, enjoying the views as the train traveled through Colorado, first winding among the mountains near I-25 and then into the high plains past Trinidad.  There were some great sky views with clouds and the sunset.  Much of the daylight had diminished by the time we reached La Junta, which was another fresh air stop.

In the lounge car while traveling through the Raton Tunnel

Traveling through the mountains of far southern Colorado on the way to Trinidad

Above and below are views of the sunset over the High Plains of Southeast Colorado between Trinidad and La Junta

At the stop at La Junta

Soon after the train entered Kansas, we entered the Central Time Zone, and as it was close to 11 PM, I went to sleep.

Wednesday, July 16

I awoke around 6 AM as the sunrise was in its early stage over the fields of eastern Kansas.  Shortly after 7:30, I went to the dining car to treat myself to breakfast:  I had Railroad French toast with berries and cream, along with milk.

Sunrise in eastern Kansas, east of Lawrence

The sunrise shining on the flowers at my breakfast table

My breakfast in the dining car

In Kansas City, around 9 AM, I stepped off the train for a few minutes for fresh air.  Then I staked out a spot in the observatory car and waited a while to get great views of the Missouri River when the train crossed it east of Kansas City.

Morning in Kansas City at Union Station

Here's the train at Kansas City Union Station

The back car of the train at Kansas City Union Station

Crossing the Missouri River, east of Kansas City

I stepped off for fresh air again at Fort Madison, IA, and took in the splendid views of the Mississippi River and Illinois on the other side.

Right before we got back on teh train, a fellow passenger photographed me on the platform. The Mississippi River and Illinois appear behind me.

Crossing the Mississippi River

Near Plano, the train stopped in a holding pattern for over an hour because inclement weather in Chicagoland meant all train traffic had to stick to one track.  

Views from the back of the train, a few miles west of Plano

The stormy weather had passed by the time we reached Chicagoland.  I enjoyed sharing the views of places familiar to me with the person seated next to me as we passed through the suburbs and into Chicago.  Our arrival at Chicago Union Station came just after 7 PM.

The suburb of Western Springs

The suburb of Riverside

The Chicago skyline as the train neared Union Station

Matt was waiting outside the station to pick me up and bring me back to Oak Park.  Upon reaching homebase, the moment I had been waiting for arrived when I opened one of those bags of oranges and handed one to Matt, the first of several people back home who got a share in the oranges.

A few days before I departed for this trip was the celebration of US Independence.  The following weekend, someone asked me about my celebration and I said it was patriotic and I looked forward to following up on it by traveling across the country to California.

The United States of America encompasses a vast breadth of landforms, people, and cultures.  I left the driving to others for a week and I could soak it all in, starting with the train ride, watching the progression of landscapes from farm fields to the Plains to the Rockies to the Southwest deserts.

After such a scenic journey, reaching California felt glamorous because the progress of my journey led to the place with quite a reputation as a vacation spot.  It's amazing how much even just Southern California encompasses.  It was a highlight to take in views of the Los Angeles Metro Area from the top of Los Angeles City Hall and the Getty Center.  Down at street level, I enjoyed ambling around in Little Tokyo, a great example of a vibrant ethnic neighborhood in the heart of a great American city.

Then I got to see a side of California that's away from the hustle and bustle in the Inland Empire as I ambled around Hemet, Riverside, and San Jacinto with Roy and Tyler.  I was intrigued to see cow farms and corn fields in southern California, much like is commonplace in the central US.  Even more so, I could experience SoCal through my friends who live there by spending time at their homes.  It really dawned on me as I walked around in the neighborhood of the Miller home on Sunday evening.  Roy and Rogenique acquired their home just after my first SoCal visit, and this was my first time going there, which made this trip special, not to mention my first time meeting their daughter Rhema.

Indeed, there was a touch of glamor to this vacation.  Just days before departing, when I watched the Capitol Fourth concert, I was taken by the song "Walking on Sunshine" and it's a fitting song as I reflect on this trip.  There was plenty of physical sunshine from the moment the sun rose over the Mojave Desert.  Then came the sunshine of all I got to see.  And certainly, there was sunshine in the joy of spending time with my friends in their communities.  I give thanks for how I continue to be connected with them as the years continue and their lives expand, like with Roy's growing family.

Indeed, I expanded my SoCal experience from previous visits, even as I revisit what's so enjoyable.  The first time I was in SoCal 5 years ago, I stopped at a roadside produce stand to buy real California oranges.  For this trip, I was eager to get my hands on more of those oranges.  After eating this latest batch, I've become more convinced they're the best oranges on Earth.  It even reminds me of a line from an episode of I Love Lucy, when Fred gets the idea of buying an orange grove in Pomona.  When Lucy and Ricky counter he doesn't know anything about growing oranges, without missing a beat, he says, "The oranges know what to do."

Even if returning home was wistful, I was so glad those oranges provided something for me to look forward to, not to mention the train journey and writing this blog post.  It was special to see family, friends, neighbors, and parishioners in the days after my return and offer them a gift from the 10 pounds of oranges, to spread that sunshine and marvel at all that comes forth from the land of the USA.

While waiting for the eastbound Southwest Chief to arrive at San Bernardino, I posed with my two 5-pound bags of real California oranges.  So far as I can remember, Tyler photographed me in this pose.

As we walked out of Gerrard's in Redlands, I asked a woman to get a photo to encapsulate Amigos para Siempre/Friends for Life.  So here I am with Roy, center, and Tyler, right.