Grapes of Reflection 2025

It's a heartfelt opportunity to reach the end of a calendar year and reflect.

As has become my cherished custom, I shall reflect on 2025 in the spirit of the Spanish custom of consuming 12 grapes to mark the changing of the year.

Grape #1: I had a great Texas trip to see the George H. W. Bush Presidential Museum, along with sights in Temple.  And I got to bypass an early spring and go straight to summer.

Grape #2: It was another great time traveling to the East Coast trip, with highlights including a day in the Boston Metro Area, spots close to the stage at the National Memorial Day Concert, visiting Fort McHenry in Baltimore, celebrating Mom's birthday, and lunch at Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria.

Grape #3: California turned 175 on September 9, and so 2025 was a fitting time to head west on the Southwest Chief and then walk on sunshine in Southern California.  Highlights included going up to the observatory level of Los Angeles City Hall, and visiting the digs of my friend Roy and his family in San Jacinto.  I was delighted to return home with 10 lbs of real California oranges.

Grape #4: I enjoyed my road trips in the Midwest/Great Lakes region of the USA, to West Branch and then the Cincinnati Metro Area.

Grape #5: I enjoyed shopping at the Oak Park Farmers' Market 50th Season and experiencing the wonderful sense of community there throughout the season.

Grape #6: Participating in the Illinois March for Life in Springfield was such an uplifting experience, especially on the Solemnity of the Annunciation.

Grape #7: I was glad to serve as an election judge in the April 1 municipal elections.

Grape #8: It was exciting to get word of the white smoke at the Vatican on May 8 and to see the introduction of the new Pope, Leo XIV, a moment that brought me into great awe.  Slowly but surely it settled in how significant it was that he was the first US-born Pope.  It was a great experience to attend the celebration for him at Guaranteed Rate Field hosted by the Archdiocese of Chicago.  And I had a wonderful time sightseeing where he grew up in the south suburbs.

Grape #9: I was overjoyed at the Canonization of St. Carlo Acutis on September 7.  His story resonates with me so deeply, starting with his birth just weeks after mine.  He is a great example as the first millennial saint.

Grape #10: For 2025, I eagerly looked ahead to the 20th anniversary of my Julian 8th grade graduation, which was a great celebration coinciding with Pentecost Sunday.  It was a joyful celebration of what my Julian years have meant to me, especially in the realm of faith, and how I continue to feel that impact.  As a wonderful prelude, days prior, I was over the moon to participate as a presenter at Career Day at Julian for a second consecutive year.

Grape #11: There were a few special celebrations in the family this year.  It was a blessing to be present for my Uncle Bernie when he got the Christifideles Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago and then his retirement celebration at the annual Chicago Voyagers Gala.

Grape #12: Another event I greatly anticipated in 2025 was the celebration of the 20th anniversary of my Confirmation.  It was a great day that connected me back with an event that continues to live on in me as I walk in step with the Holy Spirit.  This celebration was enhanced with many other faith-related events this year, like Mass on October 1 at the Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux on her feast day, and Mass on October 31 at Mother of the Americas Parish with the Virgen statue present.  I also visited 8 different Cathedrals, which helped connect with me with the 2025 Jubilee of Hope.  I looked ahead to my Confirmation anniversary milestone when I joined the celebration of Confirmation in March for students I know in RE, which made my birthday weekend very special.  We even got to meet Bishop Jose Maria Garcia-Maldonado, who had just been ordained the month prior.  Then, the day before my Confirmation anniversary, it was special for me to take my RE class into Church and show them where I sat.  Indeed, I have seen God present and at work in so many ways this year, especially in the relationships I've built in RE.

As we reach this significant moment in Chronos time, with one year ending and another beginning, I marvel at these Kairos moments that have marked 2025.  Especially for the 20th anniversary of my 8th grade graduation and Confirmation, these moments have been opportunities to see how these experiences live on and I continue to draw from them to be the person who lives according to God's purpose for me.

So I conclude 2025 grateful and blessed for what I have experienced, and what I can take with me into a new year.

2025 News and Events in Review

A significant shift in power occurred in January, when Donald Trump began his second, nonconsecutive term as President.  The inauguration ceremony had a different feel because, due to cold temperatures, it was held indoors in the rotunda of the US Capitol, with an overflow crowd in the Capitol visitors' center, where he went to make "off-the-cuff" remarks following the formal ceremony.

President Trump took off like a bulldozer, issuing numerous executive orders on his first day alone, even signing them while watching the festivities of celebration.

He adamantly plowed forward in seeking to correct the border problems under the previous administration, and ICE went out to apprehend people who were in this country without proper status and had criminal records.  DOGE, which was staffed by Elon Musk, sought to cut lots of government waste, which certainly changed the feel of the Washington, DC, area, where so many federal workers live.  Later in the year, the federal government went into shutdown mode for several weeks.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned and someone from his same party was elected the new head of government in the April 28 elections.

Another significant leadership change came when Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday Morning, April 21.  On May 8, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new Pope, and he took the name Leo XIV.  It was a surprise to have a new Pope native to the USA, who was born in Chicago, IL.

This change in church leadership happened in the midst of the 2025 Jubilee Year.  Many different Jubilee celebrations were held, including an event for youth, which resembled World Youth Day in many ways.  In November, he participated in a live audience with the NCYC in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  Later in November, he went on his trip international trip to Turkey and Lebanon.

As a great follow-up to the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress, the 2025 National Eucharistic Congress traveled from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.

Among those who parted from us this year were former Vice President Richard Cheney and Charlie Kirk.

A farewell Mass came for St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church on June 22, after which point, the church building ceased to be a functioning worship site.

District 97 Superintendent Dr. Shah resigned abruptly and the search for a new superintendent began.

The library vendor Baker and Taylor announced it would shut down operations, prompting a huge shift for libraries in acquiring materials.

As for what was new, August was a significant month for Amtrak with the debut of the Mardi Gras Service between New Orleans and Mobile.  Then came the launch of the new Avelia Liberty trainsets on the Acela Service.

Princess Charlotte in Britain turned 10 in May.  Actor Dick Van Dyke turned 100 in December.  The Grand Ole Opry marked its centennial on November 28.

In November, the US bishops, at their annual Fall Assembly, elected Paul Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, as their new president.  Among other major actions were voting to consecrate the USA to the Sacred Heart in June 2026 and to convoke the 11th National Eucharist Congress in 2029.

Dear 1036: The Annual Advent Journey to The Feast of Christmas

Dearly Beloved 1036,

Among my earliest memories is the Advent wreath on our dining room table.  I recall two different wreaths.

One year on Nativity Day, we were seated in the dining room for breakfast.  The sun was shining brightly through the windows.  The wreath had five round shapes in which would sit small tea light candles.  Mom lit each of the colored ones that corresponded to the purple and pink Sundays of Advent and then came to the white one for Nativity/Christmas Day, remarking, "We made it to Christmas."

How wonderful that the cycle of the liturgical candle takes us through the Advent journey each year on the four Sundays before Nativity/Christmas Day and then we rejoice to once again arrive at December 25.

It was wonderful to see that progression unfold with the Advent wreath in our home.

We added a special custom to our Advent journey 25 years ago: Mom attended a gathering with Jack and Kathy Stockman, who created The Advent Book, a splendid artistic book that progresses through the Nativity narratives of Christ with a door for each day from December 1-25.  I have it with me, and when I opened it during this past Advent season, I looked at the date written by the authors near the cover and was reminded we acquired it in 2000.

Along the way through Advent, it was great to prepare for Christmas/Nativity Day by gathering before the TV to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas.  It's a true classic, and after watching it a few times, I realized that its power lies in the scene when Linus proclaims the true meaning of Christmas.  Indeed, it remains popular even now in 2025, when it marked its 60th anniversary of its debut.

This past week, I was reminded of another custom leading us from Advent to Christmas.  Eric went on a Europe trip during his summer break in 2010, spending much of his time in the UK, since they stayed and studied in London.  One of the group's side strips, as far as I remember, was to Cambridge where he learned about the storied liturgical event of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that happens at the King's College Chapel annually December 24.  Months after his return, on the morning of December 24, he intently turned on the radio to WFMT for the live broadcast of the Lessons and Carols.  I was intrigued to listen to it myself.  And I continued to enjoy listening to it in subsequent years, even so far as keeping a handheld radio up to my ear while shopping with Mom at Fair Share.

After a hiatus, I realized this year was a good time to tune in again to this cherished tradition, and it was splendid as ever an opportunity to raise our hearts and minds to praise Christ on the celebration of His birth.

Every year, we progress through Advent to Nativity Day and then through the Christmas Season, followed by the other liturgical seasons.  Then we cycle back to the same seasons.  Yet, in accordance with an idea presented in the Little Colored Books I have used for many years as a prayer resource, we're not just going in circles.  It's like we're going up a spiral staircase that stays in the same circular space, yet goes upward, striving in the way of holiness to God Himself.

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  The big idea of this Feast is that we continue celebrating the Incarnation by reflecting on how God entered into our humanity, into a family, to show us how we can grow in holiness within the family. When Father Bob invited us at Mass this morning to reflect on our parents, I was immediately aware of how my memories of them are deeply tied to you, 1036.  In you, we experienced these Advent Season customs that guided us toward the Christmas Season, inviting us to grow in holiness along the way.

So I give thanks to God for you.  And 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.

Praise to the Incarnate Lord, who is Emmanuel, God with us!

God's blessings,

With the Joy of Christmas,

Paul

Great New Views: Open House Chicago 2025

I'll willing to go as far as to say OHC is my annual favorite Chicago event.  It's a time to go beyond the big attractions and see all the wonderful smaller attractions that make Chicago special.

Once again this year, I served as a volunteer, returning to the Nichols Tower where I volunteered in 2021.  Situated a few miles west of the Loop, the 14th floor has great views of the skyline, other neighborhoods of Chicago, and even some of the suburbs, including Oak Park.  As a volunteer, I especially enjoyed greeting visitors and welcoming them to the Original Sears Tower.  The staff who work there were also great to collaborate with during my afternoon there.

View east toward downtown Chicago

Someone on duty during the open house photographed me inside.

Exterior view of the Nichols Tower

View looking northeast

After I finished my volunteer shift, I drove to the Austin neighborhood and visited the Notre Dame Church. I was intrigued to learn that it was once a Methodist Church and then a Roman Catholic religious order acquired the building and spent extensive resources to refurbish it.

Main altar

Side altar

The organ

The next day, Sunday, Mom and I spent time in the afternoon sightseeing together.  The rainy morning ended by the time we set out in the afternoon and it was brilliantly sunny.  We started at the Walt Disney Birth Home in Hermosa.  We went with a group inside the home, stopping in various rooms to hear more of the story of the house and the Disney family.

Front of the Disney Birth House

This paperwork is an affidavit of Walt Disney's birth.

Here's a close-up of artwork on top of an interior door.

In the room Walt shared with his brother

Mom and I pose outside the front of the house.  I think an OHC volunteer might have photographed us.

Next, we made a quick stop at a weaver company.

Above and below are views of the weaving equipment.

And then we went to Ignite Glass Studio, which was fascinating for a variety of reasons.  The walkway to the side entrance had artistic glass embedded at intervals.  The staff had demonstrations of creating glass art.  And there were great views from the rooftop, including the Chicago skyline and the nearby Union Pacific tracks.

Outside courtyard

Above and below are the live glass artwork demonstrations.

Rooftop view looking west

Looking east on the rooftop area toward the skyline

Looking down at the courtyard

A fellow visitor kindly photographed Mom and Me with the skyline behind us.

Above is the entry way, and below is the detail of the walkway leading to the courtyard.

On our way back to Oak Park, I made a quick stop inside St. Helen Church on Augusta, which had a side chapel for baptisms.

The exterior of St. Helen has a state of Pope St. John Paul II appearing on the left.

The baptistry inside

One consistent highlight of my OHC experiences is the skyline views.  Visiting buildings that are open during OHC allows me to see the vast expanse of Chicago from up above and get a new perspective.  Perhaps that's why I was drawn to return as a volunteer at the Nichols Tower.  I'm certain it was why the skyline views were a highlight on Sunday at the Ignite Glass Studio, even from a rooftop terrace only one story up.  Seeing the art of glass-blowing was fascinating, too.

Chicago has so much to offer in the intricate patchwork that it is.  I'm grateful to the Chicago Architecture Center for how they provide this wonderful opportunity to see what's in Chicago, and, for me as a volunteer, to be part of showcasing what's here.  I was amazed at one point when I briefly spoke with a woman who said she travels from Maryland to Chicago every year for OHC.  I was glad to hear that because I would recommend this event to anyone, especially from out of town to see what's here.

OHC was once again a great way to connect with Chicago and see new views of it.

Road Trips and Rivers

After crisscrossing the USA during previous summer vacations this year, going to both coasts, I took in scenes in the regional of the Central Plains/Great Lakes/Midwest.

First, I went once again across the inestimable geographic marked of the Mississippi River and then a short distance west.  And in West Branch, IA, I went to the Hoover Hometown Days in celebration of President Hoover's birthday.  I departed Oak Park later in the morning.  I made a quick stop at an I-80 rest stop to eat the lunch I packed, and then to shop at the World's Largest Truck Stop.

I was in West Branch shortly before 4 PM.  

The Business District of Main Street in West Branch is all decked out for Hoover's Hometown Days.

(All photos are mine, unless otherwise stated.  For this West Branch trip, all times are CDT.)

First, I looked at the historical buildings in the NPS area.  Then I went to the West Branch Friends Church for an Old-Fashioned Sing-a-long.  I was delighted to partake of music the way it was done before recordings, when people would sing and be accompanied by instruments, in this case, the piano.  The hosts invited us to open the hymnals in the pews in front of us and pick out songs for us to sing.  I opened a brown hymnal and was glad to see "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" as hymn #1, so I requested it--please see photo directly below.

Here's the view from up front, with the easel with the sheets for writing hymn numbers.

Others then offered requests.  We took a break to hear from a woman who works at an organization that supports those affected by domestic violence in eastern Iowa.

After the hymns concluded, we went to the lower level for a pie and ice cream social.  There were so many pies available.

Lots of pie

I think this was peach pie, with ice cream, and a cup of lemonade.

Here's Peanut Butter and Jelly pie from Village Inn with ice cream.

I left after a few minutes and went to check in at my AirBnb house down Main Street.  Then I walked around town some more.  

A passerby photographed me on Main Street, with the Hoover Hometown Days sign above me.

I ended up at the Fire Station, where grilled food was being sold.  I got a pork tenderloin sandwich.  Then I got a taco from a taco truck parked along the street.  There were also Hy-Vee birthday cupcakes.

Hy-Vee birthday cupcakes were handed out on the Village Green.

Pork tenderloin sandwich

Tacos

Then I enjoyed some of the live music by the Burlington Street Bluegrass Band. One piece that delighted me was the "Iowa Waltz". I found this YouTube video of the song from another time they performed it.

The Burlington Street Bluegrass Band performs in the gazebo on the Village Green.

I also walked into the restored Prairie area by the Hoover Library/Museum.  It was wonderful to hear the wind rustling through the tall prairie grass and watch the sunset.  Here are some scenes from the prairie area at the time of sunset.

The path into the restore prairie

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library/Museum's renovation is in progress.

The Herbert Hoover birth house with the sunset in the background

It was still and peaceful, except for the noise of traffic nearby on I-80.  Later, I went back to take a quick view of the moonrise, with its orange glow.  I was at the final part of the Bluegrass Band concert, which was done close to 9 PM.  Then I retired to my AirBnb lodgings.

The next morning, I was up a little bit before 7 AM.  After a quick breakfast, I made a short stop by the birth cottage, on President Hoover's actual birthday, and then I drove east on I-80 to Davenport and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.  I arrived shortly before 9 AM Mass.  I was impressed by the tall soaring nature of the building on the outside and then the splendid sanctuary interior.

Exterior of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

Close-up of the altar

Looking from the pews closest to the altar toward the back of the sanctuary

Someone at the Church photographed me inside following Mass, looking toward the altar.

I lingered for a few minutes after Mass to look around inside the sanctuary.  Then, I drove to a nearby Hy-Vee Store (please see below) for some groceries and a chicken sandwich for lunch.  

After getting gas, I got on I-74, and within minutes, departed Iowa and was back in Illinois.  I made a couple of stops at rest stops along I-80.  I was back in Oak Park around 4 PM.

Later in the month, on Saturday of Labor Day weekend, I began another road trip.  I departed Oak Park between 11 AM and 12 PM after tending to a few matters around town and at homebase.  (Please note, that in this post, most of the times are in EDT, and I note the change in time zones.)

I made a stop at 31st Street Beach in Chicago and then in Valparaiso to celebrate the birthday of my friend Bob with treats at Dairy Queen.

Around 3 PM CDT, I departed Valparaiso and headed in a southwesterly fashion toward I-65, passing through fields of Lake County.  I rode I-65 to West Lafayette.  I wound my way through there and then along US 231 through fields and small towns to Greencastle, IN, home of DePauw University, where I arrived around 7 PM EDT.  I specifically went to visit the Percy Julian Mathematics and Science Center.  I had heard that he attended this university, and having a personal connection with him through Julian Middle School, I wanted to connect with this part of his life.

Exterior

Interior

This statue inside closely resembled a similar bust of Dr. Julian in Scoville Park in Oak Park.

A display in one of the hallways includes an image of the Julian stamp.

Someone on the lawn photographed me in front of the building.

After a few minutes there, I headed toward I-70.  I got gas and then a quick dinner at Subway before getting on the Interstate and heading east.  I drove along the southern edge of I-465 and then got on I-74.  I rode it almost to the IN-OH line, and exited on IN State Route 1.  I drove IN 1 on a winding road in the dark.  In Dover, I stopped briefly when I came upon St. JOhn the Baptist Catholic Church, which, according to a sign out in front, is the second oldest Catholic Church in Indiana.  Then I continued to Lawrenceburg, the southeasternmost town in Indiana, where I spent the night at the Quality Inn there.

The following morning, on Sunday, August 31, I was up by 7 AM.  Within minutes, I was enjoying the hotel's wonderful breakfast.  

Breakfast

Morning sunshine in the hotel's parking lot

Around 9:15, I was in Avila and headed eastward along US Route 50.  Just a few minutes later, I was in Ohio.  As I drove, I caught glimpses of the Ohio River.  Upon reaching central Cincinnati, I wound my way around onto a bridge over the Ohio River and into Kentucky.  After a little bit of directional uncertainty, and help from a passing motorist, I arrived at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption for 10 AM Mass.  As I slipped into a pew, I was in awe of the morning light that was pouring through a window high above.  Just days after the tragedy in Minneapolis, the priest offered an insightful homily in which he mentioned that God's love overcomes hatred, a line from the Eucharistic Prayer for reconciliation.

Light pouring into the sanctuary

Looking toward the back of the sanctuary

A fellow attendee photographed me inside looking toward the altar.

I asked someone I saw in the nearby Cathedral parking lot, who kindly photographed me in front of the Cathedral.

Alpha and Omega in the rose window.

I got this view of the Cathedral from a gas station about a block away.

I lingered for a while around the Cathedral after Mass.  I was delighted to see a display of relics behind the altar, including one of Carlo Acutis, who was a week away from canonization on that day.

Once I left the Cathedral parking lot, I drove south to a nearby Kroger for a few groceries, including a sandwich for lunch.  After getting gas, I drove north to the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge and left Kentucky and returned to Ohio.  I drove around for a few minutes and found a parking space, and then went to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum, which had a free admission day for the 5th Sunday of the month.

The main entrance of the museum

First, I went to the 3rd floor terrace, which had great views of the Cincinnati Riverfront looking over to Covington, KY.  There was a flame prominently positioned there, evoking the lights put in windows to indicate safe houses for those following the Underground Railroad to freedom. Signage indicated that it would continue to burn until slavery is ended throughout the world.

Looking toward the southwest

A fellow visitor photographed with the view toward the south over the Ohio River toward Covington.

The flame

Then I went to see the museum's introductory video near the entrance.  It set the context for how Cincinnati was at a crucial crossroads on the Ohio River, which made it a significant location on the Underground Railroad, situated at the border between slaveholding states and free states.  As the video progressed, it turned its focus toward the Civil Rights Movement.  The one issue I had with the video was that it claimed to connect the Civil Rights movement with the LGBTQ movement by showing Jim Obergefell, who, despite being a significant figure in Ohio, should not have been connected with the struggle against racism, nor the museum's mission.

Upstairs on the third floor was the main exhibit that focused on the history of slavery and the abolition movement.

Recalling the Middle Passage

I believe that the press on display resembles what William Lloyd Garrison used.

The Bible of the Rankin family, who were involved in the Abolition movement

Toward the end of the main exhibit is a display about the Sectional War of the 1860s, above, and a display about the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution.

There was a reconstruction of a house for the enslaved.

I also saw an exhibit specifically on the Underground Railroad, with two different video experiences in small theater-like spaces.

Display showcasing a safe house

Sometimes the runaways hid in a cart like this one.

A display of people who were influential in the Underground Railroad.

A timeline display of US history, slavery and abolition history, and Underground Railroad history

In this display is a quotation of Harriet Tubman reacting to reaching freedom.

Artwork in the exhibit

I finished at the museum by 4:30.  I walked back to my parking spot and drove a few blocks to the Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains.  I was eager to see it since Robert Casey transitioned from Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago to Archbishop of Cincinnati earlier this year.  I lingered for first part of Mass.  I was intrigued to see prayer candles available for purchase inside a vending machine.

Interior

This vending machine sells candles that can be lit, like the one I lit in the photo below, appearing to the farthest right.

Side altar

Here's the outside of the Cathedral.  Next door to it is Cincinnati City Hall.

Someone I asked in the parking lot kindly photographed me posing in front of the Cathedral.

Around 5:30, I was on my way back home, picking up I-74 that, within about 30 minutes, brought me back to Indiana. At Indianapolis, I exited the Interstate to drive through the central area and reconnect with the National Eucharistic Congress from the previous summer.  Then I got back on I-65.  Near Lafayette, I stopped for dinner at Bob Evan's, always a highlight of a road trip.

I got a sampler dinner platter with, left to right, turkey, ham, and pot roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, and biscuits, along with a strawberry lemonade-type drink.

Near Roselawn, I stopped for gas before entering the outskirts of the Chicago Metro Area.  Near Crown Point, I saw fireworks in the distance. 

Final mileage upon arriving back at homebase

Rivers have served as important geographical markers and have shaped history.  I enjoyed the opportunity to go on these two road trips in the Great Lakes/Midwest Region to appreciate the history and the role of rivers.  Herbert Hoover is distinguished as the first US president born west of the Mississippi River. From the fields of Iowa, he rose to prominence and used his visionary thinking to help make an impact through humanitarian work. It was special to be back in the setting from where he came on his birthday weekend.

The Ohio River has also played a significant role in US history, and the Underground Railroad Freedom Center shows how it was a gateway for enslaved poeple to freedom, and how the Underground Railroad was part of a movement to advance freedom more broadly in society.  As the museum showed, Cincinnati, by its geographical location, contributed much to this movement toward freedom.  The terrace was probably my favorite part of the museum, giving me a sense of the geography of the location, and the burning flame was a great symbol for how Cincinnati played an important role.

Cincinnati is clearly a crossroads location, and it was special to visit two different cathedrals in one day, just minutes apart.  These trips were another way to appreciate the geography of the USA and its broader significance.