Points for Considering a Vulnerable Population

August means its recess time for the members of the United States Congress, when they leave Washington, DC, and spend time in their home districts.  Many hold town halls for constituents.

My Representative, Danny K. Davis (D-IL-7) held a town hall at Oak Park Village Hall back on the evening of Thursday, August 6.  When it concluded, I approached him, and said I had a burning question to ask him, which he agreed to field.  In this blog post, I relate, to the best of my memory, what happened during the course of our conversation.  It started in the Village Board Council Chambers, and proceeded through the hallways of Village Hall out into the parking lot--so we were talking as we walked along, over the course of 5 minutes or so.

I have contacted Representative Davis several times on defending one of the most vulnerable populations in our society, the unborn.  Once, when I called his office regarding legislation before Congress addressing abortion, the staff person who picked up the phone told me that Representative Davis "supports a woman's right to choose".  So when I was talking with Representative Davis himself this evening, I told repeated this sentiment, and he acknowledged that is indeed his stance on the issue of abortion.

Then I told him that I believe when a human embryo is conceived in the womb, it has its own unique DNA, and thereby is a human person with human rights, deserving protection.  I then told Representative Davis that it would appear that he would not agree that human rights begin at the moment of conception.  So then I pressed the question:  If human right don't start at the moment of conception, when do they begin?

Representative Davis responded, "I really don't know", and then continuing his answer so as to suggest that there needs to be more discussion to arrive at an answer to the question of when human rights begin.  He then reiterated his opinion in supporting a woman's right to choose what to do with her body.  He mentioned something about how he was raised to adhere to the principles of the Bible, in which God created people, and somehow, though I don't remember exactly, that led to his reiteration of his stance on abortion.  I then asked, "Does that include an unborn woman's right to choose?"  He started his reply saying that he's not really sure if there is such a thing as an unborn woman.

As we neared the door leading out to the parking lot, I then pressed the matter further, saying that the Declaration of Independence speaks of the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  If a human person is aborted, his/her life is taken away, and is thereby denied the right to life, as well as being denied the rights of liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Representative Davis said that there would need to be more discussion to sort out the issues of when and where one person's rights stop, and where another person's rights begin.

There's a lot to consider in Representative Davis's responses.  For starters, let's go back to his response to my initial question, that if human rights don't begin at the moment of conception, when do they begin?  As I told Representative Davis, at the moment of conception, the embryo has a unique DNA, distinct from that of the mother and father, and so it's only logical to say at that moment, the embryo is a human person, and so the protection of human rights begins at the moment of conception.  If it doesn't begin at the moment of conception, there's really no other logical moment at which human rights would start.  It doesn't make sense to say human rights begin at birth, because the fetus shows signs of being a human person even before birth, signs which are staggered throughout the pregnancy.  So Representative Davis, in a way, aptly states that he doesn't know when human rights begin if not at the moment of conception, because there's no other logical moment to fix as the starting point for the protections of human rights if not at conception.

(Representative Davis's answer reminds me of the answer then-US Senator Barack Obama gave at a forum during the 2008 presidential campaign moderated by Pastor Rick Warren.  When posed with the question of when a baby has human rights, Mr. Obama said that it was a matter "above his pay grade".  In my mind, that reflects how there's no other reasonable answer to give if not at the moment of conception, as Senator McCain straightforwardly stated in his answer to that same question.)

And then there are the comments Representative Davis offered toward the end of our conversation, when, in pressing the matter, I evoked the idea of the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  The advances of modern medicine have unleashed the horrors of abortion:  The scariest part of it is that an abortion is done in the name of the rights of a woman, so as to relinquish any rights the unborn person has.

Throughout history, people have asserted power in such a way that quashes the rights of others.  In the past, people were denied rights and other opportunities based on characteristics like the color of skin, ethnicity, or religion.  And although our society has progressed to allow people the greater realization of their God-given rights, the medical ability to perform abortions has opened Pandora's box, allowing for a denial of the rights of people simply because they aren't yet born, even the basic right to live.  Abortion, therefore, is like a step backward in the progress of fuller realization of our God-given rights.  While I have many reasons to oppose abortion, this idea of the denial of a basic right is an important one, the starting point that addresses the big picture for why I am pro-life, and believe the sanctity of human life commences at the moment of conception.

If you disagree with me, I encourage you to consider the points I have mentioned in this blog post based on how Representative Davis responded to my pressing the issue of abortion on him.  If you agree with me, I hope the points I give in this blog post help you in seeing the big picture of why we believe in the sanctity of human life.

Master of My Destiny: Installment 4

This post is part of my "Master of my Destiny" series of blog posts in which I share about my happenings in graduate school.

After having a focus during my first term on the fundamental matters of library and information science, this summer term, my second semester in the program, was an opportunity to take the next steps by delving into more specifics and do more practical work. 

Library User Instruction class was notable for its educational focus, tailored to those studying library and information science.  There were some lectures, and the content touched upon topics like learning theories, student behaviors, and human mentality, topics that undoubtedly are the focus of entire courses for those studying education, but were covered in just a few minutes in this class.  (During one lecture on human mentality and perceptions people have, I did something very dangerous that I wouldn't normally do:  I openly told others how I honestly feel about President Barack Obama, without even feeling out their political views first.  Fortunately, within the context of this part of the lecture, my strong feelings stayed contained without opening a can of worms.)

The main focus of this class was engaging in actual instruction, in the form of presentations. For the first two, which were individual, we taught how to use a tool.  The third one was a group presentation in which we taught a concept, and then, in our groups, we transferred the content of the presentation into an electronic learning object.  Not only did we have to explain the ideas, but we had to work on effectively conveying the information, and engaging the audience, involving them in the learning process, as well as assessing their understanding.

I had an adjunct professor for this class.  His regular job is working as a librarian at Moraine Valley Community College.  He was able to bring good insights from his work in instruction to enhance what we were learning in this class.

Another class I had was Collection Management.  The collection is the core part of a library, and the big take away from this class was the importance of a plan to guide the library in knowing what to include, and then how to discard items that are no longer useful in the collection, all to serve the needs of the users.  (If you're interested, here is an example of a collection policy, that of the Oak Park Public Library: http://oppl.org/about/policies/collection-strategy-statement)

In learning about managing library collections, we looked at library collection policies and discussed them in class.  We also did practical exercises to get a feel for how to manage a collection:  Our first big assignment was to create a seed collection for a library in a specific geographical area.  The second big assignment was the weeding assignment, which involved examining the books on two different sections of shelf in the Dominican University Rebecca Crown Library to determine if each was worth keeping, or should be removed from the collection.  The final big assignment was working in pairs to create a library user survey, which is a process that isn't as easy as it might seem.  It’s difficult to use just the right wording for the survey questions to get at the information needed, as well as keeping it concise to ensure high response rate.

For this class, I also had an adjunct professor, who is the director of the Berkeley Public Library, a suburb at the west edge of Cook County, just to the east of Elmhurst.  (I visited her library, and though it's quite small in comparison to what I'm used to about Oak Park's library, they have a lot available there in the items, programs, and amenities.)  All the time in class, she drew from her many job experiences, past and present, in sharing insights about library work, never afraid to share her opinions about the good, the bad, and the ugly of libraries.

I was fortunate to have another class with this same professor this semester: Government Information Resources, which met once in person, and then the rest of the work was online.  She showed much enthusiasm for the material, having once been a government documents librarian.  The focus of this class was learning about the resources produced by the US government, which is the largest producer of information in the world.  We focused mostly on resources from federal agencies, although there were some resources we looked at from state governments and even international governmental organizations.  The first resource we looked at was the US Government Manual, a 600-page book that details all the agencies of the US government.

From there, we looked at different types of resources, like law codes, and those pertaining to the environment, health, and business.  For each type, we completed exercises, searching for specific items, like President Theodore Roosevelt's personal correspondence, wild burro adoption schedules in Wyoming, recreation areas in Illinois, information on doing business in foreign markets, the president's daily schedule, information on lyme disease, and government regulations.  It could be tricky to find certain things, but in general, I enjoyed the opportunity to look around government websites, which I enjoy doing anyway on my own for fun.

In both of my in-person classes, we had many opportunities to critique each other’s work, and I welcomed the chance to have such discussions in a respectful, collaborative environment.  It was certainly helpful for the second presentation in Library User Instruction for the feedback I received and offered, and it got pretty involved when discussing the user surveys in Collection Management.

Indeed, I kept active during these summer months, delving into specifics of library and information science, and having a good dose of fun along the way.  And now, I am halfway through obtaining my degree--kind of like getting the "M" and "L" of my MLIS.  There's much I've been enjoying about this program, and it's great that I enhance it now that I've started an actual library job.

I’ve also been able to see how my participation in LIS connects with the higher purposes of life.  Nothing could have better underscored this than the discussions in the first session of Library User Instruction class.  Instruction is a process, especially in how we constantly work to improve our abilities, a major take-away from the entire class.  Part of this process is assessing where we are in the liminal space moving from where we are to our ultimate goal.  In the midst of this process, there are Kairos moments, a sense of time when something critical happens--different from the sense of chronological time.

The ideas my professor was talking about during the first session made me think about my own experiences teaching Religious Education at my home parish.  I knew this summer class would be valuable not just for my possible career goals, but also to enhance my ability to teach in that capacity, too, as teaching is part of many aspects of life.  So I felt challenged to really work at enhancing my abilities, while I also also felt excited at the opportunity to do so.

Indeed, through such lofty insights, I can see how this degree program is driving me toward a career that fits in with the larger picture of my life’s overall vocation, which I feel I have been led to by the One Who is really the Master of my Destiny.

Celebrating a Special Friendship

This day, Friday, August 7, six years ago was a very memorable day indeed.

In just over 2 weeks from this date, I would be off to move in at Valparaiso University (ValpU).

But this day, around 9 AM, I was at Chicago Union Station, to start a friendship with the remarkable Zachary (Zach) Mashburn.  We were assigned as roommates, to share a space together for our first year.  We decided to meet ahead of time, and so we spent this day ambling around in Chicago, in the downtown area, and then getting out to some neighborhoods on the near Southwest Side.

We began a great relationship that day, getting along so well that we ended up spending nearly three years together as roommates during our shared time at ValpU.  We would enjoy many other moments together, from Lankenau Hall to Wehrenberg Hall, and then some, especially as we shared the experience of the meteorology major.  And there were some less than savory experiences that we would commiserate over together.

There are only a few people in my life who I would consider very close friends--many of which started in college, in fact--and Zach is among them.  From the start of our time together, he would demonstrate himself to be a friend like no other--true "kindred spirit" as my Grandma might say.

When being more or less randomly assigned a college roommate can certainly open up a range of possibilities, some of them not so good, to put it lightly, I was incredibly fortunate to be placed with Zach.  It certainly helped that we shared similar perspectives on the often controversial topics of politics and religion.  We certainly shared a number of laughs cracking jokes on certain politicians--who, for the purpose of this blog, shall remain unnamed.  I also appreciate the godliness Zach has shown, which was an encouragement to me during my college years, when many positive influences bolstered my faith.

I would also always be amazed at how Zach is so accommodating, as he sought to ensure I was comfortable in the space we shared.  And he's polite, drawing from his Southern upbringing, addressing other adults as "ma'am" and "sir", even the waitress at the restaurant we went to once, who we found out was younger than both of us.

I've furthermore appreciated the support Zach has shown me.  He's helped me really open up by being present with a listening ear whenever I have a problem or some other issue I'm facing.  It was a big help throughout our time in college, with all the stresses, both academic and personal, even after the time we ceased being roommates.  Plus, he's a great person just to spend time with, and I've been glad to have opportunities since graduation to do just that.  He also has an interesting sense of humor, with phrases like, "Sleep is for the weak", and "Pencils are for people who make mistakes", always spoken with a smirk.

We certainly forged a special bond, and it's one I still feel to this day, as it transcends time and space.  And that's why I'm celebrating the gift of friendship this day with Zach.

Master of My Destiny: Installment 3

I think of the adage, "Time flies when you're having fun" to describe this summer term.  I've been in such a flurry of activity with my classes that I haven't found the chance to sit down and do an update yet.

This summer term, I'm getting beyond the required core classes and more in-depth with library studies.  The three classes I have are Library User Instruction, Collection Management, and Government Information Resources.  The second two are with the same professor, one face-to-face, and the other one mostly online, though we did meet in-person once.  My two professors are both adjunct, and they have jobs elsewhere, and they bring with them the sense of what it's like being out in the field doing this work.  And I enjoy hearing their perspectives and working with them.

We've had the opportunity for some great discussions in class--especially the first class sessions back in May--and the assignments involve very practical work, like instructional presentations and building a library collection.  I've also had fun surfing around government websites looking for information like 1790 census information and the President's Daily Schedule.

Upon the conclusion of the term, I'll give a more detailed update, with more about all the fun I've been having.

Patriotic Greetings 2015: Their Work in 1776 and Ours Today

Patriotic Greetings!

It's always meaningful for me to celebrate the Independence of the United States at this time each year, because it is an opportunity to recall the story of how this country came into existence, those momentous days in 1776.

After the end of conflict between Britain and France in 1763, tensions escalated between Britain and her North American colonies, as the British government moved to restrict the liberties and activities of the colonies, prompting protests.  Tensions broke out in violence in Massachusetts at the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.  As King George and the British government continued moving forcefully to restrain the American colonies, sentiments grew increasingly in favor of independence.

On June 7, 1776, in a session of the Continental Congress, Richard Henry Lee proposed the following resolution: "Resolved.  That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.  That they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown.  And that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

The delegates took the next three weeks to consider this proposal of great consequence.  Then, on July 1, they held a debate.  The next day, July 2, the colonies gathered in Congress gave unanimous approval to the resolution on independence, and the colonies then became the United States of America.  The delegates then spent the next couple of days finalizing the draft of a declaration of independence, written by Thomas Jefferson throughout the month of June, which made the case for the colonies' independence.  They approved the Declaration on July 4, and it was then distributed throughout the newly minted states.  And, according to the account of most historians, on August 2, the majority of the Declaration's signers placed their signatures on it.  After years of war, Britain officially recognized the independence of the United States with the Treaty of Paris finalized on September 3, 1783.

The story of these events is not just about something that happened years ago, but is a reality that remains with us:  What happened in those momentous days in 1776, and throughout the time period of the American Revolution, has shaped this country, and who we are as a people, and so is ever present to us now.

The Founding Fathers and the Continental Congress delegates who voted for independence, and those who signed the Declaration, sensed that the matter before them was so important because it would have an impact far into the future on the “millions yet unborn”, a phrase used a number of times:  in a speech given by Dr. Joseph Warren, a patriot in Boston, who was among the earlier casualties during the war, and in the letters of John Adams, and his cousin Samuel Adams, who then inspired William Paca (Pay-kah), a Maryland delegate to the Continental Congress.

Reflecting on the vote for independence on July 2 in a letter to his wife, John Adams wrote, "The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” 

But John Adams wrote those words, he continued, recognizing the sober reality at hand: “You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

(These words are the basis for a song in the musical 1776 that John Adams sings, in which he talks of seeing the future, when Americans celebrate and are free.  Except for the unessential usage of profanity, it's a movie I recommend, as it tells the story of the momentous days in Congress leading to America's independence.)

Although they would have difficulties to face, John Adams knew there was a glorious aim to achieve.  The Founding Fathers put in the effort to do something for generations to come—even for us Americans today.  They gave us a model of the effort we should exert in being citizens of this country, supporting the principles presented in the Declaration.

I couldn’t help but think of this as I read through the US Government Manual for my Government Information Resources class for graduate school.  It’s an almost 600-page book providing information on the agencies of the US government.

Toward the beginning of this book is the text of the Declaration of Independence.  It's fitting to have it there because it lays the foundation of the rights and liberties we have as people of the United States, which forms the basis for the US Constitution, whose text is provided next in the manual, which provides the basis for the inordinate number of government agencies that are described in the rest of the book.

It's really something to take stock of how many government agencies there are, and how extensive the bureaucracy of the government is.  Yet I see principles of liberty at work in the midst of all of it.

For example, the Department of Defense section is by far the one part of the executive branch that has the largest structure with numerous agencies.  Yet having so many civilian government officials running the Department of Defense, with the President as Commander-in-Chief, ensures that the military answers to us the people of this country, and doesn’t take power into its own hands and control the country, and the people.  There is often great instability in countries where this has happened.  Actually, one of the grievances in the Declaration speaks to how, under King George III, the military became “independent of, and superior to, the civil power”.  Having this structure in place ensures that our liberties are safeguarded, and the military serves our country, and not the other way around.

When members of the armed forces are honorably discharged, agencies in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs offer services for them, and even for their families, especially healthcare, and a final resting place.

Other government agencies work to keep us safe, whether it be from terrorist threats, or unsafe products.  I then even think of the National Park Service, which preserves places of ecological and historical significance, so that generations of Americans can appreciate the beauty of the land, and continue to behold the history that has made us who we are today.  So while the bureaucracy is extensive, there are many important services that these government agencies provide.

It’s all part of the work that we Americans do to continue making this country great, upholding those high ideals instituted at our country’s founding.  The members of the military certainly sacrifice much for this country.  As civilians and citizens, it’s also our work to give of ourselves.

I have embraced the role I play in being a citizen, even in my own community.  I have made the effort to not only vote in each election, but to also do research on the candidates so I can be an informed voter, ever since the first election I voted in, which was for local community boards and offices.  I go out to forums to meet these candidates, taking the time to get to know them.  And I get involved in other ways for the greater good.  It’s a government that’s about the people, and so I consider it my duty to act like it.

Furthermore, this work takes us beyond ourselves, and puts us in tune with the higher purposes that our country represents, and calling us to ensure that this country continues to be a place where all may experience fully our God-given natural freedoms, rights, and liberties.  Let us not become weary in these efforts, because of the glorious purposes they point to, which John Adams could foresee in those significant days back in 1776.

That’s what makes these days celebrating the Independence of the United States so meaningful, because it takes us back to what first brought this nation into existence, and renews us in the spirit the Founding Fathers had to create a whole new nation dedicated to principles of freedom and liberty, so that we can go forth, day in and day out, to engage in upholding those principles, for the good of this country and its people.

In the midst of the celebrations you have in these days, may you be inspired and encouraged in the way you fulfill your part in making great the United States of America.

I salute the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of the United States,

Paul

 

Left: I am standing outside the D.C. Office of U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL-7)

Right: I am at the 2014 March for Life Chicago

P.S. This is my annual Patriotic Greetings note, which is now in its 3^rd year in digital form, after having been mailed out in paper form for a few years.  Please feel free to share this with others.  And if you’d like a paper copy of this note, please contact me to let me know where I should send it.

A Final Farewell for Father Larry

This past weekend, we at Ascension Parish bid farewell to our beloved pastor, Father Larry McNally, as he ends his 12 years at Ascension, and heads to St. Matthias in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood to be pastor there.  (Interestingly, the years he was Ascension's pastor is the same number of the tribes of Israel and the apostles.)

Back in March, as the time for his departure grew closer and closer, Father Larry, in his weekly bulletin letter, said a local newspaper reporter was going to do a story on his departure, and was looking for a few parishioners to share with him.  I gladly volunteered for this opportunity to offer tribute to Father Larry.  That piece was published in The Wednesday Journalearlier in June.

I typed up 2-3 pages of thoughts on Father Larry to give the reporter plenty of material to use.  Because of limitations of space, not everything could be included.  But to give a final farewell tribute to Father Larry, I share from the content of what I sent here.

The one thing about Father Larry that stands out to me from his time at Ascension Parish is his pastoral nature, which I saw on full display in my involvement in the Religious Education (RE) ministry.  He makes a point from time to time to visit the Religious Education classes.  He made arrangements to come soon after Confirmation for the class of 2014 to talk with the recently confirmed teens about their experience.  Every Lent, he comes to have the young people experience the sacrament of reconciliation with him.  Later on in the RE year, I asked him to come to my class, and when an initial date we set didn’t work for him, he made every effort to arrange a different one, as I could tell he really wanted to be present.  We did a show-and-tell during the class he came, and he even shared something special to him.

And when the Confirmation students have their monthly preparation meetings, he comes by to visit with them, fielding questions, and offering his spiritual insights, showing up at every meeting, except one that fell when he was on an annual outing in Wisconsin. 

I remember when the 2014 class had their first preparation meeting back in December 2013.  Before the DRE started the formal part of the meeting, Father Larry opened up the floor for questions.  Right away, someone asked him why God allows evil and suffering if He’s all good.  It was a serious question, but Father Larry was ready, and he gave it a solid answer.  One thing he said in response was the example of the tornado that had just happened in Washington, IL.  This disaster brought out the good in people as many aided in the recovery efforts.

Throughout the preparation process for the Class of 2014, through all their preparation meetings, and then after the Confirmation retreat at Brookfield Zoo, Father Larry made a point to be present to the students, encouraging them in the process of their preparation for this sacrament.  At Mass on the Sunday evenings of the meeting dates, he used his homily as an opportunity to speak to the young people about what Confirmation means for them. 

As for his homilies in general, he uses great, and sometimes humorous, stories in his homilies to help drive home the insights in the liturgy.  He uses a variety of interesting stories for his Easter Vigil homily, like the time he got locked out.  Then, one year on the Feast of Ascension, he told a story about when he booked a room at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

There was also the time when, in one of his homilies, he showed a newspaper—a technique he learned from a seminary professor—with a story about a cover-up of sexual abuse by priests.  He was apologetic about the conduct of his brother priests.  It was something profound to hear him honestly acknowledge this situation, and to own it, in a sense.

He shows his pastoral nature with the younger ones among us, too.  Every May come the First Communion Masses.  After the gifts have been brought to the altar and the altar has been prepared, Father Larry walks to the pews where the first communicants are seated with their families, gathers them together, and leads them up to the altar, where they stand behind him as he says the Eucharistic Prayer.  Last year, May 2014, I was at one of the First Communion Masses that happened to be on the weekend of the 4^th Sunday of Easter, which is also referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday.  By leading the children up to the altar, Father Larry gives a beautiful image of our Good Shepherd.  When I witnessed this last year, it touched me so greatly, almost to the point of tears.

He has a good, healthy sense of humility.  There was one night I had a dream in which he made an appearance.  The next time I saw him after Mass, I told him this had happened, and the first words out of his mouth were, “Oh no, a nightmare!”, in a tone that suggested he didn’t want to make too much of the fact he was in my dream.  Another time, when he was announcing that he was going to help teach one of the RE classes, he used that same tone of voice to say that they were really scraping the bottom of the barrel by picking him to teach.

Father Larry also knows how to have fun, even beyond his (in)famous puns.  He never passes up a good opportunity to acclaim his White Sox pride, or to kid around with those displaying their Cubs pride.  This got particularly interesting one time when, as part of the Ascension School Centennial Celebration block party, he went on the dunk tank seat in White Sox paraphernalia.  A kid so frustrated he couldn’t hit the target with the ball finally pushed it and down went Father Larry.  While walking around the courtyard dripping wet, he met a very distinguished guest—none other than former IL Governor Pat Quinn.

At the end of the 2013-2014 Religious Education year, at the catechist appreciation brunch, the entertainment was one of the sisters from Late Nite Catechism.  Father Larry was present, and I can still remember how red his face turned from laughing at Sister’s jokes.  He was having fun with that woman!  He definitely knows how to laugh.

He never ceases to express his appreciation for our participation in the life of the Church.  Every time he celebrates Mass, when he comes out before the assembly before the opening procession, he always thanks the people for coming, whether a nice summery day, or a wintry day with a raging snowstorm.  In doing so, he acknowledges that we aren’t robots who arrive at church at the press of a button, but recognizes the effort we make in the midst of everything going on in our lives to come to church to worship the Lord with each other.  Even though there is an obligation, he doesn’t presume upon that, and makes sure to express his appreciation for our coming to be present with the Lord and one another.

He has had good rapport with people at our parish, enjoying good conversation with people in the church entrance after Mass.  In June of last year, when Ascension was featured on the Sacred Spaces House of Worship Tour, Father Larry was out in front telling visitors about the features out there.  The volunteer helping check visitors in at Ascension pointed out that Father Larry kept waving to people who drove by the church, as there are many he knows in the community.

Father Larry has also affirmed me in personal ways.  Back in May 2012, when I had come home for the summer from college, I opened a letter envelope from Ascension.  Inside, I found a typed letter from Father Larry, asking me to serve on committee that would help plan and run the Theology on Tap speakers’ series at Ascension that summer.  He said at the top he had been “snookered” by the Archdiocese’s Office for Young Adult Ministry, not aware that when he agreed for Ascension to host, that we would have to run it.  He then added a handwritten note at the bottom suggesting this would be a good opportunity for me.  I agreed to help out.  After our first committee meeting, Father Larry’s concern over doing this relaxed into delight that many of us young adults had so eagerly pitched in to help, with all our creative ideas.  Being part of Theology on Tap was one of the best faith formation experiences I ever had, not to mention a great way to spend a few summer Sunday evenings.

After graduating from college, I was struggling with some issues as I started out in my career life.  I asked Father Larry if I could meet with him, and he carved out a time in his schedule for me.  During the course of our conversation, he urged me to make good use of all the talents and skills I have in some kind of work, even drawing from his own life experiences.  Hearing those words from him spurred me on more than when I had heard such sentiments from anyone else during those first few months after college graduation.

There was one other great affirmation I received from Father Larry.  It was the day that the Confirmation Class of 2014 received the sacrament back in October of last year.  I had been out with others during the day, and was not present at the Confirmation Mass.  In the evening, after I had finished dinner, I decided to go for a walk to Ascension, to see if I could catch Bishop Kane, who had confirmed me back in 2005, and was there for the class of 2014.  As I approached the church, I looked over to the side entrance by the parking lot, and saw a group of people standing there.  Lo and behold, the group included Father Larry and Bishop Kane.  After greeting the Bishop, and exchanging a few words with him, Father Larry then told him about how involved I was in Church ministries, saying that Bishop Kane’s confirmation of me had “worked”.  It was an amazing moment in which I could take stock of how I had grown in my faith life since the day I stood before Bishop Kane to receive the sacrament, and where that path had taken me, even to participate in the formation of those who had just been confirmed that evening.

This past weekend, Father Larry celebrated his last Masses as Ascension pastor this past weekend, and it was one of those few times that Mass was an emotional experience.  I went up to Father Larry as he walked into Church right as 7:30 Mass was about to start, and told him that it was time for me to say goodbye, but that it would take an hour to do so: I would use the Mass liturgy as my farewell to him, because no matter what circumstances are before us, the liturgy is what God gives us through His Church as our prayer back to Him for whatever is on our hearts.

I’m certainly going to miss Father Larry, because he has had such a good presence at Ascension as our pastor.  In fact, it’s kind of hard for me to picture Ascension without him, because I associate him so strongly with Ascension. But I take comfort that we are part of the Body of Christ, which transcends all time and space, spanning Earth and Heaven, which we celebrate every week at Mass.  And so we shall continue together, even in separate geographic locations, on this Earthly pilgrimage, as we await the day we join together in Heaven before God.  And as he has said he shall always pray for us at Ascension, I shall unceasingly pray for him, especially that he will faithfully do the work God has for him as pastor of St. Matthias.

I also cherish an adage that I encountered a couple of times during the festivities held throughout the weekend to honor Father Larry: “Don’t cry because it’s over, but smile that it happened”.  Even in the midst of wistfulness, I am definitely smiling, knowing how blessed all of us are at Ascension Parish that we had Father Larry as our pastor for these past 12 years.

Father Larry (in red shirt) singing "Getting to Know You" at the Variety Show held on Saturday

Father Larry at his last Mass at Ascension as pastor, in a green vestment, seated in the presider's chair, just to the right of the Chi-Rho (XP)

Father Larry bows his head as Deacon Joe Walsh, to the left of him, leads the congregation gathered in a farewell blessing for Father Larry

Father Larry on the move...approaching the church vestibule at the end of the recessional that closed his final Mass as Ascension's pastor, ready to walk out of Church and speak with the throngs of parishioners who gave him their farewells

A throw-back to October 15, 2005, a good day many years ago:  Here I am posing with Father Larry at the reception following the Mass at which I was confirmed, the start of a great new phase of my faith journey.  Less than two weeks later, Father Larry would be in heightened euphoria celebrating the White Sox victory in the World Series.

P.S. There was a Variety Show held on Saturday, with a great collection of acts in tribute to Father Larry.  Here's a list of a few more songs that I feel befit this occasion, if you care to take some time to listen to them, as a few more for the road:

"It's Time to Say Goodbye"

"Don't Cry for Me, Argentina"

"Amigos para Siempre"

"The Circle of Life"

"My Place in this World"

"No Longer Strangers"

A Silvery Tribute to an Amazing Friend

About a year ago, my good friend Roy H. Miller III wrote this post on his blog about me: http://eljabon.tumblr.com/post/91023508022/band-of-brothers-paul-rubio

Honestly, I didn't know it was possible for someone to say as many nice things about me as Roy did in that post.

Today, he turns 25.  To celebrate the occasion, and return the favor, I offer tribute to him in this blog post.

The friendship I started with Roy back at the beginning of our first year at Valparaiso University was one of many truly remarkable friendships I started at that time, like none I had ever had before.

I think the one thing that stands out Roy is that is truly a person with a heart set on God, with a faith in Christ that is so alive.  He holds firmly to the principles of faith, and lives them out.  He has always been eager to get a group of friends together for Bible study, and at ValpU, added the element of conducting it entirely in Spanish.  He was involved in other faith-based groups on campus while at ValpU.  And often, when we got together, and even now, when we have one-on-one conversations over the phone, or in person during visits, he asks me, "How are you doing spiritually?"  When he does so, it provides a great opportunity for me to think about what's happening in my life spiritually, and assess what it means.  At certain times in my life when I was in a trying situation, he took the time to listen to me, and then would offer to pray for me.

His faith is also driving the overall purposes of his life.  He has sensed God's calling to be a missionary in Spain, and has laid out his life to achieve that goal, even in all the various twists and turns it involves:  So far, it has taken him to pursuing his master's degree at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, in geological studies, after getting his BS in geological studies at ValpU, and to his current work at the US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory Albany Research Center in Albany, OR.

He has a good work ethic, tending well to his studies, even when he had heavier coursework loads during his time at ValpU to graduate a year early.  He managed well even having simultaneous college classes beyond ValpU.

He's also a great person just to be around, because of the friendliness and lovingkindness he shows to others he encounters, which is a great example of how he shows his love for God.  I especially noticed at ValpU, he went out of his way to make friends with all sorts of people, with special needs, and international students.  Another time, a group of pro-LGBTQ protestors were walking in on a talk he was attending with a faith-based group, and he held the door open for them, and got to talking casually with some of them--not anything related to the topic of the presentation.

Once, when we got together for a visit, while ambling around in downtown Chicago, he stopped to buy food at a store, and then offered it to homeless people on the sides of the streets, and then even made a point to converse with them.  During other times we'd go out and about, we'd walk into a store to look around at the merchandise, and he'd strike up conversation with the employees.

And he definitely enjoys spending time with friends.  He was so eager to arrange visits with me in Illinois Chicagoland, even coming to visit me over the July 4th holiday last year.  And he was eager to have me come visit him in his stomping grounds in Lake County, Indiana, on a couple of occasions.  Especially since he graduated from ValpU, having the opportunity to visit with him has been a joy.

Roy is also fully capable of not taking himself too seriously.  He likes putting on little "acts", even dancing to techno music, and talking about going to the discotec.  Once, when he came with me to the Oak Park Conservatory, he started dancing around "techno"-style with one of the birds there, Sara, who enjoys dancing.  He likes other modern music styles, too.  And he also imitates people like Barney Fife, with his high-pitched voice, and even likes to imitate me.  He also has a fondness for using expressions like, "Keep it kosherific", to indicate, "Be well".

What a friend I have in Roy.  And I am delighted to offer tribute to him as he reaches the quarter-century mark.  The world is a better place because of him, and certainly my life is more meaningful because of his presence in it.

Roy is to the right of me in the picture, in a Japanese-style outfit.