Changing of the "Gubernatorial" Guard

A new era of sorts has begun for the state of Illinois this month with the inauguration of Bruce Rauner as the new governor.

While I was unable to take in it live because I was at work, I did catch parts of the inauguration on aired on WGN that I taped.  (It's unfortunate that the majority of the coverage of the Illinois constitutional officers inauguration was limited to live internet streaming and cable channels.  These inaugurations are a big deal in the workings of our government, and should be more easily accessible to people on regular TV.)

The newly-inaugurated Governor Rauner gave a great inaugural address, truly speaking to the unsatisfactory condition Illinois is currently in, and rallying people in the hope that it's in our power to make Illinois great again.  The one word that stood out to me from this address was "sacrifice".  Governor Rauner said all parties involved, government officials and citizens, must be willing to sacrifice to make Illinois prosper again.  That word definitely speaks to the reality of the hard work ahead, the kind of efforts that make for lasting results.

But before diving too deeply into the hard work, there was quite a celebration to be had, as Oak Park Township Republican Committeeman Linda Tibensky writes about so well in this piece.

And so we bid farewell to Governor Pat Quinn, who has returned to life as a private citizen, which I feel will suite him well.  In many ways, he doesn't make for an effective government official, but his personality makes him a great neighbor, someone you'd enjoy having around on the block, like one Chicago Tribune columnist I read put it.

There were a few instances where I witnessed him as a person of the neighborhood, showing up at Ascension Parish in Oak Park from time to time, for example, for Ascension School's Centennial Year OPening Celebration, at some of the Triduum liturgies back in 2013, and at Mass one Sunday in May 2013 when I got this picture with him:

Now it's time to leave the ineffective Quinn years behind, which were exacerbated by the way Pat Quinn didn't take lightly his defeat in the 2014 election, and then his absence at the inauguration festivities.

We're in a new age in Illinois, marching along with our fearless new leader, Governor Bruce Rauner.

SOTU Thoughts 2015

President Obama gave his annual State of the Union Address on Tuesday night.  The one thing that intrigued me was his remark that he wasn't going to list proposals in the speech, but speak to the values that should drive everything done to make this country great by allowing its people to prosper.

He gave a picture of the many positive developments that have occurred in the United States in the past decade.  And he made a number of proposals, in a general sense, of fostering continued prosperity in our country, and how to make this country take on the appropriate role on the world stage.

In the Republican Response, I was immediately struck by how Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), who was only seated a couple of weeks ago, right at the start of her speech, said she wasn't going to offer a rebuttal to President Obama's address, but lay out the agenda for the Republican Congress that the people elected, an agenda which the people gave a mandate for.  Of course, we have to bear in mind the Republican-controlled Congress was the result of people voting in elections in particular circumstances/localities across the United States, which resulted in the Republicans gaining control of Congress.  So it's not like the electorate as a whole elected a Republican Congress.  Nevertheless, her approach was good because it focused on the priorities of the electorate, and using that as a driving force, not simply partisanship.  She, like President Obama, laid out a vision for how to help the people prosper.

President Obama certainly made a great number of talking points that sound good, but they don't seem consistent with the policies and style of leadership he's shown over the past six years since he became President.

Ultimately, what prosperity comes down to in this country is what he talked about at the beginning of the speech: people, like Rebekah Erler, working hard to live a good life.  And the government's role should be helping to facilitate people's success, with appropriate action, not burdening overreach with policies.

Furthermore, President Obama keeps insisting that we "do it" in regard to various ideas like raising the minimum wage and providing other services, while all along, he's tried to do things too much his own way instead of engaging in the important discussions on these issues to sort through all the facets, and then the collaborative work that makes good policies to facilitate prosperity.

I was also troubled by the vision that drives him, namely in the way he lauded how the majority of states now recognize homosexual marriage, and the way he addressed abortion in his speech.  But Senator Ernst laid out a vision that we should protect and defend all life, especially the most vulnerable among us.

So, as often happens in politics, there was a lot of good talk.  Now, it's time for us to all come together to sort through the issues collaboratively and then take the action that will make the people of the United States prosper.

Marching for Life Version 2015

What a great experience the March for Life Chicago was today, my second time participating.  So far as I can tell, an even larger crowd came out for this year's March than last year.  (P.S. The sign I used last year I used again for this year's event.  Please follow the link to see a picture of it at the bottom of the blog post I wrote for last year's March.)

Of course, the reason we gather is because of the grim anniversary of when abortion was legalized by the Roe v. Wade decision, as for those who gather later this week in Washington, D.C., on the actual anniversary.  Yet there was such positive energy running through the crowd gathered, because we shared a common conviction that life is sacred, and determination to respect and defend life, starting from the moment of conception.  It was great to share this experience with the many thousands there, and with my Dad, and one of his friends we met up with, too.

Yet there was another important theme running through the remarks offered by various people, especially dignitaries such as Archbishop Blase Cupich and Dr. Erwin Lutzer, senior pastor of the Moody Church.  In addition to defending and respecting the life of the unborn, we must also come alongside the mothers of the unborn, to support them in their brokenness and great need.  By showing them love, in the Spirit of Divine Love, we ultimately conquer the culture of death and promote a culture of life.  The reality of that culture of death was evident in the pro-abortion demonstrators who stood alongside Randolph Street as the large March crowd passed.

This is the cause to which we commit ourselves in the year ahead: ending abortion, and promoting a culture of life, so that people don't feel compelled to turn to abortion, as we fully embrace the dignity of all human life.

I feel that this March aptly coincided with Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.  The cause of defending the unborn fits well in his legacy, because it is about respecting life, which is the first of the three unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence we hold dear as Americans.

Indeed, all lives matter.

Here is Archbishop Cupich addressing the crowd.  (See the center, beneath the sign reading, "Women Deserve Better than Abortion". ) This was my first opportunity to see Archbishop Cupich in person.

The March crowd heading north on Dearborn Street from Federal Plaza to the Thompson Center.

Dale and Donald

It's a momentous day for the Roman Catholic faithful in northwest Indiana as Donald Hying is installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Gary, and Dale Melczek heads into retirement.  (I notice that among those listed as present for the Installation Mass in the program is Cardinal George, Archbishop Emeritus of Chicago, the first instance I've seen of his activity in retirement.)

I take note of this installation having attended St. Teresa of Avila (Roman) Catholic Student Center in Valparaiso, a church community in the Diocese of Gary, during my time as a student at Valparaiso University.

It was a pleasure having the opportunity to experience the ministry and spirituality of Dale Melczek on five different occasions--and personally speaking with him on three of those.  He is the first sitting US diocesan bishop I've met outside the Archdiocese of Chicago.  The first time I met him was after the Confirmation Mass at St. Teresa's back on October 15, 2010, which was also the 5-year anniversary of my Confirmation.  Father Kevin at St. Teresa's introduced me to Bishop Melczek that day.  It was momentous for me to finally meet him, after a year of hearing the priest invoke his name, "Dale" during the Eucharistic prayer at Mass.

Two months later, at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary, I saw him preside over the Ordination Mass for Father Ted Mauch, who was assigned to serve as a deacon at St. Teresa's in the months leading right up to his ordination.  (Now Father Ted and all the other diocesan priests continue their vow of obedience to Bishop Melczek's successor.)

A few days later that same month, Bishop Melczek celebrated Mass at St. Teresa's on Gaudete Sunday, and right afterwards, dedicated and blessed the New Ministry Life Center addition to the St. Teresa's property.  (And to think he made the effort to come out on a day of a significant snow event!)

A half-year later, I was in attendance when he presided over a Mass at the Cathedral in Gary for the ordination of several deacons, including Deacon Bob at St. Teresa's.

And then, the most recent time I saw him was when he celebrated a Red Mass at St. Teresa's in October 2011.  (Before all these meetings, when I attended a Kairos Retreat during my freshman year at ValpU, he wrote a letter of encouragement and affirmation that was read to us during the retreat.)

At each of these Masses, he did a superb job with his homily.  He took the occasion at hand and put it in the context of salvation history, and then put in the context of how we live out our faith in our own lives at present.  Indeed, he truly encouraged us to live out our faith, the same faith of our ancestors who looked to God to empower them, as He has for His people throughout the ages.

Now the people of the Diocese of Gary have the opportunity to experience the ministry of Donald Hying.  I've read a few things about him:  He's served as pastor of various parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, as well as that Archdiocese's parish in the Dominican Republic, and in roles at the seminary there, all before becoming Auxiliary Bishop.  He certainly brings with him a variety of experiences, and with different groups of people--his experiences in the Dominican Republic surely will allow him to engage well with the sizable Hispanic population in the Diocese.  He's sure to be pastoral and people-oriented, which shall serve him well among the diverse people groups in the Diocese of Gary.

So God Bless and Godspeed to Bishop Donald Hying as he takes the reigns and as Dale Melczek settles into his new role as Bishop Emeritus.

Gifts: Magi and me

One of the customs on the occasion of the Lord's Nativity is to give gifts to each other.

A custom that Father Larry, Pastor of Ascension Parish, has on Epiphany Sunday is to share about the gifts he received on the Lord's Nativity, and relate them to the significance of the gifts the Magi brought the Christ Child.

The gold was given to acclaim Jesus as King.  The frankincense recognizes He is a priest, with the purpose (or vocation) of bringing us to God.  The myrrh honors the sacrifice Jesus makes in His humanity for the sins of all people.

I like how Father Larry brings spiritual significance to his gifts.  In that spirit, and with his custom as a guide, I here reflect on gifts I gave and received in celebration of Christ's Birth.

Please note: I don't present an exhaustive list of all my gifts here.  Rather, I am selecting one specific gift that pertains to each of the Magi's gifts, but certainly many other gifts I gave and received could fit with the categories represented by each of the Magi's gifts, as there were many wonderful gifts exchanged.

Gifts I Gave
Gold: I found a really nice sweater at Kohl's for my Mom, in a style that she really likes.  My Mom opened this gift with delight, and is still enjoying this sweater that makes her look good.

Frankincense: My Grandma incorporates Mary strongly into her sense of spirituality and practice of faith in God.  So I decided a calendar of Mary paintings from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception would be a wonderful gift for her.  She was pleased to receive it, and right away was admiring the beautiful artwork of Mary for each month's page.

Myrrh: My Dad enjoys nuts of all kinds, so I gave him some as a nutritious snack.

Gifts I Received
Gold: Upon this one day, I found myself with a whole collection of bolo ties.  Four different people in my family, aware of my desire for bolo ties, each bought me one.  Now I have a variety of choices to add to my look.

Frankincense: Once again, like last year, I was touched to receive gifts in recognition of my efforts as RE teacher, from some of my students and from the program leadership, too.

Myrrh: I like wearing cargo jeans, with the side pockets.  Mom got a new pair for me.  So I have a nice new pair of jeans to wear as part of my daily life heading out into this new year.


As we ponder the gifts we have given and received, let us rejoice and give thanks that all these gifts are given meaning because of Jesus Christ, God's Greatest Gift to us.

20+C+M+B+15

(The above is something that is written above the door to the house on the occasion of Epiphany.  The 20 and 15 signify the year 2015.  The letters stand for the traditional names for the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.  The four crosses represent the four seasons.)

The Grapes of Anticipation 2015

New Year's Greetings!

With the start of 2015 comes the sense of encountering once again a blank slate.  Yet I already am anticipating things that will fill it up, and so share them here now.  Having reflected on 2014 in accordance to the guide that the 12 grapes custom provides, I now look ahead to the new year of 2015 in like manner.

Grape #1: In light of the brutal conditions of last winter, I'm intrigued to see what will happen with this winter, heading in 2015.  There are indications that a weak El Niño event is occurring, which means milder conditions for the Central US.  From what I've come across, we should expect minimal snow, and average, or maybe slightly above average, temperatures for this winter.  But there are other factors in place that could change that, so I'll be on the look out to see how this all plays out.

Grape #2: I am looking forward to the advances I make in my career, after having spent this past year building valuable work experience.

Grape #3: I hope to read many more books, especially on historical subjects.

Grape #4: I eagerly await the milestone birthdays that will be occurring in my own family, notably involving the two sets of twins I'm most closely related to, with both twins in one of the sets marking significant advances in their own careers this year.

Grape #5: There are some other milestones I'm looking forward to:  The 150-Year Anniversary of the end of the Sectional War come April, and all the attendant commemoration activities.  I also look forward to marking 5 years since the debut of The Land and the Book, a wonderful Moody Radio program.

Grape #6: I look forward to seeing what Bruce Rauner will do upon taking office as Governor of Illinois come January 12.

Grape #7: Local elections are coming up, and I'm eager to get involved in the important conversations that take place when it comes to local issues.

Grape #8: I hope to continue exploring those fascinating little sites that abound in Chicagoland.  To this end, I am definitely aiming to enjoy lots of great bike rides around the area.

Grape #9: I am very excited about Pope Francis's trip to the United States in September, which takes me back to the excitement of when Benedict XVI made a trip to the US back in 2008.

Grape #10: I look forward to following the work Archbishop Cupich does, and what Cardinal George does in retirement.  I also will be closely following the coming change in pastors at Ascension Parish.  Plus, the Diocese of Gary is getting a new bishop, and I'm sure to keep up with what will be going on there under his leadership.

Grape #11: I look forward to marking 10 years since two important defining events in my life:  The first is my graduation from Percy Julian Middle School on June 8.  From my vantage point nearly a decade after becoming an alumnus, I can see that my time at Julian was an amazing experience like no other, giving me an academic environment in which I flourished, opportunities to express myself and my interests, and profoundly shaping me into the person I have become.  The second event is my Confirmation in October, which occurred a few months after graduating from Julian.  This was a pivotal event in my life of faith, whose impact is present with me as I live out my faith to this very day.

Grape #12: I am ready and eager to continue making much of the empowerment I received from the formative experiences of my Julian days and my Confirmation.  In this new year, I shall look to continue making an impact on the world by serving others, being a patriot, and making God's presence known to others, especially in guiding young people along in their own journeys of faith.

Indeed, since those profound days in my middle school years, I have always sought after a higher purpose as a guiding force in my life.  So I go forth into this fresh new year of 2015 ready to give myself once again to these purposes, which I know allows me to live the good life in God.

May you have a joyous new year, living it out with purpose.