On the Air and to the World for 25 Years

I constantly listen to Relevant Radio, and so I am delighted to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.  Today, December 12, marks the 25th anniversary of when the station received its first license. Since it's the Feast of La Señora de Guadalupe, she is a patroness saint of Relevant Radio.

I've listened at least some of all the programs.  The program I tend to listen to the most is Morning Air.  Typically, I download archived programs and listen during my commutes.  As I head to work in the morning, it's uplifting to hear the exuberant Morning Air jingle begin and then "Wake up, America! It's Morning Air..."  John, Glenn, and Sarah all have a good time hosting the show, and I can feel it papably, in the light-hearted and the profound moments.  One of their regular guests is Mary Hallan FioRito, who offers great commentary on the latest pro-life news.  Another frequent guest is the baseball priest, Father Burke Masters, who offers great perspective on the spiritual life.  They also have guests talk about saints on their feast days and special liturgical occasions.  I like hearing Sarah talk about life as a mom with her multiple children.

The Cale Clarke Show was another favorite of mine, and before his show, I liked listening to Sheila Liaugminas.  It's great whenever either of them makes a guest appearance.

The Inner Life has great content focusing on topics in the spiritual life, like evangelization or the current liturgical season like Advent.

Drew Mariani has a great variety of guests who talk about spiritual topics and also current events from a spiritual perspective.  I appreciate how he hosts a live daily Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer time, with an opportunity for people to call in with prayer requests, which I've done a couple of times. Later in the day, there's the Family Rosary Across America.

Timmerie is very bold in addressing big topics in society today, like human sexuality, and she even had a great segment recently on why the Catholic Church doesn't ordain female priests, in response to the news of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.  On another recent program, on Thanksgiving Eve, she offered thoughtful commentary on Thanksgiving day in the USA, going back to Thanksgiving celebrations that Spanish expedition parties held.

Patrick Madrid is pretty bold in upholding the faith, too, while also speaking in a pastoral way.

Relevant Radio has also expanded beyond radio with wonderful videos on Eucharistic Encounters, Lenten Lessons on the Mass, and Lenten Lessons on the Sacrament.  They also have a great app, which I use weekly to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet on Friday afternoons.

It was an amazing experience to see Relevant Radio at the National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024.

There's so much to celebrate as Relevant Radio marks its 25th anniversary today.  It has been faithful in living out the Great Commission by using media to catechize the faithful and uphold the Truth, especially as it's realized in our society today.

Congratulations Relevant Radio!  And God's blessings!

Relevant Radio Session at the NEC

A fellow NEC pilgrim photographed me at the Relevant Radio signage in the room for the session.

Here's the Relevant Radio broadcasting booth at the NEC, with Timmerie on air.

Keeping in the Loop and in the Public Square

Throughout my life, I've come to recognize the importance of putting faith into action.  That's why the mission of Catholic Vote resonates with me, because they are focused on helping Catholics put faith into action in the public square since they started 20 years ago.

As part of this work, Catholic Vote hosts the Loopcast program, typically on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11 AM ET/10 AM CT, live on YouTube.  It has quickly become one of my favorite podcasts, and I listen to it all the time.  Generally speaking, listening to it makes me feel so good about life.  The regular hosts, Erika, Tom, and Josh, always have thoughtful conversations about topics about current events in the USA and in the Roman Catholic Church.  The live program has a chat that's fairly active with many regulars consistently participating.

To highlight the program's content, this past Monday's episode started with a discussion on the Supreme Court's decision to take up the case about birthright citizenship. There was thoughtful discussion about the origins of birthright citizenship and then putting it in the context of the broader immigration discussion. Catholic Vote issued a great document in how to best approach immigration from a Catholic moral perspective.  Then there was a segment on the change in vaccine schedule, and Erika made it clear that from the birth of her first child nearly 20 years ago to the birth of her youngest, there's been quite a change in required vaccines.   From there, the conversation touched on the broader idea of how to promote family life by empowering parents to provide for their children as the highest good in society.  It surfaced again when they shared the announcement that Catholic Vote President Kelsey Reinhardt is now expecting a child.  (They did a full Loopcast program talking with her a few months ago.)  And empowering the family even surfaced when Tom talked about the likelihood that Kei cars will make a comeback.  Kei cars led to a discussion on the Station Wagon that largely disappeared from society because of fuel efficiency standards, and a lament that families who want to have many children have ceased to have the option of a Station Wagon available due to fuel efficiency standards, leaving them compelled to get SUVs to have sufficient space for child car seats.

Their ideas of how to build a strong society have led them to adamantly support Donald Trump.  They constantly talk about "This is what I voted for", even to the point of acknowledging how great it is that President Trump is bold.  I haven't found myself that enthusiastic about Donald Trump as a whole, but I agree with the hosts about how he had the right ideas on many issues, especially the reality of two genders.

The three hosts also have so much fun on the show, even at times when they have divergent views on a topic, and the anecdotes they share in the Good News segment and the Twilight Zone segment.  Tom actually started the podcast back in 2022, and it's amazing to see what it's become.  Indeed, it's a great tool that encourages me to understand how to put the principles of faith into action in the public square.

This program is something that I wish had been available to me back in middle school when my faith flourished and led me to shape my stance on sociopolitical issues, the point in my life when I started leaning toward the Republican Party.  Sensing that candidates like John Kerry wouldn't uphold the Church's teachings on abortion and marriage, I favored George W. Bush.  It's sometimes jarring when the hosts on the Loopcast criticize George W. Bush, even though their points have merit, especially when they say he was convinced to launch wars in the Middle East that weren't entirely moral and only supported the military-industrial complex.  They also indicate President Bush was actually weak on the issues of life and marriage, making statements on the campaign trail that never resulted in much action when he was in office.  Often they talk about neo-conservatives, especially Josh, which is something I don't understand too much because I was rather young at the time when neoconservatives held sway in politics.

Of course, as much as they favor Donald Trump, they are also quick to criticize him, especially for his support for IVF.  They also expressed concerns about how he is implementing tariff policies, which led Erika to express deflating enthusiasm for President Trump.

With all that said, generally speaking, the Loopcast makes me feel so much better about life, especially because of the way the hosts adamantly speak about the Church's teachings and how they should apply in life.  Sometimes, they take a step back from the latest headlines and consider broad topics, like on the program the day before Thanksgiving Day, on how to dialogue with those who disagree with these viewpoints.  They also had great conversations back on My 23 with guests attending the Courage on Fire Gala in Nashville--and all three hosts were together, when normally, they're in different locations.

The show has a great sense of community with the hosts and the live chat.  I felt it especially in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination.  The episode on September 12 was a good opportunity to commiserate and process the tragedy.  It's also wonderful to experience a sense of community when it comes to religious holidays like the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  On September 3, I mentioned the anniversary of the Treaty of Paris 1783, and the three hosts started talking about it when they saw how much it was mentioned in the chat.

I even got a mention from Tom.  I sent an email about when I sat by US Representative Rosa DeLauro on Amtrak Acela First Class.  When Erika mentioned her in the Twilight Zone segment during a June episode, as Erika lives in Representative DeLauro's district based in New Haven, CT, Tom jumped in to share about my email.  (You can go directly to that part of the episode and watch for about 3 minutes, until Erika switches to a topic about New York's government.)

That's one instance of the many good times on the Loopcast.  In fact, whenever I tune in to the Loopcast, I'm so confident that the content will be great that I usually hit the Like button on YouTube before the episode even starts.

Tom, Erika, and Josh have done well in shaping such a great tool of Catholic Vote.  

A Big Congratulations to Catholic Vote on your 20th Anniversary.

I look forward to going forward alongside you to uphold the Truths of faith and the teachings of Holy Mother Church in our society.

21 for Illinois at 207: Pope Leo XIV

Happy Birthday Illinois!

As we party like it's 1818 all over again, I shine the spotlight on one of the most prominent native sons of Illinois who has now wound up at the Vatican: Pope Leo XIV (#1).

He was born Robert Prevost at Mercy Hospital (#2) in Chicago.  He grew up in Dolton (#3) at a home (#4) on 141st Place.  He attended St. Mary of the Assumption Church (#5) in nearby Riverdale (#6), which is now part of Christ our Savior Parish (#7) in South Holland (#8).

He had teaching roles at Mendel Catholic Prep High School (#9) and St. Rita of Cascia High School (#10).

For a time, he served in leadership roles in the Augustinian Province of "Mother of Good Counsel" in Olympia Fields, IL (#11).

He greatly enjoys Aurelio's Pizza (#12).  In the two years before his election as Pope, he went to the Homewood Aurelio's (#13) with a group.  The room where he ate now has a special display for him, including a Pope's chair, (#14) and the restaurant serves Poperoni pizza (#15), featuring his favorite topping, pepperoni.

By the way, as an aside, I have to note the wonderful viewing platform (#16) near Aurelio's in Homewood, which is a great place to watch the trains pass.

The Archdiocese of Chicago hosted a special celebration for Pope Leo XIV (#17) at Guaranteed Rate Field on Saturday, June 14, 2025.  Among the performers was the Leo High School Choir (#18), who made it to the finals of America's Got Talent.  On June 14, they sang, "Every Praise is to Our God".

Also present was a group of students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy who did a mock conclave (#19).

The emcee of the event was Chuck Swirsky (#20), an announcer for the Chicago Bulls and a Holy Name Cathedral parishioner.

At the event, Pope Leo XIV gave his first address to a US audience (#21), which was an incredible experience to witness, and say, "I was there".  (You can read more about my attendance at the June 14, my visit to the sites of his life in the South Suburbs, and some of my thoughts on Pope Leo XIV in general in this post I made on his birthday.)

Here's Pope Leo XIV as his address is broadcast in Guaranteed Rate Field.

Yes, celebrating Illinois's Statehood on its birthday touch has extra exuberance as we celebrate Robert Prevost's journey to the Chair of St. Peter as Pope Leo XIV, and marvel at the places that shaped him that are here in Illinois.

Follow-up: Oak Park Farmers' Market

As I celebrate 33 years in Oak Park during this Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, I know that the Oak Park Farmers' Market is one of many reasons for me to celebrate.  Since it concluded its 50th Season on October 25, it's fitting to follow-up from my previous post from September.

I enjoyed more of the bake sales, including the OPRFHS Female Cross-Country Team, since I've had former students on that team over the years, including this year.  The bake sales were a great way to support many organizations in the community, all the way up to the final day, when it was the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory.

Each week, I continued to see at least one person I know at the Market.  I'm not sure if I've noticed that in previous seasons, so I was glad it happened this year, and I could appreciate the community dimension of the market.

For many years, I liked going to the market to buy a pumpkin that I carved for All Saints Eve.

As we headed deep into autumn, it was delightful to buy from an abundant variety of apples, especially at Walter Skibbe's stand.

Other produce I enjoyed from the market included zucchini, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

I cut up and cooked a zucchini in the crockpot with a roast.

Toward the end of the season, I made sure to stock up on microwaveable popcorn.

One week, Mom and I went, and I made a point to linger for at least a couple of minutes to enjoy the folk band's music.

For the final day, I got in line to enjoy stone soup, a representation of the abundance at the market.

Indeed, throughout the weeks of the market, there was a bounty of farm goods and savoring of community connections.

Well done, Farmers' Market.  Congratulations on, and thanks for, this wonderful 50th Season.  I look forward to shopping again in May.

Besides my lunch, here on the table is a snapshot of what Mom and I bought at the Oak Park Farmers' Market one week. 

Dear 1036 Clarence: The Delights of Where I Began

Dearly Beloved 1036 Clarence,

I am overjoyed to once again celebrate the anniversary of the day my family came to you.

I still consider you the place where I came into existence.

It has been a joy to bring others to experience you.

When it was time for Thanksgiving Break week 15 years ago, I came home with my longtime roommate Zach, who spent the night.  For sure, I was overjoyed to be coming back home to you.  With each step of the journey, starting with the South Shore Line ride to the Blue Line ride to the walk from the Oak Park Avenue Station, it was special to feel the anticipation build because it would be a whole new type of homecoming as Zach accompanied me.  Once home, we had a nice meal, and we were able to really relax after a week with a large workload.

My other friends followed in making their visits, Richard, Tyler, Roy, and Matthew.  It was also memorable when Roy came to stay with Rogenique during the New Year's Holiday 2022 after we three attended Heather and Zach's wedding.

Over the course of the years, as the seasons passed and I was in different stages of life, I rejoiced in how you held such special meaning.

I'm glad to say that my special experiences have continued.  As is my custom, when I go to Ascension Church, I park right by you and walk there.  As I left RE class one evening earlier this month, I reached Avila where I parked her.  I saw Jim, one of the neighbors, emerge and say he was looking for the aurora borealis. I looked toward the west, and I was amazed to see a red glow in the night sky.

The color red reminds me of the vibrant red color of the tree out in front every autumn.  First, the leaves would change and then a red carpet would appear on the ground around it.  When I marked the 15th anniversary of my Confirmation in 2020, the red color suited my mood in celebrating the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit in my life, and the joy of God's presence.

I felt God's presence manifest in so many special ways inside of you.

That's why I continue to be convinced that I'm not just lucky, I'm blessed!

Truly you shall not fade into the background but remain deep in my heart as that dearly beloved place.

We remain connected:

All my relations.

God's blessings,

Paul

Lord God, I come before you with a heart filled with joyful Thanksgiving for the gift of 1036 Clarence Avenue.  The joy transcends those years and continues to stir my heart. It continues to be a gift that keeps on giving, an impact that outlasts Mom and Dad's decision for our family to live in you 33 years ago.  I am grateful for their decision.  And I bless, praise, and magnify You, O God, the Source of all Goodness. Amen.

Joyful, Joyful, we adore You, Lord.

Thanksgiving Thoughts 2025

I'm stirred profoundly in the heart on this Thanksgiving Day because there's so much about this celebration that touches what is most valuable.  As I read the words of President Washington's and President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamations, I notice a major theme of language that calls the people of the USA to recognize the goodness and blessings around us.

I think about all my travels this year, and how I've been able to connect in new ways with this wonderful country, especially while onboard Amtrak.  One place I went for the first time was Boston, in a region that has contributed so much to the story of the USA, particularly with the way that the colony of Plymouth has figured so prominently into the narrative of the Thanksgiving celebration.

Yet there was a Thanksgiving celebration that happened on these shores long before 1620.  When Spanish settlers founded St. Augustine, Florida, the first permanent European settlement in North America, they celebrated Mass.  At its heart is the Eucharist from a Greek word for Thanksgiving.  In that light, I see strong spiritual overtones in this holiday that is a regular part of my life.  Every time I attend Mass, I think of what I'm thankful for and use it as an opportunity to offer those thanksgivings to God, to uplift my spirits in all circumstances.

One person who helped foster devotion to the Eucharist was St. Carlo Acutis.  He was so devout, going to Mass on a daily basis. He even created a website showcasing Eucharistic miracles throughout the world.  It was a joyful day when he was canonized on September 7.  His story resonates so much with me for many reasons, including that we were born in the same calendar year.

In recent years, I've felt drawn to and embraced the power of what is uplifting.  One great recent example was this past Friday morning. I woke up feeling tired, and then I saw an email from Relevant Radio about the upcoming live audience with Pope Leo XIV at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, which was livestreamed.

As I tuned in, I felt so uplifted hearing this conversation between 5 teens selected for the honor of asking Pope Leo XIV a question and the wonderful insights Pope Leo offered them, which spoke to me.  And I thought of what an honor it was for those teens to have such an incredible opportunity with the first US-born Pope.

God is truly alive, at work to bring us Abundant Life in all our circumstances.  So all the time, we constantly have reason to give thanks.

Word on Fire, Ablaze for 25 Years

Today is Bishop Robert Barron's birthday.  It's particularly special to celebrate him as this year marks the 25th anniversary of Word on Fire, the organization he founded.

I watched a mini-documentary about Word on Fire's origins that was released on October 1, the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, who is a patron of the organization.  Cardinal George heard the call of Pope St. John Paul II to launch a new evangelization.  He recognized the gifts of then-Father Barron, and tapped him to spearhead the work of the New Evangelization.

Something Bishop Barron said in recent months speaks to the nature of Word on Fire.  He says that the Church should move beyond functions inside church buildings and go out to where people are.  He started by broadcasting homilies on the radio.  Now, Word on Fire has become a huge media-driven organization,  providing stellar resources to proclaim the faith in print and oline.  One great example, among the many books from Word on Fire, is the one on the Eucharist.  Its YouTube channel lots of great content.  There's also the Word on Fire program with stimulating discussions.   Bishop Barron hosts interviews with many people to talk about principles of faith.  One I recently listened to was with Rabbi Soloveichik, a fellow member of a presidential committee on religious freedom.  And he offers a weekly homily, which deeply emphasizes the truths of faith and how they should impact us.  He offer makes a remark saying, "Fellow sinners", noting that there are times when we don't live up to the call of living faithfully.  He also draws principles from the readings that summons us to strive deeply for what matters most in life, like loving as willing the good of the other.  He has a truly gifted mind, and this occasions gives us so much to celebrate.

It's a ministry that continues the call of Pope St. John Paul II and Cardinal George.  IT's great that Bishop Barron is visionary in launching a Word on Fire Order that will continue this work into the future, so the Church can continue to answer the call to boldly proclaim the faith.

I saw Bishop Barron speak in person at the National Eucharistic Congress before 50000 people inside Lucas Oil Stadium on July 20, 2024.  When he came out on the stage, people spontaneously gave him a standing ovation.  After a powerful talk on what chastity, obedience, and poverty for all of us, he intended to quote St. Catherine of Siena's attributed statement, "Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire."  Instead, he slipped, and said "...you will set the Word on Fire".

Perhaps that slip speaks to the impact of how Word on Fire has helped people to be who God meant them to be and set the world on fire.

Happy Birthday Bishop Barron!

Congratulations and God's Blessing to Word on Fire!

Bishop Barron at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress

A Capitol Milestone

It was 225 years ago when the US Congress held its first session in the US Capitol, on November 17, 1800. This milestone brings to mind my US Capitol experiences.

My family visited when I was in 2nd grade on Spring Break, and I remember the rotunda was so large and full of artwork.  When we visited again on July 26, 2011, we had a guided tour led by the staff of Representative Danny Davis's Office.  At that age, I could appreciate the experience more, and we went more in-depth.  We started at his office in the Rayburn House Office Building, and then went through an underground passageway into the Capitol Visitors' Center, which had a great museum.

In the lower level, we all stood at the spot that marks the center of the US Capitol and the address system for Washington, D.C.  We then went into the rotunda where I admired the artwork once more. We also saw then-Speaker John Boehner.  We walked around in other areas, including the Statuary Hall.  We even went into the House Chamber to sit in on a few minutes of the House session.

There's something magnificent about the building, the site of important government functions.  Moving beyond the fickle nature of politics today, it's amazing to simply marvel at the bulding itself and appreciate what it says about who we are.

Dear Bishop Kane

In celebrating the 20th anniversary of my Confirmation one month ago, I can reflect back on 20 years and see how much of an impact it had on me.  One of the best early examples was when my first-year high school literature teacher assigned us an essay about a transformative life experience.  I quickly chose my Confirmation as the subject of that essay, and my teacher, who was a Catholic-turned-Buddhist, was pleased with what I shared.  The effects have continued all the way to accompanying youths at my home parish today in preparing for Confirmation.

One of the tasks they have is to write a letter to the Bishop on why they want to be confirmed.  That was not a task that was part of my Confirmation process.  Yet I know what I would have written based on my understanding of how much groundwork was done to make Confirmation an impactful experience, which I recognize now even as I did 20 years ago.

Dear Bishop Kane,

I am eager to be confirmed as a Catholic Christian.  

I grew up attending Mass with the St. Giles Family Mass community before my family switched to Ascension.  Throughout my life, I have grown to appreciate what happens at Mass, and my faith in general.

Starting as a student at Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park has made an enormous impact on me.  I went from my area in southern Oak Park to a new school in 6th grade with students from all over the Village.  We pride ourselves on diversity in Oak Park, and I saw that in a big way upon starting at Julian and meeting people from a variety of backgrounds, especially many Jewish people.  Before Julian, I knew only one Jewish person and her family.  Once I started at Julian, that number increased immensely.  As I met so many Jewish people among my new classmates, I learned more about their religion.  And then I turned inwardly to reflect on who I am as a Christian, and I began to appreciate my faith more.

I have come to enjoy the liturgical seasons.  Instead of just celebrating Christmas and Easter on single days, we have seasons before and after them to continue focusing on the rich meanings we can draw out of them.  It's wonderful to attend Mass and open ourselves up to new insights that are presented in the weeks of these special seasons.

There is so much richness in the Church, and I get to be part of it more fully as a Confirmed Catholic, and draw something from it for my day-to-day life..  Being grounded in the Church, I will live out my faith more fully in the world with great courage.

God's blessings,

Paul

Chris Stefanick and His Golden Milestone

The Feast of the Dedication of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John Lateran is a great opportunity to recognize the one and only Chris Stefanick, who turned 50 on his birthday on October 30.

I first encountered him when the Ascension Religious Education program used the Chosen curriculum for the middle school classes.  It was then that I learned he's a well-known Roman Catholic speaker, and I quickly came to understand why.  He has an energetic style as he answers the Great Commission to proclaim the Good News, and how it's truly Good News for us on a personal level.

He's at the head of Real Life Catholic.  ON a weekly basis, he releases a new video, many of which are interviews with people who present great insights on topics related to the spiritual life, like Maggie Craig on friendship.  He hosts Reboot events at parishes across the country.  I had the chance to attend one of these events in Orland Hills a few years ago and I talked with him for a moment during the event.

Last year, I heard him speak before 60000 people at the final day of the National Eucharistic Congress.  Even as he spoke before a huge crowd in Lucas Oil Stadium, I still felt that energetic style that resonated with me on a personal level.  The driving point of his message is that we're loved by God, and we're meant to grow in a relationship with Him and share this amazing reality with others.  Case in point, he lives what he preaches.

White House Milestone

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

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

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

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

Dear 1036: The Market and Confirmation Celebration at Home

Dearly Beloved 1036,

October 2025 is a special month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

We remain ever connected:

All my relations.

God's blessings,

Paul

Continued Learning in the Spirit

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

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

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

In the 20 Years with the Holy Spirit

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

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

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

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

Soon after Confirmation, I started serving as a lector.

Father Loya's Presentation at Ascension in 2007

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

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

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

The St. Augustine Mission Trip

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

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

Joining the Knights of Columbus

Attending World Youth Day 2019

Attending Real Life Catholic event with Chris Stefanick

Discovering the riches of the Theology of the Body teachings

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

The National Eucharistic Congress

Pope Leo XIV's celebration at Guaranteed Rate Field

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

My involvement with Religious Education has been an enormous blessing.

Joy in the Holy Spirit for 20 Years

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory to God!

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

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

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

Dear 1036: Pope Francis Appearances in You

Dearly Beloved 1036 Clarence,

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

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

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

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

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

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

We remain ever connected:

All my relations.

God's blessings,

With great joy, gladness, and gratitude,

Paul

The Retreat and the Encounter 20 Years Ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

50 Years of Farm Food and Community Connections

Autumnal Greetings!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's where the ears of corn were offered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Celebration of Pope Leo XIV

Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the first part of the June 14 celebration.

Looking from where I sat toward the place where Robert Prevost sat when he attended one of the 2005 World Series games.

Here's Pope Leo XIV as his address is broadcast.

The recessional at Mass

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

Inside the sanctuary of Christ our Savior Parish

Outside Christ Our Savior Parish

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

Celebratory signage

I ordered a pizza with pepperoni, ground meat, and diced tomato.

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

Celebratory signage outside the restaurant

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

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

St. Mary's, with Avila parked in front

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