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
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