Good Friday

I wonder why they call this day "good." If they asked for a new name, I am sure people might suggest "Holy Friday" or "Passion Friday" or even "Sad Friday." Those are more apt to the feelings and senitments of the events we recall. Still ... Good is good. I'd like to say a little bit about Good Friday and a little something about this painting by Nicholas Tournier which I saw in the Louvre last year. Included here at the foot of the Cross are Mary, John, the Magdalene, and St. Vincent de Paul. Are you somewhere in the scene as well? Where?

What You're Doing

Happy St. Patrick's Day.
I had a great feast today and one of my goals was to write a blog on March 17 and post the various things I've been up to. But it is going to turn midnight any second, so I better post this now (so I can accomplish my goals) and I'll tell you what I've been doing later. God bless you. And St. Patrick ... pray for us.

I'm A Loser

Question: Is there an appropriate Scripture for those defeated in Super Bowl LXI?

Answer: Well sure … check out Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, where “BEARS” are mentioned by name.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, nor pompous. It is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love BEARS all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor 13:4-7)

Sounds like St. Paul is telling to “Wait til next year!” ___________________________________________

Meanwhile, let me just pass on Birthday Greetings (Feburary 15) to the best mother in the whole world. When he wrote those words about LOVE, St. Paul was actually describing OUR MOM. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Now that kind o’ love should definitely keep us warm during these chilly days of mid February. In her eyes, everyone's a winner.
We love you Mom.

It Won't Be Long

CHICAGO BEARS !
2006 SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
Ok, I have never been that big a football fan; in fact it is my least favorite sport (next to Zurkhaneh and Zorbing). But Chicago has caught the SuperBowl fever and we are all for Lovey Smith, who has had a remarkable season. In any case, one cool thing about this year's battle is that we here in the Jesuits are calling it a "Chicago Province Super Bowl" because it includes two of the major apostolic cities in our 4-state province: Chicago vs. Indianapolis.

As for me, I plan to watch the Bears win from my living room here at the Jesuit community at Loyola Chicago where we will have a rather hefty Super Bowl Bash going on. To be fair, I plan to travel to Indianapolis the very next morning, to console the defeated. Isn't that one of the spiritual works of mercy?

Which brings me to the next question: what Beatle song title will I use to commemorate a Bears victory? It remains to be seen.

Julia

Some may be wondering where I am these holidays and what I’m up to. So, I will try to enter a few words as events unfold. Friday December 22 I drove seven hours from Chicago to St. Paul to visit my friend Julia Hobday and her family. Here is a picture of Julia, Hud, Tommy, and Lily. The last time I saw Lily was when I baptized her. She didn’t remember me from back then. We ordered out Thai food and then I hugged them all goodbye and drove to Inver Grove Heights, MN to visit my sister Jane and her family. That post is next.

I Call Your Name

`Tis the season, and many folks are showing up to my BLOGSPOT wondering where I am these days. Well, I do have a new home address, having moved last June to Loyola University Chicago. That mailing address is: Arrupe House Jesuit Community, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626. But I also have a very fine and more dependable address at the central offices of the Chicago Province Jesuits. We are at: 2050 No. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614. Both addresses work fine; the latter gets to me faster. I would put my cell phone number here on this blog, but I don't want a ton of crank calls especially from those "Anonymous Callers" (inside joke). If you really need to call, you can see my phone number at the website for my new job: http://www.jesuits-chi.org/vocations/index.htm
I know, I know. That picture is a bit "much." I am working on getting a new one put in there. But the new ministry as director of vocations for the Chicago Jesuits is going well. I would ask you to continue prayers for vocations, as many gifted and talented young men don't even consider that the Lord invites them to walk with Him as priests in the service of the Gospel. May these holidays help guys find a way to listen more clearly to His call. Blessings on everyone who reads this, and maybe I can be more attentive to these posts during the new year.
Gratia vobis et pax a Deo Patre nostro et Domino Iesu Christo.

Your Mother Should Know

On one occassion in 2006, I had the pleasure to track down and visit with my old pal Sioux. I hadn't heard from her since we last uttered, "Mishyameenit." Both of us being a "seven" meant that we needed to keep in touch in order for good times to roll. So, I called her up and found out that she is OK and living with her lovely Mom, Rosemary. They both hit some hard times, but the Good Lord kept them in His care. I visited these two ladies and had a wonderful time catching up and smiling. Above is a picture of Sioux and her "Mama" both in good spirits. Later this year we also met up at St. Clement's and shared a time of joy with our buddy Gerry and the memory of his late mom. It was good to get reunited with Sioux and find out that she knows "Paris" -- almost as well as Gerry and I know Paris. So, I thought I would insert a shot of me in front of the Eiffel Tower. That is a gesture of congratulations to the two lovebirds: Paris and Molly. God bless you both.
May 2007 bring joy and peace to all of us.
And to quote Mary Richards, "Thank you ... Mama."