From the Lamp Magazine, Issue 7, St. Rose 2021 I was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disorder manifesting as a general weakness of my voluntary muscles. Along with it comes a variety of secondary difficulties as limbs atrophy and radical sedentation becomes a lifestyle. Weakness defines my life. And that’s not a bad…
Details
I started visiting Cook County Jail in 1985 and have been going ever since. For a while I was stationed in South Chicago and couldn’t go regularly, but often enough parishioners would end up in the jail and I’d see them. When I started, the jail was pretty small… it started on 26th and California…
DetailsHace tiempo que no he hablado con un pandillero. En San Pablo en estos días, cada vez hay menos de ellos… el barrio está cambiando y se están moviendo poco a poco. De una manera extraña, eso hace que la situación sea más peligrosa. Solía ser que una pandilla controlaba un área bastante grande ……
Details
It’s been a while that I haven’t spoken with a gang member. In St. Paul these days, there are fewer and fewer of them… the neighborhood’s changing and they’re moving out little by little. In a strange way, that makes the situation more dangerous. It used to be that a gang would control a pretty…
Details
What’s in a word? Language changes. What was a common expression in 1960 or 1860 might mean something completely different in 2021. Our ways of using words and the words themselves change… partly because the world changes! After all, who could have imagined something like a “television” in 1900? We didn’t even have radios then! …
Details
Self Driving Trucks I just saw something about Amazon using self driving trucks in Alabama or somewhere. Maybe it’s true! Even if it’s not, sooner or later they’ll have them. Although I can’t imagine them navigating the 4 way stops in Pilsen! People are pretty aggressive around here at the stops, and you have…
Details
Here’s a letter I wrote when I was the pastor of Immaculate Conception in South Chicago May 2001 Dear Parishioners, In my last letter, I wrote about feeling like I had found a treasure here. I still feel that way! We have a vibrant, alive community and we are full of hope. Still,…
Details
Dia de los Muertos We are preparing an altar for Dia de los Muertos, and our mass on November 2, at 6:30 PM. You can also submit a photo for our virtual ofrenda on our website! Bring in a framed photo (photos no larger than 4X6) by Sunday, October 31stt! Fill out the form and…
Details