We have launched the voyage of Lent. Ash Wednesday reminded us of our commitment to “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” We here at Holy Family traditionally accompany the reception of ashes with a question that demands a response. This year, as usual, the answer to the question was, and is, “Yes.” The question was, and is, “Are you willing to be an instrument of hope for the world?”
Hopefully you have already noticed the word HOPE on the triangular spaces on either side of the altar. That word is a guide for us on the 40 day retreat that is Lent. You will also notice the accompanying words DARKNESS, HUMANITY and VIOLENCE. We are calling all of you to be an instrument of, and to support, Peaceful Pathways in the midst of a world that is sometimes violent, dark and very human. We believe that will lead us to HOPE.
One of the accompanying words is VIOLENCE. Another tradition here at Holy Family is to join together in support of a Lenten Social Justice Project. All of these projects have been rooted in Catholic Social Teaching. This year’s project continues that discipline, rooted in such tenants as respect for the dignity of life, solidarity, a commitment to family and community participation.
This Lent we are asking you to support life, stand in solidarity with other organizations and people steeped in violence, and make a commitment with others at Holy Family to strengthen your family and community as well as other families and communities. The intent of our Lenten support this year is Violence Prevention Initiatives and the method of doing so is through Peaceful Pathways.
We are so fortunate to be the first and only (so far) parish that is joining Cardinal Cupich’s Violence Prevention Initiative along with Catholic Charities, the City of Chicago, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and St. Sabina Parish. Sue Geegan our Director of Human Concerns, Ro Geisler, our Parish Manager, and I have been researching and discussing our participation in this initiative for several months now. We have looked into possibilities of our ability to express our commitment to the tenants of Catholic Social Teaching and support Peaceful Pathways to Violence Prevention.
The two specific programs that we are asking you to be attentive to are “Strong Futures” at St. Sabina in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on Chicago’s south side. “Strong Futures” can begin with young men playing in a basketball league, often with team mates who are in rival gangs. It provides young men with support in job training and other life skills.
The second is the “Peace Corner” run by Catholic Charities in the Austin Neighborhood on Chicago’s west side. This program provides youth with alternatives to many issues that often lead to violence. You will hear much more about these programs as Lent unfolds.
We welcome Phil Andrew to Holy Family this weekend. Phil has been appointed by Cardinal Cupich to oversee all of the Violence Prevention Initiatives in the Archdiocese. Sue, Ro and I have talked a lot with Phil recently, and he is genuinely excited to share with us some of the building blocks of both violence prevention and pathways to peace.
Phil comes to us after recently retiring from the FBI. He brings a lot of professional experience in the areas of conflict negotiation and response in the midst of stress, emergency and crisis. I could share a long list of Phil’s expertise and qualifications but, most importantly, he is enthusiastic about this very important area wide Violence Prevention Initiative. After meeting with and talking with him, I am confident that he will bring strong leadership and vision.
On a very personal level, Phil was shot in a highly unusual encounter with Laurie Dann, who had just minutes before shot several students at a school on the north shore. Phil’s family house is in the neighborhood of the school where the shooting occurred and Laurie, the shooter, fled and literally walked into Phil’s home. He and his mother negotiated with her, tried to calm her, non-violently disarmed her of several weapons, but she ultimately held one gun that she shot Phil with.
As you might imagine, this incident shaped much of his professional career as an agent of investigation and security. Please give Phil Andrew a warm Holy Family welcome as he shares his commitment to and energy around Violence Prevention Initiatives. He will be speaking at both the 9:00am and 11:00am Masses. Ro Geisler, Sue Geegan, Fr. Rich Jakubik and I will be speaking at the rest of the weekend liturgies. As has been our custom for the past six Lents, please listen to the story and the cause as it is presented during ALL of Lent and support it financially and spiritually as the Spirit moves you.