Easter is about new life! We have lots of it here at Holy Family. One manifestation of new life is that we welcome Courtney Smola to our Family and Teen Faith staff. Courtney, a parishioner since baptism, studied Health Systems Management and received an MBA from Loyola University, Chicago. After college, Courtney moved to West Virginia and served on staff of Nazareth Farm, a place that hosts many high school and college students who perform service activities. Nazareth Farm has a special place in her heart because she visited there on a Mission Trip sponsored by Holy Family. That profoundly impacted her and she then dedicated her energies and ministry to helping others experience it. Courtney will be focusing on activities for those 18-25 years of age. Give Courtney a warm Holy Family welcome when you see her.
This past weekend, Friar Johnpaul Cafiero shared the news that he will be moving from his home on the north side of Chicago to St. Peter’s downtown. He will continue his State Police Chaplain ministry, parish missions and supply help at St. Peter’s. This move will not affect his availability to be here at Holy Family where he adds so much to our liturgies with his creative and prayerful style.
The last month has been action packed with activities in our community, including our Academy. We have hosted several First Communions, Confirmations, and Baptisms, including welcoming 14 adults and 6 older children into the church. Both a highlight and a challenge for me included accompanying our Academy eighth graders to Washington, DC where I learned a lot more about history and navigated several sick students along with the other adult chaperones.
However, there are two experiences that stand out to me as a sign of our vibrant, creative spirit as well as our commitment to younger parishioners. First, our teens led us once again in the Passion Play on Good Friday. Dr. Peg Hanrahan wrote the script this year and the teens dramatically portrayed the story through the perspective of a Roman Centurion. I was once again amazed at the commitment and dedication that these teens have in leading us in prayer through drama.
The second is a new venture for our Academy, also involving the dramatic arts. The middle school put on a presentation of Shrek the Musical. Drama has been a part of HFCA’s curriculum in the past, but this was the first time the play was performed here on our campus and the first dramatic presentation to the extent of involving so many students. We thank our Principal, Kate O’Brien, Assistant Principal, Laura Clark and our Director of Teen and Family Faith, Dr. Peg for their encouragement of our young parishioners in the dramatic arts.
I have been profoundly influenced by several members of the Chicago Archdiocese priesthood ordination class of 1969. This class celebrates 50 years of ministry this spring. They include our founding Pastor, Fr. Med Laz who will celebrate his anniversary here at Holy Family on Saturday, June 1 during the 5:00pm Mass. Med’s vision and passion have laid a tremendous foundation for us here at Holy Family. Med was a deacon at my home parish, St. James in Arlington Heights during my 7th grade year. His classmate, Fr. Bill Zavaski then came to St. James as a newly ordained priest. Bill is one of my mentors and heroes in ministry and he served the parish and my family with great compassion. Bill also celebrates his 50th anniversary with a mass at St. James. Bill has been helping us with Mass on the weekends, funerals and weddings since his retirement. Please join me in congratulating both Med and Bill on so many years of service!
This is just a reminder that we will not have the 4:00pm Mass on the Sunday evenings during July. There will be no Sunday afternoon Mass on Sundays July 7, 14, 21 and 28. The 4:00pm Sunday afternoon Mass will continue on August 4.
Our Gospel passage from John this weekend is a scene from before Jesus suffered and died, but the Church uses it this weekend to give us a preview of his Ascension. Jesus says, “I will be with you only a little while longer.” He then gives them, and us, the great commandment to love one another. As the early apostles and church community took this message in with the uncertainty of what would happen to Jesus, we must take it to heart as the core of another part of his message. People will know that we are disciples of the Lord by our love for one another.
Let’s continue to evaluate our behavior based on our respect, kindness, compassion and service for one another. These and many other actions might show the world that we are disciples of Jesus Christ.