A Trip to Milwaukee, a Visit to a Basilica, and a Chance Encounter ....

Blessed Is She candle, Rosary Bird Rosary, and Marge Fenelon's book... a perfect October mix.

 Last month I visited the magnificent Basilica of St. Josephat in Milwaukee with my husband.

We had never been there – nor had we even heard of it. But a friend of mine owns Stella Maris Tours, LLC, and I was helping to promote a pilgrimage, so I went up to grab some photos and to share with our parishioners some of its beauty.

As my husband and I drove into the heart of Milwaukee and entered the Lincoln Village neighborhood,  we found ourselves in front of a massive church with a large, gilded dome.

We walked through the doors and experienced one of the most beautiful churches – detailed plasterwork, stunning chandeliers, beautiful stained glass, and an intricate and reverent sanctuary. It was truly spectacular. The dome, itself was incredible to see in person.

We spent a lot of time looking around and taking in everything, but we eventually made our way down to the gift shop where I met a gentleman who was working there. We chatted, and he eventually told me about his wife who was an author.

I was genuinely interested in this woman’s work after speaking with her husband. I asked him if the gift shop sold her book. He said they did not, but he told me that I could find it on the usual shopping sites or her website.

He did have a copy of one of her books –  Our Lady, Undoer of Knots: A Living Novena in his bag, and I flipped through it. It looked so good to me that I decided to order it as soon as we got to the car.

 I couldn't wait to have the book in my hands!

As soon as the book arrived, I dove right in.

I love the imagery that surrounds Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. 

Our lives are so full of tangles – and our knots can be so gnarled and gangly. There are so many times we get ourselves into situations we feel almost incapable of getting out of … and Our Lady reminds us that we are never beyond God’s grasp. He uses us in our brokenness. He uses us in our imperfection. He raises us up from our knotty life. By His grace, our knots are loosened. By His grace, they are undone. Through Mary’s love, we have the courage to lay them at our Lord’s feet. Through Mary's love, we have the courage to ask our Lord for forgiveness.

Walking this Rosary novena with Fenelon was so beautifully unique. Her description of locations I'll probably never have the opportunity to see guided me through the Holy Land. I could easily envision the places she described. Though I have never been there, I could place myself in the spaces. Through her vivid imagery, I could see in my mind the places Jesus walked, lived, prayed, and created friendships. 

Each chapter focuses on a specific “knot” in our lives – and ties it to a specific location and event in Jesus' life. Attached to each day of this rosary novena is a special intention for peace in the Holy Land.

Unbeknownst to me, I finished this Rosary Novena to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, on the eve of the anniversary of the attacks on Israel. After praying for eight days for peace in the Holy Land, I saw God hand in my chance meeting.

His wisdom is perfect. I’ve always been keenly aware of the people I meet every day. They leave marks on my heart. I remember them long after we’ve said goodbye. I pray for them when they pop into my mind. 

I had Hebrew 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” laid on my heart in a powerful way as a teen (thank you, Michael W. Smith). Angels or humans, I became hyper aware of the people God put in my path. I knew there were no coincidences ... just perfect plans.

I met Marge’s husband for a reason that day. I began this novena on the perfect day. I walked this Rosary journey with Marge's words at the exact time God desired it for me.

 I am so incredibly blessed to have added Marge to my list of favorite authors. 

If you are in Milwaukee, I highly suggest visiting the Basilica of St. Josephat. You won’t regret it. And, if you ever feel the Holy Spirit begging you to start up a conversation with a stranger … do it. You never know what God has in mind for you! 

Today Was An Ember Day

Today was an “Ember Day.”

The Harvest is Ready.

Pre-Vatican II, four “Ember Days” were set aside for fasting and abstinence so that we could fill our day with thoughts of thanksgiving. The Fall Ember Day focused on thanksgiving for the grape harvest – from which comes the Precious Blood.

Living in an agriculture community – and because I often write about agriculture events, families, and news – the harvest is heavy on my heart each time this fall Ember Day comes around. 

Our farmers work hard all year round. 

It is easy to think about our agriculture families during spring planting and fall harvest, but the truth is, they give their lives to serve others. They plan in the winter for the upcoming year, they plant in the spring with hopes of a strong growing season, they are vigilant throughout the summer monitoring each field, and they pray for a good yield in the fall. 

I’ve watched farming families experience the fear of a drought, the joy of a choice growing season, and all the emotions in between. I’ve learned to understand the stress that farming families undergo – particularly those family farms. 

It is family farms that I most often see taking Sundays off to allow their family and other hired hands to go to church. It is those family farms where I see children learning how to be a part of the family business and to appreciate discipline, early mornings, and togetherness. It is those family farms which impress upon me the Midwest values of hard work, devotion to family, and faith in God.

I grew up in suburbia – and agriculture was far from my daily thoughts, much less my prayers. But when I began writing for our local paper – The Woodstock Independent – I these farming families became a part of my circle. 

When the planting season comes, I take photographs of the seeding – and I get excited when I see the sprouts popping through the dirt. Throughout the summer, I watch the growth of the crops, and I get nervous when hailstorms come or when we get flooding or when we have drought. And, when the harvest comes, I pray for good yields and for peace for their families during the most difficult time of the year for them. 

*Last night, I saw them harvest with lights on their combines under the Harvest Moon.

So, as we fasted and abstained from meat today, my husband and I thought about the great blessing we have in our farmers – and in our entire agriculture community. I am thankful for the abundant blessings God bestows on them in their crops and I’m thankful for the families who never give up – the families who know how hard this life is, but who love the land and love the feel of it in their hands.

You’ll never meet better neighbors than farmers – at least in my community. They will drop whatever they are doing to help a person in need. They know there is something greater than them. They nurture the soil, and they have faith that, come harvest, God will bless them abundantly. 

Without them, we would not have food on our tables.

On this Ember Day, I filled my own hunger with prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude. 

**Ember Days are no longer part of our liturgical calendars, but I think they are worthwhile to contemplate in our family. We can all use more gratefulness in our lives!

Farmers working on one of the first days of harvest.

Last night's Harvest Moon with a Partial Lunar Eclipse.

Being Catholic and Celebrating Flag Day

Flag Day

Today we honor what our flag signifies through the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. We remember the inalienable rights granted to each American citizen that are so aligned with the value of every human being – dignified because they were created in the image and likeness of God.

Patriotism and Catholicism can work together for the glory of God. 

In 2013, Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Unsan, North Korea as a chaplain with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.

His desire to serve our nation was deep.

After being assigned duty as an auxiliary chaplain at a local Army airbase in Kansas, he felt called to serve his country and asked his bishop to allow him to enlist in the U.S. Army.

He became a chaplain in the U.S. Army on July 12, 1944, serving God and his country. He heroically and fiercely said Mass on the battlefield and risked his life to administer the sacraments to those dying. He put his own life in danger staying with the wounded in the Battle of Unsan.  While a prisoner of war in Prison Camp No. 5, he served both physical and spiritual needs of the other men in the camp. He tended to the sick, picked lice off men, washed clothes, bathed those who could not bathe themselves, said Mass, inspired the imprisoned, and prayed over their burials.

Servant of God Fr. Vincent Capodanno served as a Navy chaplain with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He also was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions beyond the call of duty as he ignored his own wounds, refused medical attention, and sought to help a wounded Navy corpsman and two wounded Marines despite enemy fire.  It was there he was killed.

Whenever I visit a traveling Vietnam Wall, I take a rubbing of his name … wondering if someday, in my lifetime, he – and Fr. Kapaun – may be canonized.

Catholic Chaplains have been serving our country for years beginning in 1846 with Fathers John McElroy and Anthony Rey who both served in the U.S. Army.

There is something inherently Catholic about preserving and defending freedom – the freedom to live in truth.

The fabric of our country is woven into the history of the American flag and that fabric of our country was woven by God.

So, on this Flag Day, fly your flags high, and know that no one is above our Lord, but we can show our patriotism by standing for freedom: Freedom to attend Mass, Freedom to worship our Lord, Freedom to value every individual as a child of God.

Happy and blessed Flag Day!

Reflecting on loss ... Joe Kersten

Just before Christmas, I learned that a friend had passed away. 

It has been hard to think about what to say as there have been a number of difficult things in the last month -- a dear friend’s son had brain surgery, my young neighbor/friend had a total hip replacement, another friend is about to have surgery, and another has been very ill. So, this unexpected loss was hard for me to process – and I know it has been for so many others.

I met Joe many years ago while I was working on a story about Gold Star Plaques created by McHenry County VietNow for families of those who were killed during the Vietnam War. He and I took photos of the plaques and I worked with another Vietnam veteran (who eventually became one of our family’s best friends) to search the world for homes for these decades-old plaques. 

Many veterans – particularly Vietnam Veterans – don’t appreciate a reporter stepping into their space, but Joe welcomed me. Maybe it was because the other man vouched for me or because he knew the types of articles I had written, but, either way, Joe became a steadfast partner in crime in all things veteran-related.

He would let me know what was going on in the veteran community. He shared information regarding the American Legion, the VFW, and the Veterans Assistance Commission. He gave me leads and made certain that I knew who was who in local government.

More importantly, he was a friendly face in a crowd.

In the midst of Memorial Day events, Veterans Day events, and the McHenry County Fair, he was the first to come up to me with, “Trish! It’s good to see you.. hey, nice article on …,” and he would flash a big smile and give me a hug. Very few people call me Trish … Joe was one of them.

His wife, Di, was always by his side. The two of them always – and I mean always – smiled for my camera. They joked with me, but they’d smile … and it made me smile, too – because, no matter what, I knew they would play along with whatever shenanigans were going on. 

This is Joe realizing I've been
 photographing him!

This year, on Veterans Day, I snapped a lot of photos. For some reason, Joe was doing camera-worthy things, and Di was by his side. I took a lot of photos of him and Di. I even used an image of him as my FB cover photo for this page -- and I never changed it.

A month later, I was devastated when a friend texted me to say he had passed away. 

The Chairman of the Veterans Assistance Commission, Joe served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, and spent much of his time serving the veteran community. He served as adjutant for VFW Post 5040, secretary and president of VietNow McHenry County Chapter, adjutant and vice-commander of American Legion Post 412, and founding and returning chairman of the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission. He truly lived a life of service to his country, his family, and his military brothers and sisters. 

Joe, I will miss your smile. I will miss the way you genuinely cared for others. I will miss the way you so passionately fought for veterans. I will miss the way you and Di welcomed me with open arms. I will miss the warmth of your personality and the way you cared for others. And, I will miss the texts that told me that you appreciated an article I wrote or told me that I did a great job covering something or that you texted just because. 

I sought your wealth of local military and community history for many an article. As my go-to, this feels like such an abrupt loss. The stories you shared with me will never be replicated. And, knowing how much I will miss you, my heart aches for Di and your family and closest friends as they navigate this journey without you, but take with them the love, the kindness, and the passion with which you set out to live this life. Your mark will never be erased – it will live on in the many lives you’ve touched.

I will miss you Joe, and so will this beautiful community that we live in. Thank you for taking me under your wing, for trusting me, and for always having my six ;)

… until we meet again ….