Unlike my trip to Mexico a couple of years ago, which was primarily an R and R mission, my trip to Chicago over the weekend was a working holiday. I thought I might be able to check in every so often, like I did on that previous journey, but things were pretty tightly scheduled once the parish retreat got going. Sorry for no play by play descriptions of things, but here are a few scattered reflections.
St. John Bosco Parish, in the Belmont-Cragin section of Chicago, was not my first assignment after ordination, but it is the place that I was the longest in my Salesian life so far. I transferred to New Rochelle in 2007 after five years as parochial vicar there. I filled in for a few weeks in the summer of '08, but haven't been back again until now. I'm grateful to Fr. Tim Zak, SDB, the pastor, for inviting me back to give the monthly retreat for the parish volunteers.
What impressed me the most was that this very active parish has suffered the same personnel down-sizing as many other places (there are simply not enough priests and brothers to fill the various jobs that need to be done) but has still maintained a high level of programing and has deepened it's Salesian identity since I left. Part of this can be credited to Fr. Tim and the other three Salesians who serve there. Part of it is the Salesians who came before and laid the foundations (The Salesians first came to the parish in 1998). But a big part of it is the people of the parish themselves. They have embraced the Salesian spirit and made themselves a vital part of the Salesian Youth Movement.
At the core of this deepening of the Salesian identity at SJB is the presence of the the Salesian Cooperators. They are an association of lay Catholics (though diocesan clergy can join too) in the style of a third order dedicated to spreading the Salesian charism of Don Bosco in the Church and the world. In fact it is one of the three branches of the Salesian family, along with the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, founded by Don Bosco himself. The Chicago Unit was a small, fledgling group when I left in '07, but are now deeply involved in the parish's mission, as well as that of the Salesian Province (Marshal Gomez, an old friend from my SJB days, is the current Provincial Coordinator of the Cooperator's Council). To return and see so many people I knew from the old days still involved, and in some cases more involved than before, and many new faces who have come into the parish, all in love with Christ, following Him in the spirit of Don Bosco, was gratifying and encouraging to me.
It's also proof that in the end it's the Holy Spirit doing it all. If we are faithful, doing what we are supposed to do, the Lord will bless us with an abundance of His grace, and the work will flourish.
It's good to be back in Elizabeth, and am looking forward to a great 2013. May the Salesian Spirit continue to grow here and throughout the world.
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