July 12-17, 2010: Polly in Christ Hospital

This week Polly Faso, my sister, has been taken by ambulance three times

back and forth between the hospital and the nursing home.  Three

operations this week at Christ Hospital for the new graf in her arm and a

port put in her chest for dialysis.  Neither of them work.  Polly has had

no dialysis since last Monday.  Tomorrow, the surgeon said that he

would fix the situation - this is what he said today.  A week ago, the plan

was for Polly to be home already.  Very difficult days for Polly.  Mary

was with Polly today.  I will be there tomorrow.  Thanks for your prayers

and support.  Much appreciated.

July 1 -6, 2010: Polly had skin grafts

On July 1, Polly had two surgeries - two skin grafts for her wounds.  The surgeon

at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn took skin from her upper legs.  During these six

days at Christ, the wounds have begun the healing very well.  Today, July 6,

my sister Mary's birthday, Polly was taken back to Crestwood Nursing Home

for one more week. Mary spent most of her birthday taking care of her younger

sister at Christ and back at the nursing home. Next Tuesday Dr Ennis will

visit Polly and decide whether she is ready to return home to Chicago Heights.

Polly left home on May 12 to begin this wound surgery and recovery. I will be

free on July 13, next Tuesday, to drive Polly home.  We are hoping!  Polly

especially.  Thanks for all your prayerful support.

Meanwhile, I am preaching my second retreat in two weeks to Felician Franciscan

Sisters:  last week, in Coraopolis PA near Pittsburg; this week, in Chicago.

I still love preaching.  Now I use Power Point slides for my presentation.  Ever onward!

June 17, 2010: Polly - two to three more weeks

Dr. Ennis, Polly's wound doctor from St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields IL

told us that the wounds are healing very well, but it will take at least two or more

weeks for Polly to be in the Nursing Home in Crestwood IL before the skin grafting

can be done on both legs.  The wound vacs, that cause Polly great pain, are enabling

the new flesh to grow quickly and very well.  One wound is ready for a skin graft,

But Dr Ennis wants to wait until both wounds are ready for that surgery.  Continued

thanks for all the support and prayers for Polly.   Polly is at Crestwood Care Center,

14255 S Cicero Ave, Crestwood IL 60445.

June 13, 2010: Ordination Anniversary

Forty-three years ago today, twelve of us were ordained to the priesthood in the

Catholic Church. We were gathered in St Francis Church, Teutopolis IL - 200 miles

south of Chicago. We were novices in this town for a year in 1960 and studied

Theology at our seminary in Teutopolis for four years - three years before ordination

and one more year after ordination.  And what a grand journey these 43 years have

been - as teacher of music and religion, as choir director and piano teacher, as

Liturgy consultant and traveling preacher, as student at Notre Dame University,

as leader of pilgrimages, as confessor, liturgist, pastor, fund raiser at St Peter's in

the Loop of Chicago for twenty-years, etc. What a journey of love and being loved,

of being a friend and making new friends, of growing in age, grace, and wisdom.

Thank you God!  Thank you - all of you who have graced, blessed, influenced my

life, who challenged me, who showed me the way.  Be well and blessed as we

continue in our lives of love and service.

June 6, 2010: Not a match

At 6:00 PM this evening, I talked with Maria the nurse at Rush Hospital.

She said that even though the blood type matched (A Positive), only one of six of the necessary

matches were a match.  So no kidney for Polly today.  We live in hope.

I told Polly that today was rehearsal for the next time with a match. 

We will know exactly what to do.  Thanks for your prayers and support.  Peace.

June 6, 2010: Possible Kidney for Polly

This morning at 3:20 AM my phone rang.  The voice was that of the transplant nurse from Rush.

Maria, the nurse, wanted to know where Polly was because a call came in that there is a kidney

available and she could not find Polly since Polly is still in the Nursing Home in Crestwood IL.

After some ten phone calls to find a nurse who could take a sample of Polly's blood, find the

FAX from Maria with all the information Rush Hospital needs, where to take Polly's blood

to check for its compatibility with the donor, etc., etc.  - my sister Mary is driving from Chicago

Heights to the nursing home to then drive the vials of Polly's blood to Itasca IL to the blood

lab.  Time is ticking away.  Hopes are way.  Prayers continue.  Will keep you posted.

May 20,2010: Polly in Nursing Home

My sister Polly was transferred to the Crestwood Care  Center 14255 S Cicero, Crestwood IL 60445.

Her  Wound Doctor, Dr Ennis from St James Hospital in Olympia Fields IL.  He has 25 beds at Crestwood

for his wound patients.  There are nurses there trained to care for people with wounds.  Polly will be here

for about two to three weeks.  During this time, Polly will be taken back to Christ Hospital for a skin graf

surgery on her wounds.  Then back to Crestwood before returning home in Chicago Heights.  During these

weeks, Mary is having Polly's bathroom redone. - a make-over to welcome her home.  Thanks for all your

prayers and  support.  Polly is very grateful for your concern and support.  As are my sister Mary and I.

Be well and blessed!

May 24, 2010: POLLY HAS MRSA INFECTION: 

On  Monday, May 24, Polly was supposed to transferred to Crestwood Nursing Home.

The transferred was delayed because of electrical problems at the Nursing Home.

So Polly remained at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. 

The nurse came to Polly's room to tell her that on Friday during the surgery, 

sample of her wound was take to lab.  Today they found that Polly has MRSA Infection. 

Polly with Mary and me are very disappointed, worried, and scared. 

Tomorrow the infectious doctors will talk with Polly about what this all means. 

Because of this Polly may not be allowed to go to the nursing home. 

Always another surprise.

Continued prayers please.

Below is info about MRSA from the Mayo Clinic web site:

MRSA = Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Definition

MRSA infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called "staph." MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It's a strain of staph that's resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. MRSA can be fatal.
Most MRSA infections occur in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. It's known as health care-associated MRSA, or HA-MRSA. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at most risk of HA-MRSA. More recently, another type of MRSA has occurred among otherwise healthy people in the wider community. This form, community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA, is responsible for serious skin and soft tissue infections and for a serious form of pneumonia.

Symptoms

Staph skin infections, including MRSA, generally start as small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites. These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin. But they can also penetrate into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.

Causes

Many people carry staph bacteria and never develop staph infections. If you have a staph infection, there's a good chance that it stemmed from bacteria you've been carrying around for some time.

These bacteria also can be transmitted from person to person. Because staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live on inanimate objects like pillowcases or towels long enough to transfer to the next person who touches them.

Staph bacteria are able to survive:

• Drying
• Extremes of temperature
• High levels of salt

Even cooking won't kill the toxins produced by staph bacteria, which is why they can cause food-borne illness.

Risk factors

A variety of factors — ranging from the status of your immune system to the types of sports you play — can increase your risk of developing staph infections.

Current or recent hospitalization
Despite vigorous attempts to eradicate them, staph bacteria remain widespread in hospitals, where they attack the most vulnerable, including people with:

• Weakened immune systems
• Burns
• Surgical wounds
• Serious underlying health problems, such as diabetes

Invasive devices
Staph bacteria can travel along the medical tubing that connects the outside world with your internal organs. Examples include:

• Dialysis
• Urinary catheters
• Feeding tubes
• Breathing intubation
• Intravascular catheters

Contact sports
Staph bacteria can spread easily through cuts, abrasions and skin-to-skin contact. Amateur and professional athletes have spread staph infections by sharing razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.

Complications

If staph bacteria invade your bloodstream, you may develop a type of infection that affects your entire body. Called sepsis, this infection can lead to septic shock — a life-threatening episode of extremely low blood pressure.

Tests and diagnosis

Most often, doctors diagnose staph infections by checking a tissue sample or nasal secretions for signs of the bacteria.

Treatments and drugs

Staph bacteria are very adaptable, and some varieties have become resistant to one or more antibiotics. For example, fewer than 10 percent of today's staph infections can be cured with penicillin. Up to half of the staph bacteria found in hospitals are resistant to methicillin, another common antibiotic.

When staph bacteria become resistant to methicillin, they also become resistant to a number of other common antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has led to the use of stronger and more toxic antibiotics, such as vancomycin, but some strains of staph bacteria have become resistant to vancomycin, too.

Your doctor may want to identify what type of staph bacteria is behind your infection, to help choose the antibiotic that will work best.

Prevention

These common-sense precautions can help lower your risk of developing staph infections:

• Wash your hands. Careful hand washing is your best defense against germs. Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 to 30 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands aren't visibly dirty, you can use a hand sanitizer containing at least 62 percent alcohol. These sanitizers are convenient and may actually kill more germs than soap and water do.
• Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores often contains staph bacteria, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.
• Reduce tampon risks. You can reduce your chances of getting toxic shock syndrome by changing your tampon frequently, at least every four to eight hours. Use the lowest absorbency tampon you can, and try to alternate using tampons and sanitary napkins whenever possible.
• Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. Staph infections can spread on objects, as well as from person to person. If you have a cut or sore, wash your towels and linens using detergent and hot water with bleach, and dry them in a hot dryer

April and May 2010 - My sister Polly was in St. James hospital in Chicago Heights

last week because of 7.9 potassium level. Polly was released from St. James on Monday

and on Tuesday was admitted to Rush Hospital in Chicago.  Doctors are trying to bring her potassium,

blood pressure, sugar and heartbeat to normal levels.  This is has to be done before

a second surgery can be done on her legs for the two open wounds caused by

Calciphylaxis. Meanwhile, Polly is waiting for a second kidney transplant

Polly is a wonderful example of patience, courage, acceptance

and keeping others always before herself, even in this painful part of her journey.

Polly often says: "It is what it is!" 

It is so difficult for me to be so helpless in this situation.  Polly is my younger sister,

58 years old and single.  Mary is our sister who is older than Polly, younger

by 8 years than me.   Our two brothers, John and Joe, have died due to

MS (John in 1985) and due to kidney failure, heart and diabetis (Joe in 2004).

Please remember Polly in your prayers.  Thanks.

December 25 - Christmas in Chicago Heights

Christmas with the family - from December 24 to ......  Polly and I celebrated mass

on Christmas Morning in the living room at her home - the Faso home since 1950 -

next to the Christmas tree that holds ornaments from 1937 to the present.  The tree

truly is a history of  the Faso family.  We prayed for all who have ever visited us on

Christmas, for all the family that celebrated Christmas in our living room, etc. -

we had a house full of family and friends - theirs spirits and love.

Christmas evening - Mary and Polly, my sisters, two friends and I exchanged gifts

and enjoyed a feast of ham and  potato salad, that Polly and I had made on Dec. 24.

Mother's recipe is still the best.  I have the next several weeks with no out of town

preaching.  I hope to visit friends, catch up on emails and finally during the 12 Days

of Christmas, to send Christmas cards to all who sent me a card - 100's indeed.

May the joy and hope of the feast of  Christmas continue to echo in your heart all

through this Christmas season.

December 10-17 - Pennsylvania

I flew to Philadelphia and was met by my 35 year old friend, Sr Christa, a Franciscan

Sister of Philadelphia.  I stayed at their motherhouse in Aston PA - 30 miles south

of Philly.  On Dec. 10, I preached at the Penance Service for the Sisters.  On Saturday

I drove for an hour to Reading PA to give a three hour presentation to the Bernardine

Franciscan Sisters on the new Franciscan Morning and Evening Praise Book.  Saturday

afternoon I drove back to Aston and then Sr Christa drove me to Philadelphia airport

so I could fly to Pittsburg and give the same presentation to the Felicians in Coraopolis.

Sunday evening, I flew back to Philadelphia.  I will be in Aston until Thursday, weather permitting.

I now have give nine of these presentation to Franciscan Sisters, from Baton Rouge to Buffalo,

from Reading PA to Pittsburg.  On Saturday, I will offer the last of the ten presentation to

the Franciscan Sisters in Clinton Iowa.

November 27-December 6 - Holy Land Pilgrimage

Fr. Bill Burton, sixteen pilgrims and I spent ten wonder-filled days in the Holy Land.

This was my 28th pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine.  From Caesarea Philippi in the

north of Galilee to Jerusalem and Jericho and Masada at the Dead Sea in the south.

Always like a first time to this land where Jesus walked and taught, died and rose.

We celebrated mass every day.  Singing Christmas carols in Bethlehem will give

this Christmas and every Christmas deeper meaning and emotion.  A blessed

Advent experience to be sure.

November 14 & 21 - two more Presentations on Franciscan Praise Book

On November 14, I gave the presentation to the Joliet Franciscan Sisters on the

new Franciscan Morning and Evening Praise Book.  This book is available for all

Franciscan III Order Regular, men and women.  On November 21, I gave the

presentation to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in Farmington Hills, Michigan -

near Detroit.  While there I visited Jim and Mary Kaye Landsberg whose wedding

I officiated at 31 years ago in Farmington Hills. Jim was a senior at University of

Notre Dame in 1976 when I was there studying Liturgy.  It was great to catch up

these many years - we have not seen each other in some 25 years.  Then I drove

a few miles to Bloomfield Hills to visit Jim and Nan Olin.  I officiated at their

daughter Sue's wedding some 26 years ago.  One of the great gifts of getting

older - friends and memories.  This was a weekend of celebrating and rejoicing

in both.  Ever onward! 

November 10-14, 2009 - Retreat in Winter Park FL

Twenty-six Friars from California to New York gathered at the San Pedro

Retreat Center in Winter Park, Florida, north of Orlando.  The topic for us

over 60 years old Friars was Growing Old Grace-Fully.  I thought I need to

see if I am doing this aging thing gracefully enough.  Fr. Dismas Bonner OFM and

Br David Crank OFM were the presenters.  Fr. Dismas was my Canon Law

Professor in Teutopolis IL from 1964-1968 and then my Provincial in the late

1970's.  He is brilliant, spiritual, practical and all with a great sense of humor.

Br. David is from Cincinnati and serves the elder Friars in his province.  I met

him for the first time.  A wonderful experience.

My friends of 40 years, Bob and Barb Massi  picked me up at the airport\

in Orlando and drove me to Winter Park last Monday and today they drove me

back to the airport.  One of the joys of getting older - friends, true friends proven

so over the years. 

November 3-8, 2009 - Visiting Friars and Preaching in Texas

Hello from Crowley Texas - ten miles south of Fort Worth.  I am here at St Francis

Village - a village for retired people.  This village was begun by Fr. Phil Marquard, OFM

of Chicago some 30 years ago.  I was on the board of directors here 15 years ago.

Eight of our Friars are here in retirement and minister to the 500 people who live

here. The temperature is 79 degrees, sunny and blue sky today.  Beautiful!

Besides visiting the Friars, I am preparing to preach a retreat on Nov 6-8,

in Dallas Texas to 50 Secular Franciscans of the Dallas Region.  The topic

they asked me to preach on is the Our Father Prayer, The Lord's Prayer.

I am have enjoyed greatly these leisure days to work on the  75 slide Power Point

Presentation.   The old saying is still true: If you want to learn something, teach it.

I return to Chicago On Sunday November 8 PM and then on Monday AM

I will fly to Orlando FL to participate in a retreat for older Franciscan Friars

from across the USA.  Thought I would be good to find out if I am growing

old gracefully enough.  Always something to learn.  Be well and blessed!

October - December 2009

During these months I am on the road offering ten presentation to ten different

Motherhouses of Franciscan Sisters.  The topic is their new Franciscan Morning

and Evening Praise Book. After nine years of meetings, work of choosing readings,

themes, Scriptures, etc, after trying out these prayers, readings, hymn and psalm tones,

the book arrived  for use.  Not all Third Order Regular Sisters and Friars are using

the book for their individual and community prayer, but many are. 

My two to four hour presentation with 35 power point slides, explains the make-up

and content of the book, the history of  the Liturgy of the Hours and how their book

is like and different than the Church's official Office Book of the Liturgy of the Hours.

We page through the various sections of this great gathering of Scripture and Franciscan

Writings and sing through the five new Psalm tones - all the psalms and canticles are

marked to be chanted according to one of the five tones and melodies. 

I have given the presentation in  Oldenburg IN, in Baton Rouge LA, in Buffalo NY.

This weekend, I will present in Lemont IL and in Chicago to the Felician Sisters on

Peterson Ave.  I am enjoying this "gig" very much - back in my Liturgy element.

Check my calendar on this website for the sites of the presentation.  Maybe I will

be near you.

When I presented to the Felician Sisters in Buffalo NY, I called Fr. Jack Ledwon.

We studied music together in the 1960's at Manhattanville School of Liturgical Music

in Purchase/White Plains NY.  We have not seen each other since the 1960's.  I

called Fr Jack.  He invited me to stay with him for three days at his rectory.  We

even drove up to Niagara Falls - thirty minute drive across into Canada.  So, maybe

I will be calling you soon.  God bless you and your families.

October 4-10, 2009:  I spent the feast of St Francis with the Friars of Sherman IL

and Springfield - about 25 Friars live there, those who need Assisited Living Care

or Nursing Care.  Several of them celebrated their Jubilees = 50 years a priest or

50 or 60 years a Franciscan.  Wonderful celebrated!  God bless them all greatly.

Next year, 2010, will be my Golden Jubilee as a Franciscan - already.  How did

this happen so quickly!  Praise God!

May 24-June 4: Pilgrimage In the Footsteps of St Paul - Turkey and Greece

Fr. Bill and I lead 15 people through Istanbul, Izmir, Ephesus, Troy in Turkey

and on to Greece - Kavala, Philippi, Thessolonki, Athens, Athnes and Meteora.

Bill taught and preached about St. Paul and his writings and message as the Church

brought to a conclusion the Year of St. Paul.  We all learned so much, prayed and

laughed and shopped and were overwhelmed by the sights -- all, so much! 

Truly a blessing on so many levels.  Hope you get to Greece and Turkey yourself.

April 10, 2009 - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Yesterday, Holy Thursday, my sister Polly and I drove
for severn hours from Chicago to Rochester, Minnesota
to Mayo Clinic.  Polly had an appointment with Dr Michet
concerning her gout.  Polly was here six years ago
to meet the Doctor and to begin using a medicine only
made in Canada since Polly was allergic to the usual
medicine for gout.  The Canadian medicine has been a
great help for Polly.  But two weeks ago the USA started
producing a new medicine that should be even more
effective than the medicine from Canada.  Ever onward
with hope. 

Now on this sunny Good Friday, we are packing and watching
ETWN's coveage of the Good Friday Celebration.  Soon we
will begin the drive back to Chicago Heights.  We will drive
up to the Motherhouse of Franciscan Sisters here in Rochester.
These Sisters with Dr. Mayo began Mayo Clinic.

Happy Eater to you all!
During the Fifty Days of Easter, May the Lord Easter in you
and be a Dayspring for any Dimness!

March 14, 2009 - From Malaysia to Singapore
The retreat ended today, Friday March 13, in Malacca,
Malaysia.  Thirty Franciscan Friars of the Singapore-
Malaysia-Brunei Custody met in Malacca, a three hour
drive on a bus north of Singapore.  We stopped and exited
the bus twice - at Singapore border and at Malaysia border.
I preached three times a day for five days. The gathering
place was a resort on the sea in Malacca (Melaka).  A
most beautiful setting with beach and pool, palm trees
and tropical flowers, dining room was roofed but open
sides.  The language is English and Malay.  The Friars
are from Singapore, India, Malaysia, China.  There are
four novices, two postulants.  Three friars made
Solemn Profession last summer.  Youngest is 29 years
old and the oldest is 53 years old.  I was very old for them
since I am 68 years old.  Was a great experience.

I return to Chicago on Wednesday March 18.

March 9, 2009 - Singapore to Malaysia
At 10:00 AM this Monday Morning, thirty of us friars
will depart on a bus for the four hour bus ride to Malaysia -
the border to Malaysia is only 45 minutes away.  The friars
have never been to this place.  On the sea or close to the sea.
The retreat on the Rule of 1223 by St Francis that we still follow
today.  I will be doing a Power Point Presentation - 140 slides
are ready to go including photos of the Friars of this Custody.
I am a little nervous about the Power Point - the resort said that
it has a Power Point projector.  Here's hoping.  If not, Plan B.
Like the old days - I will use my mouth, my gestures, my stories,
etc.   All will be well!  All will be well!

I do not know if there is internet connection where we are going.
The retreat ends on Friday the 13th at noon.  Then I might
travel with two friars to their parish in Malaysia and return to
Singapore on Sunday AM. 

Plesae keep the Friars and me in your prayers that the Holy Spirit
may open us up to God's Word, Inspiration, Challenge and give us
the courage to say yes.  Thanks.  Know that I will be praying for you.

March 4, 2009 - Singapore

Hello from Singapore

March 1, 2009 - Singapore
The Flight from O'Hare in Chicago left at noon on Friday Feb. 27 and I
arrived in Singapore at 19 hours of flying on Saturday night at midnight.
Non-stop flight from Chicago - north over Hudson Bay and the North Pole
and on over Siberia, Mongolia (beautifully blanketed in snow), China and
to Hong Kong.  After two hours on the island airport for Hong Kong, we
flew in the same United 747 plane for three more hours to Singapore.
A friar was there to greet me.  He had lived for two years in Chicago
with us Friars at St Peter's while he was attending classes at Catholic
Theological Union. 

I finally got to sleep at 3:00 AM only to be awakened by a cell phone
call from Chicago at 6:00 AM.  By 9:00 AM I was at the Friars Church
where 7000 Catholics come each weekend for mass - one of the 20
churches in this city-state-independent counrty of Singapore.
A usual afternoon Tropical storm is raining heavily.  So time to press
my sheet for a little siesta.  Two more days and nights should bring me
back to a schedule.  A week from tomorrow we will travel to Malaysia
for the retreat itself.  The 90 degrees and 97 percent humidity feels
very good after Chicago's winter.   More later.


February 27, 2009 - to Singapore
On Friday the 27th of February I will be flying from Chicago to Hong Kong
to Singapore.  I have been invited to preach a retreat to the Franciscan
Friars there - fifty of them.  I was happy to learn that English is their
language.  The topic we chose is the Rule of 1223 written  by St. Francis
and the same Rule of LIfe that we follow today.  2009 marks the 800th
anniversary of the founding of the Franciscan Order by St. Francis of
Assisi.  Celebrations are being planned and held all over the world to
remember and be rededicated our history and our Way of Life.

I will try to write here and on my Blog on what is happening.
This is my first time to Singapore.  Any suggestions?
Be assured of my prayers from Singapore.

February 25, 2009 - St Peter's on Ash Wednesday
I spent several hours yesterday, Ash Wednesday, at St. Peter's in the Loop.
As usual, as I have been doing since 1978, I joined six others in touching the
foreheads of thousands of people and announcing to them: "Remember, man/
woman, that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.....Turn away from
sin and be faithful to the Gospel."  Young and old, rich and poor, working and
retired.....all were there from six in the morning until seven in the evening,
non-stop.  Upstairs in the church twelve masses were celebrated during the
day, most of them were filled.  One man asked me if today was a Holy Day.
Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation.  But a day that is made holy
by the numbers of people coming to be signed with ashes, to begin the
forty day journey of Lent to the Triduum and Easter.  We all said yes to
prayer, fasting and almsgiving - in whatever way we hear that invitation.

I saw and talked with many people whom I only see on Ash Wednesday.
As I used to do, I stood outside in the front along Madison Street and
talked with people and answered their questions.  One man asked me
why all the people coming and going to St. Peter's and coming out with
ashes on their forehead.  He was a Jew from Israel, a teacher at the
University in Tel Aviv.  He is here teaching a semester at Northwestern.
We spoke a little in Hebrew and Arabic.    --Truly a wonderful day.


January 28, 2009 - TIA
Since I had a TIA on Dec. 18 and word spread about
the incident, many have asked me what is a TIA.  Go to
Google.  This info is what I found:

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

January 25, 2009 - Health Report
Greetings on this Feast of the Conversion of St Paul and
the 50th Anniversary of Blessed Pope John XXIII announcing
at the Basilica of St Paul in Rome that there would be a
Vatican Council II - 1963-1965 - that would open the windows
and doors so we could talk with and listen to others in a new way.
Alleluia for St Paul and for Blessed Pope John "the Good"!

I met with my Doctor on January 21.  All is good - cholestorel,
blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.  All as normal as the charts
say they need to be.  So what is left to do?  That's easy:
loose 25 pounds of weight this year.  So in 2009, you
will be seeing more of me and less of me, I hope.

My sister Polly was in the hospital again for the last three
days - at Rush.  Concern: why is Polly losing blood?  The
angiogram to her new kidney (April 17, 2008 Transplant)
showed that the arteriers are all open and working.  A
test of putting a camera down her throat showed a hole
which they burned closed.  More tests next Monday on
her lungs.  And so the journey continues.  Thanks for your
prayers and concern and support.


December 25, 2008 - Christmas Day
Merry Christmas to you and your family on this Day
that celebrates Love enfleshed in a baby of Bethlehem -
God's love for each of us!  May you be blessed with much
love and peace, joy and hope on this day that announces
Light pushing back the darkness, and Hope transforming
sadness and despair.  

I am in Chicago Heights with my two sisters and nieces and
nephews - from forty-years old to eight months! 
My sister-in-laws and friends too! 

Merry Christmas!  Buon Natale!  Feliz Navidad!
Froeliche Weihnacten!  Joyeux Noel! Mele Kalikimada!
Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur! (Gaelic)
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia! (Polish)

December 18, 2008
I spent today in two medical facilities of Northwestern Hospital.
My doctor is concerned that I had a TIA (slight stroke) on Tuesday
evening while at my sisters' home in Chicago Heights.  I experienced
a tingling numbness on my right side - face, arm, and leg.  This
lasted an hour.  I visited my doctor, Dr Jeffrey Kopin of Northwestern
Hospital Group at his office on Clark St in the Loop, around the
cornor from St. Peter's.  After an office check up including an EKG,
he ordered tests: MRI, two MRAs, and an Echocardiogram.  Now we
wait for the results - in two to three days.  Ever onward into
the aging process.  So now I have graduated from 81 mg adult
aspirin to 325 mg regular aspirin.  And of course, "Loose weight!"
So we begin yet again.  Take care of yourself. 
Happy Hanukkah!  Merry Christmas!


November 30 - December 9, 2008
Fr. Bill Burton and I lead a group of 32 pilgrims to the Holy Land -
Israel/Palestine.  The pilgrims were from Chicago area, two from
St. Louis, and one from Kansas City.  This was my 27th pilgrimage
to the Holy Places from Abraham, John the Baptist, Mary and
Joseph, and espeically Jesus made holy by their faith-filled
presence.

Our first three days were spent in Galilee.  We stayed on the
east side of the Sea of Galilee at the Kibbutz En Gev.  From there
we could see all of the 9 mile by 13 mile lake called the Sea of
Galilee from the north shore of Kafer Naum or Capernaum  where
Jesus had his headquaters for three years at St. Peter's house,
across to Tiberius and south to the overflow of the Sea of Galilee
into the Jordan River.  Each day we celebrated mass and prayed
at the various churches and places that recall the various events
of the Gospel - Masses at Mt Tabor (Transfiguration), Nazareth
(Annunciation), and Capernaum (Jesus healing the paralytic).
We prayed at Caesarea Phillippi (Whom do you say I am?),
Primacy Chapel (Do you love me?), Tabgha (Multiplication of
the loaves and fishes), Cana (Renewal of Marriage Vows),
Nain (Prayed for all widows and mothers who lost a child),
and an hour long boat ride on the Sea of Galilee during
which we read and reflected on the Gospel stories of
Jesus calming the storm and walking on the water.

On the day drive from Galilee to Jerusalem (90 miles),
we visited the top of Mt Carmel and remembered the story
of Elijah the prophet and the priests of Baal as in Kings,
and visited the seashore city (recently discovered, dug up,
and somewhat restored) Caesarea Maritima where St. Peter
preached for the first time to Gentiles, Cornelius and his
household, and where St Paul was kept in prison.

In Jerusalem we stayed in the Old City, just inside the New Gate
in the Christian Quarter at the Knights' Palace Hotel, owned and
run by the Catholic Archdiocese/Patriarchiate of the Holy Land.
From the Hotel, we walked for five minutes to the Holy Seplucher
the Bisilica that was built around Calvary and the Tomb of Jesus.
We celebrated Masses on Calvary, in the Cenacle (Last Supper,
Easter Appearances, Pentecost), in Gethsemane, and in Palestine
in Bethlehem at the Basilica of the Nativity in the cave below
where St Jerome translated the Bible into Latin from the Hebrew
and Greek versions.  

We spent a day going from Jerusalem at 2400 feet to Jericho and
the Dead Sea at the lowest spot on the face of the earth at 1400
feet below sea level - a half hour drive through the beautiful
baren desert.  A visit to Qumran, home of the Essenses, and to
Massada, where 1000 Jews commited suicide 72 AD/CE after two 
years of Seige by the Romans.  As the sun was setting, several
experienced  the floating experience in the
Dead Sea or as the Israelis name this lake, Salt Sea.

We walked through the early morning streets of the Old City
praying and Way of the Cross, singing, reflecting and taking
turns carrying a large cross.  This led to Mass on Calvary at
6:30 AM.  Each day we prayed for all of our families, friends, and
the many people we promised to pray for back home.

Our Iberia 12 flight back to Chicago through Madrid offered us time
to reflect on the great blessing of such a pilgrimage.  Our understanding
and hunger for more Scripture was deepened greatly.  Our appreciation
of the land - the Fifth Gospel - will continue to help us grow in kownledge
of the past and present historical and political events.   I urged
everyone to get involved in a Bible Study and to read/pray the Bible
each day.

Fr. Bill is taking a group to the Holy Land in February - there are two
available sits open (Fr. Bill's website: www.biblicist.net)  I hope to
lead a group of Secular Franciscans to the Holy Land next October.
Hope you all have the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Happy Adventing to Christmas!