My first stop in Chicago was at St Patrick HS. Br. Konrad, the president of the school, gave me a tour of their school. The school was founded nearly 148 years ago and was original located in downtown Chicago. Since then it has moved to northwest Chicago and I was thoroughly impressed by their facilities…from their great theater to their computer labs and their indoor pool. From there I traveled to De La Salle Institute off of Michigan Ave and 35th St., just south of downtown. There I met Br. Kevin. The Brothers have a house kitty corner from the school. When I got there, Br. Kevin took me across the street to the school, it was right before school was getting out. 
So when school let out, we were able to walk around the school and visit with the students and faculty. Five mayors of Chicago have gone to DLSI, including current mayor, Richard Daley. The community of Brothers there had 5 brothers there the night I was there. They were all very friendly and welcoming. Because I know several Brothers they know, staying with them was like hanging out with old friends.
Thursday morning, I took off around 8 CST. I drove though Indiana down to Cincinnati. There wasn’t anything too exciting to see in Indiana, but the drive was not that bad. I got to Cincinatti around 1:30 EST in the afternoon. I got check into my room, checked into the conference and the first pre-session to the conference started at 2:30. The theme of the conference was “Providing Sanctuary for All in Times of Crisis” and particular pre-session dealt with grief and loss. It was nice to walk into the session room and see one of my old mentors from CBHS, Mr. McIntosh. I haven’t seen him in a couple of years so it was a great to see him and catch up with him over the weekend.
The conference officially started later in the evening with the opening prayer service and key note speech by Br. Alvaro (pictured right), who is the superior general for the Christian Brothers (a.k.a. the head Brother from Rome…who is in charge of the governance of the Brothers worldwide.) I have met him a couple of times before when he has visited the United States. He recognized me and I gave him a framed picture from the last time we had met in Memphis.Second part of trip to come later in the week…
Tidbit By Thomas: Happy Thanksgiving!!! I will be spending it with Charlie and his family like I have the past couple of years…I’m thinking of making layer jello to take over there….
No comments:
Post a Comment