Emmaus: Day Twenty Three

I was out on outreach until 3 AM. Doug and I talked with a few of our guys. It rained most of the evening and yet we stayed dry! Doug is great at his job. He scans his environment. He connects, he listens, and he is sensitive to what is said and more importantly, what is not said.

I got up at 8:30 and packed. I talked with Cathi for a bit, pretty soon we will be sitting next to each other!

I went down to the Ministry Center. It was packed. The guys fried chicken, made rice, beans, salad. They are making baked pork chops for this evening. These folks are some serious cooks.

It is a good day. However, I am quickly disengaging. My mind is on getting on the train, on going home, on being with Cathi, with my daughter and my pets.

I know I have a lot more to say about what I learned here. However, that will unfold over the course of the summer. I have film to hopefully develop. I have material to read and experiences to process. But not now. Now it is time to begin to say good bye to Emmaus Ministries, to the Kaio Community and Chicago. Now it is time to say hello to home.

Emmaus: Day Twenty Two

This is my last full day in Chicago and at Emmaus. I attend Mass, I will miss Mary of the Lake.

I talk with Cathi. We are both excited about my heading home. I write.

Then I head for the Ministry Center. The place is crowded. It is a good day but a busy day. There is a greater need for structure and boundaries than usual. Our guys appear tired, some are irritable. Still the leaders are models of what can be.

After the Ministry Center we go to the Emmaus staff meeting. They are planning the Endurance Ride. This is a major fund-raiser. They give me a card and sing a song to me. What a song. Everyone in the room sings at the top of their lungs. However, they each sing a different song.! I love it.

Next Chris and I deliver supplies to Thomas Canterbury Church. It is a predominately Vietnamese congregation.

When we get home Chris cooks dinner. We, the Kaio Community eat together. I then lead us in discussion. We talk about what we value in each others different faith traditions. Finally we pray. This is my last Kaio prayer. Afterwards Chris and Nicole make Toll House cookies. I get ready for my final outreach. I will be going out with Doug. I am excited and a little sad. However, the bigger concern is that it is cold outside and raining. It will make for a memorable night.

Tomorrow I finish up here. I say my good byes. I go home to Cathi, Kerri, Reese, Anna, Tess and Leo. Fort Wayne, here I come!

The Kaio Community, My Temporary Home

So what was it like living in an intentional community? I loved it. Kaio refers to the Greek word for being on fire. When the two disciples walked the road of Emmaus with the stranger who turned out to be Jesus their hearts were on fire. Well, Kiao is transformative.

I lived in this three bedroom apartment on the third floor. It had a large dinning room/living room. This room had a unique look to it. There was a Celtic cross painted on the wall and there was a Christmas tree! The kitchen was bright red.

However, it was the community members that made this such a powerful experience. I lived with Nicole, Brandon and Chris. Each was very different from the other two and all were committed to living faith-filled lives and of being servants to others.

Nicole was our most unique member. She was a Protestant from California. Nicole majored in social work. She felt called to serve at Emmaus. She can best be described as joyful and brave. At this time she is applying to live and work at an L’Arche Community. This is an intentional community that unites people with members with special needs and they support one another. The communities were founded by Jean Vainer. They were made famous by the writings of Henri Nouwen. It was Nicole who introduced me to the Pan African church that I loved so much. I also went to her church with her. This was the Uptown Baptist Church. Nicole valued her Protestant roots and her personal walk with Jesus.


Carl sitting Next to Nicole and Brandon on the "L"


Brandon came from Iowa, one of my all-time favorite states. He was our cradle Catholic. His faith was established, he lived it without having to proclaim it. His prayers were dynamic. Brandon was a quiet young man who spent a lot of time by himself. It would be a mistake to confuse this with timidity. He in fact was a clear leader. My first night in community it was Brandon who sat me down and explained my chores and responsibilities. It was Brandon who handled the money for groceries. Brandon was a passionate man. He had a degree in art. He was an active member of Holy Name Cathedral. He was a key problem-solver at the community center. He also had the most subtle sense of humor in the community.


Brandon

Chris was my roommate. He came from North Carolina. His degree was in religious studies. He was a convert to Catholicism and in fact was a Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic. He seemed to know more about Catholicism than anyone I had ever met. It is Chris who brought me to the University of Chicago to hear theology lectures. It was Chris who went with me to adoration. Chris will be going to Italy this summer to stay in a Benedictine monastery. I don’t know where his faith journey will take him. I do know that who ever gets him will be blessed. Chris was also one of my outreach partners. I hope Chris and I stay in contact for decades to come.


Chris

We had some structure at Kaio. We prayed together Sunday through Thursday nights. On Sunday nights we followed a structured modified Catholic service complete with candles and readings. On Tuesday night we had Kaio night. This included a shared meal, a discussion and prayers. At other times we spontaneously came together for concerns, to play or to just be with one another. We also spent time away from one another. Our privacy was respected.

This was my brief introduction into intentional living in a faith community. I was blessed with great people who were part of a ministry that complimented my Franciscan sensibilities. I doubt I will ever forget brothers Brandon and Chris and sister Nicole. They have found a special place in my heart.

What Does It Take?

So, what does it take to become a hustler, a male prostitute? It takes a lot. You can’t just be defeated. It is not enough to be angry, anger can result in all different responses, some good. It is not enough that you have been abused, abandoned or rejected. It takes a whole constellation of pain.

When you have been abused from an early age, when you have been abandoned repeatedly, by parents leaving, going to jail or dying, when life is so bad you run away at age 14 or 15, then you have the makings of a hustler.

When you haven’t had the time or opportunities to develop school or work skills you discover that to eat or find a place to get out of the cold you’ll do things you never would have considered. After a few arrests your police record guarantees you wont’ be hired by most people. Once you get addicted to the drugs you have been using to dampen the shame you feel you begin to hustle just to take care of your habit.

You become America’s untouchables. You are not welcome in homeless shelters. The homeless feel superior to you. You are the victim of violent “johns”. You walk the same streets that John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer frequented as they trolled for young boys. You contract so many diseases, your health deteriorates, and your body fails you.

What does it take to reclaim a life like this? It takes all you have to give. This is a holistic endeavor and no one agency or person is going to transform these boys. But then, we are not the transformer anyway, we simply provide a road map.

So it takes an understanding of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Food, water, shelter and safety come before all else. Once that is offered belonging and social needs and self-esteem needs can slowly be addressed. It takes relationship, relationship, relationship. This is Carl Rogers 101. No judging, unconditional positive regard. They know how to be judged, they have been judged by others and by themselves.

It takes a whole host of activities and programs. This includes health services, GED, work programs, housing programs.

However, it is not likely that any of this will have any real impact without some internal change. If the spiritual needs of these boys and men are not addressed then hope will not grow. That doesn’t mean preaching. It doesn’t mean pouring Jesus down their throats. It means walking the walk, it means modeling love and forgiveness, it means modeling we are all broken and we are all loved.

It took a long, long time to make such a broken life. However, behind all of this pain, behind the drugs, behind the shame is still a child of God and the face of Jesus. It will take a long, long time to help these boys and men walk in the light. However, what else are we here for but to walk beside our brothers and sisters.

The People I Met

I have had a very colorful and blessed time in Chicago. I kept walking up to closed doors only to have them opened for me. The result is I have had a number of personal tours. I also met folks who just wanted to talk and added to the canvas of Chicago.

Some of the people I will remember:

The lady who let me in early to the Lakeview Pantry. She simply wanted to tell me about all the wonderful work her agency is doing to feed the poor. She has every reason to be proud.

The gentleman at the Center on Halsted who told me what to see and what not to miss. He was helpful, I just wish he would not have kept handing me information on the elderly! I also was grateful to run into the Director of Recreational Services. He was also a guy proud of all the Center’s many programs.

The lady at the American Indian Center who gave me a tour of the facility even though it was clear she was recovering from a bad cold. She told me about the Powwows, educational programs, cultural activities, health services and counseling services. She should me the artifacts and told me about their art galleries. Thank you!

Randy at Jesus People USA, at the Friendly Towers. He gave me a tour of the towers, the chapel, and the coffee shop. He also got me entry into their two shelters. I am looking out the window as I type this and I see the towers. Thank you JPUSA for doing so much to help the needy in your part of the world.

Anna M Chychula, the administrator of the Ukrainian National Museum. She gave me a personal tour of the entire museum. She gave me advice of what else to see in Ukrainian Village and where to eat. She was proud of her heritage and her city. She is a wonderful ambassador of the museum.

At the Norwegian memorial church I met Olav T. Lenke, the vice president of the Lagting. He is sort of like the Speaker of the House of Norway. I felt honored to meet him. I also sat with wonderful women at the reception who told me about the Norwegian-American community in Chicago and in Florida. It made for a very special Syttende Mai or Norwegian Constitution Day.

The gentleman at the rectory of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. He saw me walking away from the only Louis Sullivan church left in the world. He came out and asked if I would to go inside and see it! He was a great tour guide, full of wonderful and unique information. Thank you!

Joe the youth minister at St. Therese Chinese Catholic Mission Church. He gave me a great tour of the church even though it was closed. I never would have understood the significance of what I was looking at without him. He was warm, friendly, had a sense of humor and pride in his heritage.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the man who approached me at the Chinatown “L” stop. He saw my St. Therese program and tried to comment on it. I could not understand him. He then showed me photos of him with Mayor Daley, President Obama’s chief of staff and a thank you letter from President Obama. It appears he had been active on a committee to get the 2016 Olympic to Chicago.

I could not understand him. He then pulled out a notebook from his bag. One page explained that he had a stroke, could not talk but that he could do many, many things. He pantomimed how he could swim, do yoga, Tai Chi, karate, dance, including tango, cha cha and hula. Finally he pointed to my belly and laughed. He then pulled out a picture of the Buddha! He asked, as best he could, if I was “Italiano”. I said “no”. He then pointed to my stomach and said, “Bambino”. He then told me, “Eat banana and water, no hot dogs and TV.”. Everyone was watching this unusual and spontaneous show on the “L” platform. Then the train came and it was over. I know he was once an editor, I know he was a mover and a shaker. I know he is still a very active man. I also know I am gonna have a few less hot dogs!

These and so many other people filled my life here in Chicago. This is a city of people, of neighborhoods. This was my home for 36 years and was home again for three weeks. In case I haven’t mentioned it, I love Chicago and the people that make it my kind of town.

Emmaus: Day Twenty One

I went to Mass at Mary of the Lake. The music was moving and consistent with Memorial Day. Afterwards they had adoration.

The walk home was chilly. It was a grey, rainy day. Not the kind of day you expect for a holiday that heralds the beginning of the summer season!

I went down to the Ministry Center early. We worked on set up. The guys were grilling, there was a lot to do. We moved furniture, put table clothes on the tables, and got out all the dishes. I peeled potatoes. It was just a big holiday time. I had to leave early because of the killer headache but after a nap I was back to normal.

The food was great. We had hamburgers, brats, Italian sausage, spaghetti, potato salad, chips and dips, cookies, brownies. We watched a movie. We talked. No group, no goals and no laundry today. It was just a time of great fellowship.

Afterwards I went up stairs and took another nap. I then went to the Dollop and read a couple of chapters. When I got back it was 8:00 P.M. and I was hungry. So I made ravioli and salad and all of us at Kiao ate together. They are a great bunch of folks.

At 10:00P.M. Chris and I went out for adoration. That was my day. It was a day of great fellowship, occasional aggravation with a headache all sandwiched between adoration. Not too shabby! Only one full day left at Emmaus and in Chicago. I am both sad and excited.


Dionne Warwick -The Battle Hymn of the Republic

The Things I Did:

In the last three weeks:

I went to three lectures:
One on theology at the University of Chicago
One on Mary at Holy Name Cathedral
One on pastoral counseling at Emmaus

I read:
The Perfect Joy of Saint Francis
The Emmaus Training Manual
A Heart for the Community

I visited:
Churches, lots and lots of churches

Service organizations:
The American Indiana Center
The agencies of Jesus People USA
The Center on Halsted
The Lakeview Pantry
Ezra Café

And I saw the sites:
The lake and harbors
Lincoln Park Zoo
Buckingham Fountain
Harold Washington Library
The Cultural Center
The Art Institute of Chicago
Navy Pier
The Ukrainian National Museum

I had a number of private tours

And I prayed, all over the place.

All of this while working and training. It was a busy, exhausting three weeks and I loved it.

Chicago, Emmaus and Food

I notice that I write a lot about food. However, food is important. We break bread with friends, we have special foods for special occasions. During our worst of times it is food we most worry about. It is the greatest of gifts in the form of the Eucharist.

Well, that is all true here. It marks the neighborhoods and peoples I have spent time with. It unites us, the guys and the volunteers and staff at the Ministry ‘Center. It is a bridge during out reach, it unifies at the Kiao Community.

During out reach I have seen us connect by buying sandwiches for the folks who are seriously hungry. They do not ask for snacks. They ask for the biggest sandwich with the most meat and cheese they can get on it. They want it to sustain them as long as possible. I haven’t seen an out reach worker act superior by giving the guys food. Instead I have seen the workers feel privileged that they were around at a time when they could help their brothers.

The Ministry Center has many functions. However, my favorite is to unite us all by sharing a family-style meal together. I have cooked for all of us three times. I made a garlic-chicken and cheese meal, a thanksgiving meal with turkey and Korean beef. All of us workers and volunteers take our turns cooking. However, I am most impressed with the guys cooking. They are creative and disciplined. They get here early. They prepare the food, they set the table and they are here for the clean up. They are great cooks.

We sit around this long table and we share food and stories and jokes. We share hopes and fears. This is family.

At Kiao we each take turns making the meals. Tuesday is Kiao night. That includes the meal, prayers and discussion. It is a great night. Nicole made a Mexican meal, I made pastas and Brandon made wonderful wraps. Tomorrow we will all find out what Chris has planned for us.

Food triggers our memories. I had a thin slice of Chicago pizza and I felt like I was back in 1968.


I had a Chicago hot dog and knew I was experiencing hot dogs as they were meant to be.


Food is a way to experience other cultures and boy did I do that. While here I had:

Mongolian beef, I love it. I first had it, in Uptown, in the 1970s!


Ethiopian food, by far my favorite. I love the presentation of the food, I loved the flavor and I loved the people serving the food. I want more!


I had West African food. I ate Ogbono (a kind of chili mix with spicy greens and goat), and Fufu (a porridge made from cassava, a starch. It was rolled into a ball, you then mix it with your other foods for flavor. It takes the place of potatoes, pasta or rice). The food was very hot and very good


I had Lebanese lamb curry and I licked my fingers


I had a variety of Ukrainian foods starting with borscht and including blintz and sausages


I had Norwegian open face sandwiches, cakes and cheeses and I felt like I was a child at home


There so many other foods I could have had. The city is full of wonderful restaurants, cafes and out door vendors.

Occasionally food and space are both special. That was certainly true when I was eating Norwegian food at the only Norwegian speaking church in the city.One exception, in which the food was not that special but the setting made all of the difference in the world was the Rock and Roll McDonald's. We used it during outreach. Our guys used it. It was a great break with a great and unique look. Two stories of modern furniture and settings surrounded by interesting scenery outside.


Finally, I shared a meal with my niece and her family. It was great to be around the familiar to be with family. Erica is a great cook. The food was simple, shrimp and salad but it was good.

So, yeah, I talk a lot about food. However, it sustains us, it unites us and it makes us smile. So please, pass the bowl, I want seconds!

Emmaus/Chicago: Day Twenty

I started the morning going to Mass at Mary of the Lake. Afterwards Nicole and I went to services at her church, Uptown Baptist. I wanted to make sure I went there. That was the church Jim Larson was music minister of. Jim is a friend I worked with in the 70's two doors from Emmaus. Jim and his wife Judy are now working with girls who were sold into prostitution in Thailand. He is the one that first told me about Emmaus. So, it was good to spend time with Nicole. I also felt connected to my old friend Jim.

I spent the evening with my niece and her family. It was nice, dinner, family, great conversation. I walked there. That is a walk from Uptown, to the edge of Boystown, turn on Grace and walk to North Central. It is about an hours walk. What I realized while walking is that I have seen a lot of Chicago neighborhoods in these past three weeks.


See Chicago - A City of Neighborhoods

I have seen and walked through:
Uptown
Ravenswood
New Chinatown
Buena Park
Edgewater
Rogers Park
Lincoln Park

Chicago Oak Street Beach Lake Shore Drive

Oldtown
Boystown
Andersonville
Chinatown

Chicago Chinatown – YCTV
Bucktown
Ukrainian village

Ukrainian Village neighborhood video from Dream Town
Wicker Park
Albany Park
The Loop
Downtown Lake Front

Buckingham Fountain in Chicago – YCTV
Lakewood
North Center
Roscoe village
Hyde Park

Hyde Park Chicago 2009
Wrigleville
Montclair
Galewood
Logan Square

As long as I am making lists, I have also seen so many different peoples. I have seen:
Swedish
Norwegian
Hispanic
Ukrainian
Russian
Polish
Chinese
Vietnamese
Thai
Africans (from all over the continent)
GLBT
Protestants
Catholics
Orthodox
Jews
Muslims
Buddhists

Man, that would make for one great quilt!

The Guys

I am learning a lot at Emmaus. Some of the information I can use in my classes. I can certainly use some of this in my Human Sexuality course. I can also use some of it in Psychodiagnosis, Social Cultural issues, Family Therapy, Substance Abuse Counseling and Counseling Skills. Much of what I learned can be incorporated in the Pastoral Counseling courses.

However, I am more interested in the issues I have seen surface. Legal issues, trauma and developmental delays permeated many of our days. Training staff with varied backgrounds seems to be a challenge. How do you teach clear boundaries and nurturing? Clearly it can and has been done. However, in psychology I do not speak of “loving” my clients, the staff here does in fact love the guys. That makes boundaries even more important.

Brokenness is also an important concept. Because the assumption is that we are all broken that helps make a more accepting environment. It reminds me of teaching my students to look for continuums because we can always place ourselves on those continuum s. Recognizing our own brokenness keeps us humble and humility connects us to our guys.

Labels are also important. Are our guys prostitutes or hustlers or is that a behavior they participate in? The difference is important. Most of us are far more than just one behavior, thought or feeling. Does “prostitute” best describe a man who is hustling because he has a sick infant who needs food now? Does it describe a man who will not accept food offered to him until he can feed his baby first? I think “desperate parent” would be a better description.

Is a man with limited intellectual abilities but an attractive face and physique best described as a prostitute? Might the real issue be that he is doing what he can to survive because other skills were not developed?

There are so many confounding factors. Paranoia, psychosis, trauma and abuse and drug addiction all complicate the picture. The variables certainly demand that each man be viewed as a unique individual and not as one label. None of this implies that the guys should be protected from the consequences of their behavior, nor is it an excuse for us to enable them. It is reason to care, to try to walk in their shoes and to see them as fellow children of God struggling in this life. The question is, who are we suppose to help, who are we suppose to forgive and how often, who are we called to love?

Brokenness, redemption and transformation are far more important concepts than DSM labels or moral judgments. Walking with them, being with them and modeling alternative relationships is important.

What I was not prepared for was the depths of their faith. However, when you’re alone at night on the streets, when danger can be anywhere, who do you turn to? Whom can you trust?

I am learning a lot. Most of it is about me and what it means to truly walk with someone.

Emmaus and Chicago: Day Nineteen

The morning started with “Street Feet”. This is an activity meant to get the guys moving and practicing healthy behaviors. Basically we meet at Emmaus and then go to the Lake and walk or run for an hour. Today was beautiful. The air was warm but not overwhelming; the breeze was cool and scented with blossoms. The skyline was beautiful, the lake was clear and the park was full of people. This is an activity that is in conjunction with a local church. The problem is our guys don’t want to walk or run. So it is a project they may grow into. Still, I thought it was a great idea.

After walking and doing my laundry I headed for downtown. My goal was to go to St. Peter’s in the Loop for Mass and Reconciliation. Never got to Mass. As soon as I came up the stairs from the subway I was in for a surprise. State Street was closed off, the Memorial Day Parade was about to begin!

So I stayed and watched it. It was great. All of the services were there. Veterans from WWII to present were there. There were JROTC units from all these high schools I remembered. The parade was long, loud and moving.

The family next to me was interesting. The mother said her mother was a prisoner during WWII in the Philippines and was rescued when McArthur returned. He husband had served in the military and her son is currently serving in the Israeli Defense Force.

After the parade I went to St. Peter’s in the Loop and had Reconciliation. I love that sacrament. I also like being in a center of Franciscans.

Finally my day at the Center started. It was not a particularly unusual day. A group of middle school aged kids from a local church arrived earlier and cooked. The evening was actually over early which has not happened before.

I followed up with going to Dollop, a local coffee house. I had coffee and read a chapter in A Heart for the Community. This is a book on urban ministry. Deacon John Green, the founder of Emmaus Ministries has a chapter on Emmaus in it. The coffee shop was this great kind of “Mother Earth” type environment. There was art for sale on the walls, fliers and announcements posted, papers to read, brick walls, tiled floors and mellow music. I loved it.

Afterwards Chris and I went to Our Lady of Lourdes for adoration. It was a rich, full day.


Chicago Memorial Day Parade - May 26, 2007 - Part 1 of 4

My Kind of Town

My Kind of Town

Emmaus: Day Eighteen

I get up and go to Mass. Nothing special, just nice. I still enjoy the diversity of Uptown. Walking down the street one is confronted by accents from around the world, yuppies and homeless, different faiths and different dress. It is a fascinating neighborhood.

I get to the Ministry Center early. This is my day to cook for the guys. Last night I cut up a boatload of beef and had it marinating in a Korean sauce. Today I make Korean beef, beans and corn, ginger rice. We have left over German Chocolate Cake. It is a good lunch,

It is a high energy crowd today. It is cold out. People need help with their court dates, housing and just getting along with each other. However, these folks are receptive to advise. They are also free at giving it to us!

One of our staff members, the director, Sil attends court today. One of our guys was found guilty of a crime and Sil is there to be with him during his sentencing. It is this commitment over time and situation that earns the trust of our guys.

It is a busy day. Chris is writing a letter of recommendation for housing, contingent on the guys commitment to treatment in the community. Lenette is writing guys in prison. The guys are busy with their chores and finally there is prayer.

When the day is over I go up the Kaio Community and crash. I sleep for almost 2 hours. It is my last Friday night in Chicago and I think I will spend it resting.

That doesn’t mean there are not things to do. There is the 2nd biggest convention of the year for the city, the International Mr. Leather convention. There is also Bear Pride. If that is not enough Chicago is one of two cities sponsoring the Grabbys. They are sort of like the Grammys but only for the Porn industry. However, I am boring, I am staying in tonight!

Smith's Museum of Stain Glass Windows: A Sampler

Emmaus and Chicago: Day Seventeen

I went to Mass. It was the Feast of the Ascension. This is special day for me beyond the obvious reasons. Three years ago I was in Assisi and along with some wonderful friends we ascended, we climbed Mount Subasio to get to a local and favorite hermitage of Francis. We climbed to the Carceri Hermitage. So I love this day.

Mary of the Lake also had all of the elementary children present. They filled 29 pews. They wore bright red sweaters and white colors. The girls had plaid skirts on. And they sang, boy could they sing. The children also were the lectors. One lector had a great African accent. During the last song the children all waved their arms as they sang. The church was filled with great energy.

When I got about to Emmaus I went down to the Ministry Center earlier. I was supposed to help a resident prepare lunch. However, he clearly did not need my help at all! I did have an opportunity to do an intake. That was interesting. There were questions I don’t normally ask. There were questions about spirituality and religion that I would not ask at a counseling center but I would ask at either a Christian /Counseling Center or in a Pastoral Counseling setting.

The Ministry Center was not initially active. So I used the occasion to do some video interviews. I interviewed Jonathon, the assistant executive director of Emmaus. I also interviewed Doug, the director of outreach programs. I did a walking tour of the center, boy, am I NOT a movie maker.

In the past week we have dealt with health issues, housing issues, anger and relapse. However, we have also supported guys who now have jobs, apartments and are learning delayed gratification.

We had our Ministry Center staff meeting. At the end of the meeting I gave the team their Tau’s. I also gave them a large San Domiano Cross for the Ministry Center. Boy I am going to miss this place.

And then I went to the Art Institute of Chicago to see their brand new wing. It is dedicated to modern art. Gotta tell you, I really, really like the rest of the museum! The new wing is beautiful. However, I am drawn to the African, Indian, and European Art. My Asian Affairs undergrad comes out. I am just pretty ignorant about art and I am not going to take a class on art appreciation at this time, too tired.



I then walked to Buckingham Fountain. It is beautiful. It had been shut down to be repaired. It looks just as I remembered it.



I walked down Lake Shore Drive to Navy Pier and saw the sites. I liked the Pirate Tall Ship. I especially liked Smith’s Museum of Stain Glass Windows and the Crystal Gardens. ]





And then I walked some more. I walked down the shore line all the way to Montrose and then on to Wilson. I had three hours of walking. I was tired, sore but I enjoyed the sites. I enjoyed the walkers, joggers, skaters and bikers. I enjoyed the motor boats, sail boats and the kayak. When I got home I was exhausted but I also felt connected to the lakefront.

Lincoln Park Zoo

The Center on Halsted

Emmaus: A Word

You may have noticed that I write about my trips, my adventures. I write about the Ministry in general terms. I write in even more general terms when I talk about the guys.

That is because I need to think about how I will tell their stories. I want to make sure I protect their identities. I want to help my readers understand that these guys are so much more than labels, they are full, complex men. They are made in the image of God.

I want to make sure that if our guys ever read this journal they will feel understood. I want to make sure they will feel their stories were told accurately. Most of all I want to make sure they do not feel judged.

So, I will eventually talk about some of their experiences in a composite manner. I will try to share their nobleness, their humanness and their struggles. But first I need to pause and consider how best to accomplish that.

Emmaus: Day Sixteen

I arrive at the Ministry Center only to be surprised. This has been a slow week. Yet the center is full. There are guys all over the place. Staff and volunteers are there. The guys are grilling meat for tomorrow.

Pam, a regular volunteer cooks for us. She makes BBQ pork, corn pudding, apple sauce, rolls, vegetable pizza, roasted potatoes, and a spinach, strawberry and sun flower seed salad. Afterwards she serves German Chocolate cake and a white cake with ice cream.

The guys are laughing, talking with staff. It sounds and feels like a holiday, a holiday with family members that you like.

The guys have worked on their goals. They do their chores. However, tonight there is a lot more teasing and joking between the guys and staff. I am glad I did not miss this evening.

Chicago: Day Sixteen: I Walked

I got home at 3:00 A.M. after working out reach. It was not a very busy night but Doug and I got to process my training. I slept and then got up at 8:30. I was out the door at 9:00. I was walking to the Center On Halsted.

I first stopped at the Lakeview Pantry. The lady I talked to told me that the pantry has had a 15% increase in cases in the past year. They are a local food pantry for a large area. They are now handing out over one million pounds of food a year. They have been around for 40 years. They have many programs. The pantry is the most visible. However, they also have home delivery of food, clothing, and case management. They also serve as a site for Heartland Health Outreach. This is an impressive local agency and I was glad to have had the opportunity to talk with them.



I then walk over to The Center on Halsted. This is a huge place. It is a three story, 55,000 foot building. That does not include the whole food store that rents from the Center. This is the largest GLBTQ center in the Midwest. It has multiple programs. These include a computer room, art galleries, a gym, a café, recreation rooms and programs, a roof top garden, counseling services and youth services. There are activities for folks who want to be able to socialize without using alcohol. There is theater. Many of the programs here are connected to outside institutions. That includes outside theater groups.



The place is friendly. I am greeted by many proud staff members including the director of recreational services. I notice that the Adler School of Professional Psychology has an office in the building. That is the school I went to.

I view the galleries, the roof top garden and the café. From the garden you can look down Halsted Street and see downtown Chicago. It is a great view. I wonder what potential there may be for Emmaus and the Center to work together to help the local youth. It may not be possible at all but dialogue is important.

Next I walk over to the Salvation Army Officer College. This is an impressive campus. The main building looks like something from 1910. I speak briefly to the reception and am given a number to call. I know Emmaus is working with the Army. I know the Army is struggling to find a way to be relevant and authentic in the neighborhood.



Next I walk over to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. It is a large building with connecting school buildings. The church is closed but I am greeted by the administrator. He speaks briefly of the church and invites me to a service.



Finally I walk, and walk to Lincoln Park Zoo. I was a docent at this zoo in the 80’s. I love this place. It is one of the few free zoos left in the country. When I was a kid it was a horrible menagerie of animals. Lots of animals packed next to one another.
The animals were often neurotic or lethargic. By the time I became a docent that had change. They had moved to becoming a zoological park with an emphasis on fewer types of animals and more natural habitats. I was there when they opened the penguin house, the large mammal habitat, the great ape house, the polar bear habitat and the reptile house. That emphasis has not changed. The new buildings are incredible.



Finally I walk to the “L”. I have lunch at a West African restaurant. I then meet with Deacon John Green, the founder of Emmaus Ministries. We talk about my experience and about Emmaus. I then meet him in his office and do a video interview.

It is finally 4:00 PM and time to begin my shift at the Ministry Center.

Emmaus: Day Fifteen

I get up and go to church. I am moving slow because I am a little tired. The service is great. I then catch up on some of my reading and I talk to Cathi on the phone.

When I get down to the Ministry Center I am surprised. It is a really slow day, the day before was hectic. However, our setting is like a family. Families fluctuate in their involvement and energy level. The guys that do show up today have things to work on and thy work.

After the Center closes we have an Emmaus Staff meeting. I really enjoy how much this group works as a team. I like how they keep the guys in their prayers. This is not just a job for anyone here.

We have a guest with us, a potential intern from Indian Wesleyan. She is an art student and is considering the art internship.

After the meeting Brandon make dinner. This is Kaio Community night and we all eat together. I am surprised, Brandon is a fantastic cook. We have wraps but with so many different condiments and fillings. Afterwards Nicole leads our discussion. She takes us downstairs to the Community Center, lights candles and turns off the lights. She leads us in Christian contemplation. The focus is on noise. It was great.

We then go upstairs and Brandon serves dessert, pound cake and strawberries and whip cream. Nicole, the intern and I then walk to the lake. We sit by Montrose harbor looking at the oats and the skyline of downtown. We go and sit on the rocks. After a very relaxing night we return back to Emmaus and Doug and I leave for outreach.

Outreach was also quiet tonight. That gives Doug and I time to talk about the programs, the needs and the direction of the ministry. I get to process some of my training. We do talk to a few guys but all in all it was a laid back night.

I get back after 3:00 A.M., eat and go to bed. It has been a long day.

Emmaus: Day Fourteen

I get up slow. I worked outreach until 3:00 AM. When I arrive down at the Ministry Center I am surprised. The place is full with our guys. Some a sick, some had really bad weekends. All are happy to be here.

They joke with us. They come in with serious goals to work on. This is not ordinary. I do not expect so much focused activity. However I don’t complain.

The guys talk one-to-one. They call their case managers, doctors, families. One guy reads scripture, another leads prayer. After dinner one of the guys plays the piano and sings while we work.

Many of the problems the guys are dealing with are unique. Many are simply the problems of living. We are there for both types of problems. None of the workers at Emmaus work outside their area of training. This is a supportive community. It is not a counseling center.

Chris and I make a run over to Our Lady of Lourdes. They have some food donations for us. I also make a delivery over to Jesus People USA. It is an active day.

That evening I work on my blog. We at Kaio gather and watch the last episode of the season of “24”. Tomorrow there will be a potential art intern here. She will stay with us for the evening and interview with the folks downstairs. It wasn’t that long ago that I was doing that!

I can’t wait to go home but I sure will miss this place and these folks.

Chicago: Day Thirteen

I attend Mass at Mary of the Lake Church. It is a beautiful church with a diverse congregation. I love how it anchors the neighborhood. I love how it has rich and poor, black, white and Asian, chronically mentally ill and successful folks. I love the pillars, the frescoes and the history. However, I have been here many times. This is my home away of home. Today it is time for something different.

I go to Walt Disney magnet School. I can hear the music outside. I enter and I am welcomed by so many people. This is the Christ’s Oasis Ministries. It is a congregation whose members come from all over Africa. There are different accents, different dress and when they all get up and dance to the music, there are different styles of dance.

The band consists of drums, two key boards, guitar, there is a full choir. However, none of that is needed because you could not stop this group from singing.

I am one of only two white folks in a congregation of about 300. It doesn’t matter. I am the only Norwegian-American here, it doesn’t matter. I don’t know what to do or when to do it, it doesn’t matter. This is a warm welcoming congregation and I am happy to be here!

When I get back to the Kaio Community I am missing Cathi. I have had a wonderful morning but I am still a little bummed out. So I cook. I make curry rice and vegetables. I bake snicker doodles. The folks like them. They especially like not having to cook.

Nicole is sick so we trade outreach nights. I go out with Chris and work outreach from 10:00 to 3:00. It is a fairly quiet evening. I like that. I am tired and it is a good opportunity to get to know Chris better. It is also an opportunity to spend more time with the few guys we do talk to this evening.

My one concern is that the group of homeless teens that roam the area continues to get bigger and bigger. I also have questions about them. They always clean, how is that. They are rarely in the same area, where do they end up at night. What is clear is that many of them know and trust us.

After a long day it is time for bed!

Chicago: Ukranian National Museum

In between church hoping I went to the Ukrainian National Museum. Talk about a treat. I got a private tour of the museum by the Administrator of the museum, Anna M. Chychula. This is an impressive museum in the heart of Ukrainian village. The museum is home to over 1,140 artifacts. The galleries are thematic, bright and accessible.

There is plenty of folk art. That includes musical instruments, carvings, paintings and my favorite, Pysanky. Pysanky are the elaborately decorated eggs. This includes not only chicken eggs but also goose and ostrich eggs.



There are permanent exhibits. These include exhibits on the Ukrainian exhibit at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. There is a room that focuses on the resistance to the Soviets. Other exhibits include folk dress, the Kozaks, and Senator Walter Dudyez.

There are temporary exhibits. These often display the artistic creations of Ukrainian artists from around the U.S., Canada and of course the Ukraine.


There was a sobering part to this tour. We entered the Ukrainian Genocide Exhibit Room. This was a sad place to be. The Soviet Genocide by intentional starvation between 132-33 resulted in the death of over 10 million Ukrainians. That is a staggering number, 10 million in 500 days. That break down to:
1 in 4 Ukrainians died in this genocide.



At the height of the genocide Ukrainians were dying at a rate of 25,000 per day
Or 1000 people per hour
Or 17 people per minute
This is a genocide that is still denied by the Russian government.



Anna was a delightful host. She made sure the genocide exhibit was not the end exhibit. She wanted to show off the accomplishments and gifts of her people. She was also a proud advocate for Ukrainian Village. When I left the museum I had a long list a great places to eat. I am fortunate to have met Anna .

Finally, I ended my day in Ukrainian Village by eating in a local restaurant. I had borscht, it was sweet and wonderful. I had something that looked like a blintz. Other foods included spicy meats and cabbage dishes. I don’t know what I ate, I just know it was wonderful and I want more.

Finally I took the Division bus to Wells Street. I walked down Old Town, Wells to Lincoln, Lincoln to Fullerton and took the “L” home. It was a long, exciting day.

Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Parish

St. Nicholas Ukranian Catholic Cathderal

St. Volodymyr Orthodox Cathedral

St. George Orthodox Church

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

Chicago: The Churches of Ukranian Village

I finally left Polonia for the Ukrainian Village. The rest of the day proved to be one of walking and walking and more walking! First I came to the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral. The church was locked but as I walked away from the rectory a man came to the door and asked if I would like to see the inside of the church. Boy was I glad he appeared!

The church was founded in 1892.St. John Kochurov contracted to have the church designed and built by Louis Sullivan. In fact, this is the only Sullivan church left in the world. Father John Kochurov returned to Russia and was martyred by the Bolsheviks. This church is a city landmark and deserves to be. The inside is beautiful. The chandlers, icons, iconostasis are all bright and other worldly. My favorite icon is of St. John shaking hands with Louis Sullivan as they plan the church. I rarely think of icons representing modern times.

I then walked past St. George Russian Orthodox Church. I am surprised because while there is no one around the church is open. I go in and quietly view the church. Again, it is breath-taking. It is clear to me that I much prefer the art of the East in church design to the art of the West.

I then walk down Division Street toward Oakley. Division Street is wonderful. It is full of outdoor cafes, restaurant, beer gardens and specialty shops. People are out walking their dogs, meeting friends and shopping. As I turn down Oakley the atmosphere changes. It is still a delightful neighborhood. However, it changes from being a yuppie neighborhood to an ethnic neighborhood. The Ukrainian language or English with thick accents is heard everywhere.

First I come up to St. Volodymir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. It is huge. It clearly was not always an Orthodox church. However, they made sure when they claimed it to place mosaic pictures on the outside. This is the center of Orthodoxy and Orthodoxy is by far the largest religious denomination in Ukrainian society. I repeatedly come back to this church but it is closed and I never get to see the inside of it.

As I walk down the street I view these green onion domes. It is as if I am in Russia (sorry Ukrainian readers!). I come up to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral. It is also enormous. I can see it from blocks way. Inside are chandeliers, icons, pillars. I attend a part of vespers. This is a magnificent church.

However, across the street is yet another church, the St. Volodymyr and Olha Parish Cathedral. It has gold domes. If the first church looked like Red Square this one looks like Constantinople. This distinct segment of Ukrainian Catholicism has its own cathedral because of a wish to more fully follow the rites of the east. This includes following the Julian calendar. The inside of the church is bright blue. This highlights all of the icons and especially the huge iconostasis. I stay for Ukrainian vespers. I do not understand it by Dr. Adam Deville gave me a CD of the Divine Liturgy and this is all familiar. I love this church and wish I could stay longer.

I had a great time see so many churches in one day. That is not the end of my day. I also visited the Ukrainian National Museum and ate a traditional Ukrainian meal. That however is for another entry.

Chicago: St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish

Chicago: Holy Trinity Polish Mission Church

Chicago: Little Poland

After Chinatown I took the “L” and bus to Ukrainian Village. I wanted to stop and see two Polish churches but I was sure I did not have enough time. Then I saw two bell towers a block from the bus window and realized I was passing the Polish churches. I got off and walked toward Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The church was a combination Renaissance and Baroque style of architecture. Between the two bell towers stands a statue of Our Lady of Immigrants. The church opens up with two large “millennium” doors.

The area was full of cars. As I walked up the stairs I heard people talking, in Polish. It was a high school graduation. I arrive right after it was over. The sanctuary was full of people.

What a sanctuary. It was cavernous and bright. The inside dimensions is 125 feet by 200 feet. There are large, bright murals of biblical scenes and important people to the Polish community. There were shrine on both sides of the sanctuary. The shrines were so big that they had stairs going up to them from two sides.

The alter is huge and has two sides. The center is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. One of the two sides is dedicated to Divine Mercy Jesus and the other side is dedicated to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The church has catacombs but I was not able to see them.

I walked around taking photos. I tried to talk with people but the language barrier was substantial. The children spoke English but they were busy with each other.

After spending time in the church I walked in the other direction to another bell tower. I walked to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish Church. This is a church with a proud history. It was the mother church of Polish immigrants. At one time it had 40,000 members and 12 Masses on Sunday. Today it has a smaller congregation and a significant Hispanic membership. Only a few blocks from the other church and now the language spoken is Spanish!

The church was modeled after a church in Krakow. It originally had two towers but one collapsed. The church has a baroque altar with choir stalls next to the alter. There is a painting of Mary handing baby Jesus to Stanislasaus Kostka. The sanctuary dome has a painting of Christ in heaven. The chandeliers that hang over the pews are Tiffany chandeliers. The stain glass windows address the mysteries of the rosary.The church now has the largest Monstrance in the world!

I was not able to spend much time in this church. There was a baptism taking place so I spent much of my time outside talking to a member of the church. It was not clear if he was a deacon, ground keeper or active member. What was clear is that everyone knew him and respected him. He told me about the history of the church. He pointed out that the house a few feet away belong to Dan Rostenkowski. He talked about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land and to Rome. This was a spirit filled man. He was simply a joy to spend time with.

Finally it was time to move on to Ukrainian Village.

Chicago's Chinatown

Day Twelve: Chinatown

I got up early, and bought an all day bus pass. It was my day off and I was on an adventure. First I took the Red Line “L” to Chinatown. I have been here many times. I love it. When you first walk down to street level from the “L” you see the Nine Dragon Wall. This is a sculpture that faces north. So you are seeing this very Chinese piece of art and behind it rises the skyline of Chicago. You then face south and you see the impressive archway the invites you to walk into Chinatown.

The street signs are in Chinese. The signs for the stores, restaurants, social service agencies are in Chinese and English. It is crowded and busy. People walk around shopping and speaking various Chinese languages.

I come up to St. Therese Chinese Catholic Mission Church. It is not a large church. Outside by both sides of the entrance stand two stone Chinese lions. The church is closed and I am disappointed.

I look into the side yard, the gate is open so I enter. There is a statue of Mary with an Asian face. There is a statue of Buddha! I see someone and ask if I can go inside the church and take photos. He says there is a meeting taking place and I should ask them. Turns out I get a personal tour by Joe the Youth Minister.
He gives me a great tour. The sanctuary is beautiful. This was originally an Italian church. The stain glass windows are inspired by Italian cities. The saints are Italian. However, by the middles of the 20th century the Italians were moving out of the neighborhood and the Chinese were moving in. Today the church is a blend of multiple cultures. It includes various places in Italian and numerous Chinese provinces and languages.

The church was on in which the competing Chinese ethnic groups did not always get along. That changed when the current priest, Father Michael Davitti, SX, from Italy, initiated a remodeling program. All groups worked together. What they created was a beautiful church that respects all related heritages. The chandlers are from Venice. The Italian saints are honored. There is also a shrine to the dead ancestors. This is not for worship but for veneration. Joe says this is a concept that Catholics should be very familiar with, talking with are deceased but not gone relatives! .
On the ceiling above each pillar is a Chinese character. Together they spell out the motto of this community, “Together in Christ, we are one happy family.” In the front is a symbol for love. The priest tells me that united in the love of Christ this community is one, without Christ that would not be the case.

The cross in the front of the church is beautiful. I am told it was purchased by Al Capone’s mother. She lived in the north side of the city but probably worshipped here. This is the church that would have spoken her dialect of Italian. Besides, her son is said to do business in the area.

I walk up to the balcony. I visit the saints. I pray. And then I have to get going, the meeting was in preparation for a funeral and so now it is time for me to go.

As I leave I walk past the statue of Buddha. I was told that it stays with them, outside the walls of the church to remind folks where they came from, who there brothers and sisters are and to treat Buddhists with respect.

Now it is time to move on to Polonia and the Ukrainian Village

Minnekirken

Chicago: Day Eleven

This weekend we (Norwegian Americans) celebrate the 17th of May or Constitution Day. I read that there was a concert at Minnekirken, which is the only Norwegian-speaking church left in Chicago. It is the only one in a 400 mile radius. So I planned on attending.

After work I took the CTA out to my old neighborhood. I walked past my house, it looked very different. I went past my grammar school, it actually looked bigger than I remembered. I went to St. Philomena church. It was closed. I went past where I worked for five years, sold. I went to where the restaurant my mom and I use to go to, gone. I went to my all time favorite Chinese restaurant, gone. The bowling alley, American Decal factory, Bresler’s Ice cream factory, all gone.

I did however find a pizza parlor and had a slice of Italian sausage, thin crust. It was great, just as I remembered it!

Then I went to Minnekirken. The last time I spent any time there was in 1976 when the King of Norway visited the church. The church was all decked out for Syttende Mai or 17th May. All of the pews had Norwegian flags. The women were in traditional dress. The music was great.

The church is this medium size Nordic church at Logan Square circle. The alter looks like a white castle. The stain galss windows are heavy. There are Norwegian paintings all over. I love this place.

Our speakers included Kari Diesen-Dahl, board president, Rev. Wayne Miller,, Bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, E.L.C.A. and pastor John Andeasen. However, I was most excited about the person who gave the 17th Mai address, Olav T. Lanke. He is the vice president of the Lagting. He is the Norwegian speaker of the house! I got to met him afterwards and that was great.

After the concert there was a reception. We had open face sandwiches, coffee cake and beutiful cakes. I sat with a number of people talking about being Norwegian in America.

Finally I walked down Fullerton avenue waiting for a bus. I passed a number of Botanicas. These are shops that sell spices, herbs and statuary for the worship of Santeria. I was curious but tired and simply looked in the window. I got home tired but boy, did I ever have a good day!


Norway Folk Dance

Emmaus: Day Eleven

It was my turn to cook for the Ministry Center. So I got down there early, 8:30 to start cooking. We had turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, peas and cranberries. We also had peach cobble from yesterday. I wasn’t trying to recreate Thanksgiving but simply using what I found.

Well, it was a good meal and a good day. One guy is taking his meds regularly and is looking better. Another registered for college. He proudly showed us his school I.D. card.

The guys attended group, did their chores and worked on their goals. To be sure it was not a day without challenges, that never happens. Still, it was an up beat day. When one of the guys said grace he kept personalizing it, (“that’s what I’m struggling with”, “Lord, especially help me with that…”) His prayer emphasized that these guys aren’t just going through the motions.

It was a dark, cold, rainy day. I kept wondering what it is like for the guys living on the streets. Still, as the guys left they kept thanking us for the meal. They live hard lives but we provide respite.

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Emmaus: Day Ten

I did not get up in time for church. I was doing outreach last night so I slept until 9 AM. I talked with Cathi for a while. Then I walked over to the lake. I had not been to the lake since I got here.

There was the hill that was the site for the vigil after John Lennon was killed. There was the hospital that Fritz Perl died in. There was the park. People were playing soccer, riding bikes, running and playing with their kids or walking their dogs. Birds were singing, boats were on the lake and the trees were in full blossom. What a great way to start the morning.

I walked from Wilson to Montrose harbor. This is a great harbor. It is home to the Corinthian Yacht Club, one of many such clubs in Chicago.You can see the boats, the lake and you can see the skyline of downtown. I love it here.

Then I discover the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. This is new. When I was a kid this was the site of surface to air missiles to shot down Soviet bombers. When I was a teen the base was closed and taken over by Native Americans. As an adult it was part of the park system. However, this is new and I love it.

It is 15 acres of shrubs, trees, grasses, trails, bird watchers with great cameras and birds. Lots and lots of birds. When I get to the shore I am in for another surprise. They built up a sand dune. Not for humans but for more birds and the gulls are showing how happy they are.

After a wonderful walk I go to the Ministry Center. It is more of the same which is OK with me because I love it. Afterwards we have a Ministry Center staff meeting. Lynette talks about her ministry to our guys in jail. We get updates on the Endurance Ride, a fund raiser that is coming up. Then our shift is over.

I go to Our Lady of Lourdes with Chris for Mass and adoration. Finally, the other members of Kiao Community go visit a friend. I now have a quiet night to myself. Tomorrow I cook for the Ministry Center. But tonight I chill!

Emmaus: Day Nine

I got in at 3 AM last night. I get up at 9 AM. I am not going on an adventure today. I decide to take it easy. I spend my morning reading. I finish reading The Perfect Joy of Saint Francis by Felix Timmerans. The book was a present when I took my final profession to become a Secular Franciscan, that seems so long ago now! I enjoyed the book very much.

Next I continue reading my training manual. There is some good stuff in here. I like the focus on knowing the person and not the label, on realizing there are multiple pathways to this life. I also like the emphasis on being a servant and a humble on at that.

Finally at 3 I start working my shift at the Ministry ‘Center. I get to see how much this center means to some of our guys. One guy stops by and bakes two huge peach cobblers. He cannot stay and have dinner with us, he just wanted to contribute. Another makes fried chicken from scratch. Again, he also is not able to stay but wanted to make a contribution to the center and the guys.

Guys are here using the phone to find out about their medicines, jobs, housing. They do their chores. One reads scripture before a meal and another says grace. Their prayers are never bland. I love this place.

After the shift I go up to the Kiao Community and we have our prayers. I really like these folks. Then the rains come. The sky is black interrupted by flashes of lightening. The rain falls in sheets and the wind howls. Then at 10:30 PM I get to begin my Outreach!

I worked outreach with my roomie Chris. He is a great guy who is very bright, funny and caring. Once we are dropped off at Boys Town it stops rainy! Every time we go in doors it rains and when we get ready to go back out it stops. What a night. It is 70 degrees out, so while we are wet it feels good outside. I expect it to be a slow night because of the weather. Boy, was I wrong.

We have a number of homeless women approach us. They know our work and trust us. They are not part of our mission. However, we are a mission. So they walk and talk with us. These are women who are disheveled, have a sense of drama, have a long history of victimization. We are their safe break in a very rough life.

Guys keep approaching us. They know us. Some want some food, not snacks but food. Others need to talk about what happened to their friends or family. They look tired, hungry, anxious but trusting. At one point we were walking down the street with six guys around us. I never would have imagined this.

I met more members of a “family” of homeless teenagers. So far I think I have met 12 members from this group and there are more. The sleep on the streets and avoid shelters. They care for one another. They clearly like us and get up excited as soon as they recognize us. The older ones seem to recognize the gravity of their way of life. They have newspapers out and are looking for jobs. The younger ones seem to act as if they are on a big adventure or extended party.

It was a very busy night. We told a lot of guys about our services at the Ministry Center. We listened and listened and listened to guys tell their stories. Chris and I arrive back at home after 3:30 AM. I am exhausted and go to bed. Chris works on the paper work and stays up till 5 AM. It was another long but very satisfying Emmaus day

Emmaus Day Eight: the Rest of the Story

My work day was a long one. First I worked in the Ministry Center from 11-3. I did sign-ins and talked with the guys. This is a great experience. We have a number of guys who are struggling with making major changes in their lives. They are trying to sabotage their own relapse, they are initiating conversations with us. They are in uncomfortable places, places of growth.

Then we had a staff meeting. I then rushed up to Kiao Community to make our dinner. After we ate we, the Kaio Community, went to Holy Name Cathedral Center for a lecture on Mary. Then we came back and had the briefest of meetings. I read and finally at 10:30 began outreach.

I went out with Doug, master of outreach. This guy is great. He is a musician, street smart guy who can live his faith authentically without coming off even a little pious. That is so important in this work.

We first went downtown, by the river. Nothing was happening there. Then we went to Boys Town. That was different. We had a number of guys approach us. They simply had to talk about their hurt, their families, pressures, their friends in jail. These guys are living very difficult lives. Doug referred to it as “survival prostitution”. I am amazed at how easy it is to see past what they do. I like these guys, I am touched by their struggles. They are not interchangeable, they are all so different.

They sit and talk with us. They smoke, laugh, express their sadness. They get some food. One will sleep on the “L” tonight. Two are struggling to support their families. All the guys we talked to tonight knew about Emmaus, their families knew about Emmaus. The Ministry was one of the few supportive, safe places in their lives. I am also struck by how strong their faith is. That is something I never even considered!

We get home at 3:00. It has been a long day but a really good day. All I keep thinking is, if Emmaus didn’t do this work who would?

Emmaus: Day Eight, an Early Start

I went to Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes church. This is a huge church with three domes. It is famous because while it is now on the West side of Ashland Ave. that was not always the case. It had been on the east side. When Ashland was widened the church was cut in half and moved across the street! Pretty cool engineering feat.

The church is in need of some work. Still, its beauty is clear. The domes, ceiling, icons and statues are beautiful and reverential. The congregation consisted mainly of Asians and Latinos. Afterwards I walked back to the gardens to the Adoration Chapel. In the garden was a statue of Mary and a man was holding her hands as he prayed.

After church I walked over to the American Indian Center. It is in a large building. I was given a tour. There is an auditorium, museum cases with artifacts and headdresses, murals and literature. I also was told about their many programs for families, children, elderly, mentally ill and the community,. There is counseling, educational programs, wellness programs and of course cultural programs, art galleries and powwows. This is the largest urban Indian community center in the nation. I referred folks to it when I lived in Chicago.



The Center serves the 73,000 Native Americans in Illinois and especially the 32,000 native Americans residing in Chicago. That is a big job.

Next I simply looked at some interesting sites from the sidewalk. That included the Queen Ann Style home of Wallace Abbott, founder of Abbott Pharmaceuticals. The house and gardens were beautiful. I then went past a huge Buddhist Temples with a two story tall Buddha. I would love to go inside if I have time.

Finally I went past the St. John Assyrian Catholic church of the East. This was a significant find for me. I remember reading about this church. After September 11th someone started a fire in this church thinking they were striking back at Islamic Extremists when in fact they were attacking one of the oldest Christian groups in the world.

I then went home to prepare for a very busy day!

Komets: Turner Cup Champs X2!!!

I am sitting here wondering what is going on with all my Fort Wayne friends. I decided to see how our hockey team, the Komets did in their final games of the play-offs. Well, they are the Turner Cup Champs. That is, Turner Cup Champs two years in a row, first time in their 57 year history. They beat the Muskegon Lumberjacks. The Komets won the series, best out of seven taking 4-1. That is a decisive victory!

Last year the city did nothing. That is kind of a strange response for a city that prides itself on being a center of minor league sports. Well, this time it will be different. Tuesday is Komet Day. There will be a celebration and proclamation at the City-County Building with the Mayor. There will be a parade to the Coliseum and then there will be a bash. With 10, 480 folks witnessing the final game the bash should be huge.

I will be here in Chicago wishing I was in Fort Wayne. I will also be wondering why none of my Fort Wayne Facebook friends ever mentioned the victory. I am especially wondering why a certain Kerri never mentioned it!

Go Komets!!!


Fort Wayne Komets - Get The Puck Outta Here!

Emmaus: Day Seven

Today was one of those days that showed the importance of the Ministry Center. There were 12 guys here today. They had health problems, housing issues and a host of other worries. Some were tired, others anxious and pacing, two were clearly irritable. And then the routine set in. They made their daily goals. They went to group. They read scripture, prayed and ate lunch. Some showered, others did laundry. They checked out their mail and they did their chores.

This place is an oasis of normalcy in a sea of chaos. We, the staff and volunteers are models. We don’t model how to “do it right” but rather how wounded people can make healthier choices.

The day wasn’t all about the Ministry Center. I attended an in-service by a Pastoral Counselor. In the evening I went to an Ethiopian restaurant, that was very different. No utensils, just eating with your hand, your right hand.

I am taking it easy tonight because tomorrow will be a long day.

Peace and all Good,
Carl

Mary of the Lake Parish Church

Day Six in Chicago

I had the day off, it is after all Sunday. First I went to Mass at Mary of the Lake Parish Church. This is a beautiful church. The congregation is made up of everybody! There were Africans, Southeast Asians, the chronically mentally ill, yuppies, elderly and young families. The priest is from Nigeria.

Today is Mother’s Day and all of the mothers received flowers, prayers and our applause. I love this church. When I worked in Uptown (during the Carter administration) Sister Gloria Bednarski lived at the church convent and worked with me at the Hazel-Wilson Home. Sister Gloria now works with the poor in Honduras. So I feel a connection to this church. After Mass the priest called me to the rectory and gave me a book on the history of the church. I will treasure it.

Next I went to an African Church that met in a community center. This was the Christ Community Miracle Ministries. It was a small congregation but a lively church. The women were all dressed in bright dresses. The band consisted of drums, keyboard and percussions. I arrived for Sunday School and they had me reading before I could say “no”. The church was very charismatic and far too much energy for this stoic Scandinavian! I loved the accents, the music, the warmth and the enthusiasm. It was out of my comfort zone but that was OK. Unfortunately I had to leave before the service was over but I was happy to have discovered them.

In the afternoon I walked to Andersonville in the Edgewater area of Chicago. As I walked there I passed a number of different areas. There were murals all over the place. I saw women in full burqas, men with skull caps and turbans. As I walked Fort Wayne began to feel a little bland!

When we lived in Andersonville it was still predominantly Swedish with some Assyrians, Koreans and GLBT folks. Well, the old Swedish shops are still there. However, now there are so many new upscale restaurants and shops. Mediterranean food, Sicilian, Lebanese, Moroccan, Korean, Japanese all next to each other. The neighborhood could be a poster for tolerance of diversity. Men walk down the street holding hands, lesbian couples walk their dogs and show off their rainbow accessories, Middle East shop keepers sell their trade. I love this place. So, with all of this exotic food to choose from what do I do? I get a Chicago hotdog. These are hotdogs the way hotdogs were intended to be made, steamed, onion, tomato, mustard and celery salt.

In the evening we, the Kiao Community have Lord’s Day Prayer. We gather together and the worship is from The Lord’s Day Celebration. There is a reader, an assistant and the rest of us. The assistant lights a candle and we pray. This is a very structured prayer. We then end with prayers focused on specific prayer requests. This is a good community.

That was my day. Tomorrow it is back to work. It begins early with a training inservice by a Pastoral Counselor. I look forward to that.

Peace and all Good,
Carl

Emmaus Ministries: Day Five

I really enjoyed my first Saturday evening at the Ministry Center. Members of the Laborers for Christ Church came and served our guys food. These people are awesome. They are a small church. They started volunteering at Emmaus two years ago and everything just caught on fire. This little church now serves our guys regularly. They also provide services in training for the whole Body. They did a service on Sexual Healing in South Africa. They just returned from similar work in Turkey and a pilgrimage to Greece.

The group tonight consisted of three ladies, including the pastor and two young men. The men played the piano and between the food, fellowship and music it was sweet.

I was struck by how important it is to create a safe and caring environment. Last night our guys ate with us and then just hung around. They could have watched movies with us but decided to just hang and talk. One was clearly feeling under the weather. Two talked about how crazy their weeks had been. They talked about the anxiety of what was facing them next week. We were the safe port in the storm, a home away from home.

We had another visitor last night. She was a volunteer who has been an Emmaus volunteer for five years. This place gets to people. I suspect that if you stay around long enough it becomes a part of you. That is a good thing.

Millennium Park

Chicago Cultural Center

St. Peter's in the Loop

The Harold Washington Library

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Day Five in Chicago

I had a pretty active half day off. This was after I decided I was too tired to do anything. I first went to the Harold Washington Library Center. It was being constructed while I was gong for my doctorate and completed after I left Chicago. So I always wanted to see the building.

The outside is huge and breathtaking. It is granite and brick with enormous ornaments hanging from the roof. It looks like a combination Romanesque architecture and something out of Batman.

Once inside the place takes your breath away, yep, again. I started on the ninth floor. This is the winter garden with one hundred foot ceilings to the tenth floor. There are olive trees growing here. Everything is big and impressive in this place. The lobby on the first floor is two stories tall. I went into the Washington room. I like this. I voted for this guy four times, two primaries and two general elections. It was not easy supporting him the first time. People would chase you if you forgot to take off your Harold Washington button.
The other floors had art and wonderful views.

I then walked over to St. Peter in the Loop Church. There is nothing like going to a center of Franciscanism for Mass. The church has relics of Francis and of Anthony of Padua. I love the saints but I am not a fan of relics. Still, the place was huge. The windows and Stations of the Cross were beautiful. It was good to see friars walking around. After mass I walked around the building for a while and then headed for my next destination.



I went to the Cultural Center of Chicago. When I was a kid this was the downtown library. As an adult it was closed. Now it is refurbished and a showcase of architecture and art. The place is spectacular.

The center was built in 1897 and cost $2 million then. It has three foot thick walls. It is built in a neoclassical style. It was meant to remind people of the Columbia Exhibition or the Chicago Worlds Fair. The interior consists of mosaic tiles, marble, parquet floors and beautiful archways, ceilings and windows. There are columns, domes and stain glass everywhere. This includes the largest stain glass dome in the world and is worth $35 million, it is wonderful.

I walked though the free art exhibits, including one from China. I looked out the windows at all of the various angles and perspectives of the Chicago skyline. And then I walked over to my final destination for the day.



I walked over to Millennium Park. When I lived in Chicago this was an area of ugly rail tracks that took away from the beauty of Grant park. Well, no more. Now it is a center of high tech and natural beauty. There are gardens. There is a huge gazing globe that shows off the visitors and the skyline. There is a water fountain that has two waterfalls that project faces onto the surface while people wad in its pool. Then there is the outdoor auditorium. This is the third auditorium in grant Park in my life. This one is the best by far and looks like nothing found in nature! I walked, I enjoyed the birds, the flowers and the visitors and then I went home. I still had work to do and I had already had a busy but productive day.

Jesus People USA: My Neighbors

Emmaus Ministries: Day four

I cooked today. I got to the Ministry Center at 10:00 so I could have lunch ready by noon. I cooked garlic chicken with mozzarella cheese, green beans, rice and served it with cantaloupe and bread.

Our meals are served at a dinning room table, we all sit together. One of the guys begins with a scripture reading and then another prays. There is a real homey feeling about this place. (“Homey” as in home, The Waltons not as in “my hommie, yo dog”).

As soon as a guy enters the center he is met by a staff member. They ask him what his goal is for the day. Guys usually call family, case workers, doctors, housing folks or job opportunities. They then schedule time to use the showers and do their laundry. They also sign up to do a chore.

The rest of the time is spent relaxing, talking with staff and one another. There is group. This is a ministry and the ministry is in it for the long run. that means developing a trusting and respecting relationship is the most important thing we do.

When I finished my shift I walked over to Jesus People USA,. pronounced "Juh-POO-zuh,", This is an old hotel with 500 people living in intentional community. I remember them from the late seventies. These folks do not look like your run of the mill Christians (whatever that is). I first met a woman with beautifully colored tattoos running down both arms and with big, loud ear rings and necklaces. I immediately thought of gypsies. Then I saw a sign on the wall for “Project Nehemiah” it describes their service projects in Romania. I saw many elderly and some folks who clearly have mental health issues. The woman at the counter had bright green hair on the top of her head and the rest of her head was shaved. She was greeted by a friend. He was wearing a long black coat, black platform boots that went up to his knees and black eye makeup and lipstick. To be fair, the majority of folks looked like anyone else except for that fact that nobody was wearing anything new.

I was offered a tour. I visited their chapel and their two cafeterias. Everything is owned in common. Families have rooms but eat with everyone else. I visited their brand new coffee house, “Citizen, Citizen, Citizen.” The neighborhood now has many coffee shops. So it is easy to find a quiet place to have a latte and work or read. That is not that place. This is a skateboarder coffee shop. The music throbs and kids are outside dressed in so many different styles skating and laughing.

The Friendly Towers needs a lot of work. It is not ascetically pleasing to look at. So, why do I like this place and these folks? Because they are living a radical gospel life. They have given up everything to follow the gospels. In return they are transforming their part of the world. Elderly and mentally ill live in a community that values them. Across the street, next to Emmaus is a large two story art gallery. This is part of Jesus People USA. I walk down the street and go down what use to be “blood alley”, nobody but nobody walked down that dangerous place. Today it is safe. These folks put in two shelters for families down this alley. I visit Cornerstone shelter and Sylvan Center.

They have building business, educational services and outreach programs for neighborhood kids. They have rock bands, Irish bands and Goth (explains my first encounter) that travel the world. And worship, these folks know how to worship.

So, it is not my kind of community but I sure do appreciate them. I will probably spend Saturday evening with them watching “The Wrath of Khan”.

Peace and all Good

Emmaus Ministries: Day Three

Nothing out of the ordinary at this time. I am attending St. Mary of the Lake Church. I continue to read about the ministries at Emmaus. I continue to explore the neighborhood. Mainly I am focused on getting to know the guys we work with and my Kaio community members. As I tell my students, it is all about relationship and listening.

Our community is pretty interesting. There are four of us, I am the oldest by far. We all have chores. We have “Kaio prayers” Sunday through Thursday. Tuesday night we eat as a community.

There is a real respect for private time. The result is this is a supportive, interactive community that is also very independent. My Marriage and Family students would say we have healthy boundaries; clear but flexible.

The living room has a large Celtic Cross painted on the wall. From the windows you look down on Wilson Avenue and The Friendly Towers, a.k.a, Jesus People USA. Walk down the hallway and you pass the “prayer closet”. This is the maintenance closet. On the outside is a sign that says “Beyond This Place There Be Dragons”. Inside is a chair, a few books and a number of icons. It actually is a neat little get away.

Over my bed hangs a modified San Damiano Cross, a replica of the one that hangs in the main sanctuary at the Basilica of Saint Clare. I didn’t put it there and I didn’t choose my bed so this was kind of neat.

Each day I am here I meet new guys and reconnect with the one’s I have already met. They are all so very different. I am surprised how easy it is to see them for who they are and not what thy do.

Well, time to go. Time to go walk and explore. Tommorrow I cook my first meal for the guys. I like to cook so it is actually a task I look forward to.

Peace and all Good,
Carl

Emmaus Ministries: Day Two

I worked outreach my second evening here. I was in BoysTown from 10AM till 3PM. Our guys recognize us and walk up to us and start talking about housing, health, friends who were beat-up, friends who have died, really serious stuff. If they are using drugs they avoid us, I guess we seem parental. Our focus really is on prostitution and not homosexuality and most of our guys see themselves as straight.

The most disturbing part of the evening for me was seeing a group of homeless teenagers. They know the Emmaus folks and approach us. They live on the streets. They looked exhausted. I was impressed with how they attempted to take care of each other. I was saddened by how hard their lives are.

I am loving the diversity here. I hear African languages, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai, and I hear Jamaican accents. The people here dress in so many varied styles. I have been to three different churches, a Lebanese restaurant, one from Ghana and I was in "Little Vietnam".

Last night I went to a lecture by the Prior of the Holy Cross Abbey. It was at the University of Chicago so it felt like I was in Oxford. The Prior, Father Paul Funk spoke on “Evagrius of Pontus: From Cosmopolite to Desert Monk.” The talk was great, the food, Thai, was equally good. I guess you could say I was being feed spiritually and physically!

I met this couple that offers free retreats for poor folks. The guy has walked all over the nation. He had a degree in engineering. He joined the Navy and then struggled with being part of the military and being a follower of Jesus. So he left, he went AWOL. He visited abbeys in England and then turned himself into the Navy and received a less than honorable discharge. He then began seven years of walking and talking about Jesus. He reminds me so much of Francis.

Well, that is my update for day two. I worked with the guys, spent time with my community members and got to know the neighborhood. It is a good beginning.

Emmaus Ministries: Day One

Welcome Back Home My Son

Well, I started my internship at Emmaus Ministries. I took Amtrak to Union station and the Purple and Red lines to Wilson and here I am!

The place has been busy from the beginning. I briefly met with members of my community and unpacked. I got a brief orientation and then I was at the Ministry Center. I worked with homeless male prostitutes. There could not have been a more diverse group of people. There are far too many paths to take to end up selling yourself to get through the night. Issues of ability, skills, history of abuse or mental illness and personal health issues were different with each guy.

What is also clear is this is a place that cares deeply about “their guys”. So the first day I saw guys do their laundry, clean up, help prepare a meal, get mail and make social-service plans. We ate a communal, family-style dinner together. They had group, they did chores.

This is a great place. The walls are covered with murals, the chapel reflects a diverse Christian heritage. The workers and volunteers care about their job and one another.

I went to a staff meeting. This ended with the staff giving a birthday party for a street guy (not part of our mission at all) that included cake and song! I then watched training tapes and began to read the material related to working with male prostitution.

That evening I ate with the Kaio community. Then we played and talked together. This was a time of using ice-breakers to get to know one another. That was followed by community prayer. Finally, Chris, my roomie, and I went to a church for adoration.

The neighborhood has changed greatly over the decades. There are cafes, African and Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, Buddhist temples. It is a multi ethnic neighborhood and a hood with the very poor and with professionals. As I was getting ready to go to bed Nicole was getting ready to do outreach. So, it has been a busy day.

Wednesday I will go to Mass at St. Mary’s of the Lake for 8 AM Mass. Then I will work from 10-3:00 at the Ministry Center. That evening I will work outreach from 10 PM to 3 AM. I suspect this blog will not contain any photos or video until after I return home.

Peace and all Good,
Carl

I AM a Secular Franciscan!

On May 3rd Elaine Cooper and I took our final profession and became full members of the Secular Franciscan Order. It was a great day. Father Ron, a Capuchin priest gave a great homily. The members of the Holy Family Fraternity were just a warm embrace. They were joined by members of other local fraternities.

Normally I would write more, about who did what, my gratitude to our formation ministers, about the music and the reception. I would write about folks who attended. However, it is 6:00 A.M. and I am at Emmaus Ministry in Chicago. One of our Kaio community members was out to 3:00 AM doing outreach.

That means I do not have access to my Profession program, the photos and it means I have to be quiet as a mouse.

So, good bye for now. I will write about the profession when I get back to Fort Wayne.

Let me just say,
“Peace and all Good”
and sign off as…
Carl Jylland-Halverson, SFO

Spring, New Beginnings and the SFO

It is obvious I have not touched my blog in a long time. I have been busy. Besides teaching I was taking a graduate course in Liturgy. To say I was overwhelmed is to turn understatement into an art form! So today I had my final exam and handed in my paper and I feel lighter!

Now I can focus on some of the more important things in my life. Tomorrow I participate in our Baccalaureate Mass at the Cathedral and then the Commencement. I am very excited about the Commencement. Our speaker will be Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking. I look forward to hearing her and meeting her.

Saturday night I attend a vigil at our chapel. The vigil is for Elaine Cooper and myself, we take our Final Profession this Sunday and become full members of the Secular Franciscan Order. It is the culmination of three years of formation and yet we are both aware that it is truly a beginning and not an ending.

Sunday we have the Mass and Profession. Afterwards there will be a small reception. I am very happy about this. I am especially happy to finally be focusing on the SFO and our Professions once again. The class I was taking demanded all my attention and this really should be front and center.

Finally, next week I join Emmaus Ministry and the Kaio Community for a brief time as I begin my Graduate Project for my M.A. in Theology. It is a busy time, a happening time and I will have a lot to blog about.

So…I’m back


Secular Franciscan Order...come and see..