Comments for Face Forward Columbus Blog

Comment on Letters To Priests – Father Thomas Vincent Brody by Marge Donaldson

Marge Donaldson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:55:34 +0000

This was my uncle, my Mother’s oldest brother. She was number 4 in the birth order and moved to California in the early 1940′s not long after she married my Father. We saw our extended family on occasional summer trips to Chicago. But we had a wonderful surrogate uncle, a classmate of my Uncle B, who was a Navy Chaplain. He was stationed at Point Mugu, Alameda Naval Station and then at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland and finally at Camp Pendleton,CA. We got to spend long weekends with him when he was stationed in California. My Dad would pile all of us (6)in the car and drive to Pt. Mugu or Camp Pendleton or sometimes just across the Bay Bridge to Oakland.
Uncle B remained close to most of his classmates throughout his life. When they got together they had a wonderful time. There was a big family celebration for Uncle B’s 25 Anniversary as a priest. My little sister, Mom and I took the train from Oakland to Chicago. It was then that the Bishop charged him with building a new parish in Hickory Hills, Illinois. He remained there until he retired.
I’ll never forget the World Series in 1965, Uncle B, along with about a half a dozen classmates came out and stayed with Father Lane in Oakland. Uncle B told me he enjoyed the game that he went to. He said he sat next a very nice gentlemen by the name of George Christopher. I was so surprised, Uncle B didn’t know that he was the Mayor of San Francisco. This was before luxury boxes, the mayor went like all the other fans and sat in the crowd and enjoyed the game, and those nice priests from Chicago that sat in the same box with him.
The 35th Anniversary in 1969 was at Miramar Naval Air Station, Officers Club. I still have pictures from that event. I remember the roar of the F16′s as they took off, if you were outside you couldn’t hear a word anyone said.
Uncle B and Father Lane were the model of Irish Priests, likeable, compassionate and deeply rooted in their faith. As we, me and my three sisters, got older we would have discussions at the dinner table, Kennedy style, with Father Lane. You could tell that they we grounded in faith and true American patriots. Our discussions usually centered around politics and the changes in the 1960′s and 1970′s. I often think what would they say now a days. I know that they would be proud of their family, most of us have been able to build a better life than our parents and grandparents, due largely to the solid upbringing that we had.
We lost Father Lane in 1978 and Uncle B in 1981. He passed away on his Mother’s birthday, April 4th. His Mother lived until September, she was 97-years old. When she asked where “B” was Aunt Sis, the oldest daughter told her that “the Bishop recalled him.”
The Depression Years has a great impact not only on the people that lived through it, but on the generations after. Today, I count my blessings that I have sisters and hope that I’ll have a job this year. I have been out of work over 3-years now. Faith, family and friends along with the rich memories of Uncle B and Father Lane keep me going.
I often wonder what our Chaplain corp is going through with our wars in the Middle East. These are different times. As a coworker, former Marine, once told me, most American’s are not affected by the Iraq war, so they don’t know what is really happening. I long for the days when America was a more cohesive country.

Comment on Ordinary Teens by Claire Turnbull

Claire Turnbull — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:03:27 +0000

I would like to nominate my son Alex Turnbull. Alex has worked with WWII veterans and veterans from other wars with the Honor Flight program. Alex began working with Honor Flight as an 8th grader for Confirmation service hours. He loved working with the Vets even though it required us to leave our house at 3:30AM to be at the airport in time to prepare for the vets arrival.
Alex flew as a Guardian on July 10, 2010. This required him to fly to DC with his vet via HF, and tend to all his needs. It was an extremely long but rewarding day. Alex was attending CYSC the week before the flight. He had to leave camp to go for Guardian training in Cols. He went back to camp that night and then flew the day after camp was over! He was exhausted!
He still works with Honor Flight as a member of the Ground Crew, and hopes to be able to fly with them again.
Alex has chosen to work with the elderly for his Sophomore service hours. He has a true respect for our veterans and the older population.

Comment on Chat Tuesday – Pam Heil, Youth Minister at St. Brigid of Kildare by Old Gospel Road

Old Gospel Road — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:52:01 +0000

[...] Chat Tuesday – Pam Heil, Youth Minister at St. Brigid of Kildare Pam Heil, Youth Minister at Saint Brigid of Kildare, is one of the organizers for Gospel Road July Gospel Road is a five-day mission trip that gives teens the opportunity to live the Gospel of love while learning practical skills such as As an example, we've had situations like a little old lady who needs help with projects around the house and the kids take care of everything while the old lady's 40-year-old son sits drinking a beer and watching TV. [...]

Comment on The Columbus Diocese Invites You to the Ordination by Chat Tuesday – Director of Vocations, Fr. Paul Noble | Face Forward Columbus Blog

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:14:24 +0000

[...] Face Forward Columbus Blog Connecting Young Catholics Skip to content HomeAbout Face ForwardChat TuesdayMust SeeSem Bike Tour 2011Summer Festivals 2011This ROCKS!Weekly Faith ← The Columbus Diocese Invites You to the Ordination [...]

Comment on Evangelization on Wheels by Chat Tuesday – Matthew Morris | Face Forward Columbus Blog

Chat Tuesday – Matthew Morris | Face Forward Columbus Blog — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:48:27 +0000

[...] Seminarian Jeremiah Guappone moderates Chat Tuesday and chats with seminarian Matthew Morris and the upcoming Seminarian Bike Tour. [...]