Opinions

Letters to the Editor

Offensive Banners at the entrance to Franklin Park

I am offended and dismayed that the Village has allowed such offensive banners to remain on a fence for people to see as they enter the village, when they exit Mannheim road to go east on Addison. The use of our American flag as place setters for the letters UC in the word F__K is to my mind a defamation of our/my flag. I believe they once arrested Abby Hoffman for wearing an American flag shirt at a protest against the war in Vietnam, how far we have come in our lack of respect for our country’s emblem, how low we have sunk in our allowing political discourse to trump (no pun intended) common decency. Even the “Lets Go Brandon” banners are offensive as we all seem to know what the are meant to mean. While I support freedom of speech, I do not believe these to be legitimate political discourse and am glad my Mother did not live to see such language posted for all to see on a public street. Bruce Larsen, Franklin Park

Letter of Thanks…

“On behalf of the Schiller Park seniors, who participate in the programs, I would like to express our appreciation to Mayor Caiafa and the Village for all the activities that have been provided to us. We enjoy getting together with our friends and we have a really great time. Also, very special thanks to Mary Maltese who is in charge of coordinating all of the senior programs and is doing a fantastic job. Many thanks from all of us.” Jackie Vendegna, Schiller Park

An Open Letter to ShopperMoms Everywhere…

Whether it be using the “5-second rule” or the “10-second rule” or some folks’ rule about taking shoes off at the door, the reasoning is all the same: if food hits the floor, toss it; might be germy, maybe not.

We’ve surely become more germ-conscious during the COVID years, so why take a chance? Who knows what elements of the great outdoors get transferred to our floors just by walking on them?

From: health.howstuffworks.com…”As you walk around work, your hometown, stores, etc., your shoes pick up bacteria, viruses, germs and parasites, not to mention plain old dirt and debris.”

Adults, sure, but maybe young ones especially, as I’d rather not think about where some of them have been walking. So kids, when you come home, your shoes probably need to come off too!

And while in the supermarket, kiddos, let’s remove your shoes before getting into a shopping cart! Seems some moms think it’s perfectly okay to let their children tag along by hoisting them into a cart; right where my tomatoes, cucumbers, apples and broccoli go! Yes, of course, I wash produce before storing, but I don’t wash cereal boxes, ice cream cartons, wine bottles, packages of chicken, baby food or frozen dinners.

So, shopper-moms, how about removing your kids’ dirty shoes before carting ‘em around? Better yet, take the little ones OUT of your shopping cart and let them walk; after all, the supermarket cart you’re using is not a portable playpen!

Wishing all – dirt-free good health. Ginny Morgan, Elmwood Park

Keep Calm & Carry On...

BY DONNA VESSINI

Be it a hug, a high-five or handmade drawing, where else can you receive a hero’s reception simply for showing up for your job? If you guessed TEACHER, then you are correct. With the adoring eyes of a faithful flock eagerly cast upon us, these birds of a feather, do indeed flock together, (well,…at least in the primary grades, though perhaps, later giving way to a few unruly junior high vultures, with prankster visions neatly concealed beneath their feathery wing-span, wink-wink)!

Day in and day out, these animated souls seated before us delight in the very basics that life has to offer; with an unparalleled and suspended sense of wonderment and awe. Often to be found in our youngest of students, is the marvelous mindset that tends to accredit us, the teacher, with the likes of “Rock Star” status; perceiving our meek and marketable potentials as grandiose and super human

Funny, yet typical for most “overburdened” adults, is the reality that we tend to live life in the fast lane; failing to see the significance, or better yet…giving ourselves permission to “live in the moment”. In a world fixated on, “instafamous-appeal”; we the adults, become the hamster on the wheel, just trying to keep things movin’, though all too often just going in circles. It is only by way of the unbiased eyes of a child, some too young to even tell time; serving as our daily reminder, that we are prompted to ponder the inevitable idealism that they, the student, “the intrepid travelers of the scenic route”, have out-mastered “us”, the teacher. Though perhaps, unbeknownst to them, the ceaseless ebb and flow of their unbridled admiration, altruistic spirit and positive energy, neither regulated by tick nor tock; seems to be so effortlessly and sublimely in tuned to the grander picture.

Row after row, this abundant greatness, seated directly before us, revels in life’s simplicities. Radiating from deep within, these happy hearts, open and able to freely give and receive; burst at the seam with a sense of pure joy. It is here, with dangling feet barely able to touch the two-toned tiled floor, where pupils playfully engage in carefree, kid-choreographed, figure-eights, seated yet, grooving to the impromptu tunes of self-imposed, scattered sonatas. As time goes on, other wayward wigglers and independent hummers join in on the classroom concerto creating a familiar buzz.

Though one outside of the teaching profession might see this as the opportune moment to metaphorically spring into action, in pursuit of the largest, industrial size, fly-swatter available; (once and for all putting and end to this “balanced” disturbance), eventually it begins to grow on you. It doesn’t take long before you find yourself emersed in the experience; in synch with the random rhythms of the hectic and eclectic classroom.

In the midst of the morning chaos, late arrivals, launched lap tops and “covid-call-ins”; there remains that “something”, that persistent voice in your head that summons you to the fact that you were called to this honorable profession. Talk about pledging your allegiance!

In light of recent school shootings and the tragic loss of innocent life, now more than ever; as an entrusted art educator, I feel compelled to better my awareness and sensibilities as relating to the precious lives placed in my care. With a renewed intention and an artistic vision in check, it is by way of creative outlets that I will strive to cultivate and maintain a mindful space; one that mirrors the innate goodness of those seated directly before me.

When times are most challenging and the looming presence of an ever-changing, fastpaced world continues to swirl around an unwelcomed pandemic; it is now more than ever, that I must remind myself that patience truly is a virtue.

Prayer Reflects Belief

BY FATHER ROB SCHULTZ

Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a well-known American bishop of the 20th century, once said: “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” I believe this to be true because I encounter it all the time. There are many misconceptions out there regarding what the Catholic Church believes and teaches.

One way that I respond to misconceptions about Church teaching is by pointing out an old axiom in the Church that says, “Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi.” This means: The law of prayer is the law of belief. Another way to say that is: How we pray exemplifies what we believe.

For example, one of the most common misconceptions about Catholics is that we worship the Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints, thereby breaking the First Commandment. To that I would say: Simply read any of the prayers that are prayed at any Masses on any feast days for the Virgin Mary, the angels, or any saint. These prayers are contained in the Roman Missal. The Missal is the official communal prayer book of the Church, which means that every prayer contained in the Missal is in accord with Catholic teaching. So, how we pray reflects what we believe – Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi. Let’s look at some examples.

Dec. 8th is the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception (which is probably the most misunderstood feast day in the liturgical calendar, even by some Catholics!) The opening prayer for the Mass on this feast day says: “O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin prepared a worthy dwelling for your Son, grant, we pray, that, as you preserved her from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw, so, through her intercession, we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to your presence.”

Let me highlight a few points that this prayer makes: (1) God alone is the one who made Mary worthy to bear His Son; (2) Mary was saved from sin by the death of Christ, not by her own power or will; (3) We pray that Mary intercedes (prays) for us, but we do not pray for Mary herself to save us; (4) Our goal is to be admitted to the presence of God in heaven.

When you look closely at the wording of any prayers in the Missal, you’ll see that everything begins and ends with God. Everything is centered on Him, not on Mary, the angels, or the saints. They are the ones who help guide us, protect us, and lead us to God, yes, but everything begins and ends with God. This is precisely why we honor Mary, the angels, and the saints, but we do not worship them, as worship belongs to God alone (as the First Commandment states).

Another example comes from the Preface prayer that is prayed on both the feast of the Archangels (Sep. 29th) and the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels (Oct. 2nd). The Preface says: “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, and to praise you without end in your Archangels and Angels. For the honor we pay the angelic creatures in whom you delight redounds to your own surpassing glory, and by their great dignity and splendor you show how infinitely great you are, to be exalted above all things, through Christ our Lord.”

Again, if you look closely at the wording, does it say anywhere in there that we worship the angels? No, it says that the honor that we give them points to God’s glory, and that God is to be exalted above all things.

I’ll share one more example, from one of the many saints’ feast days in the Church calendar. This one comes from one of the patron saints of my parish, St. Maria Goretti. The opening prayer for her feast day says: “O God, author of innocence and lover of chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth, grant, we pray, through her intercession, that, as you gave her a crown for her steadfastness, so we, too, may be firm in obeying your commandments.”

Again, please notice some things: (1) In the prayer we ask for St. Maria Goretti’s intercession, but we do not worship her; (2) Her crown of martyrdom came from God’s grace, not by her own power; (3) We pray that, following Maria Goretti’s example, we may be firm in following God’s commandments, not anyone else’s.

My point is: Just because the Catholic Church celebrates feast days to honor our role models in the faith, that does not mean that we worship these role models, as the approved prayers clearly show. Every feast day of the Virgin Mary, the angels, or the saints is actually a celebration of God, because He is the one who gives us these role models to guide us on our journey towards the Kingdom of Heaven.

And incidentally, what does the Catholic Church teach about heaven? Well, as St. John describes at the end of the Book of Revelation, heaven is where all the angels and saints, all the holy People of God, gather around God’s throne to worship Him in exultation. Or better yet, as #1207 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description.”