Parks in Peril, Part III

Parks in Peril, Part III

Let’s try a contemplation. I want you to imagine one of your favorite outdoor adventures. I’ll give you a second…okay, got it? Now where was it? Who was with you? What beauty most stood out to you? What made that place special, important, and worth remembering?...
Outsider Inside the Bus

Outsider Inside the Bus

We’re in town this time to practice curbs: if you bump one on the driving skills test, you automatically fail—no bus driver license for you today. Better luck next week. Easier said than done. Buses are three times longer than the little city cars I’m used to driving,...
This is what Mass is about? Really?!

This is what Mass is about? Really?!

Having a young Jesuit as a teacher naturally piques the interest of high school sophomores. Does it mean you can’t get married? Who do you live with? How long does it take to become a priest? But the one part of Jesuit life that tends to provoke a strong response is...
Dream New Dreams: A Prophetic Call from U2

Dream New Dreams: A Prophetic Call from U2

“Desert sky, dream beneath the desert sky. The rivers run but soon run dry. We need new dreams tonight.” — U2, “In God’s Country,” The Joshua Tree “Therefore, I will allure her now;    I will lead her into the wilderness    and speak persuasively to...
My Nuclear Nightmares

My Nuclear Nightmares

There was a time when nuclear war was a regular conversation topic in my family. It’s 1987. The Cold War is four years away from ending. President Reagan just called for Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.” There are more than 65,000 nuclear warheads on the planet, my...
Arrupe College: Greater Love than Fear

Arrupe College: Greater Love than Fear

On Saturday, August 12, 2017, Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago held its first commencement ceremony. Ever. If you’re unaware, Arrupe College is the first of its kind: a two-year college embedded within a Jesuit university. Arrupe seeks to provide greater...