The holidays are a dangerous time for children, mainly because of adults. During the holidays, many children are victims of sexual abuse. Other children become injured in accidents that cold have been avoided. Why do these things happen? Because their parents and other adults are not paying attention. This all starts because of alcohol (and worse, illegal drugs!). During the holidays, often adults get busy with shopping, decorating, socializing. The home becomes very hectic and stressful. Those days, often other adults are in and out of the home. If the parents are stressed, tired, and are using alcohol, then they are paying less attention to their children. Sexual abusers know this! They are around the children, but the parents are too busy (or maybe a little "high") to notice what is happening. The child and the abuser "disappear" for twenty minutes/ half hour in an empty room, the basement, and the abuse happens. Meantime, the parents don't notice the child is not around and neither is one of the adults. 75% of ALL sexual abuse of children happens "in family situations". Later on if the child reports the abuse, the parents feel guilty. They deny it happened. they say, "the child is not telling the truth. We were home; that abuse could not have occured." The parents WERE home, but they WERE NOT paying attention.
The same thing happens with accidents during the holdiays. The adults get so busy with so many things, they get careless. If they drink alcohol, it is worse. Parents are rushing around, so they...don't put the baby in the car seat properly...drive in an unsafe way...go to a mall, and allow their chidlren to wander off...do not pay attention to where their children go (to other homes) during the holidays. Kids go to another house: who is there? Who is the guardian? Are there ANY adults there? Are the children playing on a computer and seeing XXX? Are there adults in that home who may be a danger to your children?
PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS: the most important thing about the holidays is NOT the decorations, the shopping, the parties. The most important duty you have is TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE!
1 Make sure that any adults in your home are people you know and trust. If that person takes your child to a private, out of the way place in your home to be alone with your child, then!!!!!!!!!
2 If your child is going to be at the home of other chidlren, find out: who will be responsbile? Are there adults there you know and trust? Will the kids be using a computer? Will an adult be monitoring that computer use? Are there any guns in that home? Are the guns securely locked away?
3 If your child tells you that someone touched him/her in their "private parts" or showed them sex movies or pictures, do NOT call the adult and ask the adult if that happened. Why? Because the adult will lie! Call 9-1-1 and report this immediaetly. Let the police handle this.
4 Adults drink during the holidays to celebrate. This happens. However, NEVER drink and drive. If you are drinking with others in your home, make sure you are keeping track of your chidlren and what they are doing and who they are with.

This past week, there was a news item that caused me great sorrow. It was the story about an 11 year old boy with the disease of Muscular Dystrophy (MD). About a year ago, a student at his school, a bully, hurt this young boy. He could not defend himself; the bully did not care. The boy with MD never felt good or safe again. A week ago, he committed suicide. He was 11 years old. Can you imagine anyone, age 11, feeling so sad, that he/she wanted to kill himself? Yet, something very remarkable happened. The parents of the boy who died do NOT want the bully to go to prison. The parents said, "he is a lonely, troubled young person. He needs help, not jail. We want him to get help. Punishing him (the bully) will not bring our son back to life." We live in a world that so often wants revenge, punishment, "get even", hurt another. We continue to think that violence will prevent more violence. The violence never ends.
Mary, the Blessed Mother, the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus, has appeared several times in our world. She appeared at Guadalupe in Mexico; Knock in Ireland; near Green Bay, WI; at Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France. Whenever Mary appears, she always shows herself to those who are poor and suffering. Her message is always the same, "Pray for Peace. Be forgiving of others. Trust in My Son, Jesus. I am your Mother." It is difficult to live the teachings (the Gospel, "Good News") of Jesus. The world wants us to be selfish, angry, prideful, only thinking "me-me-me!". The message of Mary, our Blessed Mother, is to think of others and their needs first,especially the poor, the hungry, the sick and suffering.
During the month of Ocotber, Catholics offer a special prayer to Mary: the Rosary. The Rosary is a wonderful way for each of us to pray for one another, for those who are sick, those who have died(especially our beloved family members), and for world peace. The Rosary is not hard to learn or pray.(There are a number of people at church who can teach you how to pray the Rosary. By the way, several years ago a group of scientists proved that if someone prays the Rosary quietly everyday, that person can lower their blood pressure!) We have plenty of Rosaries available at church (FREE) for anyone who wants one.
Praying to Mary to help you live as a Christian Catholic everyday will give you strength to live in this tough world. "If I pray to Mary, will she truly help me?" Of course! Why not? She is OUR Mother!!!

On Wednesday, 9/21, I attended a rally on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol bldg(where Congress meets). ADAPT (www.adapt.org) sponsored the rally. Why? Presently in the United States, over 54 million Americans receive MEDICAID.

MEDICAID is a government program to pays for medical care for people adults and children who have disabilities and cannot afford regular insurance. (Plus, most insurance companies will not give these people any health insurance!) Presently, trying to get on Medicaid takes a long time. Once you are in the system, it is still difficult at times to get the medical care the person needs. Now, some people in the Congress (and some people running for President) want to change the Medicaid system. Instead of providing medical care directly to the person, these politicians want to take the Medicaid monies and put them into what the government calls "Block Grants". These "Block Grants" would be tax money given to each state.Then, each state would decide who should get the money. Think about what this would mean in Illinois.
The state government of Illinois would get a "block" of money. Immediately, the state woluld take 20-25% for "administrative costs". Then, the state of Illinois would give most of the monies to nursing homes, NOT people who are disabled. This would force people with disabilities to go into nursing homes to receive medical care!
AMBER SMOCK from Chicago (hard of hearing advocate who does amazing work) invited me to go to the rally, "MY MEDICAID MATTERS"(you can Google this), in DC on the 21st. (Just so people know, I paid for this trip MYSELF. I did NOT use a penny from the Church.) The rally was terrific. It began at Noon, right in front of where Congress meets. Over 300 people attended. Most were in wheel-chairs or had other severe disabilities. There were deaf people there from New York, Philadelphia, Illinois, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia. Several of the deaf came up to me and asked what a Catholic priest was doing at this Rally? They were surprised I signed. Everything was interpreted in ASL! I ran into LINDA MYERS. LINDA grew up in Chicago and, for many years, was a counselor for the deaf with Jewish Family Services. Then, HOWARD ROSENBLUM (CEO of NAD) also came, so we had a mini "Chicago Reunion." HOWARD got up and gave a great talk about why MEDICAID is important to many people in the deaf community. He pointed out that some insurance companies still discriminate against anyone who is deaf and/or disabled. (Funny thing: both Linda and Howard told me how much they miss Chicago! My experience has been that when I travel around the USA and meet deaf people from Chicago, they all tell me the same thing: they miss Chicago pizza, Chicago sports' teams, but mostly they miss the Chicago deaf community. They often sign to me, "there is NO deaf community anywhere as great as the Chicago folks!")
During the Rally, there were several U.S. Representatives(2 from Chicago: Schakowsky and Davis) and two U.S. Senators(HARKIN & SANDERS) who talked.(SENATOR HARKIN from IOWA has a deaf brother and the Senator himself knows how to sign!) ALL of them said that there are many people in the Congress and Senate who want to cut Medicaid. These politicians against Medicaid do not care about people with disabilities, only about money! (Several parents spoke about how MEDICAID is the ONLY way they can get health care for their severely disabled sons/daughters. One mother said it plainly, "cut Medicaid; you kill my son!") All of the speakers said the same thing: everyone who wants to save SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE & MEDICAID must:
a) be registered to vote;
b) contact their Representatives in Washington, DC and tell them NOT to change MEDICAID; not to change MEDICARE or SOCIAL SECURITY;
c) get the government to investigate and arrest people who steal money from MEDICAID/MEDICARE by fraud and lies and over-charging the government. Punish them, NOT people who are deaf and/or disabled.
At the end of the rally, the organizers asked me to offer a prayer for the people gathered there. I felt very humbled to be asked.
The economy is making life difficult for everyone. People in the government say, "we cannot afford to take care of people with disabilities. Too bad you are disabled, but we will not help you anymore." Most people who are disabled never asked to be disabled. Yet, this is their life. Why do some politicians want to punish innocent people who never chose this life, but are doing their best to survive in the world?
Sometimes, I get very frustrated and tired. I have been involved with the deaf and disabled communities for almost all of my priesthood and adult life. I really do not wish to be anywhere except where I am. The problems and barriers we face are NOT because people are deaf and/or disabled. The problems we encounter are because people who are NOT deaf or disabled think there is something "wrong" with a person because a person cannot hear or see or walk or communicate the way non-disabled people do. Our responsibility is to continue to live and serve and love one another as brothers and sisters no matter who we are, what we look like, and how "different"we seem to be from one another. We need to PRAY for each other for perseverance(don't give up!). We need to SUPPORT families who have children who are deaf and/or disabled. We also need to pray for those who have no understanding of our community that somehow, someway, GOD will help them to "wake up" and realize we all belong to the same family: GOD'S FAMILY, and are therefore brothers and sisters to each other!

On Thursday, 9/8, I (Fr. Joe) testified in front of the "Budgetting for Results" Commission of the State of Illinois. This Commission has the responsibility to recommend to the Governor better ways to use state revenues (tax money) for state services. We all know that in the last two years, the State of Illinois has cut funding for many programs. Since 2009, monies for Human Services in Illinois have been cut by more than 1/3rd. Examples of cuts: community mental health programs (36% funding cut), addiction treatment services (38%), prevent juvenile crime (34%), after school programs (54%), services for teen parents (79%). At the hearing, there were people representing many groups: homeless people, after school programs, parent programs, immigration groups. AMBER SMOCK from ACCESS LIVING gave very good testimony about the needs of persons with disabilities. My testimony to the Commission follows:
My name is Father Joseph Mulcrone, Director of the Catholic Office of the Deaf, Archdiocese of Chicago. Thank you for the opportunity to share my cocnerns at this hearing. For over 34 years, I have been privileged to serve the deaf and hard of hearing community. I am here specifically to report the impact on deaf senior citizens of the recent budget decisions by the State of illinois.
Starting in this budget year, the State of Illinois and other governmental agencies made a number of decisions that hurt seniors. The single biggest one was the reduction of income limits, and therefore eligibility, for the Circuit Breaker, Illinois Cares RX program. These cuts were coupled with the change the RTA made in eliminating free rides for most seniors and people with disabilities. In and of themselves, these cuts made life more difficult for people who are on small, fixed incomes. For deaf seniors all this was made worse by funding cuts to agencies that specifically serve them, such as Access Living, Progress Center, and the other Centers for Independent Living throughout the state.
Couple these cuts with the fact that there has been NO increase in Social Security payments for the last three years. However, each year the cost for Medicare premiums has increased. In fact, what seniors receive from Social Security today is worth less than what they were receiving three years ago. All these caused great stress in the lives of the people I see every week. Now, add one other consideration.
Do you shop for groceries? Have you seen the cost of coffee, bread, and milk recently? These foods are the ordinary food for seniors and people on limited incomes. A cup of coffee with some milk; a piece of toast with some butter or jelly. You add these cost increases (and that of gas costs or the bus fare to get to the store) to the increases demanded by the State reductions, and you have a disaster.
I am not being dramatic when I say that for many deaf/hard of hearing seniors, what has happened in Illinois has created an endless round of, "do I pay for..medicine...food...gas...rent...electricity?" stress every month. I am not ignorant of the financial situation of this state or our country. However, the seniors I deal with are people the people who worked hard , paid their taxes, tried to save their pennies, contributed to Social Security all their lives. A return to the income requirements prior to the reductions established this year would be a great benefit to many of these people, and a sign that at least some people in this state actually care about their lives. Thank you.
Reverend Joseph A. Mulcrone

What is really scaring me right now are politicians in Illinois and others running for political office around the USA who are suggesting drastcially changing the MEDICAID program. These politicians are suggesting that MEDICAID become a "Block Grant". Presently, Medicaid pays for medical care of poor people and people who are disabled. Medicaid also pays for treatment for people with mental illnesses.(Many deaf people and people with disabilities in Illinois get medical care because of MEDICAID.) The Federal government gives Medicaid monies to the State of Illinois to pay for these services. If the Federal government changed Medicaid into a Block Grant, it means that the Federal government would give Illinois a certain amount of "Medicaid" money. Does the State of Illinois HAVE TO spend all that money on medical services? NO! In addition, once that money was gone, there would be no more money for medical care for the poor or people with disabiltiies. On Wed, 9/21/11, there will be a rally in Washington, DC at Noon at the Congress to protest the proposed changes in Medicaid. The rally (FREE) will be interpreted in American Sign-Language.

In 2005, a group of Catholic deaf people in Mexico decided to begin a discussion about their needs as DEAF and CATHOLIC. About 40 people came to the first meeting (Encuentro). August 5-9, 2011, over 200 deaf people, interpreters, pastoral workers, seminarians and priests gathered for the 6th annual Encuentro. The gathering was held at the John Paul II Retreat Center in San Juan de los lagos(Saint John of the Lakes), Mexico.
San Juan de los lagos is a two hour drive from Guadalajara, Mexico. It is in the Mexican state of Jalisco (famous for the world's best tequila!!!!) There are 32 states in Mexico, and attendees came from more than half of those states. The Conference has many purposes: workshops for deaf people about their lives and faith; workshops for interpreters about religious signing; discussions for seminarians and priests. FR. BILL KEY from Wisconsin (who speaks Spanish) attended the whole time. I flew down on Sunday to participate. The flight was delayed, so I did not arrive at the retreat center till midnight!
MON, 8/8: I was up and walking around the beautiful retreat center at 7:30am. I began meeting deaf people I know in Mexico, especially young people from our previous youth gatherings. After a delicious Mexican breakfast, a group of us drove to the famous Basilica of the Virgin of San Juan de los lagos(about three miles away). All around this famous church, there are people selling EVERYTHING! The Basilica is famous as a place of healing. (In Mexico, tehre are three special churches where people come for healing: #1, The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City; #2, this shrine in San Juan; # 3 the Shrine to Our Lord in Chalma. The custom in San Juan is that the first time you come to the Basilica, you are to walk ON YOUR KNEES from the front of the church to the altar. Many, many people, young and old, were doing this. (With my knees, if I tried that, I would need a lot of healing!) Behind the altar, there is a room filled with letters and pcitures of people thanking the Virgin for their healings!
After this, we returned to the retreat center. That afternoon, I gave an hour and a half workshop for the deaf community about how to translate Bible readings into sign-language. (Mexican sign-language is very different from ASL. However, the skill of translating the Bible is the same for any language!) Last year, DEACON PAT GRAYBILL had done a wonderful job with the Deaf Conference in PUEBLA. So, my job was a lot easier. I signed, without voice, in ASL. CHELO MANERO voiced for me in Spanish. Then, the LSM(Mexican sign language) interpreter communicated to the group. We had some very good discussions. After that we celebrated Mass. That is the correct word. When Mexican people come together for Mass, it is a celebration of faith and love for God! Dinner was very simple food, but well prepared and delicious. By 9pm, I was exhausted and fell sound asleep.
TUES, 8/9: I was up for the Mass at 7am. The Mexican priests told me, "Oh, you're preaching this morning!" Again, thanks to Chelo, I was able to communicate. Mexican deaf people love music, and sign all the songs at Mass with great emotion, and guitars!!!!! After breakfast, I had an hour and a half workshop with the seminarians and priests to discuss deaf ministry. There are only a few deaf people (very wealthy) in Mexico who can afford a Cochlear Implant(government does NOT pay for this), or have cell phones/texters/Blackberries/etc. There is NO VP system, though some deaf are using their computers and SKYPE. However, there is a growing desire from the deaf to have more technology. The problem is that in Mexico, all these are VERY expensive. The priests shared with me the struggles they are having with the terrible violence in their cities and parishes. Why is there all this violence? Because Americans keep buying drugs like cocaine, etc from the drug cartels(gangs). If Americans stopped their drug use, the killing would stop in Mexico! Also, thousands of guns from the USA are sold to the gangs in Mexico. Then, it was back to Guadalajara, then flying abck to Chicago where I arrived at 10:30pm!
I truly love the deaf people, interpreters, and priests I have met in Mexico. These people have VERY little money, resources, technology, educational opportunities compared to people in the USA. Yet, they are loving,happy, faith-filled, hard-working people. I am truly blessed to be able to share a bit in their lives. They truly inspire me with their faith and love!

As I write this, politicians in Washington, DC are fighting over tax breaks for businesses, millionaires/billionaires, large corporations. Everyone, Democrat and Republican, are trying to show the other side who has more power. There are politicians who claim to be "Christian" and use that as an excuse to vote against any program they do not like. At the same time, there are thousands - thousands - of children dying in SUDAN and SOMOLIA, East Africa. Why? Because they have no food. There are thousands, hundreds of thousands, of children in our own country who do not get enough nutrition everyday because they do not have enough healthy food to eat. Yet, the politicians in Washington are MORE concerned about their "power games" than they are about children dying around the world from starvation. The readings from the Bible at Mass this weekend(7/31) certainly tells us what God considers important!
The first reading (Isaiah 55:1-3) begins with these words, "The Lord says, 'All who are thirsty, come to the water! You who are poor, come and eat! Even if you have no money, drink wine and milk!'" Psalm 145 follows with this reminder, "The hand of the Lord feeds us; God answers all our needs." In the Gospel (Matthew 14:13-21), Jesus is concerned with the people who are hungry and need something to eat. This reading reminds us of the famous talk Jesus gives just before he dies, Matthew 25:31-46, "when I was hungry, you fed me; when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink."
While the children of the world are starving to death, the politicians in Washington, DC, are worrying about getting re-elected in 2012. Do these people actually think that God does not care about the hungry people of our world? Do these people "of power" believe that God will ignore the cries and pains of dying children, and not be angry? Do the people in the Congress and the White House think that God will forget that people who could save the lives of children, worried more about saving their jobs? Do the politicians who claim to be "Christian" realize that when they die, God will remind them of Matthew 25: 41-46, and their failure to do what Jesus told them they must do?
In Matthew 19:16-23, Jesus tells us that using your wealth to help the poor is THE surest sign that someone is a TRUE follower of Jesus Christ. In the deaf community of St. Francis Borgia Deaf Center, each month we take up a collection for the deaf children of Haiti who are still suffering because of the earthquake. So far, our deaf community has contributed over $2,000 to help feed and clothe these deaf children. We do this because we believe in the words of Jesus, "I was hungry, and you fed me." Recently, I saw a story on tv about certain celebrity weddings. The people were talking about the tens of thousands of dollars being spent on these weddings (even though many of these weddings end up in divorce). About three months ago, I attended a wedding of a young couple whose family I have knwon for many years. At the wedding reception, there was little card at each seat. The card explained that this coulple made a decision. They decided NOT to waste money on fancy items to give out as wedding souvenirs. Instead, the couple used that money to make a donation to an organization that feeds poor children around the world. The couple wrote on the card that they wanted to share their special day with those who had little or nothing to eat.
God will remember those who tried to do something to feed the children of our world,.....and those who did nothing.

JESUS lived in a time when many people were suffering. They were suffering because most of the people were poor and hungry. In Jesus' time more than half of all children died by age 5, often from hunger and diseases. Parents had no medicines for their children. There were people in power: the Roman rulers, the Jewish leaders who lived in Jerusalem. Both of these groups cared little for the needs of most people. When Jesus started to become popular, the rules/leaders wanted Jesus to join THEM. However, Jesus saw the suffering of everyday, ordinary people and said, "no, these are my people. These are GOD'S PEOPLE. God wants them to be fed, clothed, housed, cared for, visited, and loved (Matthew 25: 31-46)." The rulers did not want to hear this and certainly did not want the great numbers of poor people to know this. So, they killed Jesus. That was theirr choice. Jesus chose to be with the poor and suffering of our world. The people in power chose their money and comfort.

Right now, there are all sorts of talks happening in Washington, DC about "the debt ceiling", "budget agreements", "programs being cut". What I see and hear are the people in power talking without ANY real understanding and concern for senior citizens, children with disabilities, working families. The talk in DC is about "power", not "the poor". Few, if any, of those in Washington have EVER missed a meal, worn "hand-me-downs", had to "go without". These are people who have drivers who take them where they want to go(and we pay for their car and gas); they NEVER ride public transportation. They eat in the best restaurants and often never see a bill. They fly to fancy vacations, but call it "government business". These are people who are making choices that will touch everyone of us. They do not care about those it will hurt, but only care about what will hurt their chances to be re-elected. One choice they refuse to make is about war. The reason is that the people in Congress and the people in the White House do NOT have family members fighting away from home.

Presently, we have more than 150,000 American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are at least another 150,000 government and non-government people that we, American taxpayers, pay to work in these countries. If we bring these troops home NOW, not in 2012, 2013, 2014, NOW, we will:

a) start saving lots of tax money; we can start paying the bills for our people here without cutting programs;

b) stop seeing our young people killed, maimed, permanently disabled;

c) reunite our families, soldiers and their children and spouses.

  As followers of Jesus Christ,we are to choose peace, not war; feeding the hungry, not closing food programs; caring for the sick and suffering, not cutting their health benefits! In these days, please contact the White House, your U.S. Senators and Representatives. tell them, "bring our young men and women in the military home, NOW!"

Tues, 6/21: we drove from Prague(PRAHA) and headed southwest to the city of Pilsen(PLZEN), about an hour away.  Prague is tough to drive through. Like many cities in Europe that were built hundreds of years ago, the streets are narrow and twisting. Prague also has summer construction..just like Chicago!!!   The countryside of the Czech Republic is beautiful.   Pilsen is famous because of two things: BEER and, more importantly, AMERICA!  During WW II, the American army freed the people from the Nazis.   The people of this city never forgot that. There is an AMERIKA street, American flags fly there, every year is a special memorial to the American soldiers who died freeing the people.  Also, the Cathedral has the highest church tower in all of the Czech Republic.   After that, more driving(the roads in the Czech Republic are excellent!!!!!) till we found the little town of KRUPA.  My sister in law' Karen's maiden name is Krupa.   She was so excited. She had her picture taken with the town sign and sent back to her family.   We finally made back just in time for rush hour in Prague; just as bad as Chicago.    By the way, the parking on city streets in the Czech Rep. is the same as Chgo; you pay at a machine, get a ticket to stick in your car!

   The weather here has been terrific: 65-75 with bright sunshine, and some rain.   Back in Prague, we did some more walking. In the City Square of Old  Prague, there was large military ceremony at 6pm.  This commemorated the death of many Bohemian leaders in June 21, 1611(400 years ago).

  FOOD: breakfast here is similar to the USA. However, like other places in Europe, breakfast also includes meats, cheeses, cold vegetables.  COFFEE: lots of cappuccino, expresso,etc.  However, hard to get a good, strong cup of black coffee.(My niece found the one Starbucks in Prague!)   Meals here for lunch and dinner are very good, but heavy: Cooked pork knee(like our ham hock), goulash, duck(excellent), all served with dumplings and cabbage.The desserts are strudel(usually served with ice cream or fresh cream...or both!!!!!.) or other baked goods using fruit.  Also, lots of gelato booths everywhere(but Italy is still #1 for gelato).

  COMMUNISM: after  World War II, Russia took control of many of the countries in this part of the world in cluding Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia).  Communism tried to destroy the culture, the history, the faith of these people as it also tried in Poland, Lithuania, Hungary.  The people of Czech. resisted as best they could   People here have shown that Communism was a failed, corrupt idea of government.  Thousands of people suffered and died for the freedom to speak freely, read and study what they want, and practice their religious faith without fear.  Sometimes, living in America, we do NOT appreciate how blessed we are to enjoy the freedoms we have.  Sometimes we get lazy about our faith, because we do not understand what it means NOT to be able to go to church, to go to jail for reading the Bible or praying a Rosary,to be punished for believing in Jesus Christ.  These countries have a lot to teach US about being grateful for all we have.

  CHURCHES: the churches here are beautiful, magnificent, very historical.  During the summer, there are musical concerts in many of them and the synagogues, too. Summer here brings famous musicians - classical, popular(B.B. King, JOHN MAYALL), rock to this city.  There are also  street musicians everywhere. Prague in the summer is filled with tourists and many, many young people!  One thing frustrating for me has been that the churches are all visited by tourists, but there is no place in them to just sit and pray quietly.  Often, the areas of the church are roped off so tourists will not crawl all over.  I ended up sitting in a quiet park to pray, because there was no church open for someone like me who wants to spend some quiet time with God!

   I have been praying for all of you. I feel very blessed that your prayers have kept us safe on our trip.FR. ANDREW WYPYCH, the pastor of St. Francis Borgia Parish, was named an Auxiliary Bishop in Chicago by Pope Benedict.  Fr. Andrew has been very supportive of the deaf ministry at St. Francis Borgia.  Please pray for him as he assumes his new responsibilities(a lot of responsibilities!!!!) as a bishop.

This evening, I am typing from a hotel near Dublin. The Ireland trip is coming to an end. Tomorrow, we will fly to Prague. Yesterday, Friday, was a wonderful day. We started out with a tour of WESTPORT HOUSE, Westport, County Mayo. This gave us a picture of what life was like for the rich people(not many;mostly English) in Ireland 100-200 years ago. Then, we drove into Castlebar for some coffee. (There are all sorts of small tea/coffee shops all over Ireland with delicious soups, sandwiches, and bakery goods!) Then, I was able to see one of my young cousins, SEAN PAUL (29), who was in the hospital. He has struggled throughout his life with disabilities, and he was battling a very serious infection. He was glad that we stopped in for this visit. We then drove to a new exhibit about the REAL life of the people of Ireland over the last several hundred years. Unlike the very wealthy people who lived in places like Westport House, the vast majority of Irish lived a very difficult life with much suffering. They died young and poor. There is a whole myth about "The Potato Famine" that killed millions of people in Ireland. What killed them was the selfishness of the English government that stole food from the poor people even as they were starving to death.

That evening, my brother, wife, and daughter; me; we joined our relatives for a dinner at a nearby restaurant.(Because the Atlantic Ocean is so close, the fish we had was incredibly good!) It was wonderful just to sit and talk about family. I found out I have a four year old cousin who is deaf in Ireland! We talked till midnight(way past my normal bed time!!!!). A great evening.

Saturday morning, we left Mayo and drove south over 100 miles to a very small town, GLENROE, near Limerick. We went to visit a 95 year old woman, BRIDIE KEENE, who knew my great, great uncle JOHN DUNNE. She was happy to see us. Her memory was amazing. We visited the local church where JOHN DUNNE had been the caretaker over 100 years ago. (The church is 150 years old.) More tea and Irish bread!!!! Finally, we drove about 200 miles to get to Dublin; in the morning we will drop off the rent a car and head to the airport for the Czech Republic!

Ireland is a very special place. The country has many of the same problems we have in the USA: crime and drugs and gangs in some places(Limerick is now very dangerous);many homes with mortgage and foreclosure threats;unemployment; corrupt, greedy politicians. Recently, there were several reports(RYAN & MURPHY Reports) about the sexual and physical abuse of children by priests and religious. Yet, the people of Ireland are sooooooo welcoming and hospitable. Any home you stop at, the people invite you in, offer you great hospitality, and want to know all about America! The Irish, especially those living in the countryside, make you feel very special. In many cases, people live in homes 1/3 the size of our homes. They don't have all of our conveniences(you still see many homes where the clothes are drying on lines hung in the yards). The Irish still have a very deep, strong Catholic faith, even though many of them are very angry at the Church because of sexual abuse! It is very normal for people to pray in their homes; pray at meals; pray for any reason. They are NOT ashamed of their faith. The young people of Ireland are like our young people: full of hope and eager to improve their lives. Many young people, starting at age 9-10, start working on farms, helping out at their parents' work. The young people of Ireland are NOT lazy, and they will do anything to get and hold on to a job! I am looking forward to next year, 2012. We will bring a group of our deaf to the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin (6/12-17; then tour Ireland, 6/17-24). More info on that when I get back.
Tomorrow, 6/19, I will be praying for all our fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, fathers in law, brothers, sons, and uncles on Father's Day which is also a special day in Ireland.