2013 Chicagoland Joss Reunion

Twenty-one people attended the 38th Annual Chicagoland Joss Reunion at Don and Betty Wampach's home in Naperville, IL, on March 17, 2013.  Liturgy, food/drink, and fellowship featured this gathering.  Six of us from the Class of 1968 were present.  Msgr. Jim Koenigsfeld also called that afternoon and each one of us took the opportunity to speak with him.  We "roasted" Jim about recently becoming a Monsignor.  He joked that this is "proof positive that the Spirit still has a sense of humor."

Class of '68 (L to R):  Ron Herzog, Don Wampach, Mike Heydinger,

John Driscoll, Tom Meyer (on phone with Jim Koenigsfeld), and Frank Fulkerson

Initially, that afternoon, we all assembled for Liturgy - Scripture, song, prayer, and Eucharist - in the Wampach's family room.  Intimate and heart-felt, our liturgical prayer epitomized the presence of the Joss Spirit and the Divine Spirit.  We remembered Mike's wife, Dee, who died last summer.  There was no doubt to our feeling the presence and love of Fr. D!  Bishop Ron Herzog presided at liturgy, while Fr. Dick Kramer ('66) and Fr. Paul Hottinger ('75) concelebrated, with the assembled Christian community.

L to R:  Fr. Dick Kramer, Bishop Ron Herzog, and Fr. Paul Hottinger

Upon completion of Liturgy, we walked out into the Wampach's back yard for our group picture in the late afternoon sunlight.  A few in the group laughingly recalled the group pictures taken on the front steps of the Josephinum at our former, annual, summertime reunions on campus.

Mike Heydinger absent from this picture; he was behind the camera.

Mike Fry is wearing Fr. D's straw hat.

Next came delicious food and drink.  Lively fellowship flowed for the rest of the late afternoon and early evening.  During this period some of us began talking about the possibility for and the location of our Class of '68 reunion in 2014.  We discussed a number of ideas, with pro's and con's.  We began to center on the idea of gathering in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area knowing that, for one reason, Fr. Dan Clayton was living there.  Since Chris and I were willing to again manage the logistics for our next class reunion, I said that I would call Dan to ask him whether he would be willing to host our reunion in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.

It was a special pleasure that Mike Fry, Alumni Relations Office at the Josephinum, came to this Chicagoland gathering.  The Alumni Relations Office had sent to Don and Betty's home a beautiful Peace Lily to adorn this special occasion.  It was also a special treat to "catch up" with Ron Herzog during this time.  Before Ron left on Monday morning to return to his diocese in Louisiana, Don confirmed with him that he was available to attend this continuing, annual Chicagoland gathering next March 16, 2014.

As I complete this post, I want to again voice deep gratitude to Don and Betty for hosting this very enjoyable event. Thank you!  Thank you!