Dan Clayton was coming back in early July with his brother Jack to Chicago's south side to stay with their brother and sister-in-law Pat and Roseanne Clayton at their home in Dolton, Illinois. Dan knew that Chris and I were flying back to Chicago from Las Vegas with our granddaughter Jocelyn on Wednesday, July 6th. Of course, also living in the greater Chicago area, were the Driscoll's and the Wampach's. Dan offered to preside at a home Mass with all of us at Pat and Roseanne's house on Saturday afternoon, July 9th. We all accepted the invitation.
On that late Saturday afternoon, as the bright sun was settling over the luscious, shaded backyard of Pat and Roseanne's home, Fr. Dan welcomed us all to Liturgy "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We praised God in song and prayer. We heard God's Word proclaimed from Scripture by Don Wampach. After we offered our simple gifts, we received back the Body and Blood of Christ from the Lord's Table. Participating in this Liturgy with my wife Chris, our granddaughter Jocelyn, my Joss classmates, and new friends, I enjoyed a deeply spiritual experience in this welcoming place.
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| Fr. Dan at Communion Rite |
After Liturgy was completed, we enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner together. Warm and friendly conversation flowed easily and freely. It was a pleasure to get to know members of Dan's immediate family. Later, as we departed, spoken thank-you's seemed insufficient for this precious time together. Yet they were expressed bountifully with hugs and hand-shakes.
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| L to R: John & Kathy, Tom & Chris, Don & Betty, and Fr. Dan |
On Sunday morning Chris and I began our drive, with our granddaughter, from Chicago back to our home here in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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