September 2014 VOL. 46, NO. 8 www.keenagernews.org BRINGING NEWS TO SENIORS SINCE 1969 SENIOR Feature Reflections from the Editor Though many consider Run, skip, jump! summer to be over after Labor Day, true Chicagoans Remembering Childhood Games know that the month of September can still bring Thank you to all the readers saying an item from warm, sunny weather for us who shared their memories the category, you to enjoy. It is a good time to of childhood games. Thanks would be “out” and remember the fun we had also to our Communications have to try for that as children playing games. intern, Jessamyn Amezquita, missed square on If our feature prompts more who edited this feature. Enjoy! your next turn. It memories for you, please was lots of fun and send them in; we can always ROLLIE POLLIE sometimes difficult do a “Part 2!” THE OTHER day, while to think of things for Thank you to all our making my daily one-mile each category! readers who commented walk, I saw a picture of two At left is a photo on the Senior Unity Mass, flowers in a vase drawn of my Dad sitting in as well as on the Spanish his wheelchair after on the sidewalk in colored At the bottom of this 1947 photo you will see the language items in the July/ start of the “Rollie Pollie” rows. Photo courtesy the loss of both legs. chalk. Immediately a surge of Aug issue of the paper. We of Elvira Costello. You can see my chalk nostalgia overwhelmed me, take all feedback seriously flowers, movie stars, cars, etc. drawing of the game thinking about how in the and will use it to keep the 1940s we not only drew on the To play the game you needed a on the sidewalk beneath the Unity Mass, and paper, sidewalk, but played games such ball and a piece of broken glass wheels of my Dad’s chair. It’s relevant for our seniors. as Hopscotch and Rollie Pollie. or small stone. You would start funny how the drawing on the I know many people remember by tossing the glass or stone sidewalk triggered my memory Your generosity once again Hopscotch with Sky Blue being into the first square on the left of the game Rollie Pollie and astounds me. Thank you the final challenge, but how side. If you landed in the square, also one of the last pictures of to all who gave to our July/ many remember Rollie Pollie? you would then bounce your Daddy enjoying the outdoors Aug appeal. Your gifts are For Rollie Pollie, we drew two ball in each square, as the ball that he loved so much, just precious in both quantity and rows of four or five squares. bounced, you had to name an months before he passed away. intention. God Bless! Each square had a category such item relation to the category Elvira K. Castillo SBH as colors, vegetables, fruits, in the square. If you missed Continued on p. 6 9/1 Labor Day September 9/11 Patriot Day BIRTHSTONE: YOUR COMMENTS 9/23 September Opal ARE APPRECIATED Equinox FLOWER: E-mail us 9/25 Rosh Hashana Morning Glory [email protected] PAGE 2 SENIOR FAITH September 2014 SENIOR FAITH Brother Bob Accepts Loss as Part of Life EDITOR Sheila Black Haennicke By Mary Ellen Kastenholz law degree; and an advanced through the Congregation Communications assistant volunteer degree in foreign policy, of the Holy Cross (C.S.C.) Megan Fry leading him to work on Capitol religious order. “Loss and obstacles are a EDITORIAL BOARD Hill. During this time he met Because of his long career strong theme in my life,” says Msgr. Michael M. Boland his wife, Sylvia. Sadly, Sylvia in the private sector, Bob had Br. Bob Sylvester, C.S.C, “but I Robert Boyd was diagnosed with a rare form observed that many people still have had a wonderful life.” Atinuke Isola of cancer that ended her life who had achieved wealth and Roberta Magurany From his childhood in too soon. But just as Bob’s status were still unhappy, in Anthony Spalla Boston’s rough public housing Angela Taylor part due to our materialistic developments, to a successful Kindle Wilfinger culture. “We are called to be law practice on Capitol Hill, creatiVE SERVICES faithful, not successful, as BRAND MANAGEMENT through marriage and children Mother Theresa said. You can’t Jennifer Sirota to his current vocation as a find what your heart is longing ART DESIGN religious brother, Bob’s life for when money is the goal Kathleen Gabriel story could be a bestseller or because it is never enough Keenager News is a free monthly movie. But it is his faith that publication mailed to persons aged and there is always something tells the real story. Today, he 60 and older by Catholic Charities more to acquire; someone else of the Archdiocese of Chicago, writes a popular Internet blog a non-profit organization. to keep up with,” Bob explains. read by thousands of people on Brother Bob Sylvester, C.S.C. EDITORIAL OFFICE Bob started his online blog, the challenge of living faithfully 721 North LaSalle Street, 2nd Floor Spirlaw.wordpress.com, to in a materialistic world. Chicago, IL 60654-3503 mother taught him acceptance, reach out to others who were Bob’s father left when he Phone (312) 655-7425 his young wife did the same. seeking a more spiritual life. was an infant. Bob and his E-MAIL ADDRESS Sylvia never asked “why me?” A survivor of many losses in mother lived with her parents [email protected] She understood that her life his life, Bob firmly believes that early on, but when his beloved For subscriptions, changes of would not be long but it would with loss, we need to look for address, deletions, contributions, grandparents died, Bob’s questions or comments, please write be full of love. the light that will bring us to a mother moved into public or call our editorial office, or e-mail Bob continued his law place to help others. the changes to us. Contents may be housing, doing her best to printed in their entirety with proper practice, but found himself “Real education is the credit given. Catholic Charities is support her young son while increasingly called to a more experience of life and God’s an equal opportunity employer. living in poverty. Copyright 2014 by Catholic Charities spiritual path. In his 50s he grace,” Bob says. “Gifts are Bob struggled with dyslexia, of the Archdiocese of Chicago. decided to study Theology at given to us; we need to get a reading disorder, which ADVERTISING POLICY Notre Dame. He eventually back to the reason that we are Advertisements appearing in the added challenges to his Keenager News cannot be construed became a religious brother here.” as being an endorsement by life. However, Bob saw his Keenager News or its members. mother “… as an extraordinary Advertisers and their agencies assume liability for all of the content example, a ‘good shepherd’ of advertisements printed and are responsible for any claims that mothering her child in a may arise from their advertising. dangerous neighborhood ..... Keenager News reserves the right to reject any advertisements it deems To be faithful to the simple objectionable. workings of the life you’ve been CatHOLIC CHARITIES MISSION given is a wonderful sign of Catholic Charities fulfills the Church’s role in the mission of charity acceptance of God.… Because to anyone in need by providing of her example, many good compassionate, competent and professional services that strengthen things happened in my life.” and support individuals, families Bob was the first in his and communities based on the value and dignity of human life. extended family to go to www.catholiccharities.net/keenager college. He then obtained a www.keenagernews.org September 2014 THE VOICE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES PAGE 3 National Awareness Focuses on Hunger in September September is Hunger Action people are struggling and Month, so designated to bring offer other types of assistance. about awareness of hunger We can provide job training and action to relieve it. The Voice of and education to increase Increasing awareness is earning potential, one-time important because many Catholic Charities financial assistance to prevent people do not realize the extent Rev. Monsignor homelessness, mental health of hunger in our community. Michael M. Boland counseling and addiction According to the recent services to reduce barriers 2014 Map the Meal Gap President of Catholic Charities to self-sufficiency, and teach study, 14 percent of Illinois budget planning and asset households—1.8 million building strategies to better people, including one in five manage on a low income. children—are at risk of hunger. Whatever the issues, Catholic At Catholic Charities, we counted in the numbers, impoverished communities, Charities goal is to feed people, do not need statistics to tell leaving a somewhat unrealistic many of which are considered and provide other services us that hunger threatens picture of the extent of “food deserts” where there that can “wrap around” our joblessness. are few or no grocery store neighbors and help them lead The economic options, and gang violence and a better life. “recovery” does not lack of transportation prevent And while our professional September is National mean much to seniors residents from traveling far to staff are critical, Catholic Hunger Action Month on limited incomes or Charities relies on a host of low-income families volunteers to donate food, working in low wage Even as economic stock food pantry shelves, many of our brothers and jobs who must contend with improvements are greet and serve supper guests, sisters.