Looking ahead to April: Waiting for Godot will be on stage at Dominican on April 6, 7, 8 and 9. This puzzling, unforgettable, thought-provoking tragicomedy should be seen at least once. What’s it all about? Performance times are: Thursday preview, 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. Tickets are $17; students $5.
Coming soon: Massimo Faggioli, PhD, will speak on “The Ecclsiology of Pope Francis” on March 30 at 7 p.m. in the Priory Auditorium. He discusses how Pope Francis has redefined much of modern Catholicism by identifying the church as an inclusive and merciful “field hospital.” Faggioli, who is professor of theology at Villanova, has authored numerous books. Dr. Fagioli also writes regularly for several newspapers and journals.
Any questions about performances at Dominican? Call 708-488-5000 or email boxoffice@dom.edu.
No matter what happens in D.C., birthdays and life go on here. So happy birthday to Connor Bafetti, Kelly Rosen, Catherine Nickels, Tracy Doss, Marlene Quandt, Matt Walsh, Sharon Andrews, Haylie Hemstreet, Lia Pardun, Rick Beam, Wolfgang A. Mozart, Kolton Smente, Franz Schubert, and Rosemary Krieger.
Happy spring. It’s nice to spend some time with you.
Last week many of our dear friends left us, notably Gene Fletcher, who was so loved by everyone. St. John Church was packed, all parking places filled. We expected to see Gene out there shoveling the ice and snow, but it was not to be. He did his last bit of shoveling, planting, weeding, whatever. But I think I’ll never go past that church without seeing him. Rev. Payton gave a beautiful homily commemorating his life. Sympathy to Judy and their kids, Paul and Mark, and all the grandchildren. They were lucky to have had him in their lives, as were all of us.
Also last week, Charlotte Sisson and Barbara Marousek left us, as well as Gary Fink. Gary was the son-in-law of May Bill and husband of Janet Fink. He was a victim of Alzheimer’s for many years. Loved his mother in law, May, who at age 96 still drove out to Prairie Grove to care for him while his wife Janet took care of business. Sympathy also to the family and friends of Charlotte Sisson and Barbara Marousek. Barbara was a faithful member of the VFW wives.
Something a bit more joyful to look forward to: The Oak Park Concert Chorale, under the direction of Paul Lindblad, will present “Renaissance Jewels” on Sunday, April 2 at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division St. in River Forest. Choral gems from England, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands will be heard, plus the world premiere of “Mother Goose Rhymes” by the OPCC’s composer in residence, Michael Wolniakowski. General admission is $18 in advance, $20 at the door; seniors and students $10 in advance, $12 at the door; children 12 and under admitted free.
Augie Aleksky is still hosting famous and soon-to-be famous authors at Centuries & Sleuths’ “Sisters in Crime,” which will present guest speaker forensic document examiner Ellen Mulchrone Schuetzner on Saturday morning, March 25 at 11 o’clock. On Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m., a discussion and signing with Laura Caldwell and Leslie Klinger, authors and editors of Anatomy of Innocence: Testimonies of wrongfully convicted, true stories as told to mystery/thriller writers.
Be sure to drop in to the library for a look at all that is going on there in April.
Sorry I’ve missed so many birthdays. Since late February I’ve been a bit under the weather myself, so I’m catching up. Belated birthday wishes to Frederic Chopin, Suzie Fishman, Kim Reina, Jim Breseman, Joe Breseman, Grace Spence, Logan Ellickson, Tara Cassiani, Ed Martinski, Loreta Jantz, Terry Mefflay, and Tom Pigel. And this month to Laura Haeger, Natalie Mazzone, Maeve Bredrup, Jim Becker, Nicole Carlson, Julia Flukey, Delilah Rosell, Barbara Haeger Popelka, Ed Huebner, Michael O’Malley, Tom Giers, Maeve White, Lisa Bothie, Nancy Becker, Josef Haydn, and Brody Rice.
Let me know if I missed anyone.
Jackie is a former Chicago and Elmwood Park schoolteacher with an undying love for music, friendly pets and a host of life’s other treasures too numerous to list. She was born on the far southwest side of Chicago in a great neighborhood when it was a great time to be young.
