Chicago Region Hosts Day of Recollection

The Chicago and Milwaukee Regions gathered on January 9 at the historic Shrine of Our Lady of Pompei in Chicago to begin the New Year with a spiritual emphasis, as part of a program started 16 years ago by Deacon Ed Gronkiewicz, KM for members and others wishing to know more about the Order.

The day began with Morning Prayer led by Fra’ Tom Mulligan.  We then had alternating times of preaching and teaching, private reflection and prayer, sharing, and mealtimes.  The opportunity for Reconciliation or private talks with our teacher for the day was also available.  Rev. Richard Fragomeni, rector of the shrine and a noted teacher and homilist, walked us through the English translation of Pope Francis’s Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, “Misericordiae Vultus”, discussing its application to our everyday lives and to our membership in the Order.  It was Father Fragomeni’s hope that by distilling the document into “bite-size” portions for our prayerful consideration we would be encouraged to read and do an in-depth study of it on our own.

Following a lunch complete with conversation and laughter, representatives from Catholic Relief Services presented an overview of their programs and the areas in which they serve.  The day ended in late afternoon with the celebration of Mass by Father Fragomeni, with the William Ferris Chorale providing the music.  It was fitting the Mass celebrated the Baptism of the Lord, as one of Father Fragomeni’s main points was that, through our Baptism, we are the body of Christ, with each of our hearts beating with the mercy of God himself.  This “beat of love”, as he described it, then becomes indistinguishable from our own as we serve our lords, the sick and the poor. 

The day was a wonderful beginning to this Year of Mercy in the Church and in the Order of Malta.