The Year of Living Covidly

One of the things I like about Catholicism is that it's such a big, rich, historical, multicultural, expansive, universal church that I often discover new facets of the faith. For example, pictured on the cover of the October edition of my daily prayer book is the depiction of Mary as Our Lady of the Knots. I had never heard of Our Lady of the Knots, but I learned that it is a both a devotion and a painting. Sr. Iraneus said  "the knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith."  In 1700, Johann Schmidtner painted the above of Mary undoing a knot while she crushes the head of a knotted serpent. While he was studying in Germany, Pope Francis (then Jorge Mario Bergoglio), saw the painting and brought the devotion to Mary back to Argentina.  I can see why. Who wouldn't like someone to help untie the knots in one's life? I know I would. It seem

My mom, pictured above with my husband, had mentioned for awhile that she wanted to hike to Rocky Glen. Rocky Glen is a little canyon in the bluffs around West Peoria. It is a mini Starved Rock. Above, mom and John are getting ready to start our hike. Above is the map at the trailhead. It's not a very long hike, but it is mainly uphill. And here we go! We set out on a beautiful, late October day with the temperature hitting 80. The entrance to Rocky Glen is located on Creek Road, where there is a parking lot. The Friends of Rocky Glen worked hard to make this accessible trail to this natural treasure. Just a bit into the hike, we turned around to see a train going down the tracks that cross Farmington Road. Benches are conveniently located at a few places along the trail. I think I'll take a break too! The sun and trees reflected the October beauty. This a-way! Informational signs told of the history of the land.   We appreciated the signs. So here we are going downhill, but i

Luke is a senior at Peoria Notre Dame High School. He and his parents chose the in-school learning option for him this year.  The school administration is in regular communication with parents about all kinds of issues, including COVID. At least a couple of times a week, we receive an email stating that someone in the PND community has tested positive for COVID. If your child was within six feet of someone with COVID for more than 15 minutes, then your child has to quarantine at home.  When we receive these emails, I hold my breath, hoping we won't get a call. Nine weeks after school started, I was in the principal's office at St. Mark's for a meeting. My phone rang and PND popped up on the screen. My heart sunk a little as I took the call: "Hi Maria, this is Terry at PND. Luke has been exposed to someone with COVID, and we will be sending him home. We're letting you know before we pull him out of class. He will have to stay home until the 20th." Above, Luke i

My brother Joe lives in a group home in the Peoria area. He hasn't been able to return home for weekend visits since COVID started. So we go to see him. Joe had his 54th birthday on October 18. Our sister Theresa was down from the Chicago-area over the weekend and paid a visit to Joe. Here they are talking at a socially distant distance in the garage of Joe's house. Joe is sitting on a chair that used to be in our grandparents' house.  Our mom and dad giving Joe his cards and gifts. Above, our dad reads one of Joe's cards to him. Above Joe receives a beautiful, red rosary. Here mom reads a card to Joe. Snoopy says: "We cool ones never age. What we do is mellow." Isn't that the truth, Joe? These birthday celebrations in the time of COVID are not very satisfying: no hugging or kissing or being in close quarters together for any length of time. But they're better than nothing. Happy Birthday, Joe! We love you!

On October 15, we celebrated my mom's 85th birthday, like we celebrated everything these days, masked and socially distant. My mom was delighted with the leftovers meal we served her and the easy peasy blueberry dump cake we made. She is in great shape and no problem with those candles. Her brother Al and sister-in-law Carol sent her this lovely bouquet.  I can't say enough about my mom and all she has done and sacrificed and continues to do and sacrifice for her family and many others, often behind the scenes and deflecting any acknowledgment or credit. I call her the MVP of the family. We love you mom!

I love to tell this story as it is a glimmer of joy in a sad time. After a lengthy, acute illness, my brother Father James King, died on October 12, 2018. As his days on earth were winding down, I had a small hope that he would be born into eternal life on a special Catholic feast day. Jim was a devout and faithful Catholic priest and I thought a date of death significant in the Church might give us all a little extra comfort and be a honor for Jim. I knew nothing special about October 12 and thought, well, Jim passed in October, the month of Mary and the month of the Rosary, so that is special enough.  Sometime during the first year after he died, John and I were invited to a dinner with some friends. At the dinner we met a young priest, Father Giles. In talking with Father Giles, I learned that his father had recently passed on. I shared that my brother was a priest of the Peoria Diocese who recently died. "I'll pray for him," said Father. "When did he die?"