August 25, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

The last karaoke song I performed (no, it wasn’t last week…it was back in college, if I recall correctly) was “Cheeseburger in Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett. It’s among my long list of most embarrassing moments. I remember in particular trying to get the crowd going during the part of the song where he chants: “I like mine with lettuce and tomato // Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes // Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer // Well, good God almighty which way do I steer…”

            When I was praying in the Adoration Chapel with this Sunday’s Gospel this song kept popping into my head. I took it as a sign from the Holy Spirit that I had to write about it.

            First of all, the song is fun. There’s something easy and light about it. Sometimes we can make the Eucharist very hard and burdensome. It can be the mental gymnastics we play trying to figure out the Real Presence. Is this really Jesus here? If so, then why don’t I feel anything? It can be the argumentation we get into with others and other denominations who don’t believe in the Real Presence. It can be the anguish we feel about whether or not to receive communion because we haven’t gone to confession. Receive on the hand or receive on the tongue? Why can’t non-Catholics receive communion? And on and on with issues around the Eucharist. The song in our head becomes some intense dirge. Now, I’m not saying treat communion haphazardly or don’t care, but we should try to ease up and feel some joy around the Body of Christ. Our Lord is the Bread of Life, not the Bread of Death.

             Second of all, with the song, the lyrics can be viewed spiritually, if you choose (Jimmy Buffett was raised Catholic). Replace “Cheeseburger” with “Eucharist” and now we’ve got ourselves a communion hymn. I won’t go through all the lyrics, but just the refrain:

Cheeseburger in paradise

Heaven on Earth with an onion slice

Not too particular, not too precise

I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise

             Keep it simple when you go to Mass and receive communion. Don’t try to have it all figured out in your head and don’t let communion be a point of contention. Focus on Jesus who is giving himself to you and the beautiful love he wants to pour into your heart. And I pray Jimmy Buffett, God rest his soul, is enjoying not a cheeseburger, but Eucharist in Paradise.

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               As I mentioned in last week’s bulletin, we were blessed to have Cardinal Cupich at our parish, along with members of the Archdiocese and several other parishes, for the capital campaign launch event on Wednesday, August 14th (see pictures of the event below). A special thank you to our parish’s tri-chairs for the campaign who helped organize the event: Patti Nowak, Tony and Frank Russo, and Greg and Emily Gleason. Also a special thank you to Leni Duffy, the head of our Social Services Ministry, for helping with the event as well. We welcomed over 200 people for a lovely evening with food and drinks. The Cardinal spoke about the needs of the Church and why Chicago needs this campaign at this point in time. As I’ve mentioned before, the funds we raise at St. Paul of the Cross will go to support the needs of the Church as well as our local needs, in particular creating more meeting space for our many ministries and bringing our spirituality of the cross outside of our actual church building in the form of outdoor Stations of the Cross. I’ve reached out to many of you already about making a donation–thank you to those who have very generously responded–and I’ll do my best to reach out to as many as possible in the upcoming month or so.

            Congratulations to our faculty, students, and parents on a successful first week of school. We are excited to see everyone back and our campus humming once again with the smiling faces of our children.

            Tomorrow, Monday, August 26th at 7:30pm is the Candlelight Rosary. And a reminder that our parish picnic will be Sunday, September 8th following the noon Mass. We’ll have food in the gym, an ice cream truck in the parking lot, and some light entertainment (not me doing karaoke).

            Enjoy the rest of these beautiful summer days.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. James