By. Sister Nancy Linenkugel
The phrase "in the loop" usually refers to communications and being informed about things. I recently experienced another meaning.
Heading to Chicago for several days to attend a professional meeting, I arrived there on a Sunday afternoon via the Megabus from Cincinnati. Megabus uses Chicago's Union Station for arrivals and departures, and this location was just a five-block walk to where I was staying.
After checking-in at the hotel, I ventured out to walk around the southwest quadrant of downtown Chicago. This area wasn't one I'd visited much over many, many years of going to Chicago for a variety of purposes so it merited exploration.
It wasn't long when I found myself at the corner of Clark and Madison Streets. As I looked south on Madison, I saw a large and prominent stone crucifix embedded in the facade of a mid-block building. Figuring that it must be a Catholic Church, I joined a gathering stream of persons entering.
Indeed, not only was it a Catholic church having a 6:00 PM Sunday liturgy, but also it was a Franciscan church. Once into the main doors off Madison Street, I saw two Franciscan friars at the top of the stairs welcoming attendees.
One of the smiling friars, Pastor Fr. Kurt, greeted me and handed me a worship aid. Although I had already gone to Sunday liturgy back in Cincinnati before the trip, I embraced the "find" of a Franciscan Catholic Church having Mass right when I was walking by. This had to be of the Spirit.
After accepting the worship aid, I mentioned to Fr. Kurt about being overjoyed to find this was a Franciscan church. He responded kindly, "This has been a Franciscan Church in the heart of Chicago for decades, and, of course, there's nothing like being Franciscan." Agreeing heartily, I said that I was one, too--Sylvania by Congregation--and he immediately referenced the golden days of Padua Franciscan High School in Parma OH when our Sisters taught there. Although he personally hadn't been missioned there, he definitely knew of the outstanding reputation our Sister-teachers had being on Padua's faculty. Despite the time lapse of many years since we taught at Padua HS, his memory is a powerful testimony to the generous and noteworthy ministry of our Sisters.
Of course. Leave it to the Sylvania Franciscans. Everything we've ever done has demonstrated incredible service, accomplishment, dedication, and commitment.
I discovered later that the name of the church is "St. Peter's In The Loop". As you may know, "The Loop" is the area in the heart of downtown Chicago bounded by the EL, or the elevated train. St. Peter's is within the loop and thus is in the very center of Chicago's downtown core. The chance meeting with Fr. Kurt also allowed me to be in the Chicago loop as well as the loop of knowing how those Franciscans appreciated our Sisters. The world is really a big loop of inclusion.