My Father in 1991
Happy Father’s Day! A few weeks ago I visited my mother and father at the homestead in Pennsylvania. My father, Dr. John Illo, is 87 years old, and I thought I knew everything about him. But in talking to him last month, and in listening to my mother describe the early years of our family, I discovered a new respect and love for my father. He served in Manila during World War II (US Army), and now that I think of it, he used to tell us children stories about crossing the Pacific on troop ships and the liberation of Manila from the Japanese. He went on to earn his MA and PhD at Columbia University while supporting his young wife and family. We will never understand all there is to know about our fathers, but we love them and honor them.
Our spiritual fathers—the US Bishops— have called for a “Fortnight for Freedom” beginning this Thursday through July 4. They explain in their letter, entitled “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom,” how America founded its Republic on religious liberty (our founders, remember, were religious pilgrims).
“In 1634, a mix of Catholic and Protestant settlers arrived at St. Clement's Island in Southern Maryland from England aboard the Ark and the Dove. They had come at the invitation of the Catholic Lord Baltimore, who had been granted Maryland by the Protestant King Charles I of England. While Catholics and Protestants were killing each other in Europe, Lord Baltimore imagined Maryland as a society where people of different faiths could live together peacefully.”
Pennsylvania, too, was founded by William Penn, a Quaker, who respected all faiths. In 1760, for example, Pennsylvania was the only place in the British Empire that allowed Catholics to celebrate Mass.
Religious freedom—a hallmark of American culture—is quickly eroding. Our country is tipping, dangerously. Will we do nothing as it tips? The enemies of our Republic and our Church assume we will do nothing to stop them. Join me in a Fortnight for Freedom! On June 22, I will lead a holy hour at 6:30pm to pray for our country. On June 23 at 6:30pm, I will host a “God and Coffee” on religious freedom. Let us fast, too, on the Fridays of June 22 and June 29. Let us pray the rosary and St. Michael prayer with our families. See the insert of this bulletin for the full schedule of our Fortnight.
Our spiritual fathers—the US Bishops— have called for a “Fortnight for Freedom” beginning this Thursday through July 4. They explain in their letter, entitled “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom,” how America founded its Republic on religious liberty (our founders, remember, were religious pilgrims).
“In 1634, a mix of Catholic and Protestant settlers arrived at St. Clement's Island in Southern Maryland from England aboard the Ark and the Dove. They had come at the invitation of the Catholic Lord Baltimore, who had been granted Maryland by the Protestant King Charles I of England. While Catholics and Protestants were killing each other in Europe, Lord Baltimore imagined Maryland as a society where people of different faiths could live together peacefully.”
Pennsylvania, too, was founded by William Penn, a Quaker, who respected all faiths. In 1760, for example, Pennsylvania was the only place in the British Empire that allowed Catholics to celebrate Mass.
Religious freedom—a hallmark of American culture—is quickly eroding. Our country is tipping, dangerously. Will we do nothing as it tips? The enemies of our Republic and our Church assume we will do nothing to stop them. Join me in a Fortnight for Freedom! On June 22, I will lead a holy hour at 6:30pm to pray for our country. On June 23 at 6:30pm, I will host a “God and Coffee” on religious freedom. Let us fast, too, on the Fridays of June 22 and June 29. Let us pray the rosary and St. Michael prayer with our families. See the insert of this bulletin for the full schedule of our Fortnight.
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