The Christian community in the United States has lost a faithful bishop, His Eminence, Metropolitan Iakovos, the late Metropolitan of Chicago. Metropolitan Iakovos was the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in six Midwestern states, and a well-respected member of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, an interfaith organization.

Last Friday, Governor Rauner promised to veto House Bill 40. This legislation, which is pending in the General Assembly, would use public dollars, through Illinois’ Medicaid and employee health insurance programs, to fund elective abortions at any stage of pregnancy for any reason.

Thank you Fr. Hurley and all here at Old St. Pat’s for the chance to celebrate with you once again the beginning of Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

With this letter I want to express my support as we stand together in solidarity with many of our parishioners who are deeply troubled by the recent executive orders related to immigration. Their trust in you and the Church is prompting them to come to you for support, spiritual guidance, and compassion.

In December 2016, the Archdiocese of Chicago presented St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick School, located in Lemont, and Our Lady of the Ridge School, located in Chicago Ridge, with fundraising and student enrollment targets that needed to be met for the schools to open next school year (2017/18).

This weekend proved to be a dark moment in U.S. history. The executive order to turn away refugees and to close our nation to those, particularly Muslims, fleeing violence, oppression and persecution is contrary to both Catholic and American values.

St. Joseph School, located in Homewood, and St. Louis de Montfort School, located in Oak Lawn, have faced declining enrollment and financial difficulties over the past several years.

In his message for the 50th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis invites us to build peace through active nonviolence and reminds us that Jesus offers “a manual for this strategy of peacemaking in the Sermon on the Mount.” That profound teaching, the pontiff observes, challenges political and religious leaders, heads of international institutions and business and media executives “to build up society, communities and businesses by acting as peacemakers. It is to show mercy by refusing to discard people, harm the environment, or seek to win at any cost.” Quoting from his earlier writing, The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis notes that this program requires “the willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it and to make it a link in the chain of a new process.”

The American people have spoken. I pledge my prayers for those elected and I ask the Lord to enlighten and sustain them in their service to all the people of our country. I also pray for those who held opposing positions, that they continue to participate in our democracy as we strive to work together in respectful harmony for the common good.