I am very anxious about the upcoming A Moveable Feast Catholic Charities fundraiser.

 

I am anxious in a good way meaning I am anxious to take part.

 

I was able to meet and interview Wayne Messmer who will headline the event on Oct. 24 at the Nordlof Center in Rockford. (See more information on page 6 of this issue.)

 

I am very familiar with Messmer’s work and reputation. He is no stranger to this area especially if you are a fan of the Chicago Cubs. Messmer is a regular singer of the National Anthem at the games, and many times even leads the seventh inning stretch chant. Messmer has also been a regular speaker at the Great Lakes Catholic Men’s Conference for many, many years. He is a man of talent and more importantly, of faith. It truly is a pleasure to meet him. It is also inspiring.

 

As a fan of the arts and community theatre, I appreciate his dedication to his performance. He came to Rockford to get a feel for the space in which he will perform. He also came to speak face-to-face with our director of Catholic Charities, Patrick Winn. All of that is good. 

 

As a Catholic, I appreciate Messmer’s dedication to his faith. What’s even better than knowing and understanding his craft as an actor preparing to portray a saint is the fact that he knows and understands the Catholic faith and the importance of our saints. Messmer has a passion for St. Damien — that is clear. 

 

But after listening to Messmer, his passion goes beyond acting or pretending to be someone else. He truly connects with the person of Father Damien. He has worked to become Damien and his happy consequence is that now, Father Damien is a very real, very important part of Wayne Messmer. That is a truly unique and admirable attribute for an actor and for a Catholic man. For that reason, I am more than anxious to meet and learn more about St. Damien through Messmer’s performance.

 

Aside from Messmer’s performance, I am anxious to participate in A Moveable Feast, not just because it’s a good cause, not just because it will be a great meal, and not just because l think the Nordlof Center is a great venue. I very much admire the theme of this fundraiser in that it is being marketed as “a moveable feast.” 

 

Winn took the idea from Ernest Hemingway who used it as a metaphorical extension of Easter, which is a moveable feast in the Church calendar, to mean the memory of a splendid place that continues to go with the moving traveler for the rest of life, after he has had the experience of it and gone away. 

 

Winn is using the term for this inaugural fundraiser to show us diocesan Catholics that we are more than one congregation in one parish in one city. As Catholics here in northern Illinois, we are part of something larger with a mission to serve each other. And that, in a nutshell, is exactly what Catholic Charities does. 

 

If you haven’t already read or heard, this fundraiser will begin in Rockford this year and then be turned over to Aurora for 2020, and then a new city after that until it makes the rounds through the diocese and back to what we call the diocesan “see” city here in Rockford. The fundraiser knows no boundaries just as our call to serve others knows no boundaries — another summation of Catholic Charities. 

 

A Moveable Feast will reflect that our diocese includes many people, parishes and needs ... though many, we are one. 

 

I am anxious to support that work through this fundraiser, and I am anxious to be a part of that reflection of our diocese. 

 

Yes, I am truly anxious for A Moveable Feast Catholic Charities fundraiser. Most importantly, I am anxious for you to join me.