Deaconess Julie Hamilton
Six weeks before Easter, eighteen years ago, James Ascareggi invited me to go to the movies. When we were on our way home in the car he asked, "Do you ever feel spiritually homeless around this time of year?" I replied, "Always!" Neither of us had been in church for at least 25 years.
That Friday evening, Jim picked me up to go to his cousin's Pizza Parlor in Naperville, for the grand opening. One the way home, he showed me a small ad from the Monthly Aspectarian, a local New Age magazine. A friend of his had heard his lament about not having a church to call home, and had cut it out for him. “What do you think of this?” he asked. I read it and it looked interesting, so we decided it would be worth visiting the church.
On Easter Sunday Jim picked me up wearing a dapper gray suit with a pink shirt. I was dressed in a black and white polka dot dress, complete with hat and gloves. We got to St. Francis, at 1945 North Mozart in Chicago, for the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist and were blown away by the service, even though we were a tad overdressed. We were greeted warmly by a parishioner, who showed us in and handed us a prayer book. The Mass, celebrated by Bishop Lawrence J. Smith, started and our feet never touched the floor. It was love at first sight for both of us. Afterward, Bishop Raja Watson greeted us and invited us to come downstairs to the basement fellowship hall. We got to know Irene, his wife, and several other members of the church.
Jim joined the church that October of that year and I joined in November, one month later. And we are still going strong!
Deacon James Ascareggi
Charles E. Bermingham
Rabecca Collin
Julie Hamilton
Rev. Terrence Metz
