It was a little over six months ago that we had our first liturgy in memory of our late pastor emeritus, Father Joe Ognibene. A multitude of people--Father Joe's family and friends, brother priests and bishops, parishioners from Our Lady, of the Angels, Saint Ferdinand, Help of Christians, Saint Frances of Rome, Saint Beatrice, Saint Collette, and our own Mother of the Church where Father Joe had served as priest, pastor and dean came together in our church. I said it then and I say it again: it was a remarkable turnout considering we were but a few days before Christmas, one of the busiest times of the year. As such, it was a beautiful tribute to this man: how he was loved and respected by so many.

Today, we have another gathering to remember Father Joe. The Friends of OLA, an organization of survivors of the terrible school fire along with families and friends and supporters, commissioned the building of a garden along Oakview, the street that bears Father Joe's name, that would stand as a place of prayer in his memory. Work began on the garden shortly after Easter and was completed last Sunday. Today within the context of the 11 :00 Mass, we gather to dedicate that garden and once again to remember the late Father Joe: members of his family and close friends, brother priests and a bishop, people from our parish and those mentioned above. It is the first full weekend of summer and vacation time for many, so I do not anticipate as large a gathering as we had in December, nor does this ceremony compare to the visitation and funeral liturgy we celebrated for Father Joe at that time. Indeed, Gene Ognibene, Father Joe's brother, is not with us because he is out of the country. Nevertheless, I do expect that a fine representation will offer prayers for the repose of his soul today, and that a good number of people will make use of the garden in the future for this purpose.

Of course, remembering the life of this priest does not require a given time or place. Surely those whom Father Joe rescued from the school fire have an ongoing memory of this man and his heroism. Surely we of this parish need only look at the church where Father Joe pastored us for 13 years to recall his wonderful ministry. Surely those whose lives Father Joe touched in a personal, spiritual manner need only realize their faith-growth that he facilitated to bring his memory to the forefront. Still, it is good that we have this gathering and this garden to once again proclaim the life of Father Joe, his faithful service, and his devotion to the woman whose image stands prominently in this garden.

On behalf of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, I would like to thank all who come to share this celebration. Special thanks to Bishop Jakubowski for presiding at our ceremony, for Alderman William Banks and his staff for seeing to the legalities of this garden, to the Friends of OLA who conceived and commissioned this project which was constructed by Morgan's Landscaping, to the family and friends of Father Joe who were able to be with us, and to the many, many parishioners of the places where Father Joe ministered. May all of us hold his memory in our hearts and continue to express our love through prayer and lives of faithful service to our God.

Father Dan
(Pastor, Our Lady Mother of the Church)

(courtesy of Bob Mujica)