Forest Park Review, July 1, 2015
Still working in mysterious ways
I
know not everyone believes
in God. But those who do
say He works in mysterious
ways. In my case, He went
to a lot of trouble to get my
attention.
I was sitting at Shanahan’s, en-
joying my $5 burger, while watch-
ing the NBA. The guy next to me
said he had been a high school
basketball coach. I peppered him
with questions. Near the end, he
told me he was a Catholic priest
JOHN
at a church in Lawndale. I know
several religious leaders in that
RICE
community and it turned out we
had some mutual friends.
When I mentioned one in particular, he re-
called the man had assisted Fr. Dismas Clark
in his ministry. Fr. Clark was a Jesuit priest
in Chicago who pioneered prison ministry
and programs for ex-offenders. He chose the
name “Dismas” for the “good thief” who
recognized Christ’s innocence as they both
hung on their respective crosses. I told my
acquaintance there was a terrific movie
about Fr. Clark called The Hoodlum Priest.
When I got home, this 1961 black-and-
white classic was just starting on TCM. I
hadn’t seen it since I was a kid, but I im-
mediately became engrossed in the gritty
film. I was struck by its stark realism and
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3
convincing performances.
The next morning, I received
an email from a friend of mine
who had been released from
prison months ago. He said he
needed my help. (Like I said,
God went to a lot of trouble on
this one.) I went to my friend’s
house and learned he had been
stiffed by his last employer.
There wasn’t much hope of re-
covering his money but the big-
ger problem was that he needed
something better than these
low-paying temporary jobs.
I called my friend who assisted
Fr. Clark and he offered to help. Then I
called the leader of Living Word’s Prison
Ministry, Pastor James Glaspie. Pastor
Glaspie was on board right away and pro-
posed a meeting with my friend.
The three of us met at Andrea’s. Pastor
Glaspie drove my friend to his office at
North and Ridgeland avenues. It turned
out my friend had done three stretches in
prison, totaling 10 years, partly because
it was almost impossible for him to find
employment.
The Living Word staff put together a
resume for him and scheduled an interview.
They took my friend to the interview and
he was admitted into the company’s train-
son'
arri s
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REVIEW
F O R E S T PA R K
ing program. The next day, Pastor Glaspie Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice,
called to say the man would be starting his Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Nicholas Samuel,
new job shortly. Thomas Vogel
I was so happy for my friend and I thought Columnists Alan Brouilette, Sharon Daly,
of so many ex-offenders who could use the
Tom Holmes, John Rice, Jackie Schulz
same help. Our criminal justice system is
stacked against them. As Clerk of the Cir- Senior Editor Bob Uphues
cuit Court Dorothy Brown pointed out, “We Calendar Editor Annette Coffee
punish people for being locked up.” IT and Digital Developer Mike Risher
Fixing our broken system is one of the Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes
few issues conservatives and liberals agree
on. The statistics are numbing. We now have
2.2 million Americans locked up. By far the
Editorial Designers
Jacquinete Baldwin, Sky Hatter
most of any developed nation. Republicans
and Democrats both decry the costs in terms
Ad Production Manager Philip Soell
Ad Design Manager Andrew Mead
of dollars and human suffering. Ad Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney
In the meantime, I encourage more Staff Photographer William Camargo
ex-offenders to take advantage of Living Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak
Word’s ministry. They get results. Oh, and
Display Ad Sales Marc Stopeck, Joseph
you don’t have to watch a black-and-white
movie to understand the problems of our Chomiczewski
prisons. Comedian Jeff Ross does a roast of Communications & Marketing Project Manager
prisoners on Comedy Central that com- Alicia Plomin
bines big laughs with heartbreaking facts. Classified Ad Sales Maureen O’Boyle
Fr. Dismas Clark would have loved it.
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
■ John Rice is a columnist/private detec- Comptroller Edward Panschar
tive, who has seen his business and family Credit Manager Laurie Myers
thrive in Forest Park. He thoroughly enjoys Front Desk Carolyn Henning,
life in the village and still gets a thrill smell- Maria Murzyn
ing Red Hots, watching softball and stroll-
ing through cemeteries. Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs
Publisher Dan Haley
VP/Director of Operations Andrew Johnston
HOW TO REACH US
ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302
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Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL
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Usinger’s Skinless Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160)
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