EASTER WEEK
It is a beautiful time of year filled with hope and optimism as we enter Easter Week, the holiest season of the entire calendar.
I try my best to listen to either Catholic radio or the Hallow app to catch Mass on the radio or reflect on the Mass readings of the day. I heard something this week that was moving and powerful. It reminded me of one of my favorite Saints, Padre Pio, who prayerfully proclaimed “ “Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”
I’m paraphrasing here, but the Hallow app shared how the Apostle Paul encouraged us to live joyfully at all times, pray at all times, and give thanks at all times.
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances" is from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Easter is an incredible opportunity to try and lead our lives in this manner. Since we have the blessing and gift of free will, we cannot control what happens to us or the circumstances surrounding our existence, day in and day out.
We do have complete control over how we react to those circumstances. Imagine how much at peace we can be if we choose to be happy, thankful, and pray at all times, whether or not our chips are up or down.
YANKEE STADIUM
My wife Ashley and I attended our first Yankee game, last week Friday against the San Francisco Giants. Sticking with a spiritual theme, it sure felt like animals were lining up two by two and Noah was lining up lumber to build another Arc. It was a night that felt like a cold monsoon was blasting the Bronx Bombers.
We watched one inning of a rain-soaked game that was called after six innings, the rain was that bad. I’ve been to Major League games at Cleveland, Toronto, Boston, and was inside the stadium where the Cleveland Guardians play.
Fenway is special just because of the old-time feel of that ballpark. Toronto felt modern and plastic, being played on turf and inside a dome. Our family had a blast at the kid-friendly stadium in D.C.
Yankee Stadium was incredibly special. It was a great date night for Ashley and yours truly. With kids at home who are ages seven, five, and three, date nights alone are few and far between.
We found everyone, and I mean everyone at Yankee Stadium to be incredibly kind, nice, and hospitable. Seriously. Parking attendant employees were helpful the second we drove up to the stadium. The staff were prompt, polite, and professional getting us to our seats. We walked around a bit and struck up conversations with tons of fans and other families.
New Yorkers get a bad rap for being abrasive. We experienced nothing of the sort during our date night at Yankee Stadium.
ROBERT CHARTUK
South Shore Press Reporter Robert Chartuk is the “Dean of Reporters” in the South Shore. He’s a great asset to our editorial team and has been around the block quite a bit. You can’t teach “that” at any journalism school.
He’s a walking South Shore encyclopedia and human Rolodex rolled into one reporting machine.
Bob picked up two prestigious honors from two separate groups for his excellence in reporting. Clearly, I’m a touch biased but Bob and our entire South Shore Press staff most definitely punches above our weight.
He’s also a curious fellow who works hard, plays hard, is a passionate advocate for the environment, is a political animal, and loves to surf.
Right now, he’s halfway around the globe surfing in New Zealand. Even then, he’s sending in stories for the South Shore Press while on a well-deserved vacation.
While we here know what a great reporter Bob is, it’s really nice to see his peers and outside entities recognize his talent and passion for reporting.
Congratulations to Bob, and may you and your family receive peace and blessings this Easter season.