Back in Chicago and back to work

After about 1400 miles, give or take, Wil and I arrived safely in Chicago the evening of March 26. Somehow my mobile posts from our road trip didn't show up in the blog. Anyone know where in the ether they might be floating? Anyway, we had a nice day Friday sightseeing and shopping on Michigan Ave and State Street, had a good belly-laugh at "Don't Dress for Dinner," a comedy at the Royal George Theater, on Saturday and then put him back on a plane Sunday for Colorado. Monday I met with Rick to iron out a few details and Tuesday, March 31, started my new job with the Chicago Province of the Jesuits.

There are still many details to define with this new gig. We haven't settled on a job-title yet, and the scope of the project will continue to be refined over the coming months. While it is about a month or two sooner than I anticipated, I feel ready and excited to get started. As I described a couple of months ago, this feels like what wants to happen next. In many ways, this new role will be a bit like my days in product development at Procter and Gamble, researching and networking with the many ministries in the Chicago area, Cincinnati and elsewhere, to explore synergies and opportunities for collaboration between organizations. The prospect of new construction in both Chicago and Cincinnati is acting as a catalyst for the project and being a part of the building committees with be one very tangible and practical aspect of the role.

I will also be able to bring and build on my young adult ministry experience. One of the key questions for the Jesuits, and the Church, is how to do spiritual formation in a way that not only enriches the lives of men and women of young adults, helping them become generous individuals, "men and women for others", but doing the formation in a way that keeps them connected to the community of faith, as practicing members of the Catholic Church. Developing options and working with and through the existing ministries, and experimenting with new responses will also be a part of the job.

So while I am home again, I am also beginning another journey. Jodie has graciously extended her hospitality for a couple more months until I will move back into my condo with Cathy staying on as my roommate. This means my commute is 1 city block for the next 8 weeks which cerainlly helps to ease my transitition back to a work routine. I also made it back up to St. Nick's this Sunday for the start of Holy Week and am looking forward to renewing my participation with the community there. I hope to continue to blog, even though I'm feeling miles closer to home.