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Patrick’s Corner
The family Rosary
I’ve long been thinking about the characteristics belonging to many of my friends and their families when we were growing up. Some characteristics were expressions from the “auld country,” such as those used by the neighbors who had roots…
The Confirmation name
Like most of my brothers before me, I was destined to be called on for many of the typical “sponsorship” duties we had in our parishes. St. Columbkille Parish was one of the largest and most Irish of the plethora of Catholic church/school…
Take us out to the ballgame
Nineteen forty-eight was the year our local baseball team, the Cleveland Indians, won the whole thing — the American League pennant and the coveted World Series. The entire city was giddy with excitement during the last weeks of…
Sir Knight
It does not take much for my aging mind to return to those memories stored in that part of me I call my “treasure box.” This causes some of my family to give me that “ho-hum!” look and get ready for me to float back in time again. Anyway,…
The victory garden
For those of us who lived through World War II, the words “victory garden” hold a special meaning. This term, along with catchphrases such as “Kilroy was here” and “loose lips sink ships” represent the turmoil and uncertainty that boiled…
A hit for Hanratty
I have often wondered why stickball was never considered a sport with Olympic possibilities. In spite of the variety of organized sports my brothers, friends, and l were involved with, stickball was really the great neighborhood pastime,…
Bloke, the Seaman
Bloke used to brag that he could take any old motor apart and put it back together so that it would still work. Usually he was right. Once in a while he had to admit that he didn’t do what he bragged about, but those times were few and far…
Always an Indians Fan
Editor’s Note: Last fall, the beloved Cleveland Indians of longtime Catholic Digest columnist Sean Patrick lost the World Series in a heartbreaking seventh game to the Chicago Cubs. It was an improbable matchup for two franchises accustomed…