a column of benevolent gossip

• Knowing the territory —

  You’ve read Daniel P. (Danny) Smith’s articles in the Catholic New World.
  Book and film by Tim Severin
  An alum of St. Patrick High School, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, Smith’s first book is about the family business: “On the Job — Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department.” The CPD’s flamboyant history and its culture is backdrop to the book’s heart. Smith comes from a police family.
  He writes well, and the book salutes The Thin Blue Line — the mix of men and women who maintain it as “an honor and a privilege.” You feel their struggle to balance faith, fear and family. In his fast-moving 200 pages, Smith has set down 19 stories from rookies, veteran officers and retirees (yearning to be back in the saddle). They’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly.
  Cindy Pontoriero is here — the first woman detective in 1972, fulfilling her life’s dream. A number of cops seem to be former U.S. Marines, like C.K. Rojas — his grandfather died enforcing the law in Mexico. Cops gripe and brag and pray. Father Tom Nangle, CPD chaplain, says he knows they aren’t perfect (and the book doesn’t sugarcoat things). Nangle says, “One of my great aches … is that the Chicago Police are not understood. They’re not appreciated by citizens or the media.”
  “On the Job,” in its second printing, is just in time for the St. Jude Police League Memorial March here on May 2, and National Police Week, May 9-15. Smith is also a popular speaker at clubs, schools and parishes. Reach him at www.onthejob-smith.blogspot.com. The softcover book is available from amazon.com or at (312) 226-8400.

• Parish potpourri —

  St. Dorothy (S. Eberhart) has a second collection called “Dump the Debt.” Father Bob Miller just asks for “an extra buck or spare change in your pocket.” Easy does it. . . . St. Celestine Parents Club (Elmwood Park), a fundraising group, will enjoy a night game at the friendly confines April 26; Cubs vs. Washington Nationals. They had open bidding for a chance to throw out the honorary first pitch at the game, plus four free tickets. Highest bid was by Coleman Conneely for $620.

• ‘Ahoy, Brendan’ —

  Book and film by Tim Severin
  St. Brendan the Navigator didn’t sit home and tell his beads — he told them on the high seas, and maybe beat Columbus to North America in 538. The Irish American Heritage Center (N. Knox) will have a one-time showing of “The Brendan Voyage,” May 16, 2 p.m., tickets $10, (773) 282- 7035. Famed adventurer Tim Severin replicated Brendan’s voyage in an actual leather boat. Kids can never say “Religion is boring.” Just boring teachers.

• In every direction —

  Flannery O’Connor would have celebrated her 85th birthday March 25 this year, if lupus hadn’t ended her life in 1964. . . . Acta Publications has produced a Divine Mercy Chaplet CD that can be used as a daily novena or a weekly devotion. It includes music and recited scriptural meditations. It’s 23 minutes long and sells for $14.95 + shipping. Call (800) 397- 2282. . . . Helen Bruns Ryan was honored by Sacred Heart Schools with their L’Esprit de Sacre Coeur award. Her talents include being an angel to Josephinum Academy in Wicker Park. . . . Father George McKenna’s 70th birthday will be celebrated with a performance by the Chicago Chamber Orchestra of his concerto, “Irish Hymns.” The musical tributes will be May 2 at the Chicago Cultural Center and May 9 at the Fourth Presbyterian Church. . . . As of June 1, Christine Wiseman is St. Xavier University’s 19th president. A former assistant Wisconsin attorney general, she served most recently as provost and professor of law at Loyola University here.

• On the aisle —

  Actor James Cromwell as Pope Pius XII in new film.
  Pope Benedict spent a few hours of his post-Easter rest in April watching a new film about Pope Pius XII. “Under the Roman Sky,” starring James Cromwell as Pius, is set in 1940s Rome. The plot centers on Hitler’s plan to kidnap Pius, and the pope’s efforts to save Jews and others from the Nazis

Send your benevolent gossip to Church Clips, Catholic New World, P.O. Box 1979, Chicago, IL 60690-1979; or e-mail to dmadlener@catholicnewworld.com.