Franciscan friar to lead Lenten mission at St. Peter

Local Catholics are being invited to prepare for Lent by reflecting on possible thoughts of those who witnessed Christ's crucifixion.

Franciscan Friar Johnpaul Cafiero will lead a Lenten mission at 7 p.m. Jan. 20, 21 and 22 at St. Peter Catholic Church. (Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 6.) He will present "We Were There: Reflections From the Foot of the Cross," which he wrote while on retreat. Cafiero will also preach at Masses that weekend at the church at 1891 Kaneville Road in Geneva.

"It's really a retreat, a three-day experience," said Cafiero, a former police officer who now preaches, leads missions and lectures all over the world as a Franciscan friar.

"I was on a retreat and I saw statutes of Jesus as he was carrying the cross," Cafiero recalled. "I began to wonder: What was Pontius Pilate thinking? What were Peter and Mary Magdalene thinking?"

Each of the three days of the Lenten mission will include prayer, Scripture reading and inspirational talks.

The reflections will be presented as dramatic readings by persons in character.

The thoughts of the disciples Peter, John and Judas will be presented Jan. 20. The Jan. 21 event will feature the thoughts of Pontius Pilate, the "good thief" Dismas who was crucified with Christ, and the centurion who declared that Christ must have been the son of God. The thoughts of Veronica, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus will be the reflections on Jan. 22.

"The experience can be very powerful," Cafiero said. "It's a wonderful opportunity for the parish to come together."

There is no charge. Donations will be accepted for Cafiero's scholarship fund for inner-city boys.

Cafiero is the chaplain for the Illinois Police Association. He lives at Holy Evangelist Friary on Chicago's North Side.

For information, call the church at (630) 232-0124.

Temple to feature lecture and film

Temple B'nai Israel will host a lecture and a film.

Lindy Rubin will present "Art in Jewish Life" at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. The temple is at 400 N. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora.

Rubin is a native of South Africa and received her master's in education from the University of Chicago. She works at Spertus College and is an expert on using art to teach.

The lecture is preceded by a brunch at 10 a.m. Suggested donation is $6. Reservations are requested. Call (630) 892-2450.

The temple will also present the film "Keeping Up With the Steins" at movie night at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26.

The movie stars Jeremy Piven and is the story of a 13-year-old boy who uses his upcoming bar mitzvah to reconcile the strained relationship between his father and grandfather. There is no charge for the event.

For information, call the temple office at (630) 892-2450 or visit www.temple-bnai-israel.org.