Pope Leo XIV: Former Dolton resident reflects on ‘kind and humble’ classmate
By Carole Sharwarko - The Lansing Journal
DOLTON, Ill. (May 8, 2025) – Sherry Stone said she remembers Robert Prevost saying he wanted to be pope someday. Prevost, who on May 8 was announced as the new Catholic Pope Leo XIV, was a classmate of Stone at St. Mary of the Assumption School in Chicago at the Dolton border. Their small class graduated eighth grade in 1969.
“I remember back then he made a comment that he wanted to grow up to be pope. When he was in the conclave, I thought, ‘Could it be him? Could Bob be the new pope? No, probably not,’” Stone said. “When I saw that it was him, I was just amazed. I was crying tears of joy.”
Prevost grew up in Dolton, living in a house with his family on East 141st Place, according to reporting from the Chicago Sun-Times. Stone, who was then Sherry Blue, lived about a mile and a half away on Shepard Drive. Stone met Prevost and the rest of her new classmates when she started school at St. Mary in fourth grade. She said he was an altar server, kind, humble, and well liked by his classmates.
“He was a super nice guy, but not nerdy,” said Stone, who now lives in northern Nevada. “He had a big Catholic family. I remember two of his aunts were nuns.”
With his election, Prevost becomes the first pope from the United States. The Rev. Mark Kalema, pastor of All Souls Catholic Parish in Lansing said he didn’t expect the new pope would be from the United States.
“I was so, so surprised,” Kalema said.
Kalema said he hopes Leo will have a spirit of humility similar to his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.
Kalema also said it is important for the Catholic Church to have a leader.
“When you don’t have a leader, it’s like sheep without a shepherd,” Kalema said.
Pam Lepczynski, church secretary at All Souls, said she thinks it’s exciting to have an American as pope. “It was totally unexpected because
everyone thought it would be an Italian,” she said.
Lepczynski said she thought it was funny that one of the first things she heard about the new pope on social media was that he is a Chicago Cubs fan. However, the pope’s brother put this rumor to rest in an interview, clarifying that he is definitely a fan of the Chicago White Sox.
She said she hopes Pope Leo XIV will keep the church moving forward in the vein of Pope Francis.
“Sometimes I feel like we need to progress,” she said. “It’s a different world, and I think we need to get with the times.”
Stone said she read the new pope is a centrist who will bring the Church back to the Gospel, which she favors.
“I think he’ll be a good thing for this country. I believe in my heart that he will,” she said.
In the meantime, there will be plenty to celebrate at the St. Mary’s annual reunion, and Stone said she is glad for that.
“Dolton was very famous for having the worst mayor in America, so it’s good that it will be known for something good now,” she said.
Before he was Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost graduated eighth grade from St. Mary School on the Chicago-Dolton border in 1969. (Photo: Provided by Scott Kuzminski)
Photo Courtesy of Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar
LOCAL CHURCHES
CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH, COGIC
1151 E. 170th St., South Holland
708-331-8389
FAX 708.331.8374
PASTOR DR. CARL E. KING, SR.
COVENANT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1130 East 154th St., South Holland
708-333-5955
www.covucc.org
PASTOR REV. DR. PATRICK L. DAYMOND
FIRST CHURCH (PCA) 3134 Ridge Rd, Lansing
708-474-9610
www.firstchurchpca.org
FIRST ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SOUTH HOLLAND 16248 South Park Ave., South Holland
708-333-8211
www.firstchurchsh.org
PASTOR REV. DANIEL SVENDSEN WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, LCMS
8303 Sheffield Avenue Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 865-1137 gracedyer.org
PASTOR REV. DALE HETHERINGTON
RECONCILIATION CHURCH
833 East 168th St., South Holland
708-331-7755
www.reconciliationchurch.org
PASTOR GLEN MCCARTHY
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH
651 East 166th St., South Holland
708-331-4100
redeemer-lutheran@sbcglobal.net
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School 10:45 a.m.
Channel 6 Tues. 10:00 a.m.
ST. PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL
8601 Harrison Avenue, Munster, In. 46321 219-838-6720 stplmunster.com
Pastors: Peter Speckhard, Adrian Krebs
WORSHIP SERVICES: Monday: ..........................................6:30 p.m. Sunday: .....................8:00 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.
Bible Study: Sundays at ........9:15am (Sunday school at this
2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month (Ladies’
Wednesdays at 10am Thursdays at 10am (Nursery
ESPIRITU DE DIOS
16400 S. State St., South Holland
708-439-1220 sogfchurch.com
PASTORES Jose & Paula Lopez
SERVICIOS: Grupo de Oracion de Hombres
Jueves ........................................... 7:30 p.m.
Sabado Alabanza y Predicacion.....6:00 p.m.
UNITY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA
Plum Creek Center
2138 Moeller Street Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 931-5284 www.unitynwi.org ALL WELCOME
MINISTER: REV. GERALDINE COLVIN SUNDAY SERVICE.......................10:00 AM
Homewood Self Storage located at 501 Ridge Rd, Homewood, IL 60430 (773-974-8797) intends to hold an auction of the goods stored in the following unit in default for non-payment of rent: Victoria Lilly - Unit 40; Handy Jack Solutions - Units 65 and 108. Auction will be conducted online on www.bid13.com and will conclude at 9AM CST on June 1, 2025.
Heart Smart
JOSH BOOTSMA
I’ve put together a lot of IKEA furniture. Sometimes I think I know how to put something together myself (how hard could a bookshelf be, after all?). But when I stray from the instruction manual, something almost always goes wrong and I’m almost always frustrated by it!
IKEA provides an instruction manual for its furniture products because there’s a correct way to put together a bookshelf. God provides us an instruction manual for sexuality because there’s a correct way to operate as sexual beings in God’s world. There is plenty to unpack in God’s instruction manual throughout the Bible, but here is one truth we can easily summarize: sex is designed to be between a man and woman within the bounds of marriage.
1 Corinthians 6:12–7:16 is a helpful passage to read on these issues. Verse 18 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”
Unfortunately, we’re often urged to
By
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abandon the Lord’s instruction manual for sexuality. “Build the bookshelf yourself,” comes the cry of the world we live in. “The instructions don’t matter.” But the choices we make with our bodies when it comes to sex have the power to destroy reputations, relationships, and livelihoods.
God is our manufacturer, so to speak, and he had a purpose and plan for creating us as sexual beings. It’s dangerous (and sinful) to use sex for anything other than what God intended.
In recognition of this, Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland has started a Men’s Accountability Group to to be a place of encouragement in the pursuit of healthy masculinity, sexual accountability, and Christ-like fidelity. If you’re interested in joining a community of men seeking to follow the Lord’s instruction manual for sexuality, email me at joshbootsma@gmail.com.
Josh Bootsma Member, Covenant Fellowship Church cfcsh.org
Help Me Help Seniors
I am now 70 years old. I don’t know how much longer I have. Before I pass away, I want to help fix the problems with Medicare that cause financial harm and stress to senior citizens on Medicare.
I want to connect with Dr. Mehmet Oz who is the new administrator of Medicare. Or, I want to connect with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who is the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. Or, I want to connect with Donald Trump the new President.
I believe that if I connect with one or all of these men that I could persuade them to put me on a committee or commission to reform Medicare to get rid of most of the problems that I fought for 22 years while helping seniors.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun can introduce me to any or all of them. But, so far, his staff have blocked my efforts to connect with Mike Braun. His staff want to protect the governor’s precious time. I understand that. But they live and work in the Indianapolis area. They never read the newspaper articles in northwest Indiana that tell of how I help seniors fight mistakes or fraud in Medicare medical billing for 22 years. They never heard me speak at a public event about it. They just don’t know the value and importance of this issue to senior citizens.
Please, help me enlighten them. Please, phone the governor and leave a message that you believe he should
communicate with me and help me connect with the three men mentioned so that I can help fight problems in the Medicare system.
If you have read articles about what I do, talk about that. If you heard me speak at an event, talk about that. If you know someone that I helped, talk about that. If you are a client that I helped to fight a problem, talk about that. Please, be polite.
Here is the phone number for Governor Mike Braun: 317-232-4567. HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO VIDEOS ABOUT HOW I HELPED SENIORS.
• Testimony – Saved Client Over $400,000
https://www.citizenwoodrow.tv/post/ saved-client-over-400k
• Testimony – Denise Brennan
https://www.citizenwoodrow.tv/post/ testimony-denise-brennan
• Testimony – Marciano Chavez
https://www.citizenwoodrow.tv/post/ testimony-of-marciano-chavez
• Testimony – Anindita Guha
https://www.citizenwoodrow.tv/post/ testimony-of-anindita-guha
• Client Letter – Urging Medicare Reform
https://www.citizenwoodrow.tv/post/ client-letter-urging-medicare-reform
• Testimony -- Sharon Kretz
https://www.citizenwoodrow.tv/post/ testimony-of-sharon-kretz
Lansing Self Storage located at 17506 Chicago Ave, Lansing, IL 60438, (708) 251-8350 intends to hold an auction of the goods stored in the following unit in default for nonpayment of rent. , Jazmine Berrybanks, Unit #44; Omar Khalfaoui, Unit #37; Jaylan Deshawn Wesley Unit #105,106,226,227. Auction will be conducted online on www.storageauctions.com"
Woodrow Wilcox
WOODROW WILCOX
SOLVE THE MAZE SUDOKU
WORDSEARCH
ACROSS
1. “___ for the poor”
5. Three, they say 10. Increase, with “up” 14. Acquire
15. Hindu queen
16. “Frasier” actress Gilpin 17. Wedding permit (2 wds)
20. Acts of gliding on runners 21. ___ than hen’s teeth
22. “Yadda, yadda, yadda” (abbrev.)
23. Prefix with magnetic
24. “The ___ Daba Honeymoon”
26. Way, way off
29. ___ of the Unknowns
31. “My boy”
32. Bow
35. Mosque V.I.P.
37. Attribution of human emotions to inanimate objects
40. Ancient colonnade
41. Forever, poetically
42. “___ any drop to drink”: Coleridge
43. Pie perch
45. Gift on “The Bachelor”
46. Chain letters?
47. At hand
50. CD follower
52. Even smaller
54. Base of a triangular truss for a pitched roof (2 wds)
58. Mutual reliance
60. Absolute worst
61. “Don’t get any funny ___!”
62. “Let it stand”
63. Bad day for Caesar
64. Gave out
65. “___ quam videri” (North Carolina’s motto)
DOWN
1. Kind of dealer
2. Pipe problem
3. Beheaded queen of France
4. Nautical pole
5. Mountain goat’s perch
6. Threadbare clothing
7. “___ moment”
8. People of Wales
9. Prepare for winter takeoff
10. Whale lubricant (2 wds)
11. Decalogue (2 wds)
12. European language
13. Dock
18. As a precaution (2 wds)
19. Links rental
23. Lacey openwork in a Gothic window
24. Dangerous biters
25. Marina sights
27. Destiny
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30. Breakfast sizzler
33. ___-American
34. Staffs
36. “___ Breckinridge”
38. Robust good health
39. Looked lecherously
44. Animal house
48. Made over
49. Ornamental embroidery
51. Corpulent
52. Conical tent (var. spelling)
53. “Idylls of the King” character
54. Blue hue
55. Acad.
56. Air force heroes
57. Allocate, with “out”
59. ___ green
Raid Your Mind and Life to Renew It
by Janice R Newman
When you hear the word raid, you might picture a group of police officers storming a building, breaking down doors, and removing dangerous criminals. They don’t walk in quietly, they come up with a plan to take back control, remove the threat, and bring order. A raid is a strong, sudden move meant to capture or destroy something harmful. Imagine doing that same thing—but in your mind and your life.
You may not realize it, but many of us carry harmful thoughts and emotions in our minds every day. We let old memories, negative words, and bad experiences live inside our thoughts, taking up space and holding us back. Like the police raiding a building to clear out danger, you must raid your mind and life to renew it.
When it comes to raiding your mind, you are the law enforcement. You are the one who decides what gets to stay in your thoughts and what needs to be kicked out. We allow our minds to get filled with negative ideas like, “I’m too old,” “I’m not smart enough,” “No one will buy my products,” or “I’ll never succeed.” These thoughts act like criminals, stealing our peace, joy, and motivation.
If we don’t clear out those thoughts, they will grow stronger. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This means don’t let the world or negative voices, including our own, shape our thoughts. We can renew our minds by focusing on the positives and our purpose.
So, how do you raid your mind and remove the bad stuff? First, you recognize what doesn’t belong. That includes thoughts or feelings that make you feel inferior, afraid, or a failure. If it makes you feel bad about yourself or doubt your worth, it must go. Second, you must replace those thoughts with truth. Tell yourself “I am able,”, “I have value,”, and “I can succeed.” Say them
out loud. Write them down. Post them on the mirror.
Also, you must let go of the pain from other people’s words and actions. Maybe someone said you weren’t smart enough, your ideas were silly, or someone didn’t support your dream. That hurt can make you afraid to try again. But just like law enforcement clears out dangerous people in a raid, you must remove those harmful words and replace them with truth. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” That means don’t let bad thoughts linger. Capture it and ask, “Is this true? Is this helping me?” If not, it must go.
Once you’ve removed the bad, it’s time to fill your mind and life with good things. Think about your goals and imagine yourself achieving them. Find supportive people who believe in you and speak life into you. If you want to start a business, believe that it’s possible. If you want to go to school, don’t let age or doubt stop you. If you want to write a book, paint a picture, or start a new career—go for it!
It’s not easy but the results can be outstanding. Raid your mind and get rid of years of fear, disappointment, negativity, and self-doubt. You might have to do this repeatedly until it takes hold. When you kick out a negative thought, it makes space for a new, positive one. One thought at a time will make a noticeable difference in your life.
Remember, you are the law in your life. You get to decide what stays and what goes. So, raid your mind. Clear out the lies, erase negativity, and evict the fear so you can move forward. Break down the doors that are holding you back. Then, renew your life it with faith, hope, and belief in your God-given purpose. To fill your mind with positives, you must make room for them. Y? Why Not!
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Be alert for caregiver financial abuse
SUBMITTED BY PATRICK ZAMKIN
Do you have a parent or other elderly relative who may soon need a caregiver? If so, be diligent when selecting the right person for the job — because choosing the wrong one could lead to big financial problems. You might find a close family member or friend to serve as caregiver — someone who is honest and trustworthy, with good judgment and strong money management skills. However, in many cases, people hiring caregivers just don’t know how they’ll perform until the caregivers have begun work. A dishonest caregiver could steal valuables or cash from the person they have been paid to assist or incept their mail to obtain credit card numbers and other sensitive information to commit identity theft.
So, if you enlist a caregiver and begin having doubts about them, you’ll need to watch out for these warning signs of possible financial abuse:
• Efforts to prevent the individual receiving care from speaking to family members
• Inquiries into the location of estate-planning documents, such as a will
• Interest in brokerage and retirement accounts, possibly with the intent to change transfer-ondeath designations
• Withholding financial or medical information from the family
• Missing jewelry or property
• Requests to be a joint holder on bank or brokerage accounts, sometimes followed by large cash withdrawals paid to the caregiver
• Request for legal authority, such as a financial power of attorney naming only the caregiver
This last item — the request for financial power of attorney, or POA — is particularly concerning because of the scope of duties covered by this type of authority. That’s why it’s so important that all family members understand what a financial POA can and cannot do.
A general financial POA provides the agent with the authority to act on behalf of an individual’s finances, while a limited financial POA gives
Real Estate Questions & Answers
CATHY & JIM HIGGINS
Question: Our home is currently on the market for sale. Why does my agent give us feedback? Most of the buyer feedback is negative and we don’t agree with it. If the buyers don’t like our home, then just don’t buy it. Pretty simple, right?
Answer: Receiving buyer feedback has been an important selling tool for buyers for decades. You have the right to ignore all the feedback, except for what you like, or you can use it to get your home sold faster. For example, what if you get multiple feedback that the buyers don’t like your 1970’s wallpaper? If multiple potential buyers are saying this, then maybe you should look at removing the wallpaper. We have seen this repeatedly, the seller fixes what buyers don’t like and the
home sells.
Reducing your price and fixing a common feedback complaint will get your home sold faster. We realize you put a lot of sweat and tears into your home, but the buyer doesn’t care about that, it’s a financial decision for them. Talk to your Realtor about the feedback. You are a seller, but you have also been a buyer. Try to look at it from a buyer’s perspective.
E-mail us your Real Estate questions at Cathyah@aol.com.Thinkingofsellingyour home? Call Cathy & Jim Higgins, Licensed Broker/Realtors in Indiana & Illinois. IN: 219-865-4361 IL: 708-8283304. McColly Real Estate. Website: www.Cathyhiggins.com. Personal Real Estate Journal: www.Higginshousechat. blogspot.com
the agent the authority only for certain actions, such as paying bills, making withdrawals and opening or closing bank accounts. A general financial POA and a limited financial POA both can be durable, which means they take effect once executed, or springing, which is contingent on a specific event, such as a physical illness, mental incapacity or even a hospitalization.
Unfortunately, some POA agents have abused their responsibility by stealing money, making unauthorized transactions and even attempting to change the beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or insurance policies owned by the people for whom they provide care. These beneficiary designations can even supersede the instructions left in a will or living trust — and they can’t be changed by a financial POA.
If you suspect financial abuse by a caregiver, you can consider contacting your loved one’s financial advisor or attorney, if you know who it is. While they can’t share information with you, they can check for red flags and contact your loved one directly. You also can get help from your state government. The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) provides a listing of offices in each state at napsa-now.org/ help-in-your-area.
Finding a caregiver for a parent or other elderly relative can be emotionally difficult — but it doesn’t have to be financially draining. Get to know the caregiver if you can and watch for any red flags, so you can take comfort in knowing that your loved one’s finances are in good hands.
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Patrick Zamkin, located at 18735 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430. Contact us at (708) 798-9066. Edward Jones. Member SIPC.
Township High School District
HARVEY – State Senator Napoleon Harris III secured $19 million in funding for new athletic fields at Thornton Township High School District 205’s three high schools.
“Students in our community deserve the same high-quality sports facilities as any other school in Illinois,” said Harris (D-Harvey). “I will continue to advocate for Thornton Township because it matters – and it’s time we received the attention and resources we’ve long earned.”
Harris attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the 2025 stadium improvement projects earlier in April. Thornton Township High School,
Thornridge High School and Thornwood High School in Thornton Township have started construction on the new athletic fields for track, football, soccer and other sporting events. The upgrades include new AstroTurf football fields.
“Senator Napoleon Harris has long been a staunch advocate for Thornton Township students,” said Thornton Township High School District 205 School Board President Nina Graham. “He consistently brings money back from Springfield for big projects that will have a tremendous impact on our community and its students.”
For more information about the project, visit District205.net.