Elvis and the Prioress - What Are You Giving Up for Lent?

The first woman to kiss Elvis on the big screen was Mother Prioress Dolores Hart







Skinny Sheahan asked, " Hickey, have you read the article about Dolores Hart? Read it."

Skinny suggests and this dude abides. Read it, Mr. Skinny. Thought about what I had read, too. Here it is.

What will I give up for Lent? Whatever it will be by the end of today, Ash Wednesday, will be as nothing compared to what Dolores Hart gave up decades ago.

Dolores Hart was a movie star who played in films with Anthony Quinn and Elvis. Dolores Hart is now Mother Prioress Dolores of Regina Laudis Abbey in in New England. She is a contemplative Roman Catholic nun.

Let's see, Hollywood, Stardom, Riches given up for a life of prayer,silence, contemplation and service.

Dolores Hart set the bar pretty high. I will no doubt give up something like oatmeal cookies from the Leo Cafeteria, third helpings of pierogi, or blaspheming every time I see that CTA photo of Forrest Claypool looking for the L in the wrong direction.

Mother Dolores, as she is now known, is the subject this year of an Oscar-nominated documentary short, "God Is the Bigger Elvis," which airs April 5 on HBO. The documentary chronicles her life as a nun after a Hollywood career that saw her costar with Elvis Presley ("Loving You" in 1957 and "King Creole" in 1958), Anthony Quinn ("Wild Is the Wind," 1957) and George Hamilton ("Where the Boys Are," 1960). Her favorite is "Lisa," from 1962, in which she played a Jewish refugee after World War II. Before the documentary, she last appeared on the big screen in 1963's "Come Fly With Me," a comedy about flight attendants looking for love.

Not only does "God Is the Bigger Elvis" explore Mother Dolores' life in Hollywood and at the monastery, but it also chronicles the day-to-day life of the nuns at the abbey, which is also a working farm. Like Mother Dolores, a lot of the nuns had previous occupations, including the law and science, before they changed vocations.

Imagine MSNBC's Chris Matthews -Trappist Monk. "HA!!!."

Better yet, Pat Hickey IVI-IPO Goo-goo. Now, that would be one Hell of a Cross to bear anywhere. . . . and I don't have a hair-shirt.


http://www.feelnumb.com/2010/11/04/elvis-presley-co-star-love-interest-dolores-hart-became-a-nun/

Help Kick Off South Side Parade This Saturday at Bourbon Street - The Benefit and Charity Headquarters of the South Side

The South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee has one goal and this to celebrate the parishes and families of Chicago's south side and the contributions of Irish Americans to our city, state and country. President Obama said this is “one of the great events in America.”

Bourbon Street is a party venue and restaurant that really captures the spirit of this community. There is not a weekend that goes by without a benefit to help a struggling family or fight a disease that is not conducted at Bourbon Street. In fact on the night before the parade Leo Boxing Coach and Fox WFLD newsman Pat Elwood will host a Leo Boxing Card to Benefit the St. Baldrick's Camapign Against Cancer. Therefore it is most fitting that the Parade Committee chose Bourbon Street to rev up support for this celebration on March 11, 2011.

South Side Irish Saint Patrick's Day

Pre- Parade Fundraiser at Bourbon Street

"Tradition Marches On" Step Off

The South Side Irish Parade Committee and Bourbon Street will co-host a Pre-Parade fundraiser Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 6 until 10 p.m. in Marionette Park.

Regarded as the first official celebration marking the return of the South Side Irish Parade, the Bourbon Street fundraiser will help the committee meet the mounting costs earmarked for barricades, porta-potties, marketing, security and clean up.

"Everyone's rolling up their sleeves or reaching in their wallets because they know the return of the parade with a zero tolerance campaign is a winner for the neighborhood," said Joe Connelly, parade chairman. "Our pre-parade party celebrates the accomplishments of all those who have worked hard to recast this parade and those who want to contribute now to help defray costs."

Advance tickets will be $25 ($30 at the door) for food, beverages, live music and door prizes. The Larkin and Moran Brothers will perform traditional Gaelic music. The evening will include silent auctions, raffles, split the pot and more.

Tradition Marches On is the theme for the March 11, 2012 South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade, a bookend finish to Sunday's Family Fest at the Beverly Arts Center and a grand culmination of a 10-day celebration of Irish heritage in the Beverly/Morgan Park community.


"The parade committee salutes the many businesses who exhibited creativity and monetary pledges to support the return of the parade," said Jim Sheahan, a volunteer. "The desire to retain and enrich this 32-year tradition has proven worth it."

Tickets can be purchased in advance at O'Brien Pub or the South Side Irish Parade offices at 10934 A South Western Ave. Chicago, IL 60643.

For more information, call: 708/388-8881.

Click my post title and read the Great Mark Konkol's piece on the South Side St. Patrick's Parade.

You and the family pop in for some giggles and support the South Side St. Patrick's Parade.

South Side St. Patrick's Parade Committee Deserves a Huge 'Well Done!'

The South Side Irish Parade will be on the road again March 11.
Organizers of the St. Patrick's Day event are focused on making it alcohol-free.

Chicago Tribune

This is the story of how the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Parade began. As with many stories told by the Irish, exaggeration is inevitable, however, this story is completely true. The parade was the vision of two best friends, George Hendry and Pat Coakley. Both were raised on the South Side of Chicago, George in the St. Sabina Parish and Pat in the Little Flower parish in the Auburn neighborhood. The two did not meet until their early thirties, when both moved to the Morgan Park community with their young wives. There they became neighbors, best friends and in 1979, co-founders of the South Side Irish Parade.

History of South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade (click my post title)

The South Side Parade was a great event, even though politicians and drunks marred the spirit of day.

How and why the Parade was killed really does not matter. Our Chicago Media which helped to bring more politicians and drunks to the route and the side-streets sniffed at the boorish goings-on they helped perpetuate.

The Parade should and will return and that is the story.

A group of dedicated neighbors from the parishes which comprise our neighborhood worked for the husky side of two years to has out the logistical strategies that just might keep politicians and drunks where they belong on Sunday.

For three or four hours, politicians and drunks can abstain from BSing and Boozing.

I know that the South Side St. Patrick's Day Committee has great political ( within the 19th Ward and Beyond) and pathological inebriate ( CHIRISH from fern bars and suburbs) opposition to their hard work and we can expect great waves of 'cautionary tales' about the post osmosing scatological necessities of the diposmaniac demographic.

It will be tough, but the kids, the elderly and the responsible will have a great time.

Well Done, Folks!

The Genius Ben Stein Rolls The Fatuous Mayor Bloomberg's Salt-Free Abortions

Ben Stein is a gentleman to the backbone. Mayor Bloomberg is a parsing dweeb with billions of dollars. One is a mensch and a half and the mayor a nebish squared. . . or as Skinny Sheahan might say, "Ben's a Pair and Mike's Lacking Both."

I read this brilliant piece by Ben Stein in the The American Standard - published and edited by Fenwick Friar Bob Tyrrell.

I am endlessly amazed at how backwards we humans get things in our lives. Just let me give you two very basic examples, one of which is a crime against humanity.

I keep reading in the New York Times that Mayor Bloomberg, a billionaire health nut, is on a campaign against having too much salt in foods in New York City restaurants. His belief is that New Yorkers and visitors shorten their life spans by eating too much salt and therefore raising their blood pressure in a dangerous way. If he took control over the salt content in New York restaurants, he could save a few dozen lives per year, he believes.

But, wait a moment. I also read in the New York Times that New York City is one of the abortion capitals of the nation, with a much higher rate of abortion than most other parts of the nation. And Mayor Bloomberg is a great fan of "…a woman's right to choose…" to abort her baby.

As I calculate it in a rough way, New York City has about 8 million persons living there, or about (very roughly) 3 per cent of the nation's population. And New York has a much higher abortion rate than the rest of the nation. So it is possible that New Yorkers have about 50,000 abortions per year, or maybe a lot more.

That is 50,000 killings of totally innocent children every year. Does Mayor Bloomberg think that his anti-salt campaign means much compared with that number? If he wants to save lives, why doesn't he throw his tiny weight and his huge purse behind right to life? That's a truly life-saving act.

This whole subject endlessly fascinates and horrifies me. We campaign against obesity -- and we should -- because it shortens life. But nothing else makes life as short as abortion. We campaign for more exercise -- and I heartily agree -- because it lengthens life. But, again, no amount of exercise would offset the over 1,000,000 excess American deaths each year caused by abortion of the totally innocent. We want safer cars. We want cleaner air. We want cleaner water. All to save life. But there is nothing we could do that would save more lives than to truly stop abortion in all but the most extreme cases of need.

Why? Why are we so blind to the mass murder of the innocent?

It do give one pause, Ben.

No Time My Dear. Houli's 'Her Majesty Da Queen' Opens Tonight! We Must Get to the Irish American Heritage Center. Now, Do Be a Good Girl . . .

The IAHC will host the world premiere of Mike Houlihan’s new documentary Her Majesty, ‘da Queen on Saturday night, November 13th at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10.
The film is a sneak peek backstage at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen Contest and captures the humor, heartbreak and excitement shared by more than 100 young women each year as they vie for the crown. Many of Chicago’s most endearing Irish-American personalities are featured in the film in intimate interviews during the pageant.
The film was edited from video shot at both the 2009 and 2010 queen contests.
The screening of Her Majesty, ‘da Queen will begin at 7:30pm with introductory remarks by filmmaker Mike Houlihan and wrap up with a Q&A with the audience and a post-screening party in the Fifth Province Pub. Tickets are $10.

Skinny Sheahan- Icon or Chick Magnet - Either Way He's Ahead of the Pack!

Yesterday, I was driving to O'Hare Airport on the Kennedy and was riveted by the above Chicago Marathon Icon - the woman who graces my company and passenger in Phaeton Hickey remarked, "Why, that is Skinny Sheahan* on that wall. That spot is generally given to images of scantily clad children, pouting suggestively."

With my customary focus to the Illinois Rules of Road- Sec. Jesse White editor and publisher- hands at 2 and 10, proper application of my leg, ankle and foot muscles to the accelerator with regard to posted speed limits, all electronic communications devices off, a grin of self-assured confidence strained with pity due to my witness of sinfully self-absorbed bad drivers, my peripheral vision took in the sight of the image of James "Skinny" Sheahan leading the pack of runners.

"Indeed, Madam, Skinny is on the Wall and wherever good and patriotic men and virtuous women and innocent bright-eyed children need a Champion! ( heroic orchestral music rising) There's a new spirit abroad in the land. The old days of grab and greed are on their way out. We're beginning to think of what we *owe* the other fellow, not just what we're compelled to give him. The time is coming, Ms. Sullivan, , when we cannot fill our bellies in comfort while the other fellow goes hungry, or sleep in warm beds while others shiver in the cold. And we shan't be able to kneel and thank God for blessings before our shining altars while men anywhere are kneeling in either physical or spiritual subjection.

But in the days to come, the American people for their own safety and the good of all will walk together in majesty and in justice and in peace. Skinny is on that Wall . . .We want him on that Wall . . .we Need Him on that Wall!."

The elegant woman marveled, "Your words are so noble . . ."

I cut her off, as is my wont, post gerund but mid-thought, 'Not mine, Ms. Sullivan -James "Skinny' Sheahan . . .or from an old Sherlock Holmes movie, or something. I'm getting a big ass popcorn at O'Hare."

"Please, use that language with the boys at Keegan's, I don't care for that."

" Sorry . . .well I'm getting the large one anyway.'

"That's nice. Watch the truck in front of you, please."

In Hoc Signo Vinces!

*Jim "Skinny" Sheahan, 64, is president of Special Children's Charities/Special Olympics Chicago. He's also running the Chicago Marathon on Sunday (his 39th marathon overall). His course:
Huge Cap tip to John Ruberry Our Marathon Pundit!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036348/quotes