St. Rita High School's
Spirit Day on Wednesday, December 5th aims to raise
over $1,200 for the ComPadres organization, a non-profit group
that serves as a “U.S. Army chaplain support group.” Father
John Barkemeyer, a lifelong Chicagoan, Catholic priest and
former pastor of Saint Cajetan Parish on Chicago’s Southwest
Side, is serving on active duty as a U.S. Army Chaplain in
Ramadi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He founded ComPadres with the
idea that with a strong local home network, an army chaplain
could provide creative and direct support for U.S. Troops on the
ground in Iraq. In response to input from these soldiers, Fr.
Barkemeyer has used the funds raised by ComPadres within Chicago
schools and throughout the community to purchase nine Microsoft
XBOX consoles, along with video displays and games, that help
the soldiers relax and return to normalcy on their downtime.
Other gifts include video cameras with DVD software, short-wave
radios, phone cards and “PX” gift certificates for store
provisions. Religious items and toiletries are staples as well,
but the popcorn and slushi machines provide a different kind of
pick-me-up that soldiers testify is sometimes the best relief
from the stress of war. The name ComPadres has several roots;
in the Spanish language it originally meant “godfather,” and now
colloquially means “friend.” Then also it has been customary
for chaplains in the service to be referred to as “padre,” and
the capital ‘P’ helps retain that special meaning.
Fr. Barkemeyer was
the celebrant of St. Rita’s November all-school Mass, home for a
two-week leave, and he reminded the school community of the
great things their support accomplishes, and how much it means
to the men and women serving their country in the Middle East.
Last year over 500 students donated the $2.00 fee for St. Rita’s
ComPadres Spirit Day, for which they could dress in casual
clothes. This year the school hopes to collect even more funds
for Fr. Barkemeyer and ComPadres.
ComPadres recently relocated its contact
to St. Rita of Cascia High School, and any contributions to
ComPadres can be addressed to Fr. Tom McCarthy, who serves as
the organization’s spiritual director, at 7740 S. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60620. Also please visit
www.thecompadres.org.
Photo caption: Fr.
John Barkemeyer, former pastor of St. Cajetan Parish, celebrated
Mass at St. Rita High School on November 1 while on a two-week
leave from Iraq. His charitable organization, ComPadres,
provides supplies and recreation items for troops in Iraq. Here
he poses for a group shot with St. Rita students who are members
of St. Cajetan Parish.
