By CHUCK OFFENBURGER DUBUQUE & CUMBERLAND, Iowa, April 16, 2022 — Nobody told me, when I was starting to teach college kids, that a couple of them might actually turn out to be pastors of churches. Oh, I would occasionally hear more seasoned faculty talk about how satisfying and fulfilling it can be in later years…

By CHUCK OFFENBURGER PEOSTA, Iowa, April 10, 2022 – Father Jim O’Connor, the best thinker and writer I’ve ever known, and for nearly 40 years my chief spiritual advisor, died in the wee hours Friday, April 8, at the age of 98. And I feel orphaned. Oh, I’m happy that Father Jim is happy, and…

PEOSTA, Iowa, April 10, 2022 – Following is the text of the sermon/eulogy that Rev. Brendan Freeman, acting abbot of New Melleray Abbey here in northeast Iowa, delivered on Saturday, April 9, at the funeral of Rev. Jim O’Connor, a monk who died very early Friday morning at the age of 98. Father Jim O’Connor…

By CHUCK OFFENBURGER CENTERVILLE, Tenn., March 14, 2022 — I’m back in Centerville tonight, staying with my great friends Doug & Molly Bates, on my way home to Iowa after spending the weekend in Atlanta, Ga. Late this afternoon, Doug and I drove out to one of our favorite haunts in his Hickman County, the…

By CHUCK OFFENBURGER HANNIBAL, Mo., March 16, 2022 —Old guys with too many stories can be such a pain when they wind up in the front of the line in a busy convenience store, you know? So, here at Casey’s in Hannibal MO this morning, young Vanessa, looked up and said, “Do you need a…