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August 31, 2008

‘Me and my Shadow’ pastor’s favorite tune

By Dolores Madlener

STAFF WRITER

Interviewee

Father Laurence Dunn, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Lake Forest, with “Shadow,” his Chesapeake Bay Retriever.Catholic New World/Karen Callaway

He is: pastor of St. Patrick Church, Lake Forest. Attended St. Mary School, Lake Forest, archdiocesan seminaries. Ordained by Cardinal Cody in 1968.

After ordination: Attended Loyola University. Taught at Loyola Academy and then at Niles Seminary. Also dean of formation and director of counseling services at Niles for 10 years. Became a staff member of Catholic Family Consultation Services. Since 2004, has taught a course at the University of St. Mary of the Lake to seminarians. Was pastor of St. Philip Parish in Northfield for 18 years. In 2003, became associate pastor at Holy Cross in Deerfield. “You saw everything from a whole different perspective as an associate. It was a terrific year.”

Roots: “The Western part of Lake Forest where we lived was rural — a lot of farms. So when I was growing up there weren’t as many houses as today. You had some gravel roads. If you wanted to get anywhere as a kid you walked or rode your bike.”

Dunn’s Grocery:“For a while my father owned his own grocery store in Lake Forest. But right after WW II the chain stores grew, so he sold the store. He went to work for National Tea, then for the U.S. Army commissary at Fort Sheridan. Mom was a homemaker. As a kid I helped in our store, later in other grocery stores, in construction … I always worked because in a large family you help out.”

Growing up: Second oldest of eight children; five sisters; two brothers. “I was a decent student and into football and baseball. Both my parents loved to read. All of us kids are avid readers. Quigley had no football team so I picked up a basketball for the first time. I played at Niles with the students. I have the injuries and surgeries from basketball to show it. I’m one of those guys who got on the court and watch out — other than that, easy going and a bit shy.”

Current book: “I’m reading Jerome Murphy-O’Connor’s ‘Paul, His Story.’ I enjoy history, thrillers and spy novels.”

Family pets: “We always had pets.” He rescued Shadow in 2002. “She’s a strong 75-pound Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Smarter than I am, and very stubborn — that’s part of the breed. Of course with a dog, kids think you’re a real human being. And if you get tied up for a homily, you can always use a dog story.”

Mentors: “I started thinking of priesthood in grade school. We had some good priests at St. Mary. Father Bob Cross, was a brand new priest at the time and our football coach. At Quigley and Niles they took us students seriously. Good priests have no idea the example they give just by being who they are. I love being a priest. Never ever thought of doing anything else.”

Daily homily: “I kind of made a vow to myself that I will never skip the daily homily. I generally work 35-45 minutes to get two-three minutes out of it. That’s a real reflective time especially on the Scriptures. As a priest you get inspired by peoples’stories of how God works in their lives. To me that’s ongoing revelation.”

Trouble-shooting: How would he deal with an irate parishioner? “Listen. I find when you’re really trying to listen and understand a person, anger and emotions tend to subside.”

Leisure: “Never took a sabbatical. I try to stay up on what’s going on in theology. I read a lot of Catholic magazines. Four of us used to take golf vacations. I’ve golfed in Ireland. If your game is not on, it is no fun at all. Great courses and great scenery, but it can be an ordeal.”

Advice for young men: “Probably the advice most vocation directors give, “Keep your eyes and ears open and watch priests. Talk to other people, peers you trust. In the last couple of years, I’ve gone up to some high school kids saying, ‘Ya know, just think about it — I think you’d be a terrific priest.’I give them a number of reasons they can’t deny. ‘If you’d like to talk about it…’”

Scripture favorite: “I love the last judgement, Matthew 25. It’s so simple and so concrete.”