This fall, I received an invitation from Mrs. Mantea Schmid to speak during the St. Elias the Prophet Greek Orthodox Church 50th Anniversary celebration. Until Saturday, November 11, I had no real concept of what that would mean.

I learned we would be honored by the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos (pronounced "Yakovos") of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, as well as other church dignitaries, including the beloved Rev. Fr. George Pallas, who had served the Dubuque families of St. Elias with distinction for years.  With protocol being of the utmost importance, I asked Mantea for guidance on how my wife, Deborah, and I should greet His Eminence.  I learned the parish members would kiss his hand, and we would be left to decide that for ourselves.

As an immigrant church formed in the '50s, nearly every founding member of St. Elias was from Greece, making the present-day parishioners, for the most part, first-generation Americans!  During my remarks, I recognized several members who were both born and had worshipped in Dubuque since the '30s … even though St. Elias was not built until the '50s … including Mrs. Mary Moore, Mrs. Stella Psihoyos and Mr. Nick Yiannias, who also served as the master of ceremonies that evening.

From the entrance of His Eminence, through the video chronicling 50 years in a photograph album set to music, to the several individuals who spoke passionately about the influence of their Greek Orthodox heritage, faith and the St. Elias parish on their approach to life and living, it was an amazing experience.  

I must share a bit about a remarkable woman who came to Dubuque from Greece in those very early years, Mrs. Antonio Bogas (Toni the Tailor of West 3rd Street in Dubuque).  I personally believe Toni should be hired as an ambassador for our Chamber of Commerce.  She spoke passionately about her early years of frustration in a Dubuque that had little to offer culturally, with no meaningful employment, and how she wished she could leave for Chicago!  Then Toni fast forwarded to today, where she unabashedly proclaimed in her heavy Greek accent to all those who had returned for this celebration, “You need to come home to Dubuque, to St. Elias, and to the many jobs and opportunities that now await you here!  There is much to do, to enjoy, to celebrate. Come home!”  

In preparation for my remarks, I had learned that the tenure of His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos has been characterized by many initiatives, including his leadership to facilitate assistance to the homeless and those in need.  As I shared with him, Dubuque is so very fortunate to have a volunteer and philanthropic community that remains hard at work to ensure our homeless are found and cared for and that citizens and families in need have places to turn to for support … and caring … and hope.

With this event occuring the night before my trip to Sundance, Utah for a mayors summit on global climate protection, I also shared with those present my intention to take with me the message of another Greek Orthodox leader, Metropolitan John of Pergamon, who, in 1995, addressed a gathering of scientists and spiritual leaders.  He said, “Science cannot help the ecological problem without the help of the Church.  Science can describe what is going wrong, describe what technologies are needed, but what is essential is that people love the environment … we cannot save what we do not love.”  He urged his colleagues in the Orthodox Church to introduce environmental education into their sermons and Sunday schools.  I extended an invitation to the members of St. Elias to join me and others in getting that message to all our Dubuque congregations and parishes, as a means for Dubuque to provide the kind of leadership and collaborative effort that will stop the stealing of the environment from our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

As the evening drew to a close and His Eminence addressed us, he thanked everyone who shared their heartfelt stories that evening, and to me he said, “Thank you, Mr. Mayor.  I do not know of your religious affiliation, and it does not matter.  Yours was a good message … you spoke well to our members, and you did not speak like a politician … you spoke to what matters.”  It was one of those moments in your life when you are, literally, speech-less, yet you have an immediate realization that the bar to which you must continue to aspire was just set.

As Dubuque continues to enjoy the Greek festivals and galas that have been a part of our local cultural existence for years, I, for one, will do so with greater awareness of the family of St. Elias as they strive to sustain the Orthodox presence and contribute to the diversity of our city as a whole.  November 11 did indeed present a unique opportunity, combining education on my part with a special church family, where traditions, respect for decorum, spiritual renewal, compassion, laughter, tears, and even some dancing served to honor the 50 years of life set forth through this once little immigrant church known as St. Elias the Prophet!