First Friday Club of Chicago podcast

On Friday, December 1, 2017, At Noon In the Main Lounge of the Union League Club The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes John Shea Author, Poet, Theologian, Storyteller Who will address the topic "Christmas: It Never Grows Old."   It will happen again very soon. We will gather around tables, in church pews, and on chairs and sofas in family rooms, living rooms and great spaces for our celebratio...

Our Children, our future - protecting their health and well-being Health Care has been a major topic of political and social conversation for the past eight months as well as a recurring theme in our country for almost eight years.

We welcome Justice Anne Burke, who discusses the founding of the Special Olympics

riday, May 5, 2017, At Noon At the Union League Club The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes David Axelrod Political Commentator and Author Who will address the issue: "The Evolving Media and Political Landscape"   David Axelrod was motivated by a sense of idealism at an early age. At 5 years old, he witnessed an inspiring speech by John F. Kennedy, in New York, which would set his life on a pol...

On Friday, April 7, 2017 The First Friday Club of Chicago in Cooperation with the Authors Group (Union League Club)   Welcomes Mr. Mark Shriver President, Save The Children Action Network Author, PILGRIMAGE - My Search for the Real Pope Francis Who Will Address the Topic "My Search for the Real Pope Francis" Pope Francis very quickly has become one of the most fascinating and one of the most popul...

Cardinal Cupich will offer some thoughts on how believers can respond in a time marked by moral whiplash and acrimonious public discourse.  The present moment seems to demand that we Christians choose between seemingly competing issues from protecting the unborn to caring for the marginalized, from defending religious freedom to preserving the environment.  What is the average Catholic to do?

On Friday, February 3, 2017 At Noon at the Union League Club The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes Dr. Jo Ann Rooney 24th President, Loyola University Chicago   Who will address the issue: "IS THERE A CHANGING CATHOLIC IDENTITY IN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES TODAY?" Contemporary America is experiencing two amazing phenomena: cultural/religious/social diversity and a rapidly increasing secularity. Th...

Jeanne Bishop, Attorney, Author, Social Justice Leader   On Friday, January 6, 2017, at Noon At the Union League Club The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes Attorney and Author Jeanne Bishop   Who will address the topic "Forgiveness: The impossible virtue"   Many people in Chicago remember the horrible events of an unspeakable crime that took place in the northern suburbs 26 years ago.  Newspap...

On Friday, December 2, 2016 At Noon At the Union League Club The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes Father William Moriarity Associate Pastor, Holy Name Cathedral Chaplain Extraordinaire, Northwestern Memorial Hospital Who will address the topic "Living the Festival of Light Yes. Light is Stronger Than Dark" December is the month that plunges the Northern Hemisphere into the deepest darkness of...

On Friday, November 4, 2016 at Noon  at The Union League Club The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes  Ms. Carol Marin and Ms. Mary Ann Ahern NBC 5 Chicago    Addressing the topic  "The Finish Line Is in Sight!"       It has been neither a sprint nor a marathon. It has been an Ultra-Marathon that only the strongest athletes can endure. However, this "Ultra" involves politicians, not athletes. An...

On Friday, May 6, 2016 At Noon In the Main Lounge of The Union League Club The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes President Toni Preckwinkle President, The Cook County Board Who will address the topic; "Can We Afford to Care For Those Who Most Need Government?"     "We have no money" seems to be a mantra from all levels of government, city, county, state and national. As public budgets get tigh...

On  Friday, October 7, 2016 , At  Noon  at The Union League Club The First  Friday  Club of Chicago Welcomes  Superintendent Eddie Johnson, Chicago Police Department    Who will address the issue    "Is There Any Light at the end of the Tunnel?"       During the years of the Vietnam Conflict the Defense Department released, on a weekly basis, the number of U.S. military forces killed and wounded i...

The first Friday Club welcomes Fr. Michael Pfleger as our February 2016 speaker "A City in Turmoil - News to Some – Just Another Day to Others"   Fr. Michael Pfleger became pastor of St Sabina Catholic Community at the age of 31. He has spent over 1/2 of his life pastoring that community. He has transformed St. Sabina into one of the largest African-American Catholic Churches in the United States....

The First Friday Club of Chicago welcomes the Reverend Shannon Kershner, pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church, as our March speaker. "Resurrection Moments In A Time Of Lent" When the Christian Church calls us again this Lent to participate in a 40 period of prayer, fasting and generosity, it seems that fewer people are listening to that call. Church attendance continues to decline and the influenc...

First Friday Club of Chicago presents our January 2016 speaker, David Anderson: "When A Real Good Idea Becomes a Real Big Problem - Student Loans"   What a great idea – make money available for more young people to attend college, earn their degree, enter the work force, earn a living and begin making their mark in the business community and the entire American society. Today that great idea is al...