Chicago Stories - Growing Up In the Windy City. Thomas Walsh

the combination in the lock. He turned the handle and swung the door open. Bob cowered in the back of the safe about three feet in from the door.

      Father reached in and yanked Bob out of the safe pushing him to the far wall of the sacristy where the three older boys stood in fear of what would happen next.

      Standing within inches of the boys, Father walked from one boy to the next slapping each upside the head with his giant strong hand.

      “I don’t know what happened, and I don’t care. Don’t ever let me catch you doing something stupid like this again.”

      He turned and went back to the rectory.

      The boys, sniffling and afraid, quickly changed and left the church. They wondered what punishment would await them Monday from Sister Mary Rose.

      Monday came and went with no word from Sister. Days and weeks went by and still nothing. The boys kept their story to themselves. They decided that Father Mullen handled discipline issues his own way. He showed no recrimination but was not friendly either. He was just himself. Tim continued to serve masses, weddings and funerals with Father Mullen until he graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes and was no longer an altar boy.