OP_050417

opprairie.com Life & Arts
the orland park prairie | May 4, 2017 | 25
Trolley to take Orland
Township on lilac trip
Submitted by Orland
Township
Orland Township is to offer
a trolley to Lilac Time in
Lombard.
The even is to take place
from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday,
May 11.
Participants can join the
Township for a trolley ride
to Lilacia Park in Lombard.
The day will start at Orland
Township, 14807 S.
Ravinia Ave. in Orland Park,
where the trolleys will pick
up everyone. There will then
be lunch at Casey’s, followed
by an hour-and--half
guided walking tour through
the lilac gardens.
Attendees will learn how
lilacs made it from Asia Minor
to Austria and France,
and eventually to North
America. There is a gift shop
on site at Lilacia Park, filled
with hand-crafted items
from local artists available
for purchase.
After the Lilacia Park
tour, the trolley will take the
group around historical parts
of Lombard for a 35-minute
guided trolley tour. Then, the
trolleys are to take everyone
back to Orland Township.
Orland Grassland
second in Big
Year Competition
Submitted by Forest
Preserves of Cook County
The Forest Preserves of
Cook County are a wellknown
destination for human
visitors, but it is also a
popular rest stop for thousands
of visiting migratory
birds.
The FPCC’s 2016 Big
Year Competition recorded
more than 250 bird species
in the forest preserves. Many
of these rare birds take refuge
here during their winter
and spring migratory journeys.
The Busse Woods Big
Year team, The Buffleheads,
took home first place in the
nine-month-long effort to
record the most bird species.
The Buffleheads recorded
nearly 200 species at Busse
Woods in Elk Grove Village.
A total of 21 teams throughout
the preserves recorded
their findings at Forest Preserves
sites between March
1, 2016, and Dec. 31, 2016.
In total, Busse Woods saw
23 different species of waterfowl,
as well as 14 species of
shorebirds and 33 species of
warblers. Orland Grassland
came in second place with
194 total bird species, and
Spring Creek/Penny Road
Pond came in third place
with 179 bird species.
While spotting the most
species of birds was one
component of the Big Year
competition, participants
also were judged by which
team could attract the most
new birders. Orland Grassland
led with 87 new birder
visits, while the Bemis
Woods team hosted 28 new
birder visits.
The road to pastoral associate is paved in service
Orland Parker talks
expanded role with
Tinley Park church
Jon DePaolis
Freelance Reporter
A longtime St. Julie Billiart
Catholic Church parishioner
is serving in a new
way.
Mike Rubino, of Orland
Park, was named pastoral
associate at the Tinley Park
church near the tail end of
2016.
Rubino and his wife,
Kathy, have been at St. Julie
since 1988. And recently,
after a health concern caused
him to leave the company
for which he consulted, Rubino
had some time on his
hands.
“I had been approached
once before about the deaconate,
particularly because
I had been very involved
in church,” Rubino said.
“I taught catechism for 35
years, so it is a big part of
my life.”
After being asked by the
Rev. Lou Tylka to serve as
pastoral associate, Rubino
said he thought about it and
accepted. He began Dec. 12,
2016.
For Rubino, his faith has
always been important to
him.
“I believe in the traditions,
and I believe wholeheartedly
in Christ,” Rubino said. “I
actually thought about becoming
a priest when I was
younger. But then [God] sent
Kathy into my life, and I was
told by another priest that I
was talking to that I’d make
a good father but he thought
I’d make a better dad. That
kind of stuck with me.”
A wedding and three children
— Joseph, Andrew and
Michelle — later, Rubino
said he still had a desire to
serve the church in some
way.
“Catholicism means a
“I was told
by another
priest that I
was talking to
that I’d make a
good father but
he thought I’d
make a better
dad. That kind
of stuck with
me.”
Mike Rubino — Orland
Park resident, on
starting a family instead
of joining the priesthood
but remaining involved
with St. Julie Billiart
great deal to me,” he said.
“It’s a big part of my life.
I’ve met a lot of very good
friends through St. Julie,
who are still friends to this
day — lifelong relationships.”
As such, Rubino got involved
in a myriad of ways
with the church.
“I wanted to serve,” he
said. “I taught catechism for
every grade level but fourth
grade. When you are teaching
and working with kids
and being able to make Bible
stories that meant a lot to
you and make it come alive
for a kid — to me it was very
fulfilling.”
He said it also is gratifying
to go to church on Sundays
and be greeted by one of his
former students.
“That’s a neat feeling,
because [that means] they
are still here, still active,
still involved,” Rubino said.
“Right there, that is a reward
unto itself.”
Mike Rubino, of Orland Park, stands inside St. Julie Billiart
in Tinley Park, where he recently took on the role of
pastoral associate. Photo submitted
Rubino also served on
the parish council, was a
Eucharistic minister, acted
as chairman of special and
social events, and organized
teen and service projects.
As pastoral associate, Rubino
is coordinator of parish
communications and public
relations, as well as the
church website.
Rubino said he also will
be organizing and coordinating
social activities for the
church, such as parish fundraisers
like a bonfire, Fellowship
Sunday — an event
he started many years ago —
and senior events. He also
works with nearby affiliate
churches, like St. Elizabeth
Seton, on fundraisers.
“I’m also planning a golf
outing for the summer — so
things that involve bringing
the parish and the parishioners
together,” Rubino said.
He also does committal
services for funerals, Communion
services for nursing
homes, and helps with technological
work at St. Julie.
This work appeals to him.
As a regional manager for
J.P. Morgan and as delivery
manager for BP North
America, Rubino said he enjoyed
projects.
“I enjoyed taking them
from conception to following
through on execution
and reviewing how things
went,” he said. “One of my
strengths is definitely project
planning — the details, making
sure that all the Is are
dotted and Ts are crossed.”
Rubino also plans to pursue
a certificate in pastoral
studies through the Catholic
Theological Union in September.