Pope Francis has dedicated 2015 as The Year of Consecrated Life.
Many meanings and associations flow from the term ‘Consecrated Life’, one of the first would be the thought of those men and women who pursue the vocation of religious life as nuns, brothers, monks, priests. Another association is the way in which a person might consecrate or bless life by using the gift of our days as a blessing in life.
Consider this University of Portland legend. Rev. George L. Dum, C.S.C.
(click to enlarge photo)
(click to enlarge photo)
Fr. Dum came to the Bluff in 1934 assigned to teach philosophy. Which naturally put him in the Mathematics classroom, then as director and moderator of the Band, Gleemen, Chorus, Nurse’s Choral, Singing Wings (AFROTC), and also as performer with the Portland Philharmonic Chorale. But his hobby was bridge, achieving the rank of Life-Master in Contract Bridge. And of course he celebrated Mass at parishes throughout the area, delivered food to Blanchet House, and did wood-working in his retirement; only departing UP in 1987, after 53 years of service in the Portland community. He taught in both the college and high school division, and contributed ‘Fight Songs’ for both Columbia Prep and University of Portland (School Song; On Pilots, On), as well as composing and arranging liturgical music.
File sources: The Beacon, 1935 on; plus 50 years of the Log; Portland Magazine, Winter 2011.
Father Dum loved his food. He once ate a 72 ounce steak at the steak house and then finished with an 8 ounce for dessert!