7/24/25 ”6 to Carry the Casket and 1 to Speak the Mass”

I speak with Bill Hulseman, author of a collection of personal essays titled "six to carry the casket and one to say the mass: reflections on life, identity and moving forward." Hulseman grew up in a Roman Catholic family in Winnetka, Illinois- and eventually went into Catholic education as his profession - but did so as someone who happened to be gay. The essays gathered together in this book explore many facets of his childhood, his relationship to his parents, siblings and school mates, his evolving relationship to his religion and the Roman Catholic church, and the ways in which various facets of pop culture (e.g. television shows like 'Designing Women' or singers like Madonna) helped him develop a clearer sense of his own identity and his place in the world. And yes .... we also give the author a chance to explain the title of his book. Hulseman is returning to his hometown of Winnetka, Illinois for a book signing this Tuesday evening, July 29th, 6:00, at The Book Stall.