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Diaspora Digest # 34
Diaspora Digest's editors, Gael Stahl and Jack Brennan thank you for your holiday greetings and wish you a blessed end of the year 2005 and peace in your hearts for all at home and abroad in 2006. Promises
are like the full moon: if they are not kept at once they diminish day by
day. - German proverb Dear Diaspora, In 1982 Gael Stahl wanted to find a way for those of us who had left the Franciscan Order to keep in touch with each other. It began with a few letters back and forth, mostly among our classmates. (Invested in 1959). This process snowballed and Zeke (our class’s affectionate name for Gael) began to publish these letters and mail them. He insightfully dubbed the project “The Diaspora Digest.” (DD). It has been priceless and we have all reaped the benefits of Gael’s “love child.” Several years ago, we began using email as an efficient way to distribute the publication. We enlisted the help of Brother Jack Hardesty, OFM, a web master at Quincy University and a member of the class behind us. Br. Jack created a web site for us and did a great job of posting our articles and pictures. We encountered some difficulties with the University, but Br. Jack was able to convince the administration that the DD was a worthy alumni project. Now we are pleased to announce that we have our very own web site: The site offers not only a place to post our articles, but also a forum for posting photos, messaging and blogging. We are in the process of figuring out a way to best use these features. Sign up for the special features and get acquainted with the site. It’s free. Http://www.diasporadigest.org/apps Your thoughts/suggestions are most welcome. Drop us a note at: ddeditors@diasporadigest.org Gael says, “Annual, much less biannual, newsletters are probably out of date in this technological age when all have Internet access at home or at local libraries.” As you may imagine, mailings are getting prohibitive since the pages are numerous even with aggressive editing. With the web page, we don’t have to edit as much and printing and mailing become unnecessary. Brother Hardesty has paved the way for us to go completely electronic. We will be forever indebted to Br. Jack. We have shamelessly stolen all of his work and moved his creations to our site almost in toto. At this writing, DD34 (articles from 2003) is posted on the site; DD35 (2004) is almost ready and we will edit DD36 (2005) within a week. After we have posted all the articles we have gathered in the last three years, we plan to post articles about once per month, or even sooner if we have a “news flash.” The original intent of the DD was to keep us connected with each other. You may note that many men still in cinctures write on a regular basis. If we use the site well, we will certainly enhance our connectedness. Most of our subscribers seem to like to read and write about the joys, concerns and stories of life. We have decided to make no rules at this time. If you want a copy of any issue, simply click on “Edit” on your tool bar, then click “Select All,” then “Copy.” Go to the place where you want to copy the issue and click “Paste.” You may also copy any individual articles you wish by using the same procedure per article. If you have any questions or suggestions about the site, contact us. Gael Stahl and/or Jack Brennan: mailto:ddeditors@diasporadigest.org Pax et Bonum. Jack ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DD last went to press in December 2002. Fear not, the Diaspora Digest may have gone on hiatus, but it won’t die. If I die, another will take it on. We missed an issue in 2003, an odd year in many senses. Susan and I were ‘building’ a house and I had walking pneumonia, and I didn’t even get an annual letter out to friends and relatives. But all is well now, though time always seems short. [That turned out a mirage, as you’ll see in DD35 (2004) that I came down with December shingles and January/February sciatica. I could not write, stand, or sit! GS] Two good things. The sacerdotal pedophilia and episcopal arrogance about it seems to be an old story, and the presidential election is over. On to the future.
First, some old news that didn’t get in DD33. (Remember as you read, that we are three years behind.) OCTOBER 02 JERRY ETZKORN: Was in Quincy in October and chatted with and was helped by Jack Hardesty. Hope all's well with you. When I get a photo of our class reunion, I'll send it on. [I’m waiting. We all are. GS] (In answer to another question): The present bishop of Knoxville is Joseph Kurtz. He's a very nice person, but not about to 'use' us folks. I think he's more concerned about what the Pope thinks than what the people need. Canon Law right or wrong! He replaced O'Connell when he was sent to Florida and subsequently admitted to pedophilia… [Can’t locate the rest of this letter. Editors.] 7 NOV 02 SHARON FISCHER: ABC-TV aired a documentary Dec.1 on modern-day monks. "Trappist," a one-hour documentary that examines the 1,700-year history of monastic life in the Western world. The program explores the daily life of 30 Catholic monks who live at the Mepkin Abbey monastery near Charleston, South Carolina. The in-depth documentary gives viewers unprecedented access to the monks, knowledge of their reasons for entering monastic life, and insight into their attitude towards work, hospitality, and rituals. "Trappist" was produced by Paulist Media Works, a communications arm of the Paulist Fathers based in Washington, and WTVI-TV, the community-owned PBS affiliate station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Video streaming clips, media materials, and a list of ABC-TV affiliate broadcast dates was to be posted on the CCC web site, http://www.usccb.org/ccc/trappist.htm. A book depicting the daily life at Mepkin Abbey is also available by calling Paulist Press at 1-800-218-1903 or through http://www.paulistpress.com/. For more information about Mepkin Abbey, go to: http www.mepkinabbey.org/mepkin_gifts_heart.htm. 12 NOV 02 JERRY ETZKORN: [I found this too late to include in DD33. I’d asked Jerry: Just saw mention of Tansi Village in the tornado report (it killed and destroyed all around his area between Nashville and Knoxville). Were you affected? They missed us by a few miles but hit all the counties near us. – Gael] Jerry: Well, a tornado did touch down in Tansi resulting in a lot of damage and 2 deaths. We had a spectacular and long stretch of lightning and thunder such as we'd never experienced before, but then the 'funnels' jumped over us and headed northeast. In my last message, I forgot to add that some of the 'guys' might want to contact their local bishops in the same vein (perhaps more diplomatically than I) in the hope they'll finally get the message (or am I the only one who thinks we're still needed!) 14 NOV 02 DENNIS GRIFFIN: There is a fantastic new movie at Blockbuster. The name of the movie
is Tail Sting. The script of the movie was written by Timothy Griffin
(he is my son). This is a terrific movie with a marvelous script. Not only
did Tim write the script, he also has an acting part in the movie. About two
thirds of the way through the movie Tim (my son) plays a computer hacker who
types a lot and says cryptic things. The movie is TAIL STING. It is
considered a "new release" at Blockbuster. Go and get in your car
right now and drive to Blockbuster and rent this movie. DO IT NOW. Did I
mention that Timothy Griffin (my kid) wrote the script? The movie category is
"Action Horror" and the rating is R. Tail Sting. 18 NOV 02 JACK BRENNAN: Zeke, Thursday, the 14th, almost our entire department of 30 people was laid off at the hospital. As I told you, there had been rumors of it happening since the hospital was losing money. On Black Thursday, four administrators called us all together and announced that all but our 2 physicians and our chief psychologist were being let go. They complimented us on our good work and how we made such a great impact on the patients' lives. Then they talked per longam et latam about the money problem. They kept interspersing their talk with " However, quality patient care will not suffer." After a half hour of this they stopped to take questions and comments. One of our staff who had been there 24 years was sobbing. The administrators acted like she wasn't even in the room; didn't even bother to look at her, much less offer comfort. No one was saying anything of substance, so I had to say something. I told them that my daughter Rachel left me a note that morning, wishing me luck and that she hoped " ...you and your friends will be OK." I also told them that I was insulted by their statements that the quality of care would not be affected by our departure. I told them that everyone in that room had made an incredible difference in the lives of patients, their families and the staff. When I was done, you could hear a pin drop; all four of the administrators were looking at the floor. For a moment I thought they would ask me to leave the room. Instead, they did worse; they went back over the money problems and STILL insisted that the quality of care would not suffer. They don't get it. Psychology is still the bastard child of medicine.
My last day as a hospital employee is the day before Thanksgiving. I am working on getting some work from a cardiology group. I think I may be able to talk them into hiring me to do the work I did for them as an employee of the hospital. If not, I can always return full time to my private practice. I prefer the mix, but I may not be able to get outside work to complement the practice.
There you have it. Age 67, looking for work! Scrooge lives in corporate America. And their little warlord lives in Washington, DC.
I will be getting my CD ROM of MS Word in a couple of days. I finally connected with the seller. I'll be hotly editing by week's end.
I rented Dennis Griffin's son's movie as instructed. Great if you see it as a melodrama. Thanks for the consistent brotherliness. Pax et bonum, 1 DEC 02 JOHN MILLER: moved from SE Chicago to Montana last fall to build and retire early there. Gael: Happy Holidays, and winter is here, although the weather, except for about a week in late October and early November, has been pleasant. Halloween here was below zero, a new happening for us. But today was sunny and 45 degrees. The house is started, and presently has a plywood roof, windows on level 1, none on level 2, and no doors in yet. Sandy and I have been busy staining and varnishing windows, doors, planning this and that, buying plumbing fixtures, floors etc. Shopping around for deals takes time, and we have found some deals buying some wood floors, plumbing fixtures, etc over the Internet. As long as you know what you want, the Internet is a great place to find a deal, but it all seemingly takes longer than expected. The builder is very slow, but also does a great job, so we'll take quality over speed. All of it is costing more than anticipated, but then what doesn't?! We hope to be in the house by Easter. In the meantime, we'll "play" Mary and Joseph, keeping warm in the stable! Planning on putting a star on top of the barn with a flashing sign, "Bethlehem this way!" Perhaps the Wise Men will come with silver, gold, etc. We will then have enough money to complete the house. We're adjusting well to Montana. I'm finally getting used to being retired, which was more difficult than I anticipated. I write monthly articles for the Whitehall Ledger, a weekly newspaper. We are also both active in the Church and the community. Sandy is chairman of the Christmas Bazaar, both of us are active in "Jefferson Valley Presents," a group that has an outdoor theater and puts on a "Lewis and Clark" production. My arm was twisted, and both of us are now board members, and I am vice-president. The local people have been wonderful, warm and accepting. For Thanksgiving, we were invited to the home of one of the grand ladies of Whitehall. Guests included descendants of one of the founders of Whitehall. We have met so many interesting people, with fascinating histories. The stories they can tell are wonderful gems. Sandy has recovered well, and the last checkup was all good news. Both of us can't believe how lucky we are. We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. Emotionally, we're a bit spent, but this too shall pass. I know it's been awhile since I have written, but I've been sooooo busy! Pax! 2 DEC 02 JACK BRENNAN: update: on his 30-person hospital group being closed where he worked as psychologist/counselor: Had a great interview with the head of the cardiology group. He wants to use me as a consultant in and out of the hospitals. He will "push" his group to make the referrals. This may be much better financially and emotionally for me. All things work together for good, even for shitheads (and minor minors). Pancratius Freudinger took delight in such small things in life; I used to chauffeur him a lot in Cleveland and he was always pointing out these simple things en route. "Look at that beautiful tree!" or "Look how mother takes care of her kid!" Great man. Pax bonumque. 7 DEC 02: JOAN BURDS: We received the message today, and thought some of you would want to read it. Peace: Philip Berrigan, Anti-War Activist, Dies at Home in Baltimore, MD. Phil Berrigan died December 6, 2002 at about 9:30 PM, at Jonah House, a community he co-founded in 1973. He died two months after being diagnosed with liver and kidney cancer, and one month after deciding to discontinue chemotherapy. During his nearly 40 years of resistance to war and violence, the nonviolent, sustainable world he was working to create. Berrigan spent about 11 years in prison. He wrote, lectured, and taught extensively, publishing six books, including an autobiography: Fighting the Lamb's War. Philip
began dictating this statement the weekend before Thanksgiving. It was all
clear - he had it written - word for word - because he began coughing and
couldn’t continue: “I die with
the conviction, held since 1968 and Catonsville, that nuclear weapons are the
scourge of the earth; to mine for them, manufacture them, deploy them, use
them, is a curse against God, the human family, and the earth itself. We have
already exploded such weapons in Japan in 1945 and the equivalent of them in
Iraq in 1991, in Yugoslavia in 1999, and in Afghanistan in 2001. We left a
legacy for other people of deadly radioactive isotopes - a prime
counterinsurgency measure. For example, the people of Iraq, Yugoslavia,
Afghanistan and Pakistan will be battling cancer, mostly from depleted
uranium, for decades. In addition, our nuclear adventurism over 57 years has
saturated the planet with nuclear garbage from testing, from explosions in
high altitudes (four of these), from 103 nuclear power plants, from nuclear
weapons factories that can't be cleaned up - and so on. Because of myopic
leadership, of greed for possessions, a public chained to corporate media,
there has been virtually no response to these realities...” Philip
Berrigan, 1923-2002 1943-1945: Served in WWII, artillery officer, Europe. 1949: Graduated from Holy Cross College. 1955:
Ordained a Catholic Priest in the Josephite Order, specializing in inner city
ministry. 1975: End of Vietnam War
and beginning of focus on weapons of mass destruction and changing U.S.
nuclear policy resulted in several jail terms ranging up to six months. Dec. 6, 2002: Died at home in Baltimore, surrounded by family and community. 16
DEC 02 JUDY MOONEY: Hi Gael and Susan, Just wanted you to know that Mike
is having surgery today on his finger, hand. He was finally diagnosed
with an atypical micro bacterial infection that he got from contact with
bacteria in Florida related to fishing or swimming. It has been a
difficult and frustrating time for Mike...and of course, full of lessons.
They will treat him with massive doses of antibiotics for a few
months. They will culture it today and begin treatment by
Thursday. So, keep him in your hearts. Hope you both are
well. Loved being with you and having the time to share our stories. As
always, it feels so loving and good to be your family. Love 19 DEC 02 DAN MAZAR: Comment on the old photo he sent for DD33, “Mazar in Habit” and I kidded him about: Zeke: Back then, all possibilities were open. Especially, an openness to the Divine. Such a deal. Funny how that openness led us all down our own paths to our encounter with the Transcendent. You are lucky that I didn't post a photo of me in my fems and tunic. That would make you go screaming into the night. Thanks for your kind words. Enjoy the Incarnation. In these times, it is important to keep it in mind. Pax, 24 DEC 02: DON AWERKAMP: We're awaiting news from our daughter Kierin about the arrival of our first grandchild. I am sure that Bush, Lott, Cheney and the others ripping off what is left of the world's resources are ample frustration. Glad to hear that DD33 is on the way. Our life here is not a lot different except that our daughter Risa decided to transfer to Ithaca College for her sophomore year. She has been taking some philosophy classes so we now have long long-distance discussions. It’s a good thing that cell phones come with fixed rate long distance plans as we put in many hours. Barbara is still teaching at the state school for the deaf and I am still suing the establishment for its abused employees. I would love to see you. Some day I will have to make it to Tennessee.
Dear Gael & Susan, Just a little Christmas greeting. Hope you are having happy holidays and have a terrific new year! Love,
27 DEC 02 JERRY KLEIN: Hey Gael, Just got your message. I was off for the holidays. I didn't go to the game, and it did not sell out so it was blacked out locally. The locals are really down on the coach. Your season turned around after the first Jaguar game and so did ours - only in the wrong direction. The Titans simply kick our butts almost every time. They are on a roll, so to speak. I hope you all had a good holiday. We did. Lots of gifts, of course, but also some good get-togethers. But I'm finding it more and more difficult to get with the whole scene - office parties and what to do for whom, etc. We decided that next year we will give one gift and some money and have folks buy their own gifts at half the price the day after Christmas. Keep in touch. If you're in the neighborhood, let me know. I'll certainly do the same if I ever head North. 30 DEC 02 CHRIS REUTER: Did you know that Jerry Thelen died suddenly about three weeks ago? He had been at Padua a long time, but was pastor in Ruston, LA the past several years. Requiescat "Trigger" in pace! DECEMBER 2002 JACK BRENNAN on Bob Hankey’s letter about Tom Aldworth being censored and Gael’s response: Dear Zeke, Great letters. My brother, Dan, attends St. Pete's in Chi and was sorely disappointed when Tom was transferred. He absolutely loved Tom's sermons and his books. He loved the way he "wondered" about things and stayed completely clear of dogmatism. Unlike the pabulum we were given: this means that, that means this, etc. What arrogance to think that anyone could know Grandfather's mind. Isn't there something in the NT about not even JC knowing the mind of the Father? We have raised our kids to be freethinkers too. Often it is tempting to want them to conform; like a default setting in my head, but I resist in spite of the price. I recall having to get up at O'Dark:30 to say Mass at a convent in Effingham when we were simplices. The nuns always asked about Sid Monaghan. Pax. Jerome Thelen, OFM, Minor Matters announced in its Jan/Feb issue, died Dec. 2002. He was in the novitiate class of 1959. Br. Dan Badsing, OFM, died Dec. 26, 2002. Born in 1911, took simple vows in 1941. The only person I recognize on that page of the 1968 catalogus is my relative, Bro. Arthur Rempe, who managed the farm at St. Joe’s. Celebrants of anniversaries: The same Jan/Feb issue of MM notes that Allan Wolter celebrated 70 years as a friar, Blane O’Neill 60 years, Robert Behnen, Jonathan Foster, Herman J. James, Gilbert Ostdiek, and Thomas Shaughnessy 50 years – just to mention those my class knew from our seminary days. Medard Buvala and Jason Kommer celebrated 60 years as a priest, Ambrose German and David Eckelkamp 50 years – again mentioning just my former professors and a provincial secretary during our seminary days. CHRISTMAS, 2002 FRANCIS ROETHLI: Annual Christmas letter. Dear Friends and
Relatives,
A short time ago we read an article about Christmas cards and letters and a ritual a family had when receiving these. It seems as if they do similar to what we do here. Each card, letter or e-mail that we receive we put around our Christmas tree to remind us of all of you during this holiday season, to bring nice memories of everyone back to us, and we consider each one we receive as a visit to our family and home. In this same spirit we want to write to you about our family and let you in on some of the things that happened to and with us during the past year. This is our way of visiting you and your family. We are very late on getting this letter and our Christmas greetings out this year. In mid November we had problems with our computer, took it to a shop and it took the shop a very long time to get our computer back in working order again. We only got it back last week. Then last week our car was in the shop to be repaired after the third accident this year. Besides this Francis had a very busy week at work and had to do a lot of over time and depended on transportation from work. When he got home it was always very late. So only today, Christmas Eve, we are able to finish our letter to you.
Yes, our car suffered three accidents this year. In the first part of January it got hit in the rear end when Francis was coming home for lunch. Francis had to stop as another car was turning into another street and a lady had stopped behind him and another car came and hit the lady’s car, which rammed into our car. There wasn’t too much damage and the insurance of the man who hit the lady’s car paid for the repairs. Then a few months ago the parking lot at Francis’s work collapsed, In a neighboring lot they dug away near a retaining wall; that gave away and the parking lot slid down into the neighboring lot, taking four cars went down with it - one of them ours. Again there was not too much damage and the owner of the other lot paid for the repairs. Then a few weeks ago the car was parked on the street in front of the office and a tractor-trailer truck backing into the driveway hit the car with one of its wheels and damaged the front fender. Also, the truck broke our blinker, the headlight and the bumper. The insurance of the trucking company paid for the repairs. Thank God that in all the accidents no one was hurt, but it is still bad to be without a car while your car is being repaired.
During the past year Elisia has been kept busy with her church group. It is a small group and they are involved in other activities in the parish like visiting poor families, sick persons and persons with problems. The group and its members are growing in community spirit and individually and thus are able to contribute more to the parish efforts. Elisia brings home many nice experiences and ideas, which also enriches our family life. Eddie, who is now 22, continues with his college course in Administration, but is still having a hard time and is struggling with his studies. A short time ago he started with some psychological help that was recommended by a doctor, and we hope that this will help him out in his struggles with life and his studies. Joel, now 20, continues with his college course in Psychology and is doing pretty well. The doctor, who was treating the problem that Joel has with the valve in his heart, decided the first part of this year that Joel should wait as long as possible for the operation. We were concerned and went to another specialist - we wanted another opinion - and he said that we should not wait any longer for the operation. However, he was not able to recommend a hospital for the operation and referred us to another specialist. This third doctor also said that we should not wait any longer and finally, in the first part of July, the operation was done and everything went well. He was operated on in a hospital that is three hours from here by car. The hospital has an excellent reputation in heart surgery. Francis was there with Joel during his stay in the hospital. For a month after the operation Joel had to follow certain recommendations, but now he is able to lead a normal life. We want to thank everyone for your prayers and concerns with Joel and his surgery. Ronnie, now 15, repeated the 8th grade this past year, studied real hard, did pretty good, and now in February of next year will be starting high school. He was really happy a few weeks ago when he got his report card and saw that he passed this year and would be able to start out in high school next year. Francis has had another busy year at work, as the number of vessels the company has in Brazil has remained around 28. Some new vessels have come to Brazil and others have left for other areas of the world, but the total number of vessels has remained around 28. About a month ago a new Assistant Area Manger came to the office and it seems that things will turn for the better with this change. The new man is more communicative and friendlier and that helps in the office. In January of last year we all went to Santarem, in the North of Brazil, for vacation and a visit with Elisia’s family. We had a real nice time there and we think that our visit was especially good for Elisia’s mother who is now 91 years old. She was a little down and out prior to our visit and when we got up there. But we think that the visit helped her to be a little more positive on life as while we were there she started to change for the better, and started to do things like she used to do. On the other hand when we were up there in Santarem we also received some not so good news. We found out that Harold Reuter - a married priest and Franciscan who was just a year ahead of Francis when they studied together - had passed away. He and his family lived in Belem and for years we did not have any contact with them. Also, we found out that Father Ray Crone, one of the Franciscans who worked in Santarem, had passed away. We had heard before that they found a malignant brain tumor, and he passed away when we were traveling to Santarem. Fr. Juvenal Carlson, another Franciscan working in Santarem passed away while we were there, and we participated in his funeral Mass. We were planning on visiting him during our stay in Santarem. Francis had some intestinal problem when we were in Santarem and one of the times he went to the doctor, found out that Fr. Paul Zoder, another Franciscan, was in the hospital Francis visited with him. He did not seem too bad, but the next day he was flown to the USA in an emergency and after only a few days he also passed away. While we were in Santarem we visited with Bishop Ryan, who is retired and had been bishop in Santarem when Francis worked as a priest there. He seemed to be in good health and was in excellent spirits. Every time we went to Santarem we made sure that we got to visit him, but we did not know that this visit would be the last one. Every year in April Bishop Ryan went to the USA for a visit and a medical check up and this time they discovered that he had intestinal cancer that it was so far along, that nothing could be done. After discovering that he had cancer, his wish was to return to Brazil. He wanted to have enough strength for the trip so that he could die and be buried in Santarem. He passed away before he was able to return to Brazil, but his body was returned to Santarem and he was buried there. Just in case you would like to contact us our e-mail address is froetheli of uol.com.br . Our phone number is 55-22-2772-1408. Our address is: Francis & Elisia Roetheli Rua Aime Borges Chaloub, 157 Miramar 27943-540 Macae, RJ, Brazil We would enjoy a visit from all of you whether it would be in the form of a card, letter or e-mail. Even though we are so late, we hope that everyone has a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year of 2003. Each and everyone will be remembered in a special way on Christmas.
Francis, Elisia, Eddie, Joel & Ronnie December 2002 Jerry Etzkorn: form letter: March found us in Ireland for two weeks with Linda’s mother and sister-in-law. Our first escorted tour and it was a great success. In August, Jerry went to a big medieval congress (not by car) in Porto, Portugal where he met a lot of colleagues whom he had known only by reputation, including some younger scholars with whom he has been associated and has helped over the years, who were also very gracious and appreciative. Porto, as the name suggests, is a port city in northern Portugal and there’s not a flat or straight street in the entire city. Got a lot of walking exercise. Both Linda and I went to St. Louis in October for a family reunion (Jerry also attended a ‘manuscript conference’ at St. Louis University). After St. Louis, we journeyed to Springfield, IL to visit Linda’s mom who is now recuperating from successful cancer surgery (no further treatment needed). From there, on to Quincy to visit Linda’s family where Jerry ‘squeezed’ in some research at Quincy University’s library. Friends joined us at our
timeshare in Hilton Head for golf and balmier climes during the last week of
January, and then we joined them in Branson and got in four rounds of golf
and saw three shows including Jacob Smirnov’s ‘comic’ show (he’s really
funny!). Spent a couple of days in Gatlinburg in May with good friends from
Asheville. Then to Myrtle Beach during the last week of September with a
couple from Fairfield Glade and our son Alan. Got in a lot of golf and the
girls were able to do some shopping. The days when Dad could beat the boys on
the golf course are over! One day, Jerry hit his best drive of the week and
Alan knocked his drive 30 yards past! Back ‘at the ranch’,
Jerry plays golf with groups on Monday & Wednesday and plays at various
‘classy’ courses in Tennessee on Thursdays/Fridays with three other friends.
And he is still walking the courses rather than riding the ‘buggies’. Linda
is a voracious reader which keeps her sharp wits sharp and she runs the
church bridge league and helps with funeral luncheons at church and helps a
friend in her craft shop periodically (a real surprise for someone who says
she is not at all ‘crafty’.) Jerry continues to prepare critical editions of the works of medieval authors: Henry of Ghent (+1293), Marcus of Orvieto (+ circa 1300), Walter Chatton (+1335), while helping with editions of Richard Rufus (+circa 1260) and will soon be ‘on board’ for an edition of Francis of Marchia (+circa 1335). His edition of John Pecham’s (+1292) Disputed Questions came into print this year. He keeps remarking to those who want him to participate “Deus det mihi longam vitam.” (“May God give me a long life.”)
The most spectacular event of the year was the birth of our first grandchild. On November 21st in the morning’s wee hours, Kierin (nee Karen) gave birth to a beautiful girl, named Melia Kapri Milhorat, weighing in at 5 lbs. 14 oz. She and John had planned a home birth assisted by a midwife. Due to an extremely quick labor, when the birth was ‘imminent’ John was on the phone with the midwife who was trapped in fog on the Tappan Zee bridge. Melia’s father was forced to drop the phone and deliver his daughter! But all turned out well, to which we can heartily attest. We drove up to Bedford, NY on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and stayed the week. Naturally, little Melia got a lot of love and attention. It was a wonderful week! While in the area, we journeyed down to NY city to west 32nd St. to visit an old friend, Br. Ed Coughlin OFM, who had been Jerry’s ‘boss’ (best he ever worked with) at St. Bonaventure University. We also visited a former classmate, Paul Shields and his wife Marilyn, who were living in a rental house. Their original homestead had burned to the ground with all its contents, and to add misery to misery, Paul had to undergo major surgery. On the following Sunday, we drove to Rochester, NY to visit our son Kevin on our way home. It was a long day of driving through the snow with three slowdowns of stop and go traffic. What should have taken 6¼ hours, actually took 8½ hours. In Rochester, it ‘decided’ to snow another 6 inches overnight plus major snow along our route south, so we decided to stay an extra day before driving down to Richmond, Indiana to visit Alan. When we found out that there had been an ice storm in the area of I-75 from Lexington, Kentucky down to the Tennessee State line, we stayed over there too in order to wait that one out. Both sons are happy and doing well. They love their jobs; Kevin is an avid hunter, and Alan has become a golf nut just like Dad. Both are still single but ‘looking’. We’ve had a wonderful year and feel blest and blest again. We hope you have a Blessed Christmas with peace and joy throughout the New Year. Remember our Tennessee home has lots of space for visitors and we’d love to have you share our home for a while. Lots of love! Jerry and Linda
2 Jan 03 Dan Mazar: Zeke: What a nice surprise. Keeping the Julian calendar has made you early with the Digest. And I bet you used a very sharp blue pencil. Nonetheless, I am glad we didn't have to contribute to the "Free Zeke" Defense Fund after you guys demonstrated down at the SOA. As the man said when asked what he was rebelling against: "What have you got?" Go for it. I thought you were aware of Tom Aldworth's situation vis-à-vis the Vatican. Things seem to be calm at present. Let us hope they stay serene. I surely didn't know about the California friars and their problems. The other shoe just keeps dropping in this molestation mess. Instead of a Roman collar, the ordained now wear the Scarlet letter. UGH!! Hope your Christmas went well and that you did not receive lumps of coal in your stocking. It was pretty bold of you to publish my Christmas greeting Urbe et Orbe. I hope nobody is practicing voodoo, so I can avoid feeling the darts. Best to Susan and the rest of the peckerwood bunch. Pax, 3 Jan 03 Paul Shields: [sent a check and Gregorian chant postcard “Puer natus est nobis.” He sent a check that will be put to DD use: ] The enclosed is to help with the cost of Diaspora, which we received today and thoroughly enjoy. I was Frater Joseph (Croatian Custody) in the novitiate class of 1949. In May, God put us to the test. On the 20th, our house burned and on the 29th, I went into Sloan-Kettering for cancer surgery. Thanks God, the house is being rebuilt and I am teaching at a seminary (Diocese of Brooklyn and Rockville Center) and playing the organ. I miss Frei Juvenal very much. In 2000, Fr. Pahler from our class and I journeyed to Santarem to visit Juvenal and enjoyed a great vacation. The friars and Bishop Ryan were wonderful to us. Keep up your great work – Diaspora gladdens the hearts of many. Oremus pro invicem. [Love your Francis spirit about your fired house and take on serious illness, Paul. You were in a great class. Thanks for staying in contact. GS] 3 JAN 2003 MAZAR: To the brethren: At the risk of going over the top, I would remind that today is the 35th anniversary of Fel's death. Those of us who do not have a TOTBUCH might have needed a nudge in the ribs. Pax, Dan [FEL is Francis Leo Madsen, spiritual director at St. Joe’s Westmont in the 1950s, and one of the finest human beings we ever knew. – the editors.] 4 JAN 03 MARILYN STAHL, CSJ: Happy new year, Gael and Susan, so good talking with you on Christmas, then receiving your Christmas letter and now your DD#33! Just finished reading it from cover to photos! Now I know why I wondered "O Brother, where art thou?" Best ever digest. I know I think that after reading every issue, but considering the awful, but long overdue, year we had in '02, it's affirming to read the words of so many who have their heads and hearts in the right place. Amore y esperanza. So glad you included Jerry Etzkorn's letter to his bishop. Says it all. Resonated with "his" version of the talks at the class reunion. After reading 15 pages from beginning to end, I was still wishing Jack Brennan had written more. Awful about last summer's heat and the $7,000 plumbing bills. Now the northwest is getting walloped as we get clobbered and the Midwest is dry as a bone. So glad you included Bev's letters and the excerpts from Kathleen W. Fitzgerald's article, The more I get, the more I want: if you have a chance, could you e-mail me a copy of the entire article again? I forwarded it to many when you first sent it, but I didn't print a copy for me to keep. So sorry I didn't, or at least keep it on a disk. If and when you get a moment sometime in the year ahead...Thanks! A bug was tearing through the Mount when I got to work last Monday. I never dreamed I'd get it, but by Thursday I was crawling from bed to bath. Good time to be home as we are buried in another foot of snow. Very beautiful. Finished reading "Bel Canto" (by Nashvillian Ann Patchett, runner up for National Book Award but winner of many others) and now am deep into "The Bonesetter's Daughter." I hope you two are fine and enjoying some new year's calm and quiet. I'll close now by sharing one of Bob Trimmer's favorite quotes (Janie Wood Stahl is Trimmer's wife): Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind. RLS. Love always. 5 Jan 03 Mazar: Zeke: Glad to hear that the California business is old news. I just heard that California is repealing the statute of limitations on molestation for one year. That means, of course, that any charge of molesting, no matter how ancient, can be investigated and prosecuted. I think it a bad move. Lots of spurious cases, I fear. Mario Dicicco will be assuming the presidency of Quincy College on a pro tempore basis later this month. The college is in a mess. Hope Mario brings a big shovel. Best to Susan and all the peckerwood inmates. Frank Coens emailed that you went to his place for Transitus. Did you hum a few bars of " O Sanctissima"? Pax, Cowboy 6 Jan 2003 Mary Zangs: Zeke - I have stopped going to church. All those letters from Tony Lutz have finally convinced me to just give up on it. Then to think that it took you until 2002 to think it is feasible to have women priests - that cinched it! Mary [Gael’s response: Glad to be of help. I haven't been to regular Sunday Mass in years. What I call going to church has long been the Sunday Morning Show on CBS at 8 p.m. central time. Best 90 minutes of television week after week. All thru theology I said (as many did) I have no problem with Jesus or revelation, it's the church that damns you, kills faith. Over the years I've come to believe churchmen are doing the best they can, on the whole. There is no question in my mind that organized religion and violence go hand in hand with radical right wing adherents. Kill a (FILL IN THE BLANK with commie, Muslim, abortionist, etc.) for Christ.] 11 Jan 03 Alice: Hello-- I was reading through a passage you wrote at: http://websites.quincy.edu/~hardeja/digest/dd31/dd31.html and saw the name Robert Bobber. Are you looking for him? How do you know him? Alice 11 Jan 03 Carroll Mizicko:
"THE VIEW FROM THE EAST SIDE!" Dear Family & Friends, 13 JAN 2003: Marvin A Schulgen: Dear Gael, Jack, et alii: Just a note to let you know that
my brother, Frank Smith, originally Frank Schulgen, passed away on December
16th in Beaver Dam, WI. Many of the Diaspora readers will remember him as
Brother Job, "way back" in the 50s & 60s. Some time after he
left the brotherhood, he also left the Church and became an avowed atheist.
He always had strong opinions and did whatever he had to be true to his own
conscience. In this particular case, he began writing a book on Atheism,
which he felt would be very controversial -- consequently the change of name
from Schulgen to Smith. He made this change not to protect himself but to
protect the Schulgen family name and prevent the rest of the family from
having to deal with it. Eventually, as we all know happens so often,
he returned to full communion with the Church and the Sacraments. Frank suffered from MS or some
other form of gradual deterioration of the cerebellum for approximately the
last ten years, and has been in the Beaver Dam Care Center for seven years.
His last couple of years were extremely frustrating for everyone -- for him
because he was losing the ability to communicate his many thoughts to others,
and for us because we couldn't understand his attempts to communicate. It was
truly unfortunate, because his mind was still extremely sharp, and his sense
of humor was unbelievable. He loved telling jokes which, one syllable at a
time, took him as much as 30 minutes each to relate, and even longer when he
couldn't suppress his laughs while telling the joke, as was always the case
when he told us the three-legged chicken story. Right after 9/11/01 I walked
into his room for a visit, and he
immediately pointed to me, mouthed the words "Sears Tower" (where I
work), and used his finger to draw a target on his chest, laughing all the
while. For a year or so we worked to communicate with him using alphabet
charts, written messages on whiteboards, printed sentence lists on which he
could point to statements of need, etc., but for the last few months he even
lost the ability to point to things. One could see the extreme frustration in
his eyes and his entire demeanor as he tried for hours to express a need.
When we finally understood what he needed, his face would light up like a
child receiving some wonderful gift. He passed away peacefully at
about 2:00 AM on Dec. 16th. We (my wife and I, my sister and her husband, and
the husband of my recently deceased sister) had spent the last couple of days
with him, but had gone back to the motel for some rest when he finally gave
up the spirit. We had the visitation and the funeral service at the nursing
home so that his friends and the care staff could participate. And they did,
enthusiastically. If there were awards for health care personnel, the staff
of this care center should receive all of them. I have never seen a better
example of loving care, from the nursing staff, through the administration,
and even the receptionist who regularly visited him and tended to his
personal needs. Truly Olympic class! For me, this has been a rather
tough year -- my mother passed away (at 95) in October of 2001, my sister
Maryanne died of cancer in July, 2002, and now Frank in December. After
Frank's burial, my sister Aggie, the only other remaining member of our
family, looked me in the eye and said, "This has got to stop!" I
fully agree! I do truly enjoy the Diaspora
Digest and regularly (as publication allows, anyway!) read it word for word,
cover to cover. I'm not one who has much of anything to offer the rest of
you, but I appreciate, admire, wonder at, sorrow at, all the news and
thoughts expressed in the Digest. I can't believe how involved all of you are
in the things that really matter! It's really awesome! God bless all of you and your
efforts! I guess it's about time I got a contribution in the snail mail to
help support my habit here. Marv Schulgen I would appreciate it if you
would add my home e-mail address to your regroup. It's marvs2 of attbi.com. Obit: Beaver Dam – Frank A. Smith (Schulgen) Frank A. Smith (Schulgen), age 70, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, died Monday, December 16, 2002 at the Beaver Dam Care Center. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 2:00 PM at the Beaver Dam Care Center. Father Emmanuel Udo will officiate. Friends may call on Wednesday from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at the Beaver Dam Care Center. Inurnment services will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 2:00 PM at St. Peter cemetery in the Town of Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin. Frank Austin Schulgen was born on July 7, 1932 in Chicago, IL to the late Francis D. & Rose Catherine (Appel) Schulgen. He was a 1950 graduate of St. Ignatius High School in Chicago. Frank joined the Franciscan Order as a lay brother at Mayslake, IL. He was known as “Brother Job” until he left the order in the mid 1960’s. Frank worked as an estimator for Lloyd-Thomas Appraisal Service and later was a co-owner of the Serendipity Children’s House in Chicago for many years. Survivors include his two step-children, Adrianne Jilbert of Crystal Lake, IL and Victoria Jilbert of Algonquin, IL, his sister, Agnes (John) Schofield of Mineral, IL, her brother, Marvin (Mary Kay) Schulgen of Lombard, IL, a brother-in-law, Loren Schofield of Kansas City, MO, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Frank was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Maryanne Schofield on July 15, 2002. Memorial may be made in Frank A. Smith’s name to the Beaver Dam Care Center, 410 Roedl Court, Beaver Dam, WI 53916. The Murray Community Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is serving the family. 15 Jan 2003 to 29 Jan 03 Tony Lutz: Dear Diaspora: Pax et Bonum! Please, no snide remarks about my researched statements. Meet my thoughts at an intellectual and not a visceral level. Ideas should speak for themselves and need no editorial asides. Zachary Hayes says the real need is for conversation and not conversion. That does not square with the life and teachings of Jesus and especially His great commission to all of his followers. Why did the Jewish disciples of Jesus try so hard to convert the Jews? In a small book, “Many religions – One Covenant” by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger we read: “Does this mean that missionary activity should cease, and be replaced by dialogue…? My answer is NO. For this would be nothing other than total lack of conviction under the pretext of affirming one another in our best points, we would in fact be failing to take ourselves (or others) seriously; we would be finally renouncing truth. Rather, the answer must be that mission and dialogue should no longer be opposites but should mutually interpenetrate. Dialogue is not aimless conversation: it aims at conviction, at finding the truth; otherwise it is worthless.” If one wants to speak about Islamic fundamentalism it would be good to cite references. Here are some: “Islam Unveiled, by Robert Spencer; Inside Islam: Exposing and Reaching the World of Islam by Reza F. Safa; Moslems: their beliefs, practices, and politics, by Gabriel Oussani and Hilaire Bellow; The Two Faces of Islam: the House of Sa’Ud from Tradition to Terror, by Stephen Schwartz; and Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam by John L. Esposito. It was sad to see Pres. Bush proclaim Islam as a peaceful religion. He showed himself ignorant or deceitful. Anyone can read the Koran and we have over 13 centuries of history to know what it meant in practice. Zachary caricatured the Crusades. These were two great reasons for preaching the Crusades: 1) The Patriarch of Constantinople asked the pope to defend the church in the East from being conquered by the armies of Islam; and 2) It was to protect the Christians and make the Holy Land safe for Christians on pilgrimage. As in all wars, tragedies occur. Think of the U.S. and Great Britain carpet-bombing Dresden and Hamburg. Bob Pawell writes about “the scape-goating of gay priests and religious. “Let’s set the record straight. Fr. Donald Cozzens of Cleveland was asked on Meet the Press: “Why are 90% to 95%, and some estimates say as high as 98% the victims of clergy (sexual abuse) teenage boys?” His answer: Relatively little attention has been paid to this phenomenon by church authorities. Perhaps it is fear that it will call attention to the disproportionate number of gay priests. [In the 3/28/03 Commonweal, Cozzens gives a favorable review to The Other Side of the Altar by Paul Dinter. Cozzens’ books are Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church; The Changing Face of the Priesthood. Both from The Liturgical Press. – GS - who has read none of them… Incidentally, the same issue of Commonweal has Lawrence Cunningham’s review of yet another biography of Francis – Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi by Donald Spoto, Viking-Compass, $24.95, 256 pp. See review below. GS] The Associated Press published Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit statements: “What the behavioral scientists are telling us, the sociologists, it’s not truly a pedophile-type problem but a homosexual –type problem.” And, Dr. Gladys Sweeny, Institute for Psychological Sciences, was reported by Zenit News Agency to have said: “The major problem of the current scandal is homosexual ephebophilia – the attraction of adults to same-sex adolescents. We are talking in this case about a great problem with homosexual behavior … At the roots of the present scandal is not pedophilia, but homosexuality.” Come on gang, let’s get out of denial and face reality. Anyone can get the answers. I refer you to a study put out by Catholic Answers of San Diego entitled “The Priest Scandal: a Catholic Answers special Report.” In 1961, the Sacred Congregation for Religious stated: “Advancement to religious vows and ordination should be barred to those who are afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty, since for them the common life and the priestly ministry would constitute serious dangers.” We are in a hell of a mess because some church authorities don’t listen to the wisdom we’ve inherited from Christ and his apostles. I applaud the good intentions of those picketing the Inter-American School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and marching against our going to war against Iraq. That school is made possible by our State Dept., the Defense Dept., the U.S. Congress, and the White House. Write to them and get the media to search out the truth and uncover abuses. Marching on Ft. Benning gives me no insight as to any truth or the validity of the marchers’ position. [The SOA Watch will send you plenty of information if you really want it. Here’s how: SOA Watch ~ PO Box 4566 ~ Washington DC 20017 ~ (202)234-3440 ~ www.soaw.org. As to pursuing the facts, Mike Mooney and Alice Waco, both mentioned in this issue, have gone repeatedly to Nicaragua and surrounding countries to do what they can and learn about those murdered, including nuns and a bishop-soon-to-be-a-saint. Murdered by those under the influence of SOA grads. Alumni keeping up the school spirit. You may want to take a vacation to that area. GS] As to Iraq, we don’t want war especially because too often we have unintended consequences. I refer to the Yalta Conference where we gave a good part of Europe to the Communists, the failure to win the war in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the fiasco at the Bay of Pigs. But at the same time, Hitler might have been stopped early on if France and Great Britain had intervened at the start, but they held back until Hitler was too strong for them. Not going to war to stop the madness in Iraq may very well be the cowardly thing to do. Jerry Etzkorn says he was humiliated by the lengthy procedure to obtain laicization. Just like divorce, any dispensation from solemn vows and the rule of celibacy should be difficult for the good of the church and the spiritual health of the individual. Dr. Paul Vitz, convert and psychology professor says that to be humble you have to learn to be humiliated. Our faith tells us we should operate within the church. I see it as the will of Christ. Apropos this is a quote from a recent letter from a “Sacerdos Inactivus.” He writes: “You and I were weak, moved out of the way to avoid hurting our mother the church and now repent.” That resonated with me. How about Diaspora readers? I am retiring form United Airlines as of 1 Feb 03. Then Sue and I will fly to Buenos Aires for three weeks vacation. Right now prices there are very good and people have told us it is a most beautiful country. To all of you out there, come fly the friendly skies. – Love in Christ Circa 20 Jan 03 Gael Stahl: In the March 2 issue of Commonweal Lawrence Cunningham reviews Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi by Donald Spoto, Viking-Compass, $24.95, 256 pp. Cunningham is usually good. After reading him, I sometimes don't have to read the books. He says that many biographers fail to escape the romantic haze of rediscovery of the saint during the Victorian period and depict Francis as a humble figure, clad in brown, speaking to birds, indifferent to pomp, circumstance and pretensions of the medieval church and self-promoting papacy and bloody crusades, conflate late legends like the Fioretti with earlier sources and few even look at the writings of the saint beyond the Canticle and get it all wrong by constructing a saint of whom they can approve. He then says: "Donald Spoto avoids most of these traps." He has a background in classics and theology and is a professional biographer of film stars or celebrities. He uses the modern scholarship to demystify some elements of Francis' life, e.g. the historical tangle around the stigmata. It has the added merit of being well written in a breezy sort of way. "That said, I think it only a modest advance on the more tendentious works I have read recently. The most recent trend in Franciscan historiography has been to emphasize the writing of the saint. Reading Francis, one is struck by the influence of the reforming impulses unleashed by the Fourth Lateran Council. Spoto devotes only one paragraph to this, but the demand for reform affected Francis' teaching about, among other things, the eucharistic mysteries, the honor given the clergy, our relationship to bishops and to the pope, the reform of liturgical services, and the restoration of the fabric of the church. "While Francis was sui generis in his own life and witness, he was also, as his writing indicates, a supremely orthodox Catholic who was obedient to the hierarchy. For Francis, this was not simply a strategy; it was essential to his self-understanding. As he wrote more than once, he wanted his followers to live as good Catholics. His greatest contribution is that, across the centuries, he teaches us that there is more than one way to do this. He also showed that being faithful to a tradition can be a way of becoming catholic in the best sense of the term: one who is universal in outlook. That is why so many are attracted to him, as a person and as subject for study." 17 Jan 03 Bob Dougherty: [Enclosed a check.] Something to help with postage and printing costs. I don’t need a paper copy of DD. I’m getting it through e-mail. Your efforts are great. Happy New Year. [Thanks
Bob. I kept sending it trying to match your generosity because 15 of my
designed pages print out at about 70, says Al Merz and a few others. GS] 20 Jan 03 Richard Korn: How long does it take to read DD#33 from cover to cover? Three hours. [Do the math and pity the editors! JB] That's how long I've been in Grant Hospital's ER here in Columbus (home of the national champion OSU buckeyes!) interpreting for a Cuban woman from Cien Fuegos. With all the great references to friar-types that Madeleine has known personally, I'll ask her to read DD33 in toto. As director of the Interfaith Center for Peace she's currently using the Arlington,VA-originated "Trial Balloon" process for six weeks of dialogue facilitation re: War & Peace, Just War theory, The Iraq mongering, etc. in two local Episcopalian parishes. Other outreaches that we share are Federation of Christian Ministry activities (July, '03 National Assembly in Rochester and our Great Lakes regional hosting will be in '04 in Cleveland), and weekly orientation of fifty Muslim, Jewish and Christian inmates at Marion (OH) Correctional Inst.'s Horizon Interfaith Cellblock - and our children, grandchildren and friends. (We will join my brothers Pete and Tom and their spouses for a "roots" vacation to Slovakia, Prague and Vienna shortly before Easter, for which I'm boning up on my Slovak and German. Back to DD 33. It's always good to hear of fellow-Midlothian-native Zach Hayes' activities; I read your piece "Bonaventure of Bagnoregio: a Paradigm for Franciscan Theologians?" from the 2001 WTU symposium (and liked it), something that Bob Karris and Louie Runde gave us during last summer's St. Bon's/Salamanca stopover. I also recommend Ilia Delio's works. Alan Hoffman, thanks for your words on Paul Zoderer. Those of you who were at his Indy funeral know how dear to Madeleine and me he was; a companion in studies, rooms, vacations, countries, laughs, ministry and spirit for over fifty years for me. What an understanding saint! Special hugs to his sister Rosemary and extended family, to you guys and gals who have known other times with Paul (and Juvie and Crump and Tiago etc. in Lula country. I remember a night with Os Menges in Monte Alegre in the 60's when we listed over a hundred great Sacred Heart province friars (Americans and Brazilians) who had served in the Amazon. We pray to the likes of Paul and dream of doing writing some day in Capistran's Itaituba home or some other Tapajos or lower Amazon locale. I've treasured hearing of Chuck Faso's and/or Louie Runde's latest travels and updates on Dennis Griffin, Bob Link, Jim Tye, Vince Zimmerman. Bob Pawell, Medard Buvala, Herb Rempe and Isaac Braun, for our many times together. We wait for word of ministerial miracles and fraternal festivities from Chris, Carroll and Ferd in Wilton Gregory country. Pete Amen and Vince Z., bless you for the account of Tiago's funeral and Crump's. Gael, the Peckerwood explanation was outstandingly entertaining; Madeleine's from Shreveport, so need I say more? (By the way, the recent word from Joe Rogenski of Jerry Thelen's death in Ruston came as a shock.) Jerry Eztkorn, your super letter to the bishop echoes our sentiments. And oh man, Tom Aldworth, we are going to read your books from our shelves again, just to spite (is that possible?!) the Holy Office; be strong. We are blessed with magnificent Paulists at our OSU Newman Center and want to treat any guests to the consistently superb "Newman experience" or some synagogue or mosque on our Interfaith tour of central Ohio. DD readers, it's a sin not to let us show you our guest room hospitality at our home, about one mile east of exit 113 off interstate 71. RIP another OFM giant, Willie Gulas, murdered at St. Stan's; past Pulaski provincial and supporter of JPIC, he's a saintly story of happiness in a prestigious Polish past. I have all the local newspaper reports about Willie to share with any of you. 30 Jan 03 Bill McGee: The news of the brethren was read with great delight. I don’t know that many of those sacerdotal hipsters, brothers and sisters but I sense we are much alike in ideals and giving. Especially … in the cause of peace and justice and being broke. Speaking about going for broke, Uncle Sam’s war payment is a Capital Sin (pun intended?) but the government can sell its National Parks and Coast. And LA diocese might go broke for its sexual cover-ups but they could sell a cathedral and a portion of the Vatican. You see, no worries about monies and we can keep the same, same systems. And the bishops and cardinals can sell the Pieta to the Episcopal Church and give some retirement funds to all ordained priests in or out. A pay off for what we know! And to brothers and nuns, sell the Vatican, split the funds accordingly. Now the church is broke and start all over again. My hare-brained pen knows better than the above. But we are crazy, crazier.
But
how are you two. Alice went to SOA. We can’t afford two. Mike Mooney missed.
I guess he had some (infected) finger stuff going on. Check on him, Gael.
Susan, have you built your home yet? [Actually, Bill, Mike’s even more
major motor problem with the Peace Catcher RV that kept us from going to SOA
last November. Three of us were set to join him again. - He and Judy came
through last month on their way to visit Mike’s sister in Florida. The finger
was much improved since we visited them in November. Praise Allah, God, and
all his 10,000 faces. Gael] 1 Feb 03 F.J. Smith: Dear Gael, haven’t forgotten you; just terribly busy. But the other day something quite preternatural took place: a weird light came from our garage. Responding to the eerie display, I found two tablets and a glass of water of water (holy?). An ominous voice intoned: “no, idiot, don’t take these big tablets or call me in the morning! Just wash off the surfaces and see!” So I did as told. What emerged was in several odd languages: “NON HABEO QUICQUID PLUS DICSENDUM, ERGO SILENTIUM MEUM HUCUSQUE.” “ICH HABE GAR NICHTS MEHR EUCH ZU SAGEN, ALSO HABE ICH GESCHWIEGEN!” “JUE N’AI REIEN A DIRE, ALORS CE SILENCE.” “NON NO NIENTE DA DIRE A VOI, ALLORA IL MIO SILENZIO.” “NO TENGO NADA DE DECIR, Y ASI NO HE ESCRIBIDO NADA ESTE ANO.” “NU AM NIMIC DE A SPUNE, SI ASA NU AM ZIS NIMIC.” [The following version employed the Greek alphabet] “OUK EXO TI PHATEON, KAI OUTOS OU GAR PHEMI OUDEN POPTE.” [Apologies that I don’t know how to get the many accents, and other diacritical marks that this holograph displayed. Also I may have misconstrued some of the lettering, though it was carefully printed by hand. But rather than not print this for DD at all, I give you what I can and incur the curse cast on me below. GS] That’s all I could make out! Now if anyone can, help me decipher this heaven-sent cryptic message as the angel shows off language skills, to confuse and obfuscate the simple soul of the believer. Let me in on any hidden meanings before I call it “scriptural.” But get it reprinted correctly, because there’s a curse connected: Quicumque hoc incorrecte transcribit, anathema sit!” Gruesse to one and all. (An honorary D.D to whomever solves this enigma!) [I hadn’t thought of it before but F J Smith could be Father Joseph Smith who also had tablets that led to the Mormon canon and latter day saints in the other Holy City. I don’t think the Mormon Joseph Smith was this repetitious. GS.] 15 Feb 03 Cullan Uhlinger: Gael asked about Wayne Frederich who a recipient of an e-mail letter copied to Gael: Wayne was in the novitiate graduating class (of 1957) with Andre, Jim Tye, et al - he's from St. L originally and has a brother my age with whom I still keep in touch - can you believe we went to our 50th eighth grade school reunion last Oct? - my sister is Wayne's age and went to the same grade school (St. Anthony's) together. Wayne married a woman from Cleveland who was with the Diocesan newspaper - they have been in Tallahassee forever - we visited with them a few years ago when we went to see our daughter Lisa who was in graduate school at FSU. Wayne and I stayed up till about 5 in the morning talking and catching up on old times - after reading the last DD I called Rick Prayson and talked for over an hour. 24 FEB 03 JOHN MILLER: Gael: We're doing fine in Montana. I am now vice president of the theater group, "Jefferson Valley Presents." We're doing "Journey of Discovery" for the next number of years in our outdoor theater. The theater is located very near where Lewis and Clark camped, and it's a great view. While it's been a lot of work, it has also been fun and a chance to make new friends. Presently grant writing and fund raising is taking up much of our time this part of the year. We will be raffling a bronze sculpture, donated by the well-known western artist, David Lemon. See bronzemaster.com He also participates in our play. The house is coming along. Presently we are painting and staining woodwork before it goes up, and next comes laying floors. We work all day, and on some days it seems we'll never get it finished. But. . . we hope to be in by Easter. All for now. Peace. 27 Feb 03 Joan Burds: Gael, How are you doing? Have been meaning to respond to the July DD. In it you spoke of demonstrating at Fort Benning in the previous November. You mentioned speaking to Liz McAllister and giving her greetings from me. I appreciate your doing that. Our daughter Carol was there at the same time. Wish you two had run into each other, but the chances of that were pretty slim, especially since you've never met! Carol was with the Regis University bunch from Denver. She tried to speak to Liz but wasn't able to get near her. Also, to my chagrin, in going through a stack of long neglected/forgotten papers I found a check I made out to you well over a year ago to help cover the expense of DD. Do you ever feel like you start a lot of things but never get to finish them because there are so many interruptions or pressing demands? Oh hell, I'll admit it, I'm a first rate procrastinator with a bad memory! : (BTW, I would be glad to get DD via email to save paper and postage. I'll let Jack Brennan know. More later. Sometime. With a check!) Gael’s reply: I have a foot-high pile of DD mail on my desk so I know exactly what you mean about procrastination. Good hearing from you Joan and money isn't that important. I don't mind sending you the paper copy of DD. I haven't tried to print out the e-mail version, but I know it's not in Pagemaker so instead of 15 to 25 pages, it's 50 – 75. Would have loved meeting Carol. 6 March 2003 Anton Braun: Good to see you folks at Thanksgiving time – serves us well to be in touch. [The Mooneys had hosted the Stahls and Brauns for Thanksgiving Friday dinner.GS.] Lent is here, so I turn to writing my annual response to Christmas mail – one letter per day as a practice.
The natives are bemoaning the reality of “true winter” here after several seasons of “wimpy” ones. The amount of snow and frost will bless the soil.
Zeke, I have been appreciating the e-mail tidbits (nosegays) you send. I get frustrated at the government and the direction toward war. All this while our nation is starving – financially and spiritually – from within. So I work in the shop and build things for Jan and “Baby Girl” – an end table for Jan and a toy box for Margie. I had an illness in my throat for several weeks, which finally went away. I had to resort to a doctor and some drugs to clear it up – first time for that. Here’s to good health. Peace. 6 March 03 Tony Lutz: Dear Diaspora, Pax et Bonum! After nearly four weeks in Argentina, we arrived home in a winter wonderland. Argentina was warm and even hot but our stay in Terra de Fuego was chilly. The price was right for tourists. Our B&B location cost us $25 per night with breakfast. A meal with antipasta, salad, filet mignon, and a bottle of wine with sparkling water for two was $12-$14. Argentina is in economic collapse. It has 30% unemployment and 50% live below the poverty level. On a scale of 100 the corruption government is 85. Many buildings are unfinished because credit is not available. Many broken sidewalks go unrepaired. Sue fell on her face on one of them. We stayed in the Recoleta area of Buenos Aires. The name comes from the Recolet Franciscans who were the first there. They were too successful and were expelled. The Reformed Franciscans stem from ST. Peter of Alcantera. We went north to see the astounding Iguazu waterfalls and the Jesuit Missions. The Jesuits had 30 missions and were too successful and so were expelled. They taught the natives how to make and play musical instruments and sing in choirs. They taught all the construction crafts and the best in agriculture. Under Peron, the church criticized him and he paid it back by torching a number of Catholic churches. Only about 20% of this ‘Catholic country’ attend Sunday Mass. You can see where this misdirected country gets its sufferings – it has forgotten God. For those who believe in overthrowing celibacy and having
married priests, you might benefit from reading a fine article in the latest
issue of “Envoy” magazine. Mark Lowery, PhD is the author. Another source is
a one-hour tape on “Priestly celibacy: Christ’s enduring Gift to the church”
by the married priest convert, Fr. Ray Rayland. – Sincerely in Christ. 9 March 03 Herb Wheatley: Have been meaning to write to you for a long time. There have been some changes in my life these past couple of years. Let's begin with the fact that I have moved. My new address is: 1936 SW Sunset Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97239. Home phone number (503)244-5928. Work (503)215-6833 The move from Royal Ct. to my present address took place in the year 2000. At that time I took a leave of absence from the Friars. At the same time, the Friars decided to sell the house in which I had been living. So I needed to find a place to live. After shopping around for a while, I happened upon my present place of residence. The leave of absence was necessitated by some unforeseen circumstances. I have taken on some obligations that I was not permitted to do with a vow of poverty. Fortunately I was able to find a home here in the Portland Archdiocese. The Archbishop of Portland has been marvelous in that he is allowing me to incardinate into the Archdiocese and remain in the work which I have come to love – hospital chaplaincy. So once again the Lord has taken me under his wing. Probably the Blessed Mother as well. There is a 3-year wait before full incardination takes place. I think I am about half way through. After being with the Friars for 40 years, this move has not come easily, but I am content and grateful that I can still function as a priest. I am still working at Providence Portland Medical Center and after being there for over 15 years, it feels like home to me. We have a wonderful Pastoral Care staff of about 20 plus 5 CPE interns. Hope you are well. Fraternal regards to all. [And ours to you, Herb. Thanks for the update and good luck in your new career move. You’ll always be in minor lesser bro, of course. Welcome to the majority of minors. GS.] 9 March 03 Marilyn Freking OSF: Thank you Gael & Susan for continuing the communication and for including me. A few comments: Joe Emerson died 3/15/99. (His wife Maria Emerson, 512-288-7086, lives at 9401 San Diego Rd, Austin TX 78737) Yes, my address is correct [Corpus Christi Parish in Chicago] Christian Reuter, Coordinator of Prison Ministry for Bellevue Diocese: PO Box 398, East St. Louis, IL 62201, Apt. -618-239-9242, cell: 618-954-8166, cnreuter of yahoo.com The Franciscan Friars left Corpus Christi 6/30/02. Pastor is Donatus Anosike of Nigeria. My home phone is 773-536-1426. Feel free to call if you have any questions. 11 Jan 2003 Alice Bobber: Hello: I was reading through a passage you wrote at: http://websites.quincy.edu/~hardeja/digest/dd31/dd31.html and saw the name Robert Bobber. Are you looking for him? How do you know him? Gael replied in March: We were at St. Joe's seminary in the Westmont, Hinsdale, Oak Brook area together. He was a class ahead of me. We were friends. Doesn't he remember me? In 1982 I started a newsletter to keep all of us old Franciscans and Franciscan seminarians in touch with each other. I forget the reference to Bobber that you mention (senior moment), could you remind me? And could you put us in contact. We were in school together from 1953-1958. I apologize for being so slow to respond. I'm 1,000 letters behind in my e-mail. No excuses, but I do the best I can. I get 200 a day. Minimum. (Note: I have long ceased reading pro or con Iraq stuff and lots of other things but will still be failing to simply until after the March Madness. I have satellite dish subscription to most NCAA games during basketball season. Go Kansas. Go Big 12. By end of March,, as usual, I catch up on DD mail for the last three months.) 9 March 03 Alice Bobber: Hello again-- Hope this finds you well. He does remember you. I just had not asked him about you yet. I am his oldest daughter. I had been checking through our family names to see if we were on the internet when I found your web page. I told my dad that I received the e-mail from you and he told me to give you his e-mail address. It is Robert.Bobber of albertsons.com. If for any reason you cannot get through to that e-mail address, please let me know or send me the message and I will print it out and send it to him.
I am living in Quincy these days. I joined St. Francis Solanus Parish where Fr. Kurt Hartrich is Pastor and Fr. James Wheeler is Associate. You probably know both of them. Well, thank you for writing back to me. I understand the massive incoming e-mails. I have the same thing happening. Take care. 11 March 03: Gael replied: Alice: Thanks for getting your dad and all of us back in contact with him again. We Franciscans are quite a family and we find each other in lots of ways. Over the years, I've found or been found by about 350 of us, maybe more. The day our class was initiated into the novitiate in June 1959 and took simple vows a year later, the province was at its peak with about 816 members. Now, we 350 in the Diaspora outnumber those still active in the clerical Order. At least, I think so. And our number keeps growing as you Alices find us and reconnect us. My greetings to your father. I hope he'll bring us up to date, tell us where you live, and how you got there. Glad you found Quincy and its friars. They are an island of sanity in this world. Jim Wheeler is my former classmate. Kurt was in the class one year ahead of us, a classmate of your father, and a fine specimen of a minorite.- Gael 12 March 03 Bob Bobber: Gael, good to hear from you. I'm married and live in Clarendon Hill, Ill., about 2 miles from old St. |