Diaspora Digest # 35
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Editor: Gael Stahl Webmeister: Jack Brennan Submit articles,
comments, pictures and links to: Diaspora Digest Home page: http://www.diasporadigest.org |
In March of 2004 my computer crashed and although I had back ups of DD letters, I think I may have lost some. Apologies. Jack. Due to these kinds of things and others your editors have surely lost or misfiled some of your letters over the years. Don’t take it personally if a letter or two of yours doesn’t appear. We mean to be completists, but the bugs sometimes foil us. – Gael.
9 JAN 2004 JACK HARDESTY: Jack wrote to give us some information on the DD part of his web page. Thanks again to Bro. Jack’s work and inspiration, we have our own page. Jack’s pages are: http://www.TheFriars.org/ and/or http://www.quincy.edu/
25 JAN 2004 JOAN PORCHE WRITES: Hi Gael, It always brings a warm feeling to hear from you! Andrew Knoell is undergoing triple by-pass surgery tomorrow. Let's lift him up. Sorry, I don’t have Andy’s email. [She wrote back Feb. 2 that she’d heard Andy was making a good recovery. GS]
2 FEB 2004 Dan Mazar forwards this from my classmate Bob Pawell: Dear Brothers, The other day my urologist informed me that the biopsy of my prostate revealed cancer. I met with him last week to learn more of my condition. Most men having biopsies on their prostate and having signs of cancer show that, on the average, 5 % of their prostate has cancer cells, 60 -70% of my prostate indicates the presence of cancer cells. My cancer is aggressive. On the Gleeson scale it indicates 4.3 - 4.5 (a clinical Stage T-2a cancer).
While the Doctor feels the cancer is confined to the prostate there seems to be some signs of a perineural invasion of the cells into some of the tissue around the cancer. Therefore, I had a cat scan this morning and will have a bone scan this Friday to detect if the cancer has entered my bones or lymphatic system. The doctor feels that due to the aggressive nature of the cancer, surgery is the best choice to go with. It is not absolutely fail safe, but it is the best therapy the doctor advises for situations like mine. I also need to see my regular doctor to see if I am fit for surgery. If that visit indicates a "GO." The surgery, which will take place toward the end of February. I will also have to begin my donating blood for the replacement of the blood I shall loose in the surgery.
Needless to say this has put my life on "halt." My ministry at St. Peter's and other commitments have to be revised in the face of this new chapter in my life's journey. I am very grateful that Albert Haase has volunteered to stay with me during the first week after the surgery until I can get around. Thank you for your concern and keep me in your prayers.
Fraternally. [Needless to say, our prayers go out for Bob. He’s led such a healthful life, compassionate life, and if there is any fairness in this world, will have a full recovery. Ad multos annos per omnia saecula saeculorum. See Bob’s letters below, 19 & 28 Aug 2004 Gael.]
]
5 FEB 2004: JOHN MILLER: Sandy and I have two new e-mail addresses, but the AOL address will work for a while longer: Sandy: altarwine of jeffersonvalley.net, John: gartner44 of jeffersonvalley.net - Thanks. John
1 MAR 2004: Bill McGee, Counselor, former diocesan priest, suffers fatal head injuries in two-bike crash. Bill’s last letter to the DD was in March 2003. Long-time friend of Mike and Judy Mooney in Santa Rosa, Calif., he last visited Peckerwood by boat in 2003 and came with wife Alice and the Mooney’s the year before during which I joined them for the trip to Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., in the annual effort to close the School of the Americas, now renamed Western Hemisphere Institute.
He was an exquisite human, poet, baker, biker, addiction counselor, husband and priest among other things. Gentle, totally without guile, saintly with vinegar in his sanctity, like Dorothy Day.
The newspaper said of our dear friend, “Bill McGee, 79, a former Santa Rosa Junior College instructor suffered fatal head injuries Sunday when he was thrown from his bicycle during a morning ride cycling with two friends. [He would go on several day trips of hundreds of miles.] McGee, a veteran cyclist, was riding northbound more than 30 mph down a grade when his road bike's front wheel became entangled with the rear wheel of another rider's bike.
[On the day I got the letter, Sky Chaney, who was with Bill and Mike Mooney when they came from Indiana to Peckerwood in Mike’s john boat, wrote: “Yep, we sure will miss Billy. I was to have breakfast with him this morning and go for a hike. He was a one-of-a-kind guy... the only person I know who I would nominate for sainthood. Bobbi and I are walking around in a daze. It feels like a bad dream. GS]
[The following letter of Bill McGee’s is in my file with the wrong date, but I can’t promise it was ever published. And in light of Bill’s death that week and his words here, I include it. You’ll see why. Gael]
BILL MCGEE: Greetings! We were in this element of nature for three weeks in February. Mt. Shasta. What a gift! We house-sat. Skiing on the mountain, hiking in the plains, hiking on the mountains - and relaxing at our convenience.
I find that we are living
through the "Newtonian" new laws of physics – what is down let be
down, what is up, let's make it uppity and more uppity which is a sign of God's
blessings. Reading over some of the
news of certain people in the Diaspora, tough times are among our certain few. It befalls us all. We await our turn before we jump off the planet. Hopefully, we will have someone, only one,
that will miss us. Hang in you
two. It was nice to be included in the
DD letter. We talked to Judy Mooney. Great!
3 Mar 2004.Carla Ortegel. Dear Mr. Pfeifer..[Erv Pfeiffer.] I have received several letters that you have sent to my husband's former office address. I want to inform you that Ken suffered a stroke in March 2001 and he now resides in a nursing home suffering from dementia. You said you would like to hear from him so I wanted to let you know what happened to him. I would appreciate it if you would remove his name from your mailing list. Thank you. [Sad! Such a bright guy. One of the few I called when I got exiled to Nashville. GS]
4 Mar 2004: Erv Pfeifer: (Letter from Erv to Carla Ortegal.) It was so good to hear from you again. I was wondering if it would be ok with you if we classmates sent emails rather than snail mail. Sometimes we humans get a little lazy when it comes to writing letters and have been spoiled with the ease of email. I do believe that Ken would probably get a lot more email than letters from his classmates. Just wanted to see what you thought of this idea. Your wish is our command.
A bit about myself. Born and raised on a farm in Nebraska. Married in 62...have four grandchildren...been in the insurance business for past 42 years and sold the family business 01-01-04. Moved to Albuquerque 01-01-60 and have been here ever since.
Will await your answer. Thanks.
4 Mar 2004. George Cuellar. ...it’s good to be alive. I joined Americorps in 2002, teaching ESL at our House of Anios Learning Center, received an educational award, accepted an invitation to go to Turkey on a study-tour with a group of students from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO. I hope this trip helps me obtain a masters in pastoral studies so I can remain marketable. Continue sending the Diaspora Digest. I wish its readers the best in everything wherever they are. Take care. [George included a detailed itinerary (March 5 to March 12, 2004) and a map of the region in Turkey he planned to visit.]
6 MAR 2004 MAZAR: Go to http://www.providencevisitor.com/ to read Pat Reid's thoughts on the Gibson movie. The accompanying article by the editor is also interesting. Pax.
18 MAR 2004 BRENNAN: writes that he will write our classmate Bob Pawell before his prostate procedure. He counts seven close friends who have that cancer.
6 Apr 2004. Charles Faso. Greetings from Rome! Classes are ended! After two months of classes from two to five hours a day since Feb. 2, we finished today with talks on Ecumenism. The teacher traced for us the last hundred years of Catholics reaching out in prayer, discussions, meetings, agreements, disagreements with other Christian ecclesial communities. After almost 500 years of Protestant and Catholic divisions, there has been much accomplished with many of the various church groups. Much still remains for us to make a reality the prayer of Jesus after the Last Supper: "That all might be one!" I have learned much these last two months. It will take another couple of months to review and make my own the information and inspiration that we have received from the many teachers who taught us. My preaching and ministry will be positively impacted by all that I have heard and learned.
Tomorrow is the last celebration of Mass at a Station Church. I have continued almost every morning to walk to and/or to take a bus or two to various ancient churches in Rome for the Lenten Mass of the Day. Several or you have asked about the Station Churches and Station Masses. Here is what I learned ‑ Early after the legitimization of Christianity (313 AD), it became customary for the Bishop of Rome (the pope) to visit his parishes on set days each year. Although the practice was discontinued after the return of the Pope from Avignon (1378), the people of Rome have revived the tradition of a pilgrimage to these churches since the 1890's, many of which are associated with the earliest Christian community. Now, if that is enough about Station Churches, then skip the next paragraph that goes into much more detail.
The word "station" seems to be derived from the Latin "statio" or "stare": a standing together, that is, a gathering around the bishop at the altar to celebrate the Eucharist. During the periods of calm in the first three centuries, official stations were early designated for celebrating the major liturgical feasts in various churches, so that as much of the community as possible might gather around the bishop regularly. In establishing a cycle of stational visits, the bishops of Rome saw in it an apt symbol of the unity of the shepherd with his flock. It is not known which were the original Roman station churches, but the popes may have started the practice as early as the third century.
After the Peace of Constantine in 313, the celebrations of Mass and their solemnity gradually increased. Significant additions were made to the list of stations by Leo I (440‑461), Gregory the Great (590‑604), Gregory II (715‑731) and Leo III (795‑816). The list encompasses 94 stations including the days of Lent and Easter Week. Until the papacy moved to Avignon, France (1305), the stations were considered pontifical functions, a status they conserved only in principle after the return of the pope to Rome in 1378. Interest in them revived under the influence of Leo XIII (1878‑1903).
Our English Mass each day during Lent was at 7:00 AM ‑ 25 priests concelebrating, often a bishop or cardinal, and 150‑200 people. A group of seminarians from North American College where I am living walked each day to the Station Church ‑ several miles some days. I joined them the first four days. My body and especially my feet went on strike. So a community of us formed as we would meet on the various buses we took together to the Station Church. Many of these churches honor the relics of apostles and martyrs from the early centuries. Very challenging experience to continue the prayer of the church that has continued to be offered to God in these churches for 1500 to 1800 years. Lent will never be quite the same. The siesta nap became a means of survival for afternoon classes.
Last Sunday, Palm Sunday, I joined 150 other priests as Communion Ministers at the mass. The procession with palms and olive branches marched through the throng of 35,000 people all with palms and olive branches while soloists and choirs led us in singing Hosanna! The Pope presided for the whole Mass and preached beautifully challenging us all to remain faithful to the cross of Christ.
In the homily, John Paul II said that "in a climate of joy, veiled in sadness, which characterizes Palm Sunday, we celebrate the 19th World Youth Day whose theme this year is 'We want to see Jesus'." The Pope indicated that "Jesus dies on the cross for each one of us. The cross, therefore, is the greatest and most eloquent sign of His merciful love, the unique sign of salvation for each generation and for all of humanity."
After recalling that twenty years ago, at the end of the Holy Year of the Redemption, he gave the cross of that Jubilee to young people, he affirmed that since then "it continues to travel to many countries in preparation for the World Youth Days. It has become a luminous sign of the faith that inspires the young generations of the third millennium."
In commemorating this anniversary, he said, "let the same gift of that moment renew you: 'I entrust the Cross of Christ to you!' Carry it throughout the world as a sign of Jesus Christ's love for humanity, and announce to all that only in Christ, Who died and rose from the dead, is there salvation and redemption."
"Certainly the message that the Cross communicates is not easy to understand in our age in which material well‑being and comforts are proposed and sought after as important values. But for you, dear young people, do not be afraid to proclaim the Gospel of the Cross in every circumstance! Do not be afraid to go against the current!"
I was lead to distribute Communion to hundreds of people standing in the middle of the Square. Peoples from all over the world came forward to express their faith in Christ, in his Presence, and to say Amen! I commit myself to becoming more fully the presence, the compassion, the love of Christ in the world.
Hot sun and clear sky made a brilliant setting for the morning mass. Saturday and Monday were cloudy and chilly. Not Sunday. What can I say!
And so Holy Week begins. I will help with Holy Communion at the Pope's Masses on Thursday, at the Good Friday Service and on Saturday ‑ these services are inside St. Peter's Basilica. I will also be part of the Easter Sunday Mass with the Pope outside in front of St. Peter's again. Ambassadors and beggars, religious men and women and laity, young and old ‑ all gathered in prayer and worship, praise and thanksgiving. This is what all that I learned in class
is really all about. I am so excited and happy and grateful to be here this Holy Week, my first time in Rome for this Week called Holy.
Blessings in abundance on you and your families during these days of prayer and remembering God's great love for each of us!
P.S. I mis‑numbered the last Greetings from Rome. The last Greetings was #15, not a second #14. So this one is #16. Math always was a challenge for me. That is why music came more easily: 1,2,3,4 ‑ then you start over 1.2,3, 4.......
8 Apr 2004. Charles Faso. Greetings from Rome during the Holy Week of 2004! I did something today that I have never done before: I walked 12 miles from church to church around Rome. About 75 of us seminarians and priests, religious and laity, married and single, met at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica for Mass with the former Cardinal of Detroit who is now in charge of the Vatican Government and properties. Several of us took the bus to Mass. But then the walk began ‑ from St. Mary Major to St. Lawrence outside the Walls, to Holy Cross of Jerusalem Basilica, to St. John Lateran, and then along the Old Apian Way out of Rome to the St. Sebastian Catacombs and Basilica. Pranzo (the main meal of the day at 1:15) was across the street from the Catacombs at the Cecilia Martello Restaurant. An hour and a half later we continued the Seven Church Walk to St. Paul outside the Wall. The last part of the journey was from St. Paul's to the Vatican to St. Peter's. This last walk was the longest, an hour and fifteen minutes. Four of us older priests got on the #21 bus that brought us to St. Peter's where we waited for an hour for the walkers to arrive. We thought we needed to be good to and thank our bodies with a little reward as we waited for the others ‑ yes, a gelato (Italian ice cream). We sat in front of the Cafe St. Pietro on the Via Conciliazione and enjoyed our Apricot gelato.
This Seven Church walk was begun several hundred years ago by St. Philip Neri, a priest in Rome noted for his laughter, good humor, deep love for God and people. He began the Oratorian community. St.Philip started the walk, an overnight walk at that time, for young people during the Carnivale, the Mardi Gras at the time. He wanted to give them an option for using their creative energy. The Seven Church Walk continues many times a year for various groups. In fact, a very long street we walked along from San Sebastiano Catacombs to St. Paul’s Basilica is named the Seven Churches Street. My body was/is aching. But my soul..... At each church we listened to one of the seven Scripture readings from Holy Saturday Vigil Service, then we heard stories about St. Philip Neri and the history about the Basilica. Then we spent 15 to 20 minutes on our own praying in the Basilica. The walk goes to the four Major Basilicas of Rome and three minor Basilicas. And, yes, I slowly climbed the stairs to my room tonight. Ah, Rome! Weather was not too hot, a few clouds, cool breeze. Perfect! One Seven Church Walk was good. To do the walk again ‑ in my memory. The prayer in each place, meeting new people and hearing their stories was a great blessing. Much like the journey of every day life, no matter where we are.
Blessings of healing peace to you as we begin the Holy Three Days, the Triduum, celebrating God's great love for us in Jesus! Be assured of my prayers for you during these days as I participate in the Liturgies at St. Peter's with the Pope presiding. Ciao! Pace e Bene! (Peace and Everything Good!)
9 Apr 2004. Dan Mazar. Sacred Heart Province update. Gilbert Ostdiek had a pacemaker implanted a few days ago at Rush‑Presbyterian‑St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago and came through the procedure with no complications.
Edwin Albers underwent a heart catheterization at St. John's Hospital in Springfield earlier this week. He had two stents implanted and needs to stay off his feet for a few days, but otherwise he is doing all right.
Medard Buvala has moved temporarily from St. John's in Joliet to Loretto Home in Springfield for an evaluation and treatment of some ongoing conditions that are slow in healing.
Barry Schneider continues to be hospitalized due to complications from his recent aneurysm and stroke. Although he is experiencing some paralysis on his left side and his speech is still unsteady, he does recognize people who come to visit him. It will probably be a few more days before the doctors are able to give a prognosis.
Ministry Possibilities to Ponder:
Franciscan Outreach in Chicago will soon have vacancies in two key staff offices to be filled. One that Larry Janezic would like for a friar to fill is that of Director of Full Time Volunteers. The job involves a lot of mission implementation and includes both the recruiting and the mentoring of the full‑time volunteers along with the supervision of the soup kitchen and shelter. Recruiting activities resume in the fall, but a starting date can be negotiated.
The other position opening up is that Director of Case Management ‑‑ the start date for this position is October 1st. This person administers and directs case management services for the Outreach's clientele, carries out case management responsibilities, and forms relationships with other agencies for purposes of networking, providing resources to clients, and professional training.
If any friar is interested in more information about either of these positions, contact Larry Janezic directly at Franciscan Outreach: (773) 278‑6724 or by e‑mail at mail of franoutreach.org.
The
entire Provincial Office staff wishes everyone a blessed and joyous Easter!
9 Apr 2004. Charles Faso. May the Lord who gave us the commandment to love one another fill your hearts with Love! What a glorious Day, this Mandatum (Command) Thursday, this Holy Thursday: Two Masses with the Pope in St. Peter's and Visitation of eleven Churches. The 9:30 AM Chrism Mass with the Pope truly celebrated the gift of ministry in the church ‑ 2500 priests vested in stoles and albs, 60 Bishops and 35 Cardinals vested in chasubles and miters, 50 deacons vested in dalmatics, thousands of lay people from all over the world. We were the church gathered together celebrating the call to serve others in imitation of Jesus who washed the feet of the apostle.
Something new at St. Peter's since 9/11 is the security check for everyone entering St. Peter's: four to six security machines for packages and purses and the usual airport walk‑through security machines. And added 15 to 20 minutes is necessary to be on time as slowly everyone walks through the security process.
When all is ready, the music begins to fill the largest church in the world, the procession begins with cross, candles, incense billowing heavenward. The church stands to offer praise and adoration to God. The thousands of us from everywhere on earth become one body, the singing and praising Body of Christ. At the sight of the Pope, the people closest to the entrance doors of St. Peter's who see him first, inform the rest of us by their bursts of applause and the flashing of cameras. The pope is seated and pushed down the aisle on a larger movable platform. The Pope's chair can raise him up at least 15 inches. A small lift raises his chair from the floor of the Basilica some 10 feet to the altar area. When he can be seen by all, the applause drowns out the organ and choir. The Vicar of Christ is ready to sit at the head of the Community Table of the Church and lead us in prayer.
Being one of 2500 priests vested in albs and stoles sitting in a semi‑circle around the altar, I began to fell deeply the joy and blessing of being a priest of Jesus the Christ, called to proclaim the Word of God and lead God's people in prayer. After the readings were proclaimed and the Holy Father preached, we priests stood as the Pope asked three questions of us ‑ Do we promise to be faithful in our ministry as priests in preaching the Word, in administering the Sacraments and ministering to God's people with love and faithfulness? With a great shout, we responded: Volo! ‑ Yes, I do promise. I barely could speak that word because of such emotion. Then three great silver containers of oil were carried up to the Pope. The Pope blessed the Oil for the Sick, Oil for Catechumens, and then consecrated the Oil of Chrism to be used in Baptisms, Confirmation and Ordination. This oil was blessed for use in the Diocese of Rome. Mass continued is all of its simplicity and splendor.
I joined two friars from our Province of the Sacred Heart (Midwest Province) for dinner with the community of 50 friars at our General Curia located up the hill behind the Vatican. Always good to celebrate with the Friars, the Lesser Brothers.
After a riposo, a nap, a siesta for an hour, it was time to return to St. Peter's ‑ 10 minute walk down the Gianicolo Hill from the North American College. The Church gathered by the thousands, moving through the security passages into St. Peter's for the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper and the Washing of the Feet. The Pope presided with strong voice again. He never wears glasses and sings strongly on pitch. The Scripture Readings were chanted in Latin and Greek by a Greek Catholic Deacon. After the Pope preached urging us on to greater love and service to others, two Cardinals washed the feet of 12 priests, the Canons of St. Peter's, who chant the Liturgy of the Hours in St. Peter's throughout the year. Cardinal Ratzinger washed and dried the feet of six of the priests. This ritual gesture is full of power and challenges us to fuller humble and loving service of others. After Communion, the ciborium with hosts consecrated at the Mass, is placed on the altar for adoration before the procession to the Reserve Altar for the night. At this time, two men brought to the Pope a kneeler. I gasped aloud when the two priests assisting the pope, raised him from his chair for him to kneel in adoration. I did not know the Pope could stand and kneel even with the help of others. All present were deeply moved by this. We too all fell to our knees in deep silence and loving adoration. The Pope intoned the 800 year old hymn used on Holy Thursday, Pange Lingua ‑ and the procession of hundreds of people and the Pope began with the Blessed Sacrament to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Evening prayer of "Staying one Hour with Me" began here and in all the churches of Rome and Italy and Europe.
Four of us priests continued the celebration of the day with a fine meal at our local favorite restaurant, Sor Eva, located along the Tiber, a few minutes walk from the Vatican. Then two of us began the Holy Thursday custom of Visiting Churches to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. From 9:00 PM to midnight, we visited 11 churches, often seeing some of the seminarians, and others whom we have met during these past two months. We were edified at the large number of young people in prayer. This was a Holy Thursday that I will never forget and always be challenged by ‑ to be the priest the Lord calls me daily to be. I prayed for all of you during this day of prayer.
Blessed Triduum filled with grace and peace be yours!
10 Apr 2004. Charles Faso. Greetings from Rome on this Good Friday! A quiet somber and rainy day here in Rome! A day to remember God's love for us poured out in the suffering and death of Christ on the cross. Several of us priests in the renewal program left for St. Peter's at 3:30. We needed to be through the security system and into the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament by 4:00. We were given matching surplices and matching red stoles. There were about 100 of us priests who were to help with distribution of Communion for the Good Friday Service. The basilica was filled again with people from around the world. We sat this time to the right behind the altar, next to the choir ‑ boys and men choir. That closeness to the choir was an added benefit for me ‑ to watch the choir director and his angelic soprano and alto voices with the tenors and basses singing the crowd parts of the Passion with three deacons chanting in Latin the entire Passion, just as we did in the Seminary in the 1950's and 1960's.
A reverent, prayer‑filled silence enveloped the thousands of us gathered for the beginning of the Good Friday Liturgy. Even as the procession marched through the people down the longest aisle of any church in the world, even when the Holy Father entered, the silence of love and death, of hope and forgiveness, embraced us all. The first sound heard was the voice of the Holy Father leading us in prayer. Today as for every service in St. Peter's every one received a booklet containing all the prayers, scriptures, explanations, and today colored photos of an 14th century Psalter from England that is in the Vatican Library.
The Three Scripture Readings were sung in Latin. The Passion was sung by three deacons, one taking Jesus' words (bass), another sang the words of other individuals in the Passion account, e.g., Peter, Pilate, the Maid Servant (tenor), and the narrator (baritone). The choir sang forth the crowd parts of the Passion. To break open the word in a homily, a Capuchin Franciscan preached on pardon and forgiveness of Christ towards us and through us for all others. Fr. Cantalamesse, ofm, cap., is the preacher for the Papal Household. I was proud of my Franciscan brother preaching to the pope, cardinals, bishops, priests, and laity. He stood there in front of the Papal Altar dressed in his brown Franciscan habit and white cord. He preached with passion and love, with conviction and compassion.
The nine Good Friday General Intercessions were introduced by nine seminarians from nine different countries, each inviting us to pray for another need of our church and world: French, English, Polish, Russian, German, Portuguese, Filipino, Swahili, Arabic and Spanish.
The cross in covered in red cloth was carried down the main aisle. The Pope intoned three times the words: Ecce lignum Crucis ‑ Behold the Wood of the Cross. Again he was on his knees at the kneeler brought to his chair. He remained kneeling for a half hour. During the adoration of the cross as many came forward to bow in reverence or genuflect and then kiss the cross, the 100 of us priests processed to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel to receive a ciborium of consecrate
hosts from yesterday's mass. As the Our Father began we processed down the middle aisle and formed a circle around the altar. Then we were led to a place to distribute the Sacrament of Christ's Body to all. A simple prayer and blessing over the people prayed by the Holy Father ended this most Solemn beautiful Liturgy. We departed in Silence. The Triduum, the three days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday Vigil Service are one Liturgy, one prayer, one entering into the one Passing Over of Christ from life, through death to life. So on Holy Thursday the Mass begins with the sign of the cross. There is no conclusion to Thursday's or Friday's liturgy. Only on Saturday after the Vigil Service are we told to Go in Peace! And so we continue three days celebrating one Action of Christ's Dying‑Rising.
After a quick supper, two of us, boarded a bus to take us to the Coliseum for the 9:15 PM to 11:00 PM Stations of the Cross. No one goes into the Coliseum. The Pope presides from a high hill across from the Coliseum. With chants, two people reading meditation and prayer for each Station, thousands of us stood listening and following along in the booklets printed by the Vatican. Truly an experience of deep prayer. Again, so many young people, families with little ones and us older folks too. In the midst of a world of terror and violence, of suffering and despair, we stood between the Coliseum and the Pope and prayed for all the world. Good Friday will never be the same ‑ ever.
Blessings on you and your families as you continue in this Holy Triduum ‑ The Three Days of death and life, of forgiveness and new hope.
13 Apr 2004 Tom Lenz. Please add my e‑mail address to your list. It is TWLenz41 of cs.com My tenth grade typing class is paying off tenfold.
So, after the St. Paschal reunion of 2000, I helped get a Catholic singles group started in Buffalo, N.Y. and ran bike trips, volleyball and ballroom dance committees and met some great people. My vocation as a landlord allows me to reap some benefits from my stubborn work habits. Investing in Buffalo property with just a credit card has allowed me to semi‑retire. I got an annulment from my first marriage and so did my wife Mary and thus we are regularly attending church‑‑which is still important in our lives.
Mary retired from her job this year, so we scouted Florida for a second home and settled in Spring Hill, Florida, about an hour north of Clearwater. She has 6 children and 8 grandchildren, so some are in the pool now.
So, now it’s off to fishing the Gulf in my Bayliner Trophy and finding another flea market. Greetings to all: hope to see DD34 soon.
Tom and Mary Lenz 10440 Norvell Rd. Spring Hill, Fla. 34608
13 Apr 2004 Dick Korn: Greetings at Easter. Madeleine and I are doing fine surrounded by family and friends. She continues to work hard as Executive Director of the Interfaith Center for Peace, currently planning a national conference on Conflict Management for here in Columbus, the first week in May. Besides interpreting more and more in Portuguese for the Community Refugee and Immigration Service, I've taken on a new position; the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio has hired this Roman Catholic to head its Episcopal Hispanic Ministry with offices on the Ohio State University campus at 30 W. Woodruff, Columbus, OH 43210 (614-291-8720; simbolico of aol.com).
I just returned from a week with my brothers and sisters-in-law to Madrid, Seville, Tangiers, and the Lisbon area. I wanted to take in as much Islamic influence in the southern parts of Spain and Portugal and had a real bonus with a day in North Africa. We were in those parts a few days after the terrorist bombing in the Madrid area and witnessed crowds praying around vigil lights, posters and pictures in public squares, twenty-four hours a day - a nation in mourning which had just elected anti-Bush Zapatero. I regret that I couldn't look up the Sacred Heart friar who I recall being in Morocco (?).
Readers
coming through central Ohio are obliged to call and/or stop by.
30 Apr 2004: Bob Hankey: Where did the Digest go??? Are you still working on it?? My honest
opinion is that it died a natural death. I hope you're doing well.
17 May 2004: Judy Mooney: [I had written or phoned about my wonderful experience of two weeks at an alcohol dependency rehab center starting April 22. Eighteen months later, everything she says is increasingly true. - Gael]
Hope
that you are having a peaceful day. I think of you so often. How
good it is to get into rehab. I hope that it continues to support you and
help you along the way. I find that getting help is the hardest thing to
do because it offends that self-reliance that can be full of fear and
pride. In Mike's and my life we continue to heal and discover that God is
truly a miracle worker when we let God be our God.
25 May 2004. Carroll Mizicko. Dear Family and Friends, Greetiings.
Spring has sprung and its almost gone. It is hard to believe that summer is upon us. We have had a pretty nice spring with no severe weather yet but quite a bit of rain. The shrubs and plants around the house all survived the winter and our roses and flowering plants are in bloom. The down side is that the grass is growing like crazy and it has to be cut every week. At least it gives us the chance for some exercise.
The Voices of St. Augustine, the choir from my former parish in Memphis, graced us with their presence and music the end of April. They were wonderful. They sang in concert on Saturday night and at the Mass on Sunday. People from the area really enjoyed and appreciated their talent and the sharing of their ministry of music. The Friars provided a New Orleans Style Gumbo meal for them on Saturday after the concert and St. Joseph Parish provided a delicious meal on Sunday after the Mass. We are very grateful for their visit.
The school year is winding down. There were graduations of Pre‑school, Kindergarten and Eighth Grade at Sr. Thea Bowman School last week. The Kindergarten didn’t actually have a graduation. They called it a A Bridging ceremony. There was an actual small bridge that the students walked across at the end to symbolize their moving to the first grade.
Althoff Catholic High School=s graduation was this past Sunday. Sr. Thea Bowman is looking at a major restructuring for next year. The school has run a large deficit for many years which the Diocese has had to cover.
Fr. Ferd and I have been part of a special committee looking at options. The school will be restructured to emphasize a much more individualized curriculum with a smaller enrollment. A new principal has been hired, Sr. Janet McCann, ASC. Some of you from Memphis may remember her as she taught at Fr.Bertrand Elementary School back in the 1980's. The down side of this move is that most of our current faculty and staff will have to be let go. It is a difficult and painful move but one that holds the best promise for the continuing ministry of the school to the East St. Louis community.
Fr. Ferd and I had the opportunity of participating in a Franciscan Spiritual Direction workshop at Mundelein, Illinois the beginning of May. There were only eight participants so we did have the opportunity of actually doing spiritual direction and receiving feed back from the directors and our peers. It was one of the best workshops I have attended. I highly recommend it to Friars if it is offered again.
Our work with the four parishes in ESL to merge into one is proceeding as planned. We have completed the training and input sessions. We now start the more difficult and challenging task of making those hard decisions about what recommendations we will make to the Bishop as to the location and structure of the new combined faith community.
On Saturday, June 5th, we are holding a Retreat Day for high school youth in East St. Louis at our Friary. We are bringing in Mr. Vince Guider from New Orleans who is a dynamic and gifted youth minister to conduct the day. Some of you from Monroe will remember him as he gave one of our Revivals and gave a workshop for the youth ministers while I was there. The day is especially intended for those being Confirmed in August but we are opening it up to others also. I had planned to take my vacation in July but I have had to change those plans. The other Catholic Priest Chaplain at the Hospital, who is originally from Germany, is going back to see his family in July. Therefore, I need to stay and cover the hospital while he is gone. I am looking now at the middle of August as my time away.
My companions, Chris and Ferd, are doing well. Chris has expanded his prison ministry to five or six institutions on a weekly or monthly basis. He always has lots of stories to share from his encounters with the inmates and guards. Ferd, in addition to his work at the high school, is constantly coming up with more programs to offer the East St. Louis community and the Diocese.
We have three Theological Symposiums scheduled efor the remainder of this calendar year. August 28: “Black Catholics: the Gifts, the Struggles, the Hope!” on racism with Fr. Bryan Massengale. October 16: “Fix Me Jesus” on health issues and HIV/AIDS with Fr. Joseph Brown, SJ. December 11: “Youth Ministry and Catechesis” with Sr. Eva Marie Lucas. There is also another “Songs of Soul” music workshop scheduled for November 12‑13. In between all of these there are also sprinkled Bible Classes, Black Catholic History Classes, Catholic Information sessions, and a “Come Back Home” program to encourage inactive and alienated Catholics to return to the Church. As Fr. Ferd often says: “It’s never dull working in the Kingdom!”
We continue to help out on weekends at various parishes around the Diocese. With the shortage of priests there is much need for assistance which sometimes involves a lot of travel. This coming weekend I will be going to Anna, Illinois, about a two and a half hour drive one way. We are happy to be able to offer this support to the Diocese and it does also bring added income enabling us to be self‑supporting as we receive no compensation for most of the work we do in East St. Louis.
Well that is a little bit about what is happening in this part of God’s kingdom. Hope things are going well in your part of the Kingdom! Please keep us and our ministry in your prayers and know that you are in mine.
Peace and everything that is good!
27 May 2004 John Miller: I really
thought this letter captured the essence of Francis Jerome. I just
received it, even though it was written back in February. John [The marvelous
letter is in graphic scanned format and too long for here. John or I would be
glad to send it to anyone who requests it. Write him at gartner44 of aol.com or me at gaelbstahl of juno.com
31 MAY 2004 BOB HANKEY called: It was memorial day and a day that many of us note as infamous – the 35th anniversary of the death of Germain Schwab, then provincial, and the end of an era that in my opinion was too short for our province, too stymied by a rapid exodus into the diaspora, and just bad luck. Perhaps, our history would have turned out the same. Bob will certainly not forget that day. It was he who was called on to make a positive identification of Germain’s body. We had a nice conversation, ruminated about his visit to Nashville some years ago, the old days in the province, and fresh gossip about favorite friars now dead but not forgotten. Thanks again for the call, Bob. Great Memorial Day custom. I’ll never forget the day either – for an entirely different reason. I think it was the day that Mario, the only Andretti to ever win the Indy 500, won it.
3 JUN 2004 CARLA ORTEGAL via Erv Pfeifer: Hi Erv. Thanks for the e-mail. Ken has been back at the nursing home for about three weeks. His psychiatrist has changed his medications again. His dementia causes extreme agitation and aggression and his anger can occur without warning. His memory is getting worse and, of course, he is very depressed. I think part of his depression is the result of the anti-psychotic medication. It's a vicious circle. Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers. Carla Ortegal
25 Jun 2004. Charles Faso. Greetings from Chicago! My last email to you all was from Rome at the end of April. Here is an update.
I departed Rome on April 25 for Assisi, Italy ‑ beautiful, peace‑filled Assisi, the Ancient Roman and Medieval city of St. Francis and St. Clare. My four weeks there were spent in taking classes in Italian, walking the streets and quiet, narrow walkways, praying with the Italian, French, and German Poor Clare Sisters, meeting pilgrims from all over the world including 30 Benedictine men and women from 20 different countries, participating in the 750th Anniversary of the Death of St. Clare and the 750th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Francis. Friends from Chicago and Paris were pilgrims in Assisi while I was there. Three of us friars from my Province were together in Assisi the same week. The quiet and prayer, the visiting of Spello and Foligno, meeting a young Italian man on the train from Rome and dining with his family in Perugia, sharing the Italian class with Japanese, Brazilian, French and American students. All in all, the four month sabbatical in Italy was and continues to be a blessing for me.
I returned to Chicago on May 27 in time to Baptize the son of a man whom I baptized 30 years ago. My sabbatical continues until January 1, 2005. Two weeks ago I attended a gathering in St. Louis MO of 180 of Friars from my Province ‑ we prayed and played together, we dreamed of future possibilities and listened to each others' stories of what the Holy Spirit has been doing to and through us. The Province administration has urged the three of us who have lived together for six years to move to a house that the Province will buy so that we will not have to rent. Hopefully we will be moving during the first week in August to a home about two miles west and north from where we have been living. On July 11, I will be driving to St. Bonaventure University in Olean NY for three weeks of classes ‑ Franciscan Spirituality and St. Clare & Other Franciscan Women. I have never studied at the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure's. I am overdue.
I hope you are enjoying these summer days. Hopefully, as my sabbatical for study and prayer, for renewal and reflection, continues we will have the opportunity to spend time together. Much peace to your hearts as we pray and do all we can for justice and peace in our world. Ciao! Arrivederci!
25 Jun 2004. Dan Mazar to Gael Stahl: The province has posted a notice that Tobias [Nick] Baxter has been reactivated into the priesthood after a 35 year intermission. Maybe there is hope for you!!!!
25 JUN 2004. STAHL to BRENNAN. News flash: We just built a house. I enjoy almost everything about my work at the league/newspaper and don’t intend to retire at 65 this year. New house to pay for, too. We will move into it on our 31st anniversary at Peckerwoods – July 3. We finally got electricity yesterday.
26 JUN 2004 MAZAR: The province just finished a week's assembly to prepare for next year's chapter. I believe the total number of friars in the province is about 300. Maybe lower – and very much older. Medard is recuperating in Springfield, Ill. I understand he is doing OK.
I’m on the visitation trail. Was in Providence, RI inflicting myself on Pat Reid. Will be in DC and SF next month to celebrate my birthday with classmates who left Westmont. You wouldn't know them, Zeke. Still retired. My pension has been taken over by the Fed. Need to fire Bush. The GOP might take my pension away if he gets another term. However, so far, so good. [When Gael asked for details about his steelworkers pension. Mazar replied: “I was offered an early retirement package a few years ago. Took me about 3 minutes to take it. Then my outfit went into bankruptcy. This past spring my pension was taken over by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, which is a federal department. It pays the pensions of retirees whose firms have gone belly up. But with the GOP in charge, there is always the chance that they will change the laws.”]
2 Jul 2004. Carroll Mizicko. Greetings from 14th and King Drive.
Our neighborhood is growing. Habitat for Humanity built three new houses visible from our garage. That makes a total of nine houses they have built along the street near St. Joseph Church. It is nice to see new construction in this city that has so many dilapidated buildings and vacant lots. There are plans to add another whole development of housing for low and middle income folks in our general area. There are signs of hope.
Next week I start full time at St. Elizabeth hospital for the month of July. Fr. Elmar Mauer, OMI, the other priest‑chaplain, is going on vacation for three weeks. He is originally from Germany and is going back to see his family. I will be on duty Monday to Friday plus be on call for emergencies another 40‑50 hours a week. It will make for a busy July, which should make my vacation in August even more enjoyable.
July 15‑18 all three of us are going to New Orleans for the Archbishop James Lyke Conference. It will feature various presentations on liturgy and ministry. We have been asked to make a presentation on our ministry here in East St. Louis. Fr. Chris will also be giving a workshop on prison ministry, which is certainly a specialized and much needed ministry. They are expecting about a thousand people for the conference.
We continue to work with the four Catholic Churches in East St. Louis in facilitating the process of merging the four into one. Our goal is to reach a decision as to which site will be the location for the new unified church by October. We are entering the more difficult part of the process now. The Bishop wrote and excellent letter that was shared with all the parishes congratulating them on their bold, courageous and prophetic move. Most people don’t like the thought of leaving their old church but are resigned to the fact and most see the wisdom of the move in light of the small numbers at each Church, the priest shortage, and just the financial cost of maintaining four facilities. Please continue to pray for us as we walk with the people in this difficult and painful journey.
June 13‑18 was a wonderful week. Our Franciscan Province held its Assembly in St. Louis. The Assembly was in preparation for our Province Chapter next June. There were about 170 Friars in attendance. That is a very good percentage of our membership. It was great seeing so many that I had not seen or talked to for some time. The speakers were excellent and the discussions productive. Each evening was free which allowed for having some fun together. We also had the opportunity of bringing some of our Franciscan Brothers over to East St. Louis to show them our Friary and some of the things we are doing. One of the highlights of the Assembly was a performance by the Gospel Choir from Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville under the direction of Fr. Ferd. This integrated Gospel choir is outstanding and was greatly appreciated by the Friars. Other musical entertainment during the Assembly included a Mariachi Band and a male German Chorus from St. Louis. During the meetings I also had a chance to talk with Br. Joe Rogenski who is head of the FMU (Franciscan Missionary Union). He mentioned that he had heard that my brother, Fr. Bob Mizicko, was planning to come home from Brazil for a visit in August. He did not know any specific dates. I have not heard anything from my brother directly yet but I will pass on the information. Last time he came back to the States, about three and a half years ago, he ended up spending much of his time in the dentist’s chair. Apparently he had some major dental problems. Hopefully things will be different this time.
On Sunday, August 1st Bishop Gregory will be at St. Joseph Church for Confirmation at the 10:30 AM Mass. We will have fifteen young people Confirmed. I have been working with them since the end of March. On June 5th we brought in Mr. Vince Guider, a dynamic and gifted youth minister from New Orleans, to give them a retreat day. It was excellent and the young people really seemed to enjoy the day and found it worthwhile. Yours truly was chef for the day grilling hamburgers and hot dogs to perfection.
We continue our travels around the Diocese helping to cover parishes where there is no priest or the priest is away on vacation or for some other reason.
In June we had another priest die from cancer who was taking care of two parishes down near Waterloo, Illinois. In addition to our regular coverage of Ellis Grove we have also been able to cover four weekends at Murphysboro while the pastor is on vacation, a couple of weekends at Anna, Illinois where the pastor died of cancer last December and various places in the more local area.
Fr. Chris continues to put many miles on his car as he travels to various prisons in the Diocese. He always comes back with some new stories and experiences to share. Fr. Ferd, while his schedule is a little less full now that school is out, continues to be busy planning various programs and workshops.
We have developed a brochure listing some of the programs and classes we have planned for 2004‑2005 which is quite impressive. The next events are a “ Lead Me Guide Me Retreat” for planning worship for young people on August 17 & 18, and “Black Catholics: the Gifts, the Struggles and the Hope” addressing Social Justice and Racism from a Black Catholic perspective by Rev. Brian Massingale on August 28.
Well that is the news from the East Side at this time. Take care and keep in touch!
5 Jul 2004. Dennis Griffin. From the Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Restoring Peabody mansion=s grandeur.
By Marni Pyke
[Abridged. For full article, click here or copy this address into your search engine: http://www.highbeam.com/library/doc0.asp?DOCID=1G1:119241334&num=1&ctrlInfo=Round5%3AProd%3ASR%3AResult&ao=]
Experts are restoring part of the historical Tudor-style house built by coal baron Francis Stuyvesant Peabody. In its heyday, the Peabody mansion was a retreat for rich Chicago socialites and industrialists who were treated to elaborate banquets and horse shows. Weather and time have taken a toll on the house, which was built between 1919 and 1921.
The Dupage County Forest Preserve District has already spent about $5.5 million on renovations. Ultimately, officials hope to use the building for cultural events such as readings, seminars and lectures. Officials hope that as more people visit the mansion and see the restoration, the project will sell itself.
8 Jul 2004. Paul Stubenbort. Hi Guys, been reading all the contributions to the Digest and thought I’d put in my two cents worth.
Most of the contributors to DD are out of my age group, either older or younger.
I am in touch with many Franks who are still in (Mike Clarahan, Ricardo Duffy and Tom Shaughnessy). Also many who got married about the time I did (Tom Wichert, Larry Johnson, Jose Knoll and Don Becker.)