Diaspora Digest # 36
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Editor: Gael Stahl Webmeister: Jack Brennan Submit publishable
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21 feb 2005: carroll mitzicko:
It has been a while since I have given you an update on our
latest activities. The big news, of
course, is the loss of our Bishop.
Bishop Gregory left for his new position as Archbishop of Atlanta in
mid-January. We wish him the very best
in his new position and know that he will do an outstanding job. In the meantime we are wondering whom we
will get as our next Bishop. The
expectation is that it will be six months to a year before a new Bishop is
appointed.
One of our concerns with the move of Bishop Gregory is what
effect that will have on our plans and work to merge the four parishes into one
in East St. Louis. We have talked with
Msgr. Margason, the Administrator for the Diocese, and he has asked us to continue
the work as scheduled. There will be
some things that will have to wait for official action until we have a Bishop,
but most things will be able to proceed as planned.
In December, between Christmas and New Years, Fr. Ferd and
I conducted “Go Down Moses VI” in New Orleans.
This is a retreat for young African American men between 16 and 35 years
old. The purpose is to explore with the
young men their place and leadership roles in the Catholic Church. While it is not aimed specifically at
vocations to the priesthood and religious life, it is certainly our hope that
some vocations will result from these experiences. This year we had about thirty young men from several areas of the
country participate. There were some
definite vocation possibilities in the group.
Next year we are considering holding the retreat in Baltimore.
Sister Thea Bowman Elementary School continues to develop
under the leadership of our principal, Sister Janet McCann. Our excellent staff is having a
significant impact on the students with a more individualized instruction. In addition to the usual subjects, the
students also have the opportunity to develop their skills in art, computer,
music and the lower grades are being taught violin while the upper grades are
being taught ballroom dancing. Parents
seem to be very pleased with the new direction of the school. In December we had an Advent Program put on
by the students and faculty that filled the church to overflowing. We also have a waiting list of parents who
want to enroll their children for next school year.
My ministry as Chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospital continues
to be challenging and rewarding. Due to
financial difficulties and the continuing problem of doctors leaving the area
due to the high cost of Medical Mal-Practice insurance, the hospital has cut
back in many areas including Pastoral Care.
The number of chaplains and the hours they work has been reduced. This has not affected my hours, in fact I
work one more hour than before. On
Saturdays I am the only chaplain on duty from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM and there is
no chaplain in the hospital after I leave.
However, there are chaplains ‘on call’ for emergencies. Our census at the hospital is up which is
encouraging for the future. It seems
strange, doesn’t it, and a little ironic that you should be glad when people
are getting sick.
In January I participated in a four week “Ecumenical Bible
Study Seminar” that was held at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. I served as moderator for the sessions. The topic was “The Eucharist: real presence,
sign, symbol, or remembrance.” This
topic was addressed from four different Christian perspectives: Catholic,
Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, and Christ Unity Church. It was a very interesting seminar. While there were certainly clear differences,
I was also struck by the points of agreement.
Some of my other interfaith experiences include
participation in a Book Study group that meets for five weeks. The book we are discussing is “The Secret
Life of Bees”, a novel by Sue Monk Kidd.
It is a story about mothers and daughters and the transcendent power of
love set in the context of the racially charged south of the 1960’s. I also participate in the monthly meeting of
the Metro East Interfaith Partnership which explores various scriptural and theological
topics from various Christian and non-Christian perspectives. We are also beginning our planning for the
annual “Festival of Faiths and Cultures” and “Interfaith Dinner” that is held
in collaboration with the Shrine of Our Lady of Snows in September.
I am also working with the Lenten program named “Called to
be Neighbor.” This year we have ten
parishes from the Belleville area participating. We meet on Mondays at 6:30 PM at one of the parishes. We share a simple Lenten meal with a
presentation followed by table discussion.
This year we are exploring the Church’s call for a “Preferential Option
for the Poor.”
Fr. Ferd continues his work at Althoff and with the Liturgical Commission
of the Diocese. He just completed his last
scheduled seminar on Black Religious Music for Catholic Worship held this past
Saturday at Althoff. W. Clifford Petty,
composer/director, was the presenter.
The other big project is preparing for the Archbishop Lyke Liturgical
Conference being held in St. Louis in June and sponsored by the Diocese of
Belleville.
Fr. Chris is still trying to break into more jails. Jails are usually places people try to stay
out of, but for Chris he always seems to be trying to break into new ones. The prison system does not make it easy to
minister to those incarcerated. Chris
is participating on a statewide committee to try and address some of the
issues.
Well that is what is happening on the “East Side”. I hope you have a fruitful Lent and joyous
Easter. Drop me a line or stop by to
visit if you are in the area. I am
always happy to hear from you.
Peace and everything that is good!
11 Mar 2005: Gael Stahl: I followed up shingles with sciatica and just began walking w/o a
cane last Thursday evening. Just in time to bury another younger friend this
week, 300 miles east in Johnson City in the mountains.
Here's what
I just sent a friend in Germany: “I just came from the eastern time zone
yesterday afternoon. I buried another friend 35 years younger than I, my best
friend in Tennessee. He was the sixth friend I buried of the 30 or 40 folks who
attended our 1981 wedding on our lakeshore. He was the fourth one younger than
I… I'm getting way too accustomed to
being ‘Father Gael’ at the funerals of my dearest friends.”
21 Mar 2005:
Chuck Faso: Begins organizing his pilgrimage to Vietnam
in November.
21 Mar 2005:
Dennis Griffin: This
morning at 5:07 am I got a call from the police saying that there had been a
fire in the complex where my office is located. They wanted me to go out there.
It turns out that there had been a fire two units down from me. The fire department had gotten the alarm
call at 3:09 am. The unit where the
fire started was 100% destroyed. It was
nothing but a black hole with a lot of amorphous black junk in it. We only had a little soot and smell and
firemen's boot prints on the carpet.
They had also popped the cylinder out of the front door lock so that
they could get it. A couple of the
other units were not so lucky. On the
lower level that was three inches of water, and a bunch of other damage. When I got there the fire was out and the
inspectors were just starting to work.
The way they sift through the mess is fascinating. The police sergeant told me that they had
not found any evidence of arson. They
had not
found
multiple sites of origin. All the stuff
that I had planned to do today is totally out the window. Insurance will cover our damage, and
hopefully we will not be put out of business at all.
25 Mar 2005:
Chuck Faso: Greetings
from Washington DC.
I arrived
here today from Chicago. Fr. Bill
Burton ofm, with whom I live in Chicago, and I flew together. Fr. Bill has been invited to preach for the
Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter) at the
Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land here in Washington DC. So I accompanied Fr. Bill - to cheer him on,
to visit friends, and to visit the sites.
We are staying with the thirty Franciscan Friars here at the Monastery
on 1400 Quincy St. NE, Washington DC - not far from Catholic University of
America and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Blessings on
you and your loved ones during this week called Holy. May you all be blessed by
God who calls us all to live life more fully, more gratefully, and more
peacefully. Be assured of a remembrance of my prayers during these Holy Week
Days in Washington DC.
Fr. Bill and
I will return to Chicago on Easter Sunday afternoon. Peace! Shalom! Salaam!
21 May 2005:
Chuck Faso: Greetings
from Chicago!
Since Easter, I have preached three parish missions in Illinois
and Nebraska and two retreats to Religious Women (Sisters). Each was a blessing, a challenge and great
fun.
On Monday May 23, I will be going to Sicily for two weeks with
45 people. This will be my fifth visit to Sicily but the first visit to
celebrate the feast of Blessed John, the patron Saint of Caccamo, the hometown
of my Grandma and Grandpa
Faso. This mountain town is thirty miles east of Palermo.
On Sunday May 29, I will be celebrating Mass in Italian for the
people of Caccamo in the Church of Blessed John (Beato Giovanni) for the feast
of Corpus Christi and the feast of Blessed John. This has got me very excited
and a little nervous. Hope their ears
won't hurt too much from my pronunciation.
Be assured of my prayers for you all during these two
weeks. May the Lord give you Peace!
25 may
2005: Sacred Heart Province Death Notice:
We are saddened to learn of the sudden and expected death
of former-friar GEORGE KARNIA at the age of 53. George attended St.
Joe's Minor Seminary and OLA Seminary in Quincy before entering the novitiate
at St. Paschal's in Oak Brook in 1971. He left the Order during the time of his
simple profession. (His classmates include Dennis Schafer, Paul Gallagher, John
Eaton, Larry Janezic, Jim Kelly, and Chris Lambert.) He remained in his
hometown of Chicago until his death. George was preceded in death by his wife
Karen Gutowski and his sister Karen.
Visitation will be on Thursday evening, May 26th, from 3:00-9:00 p.m. in the
Zimmerman & Sandeman Funeral Home (5200 West 95th Street in Oak Lawn,
Illinois.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday morning at St.
Nicholas of Tolentine Church (3700 West 62nd Street) at 10:30 a.m. on Friday
followed by burial in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Remembrances and condolences may be recorded in the on-line Guest Book at
www.parksidechapels.com If you need further information, please contact the
funeral directors at (708) 424-0340 or (773) 767-9788.
"The Souls of the Just are in the Hands of God."
29 May 2005: Jerry
Etzkorn: [After getting an email about the newsletter, Around the Province,
from Gael Stahl.]
Been on the road for a month. Be glad to get the ATP. Heard you'd been 'ailing' and hope things are now better.
29 May 2005: Gael Stahl: Thanks, Jerry. Yes, spent all day
yesterday shoveling and raking clay, running a vibrating compactor to
waterproof the foundations of our new house. Could not have two months ago. The
sciatica was a bad one.
I'm in an
e-discussion with two other friends and our recent big discussion has been
pretty much phenomenology with lots of Freud and Wittgenstein thrown in. I
threw in a little Ferdinand and Merleau Ponty but they weren't up on the
Belgique guy, more on Husserl and Sein und Zeit.
But, I'm finally
learning a bit more. May need to consult with you on something to freshen up my
philosophical thinking roots from 1962-63. You were the best in that you were
the only one who got us actually reading the writers, Hegel, etc. I wish we'd
had you in scholasticism. We never got to read Scotus and I read Ockham only on
my own. Bonaventure, too.
What a waste,
those survey courses, without tasting the authors themselves.
I wonder if Jack
Brennan is sending out the ATPs now. I keep getting them from the province but
not from him, so I better send out a few more.
Thanks for letting
me know you want it.
[Why are you
and my wife always wondering if I am doing what I am supposed to be doing? After reading this exchange, I think Dan
Dolesh is right, we may be way over educated! JB.]
3 Jun 2005: Carroll Mizicko: Life continues to move on!
We have hit some turbulent waters in our process of merging the four
parishes into one. As we move closer to
the time of the actual merger some people’s emotions are running high
particularly in terms of who will be the pastor of the new parish. Some are very adamant that it be one of the
present pastors while others are equally insistent that it be someone new. It is all complicated by the fact that our
new Bishop will not be installed until June 22nd and he is the one who will
have to make the final determinations.
We have arranged for a meeting between the new Bishop and the people of
the parishes in East St. Louis for July 11th.
We will have to wait and see where things go after the meeting.
Speaking of
the new Bishop. Bishop Braxton will be
installed on June 22nd. Unfortunately, he is going to have to deal with a whole
lot of negative feelings when he arrives.
Much of the negativity stems from the quickness of his appointment and
the lack of consultation of not only clergy and laity of the Diocese, but also
of our former Bishop, Wilton Gregory, and our Archbishop, Cardinal George of
Chicago. Ordinarily input is sought
from all of the above as to the qualities that would be desirable for a Bishop
of a particular Diocese. Due to the
quickness of the appointment that was not done and many people are quite upset. Naturally rumors are also rampant which only
fosters more unrest.
Sister Thea
Bowman School has completed the first year under the new leadership. While it was a difficult year as the
transition was made, overall it was very successful with increased academic
achievements and better discipline and motivation. There is still much room for improvement but the new approach is
making a difference. One of the recent
highlights was our Spring Concert. As
part of the new curriculum our lower grades take violin lessons and the upper
grades ballroom dancing. It was quite
impressive to see some sixty K-5th grade students and their teachers playing
their violins together as a group. The
mastery of the 6th-8th grades of the steps of various ballroom dances also left
one in amazement. Our students are
exposed to the fine arts as part of their overall education in order to teach
self discipline and focus. The monetary
contributions that many of you made this past year enabled us to offer
financial assistance to five needy students whose families could not afford the
full tuition of $2,500.00. Thank you
for your generous support.
Another
interesting education project we are working on is a collaboration effort with
Quincy University to use Sr. Thea Bowman and Althoff High as training sites for
student teachers and counselors. Quincy
University is interested in giving their students more exposure to cultural
diversity and so it can be a benefit to all involved. We are hoping to have something ready to go by the fall.
In the area
of education, one of the great needs of the community is for an adult literacy
program. There were programs available
but the funds were cut. We have many
adults not able to read at all or very minimally. This affects people’s ability to get and hold jobs not to mention
their self-esteem.
We are
hoping to address this need as the new Catholic Parish by offering one on one
tutoring for adults. The program will
start on a small scale but we hope to expand it as we obtain grants for the
program in the future.
In my
ministry as chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospital I pulled extra hours in May and
will do so again in June. The
administration has cut back on the number of chaplains and so when one is sick
or out of town, we all pitch in to cover for them. There is a very good spirit among the chaplains so we are glad to
help one another.
In May I
helped conduct our quarterly Memorial Service for parents who had a miscarriage
or lost a child at birth over the last three months. We had eighteen parents who were invited to the service at a
local cemetery where the fetuses are buried.
As always it was quite an emotional and moving experience as you try to
offer some words of comfort and hope to the parents and families.
Another
aspect of my ministry at the Hospital is leading a prayer service and offering
a reflection on St. Francis as part of a retreat day for hospital staff. Over the next two years the Hospital
Administration plans to have all of the 1,200 employees participate in one of
these renewal days.
Fr. Ferd has completed another year at
Althoff. The school Gospel choir is
scheduled to sing at the Province Chapter, at our Bishop’s Installation and
attend the Archbishop Lyke
Conference. Ferd is the chair for the
Lyke Conference so we are going to hate to see our phone bill for June.
Fr. Chris continues his prison ministry. He has not added any new prisons recently,
Thank God! He always has interesting stories and anecdotes to share. Chris was recently invited to Chicago to St.
Peter’s to speak on prison ministry at one of their forums. He is also scheduled to give a workshop at
the Lyke Conference this month. Chris
is becoming quite the expert.
June is
going to be a very busy month. Our
Franciscan Province Chapter is set for June 12-17. Ferd and I will be involved in “Hush Harbor” African American
Musicians and Liturgist on June 20-21.
The Clarence Rivers Musical Workshop and the Archbishop Lyke Conference
are June 22-26. In between we will
squeeze in the new Bishop’s Installation on June 21-22. As Ferd often says: “Never a dull moment in the kingdom!” Peace and everything good!
Thanks, Gael. Actually I check every Thursday
for the current Newsletter from Benet. I probably read it more
"faithfully" (?) than some of the friars. Actually I'm in touch with
a lot of the guys from "sem days." One of the questions that comes up
a lot is: when will there be a new DD? I'm sure it takes a lot more hours to
edit and send out than you have, so I don't ask. PEACE
05 jun 2005: Gael Stahl: to Cullan Uhlinger:
I thought I'd get DD out when I devoted
November and December to it. But then I
got so sick that I couldn't work on it until March when I could finally sit in
front of a monitor again. But by then I was so far behind that I still haven't
got up. But I work on it mot days. Complexities and computer problems generate
confusion here.
Bart (Dick) Korn was here overnight last week on a weekend
trip to Jackson Miss. to check out a house they rent. He's already written from
Ohio after his return.
08 jun 2005: Cullan uhlinger:
The web site is: www.thefriars.org Go to
DIRECTORY, then click on to "Around the Province", a weekly
newsletter. You may need an Adobe Reader 6.0. Another Newsletter I get daily
(for free, but they also daily ask for contributions) is Zenit English. It's
kind of a global look at the Catholic Church with an emphasis on Big Ben/Rome.
The Cleveland Diocese also sends a free, weekly newsletter, as most, bigger dioceses
probably do too. Last, but not least is the free Saint of the Day notice that
comes daily c. 7 a.m. Lannie gets mad at me for spending so much time on the
Internet, but I enjoy it. Is there a current directory for members of the DD?
I've been using DD #28 (June, 1999) (hard copy) for email addresses, but it's a
little out of date and incomplete. I'm sure Lannie would be grateful (and so
would I) if you send the web site to me. Sorry to hear about you being sick.
Seems that I recall Muskie telling me you weren't at Medard's funeral.
Hope you are better. PEACE
08 jun 2005: Gael Stahl: Cullan, I'll pass on the word pronto.
Thanks. In fact, Jack Brennan will probably be better at doing it. He has a
large email list. I'll attach my master list of friars for you. Hard to believe
my last list went out in 1999. Seems more recent, but I don't doubt it.
I didn't get sick until Dec (shingles) and
then Jan (sciatica). But I was fine for Medard’s funeral and we had a wonderful
time together. Muski, Mooney, Reuter,
and I age pizza and drank beer deep into the night and yakked. We mentioned you
being in close contact with everybody quite a lot.
Muskie mostly brought us up to date. I liked everything I heard.
10 jun 2005: Chuck faso: From May 23 to
June 5, I was blessed to be in Sicily, Italy, for two weeks with 42 other
people. We traveled from Taormina and Catania on the east coast of this
Mediterranean Island off the toe of Italy, to Marsala, Erice and Trapani
on the west coast; from Palermo and Termini Imerese on the north coast to
Agrigento on the south coast - and much in between, from the steaming volcano
of Mt. Etna near Taormina to the enchanting island of Favignana near
Trapani. Sicily in the spring time is a land lush with flowers and
greenery everywhere. Bright yellow ginestra flowers blanketed the
mountains while exploding poppies painted the deep rolling valleys with bright,
brilliant red. The ancient Greeks and Romans have influenced all
that is seen, felt, and heard in the temples in Agrigento and Segesta
and in the language, architecture and facial features of the warm and
amazingly hospitable people. The Normans, the Arabs, the Spanish,
the French, and others who came, conquered, stayed and enriched Sicily
gifted Sicily in the same ways. All left their imprint and DNA, their
culinary and artistic talents.
A
highlight for me personally was to be able to preside and preach at the
Sunday Mass in Italian in my Grandparents' hometown of Caccamo. We were
there for the celebration of Corpus Christi and the patronal feast day of
the town (8000 people), the feast of Beato Giovanni Liccio, a Dominican
preacher of the 16th Century. Caccamese people return for the feast from
all over Europe, from Canada, from the USA, etc. I first celebrated mass
there in 1979 - the first time any of the Faso's returned to Sicily since John
Faso and Consiglia LoBue, my grandparents, left in 1910. This trip was my
fifth visit to Sicily, but my first to be in Caccamo for the feast of Beato
Giovanni. The Mayor of the Caccamo met us at the city
gates. Many other dignitaries, including a Dr. Faso, a full marching band
and majorettes, accompanied him. They led us into town and to the church of
Beato Giovanni. I prayed there for the family, for all of you, and for
those in Chicago Heights whose ancestors came from that mountain town that
towers over other mountains and valleys, lakes and villages.
On Sunday
after the mass, the Mayor of Caccamo at the famous Castle of Caccamo,
recently restored, hosted us. I returned on Monday with the
Monastero's and the Porto's to visit their relatives, to walk through the
cemetery where I saw many familiar Chicago Heights names: Faso, LoBue, Pagoria,
Stanfa, Macaluso, Purpura, etc., and to meet the Capuchin Franciscan
Friars at the Capuchin Friary next to the cemetery. How often
Grandma Faso told me about the Capuchin Friars and their chapel where she often
went to pray.
I hope to
return to Caccamo for the week of prayer and preaching before the feast of
Beato Giovanni which is always the last Sunday and Monday of May. I can
stay with the Capuchin Friars and be able to participate in the three-hour
procession through the town on the Monday celebration as twelve men carry the
figure of Beato Giovanni in a glass class that contains his remains. What
a retreat that will be. Beato Giovanni's mother's maiden name was
Faso. These thirteen days were sponsored by Joe and Martha Monastero
of Monastero's restaurant on Devon in Chicago, by Dino and Josephine Porto of
Cosmopolitan Travel, and by me. Joe, Dino, and Josephine were born in
Caccamo. Martha Monastero blessed and moved us all many times with her
magnificent gift, talent, and trained soprano voice. A blessing for all of
us. Martha and her husband Joe aided our prayer with their
singing at the last Mass we all celebrated on Mt. Pellegrino high above Palermo
in the Grotto of Santa Rosalia, the patron of Palermo. One complaint
we all shared: there was too much food and every bite was too good! A
rehearsal for the heavenly banquet!
Hope you
can visit Sicily, enjoy the beauty of this Mediterranean island
and taste the great food and wine of Sicily!
Enjoy
these lengthening June days! Much peace and health to you and your
families.
29 JUN 2005: Fr. Eugene (Gentil) Katoski, OFM
“Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister
Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape” (CtC 12).
Our fellow friar and faithful priest of
Sacred Heart Province Eugene (Gentil) Katoski OFM died on June 29, 2005, at the
age of 87, at Loretto Home in Springfield, Illinois. Eugene had been in failing
health for a number of years, suffering from Altzheimer’s Disease.
Eugene (Gene) served the Franciscan Province
of the Sacred Heart as a teacher of history for 51 years * at St. Joseph Minor
Seminary in Westmont (IL), at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary in Quincy (IL),
and at Padua High School in Parma, Ohio.
During his years of ministry he also did pastoral work in the
Archdiocese of Chicago and in the Dioceses of Joliet (IL), Springfield (IL),
and Cleveland (OH), and he was chaplain for the Poor Clare nuns in Cleveland.
Eugene Katoski OFM will be waked on Friday,
July 1, 2005, at the Villa West Chapel (100 Stardust Drive) in Sherman,
Illinois, beginning with morning prayer at 10:00am. His Funeral Mass will be
celebrated on Friday, July 1, 2005, at 11:00am in the Villa West Chapel. He will be buried in the friars’ plot in
Calvary Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.
May he rest in peace!
The sympathy of the friars and their solidarity
in prayer and fraternity are conveyed to the nephew of Gene Katoski OFM, our
own Michael Clarahan OFM, and to the whole Katoski Family.
(Condolences to Mike Clarahan OFM at
mikeclarahan of juno.com or at St.
Peter’s Church-in the Loop,110 West Madison Street, Chicago IL 60602.)
Parents: Stanislaus Kwiatkowski and Susanna
Wodzick
Birth: December 15, 1917 - Waterloo
(Dubuque), IA
Baptism: December 23, 1917 - St. Mary,
Waterloo, IA
Confirmation: December 13, 1931 - St. Mary,
Waterloo, IA
Ist Order Reception: August 23, 1938 -
Teutopolis, IL (Optatus Loeffler)
Simple Profession: August, 24, 1939 -
Teutopolis, IL (Vincent Schrempp)
Solemn Profession: August 23, 1942 -
Teutopolis, IL (Wenceslaus Krzycki)
Tonsure: October 28, 1942 - Teutopolis, IL
(James A. Griffin)
Ost. & Lec.: October 28, 1942 -
Teutopolis, IL (James A. Griffin)
Exor. &Acol.: November 1, 1943 -
Teutopolis, IL (James A. Griffin)
Sub-deacon: November 1, 1944 - Teutopolis, IL
(James A. Griffin)
Deacon: December 8, 1944 - Teutopolis, IL (James
A. Griffin)
Priest: June 24, 1945 - Teutopolis, IL (James
A. Griffin)
1946-1946: Quincy (St. Francis) Student at
Quincy College
1946-1947: Westmont (St. Joseph)
1947-1948: Washington (Sacred Heart) Student
at Catholic University
1948-1964: Westmont (St. Joseph)
1964-1973: Quincy (Our Lady of Angels) Vicar
(68-69)
1973-1987: Cleveland (Padua Franciscan High
School) Faculty
1987-1988: Cleveland (St. Anthony) Part-time
Parochial Minister at St. Charles Parish
1988-1998: Cleveland (Padua Friary) Faculty (88-90),
Part-time Chaplain
for Poor Clares (88-00),
Editor Senior
Friars Talk (91-00)
1998-2000: Cleveland (Padua)
Part-time Chaplain
for Poor Clares (88-00);
Editor Senior
Friars Talk (91-00) in residence at St. Patrick Rectory in Cleveland
2000-2005: Sherman
(Our Lady of Angels) Villa Health Care West –
Retired. On March
2, 2001.
01 jul 2005: Gael
Stahl: Running thru my address list quickly I find you
classmates or semi classmates, and tell you that GK was one of my five
top favorites. He made me really love history with his quirky way of doing it,
peg dates, enthusiasm, cliches, bon mots, etc. He's the one who said he read a
book a week, 52 a year, and I thought that amazing, and set out to equal him.
It took my love of reading to competitive heights, and that's my cuppa tea, I
think.
Happy Independents
(sic) Day. The Demos and Repubs have their party feasts, but we independents
need our own
04 jul 2005: Dan Tanna:
Thanks for GK's obit notice, Gael! I was thinking
about him the other day driving somewhere on the beltway between work and home!
Don't know what it was exactly to bring him to mind; it is not the first
time. Attribute it to the energy and order he brought to our young lives
as our Prefect of Discipline, and, as fortunati under his tutelage, he made sure none of us
would forget Scipio Africanus' decisive defeat of Hannibal at Zama in 202BC to
end the Second Punic War. "Zama Oh Zama" ZOZ - 202. Thanks GK!
We love you.
Hope you and Susan are having a great 4th of July weekend. Couldn't ask for finer, prettier days here in our nation's capital. Spending quality at the Weber, getting some laps in at the pool, reading some Karen Armstrong and Mark Twain, and looking forward to a short work week at the Red Cross about sums in up on this end for Sharon and me. Couldn't be happier with the way it feels.
21 JUL 2005: CARROLL MITZICKO: Greetings from the Eastern Bank of St. Louis on a beautiful summer evening.
We have finally had some rain which has eased but not eliminated the effects of the drought we have been suffering in this part of the country the past couple of months. The crops have been hurt but the farmers are still hopeful of getting at least a decent return on their work.
We have a new Bishop in the Belleville Diocese. Bishop Edward Braxton, formerly Bishop of Lake Charles, LA, was installed as the 8th Bishop of Belleville on June 22nd. He came to the Diocese in the midst of considerable controversy resulting from the rapidness of his appointment, rumors about his leadership style, and the expenditure of a considerable amount, not Diocesan funds but from friends, to fix up the Bishop’s residence. I have had occasion to meet with Bishop Braxton several times and I am basically encouraged. He is a very quiet and reserved man but he seems to listen well and is able to handle rather tense and potentially explosive situations effectively. I think that he is going to be much more directive in his approach as to what he wants done or not done than was Bishop Gregory. He believes in formality always wearing the Bishop’s regalia or suit and collar with pectoral cross. I have yet to see him in anything less formal. He has also indicated that he expects the Priests of the Diocese to wear the clergy collar and be identified as a Catholic Priest on a regular basis. The coming months and years should prove interesting.
With the arrival of the new Bishop our situation here in East St. Louis is on hold. The Bishop has met with the people of the four parishes in East St. Louis to hear their comments and concerns. He has also met with various key Catholic leaders from the area to obtain their input. He seems to be doing his homework. The Bishop has indicated that he is leaning towards any merger taking place the First Sunday of Advent due to many factors that still need to be addressed. A key decision he has to make is who will be the pastor of the new parish. The question is whether to go with one of the Diocesan priests who has been here over thirty years, or to go with some one new. If the decision is to go with some one new, I am probably the main candidate. I told the Bishop that I would be willing to serve if asked. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the Bishop in making the right decision that will be in the best interest of the people of all four parishes. In the meantime, the Bishop has already transferred one of the Diocesan Priests and asked us to assume responsibility for two of the four parishes until the merger actually takes place.
June was a very busy month. We had our Franciscan Provincial Chapter June13_17 during which we elected the Provincial Leadership for the next three years. Fortunately, none of us in East St. Louis was elected to any positions. The following week I was actively involved with three African American Catholic workshops held in St. Louis: the “Hush Harbor” for theologians, musicians and liturgists; the “Clarence Rivers Music Workshop,” and the “Archbishop James Lyke Liturgical Conference.” The Lyke conference had about 600 participants from across the country. Right in the middle of all of that we had the Installation of Bishop Braxton in Belleville. However, we survived and it was all very worthwhile. The Liturgies at the Lyke Conference were especially outstanding with moving music, inspiring liturgical dance, spirited preaching and dynamic participation.
Following the Lyke Conference I immediately dove into the final preparations for a VBS (Vacation Bible School) for the parishes in East St. Louis. This was the first one they had in probably ten or more years. It was called a “Safari Adventure: Searching for the King.” We had about forty children, pre-school to thirteen, take part in the week long event. The program ran from 6:00 to 8:45 PM. It began with a simple meal followed by various activities for the children and a special class for the adults. The evaluations of the program were all very positive.
In addition to the above we continue our other ministries. Almost every weekend one or more of us are helping out at some parish in the Diocese. Last weekend was one of our busiest. We covered a Mass at Ellis Grove and St. Clare in O’Fallon, IL; two at St. Luke in Belleville and four in Breese and Beckemeyer, IL. We are usually not quite that stretched but we try to help out as much as we can. With our having to assume responsibility for two Masses in East St. Louis starting August 1st, that will somewhat limit our availability to help elsewhere.
Fathers Chris and Ferd are doing well and continuing their ministries. The Gospel Choir from Althoff, under the direction of Fr. Ferd, sang at the Provincial Chapter and at the Lyke Conference in June. They are scheduled to make a trip to St. Peter’s in Chicago in August and to Quincy University in September.
Sister Thea Bowman School is closed for the summer. However, things will be cranking up again in a couple of weeks. We have had a much better pre_enrollment than previous years. We are hoping to increase our student body significantly this fall. Fortunately, most of the excellent faculty will be returning which is a real plus. Again thanks to all who made donations to help with tuition subsidy for some of our students. Donations are always needed and greatly appreciated.
At this time I am not sure about when I may get away for a few days vacation. With the uncertainty of the situation around the merger of the parishes in East St. Louis and my possible role, I feel I need to wait until a decision is made. Peace and everything that is good!
1 aug 2005: Fr. George (Agatho) Windolph, OFM:
"Praised be You, my Lord, through our
Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape" (CtC 12).
Our fellow friar and faithful priest of Sacred
Heart Province, George Windolph OFM passed away peacefully this morning,
Sunday, July 31, 2005, at 11:30am in Loretto Home at the Motherhouse in
Springfield, Illinois. He was very alert until his condition changed rapidly
around 11:15am. The friars were at his bedside when he passed.
George was a very generous and gentle man. In
his goodness he donated his body to the Illinois Anatomical Society.
Memorial Services will be held at a later
date in Quincy and Sherman, Illinois. Notification of services will be sent out
as soon as they have been arranged.
We will miss him.
May he rest in peace
The sympathy of the friars and their
solidarity in prayer and fraternity are conveyed to his brother and our
confrere
Jo Windolph OFM and to the whole Windolph Family.
(Condolences to Jo Windolph OFM at St. Peter's Friary, 110 West Madison Street,
Chicago IL 60602)
3 Aug 2005: Scott
Kuhle: Thanks Gael
for the notification re Agatho's death.
As a therapist,
I think that one of the most rewarding statements a client could make about me
would be something to the effect that I had helped them revel more fully in the
wonders of life - in counseling it usually has to do about self and
relationship. Agatho provided me a wonderful foundation for reveling in the
wonders of the macro/microcosmic world in which I live. I still spend a lot of time reading about
science, and – thanks to Agatho - understand much of it.
I hope that
he is now getting a better understanding of String Theory so that he can
explain it to me when I get to the Big Classroom!
Requiescat
In Pace
Peace and
Joy.
4 aug 2005: Jerry Etzkorn: The last time I visited Quincy where George
was stationed at the time, I learned that he had been going to the hospital
regularly to hug, cuddle and walk the babies who otherwise would be left alone
in their 'cribs'. It was just another 'facet' of George's amazing , charitable
and kindly
personality. I always considered it a
privilege to have been his colleague in West Park and Quincy.
4 aug 2005: Gael Stahl: That's our old
(then, young) prof Agatho. Best chemistry, genetics, cosmology,
reproduction, etc., prof I ever had in those subjects. A really natural, good
teacher. It was his charism, and I kept some of those mimeographed textbooks. I think Alan Wolter wrote them or most of them,
but Aggie/George sure could teach them.
4 aug 2005: Jack Brennan: A physician friend of mine borrowed Aggie's manuscript on
embryology from me and never returned it. He told me it was superior to the text he used in med school. A great teacher. Rest in peace, Brother Agatho.
4 aug 2005: marty hegarty: Dear John,
Though not a Friar, I have always enjoyed
Diaspora and news of this province. It always seemed to me that stories of
Teutopolis, Oak Brook etc. were universal to all seminary experience especially
the profs. Please change my e-mail to martyhegarty of sbcglobal.net
5 aug 2005: bob willford: Thanks for forwarding the obit. [George
(Agatho) Windolph] Remember the
Cosmology classes quite well.
8
aug 2005: bob link: Hi,
Gael and John.
I received your notice about Agatho's
death. What a shocker. Thanks for the info. His brother, Nestor, was in
my class at Westmont, and then we were together down in Brazil.
In 1960, when I was back home in Quincy on
vacation, I bummed a vacuum tube tester!!! (do you still remember those
things?) off of Aggie. He hated to part with it; it was one of those good
military issues, but he was a generous soul. God rest his soul.
We moved recently and also have a new e-mail
address. Here's the update: 2804 Wessex Dr., West Dundee, IL 60118,
(847)428-3053 blink8 of comcast.net
Thanks for including me. God bless you all.
9 aug 2005: Fr. Joe Zimmerman: Link to Fr. Joe’s moving funeral homily: http://www.diasporadigest.org/articles/George%20Windolph%20funeral.html
"Praised be You, my Lord, through our
Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape" (CtC 12).
Our fellow friar and faithful priest of
Sacred Heart Province Floribert Veverka OFM
passed away peacefully this afternoon,
Thursday, August 25, 2005, at 2:00pm
surrounded by the members of the Our Lady of
the Angels Friary in Springfield,
Illinois.
Floribert served the Church and the Order as
a parish priest in various places throughout the province.
The funeral services will take place on
Saturday, August 27, 2005 in the Villa West Chapel,
Sherman, Illinois. Morning Praise will begin at 9:00am. Visitation will continue
until the time of the Mass. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at
11:00am. Burial will take place on Monday, August 29, 2005, in the Friars' Plot
of Calvary Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.
May he rest in peace.
The sympathy of the friars and their
solidarity in prayer and fraternity are conveyed to the family and friends of
Floribert Veverka OFM.
2 Sep 2005: Gael Stahl: The accounts of the new provincial postulants and of the superb cranky Floribert Veverka whom I've only known from the distance (towards the end, that may have been almost everyone from the sound of it) is worth a look for those of you who don't check the newsletter regularly. Floribert is an example of what we can become if our sense independence is carried to its logical extreme after we're able to carry it out in our own lives. Kind of reminds me of one of the eremites in the desert in the early centuries, maybe Anthony?
[To
check out Around the Province (the newsletter to which Gael refers above): http://www.thefriars.org/atp/index.html then click on the Sept 1 issue.]
2 sep 2005: bob willford: Thanks for the copy of Around The
Province.
Floribert seems to have been a man of substantial contradictions (not unlike
most of us, I suppose). Maybe it's a
"guy" thing to want to always be the giver of help rather than the
receiver.
By the way, if you get the chance, could you
please change the email address you have for me to beepster of comcast.net
Thanks much, John, and take care.
Pax et bonum
2 sep 2005: chuck neuman (Hubert) Hi, Jack,
Thanks for including me on the ATP
mailing list. I never met Floribert, but I was sorry to learn
GK was gone. He was such a big part of St. Joe's.
2 sep 2005: john Hogan: Thank you for including me in your e-mailing your Provincial news... I am interested in hearing of my former confreres...I am retired in the Diocese of Gary, IN and am living in Michigan City, IN.... I am active in the area parishes and in leading pilgrimages to Europe and will be heading to the Holy Land in two weeks... Take care and God bless... Father John Hogan, formerly, Malcolm, ofm.
9 sep 2005: scott Kuhle: Hi!
It's interesting what can happen when events occur at the same time! This Wednesday Nathan and Rachel arrived at our house as refugees from New Orleans and we received notice from WSU that our account at the university was being closed because Mary Ann didn't register for classes this semester. So what is the connection? Nathan, a man of action, decided that it was time for Mary Ann and me to have Broadband internet service and so got us all taken care of by last night (Thursday). Wow, what a difference in downloading information - it's amazing to be in the 21st century.
I am going to take this opportunity of informing you of our e-mail address change to update you on Nathan and Rachel's experiences. Mary Ann and I have been following the events in New Orleans in the newspapers and on TV, but, needless to say, neither provide quite the same flavor of the effects of Katrina as do Nathan and Rachel's personal accounts. Listening to their stories certainly gives one a different perspective about many of the events pre and post Katrina. Nathan said that Chevron, his employer, has the most up-to-date and sophisticated system for gathering weather information because of their oil rigs in the Gulf. He said that early Friday afternoon, there was some concern about Katrina's potential in the gulf, but still little concern about it causing serious problems on land. Before he left work on Friday, their was a bit more concern, but still no urgency. They followed the progress of the storm during Saturday, and finally Saturday evening decided that they would evacuate their home, about 3 miles northwest of downtown, and packed pictures and important document. They and their 2 dogs left their home at 4:45 on Sunday morning; even at that early hour it took them 2 hours to get out of New Orleans, and then another 10 hours to reach Houston - generally a 6-7 hour drive.
Wednesday evening, our dog, Oona, grabbed Nathan's sandal, and Nathan said, "Give that back because it's the only thing I have to wear on my feet." He then added that everything that they now know that they have is packed in 4 suitcases. They still have no information about their home. They have seen a satellite picture of their house, and it is surrounded completely by water, but there is no way to determine from the picture how high the water was, or got. Nathan, of course, will be able to return to work in a week in a temporary office in the Chevron building in Houston, but Rachel knows almost nothing about her job at an elite private school located in the Garden District. She has received word on her school blogging site that the school escaped any flooding, but currently there are no plans to resume classes, possibly not until after Christmas, because all of the students have taken refuge throughout the south.
Both Nathan and Rachel say that they, and the evacuees they know, have received only the kindest and caring reception. Despite their uncertainty about what they will find when they return - as of yet they have no idea when that will be - they are not complaining about anything, and expressing a deeper awareness and appreciation for what is really important in life.
I hope that this finds you well and getting ready for a nice weekend.
Peace and Joy.
10 sep 2005: Benet Fonck: Dear Gael:
I write to you to express my gratitude
and appreciation for your support and comfort at the time of my Mother’s
death. So many people like you have
offered kind words, encouraging thoughts, and fervent prayers. Such solidarity and solace is so soothing
and strengthening. Thanks so much!
My family and I are so gratified
that we experience such love in family and friends and fellow Franciscans and
are grateful for all “the articulations of condolence, the demonstrations of
concern, and the manifestations of encouragement from all of you * Franciscan
friars, Sisters of St. Francis, Secular Franciscan, friends of the family, and
so many others * at the death of our dear mother,” as I stated in my general
note in the newsletter of our Franciscan Province.
It has been almost a month now
since Mother has passed. So often I
think of something or someone and say to myself, “I ought to tell that to
Mother”; and then I stop in my tracks.
She’s no longer there to communicate with!
Mother had been completely
bedridden from Valentines Day of 2003 to the day of her death, August 15, 2005,
the day we celebrate the passing of the Blessed Virgin Mary from earthly to
heavenly life. On that day two and a
half years ago she suffered another mini-stroke (TIA) and fell, crushing her
right foot. The foot was repaired with
surgery, but her bodily functioning was never the same after that. Her limbs (especially on the left side) were
severely weakened, though not paralyzed.
Any time she raised her head more than 45 degrees, she suffered a
seizure.
She had suffered more TIAs and
she endured bouts with pneumonia, but what finally took its fatal toll was an
infection that developed in a bunion on her right foot which, because he her
diabetes, never would quite heal.
In the end she could no longer
fight the infection and was in excruciating pain. On the 14th, my Dad’s birthday anniversary, she was admitted to
the hospital with a blood pressure of 60-over-40. On the 15th itself she deteriorated rather quickly. Finally * in the presence of two of her daughters,
Sue and Sister Rosemary, and one of her caregivers * she quietly and calmly
returned to the Lord, to her husband Arthur, to her parents Andrew and Mary
Ann, and to her older brother Joseph.
Before she died, she opened her
eyes wide and turned to the left, as if to say something to Sue. Then she just fell silent. Many of the hospital staff commented that
they had never seen so peaceful and gentle a death before.
In saying good-bye to a great
woman who was the icon of the mothering side of God and of the way to be a
mother to God, we cherish her memory, thank her for her witness, pray for her
eternal rest, and pledge to carry on her legacy. And we are given the hope and assistance to do all this from people
like you.
God give you peace!
12 sep 2005: gael stahl: Bros, I want you to know that Benet, the
provincial newsletter of the weekly e-pub (he does a good job) appreciated the
kind words of old companions.
I really appreciated these
details of his mother's death. And his experience of them. We've mostly all been thru it. It's a hell of
a note not to be able to pick up the phone and communicate. So, let's keep in practice.
16 Sep 2005: Dennis Newman: Dear
Gael,
I always wondered why I hadn't
gotten any e-copies of the Diaspora.
Today I think I may have discovered the answer. While trying to verify
an old classmate's address on Google, I stumbled across THE FRIARS website. There I think I may have
been successful at updating my info on that list. But just in case...
Kathy and I moved in fall of 2003
from our home of 25 years in Bridgeview, where we raised our 4 children, out to
rural Minooka, SW of Joliet. We're more or less empty-nesters, with our
youngest daughter still living with us--for a while, anyway--and our youngest
son overnighting from time to time. I'm still working as Dir. of Music at St.
Fabian's, loving what I do (except for the 80-mile round-trip commute!). This
summer Kath and I were out to see some dear friends, classmates John (&
Sandy) Miller (at whose home in Crete IL we'd met you) and Jim
"Hank" & Leanne Pfeifer, both now in Montana. I assume you've
got their updated info too (Hank just moved a few months ago).
Here's ours: Dennis &
Kathleen Newman (simple vows, 1967), 809 Rivers Edge Dr, Minooka IL 60447-4600;
(815) 521-0696. Email:lifesong of sbcglobal.net.
Hope all is well--and thanks for
updating our listing. I look forward to where- and whenever a new Diaspora
Digest might be on its way!
18 Sep 2005: Marty Hegarty: [The last WEORC issue referred to
”cafeteria” Jews or Christians or something and I wrote their general eddress
and got this from their retired editor, Marty. GS] Dear Gael,
I have missed the Diaspora. I am
Emeritus with WEORC and receive some of their communications. Someone of them
may answer but I thought I would tell you what I think it means. Some of the
hierarchs including our Cardinal George have used the pejorative term
"Cafeteria Catholics" meaning you choose what you want from the
Catholic Church. This was an ironic term for Jesus indicating he did not follow
all the prescriptions and proscriptions of his contemporaneous Jewish leaders.
I think modern religious scholars would say there were many forms of
"Jewness" and that early followers of Jesus were "Christian
Jews." Anyway, that's my opinion.
19 Sep 2005: Marty Hegarty: Dear
Gael,
I will look forward to Electronic
Diaspora. Do you remember a guy from
the seminary by the name of Jim Roetheli. He was not ordained but he
still has fond memories of the Franciscans. He goes to Mass with us on Sunday
and introduced himself by saying he saw my name in Diaspora. He lives a very
simple life and does not have much money but he seems to embody the true spirit
of Francis. If and when you come up with an electronic issue, I will share mine
with him.
19 Sep 2005: Gael Stahl: to Marty Hegarty I don't know Jim, but he's well liked
by our guys. I bet he's the same one.
And thanks for WEORC tradition.
You've done well there keeping the Chi family together.
20 sep 2005: Cullan uhlinger: Was Sorry to hear that Br
Loyola died suddenly. Ralph Zetzle just called me and said they
buried Loyola today. He served the funeral Mass for my Mom in January.
RIP, Loyola - many
will miss you. Peace.
20 sep 2005: Scott (Scotus) Kuhle:
Thanks, Cullan,
for the notification regarding Loyola. Such a good person; one of
my regrets is that I didn't get to know Loyola better because we were forbidden
to talk much less visit. How harsh and how awful we treated our brothers.
Looking at Loyola's picture and stats in the Catalogus, I see that he is 6 days
younger than I. I knew that we had common Chicago roots, but were
never allowed to talk about, or share, them during all those years at St. Joes,
T-town and Cleveland; before coming to St Joe's, I used to go to the Southside
so would have had experiences to share with Loyola. I used to attend the
Sunday evening service in the huge assembly church where Mahilia Jackson
sang. What an exciting, incredulous ex