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Editor: Gael Stahl Submit articles and
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UPDATES
WANTED:
Can anyone help us locate the
follow whose letters were returned by USPD? Bruce Orey, Larry Johnson, Rev.
John Bolderson, Herb Wheatley, Ed Dean, Warren Kmiec?
For your information the
letter of Rich Yeager was returned – new address is 51 Rockcastle St.
Apt N, Corbin KY 40701-8618. Jerry Voss now at: Voss Painting, 15212 E 89th
St N, Owasso OK 74055-8495. - GAEL
STAHL
25 Nov 2005 thomas lenz:
Gael: I'm at TLenz41 ofaol.com.
I'm now in Spring Hill, Fl., a snowbird, still a landlord, but in Florida, you
buy for appreciation and not the rent as in Buffalo. Had my first
grandchild six months ago. I am
divorced, annulled, re-married and taking life easy.
4 Dec 2005 James Schmitt: (Muskie):
Gael- Have you read the new book
on St. Francis by Ed Hayes?- I think it is great- Hope all is well and
that Advent and Christmas touch your life deeply.
10
DEC 2005 GAEL STAHL:
On this eve of a Sunday in
Advent, I greet ye Fringe friars! Like many of you, I find it hard to pass up a
new bio of Francis. There's a new one most every year, it seems.
In
this season, I refer to brother Francis a lot for adding to the
celebration of Christmas in church with Christ's Mass and visualizing it
with nativity scenes and maybe a bit of noel and drama. He made Christmas a
special kind of winter feast.
Now
our culture celebrates the less savory aspects of a great pagan feast and a
great Christian feast and we've kind of lost the core Christian aspects of
caroling the shut ins and taking food boxes to the poor in our communities, and
those other things we learned and practiced back when we were together as joy
loving Christians.
Nor
do we any longer have the great Yule logs and bon fires and mead jousting and
singing and dancing in merriment under the mistletoe of the joy loving pagans.
But
every season under heaven has its transformations
Peace
be with you at this special time.
12 Dec 2005 jack Brennan:
Wow, we've arrived. Frank Delaney
(my friend and computer consultant) has set us up for the magical world of the
Internet
Zeke, when you started this did you envision this?
Perhaps you did.
Jack Hardesty, thanks so much for your grand and generous work. I love the format you created and
hope we can just
keep it that way with a few changes.
15 Dec 2005 gael stahl:
OK! I've just read all of it and am bowled over.
No, I didn't envision this when I wrote to a dozen classmates at
Christmas 1981 or 82, got replies, circulated them, heard
from some other school mates who wanted to join, and pretty soon it was a couple hundred
and growing. It was bit by bit.
Now, this is it!!!
And for hundreds of dollars less. I'm not sure yet about if it's
more or less, but I think gobs less.
St. Clare, patron of telecommunications, hover over these fringe
friars and followers of the Poverello. I'm beginning to
wonder if Francis wasn't really Irish
given his brothers with names like Delaney, Brennan,
Hardesty (sounds Irish to me),
and an adopted Celt, Gael.
… [Re the blog pages]
I would think, to keep it focused on fraternal Franciscan
family feelings, not feuds and fisticuffs and
argumentative outpourings…
What a great thing you've accomplished out west. Jack H in the Midwest and Zeke in the south started slow but
sure and now you take it to fullness.
I praise Frank Delaney, Francis, Clare, Jack and
Jack and toast and salute and praise y'all along
with Bro Sun, Sis Moon, Water,
Fire, Earth, Death, and all brothers and sisters of the minor
order and lower classes.
To health and hearty efforts.
Thank you all, Good night, God by you.
I sleep on a pillow of joy - and in awe of Frank's
talent and energy and dedication, Jack H's
generosity and web mastery, and Jack B's ability
to harness the energies and vitality of Irishmen everywhere.
Now, sweet brother Brennan, the heavy lifting begins.
I'll help you and stand by you
with every fiber of my Teutonic being.
15 DEC 2005 GAEL STAHL:
I've gone to the web site here at the office. Hallelujah. I'm going to
the library and get
Handel's Messiah and listen to the Christmas section.
Forward and onward.
When did they change the feast of St. John of the Cross to Dec.15? I was looking at my Sunday missal, an old one,
obviously, and they still have it back when it used to be.
Mooney and I talked on the phone
and he said he'd been to the Carmelite
sisters for John's feast on
Wednesday. He said I was unaware of some liturgical saints' days'
adjustments. Mike's been reading John of the
Cross. I told him it would make him as
neurotic as the
mystic saint. Stick to Teresa of Avila.
But he really gets off on John, something like
that the poetry of Whitman does to him. [What
about Thomas A Kempis? JB]
Again,
You deserve Incarnation renewal this month, all of you!
May the rod of Jesse be yours to carry on.
16 DEC 2005 JACK BRENNAN:
If you are counting on Mooney and me to help
you with the feast day calendar, you are in trouble.
Frank Delaney already has links to the blogging forum
and photo connections up and running with some photo samples from my
birthday. I signed up and found it quite easy and quick to register. I found
it a bit tricky to navigate the blog pages, but I am working on fixing them.
Check it out and register Register
for DD blog site If you have some
suggestions or ideas, let me know.
30 Dec 2005: Cullan Uhlinger:
Jack, I can't begin to thank you and Gael as well as Br. Jack for your time and effort to keep so many of us "connected." PEACE and LOVE to all in this NEW YEAR 31 Dec 2005: Dan & Sharon Tanna:
Jack, I am right there with Cullan too! Ad multos kudos to you, Gael, and Br. Jack! The past 30 just would not have been thesame without the Digest. Muchas gracias, Amigos!!! Of course we remember our gracious confrere, Br. Jack Hardesty, who along with Br. Sebastian made us (class of '60)feel like we were dining at the Ritz frequently. Elric Sampson's dandelion wine rattles a few memories too. Looking forward to the new site! It's great news to end 05 and launch 06. P.S. Has anybody seen Danny Dolesh? Konrath and I are looking for him. Pax, Guys! 31 Dec 2005: Cullan Uhlinger:
The Cleveland Phone book lists a Dan Dolesh at 14804 Triskett Rd (216-571-9319) - that's "around the corner" fromOLA. It's a little early to call and confirm right now, but I'll call a little later and then let you know - will try for an email address too. Peace
Late December:
CHAS &
MARGIE CANTLON of Montana sent their
annual six-page Christmas newsletter with many photos and reports. Very newsy,
mostly of family and their Sun Meadow Resort for nudists. Not much fringe friar
news, but always a welcome event when it arrives.
ROBERT
PAHLER’s Christmas newsletter from Cuyahoga Falls OH. He’s a classmate of Jerry
Etzkorn who told Gael of their class reunion to take place in St. Louis
this year. They’d like to know who all in St. Louis would like to join them
including my era’s school mates Chris Reuter, John Behl, Jack Christensen,
Richard Mayer, Jerry Krull, Carroll Mizicko, Ferd Cheri, et al.
01 jan 2006 Paul Stubenbort:
Everything is coming through loud and clear now,
Jack. Thanks for all the work you guys
are doing. Very much appreciated.
01 jan 2006 John (Malcom)
Hogan:
Hello, Gael...I was happy to receive the Diaspora
Digest on e‑mail.... I have moved here back to my diocese in Michigan
City, IN on July 1, 2003...My new address is 318 Garden Trail, Michigan City,.
IN 46360...You have my correct e‑mail address...Fr. John Hogan, aka Fr.
Malcolm...Do you have Miro Wiese's address? He is in West Branch, MI
02 jan 2006 Dan Tanna:
Jack, I am so excited about the great work you guys
are doing for the Diaspora! You are taking it to the next level for all of us!
Just can't put it in words; guess I'll have to compare it to one of my favorite
movies. But I am saving that for the next heart‑to‑heart we have
when Sharon (that would be my Mrs.) and I come to Spokane to visit. Just don't
know when that will be right now. Wanted to surprise you for your 70th ‑
even ran it by Langan (Paul lives just south of San Francisco in the
area of Half Moon Bay) thinking it may be a possible thing to do. Not in the
cards this time. I did hear from the grape vine that you got wind of the
surprise from one of your buddies but that you showed our good upbringing and
express surprise nevertheless. Great, Jack!
Hey, I think we may have found Danny Dolesh.
Or, it is just a matter of time before we do. Cullan had a lead that he
shared with me via the email and provided a phone number. (That website is
going to be so cool!) I talked to Ray Konrath over the holidays. he said
he got a call from Danny from Florida a couple of months ago. Dan has just
finished building a house in the Fort Myers area of Florida. I think Ray did
say he was back in Cleveland. Not sure what he is doing to pay the bills. He
lived here in DC in the late 70's. We would get together occasionally. The last
time we were together was at Jack and Cheryl Bartz's house in 2000.
Sorry you were not there. Jerry Klein was along with a couple of others
from your class.
Jack, so much to catch up and so little time this
evening. Got to hum the Ultima and hit the sack! Tomorrow is the first day back
on the job after a great couple of days off. I try to get a swim in at the Y here
in Reston before going to work. I am
the facility manager at the American Red Cross headquarters' building in DC.
Jack, nothing but the best to you and your family ‑
have a great NEW YEAR!
03 jan 2006 Dan & Sharon Tanna:
Cullan, (oops! I almost typed "Jack." Now that is going way back, isn't it?) thanks for the lead on Danny. I'll be giving it a tryfrom this end too. I talked to Ray the other day. Apparently Dan has resurfaced. Ray said he is back in Cleveland. He livedhere in the DC area for several years back into he late 70's. The last time we were together was at Jack and Cheryl Bartz'shouse back in 2000? You and Lannie were there! Talking about you and Lannie.... How about those Redskins!?!?! Don't you have a family tie to our life& fire breathing offensive line coach, Joe Bugel? Pardon me if I am a bit off the mark. I just remember your comment during one of our gatherings in the late 80's that one of the coaches on Joe Gibbs' Superbowl winning teams had a tie to Lannie's side of the family. If it is not Joe B., then it must be the other guy. Anyway, Joe is featured with George Michaels every Monday afternoon on the local NBC affiliate. Cullan - hoping the best New Year ever for you and your family. Pax et Bonum. P.S. Talking about the ancient old days.... Do you remember the summer of '54 when you, Kurt Hartrich, and (I think)Willie Williams visited Glen Phillips and Jim Hoffman in Quincy?
03 Jan 2006 Cullan Uhlinger: You have a great memory, Dan. Joe B is the brother of one of Lannie's brother's partners in a business in Pittsburgh. Actuallythey are both retired now as is Joe Bugel who is now living in Phoenix - didn't realize he was doing some T.V. work. I gaveyou the wrong number for Dan - it is 216-671-9319 - not 571. I did call the number later on Sat before we left for an overnight New Year's Eve celebration. I got an answering machine that said "Dan's not here; leave a msg." It sounded like ayounger voice. I just called again and got the same msg. It's hard to believe I'm starting my third year of retirement, but am loving every minute of it - time is going faster now than when I worked. Will keep in touch.
Peace.
03 jan 2006 joe Zimmerman:
I have been meaning to send you a copy of my homily
for George Windolph's funeral. [Click
on the blue to see it.] Funeral
eulogy for George Windolph
I'm glad to hear DD is getting back in business. I
must confess, though, that after you went electronic, it seemed that the
document got so long that I never got around to
starting to read it. [After this issue, DD37, we hope to post monthly so
that the content will be in smaller bytes and easier
to digest. JB. (Puns intended.)]
Blessings and peace!
03 jan 2006 Janice Flach:
Thanks for sending the web site. Needless to say I did look at it. I didn’t know that you guys were older than
Denis and I.
Guess it was because we were married and had children
and I assumed you were younger.
We lost Denis to a heart attack in April. He would have been 69 in May. It was really a shock for all of us. Christmas was
really hard on everyone as he loved watching the
grandkids open presents. Can you
imagine what it’s like here with 18
grandkids and all of us opening gifts? What fun it
was.
Take care.
03 jan 2006: Dan Tanna: Cullan, bingo! Made contact with Danny Dolesh. Got a lengthy email from him this evening. This new website is going to be great for staying in touch with each other. He is doing well and living in Cleveland with one of his sons. Thanks for your help in making it happen. This new Diaspora website is going to be great. I can't tell you how many time Konrath and I wondered if we were ever going to find him. Thank you again, Jack, again for putting it out there. But now an update of Joe Bugel for you and Lannie. Joe came out of retirement last year to help our local Redskin franchise. Joe Gibbs brought him back with him when he returned last year to take the reins and lead this lobbyist-laden lair of a town called DC back to a Super Bowl. If Fox News does the right thing this weekend, you'll see Joe B. on the sideline peppering these giant linemen with his enthusiasm. George Michaels of Sports Machine on Sunday nights is also the local sports guy for NBC 4. George has Joe on his 6 o'clock show every Monday afternoon. Joe is fiery! I can see why Gibbs and he work so well together. Tune into that Saturday afternoon playoff game in Tampa and you'll see Joe B in action. It just took the two JOES two years to get the hapless Skins back into the playoffs.
04 Jan 2006: Jack Brennan: (To Dan Tanna)
This is what I have from Zeke's address book on the
web site. The DD address book Bloss, Charlie & Irving (Marvin-
1961);
612-823-8715, w-337-4432; 4104 Harriet Ave. South; Minneapolis, MN 55409.
If you discover he has email, let's get him in touch.
Does Ray have email? Tell him Hans Brennan from the
gangways of Chicago wants to know. (Have him explain what a
gangway is; only Chicagoans and honorary Chicagoans know.)
04 Jan 2006: Dan Tanna:
Jack, thanks a bunch! I am forwarding to Dan D.
too! Dan, Jerry Krull and I have been on Konrath to get a
computer for
many years now. This nudge won't hurt but it probably won't
change his mind - yet. We are going for the cumulative effect,
Jack! I am mailing him the hard copy in hopes of
cultivating embarrassment and shame, and to let him know Hans Brennan
from the gangways (?) wants to know. You'd think
someone who has devoted their life's career to forming young minds (Ray
has been a high school teacher forever) would be
excited about the information age. Dan has suggested we descend on
Chicago and take him to BEST BUY, or COSTCO or
something.
Thanks, Guys, gotta get back to Red Cross stuff.
04 jan 2006: Janice flach:
Denis and I were married 47
years. Lots of good times and of course the rough times too… We
both loved to travel. We
got to drive to Alaska in
’99, which was something we both wanted very much. Was great but just
wish we had stayed
longer, but had to get home
to the farm!
I have 18 living grand
children. Glenda lost her first baby - our first grandchild. Had
heart problems and had surgery in
Chicago and died there at 3
months. Yes, the kids do keep me busy or at least try. I made one
trip to Texas last Sept. by
myself as I just had to get
away for a while. Went to see Fr. Lambert, of course and on to
Ranger, TX to see a lady I
worked with and lived with
when I lived in Texas. She lost her husband on March 22nd ,
’05 so was nice for both of us.
Then I’m going back next
week to stay at St. Francis Village and a high school girl friend is going with
me this time. We will
stay about a week.
Denis and I went there every year for at least a week or two then on to south
Texas.
05
jan 2006: gael stahl via benet fonck:
AROUND THE PROVINCE JAN. 1, 2006 * WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
OF THE PROVINCE OF THE SACRED HEART CONGRATULATIONS TO Friars celebrating their various Jubilees.
[Click here:]
http://thefriars.org/atp/ATP-060105.pdf
Talk about time flying! Look who's got 60 years as a
priest. Some of our teachers (I had Jovian Lang and Val
Messerich)
of my era before and after. And those guys with 50 years as a friar have just
three years on our class.
I saw High Society the other day. I know Jovian brought Sugar Ray Robinson out to the seminary that year and he had some connection to Grace Kelly but I can't remember what. Does anyone have his email address? Or phone? 05 Jan 2006 Cullan Uhlinger:
Last year's Provincial Directory listed Jovian in Crowley, TX - phone: 817-370-1914: email: jplang of sbcglobal.net. I can still remember him bringing Sugar Ray to the sem - in a white Caddy limo (with a blonde) if I recall correctly. PEACE
05 Jan 2006 Gael Stahl:
What a memory! I wrote an article in the Gleaner about it. Blane was faculty mentor. When he saw the article I wrote with a little help from Jovian to spice up the lead, and he saw how I could use prose so poetically, he began to believe I could write. Good break. Wish I'd exploited it more back then.
05 jan 2006 Dan Tanna:
Cullan, I remember Jovian bringing Sugar Ray to
St. Joe's too! I even think I can recall the big limo rolling up the loop to
the
front door. But I am surprised I don't remember the
blond. Custos oculorum you think?
06 jan 2006: phil pavich:
Happy New Year. Just read your email and this info may
answer your question.
The one who can answer all questions is the Guardian Kevin
Lenihan, the one in charge of all the retired friars in the
Springfield IL area. He is most cordial and helpful.
Glad to see DD on line.
Pax et bonum
Fr. Jovian Lang OFM Room #96
Our Lady of Angels Friary Villa West
100 Stardust Drive
Sherman IL 62684-9763
pvt 217.492.5153;
jplang of sbcglobal.net
central 217-744-9891
Nurse's station 1-800-244-4444
Fr. Zachary Hayes OFM #77
pvt 217.523.4377;
zachctu of wmconnect.com [don't know if this CTU add is still valid]
Our Lady of Angels Friary at Greccio
P.O. Box 2153
Springfield IL 62705-2153
Friary tel 217-522-9822
Kevin Lenihan Guardian, Cell phone 314-406-0094
ext 306 [his office] or ext 309 room
Earl Benz
Elstan Coghill
Barnabas Diekemper
David Eckelkamp
Michael Ewert
Sylvano Pera, Vicar
Daniel Piasecki
Aloysius Quinn
Terence Santiapillai
Andre Schludecker
John Sullivan
06 Jan 2006 Jerry Etzkorn:
Linda and I visited the friars at the Sherman, IL nursing facility: Allan Wolter, Zach Hayes, Vic Kingery et al. last year but we didn't touch base with Jovian. He was once Linda's teacher in Quincy as I recall. Threw my artificial left hip out of its socket twice Nov. 14 & Jan. 2. The third time is definitely not a charm. All the best.
06 Jan 2006: Gael Stahl:
Thanks for the news, Jerry. I'm glad you made all
those connections with the gang. Really tough news about the hip. You're a
trooper to keep bouncing back from that.
I was thinking the other day it's time to speak up about you as a philosophy prof. You were the best of the lot by far in that you didn't just tell us or have us read about the philosophers. You had us reading selections from them. I'll never forget that Hegel piece. I've learned all my philosophy since leaving school because of that grounding. I've read them all a lot and can't believe we got a degree without doing it back then. Thanks for making such a difference. Best to you and Linda. I mean to get back up there, and hope you'll visit us in our brand new house. Let's do it before they ship us up to Sherman!
06
jan 2006 Dan Mazar:
As far as I know, Jovian
is now living at Sherman, Ill. His email should be in the provincial
directory. Valerius Messerich
is also at Sherman, but not
doing well.
Here, on the frozen tundra,
we wait for Spring training. The days are getting longer. Checked the
website for the Diaspora
Digest. A good
idea. Will you also include the address list on the site? [But, of
course. It may need updating; check out
your demographics. JB]
Go Sox!
Pax.
07 Jan 2006 Alice Arnold:
My Dad (Robert Bobber) retired from the company that he was with so that is no longer his e-mail address. My parents aren't on the computer that much and don't know if their e-mail is still current but I will definitely pass on the message to my Dad to let him know. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a blessed New Year. Not that this affects your website but I have been married since last I received an e-mail from you so my new last name is Arnold. Take care and thank you for updating my Dad. If you would like to send the website to me then I can pass it onto my Dad and he can check it out when he gets on the computer. 07 Jan 2006 Gael Stahl:
Wonderful, Alice. I figured as much. And congratulations on your marriage. I'll kiss the bride at the first opportunity. Our webmeister Jack Brennan will be sending you and The Bobber the announcement of our new website and the address to see what's going on. I hope you'll both enjoy it, especially him, since he'll recognize a lot of folks in it.
Hey, hope you are well and flourishing. Wish we could have a big reunion with the 'gang'. Linda & I are happily retired in Fairfield Glade, TN on the Cumberland Plateau, the country 'God didn't forget'! Pax et bonum!
Great hearing from you, Jerry! The Cumberland Plateau sounds awesome and a great place to meet for the reunion. You are right, we need to be looking forward into the next couple of years for meeting some place. Linda, have you been back to our hometown for a maid-rite recently? Sharon is hooked on them and "pleads" occasionallythat we plan a trip back to Quincy just to "pig out" on maid-rites. Maybe a spur of the moment thing in 06. (For non-natives who were always told Quincy was a cemetery with lights, the Maid-rite made up for everything! Right, Linda?!?! ) Thank you, Fr. Jerome Baum – RIP. [Better do some ‘splainin’ on this one, Dan. Really esoteric! JB] I am still on the job at the American Red Cross Headquarters' building as their facility manager. EMCOR, my employer, has had the contract for the past three years and expecting another three year renewal soon. Take care, Guys! Great hearing from you. Just a great job Gael and Jack, and Br. Jack Hardesty have been doing "keeping the skids greased" so we all can keep in touch. Jerry, wasn't that an expression you brought back to us from Louvain? And I didn't forget the story of the airline stews using you to smuggle something off the plane when you were returning States-side. You freaked them out with your Marlon Brando features and roman collar, as I remember the story. I just don't remember the details. Another reason for a reunion. (Linda, I may not have been exact in my recall of the facts as originally presented.) Pax et Bonum P.S. GO Redskins!
10 jan 2006 gael stahl:
I saw Al Merz at the
Oct. 3 Transitus several years ago. He said he was distracted while he printed
out the electronic
version that year and didn't
realize till later it was something like 65 pages! I might read all of 10 pages. I'd barely scan 60
and probably read less. So
short is more.
This new system will save me
lots of money and a whole lot of time. I used to get occasional donations from
grateful fringe
friars. Maybe you will too.
I'm glad you haven't let finance consideration stop your drive to progress.
Act. As with Francis, the funds will come.
I'm the most grateful one in
the diaspora.
Happy New Year to all! I am very glad that I can begin the New Year with this connection to Diaspora Digest and a wonderful part of my past life. I have been retired from the corporate world for seven years, and now working with seven different organizations doing volunteer projects. I am also teaching part-time at Xavier University in the MBA program, and I have to get over there soon. I will try to bring you up to date on my past 40 years in another note very soon. However, I can say that I worked my way up to V.P. level in GE and was also a V.P. for Canadian Pacific Rail before I finally decided to drop out of that world. I have been married for almost 39 years (August), and have three children and four grandchildren with another on the way for late spring. Take good care and I hope to keep in touch.
10 jan 2006 jack brennan: Hey, Alex!!! What a great surprise! Good to hear from you and your thumbnail sketch. Please do keep in touch. Now I feel better about the corporate world knowing that you were there. I bet Tanna will go ape to hear from you, so I am forwarding your note to him and Zeke. Pax
LEX!!!! Que Passo, Amigo!?!?!? Great hearing from you and happy belated birthday. January 2nd right? "Now how in the hell did Tanna remember that," you are exclaiming to yourself. Just good genes, Alex! Actually, Konrath and I talked New Years Eve (he doesn't have a computer) and he said he was going to call you on your birthday. We gotta get that guy into the electronic age. Please join Dan Dolesh and me trying to figure out how to accomplish this. Will be in touch with details later as this is a school night, Alex, and it's time for me to hit the sack.
10 JAN 2006 Gael Stahl:
I didn't know Clarence Sampson was over in Dayton. I think that's home to Xavier University. Their basketball team has
long been as formidable as Gonzaga's is now, and it was in the 1950s when Eddie somebody, short fantastic guard, and his
brother
captured my enthusiasms.
10 jan 2006 jack Brennan:
Remember that the friars
bought St. Xavier girls' HS from the Mercy Nuns and built Hales on the
site.
If you are following college basketball, tip your hat to Spokane's Gonzaga U.
Bulldogs. Adam Morrison is considered one
of the top three players in
the country and is only a junior. John Stockton (retired from the Jazz) was
Gonzaga's all-time
scorer. Monday night
Morrison scored 34 points in sixth-ranked Gonzaga's 81-68 victory, surpassing
Stockton's record.
10
jan 2006 Bob Rensel:
Please add my name to the
email roster. bobrensel of yahoo.com Even though most of the information relates to
classes prior
to mine (80/81 novitiate), I
enjoy reading the updates. Thanks.
10 jan 2006 tony lutz: My e-mail address is tony01312000 of yahoo.com. Right now I'm reading "Eurabia" by Bat Ye'or. It's on the real threat of Islam. Then there is the beautiful book, "John Paul the Great: Remembering a Spiritual Father," by Peggy Noonan. His inspiration helped her to go from a lax to a fervent Catholic. In her book Noonan quotes St. Teresa of Avila about this life: "A bad night in a bad inn." And Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, said: "None Get to God but through trouble." May all of you get over the hurdles of life with a little help from Our Heavenly Father!
Well, I'll be!!!!! Tony, I never thought you'd be online. What a treat. If that date of Jan 31 03 in your eddress is when you signed up, where in the heck have you been? ;-) Now, if I hear from Joe Smith, who said his kids were helping him get online years ago, my joy will be complete. Hope you're still the old curmudgeon and proud of it. I know I still am. Needing all the help I can get over the hurdles of life,
11 JAN 2006 Phil Casey: 4935 W. Oklahoma Av #6, Milwaukee WI 53219-4656:
Dear Gael and all. Thanks for paper copy of e-mail of
Jack Brennan. First, may I be added to the Diaspora roster again (as I
was not on a list I saw once)? Thanks. My OFM name
from 1951 to 1955 was Cullan, Ok. This was the JJ and Dismas
class etc. A big class and also the class behind us.
Many left.
I do not have e-mail. I do not know how my local library
would print out for me the Diaspora newsletter as they come out.
OK.
So I do request the issue of Diaspora #35 and #36 on
paper if possible. Is there any charge etc?
Does anyone hear from Wayne Foust (Nivard in the
Order) who married and lived in Mexico? How can I reach him?
Also somewhere I think I had learned Fr. Zachary
studied with our new Pope. [That’s what Jerry ‘Ferdinand’ Etzkorn
told Gael over
the weekend. Zach studied with Ratzinger at Bonn and Germain Schwab
studied under Karl Rahner
at Freiburg – or was it Innsbruck? GS.] Could Fr. Zachary write a good piece for
Diaspora about his studies with the
then Cardinal?
I think all of us would really enjoy his memoir of the time in Rome and
his studies there, etc. etc. Thank Fr.
Zachary for
doing this for me and others of the ex-OFM gang!
I recall ‘fraternal brothers’ who were at Mayslake in
the late 40s like Fousts, Schmiegs, Kemmers, et al. And one
Windolph was
there also, and he had other older brothers as OFM priests. Are they still in
the active life of the order etc? [I
think some are. Raphael left, Mike taught
me Latin, Agatho (George) taught me chemistry but died last year, Job
was in Brazil. – Gael]
Do any other OFM provinces have similar Diaspora publishing?
[We haven’t heard of any.] Or also other orders like
Jesuits, Capuchins, Conventuals, TOR priests, etc.?
How could I learn about them? Maybe Trappists also, etc.? [We don’t
know, Phil.]
I ask for prayers for I have a bladder stone and diverticula
in the bladder also. I have put off surgery and pray I get relief
another way besides full surgery. I wear a device for
urine relief and it gets ‘old’ as a way of life. Thanks.
Thanks for paper issue of Diaspora #35 and #36 and
advice on future ones. Prayer for all and peace to the world soon. I
hope the Supreme Court hearings are not a joke. The
world is kinda crazy at times. Thanks loads.
11
jan 2006 dennis newman:
Dear
Editors,
So glad I emailed Gael awhile back. A recent email
gave me this new Diaspora Digest website (congrats!), where I noticed I
was indeed on the email-roster--but the email-address
listed for me was out of date.
Here's the new one: lifesong of sbcglobal.net
I'm Novitiate class of '66-'67 (same as Frank Coens
OFM, + lots of ex's: Jim Ballard, Jim (Hank) Pfeifer, etc.).
Thanks for updating my info!
12 jan 2006 dan tanna:
Paul, are you getting these from Jack and Gael? Hey, thanks to the hard work of the Diasporati (Jack, Gael, and Bro. Jack Hardesty) I made contact with Alex Sampson. He emailed me this afternoon. We've got a call lined up for Sunday
evening (after the Bear's game) to catch up. His email address is cpsam of one.net. He'd love to hear from you. He is living in Cincinnati, married 39 years, and been very successful in the corporate world. More details to follow. Konrath calls him on his birthday. We've got to get Konrath on email. Jack and Gael, please add Paul to your address book. Paul.langan of yahoo.com Thanks
12 JAN 06
STEPHEN S. YONICK:
Thanks for the update letter. I haven’t heard anything
for a long time.
I am totally computer illiterate, so I still rely on
almost extinct methods of information acquisition. When I was teaching, I used
to pretend I was an alien from a distant star-system
with the responsibility as a researcher to gather info on religions of earth-
beings. On my “name-planet” we had no need or reliance
on machines for info-data. We simply did it “our way” without
glitches or insecurity.
Here, I have no access to e-mail/Internet, of which
I ‘know’ nothing. Hence, I could use
copies. Enclosed is a check,
hopefully to cover the cost. [Indeed it does, and
thank you. GS.] Sincerely, Dr. Stephen S. Yonick, 5750 N. Sheridan Rd
#102, Chicago IL 60660
12
jan 2006 Carroll Mizicko:
Happy New Year! This
new year promises to bring about some major changes in my life. On January
8, 2006 at a Mass at St. Regis Church in East St. Louis, Bishop Braxton
announced his decision with regard to the four current parishes in this
community. A letter containing the same information was read at the other
three parishes.
The Bishop has decided to
suppress (close) all four parishes, namely St. Joseph, St. Patrick, St. Philip
and St. Regis, and to establish a new parish to be named after St. Augustine of
Hippo, the great African Saint and Doctor of the Church. The new parish
will be located at the St. Joseph site. The effective date for the
closure of the four parishes and the erection of the new one is March 5, 2006
the first Sunday of Lent. The Bishop has appointed me the first pastor
for the new parish.
That announcement certainly
brings some changes into my life. I have already begun a series of
meetings with various committees to plan a smooth transition from the four
parishes to the new parish. There is not a lot of time between now and
the 5th of March to do all that needs to be done and to make some
difficult decisions. The jobs of all existing staff at the four parishes
will cease at the end of February. I have the difficult task of hiring
the staff for the new parish and since there will be only a few paid positions,
some people are going to be without a job.
The people, generally, are
taking it well. All are sad and grieving because it is never easy to have
the church closed where you and your family worshipped for years. Most
understand the reason for the decision but it still hurts. Part of my
challenge as the new pastor will be to bring some healing to the people as I
stand with them in their pain. We have no idea how many will decide to be
a part of the new parish. There are about three hundred families total
between the four parishes. Probably at least fifty percent of those do
not actually live in East St. Louis but come here to worship on Sunday from
surrounding communities. With the closing of their ‘family’ church I
suspect many will opt to go to another Catholic Church closer to them. We
will begin having those who plan to be a part of the new parish fill out a
census form so that by the end of February we will have an idea of the size of
the new parish congregation.
No decision has been made
with regard to the property and buildings at the three locations that will no
longer be parishes. However, other Catholic agencies are using at least
part of the buildings at two of those locations so we will not have a lot of
vacant property on our hands.
Being a full time pastor
will have an effect on my ministry at St. Elizabeth Hospital. I have
already informed the hospital that as of March 1st I will not be
able to serve on Wednesdays and Saturdays as I have in the past. Once I
see how things work at the new parish I may be able to give them some help as
chaplain. I will still serve as ‘on-call’ chaplain a couple of nights a
week. My other involvements with Sister Thea Bowman School, the
Interfaith Partnership and Catholic Urban Programs will continue.
However, my helping out on weekends at other parishes around the Diocese will,
naturally, change.
I did manage to get away for
a couple of days between Christmas and New Years. I drove to Monroe,
Louisiana to attend the 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration of Tom
and Barbara Mercy from Little Flower Church. It was great seeing a lot of
my Little Flower family and visiting with Friars Roch Pfeifer and Adrian
Fischer. Unfortunately my time was very short as I left on Thursday
morning and came back on Saturday in order to cover weekend commitments.
In other news, Fr. Ferd
continues his marvelous work with the youth at Althoff High School. He
and his Gospel Choir from the school will sing at a Franciscan day to be held at
St. Anthony’s in St. Louis on January 28. Fr. Ferd also completed a
monumental task over the Christmas holidays. He completed cleaning
all of the over 3,000 Gospel Music CDs from his collection that were damaged in
the flooding in New Orleans. Each CD had to be hand cleaned and placed in
a new CD case. I don’t how many hours it took him and his helpers to
complete the task. I do know that he is very grateful it is done.
The rest of the collection, the records, cassette tapes, sheet music, recording
equipment, computer and data were all lost. Insurance should cover the
replacement of most of the collection.
Fr. Chris continues his prison
ministry and is doing some really wonderful work with our incarcerated brothers
and sisters. When ou add up all of the Catholic inmates in the thirteen
or so State and Federal prisons in our Diocese, you have a very sizable
Catholic community. Fr. Chris sees his ministry as a response to a need,
not out of charity but out of obligation. Those Catholics in prison have
a right to the ministry of the Church as our brothers and sisters in the
Faith. Fr. Chris is also expanding into another area of ministry by doing
volunteer tutoring with high school students at Althoff High School and Vincent
Gray Alternative School housed at the former St. Patrick School here in East
St. Louis. There seems to be no end to the possibilities for ministry in
this challenging community.
As I launch into this new
phase of our ministry here in East St. Louis, I ask for your prayers.
While there will certainly be many challenges, there are also many new
opportunities to expand and strengthen the Catholic Church’s presence in this
community. Pray that I, in collaboration with the people, may accomplish
something great for the glory of God.
Peace and everything that is
good!
12 jan 2006 gael stahl:
(Referring to Dan Tanna’s 09 Jan 2006 above.) Thanks for the kind words, Dan. But Jerry needs them more. Three times his hip went out. Tough on the golfing. Here's to you all. Gael (who wonders what "maid-rites" are. Liturgies to the vestal virgins? Lex primae noctis conjugalis?)
12
jan 2006 dan tanna: (Commenting on Peace Prayer of St. Francis ala Sarah McLachlan.)
Jack, thanks for sharing
this wonderfully pleasing piece! Doesn't it make you wonder how she would make
the "Ultima" sound?
12
jan 2006 luis runde:
Hi again (Terry) Jack and family. Thanks: PEACE PRAYER is glorious & restive!! I will get to SPOKANE for the last weekend of June, 24-25, and then after a day's visit with you go on to Sacramento. I would expect to take a bus, and will make arrangements in due course. So, if you would be home 25/26 June, I will take a cup of gladness with you, and stay the night (maybe 2). Peace and all good. My travels (tough work, but somebody has to get hands dirty) this month are to FL, DC, and Texas. Then to Peru, where a good young priest from T Town -diocese of Springfield - has been working for almost 20yrs. He will get some gifts from us 3 who come from Chicago -- just like the DREI KONIGEN -- too bad we don’t have a Schwarze to present the gifts, and sweep the UNGLUCK from the house. (O, the old days!!). So let me know about June 25 etc. [Kuhle, my family and I are waiting with bated breath. However, our local liquor store does not have Gladness, so bring your own. Call me from the bus station; we are only a few minutes from there. 509-954-3962. JB]
12 jan 2006 Patrick feehan: Please add the following emails for Pat Feehan Pj of plattevalley.net Pkfeehan of plattevalley.net Got the snail mail notification and am very glad about the web site development. I may be changing emails in the next 30 days but I didn't want to miss anything. Thanks for all you do. I really like the idea of being able to post pictures, especially since I was invested in '74 I know most of your era only by name. It is amazing to think we are now in our 50s, 60s and 70s.
12
jan 2006 gael stahl: (To Tanna):
Dan, what do you do at the Red Cross? I gave platelets for years. Knight me!
12
jan 2006 dan tanna: (To Stahl):
Gael, have those platelets returned you a gracious share of cookies and juice? Aphaeresis is a term they use here at the local blood donor center, which is a part of my building, for platelet donors. Gael, thank you on behalf of the Red Cross. That is a rather drawn out procedure isn't it. Not like give whole blood. For the platelet donors coming to this site, they've got dedicated TV's and sound systems for the donor to use while giving. I am the facility manager for the American Red Cross Headquarters building here in DC - two blocks from the White House and snugs up to the south side of George Washington University campus. Chairman Greenspan's digs are one block south facing Constitution Ave. Condoleezza is our neighbor two block west. Nice neighborhood. I actually work for EMCOR Facility Services who was has the contract to provide facility services to the organization. They have just renewed our contract and added more buildings. Looks like I'll have another couple of years before limping over the finish line. Pax, Gael!
13
jan 2006 gael stahl:
I'd already forgotten the term aphaeresis but remember it now. Yes, it was a long process and I saw many a movie including “Men in Black,” “My Best Friend's Wedding,” “Sabrina.” Etc. Thanks for the update.
13
jan 2006 dan tanna:
Not a problem, Gael! Glad to fill in the gaps and will continue to contribute albeit by the seat of my pants. Anxious to talk to
Alex Sampson and catch up with him. He is calling the house after the Bears' game on Sunday. Ray Konrath, i.e.
"Raymondus sine utilitate computertatis et emailiae" (ablative case after "sine", right?) has stayed in touch with Alex. He calls
him on his birthday. Ray's heart would reach the masses if he only had email. Jack, Alex being a Chicagoan, he should be
familiar with "gangway" too? So we'll discuss that as well as options for enhancing Dolesh's and my strategy for getting
Konrath to buy a computer. Have a good weekend, guys!
Hey is that our Jack Christensen pictured on page 3 of the latest edition of Quincy University Alumni? He is being given an award for outstanding contribution of efforts to QU's recent fund raiser in his role as class contact for '56. Gotta be our Jack for sure! Also a good piece of Brother Jack Hardesty!
13 JAN 06: DELORES KARNIA:
Just a note to let you know that the letter you sent
to George Karnia (and son) [simple vows 1972] was forwarded to us.
George died of a heart attach on May 22. It was a
shock to us, his sisters and brothers, relatives, and friends. Please forward
this message in your newsletter.
13
jan 2006 Alex Sampson:
Hi, Jack. I am glad that you sent the beautiful rendition of the peace prayer of St. Francis, and it is good to be in touch with Dan Tanna. We plan to talk over the week-end. Don't let up too much on Corporate America, as I was there for many
years but did not really join the club. I have often told friends that I did Corporate social work, in that I always tried to make the company live up to its ethical and values statements. My areas were Human Resources, Communications, and Organization Development, and I spent ten years as manager of the GE Aircraft Engine Business International/Global HR function, that had me traveling the world. I spent a lot of time in China, Singapore, Australia and most of the major European centers of commerce. When I retired, I had this crazy idea that I would enjoy teaching again, and have a small group of graduate students sitting at my feet and taking in all of the wisdom (I almost sound like Fr. Julius). However, when Xavier University here in Cincinnati, the Jesuit's, asked me to teach the grad course in their MBA program, I thought that I had the ideal situation. A few months or maybe days later reality set in and I had 40 students with three hour classes, which required a lot of preparation and lecturing. Well so much for getting what you asked for! I did that for the first year, but now I just go in to teach a section on International HR and that is just great. I just wanted to touch base and thank you for the connection to the diaspora. Take good care and I will keep in touch.
13 jan 2006 gael stahl: (To Tanna) Jack Christensen wrote last year but his email bounced more recently. I might have to call him to get his new one.
Yeah, he's been a major player helping QU. Is that piece on Hardesty on line or is it a hard copy pub you receive? As for Konrath, I advise you forbear. You can't teach old dog new tricks. I've seen people try. When they get desperate and know they want it, not just need it, it will happen. But it's fun talking about it, so heck, go for it. You can always hope. Dum spiro spero. And yes, 'sine’ takes the ablative. - But you knew that. 13 jan 2006 dan tanna: Hard copy, Gael! I'll copy and fax to you on Tuesday. We are off Monday to celebrate Dr. King's day. Fax #? Or I could mail to Needmore. Great advice vis-à-vis our good buddy Ray! And it is fun to talk about. I've even got Cowboy working the project. (Danny is planning a trip to DC on April if all goes well.) I am optimistic!
13
jan 2006 dan tanna:
Got it! [The FAX on Jack Hardesty]. Hey, thanks for updating me on Jerry E. Had not idea he had been having so much problems with the hip. I might suggest swimming to him. Wasn't it he who introduced we young clerics to some Canadian (forget the exact name) exercise routine at Westpark in Cleveland? What was that? I remember lining up on the tennis court and everybody going through these drills. Remember, Gael? It was about the time President Kennedy was touting the benefits physical fitness. 13 jan 2006 Dan tanna:
Do you remember what we're talking about? I can't remember the exact title but I bet we could find them with Google. They were "The Royal Canadian Air Force Exercises" or very close to that. Shivers might remember better. 13 jan 2006 Gael stahl: Sure I remember them. Tom Shaughnessy was in our old parish over in east Cleveland, close to downtown. He and I used to hang out and he got me doing the exercises. He gave me a copy of the booklet and I got into doing them for a while. Next thing I remember Jerry was leading us in group calisthenics. I know I kept my copy, so we may have reduplicated copies.
14 jan 2006 dan mazar:
Saturday's Chicago Sun Times has the obit of Rev. Norbert Lutz. I think he is the brother of Rupert (Tony) Lutz, who writes in the digest. I could very well be mistaken but I thought I would pass this on to you. Pax.
14
jan 2006 gael stahl:
I don't think so. But let's ask Tony. He e-wrote me at Christmas and I've been feverish ever since. Judging myself, I thought an old dog couldn't learn new tricks, but Tony can. I just checked an old provincial catalogus. The province had two Lutz men. Edward who taught me history in 1955 and Rupert (Tony) who with other jocks Vince Elsen, Callistus, Kenan, et al, beat the bratwurst out of a St. Joe's softball
team with their powerful bats. I'd forgotten for a while that the mighty Rup is our DD Tony. I don't think I ever saw him again. He was visiting and the St. Joe's profs, many were his classmates as I remember. That would have been about 1955 or 1956, I think. That's not say Norbert isn't a brother priest who wasn't a Franciscan. Tony, please set us straight.
14
jan 2006 jack Brennan:
Be careful what you ask
for. We - my younger brother and I –
pressured my oldest brother (age 77) to get a computer and
email. Are we sorry now! He's turned into a
relentless right wing propagandist and sends us all this stuff that eradicates
the
line between church and
state.
Speaking of that, I am
reading "Our Endangered Values" by Jimmy Carter. His thesis is that
religion and politics are polluting
each other. And this from a guy who still teaches Sunday
school in the Baptist Church.
Anyway, be at peace. Glad
you enjoyed the Peace Prayer. One of
those delights of life: an artist like Sarah McLachlan
speaks right into our
history.
I'm enjoying hearing from you guys so much
that I am letting my paper work slip. If I don't do paper work, I don't make
any
money.
As Gayle says, "You and your vow of poverty are going to send us to
the poor house!"
15
jan 2006 dan mazar:
Bears lose, bears
lose! Not surprising really. They usually play poorly in national
games. Plus, I used all my jou-jou helping
the White Sox win it
all. And making sure the Cubs didn't.
I grew up on the East
Side--3 blocks from the lake and a mile from the Indiana border. Lou
Spoonhour and I come from
the same parish, St. George,
at 95th and Ewing. It was staffed by the Slovenian Franciscans.
They have since left. I moved
back into the neighborhood
when I returned from Australia in 1972.
I went to Westmont in 1959
and missed the World Series against the Dodgers. My dad went to a game
and continually
reminded me what becoming a
holy roller cost me.
I met you and Cullan
Uhlinger when you guys were in theology. That's why I still call you
Terry. We were visiting the
novices and had a meal with
you all before returning to the new OLA in Quincy. I don't remember you
visiting us during our
novitiate year
(1965-66). Remember Zeke coming over to commiserate and tell us
not to take Leonard seriously. Helped
me get through the year with
a giggle. Left the order in 1970 with a little help from Dis Bonner,
I think. It was never really
clear why I was ushered out.
So you came out of
Bridgeport [Canaryville, just south of Bridgeport. JB] or thereabouts
and were confused by the
Jebbies and the Christian
Brothers? poor bastard. No wonder you came to the friars--just to
get some relief.
I did send an email to Tony
Lutz. Perhaps he will reply in due time. I only met him
once--back around 1960 at Westmont.
I think he was a military
chaplain back then.
I don't know if Tom
Aldworth is still on the Index. I haven't spoken to him in quite a
while. I keep in contact with Big Cal
Giesen, Zach Hayes, and
Gerry Etzkorn
from the old days. And hear from Blane O'Neill every now and
then.
My class was ordained in 1972. I did
not attend. I go to Mass about once a month, stay in the back pew just in
case the
bell starts to come down. The homilies
are still pretty poor but I don't listen too closely.
Well, that's my story and
I'm sticking to it.
Pax.
15
jan 2006 Dan dolesh:
I love reading the
correspondence between you and Brennan and Tanna. It's like being at a
luncheon for highly educated
schizophrenics. Totally enjoyable and about 50%
comprehensible. Love it, and feel right at home. [Same here, Dan. Your
description is so apt. On target. And what we don't comprehend is
probably the best part, but somehow we carry on
and re-ignite the juices. Glad you're joining and enjoying the fun. GBS]
15 Jan 2006 dan tanna: (To Dan Dolesh): Danny, you always have the best way with words! Couldn't help but heartily chuckle at your schizo comment! (Just corroborates?) By the way, what is that single word descriptive of Ray's reluctance to embrace the computer that you proffered with such ease? You came up with it several years ago. Remember? You shot it back to me shortly after 9-11. Something about someone living under a rock... in the deep recesses of darkness... out of touch with the present... etc. Remember? Hey, I just talked to Alex Sampson. He said to say hello. He is living in Cincinnati. He retired seven years ago from GE. Has had a good run in the corporate world. He is gladly joining our efforts to get Konrath a computer. He and his wife are celebrating 40 years of marriage next year. Their two sons and daughter live in Cinci too!
17
jan 2006 jack Christensen:
Gael - good to hear from you. Hope all is well and that you two are healthy and happy. Yours truly turns 72 this week and am managing to stay more than active. Once I get an interpreter to explain all the stuff in your letter I will comply. In the meantime, who has read John Allen's book OPUS DEI and what did they think of it. I can say it is thoroughly researched and well written but I came away thinking I had eaten a full meal and was still hungry. E-mailed Allen with this comment to see what he has to say. Susan is trying to retire but her partner is supposed to buy her out and so far is jacking around the whole damn thing. Maybe she will get out this year. Girls doing great with Kate being Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Health and Homeland Security at the U of Maryland Law School. Her life is more than interesting - just hope and pray nothing happens because "we ain't prepared." God Bless and Peace.
17
jan 2006 jack Brennan:
[Responding to note Joan
Burds had sent me.]
Sorry I did not recognize your email. Had I seen your name, I would have connected the dots. I taught at Hales the summers of '64,'65 and '66. So I think we must have met. Thanks for staying in touch. If you have any thoughts about making the site more useful, I am all ears. 17 jan 2006 joan burds: Okay, Jack, will do. I'm just getting started on your site. Our computer out here in the boonies is very slow, so it takes a while to down load. But I will keep it in mind. Looking forward to getting into it more. You were gone from Hales before I got to Corpus Christi, and I missed some of the fun when Gael Stahl and Mike Mooney were there. Heard lots of stories though. It was a great place to be. I loved those few years there. A lot of good
memories. 17 jan 2006 jack Brennan (Responding to 15 jan Dan Dolesh):
We are simply old guys with a bit of cognitive slippage going on. And what's wrong with a little dementia among friends? What's going on in your life? And did you learn anything from those long walk-talks we had during our "formative" years? If you did learn anything, I failed miserably. Stahl and Tanna really are a bit nutty. Tanna said: "Condoleezza is our neighbor two block west. Nice neighborhood."
Note he doesn't say "nice neighbor?" Zeke reads poetry and Dan likes movies. I try to help both of them with a little Irish humor. And that's what you get when you know too much about each other. Keep in touch.
17 jan
2006 dan tanna:
Jack, you will always lighten the load for us
with your Irish humor. I got a call from Langan a few minutes ago. He
has
invited me out for St. Paddy's day. Thinking
about taking him up on it - seriously. I told him awhile back I would do it if
the
Red Cross renewed our contract, which they
did last week.
Dan, what's that word? Jack & Gael, Mr. "D" - being the wordsmith extraordinaire that he is - came up with a single word descriptive of our friend Ray several years ago. It was a great WORD! Dan, what is that word? Gael? And, Jack, everybody living in this nice neighborhood is nice. Hello, Anton! Later Fratres!
17
jan 2006 bob willford:
Thanks again for all your efforts in bringing the DD to us. Love catching up with what's going on in the lives of those who write in. Owe you a couple of lines myself, I know, and I hope to get to them some day soon. Until then, God bless and keep you all. Please change the email address you have for me to: beepster of comcast.net Take care. 17 jan 2006 gael stahl:
Congratulations on being reupped by Red Cross. As for Konrath's nickname from Dan D, you're ringing bells. “Turtle” comes to mind but that's you, nicht wahr? Ray will remember, I betcha. Or Dan will. 17 jan dan tanna: Gael, not to worry..... It's the same first impression I leave with many. Ya, Ich wahr Tortuga. Come on, Danny! What's the word? I know you'll get us there! Pax 17 jan 2006 dan dolesh (Resp. about Ray Konrath’s nickname): I can't remember the word, but one that comes to mind is "Troglodyte." Maybe we should take up a collection and then have a Troglodyte party or a "give-Ray-the-damn-computer" party so that he can communicate with the rest of us. Wonder if he knows that we are having this extended conversation about him. He probably never got so much attention since the time when he was the only one in the German class who knew German and could get the assignment. And then the bone-head was usually looking out the window and missed the assignment to everyone's chagrin. Life was really simple then, wasn't it?
17
jan 2006 dan tanna:
Danny! That's it!!!! TROGLODYTE!!!! I knew you'd come through. I think I'll print these emails and send Ray the hard copies. He'll get a kick out of it and know he is loved. And, yes, I remember those days in Simeon's class - nothing but Deutsch being spoken - and Ray glowing with "slam-dunk" peace as we all groveled for clues as to what the hell was going on. Ach du lieber Szeit as my granny would say! I think that was a term of endearment just as troglodyte is for our good friend in Chicago. Herr Tannenbaum! (Remember that one?) [When you talk with Ray, see if he remembers “Brotbrenner.” JB] 18 jan 2006 jack Brennan: Ich bin Hans Brennan. Do you (Larkin and Emeric) remember that I was in that Simeon German class? Simeon was ahead of his time. Now it is in vogue to study a language by "immersion." Remember the daily vocab tests. I got more hundreds in that class then ever before or since. Do you recall that I was solemnized with your class in '64 since I got black-balled after third year Cleveland? I remember Nick Meyer telling me he was proud to vote for me and that those guys in Cleveland didn't know what they were doing.
Anyway, I am more than just an honorary member of your class. I can't figure out why I was not in that photo for solemn vows. Solemn Profession 1964 Probably Val, who really liked me (!), didn't want to admit he had made a mistake and that I had returned to Cleveland triumphantly. Ganz verblűfft. 18 jan 2006 dan tanna:
Thank the good Lord for Nick Meyer!!!!
Jack - I mean, Hans - I remember a lot about you during our formative years.
Why don't I remember that triumphant return
for solemn vows? How is it that I can recall the day in the summer of '62 with
our butts sticking out the window as we
changed the sash ropes in the clericate when I asked you about your most
favorite
movie of all time, but can't remember the
vows. You had to have been there for the week retreat before vows too, right?
It
leaves me ganz verblift. But I do remember
Amahl and the Night Visitors!
18 jan 2006 tony lutz: My brother, Rev. Robert J. Lutz, died on 12 Jan 06 in the presence of three other priests who were out for the day. Ever since Bob's ordination in 1950 he and his buddies met every Thursday. Bob was in poor health and took a long nap after lunch. His friends told him they would leave shortly for supper. Bob said he needed to go to the restroom first. They heard him shout "Help, Help." When they got to him he was dead. One of the priests had the Holy Oils with him and Bob was absolved and anointed. At the funeral Mass on Tuesday, 17 Jan 06, four retired bishops and about 50 priests concelebrated. We buried Bob next to our Mom and Dad at St. Mary's cemetery on the Southside of Chicago. Funerals can be happy events because they bring together friends and relatives and the camaraderie is beautiful. If I had a chance to speak at the funeral I would have told everyone that my parents were the holiest and best people I ever met. Their lessons endured in us three sons. 19 jan 2006 gael stahl (Resp. to Tony Lutz):
What a wonderful family you’ve enjoyed these many years, Tony. Thanks for sharing this. I would have bet money you weren’t related. My memory quickly flaggeth, I fear. All our sympathy and admiration for y’all.
Your parents must have been
special, indeed. Pax vobiscum.
And we’re lucky that Dan Mazar spotted
his obit in the Chicago papers.
20 Jan 2006 gael stahl (To Jerry Etzkorn):
Some of your schizoid former students and I have been talking about all kinds of people and they brought your name up with fond memories. I mentioned your recent letter and three hip replacements.
I'm into swimming myself now because of a bum knee. And, I'm shocked. After swimming I feel the best I'm going to feel all day. I got to the Y real early to miss heavy traffic before going to work.
Susan and I head to separate YMCAs across town to near where we work at 5:30 a.m. (Susan) and 6 a.m (me). End results are wonderful though she's NOT a morning person like us seminary tested warriors.
20 Jan 2006 MARK BRAUN: 8344 E. Fay Ave., Mesa AZ 85208:
Gael, Thanks for writing to me about the Diaspora. I
do not have any access to email or Internet.
Did you hear that Fathers Leonard Paskert, Gentil Katoski,
George (Agatho) Windolph, and Jason Kommer died in
2005? Gentil went back to his name before he became a
Franciscan, Eugene. He was a very holy man and Leonard was too.
Leonard was in
charge of taking care of the novices for a while. Some day I will be among the
dead. We should all look
forward to be with God.
When I was reading the Diaspora and saw that
some thought women should be priests, I would disagree with that. If our
Lord wanted women to become priests the
Blessed Mother would be the first one. She was born without sin and she was
taken into heaven.
I go to Mass almost every day. On weekdays, the rosary
is said before Mass, too. I suppose it is pretty much in the diocese.
Religious vocations picked up pretty much in our
diocese. It takes a lot of prayer to make vocations. One of them left from
the parish that I am from.
I will remember you, your wife Susan and your
intentions in my prayers. Please do the same. Thanks. Yours in St. Francis.
20
jan 2006 jerry etzkorn:
Gael:
Always good to hear from you. Going to the orthopedist Tuesday in the
hope that I can get rid of the leg brace
and
resume normal activities.
I composed a rather lengthy thing entitled "Where to Benedict XVI?"
which in my naiveté I sent to Bishop Kurtz asking him
to forward it to the
Pope. Of course, I never got a reply
from Kurtz. I guess I don't qualify as
one of the sheep in his flock!
I'm reluctant to send the
Benedict XVI thing to Diaspora Digest, but I
would like to get it published somewhere.
The
'Catholic' magazines generally don't accept guest editors' stuff...
Any suggestions?
20 jan 2006 gael stahl:
Jerry: We now have a feature that Jack Brennan has created for this kind of thing. He's already posted a few things
there such as updates on Westmont property, the obituary of Medard, and other delights. Yours could be announced
in the Digest part and this ancillary depositum fidei (I don't remember what Jack titled it) is easily found by those who
want to explore it there. Let us read it. And the beauty of it is that it won't be considered technically published there
so you can also submit it to Commonweal (which I read religiously) or NCR that Mooney digests, etc.I'd suggest you
ask
Commonweal and NCR and America if they are interested
in your Letter to Benedict 16.
How about it, Jack. Sight unseen, don't you think our prof might have something worth eyeing by our hundreds of avid
readers?
20 jan 2006 jack
Brennan:
You gotta be kidding me. We would be
honored to have a missive from you, Jerry, to the Pope.
I don't know if this is apocryphal or
not, but Bishop Ryan told me that when he was at Vatican II, he
was conflicted about how to vote on some issue. He said he asked
Cardinal Ratzinger how he was going to vote. Ratzinger told him how he
would vote and explained why. Then he asked Tiago why he was
asking. Ryan told him: "Because I want to make sure I vote the
opposite as you." Bishop Ryan was from my
parish in Chicago and I was MC at his first Episcopal mass.
However, beware we Irishmen believe that it is not important if a story is true
or not. The measure is whether it is funny and/or interesting.
Jerry, anything you write will get my
imprimatur, imprimi potest, nihil obstat and stop-the-presses-to-put-it-in.
Zeke is right; we can simply link it to our "Articles of
Interest." Here it is: Jerry Etzkorn's Open Letter to Pope Benedict XVI
20
jan 2006 Jerry etzkorn (To Brennan):
Sorry to have heard about
your 'temporary' unemployment. Hope that's fixed. The bit about Bishop Ryan
is precious.
Haven't sounded out Zach
about his former professor.
Don't know whether you've
heard about Tom Doyle O.P. Has a doctorate in Canon Law and was the canon
lawyer for the
Papal Delegate to the US.
Started back in the 70s to warn them about the 'rampant' pedophilia and the
cover-ups and he
was canned and made an Air
Force chaplain (to get 'rid' of him). He continued counseling victims. The
military Ordinariate
(forget the Bishop's name)
sent out a ukase that all Catholics had the right to daily mass (some of the
bases don't have
Catholic chaplains) and that
there should be a tabernacle for the Blessed Sacrament on each base. Since all
denominations
use the same buildings, this
wouldn't go over with the Baptists. Tom responded that there is nothing in
Canon Law which
states that Catholics have a
right to daily mass. Result: he was canned from the Air Force 2 years before he
was eligible for
retirement benefits.
Talk about power addiction
and abuse! Then there's Bishop Burke & St. Stanislaus in St. Louis. They're
poisoning the
Gospel!
Attached is the BenedictXVI
thing which I also sent to Zeke. Jerry Etzkorn's Open Letter to Pope Benedict XVI
Take care.
21
jan 2006 jerry etzkorn (To Stahl):
…I'm on a team working on critical editions of the Sentence Commentaries of Francis of Marchia (circa 1319-20) and my
colleague in Switzerland has gotten a grant so that I can go there and do some collating of the manuscripts…
23 jan 2006 Jerry etzkorn:
[I had commented to Jerry that I thought he and Zach were on the
same page. JB]
I guess I had never read Zach's
comments in their entirety, but they confirm my view that 'faith by force is an
oxymoron'.
Faith is a leap in the dark
or a shout without an echo. And if it's to be spread by behavior, we ain't been
doing so good. I
fully concur with his views
about fundamentalism whose next step is fanaticism and then violence.
We visited Zach last
September in the Sherman facility. He
is continuing his translating of Bonaventure. I think all the
medication he had been
taking all of his life had taken its toll. Linda and I thought he had fully
recovered from his stroke.
23 JAN 2006
RAY KONRATH, 5540 So. Monito, Chicago
IL 60638.
Thank you for your most recent letter of 1/9/06. I am
admitting that I am computer illiterate and computer phobic. For that
reason I am requesting that you send me printed copies
of DD. Please find enclosed a check to defray mailing costs, printing
I taught high school and junior college English for 33
years. For these past nine years, I have been a substitute teacher at
York High School in Elmhurst, Ill. York is a short
distance (15 minutes) from previous St. Joseph Seminary in Oak Brook.
Gael, thanks again for keeping in touch. I appreciate
it.
My students continue to ridicule and embarrass me with
my lack of computer knowledge. It could be that stubborn Austrian
in me. Auf wiedersehen bis naechtes Mal. Sincerely,
Ray Konrath 773-284-6968.
P.S. Ein altes Sprichwort: Ein Alter Hund kann nichts
neues lernen. /oder/ Eine alte Kuh gibt keine Milch. [Sehr gut, Ray.
Beides sind gut, und wir verstehen weil du
musst zu dein selbst treulich sein. –
Gael]
24 jan 2006 helene
eckrich:
Keith
had a cardiac cath done on Thursday Jan 19. They put a stent (a small
mesh wire to hold the artery open) into one of his coronary arteries that was
90% blocked…hopefully to relieve his ongoing arm and jaw pain and chest
pressure that he has been having off and on since his cardiac arrest and heart
attack on Oct 16 in IL.
After the heart cath he started bleeding into the sac
around his heart (called a “cardiac tamponade”…if you want to Google it).
This is VERY serious situation because as the blood accumulates in the
pericardial sac, the heart cannot pump. His blood pressure was very low
and finally non existent for around 15-20 minutes. He was very close to
dying. The doctor had to put a catheter through his chest into his heart
sac (the pericardium) to drain the blood to relieve the pressure on his heart
so his heart could pump. On Thursday evening, he went back to the heart
cath lab to have a second stent put in to stop the bleeding. He also still
had the catheter into his chest (the sac around his heart) which was draining
fluid. They took that out yesterday. He was very close to going for
open heart surgery on Thursday evening if the doctors could not locate the
bleeding artery and stop it…thank God they did. He lost a total of 1350
ml of blood, which is equivalent to 5.5 cans of soda (240 ml cans). His
blood count was very low so he has had 3 units of blood so far. He
was in CCU for 3 days and is now on a telemetry unit where the nurses can
monitor his heart. Needless to say, he is very weak. He now has
congestive heart failure (you can Google that too)…which is extra fluid in his
heart that backs up into his lungs making it hard to breath at times.
They are giving him Lasix (a diuretic) to relieve this. Needless to say,
he is very tired and weak. Me…I’m just tired!
Please pray for us. I told Keith “this is the
second time in 3 months that you nearly died right before my eyes, so God must
really want you here for something!”
I will continue to update you in a few days.
24
jan 2006 bob hoffman:
I'll keep Keith and
Helene in my prayers.
I'm doing well. Got an
email from my brother, Jim. He will be going to Brazil for 3 weeks to attend
some international conferences on peace and justice. The Chicago gang
will be having a Super Bowl party at the Zangs’ again this year.
This will be the last one at their Oak Park home. They are moving to a
condo in Chicago.
25 jan 2006 tom Shannon:
I have been meaning to write for a while but time marches on and one gets distracted or forgets. The major news is that after 33 years of teaching at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), I have retired. I was at the age the students' grandparents and am very removed from youth culture. Also I think I have pretty much said as much as I can after many books and articles and lectures. Although an engineering college, WPI gave me a very good platform and encouraged me in my work. Also I did not have to worry about academic freedom or job security. As long as I published I was fine. I was also fortunate, in one of the supreme ironies of my life, to have had the opportunity for many years to teach moral theology part time at the Jesuit seminary in Cambridge. That was a great opportunity as one had mature students there from all walks of life with all sorts of experiences. This was a very enriching experience and I had the opportunity many times to infect the Jesuits with the thought of Bonaventure and Scotus, even making Scotus' Christology a key concept in one of my classes on genetics and ethics. My wife Cathy also retired from her position in remedial reading in the first and second grades at an innercity elementary school in Worcester--over 800 kids from K-6 with some 40 languages spoken at home. A major challenge on most days but more so as financial pressures on the budget kept mounting. We made a clean break by selling our house in Worcester and moving full time to our house in Eagles Mere, PA a small mainly vacation community about an hour and a half west of Scranton. Cathy's family had vacationed there for years and we were fortunate enough to be able to buy a house there. The winter population is about 170 but the good news is that we raised the ranks of the Democratic Party to 19! In summer things pick up a bit as the population swells to several thousand. But we have many long time friends there and many more are retiring there. But to escape the rigors of a winter there, I accepted a visiting professorship for the spring semester at Auburn University in Alabama. This is funded by the remnants of the endowed chair that Charles Curran first had after he was fired by Catholic U. The endowment did not keep pace with economic necessity so it was converted into a one semester visiting professorship. I'm teaching a course on ethics and genetics which is turning out to be fun because I have never taught undergraduate liberal arts students. I even have several philosophy majors and the conversation in class is very good. Cathy is volunteering three days a week as a reading teacher in one of the local schools. And we are having a good time exploring southern culture and cuisine--though BBQ and chicken fingers seem to be the food of preference. We did get to Montgomery and see the Rosa Parks Museum and King's church and we plan go visit Selma. And it's very warm here and no snow to shovel. So we will return to Eagles Mere in May and take up relatively full time residence there. We are both blessed with good health and health insurance from Cathy's job, a major benefit. I saw Gil at CTU in the Fall while I was at a meeting there and he is good, but a little lonely with Zach in the retirement friary. I visited Allan Wolter in St Louis 2 summers ago and he was slowing down but at 96 I figure he was entitled, though his mind is about as sharp as it was. I saw Zach last year. I suspect he and Allan will get a project going. I was sorry to learn of Medard's passing. He was a great man. He was an assistant at our parish and one day came to bless our house and my mother asked him what she should do and his remark was typical: “Stand and look pious.” The address below is our official one and the email remains the same, less confusion that way. Thanks for all the work on the DD. I enjoy keeping up with everyone. Thomas A. Shannon, PO Box 381, Eagles Mere, PA 17731. 570.525.3124[Thanks for the update, Tom. Lovely web page. You are even more handsome than you were 30 years ago. And your body of works is impressive. JB] Click here for: Tom Shannon's web page
25 jan 2006 dan tanna:
Thanks for the update, Jack!
Is Keith living in the Chicago area? [Would you believe Albuquerque?
JB] Originally St.
Louis, right? … Langan
made contact with Januarius (Herb) in Portland last week. [Do we have Herb’s correct
addresses on our web site?
Check it out. JB DD E-Mail
Roster --- DD address book]
Konrath’s birthday is 2/23 and we are
sending him a keyboard that been in my basement for several years. Piece by
piece
we’ll get him a computer.
It’s a start and I know he’ll see the humor if he looks closely. Still
have to talk to him about
gangways.
Did you know Kenny Ortegal? [Knew
him well; class ahead of us, Chicago born and bred. JB] Gracious….what a
sad
ending. He tried breaking my nose with a
basketball once. I think I wasn’t paying attention. Imagine that! Back to
giving
blood at the Red Cross.
[More from Dan, same day.]
I didn’t see this before sending the last email, Jack! That 90% blockage….was
he overweight
or anything like that? I
have been putting my annual physical off and this gives me cause to get it
done. I should call Doc
Parker and inquire? These
blockages tend to be subtle don’t they? I have been in a swim exercise routine
since the late 70’s.
Recently, I am in the water
for about 45 minutes four to five times a week. But it seems like it is always
something, Jack!
26
jan 2006 bob willford (Woozy) (Re Keith Eckrich):
He'll be in my prayers.
26 jan 2006 helene
eckrich:
Update on Keith
…I have been at the hospital the last 2 days & nights, so I could not
email. Keith is doing better tonight so came home to try to sleep as I am
getting pretty tired….sleeping in the hospital is rough for patient and
family!
After 2 rough days/nights…he has been in congestive
heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (for 5 hours yesterday) which they
treated with IV meds, he is felling better today. His blood count however
was low again today (H&H = 9.1 & 25.6) so he had another transfusion
today (now a total of 4 units of blood transfused). The doctor increased
the IV Lasix to 3 times a day for diuresis for the CHF. This is all being
caused by the inflammation to his heart and pericardium from the cardiac
tamponade.
Please keep up the prayers… as they are obviously
working. Thank God and all the saints.
I will try to return calls to those who have called,
but I have hardly been home for a week.
Love.
28 jan 2006 scott kuhle:
Ode to Tots (Fr. Tarsicius Fischer, OFM):
I often arise at 2:00 or 3:00 o'clock in the morning for my first shot at the day, and then go back to bed for a couple of hours and then get up for my second adventure on the day. This way I have the opportunity to have two days rather than just one, and at my age, I want to squeeze all of the days of life that I possibly can. However, as many confreres pointed out with my mistake about Tots being in T-town rather than at St. Joseph's in Westmont, I realize that I may be a bit more fuzzy-brained during that first day's run. I would be honored to have the Ode to Tots printed in the Diaspora Digest. I am attaching the Ode - with the change - so that you will have an e-copy to work with. Ode to Tots
For some of you this is a
voice out of the past, a voice that you may not have heard since the mid 60's
of the last century.
This evening I was listening
to On Line with Tom Ashbrook
and his guest as they honored Mozart on the eve of his 250th
birthday. As I listened to their tribute to Mozart,
the guest's explanation of a piece, and Mozart's magnificent music, I was
transported back to the
"music room" at the sem in Westmont, where we spent an hour once a
week listening to classical
music with Tots (Fr.
Tarsicius Fischer, OFM). It was only the vow of obedience that compelled
some of us to sit there
quietly while listening to
the strains of music emanating from the LP revolving on the phonograph next to
the piano.
I was more intrigued
watching Tarsicius, with the sleeves of his robe neatly folded up
mid-arm, rhapsodizing in the music,
than enthralled in the
aesthetic experience that he was providing us.
He would softly, in the background of the music, instruct,
"Listen for the oboes
in the next measure," or "Note the Leitmotif of this piece," or
"Listen for how the prelude sets the scene
for the opus.
I want to thank you, Tots, for your patience as you patiently and caring pointed out subtleties of a movement. Although I still
don=t recognize an Ionian mode from the Locrian mode, or third diatonic from the seventh diatonic when I hear them, I think
that you=d be pleased, Tots, to know that I can readily distinguish between the French horn and tuba, the oboe and bassoon,
the violin from the cello, and often am able to pick out the motif of a symphonic piece.
Also, thank you for not
giving us tests those afternoons.
I hope that I might someday
join you and your musical companions in your celestial music chamber, where I=m sure that you
spend many of your eternal
hours listening to the music you so much love.
I look forward to hearing you say, with your finger
pressed to you lip, before
starting a fugue, "Now listen to the adagio during the 3rd measure
building to forte-piano in the 7th
measure."
Maybe that is what the
Rapture is about.
Peace and Joy.
29 jan 2006 Phil Eiden:
Thanks for the written
communication.
I plan to browse the site
you folks have set up and appreciate your efforts.
After I catch up a bit I
plan to create time, or influence the evolution of my space and time present,
to correspond.
Please put me on your list.
E-mail: eiden2 of cerzan.net Phone: 612-929-3543
Thanks again.
02 feb 2006 erv Pfeifer:
Gael, I'll send you two 4x6 prints of Jovian and Sugar Ray and I'll also try to get them enhanced into color and see what they look like. I have @ 160 pics that I took in the sem and will be taking them to our reunion in June. [Fortieth sacerdotal jubilee reunion at the Cabrini Center in Desplaines, Il on the weekend of June 29.] A lot of the photos are of my
classmates and several good shots of the profs in their younger days. I also have lots of color slides that can be made into prints. Pics of the refectory, dorm, kitchen, the lakes, chapel, study hall, various sporting events, bonfire, bookstore, infirmary, recreation room, barber shop, the new gym being built, project work, pics of Frs. Gentil, Blane, Gene, Theodore, Julius, Francis Leo, Bishop Sheen and a couple more that I forgot their names, hockey on the lake, snowball
fights, auditorium, pics of our class visiting novitiate and the "menu" of our class graduation May 25, 1958. Chuck Faso played the processional march on the piano. Had tomato juice, roast turkey, potatoes, green beans with
assorted breads with lemon pie. Father Callistus directed the seminary band and Most Reverend James Ryan was our special guest. Father Tarsicius directed the seminary choir. Music by "The Twelve Tones" was directed by John Behl... remember those days??? [John Behl directing music? Are you sure? JB] 02 feb 2006 gael stahl: What a great offer, Erv. I'm copying to Jack because he'll be doing the DD web site work for this project. I can't wait to see the results. I have a scanner sitting in front of me. I can scan these two pix and send them on to Jack and through him to the universe. As for all those other pix, wow. Do you have access by any chance to a scanner? I got this one at Christmas at Walmart, a HP office jet, that includes scanner, fax, copier, and printer. For $150. I'm eager to use it to copy your pictures, remail you your pictures back, and email to Jack the same pictures. But I hate to take any chances on you losing your treasure in the mail. Well, no hurry. We can think on it. But I'm so tickled you were able to preserve our history. Yes! I remember every one and every description you wrote.
03 feb erv
Pfeifer:
Went to Walgreens and had a 4 x 6 of the two pics
we've been talking about. If you will give me your address, I'll put them
in the mail tomorrow. They were taken May '57 so
they have a little wear and tear on them but they turned out OK. Not sure
why it was my class that was included... Al Merz,
Maury Smith, not sure, Glen Phillips, Don Krutek, Richard
Prezneski and Damen Isabell (only half of him showing) also included are Ken Brune, Ken Ortegal, Cullan
Uhlinger, Dick Mayer, Tom Ess, Kurt Hartrich, Frank
Flinn, George Bracco, Leon Wemhoff
plus a few others.
This is what we could do with the rest of the
"pics". I could take them to Walgreens and have each photo put onto a
CD and
then I could either email you the pics on the
CD or I could send it to you and then you could send them to any one you
wanted. Please remember that most of my pics were
taken of my classmates so don't know how interesting they would be to
others than the classmates. I also have lots of color
slides that might be of interest. Not sure how we would get them onto a
CD but I'll check.
Exactly what is this "project" you have
referred to? What are you and Brennan up to? Please share... thanks... let's
talk.
06 feb 2006 helene eckrich:
Keith is a
little short of breath again today. We saw the cardiologist on Friday and
he said Keith was in “diastolic dysfunction” (see explanation below)…a form of
heart failure. Keith had an echo (ultrasound of heart) done on Friday and
there is still has some fluid in his pericardium from the inadvertent cardiac
tamponade…although it is not increasing (which is good news) … hopefully all
this will resolve in time. He’s on oxygen at home which he uses off and
on…mostly on the last few days. He is weak and has only been walking a
little around the house because he gets so winded.
He is now on insulin for his Type II diabetes because
his blood glucose are so high from the stress of all this. We regulate
the dose before each meal. Also we are regulating his blood pressure
meds. I’m using my nursing skills well! To entertain himself
he has been doing numerous crossword puzzles and Sudoku puzzles.
Thanks for all your support and continued prayers.
06 feb 2006 jack bartz:
Jack sends us
another keeper; Regis Duffy’s obituary. Obit of Regis
Duffy
07 feb 2006 Scott Kuhle:
The
accompanying article about the budgetary cutbacks for seniors, students, and
the poor may appear to be another issue that sets Democrats apart from
Republicans, but for me it is an issue that defines who we are as individuals.
How we view and take care of the poor amongst us says more than anything about
us as individuals during our short sojourn here on Planet Earth. [The US House
has approved a $39 Billion cut to be implemented over the next 5 years. For the
whole article, click here: House cuts]
Although I am
sending this to my friends and Kindred Political Spirits (KPSs), I am directing
my comments primarily to my children, because it is they whom I dearly hope will
be defined by their generous attitudes and beneficence towards those who are
less fortunate.
Yesterday
morning, one of my colleagues asked me how I was doing, and I responded,
"I'm doing so well, and I don't know what I did to deserve it." Then
I went on to explain that I simply don't understand the justice or injustice
with which happiness and well-being is handed out. My work frequently takes me
to emergency departments and occasionally to jail in order to evaluate
individuals for being at risk of self harm. The day before, I had seen a young
man in jail who was there for destroying property and, because of the extent of
the damage, was possibly looking at prison time. Joe (not his actual name) was
a good looking young man who readily told me about himself, not to elicit
sympathy, but to explain his hopelessness and reason for not wanting to
continue to live.
At a very early
age, his mother left him and his father; this young man has never seen her to
this day. Not to cast dispersions on her, for she undoubtedly had her reasons,
but you can readily understand her unspoken message to a young boy about his
value or self-worth. After his mother left, this young man was raised by his
father and paternal grandfather; it was the latter who apparently nurtured and
provided much needed support. He said that in the early years of school, he had
been tested and diagnosed ADHD and dyslexic. His one gift with which he
excelled, an athletic body, even turned against him when, in junior high
school, he was injured playing football. A severe blow to the head resulted in
a subdural hematoma, surgery, and permanent organic brain syndrome.
After the head
injury, his life took a further tumble as he started hanging out with those
peers who would accept his differences. Apparently many of them were socially
marginalized and used alcohol and drugs to manage the trauma, chaos,
and pain of their young lives. By the time he was 17, he had spent nearly
a month in a mental hospital and 2½ months in a drug rehabilitation facility.
Within the next couple of years he had multiple arrests for misdemeanors with
much time spent in jail, and 2 more months of inpatient stays for drug
treatment. He was apparently kicked out of school in his senior year just prior
to graduation.
In response to
a question about being happy, he replied, "I don't remember ever being
happy." Twenty, yes 20, years of life, and no memory of happiness.
Does one need
to be a "bleeding heart liberal" to find tremendous empathy in one's
heart for this young man? No, no, no, I vehemently plead with you, my children.
Rather, one needs to be open to the human condition. First and foremost, one
needs to understand that within each one of us there is a place in which we
can, with false pride, think that we are better than those who are less
fortunate, and that we therefore deserve better. You, my children, are indeed
beautiful. Whatever happens in your lives, don't ever lose sight of that
beauty. However, don't ever let that false pride let you lose sight of the
beauty and value of the least of your fellow sojourners.
It is
apparently not too difficult for some legislators, possibly those we have
chosen to represent us, to withhold funding for those who are less
fortunate, when one judges the less fortunate to be unworthy, less deserving,
or less desirous of "a good life."
I've met Joe,
and I know that he is worthy of love and respect. I have met Joe, and I know
that he is not less deserving of help and support. I have met Joe, and I'm
convinced that what he wants is normalcy in his life.
Our true mettle
will be measured not by how many academic degrees we have, not by the balance
in our savings or IRA accounts, not by the square footage of our house or
property. It will be measured by how we have loved the poor, how we have given
dignity and respect to the many "joes" whom we meet on our
life’s journey.
When I
am not meeting the down trodden during my day's trek, I need to
challenge myself about whether or not I am on the correct journey in life.
Peace, Joy, and
Love.
10 feb 2006 helene eckrich:
Keith was still short of breath yesterday (even on home oxygen and at rest) and was gaining weight every day (fluid weight).
I called his cardiologist and then took him to the ER. He was admitted to CCU again yesterday for right sided congestive heart failure. He will be in the hospital several days while they diuresis him to get the excess fluid off. He is on Lasix IV drip(diuretic) and oxygen. Please continue your prayers. He may have "constrictive pericarditis" and may need surgical intervention at some point in time if it does not get better. I am praying for miracle #3.. that the constrictive pericarditis disappears. Love. 12 feb 2006 gael stahl: Thanks, Helene. it does sound like congestive heart failure so yes, our prayers are getting more desperate. Keith is a lovely sweet person with a huge heart. All of his friar friends know and appreciate that and our own hearts, such as they are, go out to you with all our might.
13 feb 2006 chuck faso:
Aloha, Family and Friends, from Honolulu, Hawaii,
where I am preaching a parish mission at the Co-Cathedral of St.
Theresa.
This is the fourth Parish Mission I have preached
since January. The three previous missions have been in Louisville-KY,
Clearwater Beach-FL, Schaumburg-IL. Five more
Parish Mission are schedule in March and April in Barrington-IL,
Springhill-FL, Oak Lawn-IL, Columbus-OH, and Orland
Park-IL. I enjoy the travel and feel so blessed with each mission
that I preach. And I plan to continue to preach
until the phone stops ringing with requests and/or my body decides for
me.
So far so good, on both accounts.
On April 6, I will lead a group of pilgrims to the
Holy Land for Holy Week - my 24th pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine and my
first for Holy Week...
Aloha, Peace, Shalom and Salaam to you and your
families.
For more details click here: Fr.
Chuck's web page
13 feb 2006 gael stahl:
My ophthalmologist got my doctor to finally let me take a blood test for diabetes to explain, as he knew 98% of time it must, my sudden doubling of my myopia overnight and also sudden loss of 17 pounds despite eating pretty much on my feed. The reading had jumped since November's glucose reading of 104 to over 300 in this more sophisticated test. So, now, I have to take a pill at dinner, and don't have to sweat every chunk of dark chocolate as long as it's only a piece or so a day. I have another appointment on President's day so I'll learn more. For now that's all I know, and I know it with a great Sigh of Relief. This sounds more manageable than some of the alternatives I had in mind… Both doctors told me not to put much money in stronger lenses or glasses. My makeshifts with more than double strength lenses will not be needed long and my sight will improve a lot. Heythat's great. And, I may be able to keep off some of those extra 17 pounds that I feel so good without. Easter came early this year. Before Mardi Gras.
14 feb 2006 jerry klein:
So sorry about Keith.
I don't think that I've seen Keith since the 60s.
Just so you know, my new
email address is jklein9495 of yahoo.com.
15
feb 2006 helene eckrich:
The pathology report came back …the milky fluid inside
the sac (abscess) was “Staphylococcus
aureus”…we all have this bacteria on our skin and nose. The
bacteria was most likely introduced into his pericardium when the doctor did
the emergency pericardiocentesis to save his life on January 19…remember the
procedure was done at the bedside…so not under the most sterile conditions…but
it was that or Keith died. Plus he had a pericardial catheter in his
chest for 3.5 days…so bacteria could have been introduced through this
also. He is already being treated with antibiotics… so that will
continue. He got his arterial line and insulin drip removed today.
He will get 1 of the 3 chest tubes out tomorrow…and move to the telemetry
unit.
Again…thanks for all your continued prayers.
Keith is still in CCU. His blood pressure,
pulse, EKG reading, oxygen saturation (explanation of O2 sat: your
red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to all of
your internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass
through the lungs, 95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with
oxygen to carry.), fluid output, etc. are all very good. He still has an
arterial line to measure vital signs…and a jugular IV line for IV fluids and
mediations. (If I keep explaining enough of this medical jargon, you will
all want to become RNS, I’m sure!) The nursing and medical care at the
hospital has been wonderful! God bless the nurses and doctors!
Once again I know many prayers were offered on Keith’s
behalf yesterday…and we appreciate all of them.
I spent the night with Keith in CCU (it’s not the
Hilton…not much sleep!)…but that’s why he is in CCU…for excellent nursing
care. I came home to get a nap…so that is why this email is so late in
coming to you today.
I hope I am including all on long list…please
forward to anyone I missed.
Please continue the prayers. Miracles do
happen! Love,
Keith had another unit of blood yesterday. Then
he was fluid overloaded, so he was short of breath and had leg edema…so he had
Lasix IV 3 x yesterday and this AM also. He was transferred to the
telemetry unit last evening. He now has a bedsore from being in bed and
sitting for almost a month. The wound care nurse came in to access it and
treat it. He now has an air mattress on the bed.
Good news…he walked all the way around the nurses’
station today…the longest he has walked since January 19. So praise the
Lord!
Hopefully he will continue to get stronger each
day.
I’m off for a nap since I spent the night at the
hospital.
Keith had more shortness of breath and his legs were very
edematous yesterday…more right sided heart failure…he had to have Lasix IV
three times yesterday. The chest x-ray this AM showed some fluid in his
lungs and pleural space…so more Lasix IV today. He did walk twice around
the nursing unit today (600 ft) …he was winded by the second lap but made
it!! Thank goodness he was going to the gym 7 days a week to exercise for
an hour for 7 weeks prior to this nightmare beginning. His legs are
strong.
The doctors plan to take his large chest tube
out tomorrow if the drainage is low today…and leave the small mediastinal chest
tube in…to be advanced out 1 cm per day for 7-10 days after his
discharge. We will have to go into the cardio-thoracic surgeon’s office
every day to have this done after he is discharged. We are trying to
regulate his blood sugars also…. too high after meals…too low in the middle of
the night (blood glucose = 52 at 4 AM). Today he developed a nose bleed
that lasted for awhile…a combination of blood thinners and continuous oxygen
drying out his nasal membranes, I figure. An ENT doctor will see him
tomorrow. Due to the pericardial infection, he will be on antibiotics for
6 weeks.
I am off to the hospital again…I spent the last 2
nights there due to shortness of breath. I came home this afternoon to
try to “baby proof” the house as our oldest daughter, Heather and only
grandchild, Kylie (18 months old) arrive tomorrow from Champaign IL for a week
visit. This will be good for “BaPa” (Kylie’s pet name for Grandpa Keith!).
We will take Kylie to the hospital’s visitors’ room and put Keith in a
wheelchair to visit.
Please continue prayers!
18 FEB 2006
JOE SMITH:
Thanks for your missive. I’ve been busy on the
hospital run, as my wife has had a (successful) bypass and is recovering well,
now, finally at home!
I have no working computer, but the kids do, and my
son in law is a computer genius and pulls in quite a salary at work.
Sent you a piece in April last year on ecumenism.
[Many thanks, Joe. You never slow down and keep music alive and alert.
– Gael] As a musician I’ve served in a goodly number
of churches.
Celebrated 40 years of marriage – on Groundhog Day.
Big bash by family and friends.
Hello to all und Alle. Am in good health and spirits
ever yet. (Will slow down by 95 or so.)
Yours, Joe Smith, 6134 N Maplewood Ave, Chicago IL
60659
19 feb 2006
Alan and Bernadine Hoffman
Helene, you do not know me,
but Keith does. Tell him his old seminary buddy, Alan Hoffman, has him in
his daily prayers to be healed in whatever way it is needed. He has a
battle on his hands. But the presence of his daughter and granddaughter
should bring a smile to his lips and warm his heart.
I, too, have been battling
diabetes for about the last ten years. It is a daily challenge to keep
that blood sugar in the correct range. But it is vitally important
because it affects all other body systems.
My wife, Bernadine, and I
will be celebrating our 39th wedding anniversary this June.
Where does the time go?
I grew up in Champaign, a
place I dearly loved. Both of my parents are buried there.
Thank you, Helene, for
keeping us updated on Keith’s health. We pray for him and your family
each and every day. May the Lord’s healing touch be upon him.
24
feb 2006 paul stubenbort:
Hi Gael! Hi Jack!
You guys have so many urls I'm not sure this
is the right one, but here goes. First of all, you're doing a great job! But
then
you've been told that.
This July the ordination class of 1958 is having a
reunion at Quincy University. A while ago Ricardo Duffy called me
from
Brazil and instructed me to get the guys together. Lullus
(Ricardo) still has that Franciscan charm about him. The plan was
for Duffy and Maury Hawickhorst to fly
here from Brazil and the three of us would drive my RV from Philadelphia to
Quincy via Teutopolis which is Maury's hometown and
where I spent five years of my life experiencing the vision of St.
Francis and the intricacies of systematic theology.
Francis has stuck. Systematic theology has been drastically revised. (My
wife Patricia wanted no part of this mad caper and
opted out. Her mother didn't raise a dummy.) Maury is balking because
he is guardian of a group of Germans (not from our
Province.) REAL Germans somewhere deep in the tropical jungles of
Brazil and he feels if he leaves now he will be
neglecting his duty. I think he is really afraid of a Munich Putsch and since
he
was in the popo club [This must be a piece of
esoterica from the class of 58? Or a typo? JB] earlier in life does not
want
to suffer that humiliation again. So I'll have to talk
to Maury.
Any way, the class of whatever who will assemble is
comprised of:
Larry (Ephrem) Brummer. He has spent most of his priestly life in Texas and
will therefore probably go straight to heaven.
Not because he has had to put up with Texas, but
because he has ministered all that time to the poorest of the poor. And
because of the significance of the Franciscan missions
there and because of the poor, Larry is serving, San Jose and Larry's
parish have been designated as the place where the
Province will turn out the lights last.
Dismas Bonner.
What can I say! In chemistry class in Cleveland our prof always smiled
benevolently at Diz because he
knew Diz knew more than he knew. But the rest of us
were cannon fodder. When Diz and I were together in DC I think he
was guardian. So he escaped the popo club. But I do
think his prodigious talent was wasted on canon law.
Tom Carolan.
I haven't kept up with Tom over the years. I only remember that I was intensely
jealous of Tom during our
"fifth year" in St. Louis when he went right
into parish work and I had to go to school to study German. I envied him for
being
such a good parish priest. Maybe that's why I'm doing
so many weddings and baptisms now.
J.J. Lakers.
A lifetime at Quincy University and our host for the reunion. Have you read his
book, "Christian Ethics"? The
theology is straightforward and also the history. The
philosophy is a little tough. At our reunion he will clarify for me "a
metaphor in search of a body". Or something like
that. I'll share that insight with you later.
Mike Clarahan. (Campion) Career military chaplain. A couple weeks ago my niece
was dying in Hinsdale and Mike
anointed her and conducted a funeral service. Her
mother and husband told me they thought Mike was St. Francis. I told
Mike I did not disabuse them of the impression but
nonetheless I think they were on target.
Maury Hawickhorst. At Mayslake we bought a '28 Ford for $50.00, drove it to Pittsburgh
where I lived, and he then
drove it back to Teutopolis. Kept it for the summer
and resold it for 50.00 before coming back to the seminary. I think he's
doing the same thing in Brazil.
Ricardo (Lullus) Duffy. In Chicago, people still save cancelled checks (or
even bounced ones) from Mother Cabrini as
relics. That's why I save checks I sent Duffy. They'll
be worth money some day...together we visited schools around T town
with a dog and pony show about kerygmatic theology.
Lots of singing and dancing...I don't know how much kerygma.
Paul (Josaphat) Stubenbort. I do lots of weddings and baptisms. But now I'm
gearing up for the '06 elections. Sen. Rick
Santorem and Cong. Mike Fitzpatrick are up for
election. They are both taliban Catholics, who, along with the redneck
fundamentalists, have made possible the morally and
socially destructive regime that is trying to destroy our country. So I'll be
out knocking on doors. Wish me luck.
Let you know later about the reunion.
[Great update, Paul. Thanks.
JB]
26 feb 2006 Jack Bartz:
Bob Dougherty makes The Chicago Tribune when he confronts
the law.
Click here for the full story: Bob Dougherty and
the Law
28 Feb 2006 helene eckrich:
Sorry I have not emailed in awhile….email was down but
has been fixed for several days (Thanks to our friend Steve!!). Also
Heather and Kylie were visiting, so we were trying to spend as much time with
them as possible. They left on Sunday AM early…we miss them.
Keith is doing much better….he is a lot less short of breath. Over the
weekend, he was walked with oxygen up the block 7 houses and back
twice…stopping a few times to catch his breath. We have been spending all
our time at the Lovelace clinics. We were there for 5 hours on Friday Feb
24. He was in heart failure again (short of breath, fluid on board)
…probably due to too much salt in his diet the night before…he needed IV
Lasix. Yesterday (Monday Feb 27), we were there for a lab draw and a
doctor’s appointment…and to get his bedsore checked. Today we go for 2
doctor’s appts …and Thursday we go for one more doctor’s appt. He is
definitely stronger and needing less pain meds….it has been 15 days since his
heart surgery. He is still on antibiotics till March 27.
Thanks for the continued prayers.
5 mar 2006 gael stahl:
Jerry Etzkorn was our guest March 4-5 Saturday 3 p.m. to Sunday 11:15 a.m. when I took him to the airport. He's now in
flight to Geneva, Switzerland to do six weeks of work with microfilm of the Sentences of Peter Lombard with some colleagues. He parked his car with us and Linda will join him in April. They'll visit Greece and return the 20th of April. I'll pick them up at the airport and they'll head home. We had a delightful two-day visit and never stopped talking except for sleep from the time he arrived until he left this morning. When Susan joined us, as she did almost all of those hours, the conversations scintillate. When a philosophy pro and grateful student are moderated by a woman like her, the subjects vary more gracefully and the memories keep popping. At 78, Ferd is in splendid shape. He and I took a brisk walk around the park on our road, did a not quite two-mile loop, and our hearts sang in time to our fast stepping pace… Other good news is that for the last few days my blood glucose readings have been greatly regularized and I'm feeling like a new person, finally. I realize my doctor was right when he said that this has been going on longer than we thought. When I feel good now, I feel really good – good as in I'd forgotten how I used to feel before the glucose highs kicked in over the months. This unexpected onset diabetes has been a one-month trip, let me tell you. 5 mar 2006 gael stahl: Zach Hayes to be honored. Oh, to be in St. Louis, this week. Glad to see our dogma and christology prof given the
acknowledgement of a hardworking career. From: Benet Fonck March 4, 2006Among the BrothersMarch 4, 2006 * Occasional News Briefing of the OFM Province of the Sacred Heart BONAVENTURIANAA Celebration in Honor ofZachary Hayes, O.F.M.Professor Emeritus, Catholic Theological UnionInvited Speakers:Bernard McGinnIlia Delio, O.S.F.Robert J. Karris, O.F.M.When: 11AM * 1PM, March 11, 2006Where: St. Louis University, Pius XII Library, Knights Room The Franciscan Institute, St. Bonaventure UniversityThe Board of the Bonaventure Texts and Translations SeriesDepartment of Graduate Theology, St. Louis University
FEBRUARY - MARCH 06 ERV PFEIFER
[Erv sent Gael three prints of his family and one
of Jovian Lang and Sugar Ray Robinson in 1956 and one of Jovian
and Sugar Ray and Erv’s entire senior class of ’56
(H.S. graduation) at Mayslake.
Actually, I notice Richard Korn
and Jim Perluzzi of the class ahead of them are
in the photo too.
Erv has also emailed Jack Brennan many more photos. He
also sent them to Gael but a crash of his email service
has lost him all his DD files stored there.]
08 mar 2006
keith eckrich:
Dear All:
I finally feel fit to write
an email to all of you who have been so kind in sending your best wishes for my
recovery and for your prayers in that regard. I am aware that many, many
folks have indicated their best for me both in emails and to Helene.
I am so grateful and appreciative. May our loving Father continue to
bless you all as I have been blessed.
I had a cardiac arrest on
Oct 16 in Champaign, Illinois, while visiting our kids and grandchild, Kylie
Mae. Fortunately, Helene was right there, and she kept me alive with CPR
until the ambulance arrived and I was defibrillated seven times. Upon
returning to Albuquerque, I was making good progress with cardiac rehab and spending
an hour each day at the gym. I was told that “exercise is magic” and it
surely seems to be because my blood pressure and pulse both lowered and other
assorted aches and pains disappeared with regular workout.
In mid-January, however,
medical tests revealed continuing heart problems and I underwent a heart
catheterization during which an artery was perforated. The bleeding led
to a tamponade, a rather rare event, in which blood hindered my heart beat
causing my blood pressure to be unreadable. Only immediate actions by my
cardiologist in the hospital room saved my life. I was conscious during
all this, but I could feel myself slipping away. Helene constantly prayed
in my ear and told me not to fall asleep as she knew I would not awaken.
I am told that I was minutes from death.
The invasion into my chest
to address the tamponade resulted in an infection on my heart requiring open
heart surgery on Feb 13. I came home Feb 22. I feel stronger each
day, have been off oxygen for a week or so, and I can now walk around the block
without getting winded.
I have been fortunate to
have my beloved as a private-duty nurse to tend me during recovery.
Helene is off work until I can care for myself. I accuse her, though, of
being a “salt Nazi” (a la Seinfeld’s “soup Nazi”) in that she “helps” me curb
my desire for salt. I am on three diets: cardiac, diabetic and one to
curb kidney stones which I seem to always have. Three diets allow me to
have eight glasses of water per day, and a rabbit I am not, so salads don’t help.
Through all this, it has
been remarkable to me that I haven’t been depressed, a favorite response of
mine in times past. I am just happy to be here.
Bless you and continue
to be lovingly held in our Father’s hands.
Peace.
[Welcome back, Keith! JB]
12 mar 2006 Carroll Mizicko:
It is official! I am
now Pastor of the new St. Augustine of Hippo Catholic Church. This Saint
and Doctor of the Church from northern Africa died in the year 430. He
was chosen as patron for the new church because the original church that served
the Black community in East St. Louis, 1920-1960, bore this name.
The four parishes that were
suppressed held their final Mass on February 26th. All were
packed as former members and families who had their roots at the churches came
back for the final celebration. There were many tears but also many fond
memories. People also had the opportunity of bidding loving farewell to
their pastors that had served them so faithfully for so many years.
During the week of Feb. 26
to March 4, we finalized plans for the Inaugural Mass and Installation of the
Pastor on March 5, including changing the name on the front of the
Church. In the middle of the week we had Ash Wednesday which
included the East St. Louis tradition of a “fasting meal” of potato soup and a
grilled cheese sandwich for all interested prior to the Mass at 7:00 PM.
The Inaugural Mass was held
at 10:30 AM on March 5th with Bishop Braxton presiding and yours
truly as principle celebrant. The ceremony, if I do say so myself,
was quite impressive. It began with the Bishop standing at the door of
the Church and in a naming ceremony based on the rite of Baptism asking the
people assembled what name they wish to give to their new church? All
responded “St. Augustine of Hippo!” The Bishop then asked what they asked
of God’s church for their new community of faith? They all responded, “To
be a witness for Christ!” The Bishop and ministers processed to the front
of the Church where he placed incense in a bowl and moved around the Church and
incensed the space and the people as the choir sang “This Is Holy
Ground.”
The installation of the
pastor then took place. The Bishop first asked if I was willing to serve
this faith community as its first pastor. Then representatives from the
four parishes that were closed brought up symbols of the pastorate and I was
asked if I accept these symbols of my ministry to this faith community.
The symbols that were brought forward were: the Scriptures, the Sacramentary,
Baptismal Water (from each of the four parishes), the Paschal Candle, the Holy
Oils, the Parish Directory, and a collection basket. The priest who is
head of our Deanery presented me with a stole, symbolic of my ministry as
pastor and welcomed me to the Deanery.
The Mass then proceeded as
usual with the Bishop delivering the Homily. After the homily I took the
Oath of Office, which replaced the creed. The people were
then asked if they would accept me and support me as their pastor. Bishop
Braxton then invited all to extend their hands in blessing over me as
pastor. After a round of applause the choir led us in a song of
thanksgiving, “Holy God We Praise Thy Name.”
For the Preparation
representatives brought forward the Altar Stones from the four parishes
with the names of the Churches inscribed on them. These were placed at
the base of the altar symbolizing the foundation upon which we are building
this new faith community. A statue or artifact from each parish was then
presented indicating the rich traditions that will be blended into the new
Church. The altar was then dressed with a new altar cloth and
candles. Finally the traditional offertory gifts were brought
forward.
At the end of the Mass I
offered thanks to the many people who were involved in planning this
celebration and extended an invitation to all to join us for the reception in
the school cafeteria.
We were concerned about how
many people would be present for the Inaugural Mass as many people are still
angry with the Bishop for some of his decisions. While it was obvious
that many people chose not to attend, still we had a good number present…
probably around 225 representing all four parishes. It will
probably take us a few weeks to determine our actual size and our hope is that
others may still choose to join us in the future.
This week I will be moving
from the Friary to the rectory. It is less than a half a block away so it
is very close and I will still come to the Friary for prayers and evening meals
and meetings. This will also free up another room at the Friary for
someone who may be interested in either ministering in the Belleville Diocese,
spending some time with us, or just visiting. In addition the rectory
offers the possibility of immediately providing an additional three guest
rooms, and with some renovations, probably, at least, another three
rooms. There are five full baths in the three floor rectory.
While I will still receive
mail and phone messages at my current address, my official address and home
phone will be:
St. Augustine Church
408 Columbia Place,
East St. Louis, IL 62205
Phone: (618) 274-0655.
My E-mail address will stay
the same: cm1941 of a0l.com.
This letter has been “all
about me”. Frs. Ferd and Chris are doing well and continue to
expand their ministries. My assuming the pastorate of the new parish
offers new possibilities for ministry. I will continue some ministry
at St. Elizabeth Hospital but scaled back at present. If you are interested in
exploring some ministry possibilities do not hesitate to contact me. In
my next “View From the East Side” I will share with you some of our plans for
the new parish.
Peace and everything that is
good!
13 mar 2006 Lawrence Jagdfeld:
New or change of address:
San Damiano
Friary, 4856 W. 29th Street, Cicero, IL 60804,
708-656-1022.
Currently writing History of
Sacred Heart Province as we prepare to celebrate 150th Anniversary of friars
coming from Holy
Cross Province in Germany
(1858). Will publish Necrology of Sacred Heart Province in 2006
containing short biographical
sketch (thumbnail sketch ala
GK) of each deceased friar of Sacred Heart Province.
As Sacred Heart Province is
currently in conversation with St. John the Baptist Province
(Cincinnati) and Assumption
Province (Wisconsin) about the possibility of restructuring the Midwestern
Provinces, both the
history and necrology will
be valuable resources in the future. Regional meetings being held this
spring to look at what the
future may look like for the
three Midwestern Provinces.
In addition to my history
research and writing, spending time in the archives of the province, I am also
working part time at
St. Peter's in downtown
Chicago.
I found the reactions to GK's
and George (Agatho) Windolph's death interesting reading. Several
years ago, George
published an article about
his work in the hospital nursery entitled, "I Burp, Therefore I
Am." Great picture of George in his
later years, always the
philosopher.
Currently, Tom Fratus,
Fred Smith, Vincent Callahan, and Bob (Robert Francis) Dentzman, all in
frail health.
13 mar 2006
david struckhoff (Frater Ward):
Hello all. Trying to stay in the loop. Am
pre-retirement from Loyola/Chicago Criminal Justice, but still love the
profession.
Any visitors welcome to stop by at our Water Tower
Campus at 820 N. Michigan -- just behind the Water Tower -- 9th
Floor office -- will try to be in office if I
know you are visiting. Jack Bartz and I last met over a dinner at
a Downers Grove
brew house. Good Stuff!!
17 mar 2006
frank coens:
Thanks for the 2005 edition of Diaspora
Digest.
You asked about the whereabouts of Ed Dean.
Ed is a very active parishioner here at St. Vincent's
in Nashville where I am pastor. He is the Director of the RCIA program
as well as president of the Parish Council. He
and his wife Barbara live in Franklin, TN just south of Nashville. His
address
is: 16106 Ambiance Way, Franklin, TN 37067.
25 mar 2006 jack Christensen:
Recently received e-mail from Cullan saying the class I was ordained with in Jan 66 was going to have a 40th reunion at the Cabrini Center in Desplaines, Il on the weekend of June 29. (http://www.cabrinicenter.org/) Anyway, I requested that they include the group from June 66 as well. And so it goes. I am the promoter for the June group but would ask that you and whoever (Brennan) can do it send out a preliminary notification to the crew of June 66 with information to follow. You have the e-mail list and are much more computer savvy that I will ever, or want to be. I will forward any new info to you asap. News of interest that could be transferred to the DD by someone technically astute:John Behl and I spent several hours on Thursday, March with the retired, etc. Friars in Sherman. It was both joyful and sad: joyful to talk with the friars who are still healthy and somewhat active and sad to see those who have failed. Spent much time conversing with Zachary and had lunch with him and Method Wilson who is from John's hometown of Trowbridge. Also met Willie Hegner who is 96 and still as irreverent as ever, Bob Dentzman who continues to amaze me with his memory, Dave Eckelkamp, Victor Kingery. The sad part with trying to converse with Valerius who looks great and is, for want of a better word, vacant. How sad for a mind like that to be entrapped. So, I recommend to any and everyone who is ever near Springfield, that they stop off and visit, it is greatly appreciated. Just about a half mile off RT 55 at the Sherman exit turn right on St. John's street and left into the facility. A good work to be done. Best.
27 mar 2006 Jack Christensen:
I don't know what e-mail I sent got to you but here's the message: I misread a message from Cullan concerning the gathering that the Jan 66 was having in June for their fortieth. I then requested that the June 66 group be included which seems fairly logical and fraternal. Cullan just called to clarify - they are having their own gathering and not including the June 66 group. I, in my own rather charitable fashion, told him (Cullan was not in on this decision) that I would not be attending with the group I was ordained with because I thought we were all in this together and the non-inclusive decision was beyond my way of thinking. So, in case my e-mail did get thru to you (I am not exactly the most technological person in the world, although I just read Tom Friedman's book and theoretically I am with it...) but cancel anything I wrote. God Bless and Peace.
30 mar 2006
gael stahl:
Thanks, Jack/Saul, for a great letter and update. I've been thinking of giving old Trowbridge John (Behl) a call myself soon. I miss not being in contact. Glad you made the trip. This is the first I've heard of a June 66 reunion. That's a great idea. I'm working my way back thru my e-letters and may know more before the end of the weekend. Mike and Judy Mooney are arriving Saturday to watch the George Mason game. They've been in Florida for their usual
Jan-April sojourn and are eager to get back home. If they encounter weather like we had last week, they might lose some of that nostalgic verve. We had colder weather than in Jan/Feb, But all is well. PS: I'm not sure what the failure notice was, but I got this. Thanks for keeping the Diaspora fringe friar elan going strong – and that goes for John and Jack too. With Hardesty, that puts four of you John/Jacks in my daily vocabulary. I may go back to using your OFM names Saul, Linus, Terry and Neal. [Not to mention Jack Bartz, John Miller, John Laker et al.] 06 apr 2006 chuck faso:
Happy Easter to you
all! The Shalom of Pesach, Passover be yours! Today, April 6, I fly with a
group of 20 pilgrims from
Chicago to Milan and on to
Tel Aviv. We will walk down the Mt. of Olives on Palm
Sunday, then to Galilee for three days.
We return to Jerusalem for
Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.
Be assured of a remembrance
in our prayers at all the places made holy by God's loving presence through
Abraham and
Sarah, King David, the
Prophets and Mary and Joseph - and Jesus the Christ. Blessings of
Easter Peace to you all!
May the Lord Easter in you
and be a Dayspring for any dimness!
We return to Chicago April
18th. Be well and stay too blessed to be stressed!
18 apr 2006 mike kellett: Jack, a little note from Mike Kellett to say hi to you and to all the folks who get your communication. Can you advise all of our new website - http://www.amazonfriars.org/ Peace, thanks and Happy Easter. 19 Apr 2006 jack Brennan: Reading an article somewhere - Commonweal? - and saw Thomas Shannon quoted, so I Googled him: Great picture of Tom. Tom Shannon's web page 19 apr 2006 dan tanna: Jack, thanks a billion!!! Tommy whipped through "Catcher in the Rye" like a hot knife on soft butter in our sophomore year at Joe's. Between him and Danny D they consumed the Great Book series with lightening speed. I crouched on the sidelines not realizing I was in the good company of two future PHD'er. Perfect photo of Tommy! I talked to him via phone a couple of years ago. Did you know his daughter (one of his daughters) published a great coffee table book on Ireland. “Irish Blessings” is the title I believe (Amazon.com has it). I have a copy at home. She was in advanced Irish studies at ND that last time I heard. Hope all is well, Jack, with you and the family. 19 apr 2006 jack Brennan I know the feeling. I used to watch Zeke read Plato for fun in the original while I was still trying to figure out why the hell Fr.Blaise Hackman's cigarette smoke fell when it was in the bell jar and so forth and so on...