Diaspora Digest # 38

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Editor: Gael Stahl

Webmeister: Jack Brennan

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Dear Diaspora,

 

Please take a moment to verify your information on our email roster and our address book.  If we need to make corrections, we are happy to do so.  Access both pages from the main page of our site: http://www.diasporadigest.org/    

 

We encourage you to use our Forums.  We have moderated them so that they are more user friendly. Go here:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Diaspora_ofm/ .  If you have not signed up, click “Join” and fill in the form to get a user name and password.  If you have already joined, click the tab “Forums” and then “Diaspora Digest Forum.”  Click on a topic or start one of your own. Click on the “Reply” button on the upper right hand corner of the topic page to comment on that particular topic.

 

Gael and Jack

 

Text Box: 		UPDATES WANTED:  
We lost touch with the people below. 
If you have any information about them, please write us at: 
ddeditors@diasporadigest.org   

<jballard of hbci.com>: 		Jim Ballard
				Rev. John Bolderson
<slhouse of ix.netcom.com>:	Bob Dougherty
<clyde of dclink.com>:  		Clyde Ebenreck 
<pj of plattevalley.net>: 		Patrick Feehan
<pkfeehan of plattevalley.net>: 	Patrick & Kelly Feehan
<James.Fischer of ee.doe.gov>:  	James Fischer
				Larry Johnson
				Warren Kmiec
<linccil of htctech.net>:  		John Laker
<mikenol of consolidated.net>: 	Mike Nolan
				Bruce Orey
<gregory_Sadlek of unomaha.edu>: 	Gregory Sadlek
				Herb Wheatley
<user276 of aol.com>:  		Arnold Wieser

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

7 Apr 2006 jack Christensen to gael stahl:

Do you have the e-mail addresses for Mooney and Jim Wheeler?  I want to let them know where I stand on the reunion affair, even tho Jim has signed up to attend.  If he is still in Quincy and living with Kurt, I do believe our former provincial would be interested in my attempt to unite the classes.

 

Anyway, there is new biography of Andy Jackson by H W Brands that I found to be quite good and thought you might be interested.  Thanks for the help.

 

12 apr 2006 Gael Stahl to jack Christensen:

The best way to get to Mike is write him thru Judy. I always do. <judith_mooney of sbcglobal.net> The most recent one I have for Jim Wheeler is <eeler1721 at yahoo.com>

               
Who is putting your early 1966 ordination class reunion together?

 

18 apr 2006 jack Christensen to Gael Stahl:

No idea who is responsible for the planning, the only information I have received is from Cullan and he says he is not in charge.  Thanks for the information on Mike and Jim.

 

22 Apr 2006 John Miller:

We're still here and the old AOL eddress still works.  For a very short time I used another service and immediately got a virus through them.  Sandy didn't want to change hers from AOL, so we kept it.  Hard to teach "old dogs" new tricks. 

 

We like the northwest just fine, and are finally pretty well finished with the house, except for landscaping. 

 

1 may 2006 jerry etzkorn:

In order that I would have sufficient rehab time so I could get to Kevin's wedding on June 3rd, the surgeon fitted me in for hip revision surgery on Thursday, April 27th. Everything went well and the revision was relatively minor: a larger ball and an enlarged socket. I was released Saturday, April 29th and am now at home doing my exercise therapy and using a walker. The pain has lessened considerably. Thanks for your best wishes and prayers.

 

8 May 2006 Helene Eckrich:

Keith went to his cardiologist yesterday and he is doing very well. Keith's echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) was good; no effusion.  No rub in his heart.  Lab work looks great.  He does not have to go back for a return visit for 6-8 months!!  Keith is going to Cardiac Rehab 3 days a week and to our gym as many other days as possible.  He does not get short of breath anymore.  

We are so happy.  Thanks again for all your prayers.  Praise the Lord!  Love to all.

 

19 May 2006 Cullan Uhlinger: 

Speaking of hearts, I talked to Keith Eckrich for over an hour on Wednesday. He's doing well now - spends 45 minutes a day on the treadmill. He's going to St. L in June to help Chris Reuter celebrate his 40th anniversary. We also talked about Jim Lyke - it's hard to believe it's almost 14 years since he died. I keep his Memorial Mass card on our bulletin board - he was consecrated bishop here in Cleveland on 8/1/79. Keith came for it. My parents (by coincidence) were here in Cleveland visiting at the time and we all went to his reception.

 

22 May 2006 Carroll Mizicko:

It has been over two months since my last communication.  The reason is two-fold.  It is true that I have been a little busy with closing four parishes and establishing the new one but I have also had trouble getting on the internet at the rectory... 

              

The establishment of the new parish is going reasonably well.  We have an initial core group of over 160 families who have officially registered at St. Augustine.  This is probably about half of the total families that were members of the four previous parishes.  Many we know have chosen to go to other Catholic Churches but we still anticipate that others will eventually find their way back to East St. Louis.  Even though we are relatively small in numbers we have good participation in terms of people serving in the various liturgical ministries and on our councils and commissions...

                

The big challenge facing us is getting some programs in place which were not a part of the previous parishes.  Notably,  a regular religious education program and active parish commissions.  We will be holding a Vacation Bible School in July and hope to have a total parish religious education program in place for the fall.  What we have been calling the Planning Council will be drafting a set of Pastoral Council constitutions and by-laws with a selection process for members over the next months.  We do have a Finance Council established and operating.  The Parish has received a grant for $10,000.00 from Catholic Charities, in cooperation with Catholic Urban Programs of East St. Louis, to establish an outreach program for seniors in our community.  This will be a new venture calling for more active involvement of parishioners in the life of the surrounding community…

 


Due to the needs of establishing the new Parish I have had to curtail my involvement in some other ministries for the present.  I am still keeping my fingers in at St. Elizabeth Hospital and help out there when needed, usually about two days a month.  I still serve “on call” for emergencies from 11 PM to 7 AM a couple days of a week and lead the prayer service for their Retreat Days for staff which are held about twice a month.  I have not been able to make many of the Interfaith meetings lately but hope to do better as my schedule gets settled.  I will be the facilitator for a forum at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine next week discussing the topic of  “Who is Jesus Christ in Your Faith Tradition?”  The panelists will be from the Baha, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Christian Scientist and the Roman Catholic.  It should be interesting.

              

My last remaining aunt, Helen Mizicko, died recently she was almost 97.  I was happy that I was able to make it to Leonore, IL to celebrate the Funeral Mass.  She was a great lady, not highly educated, but extremely wise in terms of what is important in life.  I was also glad to be a support to Leon Killen, my grade school classmate, and his wife Judy who looked after Aunt Helen for so many years.  May she rest in peace.

              

I made a quick trip to Chicago May 6th to attend the wedding of my niece, Dawn Mizicko.  Dawn is the daughter of my brother Melory and his wife Anna.  Dawn married a Japanese gentleman, Hideki Oyama.  The wedding included traditions from both cultures and was held in the garden of a mansion in Oak Park.  It was a wonderful celebration and an opportunity to connect again with Melory and his family.

              

Fathers Ferd and Chris are doing well in their ministries and are a real support to me in my new challenge.  I do miss living with them but I have prayer and a meal with them almost every day.  The rectory is not even a half block from the Friary.  Should you want to come and visit some time we have plenty of room between the two places.   We are looking forward to having a visit from the choir and people from Little Flower Church in Monroe, LA in June.  It is always good to reconnect with my extended family.

              

I will be changing my E-mail address in the next month.  The new address is cmofm1968 of yahoo.com.  My old AOL address will also work for about another month.  Take care and keep me in your prayers.

 

22 May 2006 Joan Porche: 

God rest Fr. Pierre's soul, and may God hold his family close to His heart.  I am convinced that I shall not live long enough to learn to accept death.   Think of you guys frequently, Gael, as Jeni shares her scholarly pursuits at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. She certainly is our shining star and is loving her philosophy, history and theology pursuits.             

 

And, God grant Martin Wolter peace. My prayers for him, his brothers and his family.  Sending a soulful hug!    [Joan is a Chicago/Corpus Christi former nun. She and her husband Jack Porche – who has died - were leaders and inspirers of the diaspora and friars of Chicago. GS]

 

26 May 2006 Bob Pawell: (Invite to 40th sacerdotal Jubilee)

On June 24, 1966 I was ordained to the priesthood at St. Francis Church in Teutopolis, IL.  This year I will have been ordained forty years!  And I have chosen to celebrate this 40th Anniversary on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 23rd with a Solemn Mass at 12:15 at St. Peter’s in the Loop. I hope you can join me for the celebration and for a simple coffee and cake reception following the liturgy.  Should you be prevented from attending please be with me in prayer as I say “Thanks be to God” for these forty years of priestly service.

              

Why the 40th anniversary?  Don’t folks usually celebrate their 25th and 50th anniversaries?  Are we rushing the season a bit?  Well, some might say that, but the real reason is that I want to be able to celebrate this anniversary with gusto.  I am sixty-eight years of age.  If I wait to celebrate my 50th anniversary I’ll be 78 and I doubt I’d be in shape to do much celebrating.  And I want to celebrate these forty years of Franciscan priesthood - especially this year.

              

“We need a little Christmas...” In the musical version of the stage play, “Auntie Mame” there is a poignant scene wherein Mame, recently fired from her job the week before Thanksgiving, cheers family and friends singing, “...we need a little Christmas right this very minute, candles in the window, carols at the spinet...”

              

That’s how I feel in this fortieth year of my priesthood as I pray for both the victims and victimizers in clergy abuse crisis; for the hierarchy which has handled this mess so poorly; for an end to the ever widening cost and chaos of our nation’s misadventure in Iraq - lost lives, irreparably wounded men and women, our national treasure squandered;  for so many in New Orleans and the Gulf South still coping with  the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina; for fellow cancer survivors  and others dealing with debilitating illness.

              

I want to celebrate every year of my ordained ministry - remembering with gratitude the first year concluding my theological studies while assisting on weekends in rural Illinois parishes; the year at St. Anthony’s Parish in St. Louis, Missouri; the years from 1968-1971 with the Brothers of Taizé and fellow Friars on Locust Street; the years as a worker-priest in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago at the Beacon Street Fraternity working at St. Benet’s Bookstore, serving the emerging Charismatic Movement; the years from 1976 to 1996 in New Orleans,  LA founding Tau House - a Ministry to those Outside the Church’s Ordinary care; co-founding Project Lazarus – Louisiana’s first  residence for indigent persons living with AIDS; the years on staff at Blessing  Place in Lacombe, LA  a holistic spirituality center for  priests and religious the return to Chicago in 1996 - co-founding  Holy Evangelists Friary and planting a garden there; years of  itinerant Preaching retreats and giving workshops;  directing the  Mt. Carmel House of Study and Prayer in Lakeview and the past three years -  serving together with my Franciscan Brothers at Saint Peter’s in Chicago’s Loop as Director of Programs; as Confessor; as  Preacher and Presider at the Table of the Lord.

 

These have been and are very happy years. And there has been and is great pain and sorrow.  I make my own the words of Leonard Cohen:

Ring the bells that still can ring. 

Forget your perfect offering.

There’s a crack in everything. 

That’s how the light gets in.

 

27 may 2006 maury smith:

I like the new features you have introduced.  They make for easier reading.

               Corrections:

Fr. Maury Smith, ofm     

Southeast Deanery Resource Coordinator

701 East Pyron

San Antonio, Texas 78214-2798 

210-854-2400, fax: 1-360-361-1386 (local call)

maurysmithofm of satx.rr.com

Web page - http://in.geocities.com/sedsatx

Formation in the Franciscan Tradition:

http://in.geocities.com/maurysmith

 

30 May 2006 Dennis Griffin (Jude):

Wonderful job on the Diaspora Digest!  Thank you! 

 

A small item from me:  I am on the reunion committee for my 50th high school reunion. I graduated from Joliet Catholic High School (taught by Carmelites) in 1957.  We had a total of 123 graduates.  The actual reunion is tentatively planned for the September 21st weekend in 2007.  I went to St. Joe's in Westmont after Joliet Catholic. 

 

3 Jun 2006 Chuck Faso:

Greetings on this beautiful sunny day in Chicago!

 

The May 13th-26th river cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg was an up-lifting, mind-stretching experience of palaces, churches, Red Square and Kremlin to historical villages where modern world has barely arrived.  An evening piano concert on St. Petersburg's Nevsky Prospect St and another evening of ballet in the Tsar's private concert hall at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg capped the wonderful two weeks.  Going through 18 locks on our hotel-ship, the Maxime Litvinov, from Moscow down to sea level to St. Petersburg was a learning experience in itself. One hundred sixty-six of us called the ship our home for two weeks.  If Russia is not on your list of places to visit, I would suggest that you reconsider. (Russia has 11 time zones.)

              

Also, for those of you who have known of the discernment process I have been part of during the last six months, the decision of the General Council in Rome was waiting for me when I returned from Russia.  Of the four USA friars being considered to be fund raisers for the Order for the next several years, a friar from my Province was appointed to head up the office in Rome and a friar from Boston was appointed to coordinate fund raising in the USA.  This means that I can continue to preach parish missions and retreats and to lead pilgrimages.  Blessings on Br. Moises and Fr. Dave.

              

Hope this summer is a blessed time for you and your families.  And may we meet along life's journey during these warm months.  May the Lord give you peace!  [Chuck’s web page: www.frchuckofm.org]

 

20 jun 2006 benet Fonck to Dan Mazar:

Thanks for your email.  I've heard nothing about Gil's plans.  The change should be out in the next week or so.  As soon as I hear something, I'll let you know.

              

On Saturday evening someone broke into my house and stole the computer for the Office of Communications.  Everything is gone! I have to rebuild address lists, photo archives, document files, etc., from scratch.  It will take me a while to get everything recreated. The ATP will suffer a bit.  Do you remember the names of those from the Diaspora who wanted to receive the ATP?  Peace.

 

21 jun 2006 erv pfeifer: 

[Erv sent a new batch of photos from St. Joe’s, Westmont - 1958 - the year his class graduated from 6th Class.  To view the photos in slide show format (takes about 10 minutes) click here and make sure your sound is on: http://www.diasporadigest.org/erv2.wmv ]

 

23 jun 2006 larry druffel: 

I've been exchanging e-mails with Mike Kellett.  I was a classmate of his at St. Joe's and also a good friend of Dick Amen who died last month in Brazil.  I left after high school (1958).

              

I learned that the remains of the friars who went to Brazil and died there are in need of some care.  Apparently the cemeteries in Santarem are overcrowded and the friars' gravesites are poorly maintained and dispersed.  Before his death last month, Fr. Pierre was working on a plan for a Mausoleum.

              

I'm considering spearheading a campaign to raise funds for the mausoleum and thought it might be appropriate to appeal to fellow alumni of St. Joe's but have no idea how to reach them.  I have heard that you write a newsletter that goes to many of them. I wonder if you might help me get the word out.  If you would, I'd be happy to write a paragraph for your newsletter outlining the need.

              

By the way, I'm not on your mailing list. Is it an e-mail newsletter?  How do I get on the list? [You are on it now and it is an email newsletter. You might want to check our email roster and our address book, both of which may be accessed from our main page:  http://www.diasporadigest.org/ How about a thumbnail sketch of what you have been up to? JB]

 

30 jun 2006 Gael Stahl: 

I had a nice phone conversation with Ed Dean Monday. He's very active at St. Vincent De Paul Parish, like head of the school board and such.  I'd heard this from the pastor, Frank Coens I think.  Ed Dean and Barbara, 16106 Ambiance Way, Franklin, TN 37067. home: 615-790-5096, dean5096 of bellsouth.net, edwind of wcs.edu

 

10 jul 2006 carroll mitzicko:

Greetings on a warm, but not quite as warm as it has been, Friday evening.  It is 5:15 and my outdoor thermometer shows a temperature of 88.9 degrees.  This one hundred year old rectory does not have central air but it does have a few old small window air conditioning units that are very noisy.  The inside temperature of my office is showing 84 degrees.  I do have a ceiling fan which is moving the air making it somewhat comfortable.

              

I am the only Franciscan in East St. Louis this weekend.  My com-padres, Frs. Ferd and Chris, are both up in Chicago participating in the Archbishop James P. Lyke Conference.  They will return Sunday.  We were able to send a bus load of people from St. Augustine to the conference and I think Althoff High School had two buses.  Fr. Ferd was able to obtain some grants to cover much of the cost of the conference.  It is a great experience that exposes people to some of the top speakers, music, liturgists and out standing liturgies in the African American Catholic community.

              

The new parish of St. Augustine is continuing to develop.  We are still adding new members to our roster as people decide that they want to be a part of this new venture.  With the summer many of our meetings are on hold because of summer vacations and other commitments.  However, life does not stop.  Our plan is to be ready to hold elections for the first Pastoral Council for the new parish in early fall.  We already have our Stewardship-Finance Council in place.  We also have four Parish Council Commissions established and at work: Worship and Spiritual Life, Community Outreach, Parish Life, and Religious Education and Faith Formation.  We do have a good number of people already involved in these commissions.  However, we are never satisfied…we always want more.

              

One of the highlights of the past month has been a visit from my family at Little Flower in Monroe, LA.  The choir and about twenty other folk from the parish came to St. Augustine on June 3 and 4.  The choir sang in concert on Saturday night and then at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday.  They were outstanding and much appreciated by the people.  I did video the concert so I can relive the experience and the memories of Little Flower again and again.  I deeply appreciate the generosity of the choir and parishioners from Little Flower to make the trip to share their gift of music and their presence with St. Augustine IN EAST ST. LOUIS.   (I felt I had to say it that way because of my family at St. Augustine in Memphis and at St. Vincent in Nashville.   By the way, I will be in contact with Memphis in the near future to see about arranging another visit to East St. Louis in the coming months, but this time to ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO, not St. Joseph.)

              

Another high light of the past weeks was a trip made by our youth to the Wisconsin Dells.  The parents raise money by working in a concession stand at the sports stadiums in St. Louis that generates enough money for them to take our youth on a fun and educational trip every other year.   Our youth also participate every year in the Kujenga Weekend held at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.   One of my goals is to develop our youth ministry further by providing more educational, faith formation and community service elements.  Social activities and fun is great but there is a need for the other elements as well.

              

This past month also saw the celebration of Fr. Chris’ 40th Jubilee of Priesthood Ordination on June 17th, 18th and 20th.  Chris was never one to simply let one day suffice.  On the 17th he celebrated Mass at his home parish of St. George in St. Louis followed by a meal at Bevo Mill in the same city.  On Sunday the 18th he celebrated Mass at 10:30 at St. Augustine in East St. Louis followed by a brunch at the Franciscan Friary.  On Tuesday the 20th he celebrated with Bishop Braxton and other Priesthood Jubilarians from the Diocese followed by a meal.  Interestingly we did have three of Chris’ former classmates attend the celebration: Anton Braun, Keith Eckrich and Vince Zimmerman.    It was a great celebration but you need to talk to Fr. Chris to get the “full” flavor.

              

Looking to the future, there are several events on the horizon.  We will be holding our second Vacation Bible School in July.  This year we will be running it on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for two weeks in a row.  The day will start with a simple meal at 5:30 and the sessions from 6:00-8:30 PM.  The theme is “World Tour: Jesus Makes a World of Difference!”  We will be visiting five different countries and cultures.

              

On August 26 we will be holding our Inaugural St. Augustine Feast Day Banquet and fund raiser.  The event will include a catered meal, a silent auction of baskets prepared by parishioners and friends of the parish, and a souvenir ad booklet.  Our goal is to raise fifteen thousand dollars which will be divided between our Tuition Scholarship Fund for children attending Catholic School, a building fund for a new parish center which is badly needed, and general operation funds.  Some of you may be receiving a letter in the near future asking for your support.

              

Finally, I did not get away for a vacation last year due to the changes going on in East St. Louis at the time.  However, I do plan to take two weeks this year so some of you may be hearing from me in my travels.  I will be on vacation from July 28 to August 11.  If you don’t hear from me know that is only a “limitation of the clock, not of the heart.”

              

Please note the change in my E-mail address.  The AOL address will only work for one more month.  The new address is cmofm1968 of yahoo.com.

 

17 jul 2006 gael stahl:

[Gael highly recommends a look at this review done in the New York Review of Books in 1982. It is  “The Dream of Karl Rahner” by Thomas Sheehan on Foundations of Christian Faith: An Introduction to the Idea of Christianity by Karl Rahner.  Click here to go directly to the article: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/6743]

 

21 jul 2006 Jack Brennan to Tom Shannon: 

Just read your article in Catholic Update on stem cell research.  Very Good and timely! http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0102.asp

              

I know you are trying to retire but I also know you never backed away from a good discussion.  I was wondering if you read Garry Wills’ article a few years ago in the New York Times .  I read several pro and con articles on it.  I was wondering what you thought. You are my benchmark for solid Franciscan ethics. Thanks. Pax et bonum.

 

24 jul 2006 Tom Shannon to jack Brennan:

I had not seen the article by Wills but essentially agree with it.

              

I am attaching an article that Allan Wolter and I did several years ago that set a context for current RC discussionshttp://www.diasporadigest.org/articles/moralstatus.html  I did a draft and then went out to Santa Barbara where Allan was living and we did a three day writing marathon (during which time he exhausted me) and then Theological Studies published it.  I have further refined this material with some of Scotus' material on individuality, which I can send also if you are interested. This one may be sufficient for the day however.

              

Just returned from a two week trip to Italy, the occasion of which was an international meeting of RC moral theologians in Padua.  I gave a paper but was rather lax about other events.  As a bonus though I did get to the basilica of St. Anthony and saw his larynx, tongue and bottom 5 teeth.   We also got to Milan, Trieste, and Venice.  A plus of retirement. 

              

So we are back here in the wilderness of PA where the rain has paused and the sky and air are absolutely clear and the lake a delightful temperature. Cathy and I are very blessed and we cherish each day here. 

              

Hope all is well and thanks for the DD and all the work that that entails. Peace.

 

27 jul 2006 chuck faso:

Peace and Everything Good! I will be in Italy from July 28 to August 9, as chaplain and tour director for the DeFrancesca Family whom I have known for thirty years.  We will visit Rome, Assisi and several cities in Sicily - Cefalu, Caccamo, Corleone, Taormina.

              

We will be taking a train from Rome south through Naples to the "toe" of Italy. Then the train rolls onto a ferry that takes us to Sicily. We will be in Cefalu for the Feast Day of the city, the same day that Caccamo, where my grandparents were born, celebrate a great feast. 

              

Blessings in abundance on you and your families. I will remember you in prayer and Mass at the holy shrines. Pax et Bonum!  Pace e Bene!  Shalom! Salaam! Peace and Everything Good!

 

8 aug 2006 Gael Stahl to jerry Etzkorn:

Hey, time for an update. Are you able to exercise yet?

              

Did you report on your friar reunion this summer yet? My browser is down and I haven't visited the DD site lately.  Best wishes to Linda. Salud.

 

9 Aug 2006 Jerry & Linda Etzkorn to Gael stahl:

So far the hip has stayed in place and I'm back to walking normally. Haven't walked the golf course yet, because it's been too hot.

 

Didn't know about the friar reunion... when & where?    Hope all is well with you in the hacienda!

 

9 aug 2006 frank hellstern:

You may have recently received a letter from Rafael along with the DVD and CD which was appreciated, however, Rafael's change of where to send money for Dale Brune is not correct.  If you or another person wishes to have a tax advantage from their contribution, the contribution must be sent to an organization which is doing charitable work;  e.g. the Franciscan Peace Center, a 502 (c) (3) religious organization. That organization can then send money to persons like Dale B. and Larry I. whom they deem worthy of a contribution.

 

Therefore you have alternative choices:  (A) If you want a tax advantage from a donation to Dale, please send it directly to AL Merz's Franciscan Peace Center, P.O. Box 280388, Nashville, TN 37228. Al will forward the money to Dale and you will receive a letter from Al regarding the donation which serves as a document for you to show for your tax deduction. In the memo section of your check, indicate 'Brazilian Mission". I gained this advice from an accountant.  (B) If you don't care about a tax advantage, you may send it anyway to the Franciscan Peace Center or to Dale's sister Ruth Ann Gleeson, 414 High Street, Washington, MO 63090; she will forward the money to Dale in Brazil.

 

Some of us felt that it would be better to send your donation to Damien through the Franciscan Missionary Union, indicating on the check that it was for Damien Isabell. Some have had success with this process and others have not had success, probably due to the lack of noting that it was for Damien.

 

Dale is getting closer to the time that he needs the money for his operation. Donations have started to come in from individuals and organizations like the Knights of Columbus. We are about at the 20% level of our goal of  $15,000 + needed for Dale's operation. For those you can, please consider a donation. Please ask your family, friends, and possible organizations such as the Knights of Columbus if they can make a donation. This is really CRITICAL for Dale.  Dale thanks you, all the parents and children who count on Dale to have him say Mass thank you, and I thank you for your consideration.

 

10 aug 2006 Gael Stahl to jerry Etzkorn: 

I thought it was you and your class. Maybe I forgot that it was last year? But I thought it was around the time the novitiate class ahead of us (vows in 1959) had one around St. Louis somewhere. Did you meet there or near there recently?

              

We're in pretty good shape, better than when you were here. My health is also improving well. The diabetes isn't so dramatic anymore, more old hat, but you have to stay vigilant from now on.

              

I like your term for this place, "the hacienda." I'll run it by La Donna Mobile. Hope to see you on golf course soon. I just got back with the dogs from a walk around the park. Even these hot days are sweet and succulent in the mornings. Oh, the hacienda has two new decks since you were here. I think the carport was finished already, but if not, it is. The three are connected and give the place a more level feel.

 

10 Aug 2006 Jerry Etzkorn to Gael stahl: 

You're right, our class (minus me) had a reunion in San Diego with Lefty (John) McMahon as host: Gael White, Lambert Leykam and Bob Pahler made the trip. I was recovering from the hip revision surgery and couldn't manage the trip.

              

The dern hip went out of its socket yesterday so I'll be six weeks a’ healing. Come for a visit sometime!

 

30 aug 2006 chuck faso:

The fighting is ended.  Pilgrims are returning to the Holy Land – to Israel and Palestine. Let’s join them with our own pilgrimage from November 27th to December 6th.

              

I am planning to return to the Holy Land with a group of pilgrims on November 27, after Thanksgiving. This will be my 25th time to visit the places – where Ab