Diaspora Digest # 39
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Editor: Gael
Stahl
Webmeister:
Jack Brennan
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Dear Diaspora,
Thanks
to many of you who responded to our DD38 ALost Sheep@ campaign, we have many corrected and several new additions to our ever‑changing
email roster and address book.
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
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.__Obviously, if you have received
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We
encourage you to use our Forums._ We have moderated them so that they are more
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We
have inserted links to Around the Province as we receive them from Fr.
Benet. Click on the links to catch up
on the various activities and news about Sacred Heart Province. You may
read all issues from from June 22, 2005 to the present by clicking on this
link: http://thefriars.org/atp/index.html
Gael
and Jack
_
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_
13 Jun 2007 Charles Faso: Greetings from Chicago on this June 13th,
the feast of St.Anthony of Padua.On this feast, 40 years ago, in Teutopolis IL,
twelve of us deacons were ordained priests of the Catholic Church.
Today,
my heart is filled with gratitude to God for the gift of priesthood and for all
of you who have been part of this journey of my _life and ministry. Instead of one gathering and celebration to
mark these first forty years of ministry, I would like this whole year to be a
year of remembering and celebrating. So
throughout this year, whenever we meet and wherever we meet, let=s party and be grateful together for the blessings of
priesthood, of our friendship, and of our journey in life together._ May we
meet soon and often.
Be
assured of a remembrance in my prayers and love today B and each day.
17 Jun 2007 Jerry Etzkorn: Dear Friends, I have put together a book of
reflections spanning the last half of 1900 and into 2005. If any of you might
be interested my 'Reflections of a Christian Pilgrim' is now available at
Amazon.com: Click here: http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/103‑8214295‑0882266?url=search‑alias%3Dstripbooks&field‑keywords=Reflections+of+a+Christian+Pilgrim&x=11&y=16
The reflections are
interspersed with biographical 'goodies' which may be of interest. Hope you
find it thought provoking and enjoyable.
22 Jun 2007 Tony Lutz: My wife and I
traveled to Hong Kong and then to Saigon during March. Vietnam is trying for
tourists. There are some new and beautiful hotels. The price is right. When we
arrived the Dong was selling for l6,100 to the dollar. Spend all the Dongs
because you cannot change them back into dollars in Vietnam or elsewhere.
Travel is safe but watch how you cross the streets in Saigon. The bicycles,
scooters, motorcycles, and pedicabs come at you by the hundreds. Great fun to
watch but not crossing the streets.
On a
Saturday evening we went to Saigon's Catholic Cathedral for Mass. The church
was full, the singing was beautiful, and the two sermons must have been good
from the sound and the gestures. I hear from a writer on conditions in Vietnam
that the government must approve of sermons and undercover people attend the
Masses to check up on us Catholics. The Saigon seminary is full. I saw a priest
walking off down the street in his cassock.
The
American writer I referred to is a "persona non grata" to the Communists
and cannot get a visa for Vietnam. The same holds for a Vietnamese friend in
Australia who cannot return to Vietnam because he wrote against the Communists.
At the war museum in Saigon the Commies declare themselves the liberators and
we the occupiers and aggressors. They occupy the best land and buildings, have
tried to erase any evidence of our presence there. Everywhere you can see their
victory monuments and billboards let the people know they are living in
paradise. But I loved going back after 40 years. Vietnam is a rich, fertile
land and growing is year around. The beaches are beautiful and the water is
always 85 degrees. Pray for the oppressed Catholics of Vietnam. In His grip.
23 Jun 2007 Jogues Epple: Thanks for the well‑done DD #38. May I correct
my news? Deceased Bob Hankey was in the
OFMs, of course, known as ANSGAR, not the name I cited.
Charlie
Bloss, Phil Eiden & I have been meeting monthly because "ecce quam
bonum. . ." etc. You know the rest. For July we are looking for a French
restaurant. If Charlie and Phil agree, we'll meet on Bastille Day. Anyone of
Diaspora is welcome. Barry Schneider, OFM is around here, I think. OFMs are, of
course, welcome with us happily former friars.
For
about 50 years, I haven't seen the names of my class members you gave me in
#38. Your mouse must be tired from all the data entries. Thanks for reminding
me of my Class-members. I would be thrilled to hear from just one of them.
It
is nice meeting with Phil and Charlie, but, man, they are so young ! We laugh a lot. Minnesotans, yah know, are
constitutionally nice. Reminds me of Brother Linus, the first Minnesotan accent
I ever met. Whattsup with him? Anyone? Long gone? Like winning baseball in the Twin
Cities.
Is anyone
as thrilled as I am about the Vatican's Rules for the Road? You have to laugh.
100 years after cars became common, the Rapid Response Team of the Vatican
swung into action. I know, I am mocking, but "I ain't dead yet." When
you're out you can mock, or even mach schnell, as the old friars from
Dusseldorf used to say.
Once
again, thanks for what must be much, very much, work in serving the rest of us with the DD. It really helps.
26 Jun 2007 Chuck Faso: Hello from the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston,
PA B twenty miles south of Philadelphia. I will be here preaching a retreat from June
27 to July 4 to 35 Sisters from various communities. I will return to Chicago on July 5 after celebrating July 4th in
Philadelphia.
Peace
and Everything Good to you!
26 Jun 2007 Tony Lutz: Fr. Phil Pavich, O.F.M. spent 13 years at Medjugorje
Croatia and doesn't believe there is anything supernatural about the events
there. But also remember that Judas spent three years in close association with
apostles, disciples, Our Bl. Mother and Jesus and it didn't seem to convince
him of the supernatural in the least.
Sue
and I were in Italy and on the spur of the moment we went to Medjugorje,
witnessed the miracle of the sun, saw conversions, lines going to confession,
and great prayer and devotion. I looked directly into the sun and it suddenly
lost its piercing brilliance and saw the host and chalice and the Sacred Heart
in the darkened sun. Sue saw something similar.
Yesterday
at a Medjugorje anniversary celebration at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in
Bethesda, Maryland we celebrated devotions similar to those at Medjugorje ‑
the rosary, holy hour, Mass, a testimony and a talk by lawyer, author of books
on Medjugorje, Janice T. Connell. She knows Fr. Pavich. The witness went from
being a reluctant Catholic to being a daily communicant. At Medjugorje he
looked at the host in the monstrance and saw the red, beating heart of Jesus.
One of the visionaries only knows Croatian and yet can be understood in other
languages.
Pope
John Paul II seems to have believed in the marvels of Medjugorje and Fr. Mike
Scanlon from the University of
Steubenville told me he believes in it. Great graces operate at St. James
Church in Medjugorje and it will profit anyone who goes there in Faith.
26 Jun 2007 Phil Pavich: Dear Jack and Gael,
Peace
Thanks
for the tidbit from Tony Lutz. I like Tony. He means well. No one needs to tell
me about the "fruits" at Medjugorje. I was very much a part of them
for 13 years for thousands of people. God's unconditional love and fidelity to
His own economy of grace in the sacraments are not a proof of alleged
apparitions, just evidence and proof of God's own fidelity to His own name.
Just like getting pregnant when you are not married. Valid but not licit. The
unconditionally given gift of reproduction works despite the moral disorder of
the couple because God has to be faithful to Himself in his gift giving. Satan
is an expert at piggy‑backing on God's fidelity to blind people into
thinking that the immorality they are doing can't be so bad, because look at
the good that is happening. St Paul marveled at it in Romans 5:20 "Where
sin abounded, grace did more abound."
Every false apparition has had abundant "fruits" in
conversions, changed lives etc, but lots of rotten fruit too, just like
Medjugorje, which is usually the "fruit" of the visionaries own lives
and lies, . .
All
that stuff serves as a smoke screen to obfuscate the real issue which is simply
the credibility of the alleged visionaries. In this case they have been tried
by 20 devout Marian Croat bishops and found to be sorely unconvincing in their
claims. If Tony only knew the history of Medjugorje and all the scorpions he'd
have to swallow to say he believes that the real humble Virgin of Nazareth,
Mother of God, is actually appearing there, he might have a chance to see it
differently. In the meantime, like so many others, he is content with the very
thing Jesus warned us against, "Beware of the leaven of the
pharisees!" and counts all that dime store demon wonder stuff as proof of
authenticity. Lord have mercy. When it comes to a choice between believing 20
devout bishops with the grace of office to discern and 6 visionary claims, I'll
definitely side with the Bishops. Its
just another case of what we learned years ago, "sentire cum
Ecclesia" There can be no valid
"sensus fidelium" without those 20 Croat bishops. But the loose mindedness of the day rather
values numbers and "phenomena" as the basis of "sensus
fidelium". Too bad for them. For
me it simply came down to taking Medjugorje far more seriously than the casual
uninformed pilgrim. It=s reduced basically either to all or nothing. My evidence and experience is that regarding
the real issue of authenticity, it never was Our Lady appearing there and in
that I stand firmly with the two local bishops who knew all about it and stand
fast that it never was Our Lady appearing there. But like some brand of "neo‑gnostics" the
Medjugorje devotees are swept along with a certain arrogance of "knowing‑like‑gnosis"
and look down on and pity us poor ones who are not in the "know". May
the Lord have mercy on us all and save us from all arrogance, pride and
disobedience.
Say
a prayer of thanksgiving with me for the unmerited gift of 50 years of priestly
ministry as of Sunday June 24. Also
please ask God to spare me what I should deserve for my sins and failures.
Thanks. Peace and blessings. [Thanks,
Phil, for putting yourself out there for us and congratulations on the
anniversary. We know about your gifts - merited or unmerited - because we
were there to benefit from them. Peace.
Gael and Jack.]
26 Jun 2007 Dan Mazar: This past Saturday [June 23], Mike Stachura
(Bill and Carol's oldest) got married.
Lots of folks from Nebraska were in to celebrate. Bill's mom, Martha,
was able to join us, even though she is in a wheel chair these days. The Diaspora was well represented.
A
good time was had by all. (Compliments to the Tower phrase book). Pax.
26 Jun 2007 Gael Stahl: Thanks, Cowboy. You are surely the crowned, uncrowned
gatherer of the fringe friars in Chicagoland. Thanks for keeping us posted.
You're
a good man, Gunga Din (compliments of Fr. Julius' Treasury book).
27 Jun 2007 Gael Stahl: Great to see
Lutz back in action. Keeps us on our toes. So glad I don't have to type it out
anymore, though. [Me too! JB]
29 Jun 2007 Tony Lutz: One of the least discussed items in the church and
society is on the subject of homosexuality. Fr. Frank Draude and Fidelis Smith were
unnerved by what the Catholic Church and good psychiatrists teach on the
subject. I never had the chance to address the issue with Frank Draude before
he died and Fidelis no longer writes to me. So there are consequences in
talking about this. On this Feast Day of Sts. Peter and Paul we should recall
some of his words: "But though we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach a
gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be
anathema"(Gal.1:8). And "For there will come a time when they will not
endure the sound doctrine: but having itching ears, will heap up to themselves
teachers after their own lusts, and they will turn away their hearing from the
truth and turn aside rather to fables"(II Tim 4:3,4). In 2003 the Vatican
published the moral document:"Considerations Regarding Proposals to give
Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons." It emphasized the
obligation of Bishops and politicians to oppose any type of recognition of
homosexual unions. It said, "There
are absolutely no grounds for the considering homosexual unions to be in any
way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family.
Marriage is holy, while homosexual acts go against natural law."
_
01 Jul 2007 Scott Kuhle: Good morning, I'm
sitting here reminiscing on the events of the past six weeks, and thought that
you might enjoy sharing in them.
*All's well that ends well*
Friday,
May 11, 2007 1645 ‑ I went on a
pleasant bike ride on the Chipman Trail with
Teresa, one of my colleagues.
When we returned, she went her way, and I continued on my ride. A couple of
minutes later, I called Mary Ann on my cell phone in order to see what she was
doing. She answered and said that she was downtown, heading to the library,
which was one block from where I was calling.
While
still talking to her, I told her that I would meet her at the library and
starting riding toward the library. The library had closed, but told her that I
still meet her in the parking lot. I was riding on the sidewalk behind the
library and as I reached the end of the building, I looked around the corner to
see if I could see her coming. Instead of going down the side walk ramp to the
parking lot, I went off of the curb.
1820
‑ I went off a curb and catapulted like a frisbee from my bike. Unfortunately, as cherubic though I be, I
still don't have my angel wings, so landed like a flipped pancake on the
asphalt. I came down so vertical that I didn't have a scratch on me; however, I
did break three
ribs. I spent the night in the hospital for observation, and left
the next morning.
Saturday,
May 11, 2007 1115 ‑ Discharged
from hospital; Mary Ann picked me up at the hospital and we returned to our
house. I was tired and laid down to rest.
1235
‑ I received a call from Protocall, our answering service, that a patient
needed to be seen at the hospital. 1330 ‑ I was back at PRH responding to
the crisis call. I felt a bit of discomfort on my left side ribs as I got in
and out of the car, but otherwise felt almost back to normal.
Wednesday,
May 16, 2007 1330 ‑ I led an
active life until my checkup at 1:30 this afternoon, when I saw the surgeon who
had seen me prior to my discharge from the hospital. He did not need to say
anything; I knew from the look on his face as he entered the examining room
that my lung was in trouble. When I went into his office, I was truly feeling
physically fit enough to have gone on a bike ride, but my x‑ray told a
different message: I had developed a pleural disruption, a hemo‑pneumo‑thorax,
and needed a chest tube; he had already reserved a bed ‑ he jokingly
said, "I got you the same one that you had Friday night." ‑ for
me at Pullman Regional Hospital.
1500
‑ I was checked into my room. 1630 ‑ I was in surgery 1715 ‑
I was awake with a chest tube inserted in my pleurum. I spent Thursday and
Friday in the hospital and was discharged Saturday morning when the x‑rays
showed no excessive fluids in the pleural cavity and my lung had fully
expanded. Although a punctured lung is serious, life threatening if unattended,
I had no complications and seem to be healing rapidly. I have another x‑ray
and checkup this coming Thursday. This was my first time as a patient in a
hospital since my birth, so it was interesting, to say the least, to be the
patient rather than the treatment provider. I think that it has given me an
important perspective, one that will hopefully enhance the effectiveness of my
hospital work.
Saturday,
May 19, 2007 1130 ‑ Discharged from hospital At the time of my discharge
on this morning, Stiller said that the x‑rays of my lung and the
stethoscope sounding indicated that the lung was "perfect, so the only
concern is about leakage from an unknown hole in the lung. He scheduled a
follow up visit for next Thursday.
Tuesday,
May 22, 2007 0800 ‑ Returned to work this morning. I up and at 'em. I
feel great, and am back at work. I took Monday off, and it felt good to have
another day to relax, but I was certainly ready to return to work yesterday. I
go see my surgeon on Thursday morning, and will find out how my lung and pleura
cavity are healing.
1830
‑ Went to hospital on a crisis call; I was about to call it quits at
5:30, but was called to see a patient in the ED at PRH, so spent 3 more hours
working there. The case, which involved a complex patient and difficult
situation, turned out a thousand times better than expected when I first
arrived, so I was feeling energized when I finally got home at 9:30
Thursday,
May 24, 2007 0630: I'm up getting ready to go to the hospital to get an x‑ray
so that the surgeon can see what is going on inside. All feels well, but I have
discovered that how I feel isn't necessarily a good indicator of fluid in the
pleura cavity.
0645
‑ Had an x‑ray of my lungs. While waiting to have my x‑ray,
John walked by on his rounds, and asked me how I was doing. I replied,
"John the last time you asked that question, I replied, 'great,' and you
looked me in the eye, and said, 'No, you're not. I've scheduled a bed for you
in the hospital.' I'm going to wait until my appointment at 1100 before I tell
you how I'm doing."
1100
‑ Well, I saw my surgeon, Geoffrey Stiller, and he said that my lung is
as "perfect" as it was before the accident. He also said the I did a
"good job" on my ribs, and showed me the x‑ray; by good, he
meant that I definitely broke, cracked, my ribs. I asked him whether I could
take an 8 day bike trek in
the Montana Rockies next month, he replied, "You'd better get on your bike
and resume your training." I plan to put my chain back on the front
sprocket and start riding today or tomorrow.
I have no idea at this time what my endurance will be, but am hoping
that it is more than just coasting down hill to Cenex! My primary concern now
is: I don't want to do anything that will prolong my ribs from healing rapidly.
Friday,
May 25, 2007 1745 ‑ I rode nine miles after work today, and wanted to go
on, but let discretion rule. I wanted
to time the ride so that I'd not overdue my
self, and since I feel no discomfort, I think that I didn't push
myself. It felt delightful being on my
bike again. Up and at 'em!
*A
Continental Divide Trek*
An
epic is a story about a great adventure that seems almost surreal and tests the
very metal of the individuals' being. During the week of June 18 through the
23rd, I had an adventure of seemingly epic proportion: a six day bike trip
along the Continental Divide in Montana. Our group included eight of us riders
and our sag wagon driver, who seemed an angel from heaven each evening as we
rode into camp for a welcoming cold micro‑brew.
Monday,
June 18, 2007 Day One: We started out
our ride after a hearty breakfast at the
campground in Lincoln,
Montana. The uphill climb started as soon as we left town (elevation 4540) and
the steady climb brought us to our first crossing over the Continental Divide
at Stemple Pass (elevation 6376 feet). The weather continued to clear
throughout the day, so that by the
time we arrived at our first
night's campground, we had a clear evening beside a beautiful creek. We biked
31 miles.
Tuesday,
June 19, 2007 Day Two: Our ride took us to higher elevations and we crossed
over the Continental Divide two times. In the late afternoon, we had some
mountain weather move in, but over all it was a beautiful day of biking that
took us through beautiful Alpine meadows that were blooming with wild flowers.
We biked 27 miles.
Wednesday,
June 20, 2007 Day Three: The first leg of our trip today was a 10 mile ride
into Helena, Montana. As soon as we left Helena, we began a steady climb back
up to the Continental Divide. Today we traveled 51 miles and gained 5,000 feet
of elevation, pedaling one foot at a time.
Thursday,
June 21, 2007 Day Four: We spent the day in Basin, Montana because we got
separated from our Sag Wagon. We finally reconnected, but used the day to bring
vehicles down from Lincoln.
Friday, June 22, 2007 Day Five: After yesterday's rest, we were
back on the trail. Since we would have been biking on Interstate 15 down to
Butte, Montana, we drove to Butte, and resumed our trek south of Butte, adding
21 miles and a heck of a lot of elevation as we climbed back up and over the
Continental Divide.
Saturday,
June 23, 2007 Day Six: 22 miles from
Camp Boulder to Camp Joe ‑ Spent the day biking 22 miles up a gradual
grade through beautiful mountains. My legs had grown stronger, and kept me
going against the unrelenting head wind that never stopped trying to push us
backwards. We spent our final night at Camp Joe, sitting around the fire,
listening to Jim playing his guitar.
A
thesaurus of adjectives would not be sufficient to describe this trip; a litany
includes awesome, exhausting, exhilarating, unforgettable.
Peace
and Joy.
01 Jul 2007 Gael Stahl: Rev. John
Macquarrie, 87, Scottish Theologian, Dies.
To read more, click here:
05 Jul 2007 Tony Lutz: One day I read that Fr. Charles Curran was going to
be rehired by Catholic University. I called the Theology and Philosophy Depts.
but could not get an explanation. I was referred to the spokesperson for the
university. She, a lawyer, was the official PR person for the university. She
told me that Fr. Curran is often seen on campus because he still has friends
there but under no circumstances would the university rehire him.
Human
nature wants the easy way (the way of sin) out and that is why so many
Catholics today practice artificial birth control. Pope Paul VI in
"Humanae Vitae" listed the consequences of sinful BC and they have
certainly come true. We have frequent breakups of marriages, few children and
hence few vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. We don't have enough
children to take care of all the old people, to support social security and our
military defense needs and the vacuum left by too few children helps suck in
illegal immigrants. Nature demands of man and woman lifelong marriage and
children. Why is not man, the apex of
creation called to live according to nature and thereby prosper and be happy,
even eternally happy? God's plan for man is always the best. How sad that human
kind gets off that track! Pax et Bonum!
12 Jul 2007 Tony Lutz: The morality
of sex is simple. God created it and ergo, He set the rules and the Catholic
Church teaches these rules.
Fr. Tad
Pacholczyk is a scientist and a bio-ethicist. Recently he wrote: "Malcolm
Muggeridge, the famous BBC correspondent who converted to Catholicism late in
life instinctively appreciated how the Church was resisting this trivializing
of the gift of sex by its strong stance against contraception." He said,
"It was the Catholic Church's strong stand against contraception and
abortion which finally made me decide to become a Catholic...The Church's stand
is absolutely correct. It is to its eternal honor that it opposed
contraception, even if the opposition failed. I think, historically, people
will say it was a very gallant effort to prevent a moral disaster."
Pope
John Paul II stressed how couples who use contraception in their marriage
presume to "act as arbiters" of the divine plan and they
"manipulate" and degrade human sexuality and with it themselves and
their married partner by altering its value of "total self‑giving."
It might not be easy to live as a Catholic but there is nothing like dying one.
_
20 Jul 2007 Chuck Faso: ...From July 21 to July 29. I will be hosting a group
of four on a River Cruise on the Rhine River from Switzerland to Holland. We will visit the castles and cathedrals in
Basel, Breisach and Starsboug, Strasbourg, Speyer,
Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne. We will
fly back from Amsterdam.
Blessings
on you and your families from the Rhine River.
24 Jul 2007 Ron Pfeiffer: Thank you so much for sending me the #38 digest. I
have been out of touch.
I
moved to Colorado Springs four years ago but recently moved to another
apartment here in Colorado Springs. My residential and mailing address is: 1645
Gatehouse Cir. Apt 104, Colorado Springs, Co 80904‑2999. Cell phone: 719‑659‑8930
My e‑mail
(which you have correctly now) is: rjpfei of
hotmail.com Thanks again for sending the digest.
29 Jun 2007_ Carroll
Mizicko: Happy summer time! I hope
you are finding a little more time for some relaxation and just taking it easy
during these summer months. My summer is
pretty full but I am planning to take some time off the end of July and the
first part of August..
There
has been a lot happening since my last
newsletter. Habitat for Humanity has
moved to a new location and we have taken over the former convent. Our plans are to convert the building into a
Parish Center and Educational Building.
While this will be a significant addition to our facilities it is still
only a temporary fix as we are in need of and plan to add a larger parish
center in the future.
Sister
Thea Bowman School held graduation on May 18th. We had seventeen graduates most of whom will be attending Althoff
Catholic High School. It is still too
early to tell what our enrollment will be next year but we are hoping for a
significant increase. With such an
excellent program you want as many children as possible to participate. The problem, as always, is that in this
economically deprived area, while parents would like to send their children to
our school, they simply cannot afford it and we can only help so many with
tuition assistance.
Another
significant event that took place was
our hosting the Priesthood Anniversary celebration for three African
American Priests. On May 27th, Fr.
Joseph Brown, S.J., a native son of the Parish, celebrated his 35th
anniversary, Fr. R. Tony Ricard from New Orleans celebrated his 12th and Fr.
Norman Fischer, Jr. from Louisville, KY celebrated his 7th Anniversary. All three are close friends and were ordained
on the same date and have been observing their anniversaries together for many
years. We were honored by their
choosing to celebrate at St. Augustine this year. Fr. Tony and Fr. Norman have a special gift of working with
children and youth. On Saturday, May
26, we arranged for a Youth Rally at Sr. Thea Bowman Chapel and gym. They were outstanding and a big hit with the
youth and adults alike. Fr. Norman even
did a really ?cool? Christian Rap song.
On Sunday we had a packed Church for the Mass which began with a
statement by one of the ?elders? about how they prayed for these African
American men as they embraced the priesthood and continue to lift them up in
prayer. Sister Antonio Ebo was the
elder that spoke. Other elders from the
community then vested the three celebrants for the Mass. The liturgy was powerful and joyful. Members of the Gospel Choir from Althoff
joined our Choir in providing the music.
Malcolm Speed from the Rock in St. Louis joined with our musician in
accompanying the choir. Fr. Brown
preached the sermon in his usual dynamic and challenging style. It was just a great celebration. However, it was a little longer than the 45
minutes to an hour celebration in many churches. The Mass was followed by a reception at the Shrine of the Lady of
the Snows. Hopefully, some of our
young men and women will be inspired by the experience to respond to God?s call
to serve the Church as Priests and Religious.
On
the first Sunday of June the Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver sponsored a
concert at St. Augustine by Fr. Ferd?s
Althoff Gospel Choir. It was
outstanding. It is such a joy to see a
racially mixed group of young people praise God in song with obvious enjoyment. It shows that race does not have to be a
barrier or something that separates and divides. We all can be enriched as we
share our gifts and cultures.
We
had an Ice Cream Social after Mass on June 10 to celebrate the end of
school. We engaged a local ice cream
company to set up a stand outside of Church and after Mass we gave anyone who
wished a ticket to receive an ice cream cup of their choice at no charge. I think that maybe the adults enjoyed the
treat more than the kids. On Fathers
Day we offered a pancake and sausage breakfast at a small charge to all who
were interested. Our newly formed Men?s
Club prepared BBQ rib and chicken plates this past Sunday for those who had
placed an order earlier. These social
activities I believe are important as they help to create that sense of being a
church family.
Fr.
Chris has had a major ?break through? in his ministry as Coordinator of Prison
Ministry in the Diocese. On June 9th he
held a Diocesan wide workshop for all of those involved in prison ministry
whether as chaplains or staff. About 35‑40
attended. Chris has also received a
number of E‑mails requesting further information. He is
scheduled to do a workshop down in Jackson, Mississippi this fall.
Fr.
Ferd is doing well. What was thought to
be another kidney stone, they now think was an infection. He is completely recovered. Ferd is currently winding down things at
Althoff in anticipation of his taking a six month sabbatical. He plans to do some traveling making
contact with African American musicians and composers to see what is going on
in the area of Gospel Music and to offer encouragement. He will be working out of East St. Louis and
plans to continue to work with the Gospel Choir at Althoff and the choir at St.
Augustine.
The
family is all doing well. I have not
heard from Fr. Bob for some time. I
think he is due to come back to the States but I have not heard anything with
regard to dates. I talk with Joan on a
somewhat regular basis and all seems to be well with the Pennsylvania
connection.
That
is about all the news from here at this time.
I hope you are all well and that the summer will be a good one. Drop a line or an E‑mail when you get
a chance. I always enjoy hearing from
you.
Peace
and everything that is good!
05 Aug 2007 Dan
Blaeser: Hi, Gael,
You're probably aware that the Province is gearing up to celebrate the
150th anniversary of its founding. Some
of us thought you and the others in the "diaspora" should be
included. Dennis Koopman sent a letter,
and I just sent an e‑mail to John Dombrowski, O.F.M., who is involved
with the planning. His e‑mail
address is: friarski of yahoo.com just in case all else fails. Hope all is going well. Take care.
Fraternally.
06 Aug 2007 Gael
Stahl: Yes, Don, I=ve
been closely following and reliving that through the Benet Fonck mailings. It=s a great story, and is fun to remember. If there are
other ways we diaspora fringe friars can participate in celebrating our story
and our province=s founding, I for one am ready and able.
I=ve read a lot of our early history in the Heralds of
the King book when I had access to it and loved every time one of the old
timers would tell about those early days. And I=m enjoying the making of new history with the inter‑provincial
meetings and retreats. Good to see.
Just one quick question, is John Dombrowski to young
for me to remember? He doesn=t ring a face
bell, just a name bell. Let the tintinnabulation of the bells begin to cling
and clang!
Glad to hear Dennis Koopman is in contact.
And to Jack Brennan. I know I speak wholeheartedly for
him when I say that he=s as eager as I to help the fringe friars join you
celebrate our 150th by keeping them informed via our http://www.diasporadigest.org/ web site. Jack is our webmaster and editor,
as you know.
_
06 Aug 2007 John
Dombrowski: Dear Gael, Just a brief note since Don Blaeser wrote to me
regarding how you and others could join in our 150th celebrations. I want to clarify that I am not on the
Planning Committee for any of the 150th celebrations. I am the chair of the Steering Committee planning our Provincial
Chapter of Elections for June of 2008.
I'm wondering if you need to contact or have Don contact the chair of
the Planning Committee for these celebrations.
I think the chair is Ferd Cheri ‑ I know that Don is working on
some of the Liturgies for these celebrations.
I will certainly speak to him this week as we gather for our All
Province Assembly.
I
think we met possibly at Fr. Medard's funeral in July of 2004. I entered novitiate in 1977 and did not
graduate from St. Joe's High School in Westmont. Fr. Andy Buvala was my novice master. Peace and all good to you ‑
06 Aug 2007 Gael Stahl: Medard=s funeral. That=s
it!
Glad
to hear Ferd Cheri chairs the planning committee. He used to be here in Nashville.
I bet he and Don well have fun with the liturgies. I don=t know if I have Ferd=s eddress, but I think this is what Carroll Mizicko gave me for his
phones at their Bellville ministry:
Ferd Cheri is 618‑239‑8528 (apartment) and 618‑593‑9210
(cell).
I=m not too interested in the elections. Never was
except when my former spiritual director Francis Leo Madsen and homiletics prof
Germaine Schwab were elected to steer the province back in about 1967.
22 Aug 2007 Cullan Uhlinger: I hadn't
heard or read anything about Blane's gallbladder surgery last week, so I called
Saint Thomas Friary in Ruston. A woman answering the phone said he was out of
the hospital, but would not be back at the Friary till later this week. She
said everything went well with the surgery. I called Blane on his cell phone,
but could only leave a voice mail.
26 Aug 2007 Cullan
Uhlinger: Muskie (a.k.a. Jim Schmitt) called yesterday and asked that I get
the following info out to those whose email addresses I have. Dale's Mom (Rose)
died peacefully on August 24th. Dale's brother Harlon said that there will be a
wake on August 29th from 4‑8 at Nieburg‑Bitt Mortuary (310 Elm St.
Washington Mo 63090) and the funeral Mass will be the next day at 10 AM at St.
Francis Borgia in Washington. Muskie also wrote that..."Big Dale is
returning from Brazil on Monday, Aug. 27. He can be contacted at his sister's
house 636‑239‑3708; his brother's house 636‑239‑2589 or
at his mother's house 636‑239‑6394. You might want to add these
little tid bits..."
Our
prayers go out to Dale and his family.
26 Aug 2007 Scott Kuhle: Thanks,
Cullan, for keeping us posted about the death of Dale's mother.
Since
you will also be receiving this, Dale, I want to take this opportunity to
express my condolences to you and your family.
Yesterday,
Mary Ann and I were at a store that had hammocks out on display; I laid down in
one and when the clerk asked if I was comfortable, I told her about you hanging
yours on the doors out in the hallway during our reunion. She picked right up
on the story, and damn
near was able to sell me one.
Peace and Joy.
24 Aug 2007 Ed Shea: The venues for ALet
The Wounds Speak!@
Monday,
September 17, 2007 7:00 pm (unless noted otherwise)
Area Convener Location/Time
Chicago: Bob Pawell
OFM St. Peter=s at 5:40 pm
Joliet: John
Dombrowski OFM St. John=s Church
Quincy: Ed
Arambasich OFM Quincy
University
Spingfield/Sherman: Kevin Lenihan OFM Villa West Chapel
Teutopolis: Joe Carlos
OFM St. Francis
Wisconsin: Frank Folino
OFM Our Lady of the
Lake
Michigan: Richard
Baranski OFM Cross in the
Woods
Minnesota: Ray Rickels
OFM Sacred Heart
Cleveland: Tom Carroll
OFM Padua
Indianapolis: Justin Belitz
OFM Sacred Heart
San Antonio: Chuck Gunti
OFM Convento San Miguel
Crowley: John Abts
OFM St. Maximilian
Kolbe
Missouri/EStL: Larry Nickels Sisters= Motherhouse
New York: Mike Cusato
OFM St. Bonaventure=s at 5:00 pm
Tennessee: Al Merz
OFM St. Vincent=s
Louisiana: Adrian
Fischer OFM St. Francis Hall
Alaska: Robert
Ruzicka OFM Our Lady of the
Snows
California: Mario
DiCicco OFM FST
30 Aug 2007 Benet Fonck: Around the Province.
Click here: http://thefriars.org/atp/ATP‑070830.pdf