Diaspora Digest # 40
______________________________________________
Editor: Gael
Stahl
Webmeister:
Jack Brennan
Submit articles and comments to: E-mail: ddeditors@diasporadigest.org
Diaspora
Digest Home page: http://www.diasporadigest.org
Join Diaspora Digest Forums and Galleries
where you may comment on articles, etc. http://www.diasporadigest.org/apps/apps
___________________________________________________________________
Some outstanding Diaspora
(double entendre intended)
Charles Cantlon | cmc of ronan.com
Pat Feehan | pj of plattevalley.net
Ernie Fresques | musicman85008 of mountain.net
Steve Gengenbacher | papafive of aol.com
Jerry Hiller‑Rochon | mrochon of
condor.depaul.edu
Alan Hoffman | bernadine.hoffman of worldnet.att.net
John McMahon | jemm5 of cox.net
Michael Nolan | mikenol of consolidated.net
Jose Rodriguez | jrodriguez of epitrustee.com
Greg Sadlek | gregory_sadlek of unomaha.edu
Charlie Strack | charliest of aol.com
John Waldren | bukiir1 of aol.com
Arnold Wieser | user276 of aol.com
Bob Wilson | b‑f.wilson of t‑online.de
Any information leading to the correction of these
email addresses will be greatly appreciated.
22 Apr 2008 Jack Brennan: [To Gael]
Don Wildt just sent me the 1957 issue of the Tower in which the Class of
59 was featured. That's us! He sent you a copy too. Think about it. That was
almost 50 years ago! I confess that when I first looked at the picture of our
class, I had a hard time finding myself, not to mention classmates who didn't
come to the novitiate with us. I think I have identified everybody now.
22 Apr 2008 Gael Stahl: That was 51 years ago ‑ this being 2008 ‑
since it was our high school graduation, not 6th class which was in 1959. I had
no trouble identifying you. Your face was the first one to pop into my vision
in our class photo. But I knew all the names quickly. [I am a lot older. JB]
24_ Apr 2008 Jerry
Etzkorn: _In editing a medieval text,
I came across the following: "Just as the bodies of men and women are
related, so are their souls. However, the body of the man is essentially more
perfect, hence also his soul."
It would seem that this is
still the prevalent mind‑set in Roman Catholicism.
24 Apr 2008 Jack Brennan: The medieval folks got it exactly backwards about the
body didn't they? I miss the days when you would tell us about the “hitherto
unknowns.” On the
other hand, I have been enjoying your timely epistles and commentary on the
doings in mother church and the world today. In case you haven't seen this; I
wish this is how the pope were thinking: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/21/8420/
24 Apr Dan Mazar: I have always enjoyed Hedges' work. It is a shame that the windbags like Charlie
Rose refuse to give him a platform. As
it is, he may well be preaching to the choir.
I would have been more
impressed with Benny the Bull had he fired a bishop or two. Or brought back Law to face the Boston
prosecutors. And dispensed with all the
Baroque finery. As stands, he gave us
a lot of hot air.
Surely, no prophetic role on
the White House balcony.
The Sox are doing well‑‑surprising
defense and pitching. Tonight they
start against the Yankees.
The Cubs are winning and
giving me a rash. [Only a true Chicagoan who is also a White Sox fan would
appreciate this. I get it. JB] Pax.
24 Apr 2008 Jerry Etzkorn:
I wish that 'left' and 'right', 'conservative'
and 'liberal' were banned from political & religious discussions. I agree
that there should be health‑coverage for all. If the Republican party is
the best option, I can't by that. The common good has been sold out to private
interests, to pork barrel allocations (in order to get re‑elected and to
hell with the common good). Medieval or modern, the present non‑democratic
system as well as the institutional church needs a radical overhaul.
27 Apr 2008 Cullan
Uhlinger: Guess you know about Mooney ‑ going in on Tuesday for
surgery for his prostate cancer. I talked to him on Friday ‑ prognosis is
very positive and he's up‑beat as always. Am hoping to get together with
him and a few others at his place in Indianapolis in June ‑ a mini
reunion/agape.
27 Apr 2008 Tony Lutz: In DD 39 Gael
editorialized my letter of 26 June 2007. He concluded I referred to Fr. Phil
Pavich as a Judas. My letter did not say that. That is Gael's unfortunate
conclusion. All I wanted to do was to show that Fr. Phil can be wrong and I can
be wrong. Closeness to any event does not mean you interpret its meaning
correctly. If Judas could be wrong, we also could be wrong unless our will is
moved by divine grace. I am intellectually convinced Catholicism is true but I
do not have to accept that unless Christ moves my will. That is the mystery of
Faith and divine grace. My profound experience at Medjugorje does not prove to
anyone and to church authorities that the Blessed Mother appeared to the
visionaries. But it does prove that divine grace operates there marvelously. I
don't call people names and Gael shouldn't either. I love all of you and still
can argue intellectually without denigrating morally. Pax! [Ref: http://www.diasporadigest.org/dd39.html
26 Jun 2008 Tony Lutz: JB]
27 Apr 2008 Jim Martorana: DD39 is another great
issue. I particularly appreciated
Father Phil Pavich's insights about Medjugorje and the correct tools we should
use for discernment about any apparitions.
Thanks for the slide
shows. They really brought those times
to life for me. Keep up the good work!
27 Apr 2008 Tom Merten: [Tom was
responding to my inaccurate note about cell phones vs marketers. JB] After
getting your email, I put our occasionally used cell phone's number on the no‑call
list where we already had our land line listed. I also forwarded your email to some folks including our son who
sent me a link http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp
which puts this concern into the realm of "urban myth". Assuming
Jonathan is correct, it will not be the first time he has gently corrected his
father. Kind Regards.
27 Apr 2008 Jack Brennan: I am a devout Snopester and I resisted the temptation
to check. Your son is right. However, no harm is done ‑ I don't
think ‑ by registering on that site since it is the place to block
telemarketers. But, it is not necessary
yet.
I hope you were not inconvenienced
too much. I know your relationship with
your son is sound if he feels free to correct you.
27 Apr 2008 Tom Merten: As you said, no harm is done and I am registered in
the event it does become necessary. I
am impressed that someone EVEN older than I knew of snopes! I did not until
Jonathan told me. Jonathan is much more
intelligent than either of his parents and, fortunately for us, does not rub
our noses in that fact. Occasionally we
find let him onto something new but not that often anymore.
If you ever are coming
through Jacksonville, FL, you are welcome to stay at our bed and
breakfast. You get the same rate we
would charge our son, daughter and Francis.
28 Apr 2008 Bob Dougherty: Thanks for all your work on Diaspora Digest._
28 Apr 2008 Tony Lutz: Pres. Reagan wrote: "The trouble with our liberal
friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that
isn't so." Patrick Buchanan writes wisely in "Where the Right Went
Wrong," "The Catholic Church,
the nation's largest, is riven with heresy, scandal, dissent, and
disbelief." The Pope tried to counteract some of this in his recent
American sermons/addresses.
For years I've been getting a
publication put out by inactive priests called WEORC. [http://www.weorc.org/newsletter.htm]
It used to help priests who left get jobs. Now it's a propaganda piece for
dissenters. There is a feature on the approval of homosexual behavior. I wrote
and gave WEORC great studies on homosexuality: Like the two‑years study
by the Catholic Medical Association; books like those of psychiatrist Rick
Fitzgibbons, Fr. John Harvey(founder of "Courage") and his book,
"The Truth About Homosexuality," Homosexual Parents by the Camerons;
"Male and Female He Made Them" by Mary Jo Anderson and Dr. Robin
Bernhoft, M.D.; "Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth" by Jeffrey
Satinover, M.D.; "Homosexuality and American Public Life" edited by
Christopher Wolfe; "Life Issues" by Drs. Smith and Kaczor. Read and
be informed!
28 Apr 2008 Dan Tanna: Great job! Thanks again to you and Gael for such an
awesome gift.
29 Apr 2008 Paul Langan: Thanks for the update. I really enjoy reading the DD. Wish it could come out more
frequently to keep up on current happenings.
In my response to Dan Tanna I mentioned reading Tony Lutz and found him
to be unusual, interesting to read and
reminding me why some of us definitely are doing the real catholic church a
service by being cut off from the 'bully' pulpit. My good buddy, Nick Toby Baxter, is still surviving up there near
the arctic circle in the upper reaches of Wisconsin but the cold is affecting
his heath. Hopefully he will be
transferred back to South Texas to heal and get on with his health and ministry. How are you and the Brennan clan doing up
there in in Spokane?
29 Apr 2008 Luis Runde: Peace. Thanks for DD39 !!!
29 Apr 2008 Jack
Christensen: Once in awhile I manage
to figure out how to get on‑line and read DD. I also owe Keith a list of
cardiac ventures: (double by‑pass in 1990, thirteen angiograms with 6
stents until May 2007 for another double by‑pass and a new ring in my
valve (just like a Ford) plus a pace‑maker several years ago. We added a
room on to our bathroom for my medication collection.
However, I am carrying a 16
handicap and play with a good friend who has a pace‑maker and a man‑made
stomach ‑‑‑ ah! the wonders of modern medicine and the Hand
of God!
Now I am really wondering? My
body goes to Saint Louis U Medical School (as did Mel Doyle's) and when they
are thru cutting it up it gets incinerated. They then have a graveyard
ceremonial with the families of the donors. However, I know several rather
prominent Jesuits who did this so I guess it is okay. Besides, if there is a Resurrection
who they hell cares about our screwed‑up mortal bodies!
Currently working with a
Sister of St. Joseph who runs The Center for Survivors of Torture and War
Trauma. Finding drivers for visits to doctors, etc., also doctors who will take
on charity cases, plus hoping to get her some $$$. As we are all well aware,
you can get $$ for programs but none for keeping the door open and the lights
on. Forty kids in treatment!
If Etzkorn feels old about
students retiring try this one. I had John Doctor in class and he is completing
his second tour as Provincial.
Incidentally, Susan and I
"bought" John and Ken Capalbo for dinner at the annual auction over
the past couple of years which means I cooked and they ate ‑ what
wonderful evenings they were and the Province is fortunate to have such truly
Franciscan men at the helm.
You guys are to be commended
for your DD work, and I thank you because deep down it is hard to keep the
Friar from emerging now and then.
02 May 2008 Gael Stahl: Just talked to Mooney, finally. He's sitting on the
front porch watching the river go by, life goes by behind him out in Rocky
Ripple, but he's not on duty.
He's fine. Operations knock
the freshness out of you and he's feeling it but he was happy to hear your
paragraph about him and the epidemic of surgeries our friends are having ‑
you and me both ‑ but we didn't talk long. He's not replied to Cullan's
call and I've only got busy signals and one voice mail so it was nice to
finally get thru.
I think we're finally in the
gear I thought we were heading to when we went on line. [Zeke here is
referring to the Blog part of the DD] It's a gear I know how to work since
we've gone this way in my Sherlockian and James Joyce life. You can read daily
messages and never in put yourself, or you can join in. Such service!
10 May 2008 Scott Kuhle: I finally got
around to having my name changed officially to Scott (double t) after all of
these years. My new passport arrived recently with my name as Scott Kuhle. I
reckon that's about as official as it gets.
I always thought that my name
was Ralph Jerome Kuhle. After going through all of the rigamarole of getting my
birth certificate, I discovered that my name on my birth certificate was simply
Ralph Kuhle. With a more forensics, I discovered that I was baptized Ralph
Jerome Kuhle. I thought that I had it all straightened until I just read that I
was listed as Scot (one t) in the DD E‑mail Roster.
Holy Shit, I hope that they
have gotten all of these changes correct at the sign in desk at the Pearly
Gates. I'm going to have enough difficulty getting in without some fuckin
difficulty over my name! Maybe, if it's correct in the DD, St. Peter will take
notice of the correction, since I'm sure that he is a faithful reader. [Kuhle
by any other name would be as sweet. JB]
Thanks for all of the work
that you're doing on the DD. I'm looking forward to the Blog.
Peace, Joy, and Love.
11 May 2008 Fr. Paul L.
Meyers, O.F.A: I am yet hopeful, that
someone, somewhere might have kept a copy or 2 of the prayer book we used at
St. Joe's (1959/1964), which included only one Latin‑prayer (Adoremus Te)
which we started/ended each day in the chapel ?
I know that there is a larger‑similar
version which was used in Teutopolis, (Post college from St. Joe's) of which
copies are available at the Sacred Heart Archives In St. Louis.
Please let me know, if anyone
knows about same, or has a copy ?
Thank you, for your continued
courtesy. Toward Our Risen Christ. [We
kicked this around on the Blog and finally Bro. Jack (Neal) Hardesty quoted
from the Preces Communes. Find the discussion on the blog http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Diaspora_ofm/ under the theme
“Adoramus Te.” JB]
11 May 2008 Gael Stahl: [Gael
welcomes Frank Wildt to the DD Blog.] This is indeed a nice surprise. I've
been wondering for a long time how to get in contact with you, Frank. Talked to
Don [Frank's cousin and our classmate. JB] recently, and thought I'd
asked him, but perhaps I didn't. Coincidence that you write now?
Jack will keep you up on
everything else. Pax et bonum und alles
gut.
12 May 2008 Tony Lutz: Dear DD: I read every sick and death notice and
appreciate you informing us. Just know your missives are read and appreciated.
It reminds me to pray for our confreres. In Christ.
13 May 2008 Clyde
Ebenreck: [Responding to our
request for help on the Adoramus te mystery.] Sorry the old brain doesn't
bring the words back ‑ back to grading papers (end of the semester at
Prince George's Community College: getting on to 38 years here now, and resumed
department chair duties two years back after a long hiatus).
15 May 2008 Joan Burds: How are you guys doing? We're managing okay here, but
this is one bleak looking future for the country/world.
16 May 2008 Jerry Etzkorn: [To Fr. Benet Fonk re Fr. Vic Kingery.] Would
you please pass on our best wishes to Vic. He is a dear friend and was often
helpful in admitting me to the Brenner Library's caverns in search of medieval
lore.
16 May 2008 Jack Brennan: Sorry about your friend. [Gael=s dear friend, Bev Bruninga, died recently. See Gael=s eloquent tribute to her: http://www.diasporadigest.org/bev.html] I've been reading James Hillman's "Force of
Character" and I am turned on by the notion that aging is not an illness
but a natural progression of being human and that we need to relearn how to
enjoy that part of our development. Whenever I go to a memorial or a funeral I
feel a great sense of peace. Don't think that I am not afraid to die, I am. But
something about those gatherings greatly abates my fears.
16 May 2008 Gael Stahl: [Responds to Jack.] Mike Mooney called not long after I read your letter asking about
him. He said the operation left him feeling weak but he's recovering from that
OK. Most important, all the functions work.. He's justly delighted with his
progress.
His main reason to call was
that Cullan and Muskie decided to meet at his house June 10‑11 or so and
he wondered if I could be there. Turns out, that's about the time Susan and I
are headed out and up to the Adirondacks (the whole northeast quarter of the
big state of New York). It's the biggest park in the country and we're going to
explore it our way including camping, native plant exploring, hiking, and such.
Yes, funerals can be serene
experiences and wonderful when done well. But Bev leaves an absence larger than
that. And she was not in the funeral service except for one guy who
delightfully brought her to it with his appreciations of being one of her
traveling companions to places all over Europe, Asia, Eurasia (including Iran,
Uzbekistan and other stans). I did her a heartfelt reading they gave me from
Romans Chapter 8 about being children of god with nothing to fear and all
creation waiting to see itself revealed
in the children of god. Otherwise, it was a generic liturgical funeral, not
even any toasts or roasts or stories at the reception afterwards. I wanted a
wake! But it was too hard to arrange, her daughter said.
I recommend to all who
haven't seen what Paul Meyers sent last month, to take a look! http://www.diasporadigest.org/meyers.wmv
And then, follow it up by
clicking on the Anthem of Leonard Cohen just below the slide show. http://www.diasporadigest.org/cohen.wmv
It plays as I type, my heart sings
in unison. Each tucked string tells.
16 May 2008 Gael Stahl: [Gael welcomes all who join the DD Blog.]
Great to have you Dan, and I'm hoping Dan Mazar and Dan Dolesh will be soon
aboard too. We're getting there. Can Ray Konrath really be that far behind?
;>)
16 May 2008 Dan Tanna: [To Gael
and Paul Langan.] It's good to be
on board. I am still trying to access the Diaspora Blog. It is just a matter of
time. Paul L. who has always been my IT guru has extended a helping hand should
l need it. I need it!!! Really appreciate what you and Jack have provided to
keep us in touch.
And it is just a matter of
time before the other "Dans" sign up or get on line. I am looking
forward to a visit from Danny Mazar toward the end of the month. We might get a
round or two of golf in if the weather permits. The last time Dan Dolesh and I
talked, he was driving home (Cleveland)
in a snow storm. He is a busy guy with property in Florida (Ft. Meyers)
that has to be tended to on a regular basis. Have seen pics of it on line; it
looks very good.
Paul, I'll give you a call if
I am unable to get to the blog. Am going to try a couple of more times. I need
a break from cutting the grass, walking the dog, and cooking. (I am not
complaining.) Actually I am sitting here in the lobby of Advance Therapy on
Broadway as Sharon goes through her P.T. routine. (For those who don't know....
Sharon, mea esposa, had a full knee joint replacement on 2/19 of this year. She
has been putting a lot of time into getting back to normal, i.e., therapy three
times a week, lots of ice packs, and exercises at home. It was not the slam dunk we thought it would be.
But the procedure was successful and she improves modestly daily.) I need to contact Tom Shannon and find out
how Kathy's recuperation is going. I believe Tom wrote in April (most recent
edition of DD) that she had the same procedure a couple of months ago.
Jack and Gael, thanks
again!!!
16 May 2008 Jack Brennan: [This was originally intended for Dan Tanna, but
applies to all who may need assistance in getting on any of the DD pages. JB] If you are having trouble getting on, get by
your computer and call me on my cell and unless I am with a patient or in the
shower, I will walk you through it. 509‑954‑3962.
20 May 2008 Jack Brennan: We are proud to post a very brief bio of Gael Stahl -
our beloved founder, publisher and editor - as he retired from his job as
Editor of the Tennessee Town & City. http://www.diasporadigest.org/stahl.html
21 May 2008 Tony Lutz: [Responds to Michael A. Perry=s speech at the Inauguration of the Franciscan Action
Network in Alexandria, Virginia. Ref:
http://www.diasporadigest.org/perry.html.] The meaning of this talk about the
Franciscan Action Network comes down to seeking personal holiness through
prayer, penance, love of neighbor and good works. The Christian message always
comes down to that and not the discredited "Liberation Theology." At
least during the Holy Mass preach the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not
being done in most Catholic Churches.
22 May 2008 Gael Stahl: You lucky devils got Risk in novitiate. The only place
we had it was in T‑Town, theology. Not Cleveland. At Cleveland we were
busy on tree crew, putting on plays, watching Mooney listen to the Pines of
Rome, and playing some softball after supper.
Those were fine days, weren't
they? An awful lot like retirement is.
By the way Turtle Dan, you
probably saw Cowboy Dan's blog on Andy Buvala. Well, I saw all three of your
letters including one or two to the blog. ‑ In fact, I think I'll plug
this into the DD blog/list group right now. Hope you don't mind, but it's kind
of neat to share memories of seminaries and old classmates.
You are definitely plugged in
and that is important because your class and ours are so closely connected, and
you'll drag in more of yours. Jack and I need to work on Behl and other
classmates some of whom stay in contact. John Behl calls me every once in
awhile, just when I'm thinking it's time to call him. He helped encourage me to
have the fortitude to retire.
22 May 2008 Dan Tanna: Risk consumed us in novitiate, Gael! Playing that board
game and listening to the sound track from the Sound of Music (old 33, I
believe) enhanced our aula activities in T‑Town that Winter (60‑61).
Mike Kellet's grandmother ‑ Mrs. Roe (aka Fr. Kevin Roe's mother) ‑
sent them to us at Christmas. I don't remember it being a part of my Cleveland
experience. Could have blocked it out and focused my energies on being the best
damn member the Tree Crew every had. John Behl was my mentor on that, I
believe. By the way, where is Johnny B these days? I guess I'll get an update
this weekend as Sharon and I are looking forward to a visit from Pat and Jerry
Krull. They are driving up Sunday. John is godfather to one of their kiddos ‑
Jessica, I believe. I hear he has been doing some volunteer work for Habitat
for Humanity.
Paul Langan's wife, Geri,
called (Tuesday) with a Paul update. The surgeons were able to repair his
mitral valve vs. replacing it. Geri said that was GOOD NEWS!!! The docs didn't
know what they would encounter until they got in there. Replacement would have
required more extensive open heart "prowling." Paul was in ICU and expected to be there
through Wednesday afternoon. She said he would be in the hospital for four to
six days. Geri was pleased with his good color so soon given the procedure he
had just come through.
I am still working to get
this on the BLOG. Jack was very helpful the other day with a step by step
tutorial. It worked at the time, and I thought I had it. I just have to do it a
couple of more times to get the rhythms in place. I'll get there!!! We learn by
doing, right? I look forward to blogging and thank you and Jack again for
putting it in place. Jack also made me aware of the other features on the
Digest site like the photo gallery and specifically some photos of Mike's
funeral last April.
Dan Dolesh, I am copying you
on this missive to Gael. Join the BLOG, Dan!!! Would love to hear from you. And
a picture of your Florida retreat is a natural for the album. It is a beauty!!!
And about Risk and Sound of Music..... Is that in line with your memory of our
OFM boot camp year?
Has anybody contacted Tommy
Shannon about BLOGGING?
Gael, I will attempt a BLOG
update on Paul this afternoon.
22 May 2008 Gael Stahl: I remember vividly and kidded Frank Wildt about his
liking to have the Blue pieces in Risk. As I remember, Don Awerkamp liked
Green. I think I usually went with Red and Jerry Klein must have been black or
yellow. Spoonhour wasn't into it much. Nor you. You guys were out having a real
life.
22 May 2008 Dan Tanna: Gael, thanks for the clarification. That's
right....Don Wildt, who is not Frank Wildt, was in your class. I was thinking
"Frank" when I saw the name in contacts. Of course we both know Frank
was in the class behind ours along with Awerkamp, Vogel, Spoonhour et al.
22 May 2008 Tom Shannon: Jack and Geal,
I will get on the blog eventually but 6 months ago I did not realize that this
was Memorial Day weekend and I committed to giving a paper on Bonaventure and
Scotus at an OFM meeting in DC! The paper is done but I will miss two days of
our kids and grandson.
Is this the prayer? Adoramus
te, Domine Jesu Christe, hic et ad omnes ecclesias tuas quae sunt in toto
mundo. Et benedicimus te quia per crucem tuam redemidsti mundum. I think that is the gist of it but some
endings may be incorrect.
22 May 2008 John Miller: I'm a bit hesitant to join your blog as I have very
little to say or add re the Church or having been a part of the order for a
very short time. Don't get me wrong, I
appreciate and cherish both as having added a great deal to me and what I
am. But I no longer want to reminisce
nor "debate" differences and
be accused of being a "cafeteria Catholic." I also have no wish to offend.
The struggle to be human and follow what the Christ taught is a lifetime
journey, and of late, I have not found the Church helpful nor hopeful. Thus I would just as soon not lay that on
anyone.
Thanks for your
understanding. PAX.
22 May 2008 Jack Brennan: [Responding to John Miller.] Thanks for your frank response. There is not one word in your note to which
I would take exception. I have become
a devout agnostic myself, but I am comfortable with all of the guys in my
era. I know the men in our class range
from atheists to fervent believers. And
yet I feel I could have a warm and honest conversation with those on either end
of the spectrum. I guess I am in it for
the fellowship and have never felt any resentment from the guys with whom I
studied and worked. Living with those
guys has taught me the value of surrounding myself with friends like them where
ever I have lived. I do respect your
position and again appreciate your honesty.
Seems you too have life long
friends with the OFM brand. Ain't it a
blessing?
If you do decide to join the
blog, there is a neat thing you can do from there and that is to start your own
blog. I was thinking about setting up
photo albums wherein each class or era could have it's own collection of
photos. By era, I mean a range of classes three older than ours and three
younger. That would cover the guys with
whom we were in school and knew well.
Again, thanks. Pax et bonum.
22 May 2008 Luis Runde: [To Jack Brennan.] And when are you returning
to the holy city of Chicago? ‑ You can take in the thrice‑weekly concerts
in Grant Park (really now the part
called Millennium Park), and the new theater district which always has good
offerings ‑ and find your night=s
rest here in our place, near all this stuff. Anyway ‑ I will not do St
Ailbe's
If in Illinois ‑ come
to T town for Jun 29 ‑‑ 50th sacerdotal jubilee of Dismas, Duffy,
Maury Hawickhorst, JJ Lakers, et al. And I do hope they will send me to your
fair state soon. I will take extra day
or two to see you & Scott Kuhle.
Pax et Bonum (thanks for tip
on the Notre Dame on line Latin dictionary).
23 May 2008 John Laker: Okay, how about this for an old prayer: "We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ,
here and in all the churches throughout the world, and we praise you for by
your holy cross you have reeemed the world." Or something like that. Pax
et bunum!
23 May 2008 Jack Hardesty: Directly
quoted from the Preces Communes: " Adoramus te, sanctissime Domine Jesu
Christe, hic et ad omnes ecclesias tuas, quae sunt in toto mundo, et
benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum. “ And: "O Sacrum Convivium in quo Christus
sumitur, recolitur memoria passionis ejus, mens impletur gratia, et futurae
gloriae nobis pignus datur." [Thank you, Brother Jack!]
23 May 2008 Dan Tanna: Jack, if you
don't mind posting it this time (Paul's update), I'd appreciate it. I've got a
little break in the weather here and need to crank up the Briggs and Stratton and tackle that lawn. But I do
welcome time at the feet of the Master to learn how to do it in future.
Thanks for Dr. Tommy's email.
Wow!!! Bonaventure and Scotus ‑ Memorial Day weekend!!!! He'll be
competing with Rolling Thunder on the Mall. Tom's famous quote that I use
frequently when fielding retirement questions is: "Time means nothing to
me any more." I think it is a good response albeit it said with a little
tongue in cheek.
I wonder how many books his
grandson has read. What Earnhart was to NASCAR, Tommy was to speed reading. He
could knock 'em out in no time flat.
22 May 2008 Dan (Emeric) Dolesh: [This note out of sequence
for continuity. JB] Good grief, yes, Dan.
I remember us racing down the corridor at break time to get to the aula
to finish a RISK game. Yes, sound of
music was big, too. Contributed to our
fantasy life; a necessity in Novitiate as there wasn't much more than flying
June bugs on a leash and having an occasional tomato fight ("The last
tomato fight of the year was held on..........
Fr. Alban" And that on the
back of a used envelope to teach us frugality). Of course the high point of the year was the rabbit funeral done
by Stahl, Brennan, Powell, Makowski, etc before they left for the lovely shores
of Cleveland. "Potens erit in
terra semen eius" [That would
be “Potens erat semen eius.” on Elvis the rabbit’s tombstone. Yes, some of us did know Latin. Not me. JB]
I'll never forget that lousy quote. On
his gravestone if I'm not mistaken. I
was really impressed. These guys
actually knew Latin. Ah, yes, Those
Were the Days, We Thought They'd Never End.
Happy to do the blog. Never done it; tell me more. Presently in Florida with Ann, my girl
friend from England. Wondering why the
heck you guys aren't down here with me.
23 May 2008 Dan Tanna: [From his favorite coffee house in Quincy.] Hey, Dan!!! [To Dan Dolesh.] Great
hearing from you. So here I am again at Panera=s Bread Company in Quincy sipping coffee, blogging (thanks Jack and
Gael) and waiting for the weather to clear. Quincy (aka the Gem City) has been
getting a lot of rain. Got to cut the grass and do a little edging before the
holiday weekend gets here. Sharon and I celebrate our 13th anniversary of
wedded bliss this weekend so I want the yard to be appropriately coiffed (???).
Exact date is 5/27. Jerry and Pat Krull are driving up to help celebrate. They
were in attendance in 95.
Dan [Still with Dolesh],
here is a link for you to use to show Ann some of the old days. http://www.diasporadigest.org/photos.html Paul Meyers did a buffo job providing a
slide show of the old St. Joe=s. Jack B has
also set up a album for the ordination class of =67. Take a look at it. And not only that, but there are also some
photos of us (you, Chuck, me, Ray, and Charlie) at Mike=s funeral in April of 2007. Thanks again, Jack!!!!
(Jack told me they have been there for almost a year. I just found out about
it.) Ah yes ‑ 4/14/2007 B 1st class
feast!!! Wine in a tumbler and ice cream for me on that day from here on out.
Et alii confreres!!!!: Gael,
Tommy, Alex, Chuck G., Chuck F., Jack, Charlie B. and little brother Richard
(only chronologically speaking, Rich): I am really enjoying this blog
opportunity Jack and Gael have provided. Please consider joining in. It is
simple and free. For a guy living in what we used to call Quincy (A cemetery
with lights) it is a great outlet.
Chuck [Faso], any
updates on Polly? Hope all continues to go well with her new kidney. Looking
forward to seeing you here in the Gem City in August. The ATP has announced
that your Sherman retreat is sold out? Who would be surprised. And wasn’t it
Fr. Jim Edminston you introduced to Sharon and me in DC when you were giving
the Triduum homilies in 2007?
Paul Langan had open heart
surgery (did a report on the Blog) Tuesday morning at Sequoia Hospital in
Redwood City, CA, to repair his mitral valve. Geri, his wife, called me that
afternoon to report all went well. They were able to repair the valve vs.
replacing it. He should be getting out of the hospital in a couple of days.
They anticipate being there four to six days. Good prognosis from the
cardiologist: they caught the condition in time for Paul to expect a full
recovery (two to four months). The sticky valve was putting a strain on one of
his heart chambers making it a little larger than God designed it to be. The
docs are telling Geri that it should return to normal size with time. Paul
first learned of the condition several months ago when he went in for his
physical to renew his pilot=s license. Being
the active person he is, the slowdown has challenged his powers of
adaptability. Know what I mean? He is not one to sit around and really misses
his time on the bike and long walks along the coastline with Geri.
Tommy [Shannon], how
is Kathy=s recuperation coming along? Sharon had her three
month follow‑up with her surgeon last Friday. She had a full joint
replacement on the right side on 2/19. She continues with prescribed physical
therapy through the end of the month and then on her own. The experience has
been an eye‑opener for both of us; not quite the slam dunk we thought it
would be. The seminar prior to surgery didn=t
include all of the stuff, probably for good reasons.
Ok, my time is up at Panera=s. The lunch crowd is starting to come in. Everybody have a great holiday and consider
joining the Diaspora Blog. [I wonder what=s in that coffee at Panera=s? JB]
23 May 2008 Gael Stahl: [To Tanna.] I'm tickled to see you writing from Panera=s (when you started) or Panamas (when you signed off)
because that's my retirement dream. We have a Starbucks near here and if I try
it out with my laptop, I'll write you the first letter. Or, does Panera's
supply the computer. You say your time is was up. I assumed you meant your use
of the router was up, but that doesn't make sense. [I Googled it and found
Panera=s Bread Company which has many shops all over the
country. JB]
23 May 2008 Jack Brennan: [To the Usual Suspects: Stahl, Tanna, Dolesh,
Langan and Shannon.] Confusion is setting in. Now it feels like we are swinging on the window sills at
Cleveland getting confused about movies.
It occurs to me now that we must have inhaled too many paint fumes. I
think the only movie we'd seen in three years was "The Song of
Bernadette." There were places in
that movie where we had to practice custodia oculorum; there were some pretty
hot looking bodices and ankles as I recall.
I did find your update on
Paul and posted it on the blog. It was
sandwiched in a bunch of stuff from Gael.
You don't need to tell anyone about the blog, everyone on the DD list
was notified of it. However, a nudge
from the old senior of the class will certainly make those guys jump into
action. Leadership.
We are going to have to start
using very precise language about the DD site.
Zeke calls it the DD group list and I call it the DD blog. There are photo albums on the Blog site and
on the DD home site. We better get
Tommy to clarify all this for us. He
could do a paper on it in Quincy and we could take notes in our blue books or
our treasury books.
Anyway, I'm glad you got your
Briggs and Stratton fired up. I thought
they made jet engines.
Spread the pax.
23 May 2008 Dan Tanna: Jack, precise
language is one of the demands of the electronic age. Could not agree with you
more. And that=s a good thing, don=t
you think? If nothing else, it
challenges us old farts to keep brain and tongue in sync and sharp. Agree? Some
days each of the two are sharp but not in sync. Ever have those kinds of days?
When that happens, I have accepted that fighting it just adds to the
frustration and let it go. So what are we going to call it: group site? group list? DD blog? All of the
above? As I study it, the blog is a part of the DD home page? The DD group list
the same? Hey, it=s fun!! ANDYa
great way to keep in contact.
By the way, one of my “honey do”
projects this summer is to repair the counter weights in our first floor
windows, Jack! Had it not been for that Cleveland experience that summer, I
wouldn’t know there are counter weights in there. I am sure it is just the
ropes that have gone south since this house was built in the mid 40=s. We used to trick‑or‑treat here in the
old days. I don=t remember the response we got from occupants at that time
but I am sure it was good. Call it a cemetery with lights if you will (and I do
it often), Quincy is a great place for an old fart to live. NBC Nightly News
comes on at 5:30. I am used to the DC days of 7 pm. The most severe commute is
fifteen minutes. Neither Sharon or I miss the Beltway.
Looking forward to seeing
Cowboy on the 27th. He is spending a couple of days with us as he travels back
to Chicago via Sherman. He will visit the geezer stalag (as he calls it) when he
goes through Springfield. He and Zack stay in touch. A classmate of his lives
in Springfield B Ken Dobucki B I
believe. Hope to get a round of golf in with him and Lew Walbring. Who is Lew?
Lew and I grew up together here in the neighborhood. He and his brother Gene
lived across the alley from us. We played a lot of cars and trucks in the sand
box in our early formative years. He is a retired fire fighter. It has been a
joy to reconnect with him and his family. He and Cowboy will hit it off. Lew is
still involved with the fire fighters=
union here in town and deals with Bro. Ed Armbush? ) a lot. I=ll post a couple of pics on the blog site (got that right) of our links
outing.
Jack, time to hit the sack.
Have a great holiday weekend.
25 May 2008 Chuck Gunti: Dan, Glad to
know you are enjoying the Gem City.
I've been trying to get into the 'Blog.' Every time I try to get a screen name it tells me that it is
already taken. Obviously you have been
there and know how it is done. Please enlighten me.
Happy Anniversary.
27 May 2008 Dan Tanna: [This note out of sequence for continuity.] Chuck, great hearing from you!! I have
been off of the computer for the past couple of days. Jerry and Pat Krull were in town over the weekend. Danny Mazar is
coming through this afternoon on his way back to Chicago.
How did I get to the Blog?
Jack B was big help so I am also copying him on this in case I screw it up for
you. I am slowly working my way through it still. (Learning by doingY. you know.)
But I first went to the Diaspora website (?) which is www.diasporadigest.org. There is a
link there that references the BLOG. You can click on there and get to it. I
had to set up an email account in Yahoo to join the group. It=s free!
Jack, can you shed light
hereupon if I have missed a step or misspoke? Chuck, look forward to seeing
your stuff posted on the BLOG. When will you be in the Midwest again? [I >bout died when we heard from The Colonel himself,
so I wrote him a note about how to do it. JB]
26 May 2008 Paul Feldhake:
We have been living in Florida for
almost five years. Current address: 240
W. End Drive, Unit 313, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 (941) 575‑1095
I just recently caught on to
the fact that you started posting the digest online. [Since 1997.]
Pax et bonum.
28 May 2008 Tony (Rupert)
Lutz: I've lived in Vienna, Va. for 29 years and no one from the Sacred
Heart Province has accepted our hospitality to visit and stay with us. We are
between D.C. and Dulles airport. The invite still holds. Pax et Bonum!. 703 281‑0920.
29 May 2008 Scott Kuhle: I am thoroughly enjoying a couple of weeks away from
work, and, as you can well imagine, am getting into a bit of good mischief and
some fun bike riding.
The following is a synopsis
of our trip back to Kansas. It isn't
that far from Chicago.
Mary Ann and I are back from
a 5 day trip to the Midwest to attend Mary Ann's 50th high school class
reunion. The reunion, starting with
brunch on Friday and ending with breakfast on Sunday, was delightful for the
nine classmates and we spouses who tagged along. Over the years, I had met many of the attendees, whom I enjoyed
seeing again, and had heard stories about those I had not met, so it was
enjoyable putting faces to names and stories.
Since it was 9 o'clock when
Mary Ann and I landed at Kansas City International airport, we picked up our
rental car, some fast food, and found a nearby Motel 8. Motels and fast food joints look the same in
the dark, so I was not mindful of being in another part of the country. It wasn't until the next morning, when Mary
Ann was trying to locate a Starbucks for a Chai tea, that I started becoming
aware that we weren't in the Northwest, where there's a Starbucks in nearly
every mall and grocery store. After a
two hour drive from the motel, we finally found one in Topeka, and sitting
drinking a Chai, I didn't feel much different than if I were sitting at Pike
Street Market in Seattle.
A couple of hours later in
Junction City, I had an experience that jolted me into realizing that I was in
foreign country; while conversing with a long time friend of Mary Ann's family
about the 3 presidential candidates, he announced that, "I'm a one issue
voter." Other issues pale in light
of the issue of abortion. It quickly
became apparent, however, that another issue was nearly as important as
abortion when he asked, "You, of course, think that it is okay for two gay
people to get married?"
We both knew it was rhetorical,
but I acknowledged that I believed in the sanctity of any relationship in which
two individuals are committed to sharing their love with one another.
During a conversation at the
brunch for those celebrating their reunion the next afternoon, I was jarred with the realization that I had
been pushed off the plane onto a different planet. The first issue that came up were about the policies that the
crazy environmentalists are trying to implement or influence: global warming is
not a fact; drilling for oil in the ANWAR won't harm the environment;
pesticides and genetic engineering are safe.
Although I kept my mouth shut, I know that the shock on my face was
evident.
The conversation then turned
to which of the political candidates will best protect us from terrorist
attacks in this country. Actually, up
to this moment, terrorist attacks had been a non issue for me for years, so
again the surprise on my countenance must have shown through, prompting a
rhetorical question, "I suppose you don't think that terrorists will
strike this country?"
I could only reply with a
simple "No" since I was completely unprepared for a question to which
I don't give any thought. Of course,
the fact that I am not concerned about terrorist confirms that I am naive and
uniformed about Muslims.
Suddenly, I felt like a lone
rabbit surrounded by circling vultures ready to pounce on any morsel that I
might utter. I'm not sure whether it
was my primitive brain stem reaction to freeze or better cerebral judgment that
kept me from saying anything.
To debate global warming
based on the argument that the Antarctic was getting colder while the Arctic
was getting warmer seemed futile. I
didn't spend any time defending any scientists ‑ after all they are the
godless ones who believe in evolution, politicians ‑ sorry, Obama and
Hillary, you're on your own out there in the heartland, or religions ‑
after all there is the One, Holy, Universal, and Apostolic church that has all
of the Truth.
Mary Ann and I attended mass Saturday
afternoon and the theme of the sermon was: love God and all will be well
because God hears all of our prayers.
It may be that He/She does hear all of our prayers, but just doesn't
answer them. After all, in His/Her
infinite wisdom, He/She knows what's best for us ‑ isn't that what we're
told as words of comfort when our prayer goes unanswered? Quite likely this is one of the main reasons
that a child, who has prayed that the sexual or emotional victimization will
cease, eventually stops believing in the power of prayer. The church's assurance that God has his or
her best interests at heart eventually becomes cause for cynicism rather than
comfort.
On Saturday evening at the
reunion, a former graduate from Mary Ann's high school, who is currently a
professor at a Catholic college, gave a talk focused on truth, diversity and
pride. We were told that the truth was
available to young people in Catholic grade, high schools, and colleges. We learned that no other (yes, that's an
universal) entity is as diverse as the Catholic church, and, finally, we were
informed that pride is the basis of crime (he teaches criminal justice). Yikes, and here I had this nutty notion that
factors like poverty, poor education, and political ineptness were the major contributors
of crime. We were told, with an air of
great satisfaction, that Kansas believes in the punishment of criminals in the
penal system because coddling prisoners serves neither society nor the
criminal. I can only assume that the
philosophy of Kansans is: get those suckers saved, to hell with education and
efforts of rehabilitation.
What is one's response when
others state with apodictic certainty that Obama was (is) a Muslim and that
anyone of the Islamic faith is a potential terrorist? Any reply seems to simply reinforce the responder's ignorance and
naiveté. (Months ago I read the claims
about Obama past association with Islam, but thought that it was now a non‑issue
since there had been so many disclaimers.)
What is one's response when family values are stated as the antithesis
of abortion and gay marriage?
The belief in the sanctity of
all life and the dignity of all members of our species just seems to reinforce
one's lack of understanding for the value of family life. What is one's
response to the thinking that modern problems are the result of public school
education and lack of church attendance?
One cannot deny that prayers and religion have been taken out of public
school or make a case that shit happens also in families that fill the pews
every Sunday.
This trip provided me a
better understanding about the dynamics that drive the political divisions in
this country. It was an unexpected
glimpse at a reality much different than the one that I experience daily, and
though it seems far removed, it shapes the country in which I live, and thus
affects my life.
The people who exist in this
other reality, from which I am so far removed, are the salt of the earth. These are people whom I admire, appreciate,
and love. I say this unreservedly, no
ifs or buts. Although I am not so sure
that they believe that the likes of me will be spending an eternity with them
because we currently dwell in such polarized realities, I believe that one day
we will share a common reality, and that these issues which now separate us by
a chasm, will then seem moot.
Peace and Joy.
30 May 2008 Damien
Isabell: [In case you missed this
in the All Friars Info newsletter.]
Dear brothers, peace.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart
coincides with the completion of our fourth session of Franciscan Missionary
Formation in Brussels. Friar
missionaries - Capuchins and OFM - came from India, Poland, RD Congo,
Salvador/Haiti, and Italy and worked with a team from Vietnam, Congo, Togo and USA.
This intercultural mix -
making it work - is the center of our formation effort. We have already prepared the next session
that will be in English which will have brothers from Indonesia, India, Central
Europe and are destined for Vietnam, Africa and ?.
We lost our "head"
in the person of Vincenzo Brocanelli OFM who has been chosen provincial of his
province of the Marches. But the
Minister General José follows our bumpy evolution very closely and has taken
personal interest in our difficulties.
One of my difficulties is the
fact of having lived in the RD Congo for 25 years without having been able to
keep up with contemporary movements because of the difficulty of
communications. On the other hand, I
have acquired a lot of experience in living with Africans whose sharing has
revealed to me the wealth of their culture, despite all the violence that we
see in the media.
So we continue to work on
other continents grateful for the formation and prayer of Sacred Heart
Province. Justin Belitz OFM spent a
week with us in Brussels, and it is edifying to see his continued devotion to
his work. I keep missing Jeff Haller OFM whom I do not know personally but who
greets me regularly from wherever he is at.
I met Jésus from Morocco who did extraordinary work as the FMM sisters
told me, and they are sorry he will be leaving Morocco. I will be leaving soon for South Africa for
a session of on_going formation.
Blessings for your chapter.
Blessings on you all.