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ISSUE # 78
November 2004
www.ecommerce.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/
24 Brooklyn Mt Rd, Hopatcong, NJ 07843; 973-398-5477;
vtpoisella@yahoo.com
717 Washington Ave, Chappaqua, NY 10514; 914-238-8001;
richard.foy@verizon.net
50 S. Randolph Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601; 845-454-6116;
GusNolan@aol.com
499 East Pond Rd, Smithfield, ME 04978; 207-362-5495;
kammer2@earthlink.net
Announcing …
New website for the Marist Brothers of the United States Province
www.maristbrothersusa.org
or
www.maristbr.com
For information on the Marist Experience
in Sri Lanka during the tsunami click on

www.champagnat.org/en/260800001.asp?num=178
click on email address to send email
click on correspondent or topic to go to that item


Correspondents
Br. Kevin Blyth
Rich Foy ('45)
Jim Gargan ('59)
Br Pedro Herreros
Br Francis Klug ('44)
Tom Moore ('61)
Gus Nolan ('48)
Robert Ombrello
Br. Sean Sammon ('66)
Gene Zirkel ('53)

Topics
GMC picnic at MSM


octagonal chapel (???)
Marist Family Institute of Spirituality
July 2005

Br. Michael Flanigan's appointment
(These first items connect in various ways to the role of the laity in the
Church, the role of the Marist Brothers in working with the laity, and
the identity of the GMC and Marists All as a unique lay involvement
related to the apostolate of the Marist Brothers. Please ponder these
contributions in that light. Editor)
From BR. SEAN SAMMON, S.G.: A team from Rome is visiting the
United States


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Province: Pedro Herreros from Chile, Theoneste Kalisa from Congo, and
Henry Spinks from New Zealand. I have asked both Pedro and
Theoneste to be in touch with groups like the GMC during the visit.
Theoneste told me that he would speak with John Klein about arranging
what meetings he can. The team is in the U.S. until mid-November.
Later in November our entire General Council will gather with the
Councils of North America (Canada and the U.S.) for what we call an
extended General Council meeting to plan for the region. (Editor's
note: See
www.champagnat.org
for news of the joint meetings of the
United States and Canadian Provincial Councils with members of the
General Council held November 17-19, 2004 at Maryknoll New York)
From BR. PEDRO HERREROS: It is with much happiness that I inform
you, as Chair
of the Laity Commission, that Br. Superior General and his Council, in
their meeting of August 10th, have appointed Br. Michael Flanigan, of
the Province of the United States, as Executive Secretary of the Laity
Commission for a period of three years, beginning September 20,
2004. Br. Michael brings to this work of animation, the youthfulness of
his forty-seven years, his experience as an educator, Vocation Director,
and Vice Provincial, his organizational qualities, and his ability to get
along with others, as well as his facility for language (being fluent in
Spanish and French in addition to his native English) and his love for
Jesus and Mary whom he felt called to follow as a Marist Brother. We
thank Michael for his openness in leaving his important work as
President of Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx and his work with
young people in order to serve the Institute in the area of animation of
the laity for the next few years. We also thank the Province of the
United States and Br. John Klein for their generosity in freeing another
Brother for service to the General Administration of the Institute. The
Commission on Laity is made up of Brothers Antonio Ramlho, Emili
Turu, and Pedro Herreros as the Councilor in charge of the Commission.
Br. Michael will assume position as Executive Secretary in the task of
“widening the space of our tent” of the Marist Charism which is found
incarnated in the vocations of Brothers and lay people in the Church.
From GUS NOLAN (’48): For some time now I have been thinking
about the possible reasons for the longevity of the Marist Brothers, as
well as my own. I think the congregation is in far better shape than I
am! I have considered three points: the congregation’s vitality, its
stability, and its sustenance by the Spirit.
A wealth of information can be gleaned from the website --
www.Champagnat.org -- on a range of topics including a calendar of
important events of the past and a bulletin board with such categories
as the following: Who We Are, Spirituality and Mission, World Wide
Presence, Marist Saints, Marist Documents. Another page is dedicated
to St. Marcellin Champagnat, his educational methods, the canonization
story of April 18, 1999, and Marcellin in Art. Other pages are dedicated
to commissions and publications. One such publication is the Marist
magazine, Message, including pages of statistical updates listing the


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names of newly professed Brothers and of Brothers recently deceased.
Along with these items I found an interesting letter from Brother Sean
Sammon, S.G., explaining the decision of the General Council to make
this present year (’04-’05) Marist Vocation Year. In perusing this web
presentation a viewer comes away with a feeling that the Marists are a
spiritually vital congregation.
Interesting statistics appearing on the web site suggest a stability that
defies talk of a gradual disappearance of the congregation. The annual
reports listed on this site indicate that the numerical size of the
Institute has stabilized.

Year
Candidates Professed
Total
Deceased

2000
149
4281
4657
91
2001
142
4193
4562
104
2002
148
4044
4430
104
2003
125
3929
4345
105

In addition to this data, we should consider the total number of Marist
associates stretching out to more than 40,000 Marist lay teachers,
including former Brothers, teaching in seventy-six countries on five
continents and involved with more than 500,000 students. In the
United States Province alone there are a number of activities that
involve the Brothers and lay associates dedicated to developing the
spirit of Champagnat. I believe that the number of lay teachers and
students around the world indicates an increase in interest in the spirit
of St. Champagnat. Surely there is growth here.
And finally, I recall the echo of Fr. Champagnat’s favorite Psalm, “Nisi
Dominus.” Unless the Lord build the house…. And so we pray that the
Spirit enliven the laborers in the field to continue with their efforts to
seize the opportunities in the various missions to make known with the
help and intercession of the Mother of God the Unconditional Love of
God for each of us.
GMC Picnic at Mount St. Michael
Fifty-eight participants gathered together in the garth on a chilly
Saturday in early September. Ray Landry drove down from North
Reading, MA. Pat and Mary Gallagher found their way from their new
Bucks County, PA home, getting stuck in traffic near the George
Washington Bridge. David and Judy Kammer stopped in at St. Patrick’s
near Van Cortlandt Park to see Br. John Colbert before their arrival. Br.
Tom Kelly, acting as maitre d’, was alert to anything lacking on the



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smorgasbord table, attempting to fulfill those needs from the Mount’s
bounty. Br. Jim Adams looked for photo ops with his trusty digital
camera. There was plenty to eat: salads, KFC buckets, sausage and
peppers, and varied desserts. Br. John Bantz, stopping in a little late,
“forgot about it” having gotten engrossed in the Mount-Fordham game.
Even Br. Gerry Brereton came, fresh from Rome. Br. John Hermann was
observed heating up the popular pepperoni pizza. And the Mid-Hudson
GMC had a faithful representation, including Rich and Barbara La Pietra,
Rich Foy, Adrian and Betty Perreault. The Mount, of course, had its
faithful: Br. Luke Driscoll, Br. Victor Serna, Br. Godfrey Robertson, Br.
Matthew Snowden, Br. Gus Landry, Br. Denis Caverley, Br. Nick Caffrey.
Br. Joe Belanger, rushing down from Hastings-on-the-Hudson, and then
rushing back to Poughkeepsie for a commitment, was heard remarking
that all this rushing was not good for his health! The previous
organizers of the July Marist Family Weekend at the College met near
the end of the afternoon. The old guard, Gene and Pat Zirkel, Barney
and Anne Sheridan, Vince and Jane Poisella, Br. Charles Marcellin, Gus
and Liz Nolan, Ed and Valerie Towsley, Bob and Ginny Grady, passed
the torch to Br. Bryce Brczynski and Mo Bibeau, both arduously taking
notes. The picnic participants came from near and far: Jim and Ginny
Gargan, Br. Simeon Gerald, Bill Kawka, Mike and Janet Kelly, Gil and Ita
Levesque, Br. Alphonse Matuga, Frank McNiff, Tony Miserandino, Mark
Moran, Frank and Joan Reilly, Br. Jim Ryan, John Wilcox, Joe McMahon,
Marty and Ann Lang. The wonder of it all: each person brought a little
food; and as in the story of the loaves and fishes, so much was left
over!
(Interested parties may want to peruse the photos of the
picnic
participants
on our Marists All website. The photographers were Br. Jim
Adams and Vince Poisella. The webmaster is Rich Foy. Editor)
Eleventh Greater Marist Family Weekend
Marist College
July 8-10 2005
Theme: Marcellin’s Beatitudes and “The Happy Gang”
Program Topics: Simplicity; Concern for the Poor; Concern for Youth;
Confidence in God; Mary, our Ordinary Resource; Presence of God;
Meeting the Needs of the Church
Schedule: Begins at dinner on Friday and ends after lunch on Sunday.
Presentations, Sharing, Liturgy, Prayer,
Contact: John Scileppi at john.scileppi@Marist.edu
From GENE ZIRKEL (’53):Volunteers are needed on Long Island!
Wyandanch Homes
and Property Development is a non-profit corporation sheltering thirty
poor families on Long Island. Not only do we put families into housing,
we also provide counseling and much needed budget advice. Our aim is
to get these people off welfare, into jobs and out of our houses so that
we can bring in other needy families. We encourage them to get their
high school equivalency diplomas and/or marketable computer skills.
Since the corporation owns these thirty houses, we often need to repair


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them. A broken banister, a leaky toilet, or electric outlet that needs
replacing -- the usual home repairs we are all familiar with, multiplied
by thirty! A few (a very few) of us volunteer our time on Thursday
morning fixing up these homes. I like to think of it as repairing Jesus’
home in Nazareth since He said, “Whatsoever you do for these, the
least of My brethren, you do for Me.”
We could use more volunteers. Recalling the work ethic we picked up
from the Brothers, and in light of the many skills we have, are there a
few people out there who would be willing to wield a screwdriver or a
paintbrush on a Thursday morning? I especially invite my retired
brothers and Brothers to join us. Please think about it, and if you have
any questions, contact me. (472 Village Oaks Lane, Babylon Village, NY
11702-3123; 631-669-0273;
genezirk@optonline.net
)
From BR. KEVIN BLYTH: Greetings from not-so-sunny Sydney,
Australia. Actually, it’s cool and rainy today, but they are promising
finer weather and a max temperature of 31 centigrade tomorrow. I am
writing to express my sincere appreciation to the Marists All team for
continuing to send me a copy of Marists All. Whilst I certainly do not
know many of the names of contributors and many of the Brothers
mentioned, I always love reading of all the activities. I also send a copy
to a friend of mine who lives in Canberra. He was a Brother for many
years and I lived with him a couple of times. He is engaged in a similar
sort of activity, although he does not expend anywhere near the energy
that your crew puts into this form of ministry.
It is difficult to send a donation, but I see that you can e-mail the
Marists All. So, why not save paper and postage, as well as time, by
adding my address to your e-mail contacts?
I was in Rome at the end of 2003 and met up with Sean, of course, and
Gerry, Don Bisson, Pat Lally, John Bantz, and several other American
Brothers. Luke Driscoll is another good friend, as are Bob Grady and
Bob Connolly. We were in Fribourg together. Every good wish to the
Marists All team! (Marcellin House, P.O. Box 775, Randwick,
NSW.Australia;
blythkfb@bigpond.com
)
From BR. FRANCIS KLUG (’45): I would like to inform our Marists All
readers about the Guadalupe Regional Middle School in Brownsville, TX.
This school was started to offer a Catholic education to the very poor
but talented children of the area. It is sponsored by the Irish Christian
Brothers, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, and the Marist Brothers.
On the staff are four Christian Brothers, one Christian Brother
volunteer, one ICW Sister, and two Marist Brothers (Leo Shea and
myself). In addition, there are ten lay people. Only the lay people and
the ICW Sister are on the payroll. Funding is by support from the
sponsoring religious orders but primarily from foundation grants, gifts
from individuals, and some local fundraising. Clearly, the funding is
very tenuous, but also very clearly, the funds have been available when


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needed, indicating, I believe, God’s blessing upon this project.
On the 13th of August, a retreat for the staff was held at our new
residence in Los Fresnos, about twelve miles north of Brownsville. Here,
I witnessed a very impressive display of the success of this school.
Everyone was anxious to get started, eager to be with the children
again. They stated very clearly how pleased they were to be teaching
these very special children. During the past week several students
came around the school; they also stated that they were happy school
was starting again. Although I don’t teach any more, I have found them
to be wonderful kids to be around. Both of these reactions seem to me
to indicate that the school is a success. Perhaps one has to experience
the impact of these encounters, as I did, to understand the joy and
involvement of all the people in the program.
So, why are so many people committed to this little school? All of us
can see the difference it makes in the lives of the children. We are
confident in the hope that they will make a difference in the future of
the people of south Texas. It is evident that education in the Catholic
Tradition makes a huge difference. Let me end by asking that the Lord
continue to bless this very worthwhile undertaking. (Route 2, Box
3101-T, Henderson Road, Los Fresnos, TX 78566)
From TOM MOORE (’61): Just a short update to let you know that I
retired (for the moment) after forty years of high school teaching:
fourteen as a Marist Brother and twenty-six in a public school in
Johnstown. My main reason for doing so stemmed not from burning out
but to be with my wife who has been living and working in Harrisburg
since before we were married four years ago. We have bought a home
in Enola, PA, which is just across the river from the Capitol. I am
currently sending out resumes to the two Catholic high schools and
several colleges in the area. I’d love to do full or part-time teaching
somewhere. I really love being a teacher. My wife and I are becoming
involved in our new parish, Our Lady of Lourdes. We are also active
volunteers at a no-kill animal shelter. In addition, I got a small role in a
local theatre group’s production. (9 Wexford Drive, Enola, PA 17025;
717-728-4219)
From JIM GARGAN (’59): Eight of us gathered for a long fun-filled
lunch on September 12 , marking the fifteenth year of the passing on
of Terry McMahon (Br. John Joseph). We had lots of laughs and no
tears. Accompanying me were Br. Dan Grogan, Binsky, Bill Doherty,
Tom Hourican, Joe McMahon, my brother Bill Gargan, and my brother-
in-law Joe Hanrahan, My brother Bill had been George Conboy’s
classmate at St. Agnes and got to know and kid Terry over the years.
Joe is a super at a condo on East 82nd Street in NYC. Terry worked for
him in the mid-nineteen eighties. Joe recalled a time when he was
away on a weekend, one of the tenants told Terry that Joe should have
stayed around. Terry said to him: “What do you want, lady, he should
chain himself to a pipe in the basement?”


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Tom Hourican had an apartment on one floor in Kew Gardens. Terry
lived on another floor, and I on still another. We recalled how we would
set an alarm clock whenever Terry visited our respective apartments. It
was always good to see Terry but not so easy to get him to say
goodbye. After a few settings and responsive rings of the alarm, he’d
get the idea that it was time to go.
Bill Doherty recalled an invitation he got from Terry to come over for
dinner. Terry told him to bring a bottle of Hickey Riggs (no doubt a rare
Scotch whisky unknown to all except for the thriftiest of bargain
shoppers). Bill went to a liquor store near Terry’s and inquired as to
whether they had it. The clerk said, “You must be a friend of Terry
McMahon’s.”
Binsky remembered the early 70’s when Terry, Binsky and Jim Gargan
shared an apartment in Jackson Heights and had many “spirited”
discussions into the night. The tenants above, whom we had never
met, always made a noise – seemingly rolling a bowling ball in their
apartment night after night but just once a night. Finally, Jim Gargan,
fed up, went up there, knocked, and announced that he was from
downstairs. From behind the door came, “Which one are you: Terry,
Jimmy, or Binsky?” (252-08 60th Avenue, Little Neck, NY 11362-2441;
212-785-1646; garganlaw@msn.com)
From ROBERT OMBRELLO: (Claire Horton of the Marist College
Advancement Office received a letter and forwarded it to Br. Joseph
Belanger. Claire had received it from Timmian Massie, Chief Public
Affairs Officer at the College, with a note: “What should we do with this
one?” Br. Joe sent it on to the Marists All editor. Here it is!) At sixty-five
years of age, I look back at my life. Born and raised in the Bronx, I left
after graduating from St. Helena High School in 1956 and joined the Air
Force. In April 2004, I returned with my whole family of nine for my
Mom’s 92nd birthday. As I passed by my old high school, I told the
whole family about my “stay” there. And then I began wondering what
ever happened to the Brothers from 1952 to 1956: Faustin Damian,
Christopher Emile, James Thomas, William, Michael Urban, Stephen
Martin, Maurice Robert, George Robert. These and others helped direct
me on the proper path. In those days I wore a black leather jacket but
traded it in for a jacket and tie.
(After the Editor, SHHS class of 1957, responded, the following came
via e-mail.)
Thanks for the info. Sorry to hear of the deaths of some of my
teachers. Br. Christopher was my homeroom teacher for two years. Br.
Stephen Martin was my math teacher. In senior year I didn’t want to
take fourth year Latin (Virgil), so I took the easier courses of solid
geometry and spherical trig. Br. Faustin was my English teacher for two
years. After six years in the Air Force, they were going to send me to
Syracuse University. So, I went back to SHHS for my transcripts and
met Br. Faustin. That was back in ’62. And he recognized me! I had
joined the Air Force in ’56 and retired in ’79 as a Mustang Major.


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Received a BS from Syracuse in ’64 and an MBA from Michigan State in
’68. The Air Force was kind to me. My wife and I have two daughters
and three grandkids. I retired from my second job as a Director of Data
Processing in ’94. I’m living now about twenty-two miles east-northeast
of San Francisco. And thanks again for the info, and thank Timmian,
Claire, and Joseph for forwarding my e-mail to you.
(bobumbr@aol.com
)
From RICH FOY (’45): For fifty years I have referred to Our Lady Seat
of Wisdom Chapel at Marist College as a circular building. During the
fiftieth anniversary celebration, Marty Lang mentioned to me that when
he had lunch in the dining room of the Yale Divinity School, a professor
heard that he was from Marist College. The professor complimented
him on the outstanding example of an octagonal church. Marty asked
me if Nilus had designed it that way, or if the architect knew of the
religious significance of the octagonal shape.
I began some research on the octagon shape. A person named Fowler
wrote a book in 1853 recommending building octagonal houses, and it
was re-published by Dover Books in 1973. He started a craze of
octagonal house building. I remember seeing one in Vermont on the
way to our house in Poultney. Fowler’s book recommended octagonal
chapels, but only so that the congregation could see each other and
come and leave without disturbing the preacher who would be located
along the face opposite the door. He gave no reference to any religious
meaning for the octagon.
I contacted Marty Lang again, and he sent me this information via e-
mail: “Very innocent and embarrassed at the Yale dinner table, I was
not able to tell the professor why Nilus had built an octagonal chapel. I
thought maybe Nilus did some homework on this and knew about early
Christian churches. I still don’t know where the plans came from, but it
was a stroke of genius. The first octagonal church was built by the
Byzantine Christians in Capernaum over the reputed house of Peter. A
Christian woman pilgrim named Egeria wrote about this church in her
diary toward the end of the fourth century. Scholars tend to think this
site did start out as Peter’s house, very close to the Sea of Galilee. It
went from a simple house to a house church, then to the octagonal
building. The octagon was a purposeful symbol, but I don’t know why.
The church of the Holy Apostles built by the Byzantines on Mt. Sion at
the Upper Room was also octagonal. The octagonal church marked very
special locations for the early Christians. The remains of the Church of
the Ascension on the Mount of Olives also appear to be octagonal.
Interestingly, when I first started going to Jerusalem in 1980, there
were only rough outlines of the foundation of the octagonal church in
Capernaum. Now the Franciscans have built an octagonal church, very
liturgical and artistic, over the original site. Why the octagonal shape?
Still a mystery to me.”
Maybe Nilus did know the religious significance. His curiosity extended


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in many directions. But maybe not… Does anybody have any further
information about the liturgical significance of the octagon?
(After having received the above from Rich Foy, I responded with the
following note. He asked me to use my comments as an addendum.
Editor)
“Thank you for your article on the octagon and Christian symbolism. I
did a quick google.com look-up and found that the number eight from
the earliest Christian traditions had to do with regeneration and rebirth:
seven being the perfect number, and eight representing the new
beginning marked by Baptism. Seemingly, that is why baptismal fonts
throughout the world are generally octagonal. I found references to
Charlemagne’s palace chapel (Aix-la-Chapelle) as well as the baptismal
font in Pisa as being octagonal. Also, architecturally, a Danish engineer
by the name of Tons Brunes designed the “Sacred Cut” and showed
mathematically how an octagonal structure could be easily designed. In
continuing my search for symbolic references to the number eight in
medieval art, I also found that the four points of a cross were
sometimes flared to create eight points! The eight Beatitudes somehow
were connected to that representation. Again, these were just a few of
the almost 1000 sites that came up when I asked Google for
information on the octagon and Christian symbolism!
“Underneath it all, I think Nilus was just being practical. The building of
a perfectly circular structure with a team of neophytes may have been
too much to take on. Just a little bit off, and you’d have a mess….”
***************************
(Thanks to those who wrote for this issue. Also, many thanks to those
who sent monetary contributions to keep our publication alive: Don
Schmidt, Mark Moran, Dennis Hartnett, Bill Kawka, Steve Sheridan,
Alex Senes, Gene Donnellan, John J. Moran, Don Ryan, Paul Maloney,
Br. John Malich, and Tom Moore. And a very special thanks for the
prayers for our sick. The latest communication from Barney Sheridan
(fxsheridan@rcn.com) indicates good news with his fight against
cancer. He also informed us that Don Schmidt, who entered the
hospital on 7-12-04 and came home from rehab on 11-2-04, sounds
happy and strong, and the physical therapists are delighted with his
progress. Don Schmidt may be reached at mfs@earthlink.net. Also,
those who know Catherine Cherry from our July Marist Family
weekends will be pleased to know that she too sounds strong and is
doing well. Catherine’s address is: cfpie@ca.inter.net. Editor)

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