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ISSUE # 74
December 2003
from DAVID KAMMER (’42):
The annual GMC picnic ran into
inclement weather on September
18th, the first time since in the
1980’s when we had a near
hurricane/blizzard at the Roosevelt
Park site near Mt. Kisco. This year
rain, fog, and dampness chased us
from the Mount St. Michael garth
to the Brothers’ dining room on
the bottom floor of Champagnat
Hall. Yet, there was a very good
showing of about forty-to-fifty people. The closeness of quarters made for friendly
interchange. Besides the regulars, who can always be counted on to attend, there were
people who hadn’t attended before. Among them were Br. Alfred George, Mark
Moran, Bob Joyce, and Jim Guldner. Among those whom we were pleased to see
after a few years were Ray Landry, Rich Foy, Sue and John Wilcox, Jim Friel, and
John Brady. As usual, the Brothers were very hospitable. Seeing that all went
especially well were Br. Jim Devine and Br. John Herrmann. Most of the Brothers of
the Mount community were on hand. Getting special respect and recognition were Br.
Luke, Br. Valerian, and Br. Simeon; together, they have completed 212 years of
Marist life and service!
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Update on the Marists All Web Site
: We would like to remind all that we have postal
and e-mail addresses listed on our Marists All web site at the drop-down button
“Contacts” and “List of Contacts.” Some of our correspondents, especially some of
the Brothers, are not posted. Since we do not wish to neglect anyone, we encourage
you to share your addresses with us. Please write to David Kammer at
kammer@mpinet.net or mail him at 476 La Playa, Edgewater, FL 32141. If you are
receiving a printed copy of this issue of Marists All, we do not have an e-mail
address for you. This does not apply to those who have explicitly requested receiving
a hard copy. If you have changed your e-mail address or have recently acquired an e-
address, and you would be satisfied to be notified of and to read each new issue on
our web site, please send that e-mail address to David Kammer at the above address.
We would then save on expenses of printing and postage costs. Thank you.
In Memoriam
(The Marists All editorial board has recently agreed that, rather than include
complete obituaries and eulogies in our printed Marists All, the printed articles
referring to deaths of our confreres will remain confined to shorter notices and
testimonials. Complete obituaries may still be read on our web site. Editor)
Br. Stephen Urban Minogue’s eulogy, delivered by
Br. Philip Robert Ouellette, celebrates the joy and
holiness of Br. Stephen’s life. Br. Philip’s refrain, “He
truly gave us all a glimpse of God,” is a fitting
summary of Br. Stephen’s legacy. The entire eulogy
may be read by accessing the Marists All web site at
the Obituary (2000 – Present) web page and/or at the
Obituary (alphabetical) web page.
Br. Stephen Martin Holstein (’47) died on the morning of October 8th. He had been
hospitalized in Miami for several years with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. We
send our condolences to Steve’s family, especially to his sister Jeanne Schultz who
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has kept in touch with Marist news through several channels, including Marists All.
Jeanne’s address is 131 Orchid Road, Levittown, NY 11756.
In a recent provincial newsletter former Marist Joe Hager’s (’63) name was
mentioned in a request for prayers on behalf of the deceased. According to the report,
he died on September 5th of an apparent heart attack resulting from complications
from congestive heart failure and diabetes. Another reference was made -- in a Marist
College memorial for graduates who have died -- about Jerry Worell (’61).
Hopefully, someone within our network of readers might be able to provide further
information so that we might more fully acknowledge their deaths.
Bill Reffelt (’58) was laid to rest on September 17th after losing his struggle against
cancer. His easy-going style endeared him to all. His positive attitude was enhanced
by John O’Connell’s continuous efforts over the last year to bring together what he
called the big “B” and the small “b” friends of Bill to encourage him and bring him
cheer. Bill’s wife Elaine resides at 7 John St., Shoreham, NY 11786.
M. John (Okee) O'Connell remembers Bill Reffelt:
Most Marists, present or past, never had the opportunity to know and "be with" our
brother Bill Reffelt (once Br. William Anthony '58...we were the last group to "take"
names), but he was a special guy you all would have been glad you knew.
Prompted by conversations with David Kammer (once our "Master of Novices")
during the Summer of '01, soon after both of us had heard of the passing of Vinnie
Hall and were saddened that his passing had gone so unacknowledged, I caught up
with my old friend Bill in January '02, reconnecting with him after too many years
apart, years necessarily caught up in building our lives, providing for and raising our
families (he on Long Island and me in MD)...only to discover that he had been
diagnosed with terminal lung cancer a little more than a year earlier, and was "given"
only until the Fall of 2002.
Bill died with family around him in the early morning hours of September 13, 2003,
more than a year beyond what was "given." Not wanting this passing to go
unacknowledged, I would like to connect his presence among us earlier, during those
incredibly indelible formative ("character-building") years in Esopus-Tyngsboro-
Poughkeepsie (from August 1955 through June 1960), with this past year or so, a
"fast-forwarding" of a Marist bond of togetherness and unconditional mutual regard
which was established more than 40 years earlier.
So many of us are so much more grateful this Thanksgiving that we had this special
guy to pull us together and had an extra year of his life added to re-establish our
connection with him in the here and now. The fact that eleven of his classmates, nine
of them not in touch for more than four decades (Tom Fahey, not since January of
'57), would travel great distances (from Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maine,
Maryland, New Jersey, way up-State NY, etc., some many times) just to "be with"
with him is testimony enough that Bill Reffelt and the bond among us established
back then was, and now is again, something special.
Bill's easy-going nature is what endeared him to us back then...and what made it so
easy (and fun, actually) to be with him during his final months here. Such a talented
individual, a gifted natural athlete and musician (the piano, by ear...and the only guy
we knew who could yodel and sound good doing it!), Bill didn't have a pretentious
bone in his body...made you feel better about yourself just being around him. For
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him, being a great husband, father, grandfather, teacher, friend...a well-loved
man...was more than enough.
What was to become a "series" of visits from classmates began just before
Thanksgiving a year ago (11/4/02), each time including a "mystery guest" (or
"guests"), most introduced in "this is your life" fashion...from being "the-voice-from-
the-past" in the garage next to his family room in Shoreham to posing as "doctors"
while he was in his chemo chair at the hospital.
The first was with George Conboy (who flew in from Tucson, five times in those last
ten months), then with Pat Murphy in December, and then with Tom Fahey, Eddie
McCarthy, Bernie Ortueste, Vin Poisella, Bill Shannon, Richie Shaw, Bob St.Amand,
and Russ Therriault, also joined by "under-classmen" Br. John Hermann and Joe
Picciano.
Bill just delighted in these visits, and we "visitors" were/are convinced that these
gatherings ("Whenever two or more are gathered....") had a lot to do with his tumor
actually shrinking for a time and, thus, for the ten months of extra time we had with
him here. Many others were in touch with him, directly or indirectly: classmates
Mike "Dom" Apostoli, Br. Ernie Beland, Pete Kuveke, and Mike Sugrue, and
"upperclassman" Bill Maloney. Underclassmen Paul Stengel (a regular weekly visitor
to do Bill's chores around the house), Jim Gargan, Tom Hourican, Jack Meehan (great
bagpiper at Bill's funeral), and Frank Sutton were others drawn to connect with Bill
Reffelt.
Bill was a great and loving husband and best friend to Elaine ("Bill made me feel
special all the time"...a great "mutual admiration society," they would have celebrated
their 41st Anniversary in October)...a super caring, supportive and proud father to
Krissy, Jimmy and Jenny...and an especially appreciative and grateful grandfather to
Andrew, Katie, Allison and Kayla (Boy, he loved those kids...he was just so pleased
"to still be around" for Kayla's birth last Spring)...and a friend to so many of us, then
and now.
Rest in peace, Bill Reffelt...you have enriched our lives, and we miss you, and
certainly we feel your presence among us even now...especially this Thanksgiving
'03, thanks is given to you for causing us to recognize and appreciate once again that
Marist bond of togetherness close to the core in all of us, for bringing so many of us
together once again, in actuality and in spirit.
*NB: Our "Oh B/brother, Thou Art Where?" listing of Marist classmates of ours includes over 225
B/brothers from our group (the '58's), the two groups behind us and one group ahead of us...with about
130 located: 15 are now deceased, about 80 have been identified w/ e-mail addresses, and about another
three dozen (36) with postal addresses. We hope to "gather" together those inclined and able to do so at
Holy Rosary in Esopus once again on Good Friday, this April 9th, 2004.
from ED CASTINE (’50): How fitting that Br. Stephen Urban died on the feast of
the Blessed Mother’s Nativity! Many of us recall him as a dorm prefect at Marist
Prep, and even more so as an outstanding teacher and confidant. Through his
dedication, encouragement, and assistance, we completed Latin II and Latin III in one
year and were able to finish two years of French because of that. Anyone else
remember how he prepared the juniors to sing “The Holy City” for the send-off to the
Philippines of the first Marist missionaries? He was indeed a great presence and
influence on all of our lives. Recalling Br. Stephen, I also remember the other
outstanding Brothers on the faculty during those years: Br. George Robert, Br. Regis
James, Br. James Damian and Br. Leo, among others. We were so fortunate and
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blessed. May they and all our Marist friends and brothers preceding us rest in peace.
On a more personal note, I remember vividly just before leaving the congregation
how I enjoyed a very special visit and discussion with Br. Stephen, a discussion I will
never forget. He will always have a unique place in my prayers, in my gratitude, and
in my memories. (1128 Shadow Ridge Drive; Sebring, FL 33872; 863-385-8679;
ednmoec@aol.com)
from JOE HORAN (’50): Mrs. Casey’s thoughts about Frank in the last issue were
inspiring. Love has no bounds. We just grow with those we love. I know each of us in
the class of ’50 remembers Frank well. I can still recall the many adventures we had
together in the Juniorate, especially Frank’s ability to ace the Regents. He was always
upbeat and just an all around wonderful person. We may be growing older, but the
memories of our young lives are still very vivid. We certainly were blessed with a
wonderful group of guys. (10426 Collar Dr., San Antonio, FL 33576; 352-588-0179;
joeahoran@aol.com)
from GUS NOLAN (’48): The Esopus Cemetery:
photo by Victor VanCarpels (Sept 2001)
courtesy of the Marist Brothers in Esopus web site
Esopus is a place that continues to bring up very fond memories for many of us. In
recent years it has also been a place to which we return with a mixture of emotions:
the joyous celebration of lives well lived and the sadness at the loss of friends. Over
the past several months, the deaths and burials of Brs. Sixtus Victor, Stephen Urban,
and Stephen Martin brought these emotions to the surface. Each occasion was
marked by a very familiar pattern: the arrival of the hearse at the Esopus property, the
lineup of Brothers and friends, and a slow walk to the cemetery while reciting the
rosary aloud. A short prayer ceremony and a talk at the gravesite concluded with the
singing of the Salve Regina.
A reception usually followed in the dining room where members of the family
greeted those attending. At these occasions there is no sense of gloom; family and
friends speak of happy events of the past, often sparked by some remark or story of a
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member of the family. Steve Urban’s niece seemed to have the same spirit as Steve;
Vic’s brother, a retired priest who celebrated the Mass, exhibited the same family
spark; and Steve Martin’s sister, Jeanne Schultz, and her daughters recalled stories of
their George, our Steve Martin.
Some may recall a time when there was no cemetery in Esopus. The ground there has
since become sacred with the burial of more than 170 Marist Brothers since 1954
when Br. Joseph Orens became the first to be buried in that corner of the property. Br.
John Klein, U.S. Provincial, has noted that in the not too distant future, an extension
of this plot or the acquiring of a new place will need to be decided for the burial of
the brethren. (50 S. Randolph Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601; anolan@hvg.rr.com)
from MICHAEL O’NEIL (’65): Mary Ann and I have recently been divorced. We
stay in touch on a bi-weekly basis to continue to involve ourselves in raising and
coaching the kids and our six grandchildren. We both have significant others in our
lives now, and that is a good thing. As difficult as the separation has been, it has from
the beginning been amicable, and we continue to love and care for one another.
In other developments, I decided three years ago to get back to coaching. I
approached our local high school coach and athletic director and asked if I could help
out in the program. They welcomed me with open arms, a lot of confidence, and a
free rein to contribute as much as I could. We’ve had lots of success, and it was a
pleasure to reconnect with that wonderful part of my past.
Business-wise, I have begun the rejuvenation of The O’Neil Group Inc. We have a
new web-based tracking tool to help organizations resolve and implement mission-
critical issues. (15 Neal Drive, Simsbury, CT 06070; 860-217-0252;
moneil@toginc.com)
from WILLIAM BYRNE (’52): In reading over past issues of Marists All, I relive in
my mind stories I’ve been told or events I’ve witnessed in my Marist years. Before
they get lost forever, here are a few for the retelling.
The first one purportedly took place at Mt. St. Michael’s in the communal bathroom
stalls familiar to all of us. The story goes that former Br. William Bernard was
saddled with the responsibility of changing the water and cleaning the fish tanks in
his classroom lab. He would wait until he was sure that Br. William Otto occupied
one of the stalls, and in the next stall, slowly and deliberately empty a tank into the
bowl, creating the illusion of an elephant relieving itself! The mystery was resolved
only when Br. William Otto burst out of his stall one morning in a state of near
undress and caught the phantom elephant in the act.
Another memorable incident involves the recently deceased Bill Murphy. Br. Terry
Jones was enrolled with Bill Murphy in a Saturday morning math class at Fordham
University, both pursuing advanced degrees. According to Terry, they were both
taking the final exam that the teacher had written on the blackboard. Bill Murphy
finished the exam in record time and patiently waited for Terry outside the classroom.
Then Terry emerged. They shared notes on the exam and Terry asked his colleague
what he thought of the third question. Bill Murphy’s incredulous reply was, “What
third question?” It seems that in his haste, Bill Murphy neglected to look on the
classroom sideboard for the final question!
This final anecdote also involves Bill Murphy. In the Tyngsboro large dorm room, the
shower stalls were located along the back wall, adjacent to a room occupied by Br.
Giles. The fire escape was situated between that room and the end of the shower stall
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area. Bill Murphy was assigned to teach a speech class that summer. (Who among us
will ever forget our attempt to master the sense and delivery of John Milton’s sonnet
on his blindness, something I’m sure many of us can still deliver by heart!) One of
the novices had emerged from the shower, and prior to retiring, had the habit in fair
weather to go out onto the fire escape and liberally douse himself with an after
shower powder. Imagine these tiny particles, which had not attached themselves to a
waiting body, slowly descending to the next level of the fire escape. Who should
happen to be at that moment having a cigarette one floor below, but Bill Murphy, still
wearing his soutane. I had emerged from a classroom on that floor at the moment the
fire escape door flung open and an irate Murph came storming by me, covered with
this powder residue and muttering under his breath!
Hopefully, I have struck a chord of remembrance for others. Any “heritage” project
should certainly include the gentle humorous things that we all have experienced as
part of the Marist family saga. One of the things that makes us distinctly human is the
ability to be self-reflective and to be able to laugh at ourselves! (154 W Church
Street, Clarkston, MI 48346; 248-625-6555; hatchbom@aol.com)
Marist College Homecoming Weekend
from GUS NOLAN (’48): Each fall Marist College experiences its Homecoming, the
annual occasion to invite back to the campus its graduates for class reunions. October
10th through 12th marked the occasion this year. Special attention was given to
graduates celebrating their fiftieth, twenty-fifth, tenth, and fifth year anniversaries.
This year the college decided to add a unique theme -- “celebrating our heritage” --
by having two other significant events during this same weekend: a celebration
honoring Marist’s newly designated Heritage Professors, and the dedication of the
Foy Townhouses.
Thirty-eight faculty who served the college for at least twenty-five years starting
before 1971, were honored on Friday with a luncheon and granted a Board of
Trustees’ certificate in “recognition of unique contributions in the early development
of Marist College.” Of this number, fifteen were/are officially associated with the
Marist Brothers, and one, Dan Kirk, is deceased. Anthony Campilii, ’62, CFO and
Vice President for Business Affairs, was also honored for his forty-one years of
service to the college.
On Saturday, the Townhouses, which served as housing for students, were dedicated
to honor Linus Richard Foy, President of Marist from 1958-1979. Dennis Murray,
President of Marist, offered remarks, and Anthony Campilii spoke about his work
with Dr. Foy. Richard Foy gave an appreciative response, expressing his wish that the
Townhouses not be named after himself personally, but after the whole Foy family to
whom he owed so much.
On Saturday evening, a reception was held in the Marist Student Center for the
classes being honored over the weekend. The occasion was marked by the
presentation of Marist gold watches to each member in attendance celebrating the
fiftieth year of graduation. Included in this group were very familiar names: Brothers
James Kearney, Bernard X. Nolan, Richard Rancourt, James Ryan, Rev. Richard
Tinker, along with Jeptha Lanning and Tom O’Connor. A dinner followed the
reception, which in turn was followed by a traditional Marist singing session led by
Richard LaPietra with Richard Rancourt at the piano. The evening ended with a
rousing rendition of “Jerusalem, the Holy City.”
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On Sunday a memorial Mass for alumni was celebrated by Rev. Richard LaMorte in
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel. Special focus was given to the members of the
Marist Community who had passed away during the year, including Trustees Jack
Garland, Jack McEnroe, Frances Reese, and Henrietta Smith. Well-known faculty
included Dorothy Ann Davis, Bob Norman and Bill Olsson. And included among the
thirty-nine alumni were: Francis X. Casey, ’54, Rev. Larry Keogh ’58, Br. Stephen
Martin ’47, Isidore Sabeta ’70, and Jerome Worell ’65.
from JIM FRIEL (’52): Three of us drove to Marist College for the Homecoming in
October: Jim Gargan, Tom Murphy (Binsky), and I. We shared a room. Tom drew the
air mattress. He assured us the next morning that we both snore. Over the weekend
we were impressed by the students of Marist College: smart, savvy, and quite polite.
A major event was the dedication of the Foy Townhouses. Dr. Richard Foy gave a
beautiful talk emphasizing the role of the Brothers in the history of the College. We
then drove to Esopus to honor Br. Steven Martin who had just passed away. A
beautiful ceremony followed, appreciated by both his birth family and his Marist
family. (20 Vail St.; Northport, NY 11768; frielkelly@aol.com)
from BR. JOHN MCDONNELL (’59): I’m writing to let you know that, after two
years home from Rome, I’m being called to the Marist Asian Pacific Center
(MAPAC) in Manila, the Philippines. I’ll be doing formative and spiritual
accompaniment with some of the thirty-eight temporary professed Brothers from all
over Asia and the south Pacific, as well as the twenty temporary professed sisters
who are working on their bachelor’s degrees. Added to this, I will be doing some
teaching and administration work to fill in the time. Little did I think when Br. Paul
Ambrose asked us as novices in Tyngsboro who’d like to be a foreign missionary that
it would take me forty-four years as a Marist to finally become one! I made the
twenty-six hour journey to Manila from Newark on October 1st. May God continue
to spoil me outrageously. Let’s unite in prayer with and to Br. Steve Urban and Bill
Reffelt. May they rest in peace. (Marist Asia Pacific Center; P.O. Box 309 Q Plaza
Post Office; 1900 Cainta Rizal; Philippines; (011) 63 2 948 4018;
johnmcdonnell58@hotmail.com
Dialogue: Beginnings
(Several voices over the past couple of years – most recently that of Gus Nolan --
have recommended that Marists All be used as a vehicle for discussion and dialogue.
Rich Foy calls this an evolution “into a mechanism of swapping ideas of the future
rather than remaining as a story of the past.” -- Editor)
The following excerpts stem from an interview made by Br. Lluis Serra of Br. Andre
Lanfrey, a Marist and an historian. The interview, entitled “The Catholic School Can
Only Be Relevant if It Promotes Human Development Through the Search for Truth,”
appeared in the Marist Bulletin, #91, published by the Institute of the Marist Brothers
in Rome, September 11, 2003. The entire article appears at www.champagnat.org.
Br. Andre Lanfrey, 60 years of age, was born at Chambery, Savoie, France. He
entered the Marist Brothers at the age of 17. He has a doctorate in History from the
University of Lyons where he defended his thesis: Secularization, Separation and the
School War. The French Catholics and the School (1901-1914). This thesis has been
published by the well-known publishing company, Cerf (Paris 2003). A teacher and a
researcher, he has studied, in particular, the history of the Institute. He was a
delegate to the 20th General Chapter. At the present time he is a professor of History
in two teacher education universities at Lyons and at Grenoble.
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What effect did the start of the 20th Century have on the Marist Brothers as an
order?
The political climate from 1880 onwards forced the congregation to raise the
intellectual level of the Brothers. The training of the Brothers increased in time
through the advent of juniorates and scholasticates. In the larger boarding schools
the teachers reached a higher standard of education, often on their own merits
through their own personal study. Religious formation also improved. The exercises
of St. Ignatius were introduced, as was the second novitiate. The Brothers were better
trained and often more motivated in their work and so the Institute was able then to
establish solid foundations in many places in the world and to remain firmly founded
in France.
The real failure of the Congregation was its inability to face the challenge presented
by secularization. Since 1880, teaching no longer only involved the study of the
Catechism: it now covered all subject areas. A lay teacher could often do this job just
as well as, if not better than, a religious. Those who had been secularized could live
out successfully this difference between the professional and religious aspects of
teaching. They were no longer teachers because they were religious but were
teachers and religious, faithful to their own individual consciences rather than to the
body of the congregation. Thus they invented a new form of religious life founded on
individual freedom rather than on obedience and community. But the Institute would
not integrate the richness of their experience.
Those Brothers who had left France continued to live their religious life modeled on
a form of monastic life characterized by the wearing of the habit, the rule, and by
living in community. This model of religious life continued until the Second Vatican
Council, but its collapse at this point showed that it had long since lost its relevance
and that it could only continue to succeed through an openness and willingness to
change. That’s why we saw so many religious leave their congregations after 1965 –
because the congregations had never taken notice of 1903 as a sign of the times but
rather saw it only as a simple setback to an immutable tradition. Now they had to
rethink things.
That’s why 1903 cannot be seen as a providential exile that allowed the Institute to
expand throughout the world. Firstly, this expansion had already started before this.
Secondly, the large number of departures in a brief number of years destabilized the
Institute rather than helped it. And the dramatic circumstances of this time prevented
the Institute from looking to a new interpretation and evolution of religious life. We
had to wait until the last decades of the 20th century for the Institute to undertake a
serious look at its relationship with the world and its traditions. But it is true that it
could hardly anticipate the general attitude of the Church.
What is the specific contribution of the Catholic school in the field of education?
Today the Catholic school remains pertinent on condition that it sees the secular
world and the religious world in balance. Thus, the educational disciplines are not
seen as props for the faith: mathematics, physics, literature have their own place in
searching for truth. But for all that, secular knowledge is not the only aim: the school
must promote an ethos that allows its students to see themselves in relationship with
God, their origins and other people. At other times, the Catholic school has
inculcated this sense of belonging in an authoritative manner, which had the benefit
of giving support to the students but also the disadvantage of developing an attitude
of either submission or revolt.
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It seems to me then that the Catholic school can only be relevant if it promotes human
development through the search for truth, whether this be immanent or transcendent.
Thus, knowledge and faith are seen for what they are, not subject to authorities but
inscribed in a tradition of discovery and as an invitation to pursue the task of
confronting the mysteries of nature and of beings in order to bring about the
fulfillment of the earthly city and the city of God. In fact, the most pertinent image of
the learner and of the saint, but also of the educator, is Jacob’s nightly battle with the
angel, which led to the new day and to the blessing.
response from RICHARD FOY (’45): …the struggle to refashion “Catholic”
education goes on in the USA. Marist College in particular attempts to reconcile the
sacred with the profane, with the sacred being voluntary rather than mandated. A
good many Catholics of conservative bent are annoyed at the College because of its
most recent commencement speakers: John Kerry and Eliot Spitzer. But the college
cannot become a one-issue institution: abortion being the issue in the case of both
Kerry and Spitzer. Ironically, Marist’s juridical structure is the same as Fordham,
Manhattan and Iona. But the latter colleges maintain the appearance of being
“Catholic” by having a priest or religious as President. (We made our changes based
on the recommendations of two professors at Columbia School of Law for Fordham
and which Fordham followed before us.) But somehow Marist is pagan; Fordham is
religious.
In the long run, I see a major conflict between those who accept authoritarian rule
and those who insist on individual freedom…. The same conflict exists within the
Church. Clearly, our present Pope comes from an authoritarian background and has
been diligently surrounding himself with like-thinking bishops both in Rome and in
important positions around the world. But the end result is the disassociation of many
Catholics from the established Church. And recent stories in the USA destroyed any
idea that the hierarchy always knew best. Brother Andre’s essay speaks about 1903,
but realistically it points to a much larger task of having each of us and each of our
institutions adapt to a changing world. I wish I knew the answers, but being a
Christian means seeking the truth every day of our lives. (717 Washington Ave.,
Chappaqua, NY 10514-3309; 914-238-8001; Richard.foy@marist.edu)
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ISSUE # 74
December 2003
from DAVID KAMMER (’42):
The annual GMC picnic ran into
inclement weather on September
18th, the first time since in the
1980’s when we had a near
hurricane/blizzard at the Roosevelt
Park site near Mt. Kisco. This year
rain, fog, and dampness chased us
from the Mount St. Michael garth
to the Brothers’ dining room on
the bottom floor of Champagnat
Hall. Yet, there was a very good
showing of about forty-to-fifty people. The closeness of quarters made for friendly
interchange. Besides the regulars, who can always be counted on to attend, there were
people who hadn’t attended before. Among them were Br. Alfred George, Mark
Moran, Bob Joyce, and Jim Guldner. Among those whom we were pleased to see
after a few years were Ray Landry, Rich Foy, Sue and John Wilcox, Jim Friel, and
John Brady. As usual, the Brothers were very hospitable. Seeing that all went
especially well were Br. Jim Devine and Br. John Herrmann. Most of the Brothers of
the Mount community were on hand. Getting special respect and recognition were Br.
Luke, Br. Valerian, and Br. Simeon; together, they have completed 212 years of
Marist life and service!
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Update on the Marists All Web Site
: We would like to remind all that we have postal
and e-mail addresses listed on our Marists All web site at the drop-down button
“Contacts” and “List of Contacts.” Some of our correspondents, especially some of
the Brothers, are not posted. Since we do not wish to neglect anyone, we encourage
you to share your addresses with us. Please write to David Kammer at
kammer@mpinet.net or mail him at 476 La Playa, Edgewater, FL 32141. If you are
receiving a printed copy of this issue of Marists All, we do not have an e-mail
address for you. This does not apply to those who have explicitly requested receiving
a hard copy. If you have changed your e-mail address or have recently acquired an e-
address, and you would be satisfied to be notified of and to read each new issue on
our web site, please send that e-mail address to David Kammer at the above address.
We would then save on expenses of printing and postage costs. Thank you.
In Memoriam
(The Marists All editorial board has recently agreed that, rather than include
complete obituaries and eulogies in our printed Marists All, the printed articles
referring to deaths of our confreres will remain confined to shorter notices and
testimonials. Complete obituaries may still be read on our web site. Editor)
Br. Stephen Urban Minogue’s eulogy, delivered by
Br. Philip Robert Ouellette, celebrates the joy and
holiness of Br. Stephen’s life. Br. Philip’s refrain, “He
truly gave us all a glimpse of God,” is a fitting
summary of Br. Stephen’s legacy. The entire eulogy
may be read by accessing the Marists All web site at
the Obituary (2000 – Present) web page and/or at the
Obituary (alphabetical) web page.
Br. Stephen Martin Holstein (’47) died on the morning of October 8th. He had been
hospitalized in Miami for several years with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. We
send our condolences to Steve’s family, especially to his sister Jeanne Schultz who
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has kept in touch with Marist news through several channels, including Marists All.
Jeanne’s address is 131 Orchid Road, Levittown, NY 11756.
In a recent provincial newsletter former Marist Joe Hager’s (’63) name was
mentioned in a request for prayers on behalf of the deceased. According to the report,
he died on September 5th of an apparent heart attack resulting from complications
from congestive heart failure and diabetes. Another reference was made -- in a Marist
College memorial for graduates who have died -- about Jerry Worell (’61).
Hopefully, someone within our network of readers might be able to provide further
information so that we might more fully acknowledge their deaths.
Bill Reffelt (’58) was laid to rest on September 17th after losing his struggle against
cancer. His easy-going style endeared him to all. His positive attitude was enhanced
by John O’Connell’s continuous efforts over the last year to bring together what he
called the big “B” and the small “b” friends of Bill to encourage him and bring him
cheer. Bill’s wife Elaine resides at 7 John St., Shoreham, NY 11786.
M. John (Okee) O'Connell remembers Bill Reffelt:
Most Marists, present or past, never had the opportunity to know and "be with" our
brother Bill Reffelt (once Br. William Anthony '58...we were the last group to "take"
names), but he was a special guy you all would have been glad you knew.
Prompted by conversations with David Kammer (once our "Master of Novices")
during the Summer of '01, soon after both of us had heard of the passing of Vinnie
Hall and were saddened that his passing had gone so unacknowledged, I caught up
with my old friend Bill in January '02, reconnecting with him after too many years
apart, years necessarily caught up in building our lives, providing for and raising our
families (he on Long Island and me in MD)...only to discover that he had been
diagnosed with terminal lung cancer a little more than a year earlier, and was "given"
only until the Fall of 2002.
Bill died with family around him in the early morning hours of September 13, 2003,
more than a year beyond what was "given." Not wanting this passing to go
unacknowledged, I would like to connect his presence among us earlier, during those
incredibly indelible formative ("character-building") years in Esopus-Tyngsboro-
Poughkeepsie (from August 1955 through June 1960), with this past year or so, a
"fast-forwarding" of a Marist bond of togetherness and unconditional mutual regard
which was established more than 40 years earlier.
So many of us are so much more grateful this Thanksgiving that we had this special
guy to pull us together and had an extra year of his life added to re-establish our
connection with him in the here and now. The fact that eleven of his classmates, nine
of them not in touch for more than four decades (Tom Fahey, not since January of
'57), would travel great distances (from Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maine,
Maryland, New Jersey, way up-State NY, etc., some many times) just to "be with"
with him is testimony enough that Bill Reffelt and the bond among us established
back then was, and now is again, something special.
Bill's easy-going nature is what endeared him to us back then...and what made it so
easy (and fun, actually) to be with him during his final months here. Such a talented
individual, a gifted natural athlete and musician (the piano, by ear...and the only guy
we knew who could yodel and sound good doing it!), Bill didn't have a pretentious
bone in his body...made you feel better about yourself just being around him. For
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him, being a great husband, father, grandfather, teacher, friend...a well-loved
man...was more than enough.
What was to become a "series" of visits from classmates began just before
Thanksgiving a year ago (11/4/02), each time including a "mystery guest" (or
"guests"), most introduced in "this is your life" fashion...from being "the-voice-from-
the-past" in the garage next to his family room in Shoreham to posing as "doctors"
while he was in his chemo chair at the hospital.
The first was with George Conboy (who flew in from Tucson, five times in those last
ten months), then with Pat Murphy in December, and then with Tom Fahey, Eddie
McCarthy, Bernie Ortueste, Vin Poisella, Bill Shannon, Richie Shaw, Bob St.Amand,
and Russ Therriault, also joined by "under-classmen" Br. John Hermann and Joe
Picciano.
Bill just delighted in these visits, and we "visitors" were/are convinced that these
gatherings ("Whenever two or more are gathered....") had a lot to do with his tumor
actually shrinking for a time and, thus, for the ten months of extra time we had with
him here. Many others were in touch with him, directly or indirectly: classmates
Mike "Dom" Apostoli, Br. Ernie Beland, Pete Kuveke, and Mike Sugrue, and
"upperclassman" Bill Maloney. Underclassmen Paul Stengel (a regular weekly visitor
to do Bill's chores around the house), Jim Gargan, Tom Hourican, Jack Meehan (great
bagpiper at Bill's funeral), and Frank Sutton were others drawn to connect with Bill
Reffelt.
Bill was a great and loving husband and best friend to Elaine ("Bill made me feel
special all the time"...a great "mutual admiration society," they would have celebrated
their 41st Anniversary in October)...a super caring, supportive and proud father to
Krissy, Jimmy and Jenny...and an especially appreciative and grateful grandfather to
Andrew, Katie, Allison and Kayla (Boy, he loved those kids...he was just so pleased
"to still be around" for Kayla's birth last Spring)...and a friend to so many of us, then
and now.
Rest in peace, Bill Reffelt...you have enriched our lives, and we miss you, and
certainly we feel your presence among us even now...especially this Thanksgiving
'03, thanks is given to you for causing us to recognize and appreciate once again that
Marist bond of togetherness close to the core in all of us, for bringing so many of us
together once again, in actuality and in spirit.
*NB: Our "Oh B/brother, Thou Art Where?" listing of Marist classmates of ours includes over 225
B/brothers from our group (the '58's), the two groups behind us and one group ahead of us...with about
130 located: 15 are now deceased, about 80 have been identified w/ e-mail addresses, and about another
three dozen (36) with postal addresses. We hope to "gather" together those inclined and able to do so at
Holy Rosary in Esopus once again on Good Friday, this April 9th, 2004.
from ED CASTINE (’50): How fitting that Br. Stephen Urban died on the feast of
the Blessed Mother’s Nativity! Many of us recall him as a dorm prefect at Marist
Prep, and even more so as an outstanding teacher and confidant. Through his
dedication, encouragement, and assistance, we completed Latin II and Latin III in one
year and were able to finish two years of French because of that. Anyone else
remember how he prepared the juniors to sing “The Holy City” for the send-off to the
Philippines of the first Marist missionaries? He was indeed a great presence and
influence on all of our lives. Recalling Br. Stephen, I also remember the other
outstanding Brothers on the faculty during those years: Br. George Robert, Br. Regis
James, Br. James Damian and Br. Leo, among others. We were so fortunate and
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blessed. May they and all our Marist friends and brothers preceding us rest in peace.
On a more personal note, I remember vividly just before leaving the congregation
how I enjoyed a very special visit and discussion with Br. Stephen, a discussion I will
never forget. He will always have a unique place in my prayers, in my gratitude, and
in my memories. (1128 Shadow Ridge Drive; Sebring, FL 33872; 863-385-8679;
ednmoec@aol.com)
from JOE HORAN (’50): Mrs. Casey’s thoughts about Frank in the last issue were
inspiring. Love has no bounds. We just grow with those we love. I know each of us in
the class of ’50 remembers Frank well. I can still recall the many adventures we had
together in the Juniorate, especially Frank’s ability to ace the Regents. He was always
upbeat and just an all around wonderful person. We may be growing older, but the
memories of our young lives are still very vivid. We certainly were blessed with a
wonderful group of guys. (10426 Collar Dr., San Antonio, FL 33576; 352-588-0179;
joeahoran@aol.com)
from GUS NOLAN (’48): The Esopus Cemetery:
photo by Victor VanCarpels (Sept 2001)
courtesy of the Marist Brothers in Esopus web site
Esopus is a place that continues to bring up very fond memories for many of us. In
recent years it has also been a place to which we return with a mixture of emotions:
the joyous celebration of lives well lived and the sadness at the loss of friends. Over
the past several months, the deaths and burials of Brs. Sixtus Victor, Stephen Urban,
and Stephen Martin brought these emotions to the surface. Each occasion was
marked by a very familiar pattern: the arrival of the hearse at the Esopus property, the
lineup of Brothers and friends, and a slow walk to the cemetery while reciting the
rosary aloud. A short prayer ceremony and a talk at the gravesite concluded with the
singing of the Salve Regina.
A reception usually followed in the dining room where members of the family
greeted those attending. At these occasions there is no sense of gloom; family and
friends speak of happy events of the past, often sparked by some remark or story of a
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member of the family. Steve Urban’s niece seemed to have the same spirit as Steve;
Vic’s brother, a retired priest who celebrated the Mass, exhibited the same family
spark; and Steve Martin’s sister, Jeanne Schultz, and her daughters recalled stories of
their George, our Steve Martin.
Some may recall a time when there was no cemetery in Esopus. The ground there has
since become sacred with the burial of more than 170 Marist Brothers since 1954
when Br. Joseph Orens became the first to be buried in that corner of the property. Br.
John Klein, U.S. Provincial, has noted that in the not too distant future, an extension
of this plot or the acquiring of a new place will need to be decided for the burial of
the brethren. (50 S. Randolph Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601; anolan@hvg.rr.com)
from MICHAEL O’NEIL (’65): Mary Ann and I have recently been divorced. We
stay in touch on a bi-weekly basis to continue to involve ourselves in raising and
coaching the kids and our six grandchildren. We both have significant others in our
lives now, and that is a good thing. As difficult as the separation has been, it has from
the beginning been amicable, and we continue to love and care for one another.
In other developments, I decided three years ago to get back to coaching. I
approached our local high school coach and athletic director and asked if I could help
out in the program. They welcomed me with open arms, a lot of confidence, and a
free rein to contribute as much as I could. We’ve had lots of success, and it was a
pleasure to reconnect with that wonderful part of my past.
Business-wise, I have begun the rejuvenation of The O’Neil Group Inc. We have a
new web-based tracking tool to help organizations resolve and implement mission-
critical issues. (15 Neal Drive, Simsbury, CT 06070; 860-217-0252;
moneil@toginc.com)
from WILLIAM BYRNE (’52): In reading over past issues of Marists All, I relive in
my mind stories I’ve been told or events I’ve witnessed in my Marist years. Before
they get lost forever, here are a few for the retelling.
The first one purportedly took place at Mt. St. Michael’s in the communal bathroom
stalls familiar to all of us. The story goes that former Br. William Bernard was
saddled with the responsibility of changing the water and cleaning the fish tanks in
his classroom lab. He would wait until he was sure that Br. William Otto occupied
one of the stalls, and in the next stall, slowly and deliberately empty a tank into the
bowl, creating the illusion of an elephant relieving itself! The mystery was resolved
only when Br. William Otto burst out of his stall one morning in a state of near
undress and caught the phantom elephant in the act.
Another memorable incident involves the recently deceased Bill Murphy. Br. Terry
Jones was enrolled with Bill Murphy in a Saturday morning math class at Fordham
University, both pursuing advanced degrees. According to Terry, they were both
taking the final exam that the teacher had written on the blackboard. Bill Murphy
finished the exam in record time and patiently waited for Terry outside the classroom.
Then Terry emerged. They shared notes on the exam and Terry asked his colleague
what he thought of the third question. Bill Murphy’s incredulous reply was, “What
third question?” It seems that in his haste, Bill Murphy neglected to look on the
classroom sideboard for the final question!
This final anecdote also involves Bill Murphy. In the Tyngsboro large dorm room, the
shower stalls were located along the back wall, adjacent to a room occupied by Br.
Giles. The fire escape was situated between that room and the end of the shower stall
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area. Bill Murphy was assigned to teach a speech class that summer. (Who among us
will ever forget our attempt to master the sense and delivery of John Milton’s sonnet
on his blindness, something I’m sure many of us can still deliver by heart!) One of
the novices had emerged from the shower, and prior to retiring, had the habit in fair
weather to go out onto the fire escape and liberally douse himself with an after
shower powder. Imagine these tiny particles, which had not attached themselves to a
waiting body, slowly descending to the next level of the fire escape. Who should
happen to be at that moment having a cigarette one floor below, but Bill Murphy, still
wearing his soutane. I had emerged from a classroom on that floor at the moment the
fire escape door flung open and an irate Murph came storming by me, covered with
this powder residue and muttering under his breath!
Hopefully, I have struck a chord of remembrance for others. Any “heritage” project
should certainly include the gentle humorous things that we all have experienced as
part of the Marist family saga. One of the things that makes us distinctly human is the
ability to be self-reflective and to be able to laugh at ourselves! (154 W Church
Street, Clarkston, MI 48346; 248-625-6555; hatchbom@aol.com)
Marist College Homecoming Weekend
from GUS NOLAN (’48): Each fall Marist College experiences its Homecoming, the
annual occasion to invite back to the campus its graduates for class reunions. October
10th through 12th marked the occasion this year. Special attention was given to
graduates celebrating their fiftieth, twenty-fifth, tenth, and fifth year anniversaries.
This year the college decided to add a unique theme -- “celebrating our heritage” --
by having two other significant events during this same weekend: a celebration
honoring Marist’s newly designated Heritage Professors, and the dedication of the
Foy Townhouses.
Thirty-eight faculty who served the college for at least twenty-five years starting
before 1971, were honored on Friday with a luncheon and granted a Board of
Trustees’ certificate in “recognition of unique contributions in the early development
of Marist College.” Of this number, fifteen were/are officially associated with the
Marist Brothers, and one, Dan Kirk, is deceased. Anthony Campilii, ’62, CFO and
Vice President for Business Affairs, was also honored for his forty-one years of
service to the college.
On Saturday, the Townhouses, which served as housing for students, were dedicated
to honor Linus Richard Foy, President of Marist from 1958-1979. Dennis Murray,
President of Marist, offered remarks, and Anthony Campilii spoke about his work
with Dr. Foy. Richard Foy gave an appreciative response, expressing his wish that the
Townhouses not be named after himself personally, but after the whole Foy family to
whom he owed so much.
On Saturday evening, a reception was held in the Marist Student Center for the
classes being honored over the weekend. The occasion was marked by the
presentation of Marist gold watches to each member in attendance celebrating the
fiftieth year of graduation. Included in this group were very familiar names: Brothers
James Kearney, Bernard X. Nolan, Richard Rancourt, James Ryan, Rev. Richard
Tinker, along with Jeptha Lanning and Tom O’Connor. A dinner followed the
reception, which in turn was followed by a traditional Marist singing session led by
Richard LaPietra with Richard Rancourt at the piano. The evening ended with a
rousing rendition of “Jerusalem, the Holy City.”
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On Sunday a memorial Mass for alumni was celebrated by Rev. Richard LaMorte in
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel. Special focus was given to the members of the
Marist Community who had passed away during the year, including Trustees Jack
Garland, Jack McEnroe, Frances Reese, and Henrietta Smith. Well-known faculty
included Dorothy Ann Davis, Bob Norman and Bill Olsson. And included among the
thirty-nine alumni were: Francis X. Casey, ’54, Rev. Larry Keogh ’58, Br. Stephen
Martin ’47, Isidore Sabeta ’70, and Jerome Worell ’65.
from JIM FRIEL (’52): Three of us drove to Marist College for the Homecoming in
October: Jim Gargan, Tom Murphy (Binsky), and I. We shared a room. Tom drew the
air mattress. He assured us the next morning that we both snore. Over the weekend
we were impressed by the students of Marist College: smart, savvy, and quite polite.
A major event was the dedication of the Foy Townhouses. Dr. Richard Foy gave a
beautiful talk emphasizing the role of the Brothers in the history of the College. We
then drove to Esopus to honor Br. Steven Martin who had just passed away. A
beautiful ceremony followed, appreciated by both his birth family and his Marist
family. (20 Vail St.; Northport, NY 11768; frielkelly@aol.com)
from BR. JOHN MCDONNELL (’59): I’m writing to let you know that, after two
years home from Rome, I’m being called to the Marist Asian Pacific Center
(MAPAC) in Manila, the Philippines. I’ll be doing formative and spiritual
accompaniment with some of the thirty-eight temporary professed Brothers from all
over Asia and the south Pacific, as well as the twenty temporary professed sisters
who are working on their bachelor’s degrees. Added to this, I will be doing some
teaching and administration work to fill in the time. Little did I think when Br. Paul
Ambrose asked us as novices in Tyngsboro who’d like to be a foreign missionary that
it would take me forty-four years as a Marist to finally become one! I made the
twenty-six hour journey to Manila from Newark on October 1st. May God continue
to spoil me outrageously. Let’s unite in prayer with and to Br. Steve Urban and Bill
Reffelt. May they rest in peace. (Marist Asia Pacific Center; P.O. Box 309 Q Plaza
Post Office; 1900 Cainta Rizal; Philippines; (011) 63 2 948 4018;
johnmcdonnell58@hotmail.com
Dialogue: Beginnings
(Several voices over the past couple of years – most recently that of Gus Nolan --
have recommended that Marists All be used as a vehicle for discussion and dialogue.
Rich Foy calls this an evolution “into a mechanism of swapping ideas of the future
rather than remaining as a story of the past.” -- Editor)
The following excerpts stem from an interview made by Br. Lluis Serra of Br. Andre
Lanfrey, a Marist and an historian. The interview, entitled “The Catholic School Can
Only Be Relevant if It Promotes Human Development Through the Search for Truth,”
appeared in the Marist Bulletin, #91, published by the Institute of the Marist Brothers
in Rome, September 11, 2003. The entire article appears at www.champagnat.org.
Br. Andre Lanfrey, 60 years of age, was born at Chambery, Savoie, France. He
entered the Marist Brothers at the age of 17. He has a doctorate in History from the
University of Lyons where he defended his thesis: Secularization, Separation and the
School War. The French Catholics and the School (1901-1914). This thesis has been
published by the well-known publishing company, Cerf (Paris 2003). A teacher and a
researcher, he has studied, in particular, the history of the Institute. He was a
delegate to the 20th General Chapter. At the present time he is a professor of History
in two teacher education universities at Lyons and at Grenoble.
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What effect did the start of the 20th Century have on the Marist Brothers as an
order?
The political climate from 1880 onwards forced the congregation to raise the
intellectual level of the Brothers. The training of the Brothers increased in time
through the advent of juniorates and scholasticates. In the larger boarding schools
the teachers reached a higher standard of education, often on their own merits
through their own personal study. Religious formation also improved. The exercises
of St. Ignatius were introduced, as was the second novitiate. The Brothers were better
trained and often more motivated in their work and so the Institute was able then to
establish solid foundations in many places in the world and to remain firmly founded
in France.
The real failure of the Congregation was its inability to face the challenge presented
by secularization. Since 1880, teaching no longer only involved the study of the
Catechism: it now covered all subject areas. A lay teacher could often do this job just
as well as, if not better than, a religious. Those who had been secularized could live
out successfully this difference between the professional and religious aspects of
teaching. They were no longer teachers because they were religious but were
teachers and religious, faithful to their own individual consciences rather than to the
body of the congregation. Thus they invented a new form of religious life founded on
individual freedom rather than on obedience and community. But the Institute would
not integrate the richness of their experience.
Those Brothers who had left France continued to live their religious life modeled on
a form of monastic life characterized by the wearing of the habit, the rule, and by
living in community. This model of religious life continued until the Second Vatican
Council, but its collapse at this point showed that it had long since lost its relevance
and that it could only continue to succeed through an openness and willingness to
change. That’s why we saw so many religious leave their congregations after 1965 –
because the congregations had never taken notice of 1903 as a sign of the times but
rather saw it only as a simple setback to an immutable tradition. Now they had to
rethink things.
That’s why 1903 cannot be seen as a providential exile that allowed the Institute to
expand throughout the world. Firstly, this expansion had already started before this.
Secondly, the large number of departures in a brief number of years destabilized the
Institute rather than helped it. And the dramatic circumstances of this time prevented
the Institute from looking to a new interpretation and evolution of religious life. We
had to wait until the last decades of the 20th century for the Institute to undertake a
serious look at its relationship with the world and its traditions. But it is true that it
could hardly anticipate the general attitude of the Church.
What is the specific contribution of the Catholic school in the field of education?
Today the Catholic school remains pertinent on condition that it sees the secular
world and the religious world in balance. Thus, the educational disciplines are not
seen as props for the faith: mathematics, physics, literature have their own place in
searching for truth. But for all that, secular knowledge is not the only aim: the school
must promote an ethos that allows its students to see themselves in relationship with
God, their origins and other people. At other times, the Catholic school has
inculcated this sense of belonging in an authoritative manner, which had the benefit
of giving support to the students but also the disadvantage of developing an attitude
of either submission or revolt.
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It seems to me then that the Catholic school can only be relevant if it promotes human
development through the search for truth, whether this be immanent or transcendent.
Thus, knowledge and faith are seen for what they are, not subject to authorities but
inscribed in a tradition of discovery and as an invitation to pursue the task of
confronting the mysteries of nature and of beings in order to bring about the
fulfillment of the earthly city and the city of God. In fact, the most pertinent image of
the learner and of the saint, but also of the educator, is Jacob’s nightly battle with the
angel, which led to the new day and to the blessing.
response from RICHARD FOY (’45): …the struggle to refashion “Catholic”
education goes on in the USA. Marist College in particular attempts to reconcile the
sacred with the profane, with the sacred being voluntary rather than mandated. A
good many Catholics of conservative bent are annoyed at the College because of its
most recent commencement speakers: John Kerry and Eliot Spitzer. But the college
cannot become a one-issue institution: abortion being the issue in the case of both
Kerry and Spitzer. Ironically, Marist’s juridical structure is the same as Fordham,
Manhattan and Iona. But the latter colleges maintain the appearance of being
“Catholic” by having a priest or religious as President. (We made our changes based
on the recommendations of two professors at Columbia School of Law for Fordham
and which Fordham followed before us.) But somehow Marist is pagan; Fordham is
religious.
In the long run, I see a major conflict between those who accept authoritarian rule
and those who insist on individual freedom…. The same conflict exists within the
Church. Clearly, our present Pope comes from an authoritarian background and has
been diligently surrounding himself with like-thinking bishops both in Rome and in
important positions around the world. But the end result is the disassociation of many
Catholics from the established Church. And recent stories in the USA destroyed any
idea that the hierarchy always knew best. Brother Andre’s essay speaks about 1903,
but realistically it points to a much larger task of having each of us and each of our
institutions adapt to a changing world. I wish I knew the answers, but being a
Christian means seeking the truth every day of our lives. (717 Washington Ave.,
Chappaqua, NY 10514-3309; 914-238-8001; Richard.foy@marist.edu)
