Marists All: Issue #34 February 1996
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ISSUE # 34
February 1996
RE: BR. RENE ROY ('60) in RWANDA
(The following letter was written to the Brothers of the province and forwarded
by Br. Michael "Mickey" Bernard with the note: "I thought that many Marists
All people would like reading Rene's notes on the situation in Rwanda. Because
the situation with mails in that country are deplorable, I plan to send a monetary
draft from a U.S. bank to his bank in Rwanda. So far I have collected $55.")
RENE'S SECOND LETTER TO THE BROTHERS October 31, 1995: Freres
Maristes, Ecole des Sciences de Byiamana B.P. 80, Gitarama, Rwanda, Africa
Dear Brothers, Greetings from Byiamana (Beemahnah) where I am daily having
my eyes and ears opened to the cry of the poor. I have never seen anything like
it. It's not Mother Teresa's Calcutta, but it surely beats what I saw on the Indian
reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
The recent burial of our three Brothers who taught here and were slaughtered
just a football field from where I am writing was a somber reminder of "Les
Evenements" that have made for so much disruption to this country, and have
precipitated my being here as part of the reconstruction. Two Brothers from
Spain and one from Columbia are on their way. Belgium has contributed
generously in money and expertise; a former treasurer has been here for a month
putting district finances on computer and teaching local treasurers the new
system.
In my first letter I gave some idea of conditions here, but worse is the condition
of the school. Insufficient, outdated textbooks, no teaching material except
chalk, only a Gestetner for duplicating exams but not enough paper for hand-
outs, no science equipment in science labs. As for extra-curriculars, there is one
good basketball for 800 kids, one vollyball, two soccer balls. There are four
outdoor courts, but only two can be used. The kids have no playing shoes; they
do the best they can in thongs or go barefoot. They have two meatless meals a
day and are thinner than any kid should be. They are often sick for days at a
time. When I think of even minimal good standards, I just say, this shouldn't be.
This doesn't have to be.
I am aware of the generosity of Americans when they know of a need. I am
aware of Marist generosity: Liberia, more recently Kobe. Well, I'm asking you to
add Rwanda to your list, and I am appealing to you to support my comb-the-
closets campaign. I am asking you to comb the community and personal coffers
if there be any.
It did take some doing on my part, as some of you know, to let go not only of my
vocation work and the people involved therein, but also to let go of a lot of
"precious memoribilia" I had gathered over the years. I am now living very, very
simply. I invite you to be in solidarity with me by digging deeply not only into
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your surplus, but also into your substance. Brothers, the community here is
living far below our American standards, but we are better off than the students
and the local people. That leaves room for some pork-cutting. May I, without
condemning, offer a few suggestions: Are there some items in our budget that
we could put off for another year, like furniture replacement, etc. Is there some
sacrifice I can make out of my personal money, i.e. skip that movie occasionally
and save money for Rwanda? Do we need to have every kind of hard and soft
drink at our disposal every day? Can we go without meat one evening and send
the accumulated difference at the end of a month to the students who never have
meat in this school? Instead of the community gift exchange this Christmas,
could we not use that money for the needs of these children?
I think of the gospel story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. "Jesus,
seeing the crowds, took pity on them and asked the disciples: where can we buy
food that these may eat?" Are we not called to help? I know the goodness in the
hearts of every Marist, and I know that you will respond with compassion and
generosity. In so doing you will find a personal happiness that will refresh you
and will add to the vitality of your community life as you discuss this and come
up with a viable way to help. I will keep you informed of events by letter and
eventually by picture. Sincerely, Rene. (Br. E. Michael Bernard, Marist Brothers,
Box 197, Esopus, N. Y. 12429)
JUBILARIANS: 1966
70th:
Br. Joseph Cerin Balet, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
Br. Henry Joseph Ruiz, 2790 S.W. 89th Avenue, Miami, Fl. 33165
65th:
Br. Valerian Doiron, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
Br. Philip Gilbert, Nevins Nursing Home, Lawrence, Ma. 01843
Br. Daniel Andrew Kopecki, 8230 S.W. 136th Street, Miami, Fl. 33156
Br. M. Oswald Ouellette, 4200 West 115th Street, Chicago, Il. 60655
60th:
Br. Dennis Buckley, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
Br. Bernard Curtin, One Raritan Road, Roselle, N. J. 07203
Br. Francis Hughes, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
55th:
Br. Chanel Lambert, 8616 Shell Drive #253, Tampa, Fl. 33615
Br. Rafael Martin, 3300 S.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Fl. 33165
Br. Alphonse Matuga, 51 Clapham Avenue, Manhasset, N. Y. 11030
Br. Godfrey Robertson, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
50th:
Br. Raymond Albert, One Raritan Road, Roselle, N. J. 07203
Br. John Alexis, 33-53 Manton Street, Jamaica, N. Y. 11435
Br. James Dixon, 105 St. Joseph's Drive, Brownsville. Tx. 78520
Br. Raymond Bereicua, Suma-ku, Kobe 654, Japan
FROM BILL KARGES ('62): Once again let me say how much I have enjoyed
the newsletter and the updates on the Marist family. Due to the declining health
of both of my parents, particularly my mother, I have relocated to the South in
order to help out a bit more. I'm now the Assistant Headmaster and Dean of
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Students at the Gaston Day School. Keep the good news coming to ... (1631
Hudson Boulevard, Gastonia, North Carolina, 28054.)
FROM GENE (Louis Francis) ZIRKEL ('53): I was truly disappointed because I
was unable to attend the Mount picnic this year. I had it marked on my calendar
all year long, but unfortunately something came up. I have already marked
September 14, 1996! Spread the faith, (Six Brancatelli, West Islip, New York,
11795-2501; 516-669-0273)
FROM BRIAN O'REILLY ('67): In case any of you Marist folks ever wonder ...
after years of getting up early in the morning, praying a lot, and heading off to
the classroom to face a lot of wish-I-were-elsewhere students ... whether you are
making much of a difference in people's lives, I will tell you: Yes, you are! In my
case, two of you did. I should have written this letter years ago.
I was a dreadful student at St. Mary's in Manhasset. At the end of my freshman
year I was flunking two subjects (math for sure, I forget the other) and had
grades in the mid-sixties in two others. I did well in biology because I liked the
teacher, Brother Thomas Joseph (I think his last name was O'Donnell, but of
course we students weren't privy to such secrets). Tee-Jay as he was known,
assumed that I was doing well in all my subjects. He liked me, he teased me in
class, he called me Smiley O'Reilly, a name that stuck with other students.
And then one day, with about two weeks of school remaining, he came over to
my desk, grabbed me hard on the muscle that runs from the neck to the shoulder,
and almost literally carried me to the back of the classroom, held aloft by that
shoulder muscle.There he delivered the most dreadfully serious exhortation to do
better. It wasn't a canned speech. He was truly amazed and dismayed when he
learned that I was screwing up so badly. "If you don't live up to what you are
capable of next year, I will personally come and beat the s --out of you!" he said.
I was so surprised at his choice of word that I knew he meant business. My neck
and shoulder were in so much pain that I had no doubtthat he would and could
fulfill his threat. But what came through more than anything was how much he
cared about me and how much he wanted me to do well. (Be careful about using
this technique yourselves today; it could easily backfire.)
Needless to say, I got my act together. By some miracle those two flunking
grades were goosed up to a 65, so I passed freshman year. By sophomore year I
had an average in the low 80's, and I was an honors student by senior year.I have
never thanked TJ for all he did, but he really changed my life. (Please do tell him
if you know him, or tell me where he is.) I was so impressed that I decided to
join the Marists, and I spent a verv enriching two years at Esopus and a half year
in Poughkeepsie before heading off to Fordham and then to graduate school at
Princeton.
While I was at Esopus, another bit of serendipity occurred. Gus Nolan (editor of
this esteemed publication) was teaching a writing course, and assigned us to do
some non-fiction. For some reason I decided to pretend I was a newspaper
reporter, and filed a story about a fire (even typed the story out in narrow
newspaper-like columns). Gus was impressed, and I liked the idea of being a
journalist. I think I got a B in his course, though.
Years later, after graduating from Fordham I was driving a Greyhound bus in
San Francisco and wondering what career to pursue. Woodward and Bernstein
were beating up on Nixon and Watergate. Presto! I wanted to be a reporter again!
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Could I do it? Well, Gus Nolan liked my first story. I told myself, so I decided to
pursue it. In '73 or so I got on a weekly paper in South San Francisco. After a
year I moved back East (my wife-to-be got a job offer, so I went with her) and
landed at the Trentonian, a tabloid in New Jersey. After two years I got hired at
the New Jersey Magazine in Princeton, later won a journalism fellowship to
study economics at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, and then went on
to Fortune magazine where I am currently a senior writer and member of the
editorial board.
I have the best job in the whole world at Fortune; I get to pursue a lot of different
topics, talk to interesting people, and travel. That makes up for the horror of
writing. In case any of you has forgotten for an instant, writing is awfully hard
work. There is a joke in this business: If you enjoy writing, you probably aren't
very good at it.
Nowadays, I'm living in Fair Haven, New Jersey, about 50 miles south of New
York, rather near Sandy Hook. My wife Gail is almost an architect, and deeply
involved in revitalizing Red Bank, a neighboring town. I have three kids: Paul,
14 (future Knick ); Brendan, 10 (future physicist, banker, historian, engineer);
and Mary, 6 (future beauty queen + benevolent world leader).
I've run into a few ex-Marists in my travels. John Rogener is at Citibank, and has
been quite insightful and helpful on human resource issues. I was in South Bend
doing an offbeat story on AM General, the company that makes those oversized
jeeps called Humvees or Hummers, and there looked up George Howard. He is
head of the psychology department at Notre Dame (whew!).George, like me, has
put on a pound or two, added a few grey hairs and lost a lot of brown ones. I
took a second to adjust, but after two minutes the old George popped through. I
felt I was back at Esopus with George, debating and laughing a lot. I still see
Mark Moran occasionally, He is working at the World Trade Center and seems to
be doing okay. He still has about the wryest, driest sense of humor of anyone I
know. I take my kids camping up in the Catskills every year and sometimes stop
in at Esopus. This year, alas, I didn't see anybody I knew, and was viewed with
suspicion by some monk who appeared concerned that I might be the estranged
parent of kids on retreat and there to kidnap them. So instead of shooting hoops
with my kids at the gym, we drove down to the old coal docks and skipped
stones for hours. Aside from my brief time as kidnapper-suspect, it was very
pleasant.
I'm sorry to see that relatively few people of my generation (I'm 47) have stayed
in the monkhood, but awfully impressed with the guys who remained.
Fascinated to read about the fellow who went through the earthquake in Kobe,
and the one who had to endure that brain surgery. All I can say is, hang in there,
guys. I don't know what I'd be doing these days without you. Powerful,
mysterious forces are at work with you, if my experience is any indication.
Thanks, Gus, for nudging me into journalism and keeping Marists All alive. (70
Hance Road, Fair Haven, N. J. 07704; 908-741-2448; 212-522-6818)
FROM RAY (Paul Wilfrid) BLANCHARD ('47): What a pleasant surprise when
we picked up our mail after four months of travel in the Pacific Northwest and
the Canadian Rockies to find two issues of Marists All. Love to see what
everyone is doing. Had decided to write immediately, but had to get things ship-
shaped on the property before winter. Haven't yet gotten caught up, really!.
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We have been retired for five years. We are now trying to set up some work for
Habitat for Humanity in Florida for the months of January and February. Having
a bit of trouble finding RV spaces close to the work sites, the Homestead and
Miami areas. Hope things will pan out. Nevertheless, we'll be going there, at
least just to get away from bad weather.
To keep busy on our way we do a bit of water-coloring (Rosemarie) and carving
(me). She is getting very good.As for me??? I've been helping out at the local
acute care home. Every week when I come home I thank the Lord for my health.
There are residents there younger than i, and in very bad shape...and some are all
alone!
That's it from this planet. Anyone coming this way is welcomed to stop at Mars.
Let us know so that we can park our flying saucer out of the way. Keep up the
good work. (25 Brickyard Road, Mars, Pa, 16046)
FROM RUSS (Ralph Anthony) THERRIAULT ('59): It has been a pleasure
receiving and reading the epistles in each issue of Marists All. After each
reading I ask myself why I haven't as yet contributed and I always have some
reasonable but lame excuse. This afternoon, however, the phone rang and I
received some prodding from a former master of novices, so here I am. In 1962 I
was assigned to the Wheeling community. Br. Jude Driscoll was boss and Br.
George St. George was assistant. Others there that year were Pius Joseph and
William Chanel. Joining the community over the three years I was in Wheeling
were John Reynolds, Phil Hannigan, Tom Moore, and Tom Mulhern. The
summer of '65 I drove with John Reynolds from Wheeling via the Notre Dame
campus to teach summer school in Chicago. During the annual retreat that year I
decided to leave. It was a difficult decision but I believe the right one.
I joined the Marine Corps and reported to Parris Island. Upon completing boot
camp there I proceeded to Quantico for OCS and a second boot camp.With
Vietnam in full swing the Corps needed aviators and NFO's. I volunteered and
was sent to Pensacola Naval Station for pre-flight training. There I met Shirley,
my wife to be. We wed on October 8th, 1966, and have been together through
thick and thin since.
I reported to my first duty station at Cherry Point, North Carolina, in May of
1967. I was assigned to a reconnaissance squadron (photo and electronic) and
started OJT in the RF-4 and later in the F-10 and the EA-6. On my first night
flight at 4 a.m. the pilot hit trees on take off. There was a cockpit fire, and I
received third degree burns on my hands. The pilot's face was severely burned.
We both ejected successfully even though we were outside the safety envelope
of the seats. (Short prayer before ejecting: Lord, take care of my wife and unborn
child). On a later training flight in an RF 1, I had to eject a second time, this time
due to a mid-air collision at 20,000 feet. Both pilot and I got out safely. Sure
takes a long time to get down to sea level; gives you a lot of time to think about
what's going on in your life.
Went to Danang in March of '69. Much to my surprise I bumped into Phil
Hannigan of the Air Force. Returned to the States in March of 1970. On a visit to
D.C., made contact with John O'Connell in Bowie, Maryland. Left the Corps in
March of 1971 and was fortunate to obtain a teaching position in Escambia
County, Florida. I've been teaching 8th grade math and Algebra I there ever
since.
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Shirley and I have three children, two boys and a girl. Our R. Joseph is a
graduate of Tulane and is a pilot in the Navy. He is stationed at South Weymouth
and lives with his wife Sarah in Milton, Mass. Richard graduated from Florida
State and is working as a psych tech at Queen's Hospital in Hawaii. Kerri
Michelle has a teaching degree from the University of Florida and is living in
Bloomfield, Colorado, with her husband Tim. She teaches the fourth grade and is
working toward a master's at the University of Colorado. I taught in the local
CCD program while our kids were attending.
Through Marists All I learned that Dan Hanley lives just a few miles from us.He
and his family have been over a few times. At the time of my first contact with
Dan, I was recuperating from a five-month hospital stay. That was due to a gall
bladder that burst on me, resulting in septic shock and pancreatitis. Many a
prayer was said for this soul, and I'm most thankful for all of them. I heard from
Arthur Bedard and John Reynolds during my recuperation.
My last direct contact with Marists was in 1981 when Columbus of Miami came
up here for the state football championship. I spoke to a few young monks after
the game and tried to see Br. Edmund Sheehan, but he was in the locker room
with the players. I look forward to the next issue. Sincerely in JMJ! (814
Fleming Way, Pensacola, Florida, 32514-9709)
FROM BOB BUCKLEY ('66): Thank you again for your work in sharing
another wonderfilled issue of the newsletter. The power of Marists All is
amazing. It is always with a sense of joy that I read and feel our Marist
connection. The November issue took me back to some of my earliest inspiration
of the Marist way. As I came across the note from Don Edwards (Christopher
Matthew), I recalled that my freshman year at St. Helena High was his first year
teaching at that school. Imperceptibly he became one of the first monks to
intrigue me concerning what these Brothers were all about. Along my sojourn at
St. Helena's, I was also touched by "Archie" (Br. Stephen Lawrence), "Bio Bill"
(Br. William Paul), Jerry Cox (Br. Stephen Luke), Denis Murphy (Br. Denis
Richard), Br. Ronald Marcellin, Chris Maura, and Declan Claude to mention a
few. I am grateful for the seeds that were planted in the Bronx.
I also vividly recall that sunny Saturday morning when I met Br. Christopher
Maura and Br. Declan for my first drive to Esopus.The blue and white MARIST
BROTHERS sign at the property gate was a reality check. I remember asking
myself: What have you done now, Bob?" The answer now is -- one of the best
things ever!
An array of blessings has come our way since I.wrote last. Lesley and I
celebrated our twenty-fifth anniversary last August. As some know, our
relationship has been founded in the Marist tradition: Les was a Marist
Missionary Sister and we were married by Emile Guilmette, S.M., former
chaplain at Marist College. Our elder daughter Robin is a Marist alum, and she is
engaged to a Marist grad. Robin is in her second year of a PhD program in
psychology at Hofstra University, and her sister Holly will complete her masters
in graphic design at Pratt Institute next May. Les continues to nurse at Hartford
Hospital. She works on trauma and acute rehab units, a type of before and after
program. She has an amazing gift with people.
After teaching for nine years at Hartford Public High School, I recently made a
change t o Shepaug Valley School in Washington, Ct. At Shepaug I am teaching
English and chairing the middle/high school language arts and foreign language
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departments. It is a small school, but its vision is large. I will be working to
integrate the curricula into a humanities study over the next three to five years. I
would be very grateful to share ideas about similar programs in which some
might be working or know about.
One of the benefits I have gained in my new odyssey is a sixty minute drive to
and from my school. The commute has afforded me a "prayer corridor" along 1-
691. Thus, I renew the benefits of the many quiet walks during morning
meditation at Esopus. (54 Ferncrest Dr., East Hartford, Ct. 06118; 860-569-2832;
E: RBUCKl0027@AOL)
JUBILARIANS: 1996
30th:
Br. Vito Aresto
Br. Joseph Herrera
Br. John Klein
Br. James Redunski
Br. Sean Sammon
Br. Richard Sharpe
Br. Robert Warren
35th:
Br. Michael Brady
Br. Donald Kelly
Br. Joseph McAlister
Br. James McKnight
40th:
Br. Felix Anthony
Br. Brendan Brennan
Br. Thomas Coyne
Br. Stephen Kappes
Br. Vincent Moriarty
Br. Luke Pearson
45th:
Br. Denis Caverley
Br. Gregory dela Noy
Br. Vincent J. Doughty
Br. Timothy McManus
Br. Declan C. Murray
Br. Albert Phillipp
Br. Iuke Reddington
Br. Louis Richard
Br. Robert Ryan
Br. Richard Ryder
Br. Martin Thomas
Br. Julio Vitores
Br. Vincent Xavier
FROM PAT (Patrick Stephen) GALLAGHER ( '53): I just received the latest
issue of Marists All, and despite the fact that there are a myriad number of things
that I have to attend to before leaving on my weekly flight to somewhere in the
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country to conduct police training, I just have to express some of the thoughts
that come to mind.
The most moving part of the issue was the list of names of those buried in
Esopus. With a highlighter I went over the list, puzzling over a few names, but
remembering almost all of them. Then, savoring each name, I thought of the
most vivid experiences I shared with each person, as instructors, as fellow
novices or scholastics, as bosses, as workers, and as brothers. What a wealth of
good memories!
Donald Mulcare's description of the old novitiate was very accurate based on my
remembrance of my last tour there a couple of years ago. It was moving to relive
the days of old in the chapel. Don mentions "an iron rod from quarry days
remains fixed in a granite socket." During my novitiate in '52-'54, working with
Brother John Berchmans, we drained the quarry, removed the massive boulders
strewing the swimming area, and then built rock walls along the sides. The
second "crane" that we built to move the stones set on that rod. Pius never found
out that the first "crane" fell over. Luckily no one was killed! Marty Lang's piece
reminded me of the early work on the LaPorte experiment in 1967 ... and the
long years it has been since I've seen him. And there was "Padre" Sears. I picked
up my phone and called him. He has the most intimidating answering machine
message I have ever heard. It's worth calling just to hear him, as he tries to scare
off those who constantly think he can fix their air-conditioner.
This summer Mary and I were going up to a workshop near Rhinebeck, and we
stopped at the college on a hot July afternoon. At the gate house we had a chance
to talk with Brother Paul and to hear him talk with the same enthusiasm about
the work of the Marists and the involvement he, at 82, still has. As always it was
an inspiration. Joe Bell walked in, and I mentioned that for the next week I was
going to be singing some Gregorian at a workshop run by Catherine laMee, who
wrote the book to accompany "Chant." I mentioned that for years I have been
trying to get a Liber. Joe was able to scrounge up a copy for me. The workshop
brought back so many fond memories of choir practice under Brothers Edmund,
John Francis, and Adrian.
I never cease to be amazed at the richness of the Marist experience, one that
continues to feed, encourage, and uplift me years after I formally shed the
cassock. Sure, I have a lot of mental pictures of Marist days, but the only
tangible reminder is profession cross. Yet, among the intangibles I hold the
example of men fully committed to causes, men who decades later maintain an
enthusiasm for fighting the good fight, remaining staunchly committed to the
good cause, raising good families, and standing far above the ordinary level of
life., I get turned on by the solid values so evident in all they are doing, and I
pride myself at being associated with that tradition and at having marched
shoulder to shoulder with them. I salute them all for all they have meant and still
mean to me.
Today in the Blue Ridge Mountains it is pouring; the fog nestles in the valleys
just below the house. It's a perfect day for staying indoors by a fire, for quiet
time, for writing. That it will be. We again invite Marists All readers to stop by
the Wild Goose Inn pershed on our mountainside, (P.O. Box 60, Indian Valley,
Virginia, 24105; 540-789-4056)
FROM BR. MICHAEL BERNARD ('29): As a supplement to the mortuary list
in the last issue, I suggest that a list of Marist Brothers not buried in Esopus
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would interest many readers of Marists All. (For now we list those who have
died since the opening of the Esopus cemetery but buried elsewhere)
Andre Celestin Leon Victor Maurus James
1955 at 68 (France) 1969 at 83 (France) 1986 at 74
(Philippines)
Joseph Ambroise Joseph Hayashi Stephen C. Martin
1957 at 71 (France) 1970 at 37 (Japan) 1986 at 76 (Texas)
Roger Maurice Paul Stratonic A.G. Raphael Ziegler
1957 at 16 (Canada) 1970 at 78 (Canada) 1987 at 93 (Japan)
Titien Paul Allemond Mariano Martin
1958 at 78 (France) 1972 at 82 (Mexico) 1987 at 83 (Spain)
John Philibert James Carroll Reginald
Theodore 1958 at 71 (France) 1973 at 60 (Mexico) 1988 at
62 (Philippines)
Francois Dorotheus Thomas Austin A.G. Peter Adrian
1961 at 78 (France) 1974 at 76 (Japan) 1990 at 95
Appolone Regis X. Creegan Bruce Borelli
1963 at 77 (France) 1978 at 56 (Philippines) 1990 at 41
(Lawrence)
Leon Bernadin William Vessles Herbert Daniel
1964 at 84 (France) 1982 at 66 (Texas) 1991 at 74
(Philippines)
Louis Fulgence William Menn Norman Roy
1967 at 80 (France) 1984 at 80 (Texas) 1992 at 71
(Philippines)
Irlide Victor Baptist John McNamara
1968 at 82 (France) 1985 at 75 (Texas) 1992 at 60 (Texas)
Louis C. Fojouczyk Michael Ray Giles Keogh
1969 at 76 (Japan) 1985 at 93 Texas) 1995 at 70 (New
York)
Joseph Saez John B. Laroche
1969 at 83 Texas) 1985 at 53 (Philippines)
RE: WILLIE (Hugh Arthur) NOEL ('31):
November 12, 1995. This is to let you know that Willie Noel passed away on
May 19th of this year. He was Brother Hugh Arthur Noel. He had been sick for
about three years. He had suffered from a few strokes and spent about two years
in a nursing home. We had a wonderful marriage of 22 years.Willie was a
wonderful husband and friend. It has been very hard for me these past few
months. Please notify the authorities of the Marist Brothers. I enjoy reading
Marists All and would like to continue receiving it. Please pray for Willie and
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keep me in your prayer. (Marie Noel, 5337 North Delphia Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois, 60656)
FROM HELEN TOBIN: Thank you for putting the notice of Pat's death in the
last issue of Marists All. Thanks, too, for the chart of the deceased Brothers
buried in Esopus. I knew many of them personally and many I knew from the
stories Pat was fond of telling about them. We visited the cemetery on several
occasions. Pat liked to go there and pray for all the men who had influenced his
life for 28 years.
Pat eagerly awaited each issue of Marists All. He particularly enjoyed reading
about the accomplishments of his former students. I hope you get a lot of letters
so that we can receive many more issues of the newsletter. (3 Brookwood Road,
Tomaco, New Jersey, 07082)
FROM BR. HUGH TURLEY ('54): Many thanks for all. you do with Marists
All. It has become quite significant to the Brothers, past and present. I'm glad I
attended the GMC retreat weekend (6-30 to 7-2) in Poughkeepsie, Larry Keogh
conceived of the retreat two years ago; it was worth waiting for. I liked how
Larry, Len Voegtle, and Pat McNamara led the group. The liturgy and prayers by
Peter Ostrowski and Dennis Dunne I found both reminiscent and inspiring, a
combination I liked.
I was impressed by the depth of feelings and the spirituality expressed. It was
good to be there, to talk of things spiritual, and to listen to others who came from
the same Marist background as I. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly we
can get back on track with each other when we meet.
I'm not sure just what Larry Keogh, Dennis Dunne, and I will be doing about
another GMC retreat. Larry has received a number of favorable evaluations, but
we haven't had a chance to go over them in detail yet. Dennis Dunne is presently
suffering a chronic blood disorder that is occupying his attention and making
him very tired. I'll keep you posted,
(4300 West 115th Street, Chicago, I1. 60655-4397; 312-881-5343)
FROM ED (Edward Lawrence) CASHIN ('46): Allow me the privilege of
getting in on your good work; I almost said, your apostolate!
Mary Ann and I are going to the south of France in December, and we plan to
visit Champagnat country. I will retire after 27 years as chair of the history
department at Augusta College, and I will start an Augusta College Center for
the study of Georgia history. Mary Ann has not decided on retirement yet.
Your list of Brothers buried in Esopus was moving, so many friends.Keep up
thegood work. (3412 Woodstone Place, Augusta, Georgia, 30909)
Br. RENE ROY'S FIRST LETTER FROM RWANDA (October 9, 1995)
After a marvelous blessing and send off at the Mount and another blessing at the
Generalate in Rome by Brother Benito himself, I was fortified for the eleven
hour flight and for adjustment to a new country, culture, and challenge. The
infrastructure of Rwanda still suffers from "Les Evenements." It will be a long
time before the roads, flattened homes and businesses, bullet-holed office
buildings, smashed traffic lights, windowless and roofless houses, and
overgrown fields can be repaired or restored. There are soldiers everywhere and
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barracades before all towns where more soldiers, boys really, question and
inspect. These outward signs no doubt symbolize what the emotions and psyche
of the people must be underneath their friendly, warm smiles and handshakes.
Because the whole country is like the hills of West Virginia, the main highway, a
potholed two-laner with no marking lines and only an occasional sign marked
"virages dangereux," is a curvy nightmare. Of the four million people remaining
alive in Rwanda it seems that daily at least two million of them are walking
barefooted along these highway invitations to sudden death, the women
balancing hugh baskets or sacks of sweet potatoes on their heads and at times
having a baby tucked somehow into the small of their backs. The other two
million are either working in the fields, wielding their long hoes, or they are
buying and selling at roadside markets. I can't imagine where we are to fit
another two million refugees who are to return by January 1st.
The school here in Byimana suffered severe damage during its occupation by the
military who kicked in doors, broke windows, and ran off with the contents. All
books, typewriters, and even chalk were stolen. The Brothers' residence was
even stripped of its beds, chairs, and refrigerator. There is enough to eat and it is
good. Main meal at lunch: brothy soup, potatoes, small portion of beef in sauce,
vegetable, fruit. Supper is a repeat of lunch. Compared with the.local people we
are living like kings.
The other Marist communities are an hour south of here in Butare, Save, and
Rwanbuye. Before the war the Brothers also ran schools in Mururu and in
Musanze.The school in Mururu was totally demolished, and the monks had to
withdraw from Musanze due to damage and to fewer numbers. In my second
letter I will deal with the school.(Frdres Maristes B.P. 80, Gitarama Rwanda)
DECEASED:
On Saturday, December 12th, BROTHER MATTHEW M. CALLANAN ('50)
died at the Marist retirement home in Miami. Matt had served thirty years in
Kobe and Kumamoto, Japan. last summer he became sick with renal cancer
while studying toward hospital chaplaincy in California. May he rest in peace.
On Monday, January 8, 1996, BROTHER PETER LEONARD ('32) died at
Mt.St. Michael in the Bronx. He was seventy nine years of age. Pete Leonard
served many years in the Marist Missions. A classmate, Bro. Paul Ambrose,
gave the eulogy,at the Mass of Resurrection at the Mount on Jan. 11.
Late News. Bro. Sean Sammon, V.G. announed the death of Rev. Bro. Basilio
Ruede in Mexico on Jan. 21, 1996. Brother died after a short illness; he was 71
years old. In 1967 he was elected Superior General for a 9year term; again in
1976 he was re-elected: May Mary, Marcellin and a chorus of Angels
accompany him to Paradise.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Thankfully there has been no need of a financial request
since issue #23, August of 1993, eleven issues ago. At this time we have funds
for our May issue but not enough for the following one in August. Last summer
the college in Poughkeepsie increased our bill for printing so that now each issue
costs us overall an average of $325. If you can help, address checks to Gus
Nolan or to David Kammer.
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Of course, we are. still begging for news especially from those who have not
written. We hold out hope that they may yet show up as a welcomed apparition
to old friends to share their news, even small news, always of genuine interest to
the editors and readers of this newsletter..
Mail to: Gus, % Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.12601,
or to David, 476 La Playa, Fdgewater, Florida, 321141.
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ISSUE # 34
February 1996
RE: BR. RENE ROY ('60) in RWANDA
(The following letter was written to the Brothers of the province and forwarded
by Br. Michael "Mickey" Bernard with the note: "I thought that many Marists
All people would like reading Rene's notes on the situation in Rwanda. Because
the situation with mails in that country are deplorable, I plan to send a monetary
draft from a U.S. bank to his bank in Rwanda. So far I have collected $55.")
RENE'S SECOND LETTER TO THE BROTHERS October 31, 1995: Freres
Maristes, Ecole des Sciences de Byiamana B.P. 80, Gitarama, Rwanda, Africa
Dear Brothers, Greetings from Byiamana (Beemahnah) where I am daily having
my eyes and ears opened to the cry of the poor. I have never seen anything like
it. It's not Mother Teresa's Calcutta, but it surely beats what I saw on the Indian
reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
The recent burial of our three Brothers who taught here and were slaughtered
just a football field from where I am writing was a somber reminder of "Les
Evenements" that have made for so much disruption to this country, and have
precipitated my being here as part of the reconstruction. Two Brothers from
Spain and one from Columbia are on their way. Belgium has contributed
generously in money and expertise; a former treasurer has been here for a month
putting district finances on computer and teaching local treasurers the new
system.
In my first letter I gave some idea of conditions here, but worse is the condition
of the school. Insufficient, outdated textbooks, no teaching material except
chalk, only a Gestetner for duplicating exams but not enough paper for hand-
outs, no science equipment in science labs. As for extra-curriculars, there is one
good basketball for 800 kids, one vollyball, two soccer balls. There are four
outdoor courts, but only two can be used. The kids have no playing shoes; they
do the best they can in thongs or go barefoot. They have two meatless meals a
day and are thinner than any kid should be. They are often sick for days at a
time. When I think of even minimal good standards, I just say, this shouldn't be.
This doesn't have to be.
I am aware of the generosity of Americans when they know of a need. I am
aware of Marist generosity: Liberia, more recently Kobe. Well, I'm asking you to
add Rwanda to your list, and I am appealing to you to support my comb-the-
closets campaign. I am asking you to comb the community and personal coffers
if there be any.
It did take some doing on my part, as some of you know, to let go not only of my
vocation work and the people involved therein, but also to let go of a lot of
"precious memoribilia" I had gathered over the years. I am now living very, very
simply. I invite you to be in solidarity with me by digging deeply not only into
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your surplus, but also into your substance. Brothers, the community here is
living far below our American standards, but we are better off than the students
and the local people. That leaves room for some pork-cutting. May I, without
condemning, offer a few suggestions: Are there some items in our budget that
we could put off for another year, like furniture replacement, etc. Is there some
sacrifice I can make out of my personal money, i.e. skip that movie occasionally
and save money for Rwanda? Do we need to have every kind of hard and soft
drink at our disposal every day? Can we go without meat one evening and send
the accumulated difference at the end of a month to the students who never have
meat in this school? Instead of the community gift exchange this Christmas,
could we not use that money for the needs of these children?
I think of the gospel story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. "Jesus,
seeing the crowds, took pity on them and asked the disciples: where can we buy
food that these may eat?" Are we not called to help? I know the goodness in the
hearts of every Marist, and I know that you will respond with compassion and
generosity. In so doing you will find a personal happiness that will refresh you
and will add to the vitality of your community life as you discuss this and come
up with a viable way to help. I will keep you informed of events by letter and
eventually by picture. Sincerely, Rene. (Br. E. Michael Bernard, Marist Brothers,
Box 197, Esopus, N. Y. 12429)
JUBILARIANS: 1966
70th:
Br. Joseph Cerin Balet, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
Br. Henry Joseph Ruiz, 2790 S.W. 89th Avenue, Miami, Fl. 33165
65th:
Br. Valerian Doiron, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
Br. Philip Gilbert, Nevins Nursing Home, Lawrence, Ma. 01843
Br. Daniel Andrew Kopecki, 8230 S.W. 136th Street, Miami, Fl. 33156
Br. M. Oswald Ouellette, 4200 West 115th Street, Chicago, Il. 60655
60th:
Br. Dennis Buckley, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
Br. Bernard Curtin, One Raritan Road, Roselle, N. J. 07203
Br. Francis Hughes, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
55th:
Br. Chanel Lambert, 8616 Shell Drive #253, Tampa, Fl. 33615
Br. Rafael Martin, 3300 S.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Fl. 33165
Br. Alphonse Matuga, 51 Clapham Avenue, Manhasset, N. Y. 11030
Br. Godfrey Robertson, 4300 Murdock Avenue, Bronx, N. Y. 10466
50th:
Br. Raymond Albert, One Raritan Road, Roselle, N. J. 07203
Br. John Alexis, 33-53 Manton Street, Jamaica, N. Y. 11435
Br. James Dixon, 105 St. Joseph's Drive, Brownsville. Tx. 78520
Br. Raymond Bereicua, Suma-ku, Kobe 654, Japan
FROM BILL KARGES ('62): Once again let me say how much I have enjoyed
the newsletter and the updates on the Marist family. Due to the declining health
of both of my parents, particularly my mother, I have relocated to the South in
order to help out a bit more. I'm now the Assistant Headmaster and Dean of
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Students at the Gaston Day School. Keep the good news coming to ... (1631
Hudson Boulevard, Gastonia, North Carolina, 28054.)
FROM GENE (Louis Francis) ZIRKEL ('53): I was truly disappointed because I
was unable to attend the Mount picnic this year. I had it marked on my calendar
all year long, but unfortunately something came up. I have already marked
September 14, 1996! Spread the faith, (Six Brancatelli, West Islip, New York,
11795-2501; 516-669-0273)
FROM BRIAN O'REILLY ('67): In case any of you Marist folks ever wonder ...
after years of getting up early in the morning, praying a lot, and heading off to
the classroom to face a lot of wish-I-were-elsewhere students ... whether you are
making much of a difference in people's lives, I will tell you: Yes, you are! In my
case, two of you did. I should have written this letter years ago.
I was a dreadful student at St. Mary's in Manhasset. At the end of my freshman
year I was flunking two subjects (math for sure, I forget the other) and had
grades in the mid-sixties in two others. I did well in biology because I liked the
teacher, Brother Thomas Joseph (I think his last name was O'Donnell, but of
course we students weren't privy to such secrets). Tee-Jay as he was known,
assumed that I was doing well in all my subjects. He liked me, he teased me in
class, he called me Smiley O'Reilly, a name that stuck with other students.
And then one day, with about two weeks of school remaining, he came over to
my desk, grabbed me hard on the muscle that runs from the neck to the shoulder,
and almost literally carried me to the back of the classroom, held aloft by that
shoulder muscle.There he delivered the most dreadfully serious exhortation to do
better. It wasn't a canned speech. He was truly amazed and dismayed when he
learned that I was screwing up so badly. "If you don't live up to what you are
capable of next year, I will personally come and beat the s --out of you!" he said.
I was so surprised at his choice of word that I knew he meant business. My neck
and shoulder were in so much pain that I had no doubtthat he would and could
fulfill his threat. But what came through more than anything was how much he
cared about me and how much he wanted me to do well. (Be careful about using
this technique yourselves today; it could easily backfire.)
Needless to say, I got my act together. By some miracle those two flunking
grades were goosed up to a 65, so I passed freshman year. By sophomore year I
had an average in the low 80's, and I was an honors student by senior year.I have
never thanked TJ for all he did, but he really changed my life. (Please do tell him
if you know him, or tell me where he is.) I was so impressed that I decided to
join the Marists, and I spent a verv enriching two years at Esopus and a half year
in Poughkeepsie before heading off to Fordham and then to graduate school at
Princeton.
While I was at Esopus, another bit of serendipity occurred. Gus Nolan (editor of
this esteemed publication) was teaching a writing course, and assigned us to do
some non-fiction. For some reason I decided to pretend I was a newspaper
reporter, and filed a story about a fire (even typed the story out in narrow
newspaper-like columns). Gus was impressed, and I liked the idea of being a
journalist. I think I got a B in his course, though.
Years later, after graduating from Fordham I was driving a Greyhound bus in
San Francisco and wondering what career to pursue. Woodward and Bernstein
were beating up on Nixon and Watergate. Presto! I wanted to be a reporter again!
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Could I do it? Well, Gus Nolan liked my first story. I told myself, so I decided to
pursue it. In '73 or so I got on a weekly paper in South San Francisco. After a
year I moved back East (my wife-to-be got a job offer, so I went with her) and
landed at the Trentonian, a tabloid in New Jersey. After two years I got hired at
the New Jersey Magazine in Princeton, later won a journalism fellowship to
study economics at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, and then went on
to Fortune magazine where I am currently a senior writer and member of the
editorial board.
I have the best job in the whole world at Fortune; I get to pursue a lot of different
topics, talk to interesting people, and travel. That makes up for the horror of
writing. In case any of you has forgotten for an instant, writing is awfully hard
work. There is a joke in this business: If you enjoy writing, you probably aren't
very good at it.
Nowadays, I'm living in Fair Haven, New Jersey, about 50 miles south of New
York, rather near Sandy Hook. My wife Gail is almost an architect, and deeply
involved in revitalizing Red Bank, a neighboring town. I have three kids: Paul,
14 (future Knick ); Brendan, 10 (future physicist, banker, historian, engineer);
and Mary, 6 (future beauty queen + benevolent world leader).
I've run into a few ex-Marists in my travels. John Rogener is at Citibank, and has
been quite insightful and helpful on human resource issues. I was in South Bend
doing an offbeat story on AM General, the company that makes those oversized
jeeps called Humvees or Hummers, and there looked up George Howard. He is
head of the psychology department at Notre Dame (whew!).George, like me, has
put on a pound or two, added a few grey hairs and lost a lot of brown ones. I
took a second to adjust, but after two minutes the old George popped through. I
felt I was back at Esopus with George, debating and laughing a lot. I still see
Mark Moran occasionally, He is working at the World Trade Center and seems to
be doing okay. He still has about the wryest, driest sense of humor of anyone I
know. I take my kids camping up in the Catskills every year and sometimes stop
in at Esopus. This year, alas, I didn't see anybody I knew, and was viewed with
suspicion by some monk who appeared concerned that I might be the estranged
parent of kids on retreat and there to kidnap them. So instead of shooting hoops
with my kids at the gym, we drove down to the old coal docks and skipped
stones for hours. Aside from my brief time as kidnapper-suspect, it was very
pleasant.
I'm sorry to see that relatively few people of my generation (I'm 47) have stayed
in the monkhood, but awfully impressed with the guys who remained.
Fascinated to read about the fellow who went through the earthquake in Kobe,
and the one who had to endure that brain surgery. All I can say is, hang in there,
guys. I don't know what I'd be doing these days without you. Powerful,
mysterious forces are at work with you, if my experience is any indication.
Thanks, Gus, for nudging me into journalism and keeping Marists All alive. (70
Hance Road, Fair Haven, N. J. 07704; 908-741-2448; 212-522-6818)
FROM RAY (Paul Wilfrid) BLANCHARD ('47): What a pleasant surprise when
we picked up our mail after four months of travel in the Pacific Northwest and
the Canadian Rockies to find two issues of Marists All. Love to see what
everyone is doing. Had decided to write immediately, but had to get things ship-
shaped on the property before winter. Haven't yet gotten caught up, really!.
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We have been retired for five years. We are now trying to set up some work for
Habitat for Humanity in Florida for the months of January and February. Having
a bit of trouble finding RV spaces close to the work sites, the Homestead and
Miami areas. Hope things will pan out. Nevertheless, we'll be going there, at
least just to get away from bad weather.
To keep busy on our way we do a bit of water-coloring (Rosemarie) and carving
(me). She is getting very good.As for me??? I've been helping out at the local
acute care home. Every week when I come home I thank the Lord for my health.
There are residents there younger than i, and in very bad shape...and some are all
alone!
That's it from this planet. Anyone coming this way is welcomed to stop at Mars.
Let us know so that we can park our flying saucer out of the way. Keep up the
good work. (25 Brickyard Road, Mars, Pa, 16046)
FROM RUSS (Ralph Anthony) THERRIAULT ('59): It has been a pleasure
receiving and reading the epistles in each issue of Marists All. After each
reading I ask myself why I haven't as yet contributed and I always have some
reasonable but lame excuse. This afternoon, however, the phone rang and I
received some prodding from a former master of novices, so here I am. In 1962 I
was assigned to the Wheeling community. Br. Jude Driscoll was boss and Br.
George St. George was assistant. Others there that year were Pius Joseph and
William Chanel. Joining the community over the three years I was in Wheeling
were John Reynolds, Phil Hannigan, Tom Moore, and Tom Mulhern. The
summer of '65 I drove with John Reynolds from Wheeling via the Notre Dame
campus to teach summer school in Chicago. During the annual retreat that year I
decided to leave. It was a difficult decision but I believe the right one.
I joined the Marine Corps and reported to Parris Island. Upon completing boot
camp there I proceeded to Quantico for OCS and a second boot camp.With
Vietnam in full swing the Corps needed aviators and NFO's. I volunteered and
was sent to Pensacola Naval Station for pre-flight training. There I met Shirley,
my wife to be. We wed on October 8th, 1966, and have been together through
thick and thin since.
I reported to my first duty station at Cherry Point, North Carolina, in May of
1967. I was assigned to a reconnaissance squadron (photo and electronic) and
started OJT in the RF-4 and later in the F-10 and the EA-6. On my first night
flight at 4 a.m. the pilot hit trees on take off. There was a cockpit fire, and I
received third degree burns on my hands. The pilot's face was severely burned.
We both ejected successfully even though we were outside the safety envelope
of the seats. (Short prayer before ejecting: Lord, take care of my wife and unborn
child). On a later training flight in an RF 1, I had to eject a second time, this time
due to a mid-air collision at 20,000 feet. Both pilot and I got out safely. Sure
takes a long time to get down to sea level; gives you a lot of time to think about
what's going on in your life.
Went to Danang in March of '69. Much to my surprise I bumped into Phil
Hannigan of the Air Force. Returned to the States in March of 1970. On a visit to
D.C., made contact with John O'Connell in Bowie, Maryland. Left the Corps in
March of 1971 and was fortunate to obtain a teaching position in Escambia
County, Florida. I've been teaching 8th grade math and Algebra I there ever
since.
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Shirley and I have three children, two boys and a girl. Our R. Joseph is a
graduate of Tulane and is a pilot in the Navy. He is stationed at South Weymouth
and lives with his wife Sarah in Milton, Mass. Richard graduated from Florida
State and is working as a psych tech at Queen's Hospital in Hawaii. Kerri
Michelle has a teaching degree from the University of Florida and is living in
Bloomfield, Colorado, with her husband Tim. She teaches the fourth grade and is
working toward a master's at the University of Colorado. I taught in the local
CCD program while our kids were attending.
Through Marists All I learned that Dan Hanley lives just a few miles from us.He
and his family have been over a few times. At the time of my first contact with
Dan, I was recuperating from a five-month hospital stay. That was due to a gall
bladder that burst on me, resulting in septic shock and pancreatitis. Many a
prayer was said for this soul, and I'm most thankful for all of them. I heard from
Arthur Bedard and John Reynolds during my recuperation.
My last direct contact with Marists was in 1981 when Columbus of Miami came
up here for the state football championship. I spoke to a few young monks after
the game and tried to see Br. Edmund Sheehan, but he was in the locker room
with the players. I look forward to the next issue. Sincerely in JMJ! (814
Fleming Way, Pensacola, Florida, 32514-9709)
FROM BOB BUCKLEY ('66): Thank you again for your work in sharing
another wonderfilled issue of the newsletter. The power of Marists All is
amazing. It is always with a sense of joy that I read and feel our Marist
connection. The November issue took me back to some of my earliest inspiration
of the Marist way. As I came across the note from Don Edwards (Christopher
Matthew), I recalled that my freshman year at St. Helena High was his first year
teaching at that school. Imperceptibly he became one of the first monks to
intrigue me concerning what these Brothers were all about. Along my sojourn at
St. Helena's, I was also touched by "Archie" (Br. Stephen Lawrence), "Bio Bill"
(Br. William Paul), Jerry Cox (Br. Stephen Luke), Denis Murphy (Br. Denis
Richard), Br. Ronald Marcellin, Chris Maura, and Declan Claude to mention a
few. I am grateful for the seeds that were planted in the Bronx.
I also vividly recall that sunny Saturday morning when I met Br. Christopher
Maura and Br. Declan for my first drive to Esopus.The blue and white MARIST
BROTHERS sign at the property gate was a reality check. I remember asking
myself: What have you done now, Bob?" The answer now is -- one of the best
things ever!
An array of blessings has come our way since I.wrote last. Lesley and I
celebrated our twenty-fifth anniversary last August. As some know, our
relationship has been founded in the Marist tradition: Les was a Marist
Missionary Sister and we were married by Emile Guilmette, S.M., former
chaplain at Marist College. Our elder daughter Robin is a Marist alum, and she is
engaged to a Marist grad. Robin is in her second year of a PhD program in
psychology at Hofstra University, and her sister Holly will complete her masters
in graphic design at Pratt Institute next May. Les continues to nurse at Hartford
Hospital. She works on trauma and acute rehab units, a type of before and after
program. She has an amazing gift with people.
After teaching for nine years at Hartford Public High School, I recently made a
change t o Shepaug Valley School in Washington, Ct. At Shepaug I am teaching
English and chairing the middle/high school language arts and foreign language
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departments. It is a small school, but its vision is large. I will be working to
integrate the curricula into a humanities study over the next three to five years. I
would be very grateful to share ideas about similar programs in which some
might be working or know about.
One of the benefits I have gained in my new odyssey is a sixty minute drive to
and from my school. The commute has afforded me a "prayer corridor" along 1-
691. Thus, I renew the benefits of the many quiet walks during morning
meditation at Esopus. (54 Ferncrest Dr., East Hartford, Ct. 06118; 860-569-2832;
E: RBUCKl0027@AOL)
JUBILARIANS: 1996
30th:
Br. Vito Aresto
Br. Joseph Herrera
Br. John Klein
Br. James Redunski
Br. Sean Sammon
Br. Richard Sharpe
Br. Robert Warren
35th:
Br. Michael Brady
Br. Donald Kelly
Br. Joseph McAlister
Br. James McKnight
40th:
Br. Felix Anthony
Br. Brendan Brennan
Br. Thomas Coyne
Br. Stephen Kappes
Br. Vincent Moriarty
Br. Luke Pearson
45th:
Br. Denis Caverley
Br. Gregory dela Noy
Br. Vincent J. Doughty
Br. Timothy McManus
Br. Declan C. Murray
Br. Albert Phillipp
Br. Iuke Reddington
Br. Louis Richard
Br. Robert Ryan
Br. Richard Ryder
Br. Martin Thomas
Br. Julio Vitores
Br. Vincent Xavier
FROM PAT (Patrick Stephen) GALLAGHER ( '53): I just received the latest
issue of Marists All, and despite the fact that there are a myriad number of things
that I have to attend to before leaving on my weekly flight to somewhere in the
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country to conduct police training, I just have to express some of the thoughts
that come to mind.
The most moving part of the issue was the list of names of those buried in
Esopus. With a highlighter I went over the list, puzzling over a few names, but
remembering almost all of them. Then, savoring each name, I thought of the
most vivid experiences I shared with each person, as instructors, as fellow
novices or scholastics, as bosses, as workers, and as brothers. What a wealth of
good memories!
Donald Mulcare's description of the old novitiate was very accurate based on my
remembrance of my last tour there a couple of years ago. It was moving to relive
the days of old in the chapel. Don mentions "an iron rod from quarry days
remains fixed in a granite socket." During my novitiate in '52-'54, working with
Brother John Berchmans, we drained the quarry, removed the massive boulders
strewing the swimming area, and then built rock walls along the sides. The
second "crane" that we built to move the stones set on that rod. Pius never found
out that the first "crane" fell over. Luckily no one was killed! Marty Lang's piece
reminded me of the early work on the LaPorte experiment in 1967 ... and the
long years it has been since I've seen him. And there was "Padre" Sears. I picked
up my phone and called him. He has the most intimidating answering machine
message I have ever heard. It's worth calling just to hear him, as he tries to scare
off those who constantly think he can fix their air-conditioner.
This summer Mary and I were going up to a workshop near Rhinebeck, and we
stopped at the college on a hot July afternoon. At the gate house we had a chance
to talk with Brother Paul and to hear him talk with the same enthusiasm about
the work of the Marists and the involvement he, at 82, still has. As always it was
an inspiration. Joe Bell walked in, and I mentioned that for the next week I was
going to be singing some Gregorian at a workshop run by Catherine laMee, who
wrote the book to accompany "Chant." I mentioned that for years I have been
trying to get a Liber. Joe was able to scrounge up a copy for me. The workshop
brought back so many fond memories of choir practice under Brothers Edmund,
John Francis, and Adrian.
I never cease to be amazed at the richness of the Marist experience, one that
continues to feed, encourage, and uplift me years after I formally shed the
cassock. Sure, I have a lot of mental pictures of Marist days, but the only
tangible reminder is profession cross. Yet, among the intangibles I hold the
example of men fully committed to causes, men who decades later maintain an
enthusiasm for fighting the good fight, remaining staunchly committed to the
good cause, raising good families, and standing far above the ordinary level of
life., I get turned on by the solid values so evident in all they are doing, and I
pride myself at being associated with that tradition and at having marched
shoulder to shoulder with them. I salute them all for all they have meant and still
mean to me.
Today in the Blue Ridge Mountains it is pouring; the fog nestles in the valleys
just below the house. It's a perfect day for staying indoors by a fire, for quiet
time, for writing. That it will be. We again invite Marists All readers to stop by
the Wild Goose Inn pershed on our mountainside, (P.O. Box 60, Indian Valley,
Virginia, 24105; 540-789-4056)
FROM BR. MICHAEL BERNARD ('29): As a supplement to the mortuary list
in the last issue, I suggest that a list of Marist Brothers not buried in Esopus
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would interest many readers of Marists All. (For now we list those who have
died since the opening of the Esopus cemetery but buried elsewhere)
Andre Celestin Leon Victor Maurus James
1955 at 68 (France) 1969 at 83 (France) 1986 at 74
(Philippines)
Joseph Ambroise Joseph Hayashi Stephen C. Martin
1957 at 71 (France) 1970 at 37 (Japan) 1986 at 76 (Texas)
Roger Maurice Paul Stratonic A.G. Raphael Ziegler
1957 at 16 (Canada) 1970 at 78 (Canada) 1987 at 93 (Japan)
Titien Paul Allemond Mariano Martin
1958 at 78 (France) 1972 at 82 (Mexico) 1987 at 83 (Spain)
John Philibert James Carroll Reginald
Theodore 1958 at 71 (France) 1973 at 60 (Mexico) 1988 at
62 (Philippines)
Francois Dorotheus Thomas Austin A.G. Peter Adrian
1961 at 78 (France) 1974 at 76 (Japan) 1990 at 95
Appolone Regis X. Creegan Bruce Borelli
1963 at 77 (France) 1978 at 56 (Philippines) 1990 at 41
(Lawrence)
Leon Bernadin William Vessles Herbert Daniel
1964 at 84 (France) 1982 at 66 (Texas) 1991 at 74
(Philippines)
Louis Fulgence William Menn Norman Roy
1967 at 80 (France) 1984 at 80 (Texas) 1992 at 71
(Philippines)
Irlide Victor Baptist John McNamara
1968 at 82 (France) 1985 at 75 (Texas) 1992 at 60 (Texas)
Louis C. Fojouczyk Michael Ray Giles Keogh
1969 at 76 (Japan) 1985 at 93 Texas) 1995 at 70 (New
York)
Joseph Saez John B. Laroche
1969 at 83 Texas) 1985 at 53 (Philippines)
RE: WILLIE (Hugh Arthur) NOEL ('31):
November 12, 1995. This is to let you know that Willie Noel passed away on
May 19th of this year. He was Brother Hugh Arthur Noel. He had been sick for
about three years. He had suffered from a few strokes and spent about two years
in a nursing home. We had a wonderful marriage of 22 years.Willie was a
wonderful husband and friend. It has been very hard for me these past few
months. Please notify the authorities of the Marist Brothers. I enjoy reading
Marists All and would like to continue receiving it. Please pray for Willie and
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keep me in your prayer. (Marie Noel, 5337 North Delphia Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois, 60656)
FROM HELEN TOBIN: Thank you for putting the notice of Pat's death in the
last issue of Marists All. Thanks, too, for the chart of the deceased Brothers
buried in Esopus. I knew many of them personally and many I knew from the
stories Pat was fond of telling about them. We visited the cemetery on several
occasions. Pat liked to go there and pray for all the men who had influenced his
life for 28 years.
Pat eagerly awaited each issue of Marists All. He particularly enjoyed reading
about the accomplishments of his former students. I hope you get a lot of letters
so that we can receive many more issues of the newsletter. (3 Brookwood Road,
Tomaco, New Jersey, 07082)
FROM BR. HUGH TURLEY ('54): Many thanks for all. you do with Marists
All. It has become quite significant to the Brothers, past and present. I'm glad I
attended the GMC retreat weekend (6-30 to 7-2) in Poughkeepsie, Larry Keogh
conceived of the retreat two years ago; it was worth waiting for. I liked how
Larry, Len Voegtle, and Pat McNamara led the group. The liturgy and prayers by
Peter Ostrowski and Dennis Dunne I found both reminiscent and inspiring, a
combination I liked.
I was impressed by the depth of feelings and the spirituality expressed. It was
good to be there, to talk of things spiritual, and to listen to others who came from
the same Marist background as I. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly we
can get back on track with each other when we meet.
I'm not sure just what Larry Keogh, Dennis Dunne, and I will be doing about
another GMC retreat. Larry has received a number of favorable evaluations, but
we haven't had a chance to go over them in detail yet. Dennis Dunne is presently
suffering a chronic blood disorder that is occupying his attention and making
him very tired. I'll keep you posted,
(4300 West 115th Street, Chicago, I1. 60655-4397; 312-881-5343)
FROM ED (Edward Lawrence) CASHIN ('46): Allow me the privilege of
getting in on your good work; I almost said, your apostolate!
Mary Ann and I are going to the south of France in December, and we plan to
visit Champagnat country. I will retire after 27 years as chair of the history
department at Augusta College, and I will start an Augusta College Center for
the study of Georgia history. Mary Ann has not decided on retirement yet.
Your list of Brothers buried in Esopus was moving, so many friends.Keep up
thegood work. (3412 Woodstone Place, Augusta, Georgia, 30909)
Br. RENE ROY'S FIRST LETTER FROM RWANDA (October 9, 1995)
After a marvelous blessing and send off at the Mount and another blessing at the
Generalate in Rome by Brother Benito himself, I was fortified for the eleven
hour flight and for adjustment to a new country, culture, and challenge. The
infrastructure of Rwanda still suffers from "Les Evenements." It will be a long
time before the roads, flattened homes and businesses, bullet-holed office
buildings, smashed traffic lights, windowless and roofless houses, and
overgrown fields can be repaired or restored. There are soldiers everywhere and
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barracades before all towns where more soldiers, boys really, question and
inspect. These outward signs no doubt symbolize what the emotions and psyche
of the people must be underneath their friendly, warm smiles and handshakes.
Because the whole country is like the hills of West Virginia, the main highway, a
potholed two-laner with no marking lines and only an occasional sign marked
"virages dangereux," is a curvy nightmare. Of the four million people remaining
alive in Rwanda it seems that daily at least two million of them are walking
barefooted along these highway invitations to sudden death, the women
balancing hugh baskets or sacks of sweet potatoes on their heads and at times
having a baby tucked somehow into the small of their backs. The other two
million are either working in the fields, wielding their long hoes, or they are
buying and selling at roadside markets. I can't imagine where we are to fit
another two million refugees who are to return by January 1st.
The school here in Byimana suffered severe damage during its occupation by the
military who kicked in doors, broke windows, and ran off with the contents. All
books, typewriters, and even chalk were stolen. The Brothers' residence was
even stripped of its beds, chairs, and refrigerator. There is enough to eat and it is
good. Main meal at lunch: brothy soup, potatoes, small portion of beef in sauce,
vegetable, fruit. Supper is a repeat of lunch. Compared with the.local people we
are living like kings.
The other Marist communities are an hour south of here in Butare, Save, and
Rwanbuye. Before the war the Brothers also ran schools in Mururu and in
Musanze.The school in Mururu was totally demolished, and the monks had to
withdraw from Musanze due to damage and to fewer numbers. In my second
letter I will deal with the school.(Frdres Maristes B.P. 80, Gitarama Rwanda)
DECEASED:
On Saturday, December 12th, BROTHER MATTHEW M. CALLANAN ('50)
died at the Marist retirement home in Miami. Matt had served thirty years in
Kobe and Kumamoto, Japan. last summer he became sick with renal cancer
while studying toward hospital chaplaincy in California. May he rest in peace.
On Monday, January 8, 1996, BROTHER PETER LEONARD ('32) died at
Mt.St. Michael in the Bronx. He was seventy nine years of age. Pete Leonard
served many years in the Marist Missions. A classmate, Bro. Paul Ambrose,
gave the eulogy,at the Mass of Resurrection at the Mount on Jan. 11.
Late News. Bro. Sean Sammon, V.G. announed the death of Rev. Bro. Basilio
Ruede in Mexico on Jan. 21, 1996. Brother died after a short illness; he was 71
years old. In 1967 he was elected Superior General for a 9year term; again in
1976 he was re-elected: May Mary, Marcellin and a chorus of Angels
accompany him to Paradise.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Thankfully there has been no need of a financial request
since issue #23, August of 1993, eleven issues ago. At this time we have funds
for our May issue but not enough for the following one in August. Last summer
the college in Poughkeepsie increased our bill for printing so that now each issue
costs us overall an average of $325. If you can help, address checks to Gus
Nolan or to David Kammer.
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Of course, we are. still begging for news especially from those who have not
written. We hold out hope that they may yet show up as a welcomed apparition
to old friends to share their news, even small news, always of genuine interest to
the editors and readers of this newsletter..
Mail to: Gus, % Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.12601,
or to David, 476 La Playa, Fdgewater, Florida, 321141.