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ISSUE# 93
August 2008
http ://academic2. marist. edu/foy /maristsall/
61 Golf View Drive, Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087; 609-294-2148;
vtQoisella@Y-ahoo.com
24 Prestwick Court, Poughkeepsie NY 12603; 845 454 1393;
richard.foy_@verizon.net
65 Muirfield Court, Poughkeepsie NY 12603; 845 454 6116;
gusnolan@aol.com
476 La Playa, Edgewater, FL 32141; 386-426-6349;
jkammer1@cfl.rr.com
1013 Hollywood Avenue, Des Plaines IL 60016; 847-824-1073;
RJDB@comcast.net
A
click on email address to send email
A
T
click on correspondent or topic to go to that item
T
Correspondents
Vincent Buonora
'68
Joe Gleason
'60
David Kammer
'42
Ernie Middlemiss
John Miller
'57
Gus Nolan
'48
Gene Zirkel
'53
Patricia Zirkel
Topics
Greater Marist
CommunitY- Picnic
14th Annual Weekend
MaristsAII South
Original Photos of BVM
in PoughkeeQsie ChaQel 1954
Saved bY- the Cross
Iv.ngsboro after the
Marist Brothers
Virtue of Inclusion
Photo album - recent Qosting.s
Related websites
Greater Marist Community Picnic
Mount St. Michael Academy
September
6,
2008
Join with us from noon to five pm to continue the tradition of coming together to share
food, drink, and Marist Spirit. Bring a dish that will feed yourselves and another as well
as your beverage of choice. Visit with some old friends and see some new faces. We
offer in advance a special "thank you" to the Brothers at Mount St. Michael, our gracious
hosts
.
We're on, rain or shine!
From JOE GLEASON '60: A note from David Kammer fell under my radar and just appeared,
moments after I spent an hour hungrily reviewing the entire contents of the latest
Marists All. I
cannot yet begin to express in words all it brought back, all that is still alive of our common
Marist experience. In the past, I did receive two letters from John O'Connell by snail mail, and
they were exceedingly welcome, although I did not act on them. I did attend Rich Fay's
reception at Marist several years ago, making quiet unobtrusive visits to the cemetery in
Esopus on two occasions and spending an Irish language week in Esopus, which afforded me
the unexpected pleasure of meeting up with Brothers Don Nugent and Dennis Hever (May he
rest in peace!). I don't know to what extent you fishermen will succeed in reeling me back in,
but as I write to you, I'm experiencing an awesome tide of emotions.
I very much appreciate the efforts to reach me. If you need further contact information, or if
anyone would want to know anything else about me, or my family, or my activities, I'd be
happy to oblige
I offer warm greetings to anyone who may remember me. (2772 Court Street, Bellmore, NY
11710-2818; 516-826-5999;
jav.nemo@hotmail.com
)
From VINCENT BUONORA '68: I remember members in my group from 1964 through 1968
-- forty years ago, such a very long time. John Hunt: John and I chopped down dead trees in
Esopus. Unfortunately, one fell on his leg and broke it. John spent much of the year in a cast.
I think John was interested in sociology. We had good times together. Tom Hunt: very
intellectual and well-read, he could inspire others into understanding the meaning of plays and
essays. Bob Sweeney: Bob was a natural leader with his outgoing sense of humor and artistic
sensibilities. He taught us postulants how to sing and if we didn't learn, it wasn't his fault. One
of his generous gifts was to give us classes on opera and classical music. Bob was more Italian
than most Italians! Pat Ryan: Pat was always witty and kind. He became a therapist from
what I remember. I ran into him at Hofstra later on. Ed Ryan: Eddie was really a good
guy and a pretty good baseball player. John Valentine Sheehan: His name is as large as his
talents. John seemed to have mastered everything: chemistry, photography, carpentry,
painting and especially acting. His performances in the theatre guild were outstanding. John
also had an enormous wit. I was very appreciative of the time he painted my old set of drums.
When the first color didn't work, he redid it until it was right. Chips Kubat: Chips was like
John V. in the sense that he also seemed to have learned every practical skill in life, including
repairing cars and teaching driving while studying physics! Chips was known for his focused and
responsible demeanor. He was also well read, especially in theology. Chips was always open to
a serious conversation of issues. He also had a dry, knock-down sense of humor, especially
when he was looking for someone to teach driving to others: requirement, "lack of a nervous
system." George Biolsi: George was a natural historian and kept notes better than anyone
else in Br. William's history class. I called him "scribe." He was kind and never gave me a
nickname
.
Al
Senes,
M.D:
Al was simply a prodigious talent in music, languages, stage
performance, and now medicine. Joe Hall: Please forgive me if the name is not correct, but
Joe sang in our minstrel folk group. He had a great "Johnny Mathis" voice. But Joe's
outstanding talent was his diplomatic skill. He had the ability to communicate ideas to those
above him. Joe belonged somewhere in the White House being chief of protocol making the big
arrangement for the dignitaries. Joe also loved English history, especially studying the
family trees of the English royalty. Mike Perrino: Mike was a novice when he showed me as a
postulant all the Esopus rules. I believe he now lives in New Jersey. Tom McGovern: Though
behind me, I remember him clearly. I read that Tom had a recent illness. If you have time to
write, please do. Paul Levandusky: Paul was a great guy, always open to discussion. Paul
Woods: very much like Paul L. (5963 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX 77057;
vbuonora@_v.ahoo.com
)
<<=== return to index
From GENE ZIRKEL '53: As a result of the last
Marists All,
Jack Noone and I have been
discussing the pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary that Br. Nilus had placed in the Marist College
chapel. They faded away and no one that we know of has any pictures of them. Could we put
an appeal in the next Marists All, asking if anyone does have such a picture or pictures? They
would be a great addition to the chapel web site.
Go to htt
p
:
//
libra
cv.
.marist.edu
/
archives
/
MHP
/
index.html or to the chapel pages at:
htt
p
:
//
librar
v.
. marist. edu
/
archives
/
MHP
/
cha
p
el
/
cha
p
el. html
From ERNIE MIDDLEMISS: I spent the past week exploring on the Internet many Marist
sites, musing about days gone by, the time I spent during 1963-1965 at Marist Preparatory,
Cold Spring, NY, and then the two months I spent at the Tyngsboro Novitiate in the fall of 1965.
During this web adventure, I realized it had been forty-five years since I first arrived at the
juniorate. Probably one of the most significant events was watching the Tyngsboro property
change hands. Since my life experience included an exposure to the banking and real estate
industry, knowing how to get around local real estate records has made research about
Tyngsboro easier. Records indicate that the Marists transferred the property to the Wang
Institute in June of 1979. In February 1989, the property was transferred to Boston University,
and on July 1, 2008, it was transferred to the Innovation Academy Charter School.
I recall the time I spent in Tyngsboro -- the third floor dormitory, the second floor classrooms,
chapel, the ground floor recreation hall with the adjoining music rooms, swimming in the
quarry, and wandering the grounds in meditation. I had spent the summer between junioriate
and novitiate working in the inaugural year of the Headstart Program for the City of Lawrence,
during which time I began to realize that having a family was an option. So, in the fall of '65, I
took my leave and returned home to Lawrence, MA, a mere twenty miles down the Merrimack
from the novitiate.
During the ensuing years I would periodically drive by the property and gaze in with fond
memories of my Marist experience. Then, during the mid-nineties I had the opportunity to
attend a banking seminar at the BU facility then located on the property. It was a warm,
awesome experience to drive in via the front gate and experience the changes that had
occurred to the main plant. A large addition had been added to the front of the building:
classrooms and conference rooms. The facility was abuzz with learning: adults rejuvenating
skills and others learning new ones. And then, during the spring of 2008, new things were
announced for the property. A local public charter school planned to expand their programs and
needed more space than they could acquire in neighboring Chelmsford.
Unfortunately, there had been some concern about the charter school's acquisition of the
property, as the following article from the Boston Globe suggests: "
..
. a Chelmsford public
charter school is planning to relocate to town
..
.. The Innovation Academy Charter School of
Chelmsford signed a deal with Boston
..
. Innovation Academy Charter School is a tuition free
Massachusetts public charter school, serving students in grades five through nine. Currently,
the school serves 350 students from over ten Massachusetts communities including
Chelmsford, Lowell, Billerica, Arlington, Groton, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, and Westford. The
Innovation Academy Charter School, which is currently expanding to include a high school, has
served fifth through eighth grade students for the past eleven years in Chelmsford. The middle
school program is commonly referred to as the Murdoch Middle School in honor of the late Linn
Murdoch, school founder and Chelmsford educator. The school will add one grade per year until
the school has grades 5-12. Their website:
www.innovationcharter.org
. (86 Dorchester St,
Lawrence, MA 01843; 978-975-0862;
emiddlemiss@verizon.net
; Marist Prep (Hall); Cold
Spring, NY Class of '65)
< <
= = =
return to index
From GUS NOLAN, '48: I would like to share with the readers of Marists All an enjoyable
experience ten or twelve "snowbirds" have each winter in Florida. It is called "Theology Day"
and is sponsored in Naples by the theology department of St. John's University, Collegeville,
MN. The event serves as a fundraiser as well as an information day for family and friends of
the university in Florida. (I have two personal connections with St. John's: my brother is a
Benedictine monk, and I have a master's degree from the university.) Each year the event
takes place sometime in the second week of March and is hosted by a couple, "friends" of St
John's, in the community room of their building located on the Gulf of Mexico, a beautiful
scene.
This year was the third consecutive year that our group has attended: the Carolans, Kammers,
LaPietras, Langs (when in town), Morrisseys, and Nolans. Each year we have heard excellent
presentations on the following subjects: the Holy Trinity, the St. John Bible Project, and
Catholics and Social Justice: Lazarus at Your Table. The morning presentation is followed by a
Q
& A session. Noontime prayer, lunch, and a Eucharistic celebration take place in the afternoon.
The group returns to the Nolans for a social hour; then at supper members of the group make
various contributions: the wine, salads, main course, desserts. The day's topic is discussed and
commented upon. But as is usual when our groups get together, some hilarious stories of the
past are told, and even if familiar, are enjoyable. Even after over sixty years of being connected
to the Marists, I hear some I had never heard before
Each year we are enriched by the insights offered by the St. John's faculty offering a source for
further study. Easiest to single out is the talk on The Holy Trinity that led to the reading group
of the Marist College retired faculty to read and discuss a great work, Trinity, by the Australian
theologian, Anne Hunt.
Especially memorable was the event two years ago when Theology Day was held at the Naples
Museum of Art, wherein the work being done on the St. John's Bible was explained to the
group. Stunning examples of some of the pages were exhibited throughout the museum. We
are enriched by this experience each year and hope that the coming years will continue to offer
us such a day.
<<=== return to index
From JOHN MILLER '57: It's "not the
how
I practice my spirituality, but the
why
of my
practice of spirituality." When Don Mulcare approached me to share my thoughts with the
participants of the Marist College Weekend of Spirituality, I had to do a double take. I wanted
so much to be there in person. But the cumulative effects of a six-year battle with cancer left
me unable to attend. Since leaving the Marist Brothers, most, if not all, of my days have been
devoted to prayer and praise of God. The rosary has been my constant companion along with
the Daily Office and daily Mass and communion when my health has permitted. God my Father
gave me these opportunities along with the spiritual grace to devote over forty-five years to His
Church. Actually, since 1955 when I received my calling for service, my journey has been a
walk holding my Mother Mary's hand and trying to keep up with my dearest friend Jesus and
what he has wanted me to do for and with His children. On some occasions I have found that
Jesus can walk pretty fast.
God has always told me to practice my spirituality. Many periods of my personal, physical, and
spiritual life have been filled with ups and downs. It is during these times that I have grabbed
for Mary's hand and tried to shut up long enough to hear what Jesus was telling me. I think we
all will agree that was the message our St. Marcellin gave to his early Brothers and the
message that was passed on to all of us at Tyngsboro and Poughkeepsie in those formative
years. Very honestly, I feel that I have lived as a Marist Brother all of my life by carrying with
me the Marist Spirit in all my endeavors.
These last six years, though filled with pain and sickness, have been both beautiful and
enriching. Three years ago, God, His Mother, and a Marist Brother led me to Marists All and
OB/bwat. I was able to renew many relationships and have used my "essays" to express the
joy and love I have for all of you.
God has now led me to yet another ministry. He wants me to show others by my example and
resignation to His Will that I can use my present health issues as ways of exposing the "seeds"
of my spiritual life: that's the WHY I have it, to use it. I remember a sermon I gave years
ago. I was trying to make the point that our spiritual life begins as a small seed that God
plants in each of us at the time of our creation. Just as grace is freely given and out of love, so
is that seed. When we initially receive the grace of the Holy Spirit at our Baptism, the water
that is physically and spiritually poured allows the growth of the roots. From that time on, the
rest is up to us as we begin our Journey of Faith. We are given various ups and downs to help
us sprout our wings and mature. I give all the praise to God that at the age of seventy,
through the blood, sweat, and tears of my cancer, I am still able to nurture my spirituality seed
and bring Christ's love and compassion to others.
I am now on the final leg of my earthly journey. I eagerly await the outstretched hands of
Mary, my mother, as she leads me to her Son and Eternal Bliss. Be assured that I am with all
of you in the WHY of my daily Spiritual Life. Thank you for this opportunity to share.
Finally, as we begin the Church's Jubilee Year of St. Paul, May God shower all of us with His
grace. May Mary watch over us and guide us as our Mother. May our Founder guide us as his
Brothers. May we continue to pray for vocations to the Marists, the priesthood, and religious
life.
The Journey continues .... ( 415 Alta Vista Ave.; Glen Dale, WV 26038-1427; 304-843-1181;
brojohn2538@comcast.net)
< <
= = =
return to index
From DAVID KAMMER '42: We are "Saved by the Cross"! It was only after a good number
of years that it got through to me that it was not my job to improve on my spouse! It turns out
to be much better to accept her as she is: lovely, lovable, and human. Furthermore, I
discovered that it is best to accept all other people as they are. Even when someone offends,
be that person spouse or friend, acquaintance or stranger, normally it is better to get over the
offense quickly, to accept and move on. I discovered that to accept is to forgive; the only way
to really forgive is to accept, no strings attached.
Of course, parents must deal with raising their children; they must correct them and guide
them. Once their children have grown to adulthood, well-adjusted parents know enough to
treat their offspring as adults, to accept them as they are and to love them no matter what,
unconditionally.
We all recognize that the state must maintain order by civil law and rule, including the
disciplines of fines and imprisonment. However, God is not into control. The Commandments,
like the Beatitudes, are really directives; true, God expects obedience but the obedience of the
free and generous cooperation proper to mutual covenant.
I have come to the conclusion that, though we are God's children, God does not treat us as
immature children. He treats us as adults, allows us to make our own way, provides for our
well-being with graces galore and loves us unconditionally. He even encourages us to accept
ourselves, to accept and forgive ourselves.
I cannot believe that God treats his adult children with punishment or threat of punishment.
He is certainly "disappointed" with our unfaithfulness, but he is not vindictive. He is not into
retribution. We get plenty of untoward retribution from the impact of our selfish and sinful
actions. Furthermore, in not cooperating as well as in sinning, we are backtracking rather than
advancing further into an enhanced divine union of an eternal life.
I cannot believe that God is into payment for sins. I do not believe that Jesus' death on the
cross was payment for our sin. For long, I have found it quite difficult to comprehend any
liturgy that states or seems to state or imply that we have been "saved by the cross." I have
interpreted such ecclesial and liturgical statements as implying a payment for our salvation.
However, I now see another meaning that may be implanted by the Spirit in the expression
"saved by the cross."
In living his human life, Jesus accepted the lot that came his way, the conditions of living a
human life, the tragedy of being embroiled in a sinful world that led to the cross. In quietly
accepting the cross, Jesus also embraced and accepted the sinful negatives of all human living
of all times. In that universal acceptance, in that sacramental forgiveness, is the unconditional
love with which we are loved and saved. Thus, we are, in fact, "saved by the cross." We are
saved by the acceptance and forgiveness and unconditional love of the Cross.
By the Cross we are set free. And it is by the Resurrection and the divine presence and divine
accompaniment that we are lifted up and led to health and growth and union with our loving
God.
<<=== return to index
From GENE {Louis Francis) ZIRKEL '53: I have just returned from the 14
th
annual weekend
at Marist College. Once again it was a wonderful experience with Brothers, former brothers,
wives, widows and friends who gather together each year in Poughkeepsie to help one another
grow spiritually by sharing our lives and our hearts, our laughter and our tears.
This year Brother Philip Robert Ouellette was the keynote speaker, sharing with us many stories
and ideas of Saint Marcellin along with the founder's dreams and his struggles. The Marist
Fathers aim, to make the whole world Marist, was part and parcel of his Maria/apostolic
spirituality which always leads to Jesus and which is clearly intended for the laity as well as for
the professed Brothers.
In addition, Pat Zirkel, Vinny Poisella, and Don Mulcare gave presentations, all of which led to
lively discussions, discussions which were aided by the input of Brothers Joe Bel, John Malich
and Charlie Marcellin . We were unable to secure a priest on Saturday, so Barney Sheridan led a
Communion Service as a fitting ending to our annual memorial service remembering those who
had gone before us: people such as Lenny Voegtle, Paul Ambrose, Donny Schmidt, Frank
Casey, Pat Tyrell, etc.
Each night closed with singing the Salve followed by socializing a la Marcellin's 'Happy Gang'
while the weekend ended with Mass and Ever Forever.
If learning how to better follow 'Our Good Mother' (Champagnat's Notre Bonne Mere) interests
you, why not plan on coming next July 10
th
thru 12
th
?
You will not be disappointed. (472
Village Oaks Lane, Babylon, NY 631-669-0273; or Jan - Apr, 516-220-5819;
genezirk@optonline.net)
(The following item is taken from a presentation given by Pat Zirkel at the recent Marist
Family weekend at Marist College. The entire presentation may be read on our
website.)
<<=== return to index
From Pat Zirkel: "The Virtue of Inclusion": One of the ways we can let our sun shine on all is
by practicing Marist inclusion, which incorporates, but is not limited to, hospitality. I think that
the real key to acting as a Marist is to be inclusive. This is both an attitude and a way of life,
and of course refers to the idea that every person is in some way a member of my (Marist)
family.
However, as an attitude of life, inclusiveness can go deeper than this. As human beings we
sometimes instinctively operate by excluding, by saying. "I am not" rather than "I am," by
saying, "Thou shalt not. .. " rather than "I shall. .. " Our laws tend to exclude, rather than include.
We instinctively see problems rather than opportunities. But a change in my attitude may
uncover some chance for good that was not previously apparent.
I have three stories about Marist inclusion:
The first goes back many years. My husband Gene and I, our approximately two year old son
George, my mother, and Gene's sister Gloria were on our way home from a weekend spent with
friends upstate when we found out we had no brakes. One moment we braked to let me out to
go to a rest room, and the next, Gene put his foot down on the brake pedal, and there was
nothing there. We turned out to have a leak in the brake line, and we had used the last ounce
of fluid stopping that one time. We were lucky, or blessed, or both, that we weren't killed. At
any rate, the Thruway service station diagnosed the problem, taped up the hose, filled up our
brake fluid, and told us to go to the car dealership in Kingston (NY). The dealership knew how
to fix the problem but needed to order a part, which would not arrive until the next day. They
gave us a loaner car, and then we needed a place to stay. Gene said, "Let's go to Esopus; the
brothers will put us up." I looked at him as if he were truly nuts. He had not been a Marist
Brother for several years and had had little contact with the brothers in general. (I could no
more imagine my going to my former community, the Sparkill Dominicans, with such a request
than I could imagine my knocking on a stranger's door.)
We did go to Esopus, and of course, they did put us up. They also sat us down to dinner with
the brothers, and Brother Henry Charles brought us a six pack of beer for our evening's
entertainment. They couldn't have been nicer. It was my first encounter with the idea that once
a Marist, always a Marist. But it didn't really sink in.
Later I had a somewhat different, and more personal, experience of Marist inclusion. At one
time, after I had spoken up (somewhat out of turn) at a meeting in Poughkeepsie, NY, Brother
Luke Driscoll took me aside and encouraged me to keep speaking, to keep sharing. It was a
very affirming act on his part, as I felt that I had perhaps overstepped the bounds as a
newcomer. (My remarks had not been gentle.) In encouraging me as he did, Luke brought out
the best in me and put me on a course of being more involved in the group.
Later, I heard Luke giving the same encouragement to someone else, including that person in
his world as he had included me! The best Marists (like Luke) exude a sense of 'being at home'
in the world and invite me to share in that world. They welcome and encourage others to feel
as they do.
I also think that inclusiveness is related to compassion. When we make an effort to feel with
others, it is difficult to exclude them from our circle of caring.
Recently, I was at a resort on vacation. It turned out to be a rather noisy place, and I hate
noise. There was constant music at any of the restaurants and calling back and forth from
friend to friend and from worker to worker. All very friendly, but I felt assaulted by the constant
sound. To add to this, six Europeans moved in and took up their places on the beach very near
to us. They all spoke at once - everyone talking to everyone else at the same time - and
chattered constantly and loudly. I was in despair.
Then I made an effort to open my mind to them, perhaps to open my heart to them a little.
About the third day they were there, I passed them on the path and they were relatively quiet.
It
struck me that they looked relaxed, finally. At the same time I realized that they had not
been relaxed up to that time. I recalled that when I first saw (and heard) them, that they
appeared to be trying to relax. They did all the relaxed things - sat on the beach in lounges,
etc., but seemed ill at ease and out of place. Suddenly I felt for them. What are their lives like?
How often do they get a chance to relax?
After that time, I felt better disposed toward them. This was because I had let them into my
world instead of excluding them from it, because I had opened my heart to compassion.
(
Qzirkel@oQtonline.net
)
click here
for the full article on inclusion, located in the essay section of MaristAII web.
<<=== return to index
return to
= = = > >
toQ
of Qag.e..A_
ISSUE# 93
August 2008
http ://academic2. marist. edu/foy /maristsall/
61 Golf View Drive, Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087; 609-294-2148;
vtQoisella@Y-ahoo.com
24 Prestwick Court, Poughkeepsie NY 12603; 845 454 1393;
richard.foy_@verizon.net
65 Muirfield Court, Poughkeepsie NY 12603; 845 454 6116;
gusnolan@aol.com
476 La Playa, Edgewater, FL 32141; 386-426-6349;
jkammer1@cfl.rr.com
1013 Hollywood Avenue, Des Plaines IL 60016; 847-824-1073;
RJDB@comcast.net
A
click on email address to send email
A
T
click on correspondent or topic to go to that item
T
Correspondents
Vincent Buonora
'68
Joe Gleason
'60
David Kammer
'42
Ernie Middlemiss
John Miller
'57
Gus Nolan
'48
Gene Zirkel
'53
Patricia Zirkel
Topics
Greater Marist
CommunitY- Picnic
14th Annual Weekend
MaristsAII South
Original Photos of BVM
in PoughkeeQsie ChaQel 1954
Saved bY- the Cross
Iv.ngsboro after the
Marist Brothers
Virtue of Inclusion
Photo album - recent Qosting.s
Related websites
Greater Marist Community Picnic
Mount St. Michael Academy
September
6,
2008
Join with us from noon to five pm to continue the tradition of coming together to share
food, drink, and Marist Spirit. Bring a dish that will feed yourselves and another as well
as your beverage of choice. Visit with some old friends and see some new faces. We
offer in advance a special "thank you" to the Brothers at Mount St. Michael, our gracious
hosts
.
We're on, rain or shine!
From JOE GLEASON '60: A note from David Kammer fell under my radar and just appeared,
moments after I spent an hour hungrily reviewing the entire contents of the latest
Marists All. I
cannot yet begin to express in words all it brought back, all that is still alive of our common
Marist experience. In the past, I did receive two letters from John O'Connell by snail mail, and
they were exceedingly welcome, although I did not act on them. I did attend Rich Fay's
reception at Marist several years ago, making quiet unobtrusive visits to the cemetery in
Esopus on two occasions and spending an Irish language week in Esopus, which afforded me
the unexpected pleasure of meeting up with Brothers Don Nugent and Dennis Hever (May he
rest in peace!). I don't know to what extent you fishermen will succeed in reeling me back in,
but as I write to you, I'm experiencing an awesome tide of emotions.
I very much appreciate the efforts to reach me. If you need further contact information, or if
anyone would want to know anything else about me, or my family, or my activities, I'd be
happy to oblige
I offer warm greetings to anyone who may remember me. (2772 Court Street, Bellmore, NY
11710-2818; 516-826-5999;
jav.nemo@hotmail.com
)
From VINCENT BUONORA '68: I remember members in my group from 1964 through 1968
-- forty years ago, such a very long time. John Hunt: John and I chopped down dead trees in
Esopus. Unfortunately, one fell on his leg and broke it. John spent much of the year in a cast.
I think John was interested in sociology. We had good times together. Tom Hunt: very
intellectual and well-read, he could inspire others into understanding the meaning of plays and
essays. Bob Sweeney: Bob was a natural leader with his outgoing sense of humor and artistic
sensibilities. He taught us postulants how to sing and if we didn't learn, it wasn't his fault. One
of his generous gifts was to give us classes on opera and classical music. Bob was more Italian
than most Italians! Pat Ryan: Pat was always witty and kind. He became a therapist from
what I remember. I ran into him at Hofstra later on. Ed Ryan: Eddie was really a good
guy and a pretty good baseball player. John Valentine Sheehan: His name is as large as his
talents. John seemed to have mastered everything: chemistry, photography, carpentry,
painting and especially acting. His performances in the theatre guild were outstanding. John
also had an enormous wit. I was very appreciative of the time he painted my old set of drums.
When the first color didn't work, he redid it until it was right. Chips Kubat: Chips was like
John V. in the sense that he also seemed to have learned every practical skill in life, including
repairing cars and teaching driving while studying physics! Chips was known for his focused and
responsible demeanor. He was also well read, especially in theology. Chips was always open to
a serious conversation of issues. He also had a dry, knock-down sense of humor, especially
when he was looking for someone to teach driving to others: requirement, "lack of a nervous
system." George Biolsi: George was a natural historian and kept notes better than anyone
else in Br. William's history class. I called him "scribe." He was kind and never gave me a
nickname
.
Al
Senes,
M.D:
Al was simply a prodigious talent in music, languages, stage
performance, and now medicine. Joe Hall: Please forgive me if the name is not correct, but
Joe sang in our minstrel folk group. He had a great "Johnny Mathis" voice. But Joe's
outstanding talent was his diplomatic skill. He had the ability to communicate ideas to those
above him. Joe belonged somewhere in the White House being chief of protocol making the big
arrangement for the dignitaries. Joe also loved English history, especially studying the
family trees of the English royalty. Mike Perrino: Mike was a novice when he showed me as a
postulant all the Esopus rules. I believe he now lives in New Jersey. Tom McGovern: Though
behind me, I remember him clearly. I read that Tom had a recent illness. If you have time to
write, please do. Paul Levandusky: Paul was a great guy, always open to discussion. Paul
Woods: very much like Paul L. (5963 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX 77057;
vbuonora@_v.ahoo.com
)
<<=== return to index
From GENE ZIRKEL '53: As a result of the last
Marists All,
Jack Noone and I have been
discussing the pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary that Br. Nilus had placed in the Marist College
chapel. They faded away and no one that we know of has any pictures of them. Could we put
an appeal in the next Marists All, asking if anyone does have such a picture or pictures? They
would be a great addition to the chapel web site.
Go to htt
p
:
//
libra
cv.
.marist.edu
/
archives
/
MHP
/
index.html or to the chapel pages at:
htt
p
:
//
librar
v.
. marist. edu
/
archives
/
MHP
/
cha
p
el
/
cha
p
el. html
From ERNIE MIDDLEMISS: I spent the past week exploring on the Internet many Marist
sites, musing about days gone by, the time I spent during 1963-1965 at Marist Preparatory,
Cold Spring, NY, and then the two months I spent at the Tyngsboro Novitiate in the fall of 1965.
During this web adventure, I realized it had been forty-five years since I first arrived at the
juniorate. Probably one of the most significant events was watching the Tyngsboro property
change hands. Since my life experience included an exposure to the banking and real estate
industry, knowing how to get around local real estate records has made research about
Tyngsboro easier. Records indicate that the Marists transferred the property to the Wang
Institute in June of 1979. In February 1989, the property was transferred to Boston University,
and on July 1, 2008, it was transferred to the Innovation Academy Charter School.
I recall the time I spent in Tyngsboro -- the third floor dormitory, the second floor classrooms,
chapel, the ground floor recreation hall with the adjoining music rooms, swimming in the
quarry, and wandering the grounds in meditation. I had spent the summer between junioriate
and novitiate working in the inaugural year of the Headstart Program for the City of Lawrence,
during which time I began to realize that having a family was an option. So, in the fall of '65, I
took my leave and returned home to Lawrence, MA, a mere twenty miles down the Merrimack
from the novitiate.
During the ensuing years I would periodically drive by the property and gaze in with fond
memories of my Marist experience. Then, during the mid-nineties I had the opportunity to
attend a banking seminar at the BU facility then located on the property. It was a warm,
awesome experience to drive in via the front gate and experience the changes that had
occurred to the main plant. A large addition had been added to the front of the building:
classrooms and conference rooms. The facility was abuzz with learning: adults rejuvenating
skills and others learning new ones. And then, during the spring of 2008, new things were
announced for the property. A local public charter school planned to expand their programs and
needed more space than they could acquire in neighboring Chelmsford.
Unfortunately, there had been some concern about the charter school's acquisition of the
property, as the following article from the Boston Globe suggests: "
..
. a Chelmsford public
charter school is planning to relocate to town
..
.. The Innovation Academy Charter School of
Chelmsford signed a deal with Boston
..
. Innovation Academy Charter School is a tuition free
Massachusetts public charter school, serving students in grades five through nine. Currently,
the school serves 350 students from over ten Massachusetts communities including
Chelmsford, Lowell, Billerica, Arlington, Groton, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, and Westford. The
Innovation Academy Charter School, which is currently expanding to include a high school, has
served fifth through eighth grade students for the past eleven years in Chelmsford. The middle
school program is commonly referred to as the Murdoch Middle School in honor of the late Linn
Murdoch, school founder and Chelmsford educator. The school will add one grade per year until
the school has grades 5-12. Their website:
www.innovationcharter.org
. (86 Dorchester St,
Lawrence, MA 01843; 978-975-0862;
emiddlemiss@verizon.net
; Marist Prep (Hall); Cold
Spring, NY Class of '65)
< <
= = =
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From GUS NOLAN, '48: I would like to share with the readers of Marists All an enjoyable
experience ten or twelve "snowbirds" have each winter in Florida. It is called "Theology Day"
and is sponsored in Naples by the theology department of St. John's University, Collegeville,
MN. The event serves as a fundraiser as well as an information day for family and friends of
the university in Florida. (I have two personal connections with St. John's: my brother is a
Benedictine monk, and I have a master's degree from the university.) Each year the event
takes place sometime in the second week of March and is hosted by a couple, "friends" of St
John's, in the community room of their building located on the Gulf of Mexico, a beautiful
scene.
This year was the third consecutive year that our group has attended: the Carolans, Kammers,
LaPietras, Langs (when in town), Morrisseys, and Nolans. Each year we have heard excellent
presentations on the following subjects: the Holy Trinity, the St. John Bible Project, and
Catholics and Social Justice: Lazarus at Your Table. The morning presentation is followed by a
Q
& A session. Noontime prayer, lunch, and a Eucharistic celebration take place in the afternoon.
The group returns to the Nolans for a social hour; then at supper members of the group make
various contributions: the wine, salads, main course, desserts. The day's topic is discussed and
commented upon. But as is usual when our groups get together, some hilarious stories of the
past are told, and even if familiar, are enjoyable. Even after over sixty years of being connected
to the Marists, I hear some I had never heard before
Each year we are enriched by the insights offered by the St. John's faculty offering a source for
further study. Easiest to single out is the talk on The Holy Trinity that led to the reading group
of the Marist College retired faculty to read and discuss a great work, Trinity, by the Australian
theologian, Anne Hunt.
Especially memorable was the event two years ago when Theology Day was held at the Naples
Museum of Art, wherein the work being done on the St. John's Bible was explained to the
group. Stunning examples of some of the pages were exhibited throughout the museum. We
are enriched by this experience each year and hope that the coming years will continue to offer
us such a day.
<<=== return to index
From JOHN MILLER '57: It's "not the
how
I practice my spirituality, but the
why
of my
practice of spirituality." When Don Mulcare approached me to share my thoughts with the
participants of the Marist College Weekend of Spirituality, I had to do a double take. I wanted
so much to be there in person. But the cumulative effects of a six-year battle with cancer left
me unable to attend. Since leaving the Marist Brothers, most, if not all, of my days have been
devoted to prayer and praise of God. The rosary has been my constant companion along with
the Daily Office and daily Mass and communion when my health has permitted. God my Father
gave me these opportunities along with the spiritual grace to devote over forty-five years to His
Church. Actually, since 1955 when I received my calling for service, my journey has been a
walk holding my Mother Mary's hand and trying to keep up with my dearest friend Jesus and
what he has wanted me to do for and with His children. On some occasions I have found that
Jesus can walk pretty fast.
God has always told me to practice my spirituality. Many periods of my personal, physical, and
spiritual life have been filled with ups and downs. It is during these times that I have grabbed
for Mary's hand and tried to shut up long enough to hear what Jesus was telling me. I think we
all will agree that was the message our St. Marcellin gave to his early Brothers and the
message that was passed on to all of us at Tyngsboro and Poughkeepsie in those formative
years. Very honestly, I feel that I have lived as a Marist Brother all of my life by carrying with
me the Marist Spirit in all my endeavors.
These last six years, though filled with pain and sickness, have been both beautiful and
enriching. Three years ago, God, His Mother, and a Marist Brother led me to Marists All and
OB/bwat. I was able to renew many relationships and have used my "essays" to express the
joy and love I have for all of you.
God has now led me to yet another ministry. He wants me to show others by my example and
resignation to His Will that I can use my present health issues as ways of exposing the "seeds"
of my spiritual life: that's the WHY I have it, to use it. I remember a sermon I gave years
ago. I was trying to make the point that our spiritual life begins as a small seed that God
plants in each of us at the time of our creation. Just as grace is freely given and out of love, so
is that seed. When we initially receive the grace of the Holy Spirit at our Baptism, the water
that is physically and spiritually poured allows the growth of the roots. From that time on, the
rest is up to us as we begin our Journey of Faith. We are given various ups and downs to help
us sprout our wings and mature. I give all the praise to God that at the age of seventy,
through the blood, sweat, and tears of my cancer, I am still able to nurture my spirituality seed
and bring Christ's love and compassion to others.
I am now on the final leg of my earthly journey. I eagerly await the outstretched hands of
Mary, my mother, as she leads me to her Son and Eternal Bliss. Be assured that I am with all
of you in the WHY of my daily Spiritual Life. Thank you for this opportunity to share.
Finally, as we begin the Church's Jubilee Year of St. Paul, May God shower all of us with His
grace. May Mary watch over us and guide us as our Mother. May our Founder guide us as his
Brothers. May we continue to pray for vocations to the Marists, the priesthood, and religious
life.
The Journey continues .... ( 415 Alta Vista Ave.; Glen Dale, WV 26038-1427; 304-843-1181;
brojohn2538@comcast.net)
< <
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From DAVID KAMMER '42: We are "Saved by the Cross"! It was only after a good number
of years that it got through to me that it was not my job to improve on my spouse! It turns out
to be much better to accept her as she is: lovely, lovable, and human. Furthermore, I
discovered that it is best to accept all other people as they are. Even when someone offends,
be that person spouse or friend, acquaintance or stranger, normally it is better to get over the
offense quickly, to accept and move on. I discovered that to accept is to forgive; the only way
to really forgive is to accept, no strings attached.
Of course, parents must deal with raising their children; they must correct them and guide
them. Once their children have grown to adulthood, well-adjusted parents know enough to
treat their offspring as adults, to accept them as they are and to love them no matter what,
unconditionally.
We all recognize that the state must maintain order by civil law and rule, including the
disciplines of fines and imprisonment. However, God is not into control. The Commandments,
like the Beatitudes, are really directives; true, God expects obedience but the obedience of the
free and generous cooperation proper to mutual covenant.
I have come to the conclusion that, though we are God's children, God does not treat us as
immature children. He treats us as adults, allows us to make our own way, provides for our
well-being with graces galore and loves us unconditionally. He even encourages us to accept
ourselves, to accept and forgive ourselves.
I cannot believe that God treats his adult children with punishment or threat of punishment.
He is certainly "disappointed" with our unfaithfulness, but he is not vindictive. He is not into
retribution. We get plenty of untoward retribution from the impact of our selfish and sinful
actions. Furthermore, in not cooperating as well as in sinning, we are backtracking rather than
advancing further into an enhanced divine union of an eternal life.
I cannot believe that God is into payment for sins. I do not believe that Jesus' death on the
cross was payment for our sin. For long, I have found it quite difficult to comprehend any
liturgy that states or seems to state or imply that we have been "saved by the cross." I have
interpreted such ecclesial and liturgical statements as implying a payment for our salvation.
However, I now see another meaning that may be implanted by the Spirit in the expression
"saved by the cross."
In living his human life, Jesus accepted the lot that came his way, the conditions of living a
human life, the tragedy of being embroiled in a sinful world that led to the cross. In quietly
accepting the cross, Jesus also embraced and accepted the sinful negatives of all human living
of all times. In that universal acceptance, in that sacramental forgiveness, is the unconditional
love with which we are loved and saved. Thus, we are, in fact, "saved by the cross." We are
saved by the acceptance and forgiveness and unconditional love of the Cross.
By the Cross we are set free. And it is by the Resurrection and the divine presence and divine
accompaniment that we are lifted up and led to health and growth and union with our loving
God.
<<=== return to index
From GENE {Louis Francis) ZIRKEL '53: I have just returned from the 14
th
annual weekend
at Marist College. Once again it was a wonderful experience with Brothers, former brothers,
wives, widows and friends who gather together each year in Poughkeepsie to help one another
grow spiritually by sharing our lives and our hearts, our laughter and our tears.
This year Brother Philip Robert Ouellette was the keynote speaker, sharing with us many stories
and ideas of Saint Marcellin along with the founder's dreams and his struggles. The Marist
Fathers aim, to make the whole world Marist, was part and parcel of his Maria/apostolic
spirituality which always leads to Jesus and which is clearly intended for the laity as well as for
the professed Brothers.
In addition, Pat Zirkel, Vinny Poisella, and Don Mulcare gave presentations, all of which led to
lively discussions, discussions which were aided by the input of Brothers Joe Bel, John Malich
and Charlie Marcellin . We were unable to secure a priest on Saturday, so Barney Sheridan led a
Communion Service as a fitting ending to our annual memorial service remembering those who
had gone before us: people such as Lenny Voegtle, Paul Ambrose, Donny Schmidt, Frank
Casey, Pat Tyrell, etc.
Each night closed with singing the Salve followed by socializing a la Marcellin's 'Happy Gang'
while the weekend ended with Mass and Ever Forever.
If learning how to better follow 'Our Good Mother' (Champagnat's Notre Bonne Mere) interests
you, why not plan on coming next July 10
th
thru 12
th
?
You will not be disappointed. (472
Village Oaks Lane, Babylon, NY 631-669-0273; or Jan - Apr, 516-220-5819;
genezirk@optonline.net)
(The following item is taken from a presentation given by Pat Zirkel at the recent Marist
Family weekend at Marist College. The entire presentation may be read on our
website.)
<<=== return to index
From Pat Zirkel: "The Virtue of Inclusion": One of the ways we can let our sun shine on all is
by practicing Marist inclusion, which incorporates, but is not limited to, hospitality. I think that
the real key to acting as a Marist is to be inclusive. This is both an attitude and a way of life,
and of course refers to the idea that every person is in some way a member of my (Marist)
family.
However, as an attitude of life, inclusiveness can go deeper than this. As human beings we
sometimes instinctively operate by excluding, by saying. "I am not" rather than "I am," by
saying, "Thou shalt not. .. " rather than "I shall. .. " Our laws tend to exclude, rather than include.
We instinctively see problems rather than opportunities. But a change in my attitude may
uncover some chance for good that was not previously apparent.
I have three stories about Marist inclusion:
The first goes back many years. My husband Gene and I, our approximately two year old son
George, my mother, and Gene's sister Gloria were on our way home from a weekend spent with
friends upstate when we found out we had no brakes. One moment we braked to let me out to
go to a rest room, and the next, Gene put his foot down on the brake pedal, and there was
nothing there. We turned out to have a leak in the brake line, and we had used the last ounce
of fluid stopping that one time. We were lucky, or blessed, or both, that we weren't killed. At
any rate, the Thruway service station diagnosed the problem, taped up the hose, filled up our
brake fluid, and told us to go to the car dealership in Kingston (NY). The dealership knew how
to fix the problem but needed to order a part, which would not arrive until the next day. They
gave us a loaner car, and then we needed a place to stay. Gene said, "Let's go to Esopus; the
brothers will put us up." I looked at him as if he were truly nuts. He had not been a Marist
Brother for several years and had had little contact with the brothers in general. (I could no
more imagine my going to my former community, the Sparkill Dominicans, with such a request
than I could imagine my knocking on a stranger's door.)
We did go to Esopus, and of course, they did put us up. They also sat us down to dinner with
the brothers, and Brother Henry Charles brought us a six pack of beer for our evening's
entertainment. They couldn't have been nicer. It was my first encounter with the idea that once
a Marist, always a Marist. But it didn't really sink in.
Later I had a somewhat different, and more personal, experience of Marist inclusion. At one
time, after I had spoken up (somewhat out of turn) at a meeting in Poughkeepsie, NY, Brother
Luke Driscoll took me aside and encouraged me to keep speaking, to keep sharing. It was a
very affirming act on his part, as I felt that I had perhaps overstepped the bounds as a
newcomer. (My remarks had not been gentle.) In encouraging me as he did, Luke brought out
the best in me and put me on a course of being more involved in the group.
Later, I heard Luke giving the same encouragement to someone else, including that person in
his world as he had included me! The best Marists (like Luke) exude a sense of 'being at home'
in the world and invite me to share in that world. They welcome and encourage others to feel
as they do.
I also think that inclusiveness is related to compassion. When we make an effort to feel with
others, it is difficult to exclude them from our circle of caring.
Recently, I was at a resort on vacation. It turned out to be a rather noisy place, and I hate
noise. There was constant music at any of the restaurants and calling back and forth from
friend to friend and from worker to worker. All very friendly, but I felt assaulted by the constant
sound. To add to this, six Europeans moved in and took up their places on the beach very near
to us. They all spoke at once - everyone talking to everyone else at the same time - and
chattered constantly and loudly. I was in despair.
Then I made an effort to open my mind to them, perhaps to open my heart to them a little.
About the third day they were there, I passed them on the path and they were relatively quiet.
It
struck me that they looked relaxed, finally. At the same time I realized that they had not
been relaxed up to that time. I recalled that when I first saw (and heard) them, that they
appeared to be trying to relax. They did all the relaxed things - sat on the beach in lounges,
etc., but seemed ill at ease and out of place. Suddenly I felt for them. What are their lives like?
How often do they get a chance to relax?
After that time, I felt better disposed toward them. This was because I had let them into my
world instead of excluding them from it, because I had opened my heart to compassion.
(
Qzirkel@oQtonline.net
)
click here
for the full article on inclusion, located in the essay section of MaristAII web.
<<=== return to index
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toQ
of Qag.e..A_
