Marists All August 1993
ISSUE # 23
I M P O R T A N T: There was a meeting of the Greater Marist Community of the Poughkeepsie area Friday, June 4th, at the home of Moe and Donna Bibeau in Hyde Park. It started with a liturgical service, as it does every month at various homes. The theme was Champagnat and Pentecost. Br. Paul Ambrose was there. He spoke of progress in the process of canonization of our Blessed Founder and of the anticipated thrust of the next General Chapter to be held this fall. Brother Paul also spoke about his summer plans to visit the missions of Africa and of Asia, his twenty-fourth trip around the worl. He will attend the temporary profession of the first Liberian Brother, a person he recruited several years ago while in Africa; he will also attend the final profession of five Brothers in India.
The meeting in Hyde Park concluded with a serious discussion about the future of Marists All. The Poughkeepsie group has always been considered the "Board of Directors" of Marists All, and under the organizational skills of Gus Nolan the group has for many years sponsored the annual GMC picnic each September.
Believe it or not, Marists All is in its seventh year. At present it is sent to 418 persons of the widespread Greater Marist Community and to 72 Marist communities or Brothers on individual apostolates. Forty-five Brothers have written for the newsletter, 22 have written more than once.Of the 418 mentioned above 44% have written - 130 once, 52 more than once.These figures mean that 236 have not written at all. Consistently at least two or three monks have written for each issue. Not counting very short notes, an average of eight or nine others have written per issue. However, for the last three issues we have seen a significant decline, with only one or two submissions from persons who have not written before.
In our discussion of statistics, the question of expenses quite naturally surfaced. Costs come to 50 cents a copy, largely from printing and mailing. Over the seven years and 23 issues, that comes to $11.50 per individual mailing. Fortunately financial support has come from 127 persons of the wider group and from sixteen monks and/or communities. Some have been extremely generous with contributions of over a hundred and even over two hundred dollars. At this time our account will cover this issue and another, but there is not enough for the following issue.
To lower expenses we wondered if we should limit the number of mailings. Discussion of the good seen in publishing the newsletter and of the potential for cultivating Marist values led us to conclude that maintaining the multiple contacts on the mailing list of Marists All is of dominant importance. Finally we decided that you, the readers, should be given the same status report presented at the local meeting.
Now, we wonder if you think Marists All should embark on a new course. For one thing, it could continue to welcome news about the Marist Brothers and articles on the events in the lives of our friends near and far.
In addition, it could welcome write-ups from wives, those who in this new age become part of our Marist life; surely they read the newsletter and most certainly have something to say. And there are those of us who might wish to submit editorials, homilies, written conferences and/or whatever! Perhaps others would be interested in writing about the situation in the Church as they see it, about the parish situation, about the situation in the religious life.
Then again, do we have something to say about apostolic opportunities in our life now? Do we have something to say about our spirituality in our present lifestyle, about Marist spirituality, about marital spirituality, about our spirituality as we grow older? Might we describe how that spirituality has evolved, deepened, assumed new and exciting dimensions? What reflections might we offer on how our present association of friends forms a community, an ecumenical and/or Christian community?
We ask you to share your thoughts with us, to help us see new things ... or old things in new light, to help us grow. We welcome any suggestions that might help to inject new vitality into Marists All. In fact, we need to hear from you. Simply taking the trouble to reply will be a sign of support for the continuation of this newsletter. A dominant part of the next issue will be reserved for what you have to say.
MOUNT ST. MICHAEL
GMC PICNIC
SATURDAY 12 to 5
SEPTEMBER18th
GMC PICNIC: looking forward to seeing many of you at the annual Greater Marist Community picnic to be held again this year at Mt. St. Michael in the Bronx, Nereid and Murdock Avenues, near the Mt. Vernon border. The gather ing will be in the garth area on Saturday, September 18th, from noon to 5 p.m. Indoor facilities are available in case of rain. Come with spouse and children or come alone. Bring your own beverage and a pot-luck dish for a shared meal. All Brothers are most welcome to join us. Thanks to the director and community of the Mount for welcoming us. We have been having this picnic each year on the second Saturday after Labor Day; mark Saturday, September 18th, on your calendar.
BRIAN (Kevin Justin) LONERGAN ('47) DECEASED: We have been informed of the death of Brian Lonergan by several of his and our friends who have forwarded clippings that appeared in the Long Island Newsday, excerpts of which are given below.
Brian took the Marist habit on the 26th of July, 1947, with the name Br. Kevin Justin. He graduated from Marist in Poughkeepsie and then taught at Mt. St. Michael in the Bronx for a number of years. Brian's letters and notes appeared in Marists All six different times, the last in issue #21, November 1992, the most personal in #13, May of 1990, all exhibiting fond memories of many individual Marist friends, especially of those departed. Brian had an operation on his "inner plumbing" in March of 1990, so says his letter in issue #14. A regular at the annual GMC picnics, he attended the most recent gathering last September, showing little evidence of being gravely ill. At the time he presented Gus Nolan and David Kammer with "official caps" of the United States Customs. May you be eternally with all those you remembered so kindly, Brian.
BRIAN LONERGAN CUSTOMS INSPECTOR: Brian Lonergan, 63, of Merrick, a
U. S. Cus toms Service senior inspector, died of cancer Tuesday, March 30th, at the Mercy Medical Center hospice, Rockville Centre. Mr. Lonergan had been in government service 22 years after editing a newspaper in Dayton, Ohio. His Customs Service assignments included that of an anti-hijack sky marshal from 1971 to 1974. Most of his inspection work was at Kennedy Airport; he was a senior inspector on the Contraband Team.
Mr. Lonergan grew up in Far Rockaway. He had lived in New Jersey and in Bohemia and Massapequa on Long Island prior to moving to Merrick six years ago. He was a charter member of the Customs Service Emerald Society at JFK and had been its sole historian. He also belonged to the Knights of Columbus in Wantagh and to the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Massapequa.
Mr. Lonergan was in the process of writing a history book on Ireland and was skilled in compiling family trees. "He could trace people's ancestry if they had Irish of any kind in them," his daughter said. She also recalled that her father had the nickname of "Father Ionergan" among fellow inspectors for his pleasant demeanor and reliability. Mr. Ionergan is survived by his wife Marie, two sons, two daughters, a brother, and three sisters.
FROM TOM (Denis Patrick) O'CONNOR ('48): Enclosed is the newspaper notice about Brian Lonergan. I had no idea he was ill. I attended the funeral Mass last Saturday at Curd of Ars Catholic Church in Merrick. It was a beautiful tribute to Brian. The Customs Service was well represented. I would say there were well over a hundred uniformed officers in attendance, as well as bag pipers, etc. The church was packed with friends, relatives, and associates from his many organizations. The priest obviously knew Brian well. He spoke kindly of the many ways Brian will be remembered, especially through his warm smile as his face would light up when he would recognize people.
FROM BILL (William Maura) DESCHENE ('53): It is a sense of duty that prompts me to respond to the editors' plea to send a few paragraphs to Marists All. I have been impressed by the stories from the people who have written of their triumphs and trials, stories that conjure up many pleasant memories and much admiration. For thirty years I thought that I did fairly well explaining things only dimly understood. Now that I have learned a few things (ironically almost without effort). I find that I cannot explain them very well. So I will tell you a story.
Imagine the Merrimac valley hundreds of years ago: pure waters, lots of animal life, deep and clean forests. In a clearing not far from the river lives a beautiful Indian maiden with her husband. His name is "Talks-with-the-Animals," hers is "Laughs-like-a-Mountain-Stream." He rises first, goes to the brook to wash and say prayers. He prays to the Great Spirit and to the guardian spirits of the four directions. He prays to hosts of others because he likes to pray. "I do what I please to please my Creator." He knows it is important to watch snow fall and to taste freshly dug potatoes. Much of his activity centers around the garden. His response to any inquiry about the garden is always, "Very good:" You sense he is talking about a sacrament.
"Talks" returns to greet his wife with affirming love and affection. Knowledgeable in the growing, preservation, and use of herbs, "Laughs" has developed a well-deserved reputation as a healer. Her element is water; she looks forward to canoe trips on local rivers and lakes.
The couple were taken aback when religious authority said they could not marry in the grove near their home. They must marry in a sacred place. "How can one call a place made by the Creator not sacred? A cathedral is sacred only to show that all places are sacred." However, they did find a priest for whom the grove was not a problem. They were later told that the ceremony was "valid but illicit," but they were satisfied, and they forgave the authorities.
A woman from another tribe came to visit; after tasting homemade wine she exclaimed, "This is paradise."'Later in deep thought "Talks" realized that he was in the midst of what he had dreamed of for so long. "Truly paradise:"
That story is my attempt to affirm so many of you who kept this fish-out-of-water wet while in your company. It pretty accurately describes what has happened to Marge and me; it describes who we are. A friend of ours once told us that we should wake up and join the real world. As he drove off, I remembered Br. Peter Hilary telling my parents when I was in high school, "He is always off somewhere in a dream."
I have always cried for a dream, I believe we create our world, I sense that the spirits in this place approve. Most certainly the two of us feel the creator's pleasure. Meanwhile, we have our meal: fresh baked bread, eggs from Helene and Cecile, beans and potatoes from the garden, and elderberry, the wine of passion ... Yes!
My heart is on the ground when I hear of the sad things that have happened to some of you; but it is lifted up when I hear about your courage and good humor, and when I read of the good things that you are experiencing. I hope our story lifts up your hearts. That's the only reason I tell it, for as the Indians believe, we are all One. Kitakuye Oyasin.
FROM BR. VICTOR SERNA ('40): I am on sabbatical in my native country of Spain, spending some time here at Colegio Marista Champagnat in Salamanca. It is March 11th and I have just received three envelopes with the latest editions of Marists All, including the March issue. I must agree with all the writers: it's a wonderful idea to keep all Marist memories together. Congratulations and thank you. Believe it or not, these issues are going to be part of my Lenten reading in English.
I'll be back in the USA by September 3rd, just in time for the new school year and for the picnic reunion at the Mount. I'll miss Nolan (Robert Fidelis); he used to go regularly to the annual gathering at the Mount. I first met him in Texas back in the sixties; may he rest in peace.
FROM BR. ALPHONSE JUSTIN MATUGA ('40): Through the kindness of Br. Victor Serna I received copies of Marists All. I do want you to know that, not only did I enjoy reading the responses, but I also was greatly impressed by the pervading theme of "Marist Family."
For a month or more at a time I have lived in a community in Rome and in two communities in Spain. Throughout I've experienced that same Marist spirit. In Spain it is called solidarity, and it overflows to students, graduates, and parents.
In September I will be at St. Mary's High School, 51 Clapham Avenue, Manhasset.. New York, 11030. Please put me on your mailing list. I hope to make the GMC reunion. Hasta Luega. Montani sempre libre!
FROM JOE (Joel Gilmary) STRANG ('53): I always enjoy reading Marists All and am grateful to you for keeping me current on things Marist. I would like to offer a few suggestions.
Can monks as well as ex-monks be identified by the name they had before family names became the vogue. I often find myself trying to remember if such and such a retired monk or depart ed monk is the same person that I recall as Brother so and so. Sometimes I would like to get in touch with an older Brother but do not know for certain if he is the same person whose name I read in the newsletter.
Ed Castine's mention of the need for teachers in the Brownsville area brings up another suggestion. Could we do more networking through Marists All? Here in the Monterey area, for example, with the closing of Fort Ord just around the corner, many teachers, including myself, will not be teaching. Do your readers know where in the United States and abroad there may be a shortage of teachers. My field of teaching has been basic college composition or literature. If there are any Marist schools needing some teachers, there will soon be many available from central California.
On a similar line of thought: would readers of the newsletter, whatever their profession, especially if they have hiring status, be willing to advertize for prospective employees by way of the newsletter? Some people who might not be comfortable writing an article for Marists All could still connect with the Marist family by listing who they are, what they do for a living, and any needs they might have for prospective employees.
FROM MICHAEL (Michael Vincent) KELLY ('50): I just read the March 1993 issue of Marists All while sitting in the dark, freezing to death, here in Atlanta in the aftermath of the "mother of all snow storms:" We hear that everyone north of us is experiencing weather far worse than we are, but the main difference is that y'all can cope with it. All here has come to a grinding halt. We have had between six and eight inches of snow, and I've been instructed to just be patient and wait. Eventually the sun will melt the snow; the roads will then open to permit the repair crews to restore electricity; the grocery store will then reopen, and we can then begin to stockpile in preparation for a similar storm which may never came again. Atlanta really is a great town, but you don't want to be here when it snows.
As you can imagine, we are very pleased to hear that my brother, Des, will be returning from Pakistan in the near future. He expects to work in a depressed area of Chicago where he will be much safer. With Martin Luther King, Jr., we say "Free at last." It is our hope to meet Des in Ireland in June. I will be giving a paper at the University of Limerick, and we will take advantage of the opportunity to have a family vacation in honor of the graduation of Joan, our oldest daughter, from Catholic University. If any of you knows of a job opportunity for a philosophy major who has no intention of becoming a priest, even if the rules change, please let us know, Otherwise Joan may decide to go to law school and wreck our vacation plans for three more years. For those of you who, like me, paid the price of graduating from Catholic University by taking care of resident students, let me tell you things have really changed. When the annual collection for Catholic University comes around, I am strongly tempted to take my share out of the basket.
It is a pleasure receiving copies of Marists All, and I want to thank those of you who make it happen. I would write more often if I did not get so depressed by seeing the ('50) after my name. I came to Atlanta where the average age is 35, and I reach the point where I'm fool enough to think I belong; then I get the newsletter with the half century reminder. Come on down between letters and enjoy being young in Atlanta. As you are aware, we move quite often, so come down and visit while we are still here. We can almost guarantee beautiful weather despite the extraordinary experiences of the past couple of days. We can be reached at 404-255-5017 for room rates.
PAKISTAN: Five years ago the General Council accepted a desperate appeal for help from the Bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, to set up an educational center in his diocese for the poor Christian boys of SARGODHA. These children were not getting a secondary education, and thus could not rise above their poor condition. An international team, headed by BR. THOMAS "Des" KELLY of POUGHKEEPSIE and Br. Walter Smith of Melbourne, Australia, carried the work forward with great success for the first five years of the agreement. The Bishop and the Christian community of Sargodha place a high value on this work, and insist that the Brothers continue for another five years before handing the school over to lay teachers. The Province of Sri Lanka, which directs a school in Peshawar in Pakistan, has generously accepted to take over Sargodha. At a meeting between the Bishop and Brothers Richard Dunleavy, CG, and CLIFFORD PERERA, Provincial of Sri Lanka, at Christmas of 1992 an agreement was reached, and BR. REMIGIUS FERNANDO was named Headmaster of the school. (From FMS Echo, #17, February '93)
CANONIZATION: We have received good news about the Cause of Canonization of our Blessed Founder. The two doctors nominated by the Sacred Congre gation to study the case of the cure of Br. Heriberto Weber, a cure attributed to the Blessed Founder, have given a positive answer; that is, they have declared that the cure cannot be explained in the light of scientific knowledge. There are still some steps to be taken toward the final approval before the Decree of Canonization, four stages hoped to be completed in March.(From FMS Echo, Rome, February 1993)
PRESENCIA MARISTA - CUBA: A recent letter from a former pupil in Cuba. "We are a group of former pupils of the Marist Brothers in Cuba, and we are happy to keep in our memories and in our hearts those who began our education and who formed us in the Faith and in the love of God. During the 31 years the Brothers have been absent from Cuba their work has not been lost.
We are beginning to publish a small news-sheet called Presencia Marista. In some way we want to continue the work of the Brothers, to walk the road that Father Champagnat set our footsteps on. We are lay people, deeply committed; we give lessons in religion to adults, and we run a group of Christian married couples in our community. We hope that from this day on, we can set up a bond of correspondence and prayer with you at the Generalate." (From FMS Echo, Rome, February 1993)
BEAUCHAMPS to BRITAIN to AFRICA: The Province of Beaucamps, France, recently celebrated 150 years of its fruitful history. The Brothers of Great Britain and Ireland consider themselves linked to this event, since they were originally founded from Beaucamps. Thanks to Beauchamps, England received the first Marist community in London in 1852, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1858, and in Sligo, Ireland, in 1862. In 1873 the British Isles became the sixth province of the Institute. In 1949 that province sent missionaries to Nigeria, which became an independent District in 1974 and a Province in 1992. In 1965 the British sent their first missionaries to Cameroon where they still help in the missionary development of the country. (From FMS Echo, Rome, February 1993)
SOUTH PACIFIC: In 1992 the Catholic Church in Tonga, South Pacific, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries. Marist Father Joseph Chevron and Marist Brother Attale Grimaud arrived in Tonga in July of 1842 with Marist Bishop Pompallier.
Br. Attale had been accepted as a Marist Brother by Father Champagnat in August of 1838 and was sent to the Pacific mission in 1839, where he first served in Wallis and in Futuna. He died in Tonga in 1847. Br. Jean Baptiste refers to him in the Life of the Founder and also in Biographies de Quelques Freres At present there are five Brothers from New Zealand and two Brothers from Tonga in schools on the island. (From FMS Echo, Rome, February 1993)
G M C P I C N I C
at the Mount,
Saturday, SEPTEMBER 18th
noon to 5 p.m.
FROM BR. DOMINIC O'BRIEN ('54): After six years at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Washington Township, New Jersey, I have moved to Henderson, Kentucky, to direct youth ministry. Henderson is where southern hospitality begins and where Mother 's Day originated. It is also the home of John Audubon, the naturalist. Henderson is situated opposite Evansville, Indiana, on the Ohio River at a point where Kentucky is on both sides of the Ohio. The population of the city is 26,000, the metro area is 43,000.
The parish of Holy Name of Jesus is unique. There are 1300 plus families in the parish with three priests. The three priests are good to work with. The pastor, age 65, is very big on good liturgy and continuing education for priests. The two associates are early 30's. Most parishes down here are onen priest parishes with many of those priests saying Mass in two and even three churches on a Sunday. The diocese of Owensboro is one of the smallest, but has one of the highest ratios of seminarians. We have a Catholic school with 500 students; the school enjoys a very high rating nationally. There is no bingo. The Sunday collection is normally over 20,000. Stewardship is very important. The RCIA brings over 30 adults into the church each year. A new group of RCIA is starting in March, and another group of 25 people who left the church are in the process of returning.
I have 160 teens coming to Youth Ministry on Sunday nights.Fortunately I have 16 adults and a few young people working with them. It's hard on me to get to know so many people at once. I brought one high school student into the Church on our Antioch weekend back in January; another is seriously considering. I even wound up preparing six children for baptism.
Sister Sharon, OSB, does the RCIA and liturgical ministry training. We have a full time minister of music, a former Baptist, giving us good music at all Masses. The school principal and staff are mostly lay people. Sister Molly is the assistant principal. She's been around a long time. A volunteer runs the elementary CCD, with myself as advisor. Some adult education courses are run by Brescia College. There's something going on all the time.
I am back to living by myself in an apartment which overlooks the Ohio; fortunately about 30 feet above the river, which is presently doing some flooding on my back lawn. My roommate is Oscar, a ferret. It's two miles to work. I don't know when work has been more relaxing and more rewarding. I have enjoyed the past twenty years in Youth Ministry. It is certainly a challenge, and a full time job. The rewards of working with youth at this level are fantastic and very beautiful. I do miss being closer to the Brothers and to many people that I spent so many years working with, but I can handle it.
We had two major snow storms within two weeks. They were the only two snow storms in the past three years. An inch of snow closes school. Going to a meeting in another parish often means sixty or more miles. Right now I am preparing for two mission trips this summer ... and a pilgrimage to Denver. I am only taking 30 youngsters, but there are 600 in all going from our little diocese.
R E M I N D E R Please respond to the message given on the first several pages.
Editor's Note: The following tribute, sent to us by Joe Strang ('53), reached us after the March issue went to press. We certainly would have preferred to use this longer announcement.
A TRIBUTE TO DAN NOLAN ('53) ... by Joe Strang
Dan Nolan, aka "Fido" (formerly Br. Robert Fidelis), was shot and killed in his car in Far Rockaway on the night of January 26th.He had driven his wife Mary, a nurse, to work. The suspect has been caught and the tragedy was reported in The New York Times. Dan was happily married and was enjoying the ready made family of Mary and her four children. He had been a New York City probation officer for 19 years. This year would have been the fortieth anniversary of his entrance into the Marist Brothers. He often spoke of his love for the Marist Brothers and frequently related both cherished and humorous memories. In his last letter to me he referred to his joyful experiences in the novitiate. He never lost his enthusiasm for life. Whenever I visited New York, Dan and I would meet for lunch in Manhattan; he would take me on a walking tour and point out all the changes since my last visit and tell me of his love for the City. He enjoyed quoting literature as we waited often citing George Bernard Shaw's line, "The man I miss the most is the man I used to be." For myself, and for the many who loved him, the man I will miss the most is Daniel Nolan.
OTHER DECEASED: We like to take note of those of our friends who have died; we remember them fondly and we pray for them. Because we have missed some over the last few years, we now give a list from 1991, complete to the best of our present knowledge:
Br. Robert Francis Koehly ('35) 1-21-91
Br. Lawrence Michael Leclair ('44) 4-10-91
Br. Gilbert Osmund Barry ('35) 6-05-91
Br. Peter Hilary Provost ('29) 6-25-91
Br. John Patrick Caffrey ('24) 11-29-91
Br. Herbert Daniel Dumont ('35) 12-28-91
Br. Norman Thomas Roy ('37) 1-28-92
Br. Anthony Urban Horcher ('50) 2-25-92
Br. Edward Michael Lavigne ('21) 4-17-92
Br. William Arthur Lee ('46) 5-20-92
Br. Aidan Francis Flanagan ('24) 5- -92
Br. Leo Joseph Rossignol ('13) 5- -92
Br. Ernest Mary Drolet ('20) - -92
Br. Daniel Emilian Demers ('38) 7- - 92
Br. Paul John McNamara ('53) 1-03-93
Br. Daniel Michael Sullivan ('50) 1-28-93
Br. Francis Gerard Dion ('21) 4-21-93
Br. Gabriel Vincent Barrett ('26) 5-11-93
Br. Linus Eugene Carroll ('45) 5-28-93
Br. Ronald Marcellin Pochintesta ('57) 6-19-93
Robert (Jude Robert) Parker ('54) 10-24-92
Daniel (Robert Fidelis) Nolan ('53) 1-26-93
Brian (Kevin Justin) Lonergan ('47) 3-30-93
Michael (Kevin Michael) Sheridan ('55) -93
John,(Peter Martin) Marren ('49) 4- -93
N. B. Written information about these men and tributes to them are most welcomed.
Source: Original Marists All Site
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