Marists All February 1995

ISSUE # 30

KOBE: SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MARIST SCHOOL

The fault line of the January earthquake in Japan ran right through the center building of the Marist Brothers International School in Kobe. It left a foot wide separation on all three floors. We understand that the complex consists of two wings roughly at 120 degrees angles to the center structure. The retaining wall behind the two-story left wing, which had housed the primary grades, was demolished, thus leaving that wing essentially without foundation. It is a hazard in itself and a danger to homes below the retaining wall; it must be torn down immediately. The center building has classrooms on the first two floors and the Brothers' residence on the top floor; it cannot now be used.

The wing to the right - offices, chapel, library, cafeteria - was left intact. The parking lot and soccer field in front of the buildings also have fissures, but the gymnasium, across the fields from the school, is intact.

Prior to the quake the school enrolled some 270 students, of which as many as 35% were Japanese, 10% American, 5% European, plus Koreans, Chinese, Indians, Pakistani. Because many have moved from the stricken area, the Brothers are uncertain of how many students will return. They had hoped to open classes in the gym by February 20th, but the gym is still needed for humanitarian purposes. The Brothers plan to lease pre-fab structures.

Marist International School was founded in 1959 by a handful of European Brothers who had been expelled from China. These Brothers, mostly German, all now deceased, soon turned the leadership of the school over to Br. Pat Tyrell ('49), Br. Gus Landry ('50), and the Poughkeepsie province. Presently Br. Vincent Moriarity ('56) is the director and Br. George Fontana ('59) is principal. Also on the staff are Br. John Byrd and Br. Raymond Bereicua.

Marist High School in Kumamoto, an hour's trip by plane from Kobe, was founded in 1961. The student body of one thousand is totally Japanese with Japanese lay teachers. Presently the only one of the Brothers there is Br. Pat Tyrell, acting in the capacity of President. Last year Br. Bernard Yamaguchi ('82) was principal, but that position is now held by a layman.

Bernard Yamaguchi became a Christian and interested in the Marist Brothers in his midthirties through contact with Br. Joseph Yoshida. He made his novitiate in Chicago under Brother Luke. He is now back in Chicago doing language studies and will go on to a second novitiate in Italy in January of 1996. Br. Joseph Yoshida ('63) studied in Tyngsboro and Poughkeepsie in the early sixties. He is the director of the Marist house in Tokyo and is assigned to vocation work. Br. George Kopper is also in Tokyo, presently teaching English at a seminary.

The first Japanese vocation to the Marist Brothers was Br. Joseph Hayashi ('60) who came to Tyngsboro at the age of 26. He returned to teach in Japan, but frail health led to an early death at 37 in January of 1970 after only ten years in community. (more about Kobe on later pages)

MONK TELLS OF TREMBLER'S HORRORS
Boston Globe headline: 1-20-95

BR. VINCENT MORIARTY ('56) of Westfield, Massachusetts, was taking his morning shower in the residence at the Marist Brothers International School near Kobe when the earthquake hit this week. "It was like being a pingpong ball in a bottle," he said with a small laugh on the telephone yesterday. "I don't know why I wasn't cut by flying glass and tile. One of the Brothers came in to help, and I grabbed a blanket and got out." Brother Vincent, 57, is one of several Massachusetts men teaching at the Marist school. The others are Augustine Landry, 67, of Fitchburg, and Thomas Higgins, 32, of Salem, a lay teacher there for the last six years.

Brothers Vincent and Augustine spoke of the terror that surrounded them. "There was an 80-year-old woman trapped in a house near us," Brother Vincent said. "It was an old style home that just collapsed. Brother Gus tore away the timbers, and we got the woman out. She's now staying in our gymnasium. So are a dry-cleaning couple whose shop was near the school; their house was on fire and the neighbors pulled them to safety."

Though the school has a huge crack down the middle, much structural damage, and one wing separated from the main building, its gym remained intact! Everything around the school just flattened," Brother Gus said, "but our gym is quite sturdy. Now we have 800 people sleeping there or living in our school bus or anything else that's livable." After the quake the Brothers set up a soup kitchen. "We had earthquake soup," Brother Vincent said."Anything you could find to mix together."

Brother Landry, who has been at the school for 27 years, was asleep on the third floor of the residence when the quake hit. "They always tell you to get under the doorsill in an earthquake, but they never tell you how to get to the doorsill. Everything was flying through the room. We always thought Kobe was safe from the quakes," he said.

The Brothers are trying to account for the 275 youngsters who attend classes there. "Some of our children live in areas completely devastated by fire," Brother Vincent said. On the morning of the quake lay teacher Higgins was still asleep in his 9th floor apartment. "Everything went smashing around me," he said. "After the first shock I grabbed my flashlight and ran to stand under the archway. I could hear the family with children next door screaming. Everything came down bookcases, canned goods, the refrigerator. It was like a giant shaking your house. Somehow all twenty of us who live there and teach at the Marist school were accounted for."

"It will take some time before things get back to normal at the school," the Brothers said, "but first we must tend to the living." (adapted from the Boston Globe, byline: Gloria Negri)

BR. SEAN SAMMON, V.G.  This past fall Brother Sean attended a meeting of the Asian Provincials at the Marist Asian Centre in Manila. He also met with Br. Luke Pearson, Dean of Academic Studies at MAC, and with other administrators there. After Manila, Sean visited the Brothers in Beijing, China, before returning to Rome. (from Poughkeepsie province (Newsnotes, November 1994)

BR. RENATO CRUZ (Tyngsboro '58), Philippine provincial, was diagnosed with Chronic Myologenous Leukemia last November. He traveled to New York in mid-January to seek additional treatment. (from FMS Update, Rome, February, 1995)

RETREAT WEEKEND...FROM LARRY KEOGH,  BR. DENNIS DUNNE AND BR. HUGH TURLEY

For the past several years the idea of a Marist retreat for everyone who receives a copy of Marists All has been germinating out here in the mid West. We envision the weekend as an event that would be more than just a reunion, though that would be part of the program. We want an event that would have a spiritual element. We believe that there are others like ourselves who would be eager to come together to pray and to reconnect with their Marist roots. Consequently, a weekend retreat seems the logical vehicle to accomplish these goals. And as usual with things of this sort where humans are involved, after so many years of talking about having an event of this kind, the pieces have begun to fall into place, and we are happy to invite all of you to join with us this summer at a location in the Hudson valley, either at Marist College or in Esopus. The retreat would begin on Friday afternoon, June 30, and continue through Saturday and Sunday, coming to a close after lunch on July 2.

So many times we've read stories in the newsletter about our Marist heritage, and like a time release capsule, that Marist spirit just keeps working and working and working. When you combine that spirit along with the life cycle events that all of us are experiencing, we believe that it would be a good idea to renew ourselves in our commitment to the Lord in the presence of our confreres from the past as well as the present. The weekend would afford us an opportunity to share, as well as to support one another in our spiritual lives.

So, come join us for a weekend of prayer, support, and sharing. Of course, your spouses are invited as well. The program for the weekend is in the planning phase, but the following items are tentatively set to be part of our retreat.

On Friday after supper there would be a focus meeting to set the tone for the rest 9of our time together. That would be followed by prayerful time led by Brother Dennis, then the Salve Regina and a time set aside for socializing.

On Saturday we will have a presentation by Larry Keogh, an Emmas walk, visit to Esopus, a talk on Champagnat and Marist spirituality, followed by Mass in the Esopus chapel and then a picnic supper at St. Paul's Bay.

After breakfast on Sunday, time will be set aside for a video about recent Marist activities. Then we'd like everyone to share some funny stories about their Marist days. A prayerful time will conclude the morning activities, and the retreat will come to a close after lunch.

As part of this communication we are enclosing a postcard. We'd like you to fill it out and by return mail tell us that you'd be glad to be a part of this retreat. That way we can begin making all the necessary arrangements for lodging. We are not sure of the costs associated with the weekend, but be assured that the costs will be minimal; this is not a fund-raising event. So please give some serious thought to joining us in June.

FROM JACK (Timothy Joseph) CRAVEN ('48):A short note to indicate how very much I appreciate receiving Marists All. Be assured that your efforts are not taken for granted, as much time is required to gather, edit, and mail each issue. Jim Kearney first told me of this priceless publication which I read and re-read each time it arrives.You provide a far more valuable service then you realize.I am forwarding a small check to help with postage, and I send a promise of a summary for future use in Marists All. God bless you for your efforts.Yours in J.M.J. 

FROM JERRY WORELL ('61): Thanksgiving Day, 1994. When I came home last night, I was too tired even to go to the mailbox, so this morning after waking at 6 a.m., coffee in hand, I went out and was happy to see the November issue of Marist All. Alone in the quiet house with everyone else still asleep, I read the entire packet and reflected, in the spirit of this Thanksgiving day, on my past. Marists All for me continues that connectedness begun so long ago in Fsopus, Tyngsboro, and Poughkeepsie. So guys, thanks for so very much of your time and energy, thanks for your letters. The very last editor's note remarked that issue #30 is on the horizon and that you wondered how you could make it "something quite special." While I am not a "techo weenie" and I wouldn't know a gigabyte from a ram, perhaps someone smarter than I could establish a Marists All on a BBS. I know that Marist High School in Chicago has its own Bulletin Board on line, and that Marist College, whose offices glow with LEDs certainly could provide a base. The service, along with an 800 number for access, could enhance and strengthen the sense of connectedness that Marists All already provides.

The possibilities of such a service for job placement are interesting. If anyone is interested in pursuing this with me, I'd sure like to help, so please write. 

Next ... it seems to me that next year should be a reunion year for my graduating group from Marist College. I make a special plea to those who were not present five years ago to consider attending next October. I would like to forfeit the title of "he who traveled farthest" among the former monks. Ford, Carroll, Hanley, Gonya, Kelly, and all the others who attended fed my soul that weekend. So, as you make up your budget for the coming year, please include a line item for the reunion. I wish for you the exhilaration that I felt at the first handshake that began the reunion. 

FROM GUS NOLAN ('48): On January 11th, Liz and I returned from a wonderful week in Miami. We visited my brother Bernard and the monks at the retirement house there. Lawrence Ephrem was very low at the time, slipping in and out of consciousness, but most accepting of the situation. Br. Cornelius Russell is back in Miami after a Christmas sojourn to visit his sisters in the New York City area. He looks well and seems to have things well under control.

We spent a few days with the Lannings in Delray Beach, and then we went to Sanibel Island on the lower west coast for a few days. Wish I would afford to live the life of a retiree there! 

FROM MIKE O'NEIL ('61): It's been over three years since I've communicated with my Marist family; that's long overdue. Mary Ann and I have been married 26 years, and for the first time since 1968 we have an empty nest. What a great experience of rediscovery, renewed love, and intimacy!

The five children, ages 25 to 19: Sean recently married a Mary Ann clone (how lucky for him), and he is completing his Masters at B.C.; Scott, after three years of working with the New Jersey Nets, has just been hired as Director of Corporate Sponsorships with the Philadelphia Eagles; Michael is a 23 year old account executive with the Deutsch Advertising Agency in NYC (still thinks he's moving too slowly); Matthew finishes an accounting major at B.C. in June; and Shannon, a sophomore at Villanova, finally decides (7th choice overall) on a career in physical therapy. She's our All-American lacrosse player!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we, as an extended family, just celebrated. We had our annual Turkey Bowl. I'm getting too old for that stuff, but I don't want to let the kids know, so I keep answering the bell and their taunts. I don't think of winning or losing or. even playing well. I just keep focused on getting out of the game without significant injury. The highlight of the weekend was after dinner when I asked each of the eighteen present to share what they had to be thankful for that year. And after two or three had said some vanilla kind of things, Michael upped the ante and challenged us all to recapture what always made our family unique in his eyes. He felt that we had been slipping into some ordinary patterns in regard to our immediate and extended family, as well as with friends and acquaintances. Our criticisms, diminished tolerance, and less caring for others were too much of a departure from the core of what the O'Neil family had always brought to the world. As we went around the table, each now given license to share something important, there wasn't a dry eye in the room; there were deep and special messages and commitments from all. (It was the most spiritual human experience I've had since Brother Hilary pulled a tick out of my arm during meditation at Camp Marist in the spring of 1961). All kidding aside, I am awe struck at how God has blessed Mary Ann, myself, and the O'Neil family. I don't bother to question His choices anymore. His ways are sometimes hard to figure out, but I do know that without my five years inside the Marist family (1959-1964) I would never have been able to connect our good fortune to God at this level and frequency.

I mentioned in my last update that Mary Ann and I own and operate a management training and consulting company. The business is flourishing. Our three major clients for 1995 include McDonald's Corporation, Xerox, and ADP. Work in leadership development and self-directed team building puts us in touch with literally thousands of people each year. Our business is to create a healthy environment, to increase trust and reduce pain in their world, and to challenge those who lead and those who follow to be all they can be professionally and personally.

We've produced leadership tapes and have written the first draft of a book to promote The Arrow Theory. It will help people understand how they hurt others and are hurt by others and what the consequences of that behavior are. It will provide people with ways to reduce the pain in their world. It's our ministry, so to speak. I've got one more thing undone, to share the gifts God has given me through TV or radio; it's a dream, who knows? I do know this though: "To make a great dream come true, you must first have a great dream." (Hans Selye) I wish that for all my Brothers and Sisters in the Marist family. P.S. Call or write; I'm getting nostalgic in the second half of my life'

FROM GENE (Louis Francis) ZIRKEL ('53): Pat and I had a wonderful holiday. We visited Lenny Voegtle in Bayonne, ate at the old Broadway Diner (still home of the world's best cheesecake), and enjoyed Boopsie's collection of Disney memorabilia just before we took off on our own visit to the Magic Kingdom.

While in Florida we visited with Bernie Ruth and Lou Savino at Christopher Columbus High School. We also went to the retirement houses and enjoyed visits with Norbie, who was my first principal at the Mount and later my boss at Molloy. We saw Tim Martin, who ran the laundry next door to the print shop in Poughkeepsie where Tarcy taught me the intricacies of printing. No matter how hard I scrubbed, my hands were always ink-stained; it was Tim who came to the rescue on visiting day, bleaching my hands clean before my folks arrived.

In Florida we also saw Larry Joseph and Danny Kopecki. .During my first year at the Mount, Larry was guidance counselor. One day as he was helping me, the bell for the recitation of the Office rang. Larry just kept talking. So I stayed and missed Vespers. Of course, Wally called me in later and explained the facts of life to me. I never forgot it!

All in all, I had a wonderful time reminiscing with the Brothers, and they really seemed to appreciate our visiting them. It was similar to the sharing that goes on at the Mount during the annual Marist picnic. Incidentally, I agree with Barney Sheridan; I, too, wish we could end with a Mass, an Ever Forever, and a Salve. Keep, spread the faith. 

FROM RONALD "Reggie" DISS ('60): Our lives continue to be filled with the joys and challenges of raising kids, teaching, and "getting older!" A highlight of this past year was listening as Lily delivered the validictory speech at her high school graduation in June. She has finished her first college semester at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. John is doing well at the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture in Glen Cove, New York. He begins a two-month internship at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state on January 3rd. The work period there will be a nice escape from the academic rigors of Webb's program. The first of March he returns to his second academic semester.

Mary continues teaching 5th and 6th grade Chapter I (remedial reading) classes at the local middle school. She stays very busy trying to keep up with the latest technology in her "electronic classroom." I am still teaching child development and teacher preparation courses at the Emory and Henry College. Teaching for the University of Virginia keeps me busy most weekends. We wish we could enjoy a long visit with you. It would be the "perfect gift" to be able to sit and rehash the past, fill in the present, and anticipate the future.

FROM ROBERT O'HANDLEY ('61): Nothing much new to write about for the newsletter. Three kids in college: U Mass, Amherst, and B.C. There may be employment or place of employment change coming up in my life soon, but nothing certain yet. It's all driven by the shrinking pool of federal funds from which to draw research support. I hope all is well with all. (3 Glenn Cove, Andover, Massachusetts, 01810)

DECEASED   On January 10th,  BR. EPHREM CORBIN ('32) died in Miami. He had lived at the Esopus province's retirement community there. During many of his later teaching years he was at St. Mary's in Manhasset.

We have word that JOHN COGGER ('62) died of cancer on February 8th. He would be 51 years of age. A native of Lawrence, John taught a number of years at Marist High School in Chicago before moving to teach in a public school in New Jersey.

THANK YOU BROTHERS! We understand that all on this newsletter's mailing list were recipients at Christmas time of the Memorial Booklet honoring the 28 Marist Brothers who died, 1990 through 1993. We take the liberty to speak in the name of all in thanking the Provincials and the Brothers for this greatly appreciated gift.

FROM REV. FRANCIS X. (Stephen Joachim) GALLOGLY, O.S.A. ('52): I am settled in Mechanicville, New York, near Albany. I live with two wonderful friars: one a former student of mine (1968) and the other my successor as pastor in Hoosick Falls (1982). We enjoy praying together as well as the simple pleasures of hiking, watching TV, and cooking for each other. At Thanksgiving I announced that I would cook for anyone who was not going home. I had six takers. I didn't need a cook book; I simply pictured my mother and carried on as she had done. At Christmas we went to our friary in Troy. It is nice to have about ten friaries scattered throughout the Albany area.

My heart started acting up again. I began huffing and puffing and feeling pains in my chest and arms. I was sent off to the hospital for an angiogram and then a week later for angioplast. The doctor said that I had done pretty well after my first treatment in 1990; the blockage had stayed open for four years. I felt fine two days after returning from the Albany Medical Center. I preached at four Masses on Christmas.

Two weeks ago I had a delightful time when my cousin Terence was here from Northern Ireland. He is a wonderfully brave seventeen year old boy who has been physically challenged since birth. I had first met him when he was a wee lad in a hospital in Dublin. This time I picked him up south of Boston and brought him to Portsmouth for a few days. He met several of my own friends, and we had supper with a lobster fisherman whose son is also challenged. The lobsterman told us that God had blessed him in a special way that day; he had caught 550 pounds of lobster, a career record.

A few weeks ago I called Robert Hopkins ('52) and Edmund McElroy ('52); they are doing fine. It was wonderful to talk with them. I hope to get the chance to talk with others from the class of '52. 

FROM HENRY (Robert Baptist) GOETZE ('46): I recently visited Br. Paul Ambrose in Poughkeepsie with my brother Bob. We had a great visit, since we had not seen each other for many years. I was amazed at the extraordinary progress made by the college. Brother Paul mentioned the publication Marists All, and suggested that I write to be put on the mailing list. 

NATIVE HELPING IN KOBE
Wheeling Intelligencer: 1-31-95

BR. JOHN BYRD ('67), an English teacher and guidance counselor at the Marist school in the Suma district of Kobe, has spent the past two weeks helping victims of the earthquake. "You see the people just staring at their homes and using the word "dame," which basically means that everything is gone and there's no hope," said Byrd in a phone interview from the school. "We live in one of the most historic districts of Kobe. All the shops and homes that were down the street from us either have the second floor touching the ground or they are completely collapsed. It's terribly depressing."

Byrd had to battle for his own life when the jolt rumbled through Kobe at 5:16 a.m., January 17th. My room was one that separated from the rest of the building. I knew there was no place to hide. I just said a quick prayer; I thought I was going to die. Yet, with all the things flying around I still felt very sheltered, that God's presence was indeed there, and that's very humbling."

Byrd spoke of the efforts he and the other Brothers made following the 7.2 magnitude quake. "Help was pretty slow in coming, so our school gym was probably the first shelter to open in the area, and we started our own soup kitchen. We haven't really participated in much rescue work. It's really dangerous to walk around in some areas because most of the structures are very weak. We did go out and look for some of the people we knew and helped them collect what they could from what used to be their homes."

Byrd said the Marist school sustained extensive damage, forcing him to sleep inside a school van. "Our building is badly damaged and it will need to be rebuilt. It's going to be a very spartan existence, but we're not complaining. Just as we've lost our home, so have 300,000 others in Kobe."(adapted from the Intelligencer; byline: Steve Novotney)

FROM THE PROVINCE LEADERSHIP TEAM:

Dear Brothers and Marist Family:

We have joined in the pain and struggle of the Brothers and people of Kobe. The Brothers continue their efforts to assist city officials in sheltering and relocating the homeless. Thank you for your prayers, calls, and letters of concern.

The Board of Directors ofMarist International School has made a commitment to the parents, students, teachers, and staff that the school year will be completed. The Brothers will set up alternative classrooms, and they must contract for the demolition of buildings that endanger homes in the neighborhood. The financial cost of these temporary solutions will be very high.

The Province will seek financial assistance from agencies and organizations in Japan and from the international community. With the combined efforts of our Leadership Team, Development Office, and Marist Foreign Mission Appeal, we will be seeking charitable contributions to the "Marist-Kobe Relief Fund" from our brothers, communities, schools, alumni, and benefactors. Most of all, let us continue to pray with and for our brothers in Kobe. (from Province Newsnotes, February)

EDITOR'S NOTE: We hope to publish the next issue of Marists All in mid May. We are most grateful to all those who help us with letters! 

 

Source: Original Marists All Site

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