Summer 2008
Starting Point
The ancient Greeks coined the term catharsis and applied it to the theater. It means a cleansing or purging of the emotions. Catharsis is realized when we as members of an audience identify and sympathize with the suffering of others as portrayed in a film or a play.
Often as not these days, catharsis also involves bringing a controversy out into the open, helping to explore all points of view and thus "clearing the air." In this sense I can't help but think of Salvatorian Father Joe Rodriques and his work with the Jordan Ministry in Tucson, Arizona.
Since accepting assignment to Tucson a few years ago, Father Joe has drawn upon his own talent and experience as an actor to address the complex issue of immigration. He now directs and performs in The Line in the Sand, a play produced in cooperation with the Jordan Ministry and Catholic Relief Services.
I won't give away the story here. Let me just say, however, that this sort of ministry–promoting a dialog between the Church and the world–precisely reflects what Father Jordan had in mind when he urged his followers to use "all ways and means possible" to make known our Savior's love and compassion, in this case both for those entrusted with upholding the law and for those whose struggles place them in conflict with prevailing policy.
In this issue of HOPE, we also pay tribute to a priest whose wisdom and insight likewise proved provocative at times, at least among his fellow Salvatorians in the heady aftermath of Vatican II. Like the prophets of old, Father Mike Kendall was expert at reading "the signs of the times." As director of renewal, he shepherded the Society of the Divine Savior through its renewal deliberations, helping it to achieve a certain catharsis of its own. We grieve his sudden passing, even as we thank our Savior for the many ways in which he graced our lives.
Finally, on a more upbeat note, we join seven Salvatorians in celebrating 60 and 50 years of profession. Combined they represent centuries of sacramental ministry, none of which would be possible without your prayers and gifts. For this, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And may our Savior bless you abundantly for your kindness and generosity.
"The Line in the Sand" Portrays Many
Sides of the Immigration Debate
In becoming a Salvatorian priest or Brother, a man doesn't necessarily have to "give up" his past. Instead, he builds upon it, finding new opportunities to employ talents and abilities he was blessed with earlier in life.
Certainly this is true for Father Joseph Rodrigues, a Salvatorian based in Tucson, Arizona and a member of the Jordan Ministry. Prior to joining the Salvatorians, he had worked as a professional actor and vocalist on both the East and West Coasts. And since becoming a priest, he has continued to apply his musical skills on behalf of the Gospel. Father Joe has recorded two CD's of Christian songs, Chorus of Faith and Sing Divine Fire, the proceeds from which went to the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse. He's now recording a third, Desert Rain, to help fund programs and activities of the Jordan Ministry.
Father Joe is also directing and performing in a play, The Line in the Sand. It takes on the controversial subject of immigration and addresses the issue from all sides. Based on interviews Catholic Relief Services conducted with people living on or near the Arizona-Mexico border, the play was first performed as part of a Good Friday commemoration and later for attendees at the Southwest Liturgical Conference.
The characters include representatives of the U.S. Border Patrol, an activist working with the "No More Deaths" organization, a rancher, a homemaker, a coroner, a member of the Mexican consulate, three immigrants facing diverse challenges, a detention center employee, and a Mexican father searching for his lost daughter. A majority of the cast are members of Most Holy Trinity parish in Tucson, where Salvatorian Father Bill Remmel serves as pastor.
Response to the play has been overwhelmingly positive. And the cast continues to be asked to perform at various parishes throughout the Diocese of Tucson, as part of its social justice outreach.
According to Father Joe, the most remarkable facet of The Line in the Sand is what routinely occurs following a performance. "When the performance concludes," he tells us, "the cast returns and entertains comments and questions from the audience. And the responses have been quite powerful and moving. People in tears have said how this play has mirrored their own families' struggles and pain. Most importantly, there is sharing, an exchange of views, point versus counter-point. We try to get to the real human stories that go beyond all the politics. We're searching for common ground."
"Of course, the real reason for this play and the question we keep hoping to resolve is this," Father Joe continues. "What would Jesus have us do?"
Seven Salvatorian Men Celebrate
Jubilees of Profession
On June 28 of this year, six Salvatorian priests and one Brother marked jubilees of first profession. They join a number of Salvatorian Sisters and Lay Salvatorians who in 2008 likewise celebrate anniversaries of entrance into the Society of the Divine Savior.
Father Roman Stadtmueller, SDS - Professed 60 Years
Born: March 27, 1928 Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Professed: September 8, 1948
Ordained: June 5, 1954 National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
Ministries: Teacher, missionary pastor and assistant pastor, counselor, and hospital chaplain. Currently retired. |
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Father James Bretl, SDS - Professed 50 Years
Born: August 29, 1936 Maplewood, Wisconsin
Professed: September 8, 1958
Ordained: June 5, 1965 National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
Ministries: Teacher, youth minister, missionary, pastor, associate pastor, and assistant pastor, chaplain. Currently retired. |
Father Richard Driscoll, SDS - Professed 50 Years
Born: November 17, 1937 Brooklyn, New York
Professed: September 8, 1958
Ordained: June 5, 1965 National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
Ministries: Teacher, missionary, pastor, associate pastor, and parish administrator. Currently pastor at St. William Church, Shelbyville, Tennessee. |
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Brother Peter Farnesi, SDS - Professed 50 Years
Born: September 12, 1926 Madera, California
Professed: March 19, 1958
Ministries: Missionary, farmer, baker, and maintenance worker.
Currently retired. |
Father Richard Gagnon, SDS - Professed 50 Years
Born: December 27, 1933 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Professed: September 8, 1958
Ordained: June 5, 1965 National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
Ministries: Teacher, pastor, and associate pastor. Currently pastor at St. Luke Church, Smyrna, Tennessee. |
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Father Andre Papineau, SDS - Professed 50 Years
Born: October 6, 1937 Escanaba, Michigan
Professed: September 8, 1958
Ordained: June 5, 1965 National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
Ministries: Teacher, counselor, and author of nine books on spirituality. Currently professor of homiletics at Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corners, Wisconsin. |
Father Thomas Tureman, SDS - Professed 25 Years
Born: July 18, 1954 Quebec City, Canada
Professed: August 13, 1983
Ordained: May 14, 1988
Ministries: Associate pastor, campus minister, social justice and Hispanic ministry. Currently mission procurator for the USA Province of the Salvatorians. |
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A Clear Head, An Impassioned Heart
Father Michael Kendall, 74, who entered eternal life on July 5, was a man of passion, three great passions to be exact. The first was for the holy priesthood and his fellow Salvatorians. The second was for history, American history in particular. And the third became his ministry to those often forgotten by our society, notably prisoners and persons who are gravely ill.
Father Mike served the People of God as a teacher, a pastor, and as a chaplain. At the start of this century he was among the "pioneers" of the Jordan Ministry in Tucson, Arizona. And then in 2004, at the age of 71, Father Mike joined the prison ministry staff at Arizona State Prison in Florence, Arizona.
Father Mike "officially" retired in 2005, electing to remain in Florence where he continued his prison ministry and assisted at local parishes until his death. May he now enjoy his eternal home in the company of our Savior and the saints.
Spring 2008
Starting Point
Here's one way to distinguish youth from age: Young people may do things they later wish they hadn't. We older folks look back on things we didn't do and now wish we had.
I really can't say why these thoughts came to mind as I read the news of the passing of the great actor Charlton Heston. No, it's not that I regret not becoming a movie star, or maybe even more implausibly, a chariot racer. It's just that given the many different roles he played throughout his career, and the excellence he brought to each performance, it causes me to wonder:
Have I shown as much dedication and passion in my real-life "role" as a priest as Heston imparted to his theatrical roles as a detective, a circus ramrod, and Moses? Put simply, am I as "good" a priest as he was a performer?
Indeed, the most important role Heston ever knew had nothing to do with the camera or the footlights. He made it clear that his primary vocation was that of a husband and father. Charlton and his beloved Lydia were married for over 65 years. She was his first date and he her first love. In time they were blessed with the birth of a son and later adopted a daughter. And when asked by the Saturday Evening Post what values had contributed to the success of their union, Charlton replied:
"… a degree of mutual tolerance and a willingness to at least sometimes subordinate your own choices to the other's choices. And a sense of humor."
Then, displaying his own wry humor, he added: "An essential ingredient in a successful marriage is an excellent husband."
In this issue of HOPE, we feature a group of young people from Michigan Technological University who are likely to make pretty good husbands and wives themselves some day, given their willingness to sacrifice their free time for the good of those less fortunate.
Moreover, as we celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day this year, I ask that you join me in praying for families throughout our nation and the world, as well as others in urgent need of our Savior's mercy.
As ever, I thank you and may our Savior bless you for your generosity to our Salvatorian ministries.
College Students Show They're Eager To Volunteer
For anyone who has lost faith in the younger generation, you needed to be present at the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse on March 10th.
Following a five-hour trip from Houghton, Michigan, nine students from Michigan Tech arrived bright-eyed and full of enthusiasm to spend a day volunteering. Led by two junior boys, who have made this trip twice before, the group devoted their week of spring break to helping others. The Mission Warehouse was their first stop. Half the fun, of course, was staying with Sister Dora, who treated them to delicious meals and a place to lay their weary heads.
On Tuesday morning the group moved on to Oshkosh for the remainder of the week to help out at "The Place 2 B." While there, they helped to clean, move furniture, inventory the rooms, prepare evening meals, and perform whatever other tasks were assigned to them. And they managed to fit in a tour of the Carmelites' Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians, at Holy Hill in the nearby town of Hubertus.
Active in the campus ministry program, these students financed their trip through fundraising efforts. Members of the group, who are all engineering students, include two from Minnesota, four from Michigan, one from Illinois, and two from Wisconsin. Their names are Dustin Larson, Rhen Hoehn, Katie Dobbins, Kylin Nixon, David Kasl, Stefan Marek, Tom LeFevre, Ben Brumester, and Joshua Fahey.
Among their comments on the experience: "We may as well help someone else out while we have time off." "It's fun. We get to help out." "Do it! It makes you feel good." Some observed that they missed having time with their families, but admit that their brothers and sisters are usually in school, and their parents are at work, so the week of spring break offered an opportunity to be useful.
For those who enjoyed the good fortune to spend a day working next to these bright and vibrant young people, the experience was surely a blessing and one that would renew anyone's faith in our nation's youth.
The Human Touch
Call it empathy, emotional warmth, or just the ability to get along with others and to bring out the best in them. Father Barry Griffin, SDS had an "instinct," if you will, and the enviable skill of working well with people.
Moreover, following a health crisis 15 years ago, Father Barry came to epitomize that old saying, "Never give up." This is why his sudden death on February 11 leaves a definite void among his fellow Salvatorians and the many others to whom he ministered.
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, he was born on January 4, 1935 and baptized as James Whitman Griffin. He graduated Boston Latin High School in 1953 and entered the Salvatorians' Jordan Seminary in Menominee, Michigan, where he studied for three years. The future Father Barry entered the novitiate and professed his vows on September 8, 1957.
Following studies at The Catholic University of America and at Divine Savior Seminary in Lanham, Maryland, Father Barry was ordained on February 1, 1964. Holding a Masters degree in library science, he applied his skills as a librarian at Mount St. Paul College in Waukesha, Wisconsin while serving his community as its prefect of scholastics, director of formation, and director of novices. He later served as librarian at Alverno College in Milwaukee and at Mary Manse College in Toledo, Ohio, where he also was temporarily president of the college.
For six years Father Barry ministered as president of the Foundation of St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo. Then, in 1982, he was called by his Salvatorian community to serve as provincial of the USA Province, a position he likewise held for six years. He then continued for two six-year terms in province administration as vicar provincial and director of finance.
In 1993, at the Salvatorians' General Chapter in Krakow, Poland, Father Barry was a candidate for the position of Superior General of the Society of the Divine Savior. And yet, on the evening prior to the election, he suffered a massive stroke and was hospitalized for over a month before returning to the United States. The tragic episode left his speech and mobility impaired, but his spirit and enthusiasm for ministry remained undaunted. He worked in community formation at Mother of Good Counsel parish in Milwaukee and at the Salvatorian Center before traveling to Tennessee to assist at St. Catherine Church in McMinnville and later serving as pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Lewisburg. Father Barry retired last year to Alexian Village in Milwaukee.
May our Savior and the saints now welcome Father Barry, a dauntless soul indeed, and a true model of Salvatorian commitment to sharing the Good News of our Savior.
| Our Superior General in Rome has declared June 2008-2009 the "Year of Jordan" in honor of our founder, Father Francis Jordan. Over 25 years ago we made available to our benefactors Father Leonard Gerke's book "Because He Hoped in Me," the life of Father Jordan. We still have copies on hand. If you would like one, please write to us, and we'll be happy to send you a copy. |
Winter 2008
Starting Point
Of the many parables our Savior incorporated in His teaching, a favorite of mine is the parable of the man sowing seed. It's found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
A man went forth to plant seed. Using the method common to the day, he "broadcast" it by grabbing a handful and casting it before him in a sweeping motion as he walked. As our Savior tells it, some of it was eaten by birds, and some just lay upon inhospitable ground, rotting once it failed to germinate. But a certain amount of the seed managed to land on good soil, where it put down roots and flourished.
As you may tell, the main "actor" in this story is neither the man nor the seed, but the ground itself. Jesus doesn't explain what it may have taken to make the "good soil" good, but drawing upon my own limited experience in gardening, I'd imagine that it had started out pretty much like the rest of the terrain. At some point, however, nature or perhaps an individual had imbued it with the water, nutrients, and other things necessary to nurture life from seed to bloom to harvest.
I often think that the first job we as Christians have is, in fact, to prepare the soil. We cannot determine where the Gospel seed may land, nor can we force it to germinate. But we may and must do what we can to see to it that the "ground," i.e., the human spirit, is tilled, disked, and fertilized by acts of mercy, compassion, and generosity.
Or as a wise farmer once told me, "Feed your soil, and the soil will feed the plant." (I guess you can tell that I'm eager for spring since I'm writing about growing things, here in the dead of winter!)
Whatever the season or time of year, I thank you for all the wonderful good you help accomplish through your prayers and your gifts to our Salvatorian ministries. You truly are doing your part both to prepare the soil and sow the seed of Gospel joy.
Father Francis Jordan and the Founding of
the Society of the Divine Savior
By Brother Edward Havlovic, SDS
Brother Edward is the chief archivist of the USA Province of the Salvatorians. The following is a condensed version of an address he presented as "a short historical sketch" commemorating the conclusion of the 125th anniversary year of the Society of the Divine Savior, December 8, 2007.
On September 19, 1878, two months after his ordination to the priesthood, Father Francis Jordan made an important entry in his spiritual diary: "Establish the Apostolic Society, and be of tranquil mind in all difficulties." This entry is significant because it is the first time that Father Jordan used the term "Apostolic Society" for the work he planned to undertake.
On January 9, 1880, he wrote in his diary, "That you are called to found this Society is morally certain." A few months later, as he traveled in the Holy Land, Father Jordan urged himself, "As soon as possible, carry out that 'work' willed by God. Carry it out with great sincerity; never give up or get discouraged."
Upon his return to Rome the following August, Father Jordan set about to publicize his work and to do so through the medium of the Catholic press. He traveled to Bavaria to meet Ludwig Auer, a layman and director of a publishing house. There he also met a talented young priest, Father Bernard Luethen, who would become a loyal and devoted follower of Father Jordan.
In September 1881, Father Jordan and Father Luethen published the first issue of "The Missionary," a popular magazine directed to both priests and lay Catholics. Two months later, they were joined by Father Frederick Leonardi, a convert, former German army officer, and missionary to Sweden.
Fathers Jordan, Luethen, and Leonardi all made their initial vows as members of the Apostolic Teaching Society on December 8, 1881. (Not two years later, Father Leonardi would leave the Society, whereas Father Luethen remained until the end of his days.)
Father Jordan's original plan had been to establish a Catholic association of priests, vowed religious, and lay people. Nonetheless, the Society of the Divine Savior underwent several key changes early in its history. In October 1882, less than a year after its founding, the Apostolic Teaching Society was renamed "the Catholic Teaching Society." The word "apostolic" in the title was disapproved by the Vatican (the term was specific to the Holy See and its official undertakings.)
And yet, Father Jordan himself had misgivings as to the feasibility of his initial plan. Thus five months later, on March 11, 1883, the Catholic Teaching Society was "re-founded" as a religious order of priests. Father Jordan made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, noting them in his spiritual diary and signing his name as "John, Mary of the Cross," though he reserved the religious name "Francis" as an outward sign of his commitment. Father Luethen joined Father Jordan in making his final vows and taking the religious name "Bonaventure."
Ten years later the Salvatorians (from the Latin word for Savior, "Salvator") would assume their final title as a religious community: the Society of the Divine Savior.
Animals blessed in St. Nazianz
He Tended Both the Land and the Spirit
There's a television commercial featuring a rough pair of workman's hands. As they are being washed under an outdoor spigot, a voiceover declares, "These hands may have gotten dirty, but their conscience was always clean."
Such words might well provide an epitaph for Brother Florian Schueth, SDS, who began his eternal life with our Savior on October 20, 2007.
Born in 1927 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and baptized as Charles Bernard, the future Brother Florian was one of nine children whose family worked a farm in the nearby town of Elgin. Following his high school graduation, he worked as a ranch hand even as he discerned a call to religious life. After looking into a number of Catholic communities, and spending a few months with the Benedictines, in August 1950 he entered the Society of the Divine Savior at St. Nazianz, Wisconsin as a Brother candidate, taking "Florian" as his religious name. He made his first vows on March 19, 1952 at Menominee, Michigan.
From there he traveled to Lanham, Maryland, where for the next six years he worked on the farm affiliated with Divine Savior Seminary. In 1958, Brother Florian returned to St. Nazianz, tending to farm duties there and living at the Salvatorian monastery until its closure in 1986. And when the majority of the community moved to Milwaukee, Brother Florian and Brother Thaddeus Huebner elected to stay in St. Nazianz, lovingly tending to the old seminary property and its grounds.
Quiet and unassuming, yet fervently dedicated to prayer and his work, Brother Florian lived an honest, simple life. He loved working the land and rediscovering with the dawn of each new day the wonders of God in nature.
Parkinson's Disease compelled his retirement to the Jordan Hall retirement community in 2001. His final days were spent at Alexian Village in Milwaukee. Brother Florian is interred, however, back at his home in St. Nazianz, at the Salvatorian cemetery there.
May our Savior now welcome Brother Florian into His joyous company and the happy companionship of the saints.
Fall 2007
Starting Point
"The people demand justice!"
You may have recognized that statement in the press. You've probably heard it in the movies, in recent campaign speeches, or even from the pulpit. We encounter it so often that we may even become a bit cynical in how we respond to it—wondering "Justice for which people?" and "Whose idea of justice?"
And yet, the Scriptures do speak of our God as a God of justice. The Book of Isaiah alone offers nearly 30 references to how determined God is to see justice prevail in this world. And where justice is missing in the here-and-now, we're promised it will be fulfilled in eternity.
It's a good thing for us, however, that God's justice is tempered by His mercy. And "tempered" may not even be the right word, because mercy is at the very heart of divine justice. As the Psalmist notes, even when God is angry, His anger is not lasting. Mercy, compassion, and generosity are the hallmarks of our God's personality.
As I write this, our Church is about to enter an extended season in which justice is at the very heart of its liturgical message. First there is the month of November in which we pray for our faithful departed, that they might experience fullness of joy in the company of our Savior and the saints. This is followed by Advent and Christmas, during which we celebrate God's willingness to become "one with us" for the sake of saving us from sin.
This is how God's justice works. It seeks not to punish, but to redeem. And as such, it offers a model guide for all human justice.
Father Tom Tureman and others involved in our African ministries are doing their part to bring to life the Good News of God's mercy and justice to the poor. You may wish to join him next summer as he leads a journey to our Tanzanian missions. In any event, I thank you for "being there" with him through your prayers and the gifts you provide to our work. And may God bless you and those you love this most holy time of the year.
A Summer Journey to Tanzania
Salvatorians have ministered in East Africa since the 1950's. Their ministries have brought food to the hungry, medicine to the ill, and hope to communities struggling with poverty and the lasting effects of civil corruption and war.
17 years ago, the Society of the Divine Savior instituted a major seminary in the town of Morogoro, roughly 120 miles west of the capital city of Dar es Salaam. Since His Holiness John Paul II blessed its cornerstone on September 2, 1990, the Salvatorians have seen several hundred vocations drawn to and develop within this major seminary, which today is known as the Salvatorian Institute of Philosophy and Theology.
Tanzania is a nation rich in history, culture, and the beauty of its natural terrain. Despite problems that persist throughout so much of East Africa, it is a country where the Catholic faith has had a profound influence. The people look to the Church as a beacon of justice and compassion. The Gospel is still "new" in this land, revered for its ability to heal lives and save souls.
Last summer, Salvatorian Fathers Tom Tureman and Daniel Pekarske led a group of benefactors, lay members, and other interested persons on a journey to Tanzania, where they stopped at the seminary in Morogoro and went on safari to visit the people who make their home in what has long been called "mission territory." The accompanying photos and captions reflect in a small way the gist of that trip and its impact on all who participated.
Father Tom will host yet another "Encounter Tanzania" tour between June 28 and July 14, 2008. For information, you may go to www.salvatorians.com and click on "The Salvatorian Missions."
Or contact Father Tom Tureman, SDS at the Salvatorians' USA Provincial offices, 1735 North Hi-Mount Blvd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53208, (414) 258-1735, ext. 106.
Summer 2007
Starting Point
"… I trust in the help of our Blessed Lady, Mother of the Savior, and all the patrons of the Society, as well as the daily help of my confreres. Accept, O Lord, my commitment, and with your grace strengthen my resolution to fulfill all my life what I have vowed."
These are the final few sentences from the vow to religious life which all Salvatorian postulants profess upon first entering the Society of the Divine Savior.
You'll notice the emphasis given to "the help of our Blessed Lady, Mother of our Savior." Given that the founder of the Salvatorians, Father Francis Jordan, embraced the religious name "Francis Mary of the Cross," it is altogether appropriate that Salvatorians continue to invoke her aid as we both pray and work to advance the Good News of our Savior " through all possible means."
The seven Salvatorians whose anniversaries of first profession and ordination we note in this issue of HOPE certainly exemplify this Salvatorian commitment. They have served as pastors, librarians, administrators, and mental health professionals. One common thread you may recognize, however, is that many began their vocations as teachers.
Indeed, whether or not one has taught in a formal classroom setting, every Salvatorian, whether through word or deed, is called to teach others about the goodness of God. As the saying has it, each of our lives is an open book whose chapters testify to our love for sharing this Good News of salvation with others.
And always it is you, our devoted benefactors, who make this act of sharing possible. Your prayers and gifts fill our lives with grace and blessing. Thank you, and God bless you for your friendship to us and to those we're blessed to serve.
Retirement On Hold, Brother Jim Begins
a New Ministry in the Philippines
Salvatorian Brother Jim Rieden made his first profession in 1952. After serving as a missionary in Tanzania, at homes for deaf and mentally challenged persons at Gallaudet School for the Deaf in Washington, DC, and as a house manager at Aspen House, the National Children's Center, he retired from active ministry in 2004.
A few months ago, that retirement was interrupted when Brother Jim was asked to go to the Philippines to work with Salvatorian candidates and seminarians studying for the priesthood. HOPE caught up with Brother Jim in July, soon after he arrived in Manila.
What did you do in your first assignment as a missionary overseas?
I was a builder, primarily, and a plumber when the need arose. I was in Tanzania, spent a year learning Swahili, and then a year in the missions.
What will be the nature of your ministry in the Philippines?
It looks as though I'll be working for the most part with candidates just entering the Society. We currently have two men from China and three others from Viet Nam. Since all their upcoming classes will be taught in English, they're very excited about learning the language. Right now communication is a bit difficult, but I'm able to help them with their pronunciation and reading skills.
I can easily appreciate their frustration at times, since I've already begun taking my own lessons in Tagalog, the language of the Philippines. So we're all busy learning a new language. Our house here in Quezon City is also the first place that young men interested in entering the Salvatorians arrive to from all over Southeast Asia. Here they begin their entry into our Society.
What is it like coming out of retirement and beginning a whole new ministry?
Well, let me tell you how it came about. Last winter I received a call, literally a late night call, from our Superior General, Father Andrew Urbanski in Rome. He asked me if I would be open to accepting a position in one of our formation communities in the Philippines. So I asked for the 40 days of Lent to think it over. Once all of my questions were answered, I accepted the assignment this past Easter.
Coming out of retirement is an increasingly common experience. Many people find that after several months or years of travel, golf, or whatever, there's a void in their lives that must be filled. And so they begin a search for something meaningful to fill it. Only recently have people become aware that retirement planning involves more than finances. There's a much bigger question we all have to face of what to do with one's time.
I recently read Fire in the Soul by R.L. Morgan, who writes, "I have reached the magical age of 70 and face three tasks: one, accepting the fact of aging; two, discerning the meaning of our stories; and three, mentoring the next generations." I think this helps me understand why I feel so blessed to begin a new ministry at age 72.
Seven Salvatorians Mark Anniversary
of Profession and Ordination
September is a special month for Salvatorians in that September 8 marks the birthday of our Blessed Mother and the date on which our founder, Father Francis Jordan, began his eternal life with our Savior. Traditionally, it's likewise a time during which many Salvatorians make their first professions in the Society of the Divine Savior, while still others are ordained to the holy priesthood.
Father Cyril Dickrell, SDS – Professed 60 Years
Born: August 19, 1927, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Professed: September 8, 1947, Jordan Seminary, Menominee, Michigan
Ministries: Teacher, director of Brother candidates, director of religious education, vicar for the Diocese of Green Bay, assistant and associate pastor, and pastor. Currently retired. |
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Father Barry Griffin, SDS – Professed 50 Years
Born: January 4, 1935, Boston, Massachusetts
Professed: September 8, 1957, Salvatorian Novitiate, Colfax, Iowa
Ministries: Teacher, librarian and library director, college and hospital administrator, novice master, vicar, provincial of the USA Province of the Salvatorians, and pastor. Currently retired. |
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Brother Donald Maurer, SDS – Professed 50 Years
Born: March 30, 1937, Middle Village, New York
Professed: September 8, 1957, Salvatorian Novitiate, Colfax, Iowa
Ministries: Farmer for two years at the Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin; since 1959, a missionary to the Salvatorian missions in Tanzania. |
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Father Patrick Ritter, SDS – Professed 40 Years
Born: April 19, 1948, Sacramento, California
Professed: August 22, 1967, Salvatorian Novitiate, Colfax, Iowa
Ministries: Teacher, associate pastor, youth minister, and clinical psychotherapist. Currently retired. |
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Father Michael Newman, SDS – Ordained 40 Years
Born: December 17, 1938, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ordained: September 9, 1967, National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington , DC
Ministries: Teacher, assistant pastor, campus minister, and director of campus ministry for the Diocese of Sacramento. Currently serving as retirement coordinator for the USA Province of the Salvatorians and as a member of the provincial board. |
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Father William (Bill) Remmel, SDS – Ordained 40 Years
Born: May 21, 1939, Waupaca, Wisconsin
Ordained: September 9, 1967, National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
Ministries: Teacher, associate pastor, and pastor. Currently pastor at Most Holy Trinity Church in Tucson, Arizona. |
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Father Raul Gomez, SDS – Professed 25 Years
Born: September 27, 1953, Bisbee, Arizona
Professed: September 8, 1982, Holy Cross Church, Bryte, California
Ministries: Teacher, director of religious education, hospital ministry, archivist, associate pastor, theology professor and director of Hispanic Studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology, and vicar of the USA Province of the Salvatorians. |
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June 2007
Starting Point
"Nothing is constant but change." This sentiment, if not those exact words, is attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. And in this day and age, it seems truer than ever before. One "constant change" we face here at the Salvatorian Center is the ever-escalating cost of producing a monthly newsletter.
And so, a change for HOPE is in the works once again. After this issue, we'll be publishing it on a quarterly basis. The format for now will remain the same—but beginning with the next issue, we'll print and insert it in your "thank-you" letters during the months of August, November, February, and May. They will be termed, respectively, the Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring issues.
"But what if I don't make a gift in those months? May I still receive HOPE?" That's a good question, and the answer is "yes." All you need to do is complete the form you'll find enclosed in this mailing and return it to me. I'll see to it that we mail you a copy of HOPE four times a year, during the months I've mentioned above.
It's both a challenge and the duty of any charitable organization to balance the aim of informing its benefactors as to how their gifts are being invested, with the need to use those gifts in as efficient a manner as possible. In other words, if we spend more than we need to in letting you know what we're "up to," we fail to honor the trust you've placed in us to fulfill our stated mission, namely to "proclaim the Good News of our Savior, Jesus Christ, through all possible means."
At the same, whether published monthly, quarterly, or six times a year, we've designed our newsletter to provide more than just information. We've always intended it to be a source of inspiration as well. That's why we call it HOPE.
And it remains our hope that the stories and accounts of our labors may continue to encourage you in your Christian faith journey, and in your commitment as a full partner and co-worker in our Salvatorian ministries.
In this issue, we focus on our June jubilarians (with apologies to Father Mike Hoffman, whose anniversary of ordination we overlooked in January). Again, none of these priests (yours truly included) would be pursuing our vocations to religious life if it weren't for you, our faithful benefactors.
That's another reality that never changes—and for which we thank both our ever-merciful Savior and you.
Seven Salvatorian Priests Celebrate Anniversaries of Ordination
This month HOPE joins seven Salvatorian Fathers in giving thanks to our Savior for a combined 250 years of ordained priesthood and sacramental service to the People of God.
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Father Michael Hoffman, SDS - 25 years
Born: February 8, 1951
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Professed: February 8, 1973
Ordained: January 30, 1982
St. Veronica's Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ministries: Chaplain, associate pastor, director of vocations and communications for the USA Province, assistant archivist. |
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Father Neil Durham, SDS - 25 years
Born: December 3, 1944
Wilmington, Delaware
Professed: June 29, 1965
Ordained: June 4, 1982
Holy Redeemer Church, Washington, D.C.
Ministries: Associate pastor and pastor, teacher, youth counselor, development director, health care chaplain. |
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Father David Cooney, SDS - 40 years
Born: May 18, 1939
New London, Wisconsin
Professed: September 8, 1960
Ordained: June 3, 1967
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
Ministries: Teacher, parish ministry, associate pastor and pastor, Hispanic ministry, health care chaplain. |
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Father Gregory Coulthard, SDS - 40 years
Born: March 16, 1938
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Professed: September 8, 1959
Ordained: June 3, 1967
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
Ministries: Teacher, dean of students, librarian, U.S. Air Force chaplain, director of vocations, pastor, spiritual director and editor of HOPE. |
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Father Loren Nys, SDS - 40 years
Born: March 12, 1938
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Professed: September 8, 1959
Ordained: June 3, 1967
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
Ministries: Teacher, athletic chaplain, journalist, associate pastor, and pastor. |
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Father Joseph Wambach, SDS - 40 years
Born: September 3, 1938
Englewood, New Jersey
Professed: September 8, 1960
Ordained: June 9, 1967
St. Francis Xavier Church, Phoenix, Arizona
Ministries: Teacher, associate pastor, U.S. Navy chaplain assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Naval Hospital chaplain, parish ministry. |
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Father Robert Wicht, SDS - 40 years
Born: November 15, 1938
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Professed: September 8, 1962
Ordained: June 3, 1967
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
Ministries: Teacher, director of religious education, university chaplain, director of special education, pastor. |
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A Very Busy Six Months for the
Salvatorian Mission Warehouse
Since December 1 of last year, the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse has shipped 1,814,430 pounds of food, medical supplies, and clothing articles to 11 countries, at a transportation cost of over $260,400.
Among those companies making donations ("gifts in kind") to the Mission Warehouse are Kohler Company, Sargento, Lands' End, Hershey Foods, and Johnson & Johnson. Also, Mission Warehouse volunteers have been busy making quilts for poor families in the southern hemisphere, to help them ward off the cold in the coming winter months.
The following letters were received by Brother Regis Fust, SDS and his all-volunteer staff at the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse:
I wish to extend my gratitude to you for the containers of rice and flour. Immediately when the container of rice arrived, it was distributed to the needy. As you can imagine, my helpers had to walk a long way, going house to house, to meet with the poor and disabled. But I tell you, Brother Regis, most of these poor could not believe their eyes at seeing food brought to their door. They readily admit that God is merciful and that only the Church has seen their problems and dared to help.
His Excellency Anthony M. Banzi
Bishop of Tanga, Tanzania
Father Charles Schuster showed up today. He came with the hats that our sewing clubs are making from Lands' End cut-offs. One woman even went so far as to make a quilt out of the blue jeans cut-offs. Some people came along, saw it drying on a fence, and bought it for a month's salary ($150.00). Needless to say, she's working on a second quilt and hopes for the same luck.
John Fillis
Centro San Benito, Panama
Needs continue to grow here, and all that you send helps so very much. The gentle soaps (where many of our people use laundry soap to bathe and then wonder why their skin is so dry), the creams that help so many of our psoriasis patients, the sun blocks, all make a terrific difference. Just last week I gave out walkers to two elderly persons who could barely walk. They went away radiant...
Sister Jane Buellesbach, MD, MM
San Marcos, Guatemala
May 2007
Starting Point
With all the grim news we've heard of late, I thought I'd share a little joke with you, sent in by a benefactor. It's my small way of chasing away the gloom and of welcoming the glad month of May, dedicated to Mary, our Blessed Mother.
A man passes away and appears before St. Peter, who inquires of this new arrival, "Did you, sir, lead a good, holy, and charitable life?"
"Gee, I hope so," replies the man. St. Peter thinks this over and says, "Well, you look like a nice sort of fellow. Just in case there's a problem, do you have celestial insurance?"
"I don't think so," the man answers. "But I do have an HMO."
St. Peter winces. "Sorry, pal. That might get you as far as Purgatory. But even there, they'll run you out after ten days."
OK, OK, so Jay Leno won't be asking me to stand in for him anytime soon. My serious point is this: When it comes to our health, it seems we're often conditioned to expect the worst in this life, if not in the life to come.
And yet, when I think of the many choices and opportunities we have in this country—as opposed to the communities served by Southwest Medical Aid, profiled in this HOPE—I realize how very blessed we truly are.
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6: 25-34), our Savior reminds us of how foolish it can be to worry about much of anything. None of us can add a single second to his life by worrying. On the contrary, doctors tell us that the stress we generate by worry actually may shorten our lives by years.
Even in the midst of daily headlines telling us of wars abroad and mayhem at home, the best antidote to worry is faith. Lay Salvatorians such as Jan Izlar and her crew know better than to waste time cursing the darkness. They spend each day "lighting candles," confident in their faith and certain they are doing the work our Savior has called them to do.
And when you think of it, that's the only "celestial assurance" any of us need. Thank you for your constant prayers and your partnership as a co-worker in all our Salvatorian ministries.
Southwest Medical Aid Brings
Medicine and Hope to the Missions
Lay Salvatorian Jan Izlar and her husband Jim began Southwest Medical Aid "sometime around 2001" and modeled it after the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse. Southwest Medical Aid serves the poor in Guatemala, Mexico, Haiti, and on Native American reservations throughout the Izlars' home state of Arizona.
HOPE spoke with Jan two days before she and a group of volunteers were embarking on their first trip to Guatemala to deliver medical supplies and further assess the needs of its missions.
What inspired you to begin Southwest Medical Aid, or SMA?
It was really "who." As a young girl, I was inspired by the stories of missionaries and wanted to be a missionary Sister. Life, however, took me in another direction. And then there was Salvatorian Sister Pat Koehn, who served our parish and was my sponsor, but truly became my spiritual mentor and a dear friend even before I became a candidate for lay membership in the Salvatorians. Her leadership encouraged us early on.
By the way, this is our first trip to Guatemala, although we've been supplying missions there since 2002.
Did the example of Brother Regis' Salvatorian Mission Warehouse also motivate you to organize SMA?
Very much so. Father John Gorman invited us to visit Brother Regis' operation about four years ago. We were in awe of the work he, Sister Dora, and the volunteers are doing, and again, we were very encouraged.
What sort of supplies does SMA provide to the missions?
Over-the-counter medicines and nutritional supplements, for the most part. We have been blessed with a very cooperative medical community here in Arizona and Southern California. We started out actually going door to door, knocking at the offices of doctors in this area. They continue to supply us with a lot of prescription samples. We've since developed contacts with manufacturers who provide us with products like Pur, which works wonders to purify water.
There's a constant demand as well for blood pressure medicines, Tylenol, skin creams, cold remedies, and vitamins.
Brother Regis tells us that clean drinking water is a major issue in the missions he serves.
It's the same in our missions. So much disease, especially in children, can be traced to unsanitary water. The Pur tablets are a godsend.
How many volunteers do you have?
We have about 17 people who are regulars at the warehouse. They work at different times, though. The workspace in our warehouse is at a premium and only accommodates around four at a time.
What are your overhead costs?
As of now, we don't have any shipping costs, which are Brother Regis' largest outlay, since we or the missionaries usually deliver the goods ourselves. When we make a trip to a mission, we're allowed up to 50 pounds each, which we often carry in suitcases. We have to pay rent and utilities for our warehouse, though.
We have volunteers, too, who work with us through Airline Ambassadors, a group of airline employees. American Airlines has been quite helpful to us.
Describe a typical mission.
It's hard to say, they're so different, and yet so similar in terms of the peoples' needs. We work with parishes, orphanages, and homeless shelters, and with the reservations.
And how does a mission make contact with you, or you with it?
The Salvatorians have been very helpful in terms of putting missions in contact with us. We have some rather strict procedures and require that a mission must make a request before we show up at its doorstep. We're very careful to make sure we know who first receives the supplies and in whose hands they finally end up.
This is why we like to deliver the goods in person. It enables us to assess the situation and to see what follow-up may be needed, especially in a new mission.
For more information, please contact:
Southwest Medical Aid
6700 North Columbus Blvd.
Tucson, Arizona 85718
Or call (520) 577-8500.
| If you choose to remember us in your Will, please remember to use our correct legal name...Society of the Divine Savior |
April 2007
Starting Point
As I write this, we as a Church are entering the second half of Lent. And by the time some of you read these words, Easter will have arrived. I pray that both prove blessed and holy for you and those you love.
When you look at history, you'll see that our custom of observing Lent as an annual "season" didn't begin until the third or fourth century A.D. The 40 days of Lent serve to remind us of the time our Savior spent praying and fasting in the desert before beginning His ministry.
Jesus, of course, continued to fast and pray throughout His next three years of teaching, preaching, and healing. And in that sense, we could say that for us as Christians, Lent is never really "over"—not so long as we're still alive and fulfilling our vocations here on earth.
Indeed, in the Gospel of Mark we read: "Arising before dawn, He went out of town to a place set apart, and there He prayed." (Mark 1:35) Our Savior relied on prayer. And the longer I live, the more I'm certain that the most effective thing you and I can do is pray. That's not an "easy out," nor is it to say that good works aren't important. Prayer gives us the strength we need, however, to live the lives to which we're called. It's the "fuel in our tank" that carries us through both the good times and the not so good, just as it did for our Savior.
And so as Easter begins, I encourage you to sustain the discipline of prayer that you nurtured, and that nurtured you, this Lent. As Father Andre suggests in this month's interview, we are all born storytellers. Perhaps we might share some of our stories with God.
As always, I pray for you and the people so very dear to you. Thank you and may God bless you for your friendship and your partnership in our Salvatorian ministries.
He Loves to Tell the Story
Father Andre Papineau, SDS is the author of numerous books on spirituality and the Christian life, centered primarily on a retelling of the Gospels. He also teaches homiletics at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.
HOPE spoke with Father Andre about his ministry and the art of storytelling.
Many of the stories you relate in your books and homilies concern God's grace and the impediments we place in the way of it.
Many of us aren't comfortable with God's unconditional love for us. I know that may sound severe, but it's true. We think we need to "earn it," that it shouldn't be a "free ride," because we don't deserve that. And if we don't deserve it, we don't trust it. I think it's very difficult for us, living in the sort of achievement-based society that we do, to accept God's forgiveness and His love for us as a given.
The theologian Paul Tillich perhaps said it best: We have a real problem accepting God's acceptance of us. But unless you come to recognize that you are accepted, then you really won't think that you have anything to give.
It sounds like the so-called "Catch 22" situation. A person feels she has nothing to offer, so she's in no position to "earn favor" with God.
Exactly! But the secret is to accept the fact that God is love, and because of this, He accepts us as we are. It's that simple, child-like faith that Jesus taught. On the other hand, if people are constantly told that they don't measure up, that somehow they haven't given enough, or if we in the Church otherwise come down too hard on them, how are they to think that they have anything to offer their fellow man or God?
But what about the fact that we are fallible creatures, and we do sin?
Of course we are, and we do! And the first thing you have to do is ask God for forgiveness, because you ain't comin' to the dinner unless you do. The Gospels are very clear on that point. Jesus would like to see people change, there's no doubt about that. And yet, the first thing He says to us is, "I'm so anxious to have you come to my table. You belong here because I want you here."
That message doesn't always go over too well.
Jesus was crossing lines all the time and accepting folks just as they are. That was the major thrust of His life and ministry. He himself became "unclean," just like us, by reaching out and touching the "unclean." That's how redemption works. Trouble was, along the way He managed to antagonize some pretty important people.
Tell us how this message of acceptance is brought to bear in your teaching ministry. You've taught some candidates for the priesthood who barely speak English.
That's right. We've had fellows coming to us from Latin America, Vietnam, and other places. That's not a sin, of course, it's a good thing, but it still represents a challenge, and the first thing they need to know is that they're accepted. Very often they're just reluctant and fearful of opening up. They're afraid of what their English will sound like.
So I'll say, "Hey, it's OK, just preach in Vietnamese," or whatever one's native language may be. I want to hear the music of their language, because that's something we Americans rarely get to hear. If I were to have them speak English, and start by trying to correct their pronunciation or grammar, I wouldn't get to first base with these guys.
Give us an example of one of your stories.
Well, let's see, there's one I've entitled Stump. It's about Zacchaeus. All the kids call him "Stump," and even his parents tell him that he's a disappointment because of his size and that he'll never mount to anything. Stump grows bitter at being picked on all his life simply because he's short. So as he grows older, he decides to get even. He allies himself with the Romans, the enemy of his people, and becomes a chief tax collector.
Eventually, Stump goes out on a limb—which is a metaphor in itself, of course—to meet Jesus, who tells him to come down out of that tree he's perched himself in. Stump jumps down and is surprised to see that Jesus is no taller than he is! The moral, if you will, is that Jesus is always open to meeting us on our terms. He wants to talk with us on our level, eye to eye.
Why do I have Jesus taking on some of the physical characteristics and features of the people? Because He is reaching out to us, trying to help us heal.
You've authored quite a few books. So is it fair to say that storytelling is at the center of your ministry?
Absolutely! You see, we're all storytellers. When we see something unusual, or a lovely sunset, or get caught in a traffic jam, we begin by saying to anyone who'll listen, "Wait 'til I tell you!" We'll launch into a story just like that. We don't stop to wonder if we're any good at it, we just do it automatically. Most of us don't think of ourselves as storytellers, but we all are nonetheless. It's how we share and grieve and grow and heal. It's how we make sense out of things and affirm to ourselves and others that our lives are indeed blessed with meaning.
Father Andre holds degrees in theology and drama from The Catholic University of America and the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of 11 books, including Godawful: Connections Between Biblical Journeys and Life Transitions, available from CSS Publishing Company, 800-537-1030.
Life Insurance Makes a Great Gift...
Did you know that an old life insurance policy could make a wonderful gift to the Salvatorians?
It's true! It could be a policy you no longer need, such as one you bought to protect children who are now grown and self-supporting.
If you own such a policy, the Society of the Divine Savior could benefit from being named as its owner or beneficiary. For more information, please write for your free copy of our booklet, Giving Through Life Insurance.
Write to:
Stephen Settle
Planned Giving Director
Society of the Divine Savior
Salvatorian Center, WI 53062
Or Call 1-800-254-4902, ext. 307.
(And if you include us in your Will, please remember to use our proper legal name: Society of the Divine Savior)
March 2007
Starting Point
Catholics are an "Easter people." You may have heard that term and wonder what it means. It's simply a popular way to relate a central article of our Christian faith; namely, that Easter celebrates the single most important event in mankind's history. It's the high point of salvation history —which is to say, the story of God's undying love for each and every one of us.
Without Easter, the rest of our Catholic beliefs wouldn't mean much. It is Easter that gives final definition to the words of the Gospel in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son …"
And yet, while God's grace is "free" to us, it wasn't free for God. Lent commemorates the suffering our Savior endured to win our redemption from sin. His victory over death was not an easy one, and the sacrifices and penances you and I make during Lent are but a small way of showing that we understand and appreciate this reality.
Prayer, fasting, and abstinence are the traditional means by which we prepare for the joyous celebration of Easter morning. (And not to sound like a broken record, but making a good confession through the Sacrament of Reconciliation also offers a wonderful way to ready our spirits for the dawning of Easter.)
As a Salvatorian co-worker, you've time and again proved your readiness to share of your blessings to the point of sacrifice and beyond, not only at Lent, but during the entire year. You truly are an Easter people. I pray that our Savior may bless you this Lent and throughout the coming Easter season.
Brother George Works As A 'Healer' Among the Lakota
Imagine how it would feel to have everything you value taken away from you.
Think about seeing your home and property, your traditions and livelihood, and even your family name changed, from a word meaning "friends" to some foreign expression ("Sioux") that translates as "snake in the grass."
This is the reality faced by the Lakota people of the Standing Rock Reservation, part of the Catholic Diocese of Bismarck in both North and South Dakota. And it is here that Brother George Maufort, SDS seeks to share our Savior's love and mercy, and a measure of hope for a better tomorrow.
Straddling the border between the Dakotas, Standing Rock Reservation is home to the Yanktonai, Hunkpapa, and Blackfoot tribes, all part of the Lakota nation. It consists of about a million acres, reduced quite a bit from the two million acres that the United States government originally ceded to the tribes in 1889.
The first Catholic missionaries to the Lakota at Standing Rock were Jesuits and Benedictines, whose work began in 1834. The Catholic Indian Mission with which Brother George is affiliated began in the early 1870s. An ordained deacon, Brother George has ministered among the Lakota for the past 15 years, helping to serve five parishes in Sioux County, North Dakota. Prior to this, he had worked with other Native American peoples in Wisconsin and Canada.
Brother George ministers among a troubled population. His primary work is that of an alcohol and drug abuse (AODA) counselor, a service that sadly is in great demand on the reservation. Many factors, he tells us, contribute to the high incidence of addiction among the Lakota. These include inadequate education, health care, housing, and job opportunities.
Youth especially are at risk, since parents often place a low priority on education and encourage their teens to drop out of school to help support the family. Getting a job, no matter how menial, seems far more urgent when a family isn't sure where its next meal is coming from. Thus begins a vicious cycle of poverty, for a student drop-out rate of 76% virtually guarantees that few companies would ever consider Standing Rock Reservation as a potential labor market.
According to the American Indian Relief Council, "housing conditions on the Sioux reservations are among the worst in the United States." Moreover, the public health community long ago recognized that Native Americans suffer more health problems than any other minority group in the country, with the Lakota among those suffering the worst.
A native of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Brother George was interested from early on in Native American cultures and traditions. His background as a farmer and a woodsman has likewise served him well. "When I arrived at Standing Rock," he recalls, "one of the first things I did was to find where I could participate in the Inipi, the sacred purification ceremony celebrated in the sweat lodge. I found it to be spiritually strengthening. I do all I can to encourage our parish families to use their Lakota symbolism as they give voice to their Catholic faith."
Brother George's ministry has carried him into the fight against racism. He proclaims our Savior's love for all people through his involvement in social justice issues. It's a message of hope and inclusion that he feels blessed to share with Catholics throughout the Diocese of Bismarck and beyond.
"I pray I will forever approach the Lakota people, and all Native peoples, with an open mind, a listening ear, and a compassionate heart," he declares. "I know the stories of their lives and the hardships they've endured, which all too often were inflicted on them in the name of religion. This is why I seek to live among them as a healer, encouraging them to move on beyond the pain of the past to a new and better tomorrow."
Lent is a good time to enact a 'New Year's resolution'...
In addition to prayer, penance, and the giving of alms, for many people Lent is a time for reassessment—a season for taking a look at resolutions made at the start of the New Year, but not acted on. If you do not presently have a Will, Lent could be an excellent time to begin plans for one. Here are a few pointers:
· Keep it simple. A simple Will may be changed more easily should circumstances in the future require it.
· Get professional help. The services of a qualified estate planning attorney are worth every dime when viewed in light of the problems both you and your heirs may avoid.
· Choose a personal representative. This may be a loved one, a friend, or an institution, such as your bank. Be sure as well to name an alternate representative should the original person you designated prove unable to serve.
· Keep your Will in a secure place. But leave instructions as to where it may be found. Again, this is a good reason for using an attorney, who may keep on file a copy of your Will.
For more information, please write for your free copy of our booklet, 37 Things People 'Know' About Wills That Aren't Really So.
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