Marianist Community
-- 22683 Alcalde Road -- Cupertino, CA 95014 October in Cupertino featured many pleasant days as we enjoyed Indian Summer weather with fresh mornings, clear blue skies and bright sunny days. The many friendly deer here have become more and more at home with cars and people. Lively squirrels, chipmunks and colorful but raucous blue jays are also plentiful. Occasionally we heard sounds of coyotes in the quiet of the night. It is said that raccoons are here, too. There has been one skunk sighting. The Rancho San Antonio Park where I walk has signs warning about rattlesnakes and mountains lions, but I haven’t seen any since my return from Maui. But I have seen bobcats, wild turkeys and busy red-headed woodpeckers. On October 2, feast of the Guardian Angels, we celebrated the Anniversary of our Foundation as the Society of Mary. With Brother Elmer Dunsky we celebrated his 89th birthday on October 5. The next day we had a Holy Hour for the First Friday, then came the great feast of Our Lady of the Pillar on October 12. For the Marianist World Day of Prayer, October 15, Father John Bolin celebrated the Sunday morning Mass at the Villa while Father Jack Rielly celebrated a Sunday afternoon Mass at the San Juan Residence. Father Jack had invited many affiliates and other friends to the afternoon lunch, meeting and Mass and many were able to find their way here. On October 18, feast of Saint Luke, we had a community anointing service. We also celebrated Mission Sunday, October 22, with special attention to our mission as Senior Marianists. And throughout the month we celebrated Our Lady of the Rosary. The weekend of October 6-8 Brother John Haster went to San Antonio for the annual meeting of the Directors and returned with fresh enthusiasm. Later in the month Brother John Schlund, accompanied by Brother Thomas Deasy and Brother Vincent Wayer, led an expedition to Las Vegas. For the sports-minded, October was a month to remember, with the baseball playoffs and the World Series, college and professional football, professional basketball and hockey. But the earthquake in Hawaii was the really big news of the month. As we approached Halloween, the dining room at the Villa was filled with autumn decorations. Meanwhile the residents at the Alcalde House and Bordeaux House prepared for trick or treat calls. Some of us were baffled when the sheriff arrived in response to a 911 call from the San Juan Residence number only to find that no one in the house had placed the call. Brother Stanley Murakami calmly commented that this kind of computer error happens all the time! Chaminade University’s President Sue Wesselkamper thoughtfully dropped in to visit while in the Bay Area. Later, a special friend of the Marianists from her earliest days at Chaminade University, Ms. Serene Chew, was our guest. She brought many gifts from Hawaii and renewed old acquaintances. I remember her especially for her faithfulness in visiting Brother Joseph Becker almost daily in his last weeks of life at Saint Francis hospice. I attended a workshop for physicians and clergy at O’Connor Hospital given by Dr. Sharon Kaufman, author of And a Time To Die…How American Hospitals Shape the End of Life. Earlier Mrs. Grace Pancipanci had gone to Washington, DC for a stimulating conference on Pastoral Nursing. Father Donald Wallace, currently attending the Vatican II program in Menlo Park, joined us for the last weekend of the month. Mrs. Suzanne McKamely, secretary for the Provincial Chapter, and her husband were our guests before the meeting of the Chapter. Immediately after the Chapter Mrs. Mary Ellen Garcia, Province Director of Human Resources, came to help us prepare for the transition to the new facility. Brother Vincent Wayer was busy preparing the guest rooms! Father John McEnhill successfully underwent cataract surgery. Father Jack Rielly was hospitalized for tests shortly after leading the celebration of the Marianist World Day of Prayer. Fortunately, his stay at El Camino Hospital was brief and he eagerly returned to Cupertino to resume his many activities. The “Faithful Friar” had to cancel one dinner with the Knights of Columbus but was able to fulfill his commitment to celebrate masses at nearby Saint Joseph of Cupertino while the diocesan priests were making their annual retreat. For the time being I am serving as Father Jack Rielly’s personal chauffeur. Towards the end of the month Brother Paul Fennelly was hospitalized briefly but shortly after his release he was able to resume his chauffeuring duties. On October 27-29 I attended the meeting of the Provincial Chapter at El Retiro, the Jesuit Retreat Center, a few minutes drive from Cupertino. The members of the Chapter joined the Marianists of the Bay Area on Saturday, October 28 for a poolside lunch at the Marianist Center followed by a tour of the construction project and finally a discussion at the San Juan Residence. Under Brother John Haster’s direction, Mrs. Nancy Romano had prepared an attractive brochure showing plans for the remodeling of the Center. Some of the capitulants visited those at the Villa who could not go down the hill to the Center for lunch or up the hill for the meeting. At the meeting Brother Vincent Wayer gave a colorful description of our community, Brother David Betz spoke about his work in Campus Ministry at UC Santa Cruz and Brother James Leahy gave us some highlights of Marianist Life in San Francisco. Brother Bernard Ploeger, moderator of the Chapter, spoke about the two principal items under discussion: the process of electing delegates to the chapter and reflection on the Province Vision statement. Following the Chapter Brothers Richard Dix, Robert Hanss and Bernard Ploeger were our guests. Sunday afternoon Brother Richard and I joined the crowds at the Rancho San Antonio park for a brisk walk. After our hour long climb through the hills the indefatigable Brother Richard said: “Is that all?” But that was all until the traditional Sunday evening prayer, social and dinner. Earlier Sunday members of the community joined the staff and their families for a lively Halloween Party. A professional magician delighted young and old. Among other features, Brother Bernard Foster appeared as a cheerful ghost, Brother Charles Ehrenfeld as Santa Claus arrived with a big bag of candy, while Father Larry Mann came guised as a Pope. The next day Brother Richard, after having met with the Director’s Council, gave us a brief report on the progress of the sale of the property. Be assured I am with you in thought and prayer, with special remembrance
of the faithful departed who have gone before us. ST |