Volume 2, Number 12
Tuesday, May 27, 2003

AARON SONNENBURG PROFESSES FIRST VOWS

Congratulations to Bro. Aaron Sonnenburg on the profession of his first vows May 17 at the Bergamo Center chapel in Dayton. Fr. Jim Fitz presided at the Eucharist; Fr. Joe Tedesco, novicemaster, gave the homily. Bro. Stephen Glodek received the vows and gave Bro. Aaron his silver ring. More than 150 friends and family attended the ceremony and the dinner following. Bro. Aaron, 35, was born in Lynwood, Calif., and worked for the IRS and America Online before entering the Society of Mary. Bro. Aaron works as a strategic planner for a grassroots organization that provides services for the working poor in East Dayton. This fall he will attend the University of Dayton to complete his master's degree in education.

Novicemaster Fr. Joe Tedesco (left) and Provincial Bro. Stephen Glodek look on as Bro. Aaron Sonnenburg signs the Vow Register.

FOUR ORDAINED TO DIACONATE IN ROME

On May 10, Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, S.J., presided over the diaconate ordination ceremony in Rome for four Province Brothers, three from the Region of India and one from the Region of Korea. Those ordained included Bros. Dominic ChanBok Park, Pragasam Thathappa, Antony Atukaran and D'Cruz Nicholas. Our heartiest congratulations!

DIRECTOR ASSIGNMENTS

After consulting the communities involved, the Provincial Council has named local directors with terms effective Aug. 15, 2003. We pray for their ministry as directors.

 Four Brothers have accepted a second term of three years: Bro. Frank Damm (Marianist Center Community, Honolulu); Bro. Ray McQuade (Marianist Community, North Topsail Beach, N.C.); Fr. Don Cahill (Our Lady of the Pillar, St. Louis); and Bro. Gerry McAuley (Dublin, Ireland).

 Two Brothers will begin a first term of three years: Bro. Bob Wiethorn (DeSales Crossings, Cincinnati); and Bro. John Schlund (Denton, Texas)

PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS

The following personnel assignments are effective Aug. 15, 2003. Our best wishes and prayers to all in their transitions.

 Bro. Roger Bau from sabbatical at the Institute for Religious Formation in Chicago to formation work in the Sector of Mexico

 Bro. Jerry Bommer from sabbatical to the Marianist Hall Community in Honolulu, with ministry at Chaminade University as rector

  Fr. Jim Imhof from the Marianist Community, Lincoln Street, Fla., to Villa St. Joseph in Cupertino, Calif.

 Bro. Peter Loehr from the Marianist Community in Fort Worth to the Marianist Residence in San Antonio

 Fr. Francois Rossier of the Region of Switzerland to the Trinity Avenue Community in Dayton, with ministry at the International Marian Research Institute

 Bro. John Schneider from the Marianist Center Community, Honolulu, to the Meyer Hall Community in Dayton

ENLARGED GENERAL COUNCIL MEETS IN ROME

The Enlarged General Council, from left: Bro. Peter Pontolillo; Frs. David Fleming, Manuel Madueño and Urs Schenker; Bros. Stephen Glodek and Javier Anso; Fr. George Cerniglia; Bro. José Maria Alvira

The Enlarged General Council of the Society of Mary, which includes members of the General Council and the four zonal conference heads, met in Rome May 7-10. Brother Stephen Glodek represented the Marianist Conference, which includes the Provinces of the United States and Meribah and the Region of Canada. Fr. Urs Schenker represented CEM, the European Conference, and Fr. Manuel Madueño represented CLAMAR, the South American Conference. The African-Asian Conference position is open. Attending from the General Administration were Fr. David Fleming, Superior General; Fr. George Cerniglia, Religious Life; Bro. José Maria Alvira, Education; Bro. Javier Anso, Temporalities; and Bro. Peter Pontolillo, Secretary General.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF…

Bro. Ángel Gallo (Province of Madrid), 86, who died May 6 in Madrid. To read Bro. Gallo's obituary, please click here: May he rest in peace.

Fr. Alberto Echeverría y Martín (Province of Zaragoza), 74, who died May 13 in San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa). To read Fr. Alberto's obituary, please click here: May he rest in peace.

Leonard Rasky, 78, brother of Fr. Joseph Rasky (Central Catholic Community, San Antonio), who died May 10 in Milwaukee from pneumonia. May he rest in peace.

Joan Cahill, sister of Fr. Donald Cahill (Our Lady of the Pillar, St. Louis), who died May 11 in Dearborn, Mich. May she rest in peace.



SUNSET AT MOUNT SAINT JOHN

Photo courtesy of Bro. John Lemker, SM

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HEALING OF…

Bro. Ed Keifer (Madeleine House, New Orleans), who continues treatment for cancer.

Bro. Robert Hatesohl (Marianist Residence, San Antonio) who has a small tumor on the brain. He will be undergoing further tests to determine treatment.

Sr. Laura Leming (Marianist Sisters, Dayton), who will undergo surgery to prevent the spread of malignant cells found previously. The prognosis is excellent for a complete recovery.

WHO'S DOING WHAT

Bro. Ed Loch (Central Catholic Community, San Antonio), archivist of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, spoke at the Society of Southwest Archivists Conference May 22 in New Orleans on the topic, "The Sesquicentennial of the Society of Mary in Texas." Congratulations!

 Special congratulations to Bro. Herbert Janson (St. Mary's University, San Antonio), who will retire this year after 54 years of teaching mathematics - 18 years at St. Mary's University and 36 years at Central Catholic High School. His retirement is capped by publication of his book, Marianists in God's Acre. Funded by St. Mary's alumni and encompassing the history of Marianist presence in the area, the work features biographies of the 162 Brothers buried in the cemetery on campus. Bro. Herbert wrote every day for nearly a year to complete his task. Marianists in God's Acre may be purchased by calling Bro. Herbert at 210.436.3730, or 210.436.3542 (office). Cost is $20.

Fr. Cris Janson (left) joins Fr. Herbert Janson at Fr. Herbert's retirement party at St. Mary's University.

 Congratulations to Sr. Leanne Jablonski (Marianist Sisters, Dayton) and Tara Poling of the Marianist Environmental Education Center (MEEC) who published an article in the April 2003 issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, a journal published by the Ecological Society of America. "Each breath reminds us that we are all globally connected, and that our … use of resources impact others," Sr. Leanne said. To read the article, which examines religious involvement in environmental justice, contact Sr. Leanne at Leanne.Jablonski@notes.udayton.edu

M.I.R.A.C.L.E. TRULY A MIRACLE TO MALAWI ORPHANS

Bro. Peter Daino (Chaminade Community, Karonga, Malawi) is visiting the United States on a home-leave from April through September to raise money for M.I.R.A.C.L.E. (Marianist Institute of Rural Artisans for Christian Life Education), a ministry he founded in Karonga in 1999 that teaches a trade to Karonga orphans ages 15-25, most of whom have been orphaned by AIDS. Bro. Peter is director of MIRACLE; Bro. Patrick Muthamia is principal; Bro. Jared Nyamwaya manages the social services department; and Bro. John Woo is the business manager. Bro. Peter is visiting St. Louis, Dayton and Syracuse and will speak at 20 parishes in his fundraising efforts. To read a short summary about MIRACLE, please click here:

Smiles all around at the first graduation ceremony for MIRACLE in October 2002. Graduates each received a $200 "tool kit" for their trade. Bro. Peter needs funds to pay for the kits. At the ceremony with a new graduate are (from left) Bro. Peter; a local member of Parliament; and Bro. Patrick Muthamia.

Site of the MIRACLE school in Karonga, which teaches carpentry, home management and tailoring as well as Gospel values and self-awareness. The school has 250 students, with 300 on the waiting list.

IRELAND O'NEWS

Fr. Michael Reaume (Dublin, Ireland) suggests we check out the new website for St. Laurence College in Dublin at www.stlaurencecollege.com. St. Laurence serves a disadvantaged area south of Dublin and has more than 500 students, an increase of 200 in the past 13 years. Five of the six Brothers in Dublin work at St. Laurence, including Frs. Michael and Neville O'Donohue; and Bros. Jim Contadino, Fred Rech and Gerry McAuley. Bro. John Sullivan works as a chaplain at a secondary school administered by the Spiritans.

Fr. Tim Kenney, Province director of education (second from left), visited the Irish contingent in early April, including (from left): Bro. Gerry McAuley, director of the Dublin community, Anne McCarry, deputy principal of St. Laurence College, and Bro. Jim Contadino, principal of the school.

LAY MARIANISTS OF SAN ANTONIO

Congratulations to the new leadership team of the Marianist Lay Network of San Antonio (MLNSA), from left: Felipe Barajas (Service), Nicole Trahan (Spirituality), Becky Moreno (Instruction) and Angie Cortez (Coordinator).

RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES

 Anthony Fucci, director of the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point, N.J., reports that the Center has been getting a lot of good press lately. The Cape May Star and Wave featured the Center's third annual Cultural Diversity Day. Our Sunday Visitor ran a long article which focused on the Center's Retreat for Families with Young Children, which takes place each May and is open to families with children under age 7.

GUSTAMENTE, BOESEN ACCEPT NEW POSITIONS

Two longtime lay Marianist leaders, Rey Gustamente and Rick Boesen, have accepted new positions. Fr. Terry Weik, director of university ministry at St. Mary's University, reports that Rey, coordinator for the Marianist LIFE Alumni Project, has been named university minister for spiritual development at St. Mary's University, effective mid-June. Rey is completing his MA in pastoral studies at Loyola University in New Orleans this summer. "It has been a pleasure … and an honor to represent the Marianist family. I look forward to … further opportunities for collaboration," Rey said.

Rick, director of the Office of Marianist Laity in Cupertino, Calif., will teach history and theology this fall at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif. Rick formerly taught at Chaminade-Madonna in Florida and St. Anthony on Maui. "I will be indebted to the Society of Mary for their faith in me. I look forward to further collaboration in mission," Rick said. The Province congratulates Rey and Rick and thanks them for many years of faithful service.

SAVE THE DATE

Bro. Charlie Johnson, vocation director, invites all SMs to a vocation workshop next March 26-28, 2004, at the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center in Eureka, Mo. The presenter is Bro. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, executive director of the National Religious Vocation Conference. Details to come.

GRANTS AWARDED TO INDIA, MEXICO, AFRICA

Fr. Dave Paul (St. Louis) reports that five grant awards from the GA's Marianist Solidarity Fund have been received by the development office: $25,000 for construction at the REDS Skills Training Center at Deepahalli, India; $20,000 for construction at Casa San Isidro in the Uxpanapa Valley, Mexico; $14,300 for a truck for the Marianist Development Project in Mombasa, Kenya; $10,000 for the IMANI Program in Nairobi, Kenya; and $5,000 for the MIRACLE Program in Karonga, Malawi. The fund awards grants to Marianist ministries primarily in developing countries.

MOUNT SAINT JOHN SURVEY

Bro. Jack Somerville (Novitiate Community, Dayton), left, and civil engineer Paul Kennedy are participating in a Geographical Information Survey of the Mount Saint John property. The project is part of a survey class at the University of Dayton.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC 150TH BIRTHDAY!

Fr. Joe Tarrillion (far right) blesses the new St. Joseph's statue at Central Catholic assisted by Fr. Tim Dwyer (left) and Deacon Michael D'Agostino.

Fr. Joseph Tarrillion (Chaminade Community House, San Antonio), president of Central Catholic High School, reports that the yearlong celebration of the school's 150-year anniversary has been full and festive. Established in 1852, Central is the oldest private boys' school in San Antonio. Faculty, alumni, parents, and students participated in activities that included a reenactment of the arrival of the Marianist founders by stagecoach, a dinner and auction, a blessing of the new St. Joseph statue, a sesquicentennial liturgy, and a grand finale birthday party.

MARIANIST TRIVIA

LIFESAVER. What brave Marianist Brother won the AAA (Automobile Association) National Lifesaving Award at age 13 for jumping into a New York street and pushing a woman out of the way of a bus? It was Bro. Jack Ventura (Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis) who did the brave deed. He and his parents were flown to Washington, D.C., to accept the award. What can he tell us about this exciting moment in his life? "My only memory was that it was my first time on an airplane and the hotel suite was bigger than the apartment we lived in."

AFFILIATE REUNIONS IN HAWAII

Attendees at an Affiliation Reunion May 4 in Honolulu pose outside the new residence of the Center Marianist Community in Honolulu. With the Affiliates are Bro. Frank Damm (far left); Bro. Franklin Pao (standing, left rear); Fr. Johann Roten from Dayton (back row, left); Tom Wesselkamper, husband of Sue Wesselkamper, president of Chaminade University (right of Fr. Roten); Bro. Frank Spaeth (open-collared white shirt, right rear); Bro. Bob Maruyama (far right); and Fr. Jack Rielly (next to Bro. Bob). The event included Eucharist, a meeting and refreshments. Another reunion was held May 9 in Wailuku at St. Anthony's parish.

FLYIN' PAINTBRUSH

Marianist artist Bro. Cletus Behlmann (St. Mary's University, San Antonio) has been remarkably prodigious lately. He spent a week at the Marianist Retreat Center in Cape May Point, N.J., creating works for the center's living room and each of the private rooms - 34 watercolors in all. In addition, 50 of his paintings are being exhibited at the San Pedro Playhouse in San Antonio during the run of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Congratulations!

JUBILARIANS OF 2003

We celebrate the jubilees of 48 members of the Society of Mary this year from the new Province of the United States, whose combined years of service exceed 2,095 years of religious profession and 450 years of ordained ministry. Congratulations to all! We will include photos of every jubilarian in FamilyOnline in small groups. Jubilee celebrations have been held in San Antonio (March 29-30), Honolulu (April 27), San Jose (May 18) and St. Louis (May 24) and will be held June 14 in Baltimore and Aug. 16 in Dayton.

NEWS RELEASES: We're sending a news release to the local newspaper of each jubilarian. If you see an article about any jubilarian, please clip it and send to Diane Guerra, Province of the United States, 4425 West Pine Boulevard, St. Louis MO 63108. Thank you.


Top row (from left): Bros. Edwin Shiras, LeRoy Viera and Anthony Young (50 years); Bro. Beda ChungHa Ahn (25 years)
Bottom row (from left): Fr. Francis HeeSong Chang, Bro. John JinBea Ko and Fr. Augustine Pye Song (25 years); Fr. Donald Bracht (60th Sacerdotal)

OUT AND ABOUT

To read the upcoming travel schedule of members of the Provincial staff in
St. Louis, please click here:

PERSONNEL REVISIONS

Just one change this issue: Fr. Bob Backherms returned to Dayton from India. Current address is Mercy Siena Gardens, Rm. 238, 6105 N. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45415; 937.279.9803. Welcome home.

FAMILYONLINE ARCHIVED!

All back issues of FamilyOnline are available at www.marianist.com/fol.

PROVINCE BIRTHDAYS

(Note: To send an e-mail birthday greeting, just click on the individual's e-mail address below.)

ABOUT FamilyOnline

This biweekly e-mail newsletter is produced for members of the Society of Mary and the FMI. NEWS: We'll include news of travels, health updates, prayer requests, community celebrations, professional accomplishments, birthdays, and whatever personal or community news you'd like to share. Please send news, digital photos and comments and suggestions to Diane Guerra at dguerra@sm-usa.org and use "FamilyOnline" as your subject line. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS: If you're not receiving this newsletter in the proper format, with proper spacing and photographs and art appearing, please let us know and we'll try to find a solution. CHANGE IN E-MAIL ADDRESS: Send to Ann Mueller at amueller@sm-usa.org. NOTE TO DIRECTORS: Please print this newsletter and post or distribute to Brothers who do not have e-mail. BACK ISSUES: Visit www.marianist.com/fol