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Volume 8, Number 2
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
www.marianist.com

THREE MARIANISTS ORDAINED AS DEACONS IN ROME


At the ordination celebration, Sudhir Kujur, Stephen Wany’oike, Archbishop Ladaria and Simon Choi Kwang Kyu. Photos courtesy of Bro. Mike McAward

On Jan. 17, Simon Choi Kwang Kyu (Region of Korea), Sudhir Kujur (District of India) and Stephen Wany’oike Mburu (District of Eastern Africa) were ordained to the order of deacon in the Society of Mary. The Mass was celebrated at Santo Nome di Maria in Rome. Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria, S.J., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, presided and gave the homily. Approximately 150 people attended the celebration, including Marianist Family members, relatives and friends. Bros. Michael Cochran and Stan Zubek, who served with Stephen Wany’oike in Kitale, Kenya, represented the District of Eastern Africa. Bro. Prakash Kujur (assistant district superior) represented the District of India. Frs. Paschal Lee and Dominic Park represented the Region of Korea. The multicultural celebration included songs in Korean and Hindi. Bros. Stan Zubek, Michael Cochran and Mike McAward performed an instrumental communion meditation on clarinet, flute and organ. A reception followed at Via Latina in Rome. Congratulations and our prayers for the new deacons!


At the celebration, clockwise from top, Bro. LeRoy Viera brings the offertory gifts to the archbishop; Fr. Rudy Vela helps Sudhir Kujur with his vestments; Fr. Rudy with the Indian seminarians: Rajesh Kandulna, Xavier Raj Savarimuthu, Sudhir Kujur, Bhaskar Galleli and Joseph Barla; and Bro. Ed Violett, general assistant for temporalities. View more photos from the celebration.

 

MARIANISTS CELEBRATE 125 YEARS IN HAWAI’I


Marianist brothers on an outing in the early days of their ministry in Honolulu. Photo by the late Bro. Bertram Bellinghausen

The Marianist community in Hawai’i continued its 125th anniversary celebration on Jan. 24 with a memorial service for deceased Marianists at the Diamond Head Cemetery and an anniversary program followed by Mass at the Mamiya Theatre on the Saint Louis School/Chaminade University of Honolulu campus. Bishop Larry Silva was the celebrant. The program, attended by almost 450 guests, included a premiere showing of a new documentary about the Marianists in Hawai’i. During Mass, new members of Marianist Lay Communities made their commitment to the Marianist Family. Members of the MLCs and vowed Marianists renewed their commitments. A reception followed the Mass. Organizers of the event were Bro. Dennis Schmitz, Ray Abregano, dean of faculty and registrar at Saint Louis School, Mike Fassiotto, director of graduate studies at CUH, and Venus Ituralde, director of residential housing at CUH. Read an article about the Marianists’ history in Hawai’i by Bro. Jim Dods. The article appeared in a special section in the Jan. 23 Hawai’i Catholic Herald. In addition, read an article and interview with Bro. Tom Spring about the anniversary in the Jan. 24 issue of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.


Novice Brandon Alana (left) and Bro. Dennis Bautista lead the brothers in song at the memorial service at the Diamond Head cemetery in Honolulu. Photos courtesy of Bro. Tom Payne


Clockwise from top, Provincial Stephen Glodek (right), shown with Bro. Jerry Bommer, represented the Provincial Council at the celebration; Srs. Stephanie Morales and Durie Kim, who were born and raised in Hawai’i, practice for the Mass; Jennifer Laganse, a CUH freshman, and Austin Lee, a Lay Marianist and member of the Marianist contact program, sign the register for MLCs in Hawai’i; and celebrating Mass, Bishop Silva (center) assisted by Frs. Roland Bunda and Tim Eden.

 

BROTHERS IN HAWAI’I GATHER FOR VOCATION SUMMIT


Fr. Jerry Pleva, Bro. Jim Vorndran and Fr. Roland Bunda at the vocation summit in Honolulu

The Office of Vocations hosted a vocation summit for Marianists in Hawai’i Jan. 16 and 17 at the Hale Malia community in Honolulu. The gathering, coordinated by Bros. Charles Johnson (national vocation director), Dennis Schmitz and Luis Gamboa, provided an opportunity for lay and vowed Marianists to discuss vocations and vocation efforts in Hawai’i. Bro. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, executive director of the National Religious Vocation Conference, was the facilitator. Fr. George Cerniglia (assistant for religious life) also attended the summit. Eucharist on Saturday evening was celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva.


Clockwise from top, gathering for prayer at the summit, Fr. John Klobuka, Bros. Luis Gamboa and Jim Dods, Fr. Tim Eden, Lay Marianist Margaret Uiagalelei, Bro. José Degorio and Bro. Frank Damm; Bro. Luis Gamboa speaks at the summit; Bro. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, Bishop Silva and Bro. Charles Johnson; and Bishop Silva celebrates Mass with the Marianists. Photos courtesy of Bro. Tom Payne

 

CELEBRATING CHAMINADE DAY AROUND THE PROVINCE

In Puebla, Mexico


On Jan. 22, the Puebla community named its chapel Guillermo José Chaminade in honor of Blessed Chaminade. LEFT: Fr. Paul Neumann (left), assisted by Bro. Nico Castilla, blesses the door of the community chapel at the beginning of the Chaminade Day celebration; RIGHT: Fr. Paul Neumann and Bros. Rigoberto Hernandez Martínez and Mario Lenin Espinoza during the ceremony. The altar cloth was a gift from the mother of Rigoberto on the occasion of his first vows and is a traditional altar cloth design from his area of Mexico. Courtesy of Bro. Ed Longbottom

In St. Louis

Provincial Stephen Glodek and Assistant Provincial Fr. Jim Fitz visited St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis Jan. 22 to join in the school’s "Chaminade Day" liturgy and celebration of the 60th jubilees of Bro. Leo Slay and Fr. Don Cahill. Both men are members of the Curé of Ars community on the campus of St. John Vianney. Bro. Leo and Fr. Don renewed their vows before the student body, faculty and staff. Another highlight of the Mass was the distribution of Marianist medallions to the freshmen class. The festivities continued after Mass with cake served by the Marianists on campus. 

Provincial Stephen Glodek (center) congratulates Bro. Leo Slay (left) and Fr. Don Cahill on their 60th anniversaries as Marianists. The brothers were honored at the St. John Vianney Chaminade Day Mass.


LEFT: Senior Aaron Schuh reads intentions at the Chaminade Day Mass as Frs. Jim Fitz, Joe Uvietta and Tim Kenney (St. John Vianney campus minister) look on; RIGHT: Teacher Bill Redman assists students in distributing Marianist medallions to freshmen students. The medallions symbolize the Marianist spirit and are worn for Masses, special events and graduation. Many faculty members and students, however, choose to wear them daily.

In Maui


LEFT: Fr. Jerry Pleva with members of the St. Anthony parish community; RIGHT: Bro. Frank Gomes with Judy Yamanoe and Irene Bodden. Photos courtesy of Fr. Roland Bunda

St. Anthony parish in Maui celebrated Chaminade Day Jan. 22 with a school Mass attended by the Marianists. Fr. Jim Orsini, principal of St. Anthony Junior/Senior High School, was the celebrant. That evening, over 200 parishioners and staff attended a Mass and "come and see" dinner sponsored by the Marianist community. Fr. Jerry Pleva was the celebrant. He was assisted by Bro. Jim Vorndran, who gave the homily, and Bro. Frank Gomes, who served as lector. The evening also included a presentation by students and staff on the history of the Marianists, which was written by a graduate of St. Anthony, and a presentation by Frs. Roland Bunda and Jerry Pleva and Bro. Jim Vorndran.

In Honolulu


Chaminade University of Honolulu awarded three members of the CUH community with the school’s annual Founder’s Day Awards. Bro. Jerry Bommer, CUH rector, (left) and Bro. Bernie Ploeger, CUH interim president, are shown with award winners Barbara Poole-Street, LaPria Wilks and Kapono Ryan. Read more.

Also during its Founder’s Day celebration, CUH dedicated a native Hawaiian motif Madonna entitled “Our Lady of Chaminade.” The icon is part of a plaque that will be displayed in Chaminade Plaza on campus. The dedication of the icon was made in memory of Kumu John Lake, who died in 2008. Lake was CUH’s first kumu-in-residence.

 

 

IN REMEMBRANCE OF BLESSED CHAMINADE

Bro. John Samaha (Cupertino, Calif.) offers a reflection on "The Chaminade Vision, the Marianist Charism" in honor of the anniversary of the death of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade on Jan. 22. Read the reflection. Also, read a letter of encouragement written by Fr. Chaminade to a fellow priest (submitted by Bro. John).

 

PERSONNEL NEWS

Aspirant Joe Janosik has joined the Casa Maria community in San Antonio. Our prayers for Joe in his new ministry.

Bro. Tobias Ferrer has left the Society of Mary. The Province thanks Tobias for his years of service and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.


Joe Janosik

Tobias Ferrer

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF . . .

Sr. Laola Hironaka, FMI (Marianist Sisters, San Antonio), 83, who died Jan. 17, 2009, in San Antonio. May she rest in peace. Sr. Laola served as a teacher and was a principal in Tokyo, Japan, for 20 years. She was a tireless advocate for Amnesty International and many other social justice causes. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 20 at the Marianist Residence in San Antonio. Fr. John Leies was the celebrant and homilist. Burial was at the Marianist cemetery in San Antonio. Read Sr. Laola’s obituary from the San Antonio Express-News and read a poem written for Sr. Laola by Bro. Bill Farrell.

Sr. Laola (left) with Sr. Nicole Trahan

Please pray also for Raymunda Bautista, Bernard Hakenewerth, Anthony Kosmider, Ellie Kurtz, Marianna Quigley, Elias Rana, Joan Tobin, and Thomas Valenti. Read more.

 

ROCKAWAY BEACH, NEW YORK


Photo courtesy of contact Heribertus Denny

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HEALING OF . . .

Bro. Mel Meyer (Curé of Ars, St. Louis)

Bro. Urban Naal (Cupertino, Calif.)

Fr. Mario González-Simancas (Province of Madrid and serving in the District of Mexico)

Please pray also for Regina Cusack, Henry Setter, JoAnn Taylor and Al Zampier. Read more .

 

SPOTLIGHT ON 2009 JUBILARIANS

FamilyOnline introduces a new feature to honor Marianists celebrating a milestone anniversary this year. Each issue will profile four jubilarians and pay tribute to their dedication to the Marianist mission.


Bro. Charles Gausling, 60 years professed

"As a senior at Purcell High School, I was approached about a vocation to be a Marianist.  God gave me the grace to devote my life in the service to Mary doing her work, which has been a challenge ever since." Read more from Bro. Charles.


Bro. John Samaha, 60 years professed

"Thrust into such a variety of assignments, I was a jack of many trades and a master of none, and generally ill-prepared for the challenges. But God’s grace was sufficient for survival. A redeeming feature in all these instances was working with many truly wonderful people, some of whom became lifelong friends." Read more from Bro. John.


Bro. Louis Mason, 50 years professed

"I love the contemplative atmosphere of being an active member within the Society of Mary. I believe this was an ideal of Fr. Chaminade." Read more from Bro. Louis.


Fr. Ken Templin, 50 years professed

“As a Marianist I have been blessed with good friends, wonderful travel opportunities (Bogota, Colombia; Ireland; Korea; India; and the Philippines) and many personal experiences of the power of God’s unconditional love in my life. I have tried to be Jesus for others through the ministry of education, pastoral care, and being a compassionate, forgiving and understanding ordained brother.” Read more from Fr. Ken.

 

WHO'S DOING WHAT. . .


Bro. Bob with a patient. Courtesy of The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Bro. Bob Donovan (Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati) was featured in a Jan. 25 article in the Cincinnati Enquirer. The article discusses Bro. Bob’s healthcare ministry to the homeless in the Over-the-Rhine area. "We can talk about providing compassionate care, physically and mentally," Donovan said, "but we touch people. That's like 50 percent of what we do: touch people who are told they aren't worthy of being touched." Read more from the story.

Bros. Cletus Behlmann and Robert Wood (Marianist Residence, San Antonio) are featured in the Jan. 2 issue of Today’s Catholic. The brothers are mentioned in an article about a St. Mary’s University organization called "For Paws" that provides care for homeless cats. Read the story.


Bro. Cletus created the "For Paws" logo. Photos courtesy of Today’s Catholic


Bro. Robert Wood with Cien, one of the homeless cats being cared for by "For Paws."

Congratulations to Bro. Howard Hughes (Cupertino, Calif.), who has had three music compositions published by GIA Publications, Inc. of Chicago. "Easter Sequence" and "Easter Gospel Acclamation" were commissioned by St. Peter’s Church in the Chicago Loop. The third piece, "Ring Out Our Joy – A Festive Processional," was commissioned for the installation of Archbishop DiNardo in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and for "The Year of the Eucharist."


Fr. Johann Roten, director of the Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, is quoted in an article in The Catholic Telegraph about nativity scenes that were donated to the library’s collection. The new pieces are worth an estimated $150,000. Read the article. In other library news, a new exhibit, "The Fairest of All," which depicts Mary in vibrant colors, will be on display Jan. 30 to March 27. Read more.


Bros. Mel Meyer and Brian Zampier were recently featured on "Show Me St. Louis," a show about the St. Louis community. View the segment.

Bro. Mel has completed several new pieces. View his latest works.


Congratulations to Brenda Fitzpatrick, who has been named chairperson of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative. She is a Lay Marianist from New Orleans and serves on the MSJC steering committee. Contact Brenda.

Baby Billy Sherwen, son of Jessica and Dave Sherwen, is getting plenty of sleep. His parents, not so much! Jessica is the program director for the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point, N.J. Billy was born on Jan. 3. 


In a waking moment, Baby Billy with Bro. Ed Unferdorfer and his mom Jessica. Courtesy of Anthony Fucci

 

 

 

 

 

 

PEACE & JUSTICE UPDATE:

Inauguration Day 2009. Myles McCabe, director of peace and justice, and Jim Vogt, director of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative, joined over a million people at the inauguration of President Barack Obama on Jan. 20. "It was 17 degrees, but there was an overwhelming spirit of hope and the shared vision of a new beginning even in the midst of the challenges that have to be addressed," said Myles. Read a prayer for the new president.


LEFT: Myles McCabe (left) and Jim Vogt on inauguration day 2009; RIGHT: The Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Photos courtesy of Jim Vogt

MSJC Annual Meeting. The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative Steering Committee met Jan. 15 to Jan. 18 at the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point, N.J. The agenda included refinement of the MSJC action plan, a workshop on faith-based local community organizing, review of plans for issue teams, and approval of a new initiative on the “Consistent Ethic of Life.” 


Steering Committee members, kneeling, Ted Gorczyca, Myles McCabe, Fr. Ted Cassidy, Bro. Bob Donovan, Mike Gillespie, Errol Christian and Jim Vogt (director); standing, Sr. Ann René McConn (asst. to the director), Bro. Bill Farrell, Sr. Leanne Jablonski, Al Prendergast, Cynthia Sias, Brenda Fitzpatrick (chair), Larry Hufford, Jessica Merugu, Julie Nagasako (partially hidden), Sr. Grace Walle and Tara Poling. Courtesy of Jim Vogt

 

SABBATICALS FOR 2009-2010

Province members who are considering either a professional or spiritual sabbatical time during the 2009-2010 year should contact the appropriate provincial assistant no later than Jan. 31, 2009.  Those seeking a professional or educational sabbatical can contact Bro. Ed Brink, and those seeking a spiritual renewal sabbatical can contact Fr. George Cerniglia. They will provide the necessary procedures for the submission of sabbatical applications.

 

GOOD TO KNOW

Jan. 29-Feb. 1
Marianist LIFE national moderators meeting, St. Louis

Feb. 1-3
Provincial Council meeting, St. Louis

Feb. 5-8
NACMS Conversation Group, Dayton

MORE

HAVE YOU VISITED THE FAMILY ONLINE ARCHIVE? Did you know that FamilyOnline is archived online? Just go to www.marianist.com/fol to search any issue since November 2002. Type in the word(s) you're searching for and then click on the issue(s) that appear. Once you open an issue, go to "edit" and then "find on this page."

BLOG. Read the latest from our Marianist blogger. Fr. Bert Buby (Stonemill-Kiefaber, Dayton), Scriptural Reflections

 

BROTHERS AT DEEPAHALLI IN INDIA CELEBRATE PONGAL 


LEFT: Fr. Joe Lackner in the Deepahalli chapel; RIGHT: Decorations used in the celebration. Courtesy of Fr. Joe

Fr. Joe Lackner, assistant for developing regions, celebrated Pongal on Jan. 17 with the Deepahalli community in Bangalore, India. Pongal is a harvest festival mainly celebrated in Tamilnadu, India. Since many Deepahalli members are from Tamilnadu, it is a big celebration day for the community. The brothers decorated the chapel and Fr. Dave Fleming celebrated Mass in the Indian Rite. The brothers, including members of the St. Joseph community, enjoyed traditional Pongal foods cooked by the Tamil brothers and served on banana leaves. To round out the festivities, the scholastics and REDS students played a cricket match.

 

FROM THE SCHOOLS . . .

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON President Dan Curran is featured in DaytonB2B magazine in its 2009 Hot List of six community leaders "who we believe will be key to helping shape the region's growth and economy in the coming year." Read more.


Nolan Catholic students display white crosses in support of “Pro-Life Week” in Fort Worth		 NOLAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL in Fort Worth, Texas, commemorated “Pro-Life Week” Jan. 12 to Jan. 16 by displaying 16 white crosses in front of school to represent the average number of abortions that occur in Fort Worth every day. The students also created spiritual adoption cards for those interested in adopting an unborn child, wore special T-shirts, and participated in pro-life prayer services.

NORTH CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. Eric Zahren (NC '86 ),was featured on the front cover of the Jan. 4 issue of PARADE magazine, as one of the Secret Service agents who will protect President Barack Obama. Read the story.
Special Agent Eric Zahren (center) at the White House

 

RECOMMENDED READING …

Bro. Phil Aaron (Chambers St., Dayton) has reviewed the book "A Sacred Voice is Calling: Personal Vocation and Social Conscience" by John Neafsey. Bro. Phil says, "Neafsey has done a marvelous job of giving examples of people who have heard and followed a special calling – from Native American Black Elk to Mother Teresa and Thoreau. He has used numerous quotes which will inspire those who are in a process of discernment." Read more of Bro. Phil’s review. If you have a book you would like to recommend, please e-mail Joan Suda.

 

"HOT TOTTIE TUESDAY" AT THE MARIANIST CENTER IN CALIF.


Ordering Hot Totties from a specialty menu and eating fresh homemade scones are Bro. Pat McMahon, Bro. Tom Deasy, Steve Weiner, Fr. Jim Imhof, Fr. Bob Hertweck, Fr. Larry Mann (aka Papa Bear), Bro. Jim Leahy and Bro. Gene Frank. The most popular Tottie was the Black Fog. Second place went to The Barbary Coast, and third place to The Ancient Mariner! Courtesy of Nancy Romano, activity director.

 

NEWSLETTER
CENTRAL

MLNNA. Read the January 2008 issue of MLNNA E-News, the newsletter of the Marianist Lay Network of North America. Also, read a reflection from MLNNA President A. J. Wagner.

 

JUST ONE MORE...


Epiphany. Three Wise Men stopped by the Marianist novitiate in Limuru, Kenya, on their way to Bethlehem. They are second year novices Given Mukanshi (Zambia), Daniel Ouma (Kenya) and Michael Chirwa (Malawi). Courtesy of Fr. Allen DeLong

 

JUST ANOTHER ONE MORE . . .

IT’S A GIRL! Welcome Baby Alina Alexcia Shelvy, who entered the world on Jan. 25. She is the granddaughter of Diane Guerra, national director of the Office of Communications for the Province. Alina weighs 7 lb., 4 oz. Her parents are Nataliia and Eric Shelvy. Best wishes to all!

 

PROVINCE
BIRTHDAYS

JANUARY

30 Cyprian Soreng cypriansoreng@yahoo.co.in
31 Ronald Overman overmarl@notes.udayton.edu
  Robert Wade     

FEBRUARY

2 James Billo  
4 Thomas Njari  
6 Kenneth Straubinger kstraubinger@sm-usa.org
  James Mifsud  
7 Francisco Gonzalez franciscgonzalez@yahoo.com
10 James Dods  jimdods2001@yahoo.com
  Kenneth Sommer  
11 John Blank blankjoa@notes.udayton.edu
  Joseph Lackner jlackner@sm-usa.org
  Myles McCabe mmccabe@sm-usa.org
  Ann Mueller amueller@sm-usa.org
12 Charles Cummiskey ccummiskey@stmarytx.edu
  Robert E. Hughes hughesre@notes.udayton.edu
13 Mary Beth Hefti, OSF mbhefti@sm-usa.org
  John Arulanandu I.  johnarulsm@yahoo.co.in
  Patrick McMahon bropjmcm@aol.com
  Alvin McMenamy amcmenamy@sm-usa.org

Editor's Note: If you would like your e-mail address eliminated from FamilyOnline for security reasons, please e-mail Ann Mueller.

 

VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT www.marianist.com

Editor: Joan Suda; assistant: Ann Mueller. This biweekly e-mail newsletter produced by the Society of Mary features news about the Society of Mary (SM), Daughters of Mary Immaculate (FMI) and lay Marianists. Bro. Stephen Glodek, SM, provincial; Fr. Jim Fitz, SM, assistant provincial. Read the 2009 publication schedule and deadlines. Read hints about submitting photos and copy. 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. 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. If we can't, we'll put you on our "NOTIFY ONLY" list. 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/SEARCH: Visit www.marianist.com/fol. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: Visit http://www.marianist.com/subscribe.htm. Remember: you can search the archived issues of FamilyOnline at www.marianist.com/fol. Type in the word(s) you're looking for, open the issue, pull down the "Edit" bar and click on "Find on This Page," which will take you to the exact spot you need.

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