Volume 5, Number 6
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
www.marianist.com

CONTACTS GATHER FOR MARCH RETREAT IN ST. LOUIS

Staff and participants of the contact retreat in St. Louis pause for a photo during the weekend of March 10-12 at the Province office. Bro. Jack Ventura facilitated the retreat, which focused on the process of applying for the aspirancy program. Front row, Ray Dominguez, Bro. Jack, Fr. John McEnhill, Chris DeGetmon and Brandon Alana-Maugaotega; middle row, Ken Barrett and Bro. Charles Johnson, vocation director; top, Novice Dennis Bautista. Photo by Bro. Brian Halderman

PROVINCIAL LETTER SUMMARIZES CHAPTER MEETING

Provincial Stephen Glodek offers Provincial Letter 16, “The Ninth Session of the Provincial Chapter,” dated March 15, 2006. The letter gives a summary of the Chapter held March 3-7, 2006, in Eureka, Mo. Topics include the future structure of the Provincial Council and the Provincial Chapter, restructuring of development efforts, the Province budget, the vision statement, and the General Chapter in Rome. The letter is on the PORTAL under “Chapter Documents.” Each brother will receive a printed copy of the letter next week.
Read Provincial Letter 16.

PERSONNEL NEWS

Fr. Jim Heft (Trinity Ave., Dayton) will take a leave from his position as chancellor and professor of faith and culture at the University of Dayton to move to Los Angeles and expand the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, effective this summer. Fr. Jim has served as part-time president of the institute for almost six years. The Provincial Council approved the leave because it believes the institute can make an important contribution to the future of Catholic higher education in the U.S. As the Council wrote to Fr. Jim, “Your loss to one of our key Marianist ministries will be a gift to the entire Catholic church . . .” Our prayers to Fr. Jim for a smooth transition. Read the news release from UD.

Fr. Jack McGrath (Washington St., Dayton) has been named professor of faith and culture at the University of Dayton, a three-year appointment. Best wishes to Fr. Jack in his new appointment.

PROVINCIAL CONSULTATION LETTERS MAILED

Consultation letters concerning the appointment of the next provincial of the province of the United States were mailed to all brothers March 13. Bro. Stephen Glodek’s term as first provincial of the U.S. Province will terminate in the summer of 2007. Bro. Stephen is eligible to another term of three years, or he may be replaced by a new provincial. The consultation process begins a year in advance to allow adequate time for preparation, planning and training of the next Provincial Council.

Consultation responses will be collected by the current General Administration and will be transmitted to the new administration. The appointment of provincial will be made by the new General Council to be elected at the General Chapter in July 2006. Please e-mail, fax or priority mail your consultation responses to the Secretary General, Bro. Peter Pontolillio, before May 15, 2006.

ST. MARY’S DEDICATES GREEHEY CENTER

FROM THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
REPORT DISCUSSES DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS

Bro. Javier Anso from the General Administration offers a new issue of "S.M. 3 Offices," which discusses distribution of the funds of the GA for 2005 from the Marianist Solidarity Fund and the Marianist Formation Fund. Read S.M. 3 Offices.

AWAKENING RETREAT HELD AT CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY

Over 80 student retreaters and staff members participated in the Chaminade University of Honolulu “Spring Awakening” retreat March 3-5. The event was organized by Chaminade’s campus ministry team shown above, Brandon Alana (contact), Dan Mannell (student worker), Kay Stone (lay Marianist), Fr. Ken Templin and Lionnel Ronduan (student worker); below, Fr. Ken in the retreat dance line.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: NOW RECRUITING

The Marianist Volunteer Program (MVP) is recruiting volunteers to begin in August 2006, with placements available in Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Texas and Mexico. Volunteers must be 21, with a college degree or equivalent life experience, open to community living and to the Marianist charism, and fluent in Spanish for placement in Mexico. Volunteers will serve one year in the United States (two years in Mexico) and will receive room and board, health insurance and a stipend. View the MVP application. Preference will be given to those applying before April 3, 2006. Contact Coordinator Dan Richter with questions or visit our Web site.

Dan Richter, coordinator of the Marianist Volunteer Program, is happy to announce the March 2006 issue of the MVP Newsletter. Read the issue. For more insight into the program, read our interview (below) with one of the MVP volunteers.

Marianist Volunteer Program
VOLUNTEER VIEWPOINT: An Interview with Liz Cooke

Marianist Volunteer Liz Cooke, seated second from left, with her friends from the Pillar of Faith Community in Houston. Shown above seated, Ellen Burns, Bro. Jim Barrette and Beth Bone. Standing, Mary Ellen Rouen, Mike Gillespie, Mike Rouen and Bro. Fred Stovall

Liz Cooke is halfway through her year as an MVP volunteer. Some might characterize her experience as “stormy”—surviving two hurricanes in her first few weeks on the job— but she says the clouds definitely had a silver lining. Read Liz's Interview

CHILD PROTECTION WORKSHOPS BEING HELD

PHOTO LEFT: Fr. Jim gives a workshop to St. Louis area brothers on March 19; PHOTO RIGHT: Bros. Bob Hatesohl (left) and Walt Ebbesmeyer at a social following the workshop. Photos by Fr. José Ramirez Since the beginning of the year, Fr. Jim Fitz has given more than a dozen workshops to Marianist brothers concerning the Province’s Child Protection Policies. The workshops are part of the Province’s accreditation process with Praesidium Religious Services. The workshops will continue through May. All Province members in full-time ministry, or in part-time ministry that includes contact with children, are attending the workshops.

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

Fr. Lawrence, early

Fr. Lawrence, recent

Fr. Lawrence Jordan (Marianist Residence, San Antonio), 98, oldest Marianist in the U.S. Province, who died March 16, 2006. May he rest in peace. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 20. Fr. Tim Dwyer presided at the Mass. Fr. Lawrence was buried at the Marianist Cemetery on the St. Mary’s University campus. He entered the postulate at age 13 and worked as a teacher and administrator for many years in St. Louis, San Antonio and Chicago. He spent 40 years in Peru as a chaplain, teacher, associate pastor and director. Father Lawrence’s obituary will appear in the next issue of Family Online.

Bro. Dario Tucci (Province of Italy), 67, who died March 20, 2006, in Rome, Italy. May he rest in peace. Bro. Dario was the General Archivist at the General Administration in Rome. Bro. Dario’s obituary will appear in the next issue of Family Online.

Bro. Georges Adolf (Province of France), 90, who died March 8, 2006, in Issenheim, France. May he rest in peace. Read Bro. Adolf's obituary.

Bro. Millán Ortega (Province of Zaragoza), 67, who died March 18, 2006, in Zaragoza, Spain. May he rest in peace. Bro. Millán’s obituary will appear in the next issue of Family Online.

Please pray also for Marie Ihlendorf, Barney Karpfinger, William Oulvey and Maureen Zupancic. Read more.

MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN, ST. LOUIS

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HEALING OF . . .

Bro. Bill Deanhofer (Governor’s Island, Ohio), who is recovering at his community following knee surgery.

Bro. Ray Gohring (District of Eastern Africa, presently at Mercy Siena in Dayton, Ohio), who had bypass surgery March 16 and is stable at Miami Valley Hospital.

Bro. Donald Neff (Meyer Hall, Dayton), who was hospitalized with swelling in his leg during a trip to Spain.

Fr. Charles Oyabu (Marianist Residence, San Antonio), who is suffering from liver and colon cancer and continues to weaken.

Bro. Dan Sharpe (Marianist Residence, San Antonio), who was hospitalized with pneumonia and is now recovering at the residence.

Please pray also for Charles Stander, Sr. who suffered a fall and was hospitalized. Because of his weakened condition, he will be entering a care center. Charles is the father of Fr. Kip Stander (Casa Maria Community, San Antonio).

OHIO MARIANISTS GATHER FOR MARDI GRAS

Dayton’s Washington Street community located at Chaminade-Julienne hosted its annual Mardi Gras party on Feb. 25. Marianists from the Dayton/Cincinnati region enjoyed their time with conversation, food, and good cheer. PHOTO LEFT: Fr. Jerry Chinchar, Bro. George Kemmett and Sr. Audrey Buttner; PHOTO RIGHT: Bros. Jim Brown, Ed Zamierowski and Ken Thompson. Photos courtesy of Bro. Aaron Sonnenburg

WHO'S DOING WHAT

Bro. Peter Daino (District of Eastern Africa) spoke at the University of Dayton on March 6 about M.I.R.A.C.L.E., a program providing support to young adults orphaned by AIDS. Read more.

Bro. Peter in Malawi, Africa.

Bro. Joe Kamis (DeSales Crossings, Cincinnati) comments about Cincinnati Catholic school closings/mergers in the Feb. 27 issue of The Catholic Telegraph. Read more.

Bro. Elmer Dunsky (Villa St. Joseph, Cupertino), former chair of the Education Department at Chaminade University of Honolulu, and Bro. Jim Roberts (Alcalde, Cupertino), former art professor at Chaminade, were presented with letters of resolution from the school to honor their many accomplishments and years of service. Bro. John Schneider, a former Chaminade administrator who died on June 21, 2005, also was honored.

Bro. Elmer

Bro. Jim

Bro. Harold Lootens (Marianist Residence, San Antonio) will give a piano recital at 3 p.m. on April 2 at Vianney High School in St. Louis. Among the selections Bro. Harold will perform are Beethoven’s Sonata #14, Franz Lizst Liebestraum, songs from The Phantom of the Opera, and songs by Hoagy Carmichael. All are welcome.

Bro. Ray Fitz (Stonemill Road, Dayton) delivered a talk on “Urban Sprawl and Patterns of Injustice: Is It Possible to Change?” at the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission Center for Regional Cooperation on March 16. The event was sponsored by Grassroots Greater Dayton.

Fr. Bernie gives the blessing for the new bell tower on the St. Mary’s campus.(Photo courtesy of Jordan McMorrough, Today’s Catholic)

Fr. Bernie Lee (West Ligustrum, San Antonio) participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for a 100-foot bell tower to be constructed on the St. Mary’s University campus in San Antonio. University trustee Charles T. Barrett made the lead gift for the bell tower, which will complement the university’s recent beautification efforts. Read more.

Fr. Pat Tonry (Eldersburg, Md.) is quoted in the Feb. 16 issue of the Baltimore Catholic Review in a story about the St. Joseph Catholic Community parish. Fr. Pat is pastor of St. Joseph. Read the article.

Frs. Francois Rossier, Johann Roten and Thomas Thompson are participating in the annual program of The Mariological Society of America in Adrian, Mich. This year’s theme is “Theotokos: Mother of All People.” The program takes place May 16 – 19. For more information, contact the MSA at 937.229.4294.

Fr. Jerry Chinchar (Stonemill Road, Dayton), aka the “techno priest,” was featured in an article on the Indiana media site IndyStar.com about the popularity of his Lenten Web site with students. The site includes links to Lenten activities, reflections, podcasts, blogs and more. Read the article.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Foose, Dayton Daily News

Bro. Bob with proud mom, Catherine Donovan, at the 2005 Buddy Gray Awards ceremony.

Congratulations to Bro. Bob Donovan (Elm Street, Cincinnati), who was presented with the 2005 Buddy Gray Award at the annual meeting of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless on March 16. The award recognizes lifetime achievement on behalf of low-income and homeless people in Cincinnati. Buddy Gray was a tireless advocate for the homeless in Cincinnati for many years.

Fr. Jim Heft (Trinity Ave., Dayton) delivered an address on “Academic Freedom and the Catholic University” at a forum at the University of Notre Dame March 8. Read Fr. Jim’s address.

Lay Marianist Tony Garascia has written a study guide series on Pope Benedict’s new encyclical. Titled “Exploring Deus Caritas Est: A Four-Part Process for Small Groups,” the series is available for free download.

Marianist Writers at Work
FR. BERNIE – A LOVE AFFAIR WITH LANGUAGE

Fr. Bernie Lee (West Ligustrum, San Antonio), vice president for mission and identity at St. Mary's University, has authored more than a dozen books, contributed chapters to dictionaries and to books edited by others, and published many articles focusing on church, sacraments, Christology, small Christian communities and religious life. Fr. Bernie’s most recent book is “The Beating of Great Wings: A Worldly Spirituality for Active Apostolic Communities.” Read a list of Fr. Bernie’s publications. He highlights “The Future Church of 140 BCE: A Hidden Revolution” from 1995 as the book he enjoyed writing the most. Although admitting that he did not set out to be a writer, Fr. Bernie says he takes delight in “crafting a good sentence” as well having an “incurable love affair with words,” taking to heart the idea expressed by German philosopher Martin Heidegger that “language is the house of Being.”

NEXT ISSUE: If you're a writer, musician or artist and would like to be featured, e-mail dguerra@sm-usa.org. (This feature was produced by Novice Dennis Bautista.)

BROTHERS HONORED FOR SERVICE TO CCHS

Congratulations to the Marianist brothers and priests who were honored for their service to Central Catholic High School in San Antonio during a ceremony March 5. Over the years, Marianists have logged over 380,000 hours of service to the school.

CFL RETREAT CENTER HIRES NEW DIRECTOR

Congratulations to Marilynn Shackelford, who began her new position as director of the CFL Family Retreat Center in Topsail Beach, N.C., on March 14. Shackelford most recently worked as development director for St. Mary Parish in Wilmington, N.C. You can e-mail Marilynn at cflcenter@charterinternet.com.

UD PROFESSOR APPEARS ON “THE O’REILLY FACTOR”

Mark Ensalaco, a political science professor and director of the human rights program at the University of Dayton, debated immigration issues on “The O’Reilly Factor” television show March 1. Read a transcript of the show.

Marianist Sharing Fund in Action
HELPING FARM WORKERS HELP THEMSELVES

Volunteers and workers at monthly Project Solidarity meeting.

When the Farm Labor Organizing Committee in North Carolina won an historic contract covering more than 8,000 workers, they requested that National Farm Workers Ministry-North Carolina take major responsibility for providing transportation to bring regional worker representatives to monthly leadership sessions. This task was crucial because the workers are spread out in more than 1,000 camps over two-thirds of the state, do not have personal transportation and sometimes do not even have a phone at their camp.

With funding from the Marianist Sharing Fund, NFWM’s Project Solidarity recruited and coordinated more than 100 supporters who volunteered hours of driving in their own cars to pick the workers up, deliver them to a training meeting and then return them to the camps. Read more

FROM THE SCHOOLS . . .

SAINT LOUIS SCHOOL On March 10, Saint Louis School in Honolulu announced the appointment of Judge Walter S. Kirimitsu, chief legal counsel for the University of Hawai’i, as the school’s new president. Kirimitsu, the first lay leader in the school’s 160-year history, will replace retiring president Fr. Allen DeLong, effective July 1, 2006.

Kirimitsu graduated from Saint Louis High School in 1958 and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai’i and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He was in private law practice for 26 years and in 1995 was appointed associate judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals in Hawai’i. He is a former president of the Hawai’i State Bar Association and former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Saint Louis School. Read more.

CHAMINADE-JULIENNE Actor Martin Sheen, Chaminade High School ’58, capped the school’s tribute to Sr. Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, on March 8 with the unveiling of a portrait he commissioned in her honor. Stang, a graduate of Julienne High School, helped the poor in the Amazon for nearly 40 years. She was murdered in 2005. In 2006, the Vatican declared Stang a martyr. The portrait, created by Fr. Bill McNichols, will be hung in the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur motherhouse in Cincinnati. After the ceremony, Sheen spoke to the students about social activism and urged them to “look inward for what they might do to help their communities or the world.” Read more.

Actor and social justice advocate Martin Sheen unveils a portrait honoring Sr. Dorothy Stang at a press conference in the Chaminade-Julienne gymnasium.

Bro. Sean Downing poses with Martin Sheen; right, painting commissioned by Sheen to honor Sr. Dorothy Stang.

BOMBECK DOCUMENTARY TO PREMIERE AT UD WRITER’S WORKSHOP “Erma Bombeck: A Legacy of Laughter,” a documentary about the life of humorist Erma Bombeck, UD ’58, will be shown to a sold-out audience of writers from around the country on March 24 at UD’s 2006 Writers’ Workshop. Bombeck, who died in 1996, credited former UD English professor Bro. Tom Price with giving her the encouragement to write humor. Read more.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL reports that its Guardian Angels program will raise money for the Marianist missions in Mexico as part of its 2006 Lenten drive. Bro. Ralph Neumann (Marianist Residence, San Antonio) will speak to the students about the Marianist efforts in Mexico in a talk at Central Catholic March 23.

Members of Central Catholic’s Guardian Angels program

VILLA ANGELA- ST. JOSEPH Senior Daniela Abreo wrote an essay about her participation in the school’s annual “30-Hour Hunger and Homeless Experience” in February, which was published in the Feb. 28 issue of the Cleveland News Herald newspaper. Read the essay. Abreo also was one of six VASJ students who participated in an immersion experience in El Salvador late last year to commemorate four American church women who were killed there in 1980.

VASJ Senior Daniela Abreo bonds with children from COAR, an orphanage and school in El Salvador.

VASJ SENIOR RECEIVES AFRICAN-AMERICAN IMAGE AWARD

PURCELL MARIAN WINS NCEA AWARD The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) has awarded Purcell Marian High School the Sister Catherine T. McNamee, CSJ Award for its leadership in promoting Catholic education and serving the cultural and economic needs of students. The awards presentation will take place at the NCEA convention in April.

EDUCATION OFFICE TEAM VISITS CENTRAL CATHOLIC

The Provincial Office of Education toured Central Catholic High School in San Antonio earlier this month. The team visited classrooms and gathered feedback on the school from faculty, staff, parents, alumni and board members. Team members shown are, George Lisjak, Province Office of Education, Deacon Pat Cunningham, principal, Fr. Joseph Tarrillion, president, Karen Valentine, Chaminade West Hills and Bro. John Habjan, Province Office of Education

RETREAT REGISTRATION - LAST CALL

A reminder to all brothers that if you have not registered for one of the 2006 Province retreats, we encourage you to do so. Please note that the June 19-25 retreat at the Marianist Retreat & Conference Center in Eureka, Mo., is full. Also, the June 12-18 retreat at the Bergamo Center in Dayton is near capacity. All other retreats are available. For more information, contact Donna Tucker.

OUT AND ABOUT

Read the upcoming travel schedule of members of the Provincial staff in St. Louis.

Read updated changes to the personnel. For more copies of the new personnel, e-mail amueller@sm-usa.org. Remember that personnel information on the PORTAL is updated on a regular basis at www.marianist.com/portal

THE CLASSIFIEDS

DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEER. Bro. Mike O’Grady (Assistant to the Office of Religious Life) is looking for a volunteer person or group to act as the distribution center for the Province’s Chaminade literature and other Chaminade materials. Storage space and the ability to fulfill requests and process returns are required. Postage costs will be paid for by the Province. For more information, contact Bro. Mike at 314.533.1207 or mogrady@sm-usa.org.

FAITH FORMATION. Holy Cross Parish in Santa Cruz, Calif., seeks a director of faith formation. Bro. David Betz and the Newman Center in Santa Cruz collaborate with Holy Cross. Read the job description.

NEWSLETTER CENTRAL

MEXICO. Read the March 2006 issue of Marianistas Mexico from Bro. Roberto Hanss.

MARIAN LIBRARY. Read the winter 2005- 2006 issue of the Marian Library Newsletter.

NEW FAITH SHARING GROUP AT CHAMINADE-JULIENNE

Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton has a new Marianist faith sharing group, facilitated by Bro. Aaron Sonnenburg and held at the Chaminade Marianist community on Washington Street. The 12 members include faculty, staff, parents and alumni. At February’s meeting, seated, Carolyn Rathweg, Julie Walling and Sue Gosser with baby David MacLeod; standing, Robert Katcavage (Marianist Affiliate), Marie Iberico, Marie McManus and Judith MacLeod. Not shown: Lisa Colbert, Nancy Egbers, Ann Meyers, Bro. Don Neff and James Sparrow

PROVINCE BIRTHDAYS

March

April

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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 2006 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.