Titanic redux?

In all the hullabaloo surrounding our seemingly endless Centennial celebrations, not to mention the up-coming Centenary of the Maryknoll Sisters next year, one very important 100-year anniversary is creeping up on us and should not pass unacknowledged: April 15, 1912.

The sinking of the Titanic.

Granted our 14 Centenary committees have enough on their plates, so I suggest the first official preparation for the Memorial to the Titanic Sinking be the gathering here at Maryknoll this afternoon from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Asia Room where Monsignor William Belford from the New York archdiocese will instruct us on the New (Improved?) Roman Missal.

Folks, the unsinkable Roman Catholic Church has already hit several ginormous icebergs and is taking on water fast. Passengers are abandoning ship in droves. We are listing severely to the far right. And what comes from the Captain's quarters? The emergency announcements shall henceforth be given in theologically questionable, linguistically awkward and pastorally dubious albeit poetic terminology.

The argument for the need for said new retranslation is bogus and has been discredited by real Latin scholars who have pointed out that the 10,000+ changes that were made AFTER the U.S. bishops approved the "final" draft are not, in fact, closer to the Latin. Nor do they adequately represent sound Biblical and theological statements.

With all the serious issues our church faces, it is quite disheartening to see so much energy, attention and money given to making the Mass less accessible, more incomprehensible, yet "closer" to the Latin (at least as our Lord spoke it, anyway).

Oh sure, there are some nice revisions such as "Behold, the Lamb of God" and even "And with your spirit," but "Consubstantial with the Father" and "Incarnate of the Virgin Mary" won't come trippingly off the tongue. I'm not even sure if "consubstantial" is an SAT word.

For the most part, I doubt most parishioners (those that still come to church) will notice, much less care. It does, IMHO, give yet another indication of just how oblivious the clergy are to their real spiritual needs.

5.8 Earthquake

Nancy Kleppel and I looked across the table at one another and asked simultaneously, "Did you feel that?"

Head Chef Mike McLoughlin and Sodexo Manager Margie Sheehan said they didn't feel anything. Mike suggested there was construction going on. Two more minutes into our meeting of the All-Important Food Committee, my iPhone went nuts with Tweets, Facebook updates and news alerts.

All are safe here and plans continue apace to host 650 Haitians on Saturday for a day of prayer for which the six lawn-killing tents went up again today. These will come down on Monday, the lawn will be dead but in three weeks will rise again---only to be resacrificed for the Maryknoll Alumni Weekend, Sept. 15-18.

In addition, 40 Korean Sunday School teachers will be here for their annual workshop. To date, they have not hurt the grass.



Sent from my most excellent  iPhone

Maryknoll Alumni Centennial Promo

(Hopefully this link posted successfully and works!)

Check out this video on YouTube about the up-coming Maryknoll Alumni gathering here at Maryknoll September 15~18.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNLSC2dSOhI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sent from my iPad

From futures to formers

Having just spent last week with the future of Maryknoll, I am happy to oblige a request from Fr. John Sivalon to post a YouTube link to a short video about the upcoming gathering of Former Maryknollers (MARYKNOLL ALUMNI WEEKEND)from September 15~18 here at the Knoll.

This promises to be an exciting, dynamic and energizing event. Please check out this link:

https://exchange.maryknoll.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=7b41b512fc644470ac573751aa8a5d5c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dXNLSC2dSOhI









[SORRY! I am experiencing some technical difficulties getting the link to post. Working on it!]

UNTIL FIXED, please search for Maryknoll Centennial Promo on YouTube.

Newbies

Pablo Talevera & Ryan Thibault greet the community as they enter our formation program for the first time.

They clean up real nice

To start their academic year, our seminarians and Brother candidates, fresh from a truly transformational retreat with a director far too humble to tell you his name, gather for a welcoming Mass.

Sharing the Word

Our seminarians and Brother candidates on retreat reflect on the meaning of discipleship in Scripture.

Volleying vocations

Seminarians, Brother candidates and retreat director (moi) take advantage of the break in the three-day downpour to play a few friendly (?) games of V-ball while on retreat at the OMI center in Connecticut.

Dueling letters

Apparently even among Maryknollers, letters are flying fast and furious between members and our general council. The following was forwarded to me from Fr. Ken Thesing, former superior general, and is posted here with his permission. There are other letters in support of the action taken against Roy and in support of the Holy See which, if I can obtain permission, will also be reposted here.

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Maryknoll General Council
PO Box 303
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0303                                       August 9, 2011
 
Dear Ed, Jose, Ed and Paul,
 
Greetings to you from Nairobi. I hope you are all doing well.
 
I opened up my computer a few minutes ago this morning and saw an article stating that you Ed and the Council have sent a second warning letter to Roy Bourgeois that he faces dismissal unless he recants publicly his position on the matter of women priests.
 
I do not favor expelling Roy from the Society; he has been excommunicated by the Church, his priestly faculties are suspended. What is gained by his expulsion from Maryknoll?
 
The Gospel from St Matthew chapter 18 that we read at mass this morning has Jesus saying: “Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not…go in search for that one?” Now as a farmer I always react to this story and answer that of course the first thing I will do is round up the 99 and put them in a safe place; then I will go to look for the stray. I have to be concerned for the 99. And as a farmer I remember the saying: “Good fences make good neighbors.” So the first thing I do is look for the breach in the fence, the break. Then I know I am on the right path to look for and find the stray.
 
We are celebrating our 100 years of Maryknoll Society…unbroken. I think the meaning of that 100 in the Gospel is completeness. It is a serious matter when that completeness is broken. If Maryknoll had had a serious difference and separated one year…even if we came back together we would not be celebrating this 100 years, the 100 years would not be complete. I think Jesus is saying the People of God, God’s flock belong together. So he came to find the lost, the marginalized one. He looked for and fixed, healed and mended the break in the fence that caused humanity’s being separated and incomplete by giving us a way to reform our attitudes and lives so that we can stay complete.
 
Is Roy a stray, lost a bit and separated from us? Yes he is…and he has walked away and bears responsibility for his actions. But he found the break in the fence, he did not create it, a weak spot in our Church and he went through it. So the Church too has some responsibility; Church leadership as well as Church followers have to keep the fence in repair: “Good fences make good neighbors.” Without working on the break, repairing the weak spot, Roy will stay out there…a stray. The neighbors will be upset. Our Society will be less complete if Roy is expelled, some members will be upset and yes some will feel better. Our Church too will be incomplete in the same way. We have seen this double reaction already after the first letter.
 
We have just had a wrenching example of our country’s politicians not dealing with a ‘break’ in our economic, our fiscal fence. They ended up just using power, whatever each had. And they ‘kicked the can down the road’ as commentators said. Because they did not deal with the problem, the break in the fence, we can all be sure the problem will return. So it will be with our Church and the issue of dealing justly and equitably with women. I do not pretend to know exactly where the ‘break’ in the fence is on this issue, nor do I pretend to know exactly how to fix it, but I do know that if the farmer (Church leadership) does not first go out and look for the break, the weak spot in the fence we will not achieve our goal of being complete…of having all 100…of having unity in the People of God that I think Jesus challenges us to form.
 
Again you all do remain in my payers.
 
Peace,
 
Ken
 
Ken Thesing
PO Box 43058
00100 Nairobi, Kenya

Open letter to Fr. Roy Bourgeois, M.M.

Dear Roy,

I write this to you with an unlikely mixture of pride, sadness, anger and joy. No matter what, I will always consider you my brother in faith. Barring a successful appeal to Rome, in a matter of days you will no longer have the privilege of appending M.M. to your name, yet paradoxically ours will be the greater loss.

Despite several articles by otherwise astute writers claiming the contrary, you will NOT lose your monthly allowance or health coverage from Maryknoll. Such a vindictive action would truly betray not only the Maryknoll spirit we share but the gospel we profess. That same gospel and Maryknoll spirit will no doubt continue to inspire you whether you are canonically in the Society or not. You will be freer, in a sense, to continue your advocacy on behalf of the ordination of women, yet without membership in the Society we all love.

I just wish, in all your righteous claims to the primacy of conscience, you'd have said a word of acknowledgement of the effect your actions have had on Maryknoll. This might have assuaged some of the anger and sense of betrayal some Maryknollers feel, not toward your stated goal of promoting the ordination of women, but rather because of your methods that seemingly disregarded the negative impact on the Society. Likewise when Maryknoll's reputation was taking a hit because of this situation and we were losing supporters despite our pledge of continued financial support for you, a word from you defending the Society would have been greatly appreciated.

My position on the ordination of women has been a matter of public record since my editorial in MARYKNOLL magazine in May 1993. In it I asked, "If a woman could produce the body of Christ physically, why can't women produce it sacramentally?" More than any other person, the Virgin Mary can point to Jesus and say, "This is my body; this is my blood."

Of course, this was before Pope John Paul II strictly forbade even thinking about discussing this topic, so I have obediently refrained from thinking about discussing it.

My anger arises from the second reason for your dismissal as described in the second canonical warning that you forwarded to me. It states: "Grave scandal given to the people of God, the Church, especially in the United States, and scandal given to many of the Maryknoll priests and Brothers...."

If causing grave scandal is sufficient reason for dismissal from religious life, many bishops should have been booted out years ago. Plus, I have not come upon a single Maryknoller who is scandalized by your actions. Outraged, frustrated, aggravated, agitated, perturbed and resentful, yes, but scandalized? Not so much.

We are Maryknollers. We are scandalized by a system that repeatedly put the reputation of the institution above the welfare of children. We are scandalized that Catholics are deprived of the Eucharist because of a chronic shortage of priests, thus sacrificing the spiritual well-being of people on the high altar of male, clerical celibacy. We are scandalized by those who consider the ordination of women as even remotely equivalent to the molestation of children as harmful to the church.

And I, for one, am scandalized that laicization is part of the disciplinary action taken against you. What an insult to the laity that their state would be considered a punishment!

Yet as a veteran conscientious objector from the Vietnam war days, I am also proud of the stance you have taken. May your case continue to focus public attention and the light of reason on aspects of church law you consider unjust. Gandhi taught it is precisely in accepting the punishment for breaking an unjust law that people will realize how wrong the law is and demand change.

God speed, Roy, as our Maryknoll paths diverge, yet take heart knowing we will each in our own way continue struggling to realize the values of the reign of God in our church and in our time.

Keep us in your prayers, as we do you in ours.

"All things work together for good, for those who love God...." (Romans 8:28)

(Rev.) Joe Veneroso, M.M.

Of Bourgeois, Pardy & Facebook

As (soon-to-be ex) Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois receives his second canonical warning of impending dismissal from the Society, (Read about it in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/us/09priest.html or yesterday's National Catholic Reporter http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/bourgeois-facing-expulsion-maryknoll) a scene from the musical Camelot comes to mind.

Mordred, King Arthur's illegitimate son, has forced the King into an untenable situation: destroy Queen Guinevere or destroy the law, upon which the entire concept of the Round Table is based. The King consigns his queen to the flames for her infidelity as demanded by the law, and then prays Sir Lancelot will lead a rebellion to save her. The rebellion succeeds, but Camelot crumbles as a result. Amid the smoldering ruins, Arthur discovers a young boy with aspirations to one day become a knight of the Round Table. The dream lives.

Acknowledging that all metaphors limp, I urge readers not to take this analogy too far. It's offered simply as my personal feelings as I watch this drama with Roy play out. Roy follows his conscience, Maryknoll follows the law, and Camelot crumbles. I can only hope our vision for a Church truer to the gospel will emerge.

On a totally unrelated topic (I hope), the earthly remains of Maryknoll Bishop James Pardy were exhumed last week from our cemetery. With the consent of his family, the remains were then cremated to facilitate translation (I love that word in this context!) back to Korea and the diocese of Cheong Ju. Pardy was the founding bishop and Catholics there thought that Cheong Ju was a more fitting resting place.

I received an email from Father Emile Dumas on Saturday wondering if there was a traditional Korean urn used for cremains (a neologism and portmanteau, btw, scoffed at by purists who say ashes are ashes). From Wikipedia: "The Cremation Association of North America prefers that the word 'cremains' not be used for referring to 'human cremated remains.' The reason given is that 'cremains' is thought to have less connection with the deceased, whereas a loved one's 'cremated remains' has a more identifiable human connection.") I responded to Emile that, to my knowledge, Koreans dislike cremation because it retained the stigma of being reserved for convicts or those who died of dangerous diseases, so subsequently as long as the Koreans themselves don't mind, any tasteful and respectable urn would suffice.

In the coming days, said urn and contents are to be escorted back to Korea by a priest of the Cheong Ju diocese. Apparently it is much easier to get ashes through customs and across borders that it would be to attempt this with the original coffin. The cost, too, is considerably less, though I have to ponder whether the urn will be stored beneath the seat in front or above in the overhead bin. I presume the bishop's ring and mission cross were removed for future veneration. The now vacated grave here at the Knoll will remain empty and retain the original headstone, as per the family's wishes.

This all leads up to the main story (It does, if I say so) that for sometime now, Maryknollers here at the Center may indeed access Facebook, despite what you may have read on this blog. All that is required is for the member to email Fr. Mike Duggan, the U.S. regional superior, with the request. Mike will then forward this to the good people in our I.T. Department who will then forward it for vetting to Father Ed Szendrey. I encourgage all Maryknollers to start a Facebook or Twitter account, as that is the cutting edge of evangelization and we want to get the Maryknoll mission story out there. Your personal story is where it's at.

Finally on a seemingly unrelated but nonetheless strangely tangential note: one of the men attending the Vocation Encounter ten days ago shared that he was a recent convert to Catholicism from the Episcopal church. I couldn't help but marvel at this, and likened it to going from the Andrea Doria to the Titanic, the difference being the rate at which each is going down. (See above reference to the destruction of Camelot.) I sought to assuage his shock by reminding him we follow the One who walks on water.

Maryknoll's 100th makes the news (Finally!)

I'd all but given up hope that any of our Centennial celebrations might earn us some outside media coverage, when one of my Korean Sunday School teachers (Thanks, Mary!) forwarded the following link.

Mr. Gary Stern, reporter for the Journal News and the lower Hudson Valley on-line version did a great piece on our Foundation Day Mass last June 29th.

Gary has covered us on many occasions over the years and knows enough about Maryknoll to write an insightful article.

This came in a timely manner since I am away on retreat this week, so am not privy to any salacious salad-bar stirrings.

So read and enjoy!
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108010323

Stormy weather

Whoa. A tornado touched down in White Plains and the concurrent thunderstorm over our heads knocked down trees and telephone poles and left most of Ossining in the dark last night. Except for us. Our generator kept this "city in a hill" well lit.

Thus, the Summer Vocation Encounter ended its first full day. We also had a mini miracle of the multiplication of men interested in checking out the Society. We had three officially registered from among the 30 checking out the lay missioners and the Sisters. Then lo and behold, three more guys showed up! Now, I'm not suggesting cause and effect, but yesterday was also the anniversary of the death of Bishop James E. Walsh and during our morning prayer, his intercession and blessing were invoked on the gathering. Then BAM--the number doubles.

On the other side of the street, I hear one woman decided to return home after attending evening prayer at the Sisters'. In a flash of revelation she concluded she didn't want to be a missioner after all. Well, better to realize this before rather than after.

It is nice having the building bustling, albeit briefly, with young Catholics interested in mission through Maryknoll. I commend our guys for their patience yesterday as we delayed starting our community Mass for about six minutes to allow the participants to assemble And for some reason the air conditioning wouldn't kick in. And various breakdowns in communication all helped replicate the frustrations of mission!

Luckily, the joys and satisfaction of mission carried the day. Tornado? We're Maryknollers. We're used to chaos.

The future of Maryknoll

Vocation Encounter

Thirty youngish people are expected at Maryknoll today to participate in the annual Mission Vocation Encounter weekend. This brings together young people from around the country who want to check out the four types of vocation Maryknoll offers: priest, Brother, Sister or lay missioner.

What makes this encounter unique is that all interested people gather together on the same weekend, so they can hear each others' stories as well as hear from representatives of each entity. Thus, a young man who is not sure if he is better suited to be a lay missioner, Brother or Father can hear from each group and ask questions. Likewise, a woman can check out both the lay Missioners and the Sisters.

And no, a woman cannot apply to both lay missioners and priests...and be accepted. (Yet.)Letters of protest calling for change can be sent to the proper office: the Vatican.

The other "Mock-Up"

Times of the signs

This sign is one of two "mock-ups" in front of our main building to check what people think of the idea. Originally the plan called for two identical signs, one on each side of the same driveway; one facing north on Ryder Road and the other, south.

Since I was asked for my opinion, allow me to mock them up.

I hate the shape. It looks like faux Oriental or something. Why not replicate the very tastefully constructed directional signs already on the property indicating where each building is?

And why have both signs at the very same entrance? If someone has gotten that far and doesn't know what that ginormous seven-story Oriental-looking building is right in front of them, perhaps they've come to the wrong place. Actually, at this site, these would make THREE signs if you count the original bronze one for the CFMSA. ¿Como se dice "overkill" in Kiswahili?"

Why not put one at the southern boundary of our property and the other between here and St. T's?

The main entrance at the top of Brookside really doesn't need further explanation, does it?

Rainy days and Mondays

Our prayerful condolences go out to our superior general, Father Ed Dougherty, on the death of his brother Gregory who passed away today at the age of 56. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

**************

Prayers for a speedy recovery to Fr. Dennis Moorman, visiting home in Indiana when he suffered an outbreak of shingles. Lest you think this is violating his privacy, he posted this himself on his Facebook page, which many here at the Knoll STILL cannot access.

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Today brought much needed relief from the stifling heat wave of 100+ degrees we've suffered over the past few days. Today was overcast, rainy and cool, but the heat and humidity is expected to rise by week's end.


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The stump of the now defunct English elm was removed today. Plans are to plant another tree in the fall, but NOT another elm, according to a second-hand source quoting Fr. Richard Callahan, our arborologist. Apparently whatever killed off our 86-year-old tree is still lurking in the vast subterranean roots that remain buried. This would most likely infest any new elm before it even had a chance.

More's the pity, because there had been talk of transplanting one of the three remaining elms first planted by then seminarian John Barth back in the 1980s. One elm still graces the roadway leading down to the dump from the upper cemetery. This will now remain undisturbed as a new species is sought.

*************

Twenty men gathered around the Founders' Tomb for the weekly rosary for vocations---an all-time record! Joining the 16 members in prayer were two Maryknoll seminarians and two Vietnamese seminarians with us for the summer from the archdiocese of Hanoi who are studying at the SVD seminary in Epworth, Iowa.

*************

The search continues for a music and choir director to succeed (no one can ever replace!) Ms. Lucille Naughton who plans to retire at the end of September (but will assist at the Centenary Mass at St. Patrick's cathedral on October 30.)

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A new policy has been put into place by which Society members wishing to avail themselves of gasoline at our garage will find the pump locked during lunch hour and whenever Mr. Ivan Reyes, our mechanic, is away. But not to fret! A phone in the box next to the garage door will automatically ring Security to come and unlock the pump for you. I will not divulge just why such a policy is necessary, but suffice it to say this mystery is filed along with the Case of the Diasappearing Purificators, Vestments, Holy Water Bucket and Aspergellum, National Catholic Reporter, AMERICA and Magnificat publications, not to mention the two HUGE Chinese vases.

On life supports?

Fr. Jim Noonan, former superior general, addressed a gathering of 32 Maryknoll Brothers, Fathers and promoters last night in the Founders Room, reporting on the recent meeting of the American Catholic Council in Detroit in June.

In the first hour, Jim went through the two documents that came out of the Council: Soundings of the Faithful and Catholic Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.

More than 4,000 people attended the Conference from 38 States and several Canadian Provinces. Participants discussed what makes them happy about being Catholic (Why People Love the Church) and why are they still a Catholic? They also discussed the desire to have a Church that better witnesses to Gospel values as well as what they find disturbing or disappointing about the Church today.

The results of the survey were interesting but hardly surprising, and many Maryknollers might agree with them.

Fr. Marty Lowery expressed his hope that we here at the Center might do something to surface our own opinions of the issues facing the Church. Mr. Greg Darr, promoter from Chicago, expressed some disappointment of the demographics of both the conference and the survey: fully 96 percent were 45 years of age and older, with 63 percent being more than 65 years, Caucasian and college educated.(Coincidentally, this mirrors Maryknoll magazine readership.)

After an hour, Jim gave us a small break and invited any who wanted to remain for informal discussion of what we can do to safeguard the seemingly fading spirit of Vatican II. Surprisingly, 29 guys stayed for what I feel was one of the most spirited and energetic discussions we've had in ages.

I offered that in the Korean parish where I help out, these areas of concern (married priests, women priests, non-communicative and authoritarian bishops, lack of accountability, lack of lay participation and in-put) do not seem to be high priorities. Plus, the growing populations of the Church in the United States (Hispanic, Vietnamese, Korean and Haitian) don't seem to share our concerns. Are these immigrant parishes keeping the Church here on life supports? My hometown (Amsterdam, N.Y.) once had seven parishes; it now has three. Brooklyn is in the process of closing or combining 40+ parishes.

Several men reported that younger relatives or parishioners they know share our concerns that the present structure of the Church is seriously flawed, a fact made painfully obvious in the continued bungling of the scandals around the world.

What came out was a desire to keep our conversation going, perhaps in preparation for the meeting of all Society members in 2013. To that end, our next session here at the Center will be August 10 at 7:30.

Huffington Post: ROBERT ELLSBERG: Remembering Dorothy Day

While I prepare a blog post on yesterday's discussion

of the community with former superior, Father Jim Noonan on the American Catholic Conference, here is some edifying reading:

		ROBERT ELLSBERG: Remembering Dorothy Day
	Dorothy was truly a saint of "common ground" -- someone who held in tension a great love for the church along with deep sufferings over its sins and failings.

 

Sent from my most excellent  iPhone

Just for us

If you haven't had your fill of Centennial celebrations (more than one person observed that this year feels like it's lasting a century), today at Mother Knoll is billed as a day of festivities "Just for us."

That being said, today resembles most other days, with Mass at 11:30, followed by "rest" (read: nap!). Then, according to the flier, the afternoon will offer (ready?) games, volleyball, softball and touch football (!). The flier wryly points out that ambulances will be in waiting. (Our challenge to the men at St. T's has gone unanswered.)

There will be (yet another) BBQ this evening with wine & beer, though I doubt this will be sufficient to lure the faithful from the sacrosanct Happy Hour on the Third Floor. Throughout the day various vintage DVDs of mission work in years past will be shown in the corresponding rooms: Asia, Africa, South America and Central Ameeica.

Finally, Of God's & Men will be shown in the Asia Room at 7:30. Then we will be free of all Centenary celebrations, at least until the reunion gathering in September of 1,000+ former and members featuring Eugene Kennedy et al.

In other news: Superior General Fr. Ed Dougherty successfully hid out all day yesterday under the mistaken notion that if no one sings Happy Birthday to him he won't get older.

Fr. Dennis Moorman returned yesterday from the Explore My Mission trip to Taiwan and Korea with this year's winners, Ms. Danielle Alio and Mr. Joseph Houde. You can read about their Asian adventures at http://blog.exploremymission.org/

Dennis said that of all the many Maryknoll regions he has visited over the years with great hospitality everywhere, the reception they received at the Seoul House was memorable in that the welcome was tangible from all the men as a group.(Nice going. Now our secret is out!)

And today is not only Dennis' birthday, but Fr. Ed Szendrey's as well! Yikes, we're aging by the minute!

Some were really steamed

Brothers clam up

Just prior to their final day of meetings, the Maryknoll Brothers hosted a clam bake (or actually a clam steam) for the residents here at the Center, guests and some former Brothers.

Former MMs included Jim (Br.José) Mansman, Mr. and Mrs. Leo (Br. Sergio) DePinto, Jim Fahey, Victor Pagan, Carlos Aguilar, Mr. and Mrs. John (Br. Dennis) Madigan and John (Br.Ephream) McCullen.

Yesterday, Br. Frank ten Hoopen gave a moving tribute to the life and witness of the late Br. John Mullan, with whom he lived and worked in Musoma, Tanzania. John passed away last year at age 58.

Mullan, a registered nurse, taught nursing to Tanzanians and was active in the Pro-Life movement in East Africa. (Although, truth be told, in speaking with Africa missioners I learned Africans are instinctively pro-baby and pro-life. Indeed, Africans view celibacy as innately anti-life and selfish, as it denies future generations the chance to be born. Africans also are way more respectful of the elderly as well as mindful of their ancestors than are we in the States.)

Meanwhile back at the barricades, Super G Fr. Ed Dougherty returned from Rome, ostensibly (and officially) to introduce himself to our new boss over at the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Archbishop Joao Braz de Aviz, formerly of Brasilia, Brazil.

At least that's what Fr. John Barth said Vicar G Fr. José Arámburu told him, so I have no reason to doubt this, although if true, it represents a departure from the usual way things are done in Rome.

I can't think of any other reason for "Doc" to go all the way to Rome to see our boss, can you?

Errata (and other annoyances)

OK, so the Brothers have had at least FIVE gatherings over the years, so sue me. Of more import, Brother Mark Huntington came in from his mission in Mwanza, Tanzania, not Namibia.

(FYI and to the best of my knowledge, there has never been an assembly exclusively for Maryknoll priests. But let's let sleeping dogs lie and not upset the hornets' nest, as it were.)

Yester-evening Br. Kevin Dargan showed a slide presentation he had prepared on the history of the Maryknoll Brothers. About half the Brothers and I, as token presbyter, attended.

Today, they heard from Br. Herman Johnson, O.P., president of the Religious Brothers Conference of the United States.

Not being a Brother, I am not privy to their deliberations, but I shall linger longer around the salad bar later and see what the buzz is.

Speaking of buzz, I hear Father General is in Rome even as we speak. On what business I do not know but I (and others) can guess. *sigh*

Also, the unsolved Case of the Missing Purificators took a bizarre twist yesterday when they all suddenly mysteriously reappeared---in the soiled linen drawer in the sacristy! And the whole drawer of clean purificators is now missing. And a soiled alb was hung in the closet. Clearly some misguided sacerdotal type is using us as his personal laundry service.

A gathering of Brothers

Maryknoll Brothers from around the world, the country and the building have gathered here at the Center for the first-ever assembly of Brothers in our 100-year-history.

Thirty-four of our 47 Brothers attended, a pretty good turn-out. Whilst distance, age, discomfort or disease prevented some from attending, this did not stop Br. Ed Redmund coming from Hong Kong, Br. John Beeching from Thailand, Brothers Mark Huntington and Mark Gruenke from Namibia, Br. Loren Beaudry from Tanzania and Brothers Kevin Dargan and Tom Hickey from here at the Center. Apparently the trek from the Fourth Floor C-Wing was too much for some, even though travel expenses are provided.

Two Brother Candidates are also in attendance, Br. Glen D'Angelo from Georgia and newly accepted Brother Ryan from Toronto.

Noted author and retreat director Br.Joel Giallanza, C.S.C., addressed the assembly today with challenges facing Brothers in the 21st century. This afternoon at 4 p.m. the group with gather at the upper cemetery to bless the new headstone marking the new grave of the first Maryknoll Brother Tom McCann, recently translated from California.

More news to come!

Maryknoll's rabbinical propensities

So if canon law is Torah for Catholics, than the New Commentary on Canon Law by John P. Beal et al must be the Talmud. What the law allows and what the law means is open to interpretation and discussion, if not debate.

Thus, Rabbi Jonah ben Sivalon of Scranton quotes above mentioned Commentary (which was ordered for our library today) in insisting that, absent a requisite four-member council to adjudicate a dismissal, the Commentary interprets the law to mean the missing member would normally be the regional superior of the man in question.

Canon 172 (of Catholic Torah) states such a vote "must be secret, certain, absolute and determinate." But, Rabbi Jonah posits, "What does certain, absolute, determinate mean?"

Notably "absolute." Does that require a minimum of four out of five (including the super G's vote) if not a unanimous vote as Sivalon maintains, or is it merely three out of five, as Rabbi Shlomo Don't-Use-My-Name-in-Your-Blog insists?

Again according to Sivalon, Fr. Roy Bourgeois has secured the services of noted (albeit controversial) canon lawyer Fr. Thomas Doyle. Thus, I can only hope the spotlight should soon shift away from our Maryknoll general council to the Vatican dicastery where the final verdict will be issued.

Until further developments appear in the NCR, I shall refrain from any more attempted arbitration between these dueling rabbis.

Letter of the Law

An expert in canonical matters informed me over the salad bar that I, and by extension former superior general Fr John Sivalon, are mistaken as to what vote by the council is required. Sivalon used the term "unanimous" but the expert contended it only need be "decisive."

He then "invited" me to look it up for myself, which till now I had been loathe to do as this blog was originally created to report on what guys were saying rather than fact-checking their groundless rumors.

Since this issue is serious enough, I took said expert up on his suggestion and looked it up on Google under "Dismissal from Apostolic Life." That being said, I reread this three times and could not find the word "decisive" nor, for that matter, any reference to involuntary laicization as a punishment. (It's a good thing Our Lord vacated his grave, or else he'd be spinning in it.)

Here, then, is the crux of the matter, with salient parts highlighted:

++++++++++++++++
Art. 3.

DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS

Can. 694 §1. A member must be held as ipso facto dismissed from an institute who:

1/ has defected notoriously from the Catholic faith;

2/ has contracted marriage or attempted it, even only civilly.

§2. In these cases, after the proofs have been collected, the major superior with the council is to issue without any delay a declaration of fact so that the dismissal is established juridically.

Can. 695 §1. A member must be dismissed for the delicts mentioned in cann. ⇒ 1397, ⇒ 1398, and ⇒ 1395, unless in the delicts mentioned in ⇒ can. 1395, §2, the superior decides that dismissal is not completely necessary and that correction of the member, restitution of justice, and reparation of scandal can be resolved sufficiently in another way.

§2. In these cases, after the proofs regarding the facts and imputability have been collected, the major superior is to make known the accusation and proofs to the member to be dismissed, giving the member the opportunity for self-defense. All the acts, signed by the major superior and a notary, together with the responses of the member, put in writing and signed by that member, are to be transmitted to the supreme moderator.

Can. 696 §1. A member can also be dismissed for other causes provided that they are grave, external, imputable, and juridically proven such as: habitual neglect of the obligations of consecrated life; repeated violations of the sacred bonds; stubborn disobedience to the legitimate prescripts of superiors in a grave matter; grave scandal arising from the culpable behavior of the member; stubborn upholding or diffusion of doctrines condemned by the magisterium of the Church; public adherence to ideologies infected by materialism or atheism; the illegitimate absence mentioned in ⇒ can. 665, §2, lasting six months; other causes of similar gravity which the proper law of the institute may determine.

§2. For the dismissal of a member in temporary vows, even causes of lesser gravity established in proper law are sufficient.

Can. 697 In the cases mentioned in ⇒ can. 696, if the major superior, after having heard the council, has decided that a process of dismissal must be begun:

1/ the major superior is to collect or complete the proofs;

2/ the major superior is to warn the member in writing or before two witnesses with an explicit threat of subsequent dismissal unless the member reforms, with the cause for dismissal clearly indicated and full opportunity for self-defense given to the member; if the warning occurs in vain, however, the superior is to proceed to another warning after an intervening space of at least fifteen days;

3/ if this warning also occurs in vain and the major superior with the council decides that incorrigibility is sufficiently evident and that the defenses of the member are insufficient, after fifteen days have elapsed from the last warning without effect, the major superior is to transmit to the supreme moderator all the acts, signed personally and by a notary, along with the signed responses of the member.

Can. 698 In all the cases mentioned in cann. ⇒ 695 and ⇒ 696, the right of the member to communicate with and to offer defenses directly to the supreme moderator always remains intact.

Can. 699 §1. The supreme moderator with the council, which must consist of at least four members for validity, is to proceed collegially to the accurate consideration of the proofs, arguments, and defenses; if it has been decided through secret ballot, the supreme moderator is to issue a decree of dismissal with the reasons in law and in fact expressed at least summarily for validity.

§2. In the autonomous monasteries mentioned in ⇒ can. 615, it belongs to the diocesan bishop, to whom the superior is to submit the acts examined by the council, to decide on dismissal.

Can. 700 A decree of dismissal does not have effect unless it has been confirmed by the Holy See, to which the decree and all the acts must be transmitted; if it concerns an institute of diocesan right, confirmation belongs to the bishop of the diocese where the house to which the religious has been attached is situated. To be valid, however, the decree must indicate the right which the dismissed possesses to make recourse to the competent authority within ten days from receiving notification. The recourse has suspensive effect.

Can. 701 By legitimate dismissal, vows as well as the rights and obligations deriving from profession cease ipso facto.

Nevertheless, if the member is a cleric, he cannot exercise sacred orders until he finds a bishop who receives him into the diocese after an appropriate probation according to the norm of ⇒ can. 693 or at least permits him to exercise sacred orders.

Can. 702 §1. Those who depart from a religious institute legitimately or have been dismissed from it legitimately can request nothing from the institute for any work done in it.

§2. Nevertheless, the institute is to observe equity and the charity of the gospel toward a member who is separated from it.

Can. 703 In the case of grave external scandal or of most grave imminent harm to the institute, a member can be expelled immediately from a religious house by the major superior or, if there is danger in delay, by the local superior with the consent of the council. If it is necessary, the major superior is to take care to begin a process of dismissal according to the norm of law or is to refer the matter to the Apostolic See.

Can. 704 In the report referred to in ⇒ can. 592, §1, which is to be sent to the Apostolic See, mention is to be made of members who have been separated from the institute in any way.

Winners of "Explore My Mission" video contest Asia bound

As top winners of this year's "Explore My Mission" video contest, Joseph Houde, from Topsham, Maine, and Danielle Alio from North Wales, Penn., will leave for Taiwan and Korea tomorrow, July 7, to visit our missions in those two countries.

Joseph is a junior at the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, where he majors in business and communications. His video showed his
commitment to gospel service during a spring break trip he made to Ecuador with Missions for Peace.

Danielle, a junior majoring in communications at Cabrini College in Radnor, Penn., presented a video focusing on the plight of the poor in Haiti, Sudan, Swaziland as well as immigrants yo the United States.

They will be accompanied to Asia by Father Dennis Moorman as well as
our videographers Mr. Francisco Suarez and Ms. Karen Cooper.

Fr. Joyalito Tajonera will host them around Taipei and Fr. Alfonso Kim will show them around Korea, including a visit to the DMZ with North Korea.

You can follow their adventures by logging onto http://blog.exploremymission.org

Sent from my most excellent iPhone

Asia-bound

Fr. Dennis Moorman, Mr. Joseph Houde and Ms. Danielle Alio

R.I.P. English Elm 1941-2011

The stately English elm, planted in our quadrangle by Fr. Tom Walsh seventy years ago, finally gave up the ghost during the heat spell last week.

On more than one occasion in recent years the tree was given up for dead, only to be carefully nursed back to the land of the living, if not to health, by our grounds crew and arborologist-in-residence Fr. Richard Callahan. For several years the county even administered I.V.s to both trees to bolster their immune systems--no joke.

Cause of death is still unknown, but arboricide has been ruled out. The two elms--the now defunct English elm and its more symmetrical cousin, the American elm--have survived outbreaks of Dutch elm disease, sap-sucking aphids and plagues of jubilee tents over the years.

Our Centennial celebration last week proved to be the final nail in the proverbial coffin, as it were, although it's more likely the tree will provide the actual wood.

Final arrangements have not been announced. My guess is the poor thing will be left standing until the prospect of a falling limb hitting someone with the idea of a lawsuit inspires an impromptu lumberectomy.

There are no relatives, but a few saplings look suspiciously familiar.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Society for the Abolition of Toothpicks.

I stand corrected...sort of

A phone call today from a concerned and well-informed Maryknoller convinced me my contention that L'Affair Bourgeois is all about our oath of obedience and not women's ordination is not quite accurate. Or may not be accurate at all.

He deftly laid out the case that MANY Maryknollers over the years have disobeyed orders from superiors and then went on to enjoy blissfully undisturbed lives sans threat of dismissal. He also mentioned that those few Maryknollers (four, by my count) who were dismissed in recent years had other issues and extenuating circumstances.

He contended that had the Super G actually ordered Roy either to return to the Center or take an overseas assignment and then had Roy refused, the disobedience card might have been more convincingly played. What removes the disobedience fig leaf (my words, not his) from the argument is the double whammy of dismissal AND laicization. Other guys who were dismissed were not laicized, even though most did not join another diocese or order. This lays to rest the apparently false notion that a dismissed priest must be laicized because you can't have priests freelancing, as it were.

My caller insists it's all about Rome equating ordination of women with child molestation as equally offensive to the Church and wanting to make an example of him by putting the screws to Maryknoll (again, I am paraphrasing).

OK, so it's not about obedience. But the anger remains among some Maryknollers (I never took a poll) who resent Roy's consistently dragging Maryknoll's name into his crusades, from his disappearing act in El Salvador in the 1980's to his inviting a woman to concelebrate Mass in Minneapolis to the more widely publicized actions of recent years.

They point to Father Miguel D'Escoto's equally impressive actions on behalf of justice with nary a mention of Maryknoll's name and wonder why Roy didn't or couldn't do that.

Then we have the canonical conundrum that the unanimous votes for dismissal might not even be there. Perhaps that's the strategy. Father General could then tell his superiors in Rome that he did all that canon law requires and if they want to be rid of this "meddlesome priest" (a la Thomas Becket) they might have to do the deed themselves.

Granted the Fourth of July is a slow news cycle, but the drama contues.

Huffington Post: ROBERT ELLSBERG: Editing Henri Nouwen

Mr. Robert Ellsberg, executive director of Orbis books, reflected on his experience working with one of Orbis's most successful authors: Henri Nouwen. Ellsberg's article may be read by clicking the link below.

		ROBERT ELLSBERG: Editing Henri Nouwen
	Henri Nouwen worked with many editors in his life. As it turned out, I was the last. I would not have foreseen this.

 

Sent from my most excellent  iPhone

Message from polite protesters

As promised, here is the content of the flyer passed out yesterday by the group of about 12 protesters who peacefully expressed their support outside during our Centennial Mass in favor of Fr. Roy Bourgeois and women's ordination. As a side note, U.S. Regional Superior Mike Duggan commented that somehow this protest was quintessentially Maryknoll, that has so often been the source of protests overseas.

*************************

June 29, 2011

Dear Supporter of the Peace and Justice Movement,

As the Maryknoll Order celebrates their 100 year anniversary we reflect on the contributions this organization has made to peace and justice throughout the world and applaud their continued commitment to serving the poor and oppressed. However, we cannot ignore Maryknoll's position in regards to women's ordination. We encourage the leadership to reflect on this issue and examine their consciences as one of their most cherished members, Father Roy Bourgeois, has done: "as priests we say we are called by God. Who are we to say that God would not calla woman."

We are dismayed at Maryknoll's dismissal of Father Roy for his support of women's ordination. How can an organization that promotes peace and justice worldwide turn its back on this Viet Nam vet turned Maryknoll priest, who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, is the founder of the School of the America's Watch, and is the epitome of everything we thought Maryknoll stood for?

For mor information about Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Women's ordination: http://www.womensordination.org/content/view/108

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Father Roy Bourgeois' response to Maryknoll leadership:

In his response, Fr. Roy stated, "It is my conscience that compels me to say publicly that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is a grave injustice against women, against our Church and against our God who calls both men and women to the priesthood... In essence, you are telling me to lie and say I do not believe that God calls both men and women to the priesthood. This I cannot do, therefore I will not recant."


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[Blogger's note: Once again, for the record, Fr. Roy is NOT being threatened with dismissal because of his support of women's ordination. Were that the case, I would also have been dismissed for my editorial in the May 1993 MARYKNOLL magazine that raised the same issue. When Orbis published a compendium of my editorials ("Good News for Today") in 2007, then Superior General John Sivalon suggested that the controversial editorial not be included. I then asked newly elected and current superior Fr. Ed Dougherty about this and he also thought that editorial's inclusion would not be helpful, so I acquiesced. I had made my point and further action on my part would have hurt Maryknoll more than

For publicly and actively participating in the attempted ordination of a woman in 2008, Roy was excommunicated. Even then, Maryknoll leadership kept Roy on as a member and only asked that he refrain from future PUBLIC actions and comments on this topic. He repeatedly refused this order from our superior. EVEN NOW, Maryknoll leadership has agreed to continue giving Roy his monthly allowance and providing for his healthcare.

My previous posts on this do not even begin to capture the sadness and angst this whole episode is causing among our membership. Reading the thread following my article in a recent NCR clearly shows that most people neither appreciate nor understand the importance of the oath we Maryknollers take to "obey our legitimate superiors".

There is a conversation that needs to be had in Maryknoll and in the Church. The topic will not be easily suppressed nor go away.

Crystal cross

The Maryknoll Lay Missioners presented this crystal cross to the Maryknoll Society to commemorate our Centenary. The cross was on the altar during yesterday's Mass.

(Blogger's note: I successfully posted the above pic directly from my iPhone after futzing around for five days. Now that the glitch has been apparently solved, laisez les bon temps rouller encore!

Joncas "Our Father" now on YouTube

With the wonderful technical assistance of Ms. Emily Ruiz in the interactive media section of our Mission Education and Promotion Department, I have created a video reflection for the "Our Father" from the Missa ad Gentes, composed by J. Michael Joncas for our Centenary.

You can view it here or, hopefully, by clicking the appropriate icon on the right of this message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoYzSvC0iQI

This is the fifth track from the Mass that has been uploaded to YouTube. Once the "Sanctus" is finished, we hope to make a DVD available on this and other websites.

Maryknoll Turns 100

With trumpets, violins, timpani, organ, piano and a thirty-five-member choir, Ms. Lucille Naughton led a congregation of 400+ in singing "Non nobis, Domine, sed nomine tuo da gloriam " (Not to us, Lord, but to your name give glory) as 63 Maryknoll concelebrants processed in ahead of Superior General Ed Dougherty.

The two statues of SS. Peter and Paul on either side of our main altar sported huge red stoles, as is the custom in the Vatican on this day, according to Father Mike Walsh.

Sr. Janice McLaughlin, president of the Maryknoll Sisters, read the first reading for the solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Mr. Sam Stanton, from the Maryknoll Lay Missioner leadership, read the second reading and newly ordained Fr. Rodrigo Ulloa-Chavarry proclaimed the gospel.

Fr. Dougherty then gave a homily befitting a whole century of service. Despite feeling like 100 years, it was actually only twenty-eight minutes long (but who's counting?). Interestingly enough, "Doc" tapped into his inner Baptist preacher and had the congregation repeatedly respond with "Yes, we would!" to several incantations beginning "We would like to thank..." To wit, all Maryknollers, living and dead, all Maryknoll entities, Maryknoll affiliates, Maryknoll associates, Maryknoll benefactors, Maryknoll employees, and Maryknoll men in formation were all feted.

Towards the end of the Mass, County Executive Rob Asterino (cousin of Maryknoll Father Bob Asterino, Hong Kong) spoke a few words of congratulations and shared how as a boy he actually worked one summer in our social communications department. He declared Wednesday, June 29, 2011 as Maryknoll Appreciation Day in Westchester and formally presented "Doc" with the framed proclamation.

The entire ceremony not only was streamed live via Channel 15 to the men at St. Theresa's, but it was also videoed by former lay missioner Mr. Mike Lavery from the archdiocesan communications department.

After Mass the throng migrated out to the tent in the quadrangle where our Sodexo staff once again outdid themselves in presenting foods from around the mission world. Among our many guests were Gloria and Carl Price, relatives of our co-founder, Father Thomas Price. They did the honors of blowing out the candles on Maryknoll's birthday cake.

In a corner of the dining room, a huge screen showed a DVD prepared by Br. Kevin Dargan and Ms.Maureen Toohey of Channel 15 with vintage photos and Fr. Emile Dumas' voice reading the words of founder Bishop James A. Walsh.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the presence of about 12 very polite and pleasant protesters who stood outside with signs in support of Fr. Roy Bourgeois and women's ordination. Several Maryknollers went over and chatted with them and found them to be very sincere and dedicated. They also passed out a statement which I shall include in tomorrow's blog.

Today belongs to Maryknoll.

Brothers' Food for Thought

About forty Maryknollers and employees gathered in the Asia room over lunch to hear Br. John Blazo and Br. Alex Walsh speak of the charism and history of the Auxiliary Brothers of St. Michael, i.e. the Maryknoll Brothers. This was the second Food for Thought program held in conjunction with our Centenary celebration, the first being last January 24 on the Fathers.

John ran down a quick history of how the Brothers slowly developed from being strictly auxiliaries whose sole job was to help the "real" missioners (the priests) do their mission work to being missioners in their own right.

Brothers cooked, cleaned, did carpentry, physical plant and electrical work at various Maryknoll facilities around the country. Br. Alex Walsh, who celebrated his 50th anniversary last Sunday, took hotel management courses which soon made him an invaluable asset both here and in Latin America where bookkeeping and dietician planning were in great demand.

The growing prospects for World War II saw a suspension of Brother applicants, since they were (and are) technically not religious but rather a group of celibate laymen. Vatican II saw another moratorium of Brother candidates for about three years as the Society wanted to re-examin the Brothers' role in light of the changes following the Council.

Alex proudly pointed to the Amanacer program for street boys in Bolivia which the Brothers built up from scratch and successfully helped many youth to get an education and turn their lives around. Br. Dave McKenna and Br. Al Patrick were both instrumental in making Amanacer a success.

In the Q & A that followed, Ms. Marge Gaughan, managing editor of MARYKNOLL magazine, shared her story of interviewing Br. Gene Caspar, who worked in the Philippines. He said he got involved in peace and justice work after he noticed there were far too many children dying there due to poverty.

Fr. Dan Dolan paid tribute to the many Brothers whose service over the years built and maintained countless buildings here and overseas, even in China, thus saving the Society millions and making our mission work possible.

Ms. Linda Guerra from Treasury expressed gratitude for the many Brothers, such as Br. Don Miriani and Br. Adrian Mazuchowski, who have helped with our finances over the years.

Br. Kevin Dargan, who now works in our library, is Maryknoll's answer to Google, at least when Society history is concerned. He has compiled two volumes of research on the Maryknoll Brothers. Most recently, he has decorated our dining room with archival photographs of Maryknollers around the world over the years to commemorate our Centenary.

Fr. Dennis Moorman, formerly our vocation director, reports an upswing in inquiries into the Brothers by young men hoping to be missioners.

(I hope to upload pix shortly---the hard way. The problem still hasn't been fixed.)

Catholic Press Awards 2011

Thanks to MARYKNOLL magazine editor Mr. Lynn Monahan for posting the following awards garnered by our various publications at last weekend's Catholic Media Convention in Pittsburgh.

On yet another sad note, our prayers and condolences to Mr. David Aquije, editor of Revista Maryknoll, on the loss of his beloved mother.

**********************************************

Maryknoll publications won 25 awards in the annual Catholic Press Association awards competition, including 13 first-place awards. The awards were announced at the CPA annual convention in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Maryknoll magazine won first place for the coveted General Excellence award in its category of Mission Magazines, both overseas and domestic. The judges said: "Simply the best in art, writing, editing, and variety of stories. The platinum standard in use of photos in a small format magazine."

The Spanish-language Revista Maryknoll won first place for Best Cover in the small format in the all magazines category for its September 2010 cover, followed by Maryknoll magazine, which won second place for its April 2010 cover. The judges said of Revista Maryknoll's cover, which featured a girl in Africa lugging a mud brick, "The image is striking. The color and use of type simple yet compelling. ...The reader is left wanting to know what is the story about. Just what a cover needs to draw readers in."

Maryknoll Father Joseph R. Veneroso won both 1st and 2nd place awards for Best Original Poetry in the all membership classes. The judges called his 1st place poem, "Prayer For Protection From Daisies, "Powerful and profound thoughts on human diversity, and a lovely layout to enhance the message." His second-place winner was for "God Knows." Both poems appeared in Maryknoll magazine as Father Veneroso's regularly published photo meditations.

Orbis Books won 12 awards, including six first-place awards. Maryknoll's book publishing arm won first place awards in the categories for theology, scripture, education, history, social concerns and catalog. [Also, in reporting on the awards yesterday, I missed one of them—a first-place award for Orbis Books in the Pastoral Ministry category. I'm repeating what I wrote to reflect that change.] Of Orbis' Fall 2010 Catalog, the judges said, "The cover immediately arrests the attention enticing the reader into the catalog. ... A run-away winner."

Maryknoll Fathers Robert Jalbert and Gerald Kelly and Maryknoll Brother John Blazo shared the first-place award for Best Regular Column, Spiritual Life for the Partners in Mission column that runs regularly in Maryknoll magazine, and Maryknoll Father John C. Sivalon won the first-place award for Best Column, Spiritual in the Spanish Awards for his column on wisdom.

The CPA will post the full list of winners with judges commentaries on its web site, http://www.catholicpress.org, on Tuesday afternoon.

99 Years, 364 days and counting...

Hi again. I tried in vain to get recent pix of the Jubilee weekend uploaded from my most excellent iPhone, but still to no avail. I'll call the Blog IT people later. Until I can get the problem solved, I must do this the old-fashioned way: download the pix from my camera to my laptop and then upload them to this blog. This takes time so on-the-spot blogging must needs wait.

On a sad note: Fr. Ed Szendrey received word yesterday (Monday) that his father was dying. Ed immediately hopped a plane to Texas but, unfortunately, his Dad died before he arrived. This is particularly sad for Ed because his Mom passed away less than three months ago. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Today at noon we have another Centenary Food for Thought similar to the one that opened our festivities last January. That one focused on the Maryknoll Fathers and their early memories. Today, Br. John Blazo will be emcee for a look at the Brothers' history.

One on-going activity that doesn't get any publicity and perhaps that's all for the best: For the past several weeks, various Maryknollers have been taking four-hour shifts round-the clock to sit at the hospital bedside of one of our brethren who took ill suddenly with hemorrhaging on the brain. Although he survived that ordeal, it left him very confused and disoriented. When Maryknollers are present, he seems more relaxed, and so they (even our men in formation) take turns and continue to sit with him. This is as much a tribute to the Maryknoll spirit than anything else we've done during our first 100 years.

And now, here without further ado but with annoying and unnecessary complexity in this age of tenchnology, are the stubbornly missing pictures:

Missing pix and links

Of late, several photos and links I have tried posting have not appeared on this blog. A quick view of Blogspot help-desk inquiries shows I am not alone in this vexation. While I search for a solution, here are the items I've tried in vain to post:

A link to a Huffington Post article in the religion section by Mr. Robert Ellsberg, executive director of Orbis books. Robert wrote a wonderful tribute for Father's Day to his own father, Mr. Daniel Ellsberg of Pentagon Papers fame.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-ellsberg/peacemaker-hero-daniel-el_b_876606.html

A picture of our tower now sporting the 30' red banner announcing our Centenary.

A picture of new rented tents with re-enforced tops and no center poles. Each tent holds 400 people, who will be seated at 40 round tables. Of interest are the four fire extinguishers and four EXIT signs, even though the tents are completely open on all sides.

As I will once again be in Queens at the Korean church on Jubilee weekend, I will see if I can get someone else with an iPhone at the Center to post pix of the festivities tomorrow....provided I can figure out why previous photos have vanished.

A gathering of (gray and balding) eagles

Reports I've heard from some who attended the Mission Institute confirmed my contention that many of us Maryknollers are still stubbornly stuck in the 1970s and 1980s. This has a direct bearing on our vocation recruitment efforts, as it may blind us to where the Church in the States and its young people actually are, as opposed to where we think they ought to be. Yet again we seem to show more flexibility and acceptance of other religions than we do of variations in Roman Catholicism.

Things are happening fast and furious as Jubilee Weekend and our 100th anniversary approaches. Jubilarians have gathered the past few days, necessitating a move for the daily Mass from the Lady chapel to the Queen of Apostles chapel.

Our grounds crew and physical plant are doing great work to spruce up this place and set up flooring, round tables and chairs to accommodate 800+ expected Sunday and 350 on Wednesday.

New, reinforced-roof tents went up. These have weathered the torrential rains we've been having. The weather for Sunday promises to be sunny but if the ground hasn't drained off completely by then, Plan B is to give our guests a real mission experience of planting rice in the quadrangle.

The flags of all the countries where Maryknoll has ever worked will grace our upper quadrangle. The physical plant has creatively hit upon a way to display the flags without permanently affixing flag holders to the pillars: removable clamps.

Many thanks to Br. Kevin Dargan, Fr. Tom McDonnell, Fr. Joe LaMar and moi for selecting vintage photos from our archives for display in the dining room. Ms. Roberta Savage of our art department printed these and Kevin, assisted by Brother candidate Glen D'Angelo and Seminarian Jonathan Hill framed them nicely.

A huge, red Centenary banner to be draped from our tower throughout the coming year has to await the grommets (I never heard of them, either) to connect it by way of a cherry-picker to the supporting cables. Given the thunderstorms we've been having, such a delay is prudent.

Walsh Building Update

Mr. Dave Kane, MLM, was in town for leadership meetings of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. While here he was given a tour of remodeling efforts of the Walsh building, the future headquarters of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, NSha'Allah. As alluded to by Father Ed Dougherty during his State of the Society address to the U.S. Regional Assembly, the renovations have hit some bumps along the road.

While it was for many years used as offices for Maryknoll and Revista magazines, Orbis Books, Media Relations, Voices of Our World Radio and the photo library, that was then and this is now. The third floor, which had been a meeting room, radio studio and chapel is now off limits due to having just one staircase. Similarly, the second floor over the boiler room that once housed Orbis books is unusable for also having just one egress. I don't. Know why they can't grandfather us in. Lord knows we have enough guys here to qualify.

Meanwhile, no news as to what the Society plans to do with Bethany, the old MLM headquarters and even older Maryknoll Sisters Nursing Home.

On a sad note, David Kane, who works at the Maryknoll Justice and Peace Office in Washington, DC, reports that Ms. Marie Dennis, who headed our office for many years with skill, patience, perseverance, long-suffering and diplomacy (not to mention an extra portion of Christianity) has decided to call it quits at the end of this year. While no reason was given (at least by David), I can appreciate the difficulties and stress that come with a job that requires you to speak out on certain issues and keep silent on others.

When I was editor of the magazines and my smiley face in Roman collar appeared on the editorial page every month, I found it depressing (literally) to have people assume I supported or defended or even agreed with some contemporary Church positions that I in good conscience (there's that word again!) did not. Let the reader take note.

News about women from around the mission world

As Maryknollers from fields afar start to gravitate towards Mother Knoll to celebrate Jubilee on June 26 (for 25, 40, 45, 50 and 60 years of service to mission) followed by the all-time-consuming 100th Foundation Day on June 29th, the buzz around the salad bar has once again taken on a decidedly international flavor.

As one might expect, given recent developments, women's issues provide fodder, but not those we are accustomed (?) to discussing.

Fr. Doug May, in from Nairobi and of former and hopefully future Cairo fame, is in for his 25th. At table we were discussing the proposed ban on infant circumcision coming up in a referendum in San Francisco. I shall spare you the pros and cons in that conversation. But what was remarkable was Doug's observation that female circumcision is common practice among Orthodox Coptic women in Egypt because (ready for this?) the Blessed Virgin was circumcised. No Scriptural text was cited.

Meanwhile Brazil, with its first female president who, according to Fr. Bill Coy, isn't doing too well, has nonetheless made strides toward women's rights, according to Fr. Dennis Moorman who worked there in the past and plans to return next year. "Honor killings" of the type in the Muslim world, were, till recently accepted as justifiable homicide. A man could murder his wife if he even suspected her of infidelity. Although the law has been repealed, men still try to claim this defense, Dennis says.

In Korea, Fr. Russ Feldmeier has worked many years as part of a collaborative team with Sisters and lay people, to demonstrate the advantages of working together as equals. This is very well received, especially among Korean Sisters as one might expect in this still very patriarchal and hierarchal society and Church. That being said, according to Russ, women's ordination is just not an issue for Catholic women here. It may have something to do with the Confucian system which has a fixed place for everyone in Society. Korean women have learned how to exercise leadership and authority despite apparent restrictions.

I once again direct your attention to the NCR article I wrote and the more than 100 comments following. Most were pro Roy, as you'd expect from NCR readship, although a few people really went out on a limb to defend Maryknoll. One questioned mine and other priests' manhood but I was persuaded by a colleague not to pull a Weiner to disprove this. So to speak. Another questioned what price Maryknoll has paid. Apparently the loss of many sponsors and a tarnished reputation is small potatoes compared to the great hardship and unspeakable persecution Roy has faced. Many do not grasp the oath of obedience that binds us to one another as a Society. Several invoked the Nazi defense shot down at Nuremburg: "I was only following orders."

And lastly a Blogger's correction: in an earlier post I had misspelled Fr. Bob Lilly's name. Apologies! Yet even a Maryknoll Directory might not prevent this, as in alternating years it spelled my name with an "a" at the end instead of an "o". But the joys of this electronic age is that I can go back and make the correction.

Maryknoll, Then and Now

OK, folks, I finally got the kinks worked out. (I hope). Below are two links, one for the article I wrote for National Catholic Reporter giving my impressions of the meeting we held with Father Roy Bourgeois during our Regional Assembly last month. The comments people are posting after the article are also informative.

The other article appears in the June 20 issue of AMERICA magazine on our founders and early years in time for our Centennial on June 29.

Here is the AMERICA article:

http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=12918


And here is the NRC article:

http://www.ncronline.org/news/women/time-ambiguity-shadows-maryknollers-assembly

Echoes of last weekend

When people are still buzzing about your talk or homily a full week after you delivered it, you know it has been a success.

A quotable quote from the sending ceremony last Saturday afternoon, Bishop Antonio Sherpa of Katmandu, Nepal, said, "There are two kinds of missioners, those who come to listen and those who come to teach. Guess which ones last?"

And from all accounts, newly ordained Maryknoll Father Rodrigo Ulloa-Chavvary did a fantastic job on his first Mass and homily last Sunday in Mary Queen of Apostles chapel here at Maryknoll, NY. In his homily, Rodrigo described the first time he, as a new seminarian, welcomed a visitor to Maryknoll. It was his brother.

Rodrigo showed him our main corridor lined on one side with all the ordination and Brother classes going back to 1918. (Hey! This means in 2018 we can have another Centennial celebration. Yay.) Anyway....So as Rodrigo was pointing out our historical membership, his brother's eye was drawn to the opposite wall on which the pictures of nine Maryknoll martyrs are displayed.

Father Gerry Donovan was killed by bandits in Manchuria in 1937; Father Robert Cairnes was murdered by Japanese troops in 1941; Father William Cummings died as a POW in 1945; Father Otto Rauschenbach was killed by Chinese bandits in 1945; Bishop Patrick Byrne died during the Death March to North Korea in 1950; Bishop Francis X. Ford died in a Chinese prison in 1952; Father William Kruegler shot to death in Bolivia in 1962; Father Vincent Campodanno killed in Vietnam in 1967 while administering last rites to a soldier; and Father William Woods who died in Guatemala in 1967 after receiving death threats.

"Did you join Maryknoll to die like these men?" the brother asked Rodrigo. He didn't answer. Then, last Sunday, while giving his homily, Rodrigo asked his brother to come forward. He put an arm around his shoulder and said, "Now I am ready to answer your question."

"I did not join Maryknoll to die like them, but to live like them," he said and, then pointing to the crucifix he concluded, "And to live with him forever."

ELB O'Room

After almost two full weeks of apparently Zen-like silence (or that's what it must have been, given the total lack of buzz around the salad bar), a few bloggable blurbs have emerged from the meeting of the Extended Leadership Board).

The first, reported by US Regional, Father Mike Duggan) is that the Maryknoll Society will hold a meeting of the entire membership in 2013. Given our present attrition rate, such a meeting will fit nicely in the Central America room, or maybe have both members gather around the salad bar. Seriously, this will really be an interesting experiment, and might be just the spark needed to re-ignite our fires for renewal. I
am making a conscious effort to avoid analogies using the words "powder keg."

The Maryknoll Sisters had such a "Meeting of the Whole" more than ten years ago, and they had way more members then
than we do now or will in 2012.

But back to ELB. I have heard both directly and indirectly from multiple men that some are frustrated with the lack of substance, direction or in-put. While many issues were discussed, nothing has yet been decided (let the reader take note). ELB was scheduled to go till
June 14 but finished yesterday, so whatever they did or didn't do, they stopped doing it. Now that's Zen.

In other news: Father Stephen Taluja has (finally) been assigned to the Latin America Region, effective November 1, 2011. We wish Stephen well as he prepares this next chapter of his mission journey.

Rumor has it that the closing liturgy for our Centennial may be June 29, 2012. This will chain-stitch nicely with the Maryknoll Sisters' Centennial which begins this coming January.

Sorry for this paucity of news. I gotta eat more salad.

Buzzings around the salad bar

During Saturday's ordination, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick referred to newly ordained Maryknoll Father Rodrigo Ulloa-Chavarry as Maryknoll's "Centennial priest" and predicted he does not so much cap the past 100 years as much as he inaugurates Maryknoll's next 100 years.

It has been wonderful these past three weeks to see so many Maryknollers and guests around Mother Knoll. Rodrigo 's parents were in from Virginia. His sister, who serves in the air force like Rodrigo did, flew in from Germany. Another sibling came up from Texas. Aunts, uncles, cousins and friends from as far away as Guatemala and El Salvador helped bring new life to our hallowed hill.

Similarly, the seminarians and Brother candidates from Chicago, here since the Regional Assembly, will begin scattering this week for the summer. Some will take vacation, others will go on OTP to Bolivia or visit missions overseas in Africa and Asia. Until then, the average age of residents here is markedly lower. Evening Monopoly will then give way to evening monotony once again. Thanks to Seminarian Peter LaTouf for uploading to this blog that great picture of Rodrigo prostrating before the altar.

The Extended Leadership Board (ELB) has also been meeting with the general council over serious matters facing the Society, but for some mysterious reason they aren't quite so chatty when I walk by. (They're learning!)

During the Assembly we learned that Maryknoll Sister Elizabeth Roach and a number of other Sisters across the street have formed a special prayer group to ask the intercession of Father Price for a return to health of our Vicar General, Father José Arámburu. For his part, José expressed appreciation for all the prayers, love and signs of support he has been receiving.

Lastly, a tale of divine providence: While at JFK airport to pick up guests, Father Doctor Pete LeJacq happened upon a group of police trying to detain an African woman who was acting erratically. Apparently they thought her actions indicated illegal drug use. Peter intervened and said they'd do better to call an ambulance as her behavior was consistent with someone suffering appendicitis. He was correct and this may have saved the woman's life. Sadly, Peter says this kind of incident (Can we call it profiling?) is more common than we know.

Come Holy Spirit!

In the sacristy

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, ordaining prelate, speaks with Bishop
Anthony Sharma of Nepal prior to the start of Mass.

The Night before....

Pre-ordination social

Maryknollers, family and guests party.

Some music

Songs in Spanish and English entertain the guests.

Family photo

Rodrigo's Dad and Mom takes a picture of me taking a picture of them.

Rodrigo's future boss

Rodrigo introduces Bishop Sherma from Katmandu, Nepal where Rodrigo will serve.

Gift from Nepal

Rodrigo & Doc display from Bishop Sherma of Our Lady of the Assumption surrounded by mysteries of the rosary. The tapestry was handmade by a Nepalese monk.

Missiologists

This morning Maryknoll missiologists presented to the community here a draft of a document outlining their ideas for the future of Maryknoll in mission. Members were given copies of the draft to reflect on and submit commits or questions, after which a final document will be released on our Centenary birthday: June 29, 2011.

Alas, I could not attend this morning's session because I was having a pacemaker tune-up in the City. I hope to have more to report tomorrow when the missiologists will give a repeat performance at St. Theresa's.

To the best of my faulty memory, here are our missiologists: Fr. Kevin Hanlon, Fr. John Gorski, Fr. Bill LaRousse, Fr. Jim Kroeger and Fr. Lance Nadeau.

Meanwhile, things are gearing up for Saturday's ordination to the priesthood of Rev. Mr. Rodrigo Ulloa-Chaverry by His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick. This will be followed by a Sending Ceremony. As you know, Rodrigo has been assigned to Nepal.

Guests have been arriving from all over the world, despite violent thunderstorms and tornadoes yesterday. The only setback was plane with guests coming from Guatemala who had to wait five hours on the tarmac for conditions to improve.