Letter of Support for Maryknoll Sisters

Following the April 18, 2012 release of the Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF—formerly known as the Holy Office of the Inquisition), members of the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers who participate in the bi-weekly discussion group "Common Table" debated at length what, if any, response was merited from our side of the road.

After a few sessions, a draft letter went out to all Society members asking for input. Correction were made. Objections were raised. Some thought this matter was strictly between the CDF and the LCWR, to which the Maryknoll Sisters belong, but since the Maryknollers were not singled out, that it was none of our concern. One said the Sisters were quite capable of defending themselves.

A few sided with the CDF (we are, after all, Maryknollers) and thought any letter of support was misguided. A few thought our letter was too strong; others not strong enough.

Finally, an edited copy was set to Society members to sign if they so wished. Others were encouraged to write and send their own letters in their own words, and several men did this, I am told.

The letter was composed on August 8, the Feast of St. Dominic (patron of the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic) and finally sent with 104 signatures to Sr. Janice McLaughlin, president of the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation on September 8, the Nativity of Mary. (Four more men have since emailed me to add their names, so that brings the total to 108).

Below is the text of the letter and the response by Sister Janice.


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

Statement in support of the Maryknoll Sisters from Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers

We, members of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, express our unconditional support for and solidarity with the Maryknoll Sisters during this Centenary of their foundation.

For one hundred years we have worked side-by-side with them to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ among the poorest and most vulnerable of God’s people, both here and overseas.

We add our voice to that of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in lauding the Sisters’ unselfish sacrifice, dedication and service to others, especially the less fortunate, marginalized and outcasts of society.

The Sisters’ lives and witness therefore make other aspects of the CDF Assessment all-the-more perplexing, as it casts doubt on their integrity and loyalty to the Church.

In the noblest American tradition of open discussion and honest dialogue, and with solid conviction that our faith can stand the rigors of robust debate, the Sisters do not fear listening to speakers who express differing points of view.

The Sisters risk their safety, health and lives, and willingly forgo privilege, prestige and power, to live the Gospel and follow the laws of Christ in a most pastoral way. The unprecedented outpouring of public support attests to their effectiveness.

We therefore, the undersigned members of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, are confident all things do indeed work together for good. A just resolution to this controversy, as that between Peter and Paul, will show the world we are all truly Christ’s disciples in our love for one another.

August 8, 2012

Feast of St. Dominic

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RE: Letter of Support

McLaughlin, Janice

Sent: September 11, 2012

To: Veneroso, Joe

What a great way to begin the day! I’ve passed on your message to the other members of the team.  We are deeply appreciative of your solidarity and will send our response to all 104 of you soon! The world would be a better place if we all had brothers like you.

Peace and joy,

Janice

New vicar general!

The General Council is pleased to announce that Father James M. Lynch (formerly Maryknoll superior in Latin America) has accepted our invitation to join the Council. During our first meeting, Jim was chosen to be Vicar General of the Maryknoll Society.

We are thankful to Jim for stepping up to serve the Society in this capacity. We ask every Maryknoller to pray that the wisdom and grace of God will see us through these days of transition.

Please join us in welcoming Jim as the new Vicar General of the Maryknoll Society.

Sincerely in Christ and

Our Lady of Maryknoll,

Edward M. Dougherty

Rev. Edward M. Dougherty, M.M.

Superior General

New Book about Maryknoller

The following message came to me from Lou Giansante:

Hello Father Joe,

You and your blog readers might be interested in a new book, Tov in China: Missionary Letters 1947-1952.

It's a book of letters and commentary about Maryknoll missioner Fr. James "Tov" Buttino, who served first on the mainland and then in Taiwan for 50 years. 

The book is now available through McNally Jackson at this site:

Tov in China: Missionary Letters 1947 - 1952 | McNally Jackson Books

To give you more information, I'm attaching a release about the book, and pdfs of the cover, Preface, and introductory pages to the 1950 Letters.

FYI, the book has now been added to the Maryknoll Mission Archives in Ossining.

Best,

Lou Giansante

35 Years!

Ms. Nancy Kleppel celebrates 35 years with Maryknoll (starting with our Justice & Peace office in 1978, then over to the Lay Missioners, then as Center Coordinator.)

Maryknollers and employees gathered this afternoon to thank her for her enthusiastic, energetic and positive attitude working for and with Maryknoll.

Correction to the correction!

Fr. Jerry Burr writes from the Philippines:

 I am sure I will not be the only one to offer "corrections" .........and of course, I may be wrong....... (God forbid).......  but I believe others have checked out while on the G.C. Was not Fr. James Drought the VG when he crashed in a plane and died? Perhaps just a Council member......????

When I was matriculating in Theology, Fr. Gerard Grondin died, whilst on the Council. I think it went like this..... Pardy was VG and elected Bishop in Korea, Jackie Donovan moved up to Vicar slot, and Grondin was brought in to round out the Council.  I do remember being in the Rotunda during the wake, and SG Comber came in the door (from a three-month visitation trip) and asked me "Who died?"  I replied, Father Grondin..... Comber was SG and didn't know one of his Council guys died.

 Of course, if I am wrong on any of this...it won't be the first time. 

Cheers!  Old Burr

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Blogger's note: good to know you guys actually read this stuff and keep me on my toes!

Correction!

Fr. Ed Hayes, in from Africa, was gracious enough to point out an error in the previous post about the death of Fr. José Arámburu. I had stated José was the first incumbent General Council member to die. Not true, says Fr. Ed. In the mid 1960s,  Fr. Gerry Grondin was elected to the GC in Bishop Comber's Council, to fill the vacancy created when Father James Pardy left to become bishop in Korea. Fr. Grondin died in office. José is the first Maryknoll vicar general to die in office. (*Nope! See correction above!)

Many thanks also to Br. Kevin Dargan, (Maryknoll's answer to Google) for filling in these details.

Fr. Paul Masson, general council member, has arrived safely in Puerto Rico where he was to accompany the body of Fr. José back to his homeland for burial. As for Fr. José,  his remains took a little longer to arrive in San Juan. A Maryknoller to the end (and apparently beyond), José seemed determined to visit as much of the world as he can. But he finally made it back home and the funeral Mass and burial have already taken place.

And not a minute too soon:

Tropical Storm Isaac sideswiped P.R. and is now bearing down on Hispaniola, Cuba and perhaps Florida by Monday, by which time it might be upgraded to a full-blown hurricane.

Other interesting bits of news:

· Two weeks ago, some 60+ music ministers, directors and choir conductors gathered in our main chapel for a two-hour participatory sight-reading of new music coming out this year by GIA. The music ministers were from parishes in New York, but also from as far away as Ogdensburg and Baltimore. Thanks to our own music director, Mr. Christopher Reilly, for organizing this opportunity to introduce Maryknoll to a whole new constituency.

· This weekend, some 25 Sunday School teachers from St. Paul's Church in Flushing, NY, will be here for their annual workshop. (This is the same group that produced Sem. Dae Wook Kim and the same parish that gave us Fr. Alfonso Kim.)

· Four of our 10 seminarians are completing extra courses and structured autobiographies this week here at Mother Knoll. They'll be returning to Chicago on Sunday by car. (Oy!)

Wake for Fr. José

More than 300 mourners (Maryknoll Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Lay Missioners, employees, former classmates and friends) gather in Queen of Apostles at Maryknoll, NY, chapel for the wake service honoring Fr. José Arámburu, vicar general.

A sad, historical first...

The funeral for Fr. José Arámburu, vicar general, (on Thursday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m.) will be the first time in our 100 year history for an incumbent member of our General Council. To allow for the larger number of people paying respects, longer communion time as well as testimonials, the Mass time was moved up an hour. As per José's wish, his body will then be flown back to his native Puerto Rico for burial.

In others news: at last month's national meeting of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) our own U.S. Reguonal Superior Father Mike Duggan was elected to the CMSM governing board. Mike hopes to keep the mission of the Church front and center. Congratulations and best wishes to him!

At the CMSM meeting, they approved an official statement in support of our counterpart among the Sisters, the now-famous LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) in their on-going "dialogue" with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly the Office of the Inquisition).

Since the opening salvo was fired last April 18 when the CDF issued its "assessment" of the umbrella organization that includes the Maryknoll Sisters, I and many other Maryknollers waited impatiently for some letter of support from our side of the road. We were told to wait for the LCWR to respond, which they did in May. Then we were told to wait for our Extended Leadership Board to meet, which they did and after two days of discussions, decided to study the situation further.

In the meantime, the Franciscans (!) did not hesitate to issue their own bold letter of support. When the Franciscans beat Maryknoll to the barricades, you know our once much heralded "prophetic" role (read the documents from the 2002 Chapter) has become instead, in my not-so-humble opinion, pathetic.

The Common Table initiative, in the meantime, discussed and debated issuing our own letter of support to the Sisters. The overall membership was invited to sign on and to date I have 100+ signatories. After this is delivered to the Sisters, I will publish the letter here, so stay tuned!

Start of the new school year

Ten candidates, fresh off a retreat with Fr. John Moran, gather at the Knoll to meet the veteran missioners. Two other seminarians, Shawn Crumb (Bolivia) and Daniel Kim (China) are in the Overseas Training Program of their formation.

Old meets new

Candidates' reception

Newbies

We welcome two new candidates: Dr. Andrea Eum and Greg McPhee, Esq., to our initial formation program, along with Fr. Bill Mullan joining the formation team.

Discrete cyber silence

Here's a brand new reason for my not posting so often: sometimes the news is so BIG that premature posting might jeopardize the whole thing. (See? I can excercize discretion!) As soon as the embargo on this news is lifted, I shall post from anywhere in the world I happen to be. It's that big!

In the meantime, let me fill up this space with banal offerings such as last week's Ice Cream Social, hosted by our Wellness Initiative (the same folks that gave us the "Gaelic & Garlic" party, Korean Harvest Festival and other gala gatherings in months and years past.

 Dr. Claudia Koblenz-Sulkov (OSP) and Fr. Ernie Lukaschek, pastoral coordinator, served up the confections to order.

 
Br. Wayne Fitzpatrick became expert at the banana split.

Fr. Mike Duggan, US Regional, came to serve, not be served

Along with delicious ice cream sundaes (an odd choice, given the number of diabetics in residence), there was an entertainer straight out of the Borscht Belt.

For a nominal fee, I will gladly delete this photo from the blog.

101 and counting

The Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (a.k.a. Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers) turned 101 yesterday on the feast of SS Peter & Paul. Leading the celebration at Mass in the Queen of Apostles Chapel was New York Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan with around 50 Maryknoll concelebrants.

During his homily, Cardinal Dolan, affable as ever, strolled the center aisle and spoke pastorally to the 160 Maryknollers and guests in the pews. He spoke of holiness as Pope Benedict used the word, to connote a personal friendship with Jesus. Peter, of course, knew Jesus for three years; Paul experienced the presence of the Risen Jesus. Both men's lives would never be the same. Their goal became to share that knowledge and faith in Jesus with all the world.

And that, the Cardinal said, was the same goal of Bishop James A. Walsh and Fr. Thomas F. Price and Mother Mary Joseph. And that is the goal of Maryknoll today, he pointed out, preaching to the choir (literally).

After Massed, the Cardinal did work the crowds in the dining room but didn't stay for the meal.

As you may or may not know, our Extended Leadership Board (ELB) of the Society finished their annual two-week-long meeting but without issuing any statement in support of the Sisters. But at least two superiors assured me "something is in the works." The Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) will be meeting in August and will presumably ratify a letter of support that their leadership issued two weeks ago. Maybe our Maryknoll leaders are waiting for that as "cover."

I hope that is not the case. Otherwise we who once fancied ourselves the "marines of the Church," the prophets of our time, the cutting edge of mission, the risk takers of the gospel, will seem like tired, old geezers afraid to say anything that might  offend.

But I shall reserve any harsh(er) comments till August when surely we can expect a bold proclamation of gospel values in support of the Sisters, especially on this, their Centenary.

Day of jubilee

Thirty-five Jubilarians celebrating 25, 40, 50, 60 and 65 (!) years respectively of priesthood and membership in Maryknoll gather in Queen of Apostles Chapel with family and friends.

Fr. Ed Dougherty, superior general, gave a quick overview on how much America has changed over these years: a gallon of gas was 15 cents and a postage stamp was three cents 65 years ago. (He neglected to add that I was minus one year old.)

With the new configuration of the chapel, the Jubilarians sat in the front row of the main aisle, with their personal guests directly behind them.

Sister Jubilarians, and the Maryknoll Sisters' and Lay Missioner Leadership were honored guests.

Following dismissal vote, Bourgeois says Maryknoll's tone different

Here is the NCR's take on the June 6 meeting between Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Superior General Fr. Ed Dougherty.

Regarding the excommunication, in my understanding Roy incurred the excommunication "latae sentitiae" when he did not recant within the time limit specified in the second warning of dismissal.

To date, Roy remains a Maryknoller and still receives his personal allowance and health coverage.



http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/following-dismissal-vote-bourgeois-says-maryknolls-tone-different


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More priests, brothers express support for LCWR

http://ncronline.org/news/women-religious/more-priests-brothers-express-support-lcwr


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Martin Niemöller quote redux

First they condemned the liberation theologians, but I didn't speak up for fear of being labeled a commie sympathizer.

Then they condemned homosexuals as 'intrinsically disordered' and silenced those who ministered to the GLBT community, but I said nothing for fear of attracting unwelcome scrutiny or suspicion.

Next they forbad discussion of women priests and excommunicated a man for publicly advocating women's ordination, to serve as a warning to others, and it worked: we shut up.

Then they fired a suspected liberal editor whose only transgression was giving equal coverage to opposing views, so we learned not to be fair and not to oppose.

Then they hijacked our Mass and crucified the English language and they tortured our grammar and theology beyond recognition, and we responded, "And with your spirit."

Now they have come for the Sisters, but as God is my witness, I will never be silent again!

(With apologies both to Rev. Niemöller as well as Scarlet O'Hara for their inspiration.)

My epistle to the Maryknoll Sisters

Dear Maryknoll Sisters,

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to reign in your hearts!

Since 1973, I have personally known and worked with you individually, in groups (as with that stellar bunch that was in Korea with me during the 1970s and 1980s) and, of course, as a Congregation, headquartered right across the street from the Fathers & Brothers in Ossining, N.Y.

This current crisis between the Vatican and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious affords me a wonderful opportunity to state publicly what I have long felt and seldom expressed: you are far and away the greatest living representatives of gospel values I have ever encountered.

On this, the Centenary of your founding, it is appropriate to recall how the first Maryknoll Sisters quickly dispelled the doubts and reservations about American women being too weak to endure the hardships of overseas missions. Indeed, our co-founder, Bishop James A Walsh, M.M., quickly conceded our mission work would never succeed until Maryknoll Sisters went overseas as missioners in their own right.

You have more than proven yourselves worthy disciples and missioners in our first mission of China since the 1920s, operating orphanages, medical clinics, sanitariums for Hansen's disease patients, and homes for the elderly poor. When war broke out you went into prison or exile with the people. In the States, you accompanied the Japanese Americans into the internment camps. During the Korean war, you disappeared with many other prisoners on the infamous Death March.

Following Vatican II, you eschewed your distinctive Maryknoll religious habit to remove an artificial barrier between you and the people you are sent to serve: the poor, the oppressed, the marginated, those who "hunger and thirst for justice." You surrendered ecclesial symbolism for approachability and solidarity with ordinary people, just as Jesus did. Knowing first hand the plight of women in a "man's world", you instinctively gravitated toward helping women overcome violence, discrimination, illiteracy, unemployment and health issues.

So great was your identification with the oppressed, that in El Salvador your deaths, among the hundreds of thousands slain, helped awaken the world and especially the people of the United States to the brutality and injustice of our foreign policy in Central America. With this came the dismissive disdain from powerful people in our government.

Through all this, I have known you to be women of deep faith and great joy, welcoming to all, open to differing viewpoints and respectful of diversity. These are the very things that got Jesus into trouble with the religious leaders of his time. So I suppose it is sad but hardly surprising that your actions on behalf of justice and the true gospel of Christ would attract the disapproval of powerful men in our Church today.

Yet, what marks a truly Christian community is not the absence of conflict or controversy, but rather how these are resolved. I have no doubt the bishops acted out of love for Christ and his Church, even as your lives attest to that very same love.

I am happy to number myself among the People of God who will be praying and fasting in the days, months and years ahead that the spirit of wisdom, discernment, knowledge, counsel and understanding might infuse your upcoming dialogue and discussions with the Vatican and that, in all humility, all Christians live out Christ's words: "By this shall all know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another." (John 13:35)

In Christ I remain,

Joseph, your brother

When silence is sinful

I know this blog was originally created to keep Maryknollers in Fields Afar up to speed on goings on here at Mission Central. As such I tried to report what others were saying or doing (at least those things I could report without risking a liable suit). But times being what they are, I decided to violate a basic tenet of journalism by actually creating the buzz instead of just reporting it.

When the Vatican chose to announce a crackdown on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) on my birthday (April 18, for those who'd like to mark their calendars for next year, under "Significant Dates in History" right after the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere), I knew I had to acknowledge this rather unorthodox (and I use the word intentionally) gift.

I approached the U.S. Regional Superior (just re-elected, congrats, Mike!) asking when Maryknoll, if not the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM), would issue a statement of support. He reported that our counterpart to the LCWR was waiting on the Sisters to respond. In the mean time, I understand he spoke with our Secretary General, Father Ed McGovern, to encourage that the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers at least have a statement ready.

Well, it has now been two weeks since the LCWR issued a statement responding to the situation. To my knowledge (which I concede may be severely limited) neither the men's group nor Maryknoll Society has publicly issued a statement (except for those Franciscan Friar firebrands!)

I remember a quote (just can't remember whose!) that was on the wall in our history class in high school: "To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards of us men." Here, the archaic exclusive language seems sadly fitting. Paradoxically, it's usually us men who tend to act first and discuss later, so this seems an inordinate amount of time for the sound of silence.

Who knows, an official statement may in fact appear in the next few hours or days.

Until such time, I feel compelled to speak out. And, as my disclaimer header explains, I do not represent the Society. This affords me a certain freedom to articulate my own thoughts in support of the Sisters. Please check back to Knollnews in a few hours!

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Car Show Success!

Mr. Don Baisley posted on Facebook yesterday on the success of the first-ever Antique & Classic Car Show at Maryknoll.

According to Don (I was at the Korean church and unable to attend) the show attracted 207 exhibited cars and 2,000 visitors!

I know everyone was nervous in the days leading up to the show with the very unsettled weather pattern we've been in all week. This influences not only classic car owners, but of course families who might be averse to thunderstorms.

Luckily the weather held and the cars and crowds came.

Maryknollers were on hand to greet people and show them around the museum, chapel, gift shop etc.

But the bulk of the work was done by Maryknoll employees who volunteered countless hours to help make this a success.

Pictured is a TR 6 owned by Don Baisley's father.

Huffington Post: Brothers Got Sisters Back: Franciscan Friars Side With The Nuns

 OK. We've waited till the LCWR formally responded. The Franciscan Friars have spoken firmly yet respectfully and acted out of conviction, dedication and appreciation for their Sisters.

Now, what about the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, not to mention the CMSM?

		Brothers Got Sisters Back: Franciscan Friars Side With The Nuns
	(RNS) The brothers have come to the sisters' defense. Leaders from the seven Franciscan provinces in the U.S. publicly backed a group of American nuns...

 

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Die loquentes!

OK, I know many of you have been waiting with bated breath for news of what exactly transpired yesterday afternoon between Fr. Roy Bourgeoise and Fr. Ed Dougherty during the "Due Process" mediation for which Roy had appealed as is his (Maryknoll) Constitutional right.

I hasten to scoop NCR on this breaking story:

They talked. Face to face. For a couple of hours.

Although Roy was accompanied by his canon lawyer, Fr. Thomas Doyle, Ed had no such legal representation, nor was there any need for it. This was not a canonical procedure. Instead, with Fr. Wayman Deasy as mediator, the two men spoke about their respective positions. They spoke and listened.

I did not presume to ask what, precisely, they talked about, but rather asked each man his impression of the exchange.

Roy seemed delighted. "We talked, openly and honestly. There were no threats or ultimatums." He gave Wayman high marks for keeping the discussion moving and on point. Roy was not asked to utter the two words he said he could never say: "I recant."

Doc, too, said they had a cordial and frank exchange.

So to answer some questions that have, indeed, been circulating over the salad bar:

Nothing was decided.

Roy is still a member of Maryknoll.

He still receives his personal allowance and health coverage from the Society (Sr. Joan Chittester and other advocates' published assertions notwithstanding.)

The School of Americas Watch recently received a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Region.

Roy has not been silenced (to my knowledge) by Maryknoll, although I did confide to him that my personal objection to his very public actions and speeches have less to do with content and everything to do with our Society being dragged into an ecclesial controversy which we had not discussed, agreed to nor prepared for.

I doubt any of this will get out to those people who withdrew support for Maryknoll, denounced us or think less of us because of perceived injustices. But here in all its unadorned glory is the truth.

Dies irae autem dies spei?

Even as I post, Fr. Roy Bourgeoise and his high-powered attorney, Fr. Tom Doyle, are meeting with Superior General Fr. Ed Dougherty in a "due  process" session, mediated by Fr. Wayman Deasy. As far as I have been able to ascertain, Doc won't be accompanied by a canon lawyer. This may be just as well, since this is not a judicial hearing or trial or negotiation or arbitration. It is, rather, an opportunity afforded Society members by our Constitutions when they feel they have not been treated fairly or ethically by leadership.

Absent a fly-spy on the wall, I am not sure if we will learn what exactly was discussed, but the very fact that Roy and Ed are meeting and talking face-to-face is itself an accomplishment, according to Bourgeoise, who claims there has been neither dialogue nor discussion between the two in the past three years.

I confess I cannot imagine what else can come out of this "due process" process, since there is, in fact, not much that can be reversed or undone. There is also a certain disadvantage for Doc in this kind of situation since the Vatican has made it quite explicit that not only are Catholics forbidden to talk about [DELETED] but we are to refrain from even thinking about [DELETED].

What we have here in microcosm is the same dysfunctional dynamic plaguing not only us here at the Center but, in fact, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. To wit: one side sees its authority and power eroding, perhaps irreparably, so it clings desperately to what little power it has. It appeals to blind obedience and to habit (if not tradition) and calls for strict adherence to anachronistic laws or policies; on the other side we have free spirits willing to enter into discussion, dialogue and process to reach some sort of mutually acceptable understanding and conclusion.

This strikes me as being at the heart of the apparent overreach by the Vatican regarding the Conference of Leadership of Women Religious (not to mention the Girl Scouts!). This likewise reverberates through our dining room when somewhere dare suggest moving pizza to another day. It's "Who Moved My Cheese" writ large. Our actions seem to shout: "We can't control our situation, by God we can control this!" and so we pounce for no better reason than that we can.

Age, disease, decreasing numbers force us to confront our limitations and mortality; as individuals, as a Society and as a Church. So what is the knee-jerk reaction? Come down hard on any individual or group you deem vulnerable but whose very actions underscore the embarrassing truth that the emperor lost his clothes decades ago.

Asked what he hoped would come from today's "due process" meeting, Roy replied: "Hope."

Not a minute too soon!

From Facebook, some points to ponder

Maryknoll Alums Gather

About 60 former Society members are gathering tomorrow for a reunion.

Some came from quite a distance and arrived today, but most are coming in tomorrow. Society members are invited to join in their morning coffee break as well as the noon BBQ. They will have discussions during the day.

Also coming up next SUNDAY, June 10, is the much publicized and first ever Maryknoll Classic and Antique Car Show here on the grounds (the soccer field, to be precise). Advertized as "fun for the whole family" there will be raffles and tours, as well as judging of the vintage autos. This gathering is not just a fundraiser for the Society, but will hopefully introduce Maryknoll and our mission work to a whole new audience.

PLEASE join us in praying that the eratic weather pattern breaks and a sunny, warm but not humid day inspires many to come out to the Car Show.

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[Blogger's note: the reasons for my own eratic postings in here are:

1) Nothing of interest was said or done;
2) Nobody tells me anything worth repeating;
3) Nobody tells me anything I dare repeat;
4) I am busy
5) I am lazy
6) All of the above

Sent from my most excellent, albeit antiquated, iPhone 4

Munchkinland

Emerald City (a.k.a. Mother Knoll) transformed into Munchkinland this afternoon when 800 (!) Munchkins from Brookside School across the street staged an emergency evacuation drill for their students K-2nd Grade.

This has been in the works for quite some time as our people and their people negotiated details of the drill. Should (God forbid) a natural or human-caused disaster require the school to evacuate the students, they and their teachers and support staff would be escorted here to Maryknoll to the R-Wing Ground and First Floors to await buses, parents or further instructions.

Ossining Police participated in the drill, which effectively closed off Pinesbridge Road in front of our Center for about an hour. Fr. Ed Szendrey, internal auditor and an official observer, reported that many Maryknollers commented to him on how quiet and well-behaved the students seemed. No doubt this was an exciting diversion for them to finally get to see the inside of this great Chinese building that looms over them. For Maryknoll's part, it is just one way we are trying to be good neighbors and actively participate in the local community.

Gathering of Musical Eagles

The Sound of Music

The three biggest names in Catholic liturgical music in the (endangered) Post Vatican II Church in the United States will be in our main chapel (Queen of Apostles) this coming Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. for a "Festival of Music for Worship."

MARTY HAUGEN ("Eye Has Not Seen", "All Are Welcome", "Gather Us In", "Taste And See", "Shepherd Me, O God," "We Remember") will team up with

DAVID HAAS ("You are Mine", "The Servant Song", "We Are Called", "We have Been Told", "Wherever You Go", "Magnificat") and last but certainly not least

MICHAEL JONCAS ("On Eagles' Wings", "We Come to Your Feast", "I Have Loved You", "Come To Me", "We Come To Your Feast" and of course, the Missa Ad Gentes commemorating our Society Centennial).

This celebration is part of the Maryknoll Sisters' Centennial and is open to the public and free of charge, although free-will offerings will be accepted.

More than 600 people are expected to jam our main chapel, as well as the Lady Chapel and Spellman Room to hear these giants of contemporary Catholic worship together in ONE PLACE.

Channel 15 will be recording this for guys at St. T's or for those with agoraphobia in their rooms here and hopefully we will soon have a DVD available for others.

Speaking of which, (how's this for a segue?) Today, more than 200 Society employees gathered in the Asia/Africa rooms for a "Thank You"party for all the good work they did to make our own Centennial celebrations a success last year.

Ms. Leah Mahnken has put together a most excellent 5-minute DVD presentation of all the celebrations last year around the world with voice overs from Fr. Dougherty and Cardinal McGarrick. She showed this to the assembled employees. The DVD will also be shown next week at our U.S. Regional Assembly and Fr. Bob Jalbert says he hopes to also have it posted to our Maryknoll Society website in the near future.

Some video (I hope)

Joyous burden

Our Lady of She San procession

Vicarious gathering

From Monday of this week until this afternoon, 18 vicars for clergy personnel from dioceses around the northeast gathered here at Maryknoll for their biannual meeting. You can imagine the serious nature of their discussions and deliberations, given the current state of the clergy, parish consolidations and closings. Yet the men seemed most amicable and mingled with us at meals, happy hour and attending our daily liturgy.

Rev. Mr. Stephen De Martino from our vocations office was instrumental in getting the vicars to have their meeting here at the Knoll. It seems that he alone is taking seriously the direction of the last Chapter that called for closer cooperation between Maryknoll and the Church in the United States.

Of course that's on the official level. Unofficially there was a lot of cooperation last Sunday as about 900 Chinese Catholics held a procession through Flushing, Queens, complete with live band, acrobats, float and huge statue of Our Lady of She-San (China). The procession started at St. John Vianney Church, wound its way toward St. Paul Chong Ha-Sang Korean parish on Parsons Blvd, then to St. Michael's farther down parson before ending up back at St. John Vianney's for benediction. Haitian Bishop Guy Sansaricq was aboard the float and blessed those gathered in front of St. Pauls

The Maryknoll connection? I was still at St. Paul's Sunday afternoon, getting ready for the Confirmation Mass, when the Chinese came calling. Hearing the band, I and the confirming prelate, Vincentian Bishop Alfonso Cabeza from Colombia went outside to see what was up. There, among the gathering throng, was none other than Maryknoll Fr. Ray Nobiletti who came with a contingent all the way from Transfiguration parish in Chinatown.

So, from grassroots to diocesan vicars Maryknoll is forging bonds with the local Church.

Mary, Queen of Apostles & Mission

Yesterday St. Joseph the Worker got bumped in favor of a solemn liturgy honoring Mary, Queen of Apostles in the Maryknoll main chapel bearing that name. True, the regular feast of MQOA falls on the Saturday following the Ascension of the Lord, but in recent years the May Crowning of the statue of Our Lady of Maryknoll in the Spellman Room has become increasingly popular, especially among our employees.

Plus since Monday we have been honored to have 28 Missioners, educators and diocesan workers in attendance from around the country to discuss ways to rekindle the spirit of mission in the Church in the United States. This conference was organized by Fr. Jerry Kelly and Fr. Dave LaBuda. So we moved our daily liturgy to 11:15 a.m. and held it in the main chapel, as the Lady Chapel could not accommodate so many visitors plus our regulars.

Following the Mass, the main celebrant (moi) led the congregation out to the Spellman Room while chanting the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Once regathered there, we read the dedication to Our Lady of Maryknoll by Bishop James E. Walsh. Then as we sang "Bring Flowers of the Rarest" Ms. Susan Aniello, supervisor of our health services, did the honors of crowning the larger-than-life statue. Susan was chosen partly in thanks and recognition for the wonderful job all our nurses and assistants did during the Nora-virus crisis. Our ceremony ended with the chanting of the Regina Caeli.

Here, for your reflection and meditation and hopefully edification, is the homily I delivered: 

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HOMILY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF MARYKNOLL

It is good to celebrate Mass in honor of Mary, Queen of Apostles in Maryknoll's main chapel dedicated to Mary, Queen of Apostles. Bishop James A. Walsh wisely put us under the patronage of both the Blessed Mother and the Apostles who were the first sent out into the world to announce the Good News of the Risen Lord.

For from this very chapel, wave upon wave of modern Missioners would follow their example. Of course, in recent years those waves have been reduced to a dribble but we should be inspired by the example of the Apostles who did not let the threat of extinction stop them from their ministry to announce the good news to all nations. 

Apostles, like Missioners, are ones who are sent. In this regard, Mary is also the Queen of Missioners, all the more so for us who bear her name. Mary is more than a monarch, she is our mother and role model. We show ourselves as beloved disciples of the Lord when we take the Blessed Mother into our homes and lives.

We do this by doing what she did:

Submit completely to the will of God.

Receive the Holy Spirit into our lives.

Treasure the word of God in our hearts.

By our actions, our words and our lives, give flesh to that word.

Give the Word-made-flesh to the world.

Point to our Lord and say, "Do whatever he tells you."

And then perhaps the hardest part of all: stand at the foot of the cross as we watch those we love suffer and die.

To do all these things, we must make Mary's Magnificat our own:

Our souls must magnify the Lord, which means our lives, our very beings must shine forth the forgiveness, mercy, compassion and love Jesus has for the world.

Our spirits must rejoice in God our savior, which means joy, deep, irrepressible joy should be the bedrock of our lives, even when we feel sad, discouraged or even depressed.

As Maryknollers we seem to have readily taken to the part in the Magnificat about casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly.

And in a few minutes we will all go down to the dining room where God will fill the hungry with good things. Now we must also be believers in the promise made to our father Abraham. We too have left family and homeland to sojourn in foreign lands. Like the Apostles, we too face an uncertain future, but under Mary's patronage, God willing future Maryknollers will number more than the stars of the heavens or sands of the sea.

Urgent prayer request for Fr. Bill McNichols

Fr. James Martin, S.J., posted an urgent appeal on his Facebook page for Fr. Bill McNichols who has suffered a massive heart attack today and may be near death. A noted iconographer, Bill wrote the icon of Our Lady of Maryknoll for our Centennary. Among his many icons are Mother of God Light in All Darkness (The "AIDS icon") commissioned by the Catholic Aids Network as well as an icon of Oscar Romero and The Passion of Matthew Shepard. A student of Robert Lentz, Bill's work has appeared in several Orbis books as well as Maryknoll Magazine. He was about to embark on a speaking tour for Orbis when he had his heart attack. Please join with his many friends, supporters and fans in bombarding heaven on his behalf.

Montage

Tom displays a pictorial montage of the Greatest Events in the Life of Father Tom McDonnell in the Last Six Years.

Ms. Denise Schneider, assistant to both Tom and U.S. Regional Superior
Fr. Mike Duggan, put great effort into creating this tribute.

Despedida

Maryknollers, employees and friends gathered last Wednesday to say Thanks to Fr. Tom McDonnell (a.k.a. Hopi's other Dad) as he completes his service as head of the Retirement Community.

Congratulations to Fr. Emile Dumas who was elected as Tom's successor.

Goings-on at Mother Knoll and beyond

Preliminary evaluations indicate that most men like the new arrangement of the main chapel, including the much-maligned and misunderstood ambo, or at least they are getting used to it. The Triduum was described by many members as the best ever. This year we even dusted off a Tenebrae service for Good Friday Night.

Several things required tweaking as the week unfolded, followed by not one, but two wakes and funerals. The oversized paschal candle reigns from mid-aisle. The ambo with the Liturgy of the Word at the entrance to the chapel balance perfectly with the altar and Liturgy of the Eucharist on the opposite. It looks, sounds and feels like a community at prayer.

Our next big event in the chapel will be the U.S. Regional Assembly at the end of May that will include the renewal of temporary oath by Seminarians Dae Kim and Daniel Kim.

Today, even as I type, about 60 people from the area are participating in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It will be interesting to hear their reaction to Mass in our newly arranged main chapel.

Tomorrow, Orbis author and editor emeritus and good friend, Michael Leach, will speak in the Asia Room on his book "Why Stay Catholic?"

Given the gathering storm between the Vatican and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Mike's premise may be tested.

A Huffington Post article opined that the actuarial tables make this confrontation unnecessary, as the progressive groups are not attracting new vocations in comparison to their more conservative and traditional Sisters. Well, actuarial tables work both ways: those running our Vatican bureaucracy are no spring chickens.

My money is on the Sisters.

Better pic of the ambo

Now, an appropriate place from which to celebrate, proclaim and preach the Word of God.

Chanting the Exultet

Standing on the new ambo, Fr. Ed Szendrey chanted the ancient hymn to Christ our Light during the Vigil Mass last Saturday.

Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia!

OK, the Triduum is over, the Mission Awareness Retreat finished, my Easter duties at the Korean church complete and I am slowly emerging from the recently vacated tomb to walk among the living once again.

First, the Triduum. Thanks to Theresa Rodrigues, Mario Cerdas, and the housekeeping crew who literally put their backs into the task of transforming our main chapel into a truly inspiring place of communal worship, introducing the much-maligned AMBO!

Yes, folks, after 13 YEARS and 12 months (to allow for our Centenary) Fr. Dougherty authorized a ONE YEAR experiment of the new (?) ambo. Commissioned and custom designed to complement our Queen of Apostles Chapel, the ambo became the center of controversy and dissent back in the late 1990s when some protested the cost (most of which was donated or designated) while others the design and still others (myself included) the placement. It cannot be anywhere near the altar.

Holy Week, when we traditionally rearrange our chapel into quasi choral style, seemed the best time to begin the experiment. As the newly appointed director of liturgy for the Society and Center (like I need another hat to wear) I invoked the principles of Fung Shui and together with above mentioned crew plus added input from Fr. John Kaserow and Fr. Mike Walsh, we all pushed and tweaked and rearranged until we got things where they now look FANTASTIC!

"The Word of God finally gets the respect it is due" is the effect we aimed for—and got. Several people, upon walking into the chapel seeing the new arrangement and ambo, simply said "Wow."

Of course there is still some tweaking to do, namely lighting and audio work. Complaints were about readers not speaking into the mic or speaking too fast. But in all due humility I can report: it works.

So during the three holy days when we accompanied our Lord through death to resurrection, it seems for the coming year, at least, the ambo is also back up from the dead. And, you ready for this? I have heard only positive comments. Who says miracles don't happen any more?

Town Hall Meeting @ Maryknoll

Maryknoll Superior General, Fr. Ed Dougherty, addressed about 275 employees and Missioners at a Town Hall meeting today from 10 a.m till noon. He starting by thanking all present, especially Fathers Bob Jalbert and Leo Shea for their good work in making our Centennial celebrations last year a success.

Doc also introduced a new ethics hotline, via phone or intranet, where people can report, anonymously if they desire, incidents of harassment, fraud, corruption or misconduct in the workplace. The service is available in English and Spanish.

Fr. Ed Szendrey, internal auditor, explained the rationale for the new system. We had a "whistle blower" policy in place for many years. Anyone could come forward to report fraud, but adequate follow-up was often lacking. EthicsPoint is one of the premiere companies for non-for-profit as well as public companies to deal with improprieties. It provides a mechanism for people who might not feel comfortable going to a supervisor, or who may wish to remain anonymous.

Physical Plant has put together a replica of our computer disaster recovery room. IT will fill this room with computer equipment to allow for a quick resumption of services and functions should a man-made or natural disaster occur.

The Crises Management team meets regularly to keep our living and working environment safe. Prevention is key. Expansion of the security card system throughout the campus is planned.

Prayer card

A portrait of Fr. Price is in the front of the new prayer cards.

Cause for canonization

Last March 9, Maryknoll Fathers' & Brothers' Superior General Father Ed Dougherty, accompanied by Fr. Mike Walsh, archivist, traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina for the official opening of the cause for canonization of Maryknoll Co-Founder Fr. Thomas F. Price. (The cause for Bishop James A. Walsh was opened last November 12. See details see posts on this blog for November 12 and December 7.)

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, bishop of Raleigh, welcomed the officers for the cause of canonization and sanctification. These included Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, Postulator; Very Rev. Dr. James Garneau, Episcopal Delegate; Rev. JaVan Saxon, Promoter of Justice; Mrs. Angela Goodwin Page, Notary.

Members of the Theological Commission included: Dr. Paul J. Griffiths, Rev. Dr. Msgr. John J. Williams, and Rev. Richard DeClue. Members of the Historical Commission include: Rev. Dr. Msgr. Robert Trisco, Rev. Thomas A. Lynch, and Rev. Michael Walsh, M.M.

Dr. Ambrosi outlined the various tasks entrusted to each group and formally installed the tribunal. Fr. Garneau will investigate all of Fr. Price's published and unpublished writings.

While Fr. Price's parish is no longer in existence, present diocesan headquarters is on land purchased by Fr. Price. Plus, the site of the new cathedral is also on land that Fr. Price bought.

In attendance for this formal opening of the cause was diocesan seminarian Philip Johnson who made a pilgrimage last year to the tomb of Fr. Price at Maryknoll, N.Y., to ask his intercession for healing of a life-threatening illness.

Fr. Walsh brought back newly printed prayer cards with Fr. Price's portrait on one side and the following prayers and information:

Heavenly Father, You so inspired Father Thomas Frederick Price with love for You and zeal for the Gospel that he dedicated his life to serve You and Your Church, first in North Carolina, his home state, and then in the foreign missions. Grant that by his example we may grow in holiness and into a deeper union with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to be authentic witnesses of the Gospel and proclaim the Holy Name of Jesus throughout the Diocese of Raleigh to all the people and in all the places we are sent to love and serve.

If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your Servant, Father Thomas Frederick Price, by granting the favor we now request through his prayerful intercession. (mention your request here)

We make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

If a favor is granted, kindly notify:

Office of the Episcopal Delegate for the Cause of Father Price
P.O. Box 1145
Mount Olive, NC 28365

Goodbye spring / Hello summer?

The crocuses, daffodils and jonquils have already come and gone. The forsythia and magnolias are in full bloom.

The winter that never quite was (here in New York) has surrendered to an early spring, which itself seems destined to yield to an ever earlier summer when the temperatures tomorrow are forecast to hit 80+ degrees.

Climate change? What climate change?

Gaelic & Garlic Get-Together

Shaymus McNamelli & Giuseppe O'Diug co-host. (Thanks to Br. Kevin Dargan for the use of his costumes!)

We folks living here at the center have long pondered how to celebrate St. Patrick's Day (a quaint, tribal festival of limited importance) on March 17 with the far greater and vastly more popular Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19), patron of Italy and, in his spare time, also patron of the Universal Church.

Well, the good people heading our Wellness Initiative: Fr. John Moran,
Br. Wayne Fitzpatrick and Dr. Claudia Kobkenz-Sulcov in hierarchical order, (but inverted order of importance) hit upon a creative, albeit grotesque solution: combine the two and celebrate both on March 15 (only detrimental if your name is Julius Caesar.)

Thus it was last Thursday at noon we celebrated the combined holidays of SS Patrick and Joseph: Gaelic and Garlic!

Yours truly co-hosted as an Italian Leprechaun (I TOLD you it was grotesque!) Giuseppe O'Diug. (That's Guido backwards). My partner in parody was none other than Shaymus McNamelli (a.k.a. Fr. Don Doherty) as a member of the Irish Mafia, don't ya know. "Never heard of the Irish Mafia??? And just how long have you been in Maryknoll?"

As the members filed in for lunch, they were greeted at the doors by above-mentioned Wellness Initiative folks who gave them party favors and raffle tickets.

As they enjoyed a delightful fusion meal of fine Italian cuisine and Irish "food" (pasta pesto, escarole and white bean soup, lamb, Irish trifle and coffee for dessert and mercifully no hint of corned beef and cabbage) prepared by the talented Sodexo staff, the men were serenaded (another fine Gaelic word) by the Maryknoll band consisting of Frs. Paul Masson, Fern Gosslin and Joe Arsenault and laymen Mssrs. John Gallagher, Larry and Dominic (whose last names I shall supply anon.)

Then Shaymus and Giuseppe took the stage and regaled the troops with such lines as: "How exactly do you make Kelly Green? (Take away his Guinness.)

"Garlic lowers blood pressure; Gaelic not so much."

"For a leprechaun, you don't have much of a brogue." (You know what they say, 'If it's not brogue, don't fix it.')

We had our share of would-be hecklers. One old man (thus protecting anonymity) asked why Italians celebrate St. Joseph since he wasn't Italian. The shorter yet better-looking and wittier of the two MCs retorted: "Yeah? Well, St. Patrick wasn't Irish, so what's your point?"

This banter was mercifully broken up with raffling off gift cards at Starbucks or Barnes & Noble etc.

Then came the sing-a-long section with the band and MCs leading the amazingly still present assembly in: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Santa Lucia, Wearing of the Green, O Sole Mio, Danny Boy and That's Amore.

Lastly, with each of the 13 tables forming a team, a 10 Question Trivia Quiz posed such head-scratchers as "Where was St. Patrick born?" "Who was the last king of Italy" and "Who is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotte popularly known as?" (Britain, Umberto II and Lady Gaga).

Prizes were awarded to the two teams who tied for first place with eight correct answers and two teams who tied with seven correct answers each.

It must be noted that the answer to one question (How many counties are in the Republic of Ireland?) led to an animated exchange when the much older and less popular of the two MCs  supplied the wrong answer as 32. Other Sons or Eire quickly pointed out there are 26 in the Republic but 6 in the North. Or as one man put it "What the hell do you think the war was all about?"

All I have to say is thank goodness the Italians never fight or disagree about anything.

The gala ended at 1:10 p.m. One measure of success was that several men lingered over coffee to chat well past 1:30.

Maryknoll's secret: from diversity, amusement!

Sent from my most excellent, albeit antiquated, iPhone 4

Maryknoll votes on Bourgeois' dismissal from order

Maryknoll votes on Bourgeois' dismissal from order

Well, troops, the above article in the National Catholic Reporter (click the headline to read) certainly shattered the cyber and actual silence around Maryknoll these past few days.

U.S. Regional Superior Mike Duggan returned from an otherwise uplifting meeting with other religious superiors and Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany only to learn his (Mike's) name was quite prominently and erroneously linked to certain quotes in the NCR article.

Long story short, ignoring that the vote was supposedly a secret ballot and who exactly voted how and that Fr. José Arámburu and not Fr. Paul Masson is our vicar general and who said what to whom and when, the fact remains: Yes, a vote was taken last December 12 (The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, if you're into irony) on whether or not to dismiss Fr. Roy Bourgeois from Maryknoll and the result was two votes for dismissal and three abstentions.

How does canon law regard abstentions?  If they don't count at all, do two "yes" votes constitute an "absolute majority" of those present?

The upshot of this continued ambiguity is that the proverbial ball (or long knife, if you will) is now back in the Vatican's court, as only they have the final word.

But just for the record, as I have read all kinds of misinformation on the blogosphere:

1) Fr. Roy's excommunication has already occurred "in latae sententiae" (automatically, on performance of a forbidden act). In this case, it was his active participation in the attempted ordination of a woman to the Roman Catholic priesthood back in 2008. The two warning letters were sent to fulfill canonical mandates in order to drive home the seriousness of the action. There is no "formal declaration of excommunication."

2) Our constitutions notwithstanding, Maryknoll will not deny Fr. Roy his living allowance and health coverage. I heard this directly from our superior general himself. I blogged this and posted this on NCR's comments section after several notable people expressed shock and disappointment that Maryknoll would "cut Fr. Roy loose" after decades of dedicated service. The cynic in me would suggest that such an allegation only serves to garner sympathy and evoke outrage by casting the Society as the villain. Our constitutions state that a dismissed member has no claim on support for past services, they do not prevent the Society from acting in a compassionate way toward a former member.

3) If the dismissal is approved by Rome, and there is still some doubt given the inconclusive vote, the only thing that will actually change is the addition of the word "former" to Roy's title of Maryknoll Father.

4) The question of women's ordination will not go away or die.

(And I'll bet some of you wish I had maintained cyber silence even longer.)