100,000 Indian and 9,000 Eskimos In Oblate Fathers' Mission Field
TWO OBLATES MAKE THEIR OBLATE ARTIST UNVEILS … · Mission Statement The mission of the ... Please...
2
Mission Statement The mission of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales of the Toledo-Detroit Province is to “Live Jesus” according to Salesian spirituality in our personal and communal lives and to share this spirituality with the People of God. Bondings Bondings is published regularly for the members and friends of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, Toledo- Detroit Province. Its purpose is to enhance and develop the bond we have through our common faith in Jesus Christ and Salesian spirituality. Provincial Offices 2043 Parkside Blvd. Toledo, OH 43607-1597 419-724-9851 www.oblates.us Editorial Staff Fr. Roland Calvert, OSFS Fr. Tom Helfrich. OSFS Layout Fr. Ken McKenna, OSFS Bondings is mailed free of charge to anyone upon request. Please share your copy of Bondings with your friends and any interested parties, or send their address and we will mail them their own copy. Page 2 OBLATES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES • TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE SUMMER, 2012 |V+J| On July 1st, Fr. Shaun Lowery, OSFS became Parochial Administrator of St. Mary’s Church in Adrian, MI. He also assumed his role as Praesidium Accreditation Coordinator for the Province. Shaun became editor of Bondings in 2007. We thank him for five years of faithful service and wish him success and God’s blessings in his new positions. Thank You, Shaun! Page 3 OBLATES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES • TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE SUMMER, 2012 |V+J| On Saturday morning, June 30 th , Joe Newman, OSFS and Rudi Schwarzkopf, OSFS professed their perpetual vows. They were received by the Provincial of the Toledo/Detroit Province, V. Rev. Ken McKenna, OSFS. Fr. John Extejt, OSFS was the homilist for the event which took place in the St. Francis de Sales H.S. chapel in Toledo, Ohio. In speaking of his decision to take these vows, Rudi described it as “a natural development” in his spiritual growth. “I have two families now,” he added, “the Schwarzkopfs and the Oblates.” Joe described his profession as a public declaration of what was in his heart already. A line from one of the psalms had stuck with him for some time: “You, O God, placed this love in my heart.” Joe will spend the first semester of this year at the University of Toronto finishing his studies in philosophy. Rudi will continue teaching at St. Francis de Sales H. S. for a semester. In the second semester both will have a six month period of training as Deacons, Joe serving at St. John Neumann Parish in Reston, VA, and Rudi at Our Mother of Consolation Parish in Philadelphia. Rudi would like his priestly ordination to take place in Toledo at a location to be announced later. The two North American Oblate provinces will have a joint convocation at De Sales University in Allentown, PA next June. At the conclusion of that meeting, Joe would like to be ordained with three confrères of the W-P Province, Ed Ogden, OSFS, Brian Zumbrum, OSFS and Tim McIntire, OSFS. John in his homily spoke of “odd couples” through the centuries who seemed a bit mismatched. He suggested that Joe and Rudi made such a contrasting pair. But they had both arrived this June morning at a point in their life journeys that converged. They were ready to pledge themselves to the family of the Oblates and give their hearts to God who had called them so many years ago. Rudi and Joe wrote in the program booklet: “Lord, You have drawn us ever closer to Yourself and given us freedom through this life. Help us to remain faithful in this call.” We join their prayer that they may live long, happy and productive lives as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. – Fr. Roland Calvert, OSFS TWO OBLATES MAKE THEIR PERPETUAL PROFESSION OBLATES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES • TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE SUMMER, 2012 Page 4 He spoke of the difficulty of making the studio financially independent and fulfilling his dream and hope of earning his living solely as an artist. He is looking for commissions now and also has to deal with the fact that his copyrighted images are at times reproduced without permission or recompense. Such actions are sure to turn the stereotype of the “starving artist” into reality. We wish God’s blessings on Tom’s artistic endeavors and thank him for the gift of his imagination. He helps all of us to see the Gentleman Saint not just in the usual image of the mature, balding bishop but also as the vigorous young man he once was. Francis struggled with his faith and fought his way through painful darkness to a place of light where he met the God whose love surrounds us at every moment. Francis celebrated this God for the rest of his life in his writings and spiritual direction. – Fr. Roland Calvert, OSFS |V+J| OBLATE ARTIST UNVEILS NEW PORTRAIT OF FRANCIS DE SALES Fr. Tom Ribits, OSFS at the June Convocation of Oblates in Detroit displayed his newest painting of St. Francis de Sales as a young man. He pictures Francis at the age of 19 when he was a student at the University of Paris. Francis had taken a course on the Song of Songs, his favorite book in the Hebrew Scriptures, and thereafter envisioned spirituality as a love affair between God and the human soul. He also studied predestination in another course, a theory held by some that says God simply assigns (or predestines) people to heaven or hell. We don’t really have any choice. Francis was overwhelmed by the thought that he might spend an eternity without seeing God. Francis’ state of mind may well have been affected by fatigue and overwork or other factors. But it produced a real depression as he began to lose weight and to suffer greatly. He could not resolve this dilemma until finally he went into a nearby Dominican church, fell at the feet of a statue of Mary and recited the Memorare prayer. He found himself “completely and entirely healed” in the words of his friend St. Jane de Chantal. “He felt as if the illness had fallen to the ground like the scales of a leper.” Francis ever afterward was able to focus on God’s great love and not himself and his own destiny. He left all that in God’s hands. It was a pivotal moment of conversion. The model Tom used for Francis both in this painting and the earlier “Francis, Student at Padua” (now at St. Francis de Sales H.S. in Toledo, Ohio) was Zach Smith. Tom met him as a student at D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y. Tom perceived certain facial resemblances Zach had to the more mature portraits of the saint. Tom has established the Salesian Studio in Buffalo. One of the core elements of Oblate community life is our annual Assembly. And so we gathered June 25-29, as usual, at St. Paul of the Cross Center in Detroit. But what was not so usual was the involvement of three Oblates from the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province. Jim Greenfield, their Provincial, along with Barry Strong and John McGee were with us not only as presenters but also as a transitional link for next June’s most unusual joint assembly of the two American provinces. We devoted Tuesday, our first full day together, to a process of identifying those unique characteristics and values that make us who we are, diverse in countless ways yet unified by our common Oblate vocation. Our tone shifted on Wednesday to an atmosphere of retreat and instruction. (Continued on Page 5) Pictures of the 2012 Assembly kindly provided by Fr. Rich Yost, OSFS. 2012 Province Assembly Past & present Provincials at Assembly (L to R): Frs. Mike Moore, Jim Cryan, Dave Whalen, Jim Greenfield, Paul Grehl, Lou Komorowski, and Ken McKenna.
Transcript of TWO OBLATES MAKE THEIR OBLATE ARTIST UNVEILS … · Mission Statement The mission of the ... Please...
Mission StatementThe mission of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales of the Toledo-Detroit Province is to “Live Jesus” according to Salesian spirituality in our personal and communal lives and to share this spirituality with the People of God.
BondingsBondings is published regularly for the members and friends of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, Toledo-Detroit Province. Its purpose is to enhance and develop the bond we have through our common faith in Jesus Christ and Salesian spirituality.
Provincial Offices2043 Parkside Blvd.
Toledo, OH 43607-1597419-724-9851
www.oblates.us
Editorial StaffFr. Roland Calvert, OSFSFr. Tom Helfrich. OSFS
LayoutFr. Ken McKenna, OSFS
Bondings is mailed free of charge to anyone upon request. Please share your copy of Bondings with your friends and any interested parties, or send their address and we will mail them their own copy.
Page 2
OBLATES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES • TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE SUMMER, 2012|V+J|
On July 1st, Fr. Shaun Lowery, OSFS became Parochial Administrator of St. Mary’s
Church in Adrian, MI. He also assumed his role as Praesidium Accreditation Coordinator for the Province. Shaun became editor of Bondings in 2007. We
thank him for five years of faithful service and wish him success and God’s
blessings in his new positions.
Thank You, Shaun!
Page 3
OBLATES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES • TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE SUMMER, 2012|V+J|
On Saturday morning, June 30th, Joe Newman, OSFS and Rudi Schwarzkopf, OSFS professed their perpetual vows. They were received by the Provincial of the Toledo/Detroit Province, V. Rev. Ken McKenna, OSFS. Fr. John Extejt, OSFS was the homilist for the event which took place in the St. Francis de Sales H.S. chapel in Toledo, Ohio.
In speaking of his decision to take these vows, Rudi described it as “a natural development” in his spiritual growth. “I have two families now,” he added, “the Schwarzkopfs and the Oblates.”
Joe described his profession as a public declaration of what was in his heart already. A line from one of the psalms had stuck with him for some time: “You, O God, placed this love in my heart.”
Joe will spend the first semester of this year at the University of Toronto finishing his studies in philosophy. Rudi will continue teaching at St. Francis de Sales H. S. for a semester. In the second semester both will have a six month
period of training as Deacons, Joe serving at St. John Neumann Parish in Reston, VA, and Rudi at Our Mother of Consolation Parish in Philadelphia.
Rudi would like his priestly ordination to take place in Toledo at a location to be announced later. The two North American Oblate provinces will have a joint convocation at De Sales University in Allentown, PA next June. At the conclusion of that meeting, Joe would like to be ordained with three confrères of the W-P Province, Ed Ogden, OSFS, Brian Zumbrum, OSFS and Tim McIntire, OSFS.
John in his homily spoke of “odd couples” through the centuries who seemed a bit mismatched. He suggested that Joe and Rudi made such a contrasting pair. But they had both arrived this June morning at a point in their life journeys that converged. They were ready to pledge themselves to the family of the Oblates and give their hearts to God who had called them so many years ago.
Rudi and Joe wrote in the program booklet: “Lord, You have drawn us ever closer to Yourself and given us freedom through this life. Help us to remain faithful in this call.” We join their prayer that they may live long, happy and productive lives as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. – Fr. Roland Calvert, OSFS
TWO OBLATES MAKE THEIR PERPETUAL PROFESSION
OBLATES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES • TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE SUMMER, 2012
Page 4
He spoke of the difficulty of making the studio financially independent and fulfilling his dream and hope of earning his living solely as an artist. He is looking for commissions now and also has to deal with the fact that his copyrighted images are at times reproduced without permission or recompense. Such actions are sure to turn the stereotype of the “starving artist” into reality.
We wish God’s blessings on Tom’s artistic endeavors and thank him for the gift of his imagination. He helps all of us to see the Gentleman Saint not just in the usual image of the mature, balding bishop but also as the vigorous young man he once was. Francis struggled with his faith and fought his way through painful darkness to a place of light where he met the God whose love surrounds us at every moment. Francis celebrated this God for the rest of his life in his writings and spiritual direction. – Fr. Roland Calvert, OSFS
|V+J|
OBLATE ARTIST UNVEILS NEW PORTRAIT OF FRANCIS DE SALES
Fr. Tom Ribits, OSFS at the June Convocation of Oblates in Detroit displayed his newest painting of St. Francis de Sales as a young man. He pictures Francis at the age of 19 when he was a student at the University of Paris. Francis had taken a course on the Song of Songs, his favorite book in the Hebrew Scriptures, and thereafter envisioned spirituality as a love affair between God and the human soul. He also studied predestination in another course, a theory held by some that says God simply assigns (or predestines) people to heaven or hell. We don’t really have any choice. Francis was overwhelmed by the thought that he might spend an eternity without seeing God.
Francis’ state of mind may well have been affected by fatigue and overwork or other factors. But it produced a real depression as he began to lose weight and to suffer greatly. He could not resolve this dilemma until finally he went into a nearby Dominican church, fell at the feet of a statue of Mary and recited the Memorare prayer. He found himself “completely and entirely healed” in the words of his friend St. Jane de Chantal. “He felt as if the illness had fallen to the ground like the scales of a leper.” Francis ever afterward was able to focus on God’s great love and not himself and his own destiny. He left all that in God’s hands. It was a pivotal moment of conversion.
The model Tom used for Francis both in this painting and the earlier “Francis, Student at Padua” (now at St. Francis de Sales H.S. in Toledo, Ohio) was Zach Smith. Tom met him as a student at D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y. Tom perceived certain facial resemblances Zach had to the more mature portraits of the saint.
Tom has established the Salesian Studio in Buffalo.
One of the core elements of Oblate community life is our annual Assembly. And so we gathered June 25-29, as usual, at St. Paul of the Cross Center in Detroit. But what was not so usual was the involvement of three Oblates from the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province. Jim Greenfield, their Provincial, along with Barry Strong and John McGee were with us not only as presenters but also as a transitional link for next June’s most unusual joint assembly of the two American provinces.
We devoted Tuesday, our first full day together, to a process of identifying those unique characteristics and values that make us who we are, diverse in countless ways yet unified by our common Oblate vocation.
Our tone shifted on Wednesday to an atmosphere of retreat and instruction. (Continued on Page 5)
Pictures of the 2012 Assembly kindly provided by Fr. Rich Yost, OSFS.
2012 Province Assembly
Past & present Provincials at Assembly (L to R): Frs. Mike Moore, Jim Cryan, Dave Whalen, Jim Greenfield, Paul Grehl, Lou Komorowski, and Ken McKenna.
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales2043 Parkside BoulevardToledo, OH 43607-1597
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage
PaidToledo, Ohio
Permit No. 510
BONDINGSTHE QUARTERLY OBLATE NEWSLETTER
Favorite Salesian Sayings"The care of souls is as a burden of sweet cinnamon, which, by its invigoratingscent, revives those who bear it." –The Spirit of St. Francis de Sales, XXII,8. Whatever our vocation may be, we are called to care for one another. And becausewe are human, what begins as joyful service of our neighbor, whether it's our childor spouse, aging parent, member of our community or even a dear friend, theybecome at times an annoyance. St. Francis would advise us to take a little pause.Have a conversation with God and share a cinnamon roll with a loved one.
The warmth and aroma of cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven will not only lightenour burden but also give us renewed energy to help those entrusted to
our care.
Karen Stein, Daughter of St. Francis de Sales, Ann Arbor, MI
“We should include in our morning meditation our daily work and consider the small events of the coming day, the inclinations of our heart, and the acts of our will.” –Retreat 1887, Ven. Louis Brisson, OSFS This preparation requires our reflection in silence, for we need to see clearly whatwe will do and say. We are limited beings and need grace, God’s presence, and God’said. St. Francis de Sales would add, “In the end we are what we really are only beforeAlmighty God.”
Brother Fred Chiappone, OSFS, Niagara Falls, NY
Page 6
THE QUARTERLY OBLATE NEWSLETTER
BONDINGSOBLATES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES • TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE SUMMER, 2012|V+J|
2012 PROVINCE ASSEMBLY
OBLATES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES • TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE SUMMER, 2012|V+J|
Page 5
Br Frank MurrayFr Dan Lannen Fr Dominick FinnBr Dave Meiser
Fr Dick MorseBr Jim Petrait Fr Geoff Rose
Jim Greenfield’s inspirational presentations led us beyond the delusions and dark narratives of our culture to a fresh embrace of the beauty and power of the love of God. His significant experience in leadership and his love for our heritage reflected the quality of the treasure we’re called to share. Among all the special events of the week, two of them were real highlights. Tuesday afternoon was the first time most of us had the opportunity to visit and enjoy the warm hospitality of the St. John’s Deaf Center in Warren, MI. Our own Mike Depcik presided at our Mass there, his home parish. He opened our eyes and ears with a rich presentation on the sometimes troubling history of ministry to deaf Catholics throughout the ages. The St. John’s community hosted us for a wonderful dinner. The second came with Thursday afternoon’s Mass honoring our five jubilarians, all celebrating special anniversaries of religious profession: Dominick Finn (Philadelphia) and Louis Komorowski (Adrian, MI), 65 years; William Fisher (Monroe, MI), 60 years; John Lehner (Toledo, OH) and John Lindsay (Jackson, MI), 50 years. Congratulations again to each of you! Louie Komorowski was the honored homilist. After many years in Brazil as a missionary and in leadership, Mike Moore was diagnosed with a critical medical condition. Before the
dismissal at the liturgy, he spoke to us words of life and love concluding with a message from a very poor woman named Laura whom he visited in her final illness. “Look at me here,” she said, “in the hands of God.” And that was our Assembly, time in the hands of God – as we are always. – Fr. Thomas Helfrich, OSFS
Fr. Mike’s Kitchen Table
Fr. Mike Depcik runs the video-blog (vlog): Fr. MD’s Kitchen Table. It receives over 3,000 hits every month. He started the project in 2008 in response to a request to post his homilies and talks online. The site has attracted national and international attention from Deaf and Hearing people alike. In this time of diminishing diocesan resources, the site has been a godsend to deaf Catholics as they adjust to fewer signing priests, Masses with sign language interpreters, and catechetical instruc-tion. Homilies and talks after January 2012 are voiced so that both Deaf and Hearing may enjoy them. The website is at www.frmd.org.
2012 Province Assembly(Continued from p. 2)
