QUOVADIS - Congregation of the Resurrection, Priests, Brothers ...

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Page 2 PROVINCIAL'S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER(con.) Please join me in praying for our brothers, Marcelo deJcsumurin, Edward Howe, Christopher Trilllllc, and Jerry Watt, who will be participating in the Roman Renewal Program in Rome from July 7-25,2008. They will join twelve olher men from our Congregation in journeying in this renewal program. Also, pra)' for our brothers, Steve BartczysZ)'n, Norbert Raszeja, and Paul Sims who will part of thc tcrun Icading this renewal program. DlUing the house meeting at St. Joseph the Worker House at GT in Chicago, an election of' Paul Sims as Superior, Marty Beutek as First COlffisellor, and Tom Kuhik as Second COUllsellor was apJlrov~l h)' the provincial council. A superior election will he held in Lake Arrowhead, California on June 4,2008 for the Immaculate Conception House. The pwvincial council approved the request of our brother Paul Smith, CR to profess Perpctual Vows on August 15, 2008 in Lake Arrowhead, California. It is with great happiness that we thank God for Pau.Ps resolve to follow the Lore1 as a ResurrectiolJist for life. Our brothers Eric Wagner and Bart Piodela have heen al11lr()ved for renewing tClll~ porary vows for onc year. Gary Hogan, CR and Ed Howe, CR have been appointed as Co·Directors of Vocations. The Corporate Memhers of Resurrection Centcr Inc. have decided to cease operation as presently organized at Resurrection Cenlcr. A separate letter was scntto all province roern.hers on May 14,2008. The Corporation Members are continuing to lwalyze and scrutinize the future of the building and grounds. The Corporate Memher!> of UesUl"rectioll Catholic Missions of the South, Inc. are studying the few options tllat lie heforc t)lem regarding the fiscally challenged Resurrection Life Center. A decision will be forthcoming during these summer months. The Corporate Members of Go,rdon Tech, Jnc. have chosen our brother, Paw Sims, to serve as President an(1 Principal. Our brother, TOIll Kubik, CR will SCl'"\'e as Vice-President in a role of assistance to the President. The provincial cOUDcil remains knowledgeaLle about the ehallenges facing all our corporate ministries. 1ifl;e remainder of my report in this issue revolves Mound new assignments aod renewals. Before a complete, listing allowing me to, mention one assignment in particular. Our brother, GregoT}' Helminski, CR has been selected by our Sl-!ptTior Genet'al to minister in Tanzania, AfriC-B. He \\;11 be leaving in Septemher to help teach ill the high school staffe.d It)' om Resurrectionist Sisters. There will be a commissioning celebration in September so that WE" might be able to offer our best wishes and regards-details will be forthcoming. NEW ASSIGNMENTS ~larce.lo de Jeswnaria: Parochial Vicur at Blessed John the XXllI Parish, Fontana, CA James Gibson: ParochiaJ Vicar at Blessed Jolm the XXlll Parish, Fontanu, CA Stephen Glab: Spiritual ModeratorlFaculty at Marian Central Catholic High School RENEWALS Anthony Bus: Pastor at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Cbic~o, n Fred Ciesla: Resident at St. Joseph the Worker House at Gordon Tech Edward laszkowski: Gordon Tech Staff Joseph Korahik: Resident at 51. Joseph the Worker House at Gordon Tech Henry Licznerski: Pastor at St. .Joan of Arc Parish, Blythe, CA John Nowak:Part-time Associate at St. Wenceslaus Parish & Part-time Chaplain at St. Joseph Village, ChicHgo, IL Frwlk Rog: Associate Pastor at St. Hyacinth Humphrey RU8zeI:Rcsidcnl at Blessed John the xxm Parish Dennis Sanders: Archbishop Wcher Provincial Residence Steve Thoma: Professor at St. .John's Seminary, Camarillo, CA Tadeu8z Sosnowski: Pastor at St. Bernauelte Parish, Panama City, FL Gene Szarek: Clinical Assistant Professor-Loyola University Casimir TaUJa:Resid.ent at Blessed John the XXllI Parish Manuel Williams:Pastor at Resurrection Parish and RCl\l Director, Montgomer)', AL
The Road to Emmaus at Mile Marker 44 by EdwardHowe, CR Page 3 I was recently asked "so why are you seeking studies in preparation as a priest at this time in your life" "Are you dissatisfied being a brother" "Are you are leaving the brotherhood to become a priest." can you believe it. ..I've been in vows for 23 years...how time soars when you're having fun! When I first began this journey, I entered the seminary to study in preparation for the priesthood. I fulfilled the basic requirements in philosophy and theology in my early college years as I pursued a bachelor of science in social work. During my time in novitiate I heard another call in prayer and that call was one I had not envisioned when I first began, namely to serve the Lord as a brother. I finished novitiate, took first vows and when I returned to the seminary I heard a louder calling of the spirit to serve as a brother. In discernment with Fr. Rich Balazs, I worked on a master's degree in social work instead of theology and upon graduation began ministry at St. Hedwig. I have never regretted serving the Lord as a brother and found many opportunities for ministry over the years as a community organizer and youth minister at St. Hedwig, working with the kids at Weber and Gordon Tech as a counselor and soccer coach and producing radio and television programs at the Archdiocese of Chicago. Each of these ministries deepened my love for the Lord and his people. Over the years, I was greatly influenced by the community life at the Janski House and at Gordon Tech. Years of communal prayer and fraternal sharing (mostly at lengthy dinners) that helped me to grow as a brother. Then, about 4 years ago, I-began spendiny SaW-rday afternoons-In prayerbefare-th--e-Eucha-nsrarScPeter's in the Loop and other nearby churches. In the quiet of the Saturday afternoons and on many nights I sensed the holy spirit in a new way, one I believe is a gift of grace and a second baptism. I found myself listening to the Lord very closely. While I was working at the Archdiocese I was greatly influenced by the presence of Cardinal George and Bishop Conway. As I was traveling around the archdiocese video taping and recording audio at various events, a whole new world and a whole new view of the Church was presented to me. Through the production of many radio and television programs about all aspects of the Church, I had the opportunity to record dozens of talks by cardinal George. As I was recording and editing these talks and the events around the Archdiocese I sensed the spirit at work in my life in a different way than I had experienced earlier in my life. Each talk and each new program was like a retreat or reflection. I saw great devotion to the Gospel by many people from many different places who I met and my faith and life perspective grew. I experienced the work of evangelization in our world on a larger scale in the Church and began to sense that the Lord may be calling me to follow him along a new journey. As I was approaching new road signs in life and not ready to make a turn yet or had my bags packed, Mike Danek, the provincial asked me to become president of Gordon Tech in a Chinese restaurant as he was making a random visit to the pastoral center one day. As I took on this new role I felt that it probably would not be for many years since I had already been at Gordon Tech since 1992. I always viewed my role as that of a transitional president. Maybe like John the Baptist in Luke 3: 16...not worthy to untie the straps of the sandals of the one to follow....... Over the last three years I faced many new challenges in ministry that I believe were a necessary part of ongoing formation and discernment to prepare for this new journey and discover the Lord in a new way along the road to Emmaus. I had the opportunity to meet CR's in other places in the world and to learn more about of the global mission of our community. I look forward to this summer's Roman renewal to further this awareness. In prayer I experienced the dilemma we encounter in our culture today of the lack of true belief and acceptance of the Gospel. I experienced the cross with the challenges and anxiety of day to day ministry and took these to prayer. With a sense of rebellion to the ways of our culture mixed with a passion for evangelization and love for our Lord, I experienced Christ in a new way. In a letter I had received recently from Gary Young, he wrote about the road to Emmaus and how we encounter the risen lord along many new paths in our life that take us to new places (of course he included a Thomas Merton prayer. I am happy to share with you that I have been called by the spirit at age 44 to begin a new journey with Christ. One that was not present to me or that I was being called to earlier in life. Thomas Merton so beautifully writes: "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that r am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone." And so I'm going back to the books to follow the new signs in the road of life... .! find myself yearning to learn theology and to feed the hungry in our world with our Lord's word and bread of life. I am very happy serving the Lord as a brother and I will always be a brother and God willing serve our Lord as a priest someday also.
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QUOVADIS - Congregation of the Resurrection, Priests, Brothers ...

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