Generalate News ENG3 - Congregation of the Resurrection, Priests ...

CONGRATIO A
RESURRECTIONE
NOTITIAE
JUNE 1, 2007
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
FR. RASZEJA 1
EXTENDED GEN-
ERAL COUNCIL
EXTERNAL
BRETHREN
2
2
ORDINATIONS 3
VISITATION OF
POLISH PROV-
INCE
4
TANZANIA 4
JANSKI
CALENDAR
ANNIVERSARY
5
6
Not only do we know very little about the first thirty years of Jesus’ life, but we know precious
little about the details of what transpired during His public ministry; however, that does not stop us
from being interested in such details. We seek to know more about the Lord Jesus whether it be
from reputable scholarship or sensational journalism. Recently Pope Benedict XVI in his book,
Jesus of Nazareth, observed that as the historical-critical scholarship advanced that it led to more
fine distinctions between the layers of tradition in the Gospels with the result that the real object of
faith, Jesus, became increasingly obscured. But this does not scare us away from seeking more information
about Jesus and his ministry even if there is the possibility of following some strange
theory or becoming lost in the innumerable interpretations about the Lord. In fact we are fascinated
by anything, even sensationalist stories about Jesus, His family and His disciples and the trick
is not to get lost amid these interpretations.
I think the same is true about our elder brother, Bogdan. We can and do search his writings as
well as those of his contemporaries in order to gain a deeper insight into Bogdan’s life and the formation
of the Congregation. During the first part of the visitation in the Polish Province Fr. Steve
Bartczyszyn and I had the wonderful experience to visit the site of the first home of Bogdan Janski
thanks to the efforts of Fr. Wojciech Pelka. The rain had just stopped and maybe it was through a
romantic wish that I saw a rainbow over the field where his family home had once stood. Because
of war [s] the first home was long gone and the location had reverted back to farm land. We also
visited the town of Pultusk to where he and his mother had moved. I think both Fr. Bartczyszyn
and I felt a certain closeness to Bogdan not only at his place but also when we visited Bogdan’s
parish church and saw the very baptismal font at which he was born into the death and resurrection
of Christ.
This particular visit impressed me deeply especially in the 200 th anniversary year of Bogdan’s
birth. All the celebrations and special commemorations are not yet completed. From Rome we will
distribute a short history of Bogdan Janski written in a popular manner. There will be more than
150,000 copies written in Polish, Italian, English, Slovak, Spanish and Portuguese. First of all I am
grateful to the CR’s who provided the original text from which I worked. Secondly, the talent of
several CR’s and laity in Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Canada, the South American Region and the USA
who corrected and then corrected again the various versions of the text. Had I foreseen the complexity
of this multi-language undertaking, I may have shied away from it. However, in retrospect
this project is a sign of our unity because of the widespread cooperation from many sectors of the
Congregation. I am truly indebted to many fine people. Once the copies are sent to the various locales
for distribution, I pray that it will be widely distributed. Hopefully, in this way our elder
brother Bogdan’s life and conversion may influence many people to seek his intercession in their
lives. One more note: there is no price attached to this booklet, but Fr. Chris Buda, our econom
general, reminded me that this enterprise placed a real strain on our finances. We are more than
willing to receive any donation to offset the cost of this undertaking.
V. Rev. Norbert Raszeja, CR
Superior General

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
Page 2
(Fr. Michael Danek, CR, Fr. Chris Buda, CR, Fr. Adam Dzwigon CR, Fr. Norbert
Raszeja, CR, Fr. Steve Bartczyszyn, CR, Fr. Ted Gajda,CR, and Fr. Paul Voisin,CR)
Members of the Extended General Council
met in Poland in April . Both formal
and informal meetings were held in and
around the ordinations. During the 2005
General Chapter ,it was recommended
that the EGC meet more then once a
year. During 2006 the EGC members
met in Rome during the month of April,
and then during September they met
again in the United States. This was the
first time that Fr. Tadeusz Gajda , the
new Provincial Superior for the Polish
Province was present. The next EGC
meeting, a more formal meeting, will be
hosted by the Ontario Kentucky Province. The meeting will take place August 12-19 at Resurrection College
in Waterloo, Ontario. The following topics are on the agenda for discussion and planning:
• Renewal Program
• Resurrectionist Spirituality Center
• Tanzanian Mission
• Finances
Extended General Council
While on visitation in Poland, Fr. Raszeja and
Fr. Bartczyszyn had the opportunity to meet
with members of our external brethren. The
group is centered at St. Casimir’s parish in
Warsaw. A number of the members come to us
from neighboring parishes. Their apostolic work
is one of praying for all Resurrectionists and
helping with the many different parish activities.
In addition to helping around the parish,
classes are conducted in theology, in the
teachings of Bogdan Janski and in Resurrectionist spirituality. The group has a quarterly newsletter that they
produce and distribute not only to members but also throughout the parish and to interested parties. Anyone
interested in receiving a copy of the newsletter may do so by contacting the group at:
apostol@zmartwychwstancywarszawa.pl
External Brethren

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
Page 3
ORDINATIONS APRIL 28, 2007
On Saturday April 28, 11 men of the
Polish Province were ordained; eight to
the order of presbyter and three to the
order of deacon. Although all the men
come from Poland, the three ordained to
the diaconate studied at the International
Seminary in Rome. The ordinations
took place at the Seminary Church
in Krakow. Bishop Adam Smigielski of
Sosnowiec, was the ordaining prelate.
Resurrectionists from around the world
were present for the ordination. In addition
to the eleven men that were ordained in
Poland, Toby Collins of the O.K. Province was
ordained to the priesthood on June 2 by Bishop
Robert Kurtz. May the Holy Spirit continue to
guide these young men as they serve the
Church and the Congregation.

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
Page 4
Visitation of the Polish Province
The visitation
of
the Polish Provence began on April 20 in Gdansk. Fr. Raszeja
along with Fr. Buda visited Gdansk , Krokowa, Debki, Rybna,
Sosnowiec and Koscierzyna. After the ordinations Fr. Raszeja
continued his visitation with Fr. Bartczyszyn where they visited
Krakow, Sulislawice, Warsaw, Radziwillów and Bytom. Fr.
Dzwigon traveled to Austria and Germany for the visitation of
those houses as well as Zlocieniec, Wierzchowo, Poznan and
Smochowice. Last year in the spring Fr. Raszeja visited with the
men in Australia. Because of the way the province is spread out,
the plan is to complete the visitation in the Fall. While in the
Warsaw area he and Fr. Bartczyszyn visited the Provincialate of
the Resurrection Sisters in Warsaw, went on a tour of the newest
building for the Janski School in Warsaw, visited the church
where Janski was baptized, and saw the school that he attended
in Pultusk. During the visitation, members of the curia also took
time to be present for the ordinations in Krakow.
(Baptismal font in the church of Janski’s baptism.)
TANZANIA by Andrew Madry, CR
Greeting from Tanzania East Africa!
On Saturday January 21, 2006 we celebrated
a big event in our parish. We started the beatification
process of our parishioner and first president
of Tanzania Julius K. Nyerere. Many people
from all around Tanzania will be in attendance
for this great celebration; the Cardinal,
the Nuncio, bishops, and many many more
came to our small parish.
Last summer we received some great news.
Yet another Resurrectionist had volunteered to
join us in our work here in Butiama. This truly is
great news for there is much work to be done.
We need more people here. Richard, our African candidate from Nigeria was with us during Christmas
time. That was a nice experience. He is now studying philosophy. Soon we will have another possible
candidate, he is Tanzanian. For now we will invite him to come and stay with us for a few days. If things
work out we will try and see if we can start a candidacy program. It will be hard to start a formation program
with only two priests and one brother. Fr. Andrew Duda has experience in formation but he is very
involved in parish work.
In addition to my parish work I am organizing a communications office for the diocese. Recently,
they connected my phone. I’m still waiting for an internet connection. Unfortunately the communications
office is in Musoma Town about 40 km from Butiama! I am also working on plans to open a diocesan
radio station. But as in every country there is a lot of paperwork and red tape. Before we can get all the
permissions needed. Please continue to remember us in your prayers

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
Page 5
200th anniversary of Janski’s Birth
“I need, yes, I need to unify my life and set it in order. I need to exterminate
the irreligious sentiments present within me, and see to it that my thinking is
both orderly and scientific, and that my behavior is prudent. I need to exert
very strict control over each day of my past life, and at the same time to employ
the strictest reasoning to decide beforehand what each day of my future
is to be like. I must be convinced that I cannot neglect this means to improve
my life. I should not, I will not, neglect it. However, not because I once momentarily
experienced beautiful sentiments and noble thoughts, for my behavior
has never corresponded to these. And not in order to benefit by counsel
based on personal experience, but rather because I know, love and worship
the great God; because religious sentiments govern all of my thoughts, feelings
and interests. This is not due to personal conviction, or to any vision of
my personal life and the corresponding sentiments, but rather to the revelation
of all that exists, all that directs, regulates and forms my entire life.
Now I wish to live in the temple of the great God, and to call all humanity to
follow me into this temple of God which is everything. In this temple I find all that I had loved most rapturously, all
that I had considered to be most true, all the most beautiful things that I once wished to accomplish. Now, all my
desires are satisfied; all of my thoughts and actions are invigorated and integrated.
And so, peace to the past, since for me it gave birth to such a beautiful future. Error, restlessness, weakness
and imprudence are no longer possible for me, because where I live, and in the way I live, there is harmony, power
and wisdom. For I love the true God, and His love embraces all of life's charm, everything a person can and should
want, all that concerns me, all that obliges me. It is impossible for error to exist in me. I could possibly forget who I
am, or that I have made mistakes; yet this does not come from me. My will, my whole life, should be a manifestation
of God. I write: “should be”, for I do not yet venture to write: “is an expression of God.” The deed and the
will, born of love for the true God, cannot be erro­neous. Already, in advance, I know the cause of the error I am
capable of committing. Despair, anxiety, or weakness can never follow upon such an error. I need only raise my
heart to God and error becomes the condition for good; the correction has already been made. From now on, can my
sentiments, can my life, be other than religious’ (Bogdan Janski Diary Nov. 15, 1830)
“And so, I set aside the legal volumes and abandoned the work which I had begun without any religious sentiment,
determined to raise my heart to God; and once again I found peace. I am now returning to the work undertaken;
but now I return with a new sentiment, resolved not to spend this evening in the way I had intended. I will
spend it trying to clarify my present situation, so that the above resolution might prove to be more fruitful. I would
like to free my mind of turmoil and avoid any hasty actions. My life, this evening and always, should be one of
peaceful activity and harmonious work, a strong and wise manifestation of lively faith - and so I wish to be fully
alive, and wholly religious.” (Bogdan Janski Diary Nov. 25,1830)

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
Page 6
DATES TO REMEMBER
July 30—August 3
August 6– August 10
August 12– August 19
August 12
August 14
October 27
November 11-18
Provincial Chapter U.S.A. Province
Provincial Chapter O.K. Province
Extended General Council (Canada)
Public Celebration of arrival of CR’s in Canada
CR celebration marking 150th anniversary of CR’s in Canada
Beatification of Mother Celine (St. John Lateran Basilica)
Provincial Chapter Polish Province
200TH ANNIVERSARY
On February 17, 2007, the generalate House
celebrated Founder’s Day. Among the different
guests that were present for the Mass, were
members of the EGC of the Resurrection Sisters.
The sisters who came from Poland, South America,
the U.S. , Canada, England, Australia and
Italy joined the members of the Generalate
House for a festive luncheon meal. A number
of Resurrectionists from around Rome were also
present for the mass and meal..
On March 26, the community celebrated the 200 anniversary
the birth of Bogdan Janski. The Roman House celebrated
the occasion with solemn vespers and a festive dinner. In
attendance at the vespers and dinner were the Mater Dei Sisters,
the Christian Brothers, Mother Dolores and her council a
number of other CR sisters, as well as CR’s from around
Rome. In all about 30 guests were present to celebrate with
the members of the generalate house.
of
(Many of our parishes throughout Poland display this
banner as a way to commemorate Janski’s birth.)