Dear Brothers in the Risen Lord, Advent is a special time of the year ...

NOVUSQuo VadisWinter 2006Publisher: Michael Danek,CREditor Fred Briers, CRDear Brothers in the Risen Lord,Advent is a special time of the year toreflect upon the manifold blessingswhich enhance our daily lives. ThisAdvent I am particularly grateful for themany ways in which our religious familywitnesses to the Resurrection of our Lordin our many diverse apostolic endeavors.Gratitude to God is indeed an importantpart of preparing for the beauty andglory of the Christmas season. I wouldlike to share some of the ways in whichthe bounty of our loving God clearly isbeing showered upon our province.This past fall the Extended GeneralCouncil of our Congregation heldit’s annual meeting in our province inAlabama and Florida. It was a wonderfulexperience for our General Curia, theprovincials of our three provinces, and theregional superior of our South Americanregion to grow in community.The hospitality extended to the ExtendedGeneral Council by our brothers in thesouth namely, Glen Baptiste, Fred Briers,Ed DuBel, Jacek Junak, Charles Messler(one of our newly approved novitiatecandidates), Ted Sosnowski, ManuelWilliams, and George Zieba was in oneword-spectacular! Each of the membersof the Extended General Councilexpressed to me how happy they werewith the welcome and inspiration of theministry that we provide in Alabama andFlorida.I am most grateful to our brothers inAlabama and Florida for their warmand loving hospitality. The meetingsprovided many challenging sessionshighlighting our need to plan for ourmission in Tanzania, to prepare for the 200th anniversary of the birth of BogdanJanski with the publication of a small biography in many languages which will bepublished in 2007, and many other issues.After a number of meetings our province’s Finance Committee (R. Balazs, W. Hallas,M. Osuch, F. Rog, M. Wroblewski, and myself), has developed a job description andhired a new part-time Province Business Accountant, Marsha Blake, to manage ourprovince business office. This need was recognized by our last provincial chapter.Marsha Blake will handle the many business needs of our province with the exceptionof any health insurance or related issues. Brother Bill Hallas, CR has been approvedas our province treasurer and will oversee the new Province Business Accountantposition and will take charge of health related issues. If you have any questionsregarding health needs or insurance , please call Bill Hallas, CR at (773)-465-8352.A huge debt of gratitude ought to be extended to our brother, Marion Wroblewski,who has tirelessly spent over fifteen years serving as province treasurer which oftenis a thankless position. Our Finance Committee is beginning to re-evaluate ourCorporate Investment Policy.A number of important formation issues need to be celebrated. Two men, CharlesMessler and Rafal Wasilewski, have been approved for our novitiate which willbegin on January 6, 2007 at our Shenandoah Residence with our brother, StephenGlab, as the Director of Novices. Another candidate, Michael Kruszewski, from ourbrothers in the Ontario-Kentucky Province, will also join this novitiate experience.Please keep these men in your prayers as they begin this holy year of discernment.A tremendous word of thanks should be extended to our brother, Paul Sims, ourprovince Vocation Director, who has coordinated these men and their candidacyexperience and application to our province.Paul Sims and Fred Briers continue to coordinate our vocation interests. We havefive interested individuals seriously discerning entrance into our province candidacyprogram for next year. This blessing of men interested in our religious brotherhoodhas happily necessitated the province Formation Commission and Provincial Councilto begin addressing the issue of insufficient housing for our post-novitiate programin St. Louis. Our brother, Gary Hogan, the director of our seminary, is leading athorough study of possibilities for the future of our formation program in St. Louis.Very soon the 2007 Provincial Chapter Planning Committee will begin to meet andcoordinate the needed issues that must be addressed before our Provincial Chapter.The dates of the Chapter are July 30-August 3, 2007, at Resurrection Center inWoodstock, IL. The province Election Committee (R. Balazs, E. Jastzrebski, and M.Osuch) have already met and begun to prepare a proposal to assist in streamliningthe amount of time spent of election issues at the previous Chapter. Recognizing thefact that many members of our province might not be able to travel twice within the

summer months to Woodstock, Il, we will still attempt to offer aretreat experience for our province from June 11-15, 2007 at ourCenter in Woodstock, IL. More details will follow soon and be sentto house superiors.We are currently planning to publish an updated Prayer CalendarBook for 2007 through the efforts of our brothers, E. Jaskula and BillHallas. A small pocket-sized directory of our province members isalso soon to be published which will be of great help when travelling.Hopefully this will be disseminated within a month to all in theprovince.Since our last publication of Novus Quo Vadis, I would to list newhouse elections and assignments:JANSKI HOUSE-CHICAGO, ILW. Wilczek - Superior, M. de Jesumaria - First Councilor, andSecond Councilor - Vacant due to a transferST MARTIN de PORRES HOUSE-ALABAMA and FLORIDAM. Williams - Superior, F. Briers - First Councilor, and E. DuBel- Second CouncilorST HYACINTH HOUSE-CHICAGO, ILF. Rog - Superior, M. Osuch - First Councilor, and M. Wroblewski- Second CouncilorNEW ASSIGNMENTSG. Baptiste - Preacher for Food for the Poor MinistryW. Hallas - Provincial TreasurerH. Licznerski - Sabbactical Studies in Guadalajara, MexicoJ. Nowak - Renewed as Part-time Chaplain at St. Joseph Villagefor six months while retaining duties as Part-time Associate at St.Wenceslaus ParishJacek Praski - Pastor at St. Wenceslaus Parish-Mass of Installation-January 14, 2007W. Tarnowski (member of our Polish Province) - Associate Pastor atSt. Hyacinth ParishM. Wroblewski - Associate Pastor at St. Hyacinth ParishDecember1st -3rd -Birthdays & AnniversariesHenry RuszelMichael Danek12th - William Hallas15th - Joesph MalczykJerzy Zieba16th - Marion Wroblewski31st -January1st -3rd -8th -Christopher TrimpeSteve ThomaEugene SzarekEdward Dubel12th - Francis Rog24th - Stepehen GlabJanuary6th -8th -Edward JaskowskiThomas IwickiWilliam HallasStephen GiraGregory HelminskiFrank Phillips13th - Humphrey RuszelHave a Blessed Christmas and New Year!Michael, CRDear Brothers,As we celebrate the gift of God’s lovethis Christmas 2006, way we cometo greater truth, care and love forone another and all those we serve.You will each be remembered in myChristmas masses. Merry Christmasand blessed New Year.Michael, C.R.

EGCGrand reception for EGC at Jock andYvette Smiley Smith’s home..Vow Renewal for Paul and Thomas.Tour of Resurrection Life Center.Fr. Steve and Adam confer over dinner.Reception after Vow renewal.

y: Greg Helminski, CRKwa jina la Baba, na la Mwana,na la Roho Mtakatifu.Amina.In the name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.Every journey we take in life is one thatwe pray that God will be with us and,paradoxically, that we may also be able tofind the Lord in a deeper way. We start withthe sign of our faith, the sign of the Cross.Then our journey opens us up to new waysof meeting the Risen Christ, much likethose disciples on the road to Emmaus.My month in Africa, specifically,Butiama, Tanzania was a journey (or inSwahili, SAFARI) of faith, discovery,and discernment. Special thanks to ourprovincial council, who gave me permissionto go and explore, to the missionaries withwhom we visited and to Fr. Steve Thoma,CR, who accompanied me on this journey.“What was it like? What was the hardestpart? What was the most enjoyable part?”are some of the questions that I get askedfrom family and friends. Let me try toanswer these questions in the next fewwords and, hopefully, give you a flavor ofthe graced time that I spent in Africa.First and foremost, the image of a Safari,a journey on challenging roads, is anoverarching image. From the time wereached Nairobi, Kenya with wild big citytraffic to the tiny, very bumpy, dirt roadsthrough the rural countryside of Tanzania,we were very much on the move. Even ourfirst Sunday in Butiama was spent travelingto three outpost church buildings, each withits own character of architecture, music,and texture of friendliness of the people.There were weddings at one, a visit to anelderly catechist, who had recently buriedhis wife with the grave in his own backyardat another, and stories about a gold mineand the tumultuous relationship that ithad with the local community in the third.The time we spent in Butiama, our hostskept us moving to see parishes, diocesanoffices, schools, neighboring parishes, thecathedrals, Maryknoll missionaries, bothKARIBUmen and women and the sick and sufferingparishoners at home and in hospitals. Trulywe experienced a rich cross section of theBody of Christ in East Africa.Secondly, My memory holds an impressionthat we minister to a very rural communityin Butiama, Tanzania. Surrounded byfarms, quite far from the big city we werewith country folk. Life was much slowerand simpler than what I am used to inChicago, IL. Sometimes electricity is notavailable. One Sunday someone gave agoat to the Fathers and “Billy” was ourevening meal. Monkeys, almost as plentifulas our squirrels, visit the rectory to thechagrin of the pastor who intimidatesthem with his air rifle. The songs of birdsmingle with the sound of music comingfrom all night wedding celebrations.But this little rural village is not a typicalcounty place for the first President ofTanzania, Julius Nyerere was born there andhis wife continues to be an active memberof the Catholic community. She lives whatmight be seen as a home befitting of aformer First Lady. Walimu (Teacher) is theaffection title of former President Nyerereand he highly revered and respected. Infact his cause for beatification has beenintroduced so there is a real pride amongthe Catholics for their contribution of sucha saintly and respected statesman.For all of its down to earth friendliness,I experienced for the first time in my lifebeing part of a minority. White peoplestick out like—well a sore thumb, so tospeak. One Maryknoller shared that one ofhis colleagues who ministered in Africa foralmost 50 years, when asked what would bea good gift that he could receive from theLord, replied that for 10 minutes he wouldlike to be able to think like an African! Icould concur by only stating that there is somuch to learn about these people and theirculture.Parochial ministry in Butiama iscomplicated with the prevalent languagebeing Swahili and the beautiful traditionsof dance and movement being an essentialpart of the liturgical celebrations. We werepresent for the feast of Corpus Christiand had a rich experience of EucharisticProcessions through villages, some of whichwere populated by many Moslems, whowere wondering what are those Catholicsdoing now. The experience of seeingaltars with roof-like coverings, incense,flower petals being scattered by younggirls dressed in beautiful dresses, parentscarrying children on their backs walkingin procession, and the fervent devotion offaith- filled people expressing themselvesin movement were all highlights of myliturgical experience in Africa. It actuallyreminded me of my childhood experiencesof Corpus Christi that I had growing up inBucktown at St. Hedwigs in Chicago, IL.The singing and reverence was a wonderfulexperience reminding me of the concept ofa safari and the walk of faith that we all takein this life.This was a wonderful way to live out ourcharism as Resurrectionists, walking with theRisen Jesus, accompanying Him and eachother in a spirit of praise and thanksgivingfor the many wonderful gifts that we havereceived.Educational Ministry was the mostinteresting and held the most promise forme. We visited many schools, both publicand private. Just meeting the studentsconvinced me that I would have gifts to sharewith them and that might be wonderfulway to carry my Resurrectionist mission asan educatorThe government has developed a projectto have better education in Tanzania andhas named it the Butiama Project. Theyhave some big plans and have invited theBishop of Musoma to find some religiouscommunity to help them in this endeavor.There are four new schools in the area ofBuitama being built, one of which is a boys’secondary school. The secondary school isconducted in English and the building isready to go. They just need the staff and toassemble a student body. It is to be a modelschool and will involve the local communityespecially in the area of agricultural studiesand farming local land. The CR Sistershave accepted the administration of thegirls’ secondary school and two sisters fromPoland are on their way there, as well as Sr.Stephanie Blaski, CR from Chicago.

Gerald Watt, CRI just visited a ninety-nine year old residentof Johnsburg whose father moved here fromWisconsin to start a blacksmith shop in the1890s.“When those new ‘machines’ came out,”she said, “my father decided to become aChevrolet dealer and I used to drive thecars down from Janesville (Wisconsin) toJohnsburg. Started when I was sixteen yearsold. I guess my father could see that horseswere on the way out.”Agnes Freund remembers when St. John’sschool burned down over a half a century agoand she remembers how fast the communityrebuilt it. She recalls when Johnsburg wasjust a crossroads and the town tavern was themost important landmark around. “Otherthan our beautiful church, there were justfarms as far as you could see.”“Everything is changed now. All mybrothers and sisters are gone. My friends,too. But I have...I think… about fortygreat-grandchildren.” She shows me a fourgeneration photograph of her daughter andgranddaughter standing on either side of herwhile she sits in a rocker holding her latestgrandchild, a raven-haired baby boy, abouttwo weeks old.I have been here for two months --longenough to realize that this parish founded byGerman immigrants in 1843 has deep rootshere. Catholic to the core, Johnsburgers lovetheir parish and love their town.As Mrs. Freund remarked, though, things arechanging.McHenry County is growing rapidly inpopulation and the farms are being swallowedup in housing developments.On a typical Sunday, St. John the BaptistChurch is filled with old time parishionersand lots of new families who have movedhere to get away from the city. The newmembers have found that they could builda beautiful large home here at about half ofwhat it would cost in Chicago.They like the beauty of a traditional gothicchurch and St. John’s certainly fulfills thatneed. It is an official historical landmark.St. John the Baptist Church, Johnsburg, IllinoisSo, how did we Resurrectionists get here?Bishop Doran responded to the ProvincialCouncil’s inquiry about a possible apostolatenear Resurrection Retreat House andresurrection parish in Woodstock by offeringus this wonderful parish.Besides the church itself. We have anelementary school, pre-school througheighth grade which began its one hundredand sixty-third year of operation last week.Many of our adult parishioners are graduatesof the school and proud of it.The parish complex includes a large gym,parish office complex, a separate religiouseducation building, and a parish cemetery.I am bouncing around in a thirteen roomhouse after living in one room at Gordon thispast year.With Rich Grek at Resurrection parish(and Retreat Center) and Steve Glab at thehouse—soon to be novitiate--in Bull Valleyand me, here at St. John’s we have a canonicalhouse. We meet as often as we can.My goal here at St. John’s is to assist theparish in evangelization and to spread thehope of the resurrection to a people eager tohear of the spirituality of our Congregation.As long as Our Lord gives me health and theprovince asks me to do this, I will fulfill myministry here.One of my dreams is that the people of St.John’s will grow to love our Congregationand its charism. Already, Mike Danek andPaul Sims have celebrated the Eucharist withus. Steve Glab, a well-known C.R. from hiswork at Marian Central High School inMcHenry helps out with Masses regularlyand with great enthusiasm. The people areexcited about these new faces and about themessage of hope that we preach.They want to meet all of you. Please cometo visit and celebrate the Eucharist with us. Ihave enough extra bedrooms for four or fiveof you, at one time.The setting here is beautiful. I love to sit inthe morning in the cemetery among the firtrees and pray morning prayer. One of thelarge marble markers nearby reads “Freund.”This morning Agnes Freund approaching herone hundredth birthday gestured toward St.John’s up on the hill three blocks away: “I wasbaptized there, made my First Communionand Confirmation there and was marriedthere. All my children and most of mygrandchildren and great-grandchildren werebaptized there.” She looks at me with brighteyes and a warm smile. “And, I’ll be buriedthere.”