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Congregation of the
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Publisher: Very Reverend Norman B. Pelletier,
SSS: (440) 442-6311
Editor: Mrs. Jill Mayock (440) 442-6311
In this issue of the Province Newsletter we are highlighting the many anniversaries which we have been celebrating recently. Some are the happy anniversaries of priestly ordination or religious profession. A couple have to do with the transition from this world to the next. In all of these events the Blessed Sacrament Community remains filled with thoughts of gratitude for ministries accomplished and for lives lived in the atmosphere of Eucharistic fervor and favor.
FERVOR, because each one of these individual religious have dedicated themselves unreservedly to the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery in their lives and ministry. They have placed the Eucharist at the center of their lives through constant attention to Saint Peter Julian Eymard's example of his passion for this great gift of God to the Church. They have witnessed to the power of this sacrament by their fidelity to prayer and by their constancy in proclaiming its priority of place at the heart of Christian life. In things large and small the Eucharist inspired their judgment and their decisions.
FAVOR, because the Eucharist has filled them with the riches of this truly wonderful gift of God as nourishment for their earthly journey. For some that journey has come to an end, but for the others the Eucharist continues to inspire, nourish and focus their energies. A Eucharistic vocation is indeed a priceless gift that these men have cherished and for which they daily give thanks to the Lord.
The words of the Eucharistic hymn One Bread, One Body remind us of the Eucharistic vocation we all share by reason of our Baptism. Let us join our voices in thanksgiving for the lives we are now celebrating and pray that we too may continue to be grateful for the gift of the Eucharist in our lives.
Forty years ago, four members of the class that entered the novitiate in 1956 reached ordination. Ten of them had entered, nine were professed, and all nine are still alive and in church service in various places. In May of 1964, the first wave were ordained. Gerald Levesque and Gene LaVerdière were ordained in Portland, Maine, on May 16; William Young and Paul Bernier followed a week later, on May 23CFr. Young in Cleveland, and Fr. Bernier in the seminary chapel in Hyde Park, NY.
In due course, David Roy, Ralph Roberts, and Mario Marzocchi would be ordained to the priesthood, and Joseph Bourgeois to the diaconate. David Phelan remains a professed brother.
The four who celebrate their 40th anniversary of ordination have had varied careers. Fr. Levesque served in Uganda as well as in Leicester, England. In this country, he was pastor in Old Town, as well as at St. Jean Baptiste Church in New York, and St. Charles in Albuquerque, NM. His pastorate was noted for its deft pastoral touch, Gerry's friendliness and genuine concern for people, as well as his sense of community. Our sadness at his asking to leave the congregation in 1987 was tempered by knowing that he has been exercising those same pastoral skills in the Diocese of Portland, Maine.
Fr. Eugene LaVerdière, his friend and townmate (both hail from Winslow, Maine), had an entirely different priestly track. Immediately after ordination he was sent to Rome to study Scripture, where he received an S.S.L. On his return to the States, he was put in charge of our major seminary students. During this time he both taught and also found time to complete doctoral studies at the University of Chicago.
After serving as Director of Scholastics, Fr. Gene embarked on a career of teaching, writing, and giving numerous retreats and workshops across the United States and around the world. He developed a deep mission consciousness, and frequently went to countries in the Southern hemisphere to share with them his love of Scripture and of the Eucharist. His dedication to the missions was recognized recently when he was officially appointed as a consultant for mission education of clergy and seminarians for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
He found time to write numerous articles, and some 20 books, among which are two-volume commentaries on the Gospel of Luke as well as on the Gospel of Mark. Two of his more creative works deal with the Eucharist in Luke-Acts, The Breaking of the Bread, and Dining in the Kingdom of God. Gene once mentioned that he had logged more than a million miles on American Airlines alone. Perhaps it was his hectic pace and frequent travel, but Fr. Gene has been recently afflicted with a neurological disorder that has severely curtailed his teaching ministry. Crushing as this must have been to him, it has not affected his outgoing nature, his sense of community, or the example he gives of trust in God.
Fr. William Young, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, also started
on an academic track, but at the minor seminary level. He was assigned to Eymard
Seminary in Hyde Park to teach Latin and Greek, which he did with verve almost
until the seminary closed. He was also 
Assistant
Principal of the seminary during that time. Following Eymard, he was put in
charge of our theology students (who were then studying at Fordham). At the
same time, he worked for the Family Life Bureau of the New York Archdiocese.
Over the years, Fr. Bill has had a continuing interest in this area of ministry,
and has been National Chaplain of the Christian Family Movement for some nine
years.
He then went to France, where he did his doctoral studies at the Institut Catholique de Paris. He specialized in Irenaeus, focusing especially on his understanding of the resurrection. On returning from Paris, he taught at Borromeo College in Cleveland, then at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago until 1984, when he was appointed Executive Editor of Emmanuel Magazine. In 1988 he returned to Cleveland as Associate Pastor at St. Paschal Baylon Parish. This post he held until 1999, interrupted by a three-year stint as head of campus ministry at Case Western Reserve University. For the past three years he has been serving with dedication as Catholic Chaplain at the Cleveland ClinicCa huge hospital of over 1000 beds.
Fr. Paul Bernier, a native of Pawtucket, RI, has also had a variety of apostolates in the course of his priesthood. His ministerial life, he says, is roughly divided into nines. For the first nine years he was in high school work, first at our minor seminary in Waupaca, Wisconsin, where he taught social studies, and served as assistant principal and then principal. When the seminary closed he moved to Menasha, Wisconsin and became principal of St. Mary Central [Diocesan] High School for three years. He was then editor of Emmanuel Magazine for the next nine years, when he went to Old Town, Maine, as pastor.
That was his shortest assignment, because in 1985 he was asked to go to the Philippines, where he stayed until 1995. This ten-year stint was broken by a year's sabbatical, when he went to Yale University on a research fellowship, during which time he wrote two of his books: Ministry in the Church and Eucharist: Celebrating Its Rhythms in Our Lives. In the Philippines, he was Director of Scholastics for five years, and taught theology at the consortium attended by our students: Maryhill School of Theology. He also became Dean of Studies there.
While in the Philippines, Fr. Bernier served as Executive Secretary of the Commission on the Clergy for the Philippines Conference of Catholic Bishops for eight years, and worked annual programs for priests' renewal in Asia for the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC). Asked to return to the States, he worked for almost nine years in New York, at both St. Andrew's Church and St. Jean Baptiste.
In the past year he has returned to Cleveland as editor of Emmanuel Magazine. There he combines again the work of editor with that of preaching retreats and workshops on the Eucharist and on priestly life and ministry. He still has a finger in the foreign pie, however, having done programs for the FABC in Manila, Bangladesh, and Korea, and for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Kenya.
Every one of these men still exhibit an enthusiasm for their priestly lives and for life in general. Despite the tensions that have followed Vatican II, and the scandals that have rocked the church in recent years, they would be more than willing to make the same vocational choices again today. Because of that, they serve as real models that a religious, as well as priestly life, can be most fulfilling, both from a human and a spiritual point of view. As one of them stated, "It's nice to look back on 40 years and feel that one has made a significant difference for good in the world."
Also celebrating a 40th this year is Brother Gary LaVerdière (Fr. Gene is his brother). He was professed in 1964 and, upon completion of the Junior brothers' program, also had his period of "foreign service." Assigned to Rome for five years, he then went to our Uganda foundation in Masaka - both assignments which he enjoyed immensely. Called back to the States to be one of the founding members of our house in Old Town, he helped the community get started there, and took over the C.Y.O. for the parish.
In 1975 he went to Chicago, where he studied at Jesuit School of Theology along
with our seminarians. On completion of these studies he was assigned to Cleveland,
where he served as liturgist for the parish, and also engaged in teaching religious
education and adult education. He also became art director for Emmanuel Magazine,
a post which he still holds. Throughout this period he has taken on responsibilities
of general maintenance, kitchen purchaser, etc.
If anything characterizes Br. Gary besides his dedication, it is his creativity.
This has been manifested not only in the liturgical flair and striking church
decorations he was known for, but in his work for Emmanuel, which has regularly
won awards for cover and layout since he has been with the magazine. It also
shows around the house and property, which he has undertaken to improve. The
house gardens are an on-going project, as each year Gary adds trees and flowers,
extending the cultivated area so that it becomes an oasis where one can wander
and appreciate the beauty of God's creation. He has truly made the Cleveland
house a more pleasant place to live for everyone.
Thus, the religious life has allowed Gary to use his creative talents, and even 40 years have done little to quiet his drive and desire to excel. To him, and to our priests, we offer congratulations, and a heartfelt "Thank You" for their years of dedication to the Congregation and to the church. All together, they have given 200 years of service, for which we can all be grateful.
Beauty is everywhere - celebrate being alive.
Let us all walk our path with gentle footsteps and listening hearts.
Take time each day for quiet contemplation and make time to love and be loved.
Life is a garden that blossoms when tended with love, laughter, and a believing
heart.
Laughter is a richer gift when shared with those we love.
A simple act of kindness can change the course of a lifetime.
Happiness is a matter of listening closely to the questions of the heart.
Love and gratitude have a language all their own.
They hear the words that are left unspoken.
Making the time to be together is the finest gift we can ever give.
Greet each day with the belief that wonderful things are about to happen.
The earth sings in blue skies and wildflowers . . .
may its joyful music awaken you to the beauty of life.Author Unknown
Fr. Ernest Falardeau, S.S.S., presented this homily on Sunday, May 16, 2004 at St. Jean Baptiste Church, New York City, at the Mass honoring Fr. Eugene LaVerdiere for his 40th Anniversary of Ordination.
The Scriptures for today could not be more appropriate for our reflection on this Fortieth Anniversary of Fr. Eugene LaVerdiere. They speak to us of the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church and in our time. They speak of the relationship between the Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit. They speak to us about God's abiding presence in our hearts, in the church and in our time. We are not alone. The Risen Lord gives us his Spirit and God abides in us as in a temple, a foretaste of the heavenly temple that awaits us in the heavenly Jerusalem where God will be our light and our life.
We are not alone
This may seem to many like a "godforsaken place". Wars and violence,
crimes and disasters abound. The haunting question raised by believers and unbelievers
alike is "Where is God?" The Jewish people continue to ask where was
God when the holocaust happened. Unbelievers look at the outrageous actions
of Christians down the centuries and ask "Where was God?" Jesus prayed
for the unity of Christians as a sign of the authenticity of his mission from
the Father and churches seem hopelessly divided and splintering as we speak.
But the Scriptures tell us we are not alone. That we are not like corks in the vast ocean. We are in good hands. We are in God's hands. The Son and the Spirit are, in the minds of the early Fathers of the Church, the hands of God who save us and guide us on our pilgrim journey to the Father.
We are not alone. God is with us. He is in our hearts and minds. He is in our world and in our history. He is in our midst. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). His presence in our midst is revealed in the lives of the saints. It is revealed in the wisdom of the Scriptures. It is revealed in the worshiping community that is the assembly of God, the church, gathered to offer praise and thanks to God with Christ the Risen Lord.
The Spirit will Teach You
The Spirit will teach you. The official revelation of God in Scripture is a
closed book. God's revelation is complete. He has spoken through his Son and
the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation tells us the end of the story
"until he comes again." But this does not mean that we do not have
something more to learn.
We need to understand the meaning of the Scriptures, particularly their meaning
in our lives. And so the revelation of God continues. The Spirit who inspires
the Scriptures continues to reveal God and speak to us through "the signs
of the times." What is going on in the world around us, what is being done
by people of good will continue to reveal God. Saints and sinners continue to
tell us of the power of God=s grace and forgiveness. The history of our church
and our world continue to manifest God's providential care and his guidance
through the troubled waters in which we live.
The Holy Spirit needs to remind us of what Jesus said about persecution and
the cross, about rejection and humiliation, about the road to blessedness and
peace. We need to remember the Scriptures and apply them to our lives and our
times. This is the work of diligent study, but even more, it is attention to
the Spirit who speaks to us and reveals the Father and the Son through the Scriptures
and the daily newspaper.
Fr. Eugene LaVerdieres 40th Anniversary
It strikes me as significant that we reflect on the Scriptures and the Holy
Spirit on this fortieth anniversary of Fr. Eugene LaVerdiere's ordination. All
of his priesthood has been spent in finding inspiration for people's lives in
the Scriptures. He has not only done creative work and writing. He has inspired
students, participants in continuing education of adults, priests and bishops
in retreats, and conferences across the world. He has left a legacy of writings
on the Scripture that have established a lasting reputation among his peers.
But my purpose is not so much to laud his works as to share with you some insights
into the man. Looking over these forty years I can remember Gene even before
his ordination and recall how his love of Scripture was already evident as he
studied in Cleveland to prepare himself for the priesthood. It was clear he
would specialize in Scripture. With that in mind, he immediately went to Rome
after ordination to study for the licentiate at the Angelicum and the Ecole
Biblique de Jerusalem. Later, he added a Ph.D. from Fordham with primary emphasis
on the New Testament.
What is to be admired in Gene is his sure-footed ability to see far beyond the
moment. He understood long before others the direction of Vatican II and its
implications for the life of the church. The primary emphasis on Scripture was
not something he needed to be taught. He already absorbed it as he studied the
texts and their importance.
Gene appreciates exegesis, the meaning of texts. He is an expert in this field. But he focused on hermeneutics - the meaning of the texts for preaching, integration in the lives of clergy and laity. Hence his popular appeal and attraction for people of all walks of life.
In our Congregation, Gene has been a leader and one who helped to chart the course of our Province and our Congregation. He served many terms under a number of Provincials. He was continuously the delegate to our General Chapters during the time and work of our implementation of the Vatican Council to our Rule of Life. His wisdom, foresight and practical sense and scholarship helped him and us to move forward with a renewal that was not always understood, but always on track.
Gene is a man of peace. He is a man of principle. But he has always wanted the reconciliation of different views, not the exclusion of those of another point of view. In this respect, I believe the guiding principle of the first council of Jerusalem served him well. Unity in the essentials, freedom in non-essentials and charity in all things.
From Gene we continue to learn fidelity, loyalty, dedication, love of God,
church and neighbor. We learn perseverance and hard work. We learn an optimism
and hope for the future that continues to carry us forward.
Gene is a lover of tradition, the classics, the arts and music. He began early
on to collect the writings of the Fathers of the Church, their commentaries
on the Scriptures and their contributions to understanding their teaching of
the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Above all, Gene is a lover of the Eucharist and has written classic works on the Eucharist in the New Testament, notably Dining in the Kingdom.
We are all aware that in the past year Gene has had to give up his teaching position at Fordham University due to primary aphasia which has curtailed his ability to speak. But Gene continues to teach, even if not in words. He speaks through his patience, his good humor, his interest in people and the world around him. He continues to minister in many ways to the people of God in the parish. I'm sure his ministry continues through the written word as well.
And so we give thanks and praise to God for the blessings he has given to Gene during forty years of ministry. A ministry of word and sacrament, a ministry of close contact with the Holy Spirit for inspiration, guidance and persevering study. He has enriched the lives of thousands through his scholarship and priesthood. We wish him God's blessings, our congratulations and best wishes. Ad Multos Annos!
This homily was delivered in at Corpus Christi Church on Sunday, April 18, 2004:
Dear Friends in Christ:
Ten years ago, April 16th, 1994, Father Joseph Thai Tran was ordained a priest here at Corpus Christi Church. Many of us were present on that wonderful day. It was for him the moment when his greatest dream was to be fulfilled - his dream of becoming a priest, and following Christ as an ordained minister of our beloved Church. You must know, however, that his journey to the priesthood was not an easy one.
Joseph Thai Tran was born on June 7, 1959. On that day, God would give his family and all of us a special gift in the person of Joseph Thai Tran and that gift was to blossom into something beautiful. Like all of us, at baptism, Fr. Thai began his spiritual journey to God. For him, and for each one of us, it is a spiritual journey that calls us to a deeper and deeper relationship with the Lord each day of our lives, transformed along the way by the Eucharist which sustains us and nourishes us on our journey. It is a journey that asks us to make Christ's presence known by the way we live our lives. We must remember that this call to place Christ at the Center of our lives is not a call that automatically happens - many good lives need to touch us and mold us along life's journey with, of course, God's many graces. Many good lives have touched Fr. Thai during his spiritual journey from earliest childhood and, as a result, a priestly vocation was fostered, pursued, and realized.
In a very special way, we thank Fr. Thai's ninety year old mom, his beloved
deceased dad, his family members, his boyhood friends and all who have fashioned
and molded Thai into the person he has become for us. And, we thank God this
day because God's Providence summoned Fr. Thai to journey to priesthood. It
was a journey that would include many challenges, much suffering, and great
perseverance.
Yes, indeed, Fr. Thai faced many obstacles as he journeyed to priesthood, and without doubt, without God's graces on his journey, he could never have realized his dream of becoming a priest. Perhaps the biggest challenge for Fr. Thai came in 1985 when he made the decision to flee his beloved country, Vietnam, so that he could seek freedom and respond to God's providential call to priesthood.
He did so on December 8th, 1985, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
One can only imagine the pain associated with this decision, leaving family,
friends, home, and country to fulfill his boyhood dream, not knowing at that
time whether or not he would ever be able to see his loved ones again, ever!
And so, on that December day, 19 years ago, Fr. Thai, along with many other
Vietnamese refugees escaped in a small, over-crowded boat, with little food
and facing a long and painful journey, many losing their lives along the way.
Perhaps Psalm 118 captures the moment: "I was hard-pressed and was fallen,
but the Lord helped me. My strength and my courage is the Lord and he has been
my Savior." Friends, there was a happy ending for some of the Vietnamese
travelers when, on that glorious Friday the 13th in December of 1985, Fr. Thai
and his companions were rescued by a US ship and sent to the Philippines. It
was there in the Philippines where Joseph Thai Tran would reside until his journey
would move forward to his ultimate destination: America.
The challenges continued and upon his arrival in America the language barrier was the greatest of his ongoing struggles on his journey to priesthood. Yet, this courageous young man, with the help of so many people, pursued his dream to become a priest and 1989 began his theological studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, the seminary from which he was to graduate and receive his Master of Divinity Degree in 1993.Soon after, Fr. Thai was ordained a Deacon in Chicago, and was to come to Houston to begin his ministry in our beloved Parish for one year before being ordained a priest on April 16, 1994, by Bp. Donald Pelotte, SSS.
Dear friends, our gospel reading today speak well of the occasion of this celebration this morning. They speak well of Fr. Thai's life and his call to ministry. Like the first Apostles who took their call seriously to follow the Lord, many signs and wonders were done among God's people, only possible by deep faith and acceptance of the call to follow the Lord and to make his message known as Fr. Thai has done, as all of us are called to do.
He has touched so many lives by his ministry these past ten years. He has done so here in Houston, and continues to do so in Albuquerque as Parochial Vicar of our SSS parish. And I wouldn’t doubt that great numbers of believers have deepened their faith in the Lord as a result of the kind and loving priest Fr. Thai is for his people.Fr. Thai's journey to priesthood has been a long and difficult journey, and Fr. Thai, perhaps, has had moments of doubts along the way, like Thomas in today's Gospel and like many of us as we are touched by pain and suffering in life's journey. But if our faith lives are anchored in the Lord, that faith will move us beyond the doubts, as it did Thomas and Fr. Thai in his difficult journey to priesthood.
We must never forget that as we journey in life, Jesus assures us that his
peace is ours if we but have great faith and believe. Thai has the peace, and
that joy in his priestly vocationCit speaks volumes of his deep faith.
Reflecting back ten years ago, what a glorious day it was, here in this very
church as many of us witnessed the fulfillment of Fr. Thai's boyhood dream,
as the Vietnamese, Hispanic, and Anglo choirs sang loudly and beautifully on
that special day . . . echoing songs of joy! "By the Lord has this been
done, it is wonderful in our eyes; this is the day the Lord has made, let us
be glad and rejoice in it." For this new priest was now to go forth and
touch many lives in his role as priest, our lives and so many others through
his goodness, gentleness, and kindness in ministry to God's people. Fr. Thai
continues to bring peace, hope, and joy into our lives.
Thank you, Fr. Thai, for the wonderful priest you are to all of us. Thank you,
God, for that gift of Fr. Thai's life given forty-four plus years ago. And I
am sure that you, too, are thanking Almighty God, Fr. Thai, this day for your
gift of priesthood, perhaps using the words of scripture in Psalm 118 of today's
Mass: "I give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his love is everlasting.Fr.
Thai, we ask the Lord to continue to bless you as you journey forward in ministry
to God's people. And again, we thank God for the blessings of this occasion
. . . Happy 10th Anniversary!
" By the Lord has this been done, it is wonderful in our eyes; this is
the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it."
" Tim embodied superb natural talent as an administrator with a caring
human touch," recalls Fr. Bill Young who served for six years as assistant
principal at Eymard Seminary while Tim was principal. "He foresaw all kinds
of eventualities that would arise in the course of running the seminary and
always had us organized and ready for everything from everyday activities to
state accreditation visitation. Everything ran smoothly, even during a crisis
like the New York electrical blackout of the late 1960s. Beneath his quiet and
orderly exterior, though, Tim always saw the students through the eyes of his
heart and they responded accordingly.
"On a personal note, I remember clearly a day in 1966 when Fr. Louis Prefontaine, who was leaving for another assignment, asked me (who had been back at Eymard for only a year) to take over his ministry in family life work as archdiocesan director in Dutchess County of the Pre-Cana Program and several groups of the Christian Family Movement. I reminded him of Tim's opposition to faculty members taking on regular ministry outside the seminary. When I approached Tim, expecting a quiet denial of the request, I was totally surprised to hear him say, "Yes, that will be all right. I think it will be good for you. Just let me know when you will be out and I will cover your supervision of the students." We even worked it out that some of the students would baby sit for some of the CFM couples when they attended monthly meetings. When I became involved in the leadership of the Cursillo movement, Tim also blessed that. Later, he allowed the students to volunteer for evenings at the Poughkeepsie Community Center working with disabled teenagers. It was wonderful to see his developing openness, despite earlier reluctanceCand this was in a number of areas, including his views in regard to theology, ministry and religious life. That day in 1966 gave me an opportunity for ministry that has multiplied and continued to today. Thank you, Tim."
Fr. Timothy Mangan was born and raised in the Manhattanville region of New York City. The Mangan family attended church at St. Jean Baptiste Parish, which has been administered by the Blessed Sacrament Fathers ever since 1900. After elementary grades, young Tim entered Eymard Seminary in Suffern, NY, following in the footsteps of his two older brothers. While the oldest, Pat, went on to another career, both Tim and Joseph eventually were ordained within the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Tim completed his four years of theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he was ordained in 1959.
Most of Fr. Tim's ministry consisted of teaching high school students. First, he taught at Eymard Seminary in Hyde Park, NY. Later, he taught in diverse high schools both in Cleveland and afterwards, in upstate New York. While teaching in New York State, he resided in the Blessed Sacrament community at St. Joseph's Parish in Broadalbin, NY. Eventually he was appointed pastor of this parish in 1991. Due to serious illness, he resigned from this post in December 2003 and took up residence at Regina Health Center in Richfield, Ohio.
Fr. Timothy Mangan, S.S.S., passed away on April 22, 2004. During the homily of Fr. Tim's Mass of Christian Burial, Father Provincial Norman Pelletier read a quote which gave great insight into the very heart of Fr. Tim:
"In June 1990, the closing of the diocesan Catholic High School at which I was serving as guidance counselor brought to an end thirty years of Catholic educational ministry. But it simultaneously began a new ministry focus for me. For in August of 1990, I was appointed associate pastor at St. Joseph's in Broadalbin, and one year later I became the pastor of the parish . . .
. . . At the time of my installation as pastor, I told the parish community: 'If anyone asked me what my concern and hope is as I begin to be the travel guide in this community of believers, I would have no difficulty in responding that I must work to guide all of us to become a Eucharistic community . . . to draw your attention to that unique masterpiece of God . . . and to help you appreciate it as maybe you never have before and be (quite literally) moved by it." (Sermon at Installation Liturgy). Those sentiments express not only my ambition, but also my vision of what a parish is."
On May 7, 2004, Br. Ignatius (Floyd) Montgomery, S.S.S., went to be with the
Lord whom he had served as a professed brother for most of his adult life. Having
moved to Regina Health Center in Richfield, Ohio, in March 2004, he spent his
last days in that caring community.
Br. Ignatius was described perfectly as a man of few words, but who spoke volumes
by the way he lived. Anyone who knew him was inspired by his spirit of prayerfulness
and joy. He was never known to speak in anger, but graciously accepted what
life dealt him.
Baptized Floyd, he was born on March 28, 1917, in the small town of Baden, Illinois.
He was the only brother to three sisters.
After graduating from St. Edwin's University in Austin, Texas, he served the United States Air Force, seeing action in the Pacific during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Captain.
On April 10, 1942, he married Evelyn Lucille Sparks, who died 14 months later, leaving Br. Ignatius with one son, Michael, who now resides in Houston, Texas.
Br. Ignatius entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament on September 8, 1948 and made his first profession of religious vows on September 15, 1951. He served the Congregation in many different ways over the ensuing years. He had been assigned to the communities in Suffern, New York; New York City; Chicago; Albuquerque; Barre, Massachusetts; and Cleveland. It was with great joy that Br. Ignatius celebrated his 50th anniversary of profession in 2001, sharing that celebration with his many friends from the St. Paschal Baylon parish community.
Even at age 87, Br. Ignatius was a gifted athlete. He enjoyed bowling and golf,
and was an avid baseball fan. He was frequently seen riding his bicycle through
the neighborhood, not letting a fall deter him from his exercise.
Br. Ignatius is survived by his son, Michael (wife, Barbara); grandson, Gregory
(wife Aura); and married nephews. His sisters are all deceased.
He embodied well the words which he had selected for his anniversary card:
" Eucharistic love of Jesus should, therefore, be for our religious the
supreme law of their virtue, the object of their zeal, and the distinctive mark
of their holiness."
ALL RELIGIOUS, especially those who are ill and suffering that God would bring healing and strength to them.
For Bro. David as he travels on vacation visiting his former parishes where he served.
Our parish's joyful celebrations of the Easter season continued with the sacraments
of Baptism, First
Communion and Confirmation during the months of April and May. Each of these
celebrations provides an opportunity for our Catholic community to reflect on
our own baptismal commitment, and to delight in our newest Christians, children
and adults alike, being fully welcomed into the faith community of Corpus Christi.
These are joyous occasions for the universal church, our parish, and our families.
These occasions are matched by the many end-of-school year celebrations in church and school. Our Spanish and English-speaking religious education students and their catechists were honored on Sunday, May 2, the last day of class. Certificates and awards were presented at the 9:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Masses, with class parties held afterward to celebrate this special occasion. Marcia Gomez was especially honored for having 8 years of perfect attendance in her Sunday afternoon religious education classes.
On Saturday, May 22, the 8th grade students of Corpus Christi School gathered for their Graduation Mass and Dinner. Celebrating with the parish at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday evening Mass, this event provided an opportunity for our entire faith community to bless the graduates and wish them well. Ninety-five percent of our graduates plan to attend the various Catholic high schools in the Houston area. We look forward to keeping up with their progress in high school, and having them return for Confirmation classes.
All graduates of the parish, including high school, college, medical school, and trade school, were honored at a Baccalaureate Mass and reception on Sunday, June 6. We are pleased to acknowledge their hard work and achievements.
Meanwhile, the parish warmly welcomed our Provincial, Fr. Norman Pelletier, SSS, and Jim Brown, in mid-May, as they met with a cross-section of laity to reflect on the charism of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation and its inter-connectedness with our parish ministries. Early in June, Jim returned to work with the new and returning members of the Education Council, Pastoral Council, and pastoral staff on mission, vision, roles, and responsibilities.
A very successful parish bazaar and garage sale, and the annual spring concert by our students, provided not only an opportunity for fun, fundraising, and fellowship, but also these events helped us to celebrate our diversity and oneness as the Body of Christ.
As our parish completes a year of transition in pastoral leadership, we continue
to dialogue about ways to embrace the Eucharist as the source and summit of
our lives, and to express our faith as a multi-cultural, Christian community
through worship, service, education, and fellowship.
Summer blessings to all!
With the passage of Lent and the celebration of Easter, Life In The Eucharist teams find themselves with a relatively quiet time ahead for the summer. It's the perfect time to reassess a team's programs and activities. Team leaders in Cleveland and Houston have expressed their group's desires for spiritual enrichment, additional training, and assistance formating the LITE seminar for teens and young adults. Teams find it very beneficial to return to the orignal training manuals for review and to refresh their understanding of the concepts in the seminar. Helen Govern, administrator of the LITE team at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Cleveland has invited Fr. Bill Fickel, SSS, and Noreen Wright to present aday of enrichment in June. In response to requests for help with younger audiences, Houston team members who have given the program for people preparing for Confirmation will share their experiences to help others in their approach to younger audiences.
Father Bill Fickel and Noreen Wright spent a fruitful weekend at St. Charles
Borromeo Parish in Albuquerque, New Mexico to rekindle the spirit of LITE team
members there and to inspire others to join them. As a result of this visit,
their pastor, Father J.T. Lane, SSS, has scheduled a seminar for the parishioners
in June. Some who were team members in the past will be joined for support by
Fr. Bill, Noreen and Nancy MacRoberts. The previous team members are anxious
to again be involved in Eucharistic Evangelizing and to bring LITE to life in
the Albuquerque area.
St. Mary's Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma has had a year long program called "Mass
Appeal". As part of this endeavor, they invited Bubba and Patty Pizzitola
and Fr. Bill to give a LITE seminar for the parish. Great support from the parish
staff and good attendance by the parishioners made this a very positive activity
for the traveling team.
A group of team members in Houston, trained by Fr. Bill Fickel, presented LITE II during March to a parish south of Houston. This seminar, better known as "The Old Testament Background to Eucharist", is a most interesting and challenging program. Just as many people are interested in their geneology or family history, so too are we fascinated by the geneology of our Catholic religion and practices. The group is currently evaluating this presentation and discussing changes and improvements. Frank Zalar in Cleveland is bringing together a group of LITE team members there to learn to present this interesting seminar.
Father Don Jette, SSS and Fr. Thai Tran, SSS both returned to Corpus Christi Parish where they are greatly loved to celebrate their anniversaries of ordination to priesthood. It was the LITE teams pleasure to host the parish receptions following the Sunday Eucharist.
The CEE hopes to publish the next newsletter, HI LITE, with an international approach. All CEE's and team leaders throughout the world will be contacted and asked to prepare a brief article on their teams activities and progress. If you do not receive the newsletter and would like to be on the mailing list, please contact the CEE office at 713-661-3958.
There are still a few places available for Fr. Norman Pelletier's trip to France to follow in the footsteps of St. Peter Julian Eymard. If you have the itch to go, please give the CEE a call and we'll send you all you need to know. It's a great trip -don't miss out!
Spring is in the air here in Highland Heights, not only in the budding of nature
visible in the plants and trees, but also in our St. Paschal Baylon Parish.
Our day school is winning a variety of awards in the academic field and our
PSR graduated and completed a very special year for the students. We thank the
teachers for their hard work and dedication.
Our Eymard group for senior citizens is growing and they look forward to their
monthly meetings and Mass, after which they share a meal together.
The Young-at-Heart Travelers have gone to see the Vatican Exhibit at the Cleveland
Museum of Art and felt so uplifted by what they saw. Their next trips took them
to Virginia, Detroit and Canada, to have a few days at the casino.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Ladies Guild held a very successful reverse
raffle, the proceeds of which were donated to the school and parish. The Holy
Name Society also contributed mightily to the funding of the school and parish
in recent months.
This spring was also very busy sacramentally as over 100 young people were confirmed and 100 children celebrated their First Communion - a sure sign that our parish is growing by leaps and bounds!
The SESA Group held a blood drive which drew a positive response from the community, and their recent dance was fun for all who attended - proceeds were donated to feeding the homeless.
The Arts and Environment Group displayed the fruits of their labor in the display of beautiful decorations in the Church for Easter. They are truly gifted and we are grateful for all of their hard work.
Our Clown Rascals are going to graduate 25 new clowns after the 12 Noon Mass on Sunday, May 23. The Clown Helpers will also add to their numbers, a true testimony of the dedication of this fine group. The Rascals recently fed the homeless and put so many smiles on those special people of God. This group will be involved in 19 events this summer, sharing God's love with those in need in our community.
Our parish's 50th anniversary continues with the various ministry groups being honored for their fine contributions to our parish community.
The Congregation's Lay Associates from St. Paschal's continue to meet on the fourth Thursday of the month from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in St. Ann's Chapel for a half hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a discussion meeting afterwards in the parish parlor. Fr. Tom Smithson just completed his first year as our spiritual mentor.
The group just completed nine months of analyzing the mass, part by part, to study the reasons and meaning for what we do at our liturgies. The discussions have been invigorating and informative and everyone agrees that they are much more attentive and conscious when they attend Mass resulting in a richer liturgical experience.
What a depth we have discovered in the sharing of these topics in our discussions. One member felt they have been so important that she suggested these "lessons" be offered one night a week for six weeks as a Lenten program. Another member suggested that the handouts we use be included periodically in our parish bulletin to avail our parishioners of the opportunity to learn more about what it is they are doing and how to enrich their participation and awareness at the Mass they attend.
We were happy to welcome Fr. Norman Pelletier who participated with us at our April meeting. Thanks to Fr. Ed Stapleton who was in town and joined us at meeting in February. Fr. Bill Fickel, Deacon Joe Bourgeois and Br. Edmund Hardy have also attended us on occasion. We welcome all SSS religious visit us to lend us their support and participation. We will welcome Fr. Paul Bernier who will lead our discussion at our May meeting on "Ten Theses on Eucharistic Prayer."
Blessed
are you, Mary,exalted daughter of Zion!
You are highly favored and full of grace,
for the spirit of God
descended upon you.
We magnify the Lord
and rejoice with you for the gift
of the Word made flesh,
bread of life and cup of joy.
Our Lady
of the Blessed Sacrament,
our model of prayer in the Cenacle,
pray for us
that we may become what we receive,
the body of Christ your son.
Amen.
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