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The Good News - Summer 2006



THE GOOD NEWS

We rejoice with Raphael Eagle and share his enthusiasm that Cook Children�s Medical Center (CCMC) received permission from Most Reverend Kevin Vann, bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth, to install a tabernacle in the hospital�s chapel.� The pediatric hospital thus became the first public medical center in the Diocese to have the reserved Blessed Sacrament available on site, 24 hours a day, for the sick, the dying, and their families.�

Bishop Vann blesses the newly installed tabernacle in the non-denominational chapel at Cook Children�s Medical Center.� Raphael is seen on the left assisting the bishop with the holy water.

Bishop Vann blesses another �sacred repository� at the Medical Center.� Approximately thirty-percent of patients at Cook�s are Catholic.� �Every child,� Raphael says, �is sacred, unique, and irreplaceable.�

A full page-and-a-half article appeared in the April 28, 2006 edition of the North Texas Catholic on the installation of the tabernacle as well as Raphael�s well-respected chaplain ministry.� The article on Raphael highlighted, in particular, two programs that he fostered.� The first program partners Catholic volunteers with families who must endure long, protracted stays at CCMC.�� The volunteer�s job is to listen, console, and offer spiritual support for these families who are often far from home.� The second program is a grief support group for parents who must deal with the death of a child. �Watching a child suffer through a serious injury, disease, or terminal illness is life�s cruelest trauma,� Raphael is quoted as saying.� �Letting people know they are not alone is the essence of a chaplain�s ministry.�� In March, the Province approved a request for a donation to CCMC�s Outreach Food Program through the T.O.R. Outreach Fund.

♦� Cyprian Mercieca happily announced the ground-breaking for the new Church of Saint Vincent de Paul, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Berkeley Springs is located in the growing region of the Eastern panhandle of West Virginia.� It is located about forty miles from Priestfield Pastoral Center.� Its proximity to Washington, D.C., and the historic nature of the area, places Berkeley Springs on the tourist map along with a burgeoning population.�The new Church will be three times as large as the current building.� It will be connected to the existing Church structure which will be converted into a gathering space for the parish community.� Good luck, Cyprian!� Undertaking a building project at any time is no easy task.� Doing so as one approaches 72 years-of-age is a daunting responsibility.

David Liedl was taken into custody at The Times Restaurant in Minneapolis on April 26th.� Money raised for bail was given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association�s summer camp program for kids.� He was released unharmed, but his friends and family are all a little poorer!

As a Christmas gift for John Kerr, Anthony Criscitelli not only secretly arranged for John to have lunch with the Mayor, R.T. Rybak, he also prepared and hosted the meal in late February!� John works diligently with local churches to exert pressure upon political leaders on behalf of the needs of the poor.


� Hearty congratulations to Brad Baldwin!� On May 6, 2006, Brad received his certification from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). This process lasted almost two years, and involved approximately 55 pages of written material, ranging from hospital internship�evaluations, a 23-page paper describing and defending his ability as a hospital chaplain, two years of hospital training, and at least two years of full-time hospital ministry, theological reflections, pastoral case studies, evaluations from pastoral care directors, and two evaluations from our Provincial. � After the completion of these materials,�they were presented and approved by a board of supervisors. Once the material received the supervisor�s approval, Brad went before the board for an oral interview, where he defended his paperwork and ability to be a Board Certified Professional Hospital Chaplain. � The completion of the Certification Process means that�Brad is now�Board Certified by the NACC and able to apply for all future hospital positions in Pastoral Care, particularly those involving Pastoral Care� Directorships.

�� From May 1 � 7, Carl Vacek directed a retreat for the Sisters of the Presentation in San Francisco.� The sisters were all from their retirement community living at the Motherhouse in the heart of San Francisco.� The focus of the conferences was on the kenotic hymn of Paul�s Letter to the Philippians (2: 6 � 11.)� While there, one of the sisters celebrated her 100th birthday.

�� The friars at Saint Bridget�s in Minneapolis had the privilege of hosting Fr. Joy Joseph Konnakal, T.O.R., from the Province of Saint Thomas the Apostle in India, during Holy Week this year.� It truly was a joy to have him as a guest during his break from studies at Saint Bonaventure�s University.� Fr. Joseph is pictured here learning the fine art of Easter egg coloring.�

�� Christopher Panagoplos was the featured personality in the �Five Questions� series of the Altoona Mirror paper.� Each week the newspaper gets to ask five questions of� a neighborhood resident.� In response to Question # 4, �Who is your favorite actor or actress?�, Christopher made us proud with a true Franciscan response:� �Anyone who is willing to be a fool for Christ.�


A Letter from Brad

Dear Friars,

I want to thank my brothers, and especially the Provincial leadership, for all of your prayers and support for me, and the opportunity to persevere in what has been a powerful and life-giving ministry for me.�It is also one in which I hope to encourage others to share their gifts of ministry for the Church. � Truly, I believe hospital work is a Franciscan ministry, for there is no greater time in our lives when we are as impoverished and vulnerable than when we are sick whether physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually.

My brothers, please keep me in your prayers, as you are always in mine, that I will continue to respond faithfully and professionally to the ongoing challenges of this blessed ministry.�

God bless you all, and again,�many thanks!� Enjoy the remainder of your summer.

Your brother always,

Brad


�� Saint Bridget�s was the site for another successful ice cream social on Tuesday, July 25.� The event, formerly a way to thank the volunteers who assist with the Summerfest fund-raiser, has evolved over the last three years to include anyone from the neighborhood who wishes to attend.� Volunteers from the parish canvassed the neighborhood a few days before the publicized event to personally invite neighbors.� By extending the hospitality of the parish to the wider community Saint Bridget�s hopes that its many non-Catholic neighbors will see it as a caring and welcoming presence in the neighborhood.� The ice cream social also has provided an opportunity to educate people about some of the political issues in this beleaguered community faced with rising violent crime rates and robberies.�

John Kerr helped to organize the event.� The parish provided, free of charge: hot dogs, chips, soda, pies, bars, door prizes for young and old alike, and of course, ice cream!� Over 350 hot dogs and 12 gallons of ice cream were consumed by those in attendance.


�� On May 12, Patrick Foley graduated from Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas.� Patrick completed dual degrees:� a Master�s in Divinity and a Master of Arts in Theology.� In addition to graduating with honors, Patrick was also awarded The Bishop Sinforiano Lucas, O.M.I. Award for Outstanding Scholarship for the Master of Arts (Theology).� We celebrate with Patrick his accomplishments and his fidelity through these years when he lived apart from the Province.� You�ve made us proud!

�� We congratulate David Kaczmarek who graduated May 20 from Saint Paul Seminary and School of Divinity!� David graduated with dual degrees: a Masters in Divinity and a Masters in Theology.� In both he graduated with honors.� David�s Master�s thesis, John 21: 15-17:� A Reinterpretation in Consideration of the Johanine Language of Love, Friendship, and Discipleship, was overseen by faculty advisor Dr. Catherine Cory who has recommended that his work be submitted for publication in a Journal of Biblical Studies.� Way to go, David!


�� The community witnessed the ordination to the diaconate of David Kaczmarek on Saturday, May 6.� The ceremony took place at the Basilica of Saint Mary Co-Cathedral with ten other seminarians from Saint Paul Seminary.� It was one of many milestone events in David�s life in the last few months.

♦� Hats off to Patrick Quinn who completed fourteen years of ministry at Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity (SPSSD).� Patrick was roasted at a seminary dinner on May 16, 2006 by Dr. Katarina Schuth, O.S.F.� Katarina is a faculty member at SPSSD and a good friend.�


A Letter from Patrick Foley

Dear Friars,

May 12, 2006, officially marked the completion of five years of study for me at the Oblate School of Theology (OST) in San Antonio, Texas. Some of my fellow OST graduates referred to their tenure there as five �long years.� Such a notion, however, does not reflect my experience whatsoever. I thoroughly enjoyed both the academic part of my sojourn as well as the cultural experience.� The time passed far too quickly.

With regard to the academic dimension of my experience, I found the Oblate School of Theology to be an extremely positive, diverse, and open environment in which to grow both intellectually and pastorally. My intellectual growth included completing the degree requirements for the Master of Divinity and the Master of Arts in Theology as well as authoring a handbook that has become a permanent part of the Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Organization.

In terms of pastoral growth, I feel I have been stretched quite a bit by the Mexican-American culture of San Antonio and the time that I spent ministering at a local detention center. My time in San Antonio was truly graced in many and varied ways and I will miss the easy-going nature of the city, the openness of the Oblate School, and the hospitality of the parish community of Saint Leonard.

In reflecting on the wealth of my experiences, I am mindful of the fact that it came as a result of a great deal of support on the part of our community. For this I am deeply grateful and would like to say �thanks� to you, my brothers, for your fraternal support. I look forward to sharing the fruit of my experiences with you and with the people of God!

Paz y bien!

Patrick


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