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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