The 29th Rev. William A. Guerin, OSFS Memorial Dinner Dance
The Memorial Dinner Dance Returns to Center City!
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Union League, Center City
140 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
This annual celebration is a great opportunity to come together in community and celebrate the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and the late Father Bill Guerin, OSFS, as well as so many Oblates who work to spread Salesian Spirituality. The Heartbeats are back for a lively, fun celebration!
This special event supports our priests and brothers whose lives have positively impacted countless students, parishioners, families, and co-workers. All funds raised are dedicated to caring for our infirm and retired men living at the Oblate Retirement Residence at Annecy Hall, MD and Salesiansum Residence.
PURCHASE A SPONSORSHIP OR TICKETS BELOW:
Meet Father John Kasper, OSFS, Senior Religious and Member of the Toledo-Detroit Provincial Council
Father John Kasper, OSFS
Although a native of Toledo, Ohio, and a 1967 graduate of St. Francis de Sales School where the seeds of his Oblate vocation were first planted, John’s ministry in parochial leadership has spanned the country. After graduating from Niagara University and receiving a Master of Divinity degree at the Toronto School of Theology, he was ordained in his hometown of Toledo in 1979 and first served in parish and campus ministry in Buffalo, NY. In 1980, John and three other members of his province made a bold move to head West and serve in the Diocese of Denver. St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Aurora, Colorado provided a dynamic setting with a collegial staff in a rapidly-growing suburban area. In the span of six years, the parish grew from 200 families to 2200 families. After that intense time, John requested a study sabbatical and moved further West to California to pursue a Master of Theology degree in Worship & the Arts at the Jesuit School of Theology within the Graduate Theological Union of Berkeley.
“California Dreamin’” became more than a hit song by The Mamas & the Papas for John. The Bay Area in Northern California proved a rich setting for creative ministry and an opportunity to bring the spirit of Saint Francis de Sales to many people who were unfamiliar with the gentleness, optimism, and Christian humanism of the “gentleman Saint” who is a secondary patron of the Diocese of Oakland. Since 1987 John has served in three parishes there as Director of Music and Worship at St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda, as Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish in Piedmont, and, for the past twenty-five years, as Pastor of St. Perpetua Catholic Community in Lafayette. Over the years many Oblate have enjoyed John’s hospitality for a few days or a few weeks and the beauty and culture of the Bay Area, including a visit to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma.
John resonates with the wide diversity of parish life. No two days are the same and he has enjoyed the various roles a parish priest is required to carry out. Besides the ministry of presiding and preaching at Eucharist and the Sacraments, John has been involved in major capital campaigns and building and renovation projects in each parish setting. Pastoral counseling, preparing young couples for marriage, adult and youth catechesis, serving on Diocesan commissions, liturgical presentations, and workshops throughout the Diocese – all these avenues of service have made parish ministry a challenging and rewarding experience for him. John especially strives to make the Sunday liturgical experience a time of grace and inspiration for each community through beautiful music, an attractive environment, and meaningful preaching that touches the real lives of parishioners. Before he left California this summer to move to the Ohio/Michigan area, John was recognized as “Pastor & Preacher” by Sunday to Sunday, an Emmy-winning video series that documents inspirational preaching with interviews, dialogue, and filming of homilists in action plying their trade. John was also honored for years of service as a Board Member of Hope Solutions, a faith-based organization whose goal is to provide permanent supportive housing and vital services to formerly homeless and vulnerable members of Contra Costa County.
Stained-glass windows at St. Perpetua Church
John is grateful for the many Oblates, parishioners, ministerial colleagues, and fellow clergy with whom he has had the privilege to serve. He said, “Enthusiasm is contagious, and I’ve been fortunate to work with so many creative and enthusiastic people over the years. One of the last collaborative projects I enjoyed was working with design consultants and a glass artist to create a set of large stained-glass windows for St. Perpetua Church based on Psalm 148 and the Canticle of Daniel – “Let All Creation Bless the Lord.” The windows echo the concern Pope Francis expressed in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’- “On Care for our Common Home.”
Learn more about Father John:
During the first year of the isolation of the Covid pandemic, Father John stayed in touch with members of the parish through a weekly online message of hope, consolation, and encouragement. Read here: “Lessons Learned” by Father John Kasper, OSFS.
Reflection on the Papal Encyclical “Fratelli tutti” by The Superior General of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Pope Francis
© Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk, Catholic Church England and Wales. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Source.
October 4, 2020
Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
My dear confreres, lay colleagues, and all who experience the ministry of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales around the world, my brothers and sisters:
On October 1, in a handwritten note to the Superiors General of religious institutes of men and women, Pope Francis wrote: “I am happy to be able to share with you the new encyclical letter “Fratelli tutti”. Its title is the exhortation of Saint Francis to follow the message of Jesus: to recognise each other as brothers and sisters and to live accordingly in the common home that the Father entrusted to us.” For the first time, the Holy Father has requested that each Superior General, in addition to the Bishops, join him in presenting the Encyclical and making it available to all the members of the Congregation, all our collaborators and associates, and all our brothers and sisters within our sphere of influence. As Italians would say, a tutti! I am honored to have been invited into the process of facilitating the reception of the Encyclical. I am equally honored, for the first time, to be able to address all of you in our Oblate world.
We Oblates, and those who work with us today, are under the influence of three men by the name of Francis—Pope Francis, Francis of Assisi, and Francis de Sales. While Pope Francis took the name of Francis of Assisi, we recognize much of our Francis in him as well. In 1616, Saint Francis de Sales published the classic, Treatise on the Love of God. It has often been remarked that he wished to compose a parallel treatise on the love of neighbor. In Fratelli Tutti, an encyclical letter “On Fraternity and Social Friendship,” Pope Francis fulfills this desire. He writes: “The following pages do not claim to offer a complete teaching on fraternal love, but rather to consider its universal scope, its openness to every man and woman. I offer this social Encyclical as a modest contribution to continued reflection, in the hope that in the face of present-day attempts to eliminate or ignore others, we may prove capable of responding with a new vision of fraternity and social friendship that will not remain at the level of words. Although I have written it from the Christian convictions that inspire and sustain me, I have sought to make this reflection an invitation to dialogue among all people of good will” (§6).
All who are familiar with Salesian spirituality will take note that the Holy Father grounds his Encyclical in what we call the virtues of Salesian hospitality and Salesian solidarity. In fact, the theme of our twentieth General Chapter (Annecy, France) in 2018 was “Fraternal Humanism: Cultivating Salesian Solidarity Among Ourselves and Within our World.” At that General Chapter we reflected on our experience of violence in society and against creation, interculturality and migration, and contemporary issues concerning youth.
Fraternal Humanism has as its goal the building of a civilization of love. Salesian Solidarity in the context of Fraternal Humanism more firmly links the thinking and actions of one Francis, our patron saint, with another Francis, our pope, across time and space.
How we cultivate Salesian Solidarity among ourselves and within our world today gets to the heart of being an Oblate. This is our essential spirituality and identity expressed in mission. Blessed Louis Brisson, our founder, insisted that we “are thus called to enter society such as it is” and to make it Christian, “by every means possible” (Chapter, 1 February 1893).
Pope Francis views hospitality as one specific way of opening ourselves, moving beyond ourselves, and encountering others. This is the foundation of social friendship, with the greatest possible danger lying in failing to love (§92). We need a universal and existential openness to expand our circle of friends, even out toward the margins of society, the result of a “conscious and careful cultivation of fraternity” (§104).
To achieve this ideal, Pope Francis calls us to solidarity, to thinking and acting in terms of community. His description of solidarity includes giving the lives of all priority over the acquisition of goods by a few, combatting the structural causes of poverty and inequality, and attending to the lack of work, land, and housing. It is more than clear that this Encyclical on fraternity and social friendship, this reflection on the love of neighbor, is by no means ethereal. It is contextualized in ever widening socio-political-financial-ecclesial-ecumenical circles and spheres of influence.
Launching from a survey of the dark clouds that currently hang over a closed world and a sustained theological reflection on the parable of the Good Samaritan, Pope Francis then envisions an open world and hearts that are open to the whole world. He calls for a better kind of politics in our societies, critiquing both populism and liberalism alike, and for a new culture, arising out of social dialogue grounded in acknowledging the other and the recovery of kindness, consensus, and truth. He encourages the world to take the path of renewed encounter in truth to deal with conflict, practice forgiveness, eschew war and the death penalty, and construct peace. He asks world religions to place themselves at the service of fraternity in our world, recognizing that religious violence only distorts our religious convictions.
I encourage all of you in your reading, reflection, and discussion of this Encyclical. It is, I believe, a hard-hitting global examination of conscience that is more than likely to provoke both inspiration and nods of approval, on the one hand, as well as pointed questions and profoundly defensive reactions, on the other. Like any good examination of conscience, it calls for the ruthless honesty of a believer before God and in relation to the neighbor—but in this instance, all neighbors, all our brothers and sisters, without exception. In his Admonitions, Saint Francis of Assisi addressed his brothers and sisters as fratelli tutti and encouraged them with counsels on how to live a Gospel-infused way of life in the world of their day and with all. Quoting the saint, Pope Francis remarks: “Of the counsels Francis offered, I would like to select the one in which he calls for a love that transcends the barriers of geography and distance, and declares blessed all those who love their brother ‘as much when he is far away from him as when he is with him’”(§1).
I conclude with A Prayer to the Creator which Pope Francis places at the end of his Encyclical:
Lord, Father of our human family, you created all human beings equal in dignity: pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit and inspire in us a dream of renewed encounter, dialogue, justice and peace. Move us to create healthier societies and a more dignified world, a world without hunger, poverty, violence and war.
May our hearts be open to all the peoples and nations of the earth. May we recognize the goodness and beauty that you have sown in each of us, and thus forge bonds of unity, common projects, and shared dreams. Amen.
My brothers and sisters, please be assured of my prayers for all of you. In this time of global pandemic—how strange it is that we are all united in this one reminder of our need to protect each other—may God keep you safe and grant you health to serve those entrusted to your care.
Live Jesus!
Most Rev. Barry R. Strong, OSFS
Superior General
Fratelli Tutti: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html
DeSales Weekly: https://www.oblates.org/desales-weekly
DeSales Weekly Editor: Fr. John (Jack) Kolodziej, OSFS
A Message from our Provincial Superior amid the Pandemic
As the weeks unfold, the covid-19 pandemic becomes larger, scarier and nearer. Most of us, in addition to the many restrictions to our daily routines of family, work and play, are deprived at this time of access to Mass and the Sacraments, especially to the “Bread of Angels,” the Holy Eucharist. Now would be a good time to renew the practice of “spiritual communion.” Receive Jesus into your hearts. Reverence him there. Speak with him, trust him, love him. Remain with him in silence and presence, your thoughts and energies centered for a while on him alone. These may be brief moments, but they will spread the gentle strength of their grace throughout the difficult day ahead. The Lord is always near and always loving. Welcome him daily into your heart and into your lives through the practice of spiritual communion. It will make all the difference.
During this time of crisis, please be assured that the Oblates are praying and offering masses daily for our families, friends and benefactors. You have supported us over the years in our ministry and we continue to support you, most especially at this time, with our loving prayers and sacramental intentions.
A Salesian-based Prayer during the covid-19 Crisis
Good Lord, on the Cross of Calvary you knew fear and pain. You felt alone and deserted. You saw the pain of your grieving Mother but could not reach down to comfort her. You wondered where God was but trusted still. In death, your heart was pierced, and from it flowed out new life for all the world.
We, Lord, the human family, are in a Calvary all our own at this scary time of pandemic. We too know fear and pain and are often quite alone. We know the pain and grief of our loved ones but cannot now reach out to some of them as once we could with a kind word, a helping hand and a comforting presence. We, too, at times wonder where God is. But, like you, we trust still.
Through your pierced side, we see our names written on your Sacred Heart in words of lasting love, assuring us that the rhythm of the pascal mystery always ends in resurrection and new life. To this truth we hold with all our strength. You have promised us that love is stronger than even death itself!
Too often we may have taken the Bread of Life for granted. No more. We miss you in our Sacraments and we promise, once this darkness has passed, to return once again to find you in them –to you who have never left us and never will!
We find comfort in these words of St. Francis de Sales:
“Do not be afraid. Let your weary, listless heart rest against the sacred, loving breast of this Savior who, by his providence is a father to his children, and by his gentle, tender love is a mother to them.”
Amen!
Rev. Lewis S. Fiorelli, OSFS
Provincial,
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Wilmington/Philadelphia Province
DeSales Weekly: https://oblates.squarespace.com/desales-weekly
DeSales Weekly Editor: Rev. John (Jack) Kolodziej, OSFS
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Fr. Thomas E. Murphy, OSFS
October 28, 2019
Wisdom 3:1-9
Colossians 3: 1-3, 12-14
Luke 24:13-35
To Mary and Jim and your family, to Kathleen and your family and to Eileen’s children, Lori and David and your families I hope that you are comforted by those present here this night as well the knowledge that countless numbers of people are praying for Tom and you in parishes from Florida all the way to Michigan.
We share your grief and your loss.
What a blessing you were to Tom throughout his life and especially during his illness.
My Oblate brothers as well as others who visited Tom at Mary and Jim’s house these past few months witnessed your wonderful care for him. Your love and devotion truly eased his pain and brought him comfort and peace
Like you, we the Oblate community have also lost our brother and friend.
For more than fifty years beginning with your wonderful parents and grandparents, Ed and Aisla Murphy, your family and the Oblate family have shared times of sadness and grief and also many more times of joy and laughter.
As we became friends in the Oblates our parents also became friends through associations such as the De Sales Guild that met for many years at North Catholic. I remember one Christmas party in the North Catholic cafeteria when Mr. Murphy was Santa Claus. My nephew Brian who was five at the time was thrilled that Santa Claus knew his name.
The bond forged over fifty years between the Murphy family and the Oblates is strong and will endure.
Those present here this evening, who are not members of Tom’s family may recall the first time they met Tom Murphy
For me as for some of my brother Oblates present here this evening it was more than fifty years ago
at a place not unusual for teenagers from the row houses of Philadelphia to meet – It was a farm.
That farm was the novitiate near Elkton Maryland where we began our formation as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
We learned about religious life through prayer, study, recreation and community.
In particular we were formed to serve the church through living and sharing of Salesian Spirituality.
To Live Jesus through the practice of the little virtues that St. Paul encouraged in his letter to the Colossians – humility, gentleness, kindness, patience. And over all these - love.
We learned early on that the words of St. Paul were to be the glory of our congregation- we have no bond but the bond of love which is the bond of perfection.
As novices we were not always studying in the classroom. We had time for sports and recreation. In those times I learned something all of you know about Tom – He enjoyed the company of others, and Oh how he loved to laugh.
As I mentioned, the Oblate Novitiate was also a farm
When our families came to visits on the last Sunday of the month, the younger members of our families may have said they came to see their brothers but they really came to visit the farm animals.
We spent many hours working on the farm -tending the gardens and the fields, baling hay, building fences cleaning barns and caring for the chickens, the pigs and the cows.
As novices we had the opportunity, or I should say the obligation, to meet those farm animals on a regular basis. At the end of the work day you knew who had been assigned to the pigs or chickens or cows because they smelled like them.
Pope Francis would have approved. In his homily to priests during Holy Week in 2013, Pope Francis said
This I ask you: be shepherds, with the “smell of the sheep”, make it real, as shepherds among your flock, fishers of men.
We were blessed in our formation as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales to learn early on that we were called to be shepherds with the smell of the flock – whether the flock be sheep pigs, cows or chickens.
This may not be considered the usual seminary formation, but it was real training for ministry – A sign that we were called to be
· among those to whom we minister
· to identify with them
· to be one with them
· and to do so as St. Francis de Sales would want us to – with humility and gentleness.
Tom Murphy was a priest who always sought to be among those who he served.
· He identified with them.
· He was one with them.
· He did so with compassion.
· Their sorrows were his sorrows, their joys were his joys.
· He loved being in their midst.
Just this morning in Cape May a woman shared with me how Tom helped her son when he was a troubled student at Judge. She said – Father Murphy did good for my son
When we were both young priests at Father Judge there was a commotion outside the Palestra following a Catholic league basketball game.
I mumbled -Let’s keep walking to the car, security will handle it.
I looked over at him and discovered that I was speaking to no one.
He had already headed in the direction of the commotion.
Tom did not want to be an observer on the side line. He always wanted to be in the middle, to be involved. He wanted to be present. He truly did what Pope Francis ask priests to do – to be among the people.
To his ministry Tom always brought a great passion.
This may come as a surprise to most of you but at times he could really get excited.
Now, if you ever saw Tom’s father at a Judge basketball game when a referee may a bad call against Judge you knew from whom he inherited that quality.
As dean of students at Bishop Ireton High School in Virginia there were times when his temper would rise as he sought to address a wrong that had been done. These moments the students affectionally called- MURPH QUAKES.
His passion was always in seeking what was fair and what was right and in ministry it was expressed as compassion for the sick, the poor, those who had been mistreated and those who had no voice.
In each ministry and place Tom was among the people working with them to build up the church, the body of Christ,
I reminded him recently of an incident which took place more than 50 years ago It was during a work period at the novitiate.
Tom and I were dropped off in a field far away from the house with the task of digging post holes for fencing. We were told that we would be picked up in three hours.
Of course, like many public work projects there were two of us but only one tool with which to dig the post holes. One of us would dig the post hole and the other sat on a bale of hay.
As novices we were encouraged to be prayerful and work in silence, which Tom and I did – for the first five minutes.
Then one of us suggested that perhaps one day we would be together in the Oblate missions in South Africa. We would be in a field and given the task of building a church.
We let our teen age imaginations wonder and we came up even with a design for the building and the church’s name.
Throughout his Oblate life and priesthood Tom Murphy labored in the field to build up the church, the Body of Christ - in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Michigan and New Jersey. He did so with his presence, his preaching, his passion and his caring ministry.
And although he and I never got to build a church in the missions of South Africa, the one we imagined in a farm field at Childs Maryland fifty years ago, I was blessed to be able to build church with him, if only for a few months, in his last assignment at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Cape May.
Tonight, we are like the disciples on the road to Emmaus:
· We have suffered a loss
· we are disappointed
· and we are confused about the event of these past few months.
But as with the disciples in the gospel reading so too with us:
· The risen Lord accompanies us in our sorrow.
· He consoles us with his word
· And He makes himself present in the breaking of bread.
Mindful of the presence of our Risen Savior, let us give thanks to God for Thomas Edward Murphy of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
· Proud Oblate
· Dedicated priest, teacher and pastor
· Loving brother and uncle
· good and faithful friend
May God grant him the rewards of his labors.May God be Blessed
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Bro. Michael J. Rosenello, OSFS
September 29, 2019
Brother Mike
Our assembly this morning is marked by our collective sorrow and grief. We come together because we cannot be alone. Our sorrow needs an expression and our grief needs comfort. We find these - in our faith, in our being with one another, and in our shared remembrances of Bro. Mike.
We are assembled here to day to offer prayers in which we celebrate Bro. Mike’s birth into new life and, a time to comfort those who mourn his passing. As followers and Disciples of Christ we always look to the scriptures for comfort and consolation as St. Paul suggested long ago.
In the first reading from Ecclesiastes, the fourteen pairs of opposites describe various human activities; a time to be born, a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time to heal, a time to die, and a time for us to morn.
The poem affirms that God has determined the appropriate moment or “time” for each. Human beings cannot know that moment; and, the wider course of events and purposes fixed by God are beyond them as well. It is both a summery of all human life in general as well as each special and unique life. Bro. Mike was unique to you as a friend and as his obit says; “contractor”, “chef”, “caterer”, “coach”, “confidant” and “carnival barker” but a special gift from God to all of us.
There are a number of places in the scriptures where God’s presence is made known by a loud voice. It was certainly the case that if you were looking for Bro. Mike all you had to do was listen!
Jesus, in the Gospel, promises us that God has prepared a dwelling place for us. I’m sure Bro. Mike’s dwelling place has a wonderful all-night kitchen where he will forever enjoy shouting orders in that loud voice and making everyone feel at home.
We say to each other, -- that we recall loved ones in our heart, we recount stories, we hear them laugh; while not present physically, their presence can be felt nonetheless. Relationships can span the distance of place and time. I am sure that between this time and when you first learned of Bro. Mike’s death, you remembered a story or most likely you recalled one or more of his gifts and talents, his ability to evoke a smile or laugh and use that unique human ability to bring a light moment to another person; this is a powerful and special God given gift.
Bro. Mike, like St. Paul, has finished the race, he has completed the physical work that can be seen through out the parish and the spiritual work of bringing all of us closer to God.
Our purpose here today is to offer the consolation that come from our faith and to encourage you to tell each other your own experiences of Bro Mike, and how his own faith and… his faith in you, has touched your hearts.
May he rest in Peace.
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Fr. Bill Hultberg, OSFS
September 19, 2019
GOSPEL: Matthew 25:31-46
To Fr. Bill’s immediate Family: Joseph and Larry Hultberg, Joseph and Art Blansfield, Debbie Gill, John Ryan, Jan and Chip Dycio and Kim Taylor. We – The Oblates, your friends and relatives present in this assembly -- along with all who called or texted by phone or attended in person this morning’s and last night’s viewings, -- WE offer you this day our deepest sympathy and pledge our sincere prayers and heart-felt love as you mourn the death of Fr. Bill.
To Fr. Bill’s extended Family: All the Friends of Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob here this morning – and most especially his colleagues, friends and alumni from Caron Treatment Centers – you honor us by your presence here today. We thank you for loving and supporting Fr. Bill in his ministry on that “Magic Mountain” in Wernersville and we are forever grateful to all of you for being the light of his life!
Last, but by no means least: To all members of the United States Military present, both active duty and retired. We offer you our love, our thanks for you service and our appreciation for your esteem and high regard for one of your own -- Lt. Col. William J. Hultberg.
Whether you travelled here by SUV this morning from a row house in Reading, Pennsylvania or carpooled from your AA clubhouse in Northeast Philly.
Whether you read the obituary as an Alumnus of Bishop Ireton High School or heard the news through the grapevine at your regular NA homegroup in Robesonia or Sinking Springs.
Whether you got a phone call from an old acquaintance from Bishop Duffy High School in Niagara Falls or received the news by email from an old Army buddy.
Whether you had to bum a ride here today with your 12 Step sponsor because you are newly sober or whether you are about to graduate from that awesome program at the Lyman House.
Whether you worked with Fr. Bill for double digit years at Caron Treatment Centers or sat with him in Wilmington these last three years at the Early Risers Meeting.
Whether Fr. Bill taught you at Northeast Catholic in Philadelphia, or you got to know him through those wonderful HIV Positive Recovery Retreats he led these many years.
Today, this day, here in this beautiful Church of the Immaculate Conception in bustling downtown Elkton, -- You are all dignitaries. You are our welcome guests. For God has touched you through the life of Fr. Bill Hultberg. ...and I greet you as family and friends.
Perhaps, you are wondering: WHO AM I?
God gave me the gift of living in three separate Oblate Communities with Fr. Bill. Let me introduce myself in the way that some employees knew me from my days of subbing at Chapel Service for Fr. Bill and Rev. Jack up at Caron: I am Fr. Mike, one of Fr. Bill’s Drunk Monks!
I too am a most grateful guest this morning as we gather around the Lord’s Table and offer Mass for the repose of Fr. William Hultberg, Oblate of St. Francis de Sales.
The Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, himself a recovering alcoholic with over 30 years of sobriety, began a recent talk with the following quote: All wisdom is plagiarism. Only stupidity is original. I’d like to acknowledge this morning, that most of my homily for Fr. Bill’s funeral, has been unabashedly stolen from some of the “spiritual giants” who Father Hultberg found to be inspirational in his life. And taking the cue of our patron, Francis de Sales, I have simply rearranged the flowers of the bouquet in the earnest hope that it is found pleasing in the eyes of God.
Some of you, I’m sure, are familiar with the book by Henri Nouwen, The Wounded Healer. It was published about forty years ago and has become something of a classic in the field of pastoral ministry. To illustrate his concept of ministry, Nouwen related an old legend from the Talmud which is the source from which the Code of Jewish Law is derived.
In the legend, Rabbi Yoshua ben Levi came upon Elijah the prophet while he was standing at the entrance of a cave. He asked Elijah,
“When will the Messiah come?” Elijah replied:
“Go and ask him yourself.”
“Where is he?”
“Sitting in the gates of the city”
“How shall I know him?”
“He is sitting among the poor covered with wounds. The others unbind all their wounds at the same time and then bind them back again. But HE -- HE unbinds one at a time and then binds it up again, -- saying to himself.
“Perhaps I shall be needed: If so, I must always be ready so as not to delay for a moment.”
This, Father Nouwen said, is how healing works. It takes place when the wounded offer themselves to the wounded. It is a concept most of us have heard about at one time or another. But how frequently do we live out its power? This morning, I’d like to draw our attention to that awesome power and how it can, how it did and how it does transform lives.
This is not a new idea. It dates back at least to the origins of the Book of Numbers a few thousand years ago. In that record, the Children of Israel were camped out among poisonous snakes. They were suffering a lot of snake bites and looking to Moses for a cure. Through divine intervention, Moses offers this logically contradictory form of healing: He puts the image of a snake up on pole and has anyone who is bitten gaze upon it and find healing. It’s the principle of finding the cure in “the hair of the dog that bit you”, so to speak.
Somewhere buried in this legend is a bit of time-honored brilliance about suffering and healing. It is this: Healing is found not so much through exposure to that which is healthy, as through a controlled sharing in the disease itself. We all know this to be true, and we know how just about everything from polio to chicken pox is controlled by the same principle. Modern medicine has proven the wisdom of this ancient intuition.
This same ancient wisdom lies at the heart of the identity, ministry and message of Jesus Christ. Recall Chapter 3 of John’s Gospel. Jesus said: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him, even if he die, may have eternal life.”
In other words, Jesus shared in our human condition; he experienced suffering and knew what it was like to be utterly abandoned – totally alone. His death was not, as some might suggest, merely an act performed for our benefit by a God who is incapable of suffering. His passion and death were a genuine participation in the same kind of miserable, frightening, sorrow-filled snake-bitten reality that is ours. And in a remarkable way that can take a lifetime for any of us to begin to comprehend, “by his wounds, are we healed”. Healing happens through the sharing in the human experience, one wounded person to another. Sound familiar?
This is profoundly true for each of us who sit in this Church this morning. I doubt that there is anyone here who has not been wounded and who does not carry some of the scars of those wounds. I doubt that there is not a man or woman present who has not known deep loss and sadness, and who cannot still touch the depths of that loss from time to time. Our God knows that. The co-founders of AA --Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith knew that, and Fr. Bill knew that truth very, very well.
I owe a debt of gratitude to my brother Oblate Fr. Mike Murray, our assistant provincial and director of province administration for his well- researched obituary for Fr. Hultberg. After naming all of Fr. Bill’s surviving family members, he included “the countless other people whose lives were forever changed for having experienced this man who could accurately be described as a “Wounded Healer”.
Like his Savior, Fr. Bill was a man of many wounds and scars. And yet, it was through his faith in God (his Higher Power) and a daily program of recovery based on a spiritual way of life, that he found healing. He was a grateful recipient of that divine wisdom which took possession of his life. It staunchly reminded Bill daily that in order to keep the gift of healing, he had to generously and zealously give it away.
Fr. Bill as Wounded Healer was many things to many people, yet above all, he was ever an Oblate and always the Teacher. He taught lessons of life and I’d like to talk about him in the context of one of his favorite prayers, a prayer he kept in a compartment of his wallet. It was cited in countless talks he gave and read in regular 12 step meetings he attended. It was the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. “Lord, make me a channel of your peace.”
He lived this prayer throughout the whole of his life…..
1934… Lord, make me a channel of your peace. Born into a very sick family torn apart by alcoholism, 3-year-old Billy Hultberg is placed in numerous foster homes before the perfect match is found with loving people in Hockessin, Delaware. In his adult life, he would regularly proclaim at Caron’s Chapel Service on Sunday mornings – “Here – in recovery, we bring families back together”. And like the disciples on the road to Emmaus when they recognized that it was Jesus who had been walking with them on the road --the people exclaimed: We not our hearts burning within us? Didn’t he teach us. Didn’t he show us the way?
June, 1961 and 1962…. Final Vows as an Oblate and Ordination to the Priesthood . Lord, Make me an instrument of your peace. Fr. Bill’s first assignments as a priest were to teach and coach at North Catholic in Philadelphia and then Bishop Duffy High School in Niagara Falls, NY. During this time, Fr. Bill also served as a reserve chaplain in the U.S. Navy. Blessed Louis Brisson, the co-founder of the Oblates wrote: The Oblates are called to enter society such as it is, and this by every means possible. We have a responsibility that we must carry out passionately well. The teacher must prepare his classes passionately well; the priest must apply himself passionately well to the functions of his ministry. Let the Oblate enter the world feet first and without reservations.” Teachers and coaches and all who mentor the young, Didn’t he teach us. Didn’t he show us the way?
1968 to 1971: Lord, make me a channel of your peace. Father served active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; the first Marine Division, Vietnam and at Naval Air Station, Lemoore, CA. He was awarded the Bronze star with V for valor for his service in Vietnam, resigned his commission with the Navy and returned to teaching at Bishop Ireton high School in Alexandria, VA. Again, Fr. Brisson the Oblate founder writes: The Oblates should not be teachers or preachers ONLY. They must work under every circumstance and in every condition. Members of the US Armed Forces, active and retired – Didn’t he teach us? Didn’t he show us the way?
July 1973: Fr. Hultberg finds it steadily difficult to adjust to life after the war. He fortifies his nerves with alcohol and prescribed tranquilizers which eventually fail him. On July 4th, standing in the parking lot of Chit Chat Farms (now Caron Treatment Center) in Wernersville, Pa Fr. Bill asks himself this question: “How the heck did I get to this point?” Fr. Bill takes the first steps in admitting and accepting his alcoholism and addiction by entering treatment. Addicts and alcoholics everywhere – Didn’t he teach us? Didn’t he show us the way.
1976: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Fr. Bill was recalled to active duty with the U. S. Army to work in their substance abuse program at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, TX. He completed his active military service in 1983 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel – a member of the General Staff, 97th US Army Reserve Unit stationed at Fort Mead, MD and received four Meritorious Service Award Medals for outstanding work in developing drug and alcohol prevention programs. He completed his military career as an Active Reservist in 1991, completing thirty-five years in the armed forces. Rehab Administrators and Substance Abuse Counselors, Mental Health Professionals, Rehab Staff Members – Didn’t he teach us? Didn’t he show us the way?
1984: Lord, make me a channel of your peace. Fr. Bill begins his ministry at the Caron Foundation as an addiction counselor. From 1987 to 2003, he served as Director of Pastoral Care. In 1995 to 2016, he was also appointed Assistant to the President of Caron. In 2013, not long after his election, Pope Francis wrote: “The thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the Church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugar! You have to heal his wounds…. And you have to start from the ground up. My Oblate brothers, my brother priests, Pastoral care chaplains everywhere….Didn’t he teach us. Didn’t he show us the way.
In May of 2016, Father Bill retired to “part-time” ministry every other weekend at Caron and took up residence at the Salesianum Oblate Community in Wilmington, DE. He practiced what he taught all those many years of treatment work and became a regular visitor to 12 step meetings throughout the area. My friends in 12 Step Recovery everywhere, didn’t he teach us? Didn’t he show us the way?
Late winter 2018. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. One cold and frigid morning while dashing to get to his car and drive to his early morning 12 Step Meeting, Fr. Bill slipped on a patch of ice near his residence and hit his head in the fall. After multiple tests, it became alarmingly apparent that he had suffered significant brain damage due to that fall. On and on the weeks went with little progress. And day in and day out, Fr. Bill’s family members and friends kept watch by his bed in hope for some change.
His condition, and his memory slowly improved but never to the level where he could continue his former ministry and its demanding schedule. Fr. Hultberg struggled with the acceptance of his diminishment. Yet, with the help of his family, friends and his new religious community at Childs (the Oblate Retirement House) he found a way around his lack of mobility. He became the host with the most as hundreds began to visit him. He learned to receive support and care from those to whom he had first ministered. The Circle of Love was complete. Didn’t he teach us? Didn’t he show us the way?
Fr. Bill, we thank you for bringing us together today in Jesus’ name.
Since I was in Florida at my new assignment when his condition worsened, please permit me once last chat with the Drunk Monk.
Dude…..
Billy……
Fr. Bill…….
It’s time for the Meeting. But before you go, all your friends wanted me to tell you this before you went in – We love you. We’re praying for you. Our earnest prayer in this Mass is simply this: May you be with God. May you be in the presence of the Living God and may you hear our Lord Jesus Christ say these simple words to you: WELL DONE, O GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. COME, INHERIT THE PLACE I HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE BEGINNING OF ALL TIME….
For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat.
I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.
I was lonely, afraid and abandoned, and you came to sit with me.
I was sick and you helped to heal me.
I was naked and you clothed me.
For whatever you did, to the least of my brothers and sisters, You did to ME!
Fr. Bill, …Chaplain, …. Padre …….Your tour of duty here is over. You’re home. You’re home!
May God be blessed in life, the legacy and the ministry of Fr. Bill Hultberg and may we all LIVE JESUS ONE DAY AT A TIME. AMEN
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Rev. John F. Kenny, OSFS
August 14, 2019
Our Lady of Light Chapel, Childs, Maryland
Celebrant: Fr. Lou Fiorelli, OSFS
Homilist: Fr. Bill McCandless, OSFS
The Book of Lamentations can seem so depressing and deprived of hope. This is certainly understandable when one considers it was written after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Why would we choose to read from such a book in a funeral mass to celebrate our brother John passing from this life to his eternal glory?
I think it is an important reading because it is a true reflection of what the Israelites were feeling and a true reflection of what we all sometimes experience in this life. It’s reality, and it is not always easy to face. This was the case for John, especially in these past few years when his health was failing.
The last heart-to-heart conversation I had with John was two days before he died. I was walking down the corridor as he sat on his scooter at the door to his room. He looked distressed. I said, “Are you ok, John?” He responded, “I’m mad at Jesus” and he began to cry. What a heartbreaking expression of lamentation.
John was upset because he was feeling so weak, he was losing his eyesight and was just tired; physically, emotionally and spiritually. He was mad at Jesus, not because he was looking to be cured of these afflictions, but because he wanted Jesus to come take him home. He thought maybe Jesus didn’t want him.
I don’t tell you these things to make you sad or to feel sorry for John. As a matter of fact, I’m sure he would not have liked me to share these things at all. As anyone who knew him could tell you, John was a bit of a macho-man and not given to sentimentality. Maybe this was a result of his years of military training. However, I wanted to share these things with you because they are real, and we all feel this way from time-to-time. If that was all there was to life, then it would be sad, and we would all be lost in lamentations.
There is more to John’s story, and to the story of every Christian who truly believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ. That’s why, although we began the readings with Lamentations, we end with the Gospel of St. John. It is in this Gospel reading we heard today, and the other teachings of Christ, that we find our hopes and joys that lift us up even in the face of situations that seem hopeless.
Jesus does not want us to despair, be worried or full of anxiety. He tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” As most of us know, John did suffer from anxiety and he found great comfort in this Gospel passage. I know this because we had a lengthy conversation about this message of Christ sometime last year and we revisited it a few times since. It’s a message that is appropriate for us to hear yet again.
Jesus said, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there where not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” And here, just as important for us to know, “I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you will know the way.”
John intimately knew this Gospel and truly believed it. It was this faith that kept John going and, as St. Timothy said in the second reading, John’s belief that, “If we die with him, we also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.”
This word “endure” is purposely used by Timothy, and its not the only time he used it. The word “endure” was also used by St. Paul in the Letters to the Hebrews, the Thessalonians, the Colossians, and Corinthians 1 & 2. Endure was used in the Letters of St. James, St. Peter, the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, as well as other passages.
John endured a lot, and let’s face it, we endured a lot from John. Father Vince Smith shared with me that his dear niece Beth, who was so faithful to her uncle, referred to John a her “quirky uncle.” Yes, yes indeed. John certainly had his human side. Sometimes this human side even spilled over into his living of the Salesian Oblate charism which is built of what we call DI-CAR-VI (directory, charity and visitation). It was particularly the third part. John was known to have more visitations with his superiors and provincials then any other Oblate. Legend has it that these visitations were filled with many spirited exchanges of ideas.
Father John was only human, as are we all. Sometimes this humanness gets in the way of our faith and spiritual beliefs. Yes, these things not only happen to priests and religious, they have also been known to happen to saints.
Two days ago, we celebrated the Feast of St. Jane de Chantal. At the celebration, our resident Salesian scholar, Father Neil Kilty, reminded us that, “throughout her life, St. Jane was never free of the sense that she was deserted and abandoned by God.” This was typical of other saints, like St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. Although Father John may not have been a saint, he sometimes shared this same spiritual affliction. To be fair, I think we all do at some moments in our lives. That is why the ending of today’s Gospel is so important. We see St. Thomas, “doubting Thomas,” once again questioning Jesus.
When Jesus said, “Where I am you also may be. Where I am going, you will know the way.” Thomas responded, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” This fear and doubt are common for us humans, which Christ knew well. He doesn’t try to explain his message with some intellectual discourse. Instead he simply says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” It’s like Jesus is saying, “relax and don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of everything. Just believe and follow me.”
This was the culmination of the final conversation I had with John in front of his room two days before he died. I didn’t have to say much, only listen as John came to his own conclusions. Beginning with being mad at Jesus and why, to working all the way around the circle to saying, “but I know Jesus loves me and I’m going into my room right now and pray that he will forgive me and that tell him I know he is with me. I’m going to pray that he will take me home.”
The power of prayer is a funny thing. Sometimes the Lord answers in his own time and for his own reasons, which are often a mystery to us. But last week, Jesus aligned God’s time with John’s time. Twenty-two hours after that conversation, I was with John in his room administering the last rites of anointing. Twenty minutes later, Jesus took John to where he was, and so fulfilled the promise he makes to all good people of faith. “Where I am, you also shall be.”
We commend our brother John to the Lord. We rejoice in the certain hope, as we hear in the prayers of this liturgy, that John’s life is changed, not ended. We Oblates will continue to not only pray for John, but to pray for his family which was united with ours when John professed his religious vows. We thank his nieces and nephews that are present with us today. I’m certain your uncle John is so happy to know you are here. Please assure those who couldn’t make it today of our continue prayers and support.
May God be praised!
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Rev. Thomas J. Gillespie, OSFS
July 31, 2019
About a year into my time with Father Tom at Saint Ann Parish in Naples, I received a letter in the mail from the Bishop of Venice, a letter in which he asked all Pastors to consider offering varied and additional time for Confessions. This came from a general pastoral concern that some people just could never, especially because of work schedules, make it to the traditional times. I went to both Father Tom and to Father Steve Shott who ministered there with me and asked them to consider the possibility of offering Confessions Wednesday afternoons. People could take part of their lunch hour or stop into the parish office while running errands downtown to see the priest who was assigned that day. I thought we might just give it a try and Father Tom and Father Steve were enthusiastically on board. I think much to our surprise, it was an instant hit. People really took advantage of this opportunity. We had many stop in and we were delighted that our parish could fill a need for those in the area. While this was universally popular, I say without exaggeration (and Father Steve can verify this) that when Father Tom had the Confessions the line was out the door. We had to find extra chairs and bring them to the lobby. For many of the penitents, when Steve or I offered to hear their Confession, they made it plain. They were waiting for Father Tom. Because of this, I came to call him the Curé of Naples and I would get a laugh from him on that one. And that was a great laugh.
I was always so moved by this response to Tom. I don’t think that he was any more lenient or went softer with penances. I think, in the end, the reasons why people were drawn to Tom were his clarity and his authenticity. He had an incredibly strong but simple faith. When I say simple, I don’t mean, of course, lacking understanding. Quite the opposite. It was simple in the sense that it was clear and it was to be lived today. He knew that his Redeemer lives. The children at Saint Ann School heard every time he preached that God truly loved them. It was not merely the standard children’s homily. It was what he believed. It was how he lived. He conveyed it in every interaction, that as Saint Paul says in our Second Reading, nothing whatsoever can separate us from the love of God. I saw people come to Tom time and time again broken and through him they found that the Lord would make them whole again.
He embodied this love not only when people came to Confession or to talk out a family problem. He showed it in his presiding and preaching. And it was seen when the few dollars he had went to the large family in Naples with many children or were sent off to his former missionary area in Africa or given to the homeless man who came around on his bicycle. It was in the way, he reached out in true care during the hundreds of visits he made to the hospital. I received this email on Monday: “My name is Andrew. I’m from South Africa. I heard Fr. Gillespie passed away. He was like a father to me and he helped a lot of people here where I stay. He helped the poor and obtained clothing for a lot of children, especially school children. Fr. Gillespie was a good man. I saw him as a Saint. Please pray for his soul. We will continue to pray for him here. I met Fr. Gillespie as a boy in Nababeep here in South Africa and he changed my life. I’m very proud and grateful that I met a man of God of his stature. He was always humble, prayerful and a good listener.”
Tom did these good works without any fanfare, with no particular need to be in charge or to be recognized, always ready for any good work. That’s where I think the core of who Tom was as a Christian minister, as a priest came through. He never let himself get in the way of the work that God wanted to do through him.
I selected the Gospel today because I thought of the countless times that Tom took another by the hand and promised them that they would be in Paradise with God, a promise that we pray and know is fulfilled for him as well, a promise made through His baptism, affirmed by the blessings that Tom received and he accepted in the way he said Yes throughout his entire life. But Tom was also like the repentant thief himself, the first to call himself imperfect and to acknowledge himself as a sinner. He relied on the promise and today, he would want you and I to do the same.
This past Sunday’s Gospel was all about persistence in prayer. I can’t think of another person I knew who was that persistent. Those who heard Tom preach knew he would often implore us to “Pray! Pray! Pray!” so much so that parishioners in Naples made up a post card with his picture with that mantra printed underneath. He understood that it is in prayer that we remain near and aware of a God who is always near to us, who always answers our prayers and yes, who always loves us, that we don’t make God closer through prayer. He is always close to us but we must choose in our prayer to remain close to Him. That Tom did. That Tom modeled for all who knew him.
I want to acknowledge his sisters, his sister-in-law, his nieces and nephews. We are sorry for your loss- We know that you lost a giant in your family, a pillar. We pray with you today and extend our love and support. However, we know something of this. We truly lost a member of our family too, a pillar for us, not because of the leadership positions he held but because he got what it means to be an Oblate of Saint Francis de Sales; he was a model for so many of us. Mother Mary Chappuis, told us that it would take 30 years to be a good Oblate. When I was a new Oblate I thought “Good, I have some time.” Well I am coming up on 20 years and I am not sure I will have this all figured out in 10 more. But Tom had it figured out. He would be upset with me if I made it sound like he was perfect. But what made him a good Oblate was that he loved God, knew he needed God and that he was no better than his neighbor who needed God too. He brought comfort and joy in his approachability and his true concern. Some present here and throughout our province and some Oblates in South Africa had the blessing of having Tom as their Novice Director or the head of some other part of their formation. And these men universally, they acclaim his as wonderful. It is because they saw his authenticity, his true care for them and it became a model for how to live their Oblate life. Novice Directors and Formators are chosen not ultimately for what they preach in words but in how they model the life we are called to live.
Most of us here have known Tom for many years. He was my high school guidance counselor! And then when I was sent as a young priest to Naples, Florida and made a Pastor, he was there to be a cheerleader, mentor and guide, to help me keep perspective. When I would get worked up as a parishioner came up after Mass to complain about something he would tell me not to become discouraged but to simply look at the person and say: “Thank you for that information” and would remind me that we should neither give nor take offense at another’s words. The last time I had a visit with him, he got up out of his chair and for a person struggling to stand, It was a leap with true joy. He exclaimed: “Michael Vannicola! I am so happy to see you!” You all know the tone; you know that love. It’s how I know he will greet us all when we make our way home.
Tom, like us all, had crosses in his life. One of them was anxiety. And each time he faced it, it was his prayer that brought him back. He was a model for me not because he was perfect. He was a model for me because he was real and he was true in his trying. And his trying produced beautiful results, a trying that blessed the Church with a wonderful priest and religious. And for a person who suffered from anxiety at parts in his life, his quest for holiness brought him peace. When I last spoke with him, he was joyfully awaiting the promise of Heaven he had always anticipated and hoped for.
I can’t go on much longer because I know if I could have asked Tom for guidance or direction for this homily, he would say two words: “Be brief.” If anyone, including myself, made Grace Before Meals too long, he would just start eating before it was over, excited to enjoy his meal while still praying along.
For his liking, I have probably already gone on too long. So I remind you of what he would always say: God loves you. It’s the plain words that Jesus said to the repentant thief, the words that promise paradise and promise it today. They were words that Tom would say with confidence, the Confidence of our first reading, “I know that my vindicator lives” and Tom showed us that we would feel that love and live it out if we were willing to “Pray! Pray! Pray!”, for this good and holy man showed us above all that if we wanted peace in this life and the next, bringing ourselves close to God was the only way for that to be.
Rest well, dear brother and friend. Rest well, dear Father Tom.
May God Be Praised.
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Bro. Gerald Sweeney, OSFS
February 28, 2019
Studies tell us that Americans are probably the most mobile people in the world today. Last year alone – 36,000,000 Americans took up new residences – mostly in cities removed from their birthplaces. As a nation, we have been dubbed: “The Travelers of the World.” It seems we love to travel – visiting foreign countries, as well as, places right here in the USA! The total cost of American travel last year would be equal to almost 60% of the National debt!
Yet, from another perspective, we all fit into the category of travelers, and for the Christian, it weds together so magnificently.
The realities of life and death! In one of his letters to lady in Grenoble, St. Francis de Sales expressed it in this way. “The present life is given to us only to gain eternal life. And if we forget this, we tend to concentrate all our energies on the things of this world, where we are but birds of passage. And, so it happens that when we have to leave this world, we become frightened and upset! Believe me, if we want to live as “happy” pilgrims or travelers, we must always have in our hearts the hope of finally reaching that country where we will settle down forever. But, at the same time, we must believe and believe with all simplicity that God keeps a loving on eye on us as we journey toward Him, and that He never lets anything happen to us that is not for our greater good.” (XVIII, 343 1619).
Each of us travels as a pilgrim. No two routes or journeys are exactly the same since no two lives are exactly the same! God has given each of us a singular mission or vocation in this life to pursue. This is as St. Paul tells us how: “We are responsible to the Lord” - for we do not live for ourselves or die for oneself. Just like Jesus Himself who came to do his Father’s Will, so the pilgrim fulfills the will of God in his/her life. We must always remember that Jesus fulfilled His Father’s Will not only in his death, but especially in His Life – the nooks and crannies of life – the ordinary things of daily life. These are the things in God’s eyes that give substance and depth and direction to the pilgrimage.
Ordinarily, “the OSFS Constitutions say “the lay brothers shall devote themselves to manual labor and to the material needs of the community.” And Brother Gerry was right there for that, but he was on the “cutting-edge”, the 20th century brother – he was the “precursor” of a whole new concept of labor – Service to others: So we see the Brother “Fire-Company Volunteer” – working fire stations in Wernersville and Robesonia, PA. And, yes, there is a funny side to it. He misses the fires at Villa Maria where he lives. He slept through it all!
He served the people of Juniata in Philadelphia as one of their faithful Town-Watch volunteers. He gave tremendous service to the handicapped. He and Fr. Ed Simons organized and cared for a group of blind bowlers in Philadelphia. Every Saturday they would transport the men and women to and from their homes – set up the bowling alleys and supervise their activities. However, there was a “shady” side to all this. One day he was sitting in the dining room at North Catholic with a whole load of pictures. I was curious so I asked Gerry about the photos. He said they were the “blind bowlers.” He explained how he took their pictures – “charged” them for them, and gave them copies. I asked how do they know the pictures are of them – since they can’t see. Gerry didn’t give me any answer. Then he said maybe they could put them in their albums (utter simplicity).
One of the things he treasured most was his membership in the Knights of Columbus, which started out years ago in Philadelphia. Once again, he was always ready to be a man of service – like his fellow Knights. Service is never easy. It shows us our lives are not entirely our won, and it is at its brightest and best when lived in the service of others! Today we hear the term “entitlement” used a lot (almost the anti-thesis of service). Bro. Gerry was a Master of “entitlement.” That title – Brother – meant at least a 10% discount and in many restaurants – a free dinner [never backing down to a good freebie.]
The cover of the Mass program is a picture of the altar in our chapel in Annecy Hall. Actually, it was the original altar from the Northeast Catholic Faculty house chapel going back to 1928. Back in the 90’s, brother and myself would spend Saturday mornings from November to February sanding down that altar by hand. Brother was very faithful to this task. I don’t think he missed a Saturday! I remember one day some years later, we were chatting about the altar. He made one of his “rare comments” which I never forgot. “Sanding this altar is like cleaning away our imperfections, our faults – and making us more worthy of God!” This past year was difficult for brother, and he suffered a lot – it was like sanding away our faults, imperfections.
Now we should look at ourselves for a moment, for every death affects each and every one of us! For it reminds us so vividly, that this earth (only 12 years left, in the opinion of some!) is not our final resting place! All of us are pilgrims. All of us walk our unique path in life – hopefully with simplicity and service to others and love and perhaps too, like brother, a little sanding or suffering. We all hope to reach that same goal as brother has – that special dwelling place prepared for us by the Lord as we finally end our pilgrimage!
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Rev. Albert J. Smith, Jr., OSFS
December 31, 2018
Faithful Cross!
Above all other,
One and only noble tree,
None in foliage, none in blossom,
None in fruit thy peer may be.
These lyrics begin the 8th stanza of “Pange Lingua” by St. Fulgentius.
Dear Father Provincial, beloved brothers, cherished family and friends,
There is no better way for me to express my perception of Fr. Albert Smith than to say that the silver profession cross, laid over his shoulders at his first taking of vows, bloomed joyfully, prodigiously, and vibrantly his entire life.
Al was a cherished only son. I met him in junior year at North Catholic. I was awed when told me that he did 50 pushups every night! What’s more, that he got tea and a snack before 9:00 o’clock bedtime. Al threw the javelin for North Catholic’s track team. Once, a football player thought he would have some fun at Al’s expense. He grabbed the long, pointed pole and hurled it. It tanked. The javelin event took skill, not just strength. Al played baseball, too. He was given an athletic scholarship for it to Villanova. Al was an eagle scout, a lifeguard, and played guitar. He was also a sacristan as was I. Most of us entered the Oblates or went to St. Charles, the diocesan seminary. I could not then find in myself anything comparable to Al Smith’s talents, but he extended to me the gift of a lifetime of friendship. Both he and I had long and successful ministries in secondary school and as campus ministers.
In retirement, I joined Al at Villa de Sales and took stock of the man I had known for 65 years. When I arrived, he had been saying Masses for the Medical Mission Sisters and the Christian Brothers. He toiled sweat-hard on our four acres of land, making war on kudzu, planting new trees and bushes, and buying a birdbath. He got our pizza and cheese steaks faithfully every Friday night. And he was good for stories, long stories. They captivated many.
Al used Asian and native American spiritual traditions in his life of prayer. He liked praying outside on sunny mornings in the four directions. He had a Tibetan singing bowl in the prayer corner of his room. Framed Asian calligraphy silently spoke their wisdom from his walls. And I know that there’s Eagle’s feather tucked in there, somewhere.
On Alaska vacations, Al released the pent-up, caged huskies for the Iditarod and went trekking through Denali Park. He was the only priest on earth to run electric trains through an Alaskan village on a platform in his bedroom.
Al had developed multiple interests. He had gone to clown school. As a certified Tai Chi instructor, he exercised their graceful moves beside our carriage house. He printed two books of his poetry. Al joined a local barber shop group that practiced almost every Sunday in the great room of our house. He sang karaoke on Thursdays at the Whitemarsh Inn. He became a member of the elite Rittenhouse Singers. They with others came to him at the Villa a few weeks ago during our open house and sang exquisitely arranged carols. Though Al had already become weak, they got him to join them. It became a moving farewell.
A closer look at Al’s life reveals unrecognized generosity. As swim team moderator, Al had to rise at 5:00 AM for years while teaching a full load. When involved in athletic department work, he often had to miss the community dinner. At our home, Al had no second thoughts on getting up in the middle of the night to rake leaves from the sole drain that floods our parking lot. He worked as an instructor of Tai Chi for Catholic Social Services of Philadelphia and at Morris Arboretum. His teaching was gentle, compassionate, and flexible. His students, mostly ageing and fragile persons, many of low income, loved him.
Al was devoted to all his friendships, the graying members of the Ireton musicians and swimmers with Harry as their coach. Al has been the most requested Oblate by Ireton graduates attending the school when the Oblates staffed it. His trips to Alaska were made to see Dorothy, a sister of St. Joseph who directed catechesis for a diocese. While there, Al often took priests’ masses to give them needed rest. He recently gave a retreat for kids out on the Aleutians. His trips to Boston over several years were to keep the bonds he made with the brothers of Caroline, a School Sister of Notre Dame who, like him, died suddenly of cancer. Al took his friend Kathleen, a former cardiac surgical nurse, suffering from Alzheimer’s, while using a wheelchair, to comforting places outdoors, and to movies and dinners.
In Al’s day, the Oblates promised him “A Happy Way of Life.” He got it and shared it with so many. He lived in the shadows of God’s wings. Shouting for joy, his soul clung fast to God whose right hand upheld him. I heard, by phone, that he was the kindest man a person ever met; by email, that he always smiled; in person, that there wasn’t a mean bone in his body. In my entire life, I never heard him say a hateful thing. Never so much as a “damn,” his speech was always G-rated. He was a superb priest who smelled of his sheep.
When Al found out that his cancer was terminal, he entered the kitchen, opened wide his arms and silently said through wide eyes, goodbye. No hugger, he hugged me for the first time. Though stunned, Al accepted his swift death with abandonment. St. Francis de Sales speaks of Calvary as the Academy of Love. In his dying, Albert Joseph Smith completed what he began the day he received his cross. He shall now see God with his own eyes, and not another’s. In dying to self, he produced much fruit. He rests from his labors, and his works accompany him.
May God Be Blessed.
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Bro. Thomas P. Brophy, OSFS
December 22, 2018
“None of us lives as his own master, and none of us dies as his own master. While we live we are responsible to the Lord; when we die we die as his servants. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
This the essence of obedience. And just to be clear, obedience is not simply doing what you’re told to do. In the Salesian tradition, obedience is the art and science of listening. Specifically, listening for the voice of the Lord in the simple, ordinary events of everyday life, and having the courage to say “yes” to that voice.
Bro. Tom’s personnel file is a testimony to a life dedicated to the practice obedience. It is filled with letter after letter in which this provincial or that provincial assigned him to this community or to that apostolate. Throughout his life as an Oblate, Bro. Tom never questioned his latest transfer. Tom went wherever he was asked to go – he said “yes” to the voice of the Lord wherever it sent him. And time after time after time, the voice of the Lord was asking Tom to serve the needs of others in simple, ordinary and everyday ways.
Bro. Tom knew his way around a kitchen. He knew his way around a supermarket. He knew his way around a balance sheet and a check book. He knew his way around a print shop. He knew his way around a library. He knew his way around a retreat center. Primarily, Bro. Tom served the needs of others through manual labor, a ministry highly praised by our founder, Blessed Louis Brisson.
Father Brisson observed:
“We reprint the Gospel by means of work. We must reprint the Gospel and reprint it page by page without omitting anything. Our Lord came upon earth and spent thirty years engaged in manual labor. His labor was not intellectual, even though he was the Light which enlivens every person coming into the world. It is precisely because he was a working man – because he worked with his hands – that he knew the language of divine science so much elevated above human thought, the language of union with the will of God. He dignified manual labor.”
Fr. Brisson continued:
“Without a doubt some people are better equipped at working with their hands than others, but there is a place for manual labor in all our lives. There is a library to be kept in order, a helping hand to be given, some shopping to be done, a little tiding up or organizing to be accomplished…I very strongly recommend devotion to manual labor. God has attached great graces to it. All religious communities that have held manual labor in high esteem have produced great saints. Therefore, be great lovers of manual labor.”
As devoted as Bro. Tom was to meeting the needs of others throughout his life, he struggled in retirement to allow others to meet his needs. As he aged and became more dependent on the manual labor of others, the voice of the Lord urged him to allow others to serve him. Frequently, he would ask, “Why won’t God just take me?” When asked the next day if he still wanted God to take him, Tom would reply: “That was yesterday.”
The power of the present moment.
Allowing others to do for him was perhaps the greatest challenge of all. But now, I pray that Tom is in a place where God himself will meet Bro. Toms needs – and allow Tom to rest from his labors – for all eternity.
We honor Bro. Tom’s life by following his example – by rolling up our sleeves and doing what we can in ordinary, everyday ways to continue Jesus’ saving work in our little corners of the world. As St. Francis de Sales challenges us, let us dedicate our hands to the service of others. Let us listen for the voice of the Lord who invites us each and every day to do perform simple, good works with great love. Likewise, let us also listen to the voice of the same Lord who invites us to allow others to perform good works with great love for us.
Together, we pray through the intercession of Bro. Tom that just today we might reprint the Gospel by working to meet the needs of one another.
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Rev. Charles C. Garst, III, OSFS
November 28, 2018
“Do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them.”
Throughout his priestly ministry, this admonition from Jesus was Charlie Garst’s guiding principle when it came to preaching - Charlie was a man of few words. As the person tasked with preaching tonight, I will endeavor to do right by him by emulating Charlie’s example…more or less.
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”
Performing righteous deeds – doing what’s right – without people noticing? How does that work? Jesus’ teaching, preaching and healing were the talk of the town. Jesus’ attempts to stay under the radar were incredibly unsuccessful. Jesus’ suggestion to folks miraculously cured to keep it to themselves was almost universally ignored. Jesus’ life was an open book.
It’s not possible to do good for others without others eventually noticing – the challenge is to do good for others in ways that they take notice not so much of us but rather take notice of the God who is the source of our goodness. After all, how many times does Jesus himself tell his audience that it’s not his will that he’s come to fulfill but rather the will of his Father?
When it comes to performing righteous deeds, Jesus isn’t requiring us to be invisible any more than He was invisible! What Jesus is asking is for us to be transparent. Jesus is challenging us to do what’s right to draw attention to God, rather than to do what’s right to draw attention to ourselves.
St. Francis de Sales viewed John the Baptist as a shining example of the difference between being invisible and being transparent. When John famously said of his relationship with Jesus, “He must increase, and I must decrease,” John wasn’t putting himself down; John wasn’t saying that his life didn’t matter. John was simply naming and claiming his part in God’s plan of salvation. In his ministry along the River Jordan, John’s mission was to draw attention to Jesus without allowing himself to get in the way. John knew his place – and had the courage to take it.
Charlie Garst wasn’t invisible – anything but. Charlie was transparent. His ministry was never about him. Charlie was at home with himself. To the extent that he was comfortable in his own skin, Charlie was able to do lots of good for lots of people throughout his life as an Oblate and as a priest without the need to draw attention to himself. Like John – like Jesus – Charlie was humble and unassuming in accepting his part in God’s plan of salvation in drawing other people’s attention to God.
Be it teaching by word or example, preaching, counseling or presiding, Charlie knew his place – his place was mostly just being with people. Be it in the classroom, standing along a sideline, sitting in a confessional or spending time on a ride-along, Charlie had a knack for helping others to feel at home with themselves – Charlie had a knack for allowing others to be comfortable in their own skin – in ways that were known ultimately to God alone.
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them…”
Just last week, I learned about some righteous deeds done by this humble, practical and down-to-earth man who dedicated his life to doing good for so many others. How many of us know that on many occasions following 9-1-1, Charlie traveled to New York City to support first responders in their recovery efforts in and around ground zero? How many people know that he received an award recognizing him for his ministry?
How do you keep something like that a secret? I don’t know, but Charlie somehow managed to do just that.
“And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”
If in fact the Father does reward in a particular way those who do good for others in unassuming, ordinary and everyday ways during this earthly life, I am confident that it will take an eternity for Charlie to enjoy his heavenly reward.
Each of us would do well to imitate Charlie’s example of how to spend one’s life doing good without drawing attention to oneself. Half the battle of following Jesus is just showing up – it’s simply being there for others. However obvious or obscure, we can pay tribute to Charlie’s life and legacy by doing one of the things he did best – simply making others feel at home.
As Charlie Garst – Oblate of St. Francis de Sales - clearly demonstrates, it is possible to accomplish many righteous things in this life without letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing, provided that your mind - and your heart - are in the right place.
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Re. Edward J. Roszko, Jr., OSFS
November 12, 2018
Fr. Ed Roszko, OSFS
Hat’s off to you!
On May 8, 2010 Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live. She revealed in her monologue that she was there after a grassroots campaign on Facebook got her the gig. She went on to say that she had never been on Facebook until then and frankly she thought it to be a “colossal waste of time.” I don’t have a Facebook account and tend to agree with her assessment. Should I need to see something, I go on using Jack Kolodziej’s password. If only he had a Netflix account!
Last Friday, I went on Facebook to the Fr. Judge page for it reported the news of Ed Roszko’s death. At a time when the church has almost given up on bishops and priests, this Facebook visit was inspiring, uplifting, humbling and on target. The alumni of Fr. Judge captured this fine man.
• They spoke of his humor with such gems whether original or borrowed as:
o I knew a little Russian, but she left town
o Do the right thing, wait for the ring
o Addressing a student during a test, “Hey son, are you Italian? You’ve got Roman eyes. Keep your eyes on your own paper.”
o He insisted that the Bible was a book about baseball for it starts with the words, In the big inning
• And with each of these you saw a beautiful and genuine smile as if he told it for the first time
• There were numerous entries that spoke of the man he was
o Fr. Roszko was a tremendous example of a Salesian Gentleman.
o A good man
o He was a really, nice guy…to which another alum added “couldn’t agree with you more.”
o Another remarked “one of my favorites.”
o Great guy. Came to every soccer game and gave a pre-game blessing.
o Good Man and role model. Supported ice hockey before it was recognized by the school.
o He loved Judge Basketball.
o I’ll never forget his inspirational prayers that he gave to the football team before we took the field. He then made his way to the booth to be the not-so-impartial stadium announcer. His passion and energy helped carry an average team to the championship my senior year in ’93. God Bless Fr. Roszko!
o Fantastic priest. He did a lot for the Class of 96.
o A true priest.
• Referring to his penchant for showing movies, one alum wrote “reels Roszko, outstanding in his field, and here’s the key point gentlemen, the hat stays on.”
• “The hat stays on.” Ed was known for his energetic pep rallies. At one early pep rally before the rival game with Archbishop Ryan for neighborhood bragging rights, Ed recalled for the students that the year previous Ryan played exceedingly well and took Judge to the cleaners, “hats off to them” he said. “But this year Crusaders” his voice rising to fever pitch, fists pumped to the sky, “the hat stays on, the hat stays on,” and this was repeated with thunderous applause to a raucous crowd at that rally and everyone after.
• Another comment read: The one thing I do remember, he was a principled guy. Ardent pro-life advocate.
Of course, it was easy to find his classroom door or car peppered with pro-life stickers. As Michael Murray wrote for Ed’s obituary, “while he was seen standing on the sidelines for many a football game during his nearly 45 years in secondary school education, he was not content to sit on the sidelines when it came to engaging in dialogue regarding matters of faith and culture of the day.”
In truth, Ed was ardent in all things in life especially his love for God expressed most faithfully in his vocation as an Oblate and priest. Ed loved being an Oblate and took a genuine, deep interest in your living out your vocation as well. Always, he took time to ask how you were doing, your family and maybe wanted your insights on how the Phillies would do this season.
With cassock, rule, office book and fervor, he epitomized “Be who you are and be that well.” No false pretenses, no guile, just a lot of gentleness, simplicity and love.
Our first reading from Wisdom was chosen not because it assures us that Ed, the just man, has his soul resting in the palm of God’s hands as comforting and reassuring as this is. It was selected for the line “as gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself,” and I’m not referring to his many years teaching sophomores.
I vividly remember Ed registering at one of our June convocations only to find out minutes later that he had fallen and was rushed to the hospital. On the lighter side of things, I probably commented that some people will do anything to get out of convocation. But sadly, Ed never seemed to recover. Soon this once vibrant and upbeat man became debilitated and a bit reserved. The change was remarkable and sadden me for some time. But as we often preach about Paul’s exhortation to us of “putting on Christ” and participating in the passion, the suffering of Christ, I began to realize that Ed was teaching another, new and profound lesson.
Still, I wrestled with the why? Why this freak fall? Why to such a good man? As Job asked the “why question,” and we have done so most recently with worshippers in a synagogue in Pittsburgh or college kids dancing at a bar in Thousand Oaks, tragedy, sadness and suffering are a part of life. Some of course need not be, and we must do all we can to stop needless suffering. But it’s Ed’s suffering and acceptance of such that touched me most. It was his willingness to be baptized with Christ and into his death, to be crucified with him.
I did not know Ed, the pep rally master. Those at Judge and later Bp. Ireton knew and embraced this Ed well. I taught with Ed after Ireton, when he came to Salesianum. He still tried to make an appearance at sporting events, but he took on another role, that of faithful and devoted son. Every day after class, Ed went to his ailing father’s house to minister to him and to give some relief to his stepmother. It was another acceptance of God’s will embraced lovingly, willingly, promptly and happily because he was also a son of deSales as well, and these are Francis’ four marks of devotion.
Ed knew and lived the devout life well, passionately well. His dedication to prayer, meditation, spiritual reading and the Eucharist made his devotion genuine and real. We may not all have followed the manner or detail in which he lived the devout life but we recognize it as genuine and holy. And, his fidelity to his dying and willingness to be crucified, will allow him to live with Christ, in the resurrection of the dead. For we recognize that Ed was prepared when his Master came for him this sixth day in this the month of souls.
We all have our stories of Ed, his love for his first alma mater, Notre Dame, and his daily love for “the” Notre Dame and her son, Jesus Christ. You may recall different sayings. For me, the one that hounds me daily “if you are too busy to pray, then you are too busy.” Such stories and memories we will continue to recall fondly. In this day when we need greater fidelity and devotion to our vocation and “who we are,” may we do that with a little more fervor to pick up what we will miss from Ed.
I will always be able to visualize Ed’s smile. I can’t wait to see it when we meet him again in heaven after having seen the God he loved and served so well. For now, I borrow a Facebook comment from a Judge alum recalling the famous pep rally chant and say “hat’s off to you, Ed, good and faithful servant.”
Readings
Wisdom 3: 1-9
Romans 6: 3-9
Luke 12: 35-40
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Rev. John J. Dennis, OSFS
October 13, 2018
On behalf of all my Oblate confreres, I extend our prayers and sympathy to you, the family, confreres and friends of Father John Dennis.
I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who spoke these words: “It is not the years in our life that count but the life in our years.”
It’s rare that someone is fortunate enough, as Father John was, to have both many years –almost a hundred of them! –and so much life in those years as well! In his fine homily, Father Dalton has spoken well of the “life” that Father Dennis spent while on this earth. The lives of the countless people to whom he ministered throughout his long and full life are better, richer, holier because of him.
I want to speak briefly of what struck me most about the life of Father Dennis. Every Christian is expected to live Jesus in the sense of imitating the manner in which he lived among us as “one who served.” We can imitate the humility and his gentleness of Jesus, as well as his compassion and foot-washing love. But how many of us can draw near and touch and heal lepers as Jesus once did?
John Dennis did that. At a time when people with AIDS were treated by others with fear and distance, John Dennis, in imitation of Jesus, drew near to them and touched them with compassion and love. He may not have performed a healing miracle for those suffering from AIDS as Jesus once did for the lepers of his day. Still, he was the face of Jesus for them, a caring, kind, non-judgmental and loving face; a healing presence to those who at that time were largely without any hope and little promise.
A few days ago when John went home to God, I can imagine him being greeted by his parents, relatives and friends who preceded him in death. I am sure our Salesian saints were there to greet him as well. But I can also imagine that many of those “modern day lepers” were there as well. Healed now and whole, they welcomed a good man who had once drawn near to them when most others had not.
John was a gifted educator and a true renaissance man who enjoyed music and the arts. But he was much more than that. He was a man who knew what Jesus meant when He asked us to love as he himself had loved: “As I have done for you, so you must do for one another.”
John Dennis did just that!
Mass of Christian Burial: Homily
Rev. Anthony J. Larry, OSFS
September 15, 2018
Anthony J. Larry was given by God on 10/14/39
Anthony J. Larry was given to God on 9/10/18
Tony was brought to the church many years ago to be baptized and to enjoy a new life, a new birth as a Christian and be a member of a faith community. And he is here today with his faith community, religious community, family and friends as he begins eternal life.
In the gospel passage from John which was just proclaimed, Jesus shows sensitivity to the fact that the disciples’ hearts are troubled. Death and grief are things that trouble our hearts.
There is nothing right, there is nothing good about the circumstances that have brought us together today.
One of the ironies of faith is that it is hardest to believe in God when we need him the most. Just before his death on the cross, Jesus said to his disciples, DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND FAITH IN ME.
The Lord understands that our hearts are troubled now as we struggle with the fact that Tony will not be with us as he once was. In response, Jesus assures the disciples that they know where he is going and the way to get there.
Thomas perhaps speaks for all of us as he freely admits that they don’t know where Jesus is going or the way to get there.
And they find it hard to let go of someone they love as we do as well.
There is often a fine line between holding on and letting go. Everything human about us says to hold on to Tony, but our faith tells us to let go. We want to hold on to what we know and what we know is that a good person who has touched our live is gone!
While he has gone to Father, his spirit continues to live within each of us.
If we were to ask people to do a sketch of Tony to see how he lives within each person. We would all have a different perspective of him. We could see him as a gentle, humble, funy, gracious patient, lover of life and many other aspects that create this sketch.
For some he has been seen his brother, uncle, friend, classmate and as an Oblate and son of Francis de Sales
I believe the areas that would contribute to this sketch would be his love of being an Oblate priest, his love and dedication to his family, his great love for liturgy and church environment and many more.
He was ever so faithful to his priestly obligations and was a good source of inspiration. Tony was a man of prayer who was not showy but a true gentle priest who enjoyed his priesthood and celebrated it well be it in the classroom or in a parish. He served as pastor at St. Anthony’s, St. John Neumann and St. Bernard’s. Wherever he was, Liturgy was his passion.
His family could contribute much to the sketch for his love for them was evident at all times.
When the sketch is completed there will be a composite of a person we all came to love and will miss him.
Jesus has shown him that he is the way and the truth and the life.
It is only in letting Tony go that we might be able to eventually let ourselves go when it is our time to pass the same way.
Until then, let us be grateful that our lives have been enriched by this creative, dedicated hardworking and loving person who has shown us the way, some truth and a lot of love.
Anthony J. Larry given by God 10/14/39
Anthony J. Larry given to God: 9/10/18
Anthony may you rest in peace and may your spirit live in those you have touched by your faith.
May you be singing with the choirs of angels for all eternity.
May God Be Blessed.
