THE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF October 29, 2007...
Provincial’s time Fr. Tom Cassidy remains in Rome at the meeting of Major Superiors for most of the week. After family visits on the East Coast, he returns to the office next week. And from the previous provincial… The previous provincial superior, Fr. Richard MacDonald, e-mailed with a few updates: “I just wanted to let you know that I was able to attend the funeral of Fr. Mark Garrow, the former superior general of the Marians. [Last week we noted that Fr. Garrow, an alumnus of Bellefontaine, died of cancer.] It took place in Stockbridge, Mass., this past Thursday and was attended not only by the many Marian priests and brothers who could be there but also by many Bellefontaine alumni. Mark was in classes that I taught at Lenox; English and religion in particular. Many were aware that the SCJs were represented at this funeral, which is the main reason I went. We had good years together and the Marians remember the SCJs in very positive ways. They thanked me for being there. “Today, Sunday, was a wonderful day for us here in Raymondville. We had confirmation for 113 young adults. Some were from outside our parishes but most were from here. The youth work in Willacy County continues to amaze me. Bishop Pena did the ceremony and it all went well. Since I am part of the family history for so many, I found myself being asked to stand for pictures since ‘after all, Father Mac, you did the baptism and/or the first communion so we need another picture.’ What I especially enjoyed was the excitement of those who were there and their responses to the bishop. The music topped off a good liturgy.” Fr. Mac, who jumped right back into parish ministry soon after completing his term as provincial superior, will soon be taking vacation time in Florida, where he will visit with his mother. He reports that at 87, mom is doing well. Some of you may remember seeing her at his jubilee celebration in August. Boo bash St. Martin of Tours Parish School held its annual Boo Bash on Saturday, October 27. Geared towards pre-schoolers to eighth graders and their families, a dance, games, raffle and concessions are just a part of this evening. Admission is $1 plus a non-perishable food item. The food goes to the parish food pantry. The St. Martin of Tours Parish food pantry provides non-perishable food to families in need, both from the parish and the surrounding area. Of course, many parishes in the province have children’s activities for Halloween. On October 31, Christ the King in Southaven, Miss., will have a Halloween party for kids from 6 – 8 p.m. Don’t forget! Although some clocks may think that it is an hour earlier, daylight savings does not end until NEXT weekend. Turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night. Please remember… Br. Pedro Jesús García González, a member of the Spanish Province, who died October 22. He was born in 1948 and professed in 1967. Happy birthday! The first birthdays this month are celebrated by SCJs who are both outside of the country doing studies. On November 2, Fr. David Szatkowski turns 34 and Fr. Ed Kilianski turns 53. Fr. Dave is studying canon law in Rome and Fr. Ed is studying Spanish in Mexico. Other birthdays this month include: Br. Luc Coursol (57) and Fr. Bill More (81) on Nov. 4, Fr. Dermot Twomey (76) on Nov. 12, Fr. Jan de Jong (70) and Fr. Joe Doscher (74) on Nov. 17, Fr. Tim Gray (59) on Nov. 18, and Fr. Larry Rucker (74) on Nov. 30. Traveling treasurer’s office November 5-9 Dn. David Nagel, John Kuxhause and Kevin Stanke will be out of town at a seminar. If you need assistance from the Treasurer’s Office, please contact them this week. They will also check their voice mail for messages while gone, but of course, it is easier to do many things at the office than outside of it. Statue unveiling On October 26, staff at St. Joseph’s Indian School unveiled and dedicated the newly rejuvenated statue of St. Joseph and child at the main entrance. “The old masonry was cracking, so we recast it as a bronze,” wrote Fr. Stephen Huffstetter. “We’re also adding two new smaller statues with him, a boy with basketball and book bag, and a girl in traditional dance regalia with an eagle feather uplifted. We asked our students for input on how they would like to portray a couple of St. Joe kids, and that was the idea they came up with.” Darwin Wolf of Sioux Falls is the artist who did the sculptures.