THE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF September 10, 2007...
Provincial’s time Fr. Tom Cassidy starts the week in Hales Corners and then heads to Chicago for a visitation with the formation community. Most of next week he will be in Texas, visiting Houston and the Valley. Please remember… Br. Gabe Kersting who is undergoing a cardiac catheterization on Tuesday, September 11, to analyze blood flow to his heart. Fr. Abelardo Bezerra de Moura, a member of the North Brazilian Province, who died August 31. He was born in 1929, professed in 1948 and ordained in 1955. Well remembered Fr. Jim Cunniffe was well-remembered during memorials last week in Mississippi and Wisconsin. Fr. Peter Botman, who served with Fr. Jim during some of his years in Ontario, represented the Canadian Region at the funeral on Thursday. Other SCJs who shared their condolences included Fr. Adrian Visscher, who also knew Fr. Jim from his years in Canada. He wrote, “Jim was with us for a good number of years in ministry and in community. I always appreciated his good sense of humor, his straightforwardness and his community spirit. I thank the Lord for his gift to us in Jim.” Fr. Martin van Ooij, superior of the District of India, wrote, “On behalf of our Indian District I want to show our condolences and prayers for Fr. Jim. The Lord called him back after such a rich and dedicated life as an SCJ confrere.” Memorial cards for Fr. Jim are included in the Fridge Notes mailing this week. Update Br. Mike Fette: Last week we noted that Br. Mike would be at the Lebh Shomea House of Prayer through February. His departure is being postponed for a bit and he will continue to reside in the Milwaukee area. Br. Lyle Hennen: His new address is: 8950 Oak Branch Lane, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Award-winning beef St. Joseph Retreat Center’s Waseda Farm was recognized for its quality beef cattle at the annual Door County Fair in August. Beef cattle born and raised on the farm were purchased, fed and shown by Future Farmers of America (FFA) at the fair. One of the 16-month-old steers was awarded First Place Grand Champion, another steer was awarded 2nd Place Reserve Champion, and a third (weighing in at 1,200 lbs) was awarded Best Carcass. Waseda Farm beef cattle have received Grand Champion honors before, but this is the first time all three categories were won by the farm’s steers. “More recognition of our quality beef came at our recent Spiritfest event where visitors enjoying the BBQ all wanted a farm-raised beef burger, but due to the demand, they ran out all too quickly” wrote a staff member. The success of the St. Joseph’s beef are a tribute to Br. Andrew Lewandowski, who has had much of the responsibility for the farm for many years. Happy anniversary! Fr. Gerardus Pieterse, an ESL student from the Dutch Province, celebrated his 50th anniversary of profession with a special Mass at Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology on September 8. After his First Profession in Asten, Fr. Gerardus worked as a teacher at the secondary schools in Nÿmegen and Boxmeer, and now he is the chaplain of the Servitores Sancti Spiritus Sisters in Uden, Holland. Fr. Gerardus is in Hales Corners for six months as he works on his English. Fellow ESL students joined local SCJs at the anniversary Mass, presided by Fr. Gerardus. “Do not be afraid!” said Fr. Gerardus during the Mass. “We thank God for the gift of his vocation.” After the Mass, Fr. Gerardus played a musical composition dedicated to the Blessed Mother, on his flute. Fighting for the homeless St. John the Evangelist parish in Green Bay, Wis., has been fighting to keep open a shelter for some of the area’s most desperate homeless. Fr. Guy Blair is pastor of the parish. The Green Bay City Council voted to deny the conditional use permit that has allowed COTS (Churches Offering Temporary Shelter) to operate its seasonal emergency homeless shelter for the last two winters. The program had operated there until March 31, when its license expired. It had hoped to resume operation November 1. The program took in people who were rejected from other area homeless shelters for a variety of reasons, including drug or alcohol use and criminal activity. “But we don’t feel we’ve lost the battle yet,” said Fr. Guy in an interview with the Green Bay Press Gazette. “Who has a right to tell us we cannot have a ministry? Who is going to tell a church that we cannot have a mission to poor people?” To read more about COTS and the fight to keep it open, CLICK HERE Or, simply go to www.greenbaypressgazette.com and search for articles on COTS. There are now several, include columns and letters to the editor.