Volume 2, Summer 2013

courtesy Members of the San Juan Province : Still going strong By Fr. John Murray, C.Ss.R. three in the Dominican Republic. North East, ‘65 In Puerto Rico, we staff parishes in Puerta de Tierra, Aguas Buenas, San Lorenzo and Guayama, a retreat house More than 100 years ago, soon after the Spanish Ameri- in Aguas Buenas, and the provincial house in San Juan. can War, American Redemptorists from the Province went to Puerto Rico to replace the Spanish In the Dominican Republic, we staff a parish in Paraiso, Redemptorists, who had been in Puerto Rico since 1886. on the border with Haiti, which serves undocumented The Americans also staffed three parishes in the U.S. Haitians; a new retreat house in Cotui, Las Vega; and a Virgin Islands after the country purchased them from formation house named Casa San Juan Neumann in the Denmark in 1917. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands capital of Santo Domingo. The seminarians make their together became a Vice Province in 1917, and 50 years in . later peaked at 110 Redemptorists stationed there. After 67 years, we gave up our first two parishes in the In 1984, the Vice Province of San Juan became a Dominican Republic — Las Matas de Farfan and San Juan Province, and the three parishes in the Virgin Islands de la Maguana. The Redemptorists in Puerto Rico felt that became part of the new Region of the . There these two parishes had developed so much that our mis- are now 43 Redemptorists in the San Juan Province, sionaries were no longer needed there. We still work with divided among six foundations in Puerto Rico and six schools in Puerto Rico (Mayaguez, Aguadilla, Puerta continued page 2 Alumni Notes | Summer 2013 page 1 PUERTO RICO continued from page 1 de Tierra, Aguas Buenas, Caguas and Guayama) and see that they continue and pass on the Redemptorist charism. Puerto Rico does have a high crime rate, largely connected with drug trafficking, which avoids the tour- ist areas and concentrates in poorer areas and public housing. Along with Redemptorist Alumni © 2013 Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico is a gateway for most ille- courtesy The Alumni Newsletter is A few of the alumni who gathered gal drugs that come into the Eastern distributed by email on a quarterly recently at Luis Borri’s home in United States. basis to alumni and friends of St. Puerto Rico. One of the most exciting new Mary’s Seminary in North East, ventures in the San Juan Province house in an old hacienda on 63 acres PA and St. Alphonsus College in was the opening of the new retreat in Cotui, Dominican Republic. St. Suffield, CT. Alphonsus founded the Redemp- torists for extraordinary preach- Editor ing to the poor and abandoned in Rev. John Murray, C.Ss.R. the mountains above . Now, (North East, ’65) the San Juan Province is reaching [email protected] out with the same type of extraor- dinary preaching in the Dominican Managing Editor Republic. St. Alphonsus must sure- Stephanie K. Tracy ly be smiling, as would those first Communications Manager Redemptorists in Puerto Rico. Redemptorist Office for courtesy Fr. John Murray is editor of Alumni Mission Advancement Seminarians for the San Juan Notes. Contact him at murraycssr@ [email protected] Province. gmail.com. Graphic Design Motsay Recovering from Sandy vmotsaydesign

The natural beauty of San Alfonso, Have a story to share? our retreat center in Long Branch, NJ Send submissions to Fr. John is a little harder to enjoy after Super Murray at [email protected] Storm Sandy. The storm in October or mail c/o Basilica of Our Lady 2012 tore away the boardwalk, bench- of Perpetual Help, 526 59th Street, es, gazebo, and took away safe access Brooklyn, NY 11220. to the beach. Thank our outdoor altar and Update your contact the retreat house itself escaped any information! Send updated address/phone/ major structural damage. The cost to memo line of your check. You can also email and other contact details to replace the boardwalk area and fortify donate safely and securely online at: Fr. John Murray. the beach wall is $2.2 million. Your gift redemptorists.net/sandy. today can help us rebuild this space. Thank you for your prayers and your To make a gift to help offset the help in enhancing the experience of Sign up to receive this cost, you may send your donation our retreatants. Please join us in pray- newsletter and other alumni news to ROMA, P.O. Box 4997, Annapolis, ing for those who lost their homes and via email! Visit redemptorists.net/alumni MD 21403, and write “Sandy” in the livelihoods because of the storm.

Alumni Notes | Summer 2013 page 2 80 years of music

Courtesy Back row, from left: Rick Morrocco, Dan Breen, Ralph Nofi, Steve Zissler. Front row, from left: Jim Seeberger, Fr. Artie Wendel, Art Fairthorne. A group of Redemptorist alums visited with our dear coming to the alums and also to a few of the local alum friend and music mentor, Father Artie Wendel, at the St. family members. Residence in Timonium, MD in April. The visit with Father Wendel was full of friendship, lively Father Wendel celebrated his 80th birthday on April 2. conversation, and many, many laughs. The alums feted It was also great to see some of our other friends, too, Father Wendel with a dinner at BlueStone Restaurant in like Fathers Larry Lover, Felix Catala, Tom Sullivan, and Timonium in honor of his birthday. Father Wendel is at the Martin de Porres. Father Gerard Symkowiak, St. John Neumann Residence for therapy after knee sur- the rector of the house, was most gracious and wel- gery. He hopes to return to New York City after the therapy. Taking a break

Baltimore Province Archives A gathering in Hartford, CT, during summer work in 1967. Some of our alumni pictured are Ronnie Veron, Charlie Donovan, Jim Walters, Joe Hattley, and Joe Olive. On the right are John Scanlon and Mike Gallagher.

Alumni Notes | Summer 2013 page 3 Meet our seminarians

profession of vows in August 2011, and is finishing his first year of theol- ogy at Boston College. In the second row is Peter Linh Nguyen, C.Ss.R., also from Vietnam. He professed final vows in 2010 and will be ordained a in Saigon in July. He will finish his M.Div. from St. John’s in December. Next to Peter is Jacky Merilan, C.Ss.R., from Haiti. He will profess final vows in October 2013, and is just finishing his first year of theol- ogy. Jacky’s family was displaced by the devastating earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince in 2010, and he received a great deal of support from the friends of the Redemptorists after the earthquake. He is a mem- ber of English-speaking Region of Caribbean. On the third step, from left, is Francis Quang Tran, C.Ss.R., from Vietnam. He will be ordained a deacon in July and finish his studies in December. Next to him is Pierre Antoine Des- ruisseaux, C.Ss.R., from Haiti. He made his first profession in 2008 and Stephen Kessinger/courtesy is finishing his second year of theol- ogy at St. John’s. He is a member of By Fr. John Murray, C.Ss.R. ties including the Jesuits, Capuchins, the St. Anne-de-Beaupre Province, of which Haiti is a mission territory. North East, ‘65 Edmunites, and the Redemptorists. St. John’s has 85 to 90 students, pre- Next to Pierre is Joseph Hung Tran, Not much of what we knew of sem- dominantly diocesan seminarians C.Ss.R., the last of the four Vietnam- inary life 50 years ago is still with us. from New and beyond. ese students who will be ordained to Certainly the numbers have changed This photo shows the 2012-13 the diaconate in July and finish his drastically. Where we had more than theologate class at Mission Church studies in December. 100 seminarians in Esopus years ago, where they reside. On the top step is Yvon Tremont, now Esopus is sold, and our semi- From left, on the bottom step, is C.Ss.R., also from Haiti. He professed narians complete their theological Joseph Thang Nguyen, C.Ss.R., from first vows in 2008, and is finishing his studies at either Boston College’s Vietnam. He will profess final vows on second year of at St. John’s. School of Theology and Ministry or July 1 and be ordained a deacon on He is also a member of St. Anne-de- St. John’s Seminary. The two schools July 2 in Saigon, along with the three Beaupre Province. are next to one another on the cam- other Vietnamese Redemptorists in Next is Graham Hill, C.Ss.R., from pus of Boston College. The students this photo. He will graduate St. John’s . He made his first vows in 2012 live at Mission Church in Boston. in December with an M.Div. and is finishing his second year of the- The School of Theology and Min- Also on the bottom step is Calvin ology at Boston College. He is a mem- istry has more than 80 seminarians Auguiste, C.Ss.R., from Dominica ber of Edmonton- Province. from various religious communi- in the . He made his first continued page 5

Alumni Notes | Summer 2013 page 4 In Memoriam Fr. Andrew Skeabeck, C.Ss.R.

ather Andy Skeabeck died on of the Redemptorist priests from FMarch 20, 2007 after a short stay at North East who came to conduct the our St. John Neumann Residence in novena services every July was what Saratoga Springs, NY. (The residence drew Andy to the Redemptorists. was transferred to Stella After ordination, Maris in Timonium, MD, he was sent to study in 2009.) Church history at He was 85 years old Catholic University in at the time of his death, Washington, D.C. He and had been suffering did his thesis on the Stay in touch! from heart problems and Redemptorist Bishop Parkinson’s disease. His William H. Gross of mother survived him and Savannah and Portland, redemptorists.net died three years later at OR. Andy taught in our for up-to-date Redemptorist news. Also the age of 108. (1921-2007) seminaries for a total of sign up for email updates and read our Father Skeabeck taught 38 years. quarterly newsletter. many of our alumni. He began his Andy was an avid sports fan, teaching career in North East in whether it was playing hockey or redemptorists.net/alumni 1949. He went to Esopus in 1962 for football in North East, golfing, or to read archived issues of Alumni Notes. one year until Suffield was ready to fishing, or in his declining years just facebook.com/Redemptorist accept students. watching sports on television. Baltimore for more news and Father Skeabeck was born June 2, I lived with Andy in West End exclusive content. 1921, the oldest of five children. I got during his final years, and he was a to know his mother, Susan, in Erie very kind, considerate confrere. North East on Facebook while I was preaching the novena to Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. facebook.com/groups/stmarysseminary St. Ann. St. Ann was the Skeabeck -Fr. J.Murray parish for many years. The examples Suffield on Facebook Search St. Alphonsus College, Suffield, CT For complete obituaries, please visit: redemptorists.net/departed.cfm.

SEMINARIANS continued from page 4 Last but not least is Anthony Michalik, C.Ss.R., from Ephrata, PA Congratulations to our newest priests and New York City. He made his first profession in 2011, and is finishing his Two seminarians were ordained torists of the Caribbean region second year of theology Boston Col- priests earlier this month. Both have a number of parishes. lege. are members of the English- Elton Letang, C.Ss.R., from One seminarian is not pictured: speaking Region of the Carib- Dominica. He was ordained a David Verghese, C.Ss.R., from bean: priest on June 6 in Dominica. He Leonardtown, MD. He will make his served his pastoral year with the final profession of vows and will be Alistair Elias, C.Ss.R., from Redemptorists in Trinidad. ordained a deacon in October 2013. Grenada, West Indies. He was or- David is finishing his pastoral year dained a priest on June 3 in Gre- Visit redemptorists.net for photos at St. Gerard’s in Lima, OH, and nada. He served his pastoral year from the ordinations. has been transferred to St. Mary’s, in St. Lucia where the Redemp- Annapolis as his first assignment.

Alumni Notes | Summer 2013 page 5