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San Damiano Chapel

July 2020 Mass Schedule Daily Masses are currently not open to the Chaplain’s public. For details, visit diolc.org. Corner Sunday Mass Schedule The San Damiano Chapel is reopening for The chapel is open again as two Masses each week: Saturdays at 4 p.m. of June 27. All the precau- and Sundays at 11 a.m. Based on the Dio- tions prescribed by the var- i- cese of La Crosse guidelines, we are limited ous health agencies as well as to only allowing 25% capacity to join us in the Diocese of La Crosse are person. If you are interested in registering now in place. Even though the to join an in-person Mass, please register attendance was a cautious online. “low,” it was good to know everyone is serious about staying healthy. Here we are in July. All Sunday Masses will be presented live moving forward. We will be broadcasting Even though we are not in full physical operation, the has these Masses live on Facebook and YouTube heightened. at 11 a.m. Sundays, and they can be found Sister Thea Bowman has resurged as Viterbo’s icon of joyful, prayerful on the chapel’s Facebook page. religious tradition by way of her charismatic approach to unity among July 5, 2020: 14th Sunday in Ordinary the races. She has done this by her singing, encouraging, and witness- Time ing to the great message of the American spiritual. I see spirituals as Zec 9:9-10 / Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 / laments, not complaints, that there is still heaviness in our lives. They Rom 8:9, 11-13 / Mt 11:25-30 are, in reality, profound professions of faith that God is with us and will rescue us as God always has. Polly Pappadopoulos has met with our July 12, 2020: 15th Sunday in Ordinary own Dan Wilmot-Johnson, who was a close and personal friend of Sr. Time Is 55:10-11 / Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 / spirituals that meant the most to Sister Thea. Rom 8:18-23 / Mt 13:1-23 OR 13:1-9 Thea. Among all the stories of her life, Dan and Polly reflected on the This has been a most unusual year with all that is happening. Yet, God is July 19, 2020: 16th Sunday in Ordinary using the situation to help us deepen our dependence on the message of Time the spiritual as well as the Psalms, the spirituals the of Old Testament. Wis 12:13, 16-19 / Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 / Rom 8:26-27 / Mt 13:24-43 OR 13:24-30 In the meantime, consider what and who we celebrate in this month: Independence Day, St. , Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. July 26, 2020: 17th Sunday in Ordinary , St. James (Santiago de Campostella), St. Anne. Maybe Time 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12 / Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127- women. 128, 129-130 / Rom 8:28-30 / Mt 13:44-52 compose your own spiritual reflecting on the lives and these men and or 13:44-46 Peace and good, Fr. Conrad Guide Us, Sister Thea By POLLY PAPPADOPOULOS

“Cannot Americans, many and different, join hands in unity, live celestial harmony, establish a new and bet- ter world? For those who are members of the church, the Mystical Body of Christ, this sharing of life is a spiritual obligation. The very word ‘catholic’ means ‘all.’ Jesus loved all men—and true love always tends to bring people together.”

This quote seems timely and poignant in the current climate of racial unrest. However, it echoes from the voice of Thea Bowman, Heaven resonate through the human heart. She would say FSPA, in 1965—so many years that spirituals engaged the whole body and were spir- ago, and yet history seems to keep it-giving. repeating itself. Sr. Thea had a rich, and beautiful voice, and often sang Sr. Thea—now —is Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, which spoke to an icon of as her on how it felt to be a Black Catholic—something she an alumnae, faculty member, and hoped to bring change to, and succeeded throughout her Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. She was the life, even addressing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bish- granddaughter of slaves, raised in Canton, . ops in 1989 before she died. When Sr. Thea joined the FSPA at the young age of 15, she was their only African American member. She brought According to Johnson-Wilmot, her favorite spirituals were black and white together within the , in- Deep River and Balm in Gilead, which he sang at her wake, sisting that “our history, our music, and our culture need moved deeply by the entire crowd joining in singing by to be recognized in the Catholic Church.” Done Made My Vow to the Lord most. Dan Johnson-Wilmot, recently retired Viterbo voice the first chorus. By far though, she loved faculty, was a close friend of Sr. Thea’s at Viterbo—she Done Made My Vow to the Lord affectionately called him her “little brother.” “Rowdy” was her term for herself, he recalled. Sr. Thea dedicated herself And I never will turn back - I will go, I shall go justice. She used humor and song to educate and inspire. To see what the end will be. to God and a life of service fighting racism, hatred, and in Done opened my mouth to the Lord “She knew how to bring people together, but knew how And I never will turn back. to say what needed to be said,” as she would speak on I will go, I shall go race and the Catholic Church, Johnson-Wilmot said. As To see what the end will be. she would present a speech, she would lead with a song Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, before she spoke and intersperse spirituals throughout, See what the end will be. inviting her audience to sing and dance with her. But still, my soul is heav’nly bound See what the end will be. I’ll pray and pray and never stop, Americans alike can learn about the Black culture, and See what the end will be. connectShe exemplified with one how, another. through The song, simplicity Catholics and deep-rootedand all emotions of hope, sorrow, joy, and pressing toward Continued on next page SISTER THEA from previous page Rite of Christian Initiation

Until I reach the mountain top, Interested in the Catholic Church and learning more See what the end will be. If you get there before I do, Are you interested in becoming Catholic? about it? Are you Catholic, but have not been confirmed? See what the end will be. Tell all my friends I’m coming too, The Rite of Christian Initiation is a yearlong process for See what the end will be. those looking to receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church. A few weeks before Sr. Thea passed, the Viterbo Concert Choir, led by Johnson-Wil- Participants meet regularly for sessions, attend retreat mot, traveled to Mississippi opportunities, and meet in large groups and one-on-one and sang for Sr. Thea in her as they prepare themselves for the next steps in their home. They sang Roll, faith journey. Jordan, Roll. He described RCIA meetings will be held virtually for the remainder of the summer, and will take a look at each subsequent line: how she wept at the final Commandment. July 26 will be the only date in July, and My soul arise in heaven, we will explore the Third Commandment. Lord If you are interested in getting a link to join this session, For the year when Jordan contact Emily Dykman at [email protected]. roll. In 2018, the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops voted to Tennessee BBQ Sauce advance the cause of for Sr. Thea, and she has since been declared “Servant of God.” Printed with the permission of the Catholic Rural Life Conference Cookbook, Cooking for Christ. As we each try to self-examine and navigate through 3 cups prepared BBQ sauce 2 tsp onion powder these troubling times, we can all look to Thea for guid- ¼ cup cider vinegar 2 tsp garlic powder ¼ cup honey Dash of hot pepper sauce on YouTube. The FSPA website includes a page where ance.you can You learn can findmore many about videos her life, of Sisterteachings, Thea’s and wisdom path to Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, mix well. canonization. Makes about 3 ½ cups.

May she educate and inspire us all by the example of her words, her life, and her gift of spiritual and song. CONTACT INFORMATION

Conrad Targonski, OFM Kyle Trietley Secular Franciscan Order University Chaplain Campus Ministry Interested in the learning more 608-796-3804 Assistant about the 3rd Order Secular [email protected] 608-796-3805 Franciscans? The emerging [email protected] Emilio Alvarez fraternity members of Director, Campus Ministry Send any changes Tau-Shalom at San Damiano 608-796-3805 to your contact meet every second Saturday and [email protected] information to fourth Wednesday of the month sandamianochapel@ in San Damiano. Polly Pappadopoulos viterbo.edu For more details, contact Tau Shalom La Crosse Liturgical Coordinator to ensure you Secular Franciscans at [email protected] or visit 608-386-8768 continue to receive this secularfranciscansusa.org. [email protected] monthly newsletter.