Father Walter Ciszek -An Example for All by Mary Lynch

www.ciszek.org 2010 Issue III [email protected] Father Walter Ciszek -An Example for All by Mary Lynch At this tumultuous time in the history of our nation and of the Catholic Church, perhaps it would be well for us to recall the life of an exemplary American priest, Father Walter Ciszek. A native Pennsylvanian, Father Ciszek was born and reared in the community of Shenandoah, a small town southwest of Hazleton, on November 4, 1904. His boyhood was a mix of scrapes and spirituality; thankfully, his spiritual nature prevailed and in 1928 he entered the Jesuit Order. Nine years later, following a papal request for priests to serve the faithful in Russia, he was ordained in the Russian Byzantine Rite and assigned to the USSR, only to be arrested soon afterward by the Soviet secret police on the preposterous charge of espionage. His sentence was severe even by Communist standards: five years of solitary confinement in Moscow's notorious Lubianka prison where he underwent endless interrogation, threats, indoctrination "sessions", and promises as empty as the austere cell to which he was confined. Following his internment there, he was transferred to a Siberian slave-labor camp where for another ten years he endured Rev. Walter]. Ciszek, S.]. the rigors of that hostile climate, grinding physical labor, and the everyday misery of prison life. PRAYER FORA FAVOR To be discovered performing his priestly duties meant instant reprisal- more THROUGH THE likely death. Yet, in stolen moments, he heard confessions, counseled and consoled INTERCESSION OF any and all who sought him out. Whenever possible, he managed to offer the FATHER WALTER CISZEK, S.J. sublime comfort of Holy Communion. On more than one occasion as he sat Almighty God, we love, adore and cautiously on the edge of his cot with his back to the door and the camp guard, he praise You as our Creator and Loving withdrew crusts of bread accumulated from the meager prison fare, and silently Father. Look with compassion and mercy consecrated them into the Eucharist, slowly and carefully administering each sacred upon us. Hear our prayer in this time of particle to the last communicant. special need and through the intercession In 1963 when he was finally released and returned to the United States via a of Father Walter Ciszek, grant the following favor if it is Your Holy Will. prisoner exchange arranged by Robert Kennedy, he was interviewed by a media eager to learn how he survived the deprivation and pain of those long years; he (Mention the Request) answered typically, "I felt I had learned much during those years of hardship and Most loving God, accept our gratitude for hearing this prayer. May the suffering that could be of help to others in their lives." It was God's plan for him knowledge of the virtues and holiness of and he readily embraced it. Father Walter be recognized and known When asked how he was able to come through his ordeal without so much as to provide a lasting example to draw a twinge of bitterness or ill feeling, he said simply, but profoundly, "I never forgot sinners to reconciliation and to lead souls that I was a priest." to sanctity. For You are our God and we are In this hour of anguish when a wounded clergy struggles to right a terrible Your people and we glorify You, Father, wrong, let us look to the sacrifice of Father Ciszek and take heart. In our need, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and let us borrow from his store of forever. Amen. faith in the providence of God's purpose and from the quiet Please inform the Prayer League of any special favors from Father Walter Ciszek. courage with which he served and graced the priesthood's holy call. REPORT FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARCH 6, 2010 MEETING By Rev Thomas J. Sable, S.J. The meeting began with Prayer for the Cause of Canonization of Father The Wheat and the Weeds Ciszek. Jesus uses parables taken from every day events and loca Msgr. Bocian asked the group to review the minutes regarding tions. I don't think that there are many residents of Scranton, membership on the Board for the co-postulators; he felt that there was a where I live, who are familiar with the joys of wheat or a need to clarify whether ex-officio members would be voting members of the wheat field unless it's ordering wheat toast instead of white at Board. Chick's Diner. There are many residents of Scranton, however, The minutes were approved with Donna Hinkle making the motion and who are familiar with the anguish of weeds. A weed in a gen all others present seconding that motion. The December Report from the eral sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term Board was also approved. to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in Elaine Cusat gave a report on Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable for the checking account as of December 31 for the year 2009. human-made settings such as gardens, lawns or agricultural That was followed by a good-news report of an unusual week for areas, but also in parks, woods and other natural areas. More donations to the prayer league. A thank-you note from Elaine Cusat was specifically, the term is often used to describe native or nonna read and flowers were presented to the Board in gratitude for sympathy tive plants that grow and reproduce aggressively. The dandeli expressed upon the death of Elaine's mother, Cecelia Chyko. on is a weed but it makes a fine green in salads. Weeds may be The date for the annual Father Ciszek Day celebration will be October unwanted because they are unsightly, or they limit the growth 17, 201 0; a letter will be going to His Excellency, Bishop Barres, regarding of other plants by blocking light or using up nutrients from the principal celebrant and homilist for the occasion. soil. The morning glory has beautiful flowers but it chokes oth The group agreed to continue the practice of the Fr. Ciszek anniversary er plants. Weeds also can harbor and spread plant pathogens Mass. It could be scheduled for St. Casimir Church; Msgr. Flanagan will that infect and degrade the quality of other plants. Weeds may also schedule it so children of Trinity Academy could attend at Annunciation be a nuisance because they have thorns or prickles. The thistle Church that day, if weather should be inclement. is considered a weed but it is used to make shampoo and soup Sr. Doris reported on an article about Fr. Ciszek to be published in the special Easter issue of the WORD among us; an article by Fr. Peter in Europe. Some weeds cause skin irritation when contacted, Cameron, OP printed in the February 2010 issue of MAGNIFICAT; and a such as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac. chapter of a book by Archbishop Jose Gomez, Men of Brave Heart: the Wheat is much more useful. Wheat is a worldwide culti Virtue of Courage in the Priestly Life, published by OSV Press. vated grass. Wheat is the second most produced food among Msgr. Bocian informed the Board of amendments to the by-laws for the cereal crops; Wheat grain is a staple food used to make updated registration of incorporation with the state of Pennsylvania. He flour for leavened, fiat and steamed breads; cookies, cakes, also presented changes of wording in the "Guidelines and Instructions for pasta, noodles and couscous; and for fermentation to make Forming a Local Chapter of the Father Walter Ciszek fJray_er_LeagU.e. c.b~. alwhol,-vod.ka or-t>iofucl..*heat is planted to a limited- - The Board discussed procedures for recommending new members to the extent as a forage crop for livestock, and the straw can be used Board of Directors, and for maintaining membership as Associate Directors. as fodder for livestock or as a construction material for roofing Msgr. Bocian will schedule one Mass each month for members of the thatch in some countries. Prayer League; Father Sable offers Mass at 4PM every 3rd Tuesday of the month . It's hard for us to tell who is the wheat or the weed today. The meeting closed with a prayer and was followed by lunch in the Father Walter Ciszek explains our modem day difficulties: convent. "There are moments of crisis in every life, moments of anxiety and fear, moments of frustration and opposition, moments "For/From the Friends of Walter Ciszek, S.J." sometimes even of terror. The Kingdom of Christ - that A Publi cation of the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League kingdom of justice and peace, of love and of truth- has not yet Official Organi zation fo r the Promotion of the Cause of been achieved here on earth; it has begun, but much remains Canoni zation of Father Walter Ciszek, S.J. to be done before it can reach its fullness and all creation will 23 1 N. Jardin Street Shenandoah, PA 17976 have again been made new according to the mind of the Father. Evil still exists alongside justice like the cockle among the Editor: DanielL. Flaherty, S.J. wheat, hatred alongside love, the good with the bad, the sinner Executive Editor : Elaine C usat along with the saint. None of us, then, can escape the tensions Staff: M sgr. Anthony D . Muntone, of this imperfect world - neither sinner nor saint, good or bad, Rev. Thomas F. Sable, S.J., the weak or the strong, the healthy or the sick, the learned or Circulation M anager Sister Doris Burkot, O.S.F.

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