No. 4 THE October 2016 CABRINI COMMUNICATOR A newsletter by and for the St. Frances Cabrini community

We the people of St. Frances Cabrini are a searching community of wounded healers. From the Pastor… We are called by God to live the Dear Friends, non-violent love of Christ in our I arrived at St. Frances Cabrini April 24, four weeks after Mike community action and personal lives. Tegeder had begun a medical leave to deal with the complications We exercise active leadership in the life of his cancer treatments. I considered it a sacred privilege to be of our community. with you during that time. We cared, we worried, we prayed, we We express and understand ourselves in hoped. It is difficult, even painful, to live in the unknowing of the Eucharist, worship, religious formation, wellness of someone we love and cannot see. and social consciousness and action. The announcement of Mike’s entering hospice care on June –– The St. Frances Cabrini Mission Statement 25 pierced our hope. The weight of your pain was visible and felt at Masses that weekend. The heaviness drained your energy to somber prayer. That weekend we entered a period of vigil. The news of Mike’s death two weeks later on July 9 seemed, in some sense, a relief, a lifting of our pain, knowing Mike’s suffering had come to an end. We knew Mike was embraced by the Ever- Musings Living, Ever-Loving, Ever-Enfolding God. The entire journey has been a sacred privilege for all of us in on our Mission communion, the Cabrini family of believers. Years ago a friend said to me, “Grieving is the privilege that comes from having loved someone.” Your grieving is understood. e… are a SEARCHING Community… Parishioners have mentioned, “You have big shoes to fill.” I respond that I can’t fill Mike’s shoes nor can anyone fill the shoes WIf you or I had been asked (presuming of another. I follow Mike as the next pastor of Cabrini. We all have that we were alive then—and Catholic) back different gifts. I understand the comment to be an expression of in 1955 to define the Church, I bet that we your love and respect for Mike and the uncertainty of what the would have reached for answer #111 in the parish will be without him. Baltimore Catechism and quickly responded: Now and then someone will say, “Mike used to…, I remember “The Catholic Church is the society of all the when Mike would say…, I always liked the way Mike…, Mike faithful who profess the faith of Christ, partake would probably…,” etc. of the same sacraments, and are governed by Don’t hesitate to express any such sentiment in my presence. their lawful pastors under one visible head.” I understand every spoken memory is another step in letting go. Back then that was our common understanding Such memories today may be bedded in sadness or loss. As these of Church, with no mention of community in memories are repeated they will gradually become memories of the definition. gratitude, and then seamlessly blessed with joy. Healing is a time of becoming, a time of grace. The Holy Spirit Then in the early 1960s the Second Vatican will guide us in becoming who God is calling us to be as we grow Council exploded in our Church and world forward. Continued on page 3 –– Paul Moudry What a Difference a Year Makes

ince starting my employment at would be desirable in a new archbishop I also wondered how our situation Cabrini in October 2013, I had for our archdiocese, as well as names might be different had the dedicated Salways found Fr. Mike’s Pastor’s of local priests that might possess members of CCCR and CoB not had Comments to be a source of comfort these traits. After Hebda became our the conversations that eventually led and inspiration, especially during apostolic administrator, representatives them to act on their instincts to ask our the troubled times our archdiocese from CCCR and CoB asked to then temporary leader to conduct these has experienced the last three years, meet with him. In that meeting they listening sessions. culminating in criminal charges being encouraged him to conduct listening These things all take courage. They filed against the Archdiocese of Saint sessions to hear what the people of take wisdom. They take honesty. Paul & Minneapolis for failing to the archdiocese wanted from a new, If these words sound familiar, it’s protect children. Those charges have permanent archbishop. Hebda indeed probably because you had been praying since been dismissed, but shortly before conducted ten such sessions across the from Fr. Mike’s prayer card before he Mike’s death I was looking back at archdiocese with an estimated 2000 died, because courage, wisdom and some of his columns, I suppose, once people attending. The Vatican even honesty are all hallmarks of Mike again, for comfort and inspiration. The sent a representative to be present at Tegeder—qualities which Mike had following is an excerpt from his June three of them. The listening sessions for demonstrated and taught us through 28, 2015 Pastor’s Comments, written this purpose were unprecedented; the daily example. This was simply the way less than two weeks after former Vatican sending someone to be there, the Spirit worked through Fr. Mike. archbishop John Nienstedt “resigned” almost unthinkable. Today we indeed have a new his position—saying he was leaving In these sessions the people were shepherd in our archdiocese, one who with a clear conscience—and Bernard asked to talk amongst their tables and seems to be a good listener, one who Hebda was named temporary and then share a few words they felt would has been said to embody the vision of part-time apostolic administrator for describe a good archbishop. One table Pope Francis, and, yes, one that was the archdiocese—temporary because said they had narrowed it down to one supposed to be somewhere else. he was supposed to be assuming word: Hebda. Now, in 2016, we have a What a difference a year makes. Or the position of archbishop for the new archbishop and his name, indeed, so the saying goes. But let’s not forget Archdiocese of Newark in July 2016, is Hebda. what a difference the inspiration of and part-time because he was splitting What struck me about Mike’s one person and the dedication and his duties between here and Newark. comments when I reread them in late persistence of a few can also make. Here’s what Fr. Mike had to say at June was his insight regarding the –– Mary Lou Sweet, that time about the possibility of a people needing to have a voice and Parish Administrator permanent replacement for the position ownership when it comes to important of “archbishop.” matters of our archdiocese and his Fr. Mike’s Pastor’s Comments can be “Do not expect a white knight belief that a true leader will be most found at www.cabrinimn.org/pastors- replacement. We have to have a voice effective when chosen by all. In an comments in and ownership of our beloved April 9 email to me, Mike had actually Archdiocese of Lake Wobegon. I will said, “If I have any legacy at Cabrini I constructively work with others on this hope it is that I tried to encourage adult Summer Endings essential effort to have a new beginning conversation about vital things,” so it’s A wistfulness in green leaves reflecting the wise words of Pope Leo clear how important the matter of open the Great in the fifth century: ‘Whoever discussion was to him. before they start to fall is to lead all, must be chosen by all.’” After pondering all of this, I began A heightened listening to the You may recall that prior to that to wonder how our situation here in breeze as if to hear her call time the Catholic Coalition for Saint Paul and Minneapolis might be As taking back her gifts of life, Church Reform and the Council of the very different today if Mike Tegeder God grants leaves in return Baptized—which Mike supported— had not been a supporter and a source Sweet consciousness of coming had implemented a program to get the of encouragement for CCCR and home to love beyond concern. people’s input on characteristics that CoB since their formation in 2008. – Benton Randolph

2 Musings, continued from page 1 and suddenly, in the deliberations and or confirming the community, always documents of the Council, we had over challenging the listeners to live the 100 images and descriptions for our Word in all the communities they Singing to the Echoes Church, ranging from Pius XII’s term belong to. Singing to the echoes in closing “Mystical Body” to “House of God” 5. Church as Servant: This model journey to “Bride of Christ” and on and on. In of Church understands the Church pictures memories in tenor hums. 1974, within ten years of the end of as coming into existence only when As vibrations form in distant the Council, Avery Dulles, S.J., wrote the community sees the wounded and tympanies a masterful synthesis of the Council injured of the world and gets down into as muffled mallets of turning wheels treatment of ecclesiology which he the ditch to attend to them, deciding begin the roll down endless runway. titled MODELS OF THE CHURCH. with the wounded if the proper Follows clicks and bounces to rising I have it in front of me as I type this. It response is mercy or justice or both. noise remains one of the ten most influential As I said upon launching into clearing center lines off land and books of my adult life. these five models, please excuse my earth. In that book Dulles teased out and simplification for the sake of brevity. integrated five “models” of Church Later Pope John Paul II put his own As blinking towers send wings on which he read as prevalent in the stamp on this conversation and wrote high Council Documents. I risk simplifying and spoke eloquently of the Church as above the blur of lights way out over to the point of being simplistic, but a Community of Disciples, called to the open waters. here is a brief summary of the five: intimacy by the risen Lord and living As ever harder and fiercer spinning 1. Church as Institution: This is that intimacy in all their relationships. growls similar to the Baltimore Catechism But back to our Mission sends liner into pitch black dark. statement above. The Church is Statement and our use of the word As screams of engines echo down carefully, hierarchically structured COMMUNITY, which we actually use to dangerous night of world wide to teach, sanctify, and govern, with a three times in our Mission Statement. ocean. certain set of beliefs and a certain way I propose that the health of Cabrini As mists of clouds wrap around to worship. is largely due to the inspiration of the in mystic form of a gentle vail, 2. Church as Mystical Communion: Spirit, calling us to synthesize all of hiding views of a closing journey. This is the “charismatic” model, which these understandings of Church in our life together. We gather as disciples of envisions each of the baptized bringing While viewing reflections in shiny Jesus, primarily on Sunday, to hear the her or his gifts to the community for black windows confirmation and for mission. Word and to respond to it; to celebrate looking behind through Plexiglass, 3. Church as Sacrament: This Eucharist; to confirm the gifts of one as sights below of joyous moments understanding of Church sees the another; and to send each other in melt away people gathering to celebrate the service to all creation, wherever and in perplexing memories left in Death and Rising of Jesus the Christ, however we encounter it. And, yes, we mystery in crossing equator. to receive the power of the risen Jesus are an institution, if ever so loosely. That Renewing lives in changing in communion and to go forth to be is as close as I can come today as to why hemispheres Eucharist in and for the world. I am a Cabrini-ite Sunday by Sunday, 4. Church as Herald; This model and, hopefully, day by day. How about then crossing lines of hourly zones. sees the Word as gathering the you? community, with the Word confronting Urges touching hand to lips –– Dick Rice to blow a kiss back behind to lonely islands and foreign lands. Losing time and distance in tiny portions of thoughts and prints of inner soul. Creating dreams to lower wings as sprits scream with banging drums to turn about and return again. – Kara Kirsch

3 What is a Community?

uring my life time I have been and the greater community we live This surplus is to go into the capital privileged to belong to several in.We already do an amazing amount improvement fund, which has been Dcommunities that had a significant in- for each other and for our world, but our practice for the last several years. fluence on my life. I belonged to parishes I think it is safe to say that we are not We are running a separate campaign to that were communities, and others that finished. retire the $23,000 debt accruing from were only parishes from my point of I recently served on the committee the Franklin Ave. repaving. view. I belong to a “recovery”community to advise the Parish Council on the All parishioners will receive a mailing that has had a profound impact on my distribution of the tithe from the asking for a financial commitment for life and my family. My current neigh- Tegeder Endowment. All of the the up-coming year. We are not making borhood is a community in that people nearly 40 organizations nominated any recommendation about the level of treat each other with respect, share had at least one parishioner actively your commitment, and recognize that ideas, and support each other in need. involved, and most had many more. generosity is not measured by the size I could go on and on about my story, These organizations represent only a of the donation. We also know and but what follows is a discussion about small number of our members who appreciate that you probably have other the community I care about most right regularly “live the Beatitudes”. Some organizations which you support. The now. of these organizations are involved reason we ask for a commitment is that Our parish, St. Frances Cabrini, is with social or church reform, and in order to continue to be financially truly a community in that the members this represents another aspect of our responsible, we budget based on care about each other beyond the scope community, willingness to change for commitments made. of liturgies; we care about the world we the betterment of the Church and the This is my first effort leading a live in and take action to improve it; we world. campaign of this nature. I have always are progressive in our social values; and We are calling our stewardship avoided involvement in fund raising we are resilient in the face of adversity. effort the “Campaign for the Future”. activities, but I was urged to do so by Our recent history has involved the This name is not intended to dishonor colleagues, and upon reflection I realize death of a beloved Pastor, the death of or diminish any past efforts, but that I have a stronger bond to the influential members of our community, emphasizes that we cannot change the Cabrini Community than any other the collapse of the leadership of our past and must go forward. We have I have experienced. It is a privilege Archdiocese, and a reversal of our core a new Pastor and a new Archbishop to belong to a group of independent values by our Church. And still we and many new community members. thinkers who are able to unify around remain! I must point out that although we had vital issues. I believe that we are a A group of parishioners (the many funerals in the past year, we also persistent progressive voice that has finance committee), and Pastor Paul had more Baptisms, and quite a few had an impact, and is it important to Moudry met recently to discuss the weddings. The words and actions of our continue our efforts in honor of those financial status of our parish, and look new Archbishop and our Pope indicate who preceded us; and to turn the legacy to the future of our community. We that many of the reforms we seek are over to the next generations. were satisfied that the parish is on a more possible than they were five years Now some last details that are reasonably sound footing financially, ago. important. Please consider electronic but as in any human endeavor, we By now, dear reader, you can see the payment of your financial commitment. must plan for the future carefully. I point of this article. To accomplish our A large percentage of parishioners have been assigned the task of leading goals we need a parish organization have chosen this option, and it greatly the effort to have a “Campaign for the to provide educational, pastoral and improves our cash flow. If you are not Future”. This campaign, involves the other services to keep us together. We involved in a committee, a ministry, or usual idea of a financial commitment to also have a facility to maintain and any other activity of the parish, please the parish community, but as everyone improve. Our fiscal year ended June share your talents. knows, activities are what differentiates 30 with parish income under budget Thank you for reading and more us; and a large part of our campaign by about $13,000, but because of cost importantly, thank you for being a part is to encourage every parishioner to containment efforts, we ended the year of the community I cherish. participate in the parish community with a surplus of slightly over $30,000. –– Joe Eschenbacher

4 Aging Together

We know that surprising and life-giving things happen when people share their stories with others who are walking similar paths. So as the two of us were having coffee one day, talking about what it means to get older, it occurred to us that other people might want to talk about this very topic. And so we reserved Garvey Hall for three mornings last spring, invited Cabrini-ites over the age of 60 to join us, came up with a few discussion questions, made some coffee, and waited to see what would happen. Not only were we overwhelmed by the numbers— between 20 and 30 people came to each of three sessions—but challenged by the thoughtful, honest, invigorating discussions that centered on three questions: What expectations did we have for this stage of our lives and what surprised us? How do we offer and ask for help from each other? How might we create an intentional community that could support us as we age? At the end of the third session, there was the final question: Where do we go from here? We had no idea how all of this might evolve, but there it was: People forming subgroups to investigate topics around aging, with the expectation that we’ll meet again in the fall for some follow-up. Those topics: Spirituality—Enhancing and encouraging means to live our values; Health—Practicing healthy habits, as well as managing medical information; Housing— Investigating options that might even include communal residences; Social activities—Designing ways to nurture our social and intellectual selves; Zip codes—Creating a geographical database to make it easier to call on our neighbors; Resources—Researching what other churches might be doing and creating our own capacity to care for each other. The social group is already talking yoga classes, and other groups are also working on their agendas. We’ll keep you posted about that, as well as discussion sessions this fall.

–– Cathleen O’Leary and Mary Shafer

“Goddess Demeter” — Demeter is a Greek Goddess of nature and agriculture and is a piece I was paid to do several years ago for a woman making a therapy game for other women. I was asked to present the goddesses (I illustrated 8 different ones) in a style that would not be recognizable from any particular age in time… difficult to do. This was my interpretation using some of the symbols that go with Demeter. Many people have liked the piece for the calming maternal look that it portrays. – Vicki Deutsch

5 Conversion to Catholicism

have been asked why I decided to Roman Empire, and has shaped social that I did not belong there, I did not convert to Catholicism after 76 years attitudes to this day. Children growing connect anymore. I did not formally Iof life as a Protestant. For an answer, up in Protestant Northern Germany leave the church; that is, I allowed I thought about a faith journey, but ‘learned’ that Catholics were inferior the state to continue collecting the realized that the term was inappropriate. to Lutherans, and that Catholics were church tax. (Unless one tells the state When I embark on a journey, I have a mean and liars. (So much for the otherwise, it assesses ten percent of destination in mind. My conversion did inculcation of bias). one’s income tax obligation on behalf not result from purposeful deliberation; In reaction to the devastating policies of the two ‘established’ denominations, rather, it came about at the confluence of the Nazi regime and the Holocaust, the Lutheran and the Roman Catholic of numerous influences, the most overt discrimination of Jews has Church). I also continued attending important of which I shall describe. been legally forbidden and is socially Sunday church services in the small I did not choose the Lutheran faith unacceptable in post-World War II town in which I was stationed, because when I was born and soon thereafter Germany. Children’s books, depicting the town expected an officer in dress baptized in our beautiful, 700-year Jews as undesirables, disappeared with uniform to demonstrate the military’s old church in my hometown of Celle the surrender of Germany in 1945. connection with society. I did not mind. in Northern Germany. I became a Thus, public policy has outlawed German history may in part be Lutheran by default, because Northern discrimination of Jews and attempted to understood as the conflict between Germany, with the exception of a few counteract bias against them. Religious church and state, which ebbed with Catholic enclaves, has been Protestant bias, however, continued unabated in changing intensity from the reign of for centuries. For Celle in particular, my childhood and youth. Religious Charlemagne, 800-814, to the ‘Culture it was Duke Ernst the Confessor sensitivities were also observed at the Struggle’ of 1871-1887, when Bismarck who adopted the Lutheran faith and highest level of government in that finally subjected the Roman Catholic introduced it in his duchy in 1527— the cabinet was comprised of equal Church to state control. Another strand primarily for political reasons, I should numbers of Lutherans and Catholics is, of course, the often violent struggle say, and at the expense of severing through the 1960s. (This practice was of Lutheranism versus Catholicism his relationship with his father, Duke not a constitutional requirement). since Luther’s proclamation of his 95 Henry 1, who found refuge in Catholic As a child and youth, I attended Theses in 1517. Yet more important for France. church services regularly and was the understanding of German history Four hundred years of conflict very active in the Lutheran youth is the Church’s role in the formation of between the Roman Catholic Church organization. (Of course, we had no culture and society. and the reformed religion resulted contact with the Catholic Boy Scouts). Modern Europe is unthinkable in devastating wars, determined the In 7th grade, I suffered an identity crisis without the Church; that is, the internal and foreign policies of the Holy of sorts when I learned that my most Church as an institution. Whereas influential teacher was a Catholic. I any institution can be destructive or found an explanation: There are always even a force of evil, the Church has exceptions to the rule. been mostly a force of hope and good Inner Colors Can Come Out By 13th grade, I had become aware of throughout its history. Human foibles my religious and other biases. Intensive are part of all institutional life, but they I think red Sumac is afraid studies of history and philosophy had do not define the institution except in To storm green Summer’s barricade. raised questions for which I had no extreme cases such as the Nazi state So quietly comes change at night. answers. I suppose I averted slipping or Stalin’s Gulag. And sex abuse and Must give the green an awful into a funk of valuelessness (anomie) related bankruptcies do not define the fright! only by my concentration on my (first) Church or a diocese. Once change is here, the choice is professional career as an artillery I admire the Roman Catholic clear: officer in the German armed forces. I Church for its creative impact. I New learning! Time to give up have an intense memory of the Friday also recognize the Church’s historic fear. afternoon when I stood in the choir struggle of the primacy of institutional – Benton Randolph of our church and suddenly realized direction against individual conscience.

6 Individual conscience as a basis for decision prevailed in the first five hundred years of the Church. Thereafter, the Church ruled primarily in its institutional capacity. Vatican II attempted to restore conscience to preeminence, a process which is still continuing. In my professorial career of 44 years at Catholic universities I have had the privilege of serving with people of faith whom I admired for their dedication to service and who influenced my thinking. The celebration of the Catholic liturgy appeals to my emotions. It connects me with a truth, which cannot be found in books. It invites me to reflection and to listening to my inner self. It sets me free. The historic developments of which I spoke, my confrontation with bias, the admiration which I have for the institutional Church, its call for “Umbrian Village”—Imagine walking through the rolling fields of Umbria, Italy, taking in conscientious action, the emotional all the color, the cypress, the regal villas perched on hill crowns... impact of liturgy; all of these influences – Joelle Imholt came together in my decision to convert. It found expression in my Bountiful Personal Statement on the occasion of The fertile, autumn fields my confirmation and reception into the Church: producing golds of every hue “I am joining an institution, which quietly waiting has shaped the history of peoples around for the harvesting of their bounty. the globe, including mine. I am joining a Church that challenges me to live by my She is pregnant, laying in a bean bag chair conscience and thus makes me free.” with her dark-haired daughters on each side. –– Heino Albert Paul Dietrich As she reads to them they listen, curled into her Bonhoeffer Beckmann while another life pulses in her rounded womb.

Soon, the fields will release to the combine. Sharing their wealth at kitchen tables. Through the winter they will rest returning to their rich black self.

The book is closed. She pushes herself up with an elbow as the girls scurry to bed, tucking them in kissing their sleepy heads.

She walks down the darkened hall waiting—waiting for her season of giving, from her pulsing womb.

– Hannah Dzik 7 The Sacred Liturgy: The Synchronized Heartbeat of a Community

oseph Gelineau once observed well. Both meet in the story. Actually, There are many moments of “aha”- that the liturgy “is a parabolic there is a neurological, heart-mind insight. You grow. You question. You typeJ of activity (which throws us connection between the storyteller change. You have new visions of what aside), metaphorical (which takes us and the listener. Both heartbeats is contained in the mystery. You slowly somewhere else), allegorical (which synchronize. The two hear the parable leave the world. You become free. You speaks of something else), and symbolic at levels they are capable of hearing it. glimpse God. You hear what you need. (which brings together and makes A definition of the parable dissipates You work for a right relationship with connections).” and destroys its power, which is a deep all things (justice). These aspects of the liturgy have the heart-mind connecting power. Those planning and arranging all power to shape the identity and vitality The skilled preacher knows how the aspects of liturgy must be skilled of a Christian community. There are to develop integrity within himself/ in understanding the power of parable, root metaphors, parabolic narratives, herself, how to speak from a heart metaphor, symbol, sign, pace, the and primary symbols at the heart of that is congruent with the intellect, heartbeat of a story, the heartbeat of ecclesial worship. tell the story with a pace that reflects a particular community so as to help “Nothing short of deeply imaged promises a relationship to the listeners and the listeners stay in relationship to the of God will do: thus we are to engage more without a definition of parable and storyteller (lector/preacher). Then, the vigorously in the liturgy of Jesus as living metaphor that would break the heart- group (whose name is Freedom) might eschatological art.” mind connection. experience God, and go out from the – Don E. Saliers The whole of salvation history is gathering (church) to live the life of a story, the two most important parts God, whose name is Justice. Jesus taught in parables. It is a being Creation and Exodus. The liturgy powerful method. It places authority is a way for a living community to tell Note: If two heart cells, from two different in the listener: “You”(plural) as in “the the stories of salvation, break bread that human hearts, are placed on slides under Kingdom of God is within you.” The welcomes all to the table of hospitality, a microscope, the separate cells will Spirit dwells in Jesus, the proclaimer and synchronize the hearts of those fribulate. As the slides are moved closer of the Good News and Jesus, the gathered to the heartbeat of Christ. together, they can be observed establishing storyteller. One might say, the whole religion is a synchronized pulse. But the Spirit indwells within the a poem. You tumble into its meaning bit –– Millie Dosh. M.A. listening person and the community as by bit. You get glimpses here and there.

A Different Idea One day I shall imbibe the Primal Ether And all four limbs will be in harmony Floating, floating I’ll mount a solitary crane And vastly, vastly ride the long wind! One leap up and I’ll pierce ten thousand miles Soaring on high, reaching the azure vault! My powerful ambition set on the ninth heaven, My journeying heart covering all the four seas! Towering, mountainous colored clouds will rise Scintillating, the morning sun rise red. All ten thousand creatures will emit a brilliant radiance And the eight corners of the universe- how dazzling they will be! The Achieved Man must engage in perfect transformation, So wondrous junctures will never be exhausted Once metamorphosed into the bones of an immortal, Free and easy wandering without beginning or end!

– Fukuda Kodojin- Landscape 1926

Translation by Jonathon Chaves 8 via Bob Reid Looking Ahead Toward Our 25th Year

utting two coats of paint on 40 and raising the massive outside wall of situation, education, ethnic background, pieces of 12-foot corner-round, a house, or sheet-rocking ceilings and or country of birth. Ptucked away in a shady spot by myself walls of rooms with a team of workers. As we look toward Cabrini taking for most of a rather hot day, this past A little extra bonus to it all has been part in Tres Eglesias’ 25th summer summer at the Habitat for Humanity acquiring a few skills that could be Habitat for Humanity work, I realize house, gave me lots of time for thought! useful in one’s own home, such as the one of the aspects of any day on the I found myself reflecting back on our bit of sheet-rocking, taping, mudding, worksite that warms my heart the 24 years of this work as a parish, sharing and sanding I was able to do in our most is seeing Cabrini members in this project with neighbor churches— kitchen, thanks entirely to what I had their younger adult years bringing their Tres Eglesias (“three churches”), and learned at Habitat. energy and skills to the project. Though interacting with each other in fresh The opportunity to meet the future most people that age have full-time ways, quite a bit different than our owner of the home, hear their story, jobs and treasure each vacation day encounters at church. These thoughts and perhaps even work with them on they earn, it is inspiring to see them led to images of the many houses the house, is a beautiful and inspiring take and use a vacation day or two to rehabbed or built new, and all the experience, underscoring the hopes be a part of this effort. Even when I am various projects and tasks this entailed. and dreams we all share, of the dignity no longer physically able to do some of Recalling one of the first years, when of having a home of one’s own, and a the work I have done in the past, I’ll I felt reluctant to go up on a ladder, safe place to raise a family. It makes us be there with my camera to capture the but soon found myself doing roofing, realize what we all have in common— smiling faces and witness the generous straddling the peak of the second story whatever our age, skills, socio-economic work being done. of a north Minneapolis house we were –– Chris Kosowski helping to re-hab, it was humbling to realize what I no longer can do! At 64, I now stay off ladders and scaffolding, leaving that to the younger, steadier folks. My children were eager to share in the project in those early years, and excitedly joined in the workdays when they reached the acceptable age, enjoying taking on challenges, such as climbing scaffolding to the 3rd story A Different Idea to fix the trim. The two younger ones were ecstatic the year we laid sod, and One day I shall imbibe the Primal Ether the age for participation was lowered, And all four limbs will be in harmony giving them an early entry into Habitat Floating, floating I’ll mount a solitary crane participation. The year we poured And vastly, vastly ride the long wind! concrete sidewalks and a slab, one son One leap up and I’ll pierce ten thousand miles took the lead in the project and put Soaring on high, reaching the azure vault! forth more hard-working effort than I My powerful ambition set on the ninth heaven, had ever witnessed in him. My journeying heart covering all the four seas! Skilled workers from our church Towering, mountainous colored clouds will rise communities have been patient in Scintillating, the morning sun rise red. helping novices like me learn how to use All ten thousand creatures will emit a brilliant radiance power saws, nail guns, and other tools. And the eight corners of the universe- how dazzling they will be! “The HumanFish” — the current title is one of many names over the years and it is a piece It is a joy to look at a framed in closet or that also has changed a bit since its first conception. It started as a fish that was cleaning up The Achieved Man must engage in perfect transformation, an outside wall of a house covered with the human trash thrown into its world of water. Being surrounded by the human trash was So wondrous junctures will never be exhausted hardy board, and know that a small gradually changing the fish and bringing out human features...... including the hands which Once metamorphosed into the bones of an immortal, group of us did it together. Shared were, in a good way, helping it to pick up more of the human trash. Eventually it became the Free and easy wandering without beginning or end! satisfaction flows from jointly building highly decorated fish that you see now without the trash surrounding it.

– Vicki Deutsch

– Fukuda Kodojin- Landscape 1926

Translation by Jonathon Chaves via Bob Reid 9 A Progress Report: On Reading the Parables of Jesus

f I were picking up the Bible and In some moods, I dismiss this in our own time, would miss many reading around in the summer question. The parables provoke thought. variations on themes and exceptions Iparables—the prodigal son, the unjust Thought is good. End of story. to rules. Historians in the future may steward, the good Samaritan, the But wouldn’t it be a shame if I missed know what laws were on the books but wedding feast, the narrow gate—I the point? not necessarily how they were applied would likely make some connections to So I think about what limits can be or enforced. They may get pictures my life and then think about them for a put on readings, how to winnow down of the ideal family, the normative while, take it away to my den like found the mass of possible ways of thinking. career, the People Magazine version of bones. So, for example, I read about the One might look at the moral as stated success, but not necessarily a sense of farmer who hatches a plan to secure his in the passage. Usually, after Jesus the compromises and resignations and future by building new barns for a large tells a story, he goes on to explain it creative adaptations that intelligent harvest. He is surprised when he dies to the disciples, or he draws the moral people made to those ideals and norms before the barns are finished. Reading from it. This stuff is often taken by and versions. If one becomes conscious that, I say: ‘Yes, I am always looking scholars to be later than the parable of what an historian even two hundred ahead, making plans on the assumption itself—an attempt by editors to apply years from now would miss about our of extra life. Clearly, if I knew I was the tradition they have received to own lives and time, the texture that going to die soon, lots of that activity the needs of a particular community. doesn’t get captured in documents and would seem pointless, and I would do (The work of the Jesus Seminar is very pronouncements, one gets a sense of other things: visit my friends, spend important in separating the layers of the limits of historical context reading time with my dog.’ The story of the additions from the basic texts.) This as a guide to scriptural interpretation. farmer who builds new barns reminds commentary is not trivial material. It This general worry about history is me of a way of thinking that is very articulates one community’s experience, complicated by the fact that Jesus lived familiar to me, the grab for security and a point that some community has at a cultural crossroads, at a time of safety. It makes me look at my own first found valuable. It is at least a starting social change. We might be inclined impulse in a critical way. (I might go point for understanding the text. But to think of his teachings as arising in a home and pet the dog.) any explicit moral is usually just one sleepy village, from the experiences of a Reading the gospels in Word Team is more interpretation—not authoritative simple carpenter, but the sleepy village different from reading them by myself. advice on how to read the story. is a mile away from a large, energetic The Word Team gets so many meanings One might try to use historical Roman city, Sepphoris, with huge out of the text. We go around in a circle, scholarship to limit meanings. One building projects that might well have giving our first responses; usually, every knows that the First Century was lured craftsmen from the whole region. person has something different. This different from the Twenty First Century, In such a city, one might encounter information about how the story will that thoughts are available to us now an astonishing range of teachings and be heard is very useful for preaching; that would have been just impossible life experiences—including Greek one gets a feel for the possible mindsets then, and also that the First Century philosophic teachings. of this audience. One’s question as a had family structures, economic Then there is the problem of genius. preacher is: how do I say something realities, community relationships Ask a music historian what kind of helpful to people who begin with all assumed as background that we would music a composer born in 1756 might these interpretations, making all these find very strange. So, one has some have produced, and the historian will connections to issues in their lives? hope that one can eliminate readings be able to say a lot with certainty, Stepping back from the process, that rest on realities of our time and based on what such a person would remembering how it goes, week after search out readings that would have have heard, what lines of development week, I want to ask, “So, what is the real been natural in Jesus’ time. were emerging, what sorts of patronage point of any particular story?” The story This is important work. It has limits. were available in the late 18th Century. may provoke various thoughts, even History at a distance of two thousand But the historian could not predict obviously helpful and new thoughts, years can identify, from sketchy Mozart, could not predict what a mind but are they anywhere near to what evidence, general patterns of life. We fixed constantly on music from early Jesus had in mind? know, however, that such an account, childhood might come up with. So, if

10 we think of Jesus as a person obsessed exclusion of everything else. Building a but also likelier to get it right. He shows with certain relationships and problems new barn seems like a great idea when with some very elegant experiments from very early on, working something one is healthy and looking forward that people are often ruled by a set of out steadily over time, we have to admit to many years of prosperity. If one decision standards that they would that the things he could have come up learns one is going to die very soon, never endorse if they really looked at with may not be well explained by his it suddenly seems like a totally crazy them. We are animals who once had to context. project. The steward who is fired from make some decisions very quickly, and Is theology relevant? Some people his job comes to view business practices we carry with us intuitive mechanisms in the early church understood Jesus to that would have seemed bizarre to him that often don’t serve us very well. be a cosmic principle, equal to God, the the day before the firing as just the So, perhaps like Jesus, Kahneman sole mediator between humanity and right way to secure his future. If one recommends a habit of mind that God. Does the question, “What would pauses to consider what this structure tries to get some distance from first a person with that status say?” give means before rushing on to the next, impressions and first impulses. us any help in reading the gospels? I moral thought, one is left with a general I think about the recommendation can’t see how it could. If Jesus was very attitude toward life: whatever you value that one choose the narrow gate. When different from other human beings, as or pursue or take to be obvious, there’s one is coming back from the State a god among mortals is different, that likely a perspective from which that Fair, after the grandstand show, one is just eliminates any possible platform for is not valuable, not a good project, inclined to take the freeway home. One interpretation. We can’t say how a mind obviously false. One can imagine Jesus imagines all those lanes, no stoplights, like that might think. So my working observing rigid commitments and a direct route. One might then pause hypothesis is that, if this grand picture noticing that they can be dissolved by a minute and reflect that tens of of the ultimate significance of Jesus a simple shift in perspective. thousands of people are having that has truth to it, whatever Jesus became I suspect that, whatever moral or same thought and heading in the same arose out of an understandable human social-critical direction Jesus’ teaching direction, and choose instead to take experience. It is not impossible that the eventually takes, it begins its life as a the back road. (See A Beautiful Mind meaning of a life might be larger than cluster of mental habits and approaches, for an economic version of this idea.) the person living it can understand. a way of seeing through things. My project over the last couple But, so far as I can see, if one attributes Here is another possible member of of years has been to identify a way god-like consciousness to the author of this cluster. Think about that story of of thinking and seeing underlying the parables, one simply gives up on the the feast where someone sees a place different stories and sayings in the project of discovering what they meant. next to the host and runs to grab it. gospels. It seems to me likely that Any “good” reading is as likely as any That is a natural move. One wants whatever moral and social revolution other. One might be forced to come to honor. One goes for the best place. the gospels contain is somehow founded this conclusion, at the end of the day, But the natural move, the first thing on a new way of seeing, one that breaks but it is a shame to give up too early on that occurs to a person, risks disgrace, the hold of established conventions and the idea that these stories might teach in certain very likely circumstances: assumptions. us something radically new, if we pay the host is saving that place for a I have been influenced in the last the right kind of attention. distinguished friend. One can add the few years by the hopeful story Norman How do we proceed? moral point: don’t be concerned about Doidge tells in his books, The Brain One way I begin is to look for a honor, practice humility, stuff like that. that Changes Itself and The Brain’s minimal content to the stories, a set of But, again, if one pauses just before the Way of Healing, both introductions to ideas that come up over and over and moral point, there is a general habit of the science of neuroplasticity—the idea that might be the basic insight, out of mind evident here: be suspicious of the that basic ways of processing experience which various applications arise. I want direct approach, of your first impulse, can be rewired by conscious effort, and to ask: what did Jesus tend to notice and of what comes naturally. Again, one that there is a clear direction toward think about? He tells a lot of stories, can imagine Jesus watching people go health and human connection that for example, that show how different astray in that way and gathering stories. provides a rationale for such rewiring perspectives change one’s way of seeing. Daniel Kahneman, a behavioral efforts. These books, which remind me A coin in the box of ten is just one tenth economist, talks about two systems of of the New Testament in their spirit, of one’s wealth. But a lost coin becomes judgment, one very fast and tending to raise an important question for me: did an obsession. One thinks about it to the simplify choices, the other much slower Continued on page 14

11 The Outdoor Mass in Pictures

12 The Journey Offerings from Ojibwa Braves seeking guidance on their journeys hang from branches of the sacred gnarled old tree. The waters are cold, deep and dark and waves are cruel but the Little Cedar Spirit Tree stands unbending with roots that grew deep into hardened ledge-rock. We pull our blankets of courage tighter as we pray over Mike and his Warrior’s heart as he paddles for the distant Isle and its beautiful shores. We offer prayers for safe passage and thanksgiving for showing us how to fight battles that need to be fought. We stand as two Communities while smoke of incense and tobacco mingle and merge in rituals joined by learned respect of differences. – Steven M. Lukas

13 Part One: In the 21st Century What Happens to Human Bodies At Death and How Did We Get Here?

“Death, the epitome of separation and loss, family tomb along with his male and will ever reach the level of Japan where is a reality of life for everyone.” female ancestors. In the New Testament 98 percent of deaths lead to cremation, – Rutherford Jesus, Lazarus, and others are buried in but the trend is obvious and the United tombs. States will soon compare to Great s I slept near his side during the Although burial and cremation Britain’s 70 percent. night of July 14, 1986, in his home were widely known and practiced, the In part two, I will look at the impact inA the Midway District of Saint Paul, classic Greco-Roman normal practice of cremation on the rituals surrounding my father breathed his last. In the for disposing the human body was by the time of death. morning Mary, his wife, and my family a wood-fueled pyre (a very different –– Joe Reid gathered around his body to say good- process than modern day cremation). bye. After our tearful farewells the It was the norm in the first century funeral home staff placed his body in a AD and the exception by the fourth. body bag to transport it to the funeral For more than 1600 years burials were home to prepare his body for its next the dominant practice in the Western place. His open coffin visitation, funeral world. By the late 19th century a major A Progress Report, continued from page 11 mass and burial in St. Peter’s cemetery shift was underway. Under a number in Mendota Heights followed a of influences cremation became an Jesus discover a new kind of mind, and century’s old Catholic tradition. alternative to burial. was his fundamental teaching—at some At the same time, throughout the Initially banned by the Roman point in his career—a recommendation United States, practices surrounding Catholic Church in 1886, Paul VI’s of that mind? death and the treatment of dead bodies decree De Cadaverum Crematione One of our Easter readings, Ezekiel were undergoing rapid changes. lifted the ban in 1963. The resistance to 36, puts these words in the mouth of a Humans care for the dead bodies of the practice arose not from the means very frustrated God, a God at his wit’s other humans because we have always but from the intent. Intentionally end: “I will give you a new heart, and a cared for the dead. For thousands or not, and in many instances it was new spirit I will put within you. And of years humans have been the only intentional, cremation symbolized a I will remove the heart of stone from species, under normal circumstances, specific denial of the Christian belief your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” and apart from the atrocities of war in the Resurrection and a rejection of Every year, this reading alarms me. I and the aftermath of natural disasters, religion in general. think of bio-engineering, and of all to protect at death the body of family The first cremation in America the projects dictators have undertaken members, friends, and neighbors, took place on December 6, 1876 in to remake their people into the right members of the clan or country, even Pennsylvania. By the 1950’s cremations sort. Mao and his cultural revolution enemies, and to provide for the body’s had become more common but still come to mind. And yet reform has to final disposition in a respectful manner. only accounted for disposition of be something more than new beliefs, Particular peoples in particular times about 5 percent of the bodily remains a new enthusiasm. People who are still and places have always done their caring following death. the old person just keep making their in particular ways. I am not going to try Today, cremation is rapidly replacing old mistakes in new ways. (The picture to explain why this happens, I ask that burials. Minnesota provides a measure of Peter in the gospels makes that point you accept that has been a world-wide, for how fast this is happening in over and over.) Is it possible that Jesus, persistent practice. the United States. According to the at some stage in his career, is offering To understand how we got where Cremation Association of North people a set of exercises to build a new we are today in North America, we America, in a roughly fifteen year mind, out of which new relations and a need to examine common practices period from 2001 to 2013, the percent new society might emerge? in the Judeao-Christian or Western of the dead in Minnesota who were That’s what I’m working on. More experience. In the Hebrew Bible, Jacob cremated jumped from 20 percent to 50 later. charges his sons to bury him in the percent. It is unlikely that the practice –– Peter Shea

14 History and Civility: The Evolution of the Word ‘Civility’

ivility is one of our most honored was Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II’s holds us to our human heartedness, and valued words, a five-star word. wife and mother of Richard the Lion the essence of our humanity. It meant CIt has had a long and eloquent history. Heart and King John, who brought humans acting their best, their most It has been sculptured and polished civility to the English. But the word noble selves, acting civilized. over time. It is nuanced; it has depth. has changed. Citizens and the Republic The late eighteenth century It has linguistic layers of meaning. were missing and Europe now had experienced the American Revolution It walks in partnership with other lords and vassals. Civility became the and the French Revolution, the honored words such as politeness, duty, proper conduct between lords and free Declaration of Independence, the Bill and civilized. There are those who say men who served them—deference, of Rights, and the French Declaration duty and civility should be expressed cooperation, service, reciprocal rights of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. together: the duty of civility. and duties, and proper speech and All of these were part of a wider The word civility has evolved over dress. Civility became a social, political, movement that demanded rights for 2500 years. that is, courtly word. Magna Carta was everyone grounded in the rights of It is a Latin word that originated an agreement between the king and his citizenship. in 509 BCE when Romans founded vassals (courtiers). Presidential democracy and their republic, and kings were driven Then during the Renaissance, the Age parliamentary democracy appeared from the city. Civility appears over of Science, and the Enlightenment—a in the nineteenth century and the time from the word civis, which means period of three hundred years—the franchise for women was won in the citizen, that is, only men with property. understanding of civility reached new twentieth. The greatest achievement It matured into civitas, meaning the levels. The Renaissance was an age of the twentieth century was the rights and duties of citizenship, and of humanism where society focused UN’s adoption of the Universal then civilitas appeared, meaning the art on broad human and humanistic Declaration of Human Rights. Add to and science of citizenship. concerns. Being human and human these magnificent achievements The The rights of citizenship meant that hearted, creating an elevated sense Discovery of the Child, and the idea of citizens met in an assembly where they of humanity, and celebrating human civility seems complete: All the human voted for their leaders: consuls, praetors, achievements became the central focus family are citizens of the earth. oediles, censors, and pontifex. It also of communities in both a social and civil The idea of civility began in small meant the right to be governed under way. Republican civility reappeared and cities in the ancient Mediterranean laws that they voted for and not subject flourished in the Italian city-states and world and then expanded around to the whims of despots. Their duties republics. The communes throughout the world. It shifted and narrowed were clear—serving with other citizens Europe had special civic and economical into the lord and vassals governance in centuries, cohorts, and legions, and privileges. The educated gentleman was of the European Middle Ages. It providing for their own equipment— characterized as expanded dramatically during the shields, swords, javelins, and helmets. • polished manners, courtly etiquette, human-centered culture of the early In the Greek classical world, there fine speech, modern age that shaped the character was a parallel development. Around • a nobility of bearing and attitude, of the courtier and gentleman, the 500 BCE, the Greek polis changed into • a love of beauty, sensitive, and commonwealth man and the liberal democracies, where male, propertied respectful to their class and others, republican ideals of our time. citizens met, discussed, argued, and • inspired by honor and duty, • Civility is the art of citizenship; it voted in assemblies and created public deliberate and liberal in thought, a is the recognition of the reciprocal policy. This political and civil world gentleman. rights and duties of those who of the Greeks and Romans has been govern and are governed. passed on to us. At this time, a wisdom developed over • It is the proper understanding of The English word civility comes from the importance of civility. A Latin the human condition, of human the French word civilité. The Norman phrase was used—civilitas was the relationships, and the power of and Plantagenet kings were French. mansio hominum. The phrase meant human heartedness. The time period was the twelfth to the that the culture of civility was the anchor • It recognizes the qualities of fifteenth century. I like to think that it of our humanity. The practice of civility humanness that bond us together Continued on page 16

15 Fond Memories

t the finale of the Games of the National Stadium and climbed 163 a friend/classmate of mine. 31st Olympiad hosted by Rio steps to light the urn which would burn That last night of the 18th Olympiad deA Janeiro, I learned that the 2020 during the entirety of the Olympic —touching farewells, goodbye’s until Olympics would be held in Tokyo, Games. The torch he carried was the next Olympiad. Some athletes Japan. This was exciting for me because brought from Mount Olympus in experienced their last Olympiad while from 1963 to 1966 my family lived in Greece by thousands of relay runners, others would return in 1968. Japan and, in 1964, the Games of the and this flame is a symbol of the “The Flame is Out”… the fire 18th Olympiad were held in Tokyo. Olympic Games, introduced in 1928’s extinguished… an empty stadium… Our first residence, WashingtonIX Olympiad in Amsterdam. However, athletes no more… spectators gone. Heights, was a community in Tokyo for the Olympics were not untouched by What I knew as a 14 year-old was that American military families that existed disagreements either, as North Korea it did not matter what nationality an for 13 years. In the following months, and Indonesia withdrew from the 18th athlete was or who sat next to “you” all families were relocated to another Olympiad Games due to a dispute over in the arena—there was a camaraderie base in order to finish building the recognition of certain athletes. South that prevailed throughout the Games Olympic Village. I was a competitive Africa was suspended due to apartheid and with the people. swimmer, and the Olympic pool was policies and, in 1992, after 28 years, this As I closed my scrapbook, I am built on the Washington Heights suspension was lifted. reminded of this message... land. After the Olympics ended, our When I came upon the photo of “Today… live simply, love generously, swim team swam in that pool. It was a ‘Old Glory,’ being carried around the care deeply, speak kindly of all peoples, and thrilling experience. Stadium by the flag-bearer for the leave the rest to God.” I had packed away treasures of United States, I remembered how –– Monica Foley Japan, including my scrapbook of the those Games had instilled patriotism 1964 Olympics and I was both relieved in me for my country, especially living and elated to find it—turning pages, in a foreign country at that time. reading notes and remembering—52 So many students wanted to go to years later. the Games. It was such an exciting History and Civility, continued from page 15 The opening of the Tokyo Games time—to be living in another country was attended by 72,000 jubilant fans with something as big as the Olympics in the human household and the and 7,000 athletes. The stands were within miles. Seeing the Olympics was human family. filled to capacity for the next 14 days. the wish for many of us, so each day our • It recognizes the universal human Ninety-five nations participated in school drew names to see who would rights of others. Olympic ‘fever.’ The Olympics held in get to attend the Olympic Games, and • It is formed in the proper study Rio de Janeiro was attended by 60,000- every day the Principal would televise of the humanities—those studies 78,000 fans and 11,544 athletes with the Olympics in the schools. that explore and honor the human participation by 206 nations There were so many stories about struggle and the human condition. The first Modern Olympic Games the Olympians. One was about Fred were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece, Morgan Nelson, an American pole In 1938, Walter Lippman was deeply with athletes competing from 14 vaulter who—after nine hours of pole worried “that the nations of the nations, which is why Greece will vaulting and in a glare of floodlights— Atlantic community would not prove always lead the Athlete’s Parade for each defeated the German competitor. His equal to the challenge, and that if they Olympiad. The five interlocking rings, vault was 5.10 meters which was 16.73 failed, we should lose our greatest found on the Olympic flag, represent feet. traditions of civilities, the liberties five continents—the Americas (North Paul Murayama, a member of Western man had won for himself after and South), Europe, Asia, Africa and the U.S. Judo Team would be a part centuries of struggle and which were now threatened by the rising tide of Australia. of Olympic history when Judo was 1 The last torchbearer of the Tokyo introduced as an Olympic sport at the barbarity.” Games was Yoshinori Sakai, born Tokyo Games. The scrapbook photo –– Larry Schaefer in Hiroshima on the day the atomic of the Murayama family was extra 1 See Sir Ernest Barker, Traditions of Civility, bomb was dropped. He entered Tokyo’s special for me because Paul’s sister was (1948). P 11.

16 Journal of Negative Results

his is a name given to a factitious scientific book listing all the experimentsT that did not turn out—or nothing happened. I think Mike Tegeder was responsible for many happy innocent people who belong in the “Journal of Negative Results”. They just don’t know it. Playing, working, maybe still studying; unscarred. Maybe that’s a miracle. They got there because Mike spoke up when something was really wrong. That’s all. Mike roiled the waters of the diocese often, but more importantly, early. Before the papers, before the lawsuits. There was a rumble in the diocese, and the hierarchy could not totally put it out. Trying to deflect, they attacked the messenger. Mike paid; a body can stand just so much. But active and potential abusers heard the rumble. Before their temptation. This storm warning may have been “St Joan in Battle” — I always liked St Joan and all the good things she’s stood for, especially enough to preclude at least some women. Her strength was evident in leading the French men into battle with little but the offenses from happening. voices she heard telling her what she must do to save her country. I did some research on Joan and Perhaps one person decided to never added my own interpretation of what she may have felt before the battle. Joan is holding a mask be a perpetrator. of herself that shows the men a strong and determined leader of the army. Behind the mask is a terrified Joan crying as she looks ahead to the oncoming bloodshed. The tower in the background Perhaps one perpetrator held back to is the one she was kept prisoner in after being captured when shot in her shoulder with an arrow some extent. during one of the battles. I guess at the armor she may have worn (she was a first to wear any We don’t know how many young in her time) but the flag is the design and words she created and held throughout the battles. We people are happily growing up now, always see saints and Gods riding white horses but according to what I read, she rode a black never knowing the sickness from which horse… I thought that was a very cool thing for someone as unique as Joan! they were spared. – Vicki Deutsch Their pain belongs in the Journal of Negative Results. Fallen Leaves It didn’t happen. A golden carpet for our walk, I’ll just forget the saint stuff. As if the trees themselves could talk. It’s enough. Thank you, Mike Their welcoming so soft, so bright, That every step invites delight. –– Marla Kennedy – Benton Randolph

17 An Unexpected Encounter with “The Saint”

espite its Adriatic coastline way to Ostrog with our tour guide du the first chamber the monastery’s white beaches and breathtaking jour behind the wheel. Ostrog is built exterior gave way to walls, as well as Dmountain views, Montenegro remains on the side of an almost vertical cliff at ceilings covered in gold leafed icons and a relatively undiscovered tourist the entrance of a series of caves within tiled mosaics. The second chamber was destination. It certainly wasn’t on my the rock of Ostroška Greda, almost smaller but more elaborately decorated bucket list. But when I was given the 900 meters above sea level! Fortunately than the first. The inner sanctum was opportunity to accompany my husband Igor’s childhood dream of becoming the smallest but most ornate of all. on a business trip to Montenegro I a race car driver had equipped him Countless tiny candles illuminated a thought “Carpe Diem” and decided to with the necessary vehicle handling natural rock ledge where a human form join him. skills to conquer the steep mountain lay underneath a red velvet blanket. A After an overnight flight my passes that lead to the monastery. As priest stood over the blanket intoning husband’s colleague, Igor met us at we approached our destination we prayers as incense from his thurible the airport. A self-named “Balkan were met with breathtaking views of filled the air with an ancient smell of Cowboy”, he was eager to show us the surrounding Bjelopavlići Plain and worship and devotion. The protocol everything that Montenegro had to pilgrims dressed in black bringing their was to step into the sanctum, approach offer. The first point of interest was petitions to “the Saint”. “the Saint”, kiss the blanket, say your Ostrog Monastery. Ostrog (pronounced My mind was suddenly filled with intention, make a small donation and [ǒstrog]), is a 17th century Serbian hundreds of questions. I wondered retreat (backwards!) out of the cave. Orthodox monastery and resting place how religion had survived and re- Our fellow visitors ranged in age from of Saint Basil of Ostrog (Sveti Vasilije emerged from a communist regime infants to the elderly, silently and Ostroški). Saint Basil, who locals that was rumored to be repressive and vocally praying, imploring, beseeching. simply refer to as “the Saint”, is believed controlling. Many of my questions were Ironically, the inner sanctum was to possess miraculous healing abilities. lost in the translation between English followed by a compulsory visit to Every year approximately 100,000 and Igor’s multi-syllabic Serbian. With the gift shop. I couldn’t pass up the pilgrims from all denominations and poetic simplicity Igor commented, opportunity to purchase 10 candles religious affiliations flock to Ostrog “You will understand when you see the for one euro. As the custom dictates, in hopes “the Saint” will cure them or Saint”. He was right. Like many things, I brought the candles to the adjacent their loved ones from physical maladies the explanation lays in the experience chapel. I lit one for my colleague and disease(s). not the description. As a teenager I took a trip to Lourdes We quickly learned that it is and was disillusioned by the entire disrespectful to turn your back on experience. The primary destination “the Saint”. Therefore as we entered didn’t seem to be the Grotto of the upper monastery where the relic Massabielle itself but the gift shop of Saint Basil presides there was where devoutness could be purchased literally no turning back! Although in the form of “our lady” souvenirs we proceeded toward “the Saint” and plastic rosary beads. In the years under our own volition it seemed as if since, my spiritual beliefs have ranged our feet had been locked into a set of from conservative Catholic through moving tracks. The feeling was similar agnosticism to the Cabrini brand of to entering an automatic carwash; cafeteria Catholicism I practice today. you remain in the driver’s seat as your I was not anticipating a religious vehicle moves forward in neutral with pilgrimage in Montenegro and very little control of what’s happening definitely hadn’t left enough room outside. We had no choice but to enjoy in my suitcase for extra souvenirs. the ride. Moments after touching down in the In order to reach “the Saint” we Podgorica Airport, we found ourselves travelled through two ante-chambers to speeding up the switch backs on our the inner sanctum. As we stepped inside

18 Grief At Three Years Kate died three years ago, On 9-3-2013. Life moves forward, But carries a complexity of being Ok, sadness, aloneness. The memories Are ever present in every moment, Every turn, every corner. I miss the secret dates, the conversations, the check ins. I was very lucky to have her in my life. I was very lucky to find a special woman To let me be in her life after my 50 years Of bachelorhood. Maybe that was my turn. I am very lucky. My days are full of activities, And work around the home. At times it feels Full, at times it feels empty. I live in undergoing chemo therapy and another There is undoubtedly power in be- hope for for a friend recently diagnosed with lief. Placebo-controlled studies provide What may be around the corner, but I Parkinson’s disease. Was this evidence evidence of this on a regular basis. It try to that I believed in the power of “the would stand to reason that the power Live in the moment. Every day is a Saint”? I’ll admit, part of me wanted to of a belief increases when it is held by gift, peek at what was really underneath the more than one person and is strength- Every day is a challenge. I am thankful velvet blanket but I could not reconcile ened further when shared amongst a For the support I have received, and the my skepticism with the sincere beliefs group of individuals. Suffering, in its Love that comes my way. Thank you around me. many and varied forms is an inescap- for In these situations a subtle but able reality of life. Our capacity to col- important shift seems to occur. Rather lectively hope for healing is a testament For being with me on this journey. than questioning our faith, we begin to to our humanity. The faith to believe we – Rick Ziton question our lack of faith. For faith does will be healed is evidence of our innate not offer us truth beyond a reasonable divinity. doubt. On the contrary, it allows us to –– Margaret Voller doubt what the physical world deems as reasonable. We no longer demand concrete evidence to support our beliefs, but the ability to support our beliefs without evidence.

19 Storm Vigil

eeking over the feather mattress, I here, I am serenaded by the rattling returns in the spring and allows us to watch clouds of frozen mist from of single paned windows that tremble comfortably expand our living quarters. Pmy young breath rise in the below in the face of long winter onslaughts. Late last night, I stared at the light freezing bedroom. My brother and I Covered with frost and ice buildup, from the old barn streaked across the share the three-quarter bed that nearly the two windows in our room have the frost and ice of my windows as Dad fills the small space in our six-room misfortune of facing into the west and was working late in spite of a ferocious, farmhouse in southeastern Nebraska. north sides of our small frame house. early spring blizzard. I knew he must Being even younger, my brother usually Being on the northwest corner, the have been outside as the house was falls asleep as soon as we both stop bedroom takes the brunt of gales that unusually quiet. I appreciate the wind shaking from the dash across frozen rip across the ridge trying to jab their as it muffles arguments that often spill wooden floors to make the leap to safety icy fingers into the further reaches of from the adjoining kitchen as it fills under the ancient collection of feathers the house where my other four siblings with voices made loud with frustrations from fowl that have given their lives on and parents sleep. of overworked parents who struggle several levels for our family’s survival. During seemingly endless winter with the unsolvable equation of too If all works as it should each night, months, the old parlor stove serves small a farm and too large a family, all we warm a blanket on the irons of the as the beating heart that sustains our aggravated by a dad’s love for drink that old fuel oil stove in the parlor, wrap fragile familial body in the middle of rivals his distaste for farming. it about us and pray that the feathers an unforgiving environment. Being Lying here, I heard the kitchen from the old geese will loft before the overworked, it can’t provide circulation door suddenly burst open followed by temporary store of heat disappears into to the extremities, even if such a rich hushed voices filled with urgency. I the darkness of the room. diet was affordable. Instead, surviving heard desperate sounds of exertion, the I love to listen to the wolf howl of the warmth is limited to the parlor and rustling of newspapers and blankets winter winds as they come shrieking kitchen that form the life-giving core being ripped from my parent’s room through the long needled pines in the of the small house. The remaining and rushed into the parlor. I swung from supposed windbreak that feebly stands four rooms are left to hibernate in a bed and stood listening at the closed between us and the openness of the cost saving state of frigid suspended door. Slowly opening the door, I saw frozen, barren fields beyond. Lying animation until natural warmth both of them kneeling behind the stove in some strange vigil. I could feel that the stove had been turned up as I came and knelt alongside. In the cramped space behind the stove, my Dad had placed a just born calf after carrying it from the old barn through driving sleet and snow in his huge arms to the only source of heat available on that frigid night. The ancient barn held only arctic like cold that was far more penetrating than the meager comfort that a worn- out dairy cow could provide. I looked at my parents and could sense a feeling of hopelessness. The calf lay in the pile of blankets and papers, still wet from birth fluids with its large brown eyes wide with terror. No words were spoken to break the spell of the whirl of wind in the chimney or erratic breathing of the innocent victim of too early a birth or too late

20 a storm as it hovered near the fence line that separated life and death. I watched in childhood horror as I came Jimmy Stevens to understand the fragility of the thread of life that tethered this important calf The winter of 1976 set records in North Texas. Water pipes froze under to our family. the crumbling cotton mansions in East Dallas. My mother took a hair Together, the three of us kept dryer into the crawl space, her determined eyes lighting the dark the wakeful watch for an eternity. It beneath my feet as I peered through the round hole in the dining room seemed as if the calf and I somehow floor where decades before an electric call button had been set. With the tap of a foot, the cook could be summoned from the kitchen, or understood the struggle for survival, the maid who had been dusting the nursery. I would spend hours in being so totally dependent upon the that dining room, tapping my foot over that hollowed spot in the floor, beating heart of the old stove and the conjuring servants to help me solve problems of powdered milk and loving strength of two adults to protect twenty cent loaves of white bread. Had they come, they would have us both from unforgiving elements. called out to their employers at the sight of me, the second hand bunk As I stared into the deepening pools beds in the sunroom, the pockmarked corona tiles on the Spanish roof, of his darkened eyes I could see the and the cracked sidewalks. Ours was a migrant’s fear conjuring their resignation of a losing struggle. My return. We saw them stepping across decades like puddles under the own eyes started to close with his as the curb after a rainstorm, glaziers, electricians, and policemen in tow, to winter winds increased with a sadistic reclaim their stately homes. Even the imagined rich had power over us. howl of triumph. At least we had coats, though they were too thin for that kind of winter. My eyes did open this morning as Jimmy Stevens was the first kid I saw without one. We were walking in steams of new light crept through the packs down Gaston Avenue for Davy Crockett Elementary. Jimmy’s now quiet windows as the storm had arms were crossed in a self-embrace, under a worn windbreaker. His passed on during the night to pursue gloveless hands were a reddish blue. “Forgot my coat,” he said with its next hapless victims. My room was an uneasy laugh as he weaved quickly through clumps of us, trying filled with painful stillness. I was warm to space some distance. As he got past one cluster, he’d come up on and safe as it was I who was able to another group of boys, slow moving freighters to Jimmy’s scampering survive the night. sampan. Still, even the meanest of them didn’t say anything. We all I got up and went to the parlor to knew how close we were. We would take our proximity to Jimmy revisit the site of our storm vigil. The Stevens to a place where no would find it, even ourselves. makeshift manger was empty. The calf I would like to believe that I am different, that I recalled Jimmy Stevens in a righteous moment. But it wasn’t so. Jimmy Stevens came was gone. The kitchen and the parlor back to me on a Thursday morning, in the parking lot of a Hampton Inn were quiet. outside of Moorhead, Minnesota. The cold tore through me, stripped Through the void the mournful the dross and dressing we wrap around memory until it becomes bawling of a frantic mother crept something else, or nothing at all. I filled the space of youth with a rigid through the door along with bone refusing that became my own gospel. Though holes in the text revealed chilling cold as the stove had been themselves in ways that would extract a toll: my geometry teacher turned down to save now even more telling me in front of the class that he tried to call my house the night precious fuel. before, but the phone was disconnected; Lydia Fallon in the cafeteria –– Steven M. Lukas line, telling me that I must really like that shirt because I sure wear it a lot. Where did you go, Jimmy Stevens? Though I know you wanted me to, I am sorry I looked away. The price I paid was a steep one. I hope Fall’s Tree you found some warmth in your life, that a quiet smile breaks over your lips as you wrap your own children for a January morning as they Fall’s tree surprises and excites, complain that their coats are too heavy, their gloves are too thick. Stirs in us small, sweet delights – Christopher Stewart As green surrenders to the gold – And scarlet conquers what is old. Dig deep, dear tree, ‘gainst the cold, cold nights. – Benton Randolph

21 Reflections on the Prodigal Son

y two favorites among the many this spoiler to His beautiful lesson or a lost sheep for that matter, we will wonderful parables of Jesus are on repentance and forgiveness? The at least briefly be more excited about Mthe Good Samaritan and the Prodigal answer, of course, is that the behavior that than the much larger sum we have Son, both from the unique middle of the older brother is the main point in the bank or the flock. Then, without portion of Luke’s gospel. I still recall of the story and, as is so often the case, any further introduction, Jesus begins first learning about them from the the point becomes far clearer when we the famous tale: “There was a man Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Charles consider the context. who had two sons.” Since the younger Borromeo School back in the 1950s. I One of the primary themes of two sons would be entitled to one- believe we were taught the lesson of the resonating throughout Luke’s gospel is third of the estate under the Jewish Prodigal Son while preparing to make Jesus’ desire to direct his disciples’ and law of primogeniture delineated in our first confession in 1954 as a prelude listeners’ attention away from efforts to Deuteronomy, he is asking for a large to the concluding highlight of Second prove that they themselves are in a right portion of his father’s goods. But, aside Grade, our First Holy Communion at relationship with God, or “saved,” often from whatever financial inconvenience the mass on Mother’s Day. The story by comparing themselves with those this might cause his parent, the bold was a perfect accompaniment to the they believe to be less worthy. Instead, request is also a grave and hurtful sacrament because by that age most He encourages them to assume a more insult to his loving father. The son is, in children are mature enough to have active role in the lives and needs of effect, telling his father that he cannot at least some grasp of the truism that others, especially those in some sort of wait for him to die; he wants what “confession is good for the soul:” if you distress. Thus when a lawyer is “desiring would be his future inheritance now. have done something wrong then the to justify himself,” to prove he is worthy He quickly squanders his windfall and right thing to do is own up to it. If we of salvation through fulfillment of the then in desperation is forced to enter are truly sorry, God or our parents will exact letter of the Jewish religious laws, the employ of a Gentile and feed pigs, surely forgive us. Jesus replies with the unadorned moral the very lowest rung on the ladder for a It was several years later when I first grandeur of the lesson in the parable Jew. Then he finally “comes to himself,” read the entire parable on my own and of the Good Samaritan, concluding words that denote true repentance in became fully aware of the character simply “Go and do likewise.” Luke is the context of the parable, and resolves of the elder son. My first reaction was so anxious to ensure that his readers get to return and beg his father to hire him disappointment at the way in which the message that he steals Our Lord’s on as a servant. his role caused the tale to end on a thunder at one point by relating the Even in childhood, I always found sour note. But I was also confused lesson of the Pharisee and Tax Collector the son’s return to be an especially because it seemed as though he had before the parable even begins: “He also poignant scene. That his father sees him a valid complaint. Why did Jesus add told this parable to some who trusted at a distance leads me to imagine that in themselves that they were righteous he has spent much of his time gazing and despised others.” And then there at the horizon in the forlorn hope that is Jesus’ memorable tirade against the his lost son would someday reappear. hypocrisy of the Pharisees and lawyers When that hope is finally fulfilled he in Chapter 11. does not rebuke his wayward progeny And so Chapter 15 opens with an or wait for him to approach begging all-too-familiar scenario: Scribes and for forgiveness. Instead he runs to Pharisees are murmuring against Jesus meet him, embraces, and kisses him. because he is associating and eating Ignoring his meek request to be hired with “tax collectors and sinners.” Jesus as a servant, his father instead restores responds with the three “parables of the him to his former status and orders a lost:” a sheep, a coin, and a son. The first great feast to be held in honor of his two are easy to grasp because we have return. But this happy ending is not all experienced the elation of finding the true conclusion after all: The elder something we thought was lost for son returns from working out in the good. If we find some misplaced cash, fields and is outraged when he learns

22 what has happened. Despite his father’s from the feast? Just the opposite: He order to focus on the areas of our lives explanation and entreaties to join in implored him to enter. But the price of where we could do better rather than the celebration, the eldest cannot bring admission is one that his wounded self- contemplating the failings of our sisters himself to do so. He remains outside righteousness would not allow him to and brothers. the banquet hall seething in resentment pay, for his father asks him not only to A final element of this wonderful and self-righteous rage, ignoring his accept his brother back but to rejoice at little gem of literature that intrigues me father’s pleas to come in and partake in his return. His father asks him to love, is the ambiguous ending with the father the joyful feast as the story ends. just as he loves both of his sons: “Son, imploring his eldest to enter the feast. What just happened here? In literal, you are always with me, and all that is What was his decision? We are not told. worldly terms the eldest son certainly mine is yours.” Here is where Jesus asks Perhaps Jesus intended to leave things has a gripe. He has worked hard his listeners to make the leap out of the open for a purpose. Maybe He is telling throughout his life and followed all the literal details, from worldly tasks and us: “My children, you write the ending. rules, but his father never threw a party possessions to love. For God’s love is Write it by how you choose to live your for him. Now his worthless spendthrift infinite and the fact that He loves and lives, especially by how you treat the brother gets the royal treatment. And welcomes all, including penitents, does least among you. Never allow arrogant to top things off, since his kid brother not mean there is less love for those who self-righteousness or overweening has already received his share of the had already accepted His invitation. pride to cause you to dismiss another of estate, everything his father is spending The Pharisees have stumbled over the my children as unworthy. For My love on the younger son is actually part of stumbling stone of believing they were for you is beyond measure and all I ask the future inheritance of the elder. As entitled to God’s love because they had in return is that you do your best to love with many of Our Lord’s parables, we earned it through following a rigid set each other. That is the sign that you are clearly not meant to take everything of rules, and they despised others who truly love Me. You do not have to earn here literally. Another clear example of were unable or unwilling to do so. The My love. I give it freely and all I ask of this is the tale of the dishonest steward former “sinners,” on the other hand you is to accept it. And always forgive that follows immediately in the next responded to Our Lord’s message of others as I will always forgive you. For chapter: Jesus is not recommending love as the free gift that it is without this your brother was dead, and is alive; that his followers become embezzlers. questioning Jesus’ humble origins or he was lost, and is found.” Such lessons are comparable to an lack of official credentials. –– Steve Atkinson extended figure of speech: They make So as a progressive post-Vatican II a point through vivid language and Catholic it would be all too easy for details, but are not intended to be taken me to conclude that many officials in literally in every respect. the hierarchy of our beloved Church, So what, then, is the point? That as well as many “traditional” lay people, What I believe: becomes quite clear when we return are playing the role of the Pharisees, to the scene that inspired Jesus to tell whereas the more enlightened among That there is a supreme being the tale. The scribes and Pharisees, the us are the reformed sinners partaking which no one religion can really rigid and self-righteous observers of of Our Lord’s teachings in the spirit define, because human beings are doing the describing. the Jewish law, are standing outside He intended. Of course, I do believe That what I believe in must be the house complaining while the tax this application of the parable’s lesson rethunk throughout my life, as I collectors and sinners are inside eating is not without some validity, but the (hopefully) grow in wisdom and with Jesus and absorbing his teachings. truth is that the teaching applies to grace. The sinners have repented while those all of us, since we are all subject to the That a life without faith is like who so fervently believe they have no subtle and corrosive failing of pride. As a train without it’s tracks. need to repent are in self-imposed Paul goes to such great pains to explain That the source of all faith is separation from communion with in his epistles, especially Romans and in the eyes of newborns. God. The failing, or sin if you will, of Galatians, the letter kills but the spirit And that itty bitty babies are the religious officials and the elder gives life. God’s love for us is a free smarter than I am. son is the inability to love, or perhaps gift, not something we have to earn. This I believe. to even be capable of comprehending All He asks of us is to accept it, but – Kate Shields love. And their exile is a self-imposed often that requires mustering up a bit – one. Did the father banish his older son more humility than we might prefer in

23 THE CABRINI Also available online at COMMUNICATOR www.cabrinimn.org A newsletter by and for the St. Frances Cabrini community

Committees and Contacts Parish Council–Lay Members Staff

COMMUNITY LIFE Marita Bujold Rita Bove Clarissa Hirsch PASTOR Fr. Paul Moudry EDUCATION Rich Davy Julia Earl Mary Shafer ADMINISTRATOR Mary Lou Sweet FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE Joe Eschenbacher Peter Eichten Rick Rocheford TBD HABITAT/HUMANITY ACCOUNTANT Tim Spanier Anne Jones Bill Urbanski David Gibson JUSTICE & PEACE CUSTODIAN Rosemary Ruffenach Pat Jones Dave Hinrichs COALITION Mike Hirsch EDUCATION Carol Dittberner LITURGY Jim Polakowski (GRADES PRE K-4) MAINTENANCE Mila Rush EDUCATION (GRADES 5-12) Joe White OUTREACH Dave Schwain LITURGIST Chris Kosowski PASTORAL CARE Kathy Schweigert NURSERY DIRECTOR Kate Grimm PERSONNEL Bob Reid

Artists contributing to this issue include Rosemary Ruffenach (RR), Vicki Deutsch, and Jolene Imholt.

The Communicator Team thanks all who submitted articles and/or ideas for this third issue. We welcome more from you who want to share with an appreciative and interested community. Contact Nick Maryns or Bob Reid for information.