Resurrection BULLETIN

RESURRECTION BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 Dear Reader, “Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter Fr. Fedy professed his religious vows in the Congregation people and hallelujah is our song.” ( John Paul II) on September 8, 1953 and was ordained to the ministe- These words of Pope John Paul II give us great hope rial priesthood on May 28, 1960 at St. Peter’s Seminary, as Christians. To say that we are an Easter people is to London, Ontario. For the next 12 years Fr. Charlie minis- proclaim that we believe that the death of Jesus on the Cross tered as a teacher at Scollard Hall in North Bay, Ontario transformed all suffering and pain, and the Resurrection and was principal in his last year there. He then served as ensured the promise of eternal life. Rector of St. Thomas Scholasticate, London, Ontario from 1972 to 1982. In this issue, we remember the life of Fr. Charles Fedy, CR, a man who lived the Paschal Mystery every day, and believed Fr. Charlie ministered as in the promise of new life. Fr. Charlie died of cancer on Associate Pastor at St. Aloysius January 31st. We also remember Fr. James (J.J.) Johnstone, , Kitchener, Pastor of St. CR, a man of faith and a priest for 63 years, who died unex- Joseph’s Parish, Hamilton; and pectedly on March 15th. May they rest in peace. Pastor of St. Agatha Parish, St Agatha for seventeen years This year the Congregation honours seven priests who are until his retirement in 2010. celebrating significant anniversaries. Four of these priests He also celebrated Mass will be featured in this issue. Fr. Bill LaFlamme is celebrat- and was a confessor for the ing sixty years of ordination. Fr. Peter Pigott, Fr. Harry Carmelite Sisters of St. Agatha Reitzel and Fr. Jim Valk will mark fifty years of priesthood. on a regular basis. Three priests, celebrating forty years of priesthood, will be Rev. Charlie Fedy, CR featured in our next issue. They are Fr. Chris Buda, Fr. Ray Within the Congregation, Hughes and Fr. George Nowak. A special celebration will be Fr. Charlie held a variety of leadership roles, including held to honour the jubilarians in September. We congratu- Director of Formation, chairman and member of a number late all of these men and thank them for their many years of of committees, Provincial Councilor, Assistant Provincial (2 dedicated service to the . terms), Rector of Resurrection House in Toronto, Assistant Rector of Resurrection College, and Pre- Director. We particularly want to highlight the amazing gift of Fr. Fr. Charlie was a highly regarded retreat director and spir- Walter Schnarr, CR in this issue. Fr. Walter celebrated his itual director. 78th year of priesthood on March 14th at the age of 103. Fr. Charlie’s life of faith-filled service touched the lives of May this Easter season bring you peace, happiness and joy! his students, his fellow religious, colleagues, parishioners, We are the Easter people. Hallelujah is our song! spiritual directees, family and friends. His gifts of quiet steadfastness, devotion and humility were personal traits IN MEMORIAM recognized by all who encountered him. In his funeral homily for Fr. Charlie, Fr. Murray McDermott Fr. Charles Fedy, CR said that for many people Fr. Charlie was the Rock upon whom they could depend for truth, encouragement, After a two year battle with cancer, Father Charles Richard support, loyalty, dependability, steadfastness, and unwaver- Fedy, CR died on Saturday, January 31st, at Hospice ing devotion to Jesus. Wellington in Guelph. He was 80 years old, in his 62nd year of religious life and 55th year of ordained priesthood. 1 Resurrection BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 Fr. Murray said that “Fr. Charlie was the Rock when it came to the teachings of the Church and Social Justice. Fr. Charlie was the Rock when our lives were in Spiritual crisis or chaos. Fr. Charlie was the Rock who never wavered from assuring us B E N EFIT S that we are the beloved of God and that God holds us within the palms of his hands and that we are forgivable, redeemable and loveable.” The Mass of the Resurrection for Fr. Charlie was celebrated at St. Agatha Parish on February 4th. Interment took place at Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener. Fr. James (J.J.) Johnstone, CR onors to the Congregation Father James Joseph Johnstone, CR died unex- Dshare in the following Spiritual pectedly of a stroke on March 15th. He was 89 Benefits: years old, in his 71st year of religious life and 64th 1. Daily prayers said in all the year of ordained priesthood. houses of the Congregation of Fr. J.J. was born in Scotland and moved to Canada the Resurrection for living and with his family at a young age. He professed his deceased benefactors. religious vows in the Congregation on September 2. One Mass said each month in 8, 1944 and was ordained to the ministerial priest- each house of the Congregation hood on October 21, 1951 at St. Peter’s Seminary of the Resurrection for the living in London. benefactors. Rev. J.J. Johnstone, CR He began his ministry as a educator at 3. One Mass said each month in each St. Jerome’s High School in Kitchener. After two house of the Congregation of the years, he was assigned to teach at St. John’s College, Brantford, where he spent Resurrection for the deceased 23 years, 3 years as principal. Fr. J.J. then moved to North Bay College (Scollard benefactors. Hall) where he taught English and Religion. During that time he also helped 4. One Mass said annually in at St. Rita’s Parish in North Bay. After retiring from teaching, he returned to November in each house of the Brantford to St. Peter’s Residence. On weekends he celebrated the English Congregation of the Resurrection Masses at St. Joseph Parish in Brantford. He also filled in for the priests in our for the deceased benefactors. parishes as needed. In 2012, Fr. J.J. retired to Resurrection Manor in Waterloo. “If the faithful help even one candidate for the priesthood, they Fr. J.J. was well-loved and respected by the many people with whom he came will fully share in all the future in contact. He loved teaching and ministering to people in the parish. Fr. masses and in all the fruits of J.J. enjoyed his family and many friends and made it a point to keep in touch sanctity and apostolic works that with them (he had hundreds of names on his Christmas card list). He was will be his.” Pope Pius XII. a great conversationalist, a lover of theatre, opera, murder mysteries and the dramatic; he had an engaging sense of humour. Fr. J.J’s dying on the “Ides of Contributions to the Congregation March” is a reflection of his passion for Shakespeare. may be sent to: The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at St. Joseph's Church in Brantford Congregation of the Resurrection on March 19th. Interment took place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Brantford. Provincial Office, Treasurer Resurrection College 265 Westmount Road North A Message from the Provincial to our Readers Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G7 Once again this year, Easter reminds us that on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1842, Peter Semenenko and Jerome Kajsiewicz, co-founders of the Congregation of Charitable receipts for income tax the Resurrection, along with five other clerics, professed their first religious purposes will be issued to all donors. vows in the Catacombs of St. Sebastian in Rome. They were inspired to dedi- cate themselves as “Brothers of the Resurrection”. They were now dead to sin and alive with the Risen Christ. Our Constitutions tell us: “As members of the Congregation of the Resurrection, we give glory to God by manifesting the presence of the Risen Resurrection Christ to the world. To accomplish this end, we will strive for our own BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 2 personal sanctification by accepting Christ as our model and by living a life of ever greater union with him. This life of union with Christ expresses itself through our union with our brothers in community, and the Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda in 1974. He served will overflow into our apostolic life, which strives to bring as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Hamilton, Ontario and St. to completion the establishment of Christ’s kingdom. Francis Parish, Kitchener, before returning to Bermuda Thus, the goal of each of us who has been called to the as Pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish, Flatts. Other assignments Congregation of the Resurrection is to strive for his own included Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Burford, personal resurrection with Christ in community and for Ontario; Pastor of St. Michael Parish, Paget, Bermuda; the resurrection of society (Const. art.5). Rector of Theresa’s Cathedral, Hamilton, Bermuda; Pastor “Convinced of God’s unconditional love for us we herald of Stella Maris Parish, St. George’s; Pastor of St. Anthony’s the liberation and of each person and society as Parish, Warwick; Associate Pastor of St. Andrew’s Parish, a passage from death to life in which every situation of evil Cape Coral, Florida and Administrator of St. Mary’s Parish, and injustice will be overcome” (Mission Statement). Kitchener. In 2006, Fr. Bill retired to Ft. Myers, Florida, and in 2012, moved to Resurrection Manor, Waterloo. He The Good News of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of continues to assist at local parishes and volunteers at the our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is that it is good news Worth a Second Look store in Kitchener. Although the for everyone. We have all been called to live the fullness of weather isn’t as good in Waterloo as it was in Bermuda and the Paschal Mystery in our lives. Truly, we are all an Easter Florida, Fr. Bill enjoys a game of golf whenever possible. people; our lives are rooted in the Hope that comes from knowing that Jesus has overcome sin, death and darkness. Rev. Peter As followers of our Risen Saviour, we are convinced that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God made Pigott, CR visible through our Risen Lord. Celebrating 50 Years On behalf of all my brothers of the Ontario-Kentucky of Priesthood Province of the Congregation of the Resurrection, I wish Peter Francis Pigott was you a very blessed Easter Season. May we journey on into born and raised in Hamilton, our future together as fellow Resurrectionists! Ontario and attended Very Rev. Murray McDermott, CR Cathedral High School. On September 8, 1956 Rev. Peter Pigott, CR he professed first vows in the Congregation of the Congratulations to our Resurrection and professed perpetual vows on September 8, 1961. On May 29, 1965 he was ordained to the priest- Jubilarians! hood. Fr. Peter’s first assignment was as a teacher of special studies at St. Jerome’s College. In 1966 he earned Rev. William a Licentiate in Theology from Laval University in Quebec. LaFlamme, CR He served in parish ministry throughout his priest- Celebrating 60 Years hood, as Associate Pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Brantford, Associate Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Hamilton, Rector of Priesthood of St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Hamilton, Bermuda, Associate William Stephen LaFlamme Pastor of St. Aloysius Parish, Kitchener, Associate Pastor of grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Beaumont, Texas and Associate and attended St. Jerome’s Pastor of St. Louis Parish, Waterloo. Fr. Peter moved to High School. He professed Resurrection Manor in 1990, where he currently resides. first vows in the Congregation Rev. Bill LaFlamme, CR of the Resurrection on September 8, 1949 and perpet- ual vows on September 8, 1952. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1955. Fr. Bill’s sixty years of ministry included teaching, formation work and pastoral ministry. He taught at St. Jerome’s High School for nine years after ordination, and then was assigned as for the Congregation of the Resurrection. He served also as Vocation Director and Rector of St. Thomas Scholasticate. Fr. Bill moved to Bermuda in 1971 as administrator of St. 3 Resurrection Theresa’s Cathedral, and became Assistant Chancellor of BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 Rev. Harry as house superior and Assistant Provincial Superior. Fr. Jim served as chaplain for both the police and fire Reitzel, CR departments and was an active volunteer firefighter for Celebrating 50 Years nine years in Louisville, Kentucky. As current supe- of Priesthood rior of St. Jerome’s religious house, Fr. Jim stays busy. He also helps out wherever needed in various parishes On March 14, 1938, Henry throughout the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Aloysius Reitzel was born. He grew up in Waterloo, Ontario and attended St. Jerome’s High Amazing Milestones! School. On September 8, 1957, Fr. Walter Schnarr, CR, a Rev. Harry Reitzel, CR Fr. Harry professed first vows member of the Ontario- in the Congregation of the Kentucky Province, has Resurrection. He professed perpetual vows on September achieved two significant 8, 1960 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, and amazing milestones. 1965. For seven years, Fr. Harry taught at St. John’s College He celebrated his 103rd in Brantford and then taught at Scollard Hall, North Bay birthday on December for three years. He served as Associate Pastor of St. Francis 14, 2014 and is the oldest Parish, Kitchener, Associate Pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Resurrectionist and Brantford and Associate Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, oldest living priest in the Hamilton. Fr. Harry was named Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Diocese of Hamilton. On Kingsbridge, Ontario in 1989 and served in this capac- Rev. Walter Schnarr, CR March 14, 2015, Fr. Walter ity until 2003, when he moved to Bermuda as Pastor of celebrated his 78th year of ordination to the priest- Stella Maris Parish, St. George’s. In 2011, Fr. Harry retired hood. He professed first vows in the Congregation of to Resurrection Manor, Waterloo. He currently assists in the Resurrection on August 15, 1931 and was ordained parishes in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, particularly at St. in 1937. To give you an idea of what was happening Mary’s Parish. He also enjoys tennis, swimming and a good in the world in 1937, consider these facts: in 1937, game of bridge with friends and fellow Resurrectionists. George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth; William Rev. James Valk, CR Lyon Mackenzie King was Prime Minister of Canada; Celebrating 50 Years Pius XI was pope; Franklin D. Roosevelt was presi- dent of the United States; Joe Dimaggio was a star for of Priesthood the New York Yankees; Charlie Chaplin’s first talkie, The small town of Chesley, “Modern Times”, was released; and the Spanish Civil Ontario was the birth- War was raging. place of James Francis Valk. Fr. Walter has been well known for his love of garden- After attending high school ing and his ability to grow the largest and tastiest in Chesley, he spent one tomatoes in the K-W area. year at St. Jerome’s College Even those who don’t (Kingsdale) and entered the normally like tomatoes Rev. Jim Valk, CR novitiate of the Congregation enjoyed the ones that Fr. of the Resurrection in 1957. He professed first vows in the Walter grew. Besides toma- Congregation on September 8, 1958. He was ordained to toes, Fr. Walter also grew the priesthood on May 29, 1965. Fr. Jim’s first assignment the most amazing amaryl- was as a teacher at St. Jerome’s High School. After teaching lis plants. A picture of one for four years, Fr. Jim was assigned to the Congregation’s of those is shown here. mission in La Paz, Bolivia. He served there from 1969-1981. On returning to Canada, Fr. Jim ministered as Associate Unfortunately, Fr. Walter has been experiencing health Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Hamilton. He later served as issues and is now residing at Forest Heights Long Term Pastor of Resurrection Parish, Louisville, Kentucky and Care Centre in Kitchener. We ask God’s blessing for Fr. Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Hamilton. Fr. Jim has also Walter on his birthday and the anniversary of his ordi- held a number of leadership roles in the Congregation, nation, and pray that he will grow stronger and soon return to good health. Resurrection BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 4 St. Louis Parish, Waterloo by Fr. Phil Reilly, CR, Pastor In the last issue of Resurrection Bulletin, we highlighted St. Agatha Parish, the oldest Resurrectionist mission in North America. In this issue, we highlight St. Louis Parish in Waterloo. This year, St. Louis Parish is cele- brating the 125th Anniversary of its founding. Built on a man-made hill on Allen Street, the Church has been a focal point in Uptown Waterloo. In the early 1880’s, Rev. Phil Reilly, CR, Pastor Rev. Michal Kruszewski, CR, it became evident that a was needed in Associate Pastor Waterloo, Ontario. The Catholic population was continu- ing to grow, and eventually a delegation of Catholics from Besides Fr. Phil and Fr. Michal, the parish has a Coordinator Waterloo approached Fr. Louis Funcken, Superior of the of Youth and Children’s Ministries. There is a Sunday Canadian mission, about building a church. They were School Program and Children’s Liturgy of the Word, as well turned down, but were persistent. When Fr. Funcken as the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, a youth left Canada in 1890, they asked the new Superior, Fr. group and a youth band. The parish has a strong music William Kloepfer, CR and he gave approval for a church ministry, with two Sunday choirs, a Risen Life Choir and a to be built. Construction began on the new church, and newly formed youth choir. St. Louis is a very active parish it was dedicated on January 6, 1891. The first Pastor was socially, with several popular events held throughout the Fr. Theobald Spetz, CR. The Catholics of Waterloo cele- year. It is also active spiritually, with a weekly Bible Study brated the sacraments at St. Louis as the only Waterloo program, a prayer shawl ministry, and small Christian parish until Our Lady of Lourdes was founded in 1952. communities that meet regularly. Resurrectionist priests, and brothers have served The people of St. Louis Parish are very generous with at St. Louis Parish ever since its inception. their time and commitment to the parish and to the less fortunate of the area. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a dedicated outreach ministry in the parish. The Catholic Women’s League serves the parish in many ways, providing support for parish functions, advocating for the poor and vulnerable and promoting the spiritual development of the women of the parish. For 16 years, St. Louis participated in the Out of the Cold Program, providing a hot meal, a bed, and a safe, welcoming environment for the homeless of the Kitchener- Waterloo area every Sunday night from November to April. St. Louis had almost 200 dedicated volunteers – making Inside St. Louis Church, Waterloo beds, preparing dinner, baking cakes, preparing bagged Since 1891, St. Louis Parish has been the focal point of lunches, sorting and distributing clothing, serving dinner Catholic life in Waterloo. Soon after the church was built, and visiting with guests. Other volunteers provided nursing a school operated by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and foot care for the guests. All but one of the participating was begun in the basement of the church. A convent was churches ended their association with the program in 2014, erected in 1895 and St. Louis School was completed in to allow the Region of Waterloo to coordinate efforts to end 1905. The School Sisters of Notre Dame, many of them homelessness in the area and provide greater support for from Waterloo, served as teachers and catechists and those in need. music teachers in the parish, living in the convent beside St. Louis started with 65 families in 1890 and the parish the church. Many vocations have had their roots in the now has approximately 450 families. The convent is faith the parish has fostered throughout the years. no longer home for the Sisters, but is used for meetings Many Resurrectionists have ministered at St. Louis over and groups in the parish. The school has been sold and the years. Pastors and administrators include Fathers is being redeveloped into condos. After 125 years, St. Spetz, Aeymans, Fischer, Mayer, Hinsperger, Freiburger, Louis Parish is still the Catholic focal point in Uptown Ruth, Gehl, Weis, Beechley, Arnold, Hauser, Liddy, Waterloo. For more information, visit the parish website: Reitzel, Uniac, Buda and MacDonald. For the last two www.saintlouisparish.ca. years, the Parish has been led by Fr. Phil Reilly, CR and 5 Resurrection Fr. Michal Kruszewski, CR. BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 “Celebrating the Word” goes Clergy in Bermuda “open-source”! by Fr. Paul Voisin, CR by Murray Watson, Editor of “Celebrating the Word” The Island of Bermuda was originally part of the In the world of technology, “open-source” software is Archdiocese of Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1939, usually top-notch software, designed by world-class J.T. McNally (formerly of Hamilton, Ontario) specialists, which they have decided to make available to invited the Resurrectionists to minister to the Catholic the general public—for free. The “open-source” movement population in Bermuda. The Resurrectionists agreed, and (which is gaining popularity around the world) believes in have served the Church of Bermuda for over seventy-five the democratization of knowledge and information—that years. The Church in Bermuda was made a Prefecture learning should be freely and generously shared, and (as Apostolic of Bermuda Islands in 1953. It was elevated to much as possible) without cost. a diocese -- Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda -- in June, 1967. The four who have served on the Island of Something similar has recently taken place in terms of Bermuda - Bishop Robert Dehler, Bishop Bernard Murphy, “Celebrating the Word,” the weekly small-group Bible Bishop Brian Hennessy, and Bishop Robert Kurtz - have study-and-reflection resource that was founded by the directed the spiritual life of the people of God on this 'Isle of late Fr. Frank Ruetz, CR, and which has been creatively Devils' in the Atlantic. This sinister title for Bermuda came continued since his death by a team of his from the numerous shipwrecks on the reefs that surround Resurrectionists. “Celebrating the Word” has become the Island. popular in parishes and institutions across North America, and in other parts of the world, as a way to pray with, and There are over one hundred and twenty-five churches on share about, the Sunday Scriptures. The leadership of the the Island, and six of them are Catholic - Cathedral of Resurrectionists has decided that CTW would continue St. Theresa, St. Joseph's, St. Anthony's, St. Michael's, St. as an important ministry of the CR community, but that Patrick's, and Stella Maris. About fifteen percent of the it would now be made available without cost, through a people on the Island are Roman Catholics, the second dedicated section of the Resurrectionist website. Now, largest group after the Church of England. instead of our faithful CTW Co-ordinator Barbara Diemert having to manually send out CTW to subscribers each week, they are now able to download it easily (in Adobe Acrobat/PDF or Microsoft Word formats) from the follow- ing Website at their leisure: http://resurrectionists.ca/ celebrating-the-word. This change in distribution method does not signal, in any way, a lessening of the Resurrectionist commitment to this important spiritual and formational resource. On the contrary; we hope that it will allow for greater access to what Father Frank began and nurtured for so many years, which has now become a ministry of the Congregation Clergy working in the Diocese of Hamilton, Bermuda of the Resurrection more broadly. We hope that this new “open-source” way of providing CTW will enable many The present Resurrectionists on the Island are Fr. Julio more people to experience the spiritual richness and beauty Blazejewski, of the South American Region, who ministers of the Scriptures, and to apply them to their own Christian to the Portuguese Community; Fr. Vladimir Sobolewski, lives, in ways that will bear fruit in deepened prayer and of the Polish Province, who is Pastor of St. Patrick's Parish; more energetic Christian witness. Fr. Paul Voisin, of the Ontario-Kentucky Province, who is Rector of the Cathedral. Until only a decade ago all of these If you have any questions, or would like further infor- Parishes were staffed by Resurrectionists. The first non- mation, please feel free to contact Barbara (at her new Resurrectionist Pastor is Fr. Joseph Morley, a Bermudian e-mail address!): [email protected] or call who was ordained in 2004, serving Stella Maris Parish. 1-877-242-7935. With the shortage of Resurrectionist priests available to serve the needs of the Catholic Community, Bishop Kurtz has enlisted the priestly service of two Diocesan priests of the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey - Fr. Attilio Morelli at St. Michael's Parish and Fr. Mariusz Luksza at St. Anthony's Resurrection and St. Joseph's Parishes. BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 6 Renovation of Chapel of St. Theresa her intercession for those suffering from breast cancer. Louis has become associated with intercession for those Hamilton, Bermuda who have lost a spouse, and those facing illness and death. By Fr. Paul Voisin, CR They are also looked upon as intercessors for married St. Theresa's is the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic couples and parents. There is Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda. The Cathedral, of a a possibility that they will be Spanish style, was opened in 1932 and has served as the canonized during the Synod centre of liturgical life for the Diocese since that time. on the Family in Rome in October 2015. The Patroness of the Cathedral, and the Diocese, is Saint Theresa of Lisieux. There is a chapel dedicated to her to In the Sacristy of the Cathedral the left of the Sanctuary of the Cathedral. Recently it has there is also a beautiful stained been renovated with the addition of botticino marble from glass window, a gift from the Brescia, Italy - flooring and altar dressings - donated by Kurtz and Gira families, which Angelo and Rosanna Ferragu of Verona, Italy. Included in depicts (from top to bottom) this generous gift was a new wooden statue of St. Theresa, the Holy Face of Jesus (as that of simple beauty. It was carved out of Linden wood by was St. Theresa's Religious Ferdinando Perathoner from Bolzano, Italy. New Bermuda name), Blessed Louis, Saint Cedar wall sconces were made by Joseph Pacheco, a local Theresa, and Blessed Zélie. carpenter. He also prepared two wooden reliquaries, one Roses cascade down both sides for a relic of St. Theresa of Lisieux, and the other for her of the window, as roses have parents, Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin. As St. Theresa traditionally been associated Stained Glass Window in is 'the Little Flower', roses with this 'Little Flower' of God St. Theresa’s Cathedral always adorn the altar of the and the Church. chapel. A wooden kneeler and two chairs have provided Conference on Resurrectionist a peaceful and quiet place for Spirituality prayer, reading, and medita- The Polish Province of the Congregation of the Resurrection, tion. Vigil lights, on Bermuda in conjunction with the University of Saint John Paul II, Cedar stands, also adorn the hosted an international conference on Resurrectionist spir- chapel. Lights in the chapel ituality in Kraków, Poland in February. The conference was are kept on during hours that entitled “Resurrectionists: Towards the Spiritual Rebirth of the Cathedral is open, to draw Society.” Four of the talks were delivered by Polish schol- people to visit our patroness in Chapel of St. Theresa ars, one was delivered by a young Hungarian scholar, and her quaint chapel. the remaining talks were given by Fr. Paul Sims, CR of the St. Theresa (Thérèse) was born in Lisieux, France on USA Province and Fr. James Donohue, CR of the Ontario- January 2, 1873. At an early age she experienced the call Kentucky Province. Fr. Paul’s talk was on “Theories that to be a Discalced Carmelite Sister, and took the name Sister Inform Resurrectionist Leadership Practices toward the Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. She is most Spiritual Rebirth of Society.” Fr. Jim’s talk was entitled “The known for her 'Little Way', her simple and practical spiri- Eight Principles of Resurrectionist Spirituality Applied to tuality, wanting to be unknown before God and the world. Undergraduate Teaching.” Here is a short excerpt from Fr. She was beatified in 1923, and canonized in 1925, by Pope Jim’s talk, concerning the 3rd Principle of Resurrectionist Pius XI. She was declared co-patron of the Missions with spirituality: “Evil Attracts Us.” St. Francis Xavier in 1927, and co-patron of France with “The story of the fall in Genesis 2-3 helps our undergrad- Joan of Arc in 1944. On October 19, 1997 Pope John Paul uates to reflect upon why it is that evil attracts us. In the II declared her the thirty-third '', the story, God gives a command: “You are free to eat from any youngest person and third woman. of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of The parents of St. Theresa, Blessed Louis and Zélie Martins, good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you were Beatified in 2008. Louis was a clock maker and eat from it you shall die” (Gen 2:17). God has given the man jeweler, of a deep spirituality. Zélie was a talented lace and woman the entire garden with one command. They maker, and was also a woman of strong faith. Four of their must not touch this tree. Sr. Mary Kate Birge, SSJ, in her nine children died in infancy. Four of the five surviving study of this text, alerts us to the fact that “neither daughters became Carmelite . Zèlie died of breast 7 Resurrection cancer, and this has led to an outpouring of prayers for BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 God nor the narrator justifies the prohibition; it simply We are attracted to evil because of our pride which seeks to is” (“Genesis” 18). Here, they must simply trust God. Of make us, rather than God, the center of the Christian story. course, this means that they are not lords of their lives. And if we think it is all about us, it cannot, of course, be all The serpent is, of course, very subtle in the way that he about God.” broaches the topic of God’s command to not eat of this tree. Birge points out several small, but incremental, ways that the serpent plants seeds of doubt when he asks the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden?’” (Gen 3:1). Note that the serpent widens God’s command to all the trees, changes God’s “command” in 2:16 to a mere “say,” weakening its force, and alters the identification of God by dropping the sacred name, YHWH (22). We see that the woman, lured into dialogue with the serpent, joins the serpent’s misrepresentation in three ways: she also refers to God without the sacred name, YHWH, she Fr. Jim Donohue, CR conferring at the Resurrectionist adopts the weaker “said” over “command,” and she adds a Spirituality Conference clause that God did not use when she says, “and nor shall The conference was attended by dignitaries of the university, you touch it” (22). many Resurrectionist sisters and other religious, lay scholars Humans are creatures, and not God, and there are some interested in Resurrectionist spirituality, and the 40 reli- things that remain a mystery to them. The question is about gious superiors and pastors of the Polish Province. Opening their willingness to trust in God’s plan for them. Can they remarks were given by the Provincial of the Polish Province, trust that God will provide for them in God’s time and in Fr. Wiesław Śpiewak, CR and closing remarks were made by God’s way, or do they need to grasp on their own what ulti- Fr. James Gibson, CR, who represented the General Curia mately would be freely given to them? The “” that of the Congregation of the Resurrection. The conference this story reveals is that humans have a deep desire within was organized by Fr. Wojciech Młeczko, CR, who will be them to be masters of their destiny; they cannot trust that leading the retreat for the members of the Ontario-Kentucky God will in fact provide for them. Humans are not content Province, September 14-18, 2015. to be creatures that must trust, but rather prefer to be “like The conference included an opening Mass, presided by the gods.” When God created humanity, God gave humanity a auxiliary bishop of Kraków. All the Resurrectionists were great gift—freedom—because God wants a willing partner, able to celebrate mass and evening prayer on another night one who chooses God in freedom. But unlike God, humans at a Benedictine Abbey that was founded in 1040 by King are creatures, not knowing all things. As creatures they are Casimir the Restorer. The Resurrectionists were also able to called to use the gift of freedom to trust that God’s plan for tour the Wieliczka Salt Mines, just outside Kraków, where humanity will be brought to fruition in God’s time and in they celebrated Mass in the chapel of St. Kinga. God’s way. Our inability to trust is rooted in a pride that wants to see Editorial team for ourselves at the center of all things. As William Mattison puts it: “Despite being created for self-giving love, and The Resurrection Bulletin: being given the assistance to live lives of such love, which Fr. Phil Reilly, CR Fr. Jim Valk, CR are indeed most fulfilling and satisfying, humanity lives Ms. Patti Tusch Fr. Paul Voisin, CR not out of self-giving love but rather for ourselves. Out of Fr. Tim Uniac, CR pride we decide that we, not God, know what is truly best and life-giving for us. And so we turn away from the full- Please check out the Ontario-Kentucky Province’s website ness of life that is offered to us. This is sin” (Introducing at www.resurrectionists.ca. Prayer requests are always Moral Theology: True Happiness and the Virtues 204). welcomed and encouraged.

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