Read newsletter online [email protected] 2015 Issue III www.ciszek.org Annual

Father Walter Celebration Ciszek Day 2015 October 25, 2015 St. Casimir’s Church 229 North Jardin Street, Shenandoah PA Annual Celebration Main Celebrant: Msgr. Ronald Bocian

ALL are invited to attend our annual celebration of Rev. Walter J. Ciszek’s life, works and message.

Homilist Rev. Michael Paris Adoration of Blessed Sacrament: 1:00 PM “Father Michael Paris is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Casimir’s Church Washington DC. He is the youngest of seven children and grew up in Columbia MD. He Divine Liturgy: studied in minor seminary 2:00 P.M. in Scranton PA, NY, and St. Casimir’s Church completed his theologi- cal studies at Mount St. Social: Mary’s in Emmitsburg, 3:30 P.M. MD. He encountered the St. Casimir’s Hall writings of Father Walter Ciszek through his spiritu- Raffle Drawing: al director in college semi- 4:00 P.M. nary, Father Jeff Walsh. Opportunity to visit new center He was ordained a 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. priest in 2011 and spent his first four years at St COME JOIN US!!! Patrick’s Church in Rock- ville, MD. This past summer he was assigned as the assistant chaplain to the University of MD and George Washington Uni- versity. Father Ciszek has been a great spiritual guide through New Email: the years and he is so happy be able to share this day with the [email protected] other friends of Father Walter.” prayer hotline Subscriber of the Newsletter Your mailing label resembles the following: DECEASED: Giselle Berube, Rose Cheslock Name: Jan 2012 Street Health: City, State, Zip Code Lynn Cugini, Sister Mary Heffron, new great grandson The month and year that follows your name informs you when your membership/ SPECIAL INTENTIONS: subscription expires. You should pay for Jim four (4) years for which you received the Remembrance: newsletter. Eugene and Stephanie Bartoli If you move, please notify us of your For all members of the Prayer League living new address. We have to pay extra and deceased. postage when the Post Office returns your undeliverable newsletter to us. For all whose names were previously on our list, but In case of death, kindly have someone who are still in need of our prayers; for all those who have requested prayers of the League; for all prayer notify the League to cancel your league members, for all those who are praying through subscription. the intercession of Father Walter Ciszek; and for all who need our prayers. God bless you and thank you!

We are now on Facebook! Prayer for A FAVOR www.facebook.com/FatherWalterCiszek through the INTERCESSION OF FATHER Walter Ciszek, S.J. “For/From the Friends of Walter Ciszek, S.J.” ______A Publication of the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League Official Organization for the Promotion of the Cause of A lmighty God, we love, adore Canonization of Father Walter Ciszek, S.J. and praise You as our Creator 18 Oak Street and Loving Father. Look with Shenandoah, PA 17976 compassion and mercy upon us. Hear our prayer in this time Editor: Daniel L. Flaherty, S.J. of special need and through the Executive Editor : Elaine Cusat intercession of Father Walter Co-Postulators: Msgr. Anthony D. Muntone, Ciszek, grant the following favor Rev. Thomas F. Sable, S.J., if it is Your Holy Will. Circulation Manager Sister Doris Burkot, O.S.F. (Mention the Request) Business Manager Elaine Cusat Most loving God, accept our gratitude for hearing this prayer. May the knowledge of the virtues and holiness of Father “Friends of Walter Ciszek, S.J.” is published four times a year for Walter be recognized and known to provide a lasting example friends and contributors to the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League. to draw sinners to reconciliation and to lead souls to sanctity. Copies mailed from Shenandoah, PA. For a subscription, write: The For You are our God and we are Your people and we glorify Prayer League, 18 Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976. Current cost is You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. $10 a year. Manuscripts should be sent to: Editor, Prayer League, 18 Amen. Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976; please include a stamped, self- addressed return envelope. For changes of address or problems with your Please inform the Prayer League of any special favors from subscription write: Circulation Manager, The Prayer League, 18 Oak Father Walter Ciszek. Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976. Postmaster, please return undeliverable copies to The Prayer League, 18 Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976.

2 Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League Spanish Translation of He Leadeth Me Published

Review #1---Paraula 19-abril-15 Testimonial “He Leadeth Me” Walter J. Ciszek Palabra, 256 pages

Walter Ciszek, North American Jesuit, arrived in Russia with 25 other people in Boxcar 89725, from the Polish city of Albertyn. His goal was to spread the word of God in Russia. But soon after establishing himself in Teplaya Gora, he was discovered and detained by the secret police. Accused of espionage, he was transferred to the dreaded Moscow prison of Lubianka where he remained during the years of World War II, and was later sentenced to 15 years forced labor in Siberia. Finally, in 1963, he was exchanged for 2 Russian spies and was able to return to the United States. In this book, he reveals the reason for his survival and gives testament to his life of prayer by which he overcame loneliness, pain, fear, and desperation. In 1990 his beatification process was started. Today he is a Servant of God.

Review #4---Rev. Cristiandad Mayo 2015 “He Leadeth Me” Author: Walter J. Ciszek, Daniel L. Flaherty Publisher: Palabra 256 pages

This North American Jesuit, Servant of God, entered Russia from the Polish city of Albertyn, which had been taken over by the Red Army. During the years of World War II, he remained in the Moscow prison of Lubianka, and was later sentenced to 15 years of forced labor in a Siberian gulag. In the book, he reveals the reason for his survival - the total surrender to the will of God - and gives testament to his life of prayer by which he overcame his loneliness.

Review #5---Agenda de la Empresa Andaluza Junio 2015 He Leadeth Me: Memories of a Jesuit in the Gulag Walter J. Ciszek with Daniel L. Flaherty Palabra - 254 pages

Walter Ciszek, a North American Jesuit, was captured by the Red Army from the Polish city of Albertyn and arrived in Russia with 25 other people in Boxcar 89725, with the goal of spreading the word of God. He was imprisoned, accused of espionage, trapped in the Moscow prison of Lubianka during all of World War II, and sentenced to 15 years of forced labor in the prison camps of Siberia. Exchanged for 2 Russian spies, he was freed in 1963, and returned to the United States.

Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League 3 Fr. Ciszek and the North American Martyrs: Reflections on Sinfulness and the Love of God

By John M. DeJak

On August 4, 1964, Fr. Ciszek began his annual eight-day retreat in preparation for his final vows, which he would take on the Feast of Our Lady’s Assumption, August 15, 1964. The site for this particular retreat was the Shrine of the North American Martyrs (also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs), in Auriesville, New York. It is built on the site of Ossernenon, a small Indian village on the south bank of the Mohawk River. St. Kateri Tekakwitha was from this village and it was the inhabitants of this village who ultimately killed St. Isaac Jogues, St. Rene Goupil and their fellow Jesuit companions in the 17th century. The Shrine has long been a spot for prayer and meditation for the faithful across the country. There is something mystical about the place. When one arrives, he feels the centuries in his bones. Looking across the expanse towards the Mohawk River and seeing the sharp incline below from the height of old village of Ossernenon, one can’t help but feel the need for silence when meditating upon the events of that spot. It was there, down the sharp incline, that the Jesuit saints were forced to “run the gauntlet”—running up and down the hill while being stoned with sharp rocks and lacerated by blades and spears of the savage tribe. Upon that holy spot now lies a circle of rocks—possibly from the same era—now configured into a rosary. The Jesuits have long cultivated devotion to these holy places, having erected a coliseum-style church in 1930, no doubt reminding the faithful of today that the suffering of the 17th century Jesuit martyrs had a mystical relation to the suffering of the early Christians in Rome’s Flavian Amphitheater. Not far away from the shrine church is a ravine. As one walks down the ravine, there is an eerie silence. One encounters at the base of the ravine a small altar commemorating the area—the exact spot still unknown—where St. Rene Goupil’s body was dismembered and thrown to be consumed by wild animals and the ravages of time. The place and the moment of one’s visit cannot but call forth emotion for the one who irrigated the land with his blood, so that the seed of faith could bloom in North America. And so it was, in August 1964, that Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J., fellow Jesuit with the martyrs, came to the place of their tortures and death. Fr. Ciszek had seen his own share of torture and probably knew—more than most—a taste of their sufferings. How close he must have felt to them as he made his retreat! How intimate his relationship with them as he made the same meditations from the Spiritual Exercises that they had made centuries earlier. How humble he must have felt being in the presence of the ground watered by their blood and witness. This whole history and Father’s recent return from his own sufferings in Russia, must have colored his meditations and spiritual insights and inspirations. Fr. Ciszek’s reflection on his own personal sinfulness, as composed by him during a meditation during this retreat in 1964, should help us today in overcoming our own sinfulness. Let us allow Father to speak to us today, as we continue striving to be the saints that God created us to be: The Lord did not punish me enough in the camps. Instead, when all was lost and no hope existed, he almost continued on page 7

4 Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League Ukrainian archbishop visits Catholic Churches in Shenandoah, Frackville By John E. Usalis Excerpts reprinted with permission of the Republican Herald

The spiritual leader of the Catholic Archdiocese Church is a sacred worship site. of Lviv of the Latins in Ukraine had an important When the clergy and altar servers processed to message to the faithful in Frackville and the altar when Mass began, Mokrzycki presented Shenandoah on Saturday during his visit to Bocian with a first class relic of the pope. churches in both boroughs. Mokrzycki made the presentation in Polish, with Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, 54, who Czyszek reading the following translation: was the personal secretary for Pope St. John Paul “Last year we witnessed the canonization of II, was concelebrant at Masses in the Roman Pope John Paul II. As his personal secretary, and Catholic churches of St. Ann in Frackville and St. now Archbishop of Lviv, in the presence of the Casimir in Shenandoah as part of a visit to the priests gathered here and all the People of God, Diocese of Allentown. I solemnly present a part of the holy relics of Mokrzyclo, who speaks little English, was Saint John Paul II to the Divine Mercy Parish in assisted by his assistant and translator Szymon Shenandoah. May its constant presence in this Czyszek, who traveled with the archbishop and his church become a seal, emphasizing the unity of personal secretary, Monsignor Andrzej Legowicz, the Holy Church gathered around the successor of to the United States. Peter and the unity of prayer. “Rest assured, my dear brothers and sisters, that “Reverend Pastor, please accept this relic, our dear John Paul hears you, sees you, helps us, surround it with reverence and present it to the and is more help now that ever before,” Czyszek faithful for veneration. Let everyone pray before said in translating the homily at both churches. “St. the relic, through the intercession of Saint John John Paul II, pray for us.” Paul II, receive an abundance of grace and that Mokrzycki is a native of Poland and has been they may follow him in faith and zeal. archbishop of Lviv since 2008. As a monsignor, “Saint John Paul II, pray for us.” he was a personal secretary to Pope John Paul A first class relic consists of a part of the saint, II from 1996 until the pope’s death in 2005. He such a bone or hair, or something identified from continued as a personal secretary to Pope Benedict the Passion of Jesus Christ, such as a part of the XVI until the pope ordained him as bishop in Cross. The relic accepted by Bocian was a lock of 2007, appointed him as coadjutor-archbishop of hair, as is the relic at St. Ann’s. Lviv that same year and installed him as Lviv’s archbishop on Nov. 21, 2008. “John Paul II was an example of sincere The archbishop has written a book on the humanity and profound spiritually, the teacher and sainted pope entitled “He Liked Tuesdays Best,” witness of an un breakable faith,” Czyszek read. which was published in 2011. “He was constantly in search of the truth, and was truly an authentic follower of our Lord Jesus.” When Mass concluded, Mokrzycki and his entourage drove to Shenandoah and St. Casimir “For me as personal secretary, John Paul was Church, where they were greeted by Monsignor an extraordinary man,” Mokrzycki said in the Ronald C. Bocian, pastor and main celebrant. homily. “He was so many ways like us, yet at the In addition to Legowicz, other concelebrants same time so different. I think that what put him were Monsignor Myron Grabowsky, pastor of in another category was his attitude, his behavior, St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic his way of speaking, his actions. Being close to Church, Shenandoah, and the Rev. Johnson him, one sensed peace, security, goodness.” Kochuparambil, who leads the Hispanic ministry Mokrzycki has a great devotion to Divine in Divine Mercy Parish, of which St. Casimir Mercy and to Father Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.

Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League 5 Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki shares his memories of Pope St. John Paul II

My dear brothers and sisters, many thanks for this warm welcome. “Yes” was the only answer I could give to Monsignor Bocian’s invitation to share with you some of my personal experi- ences with John Paul II and solemnly present his relic in this beautiful church. Events like this help us to grow in faith and share our common sentiments. The memory of our dear saint brings us together here in prayer and worship. I had the joy and honor of closely serving him during the last nine years of his life, and all of us have been encouraged by his humanity and friendship. John Paul II was an example of sincere humanity and profound spirituality; a teacher and witness of an unbreakable faith; he was constantly in search of the truth and he was truly an authentic man and authentic follower of our Lord Jesus. Precisely in the light of this I would like to share a few vivid memories of John Paul II. In every age of time, we are witnesses to how God always places prophetic and faith filled people on this earth. Men and women who become joyful promoters of the good news. Prophets that proclaim gospel truths with courage even when the strong winds are blowing against them. These prophets deeply feel the call to encourage others to put God first. For me, as personal secretary, John Paul was an extraordinary man…being in so many ways like us, yet at the same time so different. I think that what put him in another category was his outlook on life, his attitudes, his behavior, his way of speaking, his acting. He mysteriously irradiated a light that lit the lives of others. Being close to him, one would sense peace, security and heartfelt goodness. Our dear Saint John Paul´s memory is carved in my heart and the heart of so many people. But, my question is WHY? He possessed a human and spiritual wealth that slowly revealed itself during the various stages of his life until his illness united him to the suffering Christ. We all know that as a young man, he was a zealous learner, he loved study and culture. He possessed a unique sense of responsibility. This pushed him to prepare himself the best way possible to serve the Church and his country. He thus be- came a convinced believer, a credible and enthusiastic Christian, and became what I would call “an authentic man of faith”. All his thoughts were directed towards God and the Church. His life was immersed in prayer…he seemed to be a living prayer. The words of St. Anselm remind me of him when he says: I nourish you with what keeps me alive. As a priest he was keenly aware that the preaching of the word is the fruit of prayer and that the proclaimed truths must first be interiorly prayed over, meditated and then lived. This explains why he never neglected his prayer life, and always took the time he felt necessary. His prayer time was his priority as it should be for all of us. Contemplating Christ in prayer was always first. He never began the day or an activity without prayer. As he got out of bed in the morning, he would di- rectly prostrate himself on the floor and offer the day to Mary by praying the rosary. He would then get washed up and head to the chapel for Morning Prayer and meditation. Some of you could ask: how did he pray? His prayer was very simple. He would pray with his heart the prayers we all know: the Our Father, Hail Mary, the Creed, hymns to the Holy Spirit etc., prayers we all learned as children. The difference was often in how he prayed them. He prayed them with his heart. His example rubbed off on us. He taught us to pray with his life, until his last breath. In his final hours, we were his pray- ing voice, saying out loud the prayers he taught us. I can say with all certainty that God granted him the grace of true prayer and intimate union with God. A very deep yet simple style of prayer. He would always say to those he encountered: I pray for you….I will remember you at prayer. And it was true. One time he told us that he always prayed for the people he would meet in private or public encounters, he prayed for them before and prayed for them after. So many letters arrived with petitions and intentions. These were always placed near his kneeler in his private chapel. Every time he went to the chapel, he would go through them, read them, close his eyes in prayer, mark them with a cross and offer Mass for these intentions. He would spend long hours kneeling in prayer before Our Blessed Lord. Holy Mass was for him the most holy part of the day, it was the center of his day and his life. He never let a day go by without Holy Mass. He prepared for Mass with meditation and after spent time in thanksgiving. Those who helped at the public masses have vivid memories of his prayer- ful preparation and fervent thanksgiving. As we know, during his Pontificate, he would always invite priests and laity to Holy Mass in his private chapel in the Vatican or in Castel Gandolfo. Upon finishing mass and giving thanks, he would always have some time to greet those present, and would offer each the small gift of a rosary. He spent much time in daily prayer. Every Thursday he would pray his holy hour during which he would have silent prayer and also sing Eucharistic hymns. He never missed his Thursday holy hour. Even during his trips, the organizers learned the hard way that this hour had to be put in the agenda as well as time for praying the Stations of the Cross on Fri- day. If the organizers didn´t put this time in, the Pope did… John Paul has a great love for Christ crucified. From his seminary days, he meditated often on the Passion of our Blessed Lord and Mary´s motherly presence on the way to Calvary. Every Friday he would prayerfully meditate on the Stations of the Cross and we often times found him kneeling in prayer going from station to station. Yes indeed my dear brothers and sisters! Saint John Paul lived immersed in God and lived for God. Whoever met him could sense this. For this reason, contact with him, brought one closer to God. How often people would tell me after meeting continued on page 7

6 Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League continued from page 6 him that a supernatural glow flows from his person. Prayer was continued from page 5 his oxygen for his soul. Prayer was part of every hour of every day. Prayer flowed from his person. During the audiences, Fr. Ciszek and the North he would pray for the people as he drove by. His secretary Fr. Stanislao Dziwisz was always very careful when he would have American Martyrs continued to interrupt his prayer time. My dear friends, what great lessons for all of us! We have so miraculously saved me from perdition. many worries and we often say and think we do not have time Why? I don’t know, because there is nothing to pray or to go to Mass. We mistakenly think that prayer is worthwhile I did for him, but rather the for a chosen few…for priests, for nuns…or that we have to do something extraordinary to pray. Our dear John Paul teaches us opposite. He regarded the good prayers offered that the path to prayer is that of evangelical simplicity. for me and the power of these prayers did the He adopted the pious practices of all normal Catholics: he miraculous for me. always wore the scapular and had the same devotional practices of the simplest of people. He who was so gifted intellectually What am I worth in comparison with and artistically didn´t look down on these pious practices. He all men? Many excel me in natural and was very fond of them. spiritual gifts. With angels and with the Another pious practice dear to his heart was to go on pil- saints in heaven there is no need of making grimages to shrines of Mary, his mother. Love for our Lady was comparisons. And if compared with God, second nature to him. He would so often repeat Totus Tuus ego I am nothing. The most insignificant sum…I am all yours Mary! This is a great secret of his pontifi- cate: his total consecration to Mary. of creatures who dared to sin against I have dedicated most of this time to focus on the humble his Creator. Vile, selfish, corrupt, yet and simple prayer life of John Paul II. If he was a faith filled sullen enough to live with people, and shepherd, he also enjoyed the fullness of humanity. He always presumptuous enough to pray to God whom thought of the others, he passionately defended and cared for I offended. Sin made me obnoxious, degraded human dignity. He cared for humanity and thus cared for life in all its stages, he cared for the right to work, the right to freedom, in the eyes of God, a monster that only the right to dignity, he cared for children, the youth, the sick and sin could make. Yet in spite of all this, the suffering. He always had time to encounter all these groups. Lord regarded my nothingness, preserved He cared for all. He took every problem seriously. He constantly me, cared for me, and delivered me from looked for solutions and wouldn´t stop thinking until a solution hell itself without my deserving this in the was found. Every encounter with any person was characterized by love, esteem, respect. least. Where is God’s justice? Where are his After sharing this with you, we can only once again affirm sanctity and other attributes, to condescend that his attitudes were extraordinary. This is why his memory so low because of me and lavish his blessings lives on in this world. And perhaps he is more alive now than on one so unworthy of them. before. So many requests for his relics, so many requests for his intercession. Why this for me? Why spare me, when If we venerate him as a saint, if we invoke him as our protec- you did not spare others far worthier than tor and patron, if we beseech his intercession then we should I? Confused, abased, humiliated to the also look to imitate him. We too should strive to be people depths, Lord, I express my deep gratitude of God, holy as he was holy, living God´s will as he lived it, to thee. You have done so much for me, let whether it be in the good times or bad, in happiness or sadness, sickness or in health. me do something for thee. Whatever you ask We pray he help us from heaven to become better men and from me, I shall do, however humiliating, women inside and that we also build a better world outside. We difficult, dangerous – or even most ordinary, pray that you John Paul protect and help this community to grow but requiring hidden sacrifice, immolation, in love and faith. Protect and bless all gathered here today. We in daily insignificant and unrecognized especially entrust to you our youth, our families, the sick and actions. Or, with all sincerity yet modest suffering, those without work and all those undergoing times of difficulty. Help us to be holy. Help us to put God at the center. and simple humility, if you call for a total You tirelessly repeated that the true disciples of Jesus are sacrifice of life itself, your unworthy servant rooted in the earth of holiness. You taught us to pray for holi- is ready. There is nothing I will refuse you, ness in such a simple way. This prayer we repeat today full if you will it. You have conquered sin, evil, of trust: Lord, accept me and embrace me as I am, with all my and death itself; that is why you are life and defects, my weaknesses…but make me was you wish.” Rest assured my dear brothers and sisters that our dear John resurrection itself. Paul hears you, sees you, helps you and can be of more help now than ever before. Saint John Paul II, pray for us. Amen.

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