Fall 2017 Ably Gifted Men, and the Future of Our Province (Continued on Page 7) Fall2017
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TheAlexians The Love of Christ Compels Us Immaculate Conception Province of the Congregation Alexian Brothers mark milestones, of Alexian Brothers Mission Statement energizing province as it looks ahead Strengthened by community, prayer, commitment to the poor and the legacy of our n Alexian Brother in the founders, and in partnership Philippines has professed Life with others, we Alexian Brothers witness the Healing Vows, and two Alexian Brothers Anovices in the United States have Christ by a holistic approach to promoting health and professed their First Vows, as the caring for the sick, dying, Immaculate Conception Province of aged and unwanted of all socioeconomic levels. the Congregation of Alexian Brothers continues to register progress in its Values Compassion efforts to attract new men. Dignity of the Person Brother Vincent Ferrar Timbang, Care of the Poor C.F.A., professed his Life Vows on July Holism 17, the Feast of St. Alexius, during a Partnership Mass at the Carmelite Monastery Church in the Bajada section of Davao City in the Philippines. A day earlier, Novice Brothers Jeffrey Weeden Superior General Brother Lawrence Krueger, C.F.A., (right), presides as Brother and Frederick “Torch” Acosta professed Vincent Ferrar Timbang, C.F.A., professes his Life Vows during a Mass at the their First Vows during a Mass in the Carmelite Monastery Church in the Bajada section of Davao City in the Philippines. chapel at St. Alexius Hospital (formerly known is bright.” as Alexian Brothers Hospital) in St. Louis. Reverend Father Leonie España, D.C.D., a “It’s exciting and energizing for everyone in priest at San Antonio de Padua Parish in Bajada, our province to see Vincent, Jeffrey and Torch presided at Brother Vincent’s Mass, assisted by mark these milestones,” said Brother Dan Reverend Father Allan Roriguez, D.C.D., a chap- McCormick, C.F.A., provincial of the Immac- lain at the Alexian Brothers Health & Wellness ulate Conception Province. “They are remark- Center in Davao City, and four other priests. Fall 2017 ably gifted men, and the future of our province (continued on page 7) Fall2017 New ministry offers friendship, support to homebound elderly new Alexian Brothers ministry has taken tionships with them and give them the assurance flight in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offering of knowing we are not going to leave. We’re not friendship and supportive case-manage- going in and doing everything. We’re going in Ament services to vulnerable, homebound seniors and indicating we want to create a relationship struggling with isolation and loneliness. and a friendship. Our primary goal is to estab- St. Alexius Outreach lish that and to do what the Alexian Brothers Ministries opened its have done for 75 years in the Chattanooga area – doors in July after a three- and that is to reflect the healing hands of Christ year discernment and to this community.” development process that The ministry receives referrals from senior crystallized the vision for services agencies that have identified seniors the ministry, which is “to who need support and have granted permission create a community where to be contacted by the ministry. Its goal is to all elders know they are serve 50 seniors during its first year. Mariko valued and cared for,” said Tinaya, the ministry’s program coordinator, is Susan Chill, executive leading an effort to screen and to train a volun- director of the ministry. teer team large enough to meet this goal. Father J. David Top priorities for the ministry include help- Carter, rector of the ing seniors avoid hospitalization and ensuring Father J. David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, they are aging safely in their homes. Ministry Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in blessed the ministry’s headquarters during an representatives conduct home safety checks and Chattanooga, blesses the headquarters of St. Alexius Outreach Ministries, Oct. 20 ceremony attended by Alexian Brothers assess seniors’ other needs by using a special receiving assistance (right photo) from and ministry supporters. “circle of care” assessment tool to capture infor- Brother Richard Lowe, C.F.A., chair- With the older-adult population increasing mation about family support, socialization, man of the board of the new ministry. rapidly, there is growing concern about the healthcare, nutrition and personal interests. impact of isolation and loneliness on seniors’ The ministry plans to match volunteers health and well-being. Under the ministry’s with seniors based on common interests and first program, Hospitality at Home, staff personalities to foster mutual friendships. In members, Alexian Brothers and volunteers addition to helping seniors with various needs, visit homebound seniors 70 and older, volunteers also will help them mark life celebra- offering their friendship while assessing tions such as birthdays and holidays. other needs that seniors might have. The Alexian Brothers are playing an active The ministry might address these needs role in the ministry. Brother Richard Kane, (Left to right) Alexian Brothers directly or might connect a senior with commu- C.F.A., has joined the ministry’s staff, and the Richard Kane, Thomas Klein, nity resources. The assistance provided by the ministry’s board of directors includes Brother Lawrence Krueger, Dan McCormick, ministry comes in many forms, such as procur- Richard Lowe, C.F.A., the board’s chairman; Warren Longo, Jeffrey Callander and Richard Lowe gather for the blessing ing smoke detectors, arranging for garbage pick- Brother Jeffrey Callander, C.F.A., and Brother of the headquarters of St. Alexius up, or securing senior-friendly food boxes. There Warren Longo, C.F.A. The board also includes Outreach Ministries in Chattanooga, are no fees, dues or membership requirements Betty Anne Neal of Catholic Charities in Tennessee. for program participation or services. Chattanooga. Through the ministry, “we want “Our premise is that we want to stay to bring the community into seniors’ homes, connected with our seniors throughout their following the Alexian Brothers’ value of dignity 2 lifetime,” Chill said. “We want to develop rela- of the person,” Chill said. TheAlexians Provincial’s Letter Dear Alexian Friends: regularly with residents and will serve on the These are exciting times for the Immaculate Alexian Village Resident Council. Residents of Conception Province of the Congregation of the facility are thrilled that we have returned. Alexian Brothers. (See article on page 5.) There is a real sense of energy and momen- Brother John’s move to Milwaukee led to tum among our Brothers, and this edition of a series of new assignments for other Brothers, The Alexians spotlights several reasons for our allowing us to infuse our communities and renewed feeling of vibrancy. ministries with fresh perspectives and new Most notable are the commitments to reli- ideas. In my experience, this type of change gious life made recently by three of our Brothers. is healthy for our communities and ministries Brother Vincent Ferrar Timbang, C.F.A., and enriches our province as a whole. It also is professed his Life Vows in the Philippines, and valuable in terms of the personal and spiritual Novice Brothers Jeffrey Weeden and Frederick growth of our individual Brothers. “Torch” Acosta professed their First Vows in St. While caring for those in need, the Brothers Louis. (See article on page 1.) also are concerned about helping those who After years of seeing our ranks depleted provide care. Brother Patrick McCabe, C.F.A., Did you know? by the deaths of older Brothers and an overall recently volunteered to lead the 38th Care for Editor’s Note: “Did you know?” provides decline in religious vocations, it is uplifting to the Caregiver Conference at AMITA Health brief glimpses into the rich, 800-year histo- ry of the Congregation of Alexian Brothers. see newer Brothers profess their vows. Their Alexian Brothers Medical Center Elk Grove professions, coupled with an increase in voca- Village, providing a variety of healing tools that In 1969, the renowned psychologist tion inquiries from men interested in the volunteer caregivers in local parishes can use to Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross published “On Death and Dying,” a ground- Alexian Brothers, have given us renewed hope care for others – or for themselves. (See article breaking book on the five stages of for perpetuating our 800-year healing tradition. on page 6.) dying and grief — denial, anger, bar- We’re also excited about the launch of a new The Brothers in Elk Grove Village are gaining, depression and acceptance. ministry serving vulnerable, homebound seniors exploring other opportunities to be of service Kübler-Ross had moved to Chicago in 1965 and was an instruc- in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and about progress to AMITA Health facilities and programs as tor at the University of Chicago’s toward establishing a drop-in center for the we continue to reinvent ourselves as religious Pritzker School of Medicine. She fol- homeless in the Philippines and a medical clinic Brothers in the 21st century. lowed “On Death and Dying” with a in East Timor. (See articles on pages 2 and 4, Things change quickly in this new millen- 1974 book entitled “Questions and Answers on Death and Dying.” respectively.) These initiatives reflect our contin- nium, and the Brothers recognize that we, too, In the early 1970s, the late ued commitment to caring for the elderly, the must change if we are to survive as a religious Brother Frank Lamendola and the sick, the poor and those who live on the margins order. We must expand our ranks, look for new late Brother Gary Schrader – then novices under the direction of of society. opportunities to improve people’s lives, and Brother Warren Longo, C.F.A. In another example of our focus on the ensure that our individual Brothers continue – volunteered to file papers and to elderly, we have re-established our community to deepen their relationship with God.