Brotherhood of Hope

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NEWSLETTER Spring 2014 aPriest Fifty Years a Father, Founder and Friend. by Fr. Philip Merdinger, BH this honor to himself” (Hebrews 5:4) but is called to it by the Holy Spirit and the t the heart of Catholic life is the authority of the Bishop. A conviction that Jesus Christ, It is now 50 years since Ordination though on this earth but briefly, would never was conferred upon me in the chapel of leave his disciples as it were orphaned, with the American College at the University of only a distant and fading memory of him Louvain, Belgium. In those far-off days of subject to the errors and distortions of histo- the Second Vatican Council the Church in ry. Rather, through his Apostles the United States pre- whom he charged to “feed my “It was in him, in Jesus, sented a somewhat lambs, feed my sheep” (cf. John different picture that 21: 15 & 16), and their succes- that I opened up to his it does today. Return- sors the Bishops, Jesus contin- lordship, ... to new ing home after four ues as the Good Shepherd to years of study and for- guard, form and guide his peo- movements of the Holy mation abroad, the ple through the Sacramental future of the Church and pastoral life of his Church Spirit and to the first was everywhere to be until he comes again. As the intimations of what seen. Buildings could Church grew in numbers and not be built fast maturity of life, certain men would become a new enough to accommo- were called to be co-workers community of Brothers.” date college students, with Bishops and ordained to a seminarians and can- share in the fullness of the didates for the Priestly office for the care of the Religious life. As I faithful and the evangelization of the found myself newly inserted in what one 5oyears nations. Of such am I. “One does not take continued on back G OD F IRST G OD ALONE

Sharing Our Vision

Wo r d s of Tribute for Our Founder Fr. Philip Merdinger has served the Church in many ways during his fifty years of priesthood. Parochial vicar, catechist to disabled children, inner-city school teacher, university chaplain, hospital chaplain, coordinator in the People of Hope, conference speaker, retreat master, seminary professor and spiritual director. We, of course, are most proud of his founding of the Brotherhood of Hope. The harvest is rich! These few honorings are only a sample of the countless lives Fr. Philip has influenced. A Father to the Fatherless By Br. Ken Apuzzo, BH Fr. Paul Helfrich could see in them possibilities that they spiritual direction that I realized how One of the Founding Brothers couldn’t see in themselves. His kindness deeply he channeled the love of the God In John 14: 8 the Apostle Philip and wisdom helped the Lord release that the Father and the counsel of the Holy ather Philip is a loyal son of the asks Jesus to “show us the Father.” If I potential. He knows the heights which Spirit. For four years Fr. Philip’s intelli- Catholic Church. This is reflected were to narrow down the spiritual crisis God’s people can scale and the gence, wit, affection, and holiness gently F firstly in his fidelity to of our young people today it would be depths from which we often guided me toward a closer, fuller, and the promises he made fifty that they are fatherless! I believe even come, so poor, to the foot more joyful relationship with Jesus Christ years ago to the Lord Jesus more tragically that they are fatherless of the cross. He has accom- and I am forever grateful. and the Church. His love for two times over. Not only do they not panied many to both places. Mother Church is also evident What John Paul II said have invested and committed biological in his respect and obedience to about “making a Fr. John Farrin, OP fathers, they also do not know their the hierarchy. In the many and gift of Rector Emeritus, St. John’s Sem. heavenly Father. Thus, the number of varied assignments they entrusted to your- imself finely attuned to the spiritual and emotional orphans in our him, including as parish priest, hospi- self;” movements of the Holy Spirit, times is immense. tal chaplain, college campus minister what H helping young men to see the Into this crisis of fatherhood the and seminary spiritual director, he Benedict truth of their being, especially in light of has invested himself with zeal, Holy Spirit has called and anointed Fr. and Francis the infinite mercy of God, guiding them love and self-sacrifice. His found- Philip Merdinger. For decades he has have repeatedly said into the pull of God’s calling them to ing of the Brotherhood is a par- been doing what the Apostle Philip about a “personal and pro- serve His people in the person of Christ, ticularly profound testament to the asked of Jesus. He has been showing found encounter with Christ:” Head of the Church, and doing it all with abundant fruit borne from his filial love young people the way to the Father. His this is what all of us who know him have a twinkle in the eye and with the mellow- for the Church. message of the Father’s love is so life encountered in the priesthood of Philip ness deriving from life-giving years of changing because he lives the message Gregory and Maureen Floyd Merdinger: a man, a priest, who has dis- ministering God’s mercy, Fr. Philip con- even better than he preaches it. For me, People of Hope Community, NJ covered in Christ the incomparable trea- tributed richly to the formation of our sure, the Pearl of Great Price. The lumi- seminarians at St. John’s while I was his it is analogous to how Jesus moved was 18 when I met Father Philip. nosity of that precious pearl, held so care- companion. Even more, he made possible amongst large crowds of people where I am now 59. That’s a long time. fully and lovingly in his hands, shines on other great contributions from others of forgiveness and healing simply flowed I During that time Fr. Philip cele- us all. Congratulations dear friend, dear the Brotherhood of Hope, for all of this, out to those around him. So it is with brated our marriage and the funeral of brother, dear Father. We, and all who may Fr. Philip be blessed abundantly and our 6 ½ year old son. He has been with us Fr. Philip. As he teaches, preaches and know you, are grateful beyond words. may God be praised! Happy 50th and may in the darkest and brightest of moments. prays over young people a grace of your love be fruitful and generative for Philip knows us well. “spiritual fatherhood” flows out from years to come! And we know him well. Through his Marian Keiselbach him. Not infrequently, whenever Fr. continued on back years as a college chaplain, a hospital Catholic Center at NU Philip finishes speaking at an event, chaplain, the founder of the Brotherhood r. Philip was the priest chaplain at there is a long line of young people of Hope, a spiritual director at the semi- Northeastern University when I New Religious Family. Brothers eager to seek out his fatherly wisdom F and associates with our Founder at a recent nary, a teacher to many and a preacher first got involved with the campus and love. without peer, we have been the beneficia- ministry and I was immediately grateful gathering. ries of his love and his priestly wisdom for his willingness to dispense the sacra- and holiness. ments for myself and the other students. “Into the crisis of “With Fr. Philip, the Word is always However, it was fresh.” These were the words of a nun when I started going fatherhood the from our community. The Word of God to him for regular caught fire in Philip and he became a light Holy Spirit has for the rest of us. When he speaks and when he preaches, the Word of God does called and anointed its work and does not return void. Accuracy plus charity: Fr. Philip Merdinger.” that is Fr. Philip’s def- inition of truth and that is what he speaks. Where does he get this wisdom and For many, Fr. Philip spiritual power from? For those of us brothers, who have had the privilege to live with Fr. Philip, the answer is obvi- ous. He rises early every morning and immerses himself in prayer. Because he spends so much time in the presence of his heavenly Father he has become an icon of the Father’s heart to those around him. Even though Fr. Philip recently retired, he is still quite busy. To all the brothers he always will be our founder and our first spiritual father. Let us pray that as Fr. Philip celebrates 50 years as a faithful priest, that he would know deeply in his own heart this same love of the Father that he has brought to so many others. May he be strengthened and encouraged by these words of his divine Father, “this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased!” (Mt 3: 17) t G OD F IRST G OD A LONE

considered your grandfather, but if God prayers have meant so much to me. Also, intervention that I encountered the Father Honorings had called me to have children, I would thank you for being the Spiritual Father of and the Holy Spirit in a manner hereto- continued from inside be so proud to have had you as a son.” the Boston Catholic Conferences. 10,000 fore unknown. It was in him, in Jesus, that

Gordy DeMarais And that is how Fr. Philip has loved each people connected to learn more about the I opened up to his lordship, to other holy

of us brothers, as if we were his very own. faith and to build friendships that today women and men, to new movements of Founder, St. Paul’s Outreach O He has fathered us in our uncertainties, continue among many Bible study groups the Holy Spirit and to the first intimations n behalf of the staff, missionaries, comforted us in our sorrows, rejoiced and throughout the Archdiocese of Boston. of what would become a new community and students of Saint Paul’s exultantly in our triumphs and continually of celibate Brothers, the Brotherhood of Outreach, I extend warm and called us on to greater heights of holiness. Hope. heartfelt congratulations to Fr. Philip on I, who am so privileged to have been 50 Years We priests do many things in the the occasion of the celebration of fifty fathered by a truly great earthly father, continued from front Sacramental and pastoral care of the years of priestly life and ministry. In recent consider it a total gift to have Fr. Philip as might call the ‘primary care physicians’ of People of God. Most sublime among these years the doors have opened for signifi- a spiritual father. This coming July, as by the Catholic people I had more than are the celebrations of Eucharist and cant collaboration between SPO and the God’s grace I enter the ranks of perpetual- enough to do. Penance. But there are other Brothers of Hope in our campus work. ly professed Brothers, I thank God for the Yet, there was something initiatives as well, one of One of the gifts to SPO in new relation- invaluable life and legacy of Fr. Philip. It is missing in my life, gravely so. which is the founding and for- ship is the presence of Fr. Phillip in our a patrimony of the heavenly Father’s love, Though there was a certain mation of new communities training programs and campus work as one I can only hope to pass on to future knowledge of the Lord Jesus of celibate men and women, teacher, preacher, counselor, confessor, generations of brothers. and a certain commitment to his new families of Religious. If and priest. Fr. Philip is a man of deep ways, the transforming personal these initiatives grow and faith, humility, and wisdom. The witness of Jo Tango encounter was absent. But the mature they can be recog- his life so obviously given totally to Christ Founder, Kepha Partners Lord pursued me and through nized and established by for the sake of the Gospel still today pow- r. Philip, thank you so much for the Catholic charismatic renewal he Bishops as new expressions of Religious erfully impacts the missionaries and stu- 15 years of spiritual direction! brought me to himself in a new and life- life, families bound together by vows and dents who encounter him. I personally F Your insights, perspectives, and changing way. It was through his personal a life and mission in common. Such, God consider Fr. Philip a mentor, dear brother willing, is the Brotherhood of Hope. We in the Lord, and a friend and SPO is are a new family in the order of grace blessed to have him serve as our chaplain. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US... composed primarily of Brothers, celibate Br. Parker Jordan in our mission of bringing the transforming love of Jesus to others, especially the men bound together by vows, a common Our Youngest Brother way of life and a mission of evangelization young. Know that we pray for you and your intentions in our daily community and discipleship formation particularly on uring my year of candidacy, as I prayer. Please continue to remember us in your prayers and support. the campuses of secular universities. entered a time of soul-searching Excepting the Sacramental ministry, this D discernment for whether or not B ROTHERHOOD OF H OPE Brotherhood is the most profound and God was calling me to novitiate, Fr. Philip P. O. Box 440118, West Somerville, MA 02144 daring expression of the priesthood of set aside time to pray over me in our Tel. (617) 623-9592 Jesus Christ in my life. To him I owe every- chapel in Somerville. After this time of X Electronic Giving Options OnLine All Gifts are tax-deductible thing; to him I want to give everything. prayer, he shared with me these fatherly Laus tibi Christe! words, “By now I am old enough to be www.brotherhoodofhope.org t