1 From the desk of fr. ken INSIDE mazur Dear Readers, I remember that day ten years ago as if it were just last week. The story is long, sad, and agonizing, even as I recall it in my mind now. In case you did not know, Fr. Steve Baumbusch drowned in a rip- current accident while swimming with PIME Seminarians on the Philippines coast. We were great friends, although, in many ways, we were opposites. He was short and athletic; I am tall and not. When we met in our first year of high school, he was not much of a rule-follower. I tried to follow the rules perhaps too much. Most at odds between the two of us, he was from Ohio and a huge Buckeyes football fan; I am from Michigan and an avid Wolverines fan, their rivals. As we went through the seminary together, we made many friends who were good guys but who left little by little when they realized that the missionary lifestyle was not for them. Soon, there were only a couple of us left in our class. After ordination, we would divide even further, pursuing our vocations ON THE COVER in different directions. Eventually, only he and I remained from a large and extraordinary group of Mission men, and many of us are still friends. Fr. Ace Valdez, PIME, who now Mary’s House, a reflection on the Over seven years, Steve and I were a dream team as we worked side-by-side at the PIME High helps those discerning the 10 influence of Mary in Mexican culture School Seminary in Ohio as teachers, deans, and principals. We could often read each other’s minds. 12 missionary call in Brazil, tells of by Fr. Alessandro Maraschi, PIME. He had talents that I did not, and I could field the areas where he lacked. Years later, he told me that we how Fr. Steve guided his vocation. We take a look at Holy Family should join the TV show “The American Race” together. I was assigned to the missions first, to Japan in 1991, and he finally got his mission destination in 1998: the Philippines. We visited each other in our Church in Detroit while reflecting 20 respective missions often. I was amazed at the size of his parish in Parañaque, Metro Manila. Once, I Featured on the significance of the door in church architecture. was there visiting, and 600 children received their First Holy Communion on a single Sunday; there A Saints Peter and Paul Minor were six First Communicants total in my parish that year. Seminary alumnus describes the Fr. Steve had a way of genuinely touching people’s lives brought about by his deep spirituality, he Misión en Acción impact Fr. Steve had on his life. 08 was brilliant but also practical. When we were young priests, we often talked about going skydiving, Highlights of this month’s issue for my desire to do so quickly diminished, but that was not the case for Fr. Steve. When he was in the In an effort to merge our Missionary our Spanish-speaking supporters. United States visiting in 2008, he took a day of lessons and went skydiving. I guess you could say that efforts with our confreres on the 26 Lo más destacado de la edición de he was fearless, he knew that God was on his side. 24 North American continent, Mission este mes para nuestros partidarios Ten years on, and I still find myself asking, “What would Steve have done?” I wonder if I could World joins Misión en acción. hispanohablantes. send him an email and get his advice about something. When I find myself facing a daunting task, he comes to mind most; we could always handle things together. I still do ask his advice and, you know, Publisher: PIME is present in the following parishes he answers. He even answers when I do not ask for his opinion. I just wish I could hear his voice one Fr. Ken Mazur, PIME in the United States: more time. Executive Editor: St. Ann & St. Lucy - Harlem New York, NY Fr. Daniele Criscione, PIME San Francesco – Clinton Twp., MI PIMEMISSIONARIES SINCE 1850 Translation: St. Rosalia - Regina Pacis - Brooklyn, NY Fr. Dino Vanin, PIME St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception - Monroe, MI Editing & Design: (313) 342-4066 Fr. Ken Mazur, PIME Patrick Carroll U.S. Mission Office Mailing in Canada: Proofreading: 17330 Quincy St. 980 Louis Avenue [email protected] US Superior Stacey Bentley Detroit, MI 48221-2749 Windsor, ON N9A 1X9 www.PIMEusa.org 2 Mission World Brooke Grobbel 3 walking in his footprints Featured “You step exactly where the lead climber steps, climber. Where he stepped, I followed. Still- do not go out of his tracks for any reason. Why? today, I benefit from his work. I also benefit Within his footprints, it is safe, and if you step from the work of many others who came before outside of his footprints, you risk your own life me, and one, in particular, would be the late and the lives of others.” Fr. Giulio Mariani. Both PIME Missionaries Why do I mention this personal story while were very good with public relations, perhaps writing about Father Steve Baumbusch? Well, sometimes this was the cause of conflicts with that is because, without my knowing it, he has other more reserved priests, yet their talents been my lead climber in my adventure as a always worked out for the good of the parish. PIME Missionary. I During the past met father Steve in two years as Pastor 1997 when I came to of Mary Queen of Detroit as a PIME “Fr. Steve Apostles Parish, I seminarian to learn have heard people English. As I arrived, recall father Steve Fr. Steve was about Baumbusch and his mission- to leave for the Phil- ary work, especially ippines. After many his passion for the years, I became a has been my poor. Even though priest, and eventu- he was here for ally, my mission led only three years, he me to the Philip- lead climber; left a remarkable pines; this was the footprint. Let me first footprint. share some of them. In 2010, we were where he Agnes Seña, a deeply saddened by senior catechist, Fr. Steve Baumbusch, PIME, leads the his sudden death. He shared how much faithful of Mary Queen of Apostles drowned while on a stepped, Fr. Steve loved and Parish in a Palm Sunday procession. trip to visit a mission supported the Pre with some seminari- Cana Catechists, a ans. Fr. Steve was the I followed.” group of catechists Rector of the PIME that work solely my family originates. At the Seminary in Tagaytay in the Philippines. After towards preparing couples for the Sacrament time, I was still a seminar- a few weeks, Fr. Gian Battista Zanchi, PIME of Matrimony, and counseling for married ian of the Diocese of Como. Superior General at that time, called and asked couples. Two significant tasks when you Walking in Every year, we would have a me if I would be ready to take Fr. Steve’s position, consider that poor couples in the Philippines ten-day summer camp with at least, for the time being. I accepted, and I left cannot afford to pay a psychologist when facing our formators. Alongside the Euntes Formation Center in Zamboanga difficulties in their relationship. His Footprints my fellow seminarians, we City in the south of the country and moved Pons Cabanlit, President of Parish Pastoral ventured up that mountain. to the city of Tagaytay on the Northern island Council (PPC), shared how much the late PIME By Fr. Simone Caelli, PIME joy and humble servitude that he The path is not that steep, yet of Luzon, not far from Manila. Once here, I Missionary used to stress the importance it is still dangerous. Through- Fr. Simone is a PIME Missionary left behind on the hearts that he became acting Rector of the PIME Seminary; of Christian lay formation according to the out the journey, climbers have Priest and Pastor of the beloved, served. this was the second footprint. diocesan pastoral policies. and historically PIME-ran, n the summer of 1994, to cross a glacier with several Years later, in 2018, I was appointed as Many shared with me that Fr. Steve always Mary Queen of Apostles Parish I climbed 12,365 feet hidden crevasses. So, our Pastor of Mary Queen of Apostles parish, found ways to raise money for good causes. in Parañaque City in the Phil- up Monte Cevedale, in alpine guide tied us together where Fr. Steve served in the same role from When our diocese, the Diocese of Parañaque, ippines. Ten years later, he the IAlps of Northern Italy, in with a rope in groups of 10, 2005-2008; this was the third footprint. As you started to construct the Diocesan Center for recounts the legacy of genuine the Lombardy Region, where and then he instructed us, can see, Fr. Steve Baumbusch has been my lead Evangelization, every parish was encouraged 4 September // October 2020 Philippines 5 the early 1970s knew that Steve was a guy who did not care much for rules or authority and was never afraid to speak his mind. I guess you could say he was edgy. He certainly did not exhibit the stereotypic pious seminarian. Few of us did, actually, but with Steve, you got the sense that it was important to him not to be perceived as prudish or even upright; most of us envied him.