SVD Alumni East Newsletter Volume 16, Issue 1 “ONE HEART-MANY FACES” February, 2013 called to labor in foreign lands, nor would he in his Ad Multos Annos life see first hand the harvest reaped by the Two of the greatest missionaries of the 19th hundreds of missionaries he personally sent to the century, a period characterized as the rebirth of the far corners of the world. missionary movement in the church, had something Today we celebrate and honor a great SVD on the in common along side of their great love and golden jubilee of his life as an SVD priest and commitment to the missions. Neither of them ever missionary. Just a glance at the assignments set foot in what were then known as mission lands. entrusted to Fr. Don in his years of service in the One of them of course was St. Therese of Lisieux, SVD is indeed impressive. Even more impressive is the Little Flower, later named patroness of the the fact that superiors appointed Don to many of missions. The other was a German diocesan priest, these assignments following an election process in whose talents and early years in the priesthood were which his confreres had first given him their vote of spent in the field of teaching. At the same time he confidence. At the very beginning of our SVD was consumed with the dream of finding someone to constitutions, we read: Whoever joins our Society take the lead in founding a national German Mission must be ready to go wherever the superior sends Society. When no one else could be found, St. him in order to fulfill our missionary mandate Arnold Janssen became the founder and father of even if this entails leaving his own country, the Society of the Divine Word, today an mother tongue and cultural milieu. When Don international missionary society which numbers was ordained in 1962, he had put down the 6012 members, priests and Brothers working in 70 Philippines as his first choice on his list of preferred countries, the third largest missionary order in the assignments. (It might be the fact that his older Church. He co-founded two missionary brother Jim had been ordained as an SVD congregations known as Sister missionary in 1954 and missioned to the Philippines Servants of the Holy Spirit. One a contemplative had something to do with this.) In any case, Don order numbering 340 members; the second an active ended up in Rome where he obtained his Doctorate order numbering 3200 members. in Theology . Don was already known as a superb It is not my intention here to give a history of the actor and speaker during his seminary days. SVD; rather I wish to point out that St. Arnold was convinced that, in God’s providence he was not 1 Continued on page 2 No surprise then that his doctoral thesis was entitled: The Theology of Preaching. Don returned to the States in 1967. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, for those whose ministry in religious life was in the field of formation, teaching, or leadership. The best of times: the excitement and expectations that came with the completion of Vatican II. The worst of times: the turmoil, confusion and change that followed in the wake of implementing what had happened to the Church in Vatican II, and in the world with the revolutions of the late sixties. Don was caught up in all three areas of the crises that enveloped religious life: formation, teaching, leadership. New wine demanded new wineskins, but change and transition also demanded time and discernment as to what should be kept, what needed to be changed, what of the new should be incorporated. Faithfulness and commitment to what had been asked of him carried Don through some very difficult situations. But this was not done with out moments of doubt and uncertainty, plus a willingness to deal with criticism that came both from those on top, and those below. Through those many years Don, you never lost your missionary outreach in the church. Your time and talents dedicated to the internal working of the Society were balanced by your outreach and involvement with marriage Encounter. (200 weekends of such encounters, as a member of the Marriage Encounter Leadership team in Chicago) You found time for frequent supply work in parishes. In addition there were the many years you served on the team developing the mission theology for the World Alive Exhibit at Techny, and your assignment as coordinator for this same mission project. Don, there are two constitutions that for me sum up your approach to the many assignments that came your way over the past 50 years. They read: It is by listening to the word of God and living it that we become co-workers of the Divine Word. The witness of a truly Christian life on the personal and community level is the first step in the realization of our missionary service. (106)Our foremost obligation is the proclamation of the word. (107) Today your family, confreres and friends gathered here join our congratulations and thanks with all those present at least in spirit who benefitted from your talents and ministry before they went out to the four corners of the mission world. Fr Joe Connolly (Fr Joe delivered this tribute to Fr Don at conclusion of Mass at Annual Meeting, September, 2012 ) Fr Don Skerry, SVD, celebrating Mass at Miramar, September 28, 2012 Photo, Mike Cousins 2 President’s Message Message from Treasurer “ IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR” A blessed and peaceful 2013 to all. This was the title of a song made popular by Frank Sinatra The treasurer’s duties are to inform all on how in the early 1960’s. I cite it now in a different context than did “Old Blue Eyes.” Yes, I’m describing life as I view it much money is in the treasury. As of th in the past year. You may well ask, “Is this writer residing December 20 , we have $4602 in our bank on another planet and totally uninformed about the chaos account. Money will be spent for printing and in our world?” My response is that it all depends on one’s perspective. Politicians and philosophers call it mailing of this newsletter, approximately proportionality. I call it recognizing the evil but focusing $1400, and approximately $1300 for the issue on the positive. in June. The Executive Committee to give Did the horrendous events that occurred in our world $1000 for the Blue Sisters in St. Kitts/Nevis outweigh the tremendous good that has been and is being achieved? God alone is the ultimate judge. The pessimistic for their new school. prophets of gloom will remind us of the increasing We wish to thank all for their dues and their genocide, world hunger, wars and natural disasters. They generous donations. Without these monies we cite the severe financial and economic crises in the U.S. would not be able to issue our newsletter nor and Europe. We and our families have experienced illness, suffering and financial set-backs, and sometimes great continue the giving of donations to the Society tragedy in our lives. But the grace and multiple blessings and missionaries of the Divine Word. of God revealed to us in so many ways ultimately trump A summary of our financial report from the totality of evil and suffering. When I say “It was a very good year,” I am emphasizing October 1, 2011 to December 20, 2012: how the “Good News” is still being heard, preached, and Beginning Balance end of year September 2011 5226 impacting millions of lives throughout our world. For the Dues Received 1975 doubtful and discouraged take comfort in St.Paul’s Donations 2710 promise in his letter to the Romans 8:28, “And we know Meeting- September 2125 God causes all things to work together for good for those Income Received 6810 who love God and are called according to His will.” Total Income 12036 At our annual S.V.D. Alumni East Reunion last Expenses September at Miramar we decided that despite the aging Rev. V. Burke 500 of our Alumni we would vigorously continue our activities Rev. D. Skerry 1000 in the “good years,” to come and let Divine Providence Miramar Retreat House 500 take it from there. Admittedly, many of our members are advancing in age, and experiencing the usual disabilities Meeting Expense and physical restrictions that accompany the “Golden Room 2125 Years” Food/drink 286 I’m gently suggesting, when possible, consider rather than Perpetually Enrollment 25 retiring to the rocking chair of retirement, ride, at least in Miramar Booklet Night 110 spirit, the “One Hoss Shay” made famous in the poem by Misc.( Stamps-bank) 38 Oliver Wendell Holmes. He writes, “The wonderful one- Total Expense 7433 hoss-shay/ that was built in such a logical way/ it ran a Ending balance as of Dec. 20th, 2012 4602 hundred years to the day/ and then, of a sudden, it…” You guessed the rest. But what a way to go into eternity. When Henry Pinson we say, “Ad multos annos,” we pray that all of us, our S.V.D. members and our Alumni, will experience many [email protected] years of faithful and productive lives. We pray then that we can say each year, “It Was A Very Good Year!” John Flanagan [email protected] SVD East Alumni Association Newsletter Editor…Mo Donovan [email protected] Your Articles, letters, poems, photos, artwork warmly solicited.