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Volume 45, Issue 1
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by His Holiness Pope John Paul II,
April 17, Holy Thursday, 2003
Let us take our place, dear brothers and sisters, at the school of the saints, who are the great interpreters of true Eucharistic piety. In them the theology of the Eucharist takes on all the splendour of a lived reality; it becomes "contagious" and, in a manner of speaking, it "warms our hearts". Above all, let us listen to Mary Most Holy, in whom the mystery of the Eucharist appears, more than in anyone else, as a mystery of light. Gazing upon Mary, we come to know the transforming power present in the Eucharist. In her we see the world renewed in love. Contemplating her, assumed body and soul into heaven, we see opening up before us those "new heavens" and that "new earth" which will appear at the second coming of Christ. Here below, the Eucharist represents their pledge, and in a certain way, their anticipation: "Veni, Domine Jesu!" (Rev 22:20).
In the humble signs of bread and wine, changed into his body and blood, Christ walks beside us as our strength and our food for the journey, and he enables us to become, for everyone, witnesses of hope. If, in the presence of this mystery, reason experiences its limits, the heart, enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, clearly sees the response that is demanded, and bows low in adoration and unbounded love.
Let us make our own the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas, an eminent theologian and an impassioned poet of Christ in the Eucharist, and turn in hope to the contemplation of that goal to which our hearts aspire in their thirst for joy and peace:
Bone pastor, panis vere,
Iesu, nostri miserere...
Come then, good Shepherd, bread divine,
Still show to us thy mercy sign;
Oh, feed us, still keep us thine;
So we may see thy glories shine
In fields of immortality.
O thou, the wisest, mightiest, best,
Our present food, our future rest,
Come, make us each thy chosen guest,
Co-heirs of thine, and comrades blest
With saints whose dwelling is with thee.
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 17 April, Holy Thursday, in the year
2003, the Twenty- fifth of my Pontificate, the Year of the Rosary.
IOANNES PAULUS II
from the Encyclical Letter ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the bishops, priests and deacons, men and women in the consecrated life, and all the lay faithful on the Eucharist in its relationship to the Church, Conclusion, Section 62. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/special_features/encyclicals
We have family in Iraq, too!We, Dominican Laity, cannot relieve the
humanitarian aid problems in Iraq by ourselves. We can however, help our own,
as family helps family. The Dominican Sisters and Friars of Iraq have already
established channels for assistance within the Order of Preachers. Dominican
Sisters in the United States of America have established connections with the
Iraqi Sisters and already successfully wire money to them. The Iraqi Dominican
Laity, however, have the same difficulties experienced by any other lay
citizens of Iraq. The Dominican Laity of the United States of America intend
to specifically assist our brothers and sisters of the Iraqi Dominican Laity.
Make donations payable to "St. Dominic Mission Society; Iraqi Laity"
Dominican Laity Iraq Project
St. Dominic Priory
3601 Lindell Blvd.
Saint Louis, MO 63108
The funds will be securely transferred from the St. Dominic Mission Society account to the Iraqi Dominican Laity. The Iraqi Laity may use the money at their own discretion so that they may rebuild their homes and lives, or to further help the communities in which they live. This is collaboration, and will enable the Iraqi Laity to fully participate in our shared Dominican Mission. Fr Jerry Stookey, OP, has approved this project and will assist us in the endeavor.
In Iraq 6,000 dinars, $4.60, is what an office worker earns in a month. The average primary school teacher salary is just 4,000 dinars ($3.00) a month. Our initial goal is $5000.That’s over 8 dollars for each lay Dominican in Iraq. Imagine how far just 8 dollars, over two months’ wages, would go for an Iraqi Lay Dominican! This truly can be family helping family. Once the money is in the hands of the Iraqi Lay Dominicans, it is theirs to use as they see fit. It would not be surprising if their Dominican charism would lead them to such unselfishness. From our side of the world, we want to be family helping family. In their homeland they should be free to use the money as they see fit. If our help extends beyond these 600 people, it will be because they, themselves, chose to share.
"[…in the stones repairing a Mosul church,] the architect had created a sense of "brokenness" - pieces omitted - and yet one of rising strength. The "living stones," committed young people, gather as Lay Dominicans to pray, reflect, and act with courage and self-sacrifice to help others." From Voices for Truth, from Iraq CPTnet March 14, 2000 by Anne Montgomery
"The Dominicans, being close to the people, are in an ideal position to give early warning signals of potential conflict and encourage 'peace-building from below' -- to help establish peace committees, counteract false information, reduce stereotypes which reify people, promote human rights and use mediation techniques. All these belong to the creation of a peace mentality which we have to build into all aspects of our work." From Glasgow This address by Duncan MacLaren to the European Lay Dominican Congress in Fognano, Italy in May 2001, highlights the centrality of justice for Christians and Dominicans. http://www.op-glasgow.demon.co.uk/laity/duncan.htm
Cynthia S. Ricard, O.P., Ph.D., Central Province
Barry W. McQuillan, O.P., Ph.D., Western Province
April 29, 2003, the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena
Additional info:
The St. Catherine of Siena Dominican congregation in Iraq dates back hundreds of years. Dominicans first came to Iraq in the 13th century, the same century the order was founded. A Dominican congregation in Iraq, the French-based Congregation of Presentation Dominicans, just celebrated its 250th anniversary in Iraq. There are 8 friars, 300 sisters and over 500 laity.
“The Iraqi Lay Dominicans are active and known to the sisters and friars in Iraq. The “Lay Dominicans are organized in three regions consisting of eight groups with about 500 members. Besides their formation activities, they are also very involved in their parishes as well as in charitable activities. One of the activities consists in working with the sisters to provide financial help to families who must cover the travel costs of students who wish to attend school. Schools are free but travel costs are more than the families can afford.”
From 'Letter on Iraq to the Dominican Family' by Fr. Carlos A. Azpiroz Costa, OP, Master of the Order & Fr. Dominique Renouard, OP, Vicar of the Master of the Order Rome, Italy; January 28, 2003, Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas
"All actions for peace are useful including gestures of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Iraq. The situation is complex and therefore it is necessary to analyze it and to highlight what is at stake, without falling into angelism or naiveté. We need to act without prejudice but with all the boldness and the radicalism which the Gospel inspires." From the "Letter on Iraq to the Dominican Family" by Fr. Carlos A. Azpiroz Costa, OP, Master of the Order & Fr. Dominique Renouard, OP, Vicar of the Master of the Order Rome, Italy; January 28, 2003, Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas
PROMOTER'S PAGE - SUMMER 2003
As I begin writing this article the funeral of Br. Regis Hovald, O.P., has just been celebrated. Many of you remember Br. Regis from the many years that he was Promoter of Dominican Laity for the Province of St. Albert the Great. He gave himself entirely to the interests of Dominican Laity and became identified for many of our Laity with the Province's commitment to assisting our lay members. When Ruth and I visited the Rockford Chapter several months ago we heard how Br. Regis traveled regularly from Chicago to help them get started. I am sorry that I was not able to attend the funeral, but Ruth Kummer, our Provincial President, and Jill O'Brien, our Provincial Council Secretary, were able to be there. I know that we will all pray that his years of labor in behalf of Dominican Laity in this area will be richly rewarded.
The Friars of the Midwest are meeting for a Provincial Assembly and Chapter in June. At the Assembly, which all the Friars are asked to attend, we will consider the contemplative dimension of our Dominican life. We will also discuss the financial condition of the Province and its Policy Regarding Sexual Misconduct with Minors. Members will have an opportunity to talk about their ministries, and I will take my time to describe my work as Promoter of Dominican Laity. I will report that in the visits that Ruth and I have had with six of our chapters so far (Albuquerque, Denver, Milwaukee, Rockford, St. Louis, and Springfield) we have found vibrant communities of people dedicated to living the Dominican charism based on prayer, study, community, and mission. In each of these Chapters or Prochapters there is new life coming from recent receptions and professions. In some cases we have had the privilege of witnessing new members being received or professed. I will also talk about the possibilities of new chapters. I have told you about the new group getting started in conjunction with the Newman Center at Purdue University. There is interest in forming new groups of Lay Dominicans in Missouri, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and New Mexico. In addition I am just getting in contact with a large group of Chaldean Christians in the Detroit area who have brought their Dominican affiliation with them when they moved to this country from Iraq. At the Assembly I will request the Friars to give what assistance they can to Dominican Laity in their area of ministry and to encourage collaboration among all members of the Dominican Family. Members of the Province are invited to place a display on exhibit at the Assembly representing their ministry. With Ruth's help I am preparing a map of our Province showing the location of the various groups of Lay Dominicans. We will display pictures of some of the groups and provide folders giving a brief description of Dominican Laity for promotional purposes.
As I write we are also approaching Pentecost, a feast that must have great meaning for any Dominican. We remember how a small, frightened band of men and women prayed behind locked doors wondering what would happen next after the one they called Master was taken from them. They had been promised the Spirit, but who knew what that meant. What it meant was that this small community was empowered to bring the message of God's love to the whole world, speaking in whatever languages were necessary to make the message heard. In our visits with Lay Dominicans throughout our area Ruth and I have had the opportunity to hear how many of you are using your talents to tell others the wonderful news of God's love for us. For some the language is that of a teacher trying to bring hope to young lives in the public or parochial schools, or in parish education programs for young and old. For others the language is that of a caregiver in a career of nursing, counseling, or volunteering in nursing home. For all the primary language is that of prayer, which alone can open hearts to the message that other languages bear.
As I close I want to call your attention to an announcement that appears elsewhere
in this issue of Challenge about an effort to bring financial assistance to
Lay Dominicans in Iraq. Dominicans have been in that beleaguered country for
centuries. In all the news reports about conflicts among Moslems in the area
a significant minority of Christian Iraqis seems forgotten. Five to six hundred
of these are Lay Dominicans whose lives have been severely affected by the
recent armed conflict there. This project has been initiated and developed
through the collaboration of two Lay Dominicans in the United States, Cyndi
Ricard of the St. Louis Chapter of our Central Province, and Barry McQuillan
of the Western Province. Money sent to the address indicated in the request
will be given to the St. Dominic's Mission Society and kept separately. It
will be then sent to the international Dominican Solidarity Fund set up to
help Iraqi Dominicans. Fr. Jerry Stookey, the international Promoter for Lay
Dominicans will arrange for the money collected to be distributed according
to Dominican Laity in Iraq. I encourage you to be generous in contributing
to this project, which is the first of its kind to be developed by Lay Dominicans.
Talking about finances, I urge all who have not sent in membership fees to
Mary Lee to do that now. The latest report I have received from Mary Lee show
that we are $4,000 below the projected income for this year. I light of this
we have already refused some requests for financial assistance.
Fr. Jim Motl, O.P., Provincial Promoter for Dominican Laity
- ALBUQUERQUE, NM NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LAS MONTAÑAS PROCHAPTER
- First Profession: Phyllis Nielsen and Lora Stone on May 3
- Received: Eleanore Orris on May 3
- Sick: Sonia Sabath
- DENVER, CO ST. DOMINIC CHAPTER
- The chapter is deeply grateful to Spiritual Director Fr. Cornelius Hahn, OP, who will be relocating to Chicago.
- DUBUQUE, IA ST. ROSE OF LIMA CHAPTER
- Deceased: Callista Hunt on May 11
- The annual Commemorative Mass for Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP was attended by Chapter Spiritual
- Director Sr. Margery Race, OP and four Laity members on Sunday, February 23.
- FARMINGTON HILLS BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPTER
- Deceased: Brenda Hayes father, Harry H. King on December 8, 2002
- MILWAUKEE, WI QUEEN OF THE ROSARY CHAPTER
- Sick: Marcie Boyer and Karen Sabourin
- On May 17, Fr. Jim Motl and Provincial President Ruth Kummer addressed four pillars of Dominican
- Spirituality
- MINNEAPOLIS, MN HOLY ROSARY CHAPTER
- Sick: Ed McDermott
- Deceased: Bernadette Olmstead
- RIVER FOREST, IL ST. VINCENT FERRER CHAPTER
- Final Profession: Irene Botuyan, Ed Haugh, Brenda Intengan, Lois Kolb, Virgil Kolb, and Bess Torralba on
- June 14.
- Received: Cindy Halgard on June 14
- Deceased: Alfred Sullivan on May 25
- On April 27, Spiritual Director Fr. Crowe spoke about signs of Easter
and never giving up on people.
June 14 marked their chapter visitation.
On August 9 in Chicago’s Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, Francis Cardinal George will preside at a Mass of Thanksgiving for all Lay Orders. DL information will be available during the social that follows. The Chapter Project is rosary promotion through the Rosary Confraternity, with a goal of 500. - ROCKFORD, IL ST. PETER MARTYR CHAPTER
- The chapter welcomed Fr. Jim Motl and Provincial President Ruth Kummer for their visitation on March 15.
- ST. LOUIS, MO QUEEN OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHAPTER
- Ways of Imperfection by Simon Tugwell, OP is the current chapter study.
- SPRINGFIELD, IL OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART CHAPTER
- First Profession: Edward Chong-Ling and Christina Ramirez on March 22
- Congratulations: Edward Chong-Ling, Central Province Lay Dominican representative to the N. American Dominican Promoters of Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation
- March 22 marked their chapter visitation by Promoter Fr. Jim Motl and Provincial President Ruth Kummer.
- OUR PRIVATE MEMBERS
- Sick: Jill O’Brien’s mother, sister, and brother-in-law, Chicago, IL; Rita Ward, North Aurora, IL
- Deceased: Ruth Jubb, Grand Rapids, MI
- PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR:
- the repose of the soul of former Provincial Promoter for the Laity, Br. Regis Hovald, OP, who died May 17 in Chicago. He celebrated his 50th anniversary of religious profession on March 28.
- a return to health for all members of the Order who are ill
- an increase in vocations to all branches of the Dominican Order
DOMINICAN LITURGICAL CALENDAR July 2003 4- Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, lay Dominican Hours Week I 6- 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week II 8- Bl. Adrian Fortescue, lay Dominican/ martyr 9- St. John of Cologne, priest, & companions, martyrs (M) 13- Bl. James of Varazze, bishop 13- 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week III 17- Bl. Ceslaus of Poland, priest (OM) 20- 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week IV 22- St. Mary Magdalene, patroness (M) 24- Bl. Jane of Orvieto, lay Dominican - Bl. Augustine of Biella, priest 27- 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week I August 2003 2- Bl. Jane of Aza, mother of St. Dominic (OM) 3- 18th Week in Ordinary Time, Hours Week II 6- Transfiguration of the Lord (F) 7- Vigil of St. Dominic 8- Holy Father Dominic, priest (S) 9- Bl. John of Salerno, priest 10- 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Hours Week III 14- Bl. Aimo Taparelli, priest 15- The Assumption (S) 17- St. Hyacinth of Poland, priest (M) 17- 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week IV 18- Bl. Mannes, brother of St. Dominic 19- Bl. Jordan of Pisa, priest 22- The Queenship of Mary (M) 23- St. Rose of Lima, lay Dominican (M) 24- 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, 26- Bl. James of Bevagna, priest 28- St. Augustine, bishop/doctor (F) 31- 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week II September 2003 2- Bl. Guala of Bergamo, bishop - Bl. Ingrid of Sweden, religious 4- Bl. Catherine of Racconigi, lay Dominican 5- Anniversary of Deceased Friends and Benefactors* 6- Bl. Bertrand of Garrigue, priest 7- 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week III 8- The Birth of the Blessed Virgin (F) 14- Exultation of the Holy Cross (F), Hours Week IV 18- St. Juan Macias, religious (M) 20- Bl. Mark of Modena, priest - Bl. Francis de Posadas, priest 21- 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week I 26- Bl. Lawrence of Ripafratta, priest 28- 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week II October 2003 3- Bl. Dominic Spadafora, priest 4- Holy Father Francis of Assisi, religious (F) 5- 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Hours Week III (S) Solemnity (F) Feast (M) Memorial (OM) Optional Memorial * Office for the Dead prayed
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: Third Order Dominican and Man of the Beatitudes
"In this trying time that our country is going through we Catholics and especially we students, have a serious duty to fulfill: our self-formation….We, who by the grace of God are Catholics... must steel ourselves for the battle we shall certainly have to fight to fulfill our program and give our country, in the not too distant future, happier days and a morally healthy society, but to achieve this we need constant prayer to obtain from God that grace without which all our prayers are useless; organization and discipline to be ready for action at the right time; and finally, the sacrifice of our passion and of ourselves, because without that we cannot achieve our aim." Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Turin, Italy, 1922 (1901-1925)
"To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living, but existing." Young people today who are looking for a role model will find someone to identify with in this vibrant young outdoorsman who combined a deep love for Christ, a desire to serve the needy, and a mission to imbue society and politics with Christian ideals.
Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Turin, Italy on Holy Saturday, April 6, 1901. His father, an agnostic, was the founder and director of the liberal newspaper, La Stampa, and was influential in Italian politics, serving a term as senator, and later was Italy's ambassador to Germany. He spent the flower of his youth between two world wars when Italy was in social ferment and Fascism was on the rise.
Pier Giorgio developed a deep spiritual life which he never hesitated to share with his friends. In 1918, he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and dedicated much of his spare time to serving the sick and the needy. He decided to become a mining engineer so he could "serve Christ better among the miners," as he told a friend. His studies, however, did not keep him from social activism. In 1919, he joined the Catholic Student Federation and the Popular Party, a political organization which promoted the Catholic Church's teachings. He even entertained the idea of merging the Catholic Student Federation with the Catholic Workers' Organization.
"Charity is not enough: we need social reform," he used to say, as he worked for both. He also gave his time to help establish a Catholic daily newspaper Momento which was based on the principles of Pope St. Leo XIII's encyclical on social and economic matters, Rerum Novarum.
Although the Frassati family was well-to-do, the father was frugal and never gave his two children much spending money. What little he did have, however, Pier Giorgio gave to help the poor, even using his train fare for charity and then running home to be on time for meals in a house where punctuality and frugality were the law. When asked by friends why he often rode third class on the trains he would reply with a smile, "Because there is not a fourth class." When he was a child, a poor mother with a boy in tow came begging to the Frassati home. Pier Giorgio answered the door, and seeing the boy's shoeless feet gave him his own shoes. At graduation, given the choice by his father of money or a car he chose the money and gave it to the poor. He obtained a room for a poor old woman evicted from her tenement, provided a bed for a consumptive invalid, supported three children of a sick and grieving widow. He kept a small ledger book containing detailed accounts of his transactions, and while he lay on his death bed, he gave instructions to his sister, asking her to see to the needs of families who depended on his charity. He even took the time, with a near-paralyzed hand, to write a note to a friend in the St. Vincent de Paul Society with instructions regarding their weekly Friday visits. Only God knew of these charities; he never mentioned them to others....
Pier Giorgio also spent time in the countryside with friends; mountain climbing was one of his favorite sports. On these outings, however, the young friends...did not hesitate to share their religious inspiration and spiritual lives. Beneath the smiling exterior of the restless university student was concealed the amazing life of a mystic. Love for Jesus motivated his actions. He assisted at Mass and communion daily, often serving Mass and making a lengthy thanksgiving afterwards. He felt a strong, mysterious urge to be near the Blessed Sacrament. During nocturnal adoration, he would spend all night on his knees in profound prayer. He influenced other students to make the annual university retreat given by the Jesuits. He loved the rosary, a family practice, and prayed it three times daily after becoming a Dominican tertiary....
In 1922 he joined the Dominican Third Order choosing the name Girolamo after his personal hero, the Dominican preacher and reformer of Florence's Renaissance. Despite the many organizations to which Pier Giorgio belonged, he was not a passive "joiner"; records show that he was active and involved in each, fulfilling all the duties of membership. He was strongly anti-fascist and did nothing to hide his political views. "The faith given to me in baptism suggests to me surely: by yourself you will do nothing, but if you have God as the center of all your action, then you will reach the goal." In Pope John Paul II's homily during Blessed Pier Giorgio's beatification Mass on May 20, 1990, he said the faithful "were surprised to learn that the saintly young man they new only as "Fra Girolamo" came from such an influential family. It was these poor people who petitioned the Archbishop of Turin to begin the cause for canonization. The process was opened in 1932."
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati's feast day is July 4.
http://www.bettnet.com/frassati/
2003 FUND DRIVE BEGINS
Dear Fellow Dominican Laity Member,
As we receive no subsidy from the friars, we depend on your $30 dues payments
and Fund Drive contributions to cover our expenses. Our provincial dues collection
this year, though, is down 45% from last year. Although some members may have
thought the Irvine Bequest would provide our income, the bequest carries the restriction
of NOT being used for day-to-day costs. As such, the Provincial Council voted to
earmark bequest funds for our members’ formation. Because of our income shortfall,
we are facing severe budget reductions, including the smaller newsletter format you are
reading.
Our largest projected costs for 2003-'04 are: newsletter printing $1,310;
postage $810; Promoter’s expenses $2,000; chapter visitations’ and meetings’
travel $2,000; and April 2004 Provincial Council meeting, room and board $2,100.
We employ no one, with all labor being provided by volunteer Laity members.
We need your financial help and pledge that we will be responsible stewards
of the same. Would you please demonstrate a Dominican spirit of community
and consider making an individual or chapter donation to assist us in maintaining
a quality level of service to you? Please send your check made payable to
DOMINICAN LAITY to: Dominican Laity Office
P. O. Box 85451
Racine, WI 53408-5451
Thank you in advance. Donor names will be featured in the next issue of Challenge.
Yours in Saints Dominic and Catherine,
Mary Lee
Mary Lee Odders, OP,
Provincial Treasurer
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Thank you for your 2003 Fund Drive contribution, which supports our Province’s Dominican Laity work for your benefit. In gratitude, your name will be in a contributors’ listing featured in the next Challenge, unless you indicate otherwise below.
( ) I do NOT want my name included in the listing of contributors. I prefer to remain anonymous.
NAME_______________________________________________________________
ADDRESS____________________________________________________________
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 1 CHALLENGE
Mary Lee Odders
P O Box 85451
Racine WI 53408-5451
mlodders@execpc.com