April 2008
District Day is set for July
The annual District Day event for the Brothers will take place on Saturday, July 26th and will be held at LewisUniversity. The jubilee mass will be at 5:00 pm followed by a reception. This year the following Brothers will be honored for their jubilees: 75th – Brother Kevin Mackey; 60th – Brother Frederick Oberrieder; 50th – Brothers Kevin Brutcher, Fred Dillenburg, Thomas Geraghty, Leo Jones, Neil Kieffe, Patrick O’Brien, Denis Sutter, Matthew Szatkowski, and James Zullo.
Praesidium visits have begun
The district Praesidium accreditation visits started on March 25-26 in the Twin Cities and will be on April 27-29 in Chicago and Memphis. The sites to be visited include the De La Salle and St. Patrick communities in Chicago, De La Salle-Minneapolis and Miguel House communities in the Twin Cities, and the CBHS community in Memphis.
Brother Frank is in Rome
Brother Frank Carr departed for Rome on March 28th for a two week visit. During that time he will attend several meetings with the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM). He will also visit with Brothers Tom Johnson, Michael French and John Blease and then travel to Paderno del Grappa to visit Brother Martin Spellman. Ciao!
World Day of Prayer for Vocations is in April
The World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be celebrated on April 13th. Pope Benedict has chosen the theme: Vocations at the service of the Church on mission. The risen Jesus gave to the apostles this command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” assuring them “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28: 20). The Church is missionary in herself and in each one of her members.
Centering Prayer Retreat will be in June
The Centering Prayer Retreat will once again take place at La SalleRetreatCenterin Wildwood (Glencoe), MO, from Monday, June 2ndwith arrival in late afternoon until departure on Sunday morning, June 8th. The book,Jesus Today: A Spirituality of Radical Freedom,by Albert Nolan,OP, will be used for reflection and discussion along with tapes by Richard Rohr, OFM. The cost has not yet been determined. Those interested may contact Brother Denis Murphy (773) 890-0540 or Brother Kevin Fitzgerald (312) 225-7729, ext. 15.
Bridge closing near LewisUniversity
This spring, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be making improvements to the Illinois Route 7 Bridge which is the “mile long bridge” that extends from 159thStreet in Lockport across the Des Plaines River and merging waterways to the intersection where Route 53 meets Renwick Road, just south of Lewis University. These improvements will include patching and application of new overlay to the entire bridge and will require closure of the bridge until all improvements are completed. Weather permitting, the construction is scheduled to last from the beginning of May until or about August 31, 2008. Those traveling to LewisUniversity should be advised!!
Midwest District Mission Congress is scheduled
The Midwest District Mission Congress will he held on April 16-19, 2008 at the Divine Word Conference and RetreatCenter in Techny, IL. The Planning Committee for this event includes Tina Bonacci and Brother Mark Snodgrass, co-chairs, and Cheri Broadhead, Mary Fox, David Hotek, Karin McClelland-Anderer, Evelyn McDonald, Kurt Schackmuth, Brother Larry Schatz and Marianne Stich. The following delegates will attend from around the Midwest District: Peter Abegg, Didier Aur, Nick Colletti, Kathy Donohue, Mike England, Roxanne Eubank, Ellen Faith, Vivian Gaulding, Paul Kraus, Barry Lieske, Tom Luebbe, Ann Merchlewicz, Julie Michels, Jan Mines, Sr. Dolores Montini, Maryann O’Neill, Red Sieve, Jeff Troxell, John Vitek and Emily Vogel. The following Brothers will also attend as delegates: Brothers Armand Alcazar, Milton Barker, Francis Carr, William Clarey, Michael Collins, Kevin Convey, Pat Conway, Chris Englert, James Gaffney, Tom Hetland, Michael Kadow, Michael O’Hern, Joe Saurbier and Ed Siderewicz.
St. George and St. Mel banquets extend invitations
Once again this year the St. George and St. Mel Alumni Associations extend an enthusiastic welcome to all the Brothers and invite them to be their guests at their annual banquets.The St. George Banquet is on Monday evening, May 5th, at the White Eagle in Niles. The St. Mel Banquet is on Friday evening, June 6th, at Alta Villa in Addison. Contact the alumni office for a ticket: Brother Thomas Dominic or Brother Thomas Hetland (630) 323-3725.
Lasallian Education Fund provided awards
The St. Mary's Press Lasallian Educational Fund awards for 2008 totaled $98,067. Since 1995, this fund has provided grants totaling $1.4 million to both domestic and international schools and agencies. This year’s awards went to the following: Catalyst Schools (Chicago, IL), Cristo De Rosario (Managua, Nicaragua), De La Salle Blackfeet (Browning, MT), De La Salle Institute (Chicago, IL), De La Salle (Freeport, NY), Fe Y Vida (Stockton, CA), San Miguel Schools (Chicago, IL), St. La Salle (Dindigul, India).
Resurrection Health Systems offers information
Brothers in the Chicago area may wish to participate in the education programs of Resurrection Health Systems. On the web site interested Brothers will see "Education" on upper left side. Then they can navigate to “Continuing Education,”“Wellness” and more.
Christian Brothers Conference announced a new web site
Christian Brothers Conference recently announced a new web site with its new URL: . The web site has been designed to make a visit enjoyable and stress free. Those interested can check the Site Map for a complete listing of the web site content. A special feature of this website is the online Regional Directory which allows for a search for a Lasallian ministry, community, Brother, or Partner (a chief administrator, District or Regional personnel, or one who has attended a Conference-sponsored formation program). To access this directory, visitors will need to log in with the specific security information. Brother Joseph Martin in Burr Ridge will provide the username and password to those Brothers who did not receive it. In order to keep the directory information accurate, Brothers should check their personal profile and make the necessary changes in by clicking "Update My Profile." Those who do not wish to be included in this Regional Directory may click "Update My Profile" and in the "Comments" box on the bottom of the page, type in all caps: I WISH TO OPT OUT. Questions regarding the Regional Directory: or call Regina Piazza at (202) 529-0047.
Lasallian Graduate created national foundation for college students with cancer
When a fellow student and fraternity brother was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, University of San Diego student Jeff Jahnke and other friends stepped in to help. Raising money and gathering support for this one person led Jeff to the awareness that there are other college students similarly stricken who also need support. The habit of service to others that Jeff had learned at La Salle High School of Pasadena was there to show him the way. As he said, “The Lasallian motto, ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,’ kept going through my mind, and service became one of my values, one of my core principles.” The result of Jeff’s attitude, creativity, and hard work: a new national organization responding to a special need. “It is gratifying,” said Jeff, “to be helping people who are just like me in some ways, college students balancing studies and a social life, but at the same time battling for their life against cancer.”
For the purpose of keeping YOU informed in a timely manner!
For the purpose of transferring pertinent information quickly and accurately, email addresses have been entered for 156 Midwest Christian Brothers. Twenty Five Brothers remain on a list with name and address only for mailing purposes. If you have recently acquired an email address or have made any changes to your previous email address and would like this newsletter sent to you directly along with any other emails from the Provincial Office - please email with your corrected information.
Directory Update
- Brother Robert Veselsky: 650 E. Parkway S., Memphis, TN, 38104. (901) 321-3491.
Congratulations to
- Tina Bonnaci, who was appointed to the International Council for Young Lasallians. Brother Thomas Johnson wrote to thank her for her period of service on the International Council of Lasallian Studies.
- Brother Joseph Martin who received a grant from the Archives at MichiganTechnologicalUniversity in Houghton to research the Polish immigrants who settled in Calumet and worked for the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company.
Health Updates
- Brother Maurice Anglim returned to ResurrectionLifeCenter after a stay in the hospital to treat an infection in his blood.
- Brother Leo Gilskey entered ResurrectionMedicalCenter (Hospital) on March 30th for treatment of his left foot.
- Brother Joel Baumeyer has done well after his recent prostate surgery. He got over a post-operative infection and is back at work.
- Brother Norman McCarthy is doing well in the RehabCenter after his stroke. He will be discharged from that program on April 3rd and return home.
- Brother Kevin Brutcheris at the BenedictineCenter in rehab after his below the knee leg amputation in March. He is receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy seven days a week and remains in good spirits.
Rest in Peace
- Helen Sullivan, 88, mother of Brother Thomas, died on March 13th in Tomah, WI. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 29th at SacredHeartChurch in Cashton, WI, followed by burial at HilltopRestCemetery.
- William R. Twohig, De La Salle Chicago Class of 1937, died on March 28th. He was the brother of the late Brother Herbert Lewis Twohig.
Birthday Celebrations - April – June 2008
April
1Adrian Powers
Walter Schreiner
2Christopher Englert
Norman McCarthy
Thomas Dominic Vance
3Jerome Rademacher
4Ignatius Brown
5Gustavo Sinco
6Joel Dolan
Dennis Galvin
7Francis Carr
Richard Merkel
11H. Raphael Erler
16Edward Everett
18James Krause
22Armand Alcazar
William Woeger
Joseph Zastrow
28Fred Dillenburg
29Sr. Ruth Schaaf, OP
30James Gaffney
May
4William Walz
5William Clarey
Michael O’Hern
David Poos
Karen Powers
Edward Staszak
8Michael French
10Henry Baldwin
Alfred Marshall
15Ralph Heppe
Larry Zeman
16Leo Jones
Robert Walsh
17Steven Schonhoff
18Stephen Eibert
19Kenneth Arnold
21Neil Kieffe
22Raimond Rose
24Cecilia Luna
26Kevin Mackey
28Mark Gault
29Stephanie Bronner
June
3Michael Collins
4Dominic Ehrmantraut
5Martin Spellman
Christina White
Rachael Hoffman
6Robert Wilsbach
7Bede Baldry
Kendall Marsden
10Christopher Ford
11Tina Bonacci
12Bernard Rapp
Nathan Czaia
17Richard Brady
William Brynda
Vincent Malham
Richard Roller
19Bernard Richard
22Konrad Diebold
Joel McGraw
24Thomas Geraghty
25Mary Broderick
28Paul McDonough
Death Anniversaries
Please keep the following Brothers in your prayers:
April
1Jeremiah PAUL (Charles KEENAN), 1985
3Cosmas FRANCIS (John HUETHER), 2000
7Justin Lucian (Thomas Joseph Belanger), 2007
9LUKE CLEMENT (Eugene Garcelon), 1971
HUBERT Arthur (Ralph BELAIR), 1976
GERARD (George L.) PIHALY, 2005
10Albert Edmund (James Williams), 1968
13HUGH Damian (Arthur WESTER), 1978
Lambert Edward (RODERICK CHISHOLM), 1989
Harold Andrew (WILLARD GABRELCIK), 1999
16Herman Joseph (John Dufficy), 1974
Jeremiah SEBASTIAN (Edward TOOLAN), 1978
Hilary BERNARD (Leo MURPHY), 1989
19CHARLES JONES, 1995
22Leo of Mary (Lawrence Lanham), 1976
23Lucian ALPHONSUS (Raymond PLUTH), 1986
24Alfred Faber (George Arcenaux), 1978
25JOEL Stanislaus (Millard NELSON), 1976
Ignatius VINCENT (Michael SIEBEN), 1986
29Ulpian Jerome (Andrew Griffin), 1964
Linus Urban (Urban Lucken), 2007
30Ignatius Patrick (James Hayes), 1994
May
1JUSTUS Ernest (Alfred MORNEAU), 1983
2Hugh Elzear (Martin Noonan), 1968
4Joakim STEPHEN (Patrick O’MALLEY), 1992
6Lucius MICHAEL (Walter KUMP), 1974
7JUSTIN Clarence (Clemens HINDERY), 1973
8JULIUS (Francis WINKLER), 2004
12HILARY Camillus (Joseph GILMARTIN), 2003
13Hilbert ANTHONY (Arnold SCHMITZ), 1989
17Raymond Konrad (RAYMOND PLEISS), 1973
Junianus VICTOR (Charles HILLE), 1976
19Linus Albert (Joseph Heintzelman), 1956
24JOSEPH BOGGIO, 2000
25Jeremiah RICHARD (Harry RUSH), 1996
JUDE (Samuel Paul) UNGERING, 1996
26Ladislaus WILLIAM (Robert KOUTSKY), 1981
27Lucian Athanasius (James Reinhart), 1950
Michael Austin (Richard Fitzgerald), 1994
30Lawrence Paul (Jeremiah Higgins), 1954
31Leonorian Gregory (MichaelSpring), 1954
John Martin (PATRICK O’NEILL), 1982
June
1JEROME DAVID WEGENER (Gerald Francis), 2005
2Hilarion Charles (CHARLES SEVERIN), 1992
5John Chrysostom (Albert Kilp), 1963
LOUIS Andrew LAVOIE, 1999
6Lorian Gilbert (Robert Bruns), 1955
Ignatius JOHN (Theodore HAAS), 1982
7Loman PATRICK (William WALSH), 1990
8Herbert Theodore (JOHN TANGNEY), 1984
Justinian NORBERT (Harvey ROSEBERRY), 1991
9Jerome Patrick (James King), 1968
Jarlath EDWARD FALLON, 2002
10Leonard George (George Baier), 1960
11Cornelius Paul (Charles Wilson), 1952
12Henry William (James Gilmartin), 1961
13Thomas Dermot (Thomas Bronstrup), 1968
L. AUSTIN MAKOWSKI, 1999
15LEONARD Chrysostom (John “Dick” COURTNEY), 1996
18Joseph Poska, 1997
20Adole Leon (Leon Brunel), 1965
23Justus PHILIP (Marion LYNCH), 1975
24Eugenius Peter (John McMullan), 1957
26Hubertus Mark (Martin Kevany), 1952
LAURENCE Matthias (Albert HORN), 1979
Alain BENEDICT (Joseph HUNADY), 1989
27Ulfinian CASSIAN (John FRYE), 1983
Ralph Damian (Joseph Gillick), 1992
30Humbert MAURICE (Richard WELCH), 1973
Please refer to In Your Charity Pray for Your Brothers (edited by Brother Hilary Gilmartin in 1990) for more complete information on the Brothers listed and for complete listings of Brothers of the Midwest District who died prior to 1950.
April 2008
Tues / 1 / RomeWed / 2 / Rome
Thurs / 3 / Rome
Fri / 4 / Rome
Sat / 5
Sun / 6
Mon / 7 / Rome; Feast of St. John Baptist de La Salle;
Tues / 8 / Rome
Wed / 9 / Rome
Thurs / 10 / Rome
Fri / 11 / Rome – Travel to Chicago
Sat / 12
Sun / 13 / World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Mon / 14 / Provincial Office
Tues / 15 / Provincial Office
Wed / 16 / Mission Congress
Thurs / 17 / Mission Congress
Fri / 18 / Mission Congress
Sat / 19 / Mission Congress
Sun / 20 / Animators – La Salle Manor
Mon / 21 / Animators – La Salle Manor
Tues / 22 / Animators – La Salle Manor
Wed / 23 / Travel to Winona; Winona Communities Visit
Thurs / 24 / Winona Communities Visit
Fri / 25 / Winona Communities Visit
Sat / 26 / Travel to Chicago
Sun / 27
Mon / 28 / Praesidium Accreditation Visit
Tues / 29 / Praesidium Accreditation Visit/
CBU Religious Life Committee
Wed / 30 / Praesidium Accreditation Visit
Celebrate Living Well…in the Lord!
L Listen to the Lord! Let Him do the talking.
IIntentionally celebrate life! Go and do the good that God is calling you to do!
VVolunteer! Share your talents – reach out and bless the life of another.
IIntentionally celebrate life! Go and do the good that God is calling you to do!
N Notice God’s gifts around you. Rejoice in His creation!
GGrow spiritually! Find a quiet place to reflect and meditate each day for a time that is good for you.
WWalk regularly. The best exercise is to walk with God each day! This may be your time to hear His voice.
EEat sensibly. Watch for foods that will not give you energy to do God’s work. Enjoy that Mediterranean diet that we so often speak about. If you have a chronic disease, learn more about it and be kind to your body.
LLift people up – through prayer, by saying “thanks,” by smiling, or by listening to someone’s story.
LLighten up! Laugh at yourself. Trust God that whatever He sends your way there is a blessing behind His work.
Source: Wheat Ridge Ministries
Be well and enjoy Spring!
Sheila Hallmann, RN., BSN.
7650 S. County Line Road
Burr Ridge, IL 60527-4718
630-323-3725 X208