Order of Friar Servants of Mary Newsletter • Spring/Summer 2015
Servites
Today
•••
“The Order of Friar Servants
of Mary is a community of
men gathered together in
the name of Jesus the Lord.
Moved by the Spirit, we
commit ourselves, as did
our First Fathers, to witness
the gospel in fraternal
communion and to be at the
service of God and all people,
drawing abiding inspiration
from Mary, Mother and
Servant of the Lord. “
Servite Constitutions, #1
When you write or review
your will, please consider
making a charitable bequest.
Your bequest to the Servants
of Mary will help us spread
devotion to the Blessed
Virgin; serve the Church in
parishes, schools, hospitals,
and foreign missions; train
future priests and brothers;
and provide for the elderly
religious. Your charity will
be a lasting memorial that
will grow and prosper in the
minds and hearts of all who
are touched by the work of
the Servants of Mary.
For more information, please
contact Fr. Lawrence at the
Servite Development Office:
1439 South Harlem Avenue,
Berwyn, IL 60402, 708-7958885 or visit www.servite.org
(the Gifts/Giftshop link).
ServitesT oday
From the Editor
“...Living the present with passion”
Psalm 69 is a psalm of passion. In an overwhelmed and agitated state,
the narrator cries out to God for rescue. Sinking into the muck of life,
derided and gossiped about by others, God nevertheless remains the
focus of the steadfast psalmist who exclaims, “Zeal for your house will
consume me.” In the end, as in the other “passion” psalms, faithfulness
is rewarded. God’s justice rescues, the needy are heard, the poor made
glad, the faithful inherit the Kingdom.
Like the psalmist, it is passion that drives us. Without passion, there
would be no Sistine Chapel, no great literature, no inspiring buildings,
no strong leaders, as well as no saints. For the Christian, living with
passion means living for Christ and striving for every action and every
thought to reflect Gospel values. In a world where seemingly everything
competes for our attentions and affections, we must ensure that Jesus
remains the focus of our passion.
It is passion that drives community and religious life; it is passion that
directs one young man to leave behind his familiar culture in search
of Christ and His call; it is passion that leads us at times to make very
difficult and hard decisions; it is passion that calls us to prayer which
sustains and supports our life and ministry. As G.K. Chesterton stated,
“Passion makes every detail important.”
We thank all our donors, benefactors, friends and colleagues who
partner with us in mission. Your gifts and passion are an inspiration
for us and you are remembered in our prayers and works. May you all
have peace a peaceful and enjoyable summer (or winter for our subequatorial friends).
Cover photo: Bro. Anthony Sebastian signs his name to the Act of Profession
The Servites Today newsletter is published four times a year by the
Order of Friar Servants of Mary, USA Province.
James Foerster, Editor
Spring/Summer 2015 - Vol. 35, No. 2
©2015, Order of Friar Servants of Mary
3121 W Jackson Blvd
Chicago IL 60612-2729
www.servite.org
2
NOVICE PROFESSES
FIRST VOWS
O
n Saturday, March 28, 2015, Servite novice Anthony
Sebastian made his first profession of religious vows
at Seven Holy Founders Parish in Affton, Missouri.
Being a priest was always in the back of his head from the
time he was a child. After studying various Marian religious
orders, Anthony began an email correspondence with the
Servites in Australia. Shortly after meeting the Servites in
Sydney while visiting his aunts, he entered the formation
program in Melbourne.
Bro. Anthony is from Fiji and entered the Servite Order
at Seven Holy Founders Priory in Parkville (Melbourne),
Australia, under the direction of Fr. Myles Lynch, O.S.M.
Fr. Lynch was present for the profession ceremony. After
some additional time spent in the formation community in
the Philippine Vicariate, Anthony spent his novitiate year
at Seven Holy Founders Priory in Affton, MO, under the
direction of novice master, Eugene Smith, O.S.M.
Bro. Anthony will continue his formation in Chicago
where he will join the community at Our Lady of Sorrows
and attend Catholic Theological Union.
“What we celebrate here is not only a journey from Fiji to
Melbourne to Manila to Affton, and on to Chicago,” said
Fr. John Fontana, O.S.M., prior provincial of the USA
Province, in his homily, “but the even more adventurous
inner journey that has brought you closer to your own
heart, to the heart of God, and to the hearts of our sisters
and brothers, in and out of community, all in need of
compassion and love.”
Bro. Anthony had to overcome many obstacles in his
journey. As the only son in the Indo-Fijian culture he was
born into, the expectation is to take care of one’s parents.
But after studying electronics engineering and working for
three years, Anthony found his life wasn’t making sense.
Bro. Anthony with fellow friars from the Our Lady of
Sorrows Community.
3
ServitesT oday
YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE
LIVING THE PRESENT WITH PASSION
I
2015 Year of Consecrated Life
expression of evangelical apostolic life, is a community of
men gathered together in the name of Jesus the Lord. Moved
by the Spirit, we commit ourselves, as did our First Fathers,
to witness the gospel in fraternal communion and to be at the
service of God and all people, drawing abiding inspiration
from Mary, Mother and Servant of the Lord.” Servites have a
passion for community and service derived from the example
of Mary, Mother of Jesus and model Christian.
n the last issue we looked at the first of the three aims
outlined by Pope Francis for the Year of Consecrated Life –
looking at the past with gratitude for our founding charism.
The second aim of Pope Francis is a natural outgrowth of
the first: to live the present with passion. The Pope writes,
“This year also calls us to live the present with passion.
Grateful remembrance of the past leads us, as we listen
attentively to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church
today, to implement ever more fully the essential aspects of
our consecrated life.” Here, the Pope is challenging the whole
Church to listen to the call of the Holy Spirit to follow Christ
by truly living the Gospel, which he acknowledges is not
always an easy thing to do.
“Living the present with passion,” says the pope, “means
becoming ‘experts in communion.’” Religious men and
women, he says, must bridge the gap between rich and poor,
neighbor and stranger, healthy and sick, becoming models
of the ideal community of brothers and sisters. The Servants
of Mary are uniquely situated to be “experts in communion.”
Unlike most founders and foundresses of various orders
and institutes, the Servites were founded as a group and
by a group of diverse men who shared the desire to live
in apostolic communion and gospel service. “True to the
mendicant inspiration of our Order, we follow the gospel
by living as pilgrims in the insecurity of this world and we
make ourselves available to go wherever our service impels
us...,” and “so our Order, a community of brothers in Christ,
is sent to extend its fraternity to the people of today who are
divided by reason of age, nationality, race, religious, wealth,
and education (Constitutions #3, #74).
Listening attentively in order to discern the guidance of the
Holy Spirit is the Servite way. As Servites pray in the Vigil
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Faithful Virgin… teach us to be
aware of the call of the Spirit and to know life in the hearing
of the Word; the Word we hear in the profound depths of our
own hearts, the Word spoken in the lives of our brothers and
sisters, the Word spoken in the world around us and in the
crises of our times…”
Francis also asks us to consider some very pointed and
challenging questions. “Is Jesus our first love;” “Are our
ministries, our works and our presence consonant with what
the Spirit asked of our founders…;” “Do we have the same
passion for our people?” If religious life as it is lived today is
to be effective, then these questions must be answered.
“So, be men and women of communion!”, says Francis. “Have
the courage to be present in the midst of conflict and tension,
as a credible sign of the presence of the Spirit who inspires
in human hearts a passion for all to be one.” This, for the
Servants of Mary, is living with passion.
For the Servites, answers to these questions are found by
striving to live the ideals of our Constitutions which state:
“The Order of Friar Servants of Mary, which arose as an
ServitesT oday
WAKE UP THE WORLD !
4
SERVITES DEPART
SEVEN HOLY
FOUNDERS PARISH
“Dear sisters and brothers of the faith community of Seven
Holy Founders Church, I am very sad to announce that, after
87 years of ministry in Affton, MO, the Servite Friars find it
necessary to leave Seven Holy Founders Parish…”
S
o began the letter that appeared in the Sunday bulletin
and personally read at every Mass the weekend of
February 14-15, 2015, by Fr. John Fontana, O.S.M., prior
provincial, and former parochial vicar at the parish.
A shortage of available priests to serve in parishes led to
the difficult decision to return the parish to the care of the
Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Servite USA Province has
faced many challenges in the past few years. Last year alone
saw the death of eight friars, and the number of vocations
has been too small to mitigate the losses. The decision to
leave Seven Holy Founders was not made lightly but was
the result of a multi-year strategic planning process that
analyzed all the ministries of the Province. Diocesan priest
Mons. John Brennell has been appointed as the new pastor
and assumed the care of the parish the weekend of June
20-21, 2015. A farewell breakfast for the Servites was held
after the 9:00 am Mass on June 14, 2015.
Archbishop Glennon invited the Servites to establish the
parish of Seven Holy Founders in the suburbs of St. Louis,
and the cornerstone was laid in 1927. The new church was
dedicated on February 17, 1928, the Feast of Seven Holy
Founders. A school was completed later that year, staffed
by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph. They remained
associated with Seven Holy Founders School until 1989.
A larger school building was built in 1948 and the present
church/rectory building was dedicated in 1968.
Pastors of Seven Holy Founders Parish
Vincent Tesselaar, OSM, 1926-1936
Ambrose Griffin, OSM, 1936-1945
Vincent Sheltinga, OSM, 1946-1951
George O’Connell, OSM, 1951-1958
George Wheeler, OSM, 1958-1964
John Mullane, OSM, 1964-1970
Barnard Barnes, OSM, 1970-1976
Anselm Dennehy, OSM, 1976
Ignatius Kissel, OSM, 1976-1985
Tom Duff, OSM, 1985-1988
Robert Warsey, OSM, 1988-1996
Tim Kremen, OSM, 1996-1999
Michael Doyle, OSM, 1999-2006
Donald Siple, OSM, 2006-2012
Paul Gins, OSM, 2012-2015
Fr. Fontana expressed his deep gratitude on behalf of the
Servites to the parishioners for their love and partnership
over the years. “The Servite spirit remains in the patronal
title of our Seven Holy Founders, in the church building,
in the presence of the Secular Order, and in you! As you
continue to form community, serve others, and express
devotion to Mary, Mother and Servant of Jesus, you
continue the Servite tradition. We hope that the Servite
spirit will remain in your hearts, memories and in the
lasting friendships that so many of you have with us friars.”
5
ServitesT oday
The Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows
I
t is a familiar site in Catholic churches: the elderly woman or man with beads in their hands
reciting their prayers silently and meditatively. One can also see those same beads outside of
church, whether “fashionably” worn as a necklace or hanging from the rearview mirror of a car.
The exact origins of the rosary are lost to history, but most scholars agree that it developed as a lay
practice that attempted to imitate the monastic praying of the 150 psalms. The laity were most likely
illiterate and therefore replaced the psalms with shorter prayers that could be committed to memory.
When the rosary is mentioned, Catholics most likely and instinctively call to mind the socalled “Dominican” rosary, named such because Dominicans through the ages have actively
promoted the devotion. Giving it the title “Dominican” also differentiates it from other
rosaries such as the Franciscan Crown or the Servite rosary.
Similar to the Dominican rosary, the precise origin of the Rosary of Our Lady of
Sorrows is not known but can likely be traced to the beginning of the 17th century
where it developed alongside devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. A basic form of the
Servite rosary was a practice which can be dated back to 1607 of reciting seven
Our Fathers and seven Hail Marys on Saturdays in honor of the seven sorrows of
the Blessed Virgin. Another form was the practice of adapting the Dominican
rosary by meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries every day. This was promoted
among the Servite Third Order by Fra Arcangelo Ballotini in 1608. In time, the
“decades” of the rosary became septets with the Sorrowful Mysteries eventually
replaced by the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Mother:
1) Mary accepts in faith the prophecy of Simeon; 2) Mary flees into Egypt
with Jesus and Joseph; 3) Mary seeks Jesus lost in Jerusalem; 4) Mary meets
Jesus on the way to Calvary; 5) Mary stands near the cross of her Son; 6) Mary
receives the body of Jesus taken down from the cross; 7) Mary places the body
of Jesus in the tomb awaiting the resurrection.
Each meditation is followed by an Our Father and seven Hail Marys.
Like all rosaries, the Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows is a meditation
on God’s love as reflected in the life of Jesus and Mary.
Specifically, it invites us to meditate on those times in the
life of Mary when she experienced the pain and suffering
that tested her faith and invited her to a full sharing of the
mystery of God’s salvation in her Son, Jesus. Through these
reflections, we open our own hearts to the power of this
mystery and allow the Word to enter our lives, change us, and
make us more compassionate servants.
Servite rosaries are available from the Servite Development
Office for a suggested offering of $10.00 (black) or $15.00
(crystal). The rosary comes with a full color, beautifully
illustrated pamphlet explaining each of the Seven Sorrows
and how to pray the rosary.
Servite Development Office: 708.795.8885 or 800.778.4000
www.servitedevelopment.org
ServitesT oday
6
PROVINCE JUBILARIANS
Paul Novak
25 Years Ordination
May 26, 2015
Phil McGlynn
50 Years Ordination
June 5, 2015
Mafanisa Mthembu
25 years ordination
June 10, 2015
IN MEMORIAM
F
r. Carlo Marchetti, O.S.M., was born in Chicago, Illinois,
U.S.A. in October of 1925, which means he was in his 90th
year when he died at MercyCare, Wembly on Sunday, 17th
May. His funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Anthony Church,
Wanneroo where the main celebrant, Fra Christopher Ross,
O.S.M., was assisted by his fellow Servite priests and the
Order’s Australian superior, Fra Stephen Barker, O.S.M.
Bishop Sproxton and Emeritus Archbishop Hickey and
some 15 priests also concelebrated. A goodly number of
parishioners of St. Anthony’s as well as their parish priest,
Fr. John Daly and their long-established choir attended to
pay their respects. Interment took place at the Servite plot in
Pinnaroo Memorial Cemetery.
Fra Carlo was a Servite practically by birth. He was baptised
and grew up in the Servite parish of the Assumption, Chicago.
His early education was with the Cabrini Sisters and not long
after their foundress, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first
American Saint, was residing there. He entered the Servite
seminary as a young man but broke off his training to serve in
the U.S. navy during World War II. A life-changing experience
was when the aircraft carrier on which he was serving was
torpedoed. After the war he re-entered the Servants of Mary
and was ordained in 1959.
From the beginning of his ministry Fra Carlo had a special
affinity and affection for Italian migrant families. When
invited in 1967 to come to the growing foundation of the
Order in Australia he did so on the understanding that he
would principally be serving such people. Wanneroo, with
its large number of Italian families, especially in the market
7
Michael Guimon
45 Years Ordination
June 13, 2015
Thomas Greaney
45 Years Ordination
June 21, 2015
gardens, was a natural
assignment for him. For
most of the following
almost fifty years of
ministry, this remained
the special concern and
love of his heart. He
shared living and working
principally
with
Fra
Patrick Boyle and both
of them remain strongly
identified with that parish
to this day. The devotion
to St. Anthony, with its
patronal
Association
and annual procession,
remained always close to his heart. It was hard on both of
them when the Order had to relinquish the ministry of the
parish back to the archdiocese because of ageing and shortage
of personnel.
Fra Carlo also served for several years at St. Denis parish
in Joondanna, at Servite College Tuart Hill, and also in the
Order’s community and parish in Melbourne, Victoria. But
his affection for Wanneroo and its people never diminished.
When ill-health and age began to take their toll, he
accepted retirement and, to the surprise of many whom he
encountered, began to look forward to his eternal reward. He
spent several years in Nazareth House in Geraldton where he
was visited regularly by dear friends and finally at MercyCare
where again loved ones, especially from Wanneroo, could
visit him. When the time came, he was happy to go to God.
May he rest in peace.
- Fra Christopher Ross, O.S.M.
ServitesT oday
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T oday
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Notes
from the National Shrine of St. Peregrine
Caregivers are tangible witnesses to God’s love, care, compassion and mercy.
They provide ongoing support, encouragement and comfort in a spirit of love
and faith. The St. Peregrine Ministry wishes to identify, acknowledge, and
thank those caregivers who have given of themselves selflessly in the service of
those journeying through pain and suffering. At the celebration of the Feast of
St. Peregrine, May 16, 2015, caregivers Renee, James, a doctor’s assistant, and
Melissa, a nurse, were honored with the St. Peregrine Caregivers Award. We
invite and encourage you to nominate caregivers who, following the example of
St. Peregrine, have made a significant contribution in alleviating the suffering of
others. Please submit your nominations for the St. Peregrine Caregivers Award to
the St. Peregrine Ministry, 3121 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois 60612, by
At the National Shrine of St July 31, 2015.
Peregrine (Our Lady of Sorrows
Basilica in Chicago), a healing If you would like a Servite to come to your parish to speak about St. Peregrine,
Mass and blessing with relic of St. please call Fr. Chris Krymski, OSM, at 1(773) 638-0159, ext. 104 for more
Peregrine is celebrated at 11:00am information. We do come to parishes to give talks or three evening parish
on the third Saturday of the month. missions about suffering, healing and compassion of St. Peregrine’s intercession.
There is a healing Mass and blessing We can also help to celebrate a special Holy Hour service to experience God’s
in Spanish on the second Saturday healing touch of mercy.
of each month, also at 11:00am.