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Newsletter of the Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests
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Upcoming Events
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Jesus Caritas National Assembly
Cleveland, Ohio August 4 - 8, 2008
Registration Form
The Tentative Schedule for the 2008 Assembly
Sunday - August 3, 2008 ----- Arrival of Participants
Monday - August 4, 2008 ----- Arrival of Participants
7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
Introduction of Participants
First Presentation - Dick Keolker
Tuesday -- August 5, 2008
7:00 a.m. Adoration/Morning Prayer
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:15 a.m. Welcome by Bishop Richard Lennon
9:30 a.m. Second Presentation - Dick Keolker
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Form Fraternities
12:00 p.m. Lunch
4:00 p.m. Third Presentation - Dick Keolker
5:00 p.m. Mass
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
Fourth Presentation - Dick Keolker
9:00 p.m. Social (Sponsored by Priests of Cleveland)
Wednesday - August 6, 2008
7:00 a.m. Adoration/Morning Prayer
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. National Report
Reports from areas
10:30 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Reports from areas (cont.)
Sharing from Former Responsibles
12:00 p.m. Lunch
4:00 p.m. Sr. Emily, Sister Madelein - Little Sisters of Jesus
5:00 p.m. Mass (Bishop Roger Greis?)
6:00 p.m. Social
6:30 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
Candidate Discernment
Preparing for Desert Day
All Night Vigil
Thursday - August 7, 2008 ----DESERT DAY
Brown Bag Lunches available in a.m.
7:00 a.m. Adoration/Morning Prayer (optional)
8:00 a.m. Breakfast (optional)
4:30 p.m. Mass
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
Discernment of New National Responsible
Friday - August 8, 2008
7:00 a.m. Adoration/Morning Prayer
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 a.m. International Fraternity Report
10:00 a.m. Sharing of New Responsible
11:00 a.m. Mass
12:00 p.m. Lunch/Departure
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Report
from
Spokane,
June
9 -
12,
2008 |
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from the notes of Dick Rossman & Jerry Devore
Present from Dioceses of Bridgeport, New York, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Yakima.
Monday night
Howard Calkins spoke on the Blessings of Fraternity. The life of the priest can be shaped and formed by the broadness of the International Community of followers of Blessed Charles of Jesus. Awareness of the various families of the Foucauldian Spirituality would bless the Priests Fraternity over and over. For example the Little Sisters of Jesus seem to be present to the local Muslim communities around the world wherever possible among other ministries. Connecting with the Muslim community as in Patterson, NJ is an outward sign of Charles’ desire to connect with the minority of any community as is the single working mother raising her children or assisting the immigrant population. The Fraternity is called to live out the “littleness” of the local community as a very important chrism of our lives.
Howard illustrated the point by speaking about his ministry to the Black Community during his priesthood. Here he is in union with many people who live on the margin of life in the USA. Caritas envisions its members living in union of body and spirit with those who are looked upon as “less in the community.” We are to become one with them as precious in the eyes of God.
We were challenged to look at the Desert Day as an essential part of the Fraternity. To be with God alone for several hours of a day with no props! To be in The Presence of the Beloved and wait with open hearts! He spoke of a brother who said, “When my Fraternity comes together no one has prepared himself in the desert, no one has grappled with God.” Dan Danielson claims that a Fraternity is as deep as its shallowest member.” Howard has come to accept that as a truism.
The Fraternity provides a blessing by giving a Vision of how to live the priesthood.
Reports
1. Pat of Spokane: Invite the newly ordained to consider joining a Fraternity or starting one. Presently there are 5 Clergy Frats and 2 Mixed Frat [clergy & sisters]. Discussion was held on determination of a Frat Responsible or a rep who would communicate with the other Frats or with the Region or National Office. Questions were also raised about the process of starting a new Frat.
2. Mike of Seattle tells us there are 11 Fraternities there. Many are long standing.
3. Alex of Yakima reports that there are 5 Frats [ 3 are English speaking and 2 Spanish speaking.] Some of the men from Mexico desire to communicate their spiritual life in their native language and familiar culture. The option is with the individual man.
4. Dick of Portland reported 4 Frats in his archdiocese and 1 or 2 in Baker diocese. He introduced the discussion of having the Diocesan Responsible gather the men of a foreign speaking group[s] to come together if interested and talk about Caritas and perhaps forming a language-Frat or another English speaking group. The individuals would decide.
5. Howard of New York informed us that there is 1 Frat in his archdiocese along with Brooklyn. There are others in the State like Rochester and Buffalo which has 8 Frats.
6. Jerry of Bridgeport knows there is only his Frat in CT which has 3 dioceses. There is also 1 and perhaps 2 in the Boston area.
Discussions were informative on introductions to seminarians and newly ordained priests and priests who have finished the mandatory monthly meeting for the first 2 or 3 or 5 years in the life of the newly ordained. There are various times to approach the men. The seminarian groups usually cease after they are ordained unless all members are from the same diocese. Newly ordained priests may have enough with the mandatory meeting ordered by his bishop. Some me after a few years of mandatory meetings need a break from monthly meetings. Each person is an individual with his own response to the offer of Fraternity.
Local Responsibles should be knowledgeable of the life of Blessed Charles of Jesus and the spirit of the Fraternity as indicated in the 1076 Handbook [little red booklet] as well as the “American Experience.” He should be a ‘good listener’ to the members between monthly gatherings and reach out to the brothers from time to time. He is also to be in touch with other Frats in the area if there are any.
Face to face gatherings are the primer way of communication and the ideal. However given the growing workload of fewer priests and the expenses of gasoline and airplane tickets we will all be require to think outside the box and use other methods of communication. We will need the telephone, the Internet, emails, web sites, etc. to communicate in the 21st Century. Our ministries require more and more time and attention from the individual priest. His support and encouragement from and to Frat brother is more and more needed and we cannot be meeting face to face very often. We need to use the modern tools that we know about as well as the ones that are not yet revealed to us when they come.
“BECOMING BROTHERS” and it is time to find a new editor and revive its publishing.
Inter-diocesan communication in places where there are multiple Frats needs to be developed but the Diocesan Responsible or someone who is interested in making such connections.
Report for the National & International Councils
The major work of the present National Council was to establish a National Office in Chicago. The banking is fixed in Chicago. The part-time secretary is in Chicago. She is full time with the NFPC and we pay her per-hour as we need her services. She makes bank deposits and does the mailings and tracks the mailing lists of the membership. Requests for publications which are retained at that Office are mailed out from there by her.
The mailing lists need to be updated annually by the Diocesan Responsible, if there is one, or by a member of the local Frat. This list needs to be sent to her at the end of each calendar year. Speaking of the annual dues it should be indicated that the dues is $50.00 if one can afford it or at least some financial contribution to cover usual expenses of administration and office needs.
edited by Jerry Devore and emailed 7/10/08
Names and addresses of Spokane ‘08
Gerald T. Devore \\ 44 Haddon St. #3 \\ Bridgeport, CT 06605 \\ c= 203.536.0839 \\ gtd103@optimum.net \\ Diocese of Bridgeport
Michael C. OBrien / / PO Box 279 //Monroe, WA 98272-0279 // 425.238.4301 // obrienmc@stmaryvalley.org // Archdiocese of Seattle
John Renggli \\ 511 Cherry St. E \\ Tacoma,WA 98445 \\ 253.537.4275 \\ jjrenggli@nventure.com \\ Archdiocese of Seattle
Samuel Taylor \\115 Sharpe Blvd. So. \\ Mt. Vernon, NY 10550 \\ c= 203.667.0374 & rectory= 914.668.7440 \\ petifrere3@aol.com \\ Archdiocese of New York
Howard Calkins \\ 115 Sharpe Blvd. So. \\ Mt. Vernon, NY 10550 \\ c= 914.645.0549 & rectory= 914.668.7440 \\ petifrere3@aol.com \\ Archdiocese of New York
Des Dillon \\ 710 W 5th St. \\ Kennewick, WA 99336 \\ 509-582-9671 \\ DP.DILLON@hotmail.com \\ Diocese of Yakima
Richard Rossman \\ 1150 Maxwell Rd. \\ Eugene ,OR 97404 \\ c= 541.579.3569 \\ dickr@stpetereugene.org \\ Archdiocese of Portland
Alejandro Trejo \\ P O Box 2049 \\ St. Joseph Rectory – 240 N W Washington St. \\ White Salmon, WA 98672 \\ rectory= 509.493.2828c= 509.431.5403 \\ alextrejo00@yahoo.com \\ Diocese of Yakima
Pat Kerst \\ 408 W. Poplar \\ Walla Walla, WA 99362 \\ 509.525.1602 & c= 509.386.8994 \\ pkerst@dioceseofspokane.org
Internet Addresses:
National Caritas Web Site = www.jesuscaritasusa.org
Weekday British S J = www.pray-as-you-go.org
Daily Prayer by Irish S J = www.sacredspace.ie
L S Anne of Jesus has a book on Blessed Charles published by New City Publications [www.newcitypress.org ].
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What
is
the
National
Assembly? |
(from
the
National
Council)
Every
three
years
our
fraternities
of
Jesus
Caritas
come
together
for
a
National
Assembly.
This
is a
great
opportunity
for
priests
to
live
fraternity
for
a
week.
The
assembly
also
provides
time
to
review
what
has
been
happening
in
the
Fraternity
in
our
country
and
in
the
world.
One
of
the
practical
aspects
of
the
assembly
is
the
election
of a
new
National
Responsible.
At a
typical
Assembly
we
have
the
present
and
past
National
Responsibles
along
with
individuals
who
have
served
on
present
or
past
National
Councils.
Other
priests
who
live
fraternity
are
also
invited
to
attend.
Because
we
are
blessed
with
experienced
leadership
and
many
priests
involved
in
living
fraternity
there
has
been
good
continuity
within
our
fraternity
as
new
National
Responsibles
are
selected
and
new
councils
are
formed.
This
year,
Richard
Keolker,
a
diocesan
priest
from
Portland,
will
be
giving
several
presentations
on
the
Spirituality
of
the
diocesan
priest.
He
is a
long
time
member
of
Jesus
Caritas
and
should
be
of
great
assistance
to
us
in
understanding
more
completely
how
our
fraternity
life
complements
priesthood.
After
Richard's
presentations
we
will
have
reports
from
each
of
the
regions
attempting
to
express
the
success
and
struggles
of
the
local
Jesus
Caritas
fraternities
and
also
to
speak
about
what
movements/experiences
are
taking
place
within
the
region.
After
these
reports
are
completed,
we
often
know
a
great
deal
of
the
diversity
of
how
priesthood
is
being
lived
within
the
borders
of
our
country.
The
reason
for
this
reporting
is
for
all
those
present
to
absorb
the
reality
of
both
who
we
are
as
followers
of
Jesus
and
Blessed
Charles
and
how
we
might
best
use
our
personal
and
group
talents
to
respond
to
what
is
being
asked
of
us
as
leaders
within
our
Church.
The
present
council
is
also
concerned
about
ways
to
invite
more
priests
to
be
part
of
the
fraternity.
On
Thursday
we
have
a
Desert
Day.
The
purpose
of
this
day
is
to
do
what
is
supposed
to
be
part
of
our
regular
living
of
fraternity
life
--
to
live
a
day
in
complete
openness
to
the
Lord.
But,
in
the
context
of
the
Assembly,
the
Desert
Day
is
also
meant
as a
time
to
both
absorb
what
has
been
reported
to
us
and
also
to
pray
about
who
might
be
our
future
Responsible.
On
Thursday
evening
we
do
select
our
national
leader.
In
the
time
together
we
also
often
have
a
report
from
the
International
Council
and
often
have
one
of
the
Little
Sisters
or
Little
Brothers
give
a
presentation
to
keep
us
connected
to
another
part
of
the
Blessed
Charles
de
Foucauld
family.
This
year
the
Assembly
begins
on
August
4th
(Monday
evening)
and
concludes
at
noon
on
Friday
the
8th.
If
you
would
like
to
experience
priestly
life
at
its
best,
please
plan
on
attending
the
Assembly.
It
will
refresh
and
strengthen
your
ministry.
Please
consider
this
your
invitation
to
join
us
at
the
National
Assembly.
---Richard,
Jerry,
Hap,
Phil,
Mark,
Dick
and
Joe
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What a Jesus Caritas Retreat Looks Like
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The style of all Jesus Caritas retreats include 1) adoration together, 2) Scripture together, and 3) a day of Desert together. So our practices are incorporated: a daily hour of Eucharistic adoration (simple exposition), Scripture sharing (by Fraternities) and a Day of Desert followed by a sharing of what spoke to me of this day. If any members of the "families of Brother Charles" are in the vicinity, e.g. member/s of a lay fraternity, they can be invited to share in the adoration.
The following are themes/topics to be covered; some of these are subdivisions of each other, and in no particular order.1. Hidden life of Nazareth.2. Adoration of the Eucharist;.3. Solitude and Desert;.4. Simplicity and poverty;.5. Littleness - being little brother and universal brother;.6. Failure;.7. Hospitality;.8. Incarnationality - life with the folks in the midst of the world;.9. Scripture - contemplative while not removed from the world such as Dan Danielson's concept of "living under the Scriptures";.10. Charles de Foucauld's stance of reaching out to the poorest of the poor, and what to learn from a little person.
In presenting the themes, the director could use some of Charles de Foucauld's key texts, some of his vocabulary and his favorite Scripture passages. (edited from materials of Tom Suppa)
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Checklists for Responsibles
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 When you come across some worthwhile reading or a magazine article that pertains to priestly spirituality or ministry, point it out to your members. Some fraternities have a “show and tell” time when members share their reading.
The web site (www.rc.net/org/jesuscaritas) has an abundance of resources including the Directory, the Statutes, spiritual articles, etc. Make sure that your members know the address.
Has a member been missing meetings? or coming late? Maybe a kindly call beforehand is all that is needed.
Most fraternities share a meal sometime during their Day. Check to see that both the quantity and quality of the food is kept within bounds and suitable to the life of simplicity we are committed to.
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