September 2007

In this issue:

Paulist Summer Anniversary Retreat
Upcoming Meeting
     Format
     Suggested Questions for Reflection
Chronology
• On Greta Salas
• On Antoinette Battaglia
 

PAULIST SUMMER ANNIVERSARY RETREAT

Fr. Paul Robichaud, CSP

Forty people, including Paulists, Paulist Collaborators and Associates and other lay leaders gathered this past weekend at Mount Paul in Oak Ridge, New Jersey.  Here Paulist Bruce Nieli in story, song and passionate teaching, introduced the group to Isaac Hecker, saint, mystic and prophet for our time.   To paraphrase Bruce, “Hecker was a transcendentalist.  They believed in spirituality without religion, does that sound familiar?   Does that relate to us today?  Do you see where I am going?” 

Bruce introduced us to Isaac Hecker’s understanding of the Holy Spirit: Hecker’s three venues of the Spirit.  The Spirit present in the individual, the Spirit present in the Church and the Spirit present in the world.   By the end of the retreat he had challenged us all to identify how the Spirit was at work in our own lives.   He received a standing and extended ovation at the end of the weekend.  People were deeply touched by Bruce’s pathos and humor and his wonderful gift of story telling.

Present were seven Paulists, a large group of Associates and several collaborators from various Paulist staffs.   Every foundation but three were represented.  This was due in part, to John Hurley meeting with his foundation liaisons for Reconciliation on the day prior to the retreat.  Piggybacking these two events proved quite successful.  So combined with our recent Hecker walks, we are off to a great start for the Anniversary Year.  A special note of congratulations to Stefani Manowksi for all her hard work and great scheduling!

There is a second Holy Spirit retreat coming up Nov 2-4 in Los Angeles, this one led by Paulist Terry Ryan.   There are still openings for this retreat, so if you are interested, please sign up now.   And Bruce (and Terry)

 are willing to take their retreat programs to Paulist foundations during the anniversary year.  This is tremendous programming for local Paulist houses – but you need to plan and book early if you want them.  Two Paulist houses have already booked Bruce for 2008. So we are underway with a great beginning.

FORMAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING

1. Check-in, particularly events and activities during the summer.
2. Reading from “The Paulist Vocation” – “Hecker’s Religious Experience,” pp. 204-205.
3. Reaction to the reading and newsletter; discussion questions below.
4. New Business
5. Report of any apostolic involvement, any opportunities to use or spread the Paulist charisms in daily life.
6. Prayer for Vocations and other prayers (See Paulist Prayer Book, p. 504).
7. Announcements and plans about the next meeting
8. Refreshments

Questions for Discussion:

1. In what ways have you found the Holy Spirit active in your own soul?
2. What signs do you see of the Spirit’s activity in the Church?
3. What might you identify as the Spirit’s action in our broader culture.

CHRONOLOGY

July 7, 2007: Death of Greta Salas (New York)
August 11, 2007: Death of Antoinnette Battaglia (Toronto)
September 10-14: General Council Meeting (Washington, DC)
September 11, 2007: Dedication of the “Hecker Center” in Washington, DC

ON GRETA SALAS

The thing I will remember most about Greta was that she was just such a Sweet Sweet person! Fr. Ron again did such a great eulogy. Talked about her gift for bringing people together; whether it was by arranging all of our parish bus trips, or just the simple things that she did for so many people so quietly, and without any show. She participated in so much stuff at St. Paul's, I can't even begin to list them all. But as Fr. Ron also mentioned, one of the last ministries she participated in was as a Welcomer in our  last LANDINGS cycle. I know that Greta got so much spiritual strength not only out of all the things she did for others, but simply in her belongingness to the community of faith at St. Paul's. Despite any medical aches and pains of her own, she was ALWAYS just so happy to to see you. And ALWAYS wore a huge smile. I was honored to be asked to be a pall bearer for her. For me, Greta was such a great example of the faith we are all called to live. I pray that God blesses her, and keeps her in his love always. 

Mike Kondrat on Greta Salas

ON ANTOINETTE BATTAGLIA

Just to let you know, our friend and Paulist Associate Antoinette Battaglia died on Tuesday afternoon. Antoinette found out that she had cancer in the spring of 2006. Her treatment prevented her from attending most of our meetings, but we kept in touch with her, visited her and prayed for her.

Her funeral will be on Friday August 10th at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Toronto.

Could you let the Paulists and Associates know about Antoinette and ask them to join in our prayers for her,

Heather McClory on Antoinette Battaglia

Antoinette Battaglia, an Associate in our first group, died on Tuesday, August 7th, at the age of 73 after a long illness with cancer.  She knew that she did not have long to live when she made her commitment as a Paulist Associate.  She felt that even if she could not be active as a Paulist Associate she could help the Paulists by her prayers and suffering.  Her funeral will be Friday at her parish church and Dick and I (and perhaps Jim Haley) will attend as well as local Associates.  Her association with the Paulists goes back to the early days of the Catholic Information Centre and Father Frank Stone. (Jim McCabe, CSP)

Contact:
Frank DeSiano, CSP
Associate Coordinator
8611 Midland Parkway
Jamaica Estates, NY 11432

(718) 291-5995