A Holy Boldness. A Jesuit in Service to the Church NEW YORK PROVINCE JESUITS AND OUR COLLEAGUES. SPRING A HOLY BOLDNESS 1

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1 A Holy Boldness NEW YORK PROVINCE JESUITS AND OUR COLLEAGUES. SPRING 2009 A Jesuit in Service to the Church A HOLY BOLDNESS 1

2 Father Provincial s Message Dear Friends of the Jesuits, As the season of Lent draws to a close and we anticipate the joyful season of Easter, we are made aware that the fullness of the Paschal Mystery, which we come to know in the living, dying and rising of Christ our Savior, is the mystery of our own lives as well. In surrendering our lives to Christ we come to know renewed life in Him. At the conclusion of the Mass of Christian Burial for Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., I noted that the Cardinal was first and foremost a man of the Church, a man in service to the Church, a man who shunned the limelight and who insisted that he lived only to shine a light on the Lord who had captured his heart. Cardinal Dulles sleeps now in the peace of Christ, yet his work on behalf of Christ and His Church lives on in his writings, his students, and in the memories we cherish of him. In this issue of A Holy Boldness, we pay tribute to him, A Jesuit in Service to the Church. You will read the personal reflections of Father William Scanlon, S.J., the Chaplain at our Province Health Care Center, Murray-Weigel Hall, where Cardinal Dulles lived the last months of his life. Also, Sister Anne-Marie Kirmse, O.P., Cardinal Dulles personal assistant for some twenty years, shares her insights into the deep faith that inspired his entire ministry. The next generation of Jesuits prepares for faithful service to the Church and the world through our formation program. In this issue, you will read of the experience of some of our scholastics in First Studies, that period of philosophical and theological study that follows their two years of Novitiate training; and in Regency, those years of apostolic ministry that are an essential stage in a Jesuit s formation. Last November at the Ignatian Family Teach-In, an annual event sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, nearly five thousand people met in Georgia. The Teach- In recalled the murders in 1989 of six Jesuits and two lay helpers in El Salvador. The theme of the gathering was A Fire that Kindles Other Fires, a title borrowed from Decree 2 of our recent General Congregation. I invite you to reflect on Resurrection Hope with Fathers Michael Tunney, S.J., and John Bucki, S.J., of the Canisius Jesuit Community in Buffalo. In addition, I hope your faith, hope and courage are warmed and deepened with Hope in the Unseen, the words of Cardinal Dulles, addressed to the friends of the Jesuits gathered at a dinner in Boston just six weeks after the tragic events of September 11, Thank you for your financial and prayerful support of the Jesuits. Our ministry is possible only through your generous assistance and care. May God s blessings be yours in abundance during this season of hope and new life. Gratefully in Our Lord, David S. Ciancimino, S.J. Provincial 3 In Remembrance 9 A New Generation 16 One Ignatian Family 20 Focus on Faith Cover photo: Pope John Paul II and Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ A Holy Boldness is prepared by the Development Office of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus which is solely responsible for its content. 39 East 83rd Street, New York NY development@nysj.org www. nysj.org Publisher: Fr. James F. Keenan, SJ Publications Assistant: Fr. John Garvey, SJ Staff Writer: Mr. Peter Feuerherd 2 SPRING

3 Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J A Jesuit in Service to the Church A HOLY BOLDNESS 3

4 In Remembrance Curriculum Vitae Born in Auburn, New York, on August 24, 1918, son of John Foster Dulles and Janet Pomeroy Avery Dulles. Primary School in New York City; secondary education in Switzerland and New England A.B Harvard College, Harvard Law School Officer, United States Naval Reserve, , serving in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean areas. Highest Rank: Lieutenant Entered Novitiate of the Society of Jesus, Poughkeepsie, New York on August 14, Ph.L Woodstock College, Woodstock, Maryland Ordained to the priesthood in New York on June 16, 1956 by Francis Cardinal Spellman. S.T.L Woodstock College, Woodstock, Maryland Avery,Our Brother Rev. David S. Ciancimino, SJ Provincial From remarks at the conclusion of the Funeral Mass at St. Patrick s Cathedral Tributes to the Cardinal have poured in from around the world. In them, he was hailed as a theologian whose work was marked by both a mastery of the Church s tradition and a creative fidelity to that tradition. Cardinal Dulles was all they said he was: a theologian, a mentor, and a counselor. He was, however, first and foremost a man in service to the Church, a man who shunned the limelight and who insisted that he lived only to shine a light on the Lord who had captured his heart. He was also a priest s priest who celebrated the Eucharist with deep de- Profoundly a Jesuit votion and who prayed the Office with mystical fervor. To us Jesuits, however, he was also Avery, our brother our older, wiser brother. He loved the Society and took common life very seriously. He prepared his own breakfast. He did his own laundry. He decorated the Christmas tree with us. He took his turn in the Mass rotations in the Jesuit communities in which he lived. He taught our scholastics both in the classroom and in life. He prepared us for ministry. He modeled Jesuit and priestly life and service for us Jesuit Tertianship (ascetical and pastoral studies), Münster, Germany S.T.D Gregorian University, Rome Taught at Woodstock College, The Catholic University of America, Fordham University and St. Joseph s Seminary, Yonkers NY. Created a Cardinal on February 21, 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Died at Murray-Weigel Hall, Bronx, New York, December 12, Rev. John J. Cecero, SJ Rector, Fordham Jesuit Community From the homily at the Jesuit Memorial Mass, Fordham Church Much will be said over these days about Cardinal Dulles skill and unique contributions as a theologian but Avery was much more than an eminent theologian. He was profoundly a Jesuit. As Jesuits, we are called to live at the heart of the Church and at the same time at the frontier. Precisely in adopting this critical yet faithful approach, Avery would realize our very Jesuit identity and mission as articulated so clearly in our recent General Congregation. Now many are puzzled by this mission: How is it possible to do both? I would suggest that Avery s life and legacy offer a response which is likewise puzzling. For some, his early publications opened frontiers for new ways of being Church, while for others, his call to fidelity to the Magisterium in his more recent writings signal a clear invitation to the 4 SPRING

5 heart, the center, of our tradition as Church. Perhaps it is precisely in holding these two places in tension, in living this enigma, that the Jesuit finds his true identity and mission. Avery lived at the heart of the Church, enlightening hearts that they might know Jesus. Through scores of books, hundreds of lectures, and thousands of letters, Avery explained the faith and drew souls to Jesus and His body the Church. At the same time he did not shy away from the frontier taking on controversies over the last 20 years of McGinley Lectures. Many years ago, in his account of conversion to Catholicism, A Testimonial to Grace, published in 1946, the very year of his entrance into the Society of Jesus, Avery wrote: Although I cannot rival the generous dedication of St. Paul and Ignatius of Loyola, I am, like them, content to be employed in the service of Christ and the gospel, whether in sickness or in health, in good repute or ill repute I trust that his grace will not fail me and that I will not fail his grace, in the years to come Tonight we celebrate that abundant grace and fidelity and we join in his Suscipe: Take, Lord, and receive, all is yours now. A Wink and a Smile Rev. William Scanlon, SJ Chaplain, Murray-Weigel Hall Avery Dulles came to the infirmary at Murray-Weigel Hall unable to speak or walk, but with enough mobility in his hands to type messages to us on the computer and on the light writer that was always with him. He used this ability to communicate with his friends, write letters to the Bishops Conference, complete lectures that someone else would deliver for him, teach his class and advise his doctoral students. Gradually, paralysis set in, and eventually his communications became simply looks with his eyes and nods of the head. But with these looks and nods Avery and Sr. Anne-Marie Kirmse, OP, his personal assistant, were able to continue his communication. It was painstaking, but Sister would point at the letters of the alphabet and Avery would nod when she got to the correct letter. This was the way that Avery told us what channel he wanted on the TV and it is how he wrote his greeting to all of us who helped him celebrate his 90 th birthday. Avery would sometimes get impatient when he could not make a request clear, but gradually those near him learned how to interpret a deliberate glance toward the window (meaning it was time to turn him in that direction or he wanted something that was on the bed table or the window sill.) But the communication I remember best was a wink with a smile, which meant all was well. The last week of Avery s life I would read Morning Prayer and the prayers and readings of the Mass to Avery. When I finished, I would tell Avery of my activities for the day and he would give me that wink with a smile. On Thursday night, December 11 th, since it was after 11PM when I re- A HOLY BOLDNESS 5

6 turned, I did not disturb Avery before going to bed. At 1AM I got a call from the infirmary that the Cardinal was dying, and he had let them know that he wanted me to come. I went down to his room and found him peaceful, but very weak. I asked if he wanted me to read some prayers. He nodded yes. So I read the usual Morning Prayer and the prayers of the Mass. Completing those, I tried to recite the Prayer of St. Ignatius, Take, Lord and Receive, but I couldn t remember the words because usually I sing that prayer. So I said, I hope you don t mind, but the only way I can pray the prayer of St. Ignatius is to sing it. He looked at me quizzically but endured my singing of the prayer that is so dear to all Jesuits. I then found his Liber Devotionum which is a book of prayers given to us when we were novices. It was right there on his desk and obviously well used. I knew he was devoted to St. Robert Bellarmine, and I found special prayers for his intercession. Then we prayed the litany of Jesuit and other saints, calling upon the Faith and Hope Come to Completion Sr. Anne-Marie Kirmse, OP Personal Assistant to Cardinal Dulles Ever since Avery Dulles came to Fordham in 1988, I was his assistant. In this capacity I proofread his lectures, articles and books (both for content and for style), scheduled his appointments, arranged for his travel, and kept his office running. For twenty years, I took care of his affairs. And then in the last few months of his life, I took care of the Cardinal. saints, especially Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe (it was her feast day that day). About 3:30AM, I looked at Avery, who was barely able to breathe, and said: Avery I m bushed. I have to get some sleep. Avery looked at me with the kindest smile and winked with a sparkle in his eye. It was my last memory of him, and it is one of those treasures that I can carry with me when it comes my time to make that journey. I went to bed, and at 6:30 that morning, Yolanda Pannell, the nurse s aide who sat with Avery after I left, knocked on my door to let me know that Avery had died. I was suddenly filled with a sense of gratitude for the privilege to have been with him for those few hours during the night. I don t pray that he rest in peace. Avery was never one for resting as all who knew him can attest. But he did enjoy a good party with friends, and that s my prayer: that he be surrounded by his many friends at the banquet that Jesus had waiting for him. I was not his sole caretaker. The nurses and staff at Murray-Weigel Hall took very good care of his physical needs. But as he became increasingly unable to communicate, it was difficult for him to state his needs and wants. I became his link to the outside world. When his niece Janet saw the newspaper untouched, I asked the Jesuit scholastics to come over from Ciszek Hall on Sunday Cardinal Dulles strolling the streets of Rome with Fr. Joseph O Hare, SJ afternoons to turn the pages for him so that he could keep up with the news - Vincent Strand, SJ, Marc Veladao, SJ, and Stephen Wolfe, SJ, became his faithful companions. Cardinal Dulles s former student, Dr. Robert C. Christie, came on Saturdays to help the Cardinal keep up with the many theological journals and newspapers he received. Maureen Noone, the Cardinal s secretary for the past seven years, and Susan Munroe, a friend of the Cardinal s, also came by to see if they could be of assistance. True to the way he never wanted to inconvenience anyone on his behalf, Cardinal Dulles was concerned that their arms hurt from holding the books and newspapers! The Cardinal learned to use a machine called a Lightwriter, a small computer-like keyboard and a one-line display which spoke the words which were 6 SPRING

7 typed into it. As he was less and less able to use his hands, I ran the stylus along the keyboard, and when I came to the correct letter, he would shake his head. When his godson, Andrew Curry, came to visit from Germany, he observed that it wasn t that his Uncle Avery couldn t communicate any more, he just did so in a different way. What a touching and beautiful insight! As one might imagine, this procedure was tiring for the Cardinal, and it often took many days to complete a project. When one particularly important one was finished, I was ecstatic. We did it, Cardinal Dulles. I am so happy for you. The Cardinal looked back at me with a very sad expression. Sensing what he was thinking, I continued, It seems that you are not as happy as I am, and he nodded in the affirmative. I saw his pain in the midst of what I thought was a great achievement. I know why you are unhappy, I went on, you would rather be sitting at your desk in our office and typing this yourself on your computer. He shook his head vigorously in agreement. Well, I continued, that is what I want with all my heart. But until we get our miracle, you will have to be content with Plan B. You are stuck with me. And then he smiled. I saw a deep loneliness in Cardinal Dulles the last few months of his life. His close friends and colleagues continued to come, but the days were long and the physical discomfort increased. I sensed that he was unhappy with the approach of Thanksgiving. He always enjoyed meals with friends, and now unable to speak or to eat, there was little opportunity to celebrate this day. When I told him that I would be spending Thanksgiving with him, his face took on a puzzled expression, so I explained that I didn t want him to be alone and that I would be there BUT we would not do any work that day. I felt that the last straw about how much Cardinal Dulles had to suffer came when he could no longer receive even a small part of the host at Mass. I told him that for the first time in my life I was mad at God. He looked at me quizzically, and I explained that how cruel God was in not allowing him to receive Communion anymore. All the other deprivations I could accept as part of God s plan for you, I said, but this is totally unreasonable on God s part. And I am angry, and I will certainly tell God how I feel about this. Cardinal Dulles shook his head no. He told me that since he wasn t angry at God, neither should I be. Through my tears I mentioned to him that he was taking this situation much better than I was! The matter was resolved when he was able to receive a drop or two of the Precious Blood. It was a privilege for me to give Holy Communion to him this way until the day before he died. As I was leaving his room on December 11, Cardinal Dulles had me type Xmas cards in the Lightwriter. Although he was weak and had a touch of pneumonia, he wanted to get his cards mailed in time. After I left his room, I went to Mass in Loyola Hall. One of the songs played that evening had the refrain, Lord, set us free. I prayed that Cardinal Dulles would be set free of his suffering. Early the next morning, I received the call from Fr. Scanlon with the news that the Cardinal had died. I was able to get to Murray-Weigel before the undertaker came, so I was able to say Cardinal Dulles invokes the Holy Spirit at the ordination of Fr. George Witt, SJ. my goodbyes in private. He looked so peaceful, and there was a slight smile on his face. His chin was resting on a throw pillow which had the inscription, Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. I had given him this pillow because it had a slightly different translation of the title of his book on faith, The Assurance of Things Hoped For. Now his faith and hope had come to their completion. As I stood there for a few minutes, I could almost hear him saying, as he did so many times, Now we have work to do. And back to the office I went! A HOLY BOLDNESS 7

8 As others remember him... with immense gratitude for the deep learning, serene judgment and unfailing love of the Lord and his Church which marked his entire priestly ministry and his long years of teaching and theological research Pope Benedict XVI "He was our brother, our companion on the journey, and a servant of Christ whom he knew intimately." Very Reverend Adolfo Nicolás, SJ Superior General of the Society of Jesus an eminent theologian and professor of theology in seminaries and universities throughout the nation. All of us here in the Archdiocese are very much indebted to him for his wisdom and priestly example. Edward Cardinal Egan Archbishop of New York...he presented an authentic Catholic theology that was deeply rooted in the Church s intellectual heritage and in the American experience of that tradition. Most Reverend Donald V. Wuerl Archbishop of Washington, D.C. "His wise counsel will be missed; his personal witness to the pursuit of holiness of life as a priest, a Jesuit and a Cardinal of the Church will be remembered and will encourage the Church to remain ever faithful to her Lord and his mission." United States Conference of Catholic Bishops...devoted his protean intelligence, prodigious writing, and profound personal Ignatian spirituality to nurturing the dialogue between faith and reason, assisting others in answering fundamental questions. Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton Bishop of Belleville...the most distinguished theologian the Church in the United State has produced, and the first American theologian to be named a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. Reverend Robert Imbelli Theology Faculty, BostonCollege Jesuits process into St. Patrick s Cathedral for the Cardinal s Funeral Mass. Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my understanding, and my entire will - all that I have and call my own. You have given it all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me. From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola The Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. Memorial Fund has been established by the New York Province. For more information about the Cardinal, this Fund, and videos of his lectures and the Funeral Mass, please visit 8 SPRING

9 A New Generation Continues the Mission As Fr. Kolvenbach, SJ, former Superior General, told us, mediocrity has no place in Ignatius world view. It is therefore essential to give young Jesuits a human, spiritual, intellectual and ecclesial formation as deep, strong and vibrant as possible to allow each of them to achieve our mission in the world with a proper attitude of service in the Church. GC 35, Decr. 1: With Renewed Vigor and Zeal The 34th General Congregation [1995] stated clearly that Jesuits are never content with the status quo, the known, the tried, the already existing. They are constantly driven to discover, redefine, and reach out for the magis. Indeed, ours is a holy boldness, a certain apostolic aggressivity. Jesuits of the 21st century must live on the frontiers of mission. On the following pages, we explore two stages in their formation, First Studies and Regency. The charism lived so generously by Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ, continues to thrive in the hearts and minds of a new generation of Jesuits. Photo: Mr. Krzysztof Glowacki, SJ, [back row, center] with faculty and students at Nativity Mission Center Summer Session. A HOLY BOLDNESS 9

10 A New Generation First Studies: Exploring Jesuit Life It is energizing to see how the Spirit works in people s lives. God still calls and they respond. Peter Feuerherd The joggers dart out, braving the icy blast of the late autumn morning Bronx air. Springsteen blares amidst the clanging sounds of barbells in the weight room. Table chatter revolves around final exams and term papers. Although it could be a scene set in any Fordham University dorm, Ciszek Hall is home to 25 Jesuit scholastics. These students are different from their fellow Fordham classmates; they are in a program called First Studies, which is part of the formation process. This is a test to see if life as a Jesuit will fit them, says Father Vincent B. Sullivan, SJ, rector of Ciszek Hall, named for the late Father Walter Ciszek, SJ. This heroic Jesuit is remembered for his years of imprisonment for the faith in Siberia and for his spiritual counseling in the United States. Ciszek is one of three First Studies houses across the U.S. the others are in Chicago and St. Louis and is home to young men from many American provinces as well as Indonesia and Jamaica. They have completed two years of novitiate, a time of much prayerful reflection that included the 30-day retreat, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. They are an eclectic group. The youngest this year is 21 and the oldest is 44. While a few are undergrads, most came to the Jesuits with a college degree and are graduate students. Ciszek s location, while just across Fordham Road, is a world removed from the bucolic university campus. It is in a working class neighborhood known for its Italian restaurants and a nearby mosque, and is intended to give the students a real-world experience. For a three-year period, they will study philosophy and theology at Fordham, participate in community life and engage in various apostolates. Some teach religion in Bronx parishes, others serve as chaplains at Calvary Hospital for the terminally ill or work in apostolates which will give them a taste of the ministerial life of a Jesuit. Each student meets formally four times a year with Fr. Sullivan to talk about his progress in Jesuit life. Students are expected to meet monthly with a spiritual director. They also participate in community retreats, Mass, and hear speakers on spirituality and apostolic programs. Summers are spent in intercultural experiences directed by the individual provinces, including educational trips to India and China, Spanish language studies in South America, or teaching English in Poland. Apostolate experiences are important in First Studies, says Fr. Sullivan, as scholastics they continue the experiments that were begun in the two-year novitiate program. It stretches them to get in touch with people, he says. One of the goals is that they are learning to live in religious community. They come here and life picks up speed. Vincent Strand, a member of the Wis- 10 SPRING

11 Vincent Strand, SJ, Fr. Vincent Sullivan, SJ, Avery Gray, SJ, and Dennis Baker, SJ. consin Province, says the contrast with the novitiate experience is a stark one. We have real work to do, he says. His apostolic work is to serve as the Jesuit moderator for a Jesuit Volunteer Corps group based in Harlem. I have become more and more aware that God has given himself totally to me. Vincent Strand, SJ Strand, a Marquette University grad, says that in First Studies he has grown in his relationship with Jesus. I have become more and more aware that God has given himself totally to me. Avery Gray of Jamaica, West Indies, ministers at a Missionaries of Charity Shelter for men in the Bronx. He cooks meals on weekends and spends most Saturdays and Sundays with the homeless. Combined with his studies at Fordham, he says a challenge in the First Studies program is time management. Dennis Baker of Buffalo, a member of the New York Province, teaches catechism at a Bronx Catholic school and also is chaplain for the Fordham baseball team. The reason I stay is that I am happy, says Baker, a Fordham graduate with a master s degree from Niagara University. The studies are hard work. I d much rather be with people than staring at books. But it s a good life, being with something bigger than yourself. The search for a serious spirituality is not unusual among the Jesuits in First Studies, says Fr. Sullivan. He noted that the model of formation has changed considerably since he entered the Jesuits in This generation is different from his class. For one thing, they come to Jesuit formation from more diversity in culture and family life settings. Some come from single-parent homes. Like their counterparts in the outside world, they are of a generation immersed in technology (cell phone calls are used to communicate within the house). They are much more attuned to religious diversity and are immersed in a culture which values tolerance. More importantly, the choice to join a religious community is much more conscious, he says, because the social support for priesthood and religious life has eroded over the years amidst cultural shifts and publicized scandals. Catholic identity is a big issue, Fr. Sullivan says, noting that in his generation that identity was largely taken for granted. They are making an active choice. I find that impressive, as it is over and against forces in their culture. They are enthusiastic. It is energizing to see how the Spirit works in people s lives. God still calls and they respond. A HOLY BOLDNESS 11

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13 A New Generation Regency: Finding God in the Hubbub of Activity Peter Feuerherd Left [top]: George Cannizzaro, SJ, at Xavier High School; [bottom]: Mateusz Janyga, SJ, at Brooklyn Jesuit Prep Right: James Donovan, SJ, at Regis High School The new generation of Jesuits can be seen in classrooms and college offices as regents in the formation period between first studies and theology engage in ministries that give them an integrated experience of apostolic community life and work in the Society of Jesus. George Cannizzaro, SJ, experiences his regency amidst a challenging group of theological inquirers, namely his freshman and sophomore students in religion classes at Xavier High School in Manhattan. They ask questions and they are intellectually curious, he says. Just recently, he notes, one student asked him if God is assumed to be merciful, than what use are the religious restraints on our baser instincts? Answering such inquiries he sees as immersing his students in enough background and information so that they can grow into men able to answer the atheist critique that to be religious means always to check your mind at the door. Cannizzaro became attracted to Jesuit life while a student at Fordham University in the Bronx. There he discovered Jesuits in the classroom who were men of learning, men of real deep faith and prayer. He was inspired enough that soon after college graduation in 2003 he entered the Jesuit novitiate. The phases of formation he compares to Alice in Wonderland. Just at the point when the Jesuit is about filled to the brim with one phase, it s on to another. He sees it as a testament to the wisdom of St. Ignatius, who devised a challenging formation process. In the regency phase, he says, the relationship to the Society is very different. This is the first opportunity as a vowed Jesuit to be in apostolic community and in a work full time. The formation process, he says, has brought him to places he would not ever go to otherwise, including several A HOLY BOLDNESS 13

14 months in a parish in one of Buffalo s inner city neighborhoods. But he was able to connect with the people there. While interested in theology, Cannizzaro is leaving the specifics of his future in the Society up to God. Jesus has led me to places that I wouldn t have been to if he weren t calling me, he says. As for the future, I don t speculate about a particular job anymore. I ve seen and done so many things. For James Donovan, SJ, his regency period is much like the life he left behind when he entered the Jesuit novitiate four years ago. The 44-year-old is back in a science lab and classroom, this time at Regis High School in Manhattan where he teaches chemistry and theology. I am back in my element, he says in a sly reference familiar to chemistry students. He has come full circle. The native Long Islander, before joining the Jesuits, taught at Garden City High School and two Catholic high schools in Queens. Donovan felt drawn to Jesuit life for years before finally deciding to take the plunge. He attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse, where he found the Jesuits to be an open and welcoming group. You saw them in different roles, he says. The one who taught you biology or calculus would then celebrate Mass. After working as a high school science teacher, he reconnected with the Jesuits at Fordham while attending graduate school and started attending Mass at St. Anthony s Church in Oceanside, a Jesuit parish. He also began attending retreats and liturgies at St. Ignatius Retreat House in Manhasset, gradually becoming exposed to a wider range of Jesuit ministries. I had a good job at Garden City High School, he says. But I wanted more. After he heard Father Jim Martin, SJ, speak on entering the Jesuits after a business career, a lot of it resonated. He ed the Jesuit vocation office, and soon life in formation began. Entering after years of a professional life had its obstacles. For one thing, he had to adjust to living in community after decades as a single man. And he has found integrating life as a chemistry teacher into his vocation a challenge. Donovan s return to the classroom follows a varied path in Jesuit formation. While in First Studies, he served as a chaplain at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx. There he learned about the pastoral art of praying with the dying. He discovered that Christ is very present at Calvary, in a palpable, real sense. Joseph Marina, SJ, is also bringing his pre-jesuit experience to bear on his regency as he works as associate provost at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. The field is a familiar one for Marina, 46, who before entering the Society of Jesus in 2004 worked in academic administration at St. John s University, Providence Joseph G. Marina, SJ, at Le Moyne College, Syracuse College and Montclair State University. But working as a Jesuit makes a difference, he says. I am representing something beyond myself. Here people look at me not only as a senior administrator, but also as a Jesuit, he says. It s important that I keep the mission of the Society in the foreground. At Le Moyne, Marina works on committees setting tuition rates and other administrative matters, seemingly removed from the religious mission of the Jesuits. But Marina doesn t see it that way. In these difficult economic times, he says, as a Jesuit he needs to be concerned with the Society s commitment to the poor. Assuring that higher education is accessible to the poor is a core mission of his work as a Jesuit in college administration. Marina had experienced religious life in another community but left while still in his twenties. He thought that phase of his life was past but while studying 14 SPRING

15 at Fordham he was exposed to Ignatian spirituality. It was quite a spark, he says. I felt I was coming home to something. He was attracted to the incarnational nature of Jesuit spirituality, the sense that we pursue the presence of God in all things. It is a spirituality that reveals the accessibility of God s love at all times and in every situation. In the formation process, Marina worked as a missionary in Jamaica and in a soup kitchen at St. Francis Xavier Church in Manhattan. Those experiences, he says, confronted him with the struggles of the poor, and he found himself challenged beyond the comforts he had built around himself as a single professional man. As he works through regency, he finds his prayer life more focused on mission, versus the more contemplative nature of early formation. You can really tell the difference. The apostolate becomes first priority, he says, noting the spiritual challenge of Krzysztof Glowacki, SJ, at Nativity Mission Center, New York regency is locating the presence of God in the hubbub of activity. Two of the regents continue a tradition that has grown over the past decade. They come from Poland, honing their English skills and getting a cleareyed look at the spirituality and cultural life of New York City. Mateusz Janyga, SJ, lives in the Xavier Jesuit community in Manhattan and commutes each school day to his work as a religion teacher at Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, a Nativity-model school. In his second year of teaching, he recalls how, when he first arrived, his heavy accent sometimes required translation for his Brooklyn students. After a year, however, his English comes smoothly and he greets visitors with a shy smile and jokes regularly with colleagues in the faculty offices. In class, he explains the creation story and dogmas such as the Immaculate Conception to his middle school students. Janyga has learned to enjoy the diversity of the Xavier community, where he lives with 21 other Jesuits engaged in a wide array of ministries. While a regent, he has traveled over to Jersey City, where he is part of a Zen reflection group led by Father Robert Kennedy, SJ, at St. Peter s College. Krzysztof Glowacki, SJ, lives in the St. Ignatius Loyola Community at 83 rd Street and teaches religion at the Nativity School on the Lower East Side. Mr. Glowacki came to New York prepared by English studies and work with youth in Krakow. The regency years he is in the second half of a two-year cycle gives you an idea of a Jesuit work, he says. The questions students raise in class will inspire his future theology studies and perhaps offer insights to future Polish students and parishioners. It gives me knowledge of what I don t know yet in theology, as he struggles to find ways to convey the meaning of the Trinity and other doctrines in a foreign language and to boys in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. I have to rethink what I believe in. It is good preparation for theology. The Nativity-model schools combine long school days and study halls with summer sessions that emphasize community building, nature and academic studies. Glowacki and Janyga found that the summer experiences strengthened their links with the students. You get to see them in a different environment. It definitely changes the relationship. A HOLY BOLDNESS 15

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17 Faith that Does Justice One Ignatian family Christina Clarke The Ignatian Solidartity Network sponsors an annual Family Teach-In as a remembrance of Jesuits and others who were murdered in El Salvador and elsewhere by local militias, and to protest the training of such military personnel at the U.S. Government s School of the Americas. Teach-In participants include students and faculty from Jesuit colleges and high schools across the country. We present here the experience of a group from St. Peter s College, Jersey City, last November. A group of eight St. Peter s College students took Ghandi s advice and traveled to Columbus, Georgia, to attend the 19 th Annual Ignatian Family Peace Teach-In and School of Americas (SOA) Watch. Mohammad Awadallah, Anthony Fiumidinisi, Noel Borges, Arpan Rajal, Martin Sirakov, Alicia McLean, Leslie Moran and I were accompanied by Father Michael Braden, SJ, Dr. Anna J. Brown, Doug Demeo and student alumna Niamh Sarno. It was a November weekend that most of us will remember forever. Our first stop was the King Center in Atlanta where we viewed exhibits that illustrated Martin Luther King s life and teachings. Alicia McLean was particularly moved by the experience. I was close to tears as I read letters that young children wrote to Dr. King s children about his death and how the children were sorry for their loss, she said. Arpan Rijal also reflected on the Center s non-violence theme, stating that Violence is instinctive and easy, but to bring a revolution to success without bullets is a feat that can be endured by very few. At the convention center in Columbus, where the Ignatian Solidarity Network hosts the Ignatian Family Peace Teach-In, we found ourselves among students and faculty from more than 20 other colleges and high schools who had come from all over the United States to work in unity for social justice. Mohammad Awadallah, a St. Peter s College junior, reflected on the number of younger students in attendance. This gives me great hope for change in the world. These are committed young people who are not afraid to take a risk and stand up for what they know to be the truth. They are seekers Leslie Moran, Alicia McLean, Christina Clarke, Mohammad Awadallah, Niamh Sarno, Elizabeth Reavey and Dr. Anna Brown in the procession to the SOA fence. A HOLY BOLDNESS 17

18 From the Director s Desk of justice for those who are poor and oppressed around the world. We are the future of our world. I believe that they live those most familiar of words of Mahatma Ghandi: Be the change you want to see in the world. St. Peter s College junior, Noel Borges, spoke to the crowd of more than 5,000 people about Puerto Ricans in America. Later in the program, we were able to hear from Father Jon Sobrino, a Spanish Jesuit who lived and worked with the six Jesuits and two women who were brutally murdered by soldiers in El Salvador on November 16, Father Sobrino was spared only because he happened to be away at the time. For nineteen years this weekend has been a memorial to those slain so brutally and senselessly. Over time the event has become an expression of the Jesuit principle that our faith must be linked to our work for justice. Dr. Anna Brown summed up the way most of us felt after our experience in Georgia. I left the Teach-in and Vigil feeling committed to the work of nonviolence, energized to keep going in this work and grateful for the many wonderful people that I have met on this path. I am grateful that we started to build this energy and hope within our Saint Peter s community. The vigil at the gate is an experience that could never be recreated anywhere else. More than 20,000 people sang and processed together to the large fence covered with white crosses and pictures of those murdered by SOA-trained soldiers. I felt an overwhelming feeling of peace among those thousands of people. We were indeed one Ignatian family, here to do our part for social justice and progress towards peace. Christina Clarke is a junior nursing major at St. Peter s College in Jersey City, NJ. Can t do it alone. One thing I have come to appreciate through decades in Jesuit education and development is that no one person can do it alone. A school, for example, is only as good as the supportive teamwork it generates from teachers and staff members, students, parents, alumni and friends. Cooperation of the New York Province Jesuits with our colleagues and benefactors in our varied apostolates is evident in this edition of A Holy Boldness. Robert L. McDevitt of Binghamton, NY, was a quiet, humble man who, during his lifetime, cooperated greatly in the work of the Society of Jesus and his home Diocese of Syracuse. When he died at the age of 90 last fall, Mr. McDevitt surprised us all with the breadth of his generosity, particularly to the New York Province and many Jesuit institutions. In a report by Father Ken Hezel, SJ, we learn how members of the New York Province have joined efforts with Indonesian Jesuits who have served as scholastics at Xavier High School in Chuuk. Meanwhile, New York Province Jesuits from Micronesia have taught Jesuits from all over Asia in First Studies in Manila in a cooperative partnership that benefits the worldwide Jesuit community. This month we celebrate the appointment of Father John S. Hagileiram, SJ, as the new regional superior of the Micronesia Region. Father Hagileiram, a native of Micronesia, is currently the Episcopal Vicar of Yap and pastor of St. Ignatius Church in Woleiai. His appointment is indicative of our efforts to nurture native Catholic leadership in Micronesia. To honor his scholarship and dedication to sharing his faith in God and Ignatian spirituality with others, the New York Province has established the Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. Memorial Fund. Donations will support the many apostolates of the Province, from retreats to the missions, colleagueship grants, service to the poor and new challenges from Father General. Kindly use the envelope enclosed in this issue if you wish to make a contribution. Shortly after establishing the Society in Rome, St. Ignatius realized the need to strengthen the values of cooperation. He regularly enlisted the support of those in 16 th -century European society on behalf of the poor and education apostolates. So it continues today. Thank you for your generous support as we continue to strive to work with others for the greater glory of God. Rev. James F. Keenan, S.J. Director of Development 18 SPRING

19 In Gratitude A Most Generous Legacy Antoinette McCormick Robert L. McDevitt of Binghamton, NY, was known as a quiet and successful funeral home owner with a love for the Church in general and Jesuit education in particular. He was a 1940 graduate of Georgetown University and a World War II veteran who served in the South Pacific. Fr. Edward L. McDevitt, SJ Mr. McDevitt died last fall at the age of 90 just months after his wife, Catherine Hurley McDevit, died at age 85. Both had been members of the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great, an honor that the Vatican bestows upon in- dividuals who are close to the Holy See. Mr. McDevitt was also a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. In their generosity, the McDevitts left the New York Province a bequest of more than $6 million. In accordance with their wishes, we have established The Robert L. McDevitt, K.S.G., K.C.H.S. and Catherine H. McDevitt, L.C.H.S. Fund, the principal of which shall be invested, and the income therefrom used for the training of seminarians and their missions. This legacy will help the Province prepare its members for various apostolic missions while they are in the Novitiate, First Studies, Theology and Graduate Studies. Robert and Catherine were always a part of the Jesuit family. Mr. McDevitt s cousin, Father Edward McDevitt, SJ, was among the first group of New York Province Jesuits to teach at Le Moyne College where he was instrumental in establishing the physics department. Catherine Ann and Robert L. McDevitt At the funeral Mass offered at St. James Church in Johnson City, NY, Father Charles J. Beirne, SJ, former president of Le Moyne, praised Mr. McDevitt in his homily for his optimism and determination. In these last few months since he lost Kay, Bob was tired and weary, and yet he went on living to the fullest. He enjoyed his friends and his participation in his parish. He seemed strong psychologically and even looked toward the future. Bob showed interest in the world around him and never lost his wit, said Father Beirne. The Society of Jesus is honored to include Robert and Catherine McDevitt in the George J. Willmann, S.J. Legacy Society that offers recognition to benefactors who support the works of the New York Province Jesuits through a variety of planned gifts. Antoinette McCormick is the Development Office Assistant for Gift Planning. Remembering the New York Province Jesuits The New York Province of the Society of Jesus established The George J. Willmann, S.J., Legacy Society in memory of Fr. Willmann, the first Director of the Jesuit Seminary and Mission Bureau [now the Province Development Office]. The Legacy Society members are benefactors who include the New York Province Jesuits in their estate plans. Planned giving options include bequests, gifts of cash, securities or personal property, retirement assets, life insurance, real estate, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts and charitable gift annuities. For our brochure, An Informational Planned Giving Guide, contact the Province Development Office by calling or ing us at plannedgiving@nysj.org. Detailed information about Planned Giving can also be found on our Province website, A HOLY BOLDNESS 19

20 Focus on Faith Resurrection Hope Audrey R. Browka This new feature - Focus on Faith - invites you to pause for a few moments and reflect on the larger meaning of life. In this issue, we reflect on the hope and new life that Easter celebrates. The two words optimism and hope are often used interchangeably in today s culture. There are distinct differences between them, however, specifically when the secular view of optimism is compared with the Christian view of hope. Perhaps the late Rev. Henri J.M. Nouwen, one of the most important spiritual thinkers of the 20th century, explained it best. The Dutch Catholic priest described the Christian notions of hope and optimism as radically different attitudes : Optimists arrange reality in a way that enables them to think things will get better. Pessimists arrange the same reality in a way that they believe things will get worse. Hope, however, is not based on chances that things will get better or worse. Hope is built upon the promise that no matter what happens, God is with us at all times, in all places, and that His plan is always at work. There is an enduring reality with hope, which promises that something larger that God - is up there waiting for us, explains Father Michael F. Tunney, SJ, rector of the Jesuit community at Canisius and professor of fine arts. Mahatma Gandhi, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa are examples of modern-day leaders of hope. No matter what they experienced in their lives, no matter how they were denied or how they suffered, they all witnessed something larger than themselves, adds Fr. Tunney. They also persevered in spite of the overwhelming realities of the grief, sorrow and challenges before them. They demonstrated that hope begins with an honest acceptance of what is real, as did Nouwen, who acknowledged his own brokenness and pain in his writings. Nouwen struggled with self-rejection and suffered from periods of depression which, he confessed, were weak- 20 SPRING

21 We will have our resurrection. We will experience His joy but only by going through the cross. Fr.Michael Tunney, SJ nesses that tested his faith. But like many Christians, even when Nouwen s emotional and spiritual strengths left him vulnerable, he was buoyed by hope. In other words, hope will continue to function when optimism may fail. Hope is not about the fulfillment of desires, Nouwen explains. It is not about belief in the impossible. Instead, hope enables people to sustain life s defeats and disappointments in the faith of Jesus Christ. The writings of the late Father Karl Rahner, SJ, support Nouwen s views. The influential Roman Catholic theologian, whose philosophies influenced the Second Vatican Council, wrote that while Christians recognize that they will experience struggles, pain and suffering throughout their lives, they go forward with faith in the higher power of God. Father John P. Bucki, SJ, director of campus ministry, explains that it is much like what Jesus Christ experienced. For Christians, it s their own cross, crucifixion and resurrection. As one of the three theological virtues hope, along with faith and charity, is a God-given grace. We all desire hope and certainly we can all attain it, says Fr. Tunney. One way to practice hope is through prayer. When you pray, you slow down, you reflect and you become more aware of what is going on in your life, says Fr. Bucki. In the process, you acknowledge a problem or struggle and then something miraculous happens. You let go and allow God s spirit to take over. Your hope is nurtured through prayer. Fr. Michael Tunney, SJ, Rector of the Canisius Jesuit Community, Buffalo A HOLY BOLDNESS 21

22 A Meditation on Luke 24:13-35 Fr. John Bucki, SJ, is Director of Campus Ministry at Canisius College. Pope Benedict XVI explains how in his second encyclical Spe Salvi (Saved In Hope). He says that all men and women should practice hope, not only to obtain eternal life in Heaven but to obtain eternal life here on Earth. One way to practice hope is through prayer. Hope is often realized through suffering. Christians must honestly face despair, reflect upon it and ultimately find meaning in it through Christ. If Jesus couldn t avoid despair, no one who claims to be His follower can avoid it, says Fr. Tunney. The loss of a loved one or the deterioration of health are among the most common human experiences that cause us to question our faith in God. These are the experiences that make us painfully cry out in anger toward God. We will get through the suffering though. We will have our resurrection. We will experience His joy but only by going through the cross. Audrey Browka is Managing Editor of Canisius magazine. This article is adapted from Gratitude Attitude that appeared in the Winter 2008 issue. To read the entire article, visit On the road that escapes Jerusalem and winds along the ridge to Emmaus, two disillusioned youths dragged home their crucified dream. They had smelled messiah in the air and rose to that scarred and ancient hope only to mourn what might have been. And now a sudden stranger falls upon their loss with excited words about mustard seeds and surprises hidden at the heart of death; that evil must be kissed upon the lips and that every scream is redeemed for it echoes in the ear of God and do you not understand that what died upon the cross was fear. They protested their right to despair but he said, My Father s laughter fills the silence of the tomb. Because they did not understand, they offered him food. And in the breaking of the bread they knew the imposter for who he was - the arsonist of the heart. 22 SPRING