dec 03 - Canons Regular of St. John Cantius

Via Sacra
VOLUME VII, NUMBER 2
THE
N EWSLETTER OF
THE
SOCIETY
OF
ST. JOHN C ANTIUS
FROM THE SUPERIOR’S DESK
COORDINATING COUNCIL
Rev. C. Frank Phillips, C.R.
Fr. Director
Rev. Burns Seeley, S.S.J.C.
Fr. Assistant Director
Rev. Albert Tremari, S.S.J.C.
Bursar
Rev. James Isaacson, S.S.J.C.
Member
BOARD OF
SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS
AND ADVISORS
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
On behalf of the members of the Society of
St. John Cantius, I wish to
extend to all of you a
blessed Christmas and a
healthy and holy New
Year.
Please take time to
read the special information in this Via Sacra concerning end-of-the-year
giving and financial planning. Our annual fund-
raiser on August 7 th was
very successful and we
thank everyone, who participated in the event but
as the Society continues
to grow in numbers, expenses also grow, and so,
we rely totally on your
generosity to make ends
meet. This Christmas,
please consider assisting
us for the future.
Let me now highlight
DECEMBER 25, 2005
December 8, 2005
Immaculate Conception
for you some of the important events, which have
occurred in the life of the
Society since our last newsletter.
On August 5, our men
took part in a Solemn Eucharistic Procession in
Chicago’s Grant Park with
Cardinal Francis George,
O.M.I. for the Year of the
Eucharist. Many thousands of Catholics from
Rev. Regis Barwig
Rev. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.
Rev. John Hardon, S.J.
(deceased)
Dr. James Hitchcock
Bishop Basil Meeking
Rev. Thomas Nelson, O.Praem.
Bishop Joseph Perry
Msgr. Richard Schuler
Msgr. JJames
ames Turr
Turroo
Telephone: 312-243-7373
Fax: 312-243-4545
The Society’s chapel in Lawton is the perfect place to get away from the city and the constant demands
of parish work for a day of retreat. About once a month, the whole community travels
to St. Anne’s Chapel for a day of prayer and meditation in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
Not only is this important for the personal spiritual life of each member of the Society but
it provides rare opportunities for them to gather as a community at the shrine.
Br. Matthew Lewis (left) and Br. Brian Schafer are seen here during the Society’s October retreat.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF BR. JOSHUA CASWELL, SSJC)
1
As part of the Year of the Eucharist, the Knights of Columbus organized a Eucharistic Procession in
Chicago’s Grant Park on August 5. Members of the Society of St. John Cantius and many of
their parishioners, who took part in the procession, posed together for photos after its conclusion.
the Archdiocese of Chicago attended the event in
an impressive public display of devotion to Our
Eucharistic Lord.
During the month of
August we were delighted
to have a special guest visit
St. John’s, who is now the
newly ordained Bishop of
Lowicz, Poland, Andrew
Dziuba. At the very beginning of the Society he lived
with us one summer so
that he could improve his
English.
A week after his visit
here at St. John Cantius,
we met Bishop Dziuba
again in Oshkosh Wisconsin for Father Regis
Barwig’s annual Mass at
his Community of Our
Lady Monastery in honor
of
Our
Lady
of
Czestochowa.
On August 13th, our
new Novices were vested
in the habit: Brothers
Nathan Caswell, Robin
Kwan, Matthew Lewis
and Trenton Rauck.
Then, on the Society’s
Founding Day, August
15th, Brothers Alexander
Schimpf, Anthony Rice,
Chad McCoy and Robert
Maresh renewed their
vows and Brothers Joshua
Caswell and Scott Haynes
professed vows for the first
time.
Along with Brothers
Brendan Bartlett, Joshua
Caswell
and
Brian
Schaefer, Father Brendan
visited Holy Apostles
Seminary in November to
attend the Mass for the Institution of Lectors and
Acolytes. During that
Mass, Brother Alexander
Schimpf received the Min-
istry of Lector and Brothers Scott Haynes and Anthony Rice received the
Ministry of Acolyte. This
step brings each of these
men closer to the Altar as
they prepare for the Holy
Priesthood.
While they were at the
seminary,
Brothers
Brendan, Joshua and
Brian were interviewed by
members of the faculty in
preparation for their entrance into the college and
seminary next fall. We will
then have 7 men studying
in the seminary. You can,
therefore, easily see how
your contributions are becoming critical in order to
educate priests for the future.
Following the enthronement of the statue of
Fr. Frank Phillips, C.R. presents newly blessed habits during
the vesting of new novices on August 13, 2005
(PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. DENNIS KOLINSKI, SSJC)
2
Our Lady of Ludzmierz in
St. Anne’s Chapel this past
June in Lawton, Michigan,
Father Dennis Kolinski
sent extensive documentation of the event to the
Shrine of Our Lady of
Ludzmierz in Poland. As a
result, this past mid-November we had a visit from
the pastor of the shrine,
Father Tadeusz Juchas. He
came with Fr. Andrzej
Baczynski, the director of
Catholic programming for
Polish
Television
in
Krakow, to prepare a special documentary about
devotion to Our Lady of
Ludzmierz in America.
Father Kolinski was able
to personally take them to
our St. Anne’s Chapel in
Lawton, where they took
extensive footage for the
program.
Fr. Frank Phillips, C.R. stands with our new novices after they were vested in the habit on August 13,
2005—(left to right) Brothers Robin Kwan, Matthew Lewis, Nathan Caswell, Trenton Rauck.
After the new novices received their habits on August 13, 2005,
they then went to the sacristy to vest before continuing with
Vespers. Fr. Frank Phillips, C.R. is helping Br. Nathan Caswell,
while Br. Matthew Lewis stands to the right.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. DENNIS KOLINSKI, SSJC)
(PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. DENNIS KOLINSKI, SSJC)
While we are on the
subject of Lawton, you
might be interested to
know what else has been
happening there lately.
During the course of this
past year, it became apparent to us that it was necessary to replace the century-old barn, which had
become more of a liability
than an asset. During the
course of our conversations about what to do
and how to do it, the local
Lawton Fire Department
caught wind of our plans
and agreed to use our
barn as “practice.” However, they didn’t have
much time to practice because the entire building
burnt down within 15
minutes. Those, who were
there, said that it was a
spectacular sight and that
the heat generated by the
fire was unbelievable.
3
As I write, our new
novices, Nathan Caswell,
Robin Kwan, Matthew
Lewis and Trenton Rauck,
prepare to receive the final
parts of their habit—the
clerical collar, full sash and
Rosary on December
23rd, the Feast of St. John
Cantius.
As we prepare to celebrate the Birth of Our
Lord, allow me to extend
my personal greetings and
blessings to all of you and
your families in this
Christmas season. Your
prayers and support are always deeply appreciated.
May the Christ Child,
along with our heavenly
patron St. John Cantius,
bless you abundantly.
Rev. C. Frank Phillips, C.R.
Founder-Superior
On August 20, 2005 members of the Society of St. John Cantius traveled to the Community of Our Lady Monastery in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin for its annual Mass in honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Here, members of the Society, concelebrants and servers pose
for photos after the Mass with Bishop Andrzej Dziuba, Bishop of Lowicz, Poland. Fr. Regis Barwig (to the left of Bishop Dziuba)
is well known at St. John Cantius Church as a regular homilist for the All Souls’ Day Mass and other special occasions.
With every year, the Society of St. John
Cantius has steadily been growing. This past
year alone, four new men joined us. We now
have nineteen members and a number of prospects have already expressed their desire to
enter the community next year.
Growth is a very good thing but it also
means that expenses grow. This year we have
four men in the seminary. Next year, three
more will join them. And the following year,
another four will potentially follow them for a
total of eleven members of the Society of St.
John Cantius studying to be priests by 2007.
It is a great blessing for you and the Church to
soon have more new priests but to get to that
point costs money.
Although Holy Apostles College and Seminary is still reasonably priced, it still costs
$17,500 annually for each seminarian’s tuition, room and board. This doesn’t even include expenses such as books, school supplies
and travel to and from the seminary each se-
mester. This means that next year our seminary
costs will be $122,500. Although our annual
fundraiser has always been very successful, the
funds that it usually raises will not even meet
this one cost alone.
In addition to this, the Society has other important costs for both the seminarians and
those back home. One of these is health and
medical coverage, which you all know is so
vital.
The math is very simple and you can see
how the financial demands put on the Society
rapidly add up. You have been very generous
in the future and we ask that you continue to
help the Society of St. John Cantius with your
financial support. Without it, we would not be
able to ensure the future of both the Society
and of the Church. Perhaps, you would like to
consider sponsoring one of our seminarians in
his studies for the priesthood.
Help us preserve the sacred traditions of our
Church. Help us Restore the Sacred.
4
The Society’s Founding Day, August 15th, has traditionally been the day on which members of the Society have professed vows.
This year, four members renewed their vows—Br. Chad McCoy (kneeling in front of Fr. Frank Phillips) and (first row, left to right)
Brothers Anthony Rice, Alexander Schimpf, Robert Maresh. Professing vows for the first time were (second row,
left to right) Brothers Scott Haynes and Joshua Caswell.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. DENNIS KOLINSKI, SSJC)
On November 19, 2005, Br. Anthony Rice received the
Ministry of Acolyte from Bishop Michael R. Cote, D.D.,
Bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut.
In the presence of Superior, Fr. Frank Phillips,
Brother Scott Haynes signs the document from which
he professed his first vows on August 15.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER MCGRATH)
(PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. DENNIS KOLINSKI, SSJC)
5
2005
TAX BENEFITS
FOR
CHARITABLE
GIFTS
Because of the large response by Americans to help
the many people, who have
suffered from natural disasters
this past year, Congress passed
the Katrina Emergency Tax
Relief Act of 2005. This Act encourages charitable giving by
including special new incentives for individuals, who make
charitable gifts of cash before
the end of 2005.
On November 19, 2005 members of the Society studying at Holy Apostles College
and Seminary, received the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte during a special Mass in the
seminary’s chapel. Four other members of the Society traveled to Connecticut to attend
the ceremony. Shown here after the Mass are (left to right): Br. Brian Schafer,
Br. Anthony Rice, Br. Brendan Bartlett, Bishop Michael R. Cote, D.D. (Bishop of the
Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut), Fr. Brendan Gibson, Br. Scott Haynes,
Br. Robert Maresh, Br. Alexander Schimpf and Br. Joshua Caswell.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER MCGRATH)
Contributions of cash were
generally deductible in amounts
up to 50% of what was known
as the donor’s “contribution
base,” which is usually their adjusted gross income (AGI). To
help Americans make additional charitable gifts this year,
Congress has temporarily suspended limits on deductions for
gifts of cash made between August 28 and December 31,
2005. Therefore, donors may
deduct qualified charitable gifts
in amounts up to 100% of their
AGI.
We ask you to take advantage of these special tax deduction benefits and please consider a year-end cash gift to the
Society of St. John Cantius. By
doing so, you will not only
ensure the future growth of the
Society of St. John Cantius, but
also the education of new
priests, which we so desperately need in the Church.
Beginning in September 2005, the internationally renowned Chicago Brass Quintet
began an Artists in Residence concert series at St. John Cantius Church.
Shown here after their first concert are (left to right) Matthew Lee, James Mattern,
Gregory Flint, Ross Beacraft and Dan Anderson.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF BR. JOSHUA CASWELL, SSJC)
6
As in all legal matters, always consult your accountant,
attorney or other financial professional.
(Taken from: RFSCO, Inc.
publication 8095-05c)
SSJC
BARN
BURNING!
When the Society of St. John Cantius
received the generous donation of a former
farm in Lawton, Michigan, it also inherited
a century-old barn. After several years of
trying to think of how the barn could
be used most effectively, it soon became
apparent that it could not be easily
adapted to other uses without extensive
repairs and redesign.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD PFISTER)
The decision to raze the old barn in Lawton, Michigan to make room
for a new structure better adapted to the Society’s needs, was
welcomed by the local fire department, which was looking for an
opportunity to have a practice burn. As the barn began to go up in
flames, the firemen attempt to keep the blaze controlled.
Because the old wood in the barn was like a box of tinder,
it didn’t take long before the barn was totally engulfed in flames
in a spectacular raging inferno.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD PFISTER)
(PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD PFISTER)
After the embers cooled,
the charred remains of the barn
were removed and the ground was leveled
for the new structure to be built on the site.
By early November, the entire frame
of the new storage barn
was already standing.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN CICHINNI)
7
THE SOCIETY OF ST. JOHN CANTIUS
The Society of St. John Cantius is a Public Association of the Christian Faithful in formation as a new religious community of men formed with the approval
of Cardinal George and the Congregation of the Resurrection. Its mission is the
Restoration of the Sacred in the Church through solemn liturgies, devotions, sacred art and sacred music, as well as instruction in Church heritage, catechesis, and
Catholic culture in the context of parish ministry. The community’s eighteen members include six priests, four seminarians, two professed religious brothers and six
members in formation.
HELP RESTORE THE SACRED
VISIT US ON THE WEB
You too can help Restore the Sacred through your
tax-deductible contribution or as an Associate Member
of the Society of St. John Cantius. In addition to men
who are seeking a vocation in religious life, the Society’s
statutes also allow the laity—male or female, married or
single—to affiliate themselves with the Society as Associate Members in order to aid in the advancement of its
mission. For more information about how to become an
Associate Member, write to: Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R.,
Superior, Society of St. John Cantius, 825 North Carpenter Street, Chicago, Illinois 60622-5405. You can also
send your check made out to “Society of St. John
Cantius” to the above address.
Learn more about the Society of St. John Cantius
on its website www.societycantius.org . You can
also learn about the Society’s work by visiting the
St. John Cantius Parish website www.cantius.org ,
where you can visit the community’s mother church
on a cybertour or view an exhibit of Sacred Art from
the Society’s collections.
GET THE WORD OUT!
Do you know of someone who you think should
know about the Society of St. John Cantius? Please
send us their names and addresses, so that we can add
them to our Via Sacra mailing list.
Via Sacra
The Society of St. John Cantius
825 North Carpenter
Chicago, IL 60622-5405
8
9