The Salvatorian - newsletter - Spring-Summer

Spring/Summer 2015
“That all may know the Savior.”
www.SalvatorianFamily.us
Mission transforming the missionary
Fr. Dan Pekarske, SDS
M
ission experiences transform the missionary.
This has always been true, especially among
Salvatorians. Our Founder, Fr. Jordan,
felt drawn by the notion of missionary work, but
unlike his contemporary, Fr. Jansen, founder of the
Society of the Divine Word, Jordan saw the whole
world and every potential posting as a mission. For
Jordan, working to catechize the street children
of Vienna was no less a missionary activity than
catechizing the natives of Assam. Thus, he always
resisted any effort to pigeon hole Salvatorians as
“foreign missionaries.”
During his own lifetime, Fr. Jordan dreamed of
expanding his Society to embrace the whole world.
His greatest desire was to visit these places himself.
But the press of responsibilities as Founder kept him
very close to home. He often wrote to our foundations
in North and South America of his longing to visit
them. But the only overseas visit he ever got to make
was to Milwaukee and St. Nazianz in the summer
of 1896.
As a young, newly ordained priest, however, he
did have one missionary visit of his own and in some
important ways it did change his life. In January 1880,
he was entrusted by the Vatican office of Propaganda
Fide to deliver a letter to Egypt. He used that occasion
to visit the Middle East, a trip that included the Holy
Land. It was then that, according to Fr. Don Skwor
SDS, he had his famous “Mount Lebanon Experience.”
It was there that his charism crystalized around the
words in St. John’s Gospel, “That all may know You,
the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have
sent.” This experience gave him the courage once he
returned home to Rome to approach Pope Leo XIII in a
private audience on September 6 to seek a blessing for
his new project. And so we began.
Yes, missionary experiences transform the
missionary. It happens in unexpected ways. This
issue of The Salvatorian delves into some of the ways
various members of our Salvatorian Family have
served in the “missions” both at home and abroad, and
how they have been transformed by their experiences.
Reintroducing The Salvatorian
from the Editors
T
he first issue of the The Salvatorian (Together
in Mission) appeared in 1995, shortly after the
Society and the Congregation entered their
second centuries of presence in
the United States. In that issue,
then Lay Salvatorian John Pantuso
wrote that we hope it will “serve
for many years as a chronicle of
these exciting times in the life of
the Salvatorian Family.” In 2008,
after three years dormancy, The
Salvatorian returned to help us “understand who we
are as a family within the church and within our world
which is so much in need.”
Your responses to our recent survey
affirmed this purpose, as well as the
development of a theme for each issue and
the possibility of publishing just two issues
a year. With this assurance, we venture
forth again, with the first of two issues for
2015. Thank you, and enjoy this issue which
focuses on the Salvatorian Missionary Year.
2 | the Salvatorian
“As long as there is one person on earth who does not know God and does not love
Mission of compassion, love and
inspiration touched countless lives
Sue Kadrich
W
ho would have known that a small office the size
of a closet would grow into a 25,000-squarefoot warehouse that would ship huge containers
of basic necessities to missions around the world? God
knew—and Salvatorian Br. Regis Fust SDS was God's
faithful servant on earth working to grow this ministry so
that the most marginalized in our world would come to
know God’s grace.
Br. Regis developed his Salvatorian ministry
gradually as small humanitarian shipments were sent to
various Salvatorian missions in Tanzania. By 1966 he
devoted himself full time to this need. With Br. Regis as
its founder and director, the ministry became officially
known as the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse.
He leaves a legacy of compassion, love and inspiration
that has spanned the globe and touched countless lives.
With the help of Sr. Dora Zapf SDS, suppliers and hundreds
of volunteers who have processed and shipped millions
of pounds of food, clothing, supplies and medication to
impoverished countries over the years, the mission has
grown to serve over 100 missions in 25 countries.
“Pope Francis
proclaimed this as the
year of consecrated
life and has said that
religious are called to
‘Wake up the world.’
Br. Regis has been
waking up the world
to the need for basic
human essentials,
Br. Regis Fust SDS
such as food, clothing
and medical supplies, which we may have taken for granted
but that others have gone without. Br. Regis’ work with the
missions has given tangible witness to the gospel,” said Fr. Joe
Rodrigues SDS, U.S. Provincial. “Br. Regis has embodied Fr.
Francis Jordan, our Founder’s zeal for missions without ever
having to physically go there. His passion has evangelized
here in the United States and abroad. In a very real, practical
way he has engaged others in a collaborative effort—religious
and lay people working together to reveal God’s grace one
container at a time.” Mission brings Tanzanian to Wisconsin
Sue Kadrich
M
ore than 50 years ago, U.S.
his evolving role in the United States to serve
Salvatorians entered Africa. Their
as mission director, doing mission work for
mission was not to go in and fix
Africa. “I have travelled from Tanzania and
things but to work alongside the people of
am here now to share the story of the missions,
Tanzania to meet basic needs through the eyes
to let you know that city life is very different
of faith. Ministries evolved as they worked
from village life,” said Fr. Lukoa. “In the city
together and led by example, using all ways
people are doing well. But, in the villages
and means to reveal the goodness and love of
day to day life remains a struggle, especially
God. Buildings were constructed, education
in South Tanzania where the Salvatorians
increased, agriculture took root, health care
continue to minister.”
improved, clean water sources grew and
With the growing flock of faithful in the
Fr. Ferdinand Lukoa SDS
evangelization happened. Salvatorians in
region it is not uncommon for a parish to have
Tanzania are embracing their mission and ministries more
more than 5,000 parishioners who are served by one priest.
independently and the people there are endeavoring to take
“Despite the struggles, people are happy. They come to us
greater ownership.
saying ‘we need to pray’,” said Fr. Lukoa. “Tending to the
The Society recently welcomed fellow Salvatorian
people, visiting one after another, saying Mass and sharing
Fr. Ferdinand Lukoa SDS, a member of the Tanzanian
life with them often keep us ministering until midnight.”
Province of Salvatorians. “This is the first time a Salvatorian
Life as a Brother or priest serving in Tanzania still
from Tanzania has been designated to raise funds here to
relies heavily on missionary support. The U.S. Province has
support the mission in his homeland. This is a significant
long supported the missions and has helped Africa become
paradigm shift in our approach. The responsibility is now
more independent. “For me, being the mission director is a
mutual and shared as confreres in our global community,”
big challenge because I must connect people in the United
said Fr. Joe Rodrigues, SDS, U.S. Provincial.
States to the people in Tanzania,” he said. “Our intention as
Fr. Lukoa, ordained in 2012, quickly responded to his
Salvatorians is to be universal. To teach all nations, lead by
ministries in vocations, first as novice master and now to
example and make the Savior known.”
God above all things, you dare not allow yourself a moment’s rest.”
the Salvatorian | 3
It's what Jesus would have us do
Jan Penlesky
W
hen S. Carol Marie Haag SDS began
Sometimes, they ask why the volunteers come.
volunteer ministry three years ago
S. Carol Marie says, “I told them that as a teacher,
at Milwaukee County's Children’s
I had 50 minutes to help 34 students learn to type,
Detention Center (CDC) she questioned if she
but I never got to ask about their relationship with
was up to the task. Her former employer, Dick
the Lord.” She says faith sharing puts everyone on
Niggemann, a permanent deacon, asked her
the same level, one human being to another. She can
to join the volunteer ministry group, thinking
never count on seeing any teen more than once, but
she could draw on her high school teaching
she talks about one boy who returned month after
experience.
month for over a year. “I could see a gradual change
“I prayed a lot about his request, knowing
in him and he admitted responsibility for what he
I had no preparation for such a ministry,”
did.” S. Carol Marie hesitates to say she has changed
S. Carol Marie Haag SDS
S. Carol Marie says. “But I couldn’t say yes
the lives of the young people she serves, but she
or no until I tried it.” She turned to Fr. Joe Lubrano SDS for
knows this ministry has changed her heart. “I am most certain
guidance. He was also among the group known informally
it is the Divine Savior and Holy Spirit who give these kids
as “Team CDC.” “The youth really liked him,” she recalls.
the courage to change. Correctional officers compliment us
She laughs when she tells about a boy who returned to
on getting them to open up in our visits.” She gives Deacon
the CDC after Fr. Joe had moved to Huntsville, Alabama.
Niggemann much of the credit. Even before a session begins,
Remembering Fr. Joe’s vestments, he asked, “Where’s the
the youth ask to sign up to see Deacon Dick on his next visit.
dude in the white robe?”
“We know they come to get out of the cell block. Even so,” she
S. Carol Marie finds it’s helpful to have at least two
says, “they are willing to read Scripture and share with us.”
talking points on the Scripture reading to break the ice.
S. Carol Marie’s perspective on her ministry and the
Eventually, the teens join the conversation. “I am in awe of
Salvatorian Missionary Year is simple. She says, “It’s ‘all
how transparent they can be about what brought them to
ways and means’ to bring people to know and love the Savior.
the CDC. At the end of our time together, we ask if anyone
Here in the U.S., the Salvatorian Family has three priorities:
has something they wish to ask the Lord. They usually pray
human trafficking, ministry to children and teens, and
for their upcoming court dates and often for a close family
immigration. I’m grateful my ministry addresses one of these
member who is ill.”
priorities. I didn’t plan it that way. It was the Holy Spirit."
From Africa to Wisconsin—together in mission
S. Grace Mary Croft
T
he mischievous twinkle in their eyes belies the
seriousness with which Margaret and Anthony
Scola SDS take their “missionary” call. That twinkle
announces the “Joy of the Gospel”! Strangers in a foreign
land, not knowing how “it” works, to whom to turn, what
is “appropriate,” where to go, they learned dependency—to
depend on one another, on the other “strangers,” on their
internal resources and on God. They learned how to live to
the fullest with very little, discovering, for example, that a
very uncomfortable chair could become comfortable.” As
guests, they learned to be gracious and accepting knowing
the host was serving them the last of the family’s food.
These are just some of the reflections that Margaret and
Anthony shared in a lively conversation on a bright afternoon.
What they learned about themselves and about the people
they were with are the most precious gifts of their efforts as
Salvatorians to bring a loving God to people with very little.
In relation to poverty and service, they described
themselves as being on the same page when they married,
so it is not surprising that they have been together in
mission their entire married life. While they have served in
Africa, Central and South America, Appalachia, and now
in Watertown, Wisconsin, they
describe their experience in Sudan
as having a major impact on their
lives which carries them through
other situations.
They shy away from using the
word “missionary” to describe their
lives because of some of the history
of the word. Rather, they spoke of
their service as being a two-way
street that is transformative for both
Margaret and Anthony
parties. “Being a Salvatorian in
Scola SDS
mission is not what we do,” Margaret
emphasized, “but who we are as we bring the love of God to
others.” Anthony elaborated saying he hoped that, because of
their presence in Sudan, he and Margaret are better Christians
and that the Muslims they interacted with are better Muslims.
Living and working among people less fortunate
continues to influence decisions they make about their
lifestyle. Margaret and Anthony discovered that they can get
along on very little and be very happy! Thus the twinkle in
their eyes!
“That all may know the Savior.”
4 | the Salvatorian
California prison ministry: get on the bus
Sharon Clark, SDS
T
he Lay Salvatorians at Divine Savior Parish in
Orangevale, California, started working with Paul
Verke when he was working with the California
Department of Corrections to host children and their
chaperones, who were traveling from southern California
to visit their dads at Folsom Prison. This annual event
was sponsored by a group as an outreach ministry to
incarcerated moms at Chowchilla prison in San Joaquin
Valley, California, and has
evolved into providing
a special day for these
children to see their
incarcerated parents.
Divine Savior Parish
assisted the first year by
providing a breakfast and a
place and supplies for the
kids to freshen up before
they continued their journey
to the prison for a day of
activities. MaryJo Verke
SDS said that she “expected
a group of ravenous kids, wanting a lot
of food, but found the kids and mothers
nervous instead.” For many, this was
the first time to meet their fathers, and
the hall was quiet with the moms busy
cleaning up their children after the eightto ten-hour bus ride, getting them ready
for their visit. “It was so gratifying to be
able to offer a little something to those
in such an unfortunate situation of life,”
MaryJo said.
The second year there was less emphasis on breakfast
and more interaction with the chaperones and putting
together brown-bag snacks for eating on the bus, with a
larger area for cleaning up and fixing hair so that the kids
would look nice for the photo that would be taken at the
prison with their fathers.
Mark Verke, SDS, said that when he heard about the
program “two bells rang in my moral conscience. The first
bell rang ‘Why get involved with a bunch of losers; these
men are in prison for crimes against people.’ The second
bells message was, ‘Christ wouldn’t think this way’.”
What Mark has found in working with this program is that
these kids need a place to clean up and eat before going to
the prison and that many family members were soothing
the children with love and understanding, to ease their
nervousness and anxiety. Bell two was ringing loud and
clear. He said it was so heartwarming to see the gratitude in
Editorial Board
S. Grace Mary Croft, SDS
Joyce Daniels, SDS
the eyes of the family members to be afforded this time and
place before continuing the trip to the prison.
The third year the group added books to the mix,
collecting gently used books, for infants to teens. They also
assisted the organizers in distributing T-shirts, as well as
picture passes and other items that they would need at the
prison screening station.
Last year there was a miscommunication so the event
did not take place, but this July they will host the event
again, and it has expanded to include the women’s prison at
Folsom as well.
One of the appealing factors for Jan Bencken SDS
is that the prisoners have to “earn the right to see their
children by maintaining trouble-free behavior for the entire
year, right up to the hour that the kids arrive.”
Jan did not, however, always feel this way. Her first
prison experience at the age of 16 was to visit San Quentin
as an observer for an evening with the prisoners. "This
prison is a maximum security prison with death row and
a gas chamber and the people
there by and large, were guilty
of some very serious offenses
against society,” said Jan.
This experience left a lasting
impression and she had little
empathy for prisoners or the
ministry to them. That is, until
she became involved with the
“Get on the Bus” program.
This program has challenged
her to respond differently through
her exposure to the other side—
the families of the incarcerated.
She reflected that these children look just like any other
child would after a night on the bus, that they dress the
same as any other kid and feel the same apprehension and
shyness that any child would to a new experience, even to
just the simple hospitality that was being provided to them.
Jan has learned that the dads, themselves, have
been transformed by these yearly visits and this has also
allowed her to rethink her attitude toward this ministry.
The corrections officers have shared that the morale and
behavior of these prisoners have improved significantly,
with many of them qualifying each year for the visit.
The Lay Salvatorians are hosts to these children
and offer acceptance and warmth to them—no strings
attached. Jan said, "I believe this positive experience will
create a desire for more of the same and a greater trust in
the goodness of people in the larger community in which
they live.”
The Salvatorian Newsletter
Writing Committee
Sharon Clark, SDS
Sue Kadrich
Jan Penlesky
Fr. Dan Pekarske, SDS
Design/Layout
S. Nelda Hernandez, SDS