Via Sacra FROM THE SUPERIOR S DESK. Dear Friends and Benefactors, So Assu Fo. August 5, 2004 Our Lady of the Snows

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1 Via Sacra VOLUME VI, NUMBER 2 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SOCIETY OF ST. JOHN CANTIUS AUGUST 15, 2004 So Assu Fo 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 FROM THE SUPERIOR S DESK Dear Friends and Benefactors, August 5, 2004 Our Lady of the Snows In the ancient city of Rome, the Via Sacra (the Sacred Way ) connected temples and sacred places with the everyday activity of the Roman citizen. The Via Sacra, the newsletter for the Society of St. John Cantius, connects the activities of the Society with all of our friends, benefactors and supporters, who wish to assist in the Restoration of the Sacred. Through this newsletter I am able to inform you of the Society s activities, so that each of you may appreciate its spirituality, work and growth. In beginning, as I share with you recent activities in the life of the Society of St. John Cantius I would like to return to Holy Week. Deacons Jim Isaacson and Dennis BOARD OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS AND ADVISORS 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. James Turro Telephone: Fax: Following the imposition of hands at the ordination ceremony on May 18, 2004, Cardinal George pronounced the prayer of ordination to the Holy Order of the Priesthood over the newly ordained Fr. Dennis Kolinski (left) and Fr. Jim Isaacson.

2 tos of our church during the course of our discussion, he was very taken with our image of Our Lady of Czestochowa. He told us that it might be possible to designate St. John Cantius as a pilgrimage church under the auspices of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. We are look Kolinski, as well as Brother Brendan Gibson, received permission to return to St. John s from the Seminary, so that they could assist us during Holy Week, especially for the Sacred Triduum. Under the expert eye and supervision of our permanent deacon, Bart Juncer, they carried out the sacred ceremonies with grace and perfection. On Easter Sunday, we were privileged to have two Pontifical Masses. Bishop Thomas Paprocki offered the Missa Normativa and Bishop Joseph Perry offered the Pontifical Tridentine High Mass. Assisting the bishops, Deacons Jim and Dennis did double duty that day, and Br. Brendan served as second MC, along with Deacon Bart. Shortly after Easter, Brother Alexander accompanied me to Rome where we visited numerous churches. There were many highlights on the trip and we met with a number of notable individuals. As usual when I am in Rome, I visited the Ecclesia Dei office and the Office for the Congregation of the Clergy. One of our meetings was with the Rector of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Monsignor Michal Jagosz. He is doing research on images of our Lady of Czestochowa, which are found outside of Poland. Therefore, when I showed him phowith Cardinal Ratzinger in the German college. Following this Mass, I presented him with information about the Society, as well as a CD of our Easter High Mass. Every other morning, I was able to offer Mass at St. Peter s Basilica. One day after Mass, I met Fr. During their trip to Rome this past April, Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R. (right) and Br. Alexander Schimpf had the privilege to meet with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. ing into this possibility and hope that it will become a reality. Because Cardinal George recently appointed me as his liaison for Patrons of the Vatican Museums, one of my meetings in Rome was at the Office of the Vatican Museums. During this meeting, we discussed some potential artistic activities relating to restoration of some of the treasures in the Vatican museums. We also had the privilege of attending Mass Carlos Encina Commentz of the Archdiocese of Vaduz, Liechtenstein, who knew of the Society and its work. Then, with the approach of May, we awaited the return of our men from Holy Apostles Seminary. When they all arrived, the house was full once again and we directed all our energies to preparations for the upcoming ordinations. Finally, on May 18, 2004, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. graced us with his presence to or- dain Jim Isaacson and Dennis Kolinski to the Priesthood, and Brendan Gibson to the Deaconate. The church that evening was filled with many of their friends, relatives and parishioners. As usual, sacred music was an important part of the ceremonies. The Resurrection Choir and Orchestra rendered the Mozart Coronation Mass and various motets. In addition, the St. Gregory the Great Schola provided all of the ancient chants for the Rite of Ordination. As the photographs in this issue show, it was truly a splendid day in the life of the Society. Father Jim Isaacson offered his first Mass the next day for the Missionaries of Charity, but his Mass of Thanksgiving was on Thursday, May 20, the Solemnity of the Ascension. Father Dennis Kolinski offered his Mass of Thanksgiving the following Sunday, May 23. Both of them carried out the sacred ceremonies flawlessly, thanks to Brother Scott Haynes, who helped them learn the intricacies of the ritual. Following on the heels of these joyful events, we had the privilege to take part in another joyful occasion the marriage of two of our long-time parishioners, David Carollo and Dorothy Crellin. They were married in our St. Anne Chapel in

3 Lawton Michigan on May 29th with the special permission of the local Ordinary, Bishop Murry. Dorothy and Dave were the very first people to become Associate Members of the Society and have consistently supported the work of the Society in ways too many to count. In early June, Fathers Jim, Dennis, Deacon Brendan and I made a special pilgrimage to Poland in thanksgiving for the ordinations and the many graces given to the Society. During the trip we were able to make many important connections with artisans and workshops, which still cultivate many of the sacred arts. Usually, a visit to Poland ends with a visit to Czestochowa. Instead, we began our visit under the protection of Our Lady by a visit to Her shrine. Father Dennis Kolinski offered the Sunday Latin Mass at the altar of Our Lady of During her visit to St. John Cantius Parish in April 2004, renowned theologian and author, Alice von Hildebrand, posed with (left to right) Br. Joshua Caswell, Br. Anthony Rice, Br. Scott Haynes, Fr. Burns Seeley and Fr. Al Tremari. When the Society s seminarians returned for this year s Holy Week, they took part in all of the rich ceremonies of those grace-filled days. As Fr. Frank Phillips blessed the Pascal fire, Br. Brendan Gibson (right) held the Pascal candle, which would soon be lit from the new fire. Flanking Fr. Phillips were Deacon Bart Juncer (left) and Joe Kaczmarek (right) Czestochowa and to the delight of all present gave a brief homily in Polish. We were fortunate to be in Poland for the feast of Corpus Christi, which they still celebrate on the traditional day the Thursday following Holy Trinity Sunday. We concelebrated the Corpus Christi Mass with Franciszek Cardinal Macharski at his cathedral in Krakow and then joined in the procession with the Most Blessed Sacrament, which followed the Mass. In addition to the multitude of lay people, there were hundreds of Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests in the procession. Cardinal Macharski, who is 77 years old, carried the Blessed Sacrament alone through the cobblestone streets in a procession, which lasted a solid three hours. But this splendid day was only the beginning of many more processions. Poles also observe the octave of Corpus Christi and parishes all over the country have Eucharistic processions each day during the octave. One afternoon during our pilgrimage, we were able to visit the monastery of the Camoldese Monks situated on a high hill outside of the city of Krakow. Its large church, a splendid example of baroque architecture with impressive side altars, can be seen for miles. Male visitors are permitted to enter the monastic grounds three times a year but women are strictly forbidden to step foot inside the outer gates. These monks live by a Rule that is as strict, if not more so, than the Carthusian monks. They live a strictly cloistered life in individual hermitages on the monastery grounds and the only person that we were able to see was a novice, who granted us permission to see the monastery church. The very last day of our pilgrimage ended with many graces. Father Regis Barwig, one of the

4 At the beginning of the Rite of Ordination at St. John Cantius Church on May 18, 2004, Cardinal George (center) waits as Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R. (far left) prepares to officially call the ordinandi to Holy Orders. Society s spiritual advisors, kindly arranged for us to have Mass at a beautiful Benedictine Convent in Warsaw the Benedictine Nuns of Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. We offered the Missa Normativa and the Sisters sang so beautifully from behind the grill that one would have thought that they were angels singing the praises of God. After Mass, they invited us to the talk room where a sumptuous breakfast awaited us. During the Second World War, this convent and church were reduced to rubble, as was the entire city of Warsaw. Over Deacon Jim Isaacson (center) waits in the sacristry for the Ordination Mass to begin. Br. Joshua Caswell (right) was one of the servers for the Mass people, who fled to the church for safety, were killed under tons of brick and stone during the bombing of the city. Two sisters, who survived, rebuilt the entire complex over many years a true testament to their faith. Returning to Chicago, we then made preparations for our own Corpus Christi observance on Sunday, June 13th. The weather cooperated it was clear and not too hot or humid and it was a pleasure having our newly ordained priests and deacon assist in the solemn procession. This summer, Brothers Keith and Chad attended special classes in theology during a special institute conducted by the Institute on Religious Life. Brother Chad continues to work with the Holy Innocents Choir, developing the children s musical talents. This fall, he will be taking classes in music at Roosevelt University. On August 15th, Fathers Jim Isaacson, Dennis Kolinski, Al Tremari and Deacon Brendan Gibson will receive the special rochet, mozzetta and 4-cornered biretta. Perpetually professed members of the Society will now use these outward reminders of the liturgical dress of Canons Regular whenever they pray the Divine Office. Brothers Keith Manna and Chad McCoy will renew vows, and Brothers Robert Maresh, Anthony Rice and Alexander Schimpf will profess first vows. As members of the Society, who are not yet perpetually professed, they will receive only the mozzetta. Brothers Joshua Caswell and Scott Haynes will begin their second year of Novitiate, and now, as summer slips away, they will be joined by two new men, whom we have just accepted into the formation program, Brendan Bartlett and Brian Schafer. As we go to press with this issue of the Via Sacra, I ask for your prayers. May it open for you a sacred way to follow our Restoration of the Sacred. Rev. C. Frank Phillips, C.R. Founder-Superior - 4 -

5 At the beginning of the Rite of Ordination at St. John Cantius Church on May 18, 2004, Deacon Dennis Kolinski (left to right), Deacon Jim Isaacson, and Br. Brendan Gibson prostrated themselves in the sanctuary during the chanting of the Litany of the Saints. Standing in front of them are (left to right) Deacon Bart Juncer, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., and Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R. The Rite of Ordination at St. John Cantius Church on May 18, 2004 began with the call of the ordinandi. Cardinal George, flanked by Deacon Bart Juncer, calls Br. Brendan Gibson first to ordination to the diaconate. Waiting for their call to the priesthood are Deacons Dennis Kolinski (seated left) and Jim Isaacson. During the Rite of Ordination, the ordaining bishop asks the ordinandi if they will be obedient to him and his successors. Flanked by Deacon Bart Juncer (left) and Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R., Cardinal George received that pledge from Deacons Dennis Kolinski (left) and Jim Isaacson

6 The central element of the Rite of Ordination is the imposition of hands, by which the ordaining bishop calls down the Holy Spirit to configure the ordinandi to Christ the High Priest. Here, Cardinal George lays hands on Deacon Jim Isaacson, while Deacon Dennis Kolinski waits to his left. Deacon Brendan Gibson, who has already been ordained and vested in diaconal vestments, stands to the left. As soon as the ordinandi had been ordained to the Priesthood, they were vested in the chasuble, the sacred vestment of the priest, which they will then wear whenever they celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Here, Fr. Phillips vests newly ordained Fr. Dennis Kolinski, helped by Br. Joshua Caswell. Fr. Jim Isaacson, whom he had vested first, stands to his right

7 Cardinal George elevates the Sacred Host during the Ordination Mass on May 18, During the Ordination Mass on May 18, 2004, newly ordained Fr. Jim Isaacson helped in the distribution of Communion, Br. Keith Manna accompanied him During the Ordination Mass on May 18, 2004, newly ordained Deacon Brendan Gibson distributed Communion to members of the Missionaries of Charity, who were in attendance.

8 Following the May 18, 2004 ordinations for the Society of St. John Cantius, Cardinal George posed with the newly ordained, and Deacon Brendan Gibson stands directly behind him. The two bishops in attend - 8 -

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10 The Honor of the Priesthood However great a dignity God has given to man, He gives an even greater dignity to those, whom He calls to the priesthood. The Blessed Abbot Columba Marmion, O.S.B. says, No one may presume on his own authority to assume the dignity of the priesthood. He must be called to it by God like Aaron, because no one has the right to raise himself to so eminent a state the priest must be chosen by the Almighty. Why, we may ask, is the dignity of the priesthood so sublime? The reason is that the priest by the sacrament of Holy Orders is assimilated to the priesthood of Christ Jesus Himself and is given the awesome power to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in which he, in persona Christi, in the person of Christ, changes the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. He also receives in this sacrament the power to exercise the mercy of God Himself by forgiving the sins of the truly penitent in the sacrament of Penance or Confession. The Blessed Abbot Columba gives beautiful expression to this dignity and power when he writes: and yet, what super human power there is in these fragile hands! (of the all too human hands of the priest). In this man of ordinary appearance there resides a power, which is truly divine. He speaks, and Christ descends on the altar to be immolated. The penitent, overwhelmed with the weight of his faults, kneels before him and, in the name of God, the priest says: Go in peace, This sinner, who a minute ago would perhaps have been condemned to eternal punishment, rises pardoned, justified, with his soul illuminated with heavenly grace. St. Catherine of Sienna says: The priest is the minister of the Blood of Christ. Thus, the priest, although he is com- pletely subordinated to Christ, takes the place of Christ in the Church through time until Christ comes again in glory at the end of the world. The first work of the priest is to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, to hear confessions and to preach the Gospel. As St. Cyprian expresses it: The priest takes the place of Christ as he reproduces that, which Christ did before him..... We are, indeed, duty bound to help our fellow man, but the first duty in doing so for a priest is to offer the Holy Sacrifice.... The priesthood is a precious gift of God to the Church. Without the gift of the priesthood we would not have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; we would not be able to receive our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion; we could not have our sins forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance, and many, many other blessing and gifts. Indeed, the priest is elevated above the angels; for to no angel has been given the power, in persona Christi, to transubstantiate in persona Christi the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. To no angel is given the power to forgive sins in the name of Christ. This is why the devil envies and hates priests so virulently; he has not been given such powers by God. And just as the dignity of the priesthood is so eminent, so his fall from grace is all the greater. We can say that the fall of a priest is a worse cataclysm that the fall of Satan himself, who fell like lightening from heaven. (cf. Luke 10:18) This is why we must pray for priests. The devil hates and tries to destroy priests and the priesthood. He glories when he succeeds in bringing about the fall of a priest. We must pray for our priests. We must pray for our priests that God will give them the grace to overcome the wiles of the devil and to be holy and faithful servants of their Lord. The Blessed Mother of God, Mary most holy, is our spiritual mother, the mother of each and every member of the Mystical Body of Christ. But she is in a very special way the Mother of priests. How ardently she cares for, watches over, prays for these alter Christi, for she sees them identified with her beloved Son. She is our all-powerful advocate. But, also what sorrow strikes her Immaculate Heart when she sees a priest be unfaithful to his vocation. The Blessed Abbot Columba powerfully and beautifully expresses her motherly care for priests. Speaking to priests, he says: When we cast ourselves at the feet of Our Lady, we can say to her: I am a priest turn towards me your merciful countenance. Mary sees in us, not only a member of the Mystical Body of her Son, but a minister of Jesus, who shares in His priesthood. She sees her divine Son in us and cannot reject us; it would be to reject Jesus Himself. The priest can repeat with even more confidence than the simple Christian, those beautiful words: It is a thing unheard of that anyone, who had recourse to thy protection and implored thy assistance was left forsaken. Pray, then, to Mary for our newly ordained. Pray to her for all priests. Pray to her that by her intercession she may obtain for the Church zealous and holy priests, who will guide, sanctify and comfort the suffering laity in the conditions in the Church today. From a sermon delivered by Fr. James Downey, O.S.B. on 20 May 2004 at St. John Cantius Church at the First Solemn Mass of Fr. James Isaacson, S.S.J.C.

11 And no man takes the honor (of the priesthood) to himself; he takes it who is called by God, as Aaron was. (Hebrews 5:2) Newly ordained Fr. Dennis Kolinski gives the final blessing at his first Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on May 23, Kneeling before the altar are (left to right) Deacon Bart Juncer, Br. Keith Manna and Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R. During his first Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on May 20, 2004, the Solemnity of the Ascension, newly ordained Fr. Jim Isaacson incenses the altar. Assisting him are Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R. (left) and Deacon Bart Juncer

12 WHERE ARE ALL OUR MEN GOING? At a time when there aren t enough priests to adequately staff all of our Catholic parishes, it is indeed unusual that St. John Cantius Parish has so many resident priests. Therefore, with the recent ordinations to the Society of St. John Cantius, many people have been asking if the new priests will be leaving and where they will be stationed. Many Catholics are not aware of the distinction between priests that are ordained for a diocese and those, who are ordained within a religious order. Diocesan priests serve diocesan parishes and are assigned to one of the parishes in their diocese. In contrast, priests in religious orders are ordained for the service of their respective order. They are assigned not by the local bishop to one of the local diocesan parishes, but by the superior of the order to one of the parishes administered by that order. Because the Society of St. John Cantius presently administers only one parish, the answer to the question Where will you be stationed now after ordination? is very simple. Here at St. John Cantius Parish! Because it is the Society s only parish, it is the only place we can now go. However, there are plans to send the Society to another parish in the archdiocese. It will then have a second parish to call its own. At that time, some of its members will be assigned there and others will remain at St. John Cantius Parish. As the Society of St. John Cantius continues to grow, it will then be assigned to still more new parishes where its members will carry on the very special work that began six years ago at St. John Cantius Church. The St. Anne Chapel at the Society s site in Lawton, Michigan is now fully functional. This view is taken from the nave of the chapel into the Choir that is, the area between the sanctuary and the main body of seating in a monastic style church where religious orders chant their daily Divine Office. The St. Anne Chapel at the Society s future retreat center in Lawton, Michigan. One of the last touches to the building s exterior was the new copper roof sheathing, which has just recently been completed. The only work remaining is the final grading and landscaping of the grounds surrounding the chapel. The bronze crucifixion grouping outside the chapel s entrance was made by Michal Batkiewicz and dedicated to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack

13 This view of the sanctuary in the St. Anne Chapel in Lawton, Michigan was taken after preparations had been made for the recent wedding of Dorothy Crellin and Dave Carollo. A thirty-foot cross greets visitors to the site of the Society s future retreat center in Lawton, Michigan. The St. Anne Chapel at the Society s site in Lawton, Michigan is finished and fully furnished, so that members of the Society can now use it for Mass and prayers whenever they are there

14 Near the entrance to the site of the Society s future retreat center is a small shrine to the Nativity. The St. Anne Chapel can be seen in the background. The small lake on the Society s property in Lawton, Michigan was recently dredged and the land around it cleared as development of the future retreat site continues. The long open field in this photo is the site of the future St. Anne Retreat Center building. The foundations have just been laid and building should begin soon

15 As copper sheathing was being installed on the roof of the St. Anne Chapel, the land around it was leveled and a sidewalk laid to provide access to the chapel s entrance. The St. Anne Chapel at the site of the Society s future retreat center in Lawton, Michigan. St. Thérèse s Prayer for Priests O Holy Father, may the torrents of love flowing from the sacred wounds of Thy Divine Son bring forth priests like unto the beloved disciple John who stood at the foot of the Cross; priests: who as a pledge of Thine own most tender love will lovingly give Thy Divine Son to the souls of men. May Thy priests be faithful guardians of Thy Church, as John was of Mary, whom he received into his house. Taught by this loving Mother who suffered so much on Calvary, may they display a mother s care and thoughtfulness towards Thy children. May they teach souls to enter into close union with Thee through Mary who, as the Gate of Heaven, is specially the guardian of the treasures of Thy Divine Heart. Give us priests who are on fire, and who are true children of Mary, priests who will give Jesus to souls with the same tenderness and care with which Mary carried the Little Child of Bethlehem. Mother of sorrows and of love, out of compassion for Thy beloved Son, open in our hearts deep wells of love, so that we may console Him and give Him a generation of priests formed in thy school and having all the tender thoughtfulness of thine own spotless love. St. Thérèse s devotion to the Priesthood is to be found in all its fullness in a prayer which she used to say daily and which she learned by heart; this is all the more remarkable in view of her known distaste for lengthy set forms of prayer. There is always work to do at the Society s land in Lawton, Michigan. Here, Br. Joshua Caswell burns scrap wood cleared from the site

16 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 sixteen members include six priests (one in canonical novitiate), four seminarians, two professed religious brothers and four members in formation. HELP RESTORE THE SACRED 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 You can also send your check made out to Society of St. John Cantius to the above address. VISIT US ON THE WEB Learn more about the Society of St. John Cantius on its website You can also learn about the Society s work by visiting the St. John Cantius Parish website 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

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