Father Walter Ciszek Day 2016

Transcription

1 Read newsletter online 2016 Issue III Father Walter Ciszek Day 2016 October 16, 2016 St Casimir Church 229 North Jardin Street, Shenandoah, PA Homilist Most Reverend Kurt Burnette Fifth Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, NJ Homilist for Father Walter Ciszek Day 2016 Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League Center 218 West Cherry Street Shenandoah, PA Open from 12:00 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. Divine Liturgy: 2:00 P.M. St Casimir Church Social: 3:30 P.M. St Casimir Hall With God in America will be available to purchase Most Reverend Kurt Burnette was ordained a priest in April 1989 for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys. He served as a priest in Fontana, California; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gilbert, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico before being named the Fifth Bishop of Passaic by Pope Francis in October He was Rector of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius from He also served as a chaplain for the Fontana, California Police Department and visited jails and prisons in California, Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico during his years as a pastor. Bishop Burnette has also taught mathematics, engineering, physics and computer science at the University of Utah, California State University, University of California and University of Portland between 1978 and He was a Synod Father at the 2015 Synod on the Family. COME JOIN US!!! New fwccenter@ciszek.org The Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League deeply mourns the passing of Walter A. Baran, who served as President of the Prayer League Board and gave so much help in its early years. See page 3

2 By Rev. Thomas J. Sable, S.J. HEALTH: James Buyarski, Eugene Chavanes, Greg Querio, Timothy Fuerst, Sherri Conti, Santiago, Jerome Colluia, Cure of glaucoma, For the grace to deal with cancer treatment DECEASED: Walter A. Wally Baran SPECIAL INTENTIONS: Dutch Harbor Mission, Jose and family, Acquire the residence we are seeking, For peace, love and joy in our home and family, Brian, Kaleb and Sheila Clarke REMEMBRANCE: Walter A. Baran, James R. Verdehal, Sr. For all members of the Prayer League living and deceased. For all whose names were previously on our list, but who are still in need of our prayers; for all those who have requested prayers of the League; for all prayer league members, for all those who are praying through the intercession of Father Walter Ciszek; and for all who need our prayers. For/From the Friends of Walter Ciszek, S.J. A Publication of the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League Official Organization for the Promotion of the Cause of Canonization of Father Walter Ciszek, S.J. 18 Oak Street Shenandoah, PA Editor: Executive Editor : Co-Postulators: Circulation Manager Business Manager We are now on Facebook! Daniel L. Flaherty, S.J. Elaine Cusat Msgr. Anthony D. Muntone, Rev. Thomas F. Sable, S.J., Sister Doris Burkot, O.S.F. Elaine Cusat Friends of Walter Ciszek, S.J. is published four times a year for friends and contributors to the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League. Copies mailed from Pottsville, PA. For a subscription, write: The Prayer League, 18 Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA Current cost is $10 a year. Manuscripts should be sent to: Editor, Prayer League, 18 Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976; please include a stamped, selfaddressed return envelope. For changes of address or problems with your subscription write: Circulation Manager, The Prayer League, 18 Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA Postmaster, please return undeliverable copies to The Prayer League, 18 Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA St. Francis Xavier was one of the early founding Jesuits and led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly in the Portuguese Empire of the time and was influential in evangelization work, most notably in India. He also was the first Christian missionary to venture into Japan, Borneo, the Maluku Islands, and other areas. In the midst of great physical labors and sufferings, he was nevertheless gifted with many spiritual consolations. So great were the graces, that he cried out: Enough, O Lord, enough. We as ordinary Christians don t see the tremendous graces that we are given. God, however, does not leave us at peace, but pours forth those graces until we notice them, until we are converted into being members of His Kingdom. Father Ciszek writes in He Leadeth Me (p. 168): Whether we are married and taking care of home and family, or studying in school, or working in an office or a factory or on a farm, whether we are dedicated to the priestly and religious life, matters little in whatever we do, we must always seek first the kingdom of God. Once we have renounced the world as the source of meaning and happiness, we can cry out: Enough, O world, enough; no more riches and honors, no more tinsel and veneer, no more false promises and illusive pleasures. God alone can give us true happiness. God gives us graces that are close at hand, graces that lead us ever deeper into the kingdom of God. The celebration of the Eucharist goes on every day and at every hour throughout the world. All we have to do is walk a short distance to hear the word of God, to partake of the precious Body and Blood of Christ. This great gift leads us to ponder in prayer the graciousness and generosity of God. Prayer, whether aloud or in the heart, converts our tongues into speaking words of consolation and friendship. We cannot cry enough, O tongue, enough of these words spoken to aching hearts and thirsty souls. Father Ciszek writes in He Leadeth Me (p. 170): One thing we could do and do daily: we could seek first the kingdom of God and his justice First of all, in our own lives, and then in the lives of those around us. From the time of the apostles twelve simple men, alone and afraid, who had received the commission to go forth into the whole world to preach the good news of the kingdom there has been no other way of spreading the kingdom than by the acts and the lives of individual Christians, striving each day to fulfill the will of God. 2 Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League

3 Walter A. Baran (Mr. Baran) By Mother Marija Holy Annunciation Monastery It is always sad, even distressing to hear of the passing of a wonderful person of whom I have beautiful memories and huge indebtedness. Such a person is Walter Baran who went to his eternal reward this year. Having said that I am pressed to recall details because our friendship covered more than a decade- to be followed by silence of about that same length of time. Walter Baran was Catholic- by which I mean he had faith with Faith s boundaries, not human limitations. All were accepted as children of God. There was one Churchalthough he was Roman Catholic. He was proudly Polish- and that left him limitless in generosity in matters of nationality. Can being totally identified with one s own nationality make a person limitless to love for others? Mr. Baran had no prejudices -. My first acquaintance with Mr. Baran (always such a gentleman that always he was Mr. Baran to me - although I am less than 5 years his junior) was when I heard he and Irene were planning a trip to Poland and I hoped for more information about the just begun Father Walter Ciszek Cause. Mr. Baran took my request and flew with it. From that day forward his generosity and involvement were unlimited. I do not recall just what he had by information upon his return but it was more than I hoped for. He made contacts and brought to USA, and to Sugarloaf (where the League was located) men who were prisoners with Father Walter in the Arctic slave-labor camps. Mr. Malshefski Mr. Jaroslav Bolash stand out in my memory- each deserving of an article! Mr. Bolash, himself a saintly man, inspired our reverence and his reverence for Father Walter spurred us on in dedication to the Cause. Later circumstances removed the Cause from the Eparchy of Passaic to Allentown Diocese, thus aborting my further active participation but Mr. Baran and Irene became very active benefactors of our Monastery providing food for years! Really wonderful treats. Quantities of lemons are what we most remember because of our jelly making. There was never an occasion at which Mr. Baran and Irene were not with us. So devoted a couple that I used to muse: now they look like each other! Then old age and mental debilitation ended a wonderful exchange of friendship. Our earth is poorer for the passing of Walter Baran. I am sure he was welcomed as a good and faithful servant and has entered into the joy of his Lord. And Irene is waiting. Lapel Cross Irene Baran (left) and Walter Baran (right) opening their home to Loretta Balczuk Father Ciszek s Sister (second from left) and a woman (third from left) from Poland the Baran s brought to United States to give testimony about Father Ciszek. Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League Walter Baran made this cross that came from the dining room floor of Father Walter s boyhood home. 3

4 Walter A. Wally Baran Obituary Walter A. Wally Baran, 92, a resident of Providence Place, Pottsville, died Saturday at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street. He was born in Frackville, a son of the late Walter and Antoinette Gibowicz Baranowsky. He was married to the former Irene Saukaitis for 67 years. He attended local Frackville schools and later received honorary degrees from Alliance College in 1982 and from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science in He was the founder of Model Garment Co., Frackville, Penn-Spruce Inc., Sunbury and Penn-Allen Inc., Hazleton. He was also the co-founder of Walnick Manor real estate development in Frackville, and the former president of Broad Mountain Manor Nursing Home, Frackville. In 1979, he was appointed to the position of Secretary of General Services of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by former Gov. Dick Thornburgh. While serving in this position, he received the National Governors Association Award for Distinguished Service to State Government in 1982, which was presented to him by President Ronald Reagan. He was very active in community, civic and cultural affairs, and was a former director of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp., Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia District Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration and the former Ashland State General Hospital. Proud of his Polish heritage, he was the former president of Group 111 of the Polish Beneficial Association, a member of the Polish-American Affairs Council of Philadelphia, and the Kosciuszko Foundation of New York, N.Y. He was a member of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church, Frackville, and was the first person baptized in the current church building in He was a member of the Board of Governors and past president of the former Fountain Springs Country Club and a member of the former Pottsville Club. He was a member and former grand knight of Council 2580 of the Knights of Columbus, Frackville. He was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America, was an avid collector of antique automobiles for more than 50 years and was the author of several articles on the subject. Wally will be remembered for his great sense of humor, and for being an allaround nice guy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Joseph W. Baran, in 2011; siblings, Verna Matusick, Peter Niel, Charles Niel, Frances Antalosky and Leonard Baran. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, the former Irene Saukaitis; a son, Anthony Baran (Sandy); daughter-in-law, Marie Baran; grandchildren, Amy Band, Stacy Curran, Bridget Baran, Joshua Baran, Matthew Baran and John Baran. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren and his sister, Helen Kiefer. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Ann Church, Frackville, PA. A visitation was held until the start of the service and Knights of Columbus Council 2580 held a memorial service. The Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League extends its sincere sympathy to Irene and the entire Baran Family. 4 Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League

5 continued on page 6 Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League 5

6 continued from page 5 Remember to return your Raffle tickets! This year s fundraiser is very important because of the expense to open new Prayer League Center 6 Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League

7 Hernan Cano St. Paul s School Essay Hernan wrote after reading He Leadeth Me The book He Leadeth Me is about the story of an American priest who was part of the Jesuit Order who area members of the Society of Jesus. They are a Roman Catholic Order founded by Saint Ignatius Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier and others in 1534 to do missionary work. His name was Fr. Ciszek, Walter J. and he was a priest who suffered greatly during World War ll. Just like Saint Maximilian Kolbe who also suffered in the same war. The story of this Saint (Father Ciszek) is just very hurtful for me to like, even imagine, all the suffering. I ve read many books about famous people that all have to do with their experiences in World War ll and the holocaust, such as St. Maximilian Kolbe, Anne Frank, her father, Otto Frank, and many more. They all made me feel sympathy, but Father Ciszek s book gave me a very clear image of where he was working and the place where he was staying. It made me realize that there are other Catholics in the world who suffer greatly in the world more than we think. I know that there are Catholics who suffer greatly, like persecuted Christians in the Middle East: Christians who want to spread the Word of God, Jesus teachings, and the Sacraments, as well. However, there are always people who will want to stop them. That is what happened to Father when the Russians took over the college and destroyed everything and left nothing but the Chapel. Father Ciszek went to Lvov to continue their work as priests. As an undercover worker. Father Ciszek had to say Mass in the woods so none of the Russians would find out. However, in the end, the Russians found the bottled white wine and paper with Mass guide which he memorized and now teaching kids to read and write. The Russians took him because they thought that he was a German spy. Then they figured out that his name wasn t Vladimir Lypinski but Walter J. Ciszek. Now they accused him of being a Vatican spy and for his punishment he would have to work 15 years of hard labor. This is very sad to see as well: all that hard work doing good deeds and in the end bad things happen. Sometimes God does this to us to test us - if we really believe in Him, if we are strong in our faith and really love Him. I think that is why God let that happen to him. To see if he really wants to serve Him and continue his work. To see if he is strong both physically and spiritually - that he won t give up which most of us do when it comes to these situations. We don t pray that the Holy Spirit guides us in life to help us be prepared for future tasks or missions the Lord may ask of us. Father Ciszek was strong and he was able to pass the Lord s test. I like to call it on mission. Even though Father had to deal with so many painful and harsh situations he prayed and prayed asking God to help him to keep on continuing and to give him strength. In the end, when he came out as a free man, he came back to the United States and continued his daily priesthood life. Also, he wrote two books, With God in Russia and He Leadeth Me. This was such an amazing book, literally. I have never read a book written by a Father himself. I feel teens all over the world should read this book. It could teach them how Father Ciszek was a very strong Father. How he suffered greatly in his life, especially during World War II. Let us live by the example of Father Walter Ciszek in his strong faith, his great love for God, and his kindness to all people. Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League 7

8 With God in America is available at the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League