Gray Robes The s o ci e t y of our l a dy of the most holy tr i n i t y adv e n t 2013
Gray Robes Formation program Supporting SOLT Brothers of the American Region Discerning priesthood Deacons in Mission Dn. Al, The Philippines Dn. Juan, Mexico Dn. Michael Mary, Montana Dn. Patrick, Michigan Theology IV Br. Beau, Idaho Dn. Michael, Texas Dn. Tristan, Cayman Islands Theology III Br. Jeremy, Kansas Philosophy II Br. Richard, England Br. Timothy, Canada College II Br. Julio, Belize College I Br. Nicholas, Texas Language Studies Br. Frisquet, Haiti Discerning Permanent brotherhood Year IV Br. Peter Máire, Ireland Year III Br. John, California Br. Kyle, Minnesota Year II Br. Ryan, Texas Year I Br. Danny, Mississippi Br. Nick, Missouri Contact SOLT SOLT House of Formation 1721 Junction St. Detroit, MI 48209 313.842.3450 Rector/Vocations Director Fr. Mark Wendling, SOLT 361.767.9567 vocations@gmail.com Gray Robes Formation Program Sr. Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, SOLT PO Box 4116 Corpus Christi, TX 78469 361.289.9095 Ext. 312 soltdevelopment@gmail.com 2 The Gray Robes Advent 2013 New Chapters: A four-fold Beginning Dear Friends and Benefactors of SOLT, It is with great joy that I greet you for the first time as Rector of the American Region House of Formation for SOLT! After spending the first ten years of my priesthood in our beloved mission in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize, Central America, I embark with a sense of awe and enthusiasm on this new phase of ministry: serving men in their formation in religious life and towards priesthood. Last summer saw two significant events that directly affected our house in Detroit. The first was the ordination of six of our men to the transitional diaconate. This academic year, four of the new deacons are serving in our missions while two others have returned to Detroit for their final year of theological studies. Their presence in the house is a continual sign of hope and encouragement to all. It is exciting to experience their youthful joy as they discover the thrill of ordained ministry. The second event was the election of Father Peter Marsalek to the position of General Priest Servant. Father Peter moves from Rector here in Detroit and leaves a noticeable hole in his absence. However, his intellectual gifts, clarity in decisionmaking, and his love for community life particularly cultivated during his years in Detroit, help make him a most welcome choice to lead SOLT. One final element adds to the sense of newness and growth this year: the addition of three newly professed brothers to our community. These new brothers inaugurate a development in formation, in that two of them are on the vocational path towards Permanent Brotherhood. Having completed two years of formation aspirancy and novitiate they arrive for two years of in-house intellectual formation. Their presence rounds out the community here, helping us to live to a greater degree the Ecclesial Team aspect of our charism, whose essence is the different vocations living and serving as one. As for me personally, the shift out of mission life has been a challenging yet welcome one. A good priest friend said to me, Your first parish is like your first love and I do believe he s right. It is with the assurance of hope that I look forward to growing deeper in love for God and His Church in the ministry of formation: to watching, catalyzing and participating in the Holy Spirit s beautiful work of preparing men after His own heart and servants for our Father s vineyard. Yours in Christ, Back L to R: Br. Nicholas, Br. Jeremy, Br. beau, Dn. Tristan, Dn. Michael, Br. john Front L to R: Br. Julio, Br. nick, Br. Richard, Br. timothy, Br. danny
on the mark: a profile of our new rector Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Canada Nationally ranked tennis player in his youth Graduated magna cum laude in Biochemistry, University of Toronto Two years volunteer teacher in Belize, Central America Seminary formation at The Angelicum in Rome Ordained a priest of Jesus Christ on May 11, 2003 Ten years priestly ministry in Benque Viejo, Belize, Central America no longer do I call you servants I have called you friends. Jn 15:15 from Fr. Mark s ordination card Fr. Mark Wendling, SOLT was ordained a priest at St. Peter s Basilica, Rome, by Blessed John Paul II. introducing the Gray robes formation program clockwise: SOLT Founder Fr. Jim Flanagan blesses Br. Michael, Br. Tristan, Br. Patrick and Br. Al after they make their Perpetual Promises. Three days later they were ordained as deacons. SOLT has begun the Gray Robes Formation Program, a program that helps people support the formation of SOLT Brothers in the American Region. Thirteen of us discern life as priests; six of us discern a lifelong commitment as consecrated brothers. We all need assistance to fulfill our vocations. If you give to the Gray Robes Formation Program (unless you specify a particular vocational track), your generosity will serve the needs of the entire band of brothers. The vast majority of contributions address our greatest expense, seminarian tuition. In addition to sharing the burdens of bills and the joys of donations, both vocations share a common life of community and prayer. Annual promises of poverty, chastity and obedience let us share in intimacy with Jesus. After five years, we may make these promises again, not for one year, but for life. Please pray for Brother Beau and Brother Jeremy as they discern making Perpetual Promises through which they would become lifelong brothers of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. After Perpetual Promises, some brothers are ordained, first as deacons, then as priests. Priests nourish our Christian life by serving as ministers of the sacraments. Permanent Brothers perform specialized ministries and open their lives to others so as to communicate the fraternal friendship of God. Through partnership with you, the Gray Robes Formation Program helps men offer themselves to Christ and His Church. Advent 2013 The Gray Robes 3
A Choir of solt members Sings at the ordination Mass Sing the song of the poor the charism statement of the society of Our Lady of the Most holy Trinity: Disciples of Jesus through Mary living in Marian-Trinitarian communion serving on ecclesial family teams in areas of deepest apostolic need Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blesses Mary s life, her faith, and the fruit of her womb (Lk 1:41 45). Mary s response is known as the Magnificat (Lk 1:46 55), and it is from this prayer that we learn much about Mary s spirituality. In light of the Magnificat, it seems fitting that SOLT s Marian charism sends us to areas of deepest apostolic need. When she receives Elizabeth s blessing, how quickly Mary s thoughts turn outward toward both God and the poor! First, Mary acknowledges that God has given her a most special love. Second, Mary sings in adoration while gazing at God. She does not sing of a God who lives out there, distant and cold. Her womb proclaims that God draws near to save us. Third, for the majority of her song, Mary celebrates that God comes to save the poor. The proud will be brought down while those who humbly entrust their lives to God will receive salvation. Mary sings in thanksgiving. Becoming pregnant with the Savior does not distance her from those who suffer. With maternal care, Mary s prayer moves with God toward the humble. She rejoices that almighty God would come down to save sinners like us the poor, the meek, and the lowly! Why do we sing the Magnificat? We know God personally loves us. We gaze at the Trinity in adoration, and we move with joy to help humble people respond to God s love. The Holy Spirit who fills Mary with love now gives us a mission. SOLT s charism asks us to be God s love for people in areas of deepest apostolic need. As a Marian community, how beautiful it is to turn with God toward the poor. With Jesus, we get to make haste to serve our brothers and sisters in spiritual and material poverty. These bonds of service and friendship help all of us respond to God s mercy. With Mary, let us sing the Lord s name. Jesus is the only song that saves. the magnificat Every evening, every Catholic priest, sister and brother throughout the world prays the Magnificat. Join us and millions of lay Christians in singing the Song of the Church. luke 1:46 55 4 The Gray Robes Advent 2013
Above: Deacon Patrick leads children in a Eucharist Procession. below: While ministering at the baptism of seven children, Deacon Tristan conducts the pre-baptismal anointing. Ordained to be servants of all Six SOLT Brothers were ordained to the Diaconate on July 16, 2013. Thank you for supporting them so that they may serve the people of God. Please continue to pray for Deacons Al, Juan, Michael Mary and Patrick. You are invited to their ordination to the Priesthood on January 24, 2014 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Where do they serve? Deacon Al Corpus Christi, Texas Deacon Juan Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize, Central America Deacon Michael Detroit, Michigan Deacon Michael Mary San Luis Valley, Colorado Deacon Patrick Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, North Dakota Deacon Tristan Detroit, Michigan Through your support, Deacon Michael and Deacon Tristan plan to complete their academic formation by receiving a Masters Degrees this spring. Top: Six SOLT Brothers lie prostrate during the Litany of the Saints. Middle: Friends and family join together in prayer as the new deacons are presented during the ordination ceremony. Bottom: Deacon Michael Mary presents himself for ordination. Advent 2013 The Gray Robes 5
Summer Service...with a smile 3 1 2 Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize 1 Brother Julio & Brother Timothy At one of our missions in Belize, Central America, Brother Julio and Brother Timothy served by training altar boys, working in schools and missioning in small villages. Detroit, Michigan 2 Brother John & Brother Jeremy In Mexicantown, Detroit, Brother Jeremy and Brother John helped guide a Bible Camp, distributed food to the poor, ministered to the sick and led a youth group. Phoenix, Arizona 3 Brother Beau & Brother Richard Brother Beau and Brother Richard ran an adult faith formation program, provided spiritual care in a hospital and helped in a Catholic school. They also enjoyed Arizona s beauty with the ecclesial family team. 6 The Gray Robes Advent 2013
Meet one of our professors Dr. ralph Martin Questioning the Professor Dr. Martin on His New Evangelization Class How does your class equip seminarians to serve in the Church today? This class clearly establishes what exactly the gospel message is and what Jesus and the apostles told us to communicate. Why do you think Sacred Heart Major Seminary requires seminarians to take your class? Evangelization is the central mission of the Church. So it would be pretty crazy not to require seminarians to know about evangelization and re-evangelization. What is the greatest joy in teaching this graduate level course? What is most enjoyable is being able to reflect on the amazing things that God has revealed for the salvation of the world, to grow in understanding of it and in the desire to communicate it to others. WHAT DO SOLT BROTHERS CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT? It s a joy to see the SOLT Brothers in their habits, paying careful attention to the content of the class, and joyfully witnessing to their total dedication to living for Christ and making him known. Who is Dr. Martin? Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as an expert for the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization Appointed as a Consultor for the Council for the New Evangelization by Pope Benedict XVI Frequent guest on EWTN, speaker at Steubenville conferences, and conferences on evangelization around the world His latest books are Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization and The Fulfillment of All Desire Teaches in the areas of systematic theology, spirituality and evangelization and is Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization at Sacred Heart STL degree from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC L to R: Br. Beau, Dn. Tristan, Dr. Ralph Martin, Fr. Michal Zamkovsky, Dn. Bohus Zevcak and Dn. Michael. Guests of Dr. Martin, Fr. Michal and Dn. Bohus, visited class to share their Christian experiences under Slovenia s communist rule and their ministry as missionaries in Europe, Africa and Asia. Advent 2013 The Gray Robes 7
Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Gray Robes Formation Program PO Box 4116 Corpus Christi, TX 78469 Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Robstown, TX Permit No. 774 Gray Robes The