December 2011 - Vol. 27 No. 6

We all are the Priestly People of God. Together, we are leaders in responding to the emotional and spiritual needs of Priests and Brothers.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing... Joy to the World... Glory to God in the highest... Silent Night, Holy Night...

Can you tell me; is there anyone who doesn’t like singing Christmas Carols? What’s your favorite? Singing Christmas carols is a great way for people to celebrate their faith and share their joy.

It seems like there are at least one or two new Christmas carols or songs every year. Generally, the newer the song the more secular it is. Singing religious hymns or secular songs such as Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is Coming to Town has put countless smiles on millions of faces, young and old. Christmas is a time when many people look forward to getting together with family and friends. We turn on the radio and hear songs like “Silent Night” and “Ding Dong Merrily on High” followed immediately by songs like “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” or “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” Incidentally, that song goes on to say that Grandma was run over while “coming home from my house Christmas Eve, now you may say there’s no such thing as Santa, but as for me and Grandpa, we believe.” The song may be silly, but it does speak to the human need to get together with family and to believe. All of us need to believe in something, something that is beyond ourselves, something

people in recovery call a Higher Power, a power greater than themselves. The question for us to ponder is: “Believe in what, or believe in who?”

We can all remember our own favorite Christmas songs, both religious and secular. One Christmas song that I really like is “Mary’s Boy Child.” The melody and words are a beautiful mix of faith and sentiment that speak of fond remembrances of long ago. In fact, the opening stanza of the song says “Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible says, Mary’s Boy Child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.” I always get a kick out of that last line; Jesus was “born on Christmas day.” (Think about it...)

Christmas time does indeed cause us to look back. We look back to the time of Jesus Christ’s birth. We recall his poor and humble beginnings in a stable. We remember his loving mother and father, immigrants far from home, and the three wise men who came to pay him homage. We rejoice as we recall the singing of the angels. Their joyful song of praise curiously blended in melodically with the sounds of the animals seeking warmth and shelter in the same stable where the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born.

PresenceNot

Presents

(continued)

Yes, I love Christmas. I love remembering the Lionel train set I got when I was a young boy. I love remembering when the Christmas tree was knocked over by the dog. I smile when we share family stories about what happened when someone had a little too much eggnog. We human beings are indeed prone to nostalgia. We love happy memories. We love looking back to a time when it seemed like there was much more civility and innocence in our human interactions. We love the Christmases of a long time ago. But we know from experience that spending too much time remembering “the good old days” might cause us to miss the blessings of the present moment.

For me, there is nothing more important than the sacrament of the present moment. It is in the present moment that Jesus reveals himself today in much the same way as He did over 2000 years ago. And it is in that same moment that we recognize His face and hear His voice calling us into a deeper relationship with Him. We find Christ when we listen to a well prepared and well delivered sermon. And we find Him in our parents and grandparents who share what Christmas was like for them. As they share family history and tradition, they also hand on the faith of generations past.

The reality we celebrate at Christmas is that at one moment in time Jesus Christ was born into this world. And at this very moment He is present to us in both Word and Sacrament. The presence of Jesus Christ living in us, in our hearts and souls, matters more than the presents we give or receive. The greatest gift is the gift of the word made flesh who dwells among us. When we celebrate Christmas we honor the memory of Christ, and we celebrate His on-going presence in our lives. That presence of Jesus, Emmanuel, “God-with-us” is what allows us to live in joy and hope, no matter what else is going on in our lives and in the world.

Not everyone looks forward to what we have come to call “the holidays.” Some people approach this time of year with dread. They look back like others do, but have no happy memories. Perhaps their holidays were and still are being ruined by someone’s alcoholism or other kind of addiction. When Christmas time draws near feelings of pain and loss often associated with chronic illness and the death of a beloved family member or friend are greatly intensified. This often leads to a deep and profound sadness that becomes depression. It seems that there is nothing worse than hurting while the rest of the world is busy rejoicing. We must therefore remember to pray with and for those who are prone to despair and depression. We must reach out to those whose personal pain has led them into a world of loneliness and isolation. Just like Jesus brought time and eternity together,

so too must we bring the blessings of eternity to those who suffer. We must help people believe that Jesus came to be with us. He dwelt among us to free us from pain and suffering by bringing us to eternal life.

Christmas is not just for children. It’s not just a time for sentimentality or

nostalgia. It’s not only for those whose lives are filled with joy, health, peace and happiness. Christmas is a family time. Whether we live alone or with others, whether our family is healthy and loving, or loving and dysfunctional, Christmas is a time to remember we are part of a spiritual family, a faith community, a church given to us by God our Father. So, make church a priority, not just at Christmas, but every Sunday, and even daily Mass when possible. Let go of whatever has been hurtful or problematic in your life. Take what you have, good or bad, and give it to the Lord. Give Jesus the gift He most desires, the gift of your faith, your life, your heart and your soul, your repentance and your love. Make a place for Jesus Christ in your heart this Christmas. Make your soul His dwelling place.

Thanks for being a gift in our lives. Thanks for the gifts you have shared with us. We promise you a prayerful remembrance at our daily Mass and holy hour.

May the good Lord bless and protect you. May He bring healing and hope, health and happiness, joy and serenity to you and your family and friends.

On behalf of all the servants of the Paraclete, our guests priests and staff, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sincerely in the Paraclete,

Very Rev. David T. Fitzgerald, sP Servant General

Christmas MemoriesChristmas Memories

“My fondest memory of Christmas past was Christmas Eve 1942 when I was privileged to be one of the Torch Bearers at the Midnight Mass. I was going from altar boy recruit to altar boy first class! I was 12 years old.”

“One of my most memorable and happiest Christmases occurred when I was 13 years old. I decided about four months before Christmas to save whatever money I earned running errands for families, taking out ashes in bushel baskets for neighbors and bringing it to the local dump. I did not go to any Saturday matinees as I normally did and avoided sodas and ice cream cones. Two days before that Christmas, when prices were reduced, I walked to downtown which was a little over one mile. I purchased toys for my brother, who was 2 and ½ years younger and possibly some gifts for my parents. My older sister was married and living away from home and my other sister was a maid for another family. I remember walking home on “cloud nine” feeling extremely happy. This would happen even when I received maybe just a needed piece of clothing from my parents. From that time on … the desire, the wonderful feeling of giving to others at Christmas time has remained with me for the rest of my life.”

“Our Mum and Dad for a number of years when we were in grammar school prepared us for Santa’s arrival by not having any candles in the windows or any Christmas tree or any other decorations until Christmas Day. We set out a glass of milk and a few cookies for Santa just before we went to bed.

Residents of Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer MO were asked to share their favorite Christmas memories with our readers.

The next morning about 6:00 AM on Christmas Day, when we went downstairs to the living room, we could not believe the beautiful Christmas tree which was fully decorated with lights and candles in the windows. Decorated presents under the tree, Christmas stockings filled to the top with lots of goodies, and a beautiful crèche scene with Mary and Joseph welcoming Jesus with all of the animals was the reason for the season.

Santa had come, had his milk and cookies. We were always so excited but we had to wait until our parents came downstairs to open presents. All of the children shared what each received and it was a very happy time to be able to share the gifts with all family members. Our Dad reminded us that we had to wait until after Mass before we could eat anything because we would be receiving Holy Communion at Christmas Day Mass. We all attended together. Family celebrations continued throughout the day. Christmas was so special to me as a family celebration”.

“My impressions of the manly reunion of retired priests and brothers at Vianney Renewal Center is very much appreciated. Our union is composed of many different bodies of our faith. We can associate with religious from all over America, including Canada and Mexico. Never a dull moment. Classes unite with religious practices of Daily Mass, Holy Hour, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Divine Office. I praise and thank the Lord for bringing me to this oasis.”

Teach the ChildrenTeach the ChildrenThis is how it happened... I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in front of the house. I opened the door and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.

He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. “What are you doing?” I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know.

He then answered me with a simple statement. “TEACH THE CHILDREN!”

I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, “Teach the children! Teach them the real meaning of Christmas, the meaning that now-a-days has been forgotten.”

Santa then reached into his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. “Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of humankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of our thoughts turning toward heaven.”

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. “Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise.” The star guided the Magi, the three wise men.

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. “Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded that Jesus displaces the darkness.”

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. “Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. The circle of Love leads us to actively seek the true good of others.”

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. “Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the Christmas season.”

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. “Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the blood shed by Him.”

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, “Teach the children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten SON...” “Thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift who is Jesus. Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy Babe and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men.”

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. “Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds’ crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back lost sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper.”

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. “Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward all.”

Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. “Teach the children that as lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, so too should a bell ring all people to join the fold of Christ, the Good Shepherd. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.”

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, “Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD.”

Greetings to all at Vianney Renewal Center:I am presuming that it is acceptable to include all of you in one letter expressing my universal gratitude to all of you for the very blessed time I was able to spend with you. Our encounters, fleeting or long term, were a blessing for me and I continue to carry you all in my prayers. For us there is really no distance of separation; our time together endures into eternity. Prayer dissolves time and place and blends everything with the eternal now, being beyond the constraints of location.

As you can see I arrived safe and sound after a long, long and longer trip to Taipei, then on to Manila. One brief heart-stopping moment in Taipei, Taiwan when changing planes and gates. We had to go through a short version of security as we moved from one gate to another. In the rush of people around me all trying to get through at the same time I had my passport and boarding pass in my hand and somehow during the push and commotion of gathering my things I placed both my passport and boarding pass in my sweater pocket and instead of putting my sweater back on to go through security, I carried it on my arm, instead of my usual place hanging around my neck. Later at the gate I looked for my docs in their usual place and found them missing. Yikes! In a foreign airport without passport or boarding doc. Oh my God!! What now? I was paralyzed and brain dead all at the same time. I stood there in the passageway absolutely incapacitated and immobile. After a moment I talked myself down and was restored to some sort of rational mode. I looked down and saw something flapping from my sweater pocket. With trepidation and cautious hope I reached in and pulled out the sweetest delight since ice cream. God is good and yes, there are angels watching over us. End of story. I boarded and relaxed in a cloud of delight and relief for the two and half hour flight to Manila. We arrived on time at 11:40, Wednesday morning. Tuesday dropped off the calendar, to be picked up again on the return, if such there be.

Immigration and Customs in Manila were a breeze and I was through the process in about twenty minutes. Sort of a slack time at the airport. I was met outside by Arnel who has been working for us as driver and all around man ever since we moved into Mt. Carmel. Driving back to Tagaytay, a two and half hour drive depending on traffic, was an exercise in remembering. Few changes except for more traffic. We arrived at Mt. Carmel at about 2:00 PM. Wednesday. Most of the Brothers were away at school and the place was quiet except for the postulants which I met one by one through the afternoon. Pete and Phil were of course on hand to greet me and show me to my room. I have a bedroom and right next to it is an office which I am in the process of setting up and getting ready for my work with the postulants. I am about half way moved in, now awaiting some furniture which Arnel and I picked out the following Monday. Delivery is this afternoon, Friday.

Strangely, I was not a bit tired and spent the afternoon re-acquainting myself with the place and finding things pretty much the same as when I left several years ago. I felt like I had come home again. Throughout the later afternoon and into the evening the Brothers arrived back from their various places of study and we had a grand old time greeting one another and getting caught up on events over the past several years. At supper we celebrated with the ultimate feast day treat, ice cream. Being somewhat of a globe trotter and always ready to indulge in the local ice cream offerings, I can say with some authority, the Philippine variety is world-class, hands down. Later that night Phil was off to Manila to pick up David at the airport. David had called from Tokyo earlier that day saying that his plane was delayed and would be two + hours late getting into Manila which meant that Phil was in for a long night of waiting. They finally arrived back in Tagaytay at about 2:30AM.

Phil and David left for Vietnam on Friday and Pete left for the USA on the following Tuesday. I have been here with the Brothers since then and we are awaiting David’s and Phil’s return later this evening, Friday. I will be happy to see them, but the time here with the Brothers has been enjoyable and stress free. They are a very self-directed and responsible group and really don’t require much supervision or oversight. They keep me orthodox and in line when my leadership at community prayers slides away from established practice. I am getting the hang of local customs and am able to get through the liturgy with a few minor bumps along the way, but nothing that would call into question the validity of the form..., I think...Thank God!!

The weather has been remarkably cool and I have had to resort to the one sweater I brought with me. Yesterday we were being soaked as a typhoon rolled past us a few hundred miles off shore. It was like a poke in the ribs by the elbow as it steamed past. Rain, rain and more rain. For about two hours in late afternoon the skies opened up and the rain came down like Niagara Falls. Unbelievable. And to think I was looking forward to “hot,” and I am greeted by cold and wet.

Not much more to say. I look forward to my work with the Postulants and whatever other community involvement that might present itself. I have already had four classes with the Postulants and we seem to do quite well together. The postulants are engaged, interested and receptive. They are not shy about jumping in when the spirit moves them and manage to challenge me when things are not quite clear. All in all I am having a great time with them. The class is a mixture of three Nigerians, two Filipinos and two Ghanaians. The interactions are good and I enjoy watching them interact. It is a real gratification and an inspiration watching people from far different cultures forming a community of Brothers. Soon we will add some Vietnamese to the mix. They are already quite involved in the liturgical life of the community as well as pitching in in the kitchen from time to time. Phil and David have been in Vietnam for the past week interviewing more Vietnamese for a later date. I might have more work ahead of me after this class is ready for novitiate.

Keep me in your prayers as I remember you all in mine.

God bless you all,

Ray Gunzel sP

Letter to all of the residents, staff and fellow sP priests and brothers as Father Ray departed Vianney Renewal Center for the Philippines where he is working with Servant of the Paraclete postulants!

Word from the Philippines is that “he loves his new assignment”! God bless, Father Ray

#

Each changing season brings a wealth of beauty.

Winter bows humbly to spring that new life might bloom from once frozen earth.

Summer surrenders her heat and playfulness’ that autumn rains may show the colors of changing leaves that will eventually blanket and nourish the earth.

Who has not been in awe at an ice storm creating? A crystal sculpture upon nature! And the beauty of the heavy snow pressing upon the stooped over cedars are a reminder of ancient druids bearing their burdens.

Seasons can bring destruction as well as reverence. In the actual experience of daily living we also have changing seasons. We adapt and surrender, and this is about more than just being changed. Nature may have cycles and changing seasons, but God gives us days & years, to come to know who we are, and the awakening is more sacred than all the glory of nature’s natural beauty. In actuality we are already God’s children, breathed forth from Gods’ Spirit.

The seasons are inviting us home to our original origins to live in freedom, eternally being birthed from Gods’ heart. We endure in the realm of faith trusting the seasons; God has measured out for each of us. In seasons we don’t break from the past but rather become healed, gifted with love and forgiveness, we are made whole. Seasons have gone and the relishing of what yesterday deposited in our souls still lives, enduring in our memories. In accepting forgiveness we’re able to glance through the window of tomorrow, as life opens her door to all who seek, so we can walk towards the future heart to heart, with those whom we love. New leaves are born in spring upon the mighty oak; they may struggle through a dry summer to show the glory of autumn colors and finally come to rest on mother earth. Crunching upon one another they are baptized by the rain from father sky to decompose and renew life. Now they are sacred nourishment feeding the tree and forest floor from which they came.

So it is with the soul in the seasons of time. Life has blest us with death & resurrections, mistakes & triumphs, and in the present we come to partake in love. One hand reaching towards the past, one hand extended towards the future and in the middle is the wondrous heart, struggling to be born. We find meaning in the surrender, like the oak leaf we hold-on to let-go, for freedom. We exist in the present, being birthed no less today than yesterday. –

Ah! Sacred nativity, holy tears bringing joyful and lovely, seasons.

God made sun and moon to mark seasons, days and years.

#

Mass Stipend FormCelebrate the Christmas Season!

Please offer masses for the following intentions during this holy time of the year.Masses can be offered for those living and deceased as well as honoring a special occasion.

List Intentions

If you would like us to send an acknowledgement of the mass intention, Please fill out the form below! Name

Address

City, State, Zip

(Acknowledgement is optional)

Thank you for supporting our ministry.

Servants of the Paraclete share mass stipends at our houses around the world. Masses are celebrated in Missouri, New Mexico, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Mass Stipend Donor’s Name:

Servants of the ParacletePO Box 9Cedar Hill, MO 63016

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDSt. Louis, MO

Permit No. 3252ADDRE SS SERVICE REQUE STED

December

Newsletter

Marian WolaverDirector of Development314-875-0817mwolaver@theservants.org

Thank you for your generosity! It is greatly appreciated.

Please remember the Servants of the Paraclete in your estate and will.

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION

Barb BehlmannDevelopment Associate314-875-0816bbehlmann@theservants.org

FAX: 314-875-0818 Website: www.theservants.org

#

Electronic Transfer of Funds

If you are interested in a monthly donation, please contact the development office.Electronic Transfer of Funds is the easiest way to donate to the ministry of the Servants of the Paraclete. Every gift counts! The forms are simple to fill out and are handled by a company that works with many religious organizations in assisting them with funding these transfers.Please drop this form in the envelope included in the newsletter and we will be happy to get the information to you.q Please send me Electronic Fund Transfer information

so that I make a monthly donation!