DCQ_winter2014_15

DOMCENTRALQUARTERLYDominican Friars Central Province, USA WINTER 2014-15
FR. SÉAN MARTIN NAMED
PRESIDENT AT AQUINAS INSTITUTE
OF THEOLOGY PAGE 3
WHY STUDYING PHILOSOPHY
MATTERS PAGE 11
A VISIT FROM THE MASTER
OF THE DOMINICAN ORDER PAGE 12
The Dominican Family Group
celebrates its first year PAGE 8
After 17 years
of service,
the voice
of the
‘Shrine Line’
retires
PAGE 10
YEAR IN
REVIEW
Friars
made
2014
a memorable
yearDominican Friars
gather in assembly
to begin 2015 at St.
Dominic Priory in St.
Louis with speakers
Sherry Weddell and
Fr. Paul Philibert, O.P.

Sharing the Epiphany
2 DOMCENTRAL QUARTERLY | WINTER 2014-15
LETTER FROM THE PROVINCIAL
T
he Advent/Christmas
season has become almost
hopelessly eclipsed by
shopping, traveling and
partying, so maybe it’s worth
focusing on Epiphany, a time of
discovery and adoration, to get our
spiritual bearings.
Epiphany isn’t as popular here
in the U.S. as it is in many other
countries which have a rich
tradition of “The Three Kings.”
These kings, as you recall, followed
a star to find the new born Christ.
They were the first official visitors
to recognize him and to offer their
gifts and adoration to him.
We call it Epiphany because it
was a “showing” or a “manifestation”
of the power of God, incarnate in
the infant Jesus.There was the first
Epiphany which we celebrate in
January; but these manifestations of
God’s grace at work in the world did
not end there.
Basilian Father Thomas Rosica
says,
“Epiphanies, both large and
small, tend to be private
events – yet events with
great significance for the
public.Trying to share the
details of an epiphany is
fraught with complications.
The words are never
quite right, and even the
most sympathetic listener
cannot fully bridge the
gap between description
and what it was like being
there. Most of us keep our
personal experiences of the
Holy to ourselves. Who
would believe it? And who
would really understand?
The irony is that epiphanies
are made for sharing, even
as they are impossible to
communicate fully.”
It may be difficult, but we keep
trying. Even now, whenever we
undertake a ministry, we do it to
“show” the power of God through
preaching, pastoral care, and
teaching. It is through the Church’s
ministries that the Word of God
continues to become incarnate
in the world. So this issue of
Dominican Central Quarterly
will be a “showing” of some of
our ministries and how they have
carried out their work over the past
year.
Join us as we visit with Fr.
Sean Martin, the new president
of Aquinas Institute of Theology;
hear from a student brother about
why he wants to complete a
doctorate and become a professor
of philosophy; celebrate with us the
17 years of service of a long-time
Shrine employee who just retired;
and remember the lives of brothers
who are no longer in this world, but
whose lives and ministries continue
to bear fruit.
Each of these events shows us
how God works in our world.
Perhaps something in their
experience will inspire you to “show
off ” the grace of God in your own
life in a new way.
Epiphany blessings! Ω
VERY REV. CHARLES
E. BOUCHARD, O.P.
Prior Provincial
Central Province, USA
There was the first
Epiphany which we
celebrate in January;
but these manifestations
of God’s grace at work
in the world did not
end there.

WINTER 2014-15 | DOMCENTRAL QUARTERLY 3
ANewChapter Begins
atAquinasInstitute
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 »
AQUINAS INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY
BY BILL SKOWRONSKI
Director of Communication and Marketing
I
n the letter to the Ephesians,
we read we are not aliens and
strangers to one another. We all
belong to the household of God.
Though Fr. Seán Charles Martin
is the first non-Dominican chosen
to lead the Aquinas Institute of
Theology in its rich 89-year history,
he is hardly a stranger to the Order
of Preachers. In his 13th year as a
professor of Biblical Studies at the
Dominican graduate school in St.
Louis, Fr. Martin is often considered
part of the Dominican family and its
household—perhaps a brother-in-
law.
A priest from the diocese of
Dallas and an educator for 34 years,
Fr. Martin was hired in September
as president of Aquinas Institute.
While not a friar, his Dominican
roots reach back to the 1970s, when
he was an undergraduate student
at the University of Dallas, where
Fr. Damian Fandal, O.P. was the
dean, and who, as Provincial of the
Dominican Province of Saint Albert
the Great, would later be responsible
for moving Aquinas Institute from
Dubuque, Iowa to St. Louis in 1981.
“My association with the Order of
Preachers has been pretty constant
over the years, “Fr. Martin said. “I’ve
counted Dominicans as some of my
closest friends and indeed, mentors.
This is the logical culmination of a
series of relationships that have been
important to me for almost 50 years.
“Aquinas has been good to me and
it has been good for me,” Fr. Martin
added. “It really is a remarkable place
with a compelling mission.”
Fr. Martin understands the need
for Aquinas Institute to respond
through its mission to twin forces,
such as that of God’s call balanced
against the needs of His people.
“We have this mission that comes
to us from God, through Dominic
and Thomas Aquinas and Catherine
of Siena and all these great figures
who have brought us to this point in
history, but at the same time we’ve
got to be responsive to the needs
of the Church,” Fr. Martin said.
“That requires a complementary set
of fidelities. One is faithful to one’s
tradition, but you are also faithful
to the circumstances in which you
Fr. Séan Martin was named the new president of Aquinas Institute of Theology in
2014, the first non-Dominican chosen for the role.

« CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
find yourself. You cannot have one
without the other.”
In addition to the ever-evolving
public perception of the Catholic
Church, recharged by the “Pope
Francis Effect”, Aquinas Institute
faces its own share of internal
challenges, similar to those facing
any institution of higher learning,
particularly theological schools
caught in the economic downturn,
and that is finding the resources that
support the school’s mission.
“In every institution I’ve worked,
we’ve had to look at every dime
twice before spending it, and that’s a
good thing,” Fr. Martin said. “We’re
spending other people’s money,
so we want to be very prudent.
We owe that to our supporters
and benefactors. As the economy
begins to turn around, we see people
taking another look at supporting
institutions like ours, whereas a
few years ago such support wasn’t
possible.”
In spite of the uphill economic
battle, Aquinas Institute has
produced an outsized impact on the
life of the Catholic Church in the
United States by forming a distinct
niche in theological education,
preaching education, and healthcare
mission.The school can claim 70
percent of the teachers of homiletics
in the United States as graduates of
its doctoral program in preaching.
And its healthcare mission degree
programs and certificate programs
were some of the first to prepare
people to become mission leaders in
Catholic healthcare—primarily in
Catholic hospitals -- providing an
unlikely and remarkable opportunity.
This national, and even
international impact on the Church
excites Fr. Martin as he prepares to
accelerate Aquinas Institute into the
next generation. As he does so, he
still defines himself as a priest and a
teacher, carrying with him the story
of the school in a rehabbed redbrick
factory with students and alumni
rippling far beyond St. Louis.
By retaining his faculty rank
as professor of Biblical Studies,
Fr. Martin continues the great
tradition of scholar-presidents that
has notably included Fr. Benedict
Ashley, O.P., Fr. Rick Peddicord,
O.P., and current Provincial, the
Very Rev. Charles Bouchard, O.P.
Maintaining close proximity to the
faculty makes Fr. Martin intimately
aware of the need to restock its
ranks for the future.
“One of the great opportunities
the school faces over the next couple
years is recruiting new members
of our faculty,” Fr. Martin added.
“We will be alert to recruit faculty
members who can build upon the
school’s historic strengths.”
Founded in 1926 in River Forest,
Illinois, Aquinas Institute welcomed
lay students in 1968 and inaugurated
the first Catholic doctoral program
in preaching (Doctor of Ministry in
Preaching) in the United States in
1993.The school’s renowned faculty
has long been one of its strengths,
and will be charged with continuing
the Aquinas tradition.
The faculty will be responsible
for the education and formation
of future Dominican Friars from
the Central Province and Southern
Province, ministers of the Gospel
who will work anywhere from Miami
to Minneapolis, and Indiana to
Denver. Admittedly, the task requires
very highly regarded professors, well-
versed in Dominican theology, which
Aquinas Institute’s new president is
fully aware.
“The classic Dominican emphasis
on the complementarity of faith
and reason is exciting,” Fr. Martin
said. “When one embarks upon
theological study, it’s not as if one
abandons one’s rationality—it’s
actually quite the contrary. This
rigorous, precise way of thinking
requires the use of one’s mind. We
believe in the complementarity of
faith and reason, that reason can
be in the service of faith, and that
faith builds upon reason, and in
some respects, takes it to the next
level. That is theoretical, but it
has very practical and ministerial
consequences which can affect
the way people live their lives and
imagine their relationship with
God. I find that part to be very
compelling.”
Just a few months into his role, Fr.
Martin has already acknowledged
the challenges ahead and begun
working to live up to them.
“I’ve always had great jobs within
the Church, but this is the best
place I’ve ever been,” Fr. Martin
said. “We have terrific students, a
beautiful facility, a good faculty,
and a compelling mission. The
only thing left is to find and secure
those resources that enable us to
discharge that compelling mission,
pay that good faculty to teach those
terrific students, and to maintain
this beautiful facility.” Ω
FOR INFORMATION REGARDING
WAYS TO SUPPORT AQUINAS
INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY
Contact Stacey Krieg, Director
of Institutional Advancement
(314.256.8858 or krieg@ai.edu). To
become an Aquinas student, please
contact Dave Werthmann, Director
of Admissions and Financial Aid
(314.256.8806 or werthmann@ai.edu).
AQUINAS INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY

AROUND THE CENTRAL PROVINCE
2014 Year in Review
I
n April, 1964, Fr. Chuck Dahm,
O.P. and Fr. John McGreevy, O.P.
were ordained at St. Rose of Lima
Priory, in Dubuque, Iowa, making
2014 their 50th year of Dominican
priesthood. In Chicago’s Pilsen
neighborhood, Fr. Dahm has become
a staple of Dominican service to
the immigrant communities and
families suffering through domestic
violence. For almost 30 years, Fr.
Dahm has been the face of St. Pius
V Parish, both figuratively and
literally, as a mural with his image
adorns a building across the street on
the corner of Ashland Avenue and
Cullerton Street.
By comparison, Fr. McGreevy
has experienced nearly every aspect
of Dominican life in the Central
Province and beyond. Because of
his nearly photographic memory
recall, he is often referred to as “the
ideal historian for the province” by
his brothers. Fr. McGreevy spent 14
years teaching, and in administration,
at Fenwick High School near
Chicago, before serving in various
roles at Providence College in Rhode
Island, and pastoral roles in Illinois,
Michigan, and Colorado, where he
now resides.
In eight of the past 10 years,
the Central Province Dominicans
ordained at least one man to the
priesthood, including this year when
Fr. Luke Barder, O.P., Fr. Douglas
Greer, O.P., and Fr. Jude McPeak,
O.P. were ordained in May, followed
by Fr.Timothy Combs, O.P. in
September.
A year of challenge, change,
exciting growth and renewal of
values!
By Kris Coffey (DEI Chairman of the
Board of Directors)
Since the closing of the St.
Thomas Aquinas Priory after nearly
65 years of service on June 30,
2014 the Albuquerque Dominican
presence may have changed, but the
Dominican pillars of study, prayer,
community and preaching have been
growing in outreach, expanding in
breadth, and deepening in value.
The lay community of faithful
seekers and wounded healers
produced a 234 page book,“To
Praise,To Bless,To Preach … a
History of the Newman Dominican
Community at the University of New
Mexico, 1950 – 2014,”replete with
Friars made 2014 a memorable year of growth and excitement
Fr.TimothyCombs,O.P.,right,becamethefirstDominicanFriarordainedatSt.Thomas
Aquinas Catholic Center in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University in September.
In May, Fr. Luke Barder, O.P., Fr. Jude McPeak, O.P., and Fr. Douglas Greer, O.P. were
ordained to the priesthood in St. Louis, MO.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 »

pictures, biographies and anecdotes.
In gratitude and celebration, more
than $23,000 was contributed to
the various missions of the Central
Province of St. Albert the Great.
D+E+I sponsors visiting
Dominicans who share insights
on contemporary topics in a wide
range of venues.These six months,
celebrating the 75th Anniversary of
the Province, have included
• Quarterly Missions with diocesan
parishes (Fr. Jim Marchionda, O.P.
on the “Power of Prayer”with Risen
Savior and “Freedom in Forgiveness”
with St.Therese)
• Nights of Reflection for D+E+I
members (Fr. Bob Keller, O.P.,
Fr. George Reynolds, O.P. and Fr.
Andrew-Carl Wisdom, O.P.)
• Dominican Preaching at four
local parishes’ Sunday liturgies
• Blessing of Animals
• Monthly Gatherings (Sr.
Geneal Kraemer, O.P., on “Mary
of Magdela,” patroness of the
Province, Fr. Marchionda on “What
a Pope!”, Fr. Pat Norris, O.P. on
pre-election “Faithful Citizenship”,
Fr. Keller on “Christian Civility in
a Hostile World”, Fr. Nick Monco,
O.P. on post-election “Forgiveness
and Healing”, Fr. Reynolds and Fr.
Wisdom on “Advent and Christmas
Wisdom from St.Thomas Aquinas”
• Signings of Dominican books
and CDs. Listen to audio recordings
at www.DEIabq.org.
D+E+I is a collaboration of the
Laity, the Dominicans and the
Archdiocese of Santa Fe, and will
celebrate its 20th Anniversary in
2016, the 800th of the Order.The
Province extends its gratitude to
D+E+I for sponsoring these events
and keeping the Dominican presence
alive in New Mexico.
The Central Province has welcomed
new friars in each of its 75 years.It’s
after the novice year that men officially
become members of the Dominican
Order by their first profession of vows.
In August,Br.Christopher Johnson,
O.P.and Br.Ben Kuzemka,O.P.
made first profession at St.Dominic
Catholic Church in Denver,Colorado.
In early September, Fr. John
Gambro, O.P. was honored by
Bishop Lynch High School (Dallas,
Texas), when it established the
“Father John M. Gambro, O.P.
Endowed Scholarship Fund”. At a
banquet the night before the “Friars
vs. Friars” football game between
Bishop Lynch and Fenwick High
School, about 250 former students
and family presented Fr. Gambro
with the award. Fr. Gambro taught
Latin for 15 years, was Dean of
Students, and shared Principal duties
as one of the nine Dominican Friars
who opened the Dallas parochial
school in 1963. He remains one of
the few Central Province Friars to
have an impact at both high schools.
First Ordination at Purdue
University’s St. Thomas Aquinas
Catholic Center
By Fr. Timothy Combs, O.P.
It is difficult to fathom that God
the Son desired to be so close to
humanity that He assumed a human
nature to Himself, and yet we know
Brothers Christopher Johnson, O.P. (front), Ben Kuzemka, O.P. (middle), and Rev. Br.
Reginald Wolford (back) receiving their first assignment in August, at simple vows
profession in Denver. All three men continue in formation at Aquinas Institute of
Theology in St. Louis, MO.
A CULTURE OF VOCATIONS
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
First Profession
Ordinations to Priesthood
« CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
AROUND THE CENTRAL PROVINCE

that the miracle of the Incarnation
is a mystery of love. In order that
He might continue the miracle of
the Incarnation throughout history
after ascending in to Heaven, Christ
instituted the seven Sacraments. He
ordained the apostles as the first
bishops, giving them authority to
ordain successors and co-workers
(priests and deacons). So that He
may be present to His beloved
people through the Sacraments, Jesus
intimately configures the ordained
to Himself, such that He is the
One speaking and acting through
them. In this way, the miracle of the
Incarnation is perpetuated.
Almost 2,000 years after the
Lord ascended, He is still providing
Holy Mother Church with bishops,
priests and deacons, so that she may
continue to find in the Eucharist
the source and summit of her life.
This was joyously on display at St.
Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center
in West Lafayette, Indiana on
September 13th, as Bishop Timothy
Doherty ordained Br.Timothy
Combs, O.P., to the Priesthood and
Br. James Dominic Rooney, O.P., to
the transitional Diaconate. It was
fitting for the first ordination of
its kind to take place at St.Tom’s,
because Br. James Dominic served
there during his pastoral year, and
Fr.Timothy is now in his second
year there as a campus minister and
associate pastor. Both students and
resident parishioners were excited to
be able to witness such a special and
holy event, and both of the ordained
friars were extremely grateful to have
such an enthusiastic and supportive
community with whom to share such
a grace-filled occasion in their lives.
Please remember these friars in your
prayers, that they may be worthy
effective ministers of the Gospel! Ω
FR. BOB BOTTHOF, O.P.
When Bob Botthof came to
Jesuit Hall in his first
year of studies, I had an easy
time relating to him, both
because he had been a Christian
Brother (I was taught by them
in high school CBC St Louis),
and because of his military
experience. His career as an
educator united the two major
high schools of Oak Park,
Fenwick and Oak Park-River
Forest (Hemingway’s own; Hem
got a Nobel prize in literature,
thanks to their good foundation,
without ever spending a day
at a university or college!)
Bob became principle of both
schools, an amazing fact, like
being the Catholic and Anglican
bishops of a city, successively. He
was a gentlemanly, reconciling
soul. May he rest in peace.
— Contributed by Fr. Benedict T.
Viviano OP
L ast year, before I entered
the novitiate, I was in
Bloomington, Indiana, as a
Dominican Volunteer living
with the community. I will
never forget the impact of Fr.
Bob Botthof. He always had
a smile on his face, and joy
in his heart. We exchanged
many laughs, and shared
plenty of deep conversations.
In every encounter with him,
his compassion always shined
through, and I knew he cared
for me, as well as all those
whose lives he impacted very
deeply. When I first arrived in
Bloomington, I spent plenty of
time apologizing for silly little
things that really didn’t matter.
One day he pulled me aside and
told me, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, you
always say I’m sorry.” He went on
to explain to me that everyone
there, him included, liked me and
cared about me and that I didn’t
need to apologize. He helped me
to accept myself for who I am,
accept God’s grace in my life, and
share abundant joy with others.
He would often compliment
me and other members of the
community, with a smile on his
face, using his catch-phrase that
everything was wonderful. He
would often reply after I’d tell
him stories, ‘Isn’t that wonderful.’
He was a wonderful friar, and
a dear friend. I miss our daily
conversations very much, but as
a prayer card he once gave me
said, “Our loved ones only go
from us to God, and God is very
near.” He will always be near to
me in my heart.
— Contributed by
Michael Fabrizio
ONLINE
Please take time to visit the newly redesigned
Dominican Friars Central Province website,
www.OPCentral.org, to learn more about the
Order of Preachers.
IN MEMORIAM

A New Idea in 800 Years?
FR. ANDREW CARL WISDOM, O.P.
W
e recently celebrated
St. Dominic’s
founding of the
Order of Preachers
nearly 800 years ago. You would not
think there could be a new idea in
800 years, but actually there was and
is! On December 8, the Dominican
Family Group celebrated its first year
anniversary. It began as one family
of 7 wanting to deepen its Catholic
faith by intentional journeying
together through a specific school of
spirituality: Dominican. Along the
way it invited three others families
(making the group membership 15) to
join them in embracing this particular
calling.Today there are 7 families
and 45 members involved. As Angela
and John Burcsh, the group founders
and leaders put it: “We combat the
limited societal experience of family
and help our children recognize that
the spiritual life is lived beyond the
walls of the church and in the heart of
our homes. It is incredibly helpful for
our children to see the other families
living their faith lives outside of an
hour on Sunday.”
The group’s mission statement
reads: “Seeking to raise our families
in an intentional way, finding support
and structure in the four pillars of
the Dominican Community.”The
latter part of that statement reflects
the strong and stable framework of
the group: prayer, study, community
and ministry. Its ongoing inspiration
is its methodology: all, whether
children, teenagers or adults, are equal
participants in the group activities
of communal prayer, discussion
and follow-up action steps to
bring faith alive during the month
between meetings.“As a kid, I get to
participate.The adults treat kids’ideas
and input with respect,”says Evan,
an eleven year old group member.
Thirteen year-old Amanda agrees
with him,“I really enjoy being able to
discuss my faith with people who are
like-minded and kids my age. I also
really like learning more about my
faith on a level that engages me.”
Each two-hour “gathering”takes
place in a member’s home, and
includes: 1.Welcome, 2. Opening
prayer, 3. Discussion of topic or theme
of the month, 4. Input and sharing
of ideas for the upcoming month’s
topic, 5. Housekeeping of the group,
6. Closing Prayer, 6. Social time with
snacks, games or “play time.”
The theological foundation is first
and foremost the Catholic faith
and within that rich mosaic, the
theology of vocation (all are called
to universal holiness), marriage and
children with a constant emphasis,
the family as “the domestic Church.’
Undergirding this theological
foundation is the guidance of the
Catholic Catechism sections on
marriage, family and children.
The goals are to support and
strengthen families as a the domestic
church; support the vocation of
marriage; embrace each family member
as a teacher of the others, especially
respecting the innate theology of
children; leaning and growing in the
Catholic faith, particularly through
the Dominican religious tradition;
and finally to discern or reaffirm one’s
life vocation. Ω
FOR MORE INFORMATION
After such a successful first year, we
welcome you to consider forming your
own Dominican Family Group. If
you are interested in the Dominican
Family, please contact me at A.Wisdom@
OPCentral.org or at (312) 243.0011.
Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, O.P., Fr. Charles Bouchard, O.P., and Fr. Kevin Niehoff, O.P. enabled this group of Michigan Catholics to
form the Dominican Family Group.

IN MEMORIAM
FR. BENJAMIN RUSSELL, O.P.
July 24, 1933- August 11, 2014
Iknew Benjamin Russell for nearly
40 years. My relationship with
him was as a brother, mentor, and
friend. First meeting him when he
would come regularly to Dubuque
from Madison (where he was
pastor of Blessed Sacrament) for
various activities, my relationship
with him grew when I went to
Blessed Sacrament for my Deacon
Internship. It was then that I
discovered his wisdom and humor. A
year later I returned to Madison for
my first assignment. It was then that
I developed a deeper appreciation
and respect for the man. He was a
perfect mentor for a raw priest. His
practical experience combined with
a keen intellect to provide a reliable
source of applicable wisdom.
Benjamin will be remembered
for many things but one which
profoundly influenced me was
his skills at building community,
whether it was as prior of Blessed
Sacrament or as pastor. One cannot
think of Benj without making more
than passing reference to his love
for the stage. He used this to begin
a parish talent show. It was such a
popular community event that there
was universal demand that it be
repeated and was called “Encore”. It
still continues.
His background in literature made
Benjamin a wordsmith of the first
order. He put this to fine use in his
preaching, teaching, glorying in the
fine art of conversation, or doing
crossword puzzles.
Within the house he was also
the force around whom everyone
gathered. While Benjamin had a
disdain for formality he led some of
the best (read: short and effective)
meetings I have ever experienced.
Always sensitive to everyone, he
made sure every voice was heard and
respected. And then there were the
late nights watching old movies with
Matthew Powell, Peter Witchousky,
and Jim Marchionda. We watched
the greats and we watched some real
trash (both of which we relished).
But the real joy was the time
together.
Humility is not be a word that
will be readily spoken in conjunction
with Benj Russell. But, when push
came to shove (which it sometimes
did), he truly manifest it. A time
came when he had to be confronted
with a particular issue with which
he had battled for years. When he
came through it he would freely cite
the brethren and our real love and
care for him as the true source of his
recovery.
In my mind Benjamin Russell was
a real saint. Yes, his halo was rakishly
tilted and perhaps dented and a bit
tarnished, but he was really a man of
God and a man of St. Dominic. He
loved all people, he loved life, and he
is a man who I can proudly say was
my brother and friend.
– Contributed by By Fr. Stan
Drongowski, O.P.
Fr. Russell was a man of words.
Not necessarily a lot of words,
but precision in words. I worked
with him at Aquinas Institute
of Theology; he was professor of
philosophy and also Academic
Dean. He insisted in precise use of
language, and so terrorized students
when he corrected papers. At
one point he wrote a booklet for
students called “A Guide to Writing
Research Papers,” which I believe
is still in use today. He made it
clear that students should say what
they wanted to say, say it clearly,
and stop. He was also a big fan
of footnotes, which most students
thought were a ridiculous waste of
time.
He was the kind of guy who
could tell you the derivation of
hermeneutic, or that the proper
pronunciation of exquisite was EX-
quisite, with the emphasis on the first
syllable.
But he wasn’t an intellectual
egghead. He also loved the theater,
and especially Liza Minelli.
I think he was what we’d call
“well-rounded.”
— Contributed by Fr. Charles
Bouchard, O.P.

BY BILL SKOWRONSKI
Director of Communication and Marketing
F
aithfully, a woman named
“Mary Lou” dialed (312)
226-0020 every Thursday
until she died last year at
the age of 91. She’d ask to have
her prayer intentions placed at
the Dominican Shrine of St. Jude
Thaddeus inside St. Pius V Church
in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.
She’d carry on a conversation about
her son who died, her friends at
the nursing home, and even her cat
Coco. But, Mary Lou rarely spoke
to one of the six spiritual directors
who served the Shrine since 1997, a
Dominican Friar at the parish, or any
priest. Instead, she spoke to Maria
Matsumoto, the voice of the Shrine
for 17 years.
“She felt lonely,” Maria said. “She
didn’t have anybody to talk to.”
Mary Lou was far from the only
person to regularly call the Shrine
Line. And speaking to her—or
rather, listening to her—was far from
the only of Maria’s responsibilities as
Gifts Administrator at the Shrine.
“Just as people have come to
believe in the intercession of St.
Jude, they have come to rely on the
friendly, calm voice, and attentive ear
of Maria. She has truly ministered
to the patrons of Shrine. We are
immensely grateful for her service
and her peaceful presence,” said Bob
Dixon, Executive Director of the
Office of Mission Advancement
for the Central Province. “We will
never know the number of people
she has touched and whose lives she
influenced, but they are surely in the
thousands.”
If you’ve sent a donation in the
mail, a request for a Mass, an order
for St. Jude blessed oil, or $2.00
along with a prayer intention, you’ve
known Maria in some way—and she
has known you.
This fall, Maria retired from
the Shrine in order to enjoy her
remaining years of good health with
her husband, their two small dogs,
their children, and grandchildren.
She took with her a close bond with
the patrons of the Shrine, though
most never knew her.
Most of the Shrine patrons,
devotees to St. Jude Thaddeus,
the named saint of hopeless, or
impossible, causes, never knew how
many requests, donations, and orders
Maria processed personally. Few
DOMINICAN SHRINE OF ST. JUDE THADDEUS
The Voiceof theDominicanShrineofSt.JudeThaddeus
Maria Matsumoto retired from the Dominican Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus last fall
after 17 years of dedicated service.

may have met her at one of the
Shrine’s five Solemn Novenas
each year, where she helped
distribute booklets and sell
religious articles.
Maria knew them though,
and she noticed the alarming
trend that continues today.
“In the beginning, I saw
all this mail coming in and
I thought WOW, St. Jude is
really powerful,” she said. “All
these people write and send
money. Now I wonder what
happened. It’s changing. It’s
not like it used to be, but I
don’t know why.”
She may not miss the
congested Chicago commute,
but working at the Shrine
impressed upon her the rare
opportunity people have
to enjoy a healthy life after
retirement. After absorbing
countless thousands of prayer
requests from Shrine patrons
for good health, freedom from
mental and physical illness
or financial troubles, Maria
hopes to return to the small
town near Santa Maria de los
Angeles, Mexico, where she
was born. God-willing, with
the intercession of St. Jude,
she’ll make it one day.
“I was thinking people don’t
retire until they’re sick or they
can’t walk anymore,” Maria
said. “I’m glad I’ll be able to
take walks and enjoy a few
more years.” Ω
PRAY WITH US
The Dominican Shrine of St. Jude
is located in the Church of St.
Pius V at 1909 S. Ashland Ave.,
on Chicago’s near southwest side.
• Visit us online:
www.The-Shrine.org
• For times of Shrine services:
312.226.0020
Why Studying Philosophy Matters
TO PRAISE, TO BLESS, TO PREACH
J
ohn Cleese (of Monty Python
fame) made a very powerful
set of advertisements some
years ago for the American
Philosophical Association. One of my
favorite goes:
Philosophy seems so harmless. And
yet, in dictatorships, philosophers are
among the first people to be silenced.
Why have dictators bothered
to silence philosophers? Maybe
because ideas really matter.They can
transform human lives.
There is a deep power to ideas.The
ideas of universal freedom, equality,
and human rights have led to the
founding of our own country, the
United States.The Gospel itself is,
aside from everything else, an idea. It
is something we can communicate to
other people through speech and it
enters into their minds and ears before
it enters (hopefully) their hearts.The
vocation of we Dominican friars, the
Order of Preachers, has always been to
open those ears and minds to the light
of Christ shining in our midst.
How often do we find people
today questioning whether religion
is merely a kind of fanaticism that
leads only to violence and bigotry?
Our mission to preach the Truth
and to save souls is helped by the
study not only of theology, but of
philosophical truth whether in
ethics, political philosophy, logic,
or metaphysics. Each of these is a
way to ground our preaching and
our theology in reasonability and
credibility. Saint Thomas Aquinas,
patron of theologians and our brother
Dominican, remains our model for
the service philosophy can render
to theological thinking. Even today,
people are converted to the faith just
by reading his writings, so well did he
imbibe the Gospel and continues to
make it credible to people.
But, despite the reasons why
philosophy is useful to our neighbors,
philosophy helps clearly see and
think about the Wisdom behind
all humanly wisdom (1 Cor. 2:7).
Our spiritual life as Dominicans
involves study not only to accomplish
something, but to lead us to silent
contemplation of God Himself.You
can’t love God if you don’t know Him,
and you can love Him more dearly the
more clearly you know Him. Reading
and writing philosophy papers,
presenting at conferences, working out
complex arguments, teaching students
and grading papers are just some of
the ways I live out my prayer.
I hope personally to begin a
doctoral degree in philosophy this
fall. As with all of our studies, I will
be getting the degree to be of service
to the brothers and our preaching
mission; I will likely spend my time
teaching philosophy in our studium
or elsewhere.This task is not a small
one; our Order has had many brothers
over the years excel in philosophy,
teaching it to the younger friars, and
it has contributed in large part to why
our preaching remains distinctive.
My hope is to follow in the large
footsteps of some of our esteemed
brother philosophers, such as Frs.
Benedict Ashley, Cyril Fabian, or (an
old professor of mine) Kurt Pritzl,
and help make a little contribution
to helping others listen to the Word
speaking to them. Ω
BR. JAMES DOMINIC
ROONEY, O.P.
Dominican Friars,

T
he Master of the Dominican
Order (the 87th direct
successor to St. Dominic),
Fr. Bruno Cadore, O.P.,
toured the Province of St. Albert
the Great (Central Province U.S.A.)
to conduct the canonical visitations
as required by the Constitution of
the Order.The principal objective
was to gain the best possible
understanding of the province, of
its communities, and its brothers, of
the cultural and ecclesial contest in
which it undertakes its preaching,
of the principal challenges with
which it is faced, of its strengths
and weaknesses, and to identify
with the province the key points
for promoting further its apostolic
creativity and for integrating that
creativity in the overall mission of
the Order.
The Master of the Order arrived
in late October and spent nearly two
weeks touring the Province of St.
Albert the Great (Central Province,
U.S.A.).
The Master visited with brothers
in their communities in Chicago,
Madison, Denver, St. Louis, and
West Lafayette (Indiana). He met
with students and faculty at Fenwick
High School and Aquinas Institute
of Theology. According to Fr. Bruno,
the moments spent in evening prayer
with the Dominican Family, the
Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, and
concelebrating Mass in Province
parishes served as a reminder about
the importance of collaboration in
fulfilling the Order’s mission today.
He reminded us that our holy
preaching has to give priority to the
poor.
On the History of the Province
and the Order
In his report to the Provincial (Fr.
Charles Bouchard, O.P.), Fr. Bruno
noted that the Central Province
celebrates its 75th jubilee and also
approaches the Order’s 800th jubilee.
TheMasteroftheDominicanOrder
VisitstheCentral Province
During his tour of the Central Province, Fr. Bruno Cadore, O.P. visited students and faculty at Fenwick High School
in Oak Park, Illinois.

“Jubilees are times of restoration
and liberation in which the
fundamental questions of identity
surface.The jubilee of provinces,
especially in the context of the
great Jubilee of the Order is a
graced moment to stand in silence
before God and the rich history of
a province in order to listen and to
grasp how, as an integral part of the
Order, it will renew itself and adapt
itself courageously.”
“The unity of the Order in a
province is bound together in the
common vision of the province, that
is, the way in which it manifests the
charism of the Order fully in each
instance of its presence in a specific
location.”
On Fraternal Life
The Master acknowledged the
value brought to the province by its
elder members as well as affirming
the importance of its campus
ministries and vocations efforts.
“You have been blessed with a
good number of vocations that
rejuvenate the province.This is due to
the culture of vocations that you have
developed where all are responsible
for the promotion of vocation,
which begins with the integrity of
one’s own life
and fidelity to the
charism of the
Order. In such a
way, the tradition
of the Order is
handed on from
one generation
to the next with
a confidence
and esteem that
encourages creativity in the face of
routine challenges.
“The elder brothers remind us that
without a foundation in a daily life
of prayer and study the challenges of
aging will be all the more burdensome
and frustrating. It is the fruits of
our lifelong dialogue with the Word
that provide the way through life’s
challenges, especially when the body
is too weak (lack of energy and
concentration, poor eyesight, etc.) to
start anew at the beginning,”
On the Province’s Growth:
“The new priory of St. Dominic
(St. Louis), with its emphasis
on architectural simplicity and a
renewed use of previous structures,
can be seen as a symbol of
renewing previous relationships for
collaboration by focusing on the
basics (simplicity) of the Dominican
Life.”
On Preaching
“The danger is to see preaching
as something we must ‘do’ rather
than something
we ‘are’ in the sacra
praedicatio, that
is, the witness to
the conversation
that God wants
to have with us
so that we have
something to share
with the world. It
is in the Word of
God that we discover our identity as
Dominicans.”
On a Life of Study
“Your province has a tradition of a
strong intellectual mission evidenced
by a number of your brothers and
renewed tools for publications
with the New Priory Press. As you
define and reaffirm the goal and
purpose of Aquinas Institute, know
that I was very impressed with
the school and support academic
(philosophical and theological)
formation in the ambiance of the lay
formation programs, especially in
the M.A. in Health Care Mission.
A strong foundation in philosophy
and theology, distinguished by its
rigor and scientific method, will be
necessary in order for brothers to take
part fittingly in serious dialogue.”
“Which youth are we serving?
Are we serving only the youth that
can afford an education today at
the educational institutions that we
serve? What about all of the youth
that do not attend college? If our
ministry priority is to the youth,
then how is it to all of them and not
only to a particular social class or
those who are intellectuals, that is,
having received the higher levels of
education?”
On the Province’s Economy
“There are new steps in the Office
of Mission Advancement and a
growing culture of mendicancy in the
province.”
On Missions Abroad
“Begin a dialogue with the Order
about the possibility of beginning a
new foreign mission or collaborating
with a more fragile entity in need of
support. Ω

A
fter over 40 years in
ministry it is not easy to
rise to new challenges,
but they do happen. I
have read Celebration for almost all
of those 40 years. Since I am not
imaginative by nature, I have relied
on Patricia Sanchez,Gabe Huck,
Pat Marrin and other scripture and
liturgical experts to get me moving
on the Sunday liturgies.It came as a
shock to be asked to write the lead
article for the September issue.We
work as a team,but generally preach as
individuals. However Pat Marrin, the
editor wanted it written as a team
effort, and he wanted the stories we
have garnered to illustrate the article
on God’s mercy and ours as a theme
for the month.
It was a lot of work, but to see our
names in print in the magazine for
preachers was a thrill and made me
proud to be a Dominican!
Every now and again we have to
minister to friends in trouble.That
creates another dimension to my
ministry, I cannot go home and turn
off. My lifelong friend Brian, whose
four children I have known since they
were young schoolkids phoned from
Australia to say his wife, Marilyn was
seriously ill with leukemia.
For days it seemed she would
recover but she got an infection and
died suddenly and tragically. She was
a strong woman and a great mother
and wife - and a good friend of mine
I was grieving as I ministered.We
think young people are not religious,
well Marilyn’s two daughters and
two sons proved that false.While I
traveled to Australia they prepared the
Mass, chose the readings, wrote the
prayers and the eulogy, all presented
to me on arrival.They witnessed to
her faith and the faith she and Brian
had taught them, and the faith they in
turn were teaching to their children.
I am not at the Synod on the
family, I would love to have been
invited! I am thrilled that each session
begins with lay people witnessing. Big
pastoral decisions have to be made in
the next year, but I hope the bishops
and leaders reflect on the faith that is
there, not always orthodox, but always
real and based on the Gospel, a faith I
could relive with my young friends.
– Fr Nick Punch, Thomas More Center
E
arly May, Melbourne,
Australia:
We had the opportunity
to preach in a huge suburban
parish whose membership was 90
percent first and second generation
Indian.The two priests were from
India and the pastor had a wonderful
contemporary spirituality and was
revered by his parishioners. All
meals were prepared by Indian
parishioners and every day we had
authentic Indian food much of
which I had never experienced.The
evening sessions of the renewal
were attended by nearly 800 people
and the morning sessions had 300
in attendance. We were expecting
some simple piety but found the
congregation was well educated and
expecting good biblical interpretation
and a contemporary spirituality. We
met (both male and female), doctors,
accountants, attorneys, teachers,
IT experts and successful business
people. Parents are very concerned
about good academic and theological
education for their children and
had raised the money to open two
Catholic High Schools within the
parish boundaries. Our open Q and
A parts of each session were lively,
enthusiastic and challenging.There
is a clear desire to become Australian
and still hand on the richness of their
culture. We arrived wondering how
three “anglos” would be received and
finished the renewal program with a
request to return in a few years.
Late February, Moneta, VA:
Resurrection Parish, Moneta, VA
was established in the mid 1970s and
has never had a resident priest.
For the past 15 years the Thomas
More Center Preaching Team has
celebrated all of the Holy Week
Services and has preached 7 Parish
Renewals there in the course of
that time. We have many good
friends there and among them, Susie
and John Parrish. Susie cheerfully
battled cancer for 14 years and
finally died this year. I was asked to
come celebrate the funeral by her
family and it was truly a memorable
experience. Susie had planned her
funeral in a remarkable way and
it was spiritually, liturgically and
emotionally a profound experience of
resurrection for everyone present.
– Fr. Mike Champlin, O.P,
Thomas More Center
DOMINICAN FRIARS ABROAD
Off the MapDominican impact often happens off the beaten path

D
uring the summer, Br.
Ambrose Lowman and
I spent two months in
Grenada, a small island
in the Caribbean. Our mission in
Grenada was primarily to assist
in social justice work with Caritas
International. Our base of operations
was Our Lady of the Rosary Parish
in the St. Paul neighborhood
near St. George’s, the capital and
primary port town.The work we
pursued involved assisting with the
building of low-income housing,
the distribution of food to more
impoverished areas of the island,
and canvasing neighborhoods to
get information about the needs
of the island’s residents. We also
contributed to the life of the
Church in Grenada, preaching
during Novenas and charismatic
conferences.
Our work placed
us in direct contact
with the most
impoverished on
the island. Grenada
continues to recover
from two hurricanes
that practically
flattened the island in 2004 / 2005.
Many homes remain abandoned,
and some Grenadians have taken to
“squatting” on government-owned
property so as to be nearer to the
economic centers of the island. A
once growing economy based on
agriculture and tourism struggles
to gain a foothold in the global
marketplace. Church and family
life has not been immune to the
afflictions of the island, and much
evangelization and conversion must
take place on the
island if recovery is
to continue. But the
people of Grenada
are resilient, and we
have great hopes for
them into the future.
After two months
on mission in
Grenada, we were able to come
back to the States with valuable
knowledge of the island’s history and
culture.This knowledge was later
shared during the fall semester in
our class on Catholic social teaching.
You, too, can share our knowledge
through a series of interviews we did
for Good News Catholic Radio in
Grenada, available at http://www.
preachingfriars.org/friars-spice-
isle-0.
– By Br. Brian Zuelke, O.P.
Br. Brian Zuelke, O.P. and Br. Ambrose Lowman, O.P. spent part of the summer in Grenada, helping the island continue to recover
from hurricanes that damaged it nearly 10 years ago.
Brian Zuelke,
O.P.
Ambrose
Lowman, O.P.

Parishes
St. Pius V •
Chicago,
IL
St. Vincent
Ferrer •
River Forest, IL
St. Albert the Great • Minneapolis,
MN
Holy Rosary/Santo Rosario •
Minneapolis, MN
Blessed Sacrament • Madison, WI
St. Dominic • Denver, CO
Campus Ministry
St. Thomas Aquinas Newman
Center • Purdue University
St. Paul Catholic Center • Indiana
University
St. Thomas More Newman Center •
University of Missouri-Columbia
Education/Spirituality
Fenwick High School • Oak Park, IL
Aquinas Institute of Theology •
St. Louis, MO
Dominican Ecclesial Institute
(D+E+I) • Albuquerque, NM
Shrine of St. Jude • Chicago, IL
OUR
MINISTRIES
Paris
St. P
St. V
St. A
Holy
Bless
St. D
OUR MINISTRIES
1910S.AshlandAvenue•Chicago,IL60608
312-243-0011•www.OPCentral.org
DominicanFriars
CentralProvince,USA
YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ENABLES OUR MINISTRIES
Learn more at www.opcentral.org/donate/1216-annual-fund
1216ANNUAL FUND
DOMINICAN FRIARS
PROVINCE OF ST. ALBERT THE GREAT

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