June/July 2009
District Day will be in July
The annual District Day and Jubilee Celebration gathering for the Brothers of the Midwest
District will be held at Lewis University on Saturday, July 25th. This year the registration
process is different. Brother Larry Schatz has asked ALL BROTHERS to register online at this
link - https://cbmidwest.wufoo.com/forms/district-day-2009/ - so that the planners will have all
the information for each Brother who will attend. He has asked everyone to register EVEN IF
YOU HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED THE OFFICE, or even if a community sheet has
been sent to Burr Ridge. Brothers who do not have email were sent the registration information
by U.S. mail. Please register by July 1st. Thank you.
Jubilarians will be honored on July 25th
This year the District will honor twelve Brothers for significant anniversaries: 75 years –
Brother Basil Rothweiler; 70 years – Brothers Joseph Seiler and Robert Staub; 60 Years –
Brothers Louis Althaus, Edwin Dupre, Stephen Eibert, Arnold McMullen and Leo Srubas;
50 years – Brothers Michael Lee Anderson, Bernard Brungardt, William Clarey and
Michael Flaherty. The deadline for the jubilarians to submit the number and names of their
guests was June 15th. Please return the details to Cheryl Garrigan at the Burr Ridge Office or
cgarrigan@cbmidwest.org .
District nurses will meet in Winona
Brothers Frank Carr and Bill Clarey will meet with the nurses of the Midwest District in
Winona, MN, on the weekend of July 17-19. Maureen Guillou, the nurse in Winona, will lead
the group outings and provide information about Winona and the area. Cathie Swanson,
Patricia Bader and Sheila Cusack will also attend the gathering. This is the fourth annual
meeting for the Midwest District Nurses who meet once a year to discuss health issues and
concerns and how they can best serve the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the Christian
Brothers. They also take time to celebrate the uniqueness of their ministries and to lend support
to each other.
San Juan Diego school will close
The Board of Directors of San Juan Diego Middle School in Racine, WI, announced on May 26th
that the school will close at the end of this academic year. The school was established six years
ago to provide and education for students from impoverished families. The current enrollment is
approximately 70 students in grades five through eight. Executive Director Laura Sumner
Coon said that they had little problem with enrollment, but funding has been a constant
challenge, and they have exhausted all their resources. They explored becoming a Charter or
Contract school, but the local school district was not able to fund them. The local parish is
considering other options. The final graduation was on June 9th, and the following day was the
final day of the school.
Message from the Brothers at Cretin-Derham
―For so many years the Brothers were welcome as guests at the Christian Brothers Community in
St. Paul whenever they traveled up this way. That hospitality will continue as long as this house
remains open. In the past when six, a dozen or more Brothers were in the community, there were
no financial problems. Now that there are only two Brothers here, that has become a serious
problem. In the past six Brothers were required to balance the community budget. This past year
started with four Brothers and ended with two. The budget has taken a serious hit. Major changes
are being taken to reduce community expenses. The Mexican Sisters will return to Mexico in
early August (there will be a cook but only for the five evening meals during the week); the
services of a chaplain has been terminated; many of the automobiles have been sold. Other things
will be changed and/or terminated. But even with these changes, the budget cannot be balanced.
This is a big house, and the income from two Brothers just is not enough. While you are more
than welcome to come as our guests, a financial contribution would be most appreciated. Food,
cleaning rooms, doing laundry, adds up when we have many guests. The amount one should
contribute will not be suggested for this coming year, but after this year that may have to change.
Thank you for your consideration.‖ Brother Martin Sellner and Brother Michael Schain
Lasallian Volunteers will hold a reunion
The Lasallian Volunteers will hold their orientation and a Harvest Reunion at Lewis University.
On August 1-2 the Harvest Reunion will mark the 20th anniversary of the Volunteers. They
invited former Volunteers, Brothers, family and friends to join them in celebrating two decades
of service. For details: http://www.lasallianvolunteers.org/ .
Visitors meeting will hear Task Force report
The next Visitors Meeting is scheduled for June 25th at the Baltimore Maritime Institute when
they will receive the report of the Regional Task Force of the RCCB. The Task Force met for the
final time on June 1st to complete the draft of their proposal for restructuring of the Regional
Conference. The report will make several recommendations to improve the functioning of the
groups and individuals involved with the Conference. The restructuring was requested by the
2006 Salt Lake City Assembly. The RCCB affirmed the work of the RTF and charged a
reconstituted group to continue developing a plan to enhance the Lasallian educational mission
and Association for mission for future generations.
Implementation Committee presented at joint meeting
The Implementation Committee presented a draft of a Strategic Plan for the Midwest District on
June 10th at a joint meeting of the District Council and the Mission and Ministry Council in Burr
Ridge. The Committee was established following the recent Mission Convocation in the District.
Third Cohort of LTIP Concluded
On May 5th Brothers Frank Carr and Larry Schatz traveled to La Salle Center in Wildwood,
MO, to participate in the closing prayer service for the third cohort of students in the Lasallian
Teacher Immersion Program (LTIP). In the three weeks since the program ended a number of
LTIPers have spoken about how much they miss each other and their life in community. Brother
Pat Conway expressed his thanks to the Brothers and Volunteers in these communities for their
generosity and warm hospitality in accommodating the LTIP students for extended periods of
time: La Salle Center (Glencoe), Holy Family Catholic Worker (Kansas City), Bishop Kelley
(Tulsa), Christian Brothers High School (Memphis), De La Salle (Minneapolis), Christian
Brothers College High School (St. Louis). A thorough end-of-the-year report on the program will
be sent to each community in late June. At the request of the Regional Vocation and Formation
Board (RVFB), three ―alumni‖ and Brother Pat Conway will give a presentation on the LTIP at
the June meeting of the Lasallian Association of College and University Presidents (LACUP).
The regional vocation directors hope that the LTIP may be replicated in one form or another at
the other Lasallian universities.
(Left to right: Brother Larry Schatz, Steve Schmidt, Nick Gorman, Kevin Magas, Cullen
Gibbons, Tom Thielen, Jon Delwiche, Brother Frank Carr, and Brother Pat Conway)
District team will attend planning retreat in Chicago
The members of the Midwest District Team will attend a planning retreat at the Cenacle in
Chicago from August 17th to 19th. The first task will be planning for the coming year, and then
the members will attempt to develop plans for the next several years.
Brother Belaynah Medhanit sent this
―I will be leaving for Ethiopia on June 13th at 3:00 pm. It is not always easy to leave behind some
wonderful memories and wonderful people I have known in the past four years, though I
anticipate the big joy of meeting my folks in Ethiopia. Of course, the good memories will be kept
alive every time I think of my stay in America and every time I ponder the kindness shown to me
in the Midwest District… I owe God and the people I have come to know here for my success.
God has indeed done wonderful things in my life. Now I have to go to that dusty, sunny, and
rural place of my country to educate the poor. Please do pray for me as I undertake my new
assignment.‖ To contact him by email: bmedhanit@yahoo.com
Three Brothers will attend CMSM gatherings
On August 5th Brothers Frank Carr, Larry Schatz and Pat Conway will attend a one day
workshop called ―Changing Face of the Catholic Church in America: Hispanics, Latinos and
Latinas, Out of Diversity Building Unity.‖ The program is sponsored by the Conference of Major
Superiors of Men and will take place at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis. Brother Frank will
stay on until August 8th to attend the CMSM Assembly, ―Called to Proclaim the Gospel.‖
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will be one of the speakers.
Brother Thomas Hetland reported two bequests
―In December the Brothers were the beneficiaries of a $150,000 bequest from the estate of Dr.
Harold Manfredi, a 1941 graduate of St. Mel H.S. In May the Brothers received a bequest of
$231,000 from Bernadette Kohl in memory of her cousin, the late Br. Alfred Shields, for the
support of retired Brothers. Please keep Dr. Manfredi, Bernadette Kohl, and all our generous
benefactors in your prayers.‖
CB Conference offers two new publications
The Conference is pleased to announce the release of two new publications: The Lasallian
Mission in the U.S.-Toronto Region, 2009 edition—$2.00 per copy; and the
Pocket Calendar and Directory of Places, June 2009-December 2010—$4.50 per copy
There is an Early Bird Special for the Pocket Calendar. To order online, please go to
www.lasallian.info/store . Celine A. Quinio, Director of Communications.
Directory Change
With the closing of San Juan Diego School Brother Richard Roller will move from Racine to
Resurrection Retirement Community on July 1st. With the closing of school he will lose Internet
and phone any time. Contact him by cell phone: (262) 902 1791.
Congratulations to
Brother Louis Rodemann, who directed the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the
Holy Family Catholic Worker House in Kansas City from June 11th to 14th. Louis also
marks his 27th year of service to their community.
Dr. Carmen Maria Cervantes, Director of Instituto Fe y Vida, who received an award
from the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana for her longtime
commitment and pioneering leadership in the organization of ministry with young Latino
Catholics in the U.S.
Ken Johnson-Mondragon of Fe y Vida, who last year received the Mario Vizcaino
Award for his contributions to advocacy for ministry with Latino youth.
Brother Kevin Fitzgerald, who retired on May 13th from De La Salle Institute in
Chicago after 45 years of teaching.
Fr. Brian O’Brien who became the next President of Bishop Kelley H.S. in Tulsa on
June 1st.
Alan Weyland who was appointed the inaugural Director of Mission and Ministry for
the Eastern District of North America (DENA).
Walter Bowman who completed 15 years of service as Principal at O’Hara High School.
In the fall he will be teaching at the Kansas City Cristo Rey High School.
Health Updates
Brother Joseph (Michael) Zastrow is in room 109 at Resurrection Life Center, 7370
West Talcott Ave., Chicago, IL 60631. Phone - (773) 775-1651.
Brother Larry Zeman reported that a tumor has grown on the left side of his ribs and
must be treated with radiation which started on May 27th, so he will be going Monday to
Friday every day until July 7th for 30 treatments. Fatigue is the most frequent side-effect.
This is the third time the lung cancer has returned, and the doctors noted that the
progression has been slow and has stayed in the rib cage from which they took the lung.
―That's the good news with this tough news,‖ he wrote.
Brother Dan Susek was released from the hospital in Memphis after a successful
replacement of his left knee on May 27th. His right knee was replaced earlier
Brother Henry Baldwin had outpatient surgery on May 30th and was expected to do
well.
Brother Joseph Seiler continues to heal from his lower extremity circulation problems
from the winter months.
Brother Tom Power continues his physical therapy at Clare Oaks in Bartlett, IL.
Brother Cyril Pahl was taken to Saint Joseph's Hospital on May 28th suffering from
pneumonia.
Rest in Peace
Brother Raphael (Herman Raphael) Erler, 93, died on May 15th in Winona, MN. A
De La Salle Christian Brother for 75 years, he was born Joseph Erler in Rosemount,
Minn., to Herman and Marie (McDonald) Erler. He graduated from La Salle H.S. in
Glencoe, MO, and entered the novitiate of the Brothers in 1934. He pronounced his first
vows in 1935 and his final vows in 1941. Brother Raphael earned a BA degree from Saint
Mary’s College in 1938, a MA from Loyola University in 1942, and a PHD from the
University of Minnesota/Minneapolis in 1959. During his years as an educator, he taught
at St. George H.S. in Evanston, IL, St. Patrick H.S. in Chicago, Christian Brothers H.S. in
Memphis, and Cretin H.S. in St. Paul. At different times he taught at Saint Mary’s
University, most recently from 1954 to 1981 when he retired. Survivors include his
brother Arthur Erler of Little Canada, MN, and his friend and caregiver Mary Malloy. A
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on May 19th at St. Thomas More Chapel on the
campus of Saint Mary’s University. Interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Winona.
Brother Richard (Richard Steven) Brady, 70, a De LaSalle Christian Brother for 48
years, died on June 9 at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois. Born John
Laurence Brady in 1938 in St. Louis, MO, he was the son of the late Lorenzo and Marie
(Haubursin) Brady. He graduated from Christian Brothers College H. S. in 1956 and
earned his B.A. degree from Saint Mary’s College (now University) in Winona, MN, in
1960. He then entered the novitiate in Glencoe, MO, and made his first vows the
following year and his final profession in 1966. Brother Richard earned an M.A.T. degree
from Dominican University in River Forest, IL, in 1997. During his career as an educator
he taught at De La Salle Institute, St. Mel H.S. and St. Patrick H.S. in Chicago and at St.
Joseph H.S. in Westchester, IL. During those years he was also involved at different
times with athletics, baseball and soccer, and retreat programs. He was Secretary of the
East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC) for 30 years. Survivors include his aunt,
Mrs. Bess Dutson of Webster Groves, MO, a nephew Kevin Brady of Lone Tree, CO, a
niece Dawn Brady of Lewisville, TX. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Saint
Patrick High School on June 12th and interment was private at Resurrection Cemetery in
Romeoville, IL.
Kyler Humphrey, 87, father of Brother Lawrence died on May 15th in Louisville, KY,
after a long illness. He was preceded in death by his wife and is survived by three sons,
Kyler (Andrea), Brother Lawrence, and Joseph, seven grandchildren, and three great-
grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on May 18th at St. Peter the
Apostle Catholic Church, and burial followed at Calvary Cemetery.
Bishop Roger Kaffer, 81, of the Diocese of Joliet died on May 28th. On September 23,
2008, he moved to Our Lady of the Angels Retirement Home in Joliet where the next
month he suffered a mild heart attack and was diagnosed with prostate cancer. A Mass of
Christian Burial was celebrated on June 3rd at the Cathedral of St. Raymond.
Health Notes
Wishing you a happy and healthy summer, Brothers!
Headaches are a common concern in our culture. Understanding why headaches occur and improving
headache treatment are among the research goals of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS). As the leading supporter of brain research in the Federal Government, the NINDS also
supports and conducts studies to improve the diagnosis of headaches and to find ways to prevent them.
The following information is taken from the NINDS.
What hurts when you have a headache? The bones of the skull and tissues of the brain itself never hurt,
because they lack pain-sensitive nerve fibers. Several areas of the head can hurt, including a network of
nerves which extends over the scalp and certain nerves in the face, mouth, and throat. Also sensitive to
pain, because they contain delicate nerve fibers, are the muscles of the head and blood vessels found
along the surface and at the base of the brain.
Not all headaches require medical attention. Some result from missed meals or occasional muscle tension
and are easily remedied. Some types of headaches are signals of more serious disorders, and call for
prompt medical care. The best rule of thumb that I can give you is that if you experience a type of
headache that is unusual for you call your doctor.
Be prepared to answer many questions from your doctor if you do follow-up on symptoms of a severe
headache. Write down before you go to the doctor how often you have headaches, location of the pain,
length of the headaches, the type of pain, the first time you developed the headaches, your sleep habits,
stressors in your life, and if you are having any symptoms of nausea or vomiting with the headache.
Research scientists are unclear about the precise cause of migraine headaches. There seems to be general
agreement that a key element is blood flow changes in the brain. People who get migraines headaches
appear to have blood vessels that overreact to various triggers. It may be that the nervous system
responds to a trigger such as stress by causing a spasm of the nerve-rich arteries at the base of the brain.
The spasm closes down or constricts several arteries supplying blood to the brain, including the scalp
artery and the carotid or neck arteries. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on
one or both sides of the head, an upset stomach, and at times disturbed vision. Sensitivity to light has also
been reported by migraine sufferers.
Tension headaches, according to the mayoclinic.com website source, are the most commonly experienced
type of headache. The causes aren't well understood. It is generally a diffuse, mild to moderate pain that
many people describe as feeling as if there's a tight band around the head.
When headaches occur three or more times a month, preventive treatment is usually recommended. Drug
therapy, biofeedback training, stress reduction, and elimination of certain foods from the diet are the most
common methods of preventing and controlling migraines and other types of headaches. Regular exercise
such as swimming or walking also reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches.
From my experience, acetaminophen is a good over-the-counter medication taken according to label
instructions for an occasional headache. Enjoy a pain-free summer!
Sheila Cusack