SVD Alumni Association
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| Mo Donovan says: |
| Prayers for Jim McDermott. Jim is in intensive care in Walterboro, SC. He is suffering from dehydration and severe internal bleeding and extremely frightened. Further tests were being conducted today. Please remember him in your prayers, thoughts. Jim Harvey is our contact at this critical time: harv4750@verizon.net Mo Donovan |
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| Fr. Provincial says: |
| PROVINCIAL NEWS MARCH 17, 2008 The mother of Felix Jones, Ronickam, passed away yesterday March 16th in India. Felix had just started his new work at VIVAT a month ago. Let us remember Felix and his family in our prayer at this time of loss. May she rest in peace! Mark |
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| Fr. Provincial says: |
| PROVINCIAL NEWS MARCH 17, 2008 Mrs. Inez Browne, the Aunt of Fr. Stephan Brown, died on Saturday March 15th. Mrs. Browne's son Michael is a graduate of Divine Word Seminary in Perrysburg. There maybe members who remember both Michael, his mother and the family. Services will be Good Friday and Holy Saturday at St. Philip Neri Church in Cleveland Ohio. Let us remember Stephan and his family in our prayer at this time of loss. May she rest in peace! |
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| Bernie Spitzley says: |
| Sorry to hear about the death of Patricia Ernest. Pat and her husband David came to Jamaica twice, and will be remmebered for the songs they taught the children, and the Puppets Pat made for them...It is amazing how they were able to touch the peoples loves here in two short vists...May she rest in Peace. Blessings, Bernie |
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| C. SInatra says: |
| Charlie, .... maybe you can get this on the grapevine - Pat, the wife of my older brother Dave, died this morning after an extended bout with brain cancer. Thanksgiving for her life, much of the latter part of which was spent in service in parish projects (some of them SVD, as in Jamaica and Mexico) throughout the world. Thanks, Steve (Ernest) |
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| Mike Cousins says: |
| Father Raymond Weisenberger, SVD passed away Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the age of 95. Born on June 23, 1912 in Arcadia, Wisconsin, entered the Novitiate on September 4, 1932 (East Troy), professed First Vows on August 15, 1934 (East Troy), Perpetual Vows on June 19, 1938 (Techny) and Ordained to Priesthood on August 13, 1939 in Techny. In May 2007, transferred from East Troy where he had lived for many years to the Techny Community. Due to many family and friends Fr. Weisenberger’s funeral and Mass will be held in the Holy Spirit Chapel at Techny Towers as follows: Thursday, February 21 – Wake – 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 22 – Mass – 10:30 a.m. |
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| fr. Tom Jackson, O.P. says: |
| Hello Mike and fellow Epworth alumni!!! Well, after years of teaching social studies and theology at the high school level in Chicago, Los Angeles and St. Louis, and doing retreat work and itinerant preaching--and one year at Purdue University's Newman Center--I am now Pastor at the Aquinas Newman Center at the University of New Mexico/Albuquerque. The appointment is for 6 years. I celebrated 15 years of ordination as a priest in the Dominican Order last May--but, I have never forgotten my SVD roots... in fact, I brag about them! DWC prepared me for many undertakings both here in the USA and abroad, and I am truly grateful!!! I just wanted to give you and the Alumni Office staff kudos and to say that it is great that we are having the first Epworth Reunion in October 2008. I look forward to gathering with classmates and friends that I have kept in contact with over the years (Gary Bessler, Rick Schmit, Donald Coomes, Stephan Brown SVD, Melvin James SVD, Dennis Rausch, The "Holy Twinity"--Chester Smith SVD and Charles Smith SVD--Wendell Roberts, and many others)! And I look forward to reestablishing contact with many other friends from days at the College that I lost contact with (Patrick Journet, Andre' Cook, our beloved "Pappy"--aka Bishop Leonard J. Olivier SVD-- Dr. Fred Sweet--yes, he made it big in medicine/surgery!!!--, Thomas Pham, and many others). My Epworth Alumni Brothers, let's get some chatter going on about the Reunion and make plans to attend. I have already met some of your wives and kids and religious community members... let's all get together and remember the "good ol' days". See ya there... Tom Jackson, O.P., Class of '82 |
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| Fred Furtah P-burg '62 says: |
| Name: Fred Furtah Address: 70 Larrimore Ln Acworth, GA 30101 Phone: 678-468-0745 Cell E-mail: furtahprep@yahoo.com School Info: Divine Word Seminary 58-62 Perrysburg, Ohio Comments: It was great to talk to Mike Cousins. I am still here and am looking forward to getting with the "ol" gang. Fred |
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| Len Uhal says: |
| Please pray for the recovery of Joe Featherston. Joe recenlty had some surgery and is recovering at home. His wife, Barb, has also had her fair share of illnesses. Joe is an alumnus of East Troy ('63 I believe) and Epworth. He continues to visit Epworth often...he just lives in Dubuque. |
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| Len Uhal says: |
| The father of Fr. Gus Wall (Epworth '83) died a few days ago. Please keep Gus, his dad, and the rest of the family in your prayers. |
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| Michelle says: |
| Name: "Michelle" Stephen J Vorwerk E-mail: svorwerk@prismnet.com School Info: My Great Uncle Father Amos Frerichs attended seminary at St. Michael's Mission House in Conesus,New York and in 1943 entered the Novitiate at St. Mary's Seminary at Techny, Illinois. He took his first vows in 1945 and final vows in 1951 and ordained a priest August 28, 1952 at St. Mary's Seminary at Techny, Illinois. Comments: Hi, Thanks for providing the opportunity to contact y'all. My Great Uncle Father Amos Frerichs was a great inspiration and a type of hero to our family. It was a truly felt feeling of "Wow" to be around him and listen to him. Father Amos's brother Wilbert Frerichs is having some difficulties with illness and this is a request that he might possibly be remembered or included in y'alls prayers. It might even be a truly wonderful blessing from y'all if someone from his brother's group of priests knew that he was included in their prayers. Wilbert Frerichs postal address is 301 Pr. 926; THRALL, TX 76578. Wilbert Frerichs niece Joyce Vorwerk and her husband Wilbert Vorwerk and Family are praying and thinking of him also. Joyce is truly concerned and is thinking of him often. Thanks, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and God Bless Y'all. |
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| Provincial Office says: |
| Father Ralph Michael Wiltgen, SVD Born To This Life - December 17, 1921 Professed - September 8, 1943 Ordained - May 18, 1950 Born To Eternity - December 6, 2007 Funeral/Burial - December 11, 2007 Ralph Michael Wiltgen was born to Michael and Martha Wiltgen on December 17, 1921 and was baptized on January 1, 1922 in St. Henry’s Church, Chicago. Ralph was the oldest of six children. He was confirmed by Bishop Sheil in St. Margaret Mary Church on November 19, 1935. After two years of study at Quigley North, Ralph transferred to our seminary at East Troy, (his admission papers note: “Ralph is the grand nephew of Father Simpson, the Pastor here at East Troy”). Ralph graduated from our High Seminary in 1940 and entered the Novitiate in 1941 where he had the incomparable tutelage of Father Felix Glorius. (Fr. Glorius had a brother who was an SVD brother with the name of Glorious Glorius). After novitiate, Ralph completed his second year of college and then pursued philosophical and theological studies for the next six years. He was ordained a priest on May 16, 1950. During philosophy and theology Father Ralph dedicated his spare time to preparing individuals for baptism through a use of convert instructions. During the summer months he would use his spare time to distribute printed materials on the Catholic Church, the Lord Jesus, the Blessed Mother, etc. to people in and around the downtown area. On one occasion he was walking back to Union Station and he spotted a young lady struggling with her bags. Ralph offered to help. She accepted gratefully. Ralph grabbed her bags and started walking speedily to the station. She panicked and started screaming. Chicago’s finest were on hand to help sort the situation out. This they did to every-one’s satisfaction. Following ordination, Father Ralph was assigned to Rome for postgraduate studies. He obtained his Doctorate In Missiology at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. This Doctorate provided him with the academic credentials necessary to put together his massive study on Catholic Missions in Oceania. In 1978 Fr. Ralph completed the first volume (688 pages) of his extensive research: The Founding Of The Roman Catholic Church In Oceania 1825 - 1850, published by the University Press of Canberra, Australia. This massive volume contains 20 maps and 50 other illustrations and covers Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand. Henry Maude of the Research School Of Pacific Studies in Canberra, points out that many had been hoping for such a volume, which embodies objective historiography and overall major scholarship. Father Wiltgen’s commentary has made this work “a convincing and eminently readable history.” Writing this history took Father Ralph 13 years and included painstaking research in 87 encyclopedic volumes in the Vatican archives. Following Vatican II, Father Ralph wrote a history of the council called The Rhine Flows Into The Tiber. The title of this book highlights the important role played by the cardinals, bishops and theologians from the countries along the Rhine, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Netherlands and nearby Belgium. During Vatican II Father Wiltgen became internationally known as the founder and director of an independent and multilingual news agency. Another publication of Father Ralph (1970) dealt with religious life: The Religious Life Defined. This work is a definitive in depth study of the particulars of the chapter on religious life in Vatican II’s constitution of the church. One commentator noted that this book on religious life can be seen as a sequel to his book The Rhine Flows In The Tiber. Father Ralph has also published Gold Coast Mission History 1471-1880 and contributed articles to the New Catholic Encyclopedia and to various reviews. He has also been a member of the Societe Des Oceanistes (Paris) and the Australian Society of Authors (Sidney). In his younger years Father Ralph was considered to be indestructible. He was strong, sturdy, tireless. Some years ago this sturdiest of the sturdy began to show signs of Alzheimer’s and was hospitalized at Holy Family in Des Plaines. Occasionally he came back for a meal and a visit with his brothers at Divine Word Residence at Techny. Lately his visits to Techny ceased to be as his memory vanished. The last several weeks his memory disappeared all together. Father Ralph came home to Techny on December 5 and at 6:45 a.m. he died, just as the community began gathering for morning prayers and morning mass. Our beloved confrere, Father Ralph Wiltgen, is now home in heaven and enjoys eternal life and participates in the eternal youthfulness God gives to all who have served him so long and so well. Fr. John Donaghey, SVD December 7, 2007 |
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| Mike Cousins says: |
| Fr. Ralph Michael Wiltgen, SVD (Techny) passed away this morning, Thursday, December 6, at 6:45 a.m. at the age of 86. Fr. Wiltgen would of celebrated his 87th birthday on December 17 and his 65th Profession of Vows on September 8, 2008. Funeral arrangements are as follows: Wake Monday, December 10 – Divine Word Residence, Techny – 7:00 p.m. Funeral Tuesday, December 11 – Divine Word Residence, Techny – 10:30 a.m. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him |
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| Bill Shea says: |
| One of the highlights of the recognition dinner at Techny was the presence of Fr. Sunny Francis and Fr. Bryan Pham, S.J. (East Troy, '91). During his seminary days with the Jesuits, Bryan had spent a summer in India, working with lepers. When I learned he was going, I gave him Sunny's address since Sunny was in India at the time. Bryan tried to find Sunny but he was unable to catch up with him. However, Sunny's sister, a nun, was working at the same leprosarium as Bryan. They struck up a friendship and Bryan learned somethng about Sunny and Sunny's sister told him about Bryan. Now, many years later, they were sitting at the same table and I was fortunate to be able to introduce them to each other. Imagine their surprise! Talk about a small world. Bryan, by the way, will be off to Rome next summer for higher studies. |
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| Mike Cousins says: |
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| Just wanted to share a picture of Archbishop Michael Blume with Paul Kutylo and his wife from our visit in August. |
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| Mike Cousins says: |
| Techny Dinner honoring Fr.William Shea was great 33 attendees from all over the US. Seattle, Wa., New Orleans, LA.,and all points in between. |
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| Mike Cousins says: |
| Please keep in your prayer Rich Schumacher P'burg '66, whose dad passed away 11-19, details to follow |
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| Fr.Joe Miller says: |
| Sadly I announce that our brother Fisher Robinson died this morning c 4:30 AM. Joyously we celebrate that Robbie is born into eternal life. Praise God! We lift Father Fisher Robinson, SVD in our hearts with Praise, Blessings and Thanks. Born into life on August 12, 1929, Abbeville, La; First Vows as an SVD, September 8, 1950, techny, Ill; Ordained priest, May 1st, 1958, Bay St Louis, Ms; passed to Eternal Life October 18, 2007, Los Angeles, Ca. Viewing, Monday, October 22, 6:00 PM St John the Evangelist Church, 6028 S. Victoria L.A. Vigil Service, Monday, October 22, 7:00 PM St John Church Mass of the Resurrection, Tuesday, October 23rd, 11:00 AM, St John Church Internment, Tuesday, October 23rd, 2:00 PM, Crestlawn, Pierce Brothers Cemetery, 11500 Arlington Ave. Riverside, Ca 92505 Reception immediately following: Divine Word Residence 11316 Cypress Ave Riverside, Ca 92505 His sisters Juanita and Willie Mae along with our Divine Word Community deeply appreciate your loving support and caring. In lieu of flowers please remember his service to Verbum Dei High School thru the Fisher Robinson Scholarship Fund; and to the Church through his life as a Divine Word Missionary. Peace always Joseph A. Miller, SVD Provincial |
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| ++ Owen Augustin says: |
| My prayers be with the community and the family of Bro John all of us that met him in upstate New York was always impress with his kindness and humility. Peace Love Kindness. |
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| Mike Cousins for Fr. Fred Rudolph says: |
| GERARD MICHAEL RUDOLPH (Jerry) Died Sunday August 19, 2007, Mt. Morris, NY --near to Conesus, NY, after 7 year battle with parkinson disease. He was 78 yrs old.Younger brother of Fred Rudolph, SVD. Formerly known as Brother John Rudolph. He entered Sacred Heart Seminary in Girard, PA in 1943. Left Girard in 1946. Completed Central High School in Pittsburgh. Returned to the SVD when he entered the Brothers' program at Conesus 1948. He took the name of Brother John at his investiture. He worked as instructor in Industrial Arts, especially wood working. Also worked in construction with Br. Anthony (Hyacinth) and helped with winery deliveries. He decided ato leave after three years of temporary vows. in 1953. In January 1954 Fr. L. Mack hired Jerry as Instructor of General Shop, wood working, for the Brother Candidates in Techny, a position he held for the next 8 and one half years. Jerry attended night school at De Vrei University for an associate degree in electronics. He also took night courses in mechanical drawing at IIT. In 1962, when the Brother Candidates' program moved to East Troy, Fr. Jerry Amelse hired Jerry as general business manager for the Oneida Winery in Conesus, a position he held for the next six years. During these years, Jerry built a home near the former seminary building. His wife, Marianne Gomolchak and their six children remain in the Conesus area. |
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| Jay Canastra says: |
| Mike, I am quite amazed! Thanks for this great idea! At least now, we can easily share our thoughts instantly. |
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| Mike Cousin says: |
| This is just a notice to let you know your notes go to an administrator for approval before being posted. That is the reason for any delay. If we see no negative issues we may go direct or password protect the site just for alumni only. |
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| Len Uhal says: |
| Mike...thanks for making the Bulletin Board live! It was in my plans for a couple years, but never found the time to make it happen. Thank you for picking up where I left off. I think this will be a great way for alumni to communicate with each other. Keep the spirit alive! |
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| Bill Warmouth says: |
| The bulletin board is a great idea! |
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