The Occasional Newsletter

Surprise for Sisters Pat & Kay

Two bricks with Partners in Ministry and Sisters Pat and Kay’s names were placed on the path to Vesper Point to commemorate our many years of spiritual retreats at Glen Rose.

This year, Dr. Toni Craven, ( I.Wylie and Elizabeth M. Briscoe Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University) led us through a discussion of Memory and the Psalms. The Psalms were the method by which the Hebrew people prayed, praised Yahweh and remembered the events of the past. Dr. Craven told us that the Psalms present a rich cross-section of speech to and about God, and in some cases include speech from God. She assured us that the Psalms show us that God is one to whom all can speak. Additionally, the Psalms made public

much of the inner spiritual life of the community of early Israel. Quoting Elie Wiesel, Dr. Craven stated: “Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.” She then led us through an introduction to the psalms and a discovery of how we pray and how we can develop our own psalms to pray, tell our own stories, and praise God.

On Saturday afternoon, Dr. Craven was joined by Dr. Sherrie Reynolds, a professor and the director of graduate studies at the College of Education at TCU. They led the group in a discussion reflecting on “Why I Am Catholic.” The discussion led each of us to introspection regarding our own faith journey and quest for spirituality both inside and outside of the organized church.

Another highlight of the retreat was the presence of Father Harry Miller who told us wonderful stories of his ministry in Sri Lanka during our story telling session on Friday night, and announced that he has been called to return to ministry with his order in Sri Lanka. He presided for our closing liturgy on Saturday afternoon. Both the sessions and the closing liturgy were

greatly enhanced by the beautiful music provided by Mike and Jan Horst.

Glen Rose is put on by a special group effort. Special thanks to all of those who are instrumental in putting our retreat together: Sisters Pat and Kay who arrange for the speakers, the Glen Rose facility and organize the schedule; Debbie Johnson who puts together the wonderful program guides and decorates the hall; Betty Houters, Cleona Boon, Hester Bender, and Debbie Johnson who worked in the kitchen; Larry Peplinski who put together the beautiful morning prayer; Ray Szempruch who planned the Friday evening story-telling; Ed and Betty Houters who handled check-in and check-out; and Jim & Bonnie Vredenberg who prepared the name tags, and the many participants that helped with set-up and clean-up.

by Barbara McAninch

Harry Miller, S.J.

My brother Harry - what to say about him?
He was 10 when I was born…16 when he left for the Jesuits. He was the youngest in his class. Most of the years in between then and now have held only sporadic connections between us. E-mail, improved phone systems there, and other things have brought us very close now. Also, there are only the three of us left “this side” as he puts it, our sister Madeline who is dealing with dementia, Harry and me. Harry’s joy in life was apparent to those of you who got to know him a bit at this year’s Glen Rose Retreat. Also apparent is his appreciation for the poor, the downtrodden, the ones caught in the unjust webs of society. That’s really why he’s returning to Sri Lanka. There was no avenue open to him here, to do the work he has done all his life. It makes me very happy that you were able
to hear some of his stories. They are sometimes hard for him to tell, but they were so much a part of his life during this last 25 years of civil war in the land that he loves so much. Sri Lanka has a “serendipitous” background, linked with “paradise” and other wonderful places. More lately, political strife in “paradise” has left it struggling. Harry is going back to rejoin the struggle. His address will be: Father Harry Miller, S.J., #1 Jesuit Road; Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. His e-mail is millersrila@gmail.com. He would love to hear from you, so as to keep his ties here as best as he can. We will be keeping in contact via SKYPE (we hope!) but neither of us have ever “done that.” Brother Terry is going to give us a crash course at our sister’s house in Bay Saint Louis, his last “touch-down” before leaving from New Orleans on June 15. Kay and I will take him over to the airport in New Orleans and reluctantly – albeit happily for him – let him go. byPat Miller, SSND

What is Partners in Ministry and Spirituality? The oldest of stories……… people searching for God in their lives. The “new” old story: finding God in Jesus, in the Scriptures, the Sacraments, the revelations of today, and the community of the church. WE are Church, called to make a difference. All sessions will be built upon the basic content, and the input of the group that gathers for this “nine month retreat.”

THE CHAIRMAN’S NOTE:

EACH ONE, BRING ONE……

At our last Advisory Board Meeting we began with a prayer to the Holy Spirit that asked for a spirit of lucidity and courage that the Spirit will set us free from the law of resignation and from being satisfied with the status quo. We then began to talk about the new spiritual experience that the Sisters have developed with Ray & Christy Szempruch for Partners I. The year-long spiritual retreat is now called Partners in Ministry and Spirituality. We talked about what can move us from the status quo and make this spiritual experience special for all who participate, and the Spirit gave us our answer: You!

We are asking our existing Partners to “make it, not take it.” Your presence will make this retreat have the vivid spirit that it needs to make it very helpful for all of the new participants. The Saturday retreats will be anchored by Scripture, the Vatican Council II and Fran Ferder's book, Words Made Flesh. How the sessions proceed will depend hugely on the participants and on which way the Spirit moves us as a community. The presence of PIM alumni will help "make it" more relevant and reassuring for new participants without dampening the involvement of the new participants, even as you alumni will experience hearing with new ears and seeing with new eyes.

Since this newsletter is addressed to you as a veteran of the Sisters Pat and Kay experience, please prayerfully consider making it for the sessions beginning August 21 at the centrally located Saint Andrew’s parish in Ft. Worth, and please, each one bring one other person with you. Share the joy with a friend or acquaintance who is struggling on his/her own spiritual journey or who is looking for a place to be fed spiritually in this complicated world. Please check our web site for more information in the PIMS brochure and decide if the Spirit is inviting you and a partner or friend into this spiritual living/learning experience.

We look forward to seeing you in August at St. Andrew in Ft. Worth. See page 4 for registration form.

Barbara McAninch, Chairman

Ministry Outreach Advisory Board

Ray was a convert to Catholicism. He grew up in “Baptist Georgia” but could not accept that religion. In the Air Force, he was so impressed by a Catholic couple who never missed Mass

regardless of circumstances, that he made inquiries but wasn’t there long enough to follow

through. After we were married, Ray was sent to Korea for a year. There he took instructions,

was baptized and confirmed by the Bishop of Seoul in July, 1954. More recently, Ray and I

became better informed Catholics through Lay Ministry courses with Sisters Pat and Kay.

Ray worked with the Marriage Tribunal for a time and was a communion minister as long as

he was able. His presence will be missed by all.