RIP - "Nana"

Not too long ago, right before a friend of mine lost his grandfather, he commented that deaths always seem to come in threes. There was Ralph, then Gail, and this morning my grandmother joined them.

Tomorrow would have been her 93rd birthday.

Pray for the repose of her soul and for all of us, her family. She joins my grandfather and aunt (her only daughter) and is survived by her three sons (including my father) and their wives and children.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust."

God will rescue you from the fowler's snare, from the destroying plague,

Will shelter you with pinions, spread wings that you may take refuge; God's faithfulness is a protecting shield.

You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day,

Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon.

Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come.

You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see.

You have the LORD for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold.

No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.

For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.

With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.

Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.

All who call upon me I will answer; I will be with them in distress; I will deliver them and give them honor.

With length of days I will satisfy them and show them my saving power.

~ Psalm 91

Viewing & Funeral Details for Gail Walton

For those of you in the area who would like to pay your respects here are the viewing and funeral details for Gail Walton:

Viewing:
Monday, March 1, 2010
4:00-8:00pm
Kaniewski Funeral Home
3545 North Bendix Drive
South Bend

Funeral:
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
9:30am
Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame

The Notre Dame Liturgical Choir will sing the Mass.

Please continue to keep Gail's family in your prayers.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.

RIP Gail Walton

RIP Gail Walton

Yesterday, around 5:00p.m. Gail Walton, beloved director of the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, coordinator of the Basilica Choirs, wife and mother passed from this vale of tears after a battle with leukemia at the age of 55.

It's difficult to begin to write about Gail. She was an amazing and wonderful woman, so selfless and tireless.

As Director of Music at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, a position she held since 1988, Gail was extremely influential in liturgical music. She was an excellent musician, married to another wonderful musician, ND organ professor Craig Cramer. They were "the cutest couple" in everyone's eyes - especially when they played dual organ recitals.

Gail was everyone's second mom. She was always looking out for you, but she never looked out for her self. Last year she hurt her foot - falling off a stool if I remember correctly. The doctors told her the foot had to rest and be in its boot until it healed. But how do you play organ with a boot on your foot? So she took it off. I scolded her after one of our rehearsals (she was not only director of the Liturgical Choir, but assistant director of the Women's Liturgical Choir to which I belong) and told her she had to take care herself. She laughed and said she'd be ok. That was Gail. Our head director visited her just before Christmas. The doctors had allowed her to return home for a period, so long as she was strictly on bedrest. Was Gail following the doctors' orders? Of course not. She was baking, trimming the tree and doing all manner of things around the house. That was Gail. She was a such a wonderful woman...Absolutely unstoppable.

She was a perfectionist too and always drove us to be the best we could be. Everyone loved Gail. She will be missed so much - she already is. It's hard to believe she's gone.

Please take a moment to pray for Gail and her family, especially her husband. This has been so difficult for him.


Requiescat in pace.
In Paradisum deducant angeli...Chorus angelorum te suscipiat...Aeternam habeas requiem.


Gail conducts the Liturgical Choir in a 2008 concert:

(The Mawby Ave Verum (at the 5:20 mark) is one of my favorites)

Update: I've expanded this post over the Pious Sodality of Church Ladies. Funeral details are posted here. Thank you for your continued prayers for Gail and her family. Please remember the Notre Dame community, particularly the Choirs as well.

RIP - Ralph McInerny

Prof. Ralph McInerny past into eternal life at 7:45 this morning.

To be honest, while I can't stop crying right now, I also can't help smiling just a little at how fitting it is that Prof. McInerny leaves this Earth the day after the feast his beloved Thomas Aquinas. Prof. McInerny was one of my most favorite professors. He was always so sweet and always had some witty remark.

I think the last time I saw him was at a lecture a bit over a year ago. He was lecturing on Baron Corvo for the Center for Ethics and Culture. While the lecture series was to encourage the audience to read the works of the featured authors, dear Ralph had nothing good to say about Corvo. It was a wonderful, hilarious lecture.

Other memories of Ralph:
My Dante & Aquinas class enjoying an end-of-the-semester dinner with our professor:



Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.


Other links:
First Things
Francis Beckwith

Helping your PRC: Prayer

Today marks the 37th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision.

Over 50,600,000 children have been killed through legal, surgical abortion since that day.

Above all else: pray

Eternal Father, You are the Creator and Source of all life. Bless and protect all children threatened by abortion. Open the hearts of their parents and those who would seek to destroy their lives.

Strengthen all fathers. Make them mirrors of Your boundless love and protection so that they may defend and provide for their children.

Comfort all mothers. Reveal Your unmeasurable goodness to them so that they may place their trust in You and nourish the lives which You have entrusted to them.

Enlighten all lawmakers, doctors, and healthcare providers so that they may come to a deeper understanding and reverence for all human life, from the very moment of conception until natural death.

We ask these things in the name of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your beloved and only Son, Whom You sent to deliver us from the bonds of sin, and Who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Monday Morning on a Gray February Day

Late last night I returned to South Bend with the Women's Liturgical Choir (with which I still sing since I'm still in South Bend) from our annual February tour. This year took us to my home - the Baltimore/DC area. -A very exciting location, but the tour was unfortunately poorly planned. Nevertheless, I was able to spend some great time with my family.

Now I'm back in the office (the only one with internet) waiting for my first client of the day to come in.

I'm really beginning to feel burnt out by work. I'm tiring of the never-ending stream of brokenness, hurt, heartache, thoughtlessness, selfishness, lack of respect, lack of understanding, and so on with a inexhaustible list of pain and godlessness.

The weather doesn't help.

And above all, my own personal hopes and dreams are being confronted - and I don't like that.

The phone is ringing ...


...a call from another counselor...one of my clients, who was already on the run from an abusive boyfriend, called to let us know he found her and she has to move elsewhere...





Please keep me and a very special intention in your prayers. Thank you.

Bishop D'Arcy at St. Patrick's

I've been wanting to blog for a while now, and haven't. But, today is a good day to finally get around to it. I never finished my last string of half-written posts.

What makes today so special? Bishop John D'Arcy!

This morning at 7:45 at St Patrick's (arguably the most beautiful church in South Bend - not Notre Dame) the pastor bonus of this diocese came and offered a pontifical low Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. It was a most beautiful Mass!



In his sermon he emphasized the importance of the Mother Guerin Community to the diocese, and of the diocese and bishop to us.


After Mass, he joined us briefly in the parish hall for coffee and a potluck breakfast.



He led us in prayer before the meal.



Here he is with Fr. George Gabet, F.S.S.P., the usual celebrant of this Mass, and Fr. Leonard Chrobot, pastor of St. Patrick's.

Some of the children of the community presented him with flowers, which he later presented to a statue of the Blessed Mother before leaving us to go say Mass at St. Joseph's (a C.S.C. parish also in South Bend) for the celebration of the feast of Bl. Basil Moreau.



There was a wonderful representation of the community - mostly "townies" (as it very well should be) - but also a nice selection of Notre Dame students, both undergrad and grad, faculty and staff. I was pleased to see a respectable number of departments represented.

I image more pictures and reports will follow soon on the Mother Guerin Blog.


Remember to keep Bishop D'Arcy, and all of our bishops, in your prayers!


P.S. all photos by me, and many thanks to "Bishop Neumann" for loaning me his camera since mine has come to a very sad end and now sits broken and just about entirely useless. :-(

Gaudete!

Advent "wreath" made by Housemate C.
Photo, me 12/14/08

Dicite pusillanimes confortamini et nolite timere! Ecce Deus noster veniet, et salvabit nos!


Say to the fainthearted, be comforted and fear not! Behold, our God will come and save us!
Communion of today's Mass, '62.

I did a quick look back at this Sunday last year. What a glorious time that was! This year I feel more of "the duty of delight."

Please keep a special intention in your prayers.

Semper gaudete. Sine intermissione orate. In omnibus gratias agite: hæc est enim voluntas Dei in Christo Iesu in omnibus vobis...Ipse autem Deus pacis sanctificet vos per omnia: ut integer spiritus vester, et anima, et corpus sine querela in adventu Domini nostri Iesu Christi servetur. Fidelis est, qui vocavit vos: qui etiam faciet.


Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you... And may the God of peace himself sanctify you through all things, so that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved without blame unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who has called you is faithful. He shall act even now.
From the Second Reading of today's Mass, '69

RIP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Caroline Grace Herrmann, a freshman at Mt. de Sales Academy, my high school, who died from a brain tumor on Wednesday.

Her funeral was today at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ellicott City , Maryland.

My sister, a current student, told me that while Caroline was only able to attend a week of class before she was admitted to the hospital, the students feel this loss very strongly.

Please remember her and her family in your prayers.

Important Prayer Intention

Please pray for my friend Philip Johnson. He has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

He has requested that we particularly prayer to Servant of God Fr. Thomas Fredrick Price.

I could say a lot about Phil, but it's best to just read his blog here.

Tough Ones

Photo credit:Margaret Mary who just facebooked this. I thought it was awesome.

I always admire those hearty plants that manage to sprout up with little resources.

This one reminds me of a few of the girls I've seen at work - the ones that come from such poor backgrounds - not particularly materially, but spiritually and intellectually. They know they've made mistakes, they know they need to change, they know the culture they've grown up in is wrong, yet somehow they have a little blossom of hope. They have a desire to change. Maybe they've bloomed and faded a few times, but they keep trying. So they come to our office looking for help to be transplanted to richer soil.

I admire them very much.

Pray for them as they struggle to be flowers in the concrete. Pray for me and my co-workers as we try to serve them and guide them towards better ground.

First Day

Once again a lot has happened since I last posted. My internet access has been rather limited for the last two weeks. I'm working on fixing that.

God works in funny ways, so - incredibly enough - here I am again at in the cluster of LaFortune, blogging. Darragh's missing and I don't have any homework (let alone a thesis).

I'm here, but I'm not a student. It's a strange feeling. I haven't decided if it's nice or not - just strange. I feel bad that everyone's running off to do homework and I'm just sitting around thinking "hmm what should I do now?"


What am I doing here?


Well, uninformed readers, today I started my new job here in South Bend. I'm now a pregnancy resource counselor.

I struggled with the decision to accept the position for a while - partly because of my own financial needs and partly because of the intense nature of the work. Thank you to everyone (especially Salt and Pepper, if either of you read this), for the prayers. I know I will continue to need them. My first day proved my concerns: a 19 year old highschool dropout expecting her second child, with visible scars on her face from her abusive older boyfriend who threw her out as soon as he learned she was expecting again. Hard. Very hard. But at the same time she also gave me assurance that even though there will be many losses this work will have it's rewards: she was resolute to be a good mother, to pull herself together and go back to school, to not let herself be abused again, to save herself for the man who will marry her.

...

God our Father, You were pleased to Bless the Virgin Mary with the gift of bringing Your Son into the world. Graced with the Word of God within Her, She brought forth Your New and Eternal Life to all creation.

We pray You that as You guided Mary, protect and guide all women who carry new life within them. May they be ever conscious of the great Dignity they have been given. May they turn to You in constant prayer and be ever thankful of the Gift they carry within them.

We pray this in the name of Jesus, who is Lord of Life, now and forever. Amen.

Most Rev. Loius E. Gelineau, D, D., Bishop of Providence

Maryland Again

After a week and nearly a day, I'm back in Maryland.

The week of traveling went quite well.

I am waiting to hear back from a few places about jobs. One interview resulted in a "I really want to hire you, but I have to check with my boss. I'll call you early next week" pseudo job offer. There's more too -quite a lot to think about.

Continued prayers are greatly appreciated!

More later.

Lay Mis Reprise

My dear friend, Matthew of Holy Whapping was privileged to see the last "preview" of the school year of the masterpiece-in-progress show "Lay Miserables," which hopefully everyone remembers me writing about a little while ago. He decided to write about it today. You should go look at his post over the Shrine.
He heralds it as "definitive proof that the Catholic Nerd Quotient at Notre Dame is only increasing."

I do have a sneak preview that I might be able to leak to the public, with permission of my co-writers. Stay tuned.


In other news, I realized my label cloud "What I write about" on the sidebar doesn't show up in Internet Explorer, and the blog just looks terrible in Safari (everything looks like it's in bold). Have other people noticed this? Any tips on fixing it?



And in most important news, thank you to everyone who's been praying for me. The situation improved a bit after small confrontation and quick action, but I am still in great need of prayers.

Prayers needed, and other stuff

About an hour ago I got a phone call I was looking forward to; but turns out the conversation was near the exact opposite of what I was expecting (and wanted) to hear.

Unfortunately, this summer is not going to be what I thought it would.

Please pray for my current situation. The help I asked for in my last post is even more important now.


Thank you, Vincenzo for posting this - it cheered me up.

A Notre Dame favorite that you will undoubtedly hear if you are on campus for more than a week. Yes I know, this is not the *same* video Vincenzo posted, because I was not yet on this earth in 1981, do not remember too much of the 80s in general, and, frankly, the clothing they are wearing in the video Vincenzo posted scares me. (Sorry Vincenzo and other real Journey fans.)

Also, I know the all words are not the most applicable to most of my life. But, both my parents were born and raised in "South Detroit" or "Downriver" as it's more often called...which reminds me of another thing that cheers me up: THE REDWINGS shut out the Penguins last night, and thus are well on their way to claiming their 4th cup in 11 years (the Pens haven't won it since '92, by the way).


Isn't it pretty? (Actually, I always thought it was a little clunky; but nevertheless one of the more attractive sports trophies.)

I love the Wings. I have been a fan since I was a kid. Heck - (I'm about to type blasphemy) - I was a Wings fan long before I was an Irish fan. I know more about hockey than football.
(Stop gasping in horror, y'all)

But back to more serious issues, please do pray for me and my life's situation right now. Thanks.

Recovery?

A quick post before midnight because I'm determined to post daily:

I have some unfinished post-graduate reflections to work on so I can post them here.

I feel like I have a perpetual to do list:
1. Apply for jobs
2. Clean room
3. Throw out unnecessary things
4. Order my life
5. etc
You know, that kind of stuff. As soon as I think I make a dent in one of them, I realize I haven't and that I have even more to do than I thought before.

I've realized I'm most definitely in denial in regards to graduation. My mindset is that I'm returning to ND in the fall - which is sort of my intent, but I have no guarantee of doing so.

More later. Keep me in your prayers.

The Roomie's Thesis

Please say some prayers for my dear roommate who's scrambling to finish writing her thesis!
She's writing on this guy, St. David of Thessalonica.

3rd Notre Dame student dies this semester

This has just not been a good semester for Notre Dame. Following the deaths of Conor McGrath and Tim Aher, last week, the following press release was sent out:

Notre Dame junior dies in Thailand bus crash
By: Dennis Brown
Date: April 18, 2008

Andrew Bunikis, a University of Notre Dame junior from Phoenix, died in a bus crash in the Phitsanulok Province of Thailand on Friday (Thai time, April 18). He was 20.

“Andrew’s family and the Notre Dame family have suffered and shared a tragic loss,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., the University’s president. “We assure the Bunikis family of our prayers during this difficult time, confident that Andrew will be embraced by the fullness of God’s love.”

According to an on-line story in the Bangkok newspaper The Nation, the bus crash occurred on the Phitsanulok-Uttaradit Road in the Prom Piram district at 11:45 p.m. Seven other people were killed in the crash, and 31 were injured, according to The Nation.

An accountancy major and resident of Zahm Hall on campus, Bunikis (BUN-i-kiss) was on a leave of absence from Notre Dame this semester, continuing his participation in a service program in a rural area of northern Thailand that he first undertook last summer through the University’s Student International Business Council. He taught English and organized other education programs while serving as a mentor and friend to children living in the area.

He is survived by his parents Caroline and Al Bunikis and his sister Michelle.

Plans for a funeral in Phoenix and a memorial Mass on campus are pending.

This morning this email was sent out to the University:

Dear Students,

As you may know from the University's press release, we received word last Friday of the death of Andrew M. Bunikis, a junior Accounting major and resident of Zahm Hall, from Phoenix, Arizona. Andrew was killed in a bus crash near Bangkok, Thailand early Friday morning. He was on a leave of absence from the University this semester, continuing his participation in a service program in a rural area of Northern Thailand that he first undertook in the summer of 2007 through the University’s Student International Business Council (SIBC). Andrew’s service involved teaching English classes and organizing other education programs while serving as a mentor and friend to the children of the rural area. He is survived by his parents, Caroline and Al Bunikis, and his sister, Michelle.

The University community will gather for a Memorial Mass to honor Andrew's life on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 10:00 PM. Father John Jenkins, C.S.C., University President, will preside. All are invited to join together to pray for Andrew's eternal rest, as well as the consolation of his family and friends.

Fr. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C.
Vice President for Student Affairs

Patroness of My Thesis

I'm writing a thesis for my History BA, and I'm about ready to quit. In the track that I'm in, the department really challenges us to do this well. We have 2 semesters (spring of junior year, fall of senior year) of class specifically geared for prepping us for writing. Then we take 6 credits of thesis writing senior year. Great. Nice. It was wonderful theorizing about this all for 2 semesters, but now that it's time to write I feel my abilities are quite inadequate.

Simply put, my thesis, is on Baltimore during the 1810s and the expression of thought through material culture.

It's going to take a miracle for me to write this thing and do it well.

Just the other day a friend reminded me that we really need to entrust more intentions to those on the path to canonization. I've decided to take that advice.

Not knowing who to chose I did a quick Google search "baltimore patron saint thesis" and turn up, not with John Neumann (my parish's former pastor! yay!) or Elizabeth Ann Seton, but Servant of God Mother Mary Lange OSP!


Of course! Not only did she live in Baltimore and was "Mary Elizabeth," but she lived during the period I'm writing on, she was very concerned with academics, she founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence, and was just pretty amazing.

You can read more about her here and here



Servant of God, Mother Mary Lange, pray for my thesis!


P.S. Here's another interesting article

More news on death of ND Students

For those of you still looking for more on the 2 ND students found dead this past weekend, here is the ND Newswire Press Release that just came out:

Notre Dame releases names of students who died over the weekend

By:	Dennis Brown
Date:	February 18, 2008

The University of Notre Dame today (Feb. 18) released the names of two students who died in unrelated incidents over the weekend.

Timothy R. Aher, a second year Notre Dame Law School student from Brookfield, Conn., died tragically and unexpectedly Sunday (Feb. 17) in Ilford, England, a suburb of London. He was enrolled in the law school’s London Law Programme. Aher was 25.

Connor P. McGrath, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, died Sunday on campus.

A resident of Siegfried Hall, he had spent the night in the room of a friend in Dillon Hall, where he previously had resided. His body was discovered by friends at approximately 1:40 p.m.

Consistent with the University’s protocol, Notre Dame Security Police requested assistance from a St. Joseph County police investigative unit. Investigators from the unit and the county’s deputy coroner made a preliminary evaluation, pending an autopsy today, that the death appeared to be from natural causes, possibly related to McGrath’s history of diabetes.

McGrath intended to major in business. He was 20.

A memorial Mass for both students will take place at 10 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 19) in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., the University’s president, will preside. The homilist will be Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C., vice president for student affairs. Words of remembrance for Aher will be offered by Rev. John J. Coughlin, O.F.M., professor of law, and words of remembrance for McGrath will be offered by Rev. Peter M. McCormick, C.S.C., rector of Keough Hall.

Please continue to pray for the repose of their souls and the consolation of their families.