October 2010

Brother Larry Schatz named next Visitor

Following a meeting of the General Council in Rome on October 6, 2010, Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, Superior General, appointed Brother Larry Schatz the next Visitor of the Midwest District effective July 1, 2011. The appointment followed a balloting process of the Brothers in the District, and Brother Alvaro noted the Brothers’ “overwhelming support of you in the nomination process…” A native of Dickinson, ND, Brother Larry entered the novitiate in 1982 in Windsor, Ontario, and pronounced his first vows the following year in Winona, MN. In August 1989 he made his final vows. He holds a B.A. degree from St. John’sUniversity in Collegeville, MN, and an M.P.S. degree from Loyola University Chicago. Brother Larry started teaching at Pacelli H.S. in Stevens Point, WI, from 1979 to 1982, and after completing his novitiate year, he returned there from 1983 to 1985. Then he served for five years as campus minister at HolyAngelsAcademy in Richfield, MN, and from 1990 to 1991 he attended the SIEL (Lasallian Studies) program in Rome. When he returned he taught for one year at De La Salle H. S. in Minneapolis, and from 1992 to 1999 he was a campus minister and adjunct professor at St. Mary’s University in Winona, MN. In 2000 Brother Larry was one of the founders of San Miguel School of Minneapolis, and he served as President there until December of 2007. At that time he accepted the invitation of Brother Francis Carr, Visitor, to become the Auxiliary Visitor of the Midwest District in January 2008.

District Council met in September

The members of the District Council met at Burr Ridge on September 24th for the annual fall meeting. Among the topics on the agenda were reports from all the members of the District Team, Corporate resolutions from some ministries, the visit of the Superior General in April 2011, and the nomination process for the next Visitor. The members also discussed the plans for the “Called to Be Brothers” retreat and jubilee celebration in July 2011, District plans for 2010-2011, and they approved the Midwest District policy on Ethical Ministry with minors. On January18, 2011 the District Council and the Mission and Ministry Council will meet together.

Holiday brunch will be at Provincial residence

The annual Provincialate holiday brunch this year is scheduled for Sunday, December 5th from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the residence at 5358 S. Narragansett Avenue in Chicago. This is the early alert. Another reminder will be published a few weeks before the brunch date asking for numbers so that planning can begin. All the Brothers and Communities of the Midwest District are invited to attend this festive event!

Mission and Ministry Council published its minutes

On September 9-10ththe Mission and Ministry Council met at Burr Ridge. As is the custom, the Council published the minutes of itsprevious meeting on May 24-25th.At the May meeting the Council approved two District Formation Teams – Young Lasallians and District Formation - approved eight Young Lasallians to attend the YL formation experience in Memphis, reviewed participation in the Regional and District summer formation programs, and approved the revision of the Lasallian Self Study Assessment. The Council approved the participation of four people in the November 2010 CIL in Rome – Brother David Poos, Brother Mark Snodgrass, Roxanne Eubank and Tina Bonacci. The members approved the application of Benilde-St. Margaret college prep school to rejoin the Midwest District which started the five year incorporation process.

Driscoll sale to Addison finalized

The village of Addison, IL, and the Joliet Diocese finalized an agreement for the village to purchase the former DriscollCatholicHigh School site for $2.9 million, with some of the proceeds going to scholarships. The former school building will be demolished, since officials indicated it requires too much maintenance and repair to be cost-effective. Village President Larry Hartwig said that any future development would complement the current residential neighborhood, which is primarilysinglefamily homes.

LASSCA will be in Florida

The 2011 Lasallian Association of Secondary School Chief Administrators Conference will take place in St. Augustine, FL, on February 27 to March 2, 2011. The conference theme is Educational Innovation: Our Heritage and Our Call. The LASSCA Planning Committee has already confirmed two keynote speakers: Alex Cirillo, former Vice President for 3M, and Brother Gerard Rummery.

Elders program offered in Albuquerque

The Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM, will offer “Loving the Two Halves of Life: The Further Journey” on January 20-23, 2011. The conference and workshop program will be held at the Hotel Albuquerque at OldTown. The speakers will be Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, Edwina Gateley and Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI. The workshop consists of plenary sessions, small group discussions, and sacred ritual. The conference and workshop fee is $225, and the special room rate at the hotel is $99 per night. Refer to block code GRPI63 when booking a room. For other details and registration – .

Regional Conference will meet in November

The Regional Conference of Christian Brothers (RCCB – Visitors and Auxiliary Visitors) will meet in ClevelandOH in conjunction with Regional Formation Vocation Board (RVFB) and the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) on November 1-3.

Sister Dolores Montini was affiliated

Around seventy-five relatives, friends, Brothers, and Affiliated Members from Memphis participated in the Sunday Liturgy on October 3rd at Stritch Chapel on the campus of ChristianBrothersUniversity to celebrate with Sister Dolores Montini as she was affiliated to the Institute. Her three sisters and their husbands, and two members of her religious community from Baden, PA, prayed along with Sister Dolores and the local community. Sister Dolores has served with the Brothers in numerous ministries through the USA-Toronto Region, including twice at CBU, and she is currently a consultant on the District Council. Congratulations, and welcome to Brother-Sister Dolores!

Recent golf outing was a success

The Saint George/Christian Brothers Golf Outing was held on September 13th at Mt. Prospect Golf Club in Illinois.It was a sellout with 144 golfers. Thanks to the efforts of a vigorous planning committee $30,000 was raised for the retirement fund for Brothers.

Brother Gerard Rummery spoke on campuses

Brother Gerard Rummery, Lasallian scholar, former General Councilor, and long-time Buttimer faculty member recently spoke at both the Minneapolis and the Winona campuses of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He also gave a two hour presentation to the Board of Trustees. Then he also addressed several campus groups at ChristianBrothersUniversity and spoke to the CBU Board of Trustees the week of October 11th.

CBIS has new addresses

Effective September 27th, CBIS has moved

in New York.

Christian Brothers Investment Services

777 Third Avenue, 29th Floor

New York, NY10017-1401

Phone: (212) 490-0800

Toll Free: (800) 592-8890

Fax: (212) 490-6092

Effective November 15th, CBIS in

Oak Brook will move to Chicago.

Christian Brothers Investment Services

20 North Wacker Drive, Ste. 2000

Chicago, IL60606-3002

Phone: To be determined

Toll Free: (877) 550-2247

Fax: To be determined

Health Updates

  • Charlene Hermannis doing as well as can be expected. She had two units of blood and will have her bone marrow test soon. When the doctor gets those results, it will be determined whether or not she has another five day round of chemo to prepare her for the stem cell transplant. She continues to lose weight although she is eating fairly well. She hopes to be able to get the stem cells soon.
  • Brother Raimond Rose had successful open heart aortic valve replacement surgery on October 8that PaoliHospital in Paoli, PA. Brother Kevin Fitzgerald was there in support of Raimond, and others will spend some time visiting in Pennsylvania during his rehab period.

Congratulations to

  • La Salle H.S. in Cincinnati which celebrated “50 Years of Excellence” on the weekend of October 1-3 with a golf outing, a dinner, alumni gathering, anniversary events, and a Father-Son mass and breakfast.
  • Father Ed Kohler of the Diocese of Helena, Montana, who was named the recipient of the 2010 Lumen Christi Award presented by the Catholic Extension Society. He won over five other finalists and 24 other nominees from the 86 mission dioceses that receive support from the organization. He is responsible for the spiritual formation and sacramental life of the Blackfeet people at three mission sites in Babb, East Glacier and Browning.
  • Bishop J. Peter Sartain, of the Diocese of Joliet, who was named by Pope Benedict XVIon September 16thas the fifth Archbishop of Seattle, only four years after he arrived in Joliet. His installation is set for December 1st.
  • Brother James Zullo, who was quoted in a September 20th article in the National Catholic Reporter titled “Despite steep decline, Brothers see hope for their vocation’s future.” Among other things he spoke about Brothers’ congregations in the Third World: “There’s exciting growth happening.”

Directory Changes

  • Brother Armand Alcazar – corrected phone @ Lewis: 815-836-5798
  • Brother Henry Baldwin – Corrected phone: (901) 261-4924.
  • Brother Milton Barker -
  • Brother Kevin Brutcher -
  • Megan Conolly – Delete: Dtr. after De La Salle Community
  • Brother George Fowley - Corrected phone: (773) 775-1722
  • Brother Denis Murphy – Corrected phone: (773) 376-9294 – delete cell phone number
  • Brother James Roszak -20 E. Exchange St., A-801 ( note the A before 801 );

Corrected phone: (651) 215-4808; delete cell phone number

  • Lizzy Schereremail at De La Salle Minneapolis -
  • Brother Daniel Susek – corrected street address: 4547 Forestview
  • Evan Witalison- Casa Benedicta e-mail -
  • Casa Benedicta in Racine– corrected phone - (262) 260-8956

Rest in Peace

  • Brother William Walz, 69, died on Monday, October 4, at ProvenaSt. JosephHospital in Joliet, IL. A De La Salle Christian Brother for 43 years, he was born in Cincinnati, OH, the son of William and Ruth Annette (Klumb) Walz. He entered the novitiate of the Brothers in 1966 at Glencoe, MO, and professed his final vows in 1977. During his career as an educator, Brother William taught in Lansing, MI, in Addison, IL, and at De La Salle Institute in Chicago. From 1973 to 1975 and 1977 to 1980 he served as superintendent of La SalleManorRetreatCenter in Plano, IL, and from 1981 to 1985 he was the bursar at LewisUniversity in Romeoville, IL. In 1985 he was named the President of Christian Brothers Services in Romeoville where he served until he retired in January 2008 at LewisUniversity. Survivors include his sister, Margene (Larry) Attig of Alpharetta, GA, three nephews, and the Christian Brothers at LewisUniversity. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on October 7th with interment the following morning at ResurrectionCemetery in Romeoville.
  • William “Bill” Smith, 58, brother of Brother Robert, died on September 28thin St. Paul, MN. Other survivors include his mother Margaret, sister Beverly Brackey and family, and son Tim and family, among others. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on October 1st at Holy Spirit Church with interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery in MendotaHeights.
  • Sister Angelita Knievel, 96, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, died on September 9th at Holy Family Convent in Manitowoc, WI. She was one of the first recipients of the St. Paul and Minneapolis District Lasallian Educator Award and was a long time staff member of RoncalliHigh School in Manitowoc. She was a good friend of the Brothers and a long time participant in the Huether Workshops. She was also a distant relative of Evil Knievel. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on September 13th at Holy Family Convent Chapel in Manitowoc with burial at HolyFamilyConventCemetery. Condolences may be sent to Sr. Adrianna Schouten, 2409 S. Alverno Road, Manitowoc, WI 54220.

Engaging Aging – Sisters Face Death with Dignity and Reverence

The Fall 2010 issue of Engaging Aging from the National Religious Retirement Office opens with an interesting article about the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester, NY. The article explains how their motherhouse is designed to care for the Sisters who are elderly and infirm. They have embraced the factors that studies indicate contribute to successful aging and a gentle death. Few Sisters opt for major surgery, high-tech diagnostic tests or life-sustaining machinery. And no one there can remember the last time anyone died in a hospital. The article first appeared in the New York Times on 9 July 2009. Read more about them at this link -

Office of Mission and Formation

Formation Program Calendar 2010-2011

Lasallian Leadership Institute (LLI) Cohort 5 Year II

  • Summer: July 18-23, 2010 (Lewis University)
  • Fall: October 28-30, 2010 (Holiday Inn, Bloomington)
  • Spring: March 17-19, 2011 (Our Lady of the SnowsRetreatCenter)

Assistant PrincipalFormationGathering--CenacleRetreatCenter, Metairie, LA (sponsored by NO-SF District)

  • November 8-9, 2010
  • Registration information attached to this e-mail

Huether Lasallian Conference—HiltonNetherlandPlaza,Cincinnati, OH

  • November 18 – 20, 2010
  • Information available at:

Lasallian Coaches Clinic (LCC) –Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

  • January 29- February 1, 2011 (tentative)
  • More information will be available soon

Workshop for Religious Studies Educators on “New Framework”/ Curriculum—AlvernaCenter, Winona, MN (co-sponsor Saint Mary’s Press)

  • February 5-8, 2011 (tentative)
  • More information will be available soon

Animators’ Gathering—AlvernaCenter, Winona, MN

  • March 13- 15/16, 2011
  • Theme: Lasallian Association
  • Structure: part workshop/ part retreat
  • More information will be available soon

International Leadership Program for Lasallian Universities (IALU)

Casa La Salle Generalate, Rome

  • June 2011
  • Information available at:

Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies —Saint Mary’s College, Moraga

  • June 26-July 8, 2011
  • Information available at:

Young Lasallian (YL) Formation Program—ChristianBrothersUniversity, Memphis

  • July 12-16, 2011
  • More information will be available soon

Health Notes

Mental Health vs. Mental Illness

What is Mental Health?

This question can be answered differently by each individual, but the following can promote good mental health:

Eating a well balanced diet

Regular physical activity

Do not overuse alcohol or binge drink to cope with problems

Do not use illegal drugs or misuse prescription drugs

Minimize the stress in your life, good and bad stress, and resolve stressful issues

Talk with others (those who will just listen and give healthy ideas)

Feel good about who you are

Be able to care about others

Be able to accept that you are not perfect

Be able to realize you cannot be everything to everybody

Be able to experience all emotions (joy, love, satisfaction, sadness, anger and frustration

Be able to reach out for help when dealing with difficult traumas or transitions

What is Mental Illness?

It is a disorder of the brain that disrupts a person’s thinking, feelings, moods, ability to relate to others, and their ability to function. It can affect people of any age, race, spiritual belief or income. Mental illness is a real disease just as any other disease, and it is not a sign of weakness or character defect.

Warning Signs of Mental Illness may include:

Major changes in personality

Inability to cope with problems

Trouble performing daily activities

Strange ideas or thoughts

Excessive stress

Prolonged sadness

Changes in appetite patterns

Changes in sleeping patterns

Thoughts of suicide - talking of suicide

Too happy or too sad

Abuse of alcohol - drugs

Being very angry

Wanting to harm others

Too many fears that have no basis

Treatment of Mental Illness:

Treatment depends on the type of mental illness that has been diagnosed and the severity. It may include medication, therapy, or hospitalization. It always includes the above listed items which promote mental health.

REMEMBER:

Try to eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and take some time each day to exercise. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to! Spend some time each day in either quiet prayer or meditation. Clear out the clutter in your life. Do not waste time or energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Put your energy into the positive present. Forgive everyone for everything, especially yourself. No matter how good or bad a situation is, it will change, and in five years will it matter?

Submitted by Cathie Swanson, RN

Information gleaned from St. Joseph’s Hospital

Outpatient Mental Health Clinic

Don’t forget your flu shot. Vaccine is readily available at chain pharmacies and your private physician!

The Woodcutter Changes His Mindby David Budbill

When I was young, I cut the bigger, older trees for firewood, the ones

with heart rot, dead and broken branches, the crippled and deformed

ones, because, I reasoned, they were going to fall soon anyway, and

therefore, I should give the younger trees more light and room to grow.

Now I'm older and I cut the younger, strong and sturdy, solid

and beautiful trees, and I let the older ones have a few more years

of light and water and leaf in the forest they have known so long.

Soon enough they will be prostrate on the ground.

"The Woodcutter Changes His Mind" by David Budbill, from While We've Still Got Feet: New Poems. © Copper Canyon Press, 2005