Dr. Paul Wadell (left) and Fr. James Neilson, O. Praem.
Maybe it was his smooth Kentucky accent or the fact that he greeted, by name, every student who walked into class. I immediately knew my time spent with Dr. Paul Wadell as a grad student at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago was going to be as enjoyable as it was instructive.
In a course referencing his own book, Friendship and the Moral Life, Paul’s class was more like an invigorating retreat with a group of friends than a series of lectures in a room of strangers. Exalting the virtues as essential components of true friendship, Paul revealed a glorious truth: Being in right relationship with others, cultivating and maintaining a circle of good friends, is nothing less than the very dream of God for each and every one of us.
He modeled for us in our teacher-student relationship the virtues to espouse in our own friendships:
Generosity
Paul clearly spent a great deal of time in preparing his classroom lectures. They were always rich in facts, personal insights applicable to everyday life, and wonderfully articulated in the most conversational tone. Our lectures were conversations with and among friends.
Inclusivity
Paul received us in an atmosphere that valued spiritual understanding and wisdom. We learned that cultivating genuine and deep friendships facilitates the growth and development of the spirit.
Sharing
Paul invited us to consider a variety of ideas and insights by way of many voices. His recommended reading list was an introduction to new friends; that is, authors we might never know personally, but would know via their writings. Sharing books, authors, works of art, and artists with new and old friends, with colleagues and students, is a lesson in friendship I practice to this day.
I find a wealth of virtuous friendships at my home, St. Norbert Abbey. As confreres, we share intellectual pursuits, mutual respect, collaboration in liturgical celebrations, and warm and inviting conversations at table. Together we believe God’s triune nature is an experience of mutuality. Therefore, as those created in the image and likeness of God, we enjoy a natural orientation toward being in mutual relationship with others. In our friendships we strive to mirror on earth what we believe is the very reflection of God’s own and true self. Today my professor is my colleague at St. Norbert College. I count him as one of the single most influential educators in my life. And I treasure him as a friend.
Paul Wadell, Ph.D., is a professor of theology and religious studies at St. Norbert College. Read his America magazine article, “Not Settling for Less,” which started as a presentation for The Conrad J. Kratz, O. Praem. Abbey Lecture Series at the Norbertine Center for Spirituality in 2014. He also has contributed to Abbey Magazine; see page 12 of the Spring/Summer 2016 issue for his thoughts on “A Ministry of Mercy.”
Fr. James Neilson, O. Praem., is a priest, artist, and teacher. He is an assistant professor of art at St. Norbert College. Read more about his varied ministries.
Left to right: Fr. Salvatore Cuccia, O. Praem., Fr. Xavier Colavechio, O. Praem., and Fr. Stephen Rossey, O. Praem.
“How would you feel about my tagging along?” At the time I never realized that simple question would lead to a lifetime friendship.
Fr. Xavier Colavechio, O. Praem., was planning a trip to Innsbruck, Austria, for a General Chapter of the order in 1968, a gathering of the Norbertine Order’s abbots and house delegates from around the world. I remarked that if I could tag along we could leave early and travel to European cities, churches, and museums before he went on to participate in the chapter meetings. For me it would be an occasion to see many of the places and objects about which I taught in art history classes, but had never really seen. For Xave it meant he could brush up on the numerous foreign languages he had learned during his student days in Rome and spend time with me, who knew something about art. It seemed like a win-win situation.
The trip was a great success. I could not have done it without Xave, as I knew no French, Dutch, or Italian. My friend’s previous trips had familiarized him with European train schedules and travel, menu selections, and cheap lodging. He knew how to barter, flatter, and cajole. He was a storehouse of knowledge: history, theology, philosophy, and national customs. Best of all, he was a great companion; he never complained about my idiosyncrasies. Whatever I wanted to see or do he made possible, with nary a complaint.
With my 1971 transfer to Archmere Academy, a college-prep high school founded by Abbot Bernard Pennings, O. Praem., just outside Wilmington, Delaware, again I called upon Xave to lend a helping hand as I endeavored to found an art department for the school. Student trips to Europe began in 1974 during the two-week Easter break. They were repeated each year, and in 1978 we spent a month in France with students. Xave set up the travel arrangements, booked the hotels, contacted our abbeys, and even drove a van.
While in France, we stopped at our Romanesque pilgrimage abbey of Conques. Conques is on the pilgrimage route from Paris to Santiago in Spain and is famous for its treasury of precious relics as well as an untouched architectural style. During a delightful tour of the church, I was able to crawl above the galleries to see where medieval pilgrims slept. Xave was able to arrange such a feat by promising to send colostomy bags from the U.S. to an infirm French confrere who was unable to get what he needed in France.
Left to right: Fr. Colavechio, Most Rev. Norbert Calmels, O. Praem. (Abbot General), Fr. Cuccia, and Fr. Rossey at the Norbertine Generalate in Rome
In 1979 Xave was granted a sabbatical from the St. Norbert College faculty. He studied at Oxford, and I accompanied him to attend classes and research the art and architecture that underlies the neo-renaissance villa of the Archmere Estate. Xave and I roomed and boarded at the Jesuit Campion Hall at Oxford, and by the end of the first term we rented our own flat in London, where Xave could do research at the British Library and I could spend hours at London’s many museums.
Here we soon found out that Xave was a much better cook than I, so my domestic duties were limited to laundry and house cleaning. It was a system that worked out very well. We spent our evenings watching Maggie Thatcher on the BBC and reminiscing on what we had seen and done each day. They were mutually rewarding days, to which our daily diaries attest.
We were fortunate to be in Florence for Easter and were invited to participate in the services at the cathedral. What a thrill it was to process down the main aisle with banners flying and bells ringing, cross the Duomo Piazza and enter the Baptistery through Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, for the chanting of Morning Prayer. Another thrill came when Cardinal Benelli asked us both to help distribute Holy Communion during the Mass. What a privilege it was.
Left to right: Fr. Cuccia, Fr. Colavechio, and Fr. Rossey mimicking the Laocoön in the Vatican Museum.
Another General Chapter, this time at our Mother Abbey of Berne in Holland, was held in 1984, the 800th anniversary of Berne’s founding. Our travels by rail took us through Bayeux in France, where we all headed to the depot restrooms. Mine had a tank of water mounted near the ceiling with a pipe running down to a hole near footprints embedded in the concrete floor. The floor around the hole was littered with bits of toilet paper and hundreds of flies. I remarked what scoundrels these French are! After finishing my duty I pulled the chain to flush with the water stored in the tank. Little did I realize that the French had not flushed because there was a hole in the pipe—and just at chest height. The pressure from the water pinned me against the wall until the tank was empty and I exited from the restroom totally drenched. My companions had a laughing fit as I pulled dry clothes from my bags and emptied my shoes.
In 1989, with the Velvet Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall, we visited our abbeys in Eastern Europe, which had been under communist control for a half-century. This time Fr. Brian Prunty, O. Praem., and Fr. Salvatore Cuccia, O. Praem., joined Xave and me. New languages to decipher, devastated landscapes, old women dressed entirely in black, and ruined abbeys confronted us; yet it was edifying to see the courage and stamina of the few remaining confreres who had endured hardship for so long.
Left to right: Fr. Colavechio, Fr. Cuccia, and Fr. Rossey before Bernini’s sculpture of the Moor in the Fountain of the Moor in the Piazza Navona in Rome, where we enjoyed eating Italian tartufo.
My simple request to tag along almost 40 years ago has yielded me a lifetime of memories, for which I am most grateful. Xave’s companionship, quick wit, unbelievable patience, and enduring friendship have changed my life. From him I have learned to have faith and trust in others as well as myself. I believe our mutual friendship has made me what I am today.
What is most difficult for me to accept today is to witness the diminution of my brilliant, faithful companion as Alzheimer’s disease erases all memories of our wonderful times together. Tears well in my eyes as I witness Xave shuffle aimlessly up and down Xanten cloister, fumble through the pages of our monastic prayer book, and ask repeatedly, “What’s next?” and “What time is it now?” Those are questions he never would have asked in the heyday of our excursions. My role now is to help him find the right book, the right page, and the ever-meandering chant line. Now it’s my time to lead him instead of his leading me—and this is indeed a privilege.
You’ve been a good and faithful friend, Xave. You have taught me more than you will ever realize. I couldn’t have made it this far without the constant gift of you to me and to our community. “What’s next?” you ask. God’s final call is all I can envision. My prayer is that when that call comes I might be granted the privilege of tagging along once more.
A Norbertine priest chooses a new family upon his entrance to the order—his confreres, or brothers—yet the man’s family of origin “is understood to be an important part of the community, too,” said Fr. Dane Radecki, O. Praem., current interim pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Greenville, Wisconsin. Fr. Radecki, 66, has regular responsibilities to support his aging parents’ care and the care of his adult brother, Jeff, who has ongoing medical needs. “I manage my brother’s finances and I am his health care power of attorney. Mom is 86 and Dad is 90 and still living independently in Pulaski, but I expect my family caregiving will continue to increase,” Fr. Radecki said.
Up until his recent sabbatical and assignment to St. Mary’s, Fr. Radecki was a leader in the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) system and called upon to consult for Catholic education programs across the country. As with so many other families, no amount of professional responsibility removes the obligation to family caregiving. “Those surprise calls in the middle of the night, or the decision to ‘cleanthe place,’ or an upcoming surgery, or someone losing her ability to drive—I rely on the generosity of my (Norbertine) community when it comes to caregiving. It’s something you step up and do as a son and a brother,” Fr. Radecki said, noting that his brother and sister also share these responsibilities.
When someone is amazed I still have my parents with me, I realize each moment with them is a blessing.
—Fr. Dane Radecki, O. Praem.
Fr. Dane Radecki, O. Praem.
Fr. Radecki returns to St. Norbert Abbey weekly, from Sunday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon. “The concept is to recharge, but that doesn’t always happen. I may have a funeral, or an emergency call from my brother in Pulaski, and this is when I catch up on his finances,” Fr. Radecki said.
While with his confreres at the abbey, Fr. Radecki slides into the comfortable daily ritual of his community. “Serving in a parish, I miss the communal prayer of the abbey.” Long morning walks are his healthy habit, Fr. Radecki says, but he’s been known to choose more sleep over long strolls. “Sometimes the fatigue wins out,” he said, laughing.
The future is uncertain for Fr. Radecki as he waits to see how his family’s needs will change in the coming months and years. He wonders about moving his mother into the rectory with him so he can be her primary caregiver. “Yet these responsibilities do not weigh heavily on me,” he said. “When someone is amazed I still have my parents with me, I realize each moment with them is a blessing.”
Fr. Andrew Cribben, O. Praem., 53, is one of 11 children born into a Dodge County, Wisconsin, farming family. No stranger to hard work, he is currently the pastor of the 1400-family St. Willebrord Parish in downtown Green Bay, which just celebrated its 25th year as one of the region’s largest and most vital Hispanic Catholic churches. Seventy percent of parish families are Hispanic in language, culture, and tradition, and 30 percent are native English speakers.
“Our Hispanic families are primarily young with children, and our English-speaking members tend to be elderly,” Fr. Cribben said. “Changes in immigration law enforcement have caused a new wave of worry and uncertainty. We work every day to be companions to many long-term and well-established Hispanic people in Green Bay and the people who know them. My biggest challenge is parish unity in the midst of so many different pastoral needs.”
Fr. Cribben lives at the parish rectory and returns to St. Norbert Abbey, just a short car ride away, for meetings or supportive discussions with his confreres. “A group of us gathers intentionally to support one another in our active ministry. We share a desire to be happy, healthy, and holy. It’s where I experience the love and support I need to serve the people of our parish.”
The Norbertine Order’s personnel committee has been responsive to Fr. Cribben’s call for more help at the always-bustling St. Willebrord. Fr. Jack MacCarthy, O. Praem., came on as assistant pastor nearly two years ago, fluent in Spanish and Hispanic culture after decades of pastoral and medical service in the jungles of Peru. Fr. Cribben is confident in and thankful for his confrere’s expertise and compassion. “We can discuss pastoral and spiritual concerns of our parish members and community issues,” he said. “To have a confrere at my side is a great benefit to us both, I believe.” Together with Fr. MacCarthy and Br. Jacob Sircy, O. Praem., up to 12 Norbertines regularly assist Fr. Cribben with twice-daily Masses and eight weekend Masses at the parish. “Several of our elderly priests speak Spanish, so we can gather up to eight bilingual confessors for special events like our recent women’s retreat,” Fr. Cribben said.
I am working to regain healthy habits so I can stay productive and available to the people who need me.
—Fr. Andrew Cribben, O. Praem.
Fr. Andrew Cribben, O. Praem. (center)
High on Fr. Cribben’s list of concerns is providing capable, Spanish-speaking Norbertines to serve at St. Willebrord Parish. “I hope and pray I have many more years at St. Willy’s, but given the size and complexity of our parish, I’ve already started discussions with the abbey personnel committee about a transition plan. How will we prepare? I rely on the members to help us with longer-term plans,” he said.
Fr. Cribben said self-care is often sacrificed in the midst of his hectic schedule and the heavy emotional and spiritual demands of his flock. “As a farm boy, my exercise was our daily work on the farm, and that has gone away,” Fr. Cribben said. “I am working with Dr. John Gray (abbey health advisor) to try and regain some healthy habits so I can stay productive and available to the people who need me.”
Fr. Steven Vanden Boogard, O. Praem., served honorably as U.S. Navy officer and Catholic chaplain until his medical retirement in 2010.
He graduated from high school in Kimberly, Wisconsin, at the height of the Vietnam War era and enlisted in the U.S. Navy just weeks later. After his service as a hospital corpsman, Fr. Steven Vanden Boogard, O. Praem., now 63, enrolled at St. Norbert College and was ordained a Norbertine priest in 1988. Fr. Vanden Boogard taught high school for five years and was then commissioned a U.S. Navy officer and Catholic chaplain, a role in which he served honorably until his medical retirement in 2010.
“I have been on more than 100 ships on official navy business, everything from harbor tugs, frigates, and destroyers to the John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier,” Fr. Vanden Boogard explained. At his busiest and most dangerous time, he was the only Catholic priest military chaplain on U.S. military bases in 2006 in Fallujah, Iraq, where he pastored two chapel parishes, served four battalions and an army brigade, and supervised five junior chaplains.
Today, Fr. Vanden Boogard lives at St. Norbert Abbey in the dedicated medical wing after enduring cancer while serving in the navy in 2007. Multiple myeloma attacked his kidneys and led to thrice-weekly dialysis before a kidney transplant in May 2015. His cancer is in remission, yet Fr. Vanden Boogard is awaiting a further surgery to remedy related medical complications.
Fr. Steven Vanden Boogard, O. Praem.
“I feel as if I am just 10 percent of what I once was. I used to travel far and wide—the mountainsides, fields, valleys, and seas—‘looking for lost sheep.’ I ministered to both Catholics and non-Catholics. I helped people become full members of the Catholic Church, celebrated the sacraments, and wrote scores of benedictions and invocations,” Fr. Vanden Boogard said of his 17 years in the navy.
Despite his chronic health condition, Fr. Vanden Boogard still celebrates an occasional community Mass at the abbey for and with his confreres. The bishop asked him to serve as a priest celebrant at St. Hubert/St. Peter’s in Rosiere and Lincoln, and at St. Francis Xavier/St. Mary of the Snows in Brussels, Wisconsin, a role that leaves him free of administrative duties but vital to the spirit and people of these small rural parishes.
Admittedly, it’s now a different type of living in community, a switch from the U.S. Navy to the Norbertines, each with their own sets of rituals and routines. “Since August 1979 St. Norbert Abbey has been my home. After being away for a long time, it is good to be back.”
In this world two things are essential: life and friendship. Both should be highly prized and we must not undervalue them. Life and friendship are nature’s gifts. God created us that we might exist and live: this is life. But if we are not to remain solitary, there must be friendship.
—St. Augustine
I recently had the privilege of interviewing three Norbertine seminarians: Deacon Michael Brennan, O. Praem., Frater Patrick LaPacz, O. Praem., and Frater Jordan Neeck, O. Praem.
We discussed their life together within the Norbertine community, specifically their time at Holy Spirit House of Studies, the Norbertine home in Chicago, located near Catholic Theological Union, where they are pursuing graduate studies.
By living, working, and praying together throughout the past few years, these young men who once had been strangers have become not only brothers in Norbert, but also treasured and most likely lifelong friends. Here they share their journey of life and friendship.
What are the joys and challenges of living in a home together, where you are responsible for cooking, cleaning, and other household chores, as well as praying and studying together? How has this environment enhanced your friendship with one another?
Deacon Mike: In America, we live in a culture that fosters individualism, where there’s not a lot of actual face-to-face interaction. Here, we rub elbows—we live together. And while we often study alone, Patrick, for instance, might suddenly pop in and say something like, “Talk to me.”
Frater Patrick: Or Mike will sneeze really loudly and I’ll yell back to him, “God bless you.”
4841: Holy Spirit House of Studies, Chicago
Deacon Mike: These little interactions really pull us out of ourselves. I think that’s one of the reasons many of us have chosen community life. We long for relationships. Our tradition understands the Trinity as the God of relationship. Sometimes we want to isolate ourselves from one another, but in the end it’s good to bump elbows, it’s good to have someone intentionally come into our space and say, “I want to hang out.” It gets us out of our own heads a bit.
Frater Jordan: When I was taking classes at Notre Dame last summer, I got a call from Mike or Patrick every week, or I called them. Being away made me really appreciate them and the Norbertine way of life. And making each of us better people is what religious life is all about: growing in “one mind and one heart on the way to God.”
Q:
Frater Jordan Neeck, O. Praem. (left), and Frater Patrick LaPacz, O. Praem., on their way to Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
Realizing all relationships include a bit of conflict or misunderstanding, or simply a case of others getting on our nerves, how do you three handle conflict when it arises?
Deacon Mike: One of the ways we deal with conflict is we have fun with it. We really do enjoy each other’s company and all of us are good at teasing one another. I have a tendency to be a bit loud and assertive. When that happens, I’ll be referred to as “coach.” Meaning I don’t have to go on and on as I sometimes do. But we definitely have some serious conversations, too, depending upon the person, the topic, and the day.
Frater Jordan: Depending on the day—that’s important—being able to really read one another before we bring out the teasing. Also, humility plays a part in this. I know I have my own quirks and there are days I’m not easy to live with. But humor can ease that tension. Fraternal correction is in our Rule, but it’s so hard to directly correct someone. Humor softens those edges.
Q:
Left to right: Deacon Michael Brennan, O. Praem., Frater Jordan Neeck, O. Praem., Frater Patrick LaPacz, O. Praem.
Judith Viorst, author of Necessary Losses, asserts that it is much easier to stand by our friends in their sadness and their adversity, but that the true test of friendship is being able to stand by our friends in their joys and their successes. Is there truth for you in this statement, and if so, how?
Frater Jordan: I recently read that 94 percent of priests identify as “happy”—a rate higher than doctors, teachers, and lawyers. But most of the support and affirmation for these priests comes from family, friends, and people they shepherd; sadly, it does not always come from other clergy. We’re here to support each other when we’re down, but how often do we take time to celebrate each other’s successes? This is a challenge not only within priesthood, but also throughout humanity.
Q:
Fr. James Herring, O. Praem., Master of Professed and local superior at Holy Spirit House of Studies
You pray together three times a day, everyday—Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Mass. How does this impact your friendship?
Frater Jordan: You heard us sing, Judy!
Deacon Mike: Yeah, it’s not always a “joyful song unto the Lord.”
Frater Patrick: I think prayer is time spent together in a special way, even though it can be a bit frustrating if someone is off pitch, or when I can’t get the right tones.
Deacon Mike: Living together, we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. But it’s in communal prayer that I think we are most forgiving because everyone is making his best effort. In shared prayer, we are more charitable with one another—perhaps more so than in other aspects of life. When I’m away I’ll pray my breviary alone. But it’s worlds apart from communal prayer, which I desperately miss. Here in the house, praying together makes us more than roommates; we are a community of brothers.
Frater Jordan: I learned when people pray or sing or chant together, they start to breathe together, and their hearts become in sync. Even though there are differences among us, this aspect of our prayer life brings us together as Norbertines. Our lives are rooted in prayer.
Q:
Deacon Michael Brennan, O. Praem. (left), and Frater Jordan Neeck, O. Praem.
As you mentioned, none of you knew each other before you entered the community, yet today you call each other friends and brothers. What have these relationships brought to your life? How are you a better, more faithful Norbertine because of each other?
Deacon Mike: Patrick has this attention to detail, especially when it comes to anything liturgical or any project for that matter. While he might not be the first one to start the project, he’ll make sure it’s done right. He inspires me to be in tune to the sacredness of the liturgy. Jordan has a dedication to running and healthy living. Because of him, I’ve started running again and we both signed up for the Chicago Marathon.
Frater Patrick: Mike has a strong private prayer life, spending time in the chapel before communal prayer and at other times throughout the day. He motivates me to spend time on my own spiritual life. Jordan is a model of healthy living, consistently running and eating well. When it comes to academics he’s always on the ball. He never procrastinates. I trust both of them and am able to talk with them about deeper issues.
Frater Jordan: When Mike is passionate and on fire, he goes for it. He is extroverted. I tend to be introverted and have to try to be more outgoing. I admire his care and concern for other people. Whenever an opportunity arises to build relationships, Mike is always willing to take me with him.
Deacon Mike: I have really good college buddies, but I don’t have the day-to-day conversations with those guys that I have with two of my best friends right now: Patrick and Jordan. I anticipate having them walk with me throughout life. It’s a blessing to reflect upon the idea of friendship this early in our religious life, and to anticipate the ways that will challenge and benefit us as we live out our Norbertine vocation.
Q:
Frater Patrick LaPacz, O. Praem. (right)
Ideally, how do you imagine your friendship 10, 20, 30 years from now? What are your hopes and dreams, regarding not only your friendship with each other, but also relationships within your entire community?
Frater Jordan: A few questions were recently posed to us in class: How are we as Norbertines different from diocesan pastors? What is distinctive about our form of religious life, and how do we remain committed to it? For us, it’s not all about work. It’s also about community and being committed to one another. It’s about being intentional and constantly reminding ourselves about our commitment to one another. I’ll be there for my brothers, and I may have to sacrifice something at my work to be present to them.
Deacon Mike:I’ll be ordained a priest on May 27, and as I move closer to priesthood, I realize I’m not worthy to be a priest. None of us are. I’m not saying this in a self-deprecating way. As Jordan says, this life—this vocation—is such a grace. It reminds me how much I’ll need to rely upon my family, my friends, the People of God, my Norbertine brothers, and especially on God, for love and support.
The Norbertine Volunteer Community (NVC) is a full-time service and outreach program of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey. Since its establishment in 2008, the NVC has seen nine groups of young adults enter the community, typically as complete strangers, only to become friends during their time living and working together. Steph and Kyle are two such friends and were members of the NVC between January and June 2011.
Steph and Kyle join forces in a memorable karaoke performance.
We came from different states—Steph from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and Kyle from Kokomo, Indiana—and backgrounds (even cheering for different NFL football teams!) to find a common experience in the NVC. That January we both joined during times of transition: Steph had just moved back home from working in the Washington, D.C., area, and Kyle was in the process of discerning religious life. Whether our meeting was circumstantial or through grace, we remain grateful to the Norbertines for their support of the NVC as an opportunity for young adults like us to come together and experience living in an intentional community grounded in faith (through shared meals and daily prayer at home) and service (by reaching out to the poor and marginalized in the local community).
As co-workers we volunteered at both Golden House, a domestic abuse shelter, and the Brown County Jail and Juvenile Detention Facility. Kyle was always drawing dinosaurs to entertain the little ones at Golden House and earned a reputation as “master dinosaur-draw-er”! We worked in the chaplain’s office at the jail to assist with the spiritual and emotional needs of incarcerated men, women, and juveniles.
2011 members of the NVC (left to right): Lindsay (Koeppel) Konrad, Steph, Kyle, now-Deacon Michael Brennan, O. Praem., Angie Knutson
Although we were only together at the NVC for six short months, this distinctive opportunity to volunteer at two of the same sites gave us ample time to bond through our successes and setbacks. It took a lot of energy to be present to the people we served—especially working with those who had committed unimaginable crimes, challenging our hearts and sense of mercy. Relying on each other, especially between shifts, helped us process our collective experiences. We became more confident in our own paths of personal growth—learning not only from each other, but also from our fellow community members.
Much of our work together was serious, but there were plenty of ways to have fun, too. Whether it was walks around the neighborhood, evening sing-alongs, or movie and popcorn nights, as a community we found ways to balance work and play.
Stephanie Birmingham and Kyle Cothern
Our time in the NVC has long since passed, yet our friendship continues to grow. Steph lives in Green Bay and Kyle lives in Chicago, but we stay in touch through the occasional FaceTime call, text, greeting card, or visit. We love to laugh over Steph’s hilarious journey as a first-time cat owner, and Kyle’s adventures as a big-city dweller from a small town. We recently connected over a story shared by a former inmate, who vividly remembers the wordplay games from our days volunteering at the jail and still appreciates those joyful moments so many years ago.
Physical distance might keep us apart, but our memories of the NVC keep us close, and we look forward to being lifelong friends.
Philadelphia native Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem., was ordained in 1953, and celebrated the 60th anniversary of his priesthood ordination on June 6, 2013.
He holds several degrees; having a diploma in Catechetics from Lumen Vitae, Brussels, Belgium, which he earned in 1963, he also acquired a doctorate in religious education from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., in 1971.
Fr. McBride has received honorary doctorates from St. Norbert College and from Belmont Abbey College, N.C.
Throughout the years:
Fr. McBride has been a high school teacher, novice master, university professor and president, and spiritual director.
He founded the department of religious education at the National Catholic Educational Association and was named its first executive director.
The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership presented their 2011 NCCL Catechetical Award to Father McBride, “in recognition of his sterling example, dedication and enthusiasm in the passionate promotion of catechesis for decades.”
In addition to these and other accolades, Fr. McBride has been as a consultant on the Catechism for the Archdiocese of Boston and was a professor of homiletics at Pope John XXIII Seminary. He has also worked on a series of programs for the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).
Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem. (left), and Fred Gallagher
In the summer of 1988 Frank Sinatra gave a benefit concert in my hometown for a hospital run by Sisters of Mercy. That night Old Blue Eyes introduced me to a special man who would become a lifelong friend. Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem., was at the concert because he had been invited to write a set of family bible stories by my father, Bud Gallagher, the co-founder of Good Will Publishers of Gastonia, North Carolina. Another excellent priest, friend, and talented communicator, Fr. John Bradley, was the project editor who had come to know Fr. Al when he was a young Norbertine priest teaching at Catholic University.
After that first bible story project, Fr. Al continued to write and publish with our company and eventually joined Good Will’s board of directors. When he came to town for board meetings, I would pick him up at the airport, take him to dinner and then to the meeting the next morning. That time together has changed my life.
Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem., at his writing desk at St. Norbert Abbey
Through the years I came to learn of the dozens of books Fr. Al authored and his passion for catechetics. I learned of his time as a boy in Philadelphia, taken in as an orphan by an aunt and uncle whom he loved dearly. I know about his Norbertine high school there, of his studies in Brussels and his time as a university president. I learned of his time as professor of homiletics at Pope John XXIII Seminary, his time lecturing for the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and with Relevant Radio, as well as his time associated with Aid to the Church in Need. I know my friend was the first leader of the Religious Education Department of the National Catholic Education Association. And I heard his stories—great stories!
Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem.
Once I walked into Fr. John’s office as he was visiting with Fr. Al. I was so excited to tell my dear priest friends about my new discovery, the wonderful writings of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. After going on about Rabbi Heschel, I asked if either of the two clergymen knew of him. They looked at each other knowingly and, with great humility, Fr. Al said, “Why, yes, Fred. I wrote a book about him.” It had been his doctoral dissertation! We’ve joked about it ever since.
Fr. McBride and I still recall Old Blue Eyes and remember fondly our old friend, Fr. John. Each time I drove Fr. Al to one of our board meetings, I went to confession there in the car. When we learned he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he joked, “Talk to me now before I go all ga-ga!” I told him it was reassuring to have a confessor who wouldn’t remember my sins. He said, “I don’t remember them anyway!”
I don’t know what the future will be like with my good, good friend. All I know is that from the time we listened to Sinatra together, we’ve been friends and nothing will change that, not distance nor memory nor disease nor death. Ad multos annos, my dearest friend!
Fred Gallagher is the author of three children’s books and a number of volumes on bereavement, marriage, and family life. He is a regular writer for the newspaper of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Books and Other Publications
Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem., has lectured and written widely, with more than 50 books and 200 published articles to his name.
c1965
Homilies for the New Liturgy
c1966
Catechetics: A Theology of Proclamation
c1968
A Short Course on the Bible
c1969
The Human Dimension of Catechetics
c1970
Growing in Grace
c1971
The Pearl and the Seed
c1973
Heschel: Religious Educator
c1975
The Gospel of the Holy Spirit
A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles
c1977
The Kingdom and the Glory: The Gospel of St. Matthew
c1978
Creative Teaching in Christian Education
c1978
Evangelization: The Mission and Ministry of Catholic Educators
c1979
Death Shall Have No Dominion
c1981
Staying Faithful
c1981
Saints are People: Church History Through the Saints
c1983
The Story of the Church: Peak Moments from Pentecost to the Year 2000
c1983
Year of the Lord: Cycle A: Reflections on Sunday Readings
c1983
Year of the Lord: Cycle B: Reflections on Sunday Readings
c1983
Year of the Lord: Cycle C: Reflections on Sunday Readings
c1986
Pre-Arrival Catechesis for the Second Pastoral Visit of John Paul II to the United States: Catechesis
c1989
Christ our Compass
c1990
The Ten Commandments: Sounds of Love from Sinai
c1990
The Seven Last Words of Jesus
c1992
To Love and Be Loved by Jesus: Meditation and Commentary on the Gospel of Mark
c1992
The Gospel of the Holy Spirit: Meditation and Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles
c1992
The Human Face of Jesus: Meditation and Commentary on the Gospel of Luke
c1992
The Kingdom and the Glory: Meditation and Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew
c1992
The Divine Presence of Jesus: Meditation and Commentary on the Gospel of John
c1992
A Year of Preparation: World Youth Day ’93 Resource Manual
c1992
Catholic Evangelization: A Course Manual for Seminarians and Other Catholic Evangelizers
c1993
Images of Jesus: Ten Invitations to Intimacy
c1993
The Second Coming of Jesus: Meditation and Commentary on the Book of Revelation
c1994
Essentials of the Faith: A Guide to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
c1994
A Short History of the Mass
c1994
Invitation: The Search for God, Self and Church: A Catholic Learning Guide for Adults
c1995
Father McBride’s Teen Catechism: Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
c1996
A Retreat with Pope John XXIII: Opening the Windows to Wisdom
c1996
Lessons for Today from the Early Church
c1998
The Millennium: End of Time? A New Beginning?
c1998
Father McBride’s Family Catechism: Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
c1999
Images of Mary
c1999
Celebrating the Mass: A Guide for Understanding and Loving the Mass More Deeply
c2000
Father McBride’s College Catechism
c2001
The Ten Commandments: Covenant of Love
c2001
Catholic Beliefs from A to Z
c2002
Pope John XXIII: True Life and Teachings
c2002
Essentials of the Faith: A Guide to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
c2003
One Hundred Years of Catholic Education: Historical Essays in Honor of the Centennial of the Nation
c2004
Teen Guide to the Bible
c2005
The Holy Eucharist Prayer Book
c2007
How to Make Homilies Better, Briefer, and Bolder: Tips from a Master Homilist
c2008
Daily Reflections for Lent
c2009
The Story of the Church
c2009
How to Pray Like Jesus and the Saints: A Study Guide for Catholics
c2010
A Priest Forever: Nine Signs of Renewal and Hope
c2010
Truth for Your Mind, Love for Your Heart: Satisfying Your Hunger for God
c2011
Staying Faithful Today: To God, Ourselves, One Another
c2012
Holding Jesus: Reflections on Mary, The Mother of God
c2012
The Challenge of the Cross: Praying the Stations
c2014
Christ, Our Compass: Making Moral Choices
c2014
All I Own I Owe: The Autobiography of Reverend Alfred McBride, O Praem
All I Own I Owe: The Autobiography of Reverend Alfred McBride, O Praem. | Photo Courtesy of St. Benedict’s Press
In 2014 Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem., published his latest book, All I Own I Owe, which is also his autobiography.
The 244-page book includes personal reflections and insights, from his youth to present-day.
Surrounding the release of his book, Fr. McBride spent several months making promotional and book signing appearances in the Green Bay area, including an appearance at a special promotional event held at Cathedral Book & Gift in downtown Green Bay.
Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem. (center), presented award by Most Rev. David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay (right) and event emcee Fr. Francis “Rocky” Hoffman, JCD (left)
In March 2016 author and catechist Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem., was honored at Relevant Radio Green Bay’s “Christ Brings Hope Award Dinner.”
Norbertine author shares lessons learned This Sunday on CW 14 Focus host Robert Hornacek was joined by Rev. Alfred McBride, O.Praem.
September 19, 2014
CW 14 “Focus” (TV)
For Christmas 2016, in a touching tribute to their confreres who have passed into God’s Eternal Kingdom, members of the Norbertine community placed a Christmas wreath on each headstone in the St. Norbert Abbey cemetery. Below, several Norbertines share their thoughts about the headstones they selected and the impact that these respective Norbertines had on their lives.
Fr. Basil Reuss, O. Praem. († March 20, 1959), had a special influence on my life in giving me a reason to profess temporary vows at the end of my two-year novitiate.
The story begins with my wanting to know if I was making the right decision to abandon my career as an engineer at the Western Electric Company in order to enter the Norbertine Order.
All of the fraters made a retreat every year in August, and in 1956 Fr. Reuss preached this retreat for second-year novices, who were preparing to profess their first vows on August 28. Something he said at one of the conferences encouraged me to consult him personally. His counsel gave me what I needed in order to profess the three-year vows with my classmates.
For Christmas 2016, in a touching tribute to their confreres who have passed into God’s Eternal Kingdom, members of the Norbertine community placed a Christmas wreath on each headstone in the St. Norbert Abbey cemetery. Below, several Norbertines share their thoughts about the headstones they selected and the impact that these respective Norbertines had on their lives.
I chose to remember Fr.Guy Guyon, O. Praem. († December 4, 2003), because of my delightful times with him designing sets for his musicals. Several shows hold special memories:
“South Pacific”: Guy wanted the proscenium arch flanked with palm trees. I designed trees that were stage height and each leaf took a full roll of crepe paper. I climbed to the top of the ladder to install the leafy structures and the ladder broke in the center and I came sliding down the wall. Lying on the floor, Guy ministered to my needs.
“My Fair Lady”: Eric Butikus designed the sets: 22- and 14-foot revolving platforms with multiple sets on each occupied the stage floor. The large turntable had a circular staircase that was mounted from off-stage. Unfortunately, when the large table turned, it bumped the small table! Unnerved, Guy told Eric to redesign it. Eric refused and left the stage. Guy and I went to the gym with a large roll of butcher paper and laid out the drawing for each step to assure maximum clearing. It worked like a charm. The audience cheered when they witnessed the table turn and Eliza dismount the staircase! Guy could not have been more pleased.
“Brigadoon”: Guy was delighted with my Arcadian dream scene of trees blooming with tissue-colored leaves.
We spent 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, from dawn to dusk, on-stage creating the sets, after which we adjourned to the priory kitchen to cook dinner together.
At rehearsals Guy sat in the top row of the balcony and would yell at the cast, “I can’t hear you!” He refused to use mikes or employ stand-in actors, in case someone became sick! Being a thespian myself I asked him not to be so hard on the kids. He complied as best he could.
Generosity
