the barnabite messenger vol.27 no.1 - march 1979

8/7/2019 The Barnabite Messenger Vol.27 No.1 - March 1979

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4&noIitcTI'IESSEl{GER

NON-PIOFITORGU. S. POSTAGE

P A I DPermil No . 23

Youngtlown, N. Y.

V o l . X V l l - N o . IO23 WANN OAD, OUNGSTOWN,.Y. 4 I74 MARCH I979

Fr.GronciniMeefsPopeJohnPoul ll l is l lol iness Pope John paul I Irecently granted an audience tothe Major Superior3 of ReligiousOrders of Men. The Holy Fatherinquired about Th e BarnabiteI.athers and their work as he metuith th e Most Rev. Steven M.Grancini, Superior General of theRarnab i tes . Father Granc in i isthe first American elected to theoffice of Superior General.

minds of the scrupulouswho think theyare always in sin. That person needsconsolationand communication, so heseeksout his favorite priest whom hethinks s very understanding. he priest,after much listening, prescribes hismedicationcalled "absolution" and therepentanteavesn a stateof grace.Whata wonderful gift only a priest can givethrough Christ.The next word is patient. The Latinroot being Patior-pati, meaning tosuffer, to bear something. t was firstusedby Chaucer n the medical world.The patient goes to his pastor to berelievedof his anxieties,worries, fears.doubts nd otherneurosesrom whichheis suffering.He s istened o patiently orlong periods of time. Then the priestgiveshim advice ust as a good parentgives his child advice. The physiciandoesn'tusuallyhear about he emotional

turmoil the il l one is suffering from.Therefore, he doesn't get to treat thewholeperson.As a woman physicianof43 years and having g0 percent of mypatients women, I heard more con-fessions han many priests. They com-municatedeasierwith oneof their own.The patient is a petitioner, a human indistress,mentally and-orphysically.Heis not a client. The word client is apolutionof the word cliens and it has alineageback to Roman times when the(Continuedn paee4)

Fr.PETERBONARDTr934-1979pgs .2 3

ThePriest, heBornobite, hephysicion(Note: This is an acceptancespeechb-r-I)r. Jennie Werst of Bethlehem, pa.. onthe occasion of her Affiliation to theBarnabite Order).

Dear F a t he rs , S i s t e rs ,Lad ies and(ientlemen:I am fully cognizant of the specialhonor you confer on me todav. Howwonderful t is to be standing ere ln ttrisbeautiful Basilica dedicated to ourBlessedMother.Howwonderful t is also,to be thought of as Mother of the Bar-nabite Order here in youngstown.I feel the life work of priest andphysician s so similar. There are threewords I shall dwell on to explainwhy Ithink so . First th e word physician: Itcomes rom theLatin Profiteri, meaningto declarealoud.To makepublicavowal.That avowal s to heal.A priest heals hetroubledmind of the repenlant,and the


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Page2 BARNABITE ESSENGER MARCH 97ln MemsTisrn-::l::i:::::::::::::::t:;::;::::::::::::::::::::::i:::;:a:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;:::::::::::::::;:::::Fr.PeterM. Bonordi, .R.S.P.Relg ous-Teoche r- Posto

Jon.3, 934-Morch 16,1979Fr. PeterM. Bonardidied of cancer nMountSt. Mary's Hospilal,near NiagaraFalls, N.Y. after a long year of silentsuffering and deep prayer in the ac-ceptanceof the WilI of God.He was thesuperiorof the BarnabiteCommunity atOur Lady of Fatima Shrine until hisresignation ast year.Born in Brignano, near Bergamo, hehometown of Pope John XXXII, Fr .Bonardigrew up near the famed Shrine

of Our Lady of Caravaggio.He alwaysfelt indebted o the BlessedMother for amiraculonscure which saved his life.He entered the Barnabi te MinorSeminary in lg46 in Cremona, thehometown of the founder of the Bar-nabites: St . AnthonyM. Zaccaria.Aftercompletinghis novitiate in the city ofManza, and his classical andphilosophical tudies n Lodi, he beganhis theologicalstudies n Rome. In t9b6he was assigned o the United States ostaff a future high school.He completedhis theologicalstudies at Our Lady ofAngelsSeminary (Niagara University)and was ordained to the priesthood n1959.While eaching t BishopGibbons ighschool n North Tonawanda.N.Y.. hepursued graduate studies at Niagara

University and obtained a Master'sDegree n American History in 1961.Histhesisdealtwith theFounderof theFortyHours Devotion: St. Anthonv M. Zac-caria.Af er e ight years of enthusiast icteaching and sport activities with thehigh school students,Fr. Bonardi wasappointedsuperior of a new BarnabiteCommunity n San Diego,Cal. He waspastorof Our Lady of the RosaryChurch

for two years until his transfer toBethlehem, Pa., where he taught atBethlehem Catholic High School. Hegave courses in theology and socialstudies,while serving as cross countrycoach, rom l97l to f976.After a brief period n his native Italydue to the illrrcss of his mother, Fr.Bonardi returned to the United Statesand was appointed superior of theBarnabite Community at Our Lady ofFatima Shrine, earNiagaraFalls, N.Y.Fr. Bonardi was an obedient eligiouspriest, dedicated o prayer, and tb newforms of bringing he ove of God o man.His devotion o the BlessedMother, toprayer groups,and to l ife wil l remainimprinted n the soulsof thosewho knewan d ovedhim.

I . 'R. PBTER M. BONARDI CRSPTheFinolHoursOf Fr.Bonordi

(Note: The following remarks ar etaken from a long letter of nurse Janetl , i g a m m a r i , w ho a l o n g w i t h n u r s eNorma Battaglia, volunteered many off-duty hours o assist F-r.Bonardi unti l hisvery end. The Barnabite Fathers aregreatly indebted to these two nurses andto the ,\ngelic Sisters for their concernand he lp . )I enjoyed doing anything for Fr.Bonardi. The real thanks belong to hismother, the 'Signora Maria,' to thecommunity of the BarnabiteFathers),and to his many friends. You are thepeoplewho really helpedhim throughhis

(Co n t in u c t l o n Pa e .e3 )

A LifeDedicote to Youth

PEP RALLY CI,ASS LITURGYCHESS COACH


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MARCH979 B AR N A B I TEE S S E N G E R Page3TheFinolHoursOf Fr.Bonordi

(continuedrom Page2)illness.His knowinghow much all of youcared and loved him, was the best sup-portand helphe couldpossiblyhaveeverreceived.Medicines can only ease thepain,but thepeoplewhostayedwith him,or called and had him in their prayers,helped im to accepthis llnessand makethe sufferingbearable.I tried to be a friend, more than anurse, because knew how much hecherishedhis friends. I only knew Fr.Bonardi or a short time, but he had astrong effect on my life. He was a verystrong, independentand brave person.He never complained or asked foranything.Insteadof talking,he wouldsometimescall me and ask me to sit with him for awhile and hold his hand. I think that attimes like these,he just needed o bereassuredhat he was not alone.Duringhis ast night,whenhewas feelingalone,Fr. Ruzza (the provincial superior)wouldremind him that we were all withhim and that he was not alone. Fr.Bonardianswered, I know here are sixof us-you (Fr. Ruzza),mama, David(Wilson,a Barnabitepostulant), anet,myself, and (pointing to the crucifix)Jesus"Fr. Bonardi was a strong willed per-son,and he loved ife. He talked with usmost of his last night. He was gettingmedication or pain every half hour andyet he was still coherent.Fr. Bonardi aughtme a greatdeal andI feel he did more for me than I did forhim. He always gave and never took.

Even when peoplewould come to visithim, he would try to make them feelgood.I feel that whenFr. Bonardidid die, hehad fully acceptedhis death. The nightbefore he died (Feb. 15. 79). he wouldstart to fall asleep,but then suddenlyhewould sit up. It was as though he wereafraid that he would not awake. It isnormal to be afraid to die; but on themorning of the l6th he said: "I will besilentnow,andGod'swill be done. Thisis when I feel he totally acceptedeverythingand only then couldhe trulydie at peacewith himself. Then he saidgood-byeoeachof us,got relaxed n bed,hada smile on his faceand slipped nto acoma.He no onger espondedo us, buthe was at peacewith himself and withGod. Fr. Bonardi had said to nurseNorma Battaglia, "Death will neverseperate s. I will pray for you, and youwill pray for me." I truly believe Fr,Bonardi s alwayswith me as I know hewill be alwavswith vou.

ScholorshipundA Scholarship undwill be establishedto perpetuate he memory of Fr. peterM. Bonardi.This scholarshipwill benefita future Barnabite Seminarian.Anyoneinterested houldsend donations o:VeryRev. 'r. ProvincialSt . Anthony M. Zaccaria Seminary,Fatima Shrine,Youngstown, .Y . l4t74

TIIEOI,OGY TEACIIERI

SCIIOOI, I, ITURGY

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INFORNIAI, PRAYER MEETING CROSSCOUNTRY COACH


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Page c BARNABITE ESSENGER | '1ARCH 97Newsof fhe Order ThePriest-

Michael M. Mancusi, CRSP. waslecently ordained a deacon in Rome,Italy, by BishopPlacidoM. Cambiaghiofthe Barnabite Fathers. In the picturerbove, Rev. Mr. Mancusi s giving Holy(lommunion to the Superior General oftheBarnabites,Most.Rev. Fr. StevenM.Grancini. Rev. Mr. Mancusi will be or-dained o the HolyPriethood on July 6 atOurLady of Fatima Shrine,Youngstown,\ Y .

Very Rev. Fr. Frank' M. Rrryza,Provincial of the Barnabites in NlrthAmerica, at tended a meet ing inBruxelles,Belgium, of all the BarnabiteProvincials.eNew deas and directirAswere planned,especially n the field of.'ocation ecruiting and missionaryworkrn Zai re (Congo).Richard Kammerer, th i rd year

theology student, will be ordained adeaconon May 19 n Allentown,Pa. Herecently eceived he Master of Divinitydegree f rom Mary ImmaculateSeminary, Northampton,Pa.l-r. FerdinandM. Capra, a BarnabiteMissionary. eturned to our missionsafter completinghis studyof English.Hewasassignedo thecommunity of Belemdo Para, Brazil

The affiliation to the Order of the Barnabites, hehighest recogni t ion bestowed on our c losestcooperators,was given by the Most ReverendStevenM. Grancinion Nov.4, 1978o Dr. JennieWerst (left)and Mrs. Isabell Anderson or their outstanding on-tribution and assistance o the two Barnabite Com-munities n Bethlehem, a. and Youngstown, .Y.

The documentswere officially read during a con-celebratedMasson Dec..27,1978n the Chapel f theBarnabiteFathers' Seminary n Youngstown,N.Y.The Provincial Councilmembersof the YoungstownCommunity, Mr. and Mrs. Grover RodenbaughandMr. and Mrs. RussellArcara, participated n the of-ficial celebrations.Pictured from left to right are: Fr. Papa, Fr. Cagnacci , Fr. Bianco,Fr . Solcia, Mrs. Anderson, Fr. Ruzza (Provincial Superior), Fr.Coll ins,Dr . Werst, Fr. Bonardi, Fr. Keeling and Fr. Pucci.

TheBornabits-fhe Phlscion(Continued rom Page l)client paid certain homage and per-formed services o his Lord in re turn forhis protection.Today, the word client isappear ing more and more wi thdistressing frequency in the medicalworld. Client s a customerand it has no

place n the medical world, be it priest,physicianor the ordinary physician.

The hird word ssucha beautifulone-Compassion;ts meaningsare so varied.It is a derivationof the same oot Patior-Pati or patient. It means literally tosufferwith, to share, o removeanother'sdistressand o bemovedby the desire orelieve hat distress. t means o feel thesituationof the burden of the person. tmeans to heal the miseries that aretorturing him and to feel as much aspossible is stateof being.We can rrcverwholly enter into the state of being ofanotherhuman.but we must strive withal l our might to eel t to the fullestextentthat our own sensibilitieswill allow. It isour ailure to fee l alongwith the patient,that eads o the complaintof humiliation

we hear sooften oday,aboutour religionand medicine.In the wordsof the great philosopherThomasMann, "All studies rest finallyon the reverence for the mystery ofman," and may I add "Whom God hascreated.And so,as Martin Luther King and hisfollowerssayso ustily, "What the worldneedsnow s love, sweet ove." Let's allhand t out. t doesn't os ta cent.May thegoodLord showerhis blessings ponyoudear Fathers, I can never thank youenough or the concerngiven me when Ineeded he help of God so desperatelyWes,my late husband, s lookingdownat us today and saying, "Thank youFathers, you all have truly been oursons.As for me, how proud I would havebeen,had I really borne you all. I give

you my love.The love of a mother.The Ilarnabite Messengers publishedby the Barnabi te Communi ty inBethlehem,Pa. Editor: Fr. Louis M.Solcia,CRSP.

the barnabite messenger vol.27 no.1 - march 1979

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