AUGUST 2003

AUGUST 2003

1). 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 3, 2003

On Wednesday, a Congolese Xaverian priest came to visit us in Franklin community. He came with 1 boy and 2 girls Congolese who live in Chicago. He works in a parish in Chicago. Five years ago, he studied English in ESL-Program of SHST and he graduated Master of Arts from CTU majoring in spirituality. He said that he has assigned to work in England at the end of this year. In the evening, Father Dominic with her sister and her brother-in-law, Marco, returned home from their vacation for 3 weeks to some states of the USA.

On Thursday, we as ESL students had a field trip on ice-skating in Petit National. Unluckily, I couldn’t walk on ice field though I tried and felt down once when my teacher, Michael helped me. After I tried myself and I was not able to do it, I gave up, didn’t want have an accident. Seemingly, before I did it, it looked very easy but it’s really difficult for me. Also, my feet were crammed, so I’d better quit of this kind of joyful sport. I was sorry about my inability to have fun, but what can I do, I received myself that I didn’t have to do it. At least, I have experience of ice-skating and I said to my friends that it’s my first and last ice-skating, “I give up”. After I stopped to play, a number of children came to me and asked about a star of France since somebody told them that there was a famous man in our group. They thought that we were famous soccer players or the like. Then, I suggested to them to ask to my teacher, Michael. For they still didn’t believe me, I told about Mario, my Xaverian confrere, was a soccer player and they started to chat with him. Nick, a name of a young boy asked to Mario, “Are you friend of David Beckham?” Then Mario acted and boasted as he was a really soccer player. Instead of having fun of ice-skating, I had fun with the children. At noon, we headed to Katie’s restaurant to have lunch. At this place, a couple of years ago, President Bill Clinton met Helmut Kohl, a German counselor, said our teachers, Michael and Ruth.

We continued our field trip to visit an old chapel in Marquette University in downtown Milwaukee. The chapel was dedicated to Saint Joan of Arc from France. Then we came in Gesu Church where I went at April for night Easter (Vigil) mass with my Xaverian confreres, Father Alfredo, Mario, and Jesus (Chuy). Finally, we visited to Lakefront Brewery on Commerce Street, a homemade beer factory. We drank beer and had tour to this factory. A guide, a young-short-nice girl, led the tour, explained the process of beer production. It’s very interesting that I knew how they make beer from a kind of plant like seed of rice. They have old machine staff and manual work to do it. According to my friend, there are a lot of homemade beers in Milwaukee, but the largest is Miller Park. Even he told me, if there were no Miller here, this city would not improve well. Since I don’t like beer, because of the bitter taste, I mixed beer with root beer, so the taste became sweeter. For these 3 kinds of field trip, I am grateful to God and especially to our teachers, Ruth and Michael. Truly, they’re very interesting to know and add my knowledge and experience.

On Friday, we had birthday party of Ruth, our ‘lovely-happy’ teacher (47), and Father Zbgniew, a Polish SCJ priest. Our friend from Colombia, Sophia, came to visit us in SHST. She came to the USA for 2-3 weeks then she will come back to Colombia.

On Saturday, three young Indonesians, Erwin, Lala, and Sylvi came to pick me up, and then we headed to the zoo of Milwaukee. Three weeks ago, an Indonesian couple who live in Milwaukee, Renus-Sari, offered me to visit the zoo, and I promised to come. We met them at a special place where we could eat freely. They came with their six-month-male baby, Nevan. We had lunch at a special place with American foods, much of meat. Renus said that in the USA the food is just the opposite of Indonesian; in Indonesia, the meat is very expensive but not vegetable, and in the USA meat is quite cheap but not vegetable. Since Sari works in Miller, she had ticket to go in the zoo and this special event. After we ate full of joy and full of belly, we had bingo game but we didn’t have good luck this time. Pondering that we wouldn’t win, we continued our trip to the zoo, heading by small train and visited some animals, which also there were some from Indonesia, like Orangutan and birds. We finished our zoo field trip at 5 P.M. and Erwin, a young Indonesian boy from Jakarta who have studied in UWM 3 years ago and has permanent resident of the US because of his mother, took me back my home at Franklin. For this special event and kindness of Renus-Sari family and Erwin, I appreciate it, thank you so much for your attention to me. One thing I got from Erwin is there is a soccer group in Milwaukee, so I hope I can tell to my 2 Indonesian Xaverian confreres, Ignas and Dharmawan, who will come here at the end of this month, because they like play soccer.

On Sunday morning, I went to Saint Charles church for mass at 7 P.M. The mass was presided by Father Tom Knoebel, SCJ and a Nigerian Dominican guest priest, John Bosco who made a mission appeal at this parish. I came to this church by bicycle as my last week experience, which just took 15 minutes from Xaverian house. When I entered the church, Lorry, a lady who in charge of the blood donor registration called me in order to ask me to be a blood donor. This time, I’ll retry to give my blood, since last time when I came to Blood Center, they deferred me, but then they clarified that I can donate it. I wrote my name on the paper, which I have appointment on August 25, at 6.45 P.M.

This morning, after I have breakfast, crispy cream donuts, gift of Erwin yesterday, I write this journal. On Wednesday, I had meeting with Michael, my teacher, to correct my journal. It’s very helpful for me, so I know my mistakes on my journal, and thank you for Michael’s suggestion having meeting together to fix my writing up.

Tonight at 8 P.M., I will join another field trip of my ESL-Program, going to Chicago for 2 days, and I’ll return on Tuesday night. We’ll visit some museums in Chicago and live in SCJ theology house where close to Xaverian theology house. Both of my confreres, Mario and Chuy won’t come since they have visited this kind of field trip last year. For me, it’s interesting, though I have visited Chicago a couple of times, but I never visited these museums. So, I don’t want leave this opportunity to enjoy my English program, which will be finished at the end of this month, August 2003. It seems my journal is telling about many field trips I have this week and the following week. It’s true; there are a lot of field trip programs on this summer course. May this program takes me not only having fun on the field trips but also learn many things about the U.S., culture, style of life, and museums.

Thank you for all of you, my friends, who always receive my journal and read it. I appreciate of your patience to know myself.

With hope we will meet next week,
Alexander Cornelius Denny Wahyudi, sx

2). 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 10, 2003

On Sunday, August 3, after supper and before I headed to Chicago for ESL field trip, I went to relish ice cream at Omega restaurant with Mario, Father Alfredo who invited us, Father Dominic and his sister, Rita, and Marco her husband. Relishing chocolate ice cream 2-scop like the dessert accomplished my supper and I was ready to go to Chicago. Mario took me at SHST. Before we headed, Father Paul as organizer and leader of this field trip was giving short briefing and sharing as much as $ 100 for each of us. I amazed that I got this much of money, but actually this money was used for ticket entrance when we went to museums in Chicago. In the last day of field trip, I asked Father Paul, “Should I give back the rest of money that you gave me?” and he replied, “Are you sure?”, “Give me back tomorrow morning”. Then, I gave him back as much as $ 47, as the rest of the money I spent in Chicago. Heading from SHST at 8 p.m. by 2 big rental vans, and 2 small vans, we were about 20 ESL students. Directly, we went forward to the theology SCJ house at 53rd street close to the Xaverian theology house at Hyde Park 51st street. The house that we settled was very big with about 50-60 rooms, quite big parking lot, and business area where the neighbors were stores like Dunkin Donuts, which opens 24 hours. All of us slept in separated room as we preferred, one man in one room, one or more man in the TV room, and I rested in a room with Camilo, a seminarian from Mexico who belongs to Boise diocese, Idaho State (USA). With him, I enjoyed our conversation about many experiences.

On Monday morning, I woke up early, had a mass without homily together presided by Father Paul. After we had breakfast, we visited the Field Museum where we had to pay $ 7 for ticket entrance. This museum, which opens at 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily except on Christmas, is close to the Lake Michigan and circa 10 minutes traveling by car from the place we stayed. There were many things that I interested to and I took a picture in front of the Sue skeleton, the world’s largest, most complete and most famous T. rex. For 67 million years her bones lay buried in rock. Now Sue stands again - right here at the Field Museum. Also, with Father Sandro, I took a picture with the background of the 2 African big elephants. Most of the objects in this museum are original. I wondered how come did they do and arrange all of this stuff? I lasted my admiration of the museum objects with lunch at McDonald which available at this museum.

Continuing our field trip, we visited the Shedd Aquarium, which we just took a walk from the Field Museum. The people who in line to enter this museum were so long, luckily Father Paul could arrange us to enter to this museum without queuing. After enjoying the beauty of many sorts of the water animals from around the world for an hour, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., I went out with Giuseppe, an Italian deacon belongs to a diocese in Italy. For 3 hours, we took a walk through downtown Chicago passed by the Lake Michigan. At 5 p.m. we returned to the 53rd street to have dinner. After supper ended, I invited a couple of students to visit my theology house, Xaverian, which is located at the 51st street, just took 10 minutes take a walk. They were Father Sandro, Giuseppe, Camilo, and Carlos. In the Xaverian theology house, we were welcomed benignly by Father Rocco, the rector of the house, and chatted with Father Adolph. All theology students of this house were on vacation or other place, but there was a Xaverian student, Sergio, who also would go to Mexico the day after we visited. After this visit, Sandro and I went to bookstore at 53rd street, namely, Border. It was very interesting bookstore, where people are permitted to read the book in the store that it did not happen in Indonesia as my experience. Even we can try before we buy with listening to the CD and watching the DVD advertisement on the computer system. I just thought that in the future when I live in Chicago starting in September, I will visit this store since it looks very comfortable to read book in the chair or sofa they prepared and the books are so various and interesting topics.

On Tuesday morning, we began with morning mass no homily, presided by Father Paul at 7 a.m. While waiting for 9 a.m. to go out, I listened to radio and then watched television where I knew there was bombing attack at J.W. Marriot hotel in Jakarta, which victimized at least 14 died and 140 injured. This news was exposed often in public media in the USA so the image about Indonesia is quite bad, even the US government gave warning traveling to Indonesia for the USA citizens that take consequences to economic and tourism world in Indonesia. Since the environment of this house is business area, so no wonder from my window, I heard an African-American guy spoke loudly with bad word, yelling to another one, till I heard his voice from the 4th floor. At 9.15 a.m., we headed to the Art Museum in downtown Chicago. When we arrived, there were few people in front of the museum, but after one hour a lot of people fulfilled the area before the museum opened at 10.30. While we were waiting for, an African-American guy, sold newspaper by speaking, singing, and joking loudly to people who were sit or stood in front of the museum. I forget what he was speaking, but his acting made some people laughed. Because of this day the museum was opened free of charge for the visitor, so there were many people who came in. Visiting to this museum only 1 and a half hour was not that enough for me since there are a lot of things that I need to pay attention. I found also the various objects regarding Hinduism and Buddhism from 7th to 11th century from Indonesia especially from East Java, my province origin, and Central Java. There are stupas, some parts of the temple from sort of stone, metal staff, etc. There are many historical collections object from all over the world we can see in this museum. Though I didn’t see everything completely for it’s so wide place and various things, I was happy to have this opportunity to know and see closely the historical hidden treasure of human civilization. The Buddhism from Himalaya also attracted me much since there are so many philosophical ideas expressed on their art objects, even I watched a little bit about the Himalaya on the on line video of this museum.

Ending this art museum visit, we altogether were taking a walk through downtown Chicago to a place where available to go by free bus toward the Navy Pier, a sort of place for sailing. While waiting for the bus coming, I saw and heard some Asian people were standing in front of me, and then I asked them whether they are from Indonesia. Yes, they are. The mother asked me where I am living, and so on. Also, she asked me, “On Sunday, do you go to the church?” and I replied, “I am a Catholic seminarian”. With her family (her husband and a daughter), she lives in Chicago, maybe has connection to Protestant mission. She also knows an Indonesian Catholic priest who lives in Chicago. It sounds funny that in the big city like Chicago, I could hear people speaking Indonesian. At Navy Pier, where there are long building consist of many various market and navy tourism, like ship, I just took a walk and bought some postcards of Chicago city. I had a lunch that I bought from Chinese stand in food court, rice and noodle. Though it’s not that delicious, I could satisfy by Asian food. We proceeded our field trip to the Hancock Observatory building. Paying $ 1.5 in the Metra bus, we headed to this high building. We went up to the 94th floor to see the great view of Chicago. It’s the second highest building in Chicago after the Sears tower. Even though the weather was foggy, I could see the beautiful scenery of Chicago especially the Lake Michigan, and other high buildings. According to the leaflet, it has the best view to the Windy City, Chicago, with height of 1.000 feet in the air. It was built completely about in 1960’s. Prior we planned to go to the Sear Tower, the highest one in Chicago, but finally we decided to visit the New Hancock Observatory, Above All, a Great Time, like written on the brochure. It’s the last object that we have on our field trip in Chicago. At 5 p.m. we returned to the 53rd street, had supper, and at 7 p.m. we went back to Milwaukee. Good-bye Chicago, see you next month in September, when I move there to live in for 3 to 4 years ahead. All in all, I was happy to relish this field trip, thank you Father Paul and all of people who preserved us benignly.

On Wednesday, as usual, I came back to school to study Englsih at SHST. At SHST, when I had a lunch, I met an Indonesian SCJ priest, Blasius Soekoto, who studies in Toronto-Canada. He spends a couple of days visiting Father Sunardi in Milwaukee. They came together to the USA in 2000.

On Friday, we didn’t have class, but we watched video about baseball. It’s very interesting movie which has setting in the 1940’s, the 2nd World War, with the American girl baseball players since many young boys were to the war. At noon, after we ended watching movie in the 4th floor, the recreation room of seminarians, Brooke, our teacher led to answer the questions regarding the movie. On Friday evening, ESL had another field trip watching baseball game at the Miller stadium, but I didn’t go since last semester we had this kind of field trip, even firstly we had a tour to know the stadium, which was led by a guy who works at the stadium and the second time, we watched the game.

A bad news that I received last week is the very sick of my Indonesian Xaverian confrere who studies in Mexico City, Yohanes Setiyawan. He suffers leukemia. By this e-mail, we ask God to give his merciful gift to heal him, also by intercession of Blessed Guido Maria Conforti.

Another experience that I got last week is my curiosity to know the plane schedule of my 2 Indonesian Xaverian confreres, Dharmawan and Ignas, who are assigned to the USA. I just know little information from my rector that they will depart from Jakarta on August 27 by JAL, but there was no confirmation about the date. I searched on the Internet about the traveling of JAL from Jakarta to Chicago, and I found it. I did cross check to my beloved, Mother Oei, who works in Raptim-Jakarta, to find out the schedule. And she replied by e-mail, told me that it’s right they have this schedule. But, I still am waiting for their confirmation about it, so that we have a right time to pick them up in Chicago when they arrive on August 28. I’m so glad that 2 others Indonesian will join us in the USA, so that I have confreres from the same country who strengthen one another in our vocation life. Ignas and Dharmawan, I can’t no longer wait for you coming here, this house in Franklin has been waiting for you so long time. Have nice days to relish before you fly to the Uncle Sam, take care, I wait for your information, and keep in touch by e-mail.

On Sunday morning, today, I went to Saint Charles church with Father Larry, for mass at 7 o’clock. One thing that I understand as my knowledge when I asked to Father Larry, “Is the priest of this church living in the rectory, close to church, like common Catholic Church in Indonesia?” He answered, “The priest is living in an apartment, pretty far away from this church”. I just knew about it, and I just thought that it seems like an officer who works in an office and lives in other place, even an apartment, “What kind of this vocation of priesthood in this country?” I reflected. Even though there is rectory available for the parish priest close to the church, but he lives in other place. I don’t want to judge him, but I just wonder about this reality.

I write and send this sharing in the morning after I ate breakfast, cookies-tiramisu-sandwiches, while the outside scenery is full of bright sunshine in the sky.

Thank you for your attention,
Love and pray,
Alexander Cornelius Denny Wahyudi, sx

3). 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 17, 2003

“Giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything….” (Eph 5:20)
Today is the 58th independence day of Indonesia. I don’t have special activity to celebrate it, but actually there is a ceremony in the Indonesian Consulate in Chicago at 10 a.m. If I live in Chicago, I will go to this event. When I was in Jakarta, I did bicycling turning around Jakarta city with other Xaverian students.

One thing that I forgot to share last week is my presentation about alternative medical treatment. I presented 2 kinds of Indonesian traditional treatment, namely, kerokan (rubbing body’s skin with a coin and oil) and kop (a coin was wrapped by clothes, dipped in the oil, burned it, put it on the skin, and covered by a glass). I was confident to do it since I normally do it when I am sick, especially when I have headache, muscular pain, stiff-neck, malaise, or symptoms of influenza. This traditional treatment is normally used for masuk angin (the entrance of the wind) as the belief of traditional people in Indonesia, especially in Java. I demonstrated it in front of the class and most of my classmates and teacher, Brooke, were amazed, since they probably never knew about it.

On Wednesday, in the SHST chapel, there was renewal of vows of 2 Vietnamese SCJ students, Francis and Thi Panh. It was attended also by SCJ province of Canada and America who gathered in their assembly. I met and chatted with a Dutch SCJ priest who worked in Indonesia, Van Leuwen age 74. Recently, he lives in Canada in his retirement.

On Thursday, we only had a class in the morning and pronunciation class in the afternoon since there was mass of perpetual vows of Van Nguyen, an SCJ student, a Vietnamese descent, as well. This mass was wonderful since there were Vietnamese and English languages used in the mass, including the songs, the formula of vows, and Scriptural reading. It was presented also by Vietnamese families. Before mass, there was graduation of 2 ESL students, Viet (a Vietnamese SCJ student from Florida), and Bruno (Portuguese).

On Friday morning at 7.30 we celebrated mass attended by 14 people, maybe there was the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the USA, this Mary solemnity was not celebrated on closer Sunday of August 15 like in Indonesia. Once again there was mass of first profession of an SCJ novice, Mark Mastin. We had class together with all ESL levels, playing games, ‘guessture’ (one member of group does acting and the group guess what word the answer is) by Michael and Brooke, our teachers. This game was won by Mario’s group; he solely got 12 points, but I only gave 2 points to my group. It seemed this week was SCJ celebration, indeed there was 125th year anniversary and we had reduced our English classes. As I saw and attended the celebrations, I pondered and reflected that the vocation to be priest and religious in the USA are very rarely. The SCJ had many vocations in the past in the USA, it seems there are a lot of SCJ priests but they are already old. The young men who answer the vocation are mostly Vietnamese descent. This phenomenon also appears in other congregations in the USA. In the Xaverian Society, where I belong to, until now there is no American citizen in the formation. How difficult it is to get the vocation in this country, though there are a couple of priests work to do vocation ministry.

On Saturday, the temperature was so sticky at the noon. Our cook, Carol told me that the temperature was very humid, 92 %, and the AC was on in the kitchen. One Columban priest from Chicago overstayed in our house to do some mission appeals in Milwaukee. He told me that there is no Columban student from this country, but they have international theology students about 10 from Korea, Fiji, and Latin America who live and study in Chicago. In the evening, after jogging, I strolled along the Saint Francis Xavier shrine, in front of our house at Franklin, and sipped fresh water from my glass. While in the sky I saw closely and heard loudly sound a couple of planes flew continuously would be landing on the General Mitchel airport.

On this Sunday morning, I went for mass at Saint Charles church with Father Larry at 7 o’clock. The sun is shinning brightly, most likely the day will be sticky like yesterday. Tomorrow, I don’t have class in the ESL since there is rectory meeting, so I’ll be staying at home.

Have a great day,
Alexander Cornelius Denny Wahyudi, sx

4). 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 24, 2003

“’Do you also want to leave?’ …Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68-69)

This Sunday morning, with the fresh air and beautiful day, I went to Saint Charles church for mass at 7 o’clock by bicycle. When the song ‘Here, I’m Lord’ was sung, all of sudden and spontaneously, my eyes were tearing, remembering my vocation story and all of my classmates in the Xaverian both who have left and who still walking on the vocation. I can’t depict my feeling, but it’s what I experienced this morning. I just want to be grateful to God and the Xaverian who always nurture my vocation with up and down of my daily life.

While I was writing my journal, Mario invited me to go to Mexican Fiesta and Spanish mass in downtown Milwaukee. Three of us, Mario, Jesus, and I, who used to be called by ‘three amigos’ headed to this event. The mass presided by bishop of Tabasco, South Mexico, Benjamin Castillo, was started by procession toward the Marcus Amphitheater. A lot of ‘paesanos’ (Hispanic people) attended this mass. After mass, we bought Mexican food, ‘torta de carnitas’ and ‘agua de orchata’ (rice water). I relished this food and drink, while the sun was shinning brightly, probably 30 degree Celsius, just like in Jakarta. Indeed, Milwaukee is called by the city of festival, since during the summer every year; there are many festivals such as German, Polish, Italian, Greek, Asian, etc. Next week August 28-31, there will be 100th anniversary of Harley Davidson motorcycle in Milwaukee as the central and original of this famous motorcycle around the world.

On Monday, since we had day off, Father Alfredo, offered us (Chuy, Mario, and I) to go to the Miller tour, the biggest beer company in Milwaukee, which was built by Frederick Miller, a German man in 1855. Beginning at 1.30 p.m., for 15 minutes, we watched the film about the history of Miller, and then walking inside watched the process of beer making. It’s so fantastic know how the beer was processed and delivered. At the end of the tour, we relished the beer 2 glasses and I sent the Miller postcard to Indonesia since the Miller will send them free of charge. The tour and the beer were free, as part of their advertisement, I guess. Actually, we could drink 5 cups of beer if we want.

On Wednesday morning, since here there was no mass, so I went to Saint Charles church for mass at 7 o’clock by bicycle. On Thursday, we, ESL program students and our teachers, had field trip to Chedarburgh town, an old town, about 15 miles Northern Milwaukee. We visited a vinery house, which was built in the 1850s and enjoyed the wine processing tour. At the end of the tour, we could drink several kinds of wine, how wonderful were the taste of those various wines. Remembering Marco, an Italian man who likes to drink wine, and the brother-in-law of Father Dominic who is still spending his vacation at our house, and 2 of my Indonesian Xaverian confreres who will head here on Thursday, August 28, I bought 2 bottles of wine, in order to welcome three of them. We were strolling along the town with the old buildings were built in the 1800s. We visited also the store of Brook’s mother; Brook is our ESL teacher. After we had a lunch at the park, we continued our field trip to the swimming pool at Greenfield. Because of many people were at the pool, we (Mario, Cuy, and I) didn’t swim, also I didn’t bring clothes to swim.

Marco and Rita, the relatives of Father Dominic, are still here till September. With their skill to make Italian food such as spaghetti, rabbit, and various snacks that I forget the names, makes the menu in here little bit various and we’re happy to have them here. Marco plants tomatoes and several kinds of vegetables, which looks like in Indonesia, for example in Indonesia especially in Java we call ‘kemangi, buncis’. Since they don’t speak English, so they always speak Italian or Venetto, their local language. Even though I have learned little bit Italian language when I was in novitiate, but I can’t talk to much, sometimes I come up with Spanish mixed with Italian language that make others laugh.

On Friday, Octavio, a Mexican SCJ student, an ESL student had graduation from ESL of SHST after full of one year he was studying here. He proceeds his study in Chicago.

On Saturday morning, Father Alfredo and 3 of us, had a formation meeting, shared about evaluation of our experience lives during we live in Franklin-Knoll, for almost one year. Generally, we have positive experience to be here, though there are also a couple of things need to be paying attention for next year for the 3 new students, one Congolese and 2 Indonesians. On the evening, Amy, an Indonesian mother who has lived in Milwaukee since 1962, picked me up to go to her house for the 70 birthday of her husband, Mr. John Adamsz, an Indonesian man who has original area from Semarang, Central Java. By this celebration, I could see the prototype of American family with the multicultural descendants, Indonesian, Chinese, Dutch, and blonde American; I could see their 3 children and 9 grandchildren who look like Latin American. Attending to this family party also an old Indonesian couple, Ridyk and Netty who also have lived in Milwaukee since 1960s. They dropped me to the Xaverian house after the celebration finished about 12.30 midnights. I enjoyed the Indonesian food they prepared, like sate and tofu. Benignly, they invited me to welcome the 2 new Indonesian Xaverian students who will come here next week, to go to the Peking Palace Restaurant, an Indonesian restaurant in Milwaukee. How generous they are. If everything possible, we will accomplish this interesting invitation, not only for me but also especially for the 2 new guys. I can get along with them since last year before I came here, an Indonesian couple, Wiranto-Linda, the Xaverian benefactor in Jakarta, gave me Mr. Ridyk address since they also ever lived in Milwaukee in the 1979s and knew them very well.

I ended this sharing at night 8.45 p.m. and share to all of you by e-mail, while I beg your prayer for the 2 Indonesian Xaverian students, Ignas and Dharmawan, who will come here on August 28, for their safety travel from Jakarta to Chicago.

In faith, hope, and love,
Alexander Cornelius Denny Wahyudi, sx


5). 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 31, 2003

One thing that made me full of joy is the arrival of the 2 of my Indonesian Xaverian confreres on Thursday morning. At 7 o’clock in the morning, Father Alfredo and I headed to Chicago to pick Dharmawan and Ignasius up. By the JL10M whose arrival time at 8.35 a.m. at O’Hare airport-Chicago with interview and immigration process at 10.20 a.m., finally they came out made my anxiety waiting for them was gone suddenly. How wonderful having new confreres from my country in the USA. Their arrival was coincidence by the 100th anniversary of Harley Davidson Motorcycle in Milwaukee. The entire road seemed people were welcoming the Harley riders as though they welcomed us. By this evident, I praise the Lord who hears my prayer and all of you who also pray for them, so that they had safety travel for 20 hours and the immigration process at the airport run smoothly and quickly. Luckily, each of them has 5 years of the student visa. After supper, we were invited by Father Alfredo to relish the ice cream at Omega.
On Monday evening, I fulfilled my appointment to donate my blood at Saint Charles church, but once again they deferred my blood because of the malaria risk of my local area in Indonesia and the data of mine is written like that. Actually, I have clarified my case to the Blood Center and they allowed me to give my blood, but they still considered the same thing, so briefly I can’t give my blood till 2005 even though I donated it in February and received the donor card from the Blood Center of Milwaukee. Perhaps, I had misunderstanding about the case. Hopefully, in Chicago next month I will try to donate it since the rule of every state is different.
On Tuesday evening, Marco and Rita, the relatives of Father Dominic, invited all of us to have supper at Mariachi restaurant, the Mexican one in Milwaukee. Since the portion was so large, then I brought my rest of food home for breakfast the following day. At night, I called my brother in Ponorogo-Indonesia who told me that his wife, who married on June 28 this year, was already pregnant for 2 weeks. As his older brother, I was also glad knowing this good news. He said, “You’ll have a new niece next year”. Thank God and pray for you. He is my only sibling who is Catholic.
On Wednesday, we had final test at ESL-Program. At 11 a.m. we had mass of the opening academic year especially for Sacred Heart School of Theology. All of the staff and faculty wore their toga at this mass. ‘They dressed to kill’.
Friday was my last day at ESL-Program of SHST and the first day of Ignas and Dharmawan. After I presented my Borobudur Temple presentation in the Michael’s class, we had prize games. Each one got one prize, even Ignas and Dharmawan got one. Finally, Father Paul, scj and 3 of our English teachers plus Liz, guided us in the graduation of ESL-Program. I just want to say thank you for all of them who helped me to learn English for almost one year. I was grateful for this wonderful experience. Since I have experienced of my English school, so I guided both of my Indonesian confreres to know all of the SHST room and facility. I was happy could share to them also about the practical things both at home and the school. I believe that “Happiness is fulfilled if it is shared”. In the evening, we were strolling to the lagoon close by the Xaverian house in Franklin, while we were chatting and sharing each other about many things both Indonesia and my experience in the USA.
On Saturday morning, we followed Father Larry to the Saint Charles church to have mass at 7.45. After breakfast and opened the Internet, Ignas and I cleaned the plants and vacuum cleaners. At least, they know what I did in here, the little things and I believe they will work harder than me since they used to work hard especially the house chores when they had pastoral orientation year in Indonesia, but I never had it. In the morning also, I shared to them how to use the official prayer in English (breviary prayer book). At 5 o’clock, we headed to the invitation of Chris Grohol family to relish pizza at Michelangelo’s pizza close by their house. Then, we visited them at their house. With Mario as our driver, we proceeded to go to SHST to play soccer. Even though we were only few, but it seemed we were from various country like Indonesia, Mexico, Italy, and Portuguese, only 7 players. In the night we were talking to each other till they (Ignas and Dharmawan) were ravenous (hungry) again and went down to eat something. We went to bed at 00.30.
On Sunday, we have mass at the chapel of SHST. At 5 p.m. we (Ignas, Dharmawan, and I) are invited to go to the Indonesian family, John-Amy, Ben-Netty, who I knew last year. I introduced both of my new Indonesian confreres to these families, so sometimes if they miss the Indonesian food or the friendship, they can get along with them. Since I have to live in Chicago to theology study and they will live in Milwaukee for the one-year to come. After we prayed evening prayer, John-Amy, an Indonesian couple picked us up to go to the Peking Palace Restaurant, at the Northern Milwaukee. Ben-Netty also attended at the restaurant, then they invited us to visit their house.
On September 2, I’ll move to Chicago and invite Ignas and Dharmawan to know the City of Wind for 4 or 5 days before they start their English school on September 8. I will start my theology at CTU on September 29. Hopefully, with your prayer, I can follow the study, which requires a lot of papers.

In faith that “happiness if fulfilled if it is hared”,
Alexander Cornelius Denny Wahyudi, sx