Letter of May 2003

LETTER OF MAY 2003

1. 3rd Sunday of Easter, May 04, 2003
Dear my brothers and sisters,
Entering the 7th month of my life and living journey in the USA, I decided to write my journal in English. It is not because I have mastered in English, but mainly I want to try expressing my thinking in English, though I am aware there a couple of mistakes in grammar and vocabulary usage; but it’s not bother me to try writing as best I can. I thank you to my friends who suggested and advised me to begin my writing in English, especially Mr.Wiranto, Father Bruno, and Mother Oey, and all of you who write me email in English; I appreciate it so much.
On Tuesday, April 29, we as the student of ESL-Program watched movie/video “Rookie”, a story about baseball game player [pitcher] based on a true story of Jim Morris. This movie would give us a background and anticipation about baseball game before we watched the real game on Thursday. At 1.45 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. 8 of us including I took a TOEFL at Sylvan Education Center in New Berlin-Waukesha, about 20 minutes from our school SHST. The test was similar with our exercise in CD-ROM, listening, structure, (and then break for 5 minutes), comprehension, and writing 30 minutes. At the end of this test, on the computer (CBS) I could see my score in the range of 137-200 equal as 470-530 (because they take time to evaluate the writing test). I’ll get the real score at 2 weeks ahead; it seems not real good, but I don’t so afraid because CTU doesn’t require TOEFL. One day before the test, I got malaise on my body, so I scratched my body by coin (‘kerokan’ in Javanese custom). Apparently, I felt nervous faced this test, so I had reaction in my body. After test, I was getting better; especially Father Alfredo our community superior invited our classmates to have dinner together in our house in the evening. There were 16 people including us (6 and Fr.Ivan) and 9 of our classmates (Fr.Paul, Fr.Sandro, Fr.Jan, Fr.Bosco, Oscar, Octavio, Jose, Ester, and Sophia). Unluckily, both our teacher Andrea and Ruth could not come. At night I played volleyball at SHST, freed my stress and nervous after test.
On Wednesday, April 20, Archbishop of Milwaukee Timothy M. Dolan visited SHST; all seminarians also we students of ESL-Program had a meeting with him at 9.00 a.m. till 10.00. It’s his first visitation to SHST since he has become archbishop of Milwaukee for 10 months. He is a big, tall, and friendly person. Firstly, one by one seminarians introduced themselves and then they asked questions to bishop. He answered and shared about his spiritual life; he accustoms some non-negotiable way like: daily mass even in off-day, 15 minutes personal prayer intimate with God, breviary, annual and monthly retreat. He explained about obedience and chastity as way of life of the clerics. He emphasized saying, “Chastity is possible for human being…it’s right that difficult”. The archbishop born in 1950, had been a rector of seminary (North American College) in Rome-Italia presided mass in the chapel of SHST at 11.00 a.m. This day the weather in Franklin was cloudy, storm, and rain heavily.
On Thursday, May 01, we ESL students had a field trip watching baseball game in the stadium of Milwaukee. The game between Montreal-Canada as a host versus Brewers was won by the host, 5-0. This game started at 12.00 noon was ended only in 2 and a half hours; it’s a short game. However, I don’t know so much the game, but I tried to enjoy this good experience. The total number of attendance was 13,300 people. We sit on the terrace, the topside of the stadium. Because the weather was cloudy, the roof of the stadium was closed, automatically. After came back from this game, a Korean priest Father Bosco and I went to social security number office to get our cards. Father Paul, scj escorted us to take it. We have to wait for this card in next 10 days. I talked to Father Bosco, a diocesan of Wangju, South Korea. He has two visa of the USA, i.e. B1/B2 for visitation (10 years) and student visa F-1 (5 years). He didn’t pay anything to get his visa; he said that very easy for Korean people to get visa to this country. “It’s precisely the opposite of us as the Indonesian people”, I thought.
On Friday, May 02, we had a graduation class in the ESL. In the morning our teacher, Andrea gave us a game with prizes, and I got 3 short white shocks and a t-shirt. At 10.00 o’clock Father Paul, scj as a chief of ESL gave every student of ESL (14 people) a diploma and t-shirt of ESL symbolically and formally; even Father Bosco who just study in 2 and a half weeks got it as well. Although our program finished in May 2, but we still have extra program in May, so on the next Monday we have class, but only in the morning and ended by mass at 11.30; we have schedule of reader in mass as our practice in pronunciation. At night I wrote my application letter of renewal of vows; we’ll have a renewal of vows in May 31 together with theology students in Chicago.
On Sunday morning I woke up early at 5.30, had breakfast a cookie sandwich (people in here amazed about it; they also astonished look me putting ketchup sauce at almost all my dinner), and prayed breviary personally in the chapel. At 6.45 in the chill of morning, I accompanied Father Dominic went to St. Mary church at Hales Corners for mass at 7.30. The new building of the church is still done, and will be finished about at the end of July. A couple of old people as ushers standing in front of the door welcome every fellow who come in the church, saying: “Good morning”, sometimes they call fellow’s name friendly. It reminds me, when I went to ‘lingkungan’ prayer of St. Theresia – Cempaka Putih, the chief of ‘lingkungan’, Bapak Hiemawan was waiting for fellows welcoming everyone who would gather the prayer. I think it’s very rarely happen at parishes in Jakarta. Like in Indonesia, the morning mass is always full of older fellow and the pews aren’t all filled, it’s happened also in here. After mass, Father Dominic invited people who want take communion home for their family members who are sick. This morning I got email from Rizal, Ibu Yani’s son, a fellow of St.Theresia lingkungan, which in a couple of photos of Mary’s month opening in the house of Ibu Yani. I saw many Xaverian fraters attended this prayer meeting; honestly and truly I am very proud of them and happy, keep in proceed my confreres to involve in our lingkungan. For this news I thank you so much to Rizal, and I wait for the next news. Nothing special in the parishes here welcoming and celebrating the Mary’s month (May); the fellows devote St. Mary personally, not organized by the church, at least I know it according to Father Dominic.
I am writing this letter in the morning of Sunday, while the lawn and plants verdant, the squirrels are chasing one another climbing the tree, the various birds like cardinal emerge twitter and chirp, the sky is overcast, and the temperature is cool, 9 degree Celsius; they picture the scenery sphere which I see through the window.
For your kind attention of this letter I appreciate it very much and please feel free write me in the matter of my writing, make correction of my mistakes, and don’t be hesitate.

“The more I write, the more I am used to writing,
If I never write it, I’ll never master it,
Until I master it, I’ll not achieve it”.

In prayer and trustworthy friendship,

Alexander Denny Wahyudi, sx

2. 4th Sunday of Easter, May 11, 2003
“Everything works together for those who believe”
Beginning On Monday May 5th we have extra class of ESL, but just short time; one hour for grammar class and one hour for liturgical reading (pronunciation), and 11.30 we have mass in SHST. Actually the SHST seminarian have holiday for this season, so the SHST sphere is lone. Last week the number of ESL students were 11, but 4 of them finished on Friday, so next Monday we are just 7 people in 2 different classes. Practically in my class only has 3 students namely we are 3 Xaverian students, “The three amigos”. This extra class will end on the end of May, and in entire June are day-off. If I can choose, I’ll choose study English myself in home rather than spend time on this course especially this extra class. But the important thing that ‘obedience’ so I just do my best.
On Monday night I called up the Xaverian philosophy house in Jakarta, and chatted to Nyoman and Made. They told me about the new Xaverian provincial of Indonesia and councilors, so it’s good tidings for me which I shared also to others. So, congratulation to all of them (Fathers : Vincenzo Baravalle, Bruno Orru, Vitus Rubianto, Matteo Rebecchi, and Rudolfo Ciroi), may the Holy Spirit always pours, strengthens, and bolsters their ministries. Another news that makes me happy and proud is the successfulness of the 4th class in Xaverian philosophy house who passed their ‘skripsi’ exam last week; I utter ‘congratulation’ to all of you while still pray for your comprehension exam which will be held at the last week of May. Although I am living so far from Indonesia, but I still follow and find out the situation and improvement of Xaverian confreres, at least by SEMIX, letter, and phone. In here the phone card is pretty cheap; with $ 20 I have possibility to call up to Jakarta for 7 hours 20 minutes with expiration till 3 months. For me one card that I can use by phone in home is enough for 3 months.
On Tuesday, May 6th, three Xaverian priests came to Franklin-Knoll house, namely: Fathers: Girard Furlan (ever worked in Indonesia in the 70’s), Francis Signorelli, Frank Grappoli (also ever worked in Indonesia). They had treasury meeting in here.
On Wednesday, May 7th, I borrowed a book written by archbishop of Milwaukee Most Rev.Timothy M.Dollan i.e. “Priest for the Third Millennium” from the SHST library. I interest and impress to this book as my spiritual reading and improve, decrease my vocabulary. Last night when I read this book, on page 85 mentioned Jim Tuly, a Xaverian missionary priest who worked in Sierra Leone, regarding “Obedience”. I know him who I ever met in General House of Xaveian in Rome when I was visiting Italia in November last year. He is the one who found my I-20 on the street that stolen by a thief in Rome.
On Wednesday night we as community including our guests (Fathers: Dominic, Girard, Frank, Signorelli, Ivan, Dario, Rocco, Michel Davitti, and “Three Amigos”) ate out in China Buffet, since there were a group used our dining room. If I count on, I ever came to this restaurant 3 times; the first one when I celebrated my 28th birthday in November last year. This restaurant which charge each person $7.95 was full of Latin American people.
On Thursday, May 8th, I had idea to study English by translating article of Catholic magazine to Indonesian language and sent it to website: www.gerejakini.com. I have done 2 articles regarding priesthood and celibacy. To improve my English also I try to write English spontaneously by correspondence with many various penpal from different other countries, like: Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Taiwan, Poland, China, Argentina, etc. At least these add my knowledge about other countries and improve my speeding of typing on computer’s keyboard in English, isn’t good idea ? On this day also I wrote my vows renewal’s application and gave it to Father Ivan; this renewal will be held in Chicago theology house together with theologate on May 31st. In Franklin-Knoll house there were a provincial meeting from Thursday till Friday; the person who in charge of this convocation are Ivan, Dario Maso, Francis Signorelli, Rocco, Michel.
Friday, May 9th, is the last day for my 4 classmates in ESL program. They were Ester, Juan Manuel, Carlos, and Fernando; all of them are Colombian. At night I wrote my CTU application; it’s pretty much writing, since they asked about my experience in ministry, my opinion about church, my autobiography, my family, school, work, etc….(about 5 pages), but I still have a postponed one, namely my opinion about an article that they gave me regarding ‘eating and drinking of Eucharist’. Father Rocco said to us that the sooner we finish the better for our future study chance in CTU, for this year there will be 54 number of people will apply, and the class in CTU is too small to load all of them.
On Saturday, May 10th, we have mass in the morning at 8 o’clock which attended by an old couple i.e. Mr. Doc (93) and Mrs.Leona (96); they are Xaverian’s benefactor. Mr.Doc routinely come to here for the morning mass and he always drive himself by car; isn’t it amazing ? In the morning we (Three amigos) had a convocation with Father Provincial, Ivan Marchesin.
On Sunday morning May 11th, I woke up at 6 before 10 minutes, for I have to go for mass in St. Charles parish with Father Dominic. Today is Good Shepherd’s day or Vocation day and also Mother’s day. In his homily Father Dominic correlated both of these celebrations: The core is mother as a shepherd in a family has a responsibility to raise their children in proper way. If we want fishing to get fishes, we should go to lake; it same that if want a vocation life to be priest, sister, and missionaries, we should go to families. So, it’s our responsible to raise a good shepherd, which begin in family. After mass there were some people sold rose flowers with $ 2 for each. Father Dominic said that the Mother’s Day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of May is coincident with the vocation day, but really these vocations have correlation. There is also Father’s day in this country which celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June. In this computer room recently there are also Father Girard and Father Signorelli who watched on the internet about the bicycle race championship in Italia, since one of the bicycle rider is Angelo Furlan, a nephew of Father Girard Furlan.
Hitherto the weather in here is cloudy and strong windy, but not so cold because the wind comes from the South; the temperature is 9 degree Celsius (48 F). I end up and last my sharing this week with : “The being is more important than the doing”.

My prayer, fraternity, and truly friendship to all of you:
Alexander Denny Wahyudi, sx

3. 5th Sunday of Easter, May 18, 2003
“Joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence”
Just for intermezzo, I have a question as a joke: “Why was Jesus not born in the USA ? (You can guess now, but if you want the answer, please see in the below part of this letter).
On Tuesday May 13, in my English class we watched movie “Cast Away” (Tom Hanks) however I ever have seen it in Indonesia I enjoyed it. In our evening prayer (Vesper) my rector prayed for 3 Xaverian students who are assigned to study in the USA. Hearing this good tiding, I found out the assignment from him because I had curious. By this letter I just wanna give my congratulation to them: Ignas and Dharmawan welcome to join us in the USA, and Marsel plus Emanuel welcome to be the first Indonesian Xaverian to Manila. I always am available to share to you my experience last year. I pray and help you from here as much as I can, so that you will go to these missions smoothly. Please feel free contact me, if you wanna ask something. After supper Father Alfredo my rector asked me to help him cutting grass. It’s my first experience to do it; it’s just fantastic for me and very easy, because we use a machine to cut the grass. I did with a red four-wheeled small car that reminded me when I was a kid I had a red small car toys. We have to cut it inasmuch in here there are vast field, so our job to make it neatly. The uniqueness of the grass in here is they have little yellow flower that burst into blossom when the sun shines. No wonder after 3 days I cut the grass on the lawn, the yellow flowers already appear embellishing the lawn.
On Thursday May 15, there were 2 new teachers for ESL-Program namely Mr. Michael (he speaks Melayu-Malaysia since he ever lived there) and Mrs. Brook. They will teach us in summer which will begin in the beginning of July. Once again in the evening I cut grass in the lawn in front of the house with the same lawn mower I used 2 days ago. In the night there were moon eclipse; I saw it in my window’s room in the midnight, how wonderful the full moon.
On Friday May 16, there was a good-bye party for our ESL teacher, Andrea since she will quit at the end of this month to finish her doctoral study. I went to Blood Center at West Grange Ave (Greendale) to give my blood, but the doctor after checked my blood said to me that my HCT (Hematrocit) was to high, 65 % (the normal between 38-54). It’s my first time my blood was referred, since in Indonesia for 25 times there was no problem. But anyway, next time I will try again, I know that in August in SHST will be available to give our blood. I checked my paper, which was used at the last February my HCT was 44 %. My friend told me maybe I had big lunch (sandwich ham, pepsi cola) before I went to give my blood, so my HCT was high. I got my TOEFL result: 180 means 510 (680 is maximum score), and 4 in my writing (6 is maximum score). My confreres Chuy and Mario their score surpassed mine, 523 and 535. In the night I wrote my application of CTU.
On Saturday May 17, with Father Larry and Mario, I go to St.Charles church for morning mass at 7.45. Father Alfredo made correction to my CTU application including my writing’s summary and opinion about the Eucharist article as my personal sample writing. So I finished my job and ready to submit this application, but we still wait for both of my confreres who still work on it. In the evening after supper, I went out of home to jogging around the complex toward a small twin lake alone. The temperature was 9 Celsius degree, and not so cold, just cool. The sun that would set depicted the wonderful scenery in this area. It’s that wonderful places area, many beautiful new houses, various colorful flowers burst into blossom, various birds also appear in the lawn, bush, and sky. My funny experience that evening was when I walked around the lake, in front of me there was a female goose that taking care her kids stuck her tongue, hunted and pecked at me, so it’s scare me and I run quickly. Luckily I can run faster than her, so didn’t hurt me. Recently I have a custom to go to bed at 12.30 (midnight), maybe because of the day so long, the sunset at 9 o’clock p.m., and woke up at 6.15 in the morning. I spend my time to read spiritual reading and try to list new vocabulary.
On Sunday morning I wake up at 6.20 and prayed lauds personally in the chapel. Suddenly Father Larry had to hurry up to go to St. Charles church, since Father Alfredo got phone from this church that Father Larry didn’t come yet. What was the mistake ? That is the schedule written that Father Larry should go to St. Adalbert at 8 o’clock in the morning, but it’s not correct. It should be written St. Charles 7.00 a.m. Luckily, that the distance between our house and this parish is not so far, just 5 minutes by car. At the end of the mass, Father Larry spoke that the mistake was the computer (Wasn’t it the human error, my guess ?). The mass just was late 15 minutes. After mass Denny a Chris Grohol’s son invited me to join them at ‘hospitality’ in the dinning room, took a breakfast donut, orange juice, and sandwich. They took me home after finished our dinner.
By the way the answer of my question above is : “Because at that time God found difficult to get 3 wise men and a virgin”.
Now the temperature is 12 C (54 F), sun shines brightly.
Have a nice ordinary days in a new week…..

“Joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence”

My best regards,
Alexander Cornelius Denny Wahyudi, sx


4. 6th Sunday of Easter, May 25, 2003
“Nemo dat quod non habet” (“No one gives what he does not possess”)
Last Sunday May 18 was happy birthday of Pope John Paul II aged 83. On that day I escorted Mario my confrere went to Prince of Peace parish for his homily in Spanish. He was asked by Father Michael his spiritual advisor to give homily in Spanish mass. Before we went to this church, we visited a huge convent of School Sisters of St. Francis. The building built in the early 1900’s has a gorgeous and amazing chapel with material from German and Austria. In the past they had many nuns but now getting dwindle, perhaps this place similar to be a museum and nursing home in usage. After mass in the parish we were invited by Father Michael to have supper in Chancery chicken restaurant. I don’t know it’s a coincidental or not but on that day was my 6 months birthday I attend the ESL Program in SHST. It’s just remind me that I have already studied English formally in this country, while I uttered praise and thank God for this grace and try to live in this house as ‘hidden life’ with sobriety, tranquility, and alertness.
On Monday, May 19, I received letter of Father Ivan, Xaverian Provincial in the USA that stated I am allowed to renew my vows on next May 31 in Chicago. Once again thank God for this opportunity to live as Xaverian missionaries religious while ask his grace to strengthen me in this vocation life. This day also I lasted my spiritual reading book entitled ‘Priest of the Third Millennium’ written by Timothy M. Dolan. This book invites me to live my wholesome vocation life full of gratitude and strive in prayer, daily Eucharist and virtues. This provokes and impels me to read other spiritual books that available in this house; there are a lot of books in the shelves inheritance of Xaverian students in the past. Admittedly these seduce me to read incessantly.
On Tuesday, May 20, like ‘bolt from the blue’, someone namely Slamet Mulyono called me up after finding me in the website of gerejakini.com and searching-browsing on the internet and eventually got me. I ever thought about him, but I lost his address. He who comes from Semarang and knows some Xaverians in Indonesia now is in New York City working since November 2001. It’s kind of strange that normally nobody call me up; so it’s a surprise for me, at least I can remind my Javanese and Indonesian language as my first and second language. This occasion reminds me that someone still reminds me.
On Friday, May 23, in the daybreak a small nun comes with some boxes, tape-recorder, hollahops rings the bell; gee, she would give retreat to 8th grader of St. Adalbert School at 9 o’clock. It reminded me also when I was in Indonesia a couple of times giving retreat to students; but anyway in here as ‘hidden life’ I have to wait and see that my time to do that is not coming yet since I don’t have any ministry and still digest my English, so I have to be patient about it. This day was the last day of my English teacher, Ruth since next week she will go to Salt Lake City attending a conference, so we will have class only with Andrea our another teacher; next week is last week of this term and I will go back to English school in the beginning of July. This long summer break I spend at home and try to be a volunteer in somewhere at the beginning of June, also we’ll have festival mission on May 21 and 22, so we’ll be busy to help many things in here. At the end of June we’ll go to Holliston-Massachusetts to have assembly with Xaverian in the USA Province for a week.
On Saturday, May 24, as usual we have mass in the chapel at 8 o’clock with Father Dominic as presider and the only guess was Mr. Doc Van der Hayden, a steadfast fellow man aged 94 years old who still driving himself coming here. At 9 o’clock we (3 amigos) have convocation with Father Alfredo about RMX (Ratio Missionis Xaveriana) regarding solidarity.
On Sunday, May 25, 2003 after prayed breviary personally in the chapel, I went to St. Adalbert parish with Father Larry for 8 o’clock mass; it takes about 12 minutes from here by car. This morning the weather is cool 13 degrees Celsius (55 F) with the sun shines brightly. Tomorrow is holiday of Memorial Day, so I’m not gonna go to school; and tomorrow Father Larry will go to Boston then to Italia (Vicenza) for a month.
Finally I cite, “I have called you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father”.
That’s all my last letter at this month, have a nice following days, see ya next month.
Your nimble comrade : Alexander Cornelius Denny Wahyudi, sx