NOVEMBER 2003

NOVEMBER 2003

1). 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, November 02, 2003
I postponed writing my journal till 2 days since during last week I was very busy on reading and writing my Social Ethics mid exam paper. Since I still want to continue my custom to write my journal, so I am writing now.
On Tuesday, October 28, finally I got a new I-20 from CTU.
On Wednesday, October 29, once again I had my turn to cook for supper in my community. I cooked Indonesian simple food: yellow rice, ‘rendang’ (kind of beef food cooked with Indonesian spices) and mixed soup. This time I had instant coconut, so it’s better than before, especially the ‘rendang’. This day coincided with Alejandro’s birthday and 2 guests of him came to join us at the supper.
On Thursday, October 30, for the first time I submitted my paper the Gospel of John in the form of homily exegetical after Father Pascal corrected it. In the holy hour afternoon, Father Adolph came together with his two friends, a nun from Namibia and a young diocesan priest from Japan. In the community meeting at night, Father Pascal spoke about ‘giftedness’.
On Friday, October 31, morning, I met my academic advisor, Gil Ostdiek, OFM in CTU. We’re planning my subjects that I’ll take for the winter and spring quarters. Each of the quarters I should take 4 subjects. This fall quarter I just take 3 since I am still in the beginning. In the afternoon, our 6 Xaverian confreres from Franklin Community came down to Chicago, our theology community. We had a retreat day, which was led by a hermit, brother Wayne Teasdale. We celebrated our togetherness with Chinese food for the supper.
November 1, 2003, was my first year anniversary leaving Indonesia to Italy. I am grateful of this great grace. In the morning at 7.30, I had mass with Father Rocco at our chapel, the feast of All Saints Day. In the afternoon, Dharmawan and I went to Mbak Syafa’s apartment. She invited us to have supper Indonesian food, also ‘buka puasa’ for her who is undertaking the Islam fasting in Ramadhan month recently. Then we visited SVD house to meet Sony, an SVD student from Flores-Indonesia.
In the little raining of Sunday morning, I invited Dharmawan and Ignas to go to Chinatown parish. We headed there by bus and red line train CTA. We celebrated Chinese-Cantonese mass, which was presided by a bishop from California, Ignatius Wang. After mass, the congregation gathered in the basement to have lunch and hospitality. We met some Indonesian friends and they invited us to visit their apartment close to this church. They were Elizabeth, Mimi and Edi. We enjoyed their kindness to welcome us. In the afternoon Petrus drove us by Father Michael’s white car to Hyde Park to celebrate Conforti Feast’s day. We had evening prayer and supper, Lebanon food. At night 9.15, Father Alfredo took his ‘children’ (Ignas-Dharmawan-Pascal) returned to Franklin-Milwaukee. See you again guys on the Thanksgiving Day at the end of this month.

In faith-hope-love,
ACDW, sx


2) Wednesday, November 12, 2003
As a matter of fact this day is my first year anniversary of my arrival in the USA. To fulfill the rule of this country, I have to go to the Immigration and Natural Service (INS) in downtown Chicago, 230 South Dearborn Street, for special registration. I am supposed to do the same annually on the same date or 10 days after. I met also an Indonesian man from Purwokerto who did the special register as well. The process was pretty same like last year, taking picture of my face and right index finger printed. The lady who interviewed me, I guess was a Latin American, so her English was not so difficult to be understood. This time I was not nervous like last year. The lady also with two other officials faced the monitor of the computer; they still learn how to fill the special registration on their database. Thank be to God for the graces to be here.
On Sunday after Indonesian mass at Saint Therese Church which was presided by Romo Edi Putranto, osc, then hospitality with Indonesian food as the lunch, I went to Argyle, Northside of Chicago, by CTA red line train, to shop some stuff of Indonesian food like kecap manis ABC (sweet soy sauce), ‘abon’, ‘sambal bajak’, instant coconut and other Indonesian instant ingredients. As I was shopping at the Thailand store, a lady said to me in Thailand language, suddenly I replied that I am not a Thai but an Indonesian. I was stranded in the damn cold weather of that evening since I was mistake presuming that there will be CTA bus from 47th Street Red Line toward Hyde Park in the late of evening. After waiting for 30 minutes and there’s still no bus toward Hyde Park, I decided to come back to downtown by Red Line and then took CTA bus number 6. I arrived at home at 6.20 p.m. Now in here 5 p.m. is already dark.
On Friday, November 7, I went to the Indonesian prayer at Budi-Rina house. This time we’re 11 people. The reflection was led by Frater Mateus, svd. I gave the ice break, the game of robe; two persons have to solve untying the robe, which has meaning of the cross. Unluckily nobody could break the game, but at least I made all of them including me laughing loudly and spontaneously.
During this week I have to do my paper of CTU: Problem of God (4 questions), the second exegetical homily of John gospel (John 6:1-15) and summary of Social Ethics, so I am late to write this kind of my weekly journal. I think I will continue to write it even though it will be late. I still need your prayer so that I can do the entire tests faithfully and successfully. According to CTU, it seems that I have to do my theology study full 4 years ahead since for a moment they don’t consider my theology subjects that I have from my previous study in Indonesia as credit which could be transferred at CTU. They only recognized my level as advanced standing, so the policy of CTU to Petrus 2 years ago was different to me now. Indeed I don’t have to take the 7 foundational courses but I have to take others as general electives to fulfill them. For me, it’s no problem, as long as to improve my English and my better understanding of theology, I don’t mind to study the same subjects that I have received before in Jakarta. I’m grateful also because I have student visa for 5 years till October 2007, so it will be good if I will be here till my visa will expire. I don’t worry about the permit to live in here legally.

In faith-hope-love,
ACDW, sx


3). 33th Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 16, 2003
Today is Monday, November 17, I have done my second paper, an exegetical homily of John 6:1-15 which I give topic, “Our hope is accomplished only in Jesus”. As usual, I gave it to Father Pascal (my vice-rector in the Xaverian theology house in Chicago) to be corrected before I submit it on Thursday, November 20. Today, I cooked: yellow rice, rending (with pork, so the color was lighter than when I used beef), sayur asin (vegetable soup with pork) and kerupuk (cracker).
On Sunday, I didn’t go to Saint Therese church Chinatown because the children of CCD didn’t have teaching class; they practiced Christmas songs. I spent my day only at home doing my paper, Social Ethic summary and Gospel of John. In the morning with little shower, I went to Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, nearby my Xaverian house for mass at 10 a.m. It was a school family mass which were attended by a lot of people from various ethnics.
On Saturday after attending class of the Problem of God by Babka, I was interviewed by a CTU student majoring in MA, Alex, about Islam in Indonesia according to my life experience. She is doing her paper for the Islamology class. Sony, an Indonesian SVD student recommended me to be interviewed by her. Even though my English was not so perfect and fluent when I spoke, at least she understood my limited vocabulary explanation. In 1998 and 1999 she visited Indonesia; she mentioned that she lived in the monastery of Trapistin Sister in Gedono, Salatiga. It reminded me when first time I had an idea or a vocation to be a priest in 1991, when I visited this monastery during my pilgrimage at the Shrine of Mary in Ambarawa (Goa Kerep).
On Friday, November 14, actually, I also cooked: fried rice, rendang, rawon and krupuk udang (shrimp cracker). In the evening, with Sony, svd, I went to Saint Therese-Chinatown basement to attend the Indonesian prayer group. It’s the first time we used the Saint Therese basement for this prayer group since Father Michael welcomes us to be there. This time I led the biblical reflection which I chose John 6:1-15 as my second homily paper. The method I used: after reading the passage twice, I invited them to share as they impressed and experienced of this story. By this way, all of us have chance to speak and to be heard. After the prayer ended, we enjoyed kacang ijo (green bean) that Elisabeth made and ate pecel that Shirley prepared for us. Thank you for all of these.
While the weather in Chicago is pretty cold in this night, I share this to all of you.

In faith-hope-love
“Let us put our trust and hope only in GOD because He will accomplish it”
ACDW, sx

4. Sunday, November 23, 2003 (Christ the King)
On Tuesday, November 18, walking for 10 minutes in the raining weather, I registered my study planning for winter quarter at CTU. Fortunately, I got the 4 subjects that I prepared, namely, Introduction to Liturgy, Introduction to Pastoral Care, Origin & Eschatology, and Christology & Culture. So, I must be busier than now in the next quarter. According to the planning, I will be studying theology for M.Div II for full of 4 years. Hopefully, I can do this great job and opportunity very well as all of you pray for me. It seems still long time, but actually I feel so fast. This fall quarter will be accomplished in the middle of December and I have to start again another quarter on January 5, 2004. I spent a lot of time on study especially doing my paper and reading.
On Wednesday, since in the morning I worked cleaning up the 2nd and 3rd floor of my Xaverian theology house, then chapel (changing the position as variation), bathroom. Also, I moved my room to in front of the former room on the 2nd floor in order to get a warmer room since the heater in the former room doesn’t work properly. In the afternoon, Adrian and I went to Islamic Cultural Center in Pfinsten, attending an interfaith dialogue. We arrived coincided with the time of dinner, which was quite same with the Lebanon food. It was presented also by two denominations Protestant priests and some students of IRF program of CTU including Father Adolph, sx.
On Thursday, I submitted my second homily exegetical paper. In the afternoon, instead of holy hour, we prayed Taize which was led by 2 friends of Father Adolph, sx in our chapel.
On Friday, all of us went to retreat house of Carmelite Aylesford, in Northern Chicago, about a half hour from Hyde Park. It was presided by Father Rocco and continued with personal reflection then concluded by mass at 3 p.m. then returned to home.
On Saturday afternoon, Petrus picked me up to go to Fundance Party which was held by the Indonesian Catholic Group in Chicago (PWKI). It took place in Buffalo Grove, about 1 hour from Chicago. Though I couldn’t dance but I enjoyed the food and just saw they performed the dance which was dominated by female. Finally, we returned at 10 p.m., firstly took Romo Jack, cm in Fullerton; he will fly to Indonesia on the day after till in the beginning of January 2004. I stayed in Saint Therese parish in Chinatown this night where Petrus does his one-year pastoral ministry.
On Sunday as usual, I attend the mass at Saint Therese at 9.30 and continued with CCD class teaching. At 2 p.m., Petrus drove me to Hyde Park.
On Monday, November 24, morning about 5.45 a.m., I got phone call from Indonesia, guess from whom? It’s very surprise to me since I never got phone from Indonesia. Yes, she is Mom Oey, my ‘mother’ that I knew very well from this tool, email. Thank you Mom for your love and prayer to me especially on my special day today, my birthday, in 29 years old. In the morning during mass also, my confreres prayed for me. After mass, in Chicago there was snowing for the first time during the end of fall season. It epitomized the great gift pouring from God in my special day, then the sun shone quite brightly giving new hope in my life and the weather was getting colder, about 20’s degree Fahrenheit, below 0 degree Celsius. Petrus also invited me to eat out for lunch, thank you Petrus for your kindness and fraternal love. It reminds me my 3rd theme of my homily paper from John 15:9-17 which has meaning of love, friendship and serving one another. Thank you also for my confreres in Cempaka Putih Raya 42 who have sent a new Warta Xaverian for me…today I got it, so it is really a gift for me to know your news, guys. Thank you for email for me from: Ignas, Dharmawan, Paulus in Cempaka Putih and Nyoman in Cemput as well. Thank you also for Rina for your wish and prayer on my birthday. Also, Father Michael who remembered me in the morning mass, I say my thanksgiving. I believe that “To love and to be loved as a human person is drawing toward a highest meaning in our life”. I still remember last year I celebrated my 28-year-old with my Franklin community on Sunday when we went to Chinese restaurant buffet in Milwaukee. And now it is my second birthday in the USA. This time I am already in Chicago theology community. This evening as theology community we celebrated my birthday simply with Lebanese food and cake while Adrian played his guitar singing happy birthday in Spanish, Italian, French and Indonesian (little bit). I got a T-shirt which was written ‘made in Indonesia’ from the community. Thank you also for phone call of Father Alfredo and Dharmawan in Franklin and Elizabeth in Chicago and e-mail from Father Michael from Chinatown. For all prayers, best wishes from all of you to me I want to say: Thank you very much, may God bless us all.

I’m grateful and full of rejoice for this life giving I enjoy in Chicago while I pray for my parents and my family in Indonesia. This coming one-year is my last chance of 20’s toward 30 for the next year.

In faith-hope-love,
“To love and to be loved as a human person is
drawing toward a highest meaning in our life”.
Alexander Cornelius Denny Wahyudi, sx

5). Sunday Advent I, November 30, 2003
On Tuesday, November 25, we (Romo Edi, Petrus and I) were invited by Mbak Syafa to celebrate Idul Fitri in her house.
On Wednesday, I was cooking fried chicken, rice and corn. This time I cooked much simpler than before, I started at 3.30 p.m.
On Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day. In the morning, I went to Saint Therese, Chinatown to have mass at 10 o’clock, then celebrating Thanksgiving Day together with the parishioners. In this moment also, our Indonesian friends, Rina-Budi and Elizabeth had an idea to celebrate Petrus’ and my birthday; they brought a cake and once again we were memorizing our birthday. Thank you Budi-Rina and Elizabeth for your loving kindness and attention to us. Budi took pictures of this event, so I could forward them to others by e-mail. It seems that I am getting fatter, it’s true and my hair is growing longer than ever. As Xaverians theology community, we headed to Franklin community to celebrate this special day with mass at 5 o’clock and had supper, especially turkey. In the night I still stayed in Franklin, so I could chat with Dharmawan and Ignas till almost one o’clock.
On Friday morning after mass and breakfast, Father Rocco invited and guided us (Ignas, Dharmawan, Pascal, Fabric, and I) to go to Madison City, a capital city of Wisconsin State. It took one hour and a half to get there by car. It’s a good opportunity for me since I never went to this famous city. We visited museum and the gorgeous capitol building. It’s really a good and nice break or recess to me for a while away from the homework of CTU. We came back to Chicago at night at 10.30.
On Saturday, Father Rocco, Adrian and I went to Sister of Charity to pick up a sofa for our house. Finally, we could bring it in the 3rd floor. In the afternoon, I have a colloquium with Father Rocco then I decorated the chapel with violet advent nuance symbolized the waiting time and the hope.
On Sunday, Jacques and I went to Saint Therese church, Chinatown to have a mass at 8 o’clock. This time Jacques was preaching as his course requirement of the preaching class at CTU. I typed him with a handycam. The mass presided by Father Anniello was attended about 18 people. This day was no CCD class because of the Thanksgiving Day, so I returned home sooner with Alexis by van-car. This day I could finish my last homework of the Gospel of John and began to do my social ethic one.
On Monday after supper, I had colloquium with Father Pascal for the first time. This day I am grateful because I have finished my social ethic paper, so I will type it soon tomorrow. So, I still have one paper of Problem of God, hopefully I don’t have hard problem to do the 7-10 page of this paper. While the weather of Chicago today is pretty cold below zero Celsius degrees (30 F), I am writing this last journal of November and share to you.

In faith-hope-love,
ACDW, sx