THEALEXIANS - ALEXIAN BROTHERS
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TheAlexians The Love of Christ Compels Us
Immaculate Conception
Province of the Congregation Brother Warren Longo, C.F.A., begins
new chapter in distinguished career
of Alexian Brothers
Mission Statement
A
Strengthened by community,
prayer, commitment to the
poor and the legacy of our fter more than 61 years as an
founders, and in partnership Alexian Brother, including nearly
with others, we Alexian
Brothers witness the Healing
40 years in administrative and
Christ by a holistic approach formation leadership roles, Brother
to promoting health and Warren Longo, C.F.A., is taking on
caring for the sick, dying, a new ministry in a different city.
aged and unwanted of all
socioeconomic levels. Brother Warren, a member of the
Alexian Brothers Community in St.
Values
Compassion
Louis for many years, joined the Alexian
Dignity of the Person Brothers Community in Milwaukee in
Care of the Poor early January to help expand the Brothers’
Holism “presence ministry” at Alexian Village, an
Partnership
independent-living and long-term-care
community operated by Ascension Living.
The presence ministry provides
comfort, support and spiritual guidance
Brother Warren Longo, C.F.A., has joined the Alexian Brothers Community in
to residents, patients, clients, family Milwaukee to help expand the Brothers’ “presence ministry” at Alexian Village.
members and staff at the Brothers’
namesake facilities, such as Alexian Village. The “Part of our new approach toward ministry
ministry has become a key focus for the Brothers is the concept of having a presence in as many
in recent years as they have shifted away from of our namesake facilities as we can manage,” said
their longtime administrative and nursing roles Brother Dan McCormick, C.F.A., provincial
at health-care facilities and have sought to iden- of the Immaculate Conception Province of the
tify new opportunities to perpetuate their 800- Congregation of Alexian Brothers.
year-old mission of serving the sick, the poor, The Brothers’ efforts to expand the presence
Winter 2019 the elderly and the mentally ill. (continued on page 6)
Winter2019
Ministry serving isolated seniors
continues to expand in Chattanooga
A
fledgling Alexian Brothers outreach and developing future programming for the
ministry serving isolated and vulnerable ministry, which serves people 70 and older.
older adults in Chattanooga, Tennessee, “We’re on track to provide a model of care
continues to expand, enhancing the lives of a that can be replicated in terms of its effectiveness
growing number of local residents. at ensuring all our elders know they are cared for
During its first year, St. Alexius Outreach and valued,” Chill said. She played a hands-on
Ministries (SAOM) provided ongoing friendship role in building relationships with program
and supportive case-management services participants during the early months of the
through its Hospitality at Home ministry, joining Brother Richard and Tinaya
program to 30 homebound older during initial visits to participants’ homes.
adults experiencing isolation and More than one-third of SAOM’S program
loneliness. participants have been referred by the Adult
By the end of 2018, the Protective Services unit of the Tennessee
ministry’s team of volunteers Department of Human Services. One such indi-
had grown to include 20 people. vidual was Mrs. R. S., a 90-year-old woman who
Volunteers work alongside lived with her dog and two cats in a rat- and
Brother Richard Kane, C.F.A., roach-infested home badly in need of repairs.
and SAOM staff to visit program “She loves animals and had provided good
participants in their homes, make care for them until she could no longer manage
reassurance phone calls to them, due to her health and the safety risks in her
help them with shopping, cele- home,” Chill said. “She required medical atten-
brate birthdays and holidays with tion and had to be hospitalized, and when she
them, and provide other services. was admitted, she became extremely upset, not
Last fall, the ministry hired a wanting to leave her animals.”
social worker, Emma Jane Olsen, SAOM staff visited Mrs. R. S. and assured
M.S.W., to serve as care coordina- her that the ministry would find foster homes
tor. She works closely with for her pets, allowing her to focus on her recov-
Mrs. R. S., a participant in St. Alexius Mariko Tinaya, SAOM program coordinator, ery. The ministry later placed each of the pets in
Outreach Ministries’ Hospitality at
to match volunteers with participants and to a foster home, and Mrs. R. S. eventually moved
Home program, visits with her dog,
Penny, at the long-term-care facility provide ongoing case management and into a long-term-care facility, where she receives
where she lives. The ministry support for them and referring agencies. weekly visits from her dog, Penny. “Knowing
arranged for foster care for Penny “I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made,” her animals are being loved and cared for has
and Mrs. R. S.’ two cats after she
said Susan Chill, executive director of the brought her great joy,” Chill said.
was hospitalized and no longer
could live independently. ministry. “The positive feedback we continue to Another program participant, Mrs. P., has
receive from area agencies serving older adults told SAOM she believes that when she found
validates the need for this type of ministry.” the ministry, “God opened a door I’d been
With Olsen on board and a team of volun- praying for.”
teers to help program participants, Chill now Reflecting on the reactions of Mrs. R. S.,
has more time to increase awareness of SAOM Mrs. P. and other program participants, Chill
through social media and speaking engage- said: “What a joy it is for us to know we’ve made
ments, which should help attract more volun- a difference in the lives of those we’ve been
teers and donors. Chill also expects to focus instructed and entrusted to care for. It’s truly
2 more on forming new community partnerships the best gift we’ve ever received.”
TheAlexians
Provincial’s Letter
Dear Alexian Friends: a decision by Brother Warren Longo, C.F.A., to
The Immaculate Conception Province of the step away from his longtime leadership roles to
Congregation of Alexian Brothers today includes focus on our presence ministry in Milwaukee.
a total of 24 professed Brothers, only 18 of Brother Warren has set a powerful example
whom remain in active ministry. as a selfless, multitasking leader, reminding all of
Of necessity, most of our Brothers in active his fellow Brothers that we do the work we do for
ministry juggle multiple responsibilities to keep Jesus, in response to His call to help those most
the province moving forward. Their energy and in need. Our duty is to be open to – and accept-
passion are remarkable, and their efforts, along ing of – Jesus’ call, to be compassionate toward
with the support of our lay associates and other those who have no one else to care for them, and
supporters, are helping us perpetuate our 800- to complete our work, no matter
year-old healing mission. how insurmountable it might seem.
This edition of The Alexians highlights We are grateful to Brother Warren for his
some of our recent progress, including: strong leadership through the years, and we are
• The expansion of an Alexian Brothers excited to watch our young Brothers grow as
outreach ministry serving isolated and vulnera- leaders. It is important for any organization to
ble older adults in Chattanooga, Tennessee. groom future leaders and to allow them to use
• The expansion of our “presence ministry” their unique gifts, personalities and work styles
at Alexian Village, an independent-living and to accomplish the organization’s mission, and
long-term-care community in Milwaukee. this is especially important for the Brothers,
• The start of pre-construction preparations given our limited numbers and preponderance
for a drop-in center for the homeless in Davao of older Brothers.
City in the Philippines. It’s also of vital importance for us to
• The continued development of our new continue to emphasize our vocations efforts.
first-year Novitiate program in the Philippines, As evidenced by our three novice Brothers, these
where three novice Brothers are doing well and efforts lately have been more successful than
preparing for assignments back in the U.S. those of many religious orders. With the
• The growth of our mission in Hungary, return of Brother Zeke Mapa, C.F.A., from the
where our Brothers provide strong support to Philippines, he and Brother Patrick McCabe,
the compassionate and tightly knit staff at St. C.F.A., once again will be teaming as associate
Elizabeth of Hungary Home for the Elderly, a vocations ministers in the U.S., and we’re confi- Did you know?
top-flight nursing facility that we plan to expand dent their efforts will allow us to identify other Editor’s Note: “Did you know?” provides
in the near future. men with a religious vocation who want to brief glimpses into the rich, 800-year histo-
Our three novice Brothers will bolster perpetuate our mission of serving the sick, ry of the Congregation of Alexian Brothers.
our U.S. ministries when they return from the the poor, the elderly and the mentally ill. In the 1400s, John Busch, a church
Philippines, providing vital assistance to our As always, we greatly appreciate your reformer, wrote extensively about
his admiration for the early Alexian
communities in Milwaukee, Elk Grove Village, prayers and support as we continue our efforts
Brothers.
Illinois, and Signal Mountain, Tennessee, while to expand our ministries. Busch testified to the Brothers’
completing their second and final year of forma- May God Bless You and Yours, “personal nursing in the homes of
tion in the Novitiate. the sick” and their role “as partici-
pants in funeral and burial rites,
Meanwhile, some of our younger Brothers
Brother Daniel McCormick, C.F.A. ministries that have gained the
have gained an opportunity to spread their Provincial respect of the people.”
wings as leaders wearing multiple hats, following Immaculate Conception Province of the Alexian Brothers
Winter2019
Brothers prepare to build
homeless center in Philippines
T
he Alexian Brothers in the Philippines are with Brother Raphael Fallado, C.F.A., director of
moving forward with plans to build a drop- the Brothers’ community in the Bajada section
in center for the homeless in Davao City of Davao City. “I am very proud of all of them.”
while assessing studies about the possibility of Located near the Brothers’ residence in
founding a medical clinic in East Timor, a poor Bajada, the drop-in center will be a place where
nation in Southeast Asia. the homeless can “come in, shower, clean up,
The Brothers have purchased a Davao City wash their clothes and get a meal,” Brother Dan
property for the drop-in center, and demolition said. The center also will offer medical and social
of an existing house on the property had begun services and overnight accommodations.
The center will address an acute need for
homeless services in Davao City. Conservative
estimates place the number of homeless chil-
dren in the city at 35,000, and “the need grows
exponentially when you add parents and adult
siblings to that number,” Brother Dan said. “The
center will be a much-needed social ministry,
providing ongoing outreach to the homeless.”
The Brothers have completed in-depth
studies of the possibility of establishing a
medical clinic in East Timor, and those studies
are now under review, Brother Dan said.
“We are being extremely careful about
Brother Raphael Fallado, C.F.A., director of the Alexian Brothers
this possible new venture, because if we are ill-
Bajada Community in the Philippines, is overseeing the develop-
ment of a drop-in center for the homeless in Davao City. The prepared and it fails, we will have closed off that
center will be located near the Brothers' residence in the Bajada arena to our Congregation for generations, and
section of the city. we do not want to do that,” Brother Dan said. “If
by late 2018, said Brother Dan McCormick, we decide to move ahead, we want to do so with
C.F.A., provincial of the Immaculate an appropriate action plan that will provide for
Conception Province of the Congregation long-term solutions.”
of Alexian Brothers. With primitive living conditions and a
The Brothers have engaged in extensive pressing need for health-care services, East
engineering studies and construction planning Timor is similar to other places the Brothers
for the drop-in center “to make sure we are have ventured during their 800-year history,
getting the most from our investment,” Brother places “where nobody else wants to go,” Brother
Dan said. “We also want to make sure that Dan said. “It’s a situation that cries out for the
construction is completed carefully and safely.” delivery of care.”
He commended the Brothers in the If the Brothers decide to establish a
Philippines for their interest in serving the ministry in East Timor, it would become the
homeless and for their attention to detail in third community associated with the Brothers’
developing plans for the drop-in center. “Every mission in the Philippines, joining the Bajada
one of our Brothers there is committed to the community and their community in the Matina
mission of the Brothers,” said Brother Dan, who section of Davao City. The mission includes
4 has corresponded regularly about the project several Brothers who are medical professionals.
TheAlexians
Brother Zeke Mapa, C.F.A., resumes
role as associate vocations minister
B
rother Zeke Mapa, C.F.A., has returned to minister for the province, to
the United States from the Philippines to develop and implement strate-
resume his role as an associate vocations gies to promote the Alexian
minister for the Immaculate Conception Province Brothers as an option for men
of the Congregation of Alexian Brothers. with a religious vocation and to
Brother Zeke returned to the Brothers’ identify candidates who meet
community in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, after the Brothers’ standards.
spending six months in their Novitiate program Brother Zeke and Brother
in the Philippines. The province generally Patrick will divide their time
requires novices to spend the first of their two each week between the
years in the Novitiate in the Philippines before Brothers’ community in
completing their formation in the United States. Elk Grove Village and their
But the Brothers determined that the interests of Milwaukee community, where
the province would be better served if Brother they will support the Brothers’ “presence Brother Zeke Mapa, C.F.A., (right),
and Brother Patrick McCabe, C.F.A.,
Zeke resumed his vocations role. He earlier had ministry” while continuing their vocations
(left), work together as associate
spent nine years as a Brother and later worked in work. The presence ministry provides comfort, vocations ministers to develop and
the vocations role before officially returning to support and spiritual guidance to clients, implement strategies to promote the
the Congregation and being assigned to the patients, residents, family members and staff Alexian Brothers as an option for men
with a religious vocation.
Novitiate. at the Brothers’ namesake facilities, including
“Because of Zeke’s previous time with Alexian Village in Milwaukee.
the Brothers, and because of his education, “They will have the opportunity to intro-
including a Master of Divinity degree from the duce candidates to both ends of the spectrum in
Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, it was terms of our care,” Brother Dan said. “We have
deemed that six months in the Philippines was found it very advantageous to operate vocations
sufficient for his formation,” said Brother Dan efforts both in an older-adult setting such as
McCormick, C.F.A., provincial of the Alexian Village and in acute-care settings such as
Immaculate Conception Province. AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center
Brother Zeke will work with Brother Patrick Elk Grove Village and AMITA Health St. Alexius
McCabe, C.F.A., also an associate vocations Medical Center Hoffman Estates.”
Three novices receive nity in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, where he will enroll
second-year assignments in a clinical pastoral education program and will
shadow Brother Torch Acosta, C.F.A., who leads
the Brothers’ “presence ministry” in Chicago’s
T he Provincial Council of the Immaculate
Conception Province of the Congregation of
Alexian Brothers has assigned three novices to com-
northwest suburbs.
Novice Brother Robert will be assigned to the
plete the second year of their Novitiate training at Brothers’ community at Alexian Village in Signal
Alexian Brothers communities in the United States. Mountain, Tennessee, where he will gain pastoral-care
Novice Brothers Joe Pense, Robert Podjarsky experience under the direction of Brother Richard Lowe,
and Marc Rizzo began their first year in the two-year C.F.A., director of the Brothers’ community there.
Novitiate program in the Philippines last July and Novice Brother Marc will join the Brothers’ commu-
are scheduled to return to the United States this nity at Alexian Village in Milwaukee, where he will sup-
coming July. port the Brothers’ presence ministry and will enroll in
Novice Brother Joe will join the Brothers’ commu- a clinical pastoral education program. 5
Winter2019
Brother Warren Longo, C.F.A., begins
new chapter in distinguished career
(continued from page 1) at Alexian Village, Brother Warren is working
ministry, as well as their desire to provide leader- closely with Brother John Howard, C.F.A., direc-
ship opportunities for younger Brothers, coin- tor of the Alexian Brothers Community in
cided with Brother Warren’s interest in stepping Milwaukee, as well as Brother Patrick McCabe,
back from his leadership roles, including director C.F.A., and Brother Zeke Mapa, C.F.A., who
of the Alexian Brothers Community in St. Louis divide their time each week between Milwaukee
and his longtime positions as director of forma- and the Alexian Brothers Community in Elk
tion and director of postulants for the province. Grove Village, Illinois.
Brother Dan praised Brother Warren for recog- “Providing an Alexian Brothers presence in
nizing this convergence and suggesting a change. an older-adult care setting is significantly differ-
“I don’t think there is a more selfless man in ent than it is in an acute-care setting,” Brother
the Congregation,” said Brother Dan, who joined Dan said. “In an acute-care setting, you might
“Brother Warren … has the Alexian Brothers in
1994. “Brother Warren
see a patient once or maybe twice before they
are discharged. In an older-adult care setting,
taught us that if you truly was my postulant director, you might see a resident every day for as long as
love and honor this life, and it’s hard to imagine a
better example of selfless
they live at the facility. So Brother Warren, along
with Brother John, Brother Patrick and Brother
it has to be about the service to the Congrega- Zeke, have the opportunity to develop long,
Congregation and its
tion and to our patients, meaningful and rich relationships with resi-
residents and clients. He dents at Alexian Village.”
mission, and never has taught us that if you Brother Warren joined the Alexian Brothers
about you personally.”
truly love and honor this as a postulant in September 1956, a month after
life, it has to be about the he turned 18. Six months later, he received the
Congregation and its mission, and never about habit of the Alexian Brothers and began his
you personally.” distinguished career as a member of the
Brother Warren served for 16 years as Congregation.
spiritual care coordinator for the now-defunct Through the years, Brother Warren has
Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly served in a variety of leadership positions with
(PACE) in St. Louis, and his experience in that the Brothers. In addition to serving as director of
role made him an ideal choice to help move the formation, director of postulants and director of
presence ministry forward at Alexian Village, the Brothers’ community in St. Louis, he served
Brother Dan said. for 36 years as assistant superior general and as a
Brother Warren’s voluntary move to member of the General Council, which oversees
Milwaukee has allowed several younger Brothers the Brothers’ ministries in the United States,
to take on leadership duties. (See accompanying Germany, Belgium, Ireland, England, Hungary
article on page 7.) “To Warren’s credit, he recog- and the Philippines.
nized the time was right for younger men to take In those roles, he helped guide the Congre-
on leadership responsibilities, and he has been gation through some significant changes, includ-
gracious, nurturing and encouraging every step ing the decision to allow Alexian Brothers
of the way,” Brother Dan said. “He has been a Health System (ABHS) in 2011 to become
true mentor, setting an example for everyone part of St. Louis-based Ascension, the largest
in the Congregation.” nonprofit health system in the United States
6 As he seeks to expand the presence ministry and the world’s largest Catholic health system.
TheAlexians
Younger Brothers step Brother Warren’s former roles. Brother Patrick also
into leadership positions
has been named assistant director of the Brothers’
community in Milwaukee. Brother John Howard,
C.F.A., continues as the community’s director.
W ith Brother Warren Longo, C.F.A., moving into
a new ministry role with the Alexian Brothers
Community in Milwaukee, several younger Alexian
Brother Steve Fogt, C.F.A., comptroller of Alexian
Brothers Communities and Ministries, has assumed
the additional role of acting director of the Brothers’
Brothers have been assigned to leadership positions community in St. Louis. Brother Warren had been
with the Immaculate Conception Province of the director of the community.
Congregation of Alexian Brothers. “Brother Warren’s decision to step back from his
Brother Tom Klein, C.F.A., has succeeded Brother leadership positions has created an opportunity for us
Warren as director of postulants, and the postulancy to develop new talent and new gifts in some of our
program has been moved from St. Louis to Signal younger Brothers,” said Provincial Brother Dan
Mountain, Tennessee, where Brother Tom also minis- McCormick, C.F.A. “Brother Tom, Brother Patrick and
ters to residents of Alexian Village, a senior living Brother Steve are quite young in their religious lives,
community operated by Ascension Living. but like Brother Warren, they are men of strong char-
Brother Patrick McCabe, C.F.A., an associate acter who share a passionate commitment to the
vocations minister for the province, has taken on addi- welfare of the Congregation and the Immaculate
tional responsibilities as director of formation, one of Conception Province.”
Brother Tom Klein, C.F.A. Brother Patrick McCabe, C.F.A. Brother Steve Fogt, C.F.A.
Ascension is the parent company of Ascension continue. The decision also freed the Brothers
Living, which provides mission-driven care to to pursue ministries that do not involve hospital
seniors in more than 30 locations across 11 administrative or nursing duties. The presence
states and the District of Columbia, including ministry is one such ministry.
Alexian Village in Milwaukee and Alexian “It’s absolutely in Brother Warren’s wheel-
Village in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. house,” Brother Dan said. “It’s a big move for
The decision to allow ABHS to join him, and I hope all of our Brothers, as well as
Ascension helped ensure that despite overall our associates, friends and supporters, take the
declines in religious vocations, the Brothers’ opportunity to thank him for his service in St.
health-care ministries would be protected Louis and to support him with their prayers
and their centuries-old healing mission would as he begins this new chapter in his life.” 7
In This
Issue
Cover Page 4 Page 5 Page 7
Brother Warren Brothers prepare Brother Zeke Mapa, Younger Brothers
Volume 44, Number 4 Longo, C.F.A., begins to build homeless C.F.A., resumes step into leadership
Winter 2019 new chapter center in Philippines vocations role positions
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600 Alexian Way
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Brother Lawrence Krueger, C.F.A.
Superior General, Congregation
of Alexian Brothers
Brothers lead team-building trips
Brother Dermot O’Leary, C.F.A.
Vicar General, Congregation
of Alexian Brothers
Brother Daniel McCormick, C.F.A.
for associates of home for elderly
T
Provincial, Immaculate Conception
Province of the Alexian Brothers,
Director of the Alexian Brothers he Alexian Brothers last fall sponsored a
Community, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
pair of one-day team-building trips for
Brother John Howard, C.F.A.
Director of the Alexian Brothers
associates from St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Community, Milwaukee Home for the Elderly at the Brothers’ mission in
Brother Richard Lowe, C.F.A. Győrújbarát, Hungary.
Director of the Alexian Brothers Brother Alexius Siska, C.F.A., director of the
Community, Signal Mountain,
Tennessee Alexian Brothers Community at the mission, and
Brother Steve Fogt, C.F.A., Brother Leó Vendrey, C.F.A., a nursing assistant
Acting Director of the Alexian at the home, took turns accompanying associates
Brothers Community, St. Louis Brother Alexius Siska, C.F.A., (front row, fourth from right), and
on the trips to Székesfehérvár, one of the most associates from St. Elizabeth of Hungary Home for the Elderly
Brother Alexius Siska, C.F.A.
historic and culturally rich cities in Hungary. pose for a photo during a one-day team-building trip last fall
Director of the Alexian Brothers
Community, Győrújbarát, Hungary The trips included sightseeing in the city to Székesfehérvár, one of the oldest and most culturally rich
cities in Hungary.
Brother Raphael Fallado, C.F.A. and a bicycle tour at nearby Lake Velence.
Director of the Alexian Brothers Sightseeing stops included the Medieval Ruin “The point of these yearly team-building
Bajada Community, Davao City,
Philippines Garden at National Memorial Place, where the trips is to strengthen the home’s community by
Brother John of God Oblina, C.F.A.
associates and Brothers saw the remains of a allowing everyone to get to know each other
Director of the Alexian Brothers basilica started by Saint Stephen, Hungary’s first better,” Brother Alexius said. “In this way, we can
Matina Community, Davao City,
Philippines
king. He and 14 other Hungarian kings were work together better toward our common goal
crowned at the site, which was the Hungarian of serving the home’s residents. We had luck
government’s most important and sanctified with the weather, so everybody felt well and
place during the Middle Ages. traveled back with nice memories.”
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