TRUE BROTHERS
I enjoyed Deirdre Cornell’s article “Being A Brother” in the Maryknoll magazine Fall 2022 issue. The article discussed the life and career of Brother Tim Raible, including his service in Bangkok, Thailand, at the English language program started by Brother John Beeching.
As a Maryknoll volunteer, I taught at the school for 10 years beginning in 2009. The kind assistance and helpful advice provided by both brothers made my experience there most enjoyable and rewarding. Their support was one of the primary reasons I went back year after year.
My special thanks to Brother Tim and to Brother John, who sadly recently passed away, for an unforgettable teaching experience.
James Martin
Mesa, Arizona
HONORING SISTER JOAN
Among the departed Maryknoll missioners listed in the last issue was Sister Joan Delaney, a missionary in Hong Kong, ecumenist, and a friend to so many.
I first met Sister Joan Delaney in 1983-1984 when I was the Catholic Tutor (a visiting Catholic scholar) at the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland. I was there for a year, and Sister Joan came in the early spring. We immediately became friends, and I began to discover the many friends she had made through her own ecumenical work.
After my time at Bossey, I returned to Loyola Marymount University here in Los Angeles where I taught for 44 years. I am now semi-retired, but still doing ecumenical work. One of my commitments has been co-chairing the Archdiocesan Catholic/Evangelical Committee, and Sister Joan joined us when she moved into the Maryknoll community in Monrovia, California.
I will miss this indomitable woman.
Thomas Rausch, S.J.
Los Angeles, California
BLESSINGS ABOUND
Thank you for Maryknoll magazine. I look forward to receiving it, as I have for so many years. I read it cover to cover in one sitting — even the very small print. Thank you as well for the “Maryknoll in Touch” mailings. I call them little bios. It is a great way to get to know the priests and brothers better. Thank you for the truly beautiful prayer cards by Father Joseph Veneroso and his photo meditations in the magazine. Being a member of the Maryknoll family is such a blessing and it has been a privilege to have known so many of you over the years.
Velma Espinoza
Denver, Colorado
TOO POLITICAL
I enjoy your Maryknoll magazine for the most part. I enjoy all the spiritual articles, the work of the Maryknollers and the achievements they make in helping people in need and advocating for the faith.
However, I take issue with how political the magazine has become.
Global warming is a political issue, not a religious one. While the good Lord wanted us to be stewards of the earth, he didn’t expect us to empower governmental bodies to rule over us and deprive us of basic human rights and the ability to utilize the resources he has provided.
I am a farmer’s daughter. Farming is unpredictable wherever you go. The use of fertilizers and pesticides improves products and intensifies production. This is why America can provide for so many. I don’t care what kind of education your “experts” claim to have. I thought our Lord and master is in charge of heaven and earth. Your contributors, me included, don’t give money to the missions to push agendas. We want you to do God’s work. I think we should pause to stop and think: Whose bidding are we doing?
Maureen Nolte
Cromberg, California
COLUMN RAISES DOUBT
After several years of reading about environmental philosophies in your Maryknoll magazine, I can no longer remain silent. In the Fall 2022 magazine you ran a story in your World Watch column titled “It’s Time for Renewable Energy.” If you look to the places where renewable energy has the largest market penetration — California, Germany, England and Texas — you will find the biggest energy supply problems. The problems are both cost and the reliability of power.
I admire the efforts of Maryknoll throughout the world. However, I am frustrated by its repeated articles on the environment that seem like they were written by environmental activists. Renewable energy is driving up the cost of electricity to consumers and reducing reliability. Who is bearing the biggest burden? The poor.
David Peters
Houston, Texas
FAITH INSPIRING
In your Summer 2022 issue of Maryknoll, there is a picture by a Russian painter depicting Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the Risen Christ. I would like to give a large reproduction as a gift to my parish. It is such a striking image of their encounter and it would inspire faith to have it in our church for parishioners to behold.
Robert Jooharigian
Royal Oak, Michigan
Editor’s Note: The image of Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection by Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov is available on the internet from Wikimedia Commons at https://commons.wikimedia.org/ where you can search the title and download a photograph of it.
Featured image: Maryknoll Father James Eble prepares the chapel for meditation at the Lake House of Prayer on the shores of Lake Victoria in Mwanza, Tanzania, joined by Maryknoll Lay Missioner Judy Walter (orange blouse) and neighbors who form a praying community. (Sean Sprague/Tanzania)
