Father Bassano writes from Tanzania

By Father Mike Bassano, MM
Sun contributing writer

God comes to visit us in so many unexpected moments and disguised ways. All we need to do is be aware and open to the divine surprise in the ordinary events of every day.

Samueli came to our home of compassion nine years ago. He was a pushcart worker loading bags of sugar, rice or wood to be carried to local stores or homes in the town of Musoma. At the end of a hard working day Samueli would sit down for a drink with his fellow pushcart friends. He began to drink heavily every day consuming 1.5 litre bottles called “Bombonya” which  was filled with a village distilled homemade liquor called “gongo.” Because he drank that whole bottle of liquor daily his friends gave him the nickname “Bombonya.”

Samueli’s family abandoned him and told him to leave the house because they were ashamed of his alcoholic behavior. As a result, he would sleep in the streets after his nights of heavy drinking. One night his friends found him lying in the street unconscious and brought him to the local hospital. Samueli lay unconscious on the hospital ward floor for three days because of the lack of beds. Afterward our servants of love (watumishi wa upendo in Kiswahili) who care for our poor people at our home, came to visit one of our sick people and happened to notice Samueli lying on the floor completely naked. He must have soiled his clothes and there was nothing to replace them as the hospital does not provide clothing, only families do. They immediately told Father Godfried Biseko, the founder of our home, and he received permission from the hospital for Samueli to come and live with us.

As Samueli felt welcomed in his new home, he was becoming more conscious and aware of where he was. When someone called him by the name of “Bombonya,” he responded, “My name is not Bombonya, my name is Samueli.”

Each day, I have the responsibility of getting Samueli out of bed to give him his daily bath. I then help him to exercise and walk because, at age 69, his legs and body are getting more weak and feeble. Recently, he became too weak to walk and is now confined to a wheelchair. But after his bath he loves to go outside in his wheelchair to greet the sun (or “jua” as he tells me in Kiswahili). I also help in bringing him his food and drink. At the end of the day I get him ready for bed, covering him with a sheet, blanket and mosquito net, telling Samueli that I’ll see him tomorrow.

On the breastplate prayer of St. Patrick of Ireland it is written: “Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ all around me, Christ within me.” I cannot help but rejoice in the presence of Jesus shining through a man called Samueli.

(Samueli died recently and I had the honor of presiding at his funeral liturgy and burial. I got a bit emotional at the liturgy by this man who touched my life. I know he is at home in the Beloved God and with us in spirit! — Father Mike)

Remembering Father Angelo Libera

By Jennika Baines
Sun Associate Editor

Strong, straight-talking and athletic, Father Angelo Libera was remembered as a priest who was as devoted to his faith and his country as he was to his family and the people of the Syracuse Diocese. He died on Aug. 25 at the age of 81.

His funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Thomas Costello at St. Cecilia’s Church in Solvay on Monday, Aug. 30.

Msgr. Ronald Bill, a longtime friend of Father Libera’s, delivered the homily. “Today we say goodbye to a great man, a wonderful priest, a true citizen of Solvay. St. Cecilia’s was always his church. Solvay was always his town,” Msgr. Bill said. “He was the people’s hero, their priest.”

Born March 10, 1929 to Giuseppe and Cattarina Libera, Father Libera grew up in Solvay and attended Solvay High School. It was here that his ability as an athlete became apparent. Msgr. Bill said his friend made all-county and could have gone on to become a professional athlete.

“He was ready to play in the big leagues, but instead he chose to stay in God’s league,” Msgr. Bill said.

After high school Father Libera went on to attend St. Bernard’s Seminary and was ordained in 1957.

His first assignment was as assistant pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Rome. “He did well as an associate pastor. Everyone loved him and his quiet style of leadership,” Msgr. Bill said.

But Father Libera felt another calling in his priesthood, and in 1963 he entered the U.S. Navy as a military chaplain.

“Ange was a great chaplain,” Msgr. Bill said. “He loved the marine corps and he served them with enthusiasm and honor.”

During his tour, Father Libera was transferred to the first of what would be many Marine commands, including the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan; the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in Vietnam; the 2nd Marine Division with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, and later the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines; the 2nd Field Artillery Group at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C.

Father Libera’s ministry brought him back overseas to Okinawa and to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. After a Naval assignment at the Coast Guard Academy in Conn., Father Libera returned to the Marines one final time in 1987 where he was assigned to his final tour of active service as the Command Chaplain, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune.

After more than 25 years of service, Father Libera was a captain in the navy and a full colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps when he retired in 1989.

He returned to the Syracuse Diocese after his retirement, and Msgr. Bill said Father Libera gave up the opportunity to be a pastor so that he could serve wherever he was needed. He earned the same respect with the people of this diocese as he earned during his military service.

“Ange was an honest man. He told you the way it was,” Msgr. Bill said. “He was a humble man. A man of few words, some I cannot mention here,” Msgr. Bill said to the laughter of those gathered.

Msgr. Bill also got the congregation chuckling when he recalled how Father Libera would often end a visit after a few minutes with the words, “You can go now.”

Father Libera faced even illness with the characteristic strength which he learned in the military.

Msgr. Bill remembered a time when the two of them were golfing and Father Libera began speaking about athletes and how they can often seem indestructible. But Father Libera said that his time in the military had made him more aware of his own mortality.

“I asked him if he was frightened of death. And he said, ‘No. Death is scary, I admit, but my faith pushes me to view death with promise,’” Msgr. Bill said.

Father Libera then went on to say that he came to realize that the fear of death need not infect the time one is given on earth and should instead inspire everyone to savor their years and keep expressing both the faith and the love that defines a life well-lived.

“A few years ago, Ange’s health began to decline,” Msgr. Bill said. Father Libera was put on dialysis three times a week. “It was a difficult time for a man so athletic, so strong.”

When Msgr. Bill and some friends went to visit Father Libera for the final time, he was so weak he struggled to lift his arm to shake hands. But as Msgr. Bill walked away, Father Libera’s hand stayed up in a farewell salute.

“Today on behalf of all the priests, our bishop, the people of St. Cecilia’s and this diocese,” Msgr. Bill said, “I salute you for all you have done for the church, your country and all of us.”

President Fred Pestello discusses changes to campus, classrooms
By Jennika Baines
Sun Associate Editor

Times are tough for colleges across the country: budget cuts are decimating faculties, tuition rates are rising and many students are hesitant to take on hefty student loans only to graduate into a dire job market.

But apparently no one has told this to Le Moyne College.

For the second year in a row, the college has had record-breaking student enrollment. New faculty positions are being created and filled. Construction has begun on a 48,000-square-foot science building. A fundraising campaign recently earned nearly double its $50 million goal. There is a crisp new turf field and the finishing touches are being put on a sleek campus plaza.

Times are definitely good for Fred Pestello, the college’s first lay president. Since accepting the position in July 2008, he has overseen many of the sweeping changes that have come to the campus, including initiatives reconsidering the core curriculum and the college’s vision for its future.

Perhaps the $50 million donation Le Moyne received five months after Pestello began in the position was an indication of things to come. The donation was given to the college by the estate of John and Catherine McDevitt of Binghamton.

“Most of that money is yet to be allocated as we try to be really thoughtful and respectful of the donors in honoring their wishes,” Pestello said. “The endowment right now is double what it was, even while we’ve been going through this recession. And all of this has allowed us to continue to educate in line with our vision.”

To help define and adapt that vision, Pestello has introduced a new initiative considering the core courses offered at Le Moyne. “Those are the courses that every single student must complete,” he said. Currently, these courses include literature, religion, philosophy, history, natural sciences and social sciences. Pestello said this core curriculum is a defining part of the experience of students at Le Moyne because it helps them to build analytical skills grounded in the Jesuit tradition. “It’s about educating the whole person, the head and the heart.”

But he said the current initiative will propose changes to bring the curriculum up-to-date to suit the needs of students. The core curriculum won’t go away, Pestello said, “What we are debating right now is what that curriculum will look like.”

Two faculty members are currently conducting research into what these changes might entail. Pestello said six months remain of the 18-month research period. An open meeting is planned for the fall to discuss some of the findings so far, and at the end of the research period the faculty senate will vote on any changes. Pestello said the changes will probably be phased in during the fall of 2012.

For now, however, one of the most noticeable changes to Le Moyne is the construction of what’s being called “the plaza.” This building is on the corner of Salt Springs Road and Springfield Road and currently houses the new bookstore (run by Barnes & Noble), a Dunkin’ Donuts and Cam’s Pizzeria. There are also tables and chairs on an outside courtyard and leather chairs and tables inside.

The building itself is a complete renovation of what was for many years a small, rundown plaza that held a stream of businesses like liquor stores and laundromats as well as several empty storefronts. “It was a real eyesore,” Pestello said. And to compound matters, it was located on an awkward intersection of five streets.

After buying the plaza, Le Moyne also bought one of the streets from the City of Syracuse and closed it, turning the space into a grassy area with a walkway leading to the new building. “Now the neighbors are thrilled with the park-like setting, that the bookstore is there and open to all and that the intersection is much safer,” Pestello said. “It’s part of Le Moyne’s commitment to improving the region, particularly the areas contiguous to the campus.”

Next month, Le Moyne’s Dolphin Den will reopen after 10 years, restoring a community space for students, teachers and staff to talk and eat between classes. Construction is taking place on the new Den now, and it will be located on the bottom floor of Grewen Hall where the old bookstore used to be. “It’s a bigger, better Dolphin Den,” Pestello said. “It’s going to be very exciting.”

The most ambitious project for the campus, however, is still in its early stages. On June 10 ground was broken on a $20 million science facility which will connect to the Coyne Science Center. It will feature the college’s largest lecture hall, classrooms, laboratories, offices and a computer lab. The building, which will incorporate solar power and other energy-efficient practices, is scheduled to be completed by early 2012. A live web cam of the construction site is available at www.lemoyne.edu.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new science building also marked the successful end of the “Achieving New Heights” fundraising campaign. With an original goal of $50 million, the campaign ultimately earned over $91 million. This amount includes the McDevitt donation as well as a recent anonymous donation of $4 million.

Pestello said he is grateful that Le Moyne is able to continue to meet its goals despite the tough economy.
“These are very difficult times economically. People are really struggling out there and that’s impacted a lot of higher education. I feel very fortunate that here at Le Moyne there have been no furloughs, no lay-offs,” Pestello said. “We’ve got a good momentum going and we want to build on that momentum.”