[Oe List ...] Fred's completed life

Fri Jul 22 10:28:29 CDT 2011

Paul, your talking about Fred and Brussels triggered many responses in my mind.  
Fred interpreted our work to August VanIstendal, a prominent Roman Catholic who 
was head of an Europe-Wide organization, the name of which I do not remember.  
VanIstendal had powerful influence in Catholic circles across Europe and opened 
many doors for us.  The most significant thing I remember was that he arranged 
for us to do a presentation to the gathering of Superiors General of the men's 
Catholic Orders at a Jesuit retreat center just outside Rome.  As I recall, this 
was an every three years meeting.  Brian Williams and I went from the Brussels 
Nexus for the event, and decided that Brian should do the presentation.  When we 
arrived at the event we were overwhelmed.  There was this large hell with 
perhaps 250 Superiors seated at dinner tables, and we were seated at the head 
table with  five or six Cardinals and Father Arupe, Jesuit Superior (also 
popularly called the Black Pope).
We dined on a sumptuous dinner and as the meal was ending , nuns who had been 
serving began to clear the tables.  Father Arupe got up from his head place at 
the table and went down to the floor level and began to assist with the 
clean-up.  This caused a little stir among the other Superiors and a few got up 
and also helped.  This is just a little glimpse of the humble and powerful 
leadership Arupe gave the Jesuits.
Brian did a great presentation, and because of of Fred through VanIstendal we 
raised a ton of money for our Human Development Projects from Catholic orders in 
Rome over the next several years.
Fred opened dorrs to powerful people.
Charles Hahn  

________________________________
From: "PSchrijnen at aol.com" <PSchrijnen at aol.com>
To: oe at wedgeblade.net
Cc: lbuss at marthastable.org
Sent: Fri, July 22, 2011 6:21:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Fred's completed life

Dear Colleagues,

I just finished talking to Guy Wilkinson. He was as a Civil Servant at the 
European Union at the time when Fred and Sarah were in Brussels. 
Guy was inspired by Fred and Sarah to join the Bayad consult and 
then was instrumental in raising money from the European union for that project. 

He later became an Anglican priest, did much innercity work in various 
parishes, and then became the Archbishops' assistant on Interfaith issues. 

I just talked to Alan Beresford. It was Fred who asked him what he 
was going to do with his life. We know Alan's response. 

It was Fred who changed my life. 

Fred inspired people to engage in the world in brave, new ways. 

And then he became my mentor and a good and loyal friend over all these years.

I miss him,

Paul

Paul Schrijnen
London
+44 7973 206 766 

In a message dated 22/07/2011 01:57:22 GMT Daylight Time, rafos at interlog.com 
writes:
It was 1967 in Cleveland that Sandra and I found ourselves in a church basement 
feted with cold peas and fish sticks, hearing about pigs and persons.  What the 
hell did we get ourselves into?  Who were the two strange dudes, Fred Buss and 
Bob Vance, and what were they up to?  After a stirring weekend and riveting 
Church lecture on Sunday by Fred we were ready to charge out the door.  Like 
Priscilla the two of them opened us up to a whole new world.  I am forever 
grateful to Fred and can still call up the image of him that Sunday A.M.  In 
1970 we spent a year in the NY house as second priors to Fred and Sarah.  What a 
glorious time to experience all of the gifts and neuroses of Fred.  Looking back 
now I think of all the people and experiences I would have missed saved for that 
Church lecture.  In gratitude for a life well lived and his service to 
humanity.  Blessings and peace on the next stage of your journey Fred as well as 
comfort and solace to family and colleagues on your
>  passing.
>
>Sandra and Bob Rafos
>
>On 2011-07-21, at 7:55 AM, Priscilla H Wilson wrote:
>
>> Way back in 1965 Fred Buss and Don Warren opened a window in my mind that let 
>>in the possibility of theological thinking. I've never been the same since. I'm 
>>sure that is true for many minds around the globe. All the influence he 
>>continued to play in my life and my thinking are too numerous to write down. 
>>Some people are so important in many people's life journey that it is hard to 
>>imagine them gone. I hope he and Rodney are sharing stories...if they aren't 
>>then there is something wrong with heaven.
>> Grace and peace to all,
>> Priscilla Wilson
>> 
>> On Jul 20, 2011, at 5:43 AM, Herman Greene wrote:
>> 
>>> Well said John.
>>> 
>>> Fred was the Lord of the Dance to me. He brought levity to my life. Just to
>>> see him lifted me up. 
>>> 
>>> And yes, his words had multiple meanings. I never noticed how long he spoke,
>>> I was enjoying myself too much.
>>> 
>>> He changed my life.
>>> 
>>> Herman
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
>>> Of John Epps (by way of "jlepps at pc.jaring.my"<jlepps at pc.jaring.my>)
>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 11:55 PM
>>> To: Order Ecumenical Community
>>> Subject: [Oe List ...] Fred's completed life
>>> 
>>> Hello Joe. Greetings from Kuala Lumpur.
>>> 
>>> Ann and I join you and a world-wide host of colleagues in celebrating
>>> Fred's completed life. We are grateful to you and Paul for assisting
>>> Lindsey in making the memorial service appropriate. Considering Fred's
>>> life, an appropriate memorial is no small task!
>>> 
>>> Among his other memorable traits, Fred's love of the spoken word was
>>> legendary. He never failed to search for the most unexpected way to
>>> say something, and often succeeded in conveying multiple levels of
>>> meaning without the constraint of brevity. I once witnesses Fred
>>> giving a 90-minute lecture from notes which consisted of 4 words on a
>>> page. That lecture changed lives.
>>> 
>>> He now joins and enriches that great cloud of witnesses from whom we
>>> continually draw inspiration, insight, and sustenance. We're grateful
>>> to have known this giant of spirit.
>>> 
>>> Grace & Peace.
>>> 
>>> John Epps
>>> 
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>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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