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

Fri Jul 22 14:02:05 CDT 2011

Dear Ones,

I had the deep pleasure of writing to Fredric a few months ago even though I
did not know him well.  He responded.  He is one of my spirit colleagues and
he will be missed as he moves on his journey to "be with" others colleagues
who have gone on before.  I join the others in celebrating your unique and
unrepeatable life and death.  Journey on!

Last evening I was typing some of our Order songs into a new song book for a
group of women who meet each summer to share their lives and their stories.
I knew all the words ....they are imprinted on my brain and in my cells.
"Life is Good"  continues to be a mantra that comes to me daily.  What a
wealth of treasures we have as a legacy of our Order days that remind of us
of the JOURNEY we began many years ago and that we find ourselves on to this
day.  Thank you Fredric for the role you played in being the Order on behalf
of us all and the world.

In community

Nancy Lanphear

2011/7/22 Charles or Doris Hahn <cdhahn at flash.net>

> 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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> >>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
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