REV. JOE TROMBLEY Blue Doors
REV. JOE TROMBLEY Not By Bread Alone
Blue Doors
The Blue Doors of OLA
Our Lady Brings Us a Family/The Painful Years Begin
July-August 1992
Each phase of our history has been unique. Our question – what does God want next? Is it finished or what? Always there is the suffering of the cross, then new life in the Spirit. The next phase of our history certainly indicated the reality of this entire mystery of faith – Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. After the departure of our community of young people in the summer of ’77, we once again prayed the Lord would send someone to operate OLA’s House of Prayer. It was difficult to manage without someone there.
OLA became acquainted with a marriage-encountered couple, Jeanne and Thomas Horty, who lived in Rouses Point, NY. They began attending daily Mass and were very active in OLA. Jeanne was serving as a trustee of the prayer house and they shared a desire to evangelize and spread God’s kingdom. At daily Mass at St. Joseph’s, Cooperville, we prayed for people to come and operate the House of Prayer. After one of these Masses, a few of us remained to pray and Jeanne Horty approached me and asked if I thought she and Tom and their three children, Meg, Andrea and Adam, could live at and operate the House of Prayer. It would be a leap of faith for them and us also. Tom would soon be applying to study for the permanent deaconate for our Diocese. They would have to sell their house in Rouses Point and settle business there before moving.
At one of our monthly meetings I presented Tom and Jeanne and their idea and we, as the OLA Association and Board, decided that this was what the Lord wanted an accepted them as directors of the House. But people had many questions. How could the House be used if a family lived there? How could family, community and association all work together? Are we going away from the original inspiration for OLA? There were a host of other spoken and unspoken questions.
Also, about that time we got involved with St. Mary’s Mission Center in Champlain, a used clothing distribution center for foreign and home missions run by Rita LaBombard and her mother, Delia Nichols. How would all of this work together?
Well, both I and all the association had to try and see if this was what the Lord wanted. We prayed and we moved ahead. Someone had to be at the House in Ellenburg Center if others were to use it – to take care of the properties and provide hospitality to those who would come there for prayer. We would try it and see.
So the Horty’s put their house up for sale and they began moving in in late fall of ’77 and were settled in by early spring of ’78. They thus began walking a long road with us, remaining until the fall of 1980. During the years when Tom and Jeanne were with us their children grew and we became very active at the Mission enter at Champlain. Jeanne shared often her spiritual writings and talks and Tom made present Our Lord’s simplicity and was an example to us by being directly open to God’s working. But the road they traveled with us proved to be one of prayer, testing and suffering. It was a time of the Cross and of being stripped naked for myself, this couple, and for Rita Labombard, Director of the Missions Center. We were to experience darkness and led to walk by “blind” faith, many times not knowing what was going on.
However, God was blessing us with young people becoming interested in the Church and some entering into it through our work; with people doing mission work and souls being touched by God before our very eyes. We also were being blessed by calls to the priesthood and deaconate. One day a member, Tyrone Rabideau, came to see me. He felt called to the deaconate but wasn’t sure if the call was true. After some months of deliberation I told him, “Well, do you want the Lord to come down and hit you over the head? Just go and try the studies, nothing will be lost. You’ll find out and so will the Diocese if you’re fit for this ministry. Go, and God will guide you.” He did and was ordained after five years of study on Oct. 3, 1981.
The painful time actually began in 1977 when some of our most active members began to be called by God from us by both death and separation. Gideon Fleming, who had been a leader in OLA, contracted bone cancer and after several years of suffering died Nov. 6, 1977. This left a big hold in OLA from a very great benefactor.
The departure of the Horty’s in late 1980 left Rita still operating the Mission Center. More action was taking place there than at Ellenburg Center it seemed, but I was sure that Our Lady wanted us to keep the “prayer” going there. People came confused about all that was happening and very few supporters were left to assist whatever was gong on, yet we still operated the House. It was empty for most of the winter of ’80-’81. All the plumbing froze that winter, even though Hazel LaBarre checked on the House ach day. Another expense without enough money coming in.
I believe these years served as a period of reconciliation for many in our prayer association and growth out of confusion from a spirit of un-openness to God. It was a time of joy in the spirit and an excitement about new ventures. It was a time of excruciating pain too, preparing OLA and its people for a surer walk with God. For me, it was to lead to total shipwreck – physically, emotionally and mentally – to be stripped to the bone by God and knit back together by Mary, my Mother.
In the middle of all, I will tell you now – she was to come to me and assure me of her presence in all that did happen and would later happen through OLA. I have never doubted her presence and desire for us to continue this little work for Our Lord, but I think in all the confused period of 1978-1985 she wanted me to be sure she was controlling things and not I. I had given myself and all this work to her and now she was about to take me and all of it over. But to let go and let her have all – it was very painful. I rejoice today to see what she has done. Out of excruciating pain has come something beautiful for me and for OLA.
May God’s Peace and Joy fill each of your hearts as we travel on the road of His choosing towards Him,
Fr. Joseph Trombley
OLA’s Spiritual Director
Unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Reprinted from The Blue Doors 1992
How young people came to OLA to form community.
In 1976, we enrolled our first two members of the OLA Association, Russell and Helen-Lillian Ducatte of Cooperville. Our Mother Mary called them forth as her first recruits to her order. They were very poor, simple people. How very much like Bethlehem. They had come to us by way of St. Josephs’ Parish where I was pastor. God had chosen them to teach me and OLA service to the most needy. “Be a light to your neighbor’s feet” as Catherine Doherty used to write. They were a light to mine and I hope I was a light to theirs.
At our monthly meetings in early 1976, we petitioned our Blessed Mother to find some people to live at and operate the House of Prayer. At our June meeting, as we prayed for this, Mrs. Jean Rizos of Malone told us of six young people, two young men and four young women, including her daughter, who had recently graduated from LeMoyne College in Syracuse who had lived a communal life of prayer and work there and who wanted to continue to live out their community life and were looking for a place to do so. We asked her to bring them to the next meeting if they were interested in talking with us about using Bethlehem House for their community center. Five of them came to our July meeting. The members of the two communities introduced themselves to each other and we settled down to pray together.
As we began, one of them stood up and asked to speak. He said he had come with the others, but even though they were possibly interested in coming to the House, he was not. He was just there to join in the prayers. He sat down and we began to pray. We first read the Scriptural foundation of OLA (John 20:19-31), which speaks of being sent forth by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel and of Thomas doubting Our Risen Lord’s appearance, but then believing. We spoke of our asking the Lord and Our Lady to send us people to operate the House. We shared the Scriptures and spontaneously prayed. Four of the young people indicated they would think seriously about coming and asked for assistance in approaching the Bishop to see if they could live together as a religious community preparing to take promises of poverty, chastity and obedience in the Church.
The young man, Albert Hauser, stood up again to address the assembly. “When I came here, I certainly had no intention or desire to follow the rest of the group, including possibly coming here. But I have listened and prayed with all of you and something has changed within me. I’m convinced that this is where God wants me. I don’t know what the group will decide, but I know I must come.” He left those present in awe and silence. Nothing more was said and we continued with Benediction. I prayed that all of us would do the Lord’s will as we celebrated the Holy Eucharist, especially the young people, and that Bishop Brzana would approved this little community of college students and of their staying at OLA.
A month later, Angelo Pietropaoli, Suzanne Rizos, Christine Yawarsky, Barbara McCraith and Albert Hauser decided they would try to be a religious community at the House of Prayer and sought and received the Bishop’s approval for a trial basis period. The local pastor, Fr. John Weir, was appointed by Bishop Brzana to oversee their development and represent the Bishop for and to them. There was much skepticism from some of their parents and others, but the Bishop defended and upheld what they were trying to live. Before everything was settled, summer had passed. Angelo got a job as a teacher at Notre Dame School in Malone so they could have some food money and help with the bills. By the end of 1976, the community moved into Bethlehem House at OLA.
However, by this time Angelo and Suzanne began contemplating the Sacrament of Matrimony and were married January 7, 1977, at Notre Dame Church, Malone, at a very beautiful liturgy. But these five young people prayed faithfully and though they were poor and the winter was difficult (the well went dry off and on and pipes froze several times) they loved each other and those who came and went from the House of Prayer. They assisted in writing and mailing the OLA newsletter, did secretarial work at the House, taught CCD at some local parishes, occasionally packed clothes for the mission at St. Mary’s Mission Center, Chaplain, and took part in our monthly meetings and offered hospitality to those who came for prayer. They were a happy group who studied Scripture diligently. As time went by, I could see in Al Hauser what I thought might be a vocation to the priesthood. We never discussed it.
When springtime broke, we asked their help at grounds keeping and they planted a garden. Fr. Bernard Desnoyers spent several months with them recuperating from a throat operation. He assisted in some needed carpenter’s work at the House. Al Hauser agreed to help clean St. Joseph’s House and grounds. The House, at that time, was up the road about a mile. He seemed to enjoy the outdoor work and solitude.
I would occasionally make a day of “poustinia” at the House. One beautiful, sunny day in late spring, Al asked if he could have a conference with me. “Let us go to St. Joseph’s House,” I thought. We did. There we sat on two old milk cans and prayed for a while. Then he began to bear his soul. It was a beautiful soul. In the process, he shared with me this urging he experienced and wondered if he had a call to priesthood. I couldn’t help but agree. “How do you know?” was his question. We talked for a long time. I thought – the only way to find out was to apply to the seminary. If you are accepted and go, you’ll find out one way or the other. Well, he did apply that summer and was accepted to study for the priesthood for our Diocese. He was ordained in May of 1982 and after a year of parish work, spent a number of years as secretary to the Bishop. More recently he studied Sacred Scripture in Rome and is now a teacher at Wadhams Hall Seminary College. Our Lady had fostered, and Jesus had called, one of the OLA Association members to Holy Orders. Alleluia! What a blessing. Later, Mary would move others to the order of deacon.
So, at the end of that trial year in the summer of 1977, Angelo and Suzanne felt it was time to be out on their own and moved to Malone to be closer to his teaching job and to raise a family. Al went home to Rochester to prepare for entering the seminary. Christine and Barbara also left to go to their home areas and get jobs.
So these young people’s living out of community at OLA for a year, had born good fruit for the larger Church, but the House of Prayer was empty of personnel once again. Still, there were quite a number of people interested – the number of OLA members continued to grow. What was Mary to do next with her House of Prayer?
From behind the Blue Doors…
Fr. Joe Trombley
_____
Reprinted from The Blue Doors – January 1992
How God provided for OLA’s needs and the birth of the newsletter.
The long winter of 1975-1976 finally ended and spring brought some of the old timers and pioneers who became active again at the House of Prayer. We gathered together about once a month on a Sunday for prayer and a meal, sharing picnic lunches we had brought. Early spring brought forth some good ideas on how we would try to support the House financially. We had a basket into which people would drop their donations before they left, but this was not enough. We prayed about this and for someone to be sent by the Lord to operate the House.
One morning after I had spent the night, I was praying over the bills I had before me. They came to $501.50. My monthly stipend could not take care of them. I remember sitting at the library table gazing at the mountains through the big picture window. Our Lady and I had a chat about all this with the Lord. Maybe this idea of a House of Prayer was just a nice idea and not really God’s will at all. Maybe I should just tell the people I’ll close it up and notify the bishop it’s all finished. I can’t operate it alone and there just aren’t enough people to donate to its operation and to support it. And nobody is here anyway to take are of the day-to-day affairs, to pray, and offer hospitality to those who would wish to come for prayer. It was a nice dream, but one has to look at reality. It was a kind of peaceful prayer and yet a bit disturbing to see the dream flitter away. What do I do with all the donations in the House people have given? Give them back?
As I prayed, I thought I heard someone come into the driveway. There was a silent pause, then a knock on the door. I answered it and surprise – an old neighbor of mine from childhood stood at the door. How very nice. We exchanged a few newsy words and sat down to chat some more. She had been praying this morning she told me and something bothered her. Yes, yes, I thought, what could it be – I hope nothing really terrible. She was praying for her family. She had worked for many years in her own business and from time to time she would set aside small amounts of funds under the living room rug for a rainy day. Well, the rainy day had never come and she thought about that money. Maybe it would cause problems for her family if they found it. Anyway, as she prayed, she concluded that she should get that money out of there and give it away. “It’s not very much,” she said, “but here it is. Now I know you are working on a radio program possibility to spread the Gospel. You can use it for that or keep it for the House of Prayer if you want to.”
We said a little prayer together and concluded – give half to the House of Prayer and the other half to the Catholic charismatic radio program in our Diocese. She left and I continued praying, thanking the Lord and our Mother Mary for sending at least some financial help. After a while, I opened this donation to see how much more I had to beg from someone – somewhere! I counted the money. There was $1,003 in it. Half of it came to the exact amount of the bills to the penny - $501.50! I kept half and gave the other half away for evangelization through radio. Our Lady had brought me the answer to my question. Should this House of Prayer continue on? Is it the Lord’s will? Well, for that day and many others, the answer seemed yes! Otherwise, the means wouldn’t be there. I prayed a prayer of thanks, deposited the money and paid the bills. We were solvent for another month at least.
We got through the spring and the end of the heating season but I realized the House of Prayer would have to get on a more solid footing. Near the end of that spring during our monthly prayer meeting, someone suggested we gather names together of those who through the years had expressed interest in this work of prayer and evangelization. We could send them a newsletter and appeal for support as association members. We decided that to be an associate we would ask them for their prayers – to pray the House prayer daily and to give a donation according to their means. The newsletter would tell what was going on at the House with association members and include prayers and spiritual writings. But, we needed to get the list together. After that meeting, Bob and Elinore Rapin and their son, David, came to visit for a few days. Bob had done the electrical work when we put on the addition to the old school house in 1972-73. They were good friends and interested in the House. I spoke to Elinore about this as she was a bank secretary. She volunteered to help and we put a list together and sent out our first newsletter in the spring of 1976 with a request for prayers and help. The very next meeting brought 50-55 people together. People were interested!! And donations more substantial. We decided to use OLA’s prayer to enroll new members. The first two people enrolled were very poor – Russell and Helen-Lillian Ducatte of Cooperville. Our Mother Mary called them forth as her first recruits in her order. How very much like Bethlehem. They offered their simple prayer and suffering, faithfully offering $1.00 per month and attended every monthly meeting until they died. They were a treasure for the House of Prayer.
May God fill you with His Peace in 1992,
Fr. Joseph P. Trombley
Reprinted from The Blue Doors 1992
How young people came to OLA to form community.
In 1976, we enrolled our first two members of the OLA Association, Russell and Helen-Lillian Ducatte of Cooperville. Our Mother Mary called them forth as her first recruits to her order. They were very poor, simple people. How very much like Bethlehem. They had come to us by way of St. Josephs’ Parish where I was pastor. God had chosen them to teach me and OLA service to the most needy. “Be a light to your neighbor’s feet” as Catherine Doherty used to write. They were a light to mine and I hope I was a light to theirs.
At our monthly meetings in early 1976, we petitioned our Blessed Mother to find some people to live at and operate the House of Prayer. At our June meeting, as we prayed for this, Mrs. Jean Rizos of Malone told us of six young people, two young men and four young women, including her daughter, who had recently graduated from LeMoyne College in Syracuse who had lived a communal life of prayer and work there and who wanted to continue to live out their community life and were looking for a place to do so. We asked her to bring them to the next meeting if they were interested in talking with us about using Bethlehem House for their community center. Five of them came to our July meeting. The members of the two communities introduced themselves to each other and we settled down to pray together.
As we began, one of them stood up and asked to speak. He said he had come with the others, but even though they were possibly interested in coming to the House, he was not. He was just there to join in the prayers. He sat down and we began to pray. We first read the Scriptural foundation of OLA (John 20:19-31), which speaks of being sent forth by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel and of Thomas doubting Our Risen Lord’s appearance, but then believing. We spoke of our asking the Lord and Our Lady to send us people to operate the House. We shared the Scriptures and spontaneously prayed. Four of the young people indicated they would think seriously about coming and asked for assistance in approaching the Bishop to see if they could live together as a religious community preparing to take promises of poverty, chastity and obedience in the Church.
The young man, Albert Hauser, stood up again to address the assembly. “When I came here, I certainly had no intention or desire to follow the rest of the group, including possibly coming here. But I have listened and prayed with all of you and something has changed within me. I’m convinced that this is where God wants me. I don’t know what the group will decide, but I know I must come.” He left those present in awe and silence. Nothing more was said and we continued with Benediction. I prayed that all of us would do the Lord’s will as we celebrated the Holy Eucharist, especially the young people, and that Bishop Brzana would approved this little community of college students and of their staying at OLA.
A month later, Angelo Pietropaoli, Suzanne Rizos, Christine Yawarsky, Barbara McCraith and Albert Hauser decided they would try to be a religious community at the House of Prayer and sought and received the Bishop’s approval for a trial basis period. The local pastor, Fr. John Weir, was appointed by Bishop Brzana to oversee their development and represent the Bishop for and to them. There was much skepticism from some of their parents and others, but the Bishop defended and upheld what they were trying to live. Before everything was settled, summer had passed. Angelo got a job as a teacher at Notre Dame School in Malone so they could have some food money and help with the bills. By the end of 1976, the community moved into Bethlehem House at OLA.
However, by this time Angelo and Suzanne began contemplating the Sacrament of Matrimony and were married January 7, 1977, at Notre Dame Church, Malone, at a very beautiful liturgy. But these five young people prayed faithfully and though they were poor and the winter was difficult (the well went dry off and on and pipes froze several times) they loved each other and those who came and went from the House of Prayer. They assisted in writing and mailing the OLA newsletter, did secretarial work at the House, taught CCD at some local parishes, occasionally packed clothes for the mission at St. Mary’s Mission Center, Chaplain, and took part in our monthly meetings and offered hospitality to those who came for prayer. They were a happy group who studied Scripture diligently. As time went by, I could see in Al Hauser what I thought might be a vocation to the priesthood. We never discussed it.
When springtime broke, we asked their help at grounds keeping and they planted a garden. Fr. Bernard Desnoyers spent several months with them recuperating from a throat operation. He assisted in some needed carpenter’s work at the House. Al Hauser agreed to help clean St. Joseph’s House and grounds. The House, at that time, was up the road about a mile. He seemed to enjoy the outdoor work and solitude.
I would occasionally make a day of “poustinia” at the House. One beautiful, sunny day in late spring, Al asked if he could have a conference with me. “Let us go to St. Joseph’s House,” I thought. We did. There we sat on two old milk cans and prayed for a while. Then he began to bear his soul. It was a beautiful soul. In the process, he shared with me this urging he experienced and wondered if he had a call to priesthood. I couldn’t help but agree. “How do you know?” was his question. We talked for a long time. I thought – the only way to find out was to apply to the seminary. If you are accepted and go, you’ll find out one way or the other. Well, he did apply that summer and was accepted to study for the priesthood for our Diocese. He was ordained in May of 1982 and after a year of parish work, spent a number of years as secretary to the Bishop. More recently he studied Sacred Scripture in Rome and is now a teacher at Wadhams Hall Seminary College. Our Lady had fostered, and Jesus had called, one of the OLA Association members to Holy Orders. Alleluia! What a blessing. Later, Mary would move others to the order of deacon.
So, at the end of that trial year in the summer of 1977, Angelo and Suzanne felt it was time to be out on their own and moved to Malone to be closer to his teaching job and to raise a family. Al went home to Rochester to prepare for entering the seminary. Christine and Barbara also left to go to their home areas and get jobs.
So these young people’s living out of community at OLA for a year, had born good fruit for the larger Church, but the House of Prayer was empty of personnel once again. Still, there were quite a number of people interested – the number of OLA members continued to grow. What was Mary to do next with her House of Prayer?
From behind the Blue Doors…
Fr. Joe Trombley
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