Rest in Peace Gram

The gravy (not sauce) just got better in Heaven ;-)

Requiescat in Pace

Martha C. (Petrella) Francese



She lived in Nutley and Bloomfield before moving to Toms River in 1972. Martha was employed by Westinghouse in Newark for over 20 years before her retirement. She was a member of St. Joseph's Church, Toms River. Martha enjoyed bingo and taking community trips to Atlantic City. She was a fantastic cook and she will be sadly missed.

She was predeceased by her husband, Frank C. Francese, in 1992; her daughter, Arlene Griese, in 1993; a brother and four sisters. Surviving are her son, Carmine J. Francese and his wife Carol; three sisters, Elsie Mezzacappa, Mary Vogt, and Honey Luty; her son-in-law, Kenneth Griese; six cherished grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Wake:
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 1 at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, Toms River, NJ

Mass of Christian Burial:
10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Toms River, NJ.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine

Eternal Rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Martha's memory to the:

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA)

706 Haddonfield Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

Requiescat in Pace Fr. Deeney

Fr. John Deeney was born in Philadelphia, on July 22nd 1921, joined the Society of Jesus in 1939 and was ordained priest in 1952. He came to India in January 1950. He had long had an interest in the problems of India and the adaptation of the missionary to the new surroundings. He had a shard and logical mind.

Fr. Deeney appeared in the Chaibasa scene on July 11th, headmaster of the High School and assistant parish priest, and later, for a short time, pastor. During these years he undertook extensive research into the life of the Ho people around, their culture and language – which went into publication as a seven volume Encyclopaedia, entitled “Ho Language and Customs”. He also prepared many liturgical and catechetical works for use in the villages. The whole liturgy is now conducted in the Ho language. He prepared and published the New Testament in Ho, as well as a pictorial life of Christ, wrote a Ho grammar and Vocabulary and a Ho English Dictionary.

His prolonged request to the Government of India for Indian citizenship was granted on February 20th 1991. The treasured document reads: Fr. John Joseph Deeney is entitled to all political and other rights, power and privileges, and is subject to all obligations, duties and liabilities to which an Indian citizen is entitled or subject, and he has to all intents and purposes the status of an Indian citizen. It was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs of India.This honour is perhaps the best testimony to the Incarnational dimension of the life of the Church in himself and his work. Like St. Peter Claver, SJ of old, Fr. Deeney could well sign that document: “Ho with the Ho people forever”.

from “Surprised by Grace” by Fr. James Keogh SJ

Missionaries abandon their original home and acquire a new home. I was granted Indian citizenship in February, 1991. I renounced my American citizenship to express my complete solidarity with the Ho tribals I worked with and the many Indian brother priests I live and work with. India has been my home for 60 years now. At the age of 88 I look back with contentment on God’s call to become a Jesuit and spend my life here in India, serving the Ho tribals, who have become my people.

Fr. John J. Deeney, SJ, Jivan interview, October 2009

BEATI MORTUI QUI IN DOMINO MORIUNTUR

19 January 2010

Brothers,

I write to inform you that Rev. John J. Deeney (JAM, 1956), died on Monday, 18 January 2010 at Mercy Hospital in Jamshedpur. A Jesuit for 70 years, Fr. Deeney was 88 and had ministered in India since 1949.

Memorial Mass for

Fr. John J. Deeney, SJ:

Celebrant: Fr. George Bur, SJ

Homilist: Fr. Joseph Lacey, SJ

Saturday, January 30, 2010
11:00 am
Chapel of Saint Joseph - Michael J. Smith, SJ Memorial

Saint Joseph's University
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131

Notes of condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Nancy T. Curtis (sister)
257 Saxer Avenue
Springfield, PA 19064-3129

Gerald P. Deeney (brother)
3 Symons Lane
Savannah, GA 31411

Ed Deeney (brother)
201 S. 18th Street # 1006
Philadelphia, PA 19103-5913

Dr. & Mrs. Edward F. Flood (cousin)
9 Forsythia Drive South
Levittown, PA 19056

Saints of God, come to his aid!
Hasten to meet him angels of the Lord!
Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.

It is with a heavy heart and tear in my eye that I must inform you of the passing of my friend Fr. John J. Deeney, SJ, of the Jamshedpur Jesuit Province. Fr. Deeney was hospitalized for the last month at the Mercy Hospital in Jamshedpur due to gallbladder cancer and, surrounded by his brother Jesuits and his nurse, peacefully went on to his eternal reward on Monday at 9:00 AM, Philadelphia time. He was 88 years young and Jesuit for over 70 years.

Even the most casual reader of the 44 Hawk Hill Buddy List e-mail and this blog would be familiar with this great man. I never tired of writing about him and his work ad maiorem Dei gloriam. He was a nice Catholic boy from row house Philadelphia's Germantown section who answered God's call to spread the Gospel to people 9,000 miles away.

Fr. Timothy Lannon, SJ, president of St. Joseph's University, said "I am sure that Father Deeney is enjoying his well deserved place close the Father." How true! Fr. James Moore, SJ of St. Joseph's University called him a "modern day Xavier." The Socius of Jamshedpur, Fr. Eric Cassel, SJ, reiterated the moniker “Apostle of the Hos” in the Kolhan area. From Steve Klarich, who visited Fr. Deeney in India... "he has been in my daily prayers since our visit, along with Fathers Greg D'Silva, SJ and Peter Martin, SJ. He dedicated his life to Christ and the Ho people. He was a truly remarkable man and an inspiration to all of us on the true purpose of life." Fr. Charlie Currie, SJ, whose two brothers served with Fr. Deeney in India, said "I have known him as legendary ever since I entered the Jesuits in 1950." Hawk alumni Patrick Sweeney, DDS mentioned that "we have lost an angel here on earth" and Greg McDermott opined that "I'm guessing St. Peter had the EZ Pass Lane open Monday morning." Fr. Deeney was such a humble man that he would have appreciated but shook his head and scoffed at the high praise. He was so humble, in fact, that I asked him once why he didn't capitalize the 'SJ' after his name, which as a Jesuit and a linguist he surely knew should be high case. He said he preferred using the small 'sj' because it was more humble. Ouch.

Perhaps his niece Theresa Roney hit the proverbial nail on the head when she wrote "we were, and will continue to be, blessed by his presence in our lives. He was a great brother, uncle, friend and most importantly, Jesuit priest to us all." His grand-nephew Johnny Gill added "I've met many great people. But none greater than he - none really close. I marvel at what he did with his life. I wonder where he found the strength. I can only hope and his story will continue to inspire all of us to be better each day."

I will forever be grateful to my best friend and Fr. Deeney's grand-nephew John Gill for introducing me, and to the Deeney-Curtis-Gill-Caramanico Family for sharing him with me.

A personal memory: Fr. Deeney came to my house for dinner and I cooked hot dogs and baked (Boston) beans, which he hadn't eaten in 40 years. My small house has an even smaller air conditioner and I was worried that it would not be cool enough for him. When I asked if he was comfortable he told me that he was a little cold and was used to the warmer Indian weather -- that it got to be over 100 degrees at night in India but that he had a ceiling fan over his bed and when there was electricity it cooled things off. Whenever Lisa complains about how hot it gets in Philadelphia in the summer I tell her to think of poor Fr. Deeney in India looking up at his motion-less ceiling fan. I’ve used this line so often that my hot blooded Italian wife (understandably sick of it) now throws something at me with every telling – but I’m good at ducking ;)

Fr. Deeney was always grateful for everything, and could prove it in record time ;-) In '07 I asked my friends for donations to help out his mission in Pandabir and to send them to him directly at his sister's house in Springfield where he was staying. My buddy Dave Conroy sent him a check on Monday morning... and got his 'thank you' letter from Fr. Deeney on Wednesday morning. Dave called me immediately and asked how in God's name was he able to get a seemingly miraculous two day turnaround from the US Post Office? His sister Nancy spilled the beans; Fr. Deeney would greet the mailman each day, and if there was a donation would ask him to come back in an hour so he could take the thank you letter. I don't think most mailmen would agree to that but Fr. Deeney had a way of making people say 'yes'! He had his own special way, in sales jargon, of "assuming the sale."

Case in point is this e-mail just three months before his death:

Tom,

Thanks for your latest letter. I am into the Romero book. Great! I saw the film some years ago.

I have a job for you. I know that you are extremely busy, but they say that if you really want a job done, find a busy person. Greg (Greg D'Silva, SJ) has been after me to get more help to him for the Pandabir school. I cleared it with the Provincial and have prepared an appeal which I am sending here as an attachment. I am hoping that you can add a photo or two to it. A great one was the faces of all the boys looking into the camera at Pandabir. Then perhaps you (or Johnny) can add a note from yourself telling that you visited the site and saw the need. For this purpose you will probably have to put my appeal in a smaller font.

When you have the appeal set up, I would appreciate it if you would run off copies. I will give you the number within a day or so. A lady in my sister's parish, Beth McCarthy, has a girls' group who are interested in prayer and who meet once a week. I asked her and she agreed that I would send on the names and addresses to her and she would have the girls address the envelopes - hand written. People are more likely to read such letters and not throw them away as junk mail.

Presumably some/many parents would know MBS, my Uncle, etc., hence I have thrown those details into the appeal. I know that this will be not only time consuming but...

Christ's Peace!

John, sj

And that was that. How could I say 'no'? Assume the sale indeed Fr. Deeney ;-)When I told an acquaintance of his death yesterday he asked me his age, and then when had he retired. I just laughed -- most Jesuits I know never really retire. If physically able they work in some capacity until they have one foot in the grave. Then the rector or provincial asks them to do a little more until both feet are in. Always the Magis.

But Fr. Deeney was a fundraiser because he realized that donations were needed to continue to help souls in India. But that was just a part-time job for him. Fr. Deeney was one of a handful of Jesuits from the Maryland Province entrusted to help spread the Gospel of Christ in Jamshedpur, India. And what a fine job he did! His whole life would be dedicated to the Hos -- a proud tribe of 1 million -- whose (yet unwritten) language resembled those of Cambodia and Vietnam rather than Hindi. As a parish priest in Chaibasa, Lupungutu, Basahatu and Pandabir/Border he helped convert them to Catholicism, thus earning the above title "Apostle to the Hos in the Kolhan." Initially many of the Hos were reluctant to become Catholics as they thought this would take them away from their tribal identity. Like his spiritual ancestors, Fr. Roberto de Nobili, SJ and Fr. Matteo Ricci, SJ, Fr. Deeney helped assuage their fears and through inculturation helped them convert while saving their wonderful Ho customs. He admitted that he was not "the typical missionary of the St. Paul, St. John deBritto mold. My whole thrust was to make our Catholics strong in their faith. If they are strong, they themselves become apostles. On the other hand if our Catholics are weak in their faith and dispirited, there is no point in adding to their numbers. I knew every house, practically every person by name." And he got to those houses by riding a bicycle (until his mid-seventies) on some of the worst roads I've ever seen ;-0

Along with Fr. Carl Dincher, SJ they were able to spread the Faith far and wide, sometimes training catechists with filmstrips by using the Jeep's battery. After Vatican II it fell upon Fr. Deeney to translate the Mass into the Ho language, and that he did, and had to send the translation to the Vatican for approval. As Fr. John Guidera, SJ panned no one in the Vatican spoke or read Ho so they simply gave the imprimatur... with Guidera calling it the "High Ho Mass." Fr. Deeney wrote the first Ho-English dictionary, grammar book, Ho Prayer book, Ho Bible History, the translation of the New Testament, Ho Translation of the Psalms and Prophets of the Old Testament... and many others. He was, simply, a man for and with Ho Tribals for half a century.

"I came in contact with Fr. Deeney, who has spent all his life amoung the Hos and who has indeed become their patron. In the long discussion I had with him, he dwelt upon several aspects of the Ho Mission; the tribe as a whole, their language, their locale, their customs, the mission method that could be followed, etc. The enthusiasm he manifested and deep concern that he showed moved me very much and I on my part promised to do what I can for them."

Fr. Shilanand Kamath, SVD

And so a great man, a great Jesuit, was laid to rest today. This from the Socius of the Jamshedpur Province, was forwarded to me by Fr. S Tony Raj, SJ:

The Provincial and Curia wish to thank all who sent in messages of sympathy.

This is also to inform you that the funeral of Fr. John Deeney will be held on Friday, 22,
January 2010 in St. Xavier’s Church premises, Chaibasa. The time of the funeral will be announced later once we have lined up arrangements. It does appear that it will be in the second half – around 2 p.m. or so.

The place has been changed from Mango to Chaibasa: this is to accede to John Deeney’s own request of being laid to rest in Chaibasa and keeping in mind that Fr. John Deeney has been looked upon as the “ Apostle of the Hos” in the Kolhan area.

This morning at 9 the newly acquired forty-seater bus from XITE left the Provincial’s Curia with the contingent of novices, Jesuit priests and scholastics, and sisters from different congregations. There were several four wheelers in the convoy : One from Bishop’s House with the Vicar General, one from the Curia driven by the Provincial with Frs. George Deeney, John Guidera, Br. Pascal Kerketta, another one from Loyola with Br. Maxi at the wheel and still another from XLRI with Frs. Sirinus and Co.

It was heart- warming to see the Ambulance that carried the mortal remains of Fr. John Deeney to Chaibasa. It was attractively decorated. There was a bust size colored photo of Fr. John Deeney mounted just above the wind shield of the ambulance.

There was a forty five minute delay in the departure time. One could not have asked for a lovely, cool day - bright and sunny - carrying with it the pleasant feelings that come from a drop of the mercury during the night – 7 degrees Celsius.

The funeral cortege will be met at high noon at the top of the road leading to St. Xavier’s Church by the faithful who will escort it to the parish. There in the presence of the Provincial the body of Fr. Deeney will be anointed and dressed in the tradition of the Ho culture – a ritual that could take 20 minutes, before it will be taken for viewing. The Solemn Eucharist is scheduled to start at 2:30.

At this point one could only admire and applaud the whole hearted co-operation and collaboration of the Diocese and the Jesuits - as though Fr. John Deeney “belonged” to all!

We hope to give the entire coverage by night fall or by dawn tomorrow

With kind regards,

Eric
Cassel, SJ

The following is an excerpt from my last letter to Fr. Deeney, which unfortunately did not arrive in time for him to read:

I have travelled as much as the next guy, and it seems that many of the trips and the memories blur into one another. All except India. Those memories of spending time in Lupungutu with you and our Jesuit friends will be ingrained upon me forever. As you know from Johnny breaking down after Mass words cannot adequately describe what it was like to attend Mass at St. Paul Miki in Border; the individual greetings from each and every Ho parishioner, the beautiful Mass concelebrated by you, Greg, Martin, Hilarius and Romo. Br. Bene singing the Animi Christi in Ho, the wreaths, the dancing, the love – almost like it was yesterday. Our daily Masses with you in that small chapel (we dubbed it Our Lady of the Astroturf – after the floor). Helping you vest before Mass. Being exposed to a different style of Catholicism – every bit as Catholic, just not as Romanesque as we were used to. Our trip to Queen of Peace in Basahatu, where we saw the blueprint for what St. Paul Miki could become. Being welcomed into the LPG Jesuit community… talking, joking, praying, eating together; your birthday Mass – seeing how happy you were to be the main celebrant with 26 of your Jesuit brothers and the six of us; the talking birthday card! The basketball game at St. Xavier’s, Americans versus the Indian Jesuits, with the kids rooting against us and, how shall we say, not exactly keeping the right score!!! Sitting at the kitchen table, you me and Johnny, just talking; kneeling for your final blessing at Loyola High School before we left for Kolkata. Please know that your death will not diminish my love for the Jam Jesuits and the Hos, and I shall do my best to ‘set the world on fire’ with their story, culminating in the building of the new St. Paul Miki School and Church.

It saddens me to know that we shan’t see each other again, at least in this lifetime, as your condition worsens. I shall miss you but I know exactly where you are going. I shall miss our conversations, our e-mails, the assurance that you, your friendship and your spiritual wisdom were but a mouse click away. Yet my sadness is tempered as we both believe in the Christ that suffered and died on the Cross for our sins. That He rose from the dead so that we could have a chance at everlasting life. That He will remember you as His loyal servant. I remember the story you shared with me about reading a book in the living room as your mother prepared dinner. That although she couldn’t see you from the kitchen – she was buoyed by the fact that she knew you were close-by. Please continue to pray for me, for us, always Fr. Deeney. Perhaps someday I’ll be sitting outside the Church of the Gesu, waiting to pick up Teron at The Prep, and the Route 15 Trolley will go down Girard Avenue. I’ll hear the bells and know that you are seated at the right hand of God… still watching over me, over us – but still close-by.

AMDG / Jisu Marang ka / Christ's Peace!

Tom Brz (Fr. Deeney's abbreviation for my way too long Polish name ;-)

Fr. Deeney knew he had a vocation but was unsure whether to join the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where his uncle, Monsignor John Daly was a priest at Most Blessed Sacrament, to become a Vincetian priest -- the order who ran Immaculate Conception Parish in Germantown, or to become a Jesuit like the priests that operated his high school St. Joseph's Prep. In his autubiography he stated that he received a clear message from the Holy Spirit that he should become a Jesuit. "I had no vision, heard no voice, but there was a sudden deep conviction about which I could have no doubt that I should be a Jesuit. I remember the exact place I was standing when that happened..."

In one of our numerous e-mails I asked him if he could fill in the blanks for me.

About my vocation. While I was alone, quieting waiting for a trolley I suddenly had this firm conviction, almost like a message, that God wanted me to become a Jesuit. It was a very strong thing, which left no question of doubting it. After that I just knew that I was to become a Jesuit. I considered that very sacred and never spoke about it until recent years. When I was asked to write something about my vocation I wrote that with hesitation, and asked the Socius to the Provincial whether I should include that. He advised me to include it. In recent years I have come to think of it as a kind of intellectual vision (i.e. no sight nor sound). In the Spiritual Exercises #330 Ignatius writes about consolation without previous cause. This was something like that. It came to me suddenly out of the blue.

Again, again and again thanks, Tom, for all that you are doing to help our work in Jamshedpur, and for all that you do for God's glory.

Christ's peace!
John, sj

I'll close with the words of condolence from the Deeney Family, written by Johnny Gill, and read today at Mass by Fr. Jerry Cutinha, SJ, concelebrated by over 100 priests with over 2,000 mourners:

Greetings to the parishioners of St. Xavier’s, friends of Fr. Deeney, and his Jesuit brothers present here today. We, Fr. Deeney’s family, wish to express our deep appreciation for all the love that you have shown to our dear Uncle John throughout his many years in India, especially during his difficult final month.

The distance between Philadelphia and Jamshedpur is approximately 13,000 km. But due to the diligent email correspondence of many, especially Fr. Eric Cassel, S.J. and Fr. Jerry Cutinha, S.J., we were made to feel close to the situation and were constantly informed of his ever-changing health status. More importantly, we were comforted that his Jesuit brothers were caring for him and doing all that they could to ease his pain. We wish that we could be there with you today to mourn and to commend his soul the Lord. But given the great distance, we will mourn here and celebrate his life in our own way with a Memorial Mass in his honor.

Many years ago, Uncle John made it clear that it was his desire to spend the rest of his days in India and to eventually die there. He was happy to come back to America to visit us every few years. But he was always eager to get back to his work, his people, his community, in India. In 1991, he denounced his American citizenship and was granted Indian citizenship. We imagine this to have been a joyous day for him. Surely he fancied himself an Indian long before then, but on that day he had the paperwork to prove it. Fr. Greg D’Silva, S.J., told Uncle John’s grand-nephew Johnny Gill during his 2008 visit to India that “In many ways, Fr. Deeney is more Indian than we.” Uncle John’s desire to spend his life working with and for the Ho people, lends credence to Fr. Greg’s words that day. We truly treasured his home visits to Philadelphia. But we know that his real home was here in Chaibasa, where he will be laid to rest here today.

As we reflect on Uncle John’s life, we see clearly that we, and you, were blessed to have been in the presence of a true saint. He sought no glory, notoriety or praise. Everything he did was “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” – For the Greater Glory of God. We will hold up his life’s work as a beacon that we can look to when we are feeling weak, encumbered, or put-upon, and use it as motivation to improve ourselves and our relationship with God each day. We hope that you too can take Uncle John’s life into your hearts and go forth filled with the Spirit!

So again, thank you to all present today. In some way, each of you helped to make our Uncle John’s life here in India happy, and profoundly meaningful. May God bless each of you. And as Uncle John assumes his rightful place in Heaven, no doubt receiving a congratulatory hug from St. Ignatius himself on a job well done, may he continue to affect each of you through his prayerful intercession.

Jisu marang ka!

Sincerely,

Fr. Deeney’s family

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


All are most welcome to attend the Memorial Mass for Fr. Deeney at Saint Joseph's University next Saturday, January 30th, at 11:00 AM.

It was Fr. Deeney's dying wish to see a new school built for the Ho tribal children at St. Paul Miki's in Pandabir. Should you be able to help us make that wish come true please click Appeal for the St. Paul Miki School in India to find out how to donate.

Funeral of John J. Deeney, sj

Dear Tom,

Peace of Christ!

Tomorrow is Sunday, 24th Jan., and Chaibasa parish will have only one Mass at 8 a.m. and once again it is for the repose of Fr. John Deeney. The Mass will be in Ho and after the Mass as per the Ho tradition his soul will be brought to the house, so that he dwells with us ever. In Ho calling the Spirit is called "Keya Ader". I believe there will be once again a huge gathering of Christian Hos gathering for this ceremony.

Unfortunately I can't make it for tomorrow as I have my own Christian community to be taken care of being Sunday. Here in Pandabir also tomorrow's Mass will be offered for his soul. Many of my parishioners especially the old Catholics baptised by John Deeney were there for the funeral and also from all the neighbouring parishes. John Deeney was for all. Therefore, many non-catholics were also there to give him the final homage. I have not taken any photos but everything has been recorded and I am sure one of us will send you the photos.

That's all for today.

Lovingly,

Greg D'Silva, SJ,

I am sorrry I am late. I got stuck in other works.

It is a brief report of the funeral of John Deeney. I will send you detailed report after sometime together with photos. We will also try to send you a CD of the video of the funeral.

After the three hours journey from Jamshedpur to Chabasa, the ambulance carrying the body of John Deeney was received half km before Chaibasa Parish by the school band of 80 school boys and a big crowd of admirers of John Deeney.

It was really moving welcoming John Deeney to Chaibasa by the School Band and taking the ambulance in a procession to the Parish Prysbytery.Elaborate arrangements were made for everything by the people of Chaibsa to honor and bid farewell to their beloved pastor and friend.

The funeral mass was attended by some 2500 people (around 120 priests concelebrating with the Provincial). The mass was in Hindi and Ho. The homily in Hindi was preached by Fr. CR Prabhu (the vicar general of Jamshepdur Diocese). The homily in HO was preached by Fr. Camil Hembrom the parish priest of Chaibasa.

After Communion I read the eulogy prepared by John Deeney's family (later translated in to Hindi). Fr. George Deeney OCD, who arrived on 21 January in Jamshedpur, spoke for a few minutes expressing his sentiments for John Deeney.

He was laid to rest close to the Parish Church according to the Ho customs.

Well, I have not seen such a grand and moving funeral in my life. Seeing the crowds (Catholics, non-Christians, government officials) and people's response and contribution in arranging such a grand funeral, one can imagine how much John Deeney has touched the hearts of the people. During the mass and during our conservations one thing repeatedly came up "he lived a saintly life", "he was a saintly man".

We Jamshedpur Jesuits cannot thank the Deeney family enough for giving such a saintly man to India, especially Jamshepdur, a Saint. The Church in Jamshedpur was blessed and so lucky to have him.

Thank you very much for all your prayers and words of condolences.
I am sure John Deeney, who is with God now will intercede for you all and of us in India.

I will send you the details Photos a little later.

Jerry Cutinha SJ

After the funeral yesterday, I rode back to Jamshedpur with the Provincial and Father Guidera. It was a three hour drive back. The funeral took just about 4 and a half hours with all the Ho ceremonies done with the highest diligence. And I was just too exhausted to even open my computer.

It was a day of both tremendous grief and at the same time, the most peaceful joy.

The body of Uncle John was brought by ambulance from Jamshedpur accompanied by some Jesuits (Father Jerry C. being one of them) and some other Jesuits and some Sisters. It left at 9 AM and arrived at Chaibasa around 12. It was met at the city limits by a huge crowd of Ho people with a band... the band and people brought the body to the church.

At the church, the casket was opened and some of the Ho people, led by the pastor of the parish, went through the Ho ceremony of anointing the body with oil, then inviting the Provincial, myself and the pastor to anoint with oil and make the sign of the Cross on his forehead. then he was vested in the Ho manner. Then the Provincial, myself and UJ's superior from Lupungutu had to cup our hands together forming three layers and 7 times a handful of grains were passed from UJ's hand to ours forming a type of "waterfall" of grains... the symbol was something about the richness of his life being passed on. Then he was draped with garlands of flowers.

After that, at about 1 we took his body to the school yard where the Mass was to be held... the church would have been entirely too small. The people then filled by his body for an hour. The priests who were present were getting vested. Altogether there were about 120 priests someone told me who counted. The estimate of the people who were present was about 2,500.

The Mass was in Hindi and Ho. There were two sermons, one in Hindi and one in Ho. I was told that the gist of both sermons was that "we were privileged to have a saint among us." During the Hindi sermon, the vicar general of the diocese, Father Prahbu, specifically turned to me and in English charged me with conveying to the family of John Deeney the gratitude of the Ho people and the province and diocese of Jamshedpur for giving John Deeney to us. There was a large about of singing, all in Ho.

After the communion, Father Jerry Cutinha read Johnny Gill's beautiful letter another priest then gave a summary in Ho.

I spoke after that briefly and it was translated simultaneously. This is what I said:

On 14 November of 1968 Father John Deeney's father died. Less than two months later, on 12 January of 1969 his mother died. Father John Deeney was not able to be home for the funeral of his parents. One year later, in 1970 Father Deeney was able to make a home visit. I was a young seminarian at the time and Father Deeney celebrated a Mass in his parents home for his family. The Gospel of the Mass that day contained the line "Where your heart is, there also your treasure lies." In the sermon Father Deeney said that God had given him a great treasure in calling him to India but that he did not realize until the death of his parents that to accept the one treasure, it was necessary for him make a sacrifice of another treasure, the reassure of his family.

You made my Uncle John's life rich because you were his treasure.
My Uncle John loved being a Jesuit.
He loved being a Jesuit of the Jamshedpur Province
He loved being a Jesuit of the Jamshedpur Province in Chaibasa.

You enriched him and because you enriched him you also enriched us, the members of his family.

Humbly as a member of his family and for all my family members, I thank you for all you have given to him, and through him, to us."

After that was the procession across the street to the Church. It took almost an hour to go the distance of about a football field.

The pastor did not want Uncle John buried in the parish cemetery but wants to build a shrine right in front of the main entrance to the church... a real shrine. The Ho people, including some of the Ho priests carried the casket. They circled the grave 7 times. The inside of the grave was lined with white shawls which people were giving... many, many shawls. One of the priests told me that the more shawls, the greater the person... and he had never seen so many shawls... finally the Provincial stopped it and suggested that Father Deeney would rather that the shawls be given to the poor. This was after I said to the Provincial that I thought my Uncle would be a little annoyed with all this fuss.... anyway, then I said the prayers at the grave.

And it was over. Very, very moving. The love that these people have for him... "The Apostle of the Hos" I believe that they will put that on his gravemarker.

The Province had an official photographer and also had the whole thing filmed. They will get it to all the family when it is all ready. They are also making a 30 minute film on his life and ministry in Chaibasa among the Hos. They, as we, fully believe him to be a saint. They want to prepare things well for whatever may happen.

As more comes back to me, I will write from my perspective and my understanding. Father Jerry will also write today.

These Jesuits love us, as they love their brother John.

George Deeney, OCD

It makes me feel good all over that my short missives have kept you all updated on what was happening as you joined us miles away praying for for John Deeney, to John Deeney for all of you and us.

I am sure over the phone Frs. John Guidera and Jerry may have have given you a live report on what happened. Fr. George Deeney has just borrowed the lap top from Jerry - so he must be shooting off an eye witness account of what he saw, felt and all that went on with such a grand send off for Fr. John Deeney.

The funeral cortege was welcomed by all the people. There 80 or more playing in the school Drum and Bugle Corp to greet the cortege. The funeral got over at 5 p.m. There must have been over 2000 of the faithful gathered under the shamiana with nearly a hundred or more priests on the stage concelebrating. Fantastic arrangements.

Our chaps returned only around 8 p.m. or later after a bone crushing, dusty journey - in some places the road is chopped up - gives you the feeling of being rocked on a boat during a storm! I used to feel nauseated. The ambulance avoided the bumpity path and took by lanes to assure a smooth final ride for Fr. John Deeney.

That's it from me. I will allow others to fill you in!

Signing off,

Eric Cassel, SJ

Crusading Elephants in Orissa?

This from the website of the Archdiocese of Colombo , and it has to be one of the strangest stories I've seen. They are calling them "Christian Elephants" as they seem to only destroy the homes of the people who persecuted Christians in the Kandhamal district of Orissa. For those unfamiliar with the significance of elephants in Hinuism, read on...

Ganesha — the elephant-deity riding a mouse — has become one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.

The Lord of Success - The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved
trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.

Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. "All Hindus worship Ganesha regardless of their sectarian belief," says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. "He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus."

From Ganesha: Lord of Success - About the Hindu Elephant-Deity

In July 2008 a severe persecution of Christians broke out in the Indian state of Orissa. A 22 year old nun was burnt to death when angry mobs burnt down an orphanage in Khuntpali village in Barhgarh district, another nun was gang raped in Kandhamal, mobs attacked churches, torched vehicles, houses of Christians destroyed, and Fr. Thomas Chellen, director of the pastoral center that was destroyed with a bomb, had a narrow escape after a Hindu mob nearly set him on fire. The end result saw more than 500 Christians murdered, and thousands of others injured and homeless after their houses were reduced to ashes. Recently a strange and dramatic event took place in Orissa, which has many people talking and wondering.

In recent months, herds of wild elephants have begun to storm villages that are home to some of the worst persecutors of Christians during the troubles. In one village, where in August a year ago the Christians had to run for their lives while their homes were being destroyed by rioters, a herd of elephants emerged from the surrounding jungle exactly one year later, in July 2009, at the same time of the day of the attack.

These elephants first attacked a rock crusher machine owned by a key leader of the persecution movement. They then went on to destroy his house and farms.

Hundreds of villagers have been forced to take shelter in camps in the Indian state of Orissa after repeated attacks by a herd of elephants.

Seven people have been killed and several others injured in attacks by a herd of 12-13 elephants over the past few weeks in Kandhamal district.

Over 2,500 people living in 45 villages have been affected by the attacks, district chief Krishen Kumar said.

It is, however, unclear why this herd of elephants migrated from the Lakheri sanctuary in a neighbouring district. He said the herd had travelled some 300km into Kandhamal, and even entered a town in the district. Wildlife officials were camping at the site of the attacks and trying to find out why the elephants had come out of their sanctuary. The villagers say elephants attack their areas in herds, causing heavy destruction.

Gaining momentum, they rampaged through other non-Christian homes, demolishing gardens and singling out the home of persecutors, leaving Christian homes untouched.

These strange attacks have spread, and according to a report, the elephants have already destroyed more than 700 houses in 30 villages, and killed five people. Nobody in this area has seen or even imagined the unique appearance of a herd of wild elephants such as this. The elephants are not ordinary elephants; they appear to be on a mission.

Typically, smaller elephants enter a village first, appearing to survey the community. They then rejoin the larger herd, and larger elephant soon follow and get the job done.

The ministry partner in India stated “We think that it might have something to do with the avenging the blood of martyrs. In fact the fear of God has fallen on the local people, who have labeled these elephants “Christian elephants.”

With little help coming from the administration, the villagers have taken to road blockades. "The elephants have destroyed crops and selected houses. But officials too express helplessness. "There is no permanent habitat of elephants in Sundargarh. They come from Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand where their habitats have shrunk. But is not clear how and why these elephants reached Orissa.

UGH Hawks

John Hickey/Buffalo News


Seems like old times as Bona snaps 10-year drought: The Buffalo News

OLEAN — St. Bonaventure celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Final Four team Saturday night in the Reilly Center. It was a moving, nostalgic affair. Bob Lanier, Greg Gary, Billy Kalbaugh and the whole gang showed up. The old coach, Larry Weise, gave a nice little talk to a large and appreciative crowd at halftime.

Of course, for younger fans who have been patiently waiting for Bona basketball to become merely relevant again, the more pertinent milestone was the 10 years since the Bonnies' last victory over Atlantic 10 rival Saint Joseph's.

The Bonnies had lost 15 straight games to Phil Martelli's bunch. Their last home win over the Hawks came a shade over 10 years ago, when their last NCAA team turned the trick on Jan. 12, 2000. If you're looking for an historical reference point, that game took place four days after the Bills' last playoff game.

And when you think about it, Saint Joseph's has been the hoop version of the New England Patriots, a team that has tormented its hapless Western New York rival for a full decade. So the setting was ideal for Bona to finally get it right against a rebuilding Hawks team that had lost 10 of its last 12.

It wasn't easy or artistic. In particularly shabby moments, the guys from the 1970 team must have been tempted to walk out and demonstrate a few of the sport's finer points. But the Bonnies played a strong second half and held off Saint Joseph's, 68-65, to snap the decade-long drought and post their first A-10 win of the year. (click title to get more depressed)

Requiescat in Pace Cyndy

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Cynthia M. McKeown

Born in Strafford, she graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School in 1976 and St. Joseph's University in 1980.

Cyndy worked for over 10 years at Bell of Pennsylvania before giving birth to her daughter and best friend Eileen.

She was a wonderful volunteer for school and youth sports, and everybody's "best friend," lending a helping hand to anyone that needed it.

Cyndy is survived by her husband, Michael J. McKeown; her daughter, Eileen; her parents, Jack and Ida McFadden; her sister, Lisa and brother, John.

Relatives and friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18, at the Alleva Funeral Home Inc., 1724 E. Lancaster Ave., Paoli, PA 19301.

Cyndy's funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at St. Patrick's Church in Malvern.

Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

Paoli Hospital
255 W. Lancaster Avenue
Paoli, PA 19301

or to

Big Brothers Big Sisters
123 South Broad Street, Suite 2180
Philadelphia, PA 19109


May the Angels lead her into Paradise.
May the Martyrs receive her at her coming and take her to Jerusalem, the Holy City.
May the Choirs of the Angels receive her, and may she, with the once poor Lazarus, have rest everlasting. Amen.

Prep for Haiti

Dear Tom,

In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, St. Joseph's Prep is putting together several opportunities to help the people of this distressed country and the relief efforts underway there. Not only do we have students and staff from Haiti, or who have family members there, but the Jesuit community has served in the country for years as missionaries, working to help the people of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, St. Joseph's Prep has been and will be going to the Dominican Republic on the border of Haiti to help rebuild communities as part of the various opportunities for summer service.

All our efforts will be coordinated through the Mission and Ministry Office. At this time, our efforts include:

-- Dress Down Day for students, faculty and staff on Friday, January 22. All participants are asked for a $5 donation;
-- Donations (checks made payable to Jesuit Relief Services/USA with "Haiti Earthquake Relief" written in the memo or cash) will be collected during homeroom from January 19-22;
-- A coin drop in the Dining Hall and at Chief's Place all week;
-- A Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday after school (2:45 p.m.) in the Chapel to pray for those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

All money collected at the Prep will be given to the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and will be distributed through JRS programs in the Dominican Republic, Jesuit parishes and other Jesuit programs in Haiti. Alumni can send their donations to us as a conduit to the JRS. Please note that all checks must be made payable to Jesuit Relief Services/USA and not St. Joseph's Prep.

"For many years Jesuit Refugee Service has had a grassroots presence in Haiti and has provided humanitarian assistance to displaced Haitians in both the Dominican Republic and along the Haitian border. In addition, JRS has responded to the needs of Haitians following successive natural disasters, a food crisis, and repeated hurricanes."

- Excerpt from a letter from Rev. Kenneth J. Gavin, S.J.,
National Director of JRS.


If you would like to donate directly to JRS, please go online and select "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund" from the "Purpose" menu.

Or you can send a check to:

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
1016 16th Street NW Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036


Checks should be made payable to "Jesuit Refugee Service/USA."

Please clearly note "Haiti Earthquake Relief" in the memo field on the check.


Let us continue to offer up our support not only with our financial assistance, but also with our prayers, thoughts and awareness.



Sincerely,

Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. '59
President

Michael Gomez
Principal

Sam Deitch
Director, Ignatian Service

Brian Reinhart
Co-Director, Campus Ministry


Jesuit Refugee Service

Other Notable Organizations
Catholic Relief Services
International Red Cross
Partners in Health
Yelehaiti

Prayer

God of all creation, as we weep with our family in Haiti, console us.

In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look beyond the disaster to see Christ in our brothers and sisters in Haiti, as Christ sees us.

Be with us as we stand in solidarity with those living and working in Haiti.

Be with us in our mourning and guide our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the grieving and stand for justice.

With your mercy, sustain us at this time as we continue to work for peace and justice.

For our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti Affected By the Earthquake
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the Haitian people, that help comes to them quickly and comfort comes to those who hurt.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the lost or buried, that they are found and reunited with their loved ones.
Lord, hear our prayers.

For the relief workers, that they have the tools they need, the courage and the strength to respond fully.
Lord, hear our prayers.

For the families in Haiti and in the United States who are waiting to hear from loved one, that good news comes to them.
Lord, hear our prayers.

For those whose who have perished, may their souls rest with you, oh Lord, where they will find eternal love.

Amen.

A • M • D • G

Mel's the mensch

It's not every day (but often enough) when 44's buddy and long time Hawk season ticket holder Melvyn Freid walks down from 19th & JFK to give me his extra ticket to a St. Joe's game.

In appreciation Mel is seen here in the box office holding the ticket, a mini-Hawk ball, and wearing his Chabad-Lubavitch (חכמה, בינה, דעת) hat ;-) Don't be fooled -- the boy from Mahanoy City has got game.

When I have my annual appeal for a Jesuit charity, this year for John Deeney, SJ and the

Appeal for the St. Paul Miki School in India, or last year for Lesly D' Ambola, DO at St. Luke's Catholic Medical Services (Jesuit Urban Service Team) in Camden --the first check I always get is from Mel. I told him that I spoke with the Pope and we've made him an honoray Catholic.

So remember Mel, as that wise woman told us, every game,

"shoot the ball!"

Haiti

You've all seen the news of the devastation in Haiti. It was a not so swell place to live before the earthquake... now made much worse. It is estimated that over 50,000 people have died already.

I know we're all doing what we can. It's important that our money be sent to legitimate charities that have 'feet on the ground'. Both the Jesuit Fathers and the Holy Ghost Fathers are already there, in force. The Jesuits ask that donations be made to the Jesuit Refugee Service-USA, the Spiritans ask that you support Catholic Relief Services. While we usually support the JRS my wife's company, Liberty Mutual, offered a dollar for dollar match on all employee donations to the American Red Cross, so we thought that way best. Perhaps your company does this as well. Another one to keep in mind, and a favorite of Lucinda's, is Doctors Without Borders. Regardless please keep those poor souls in your prayers.

... just a quick note to let people know things are OK (here in Ounimanthe). Five minutes before the earthquake I was out on the street playing the fiddle for a group of kids that came and asked "if I could come out and play?" I was in the house when the quake began and I ran outside when it happened. The aftershocks kept coming even into the evening. The power is out and we are currently getting power from the generator.

The capital, on the other side of the country, was hit hard. We have had no communication from the Jesuits in the capital because phones and cell phones are not working. I expect that the Fe y Alegria School, near the epicenter, probably was hit hard.

- Jim Boynton, S.J.
January 13, 2010


The situation is very serious.

Even though the Ouanaminthe and the Northeast area have not been greatly affected we still feel the aftershocks here. There are thousands of dead bodies currently on the streets of Port-au-Prince. More than 60 percent of the houses have collapsed in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. The National Palace, the main building offices of the State, schools and institutions that belong to the Catholic Church no longer exist. Residences of religious, the roof of the Cathedral of Port-au-Prince, the Archbishop’s house etc.; all have collapsed. The body of the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince was found under the rubble.

Supermarkets, banks, trade houses, radio and television stations, hospitals ... all have collapsed. The administrator of the General Hospital, the largest health institution in the capital, said it collapsed with many patients already inside and while many wounded were being brought in. People spent the night in the streets and in the open for fear of new collapses following the earthquake. Throughout the night and even this morning there have been many aftershocks.

This morning: UN headquarters in Bourdon collapsed and left 11 dead; among whom are eight Brazilians and three Chinese. A population of 2.5 million in the city of Port-au-Prince is in the state of shock. It will be days before they can get an exact death toll; already there are thousands counted dead.

- Perard C. Monestime, S.J.
January 13, 2010


We are in Canape Vert with Fr. Kawas, S.J. (the Jesuit Superior for Haiti). We visited the Jesuit novitiate in Tabare and later CRS in Delma. The latter is prepared to receive our assistance (water, ready to eat canned food, medicines, hygiene kits, tents). They will receive it in their stores of distribution.

We have not yet reached the most affected parts of the country and yet what we've seen already is disastrous. Many are dead, many have been placed in mass graves. Many others are still under the rubble. After coordinating actions with Kawas we are continuing to the center Port-au-Prince, then on to Carrefour and Cite Soleil. Fr. Kawas tells us these places are those that were most affected by the earthquake.

What is clear is that machinery to rescue people under rubble are not seen. We have seen many people in small camps, covered with sheets. Tents are needed urgently.

Most of all it is water that is needed now.... A water unit has been brought from the Dominican border for that purpose. Portable toilets will certainly be needed. The hospitals are crowded out of medicine and short of staff. Luckily it's not raining, we pray to God no rain falls ....

- Mario Serrano, Director of JRS – Dominican Republic, who is leading a team into the earthquake devastated areas of Haiti.
January 14, 2010



Earthquake in Haiti: Initial Spiritan Perspectives and Community Response

Fr. Jeffrey Duaime, CSSp, President of Holy Ghost Prep, responds to Inquiries about the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti:

"The Spiritans have been working in Haiti since 1870. They presently staff St. Marital College in the heart of Port-au-Prince, three parishes (two in Archdiocese that serves the capital and one in the countryside) and have a seminary program based in Port-au-Prince. There are presently 20 Spiritans working/living in Haiti, all native born. Prayers and support are greatly appreciated for all those impacted by the devastating earthquake."

To offer immediate assistance, please consult the following advice from Fr. Chris Promis, CSSp, of Catholic Relief Services:

At this hour of need I am suggesting you consider donating to Catholic Relief Services. We have programs in Haiti and as I write, our emergency response team is already in action. This is our specialty, coming to the aid of people in a natural disaster.

Also, may I suggest you ask the help of your parishioners or students or those whom you serve to help as well.

You can make an immediate donation by credit card through the website www.crs.org and go to “Donate.” At the bottom there is a space for “special request.” Fill in with “Haiti earthquake relief.” Or you can mail in the donation to: Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

Thank you very much,

Rev. Christopher P. Promis, C.S.Sp.
Institutional Relations Officer
Catholic Relief Services
228 W. Lexington Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

for more on CRS click Catholic Relief Services labors to get aid to Haiti - baltimoresun.com

Coach Mike Kelly = Magis

44 tries to reach for the Magis -- every day -- I really do ;-) Then I read about guys like Coaches Kelly and Hurley and realize I could be doing so much more. Like Bob Hurley at St. Anthony High School six blocks away, who was a full time coach and full time probation officer, Mike Kelly is a detective with the Jersey City Police Department and the full time basketball coach at the Jesuit operated St. Peters's Prep. I wonder where he finds the time. I'm certain there are alot of boys in Jersey City who are glad he does.

For the first time, Kelly and Saint Peter's Prep will measure themselves against Hurley and Saint Anthony High School, a game that has created more buzz than any between two city teams in years. They're both a competition," the 47-year-old Kelly said. He is the son of a Jersey City detective, and his buzz-cut hair and Irish features make him look like he came from central casting for "The Wire."

"Getting the bad guy is a big-time game with high stakes, and there's nothing like it," he said. "And winning a big basketball game is pretty special. It's the competition that makes both of them work." Kelly sees the best and worst the city has to offer, sometimes in the same day, and keeping his lives separate is impossible.

His players, half-joking, wonder if he'll reach for the handgun strapped to his ankle if they screw up enough at practice. His detectives will respond with a "Thanks, Coach" if he gets too preachy during a meeting.

"There are times when I don't want to call him about recruiting," said Phil Martelli, the head college coach at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, "because I know he's probably doing something more important than worrying what a 16-year-old kid is thinking about that day."

Martelli is talking about one day in particular: July 16, 2009. A day that put basketball in perspective for Kelly...

(Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger) St. Peter's Prep head coach Mike Kelly in the huddle

with his team during a timeout. Kelly's day job is as the leader of the major case unit

of the Jersey City Police Department.

He's Mike Kelly, and he chases hoop dreams and bad guys, often in the same day New Jersey Real-Time Sports
By Steve Politi/The Star-Ledger

Mike Kelly saw the suspect turn to face him on the dark Jersey City street, reach under his robe and point the shotgun. Then came the loudest noise he had ever heard.

BOOM! -- the first blast shattered the windshield of the unmarked Ford Taurus his partner was driving, riddling the passenger seat where Kelly had been sitting with holes.

Kelly ducked for cover behind a parked van when -- BOOM! -- the second shot ripped through the passenger side door and window, hitting his partner in the leg.

Kelly crouched to the ground and looked for an opening, but could see nothing through the smoke. Then -- BOOM! -- a third shot destroyed the rear window.

His partner managed to speed away down the narrow street, and now Kelly wondered: Was the suspect coming at him with that shotgun? Should he run through the smoke to safety?

Or was he about to hear that noise again?

His other world, the safe haven of a high school basketball court just three blocks down the road, had never seemed farther away.

***

Is he a competition lover? An adrenaline junkie? Or just plain nuts? Mike Kelly admits the answer might be all three.

It is one thing to be in charge of the major case unit in a police force. It is another entirely to hold that job in Jersey City, second only to Newark in the number of violent crimes statewide.

It is one thing to coach basketball at a school with high expectations. It is another entirely to do it at St. Peter's Prep, just a few blocks from maybe the greatest high school coach ever, Bob Hurley Sr. at St. Anthony.

These are Kelly's two jobs, each requiring a 24/7 commitment, and they'll collide this weekend.

He'll go to his precinct Friday and chase criminals. Then Saturday, six months to the day after the bloodiest shootout of his career, he'll bring his basketball team to the Jersey City Armory and chase a legend.

For the first time, Kelly and St. Peter's Prep will measure themselves against Hurley and St. Anthony, a game that has created more buzz than any between two city teams in years.

"They're both a competition," the 47-year-old Kelly said. He is the son of a Jersey City detective, and his buzz-cut hair and Irish features make him look like he came from central casting for "The Wire."

"Getting the bad guy is a big-time game with high stakes, and there's nothing like it," he said. "And winning a big basketball game is pretty special. It's the competition that makes both of them work." (click title for the entire article)