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Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

P.S. I almost forgot that Dan's inquiry about Fr. Fortkamp whom I had for religion sophomore year led me to do a Google search.  I found this article from 2006....I figure how many Fr. Frank Fortkamps could there possibly be from Columbus, Ohio?  http://www.fredericknewspost.com/archives/after-more-than-years-this-priest-and-teacher-still-tilts/article_cceb2695-6e2d-50fd-8948-15ae4b90b861.html 

Joseph Gentilini

Why didn't I think of Googling Fortkamp???  Duh!  Okay, he left the RCC but not the priesthood.  My Leo had him for a religion class at Bishop Ready High School.  I'll find out some more stuff about Father from him (he is sleeping right now for a nap). I went to school with Frank's brother, Steve, at St. Mary Magdalene and years later I think he served Mass with me at St. Agatha.  Their mother (Frieda) lived right down the street from us.  She died on February 6, 1958.  Later their father married a woman from the parish to help him take care of his children.  She moved to St. Agatha parish.  Steve died several years ago.  I have lost touch with Frank and Steve's other siblings.

Monica Haban (Brown)

Frank Fortkamp was an Episcopalian priest/minister, but is now living in a retirement center in Columbus, struggling with Parkinson's Disease.  He has relatives in our parish, St. Andrew, and one of his nephews is a deacon at Our Lady of Peace Parish. He always remained hopeful that he would be a Roman Catholic priest as a married man.  

Michael McLeod

I remember a priest at ic - cannot remember his name --  that gave such boring sermons that there was an uprising about it among the parishioners, and he had to address the problem one sunday in a sermon. which was boring. 

Joseph Gentilini

Thanks for the latest info about Frank Fortkamp.  I am also sorry that the RCC has not moved an inch to allow married men to marry AND to be priests -- such a stupid and unnessary rule that could easily be changed.  Does anyone know what retirement h ome?  He may enjoy some visitors  who remember him.  Joe

Monica Haban (Brown)

Joe-

He's at Oakleaf Village on Karl Road.

Ironic that we can have former Methodist ministers become priests and pastors in our diocese, but priests who marry, cannot continue their priesthood in our diocese/country.  Eastern Rite Maronite priests may marry and continue being priests. This may change someday, but not likely in our lifetime.

Joseph Gentilini

Hi Dan, I did not know you were at the Josephium (?). Were you ordained???  I don't remember Fr. Frank at Watterson.  I never had him.  Joe

Joseph Gentilini

Thanks for letting me know where Frank is.  I'll try to stop by sometime.  Joe

David Mitchell

Monica,

Interesting comments about Catholic priest celibacy. A very touchy subject which could get us into some trouble here on this forum - but I agree that is not only ironic, but sad. I believe at some time in the recent past, there were at least three American Roman Catholic bishops who were either former Lutheran or Episcopalian- and they were married with children. I went though life believing the "Church's" reason for this - "to be more like Christ and the apostles". Uhh, excuse me, several of the apostles were married men.

When I later read the history of the real reason (not till my fifties) did I wonder why we can't simply go back to that again (and why they never taught us this in the first place). Priests were often married unitl about the year 1,000 or maybe 1,200. What finally forced the Church to insist on Celibacy on a permanent basis was the problem of nepostism. If I am not mistaken here, priests owned the church properties and passed them on to their sons. Gradually, they acquired more and more property and became powerful landlords and eventually "rulers". We can read of many instances where the medieval Bishops were also powerful temporal Princes, with vast land holdings and military armies (and nasty wars).

I often wonder why we simply cannot own up to this kind of stuff and move on? But then I recall it only took the Church 350 years to "pardon" Galileo.

My father, a life-long ultra-conservative Catholic, used to refer to this problem as the "Vatican Control Syndrome".  He used to accuse them of spending all their time writing rules, and then more rules, and then rules about the rules - instead of teaching us about the many wonderful "promises" Christ made to us. He even went so far as to say that the only function he could see in the Curia was to "suck the spiritual life out of the Church". Dad was actually the first Catholic layman to be allowed to give the homily at a Catholic Mass in the Diocese of Columbus (at OLP). That priveledge has long since been revoked (newer rules). I have always believed that Dad (as well as my Father in law, Dr. Tom Hughes - and several other dads I knew) would have made terrific priests. They were true "servant leaders".

I wonder what it will take.  

Michael McLeod

Wait. They pardoned Gallileo? Are we sure we want to do this? Guy was pretty out there.....

So Dave - I have said this before. But you had an extraordinary father. It really touches me to hear your stories about him.One quality that comes out often when you talk about him is his impatience with hypocricy - that's what I love about the guy. And I never even knew him. 

David Mitchell

Thanks Mike,

That he was.

He grew up kind of a little "street tough" on 10th or 11th Avenue across from Ohio State and near the railroad tracks (his family moved to 44 Acton Road about freshman year - about 1923). His dad sold men's clothing in the first floor (lower priced) men's department of the old Union Store downtown for 52 years, so life for he and his brothers and kid sister was lived at a pretty modest level. But dad ran with some wild kids back in the late "teens" and early "20's". And I guess you could say "you can take the boy out of 10th Ave, but you can't take 10th Ave out of the boy".

He was once called out in front of everybody during Mass at Holy Name when he was in 7th grade (about smoking near the church before Mass with his buddies). He carried a chip on his shoulder about that certain Father Boucher for several years until his dad helped him get over it with one of those wonderful parental "wisdoms" about life - ("William, you know Father Boucher is NOT the Catholic Church")

His imaptience had it's unpleasant side sometimes, and this is partly why he got along so badly with Bishop Ready (as I spoke of before). Michael J. Ready loved power and control and lots of attention -  and flowing robes, and enourages, and limousines, and oh, did I mention,, lots of attention. That pomposity just grated on Dad's nerves. 

But he had an entirely different opinion of genuine people with humble, un-assuming attitudes - as was the case with Bishop Issenmann. I'll share a funny story about those two sometime later.

p.s. I like to think a few of our classmates (Bonnie Jonas, Mike DeTemple) got to experience dad's "better side". He was their Allergist - and a damn good one at that. 

David Mitchell

If I may change the subject - I have a question for Donna (been meaning to ask for quite a while now).

Donna, can you share with us how you ended up in Barcelona? And which language do you speak there - Catalan or Castillian (or is it Castellano) ?

Janie Albright (Blank)

Thanks Mary Margaret and Monica for all the info on Fr. Fortkamp. Loved the article and photo. He hadn't changed much. As I mentioned he baptized my mother in about 1965. 

Joseph Gentilini

I totally agree with David's comments on priestly celibacy.  The way it is now I think that alcohol has become many a spouse for priests!  What will it take? I don't know.  Unfortunately, I think that  the RCC would rather have a Eucharist-less Church instead of married priests.  One of the arguments that I have heard is that being celibate they can be more readily accessible to their congregation's needs.  I don't buy it - protestant ministers have been very available to their congregation and still have a marriage and family.  Joe

Joseph Gentilini

I also had Dr. Mitchell as my allergist.  I also spoke to him years later on the phone asking him to pray for me, which he did.  He thanked God for his 'gift of tears'.  The Father Boucher you are talking about.  Could  this be  Fr. Raymond Bauschard.  He was the founding pastor of St. Mary Magdalene on the Hilltop.  He was one tough man and I was scared of him.  Joe

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Dave, I met my engineer husband at OSU when he took a sabbatical and went on a post-grad international scholarship to the US for a year. I was Secretary of the OSU Spanish Club which organized a welcome party that he and other engineers attended and the rest is history. After my graduation we married and settled in Castellon, moving later to Valencia for 4 years and finally in 1975 to Barcelona. The region of Catalunya consists of 4 provinces where two official languages are spoken: Castellano (Spanish) and Catalan.  

Speaking Catalan was forbidden during the Franco era so Catalans were unable to study it at school during 40 years.  As soon as Franco died people signed up at academies to learn their own language. We began Catalan lessons immediately as did many of our Catalan friends.  It was quite curious to receive calls from Catalans asking Julio (born in Sevilla and raised in Madrid) for help with Catalan spelling and grammar structure.  There is presently a strong Catalan independence movement taking place.   Never a dull moment!

Linda Z, be sure to let me know when you want to cash in your raffle prize.

David Mitchell

Thanks Donna.

Very interesting. I was aware of Franco's ban and of some of the periodic uprisings in Catalonia. I also recall seeing the opening of the first Apple Store in Barcelona with "Catalon" on all the store signs (I believe, above the Castellano in smaller print) which met with a very positive reception by the local citizens.

I just had a brilliant idea. How about we have the next reunion at your house? I'm sure Kathy Burk can get us all some cheap airline tickets. And we can all bring our own tooth brushes. And maybe we could coax Cecil B. LaVelle to bring the film crew over and shoot some of our epic film. I'm guessing you could provide some more intersting backdrops than - what was it Tim - West Liberty Ohio? 

Deborah Alexander (Rogers)

I also had Fr. Fortkamp for religion class.  One memory comes to mind when I think of him.  He always said,"Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you!"  I've repeated that phrase often, and it really does fit life in general, although hearing it as teenagers in high school, we didn't know what the heck he was talking about!

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Just recovering from your "brilliant idea", Dave!!  Not sure if I mentioned that most people in Spain live in condos and we are not an exception.  I think we had better stick with Tim's LV idea. :-) 

Mike, I have a nagging feeling that the priest you referred to (ho-hum) was my father's second cousin. Oops!

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Happy Valentine's Day 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJpA_sQEwkM

Timothy Lavelle

Hey, yeah, really, Happy VD to everyone.

David Mitchell

Mary Margaret,

That is too funny !!!!   You GO wit ya bad self girl.

Where can I get one of those Elton John Jackets?

(And how could I have left Sonny & Cher off my favorite hit list?)

Janie Albright (Blank)

MM I had to post that! Too cute!  

Timothy Lavelle

"THE FIGHT OF THE YEAR"...

...is almost over here in the PNW. Coming up, it's round ten in a twelve round fight. Heavy slogging...opponents matched even in points as scored by refs and fans. In the far corner we have Wintry "The Snowman" Blasts breathing deeply and shaking off the results of the last round. In that round Ses'nal "Waterboy" Reins almost completely melted the Snowman's swirling, blinding defense. Waterboy went on the attack in the ninth with wave after wave of storming rights and lefts. At this point, there is little safe room left in the ring for 'Snowman' Blasts. But this is a twelve round match fans, so smoke 'em if you got 'em and come back to your seats as this epic fight will go on for awhile yet and there is no telling...those fans in the MidWest will remember brutal attacks in the past when the fight looked to be over only to have heavyweight Wintry Blasts come battling back as late as early June destroying an over-matched Early "Green Jeans" Spring. Recall Early's daughter, 'Jean Shorts', leaving the arena in tears. Stay tuned, this fight ain't over til the mud starts sliding down the hills.

A view from the other side. It is odd not being in the Catholic club. In truth, odd to me that many of you all still are.  This is not me challenging you or making fun. I can only tell you that when faith is gone, it is gone, and your view alters considerably. You cannot reboot; wake up and say "Gee, think I'll believe in god today". So, I strongly believe...in not believing...but sort of wish that what feels like religious fantasy to me, now, was really true. Sort of like yearning that Gandolf was based on an actual person. I am a wee bit jealous of you and still a little jealous of that faith that many of you have preserved and hope, for your sake, that you have that belief to guide and warm you going forward. ...pan to the right as LaVelle steps down from the pulpit and we hear alter boys giggling and smell something not so funny.

That being said, I took a date to see The Four Tops at the Ohio State Fair Grounds...junior or senior year I think. Maybe 500 people? Maybe we were the only two white people there? Great memory...The Four Tops RULE!!! Wish I could fugure out who that scared-to-death date was.... 

David Mitchell

YES, 4 TOPS RULE !

(always thought they were better than their arch rivals - The Temptations)