The first three letters reflect some personal health issues in the transition to new altitude and environment but more of his concern about ‘operations’ and the health of his parents! It is clear he is no longer constrained by Novitiate restrictions regarding activities, particularly entertaining by singing and playing. He is aware of the politics and events at home (reading the Regina Leader Post) and his parents long standing support of the Liberal Party (back then!), but nevertheless a spiritual focus remains as is evidenced in the fourth letter which contains the annual Christmas ‘message’.

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Mount Saint Michael

Spokane, Washington 99207

November 16, 1965

Dear mum and Dad,

As usual time is marching on, and now we’re only a little more than a month away from Christmas. I have been busy as usual, but perhaps not as busy as at first. The Philosophy is starting to seep into my mind through bigger cracks, so it isn’t as much of a grind as it was at first.

Winter has come I am told, but as yet I haven’t seen any snow, only rain. The lads put up the hockey boards already. They will probably not be able to use it until Christmas because I am told that the cold weather is not consistent enough until then. Many of the Californians are looking forward to seeing their first snow fall.

I am too, first, so that we get rid of this fog and rain which makes my head ache, second, to see the reactions of those lads. (Isn’t it terrible. I must have written too many notes and summaries of notes, for now I am beginning to enumerate in my letters too.)

One of the Jesuit Professors.

On Sunday four of us went to the Old Folk’s Home in Spokane to entertain. We gave a little concert of favourite songs from many of the better musicals. Everyone did one or two solos. One lad did ‘You’ll Never Walk Along’ and ‘Some Enchanted Evening’. He sings very well. I sang ‘Get Me to the Church on Time;, a rip-roaring song from My Fair Lady (we took along a triangle which one of the lads rang at the appropriate times. It added quite a bit.), and ‘Anywhere I Wander’ a beautiful sentimental song from Hans Christian Anderson.

I also took along my guitar and hammed up a couple of songs, Froggie went a ‘courtin’ and Tennessee Wickwalk. (You remember, it starts out ‘I’m a bow legged chicken. I’m a knock-kneed hen etc. I think we sang it at one of our concerts at Fairview [one room school in Saskatchewan] when I was about grade six.

When I was cording around on my guitar one day, it came to mind. I played if for a couple of people and they thought it was a ‘scream’ so….) Then I did a couple of more serious songs. All in all we had a very enjoyable time, and the elderly people evidently enjoyed it very much. After the big ‘shew’ we visited three of the ladies who are bed-ridden to sing them the ‘funny’ songs.

At long last I’ve shaken my head cold, and now I’m left with only the sinus. I didn’t  know why it was taking so long to shake it. At last it dawned on me that the head ache was no cold, but sinus.

I hope that all of you are well and that everything is going well. Viv wrote this week, and it was good to hear from her again. Myrna [sibling] just wrote recently also. I’m really way behind in letters; I’ve never really caught up. Oh well. I’ll get caught up at Christmas time at card mailing time if I can’t do it before.

Enclosed is a clipping from the Leader Post. (Joe Schuck’s people got a subscription for him till about January when he might be moving, so he gets the paper every day. It is always a few days late but better late than never.

We get little Canadian news from the Spokane newspaper and almost no world news except about Viet Nam and President Johnson. Joe passes the paper on to me after he’s read it and then I can thoroughly enjoy it too.)

We were all very disappointed with the election results. Maybe I’ve been living in the east [Ontario!] too long, but I was rather surprised that Diefenbaker had the prairies so solidly. It was actually the east coast that kept the Liberals from getting the majority they needed, for they lost about seven seats there.

Perhaps what both main parties need is a change in leadership. They need some younger, more vigorous blood. Maybe by the next election???

Well I’m almost talked out, so….. Don’t forget those prayers; you are always remembered in mine.

Love,

Frank

P.S.- I’m getting absent minded in my old age. I started a paragraph about a clipping + never finished it. Oh well, the clipping will explain itself. No doubt you’ve seen it already.

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Mount Saint Michael

Spokane, Washington 99207

November 25, 1965 [hand written letter]

Dear Mum,

This is a perfect day to write this letter because it is Thanksgiving. We just finished our “triduum”, a three day retreat, and this morning we will renew in spirit the vows we took a number of years ago and give thanks to God for all the marvellous blessing He has showered upon us.

One of the blessings I’m very thankful for is the wonderful mum, dad, brothers, sisters +relatives I have been given. I will ask Him this morning at Mass to bless all of you in a special way.

You will received a special remembrance in all my prayers on your birthday mum, and ontwo other days. All of you are remembered daily, but these will be specialy prayers offered for your intentions and in Thanksgiving to God.

I hope that you are feeling well again and that dad is much better. Marlene [sibling] told me about the operation dad is going to have and that you will have yours soon too. You both will be in my prayers at those times. Please offer some of your valuable sufferings and prayers for me.

Last night we had a good snow fall, so everything looks beautiful. All the trees are covered with snow, and the hills are beautiful in their white mantles. I got a pair of skiis this morning from the ski custodian and so am looking forward to try them soon.

One of the lads was telling me this morning about Christmas parcels etc. He said gifts take quite awhile to get here (about 12 days), unless you send things express which is expensive. There are some limitation as to value in crossing the border too. I don’t know any particulars.Maybe one of the girls could all the post office, or some place of that sort, to find out.

With that I’ll close so this will reach you by your Birthday.

Don’t forget the prayers. I count on them.

Love

Frank

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Mount Saint Michael

Spokane, Washington 99207

[Hand written]

December ?, 1965

Dear Mum + Dad,

The reason I put the ? Is because time is going by so fast that by the time I put one number there, another should be there. I just finished writing about 20 thank you notes and signing another 10 or so cards. I figured since I was writing this letter [it] should be mailed too so that you know I’m still alive + kicking.

Boy you’ve got a pickle of an Advent season don’t you? I hope by Christmas + the New Year all these operations will be done with. For heavens sake though take it as easy as you can.

Remember the most important thing about Christmas is experiencing in spirit the coming of Christ. We like to have our houses + everything clean + ready to symbolize our clean + expectant hearts + help us get into the spirit, but everything considered this year, you should put the emphasis on the latter because it is the most important.

If something is necessary to get into the spirit, it helps very much just to sit down and relax and read some scripture, maybe the Mass propers for the Sundays in Advent or the Gospel accounts of the Nativity. Well there I go preaching again. It’s easier to talk than to do isn’t it?

Exams are near so everybody is starting to prepare. I had one the other day already. The rest of them are around the 17th of Dec. I hope Rose + Matt do alright in theirs.Dad will be in my prayers especially around the 9th [the date for his operation].

The snow here has all melted. They say it does that quite often here.

My hand has almost had it, so I’ll say bye for new.

Love,

Frank

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Mount Saint Michael

Spokane, Washington 99207

Christmas, 1965

Dear Mum, Dad and family;

The time has gone by so quickly that it seems like yesterday was last Christmas, but a quick look at the calendar and the exam schedule tells clearly that a whole year has passed by. By now dad must be home from the hospital, and since I have had no word about it, I assume that you didn’t go to the hospital before Christmas, mum. I hope and pray that all of you are well and healthy.

You will notice that your [Christmas] card is different than those sent to most of the others. A lad here at the Mount, George Smith, made it, and I think it is much nicer than my card or any other card I’ve seen here. My experiment was not too successful, but I’ll let you judge for yourself.

One thing I’ve really enjoyed this year is seeing some of the Christmas shows on T.V. Just the other night we saw Peanut’s Christmas Show, and tonight we Amahl and the Night Visitors. I am also going to the Gonzaga University’s Christmas Concert. I’ve missed most of these Christmas activities during the past four years.

And this year we will take part in some of those activities. Next week we will sing at G.U. [Gonzaga University] and soon after that we will tape our T.V. show. (By the way, the show is only one half hour now. My T.V. debut was cut with the other half hour, and I’m glad about it. It is one less thing to worry about.)

Around Christmas we will go to sing for The Old Folk’s, hospitals etc. It’s going to be a lot of fun. The only negative thing about Christmas is the exams on 21, 22, and 23. I’ve started an all out study program and hoping to do well. There’s a good intention for your prayers.

Rosemary and Matt will be in my prayers during this coming week, for they will probably be having exams also. Just the other day I came across a lovely passage in the Old Testament which I thought was very suitable for Christmas; It is God’s promises to Israel.

“If you walk in my precepts, and keep my commandments and do them, I will give you rain in due seasons.

And the ground shall bring forth its increase and the trees shall be filled with fruit.

The threshing of your harvest shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall

reach unto the sowing time; and you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land without fear.

I will give you peace in your coasts: You shall sleep, and there shall be none to make you afraid. . .

You shall pursue your enemies and they shall fall before you. . .

I will look on you and make you increase; You shall be multiplied, and I will establish my covenant with you.

You shall eat of the oldest store and, the new coming one, you shall cast away the old.

I will set my tabernacle in the midst of you, and my soul shall not cast you off.

I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

(Lev. 26, i-xii)

Scripture can be interpreted in more than one way, but it doesn’t matter whether you take the literal meaning or figurative meaning. The point is that we should have a great confidence in God, and if we obey His command to “love one another as He loves us”, He will reward us with manifold graces and help us to love more.

The most wonderful part of the quotation is the last two promises. These, concerning His presence among His people, He has kept in a remarkable way. God really meant it when He said He would walk among us. And that He should come to us as a helpless baby is an unfathomable and astounding mystery.

Not only did He come to walk among us but to stay among us, if we let Him, making each and everyone of us His tabernacle.

Considering this, it is no wonder that Christ said, “wherever there are two or more gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them”. These were oft quoted words in the novitiate because they were applied to us living in community life.

Recently it occurred to me that this quotation had a marvellous significance in married life also. Certainly a Christian family is or should be “gathered together” in Christ’s name.

Reflecting on all this  a bit, what can one do but place his entire trust and confidence in Him, and offer up prayers of thanksgiving, especially in this season.

Perhaps this verse from a Psalm adequately expresses what we should feel:

Cry out with joy to the Lord all the earth;

Praise the Lord with gladness.

Come before Him singing with joy.

May all of you experience the peace and joy that comes with placing your trust and confidence in God. As you know I would love to be with you at Christmas, but since that is impossible, there is consolation in the fact that we are always very close in spirit in Christ.

My Christmas gift to all of you is twenty-five Masses, communions, and prayers. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers at Mass on Christmas morning.

May God bless all of you . . . .

Love,

Frank

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All photos courtesy of Frank Obrigewitsch, SJ