New Year Message from Rev. Msgr. Glenn L. Nelson

Happy New Year!  I know it may seem a bit early to wish everyone a happy new year in December, but being a priest, I guess I get confused living in two worlds at the same time: the secular and the spiritual. 

In the secular world, we all celebrate the new calendar year on January 1st, and many people, still carrying the Christmas cheer along with them from the week before, anticipate the “countdown” that precedes the stroke of midnight by making New Years’ resolutions with intentions of improving their life or setting goals that will lead to future success. I think it is great to work to always improve one’s self, so I usually join this tradition by thinking of some ways I can improve my health, my intellect and my spiritual life.  But rather than doing this on January first like I used to, I now do it on the First Sunday of Advent. 

I realize this may sound a bit strange at first, but as a priest, the “other world” I live in is the spiritual world which has a different calendar than the one around which our everyday business world revolves.  Although the Church calendar has the same dates as our secular calendar, many of you know that the Church has a spiritual calendar which follows liturgical seasons.  Advent, is the first season of the new liturgical year and this year, it started on December 1, 2019 with the First Sunday of Advent. This year was unique with its December 1st start.  Sometimes the new liturgical year begins in late November, like it will next year, but I digress…. I am sure that many of you and your families are familiar with Advent.  Many of us have used Advent Calendars growing up which count-down the 25 days until Christmas by daily opening numbered paper doors which would often times reward the opener with a piece of chocolate or a Bible verse.  Many of you have also seen at Church or used at home an Advent Wreath, with its 3 purple and 1 rose colored candles held within an evergreen wreath. 

These 4 candles represent the four weeks that, when lit weekly, count us down to celebrate one of the most important days in human history, the birth of God-made-man, Jesus the Christ and Our Savior, who was born in the City of David (Bethlehem) over 2000 years ago.  We know now why He came because we have the benefit of the Scriptures that were written long ago as well as the lived tradition that has been handed down for millennia which confirms their truth.  We know He came because the love of the Father, our Creator, is so great, that whatever sins or offenses humans may commit to try to separate themselves from God, they are no match for the love and forgiveness of God!  Purple is the liturgical color of penance, and that is why the priest wears that color during Mass to remind us of our remorse for past offenses. 

We celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of God, because we know that we are the reason for his arrival in our world.  He came to show us that evil and sin do not have the last word in our lives;  that forgiveness is stronger than revenge; that true love requires sacrifice.   He came to teach us about the “other world”(heaven) for which we are destined.  And, Jesus came to show us how to get to that other world: by doing what He did; by loving our neighbor; by living lives that are good and holy and true; by giving of our very selves “expecting nothing thereof..!”  In God, the beginning and the end are held together in time.  He, Himself, is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  As we begin this new year (both liturgical and secular) let us keep in mind the two-worlds in which we live.  We live in a secular world which requires our daily attention to duty, and family. As we fulfill the daily responsibilities that are placed upon us, let us make sure all of our daily actions are honest and pure, and as we work hard, let us not forget the Spiritual world which exists simultaneously and reminds us of the future world in which we hope to live. So let us make our New Year’s resolutions now, to live with eyes toward heaven, and hearts full of love for our neighbor and our God.  The clock ticks daily and the countdown is ever present; but when the bell eventually tolls and the time has arrived for our new eternal beginning, let none of us on that day be heard saying, “I am not ready.”  May God grant us all a Blessed Advent, a Holy Christmas and a Joyous New Year!  -Rev. Msgr. Glenn L. Nelson

BROTHER BRANDON FLOWERS’ INSPIRING MISSION TRIP TO GHANA

Flowers and two two Arizona medical students doing clinical rotations in the district hospital

After talking with Brandon Flowers for an hour, it is no surprise the junior at Arizona State University encapsulates the Phi Kappa Theta mission of passionately serving. With an enthusiasm for international health and wellness, Flowers intends to graduate with a Business and Healthcare Management and Biology degree to pursue his passions.

 “I want to help other physicians and other medical staff during an emergency crisis, or help healthcare systems, whether in government or private care, “explained Flowers. “I want to do more than a clinical role in medicine.”

 Flowers returned from a mission trip back in August of 2019 after spending eight months in the West African nation of Ghana teaching in a local orphanage. While in Ghana, Flowers continued his studies at ASU, taking 22 credits online. This trip was Flowers' second trip to Ghana. His first trip was back in 2018, where he did clinical rotations alongside medical students in Shai-Osoduku District Hospital and learned alongside an American physician who is still practicing full time in Ghana. Flowers' passion is the medical field and his first trip allowed him to explore this passion further and established a longing to continue rural healthcare services to those in need. Flowers felt his first trip sparked his finding his purpose in his life.

 “The biggest mistake we can do in our lives is not give it purpose,” Flowers said. “Having a purpose in life brings a service to people.”

Flowers assisting with a village medical screening

 Flowers anticipated his second trip to Ghana, as he knew he wanted to continue to bring service to those in need, but he did not go to explore his passion for medicine. He was called to leave in January to help teach in a local orphanage. Teaching was not a top priority for Flowers, but his time in Ghana challenged him and exposed him to issues that needed to be solved. He gained an appreciation for serving people and filling needs no matter if those needs were in the medical field or elsewhere.

 “The second trip gave me an opportunity to impact the kids, but also allowed me to learn from the doctors. It ended up becoming something that challenged me and exposed me to things that needed to be done,” he said.

 Flowers spent his time in a village nearly two hours outside the main city, which he explored whenever he could. He frequented the local area, where most foreigners would not venture. He also ate the local food and traveled by public transportation which, in most cases, meant riding in a hollowed-out van. By exploring uncharted territory, Flowers forced himself to become immersed in the culture and began to love Ghana as a second home.

 “I would love to live in a country like Ghana,” he revealed. “I really love their world.”

 For many individuals, the thought of exploring a third world country or stepping out of their comfort zone to help those in need is intimidating. Barriers such as fear and financial constraints can hinder an individual from taking a leap faith. When asked what advice Flowers had for his fellow Phi Kappa Theta brothers, Flowers explained, “I think pretty strongly that first, if it is something as a matter of finances, God will provide. For brothers, there is no better time to go than now. Ghana is a big cultural shock. The kind of help I did there and the people I helped can be found a mile from me now. That should not be taken lightly as it is the mission of Phi Kappa Theta. Ultimately, there is no cost of learning something new and what I gained is so much higher than doing what is comfortable. Having a purpose in life brings a service to people. You are doing a disservice to yourself by not jumping on opportunities that are given to you.”

 He encourages his brothers to take the leap of faith and when opportunities arise. Flowers grabs each opportunity given to him and extends those gateways to others. His desire to help those in need spread to the development of Gravity, a brand established to support and promote local nonprofits by providing buyers with trendy and quality products. Flowers and Joseph Bradley, a current Phi Kappa Theta at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, co-founded Gravity in their sophomore year of college. While their startup is in the early stages of growth, the timing provides Flowers the opportunity to travel to Ghana again and work with Bradley to revamp the online store. Their goal for Gravity is to allow student graphic designers to create products that a selected nonprofit could then promote. The proceeds from Gravity’s products would then benefit the nonprofit.

 “We want it to bring focus to the nonprofit through a single base while bringing awareness to these nonprofits,” said Flowers of Gravity. 

Flowers with two children from the children’s home where he volunteered and a local staff member

 Flowers continues to attend ASU and investigate his passion for rural medicine and nonprofits. He is currently the Vice President of Spiritual Development for the Arizona Alpha Zeta chapter. His time with the chapter's executive board has granted him opportunities to become more involved in the Fraternity.

 While thinking about Phi Kappa Theta’s mission to inspire men to passionately serve society, Fraternity and God, Flowers said he is grateful for the brotherhood and their encouragement during his mission trips.

 “When I came back from Ghana, I was welcomed in,” he said. “Guys were open to being emotional, and that comes from being more involved with the fraternity and getting to know your brothers deeper.”

 During his most recent trip to Ghana, Flowers was considered an "inactive member" on the chapter's roster, but his brothers insisted he stay involved as much as he could.

 “It was healthier for me to stay involved with my brothers while in Ghana because they were my support system,” he shared. “One of the greatest things about Phi Kappa Theta is the organization is full of men with heart. There is a lot of encouragement in that. Our Fraternity breathes the kind of man to encourage others to go out and be of service to others.”

University of Pittsburgh Chapter Suspended

Recently, the Phi Kappa Theta Board of Trustees suspended our Pennsylvania Mu Chapter at the University of Pittsburgh. This action came after an anonymous hazing allegation was reported to the University Police. Our Fraternity expects our members to reflect and embrace our values from Associate Membership through Alumni Brotherhood. Thus, we take all allegations of hazing very seriously, as there is no place in our Associate Member Education experience for this behavior.

We are committed to working with University of Pittsburgh staff and administration to conduct proper investigations. Once this process has been completed, we will be taking the appropriate and necessary actions with the chapter and its membership to prevent future incidents.

Phi Kappa Theta expects its brothers to reflect and embrace our values. Our chapter at the University of Pittsburgh has been suspended. We take all allegations of hazing seriously and are committed to working with university officials. Once this process is completed, we will take the appropriate and necessary action.

Loyola-Marymount University of Los Angeles Held Their Annual Reunion

Class of '72 Phi Kaps

The brothers of the Alpha Nu chapter at Loyola-Marymount University of Los Angeles recently held their annual reunion.  The close-knit brothers consist of classes '69-'74, many of whom have maintained business and social relationships over the years, and have even taken European cruises together.  The tradition began twelve years ago when Jim McClune invited some of us to gather for a Saturday lunch at the local burger shack and then attend the LMU basketball game together.

The annual gathering has expanded over the years, both in attendance and in the number of social events as more Phi Kap comrades have heard about it. Now the friendships are rekindled over three days of a weekend, and the gathering includes a dinner, mass, lunch, basketball game, golf match, a social memorial for a fallen brother and breakfast. On the weekend of January 11, around 40 brothers participated in various events, some flying into town from Pittsburgh, Oakland, Idaho, North Carolina, Kansas, New Mexico, and other states.  Over the years attendees have even included Hawaii residents and some of our chapter forefathers from the early sixties. The commitment to maintaining lifelong friendships was a promise made when we pledged about 50 years ago, and thankfully it is still going strong.

1971. Sports was a common interest, and for ten years after graduation, many played together in park baseball leagues. Jim McClune, organizer of the reunions in the yellow T-shirt. Gary McLaughlin is seated on the left.

As interest built for the reunions over the years, the email chains expanded to more than 60 names.  After the 2018 gathering, brother Gary McLaughlin built a google drive site to create a central directory of contact information that everyone could update as addresses and phone numbers change.  This site has become a great new storehouse for all of us to share the photos taken on multiple phones at each gathering.  This is especially helpful for those not able to attend to be able to see old friends again. In my capacity as Social Chairman and photographer of the Alpha Nu chapter in the '70s, this new site gives me an opportunity to dig out the photo archives and upload photos from events and activities that everyone had forgotten.  Our history and heritage are being recalled afresh, along with old friendships.

The tight-knit groups formed by the various pledge classes are thriving social forces within our overall Phi Kap community.

 This year marked a special memorial service for recently deceased brother Joe Ruhoff who was responsible in large part for fostering communications among the brothers by establishing and running the first official fantasy football league, Kings X, now in its 37th year, in which many of us participated each year.