Pro Sanctity’s New Episcopal Moderator

Archdiocese of Omaha

Office of the Archbishop
100 NORTH 62ND STREET
OMAHA, NE 68132

December 11, 2001

Teresa Monaghen, A.O.
National Director - Pro-Sanctity Movement
11002 North 204th Street
Elkhorn, NE 68022

Dear Teresa,

I write, as a follow-up to our meeting, with this formal acceptance of the invitation to assume the role as the first Episcopal Moderator of the Pro-Sanctity in the United States.

I have enjoyed the great support of the Apostolic Oblates in Omaha and appreciate very much the witness and apostolic activity of Pro-Sanctity. I look forward to the working relationship that will begin with my new role and I anticipate great things from the Pro-Sanctity family across the United States.

I am sincerely yours in the Lord,

Most Reverend Elden Francis Curtiss
Archbishop of Omaha

Dear Pro Sanctity Friends,

          We are happy to announce that the Pro Sanctity Movement now has an official Episcopal Moderator, Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss! You may wonder what is an Episcopal Moderator? Why do we need one and what does he do? In the Pro Sanctity Charter, our Founder, Bishop William Giaquinta, indicated that each nation should have an Episcopal Moderator. A bishop’s support, guidance and encouragement are important for the growth of the Movement, and will help us to promote the current teachings and imperatives of the Church through our activities and publications. The current leadership of the Pro Sanctity Movement in Rome has pointed out that the United States has never had an Episcopal Moderator, and they have asked us to make it a priority to invite a bishop to take on this important role.

          We hesitated to ask Archbishop Curtiss, this favor because we knew that the demands on his time and energy were already so great. Nevertheless, the open relationship we have shared over the years, the support and enthusiasm for the Movement, which he has continuously manifested, and our personal awareness of the benefits that his spiritual leadership would bring, motivated us to make this request of him. We believe that this closer communion with him as a bishop will add spiritual strength to our Movement, and will also be rewarding for him in his ministry as the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

          The commitment involves a 5-year term with the following duties:

Celebrate Mass for us at least once a year, perhaps on or about November 1^st, for our celebration of the Universal Day of Sanctification or during one of our conventions
Meet with our leadership once or twice a year so we may consult with you and keep you informed regarding the spiritual activities at our centers in Brooklyn, New York, Fullerton, California and here in Omaha
Be available to advise us on matters of greater importance which may arise from time to time.

We thank Archbishop Curtiss for his generous acceptance and we to assure him of our prayers for and our gratitude for the kindness he has shown to us over the years. May the Lord continue to bless him as he journeys with us into the new millennium.

Members of the Pro Sanctity National Board:

Teresa Monaghen, A.O.
National Director

Rev. John Costello
National Spiritual Advisor (Diocese of Brooklyn, NY)

Miss Rosemary Darmstadt
National Secretary/Treasurer (Diocese of Brooklyn, NY)

Local Boards of California, Nebraska, New York

From: don Paulo ... Fr. Paul Cardona, Rome Italy
General Moderator of the Apostolic Sodales
(Translated by Fr. John J Costello, National Spiritual Advisor of the Pro Sanctity Movement )
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 10:35 PM
To: Teresa Monaghen
Subject: New Episcopal Moderator of the Pro Sanctity Movement in the USA

My Mother, My Confidence!

Dear Teresa,

We are happy and thrilled by this wonderful news!

Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss' acceptance of our invitation to be Moderator of the Pro Sanctity Movement in the USA will make you feel more united, more closely linked to "Peter" and to the "Church".

Certainly Bishop Giaquinta, and all of our brothers and sisters in heaven are rejoicing together with all of us.

Congratulations to all of you - sister Oblates, brother Animators and Sodales - and to all the members of the Pro Sanctity Movement - in anticipation of seeing one another in January in Rome, and in April in Omaha for the Feast of the Alliance.

Please send my regards to my brother Sodales.

Pray for me. I always remember you.

Bishop Giaquinta, pray for us.

Fondly,

don Paolo Cardona

From: Fr. Michael Murphy [mailto:pastor@sacredheartcor.org]
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 12:15 PM
To: Pro Sanctity Movement
Subject: Re: Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss

Dear Teresa and all,

I greeted the news about your first Episcopal Moderator with gratitude to God and great joy. This is certainly an important moment in the history of the Pro Sanctity Movement in the United States. My prayers will be with Archbishop Curtiss as he guides and moderates the Movement in our country. Congratulations and God bless you.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus,
Fr. Mike Murphy
National Brother
Apostolic Sodales

Short Biography of Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss
The Most Reverend Elden Francis Curtiss was installed as Archbishop of Omaha on June 25, 1993. He is the ninth ordinary and the fourth archbishop to lead the church of northeast Nebraska.

Archbishop Curtiss, born June 16, 1932, is the eldest son of Elden F. Curtiss, Sr. (deceased), and Mary A. Neiger Curtiss (deceased). He has three brothers.

He completed studies at St. Edward Seminary College and St. Edward Seminary Theologate in Kenmore, Wash. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Baker (Oregon) on May 24, 1958, by Bishop Francis P. Leipzig. As a priest, he served parishes in Lakeview, LaGrande and Jordan Valley, Ore., as well as hospital chaplain.

Archbishop Curtiss took advance studies at Fordham University (New York City), University of Portland (Oregon) and the University of Notre Dame (Indiana). He holds a master of divinity degree and a master of arts in education administration.

After serving in the role of director of information and superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Baker, he became a faculty member and then president-rector of Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.

He was ordained a bishop and installed as Bishop of Helena (Montana) on April 28, 1976. He served the Diocese of Helena 17 years. On May 3, 1993, he was named archbishop-elect of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

In addition to the spiritual and administrative responsibilities of the archdiocese, Archbishop Curtiss is a member of the Pontifical Council on the Family, the president and chairman of the Board for The Catholic Mutual Group insurance company and Boys Town. He is a member of the NCCB Committee on Marriage and Family Life and the NCCB Ad Hoc Committee for the Implementation of the National Strategy for Vocations as well as board member for the Catholic Church Extension Society and the Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.