Falling in love with Libermann Cinda De Vet Spiritan Associate, Western Province Twenty-five years ago my husband and I met Spiritan Father Tom Byrne. We were trying to promote vocations to religious life and he was vocations director for the Spiritans at the time. We invited Fr. Tom to our marriage support group where we help each other to live full, Catholic marriages. One night, he talked about Libermann and his own friendship with him. He had just returned from a retreat where his affection for Fr. Libermann was rekindled, and he spoke from the fullness of his heart. Father Tom offered to lend us a biography of Libermann entitled Star of Jacob. I took it, somewhat reluctantly. I brought it home thinking I'd just flip through a couple of pages. Instead, I read the book overnight. Father Libermann has such a strong personality, and I was very attracted to him as an individual. He has such a compelling life story. I am a convert, not from Judaism, but I can relate to the experience. I too had struggles with my family when I became Catholic, though now I am reconciled. That night I fell in love with him. I cannot explain it. All I can say is that I knew that this man had so much to teach me and all I wanted was to know him better. The next day I called Father Tom and asked if there was anything more I could read. I got a hold of four volumes of his letters and van Kaam's Light for the Gentiles. After that night, I read two to three of his letters a night. It was uncanny how they would speak to me in my particular situation. He would catch me right where I was. That night Father Libermann became part of my own life and spirituality. Being a part of the Spiritan family John Hansen Spiritan Associate, Eastern Province Often in today's world we feel isolated and alone. One of the things our relationship with the Spiritans has nourished is openness and hospitality in terms of building an extended family community. Our lifelong friendship with the Spiritans has encouraged us to make that circle of family as wide as possible. Any Spiritan is welcome in our house and vice versa. We strongly believe in mutuality. Our children see the Spiritans as part of our extended family. We've known several priests for years. Father Don McEachin, for instance, is Uncle Don. Are the Spiritans blood-related? No. But they're part of the family, and they support us through our ups and downs. Our association with Spiritans has directly led us to expand what community means. Being in a foreign country, it can be very intimidating. When we were in Africa working with the Spiritans, an African family took us in and made us feel at home. That experience continues to live with us. We open our doors to students from Africa and welcome them into our house. We let them know there is someone here who cares about who they are. Carrie Flickinger celebrates her graduation with Fran Tarkett and Fr. Ray French, CSSp Serve God by serving students... Fran Tarkett Campus Minister, Duquesne University A few years ago someone asked why Spiritans are at a university. Isn't their mission to the poor? Fran believes that the university is a perfect place for Spiritans to share their mission with others, to get to know young people, and to encourage their concern for the poor and marginalized. In addition, there are people in need within every community. Their needs may or may not be material. A Spiritan presence on the college campus is a wonderful opportunity for ministry to young people and to those whose calling is to serve God by serving students. There are many stories of students in real need of financial help, of support while grieving the loss of a loved one, or of a listening ear during spiritual crisis. Spiritans have much to offer during times like these. It's inspiring to know people who are eager to respond to the needs of our students, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can't underestimate the value of giving care and support to those who we hope will carry on the mission of service to the poor.