Funeral Homily for
Fr. Justin Paul Bartoszek, CP, 1936-2008 

ST. BRUNO PARISH - MEMORIAL MASS, NOVEMBER 22, 2008 
(click to see video tribute to Fr. Justin)

I am Fr. Kenneth O’Malley, a Passionist and a classmate of Fr. Justin. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies on behalf of the Passionists to Justin’s brother and sisters and brother-inlaws: Ed, Mary, Sophie, Wally and John, and all the nephews and nieces, relatives and friends of Justin. I want to thank Fr. Donald Webber the Provincial of the Holy Cross Province of the Passionists for inviting me to preach at this Memorial Mass. I want to acknowledge the presence of Fr. Blaise Czaja another classmate of Justin’s, who came from Detroit to be with us this afternoon. I want to acknowledge Fr. Raymond McDonough, from Sacramento, California, who was the founder of the Korean missions and who served with Justin during those many crucial, fruitful, and foundational years.

Two of the readings (the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel of John) from this liturgy were selected by the family from Stas’ funeral Mass. The third reading Psalm 23 was selected because Justin had mentioned to one of his nieces that this was his favorite Psalm. I requested that the reading from Thessalonians be read. Right off, I want to reflect on the reading from the Gospel of John, in which Jesus encounters Martha and Mary at the death of their brother, Lazarus. John described Jesus as being “troubled,” “disturbed,” and “weeping.” We all understand exactly what Jesus was feeling. The first time I heard of Justin’s death was from an email from another classmate, Joseph Van Leeuwen missioned in India. He said he was in shock. Then I received one from Blaise, saying the exact same thing, he was shocked. We all were. We just did not expect Justin to be taken from us, while he seemed to be in good health and strong vigor. Scripture scholars have translated the feelings of Jesus, i.e. “troubled,” “disturbed,” and “weeping” also as “stuttering.” Jesus’ heart stuttered! In other words, Jesus’ heart stopped for a minute. I think that is what we felt when we heard about Justin’s death - all of our hearts “stuttered,” all of our hearts stopped for a moment. He was ready, but we were not.

Leopold Casimir was born Sunday October 11th, 1936 - the Feast of Mary the Mother of God, into the family of Leopold and Angeline Bartoszek, made up of five sisters and two brothers. Originally, they lived at 1927 S. Homan Avenue, where Justin attended St. Casimir’s Elementary School. In 1950 the family moved to 4919 South Karlov, the site of many family picnics, in St. Bruno’s parish. Justin attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Mundelein Seminary, and St. Norbert’s College. He received a scholarship in Philosophy to Marquette University, but instead, under the guidance of the Provincial at the time, Fr. Neil Parson, C.P., he entered the Passionist Novitiate in St. Paul, Kansas. After the novitiate year was completed he came to Sacred Heart Monastery in Louisville to study theology for four years before ordination to the priesthood in 1964.

Fortunately for us, he became a member of our class, which was made up of: Robert Engler from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Augustine Paul Kunii, the first Passionist candidate from Japan, Blaise Czaja, from Port Arthur, Texas, Joseph Van Leeuwen, from St. Paul, Kansas, Timothy O’Connor, from Los Angeles, California, and myself from Detroit, Michigan.

Who was this new classmate? How do we remember him? What are our memories, I would like to share a few - that endeared him to us. Justin really was the philosopher in the class. Whenever there was a difference of opinion in our midst or with our upper classmates it was Justin who could always be counted on to say. “It is not either or, but all is one!” “Truth is universal.” This especially threw one of our upper classmates, Patrick O’Malley, into a seizure of frustration. He would like the answer to be black and white, either/or, with no ambiguity or shades of gray. Somehow Justin with his fine philosophical mind could see the whole and not get lost in the parts. He was a man of truth and saw the grays.

There was a peacefulness about Justin, nothing could disturb. I never heard him raise his voice anywhere: on the baseball field, the football field, the basketball court, the tennis court, the recreation room or the classroom. He was always placid, serene, and a man of peace. That does not mean that his limits were not tested. Fr. Carroll Sthulmueller, a Passionist world renowned Isaiah scholar purchased a plastic three dimensional relief map of Israel. It was at least 6’ x 3’ x 6”. Justin and Timothy O’Connor were given the job of painting this map. What shadings and colors to use to paint the deserts, mountains, seas, and rivers of Israel were Olympic decisions. It took months to complete and although voices were not raised artistic instincts were stretched to the limits. Both men were consummate gentlemen. I am sure if someone could record the compromises they reached, we might today be able to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This example gets to the heart of who Justin was and why the reading from Isaiah is so perfect for this occasion. “When your hair is gray I will bear you…I will carry you to safety.” In this passage the root word in the Hebrew that is used twice is the word for “womb.” It is the word that is used for “mercy” or “compassion.” This gets to the heart of who God is. It gets to the heart of who Justin is. He is a man, like the womb of God, that was full of compassion and mercy. This is the man we celebrate in the Mass today.

Another quality I remember about Justin was in the courses we took in theology. He frequently asked questions that had to do with being imprisoned, in a situation where there was no help and you were thrown back on your own resources to solve problems and answer questions. Maybe these questions were prompted by the experiences of Maximilian Kolbe, or Passionists imprisoned under Communist China, or Blessed Bishop Eugene Bassilkov, a Passionist Bishop in Bulgaria, martyred by the Communists. I am sure unwittingly these questions would prepare him well for his future ministry in Korea.

A month or so before our ordination in Louisville. Fr. James Patrick White, our provincial came to visit. While he was there, I ran into Justin, who looked like he had been hit by a Mac truck. I asked him “What’s the matter Justin?” He said he had just stopped to ask the provincial if he could spend the Summer after ordination studying Polish, so he could give retreats and parish missions in Polish. Fr. James Patrick said: “How does Korean sound? Let me know by tomorrow morning!” Shortly after that I ran into another classmate, Bob Engler. The provincial asked him if he would like to be stationed in Japan. “Let me know by tomorrow morning!” I remember seeing Blaise, and saying “Let’s go for a walk before Fr. James Patrick hands out any more of these assignments.” We did.

On May 23rd, 1964 our class was ordained by Archbishop John Floersh of Louisville. May 31st Justin celebrated his Mass of Thanksgiving here at St. Bruno’s Parish. That summer Justin went to Michigan State University to study Korean language and its Korean Cultures. After finishing our year of “Sacred Eloquence” in Detroit, Michigan where we prepared our talks for retreats and parish missions, and got certified in counseling, we undertook our assignments. Of course, Justin went to Korea to join Ray McDonough and Patrick O’Malley to establish the Passionist Community in Korea.

Within a year after Justin went to Korea, I met two Irish Columban missionaries, who had been stationed in Korea. They mentioned that when they went to get their visas and passports, they asked Justin to accompany them, because his Korean was so superior to theirs. We were not surprised. He did all things well. He quickly became Master of Novices, Director of students, Local superior (7 times), and Regional Superior. As Korea matured Justin was able to share his talents with the Passionists in Indonesia, and India.

In 1989 at Justin’s 25th anniversary of ordination, here at St. Bruno’s, I recall Sebastian MacDonald gave a brief tribute to Justin. Sebastian recounted when he was Provincial and would make his annual visitation in Korea, Justin would say: “This is what we hope to have done by this time next year! Sure enough, at the next year’s visitation it would be exactly as Justin said it would be! He was first in many ways: a great spiritual presence, a man of prayer. He was an accomplished administrator. He was at heart a missionary. Some of us like to think of him as something of a mystic. As Joe Van Leeuwen mentioned in one of his emails after Justin’s death “Now we have our two mystics together in Heaven!” (Justin and Timothy O’Connor who died in 11/01/91). Let’s pray they are not assigned to painting any relief maps of Israel.

Maybe Justin will best be remembered as the consummate son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend. He loved you all very much. He also knew that you loved him. He was unabashed in his love and affection for all of you.

In his Christmas Letter 2007, he mentioned Stas’s funeral, his pilgrimage with Ed to Czestochowa, Medugorje, Rome, etc., the family picnics, parties, and visits. He talked about how much he looked forward to giving talks to the students in India. (He would later mentioned how surprised he was at the adulation the Indian students showered upon him. We weren’t.) He reminded us that he has completed five complete circles of the lunar zodiac calendar and more. This brought him to sixty, and beyond, after which all is bonus. In Korea, after sixty, one is entitled to all that is best. He goes on to say, “God is always good, God is always kind, and God is always merciful. God is ready to share God’s beautiful and eternal life with us at every moment.”

This is what we celebrate today: Justin Paul, a man of God, who is also always good, always kind, and always merciful. And as the reading from Thessalonians reminds us, we will all be together in the Resurrection. So do not allow yourselves to be buried in grief. Rather spend your time consoling and supporting each other. Call one another as often as you can, better yet visit one another frequently, especially, Mary, Sophie, and Ed who will miss him the most.

Anthropologists tell us there are two healers in every society: the singers of songs and the tellers of stories. Let us all sing the songs of Justin and tell the Justin stories. They are great sources for healing our grief.

Justin was born on the Feast of the Motherhood of Mary. He died on the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross. “God is always good, God is always kind, God is always merciful.”

May God bless us all. May Justin rest in peace. Let us partake in the Eucharist that nourished Justin as he journeyed to the Banquet of the Lord. Amen.

 

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