Br. Clifford Hennings, OFM - 'This tremendous act of faith'
Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, kneels at the altar as Br. Cliff Hennings, OFM, lies prostrate during his Solemn Profession.
Past and present converge at Clifford’s solemn profession
Br. Cliff Hennings, OFM
Lest we forget, there are plenty of reminders at Br. Clifford Hennings’ solemn profession about the things that matter most:
The importance of family;
The value of friendship;
The enduring power of God’s love.
It’s all there, enveloping the Aug. 31 Mass at St. Clement, as close as you can get to the first and most memorable verse of Auld Lange Syne. That, of course, is the Scottish ode to endings and beginnings in which we are advised to prize old relationships as time goes by. The fact that Clifford’s family lives in Scotland and came from there to be here makes it even more appropriate.
The “old acquaintance” contingent includes grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and classmates who accompanied Br. Clifford at various stages of his journey toward this day. Among the communion ministers are formation friends Joshua Van Cleef, Galen Osby (with wife Darcy), and Tim Tran (and his wife Christine). Dan Helfrich and his fiancée are part of the congregation. Despite their divergent paths, they have managed to stay connected.
“Such a great, glorious day, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the presence of God,” is how celebrant Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, sums up the feeling of good will surrounding the ceremony.
Br. Cliff Hennings, OFM, receives a blessing from Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, as Br. Will Estrellanes, OFM, and Fr. Mark Soehner, OFM, look on.
Clifford’s relatives serve as readers (aunt Patti Duke and brother Kyle Hennings), and newly ordained Deacon Richard Goodin, OFM, rises to read the Gospel. There are themes that apply to Clifford’s past (from I Kings, Elijah’s survival in the wilderness parallels Clifford’s 2009 journey with the walking friars), his present (from Philippians, “I consider my pursuit toward the goal…”), his future (from Matthew, “whoever wishes to come after me must take up the cross and follow me”).
Following the Gospel, Clifford submits his petition: “I, Brother Clifford, humbly ask you and the brothers to admit me to perpetual profession in the Order of Friars Minor.” Before the Interrogation to which “I do” and “I am” are the succinct answers, homilist Fr. Mark Soehner, OFM, talks about a fundamental truth that sometimes escapes us.
He starts with a story from the era of the first George Bush, one in which the president is visiting a nursing home, shaking hands with elderly residents. One resident looks at him blankly, and the president realizes he has not been recognized. “Sir, do you know who I am?” Bush says. The elderly man responds, “If you go to the front desk and ask, they’ll tell you.”
Amnesia happens, Fr. Mark says, “and it’s not just confined to nursing homes. We may not forget our name, but we can forget our primary identity.” According to Bishop Robert Morneau from Green Bay, Wis., “Instead of, ‘Who am I?’, we should be asking, ‘Whose am I?”’, the answer being, “We belong to God.”
When you get right down to it, Fr. Mark says, “I think that most of life’s screw-ups, sin, is not willful…we get amnesia.”
Br. Clifford with fellow pilgrims: Br. Richard Goodin, OFM, Joshua Van Cleef, Br. Roger Lopez, OFM, and Fr. Mark Soehner, OFM, on the foot pilgrimage in 2009
Mark recalls his participation in the 2009 walking pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., and the Monastery of the Holy Land, which was intended “to help us remember who we are. We ended up learning that the Holy Land was under our feet all the time.” The ultimate ecumenical adventure occurred on what pilgrim Br. Roger Lopez, OFM, dubbed “Mount Doom.” Leaving the hospitality of Trappestine nuns who gave them a chunk of cheese for the road, the friars found themselves on an isolated stretch of Shenandoah Ridge inhabited by copperheads and bears. “We had eaten the last of the gouda and were discouraged” about prospects for the night, Fr. Mark says. “Clifford and I were singing Simon and Garfunkel songs; it got that bad. We were feeling as depressed as Elijah.” Hungry, tired, discouraged, “I was suffering amnesia,” Mark says.
Elijah’s reminder came in the form of bread and water. The friars’ reminder came from “a little Catholic lady named Mary” who gave them cereal bars, a Jew named George who gave them a ride down the mountain, and a Hindu named Linda who put them up for the night. “The amnesia began to dissipate,” Mark says. The lesson: “God is our companion in our journey of life.” What should never be forgotten is God’s promise that “you are my beloved. That’s what God promises us today.”
Following his vows, Clifford is welcomed and embraced by his friar brothers. From first to last, the smile never leaves his face.
Thank you for the witness you have given all of us,” Fr. Jeff says after communion, “for this tremendous act of faith. Fr. Mark reminded us of your [walking] pilgrimage. You have a great pilgrimage ahead of you.” Jeff addresses Clifford’s family and friends. “We know he is precious to you. He is precious to us as well.”
The day also serves as a reminder to Jeff. “I was thinking of when I was in your shoes – sandals, ‘Could I do this? Should I do this?’” A passage from one of Fr. Murray Bodo’s books came to mind: “‘No vow to God is ever onesided.’ God vows to us as well,” that we are his beloved. “We get to wake up every single day remembering that and celebrating that.”
“Auld” or not, may it never be forgot.
To see more photos of Br. Cliff's Solemn Profession, visit the Gallery on the SJB Province website.
Br. Cliff with his family: father Karl, mother Susan, brothers Kyle and Seth
