November 5, 2010
Father Myron Effing, visiting home, surprised at birthday party
Joining Father Myron Effing at his surprise seventieth birthday party are Marlene Hasselbrinck, Merle Effing and Marilyn Wassmer. The celebration was held at St. Joseph School in Vanderburgh County, Oct. 5. (Message photo courtesy Paul Hasselbrinck) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
“Well, we surprised Father Myron! He had no idea that we gathered for the celebration of his seventieth birthday,” said Paul Hasselbrinck.
Father Effing, a native of Vanderburgh County, has been serving in Russia for several decades. He will celebrate his birthday again in Russia on Feb. 7, his actual birthday.
Father Effing became a religious in 1964 and was ordained a priest in 1972. He holds a master’s degree in astronomy from Cornell University in New York. He has spent most of his life in vocation work and teaching science in seminaries.
In 1992, he was incardinated in the Apostolic Administration of Novosibirsk, arriving in Vladivostok in February 1992.
As dean of the Deanery of Vladivostok, he answers for a region of four states whose area is about as big as California, Washington and Oregon combined.
As pastor, he has five parishes with a combined area about the same size as the state of Washington.
Paul Hasselbrink provided the details of the birthday party, in his own words.
“Father Myron drove from a speaking engagement in Cincinnati, Ohio to his home town of Evansville, Ind., to visit his family on Oct. 5. As he drove up to St. Joseph School in Vander-burgh County, he commented to his brother. Merle, that there must be a basketball game to-night because of so many cars in the parking lot.
“In excess of 100 friends, family, and supporters had gathered in the cafeteria to greet Father Myron, singing Happy Birthday to him.
“People from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentuc-ky, Minnesota and Missouri were in attendance.
“Childhood, grade school, high school and college graduation pictures of Father Myron were on display along with pictures of his priestly ordination and first Mass said at St. Joseph. There were books that contained articles written about his accomplishments.
“The food tables included finger foods, vegetable tray with dip, meatballs, pigs in blanket. The cake table included cookies and punch. Father Myron led us through the line as we filled our plates to eat. The noise of conversations, congratulations, and best wishes filled the air as we ate.
“The sisters played the harp and flute as we sang Happy Birthday to Father Myron again. The evening ended with the DVD showing of the Mass of Perpetual Vows of Sister Maria Stella of the Merciful Heart of Jesus and Mass of First Vows of Sister Maria Damiana Lee.
[The sisters are members of the Sisters in Jesus the Lord, a new missionary community, a Public Association of the Faithful as of July 31, 2010 in the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, under Bishop Robert Finn.]
“We gathered the next morning with the reciting of the ro-sary preceding the Mass concelebrated by Father Myron and Father Doug Grandon.
“Father Myron’s homily expressed the teaching and lessons he learned at St. Joseph Church. He has taken these lessons with him in his journey of life.
“A meeting of supporters followed the Mass. Sister Maria Stella opened the meeting with speaking about the formation of the Sisters in Jesus the Lord. She also told about her journey to the Sisters in Jesus the Lord. She expressed hope of eventually opening a convent in Russia and serving the Russian people.
“Terry Kopp and Father Doug told about the event or events that led them to the Vladivostok Mission. Father Myron told of the changes in the government in the last few years and what he sees in the future. The government is starting to provide some funds for programs that were started by Father Myron.
“The government has invested 500 billion rubles in new infrastructure in the Far East. This will provide opportunities to Vladivostok in hosting the activities of the 2012 APEC summit. One of the major construction projects for the 2012 summit is the 100,000 student Far Eastern Federal University. Father’s hope is to establish the Omega Project near this university to serve the university students.
“Father Myron expressed the need for priests and religious in Russia. He said that two seminarians from the Philippines are in Russia, two are to come, and two hopefuls are discerning.
“Thanks to all who helped to make this event such a success!”