[winters.htm]


================================


John Smith:

Father Winters was always the gadfly, making comfortable 
uncomfortable. He preached the Catholic Social Gospel of social and 
economic justice,equal opportunity and fairness to workers. He challenged status 
quo by encouraging reasoning guided by Faith. God with him.

=============================

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Pete Mazza <petemazza@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, Dec 4, 2020 at 3:43 PM
Subject: MEMORIES & OBITUARIES OF RED WINTERS (JAY, PLEASE PASS ON)
To: Jay Champelli <jaychampelli@gmail.com>


SOME OF MY (HOPEFULLY ACCURATE) REFLECTIONS:
HE WAS ONE OF NINE (BY MY COUNT) OF HIS CLASSMATES WHO SERVED IN THE SEMINARY SYSTEM.  IT MOST HAVE BEEN A WELL-RESPECTED CLASS AS THERE WERE OTHER NOTABLES IN HIS CLASS WHO HAD VALUED POSITIONS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE AS WELL NON-ORDAINED CLASSMATES.  
YOU CAN FIND HIS 1945 GRADUATING CLASS YEARBOOK AT THE "CLASSMATE" WEBSITE.  ON PAGE 55, THERE ARE PICTURES OF HIM PORTRAYING FR. REDMOND FINERTY IN THE PLAY "THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDECH".
HIS FATHER, NATHANIEL, DIED AT 96.  HE WAS ONE OF FIVE CHILDREN.  HIS DAD WAS A STREETCAR MOTORMAN FOR THE OLD CHICAGO SURFACE LINES.  ON HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY HE WAS A GUEST ON GAMUT, THE SHOW "RED" HOSTED. 
LONG LIFE RAN IN THE FAMILY. 
AT MUNDELEIN HE WAS A CANDIDATE FOR A DOCTORATE IN THEOLOGY.    IN DEFENDING HIS THESIS, HE & ONE OF THE EXAMINERS STRONGLY DISAGREED ON SOMETHING HE PRESENTED.  HE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE STD.
"RED" MUST HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF IMPRESSION ON ME.  
SENDING OUT THE OBITUARY BELOW, A NUMBER OF STORIES "JUMPED OUT" FROM MY PASSIVE RECALL.  (SEND ALONG YOUR MEMORIES OF THE "OLD REDHEAD.  WE'LL ENJOY THEM OR, AT LEAST, I WILL.)
HE WAS NAMED AFTER HIS FATHER, NATHANIEL, BUT THE POWERS TO BE AT "Q" SAID NATHANIEL WASN'T A SAINT'S NAME SO THEY CHANGED HIS NAME "MARTIN NATHANIEL" FOR THE RECORDS.  HE SAID THE FACULTY WEREN'T SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS SO THEY DIDN'T RFEAZIZE ST. BARTHOLOMEW & ST. NATHANIEL WERE THE SAME PERSON.
I HAVE VIVID MEMORIES OF THE INTERESTING, CONTROVERSIAL, OUT(WELL)SPOKEN & COCKY REDHEAD. 
AT SOME POINT I CALLED HIM "NATE THE SKATE".  HE CORRECTED ME & TOLD ME "NATE" WAS FOR NATHAN & "NAT" WAS FOR NATHANIEL.
AT "Q" WHO COULD FORGET HIS LIBERAL ARGUMENTS WITH THE CONSERVATIVE FR. HARTNETT RE J. EDGAR HOOVER, FDR & JFK.  THEY WOULD BE GREAT THEATRE IN THE FACULTY LUNCHROOM.  ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, RED WOULD POKE HIS HEAD INTO JJ'S CLASS & MAKE A LIBERAL (JFK COMMENT).  THIS CHANGED THE COURSE FROM LATIN TO JJ'S STAUNCH, RANTING THOUGHTS.
REMEMBER HOW WE MIMICKED HIS "CHHYESSSSSSSS";
ALTHOUGH HE LOST HIS "B" SKILLS, HE KEPT HIS "VICIOUSNESS" ON THE BOARDS WITH WELL POINTED ELBOWS;
HIS CUFFLINKS AND BRIGHT RED HAIR MADE HIM STAND OUT AND LOOK MOST FASHIONABLE;
AT NILES, I WAS CLIMBING THROUGH THE REC ROOM WINDOW ONE SATURDAY NIGHT...ONLY TO BE CAUGHT BY HIM (SHAKINESS, STOMACH CLENCHING & FEAR OF BEING ADIOSED).  FOR MY INDISCRETION, I JOINED THE FIRST GROUP WHO LOST ITS WEEKEND HOME PRIVILEGES.  (IT WAS WELL WORTH THE TRADE-OFF.)
(FACT OR FICTION) ON A HISTORY TEST FOR THE CLASS BEHIND US, FR. WINTERS HAD A QUESTION, "WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS FROM ? TO WATERLOO.  FR. "FROGGY"SMID GRUMPED, "JUST RIP THE COVER OFF YOUR BOOK, SIGN IT & TURN IT IN.  ONE OF THE GUYS IN THE CLASS WROTE ON HIS TEST TOWARDS THE END OF HIS LONG ANSWER, "IF YOU READ THIS FAR, I'LL GIVE YOU $5.00.  WINT SAID THAT YOU OWE ME $5.00 & YOU GET AN "F".
I WAS AT SOME FUNCTION & TOLD HIM SOMEONE SAID THAT I WAS JUST LIKE HIM.  WITH A WRY SMILE ON HIS FACE, HE SAID "BUT I'M FAR SMARTER THAN YOU."
WHILE AT THE CONVENT IN LEMONT, HIS NEPHEW WOULD COME & GO OVER HIS FINANCES W/ HIM;
AND, FINALLY, --- A SAD MEMORY FOR ONE WHO WAS LARGER THAN LIFE IN MY MIND --- ABOUT FIVE YRS AGO I WAS AT A DINNER WERE THE CLASS IN BACK OF US HONORED OUR PROFS WHO WERE STILL ALIVE.  (WHILE I DIDN'T APPRECIATE IT LONG AGO, AT "Q", THE PROFS WERE AMONG THE BEST & BRIGHTEST THE DIOCESE HAD...STRIVING TO MAKE US THE BEST CONTRIBUTORS TO SOCIETY IF WE LEFT & THE BEST PRIESTS IF WE WERE ORDAINED.)  
I RECOGNIZED MANY OF THOSE PRESENT.  HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE BALD FELLOW WHO WAS BENT OVER & LEANING TO ONE SIDE I COULDN'T RECOGNIZE.  IT WAS "RED".  AFTERWARDS, A GROUP OF US TALKED TO HIM, HIS MIND WAS STILL SHARP...HIS VOICE WEAK.  
I WAS TOLD THEY MEDIVACED HIM TO & FROM THE CONVENT WHERE WAS THE CHAPLAIN EMERITUS.
THOSE ARE THE MARTIN NATHANIEL "RED", "NATE THE SKATE" WINTERS STORIES I REMEMBER AT FIRST THOUGHT.









- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ANOTHER OBITUARY 


Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Martin N. Winters, Dies

Beloved son of the late Nathaniel and Margaret Winters.
Loving brother of the late John (Angeline), late Mary, late Margaret, late Charles, and late Peter (Sharon) Winters.
Cherished uncle of late Carol, Jeanne, John, Michael, Peter, Dan, Sean, Marty, Bobby, Erin.

Winters was born on Oct. 14, 1926, in Chicago. He attended St. Columbanus Catholic School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary, both in Chicago, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

Winters was ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 1952, by Cardinal Samuel Stritch, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 11 of the same year at St. Columbanus Church.

After ordination, Winters served the archdiocese in a variety of roles: He was assistant pastor of St. Barbara Parish in Brookfield and St. Sylvester Parish on Humboldt Boulevard in Chicago. He joined the faculty of Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1955 and the faculty of Mundelein Seminary in 1961 where he taught Church history. He served as academic dean of Niles College of Loyola University for 18 years.

During Winters’ teaching years at Quigley Preparatory Seminary in the late 1950s, among the many seminarians was Monsignor Wayne Prist, now pastor emeritus of Queen of All Saints Basilica, who appreciated his professor’s engaging, challenging and playful approach. “I respected his knowledge of history,” said Prist. In the late 1960s, Prist served as a television producer for WMAQ-TV. When he needed a host for the Gamut program, his articulate and confident professor came to mind. As it turned out, Winters thrived in that role as he interviewed guests on a variety of topics. Every Sunday, Winters attracted more than 100,000 Chicago Catholics during his 10 years on that program. He also served as a guest commentator for NBC and WGN on such church functions as Christmas Midnight Mass and Pope John Paul II ’s visit to Chicago in 1979.

Rev. William J. Flaherty, pastor emeritus of Infant Jesus of Prague Parish in Flossmoor, mentioned that his classmate was very devoted to teaching: “He was a gifted teacher, in my opinion at least. He could make Church history fascinating to the students.”

“He spent most of his priesthood teaching,” recalled Most Rev. Raymond E. Goedert, retired auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese. According to Goedert, his classmate was one of the brightest minds in the 1952 class and had always something interesting to say. People would pay attention to him because he was very well-spoken.
At this time due to Covid, Mass of the Resurrection and burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery will be private. There will be a Memorial Mass at a later date.
PRAYERS & PEACE,

Pete

PFM:mmi








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I have two distinct memories of Fr. Winters at Niles.  I remember him celebrating mass individually in a basement altar at Niles. I remember being struck by his reverence and prayerfulness.  It was real.  It was not staged.  I  remember Fr. Winters in a religion class at Niles admonishing John Brown that he took St. Paul too literally. I recall John Brown replying that he took St. Paul seriously. As I recall the interchange, I detected mutual respect on both sides.
The thoughts that the two Johns expressed resonate in me as well.


Peace,


Jack Lillig


On Sunday, December 6, 2020, 01:13:41 AM CST, RMcAvoySemyck  wrote: 




My memories of Fr Red Winters carry a tone of awe at his Facile Mind in Geometry, and His Forward Thinking in Bible Studies, and The SocioEconomic implications of More Recent Papal Encyclicals. He leaned toward Progressive Social programs of FDR , which lifted many out of the desperate times of the Great Depression & wasn’t afraid to stand up for his Beliefs. When he was retired from his TV  Catholic Discussion program & laid up with health Issues, I called him many times, and was touched by how he appreciated the calls & How facile his mind was to the last. My life has been enriched by him & I count him as one of the best educators & Religious Personalities I’ve had the Pleasure & Honor to have been a student of & later a  friend with. God Bless Him with A Higher Place at the Banquet Table in Heavenly Paradise with the Apostles, Evangelists & Doctors of the Church who he knew through his Prayerful Studies , & where He can add His Cheery Humor to the Agape. Rick John McAvoy Semyck, ABD/PhD, LBS/SPED&GFTD K-12, CPS.
& Humanities, Community Colleges. 


Sent from my iPhone


On Dec 5, 2020, at 12:37 PM, John Smith  wrote:





Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com


On Friday, December 4, 2020, jaychampelli@gmail.com  wrote: 


Father Winters was always the gadfly, making the comfortable uncomfortable. He preached the Catholic Social Gospel of social and economic justice,equal opportunity and fairness to workers. He challenged status quo by encouraging reasoning guided by Faith and invited us to think for ourselves.
God with him.  


Sent from AOL Mobile Mail


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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


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I have two distinct memories of Fr. Winters at Niles.  I remember him celebrating mass individually in a basement altar at Niles. I remember being struck by his reverence and prayerfulness.  It was real.  It was not staged.  I  remember Fr. Winters in a religion class at Niles admonishing John Brown that he took St. Paul too literally. I recall John Brown replying that he took St. Paul seriously. As I recall the interchange, I detected mutual respect on both sides.
The thoughts that the two Johns expressed resonate in me as well.


Peace,


Jack Lillig


On Sunday, December 6, 2020, 01:13:41 AM CST, RMcAvoySemyck  wrote: 




My memories of Fr Red Winters carry a tone of awe at his Facile Mind in Geometry, and His Forward Thinking in Bible Studies, and The SocioEconomic implications of More Recent Papal Encyclicals. He leaned toward Progressive Social programs of FDR , which lifted many out of the desperate times of the Great Depression & wasn’t afraid to stand up for his Beliefs. When he was retired from his TV  Catholic Discussion program & laid up with health Issues, I called him many times, and was touched by how he appreciated the calls & How facile his mind was to the last. My life has been enriched by him & I count him as one of the best educators & Religious Personalities I’ve had the Pleasure & Honor to have been a student of & later a  friend with. God Bless Him with A Higher Place at the Banquet Table in Heavenly Paradise with the Apostles, Evangelists & Doctors of the Church who he knew through his Prayerful Studies , & where He can add His Cheery Humor to the Agape. Rick John McAvoy Semyck, ABD/PhD, LBS/SPED&GFTD K-12, CPS.
& Humanities, Community Colleges. 


Sent from my iPhone


On Dec 5, 2020, at 12:37 PM, John Smith  wrote:





Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com


On Friday, December 4, 2020, jaychampelli@gmail.com  wrote: 


Father Winters was always the gadfly, making the comfortable uncomfortable. He preached the Catholic Social Gospel of social and economic justice,equal opportunity and fairness to workers. He challenged status quo by encouraging reasoning guided by Faith and invited us to think for ourselves.
God with him.  


Sent from AOL Mobile Mail


==================================================================
===================


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


==================================================================


   
I have two distinct memories of Fr. Winters at Niles.  I remember him celebrating mass individually in a basement altar at Niles. I remember being struck by his reverence and prayerfulness.  It was real.  It was not staged.  I  remember Fr. Winters in a religion class at Niles admonishing John Brown that he took St. Paul too literally. I recall John Brown replying that he took St. Paul seriously. As I recall the interchange, I detected mutual respect on both sides.
The thoughts that the two Johns expressed resonate in me as well.


Peace,


Jack Lillig


On Sunday, December 6, 2020, 01:13:41 AM CST, RMcAvoySemyck  wrote: 




My memories of Fr Red Winters carry a tone of awe at his Facile Mind in Geometry, and His Forward Thinking in Bible Studies, and The SocioEconomic implications of More Recent Papal Encyclicals. He leaned toward Progressive Social programs of FDR , which lifted many out of the desperate times of the Great Depression & wasn’t afraid to stand up for his Beliefs. When he was retired from his TV  Catholic Discussion program & laid up with health Issues, I called him many times, and was touched by how he appreciated the calls & How facile his mind was to the last. My life has been enriched by him & I count him as one of the best educators & Religious Personalities I’ve had the Pleasure & Honor to have been a student of & later a  friend with. God Bless Him with A Higher Place at the Banquet Table in Heavenly Paradise with the Apostles, Evangelists & Doctors of the Church who he knew through his Prayerful Studies , & where He can add His Cheery Humor to the Agape. Rick John McAvoy Semyck, ABD/PhD, LBS/SPED&GFTD K-12, CPS.
& Humanities, Community Colleges. 


Sent from my iPhone


On Dec 5, 2020, at 12:37 PM, John Smith  wrote:





Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com


On Friday, December 4, 2020, jaychampelli@gmail.com  wrote: 


Father Winters was always the gadfly, making the comfortable uncomfortable. He preached the Catholic Social Gospel of social and economic justice,equal opportunity and fairness to workers. He challenged status quo by encouraging reasoning guided by Faith and invited us to think for ourselves.
God with him.  


Sent from AOL Mobile Mail


==================================================================
===================


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


==================================================================