In Memory of Conrad Borntrager, OSM
Rev. Conrad M. (William) Borntrager, O.S.M. May 16, 1934 – April 11, 2023
Born in Chicago of William and Esther Borntrager, he attended Our Lady of Sorrows grammar school and St. Philip high school, Chicago. He was a member of the marching/concert band and played the flute. He entered the Our Lady of Sorrows American Province formation program and made first profession on September 5, 1954, in Granville WI, and Solemn profession on December 9, 1957. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on April 18, 1960; an S.T.L (Roma, Marianum 1960); M. of Arts (Washington D.C., Catholic University of America, 1961); L. Hist. Sc. (Leuven, Louvain, 1966). Fluent in Italian, French and reading knowledge of German, Greek, and Latin.
He taught Church history at the Servite Theologate in Mundelein (1967-1968) and at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago (1968-1971). His pastoral ministry included service as an assistant pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows in Chicago IL and as an Associate pastor at Annunciata on Chicago’s Eastside. He was a talented musician who enjoyed playing the recorder in the parishes he served.
In 1969, he organized the moving of an extensive library, the Morini Memorial Collection from Lake Bluff IL, to Our Lady of Sorrows monastery and saw to the merging of pieces of this collection into the newly formed library at Catholic Theology Union. The Archives of the various American province, rectorates, and vicariates were in several locations in WI and the Chicago metropolitan area. He became the archivist (1971) of the newly formed Eastern Province of Servites in America, gathering and inventorying the collections, moving them to the second floor of the monastery on Jackson Blvd. Together with Sr. Veronica, O.S.M. of the Ladysmith WI Servite Sisters, it took three years to complete. He continued to add and organize materials of local and international Servite interest until retiring as archivist in 2016. Total blindness in one eye, deteriorating sight in the second eye, and deafness led to the decision to transfer the responsibility of the collection to archivist Fr. Paul Gins, O.S.M.
He taught classes and presented workshops on Marian history, church ethics, Servite Constitutions, European Servite history specializing in the foundation years 1233 to 1400, American Servite history 1852 to the 1970s, and spiritual assist to the Servite Seculars. He contributed to two Servite historical periodicals: Studi Storici, O.S.M. and Marianum. He authored over fifty articles, fifteen book reviews, three books, two banker boxes of class presentation notes, editing the Necrology of Servite Friars in the United States, Ireland, Australia and Zululand 1870 to 2019, and edited the 300 page An American Servite Bibliography: 19th Century to 2019 and the Servite Bibliography: An Irish Contribution 1960 to 2020. He was a member of CARA, MAC, ACHA, and other professional groups.
He served on several Provincial committees over the years even when the province changed names several names. He truly gave excellent witness to living his vow of poverty in a world that teaches excess. He had few personal possessions and no financial resources upon his death at Villa Scalabrini, Northridge IL.
He weekly wrote or called his sister Rosemary, who was a Sister of Providence. She died on March 6, 2023, in St. Mary of the Woods IN. He was a faithful friar who enjoyed organizing, writing, teaching, and praying. He was a devoted Servant of Mary and is missed. He was buried on April 18, 2023, at the Servite plot in Queen of Heaven cemetery, Hillside IL.
Rev. Paul Gins, O.S.M. - Chicago, IL - May 24, 2023
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CARA Holds Spring Meeting at St. Scholastica Monastery
On June 9, 2023, CARA members gathered for an in-person meeting and a tour of the archives and St. Scholastica Chapel at the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago on the far north side of the city. The main order of the day was a motion to change our by-laws to allow for a steering committee of 3 members. CARA members are urged to vote in the election for steering committee members! The ballot is included in Andrew Rea's email of June 12, 2023. Voting ends June 23, 2023.
At the meeting, we also greeted and renewed ties with old friends and colleagues. We were delighted to welcome new members, Paul Gins, OSM of the Servite Archives on the West Side and Kathleen Murphy of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Evanston. Fr. Paul offered space at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica as a central Chicago area location for CARA meetings.
Sr. Virginia Jung, OSB walked members through the Benedictine Sisters' archives which are upstairs from the Oasis Room in the Laundry Building were we met. She also brought the group to the main chapel in the monastery where the stained glass windows and stations of the cross are the work of community member Sr. Celestine Fischer, OSB.
The laundry building at St. Scholastica has been home to the archives since 1978. (photo: Jerice Barrios) 
The most popular entrance to the monastery is the door of the infirmary, St. Joseph Court, built in 1980. (photo: Jerice Barrios) 
Sr. Virginia Jung, OSB provides CARA members with background on the St. Scholastica Chapel. This worship space is in the 1925 school building; it was renovated in 1990. (photo: Jerice Barrios) 
Sr. Celestine Fischer, OSB designed windows to represent the 7 hours of the Liturgy of the Hours. This window represents the hour of Prime, traditionally prayed at first light. (photo: Jerice Barrios) 
From the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great, comes the story of St. Scholastica, her brother St. Benedict, and the storm. This secco mural executed by Josef Steinhage in the 1930s, is a testament to the power of love and prayer. (photo: Jerice Barrios)
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| Jerice Barrios snaps a photo of the mural representing St. Joseph and the Christ child, documenting CARA's visit. (photo: Kathi Gormley) |
