Pierce Elementary Presents Latin American Program

Pierce Elementary Presents Latin American Program

By Alan Eisenberg, Editor

Franklin Pierce Elementary School on Fratney Street in Milwaukee hosted an
exciting Latin American Program involving performances of both vocal and dance music on May 23rd. The school is bi-lingual, so all of the performances were also bi-lingual.  The vocals and dances were derived from a selection from many Latin American countries.  The faculty choreographed the dancing and taught the vocals.  The highlight of the event was a set of dance performances that had been prepared and were performed at the Bradley Center for the “Mad Hot Ballroom Competition” earlier in the week, both tap dancing and ballroom dancing.  The choreographing for that event was assisted by Danceworks, a Milwaukee non-profit that teaches dancing in some
Milwaukee Public Schools.  The Bradley Center performance by Pierce Elementary was sponsored in part by the Greater Milwaukee Board of Realtors.

Mounted throughout the auditorium were flags from all of the Latin American countries.  An interesting narrator/announcer was  Celena Phommachanh who also was part of a celebration of Roberto Clemente’s and Celia Cruz’s lives.  Ms. Phommachanh is also an academic excellence award winner honored at a recent dinner.

Is This Teacher Supernatural?

Is This Teacher Supernatural?

By Alan Eisenberg, Editor

This is too exciting!  Among all of the other things that I do, I study The History of American Art at UW-M, and my “Prof” is a splendid gentleman by the name of Michael Aschenbrenner.  I have been a student at various universities since 1959 but this guy is the best.  (Boy, am I old!)  Aschenbrenner has an interesting modus operandi of teaching.  He shows a long string of slides of ancient art, but takes the students back in time to the era that the painting describes.  It’s almost magic.  There we are, in 17th century colonial America.  Two months ago, he took us on an amazing Boston graveyard tour, and we wound up being taken back in time to about 1670.  It never even occurred to me to figure out how he had these eery 17th century photos.  Cameras didn’t exist. He was explaining early American sculpture, so I immediately got mentally involved with his explanations and details.  Suddenly a 21st century photo popped up and the class (including me) roared.  It was a photo of Aschenbrenner sitting or squatting next to a 1670 sculptured tombstone with a big grin.  It never occurred to me that Aschenbrenner was that old.  If you take the class, you might wonder!  (He is not hoary with age.)

 

Father Jose Moreno: Doctor, Engineer, Teacher, Jesuit Priest and NOW Poet and Lyricist

Father Jose Moreno:  Doctor, Engineer, Teacher, Jesuit Priest and NOW Poet and Lyricist

By Alan Eisenberg, Editor

Father Jose Moreno is the Jesuit priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick’s Church, a largely Latino parish on the South Side of Milwaukee on seventh and Washington.  Born in Mexico City, Father Jose Moreno obtained both a master’s and doctorate degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in biomechanical engineering that included research on developing mathematical models of the human body, and he came on a full scholarship.  Then he returned to Mexico City to become a Jesuit priest.  His resume is extremely diverse.  He has served as a Professor of Mathematics, a missionary, a textbook author and still has his own website: Mathematike.org!  He has been honored, praised, and prayed for.  He is both low keyed and well known, He is not just a man of the cloth, he is a man of God.  We can now add to his resume:  he is officially now a poet and a lyricist.  He has a prison ministry, and a project for Families of the Incarcerated.  First he composed a poem/prayer, and then he gave it to several prison inmates because it was pertinent to their lives.  One of the prisoners surprised Moreno by setting it to music.  Then he took the words and music to his church children’s choir.

These are a part of the wonderful words: I will be a messenger of your peace . . .When I find hatred and revenge, I will bring your love . . .In fights and divisions, I will offer forgiveness and reconciliation . . .When I find doubts and problems, I will share my faith . . . In sadness and sorrow, I will be a sign of joy and friendship . . .I will bring hope and truth . . My life will be a sign of light.   

The music was then performed and recorded.  A CD was produced, and this amazing piece along with nine others are now for sale as a church fundraiser and can be purchased at the church after Mass every Sunday or at the rectory office.  Father Moreno’s sermons are wonderful, and he exhibits a great sense of humor. Heavenly music by a heavenly  children’s choir composed by a Jesuit priest is now for sale!  The cost is only $10 and will make a wonderful Easter gift!