Dear (Friend),

Thanks for getting in touch.It is good to hear from you, to catch a glimpse of that familiar spirit.

You must be fairly settled in your current world now though it seems to me that at some stage we begin to transcend whatever particular world we happen to be in.… you seem to be remaining interested and satisfied, and that is a blessing.

Life is very rich isn’t it?

Maria and I are currently at … a community … set on the banks of a large river, and it is quite beautiful at this time of year …

It is different from a lot of other communities we have taught in, and it has taken a while to work things out, a process that has led to a good deal of inner growth which is pleasing.As usual, as we start to understand a little, it becomes time to leave.This of course bears out what we have known for some time that the time actually spent in a community is only part of the story.

We actually have less than two weeks left, and two months till we leave for America.That will be another adventure.I’m basically an ordinary man, but I keep ending up in adventures.Fortunately I usually enjoy them, after I survive.I have some ideas for a book on cross cultural relationships that I hope to follow up

My other book is approaching publication … I’ll send you one since you have been one of my chief encouragers …

Look after your self mate. It’s great to see you haven’t lost it.

Con

(June, 2004)

As Northern Beaches Community Access Service, members filled in this WANTED poster.  It states:

NAME:  Con Power

OCCUPATION:  Manager NB CAS

FOR

Always being: Calm, relaxed, even in the face of World War III

Having Strong Needs For:  trying to be a Stand-Up-Comedian

Greatly Valuing: his staff, and consumers in his care

Living by the Slogan: for every problem there is a solution.  Relax and let's work things out

Some of a poem by Edgar Albert Guest:

"A Child of Mine

I will lend you, for a little time,
A child of mine, He said
......
Take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief
You'll have his lovely memories
As solace for your grief ......
............
For the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay.
But when the angels call for him,
Much sooner than we've planned
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand".

Ref: https://allpoetry.com/A-Child-Of-Mine

Remembering anew your anniversary of entry into eternal life dearest Con.  Truly your visible presence amongst us is missed.  Much love embraces you.

Thinking of you with eternal love Con.  Here is one of your poems celebrating the day of your birth today January 15.  As for all birthdays, this day heralded blessing for all you would touch in your life.  May we continually learn from your example of creating the communion which affirms all made in the image of the Creator.

Whispering Communion

Have you ever brushed a leaf
And wanted to set with the sun
Watched a bird or a cloud touch the moon face
And wanted, yes wanted to fly?

Have you wanted to walk with the wind
Feel the restlessness of the sea
Melt in the blue of the sky
Whisper the sigh of every tree?
Felt our humanness to the core
And wanted, wanted to give even more?

The winds of change have touched the people
Beckoning the dream, setting fire free
Cradling identity, calling it into strength
Sowing wisdom, understanding, justice and hope.

Have you ever brushed a leaf
And wanted to set with the sun
Watched a bird or a cloud touch the moon face
And wanted, yes wanted, wanted to fly?
Yes, wanted, wanted to fly? 

"Neither air nor love need ask how to serve"


"From the Threshing Floor

Perhaps part of staying
this side of sane -
seeing evil
as the thrashings
of an animal
in pain" 


"When I think of you
......................
it's a wind that lives
it's a sea that's free -
it's a falling star
in the naked eye
in the question why
the question why"  

Con                        
     

Encounter - why a book about encounter?  Encounter is what breaks isolation.  It allows the other to breach our boundaries.  It overthrows the stagnant status quo and is the impetus of ongoing evolution.  It is our connecting with the internet of life.

The Existentialists rightly saw that it was our encounters that created both our personal world and our individual, inner self.  It's partly true that we are what we eat, but it is entirely true that we are what we have encountered and how we have responded to these encounters.

Our world and our self - teeming with unimaginable riches - the end product of a million million encounters and responses - a personal crystal of inestimable worth and beauty - this is the process that makes encounter the dynamic above all worthy of study and concern.

The creation of self and world - this is the project whose importance we glimpse each time we meet a person who has lived courageously and authentically and we sense the depth of life that has come to be within them.

The truth and validity of this project comes to us too in times of quiet and reflection when our earlier encounters and commitments infill, encourage and inspire us, and we come to sense the depth and riches our involvements have created of us.  


Con       

I remember once when I lived and studied in Italy for a time.  I was working in a small village in Umbria during the summer holidays.  Some of my new friends took me to see a church nearby that they thought 'I might find interesting'.

We entered through a hole in the earth, and came upon the ruins of an ancient pagan temple, the original site of ancient worship.  Winding up narrow stairs, we came upon the remains of a very early Christian chapel, that reeked with all the atmosphere of the catacombs.  The modern church to which we attained at last, was surprisingly the greatest wonder of all.  The people of the district had built it themselves, with their own crafts, from the materials of their own countryside.  It grew out of the earth with that amazing sense of harmony that the Italians are able to effect between land and habitation.  Behind the altar the view extended through a huge glass window to the fields and farms to the village and the whole world of the people who worshipped there.

I would like to be able to write something like that in the medium of print.  However, I will be content if I can write about profound things simply.

What I will be seeking to share in writing will not be concepts, but experiences.  If I see a sad or distressed child, I let my spirit dance before it like a clown.  Sometimes the miracle happens and the smile bursts forth.  The smile is all the child's doing, but the dance of the spirit is truly its occasion.  I believe in sharing my experiences with people, and seeing whether the understanding they created in me can happen also for them.  This is the realm of story, image, example, myth and poetry.  May the muse be with us.

Con     
  

Absence they say makes the heart grow fonder.  You who are about to read the first edition of the Chicago Bulletin will realise that we are not taking any chances.

Last time we were in touch with most of you, we were in Alice Springs, finishing up a challenging and rewarding stint at Daly River and preparing both home and office for departure.

The process was challenging, sandwiched between two other big challenges and we were wondering as usual why we get ourselves into such things!!!!!  Fortunately the process was also positive and we left the place ship shape even down to contingency flood precautions should they prove necessary.

David and Sue eased our minds by agreeing to look after 'the mansion' once a week and most importantly to mind Shaka.  He's a big dog, and he has left a big gap in our affection world.  It's comforting to know he will be having such a good time while we will be missing him.

We left work on a good note.   The uni seems to appreciate our work and is most anxious that we return after Chicago.  This was reassuring.  They are in the process of creating options for remote education.  Also, the Desert Knowledge Centre is helping them run a research project on the mobile classrooms suggesting that they may provide a model for remote community education in general - very encouraging.

The trip to Victoria was stunning.  It felt like the countryside was out to farewell us.  From the wildflowers and shining hills of The Centre  through the overwhelming wheatfields of SA to the inimitable emerald of the Victorian winter, the red carpet seemed rolled out and the ticker tape snow stormed. 

We had a warm and wonderful time with both our families, many people making special efforts to meet with us and to wish us well.  We are blessed with family.  Unfortunately, because of time parameters operating, we could not visit everyone before we left.  

We were most grateful for the hospitality of the Columban Fathers in Melbourne.  They helped us take care of some gear we had to move from storage, and Trevor sent us off personally at an ungodly hour on Monday, August 16.  His warmth dispelled both the morning fog and our dawning apprehensions.

The trip over was cramped and long, but the company was good.  Passing through security was time consuming but orderly and definitely better than being blown out of the skies.   

The jet lag - we arrived two hours before we left - was quite severe, and in between not sleeping and sleeping too much we blessed out foresight in coming a little early and allowing time to settle in. 

Chicago - set on the shores of Lake Michigan is an impressive and beautiful city centre.  We live in a lovely section of it, ten minutes walk from the lake.  It is a university area and a mixture of middle sized, attractive apartment blocks. It's clean with lovely gardens and parks.  The people are genuinely and spontaneously friendly.  We know the area for about ten blocks around.  Since this is about as far as we can walk, it may be about as much as we get to know.  Squirrels abound on the grass and they are sometimes quite comical.

We are on a budget, so we will come back with more wisdom than debt, but it is not too stringent.  We have a nice set of basic furniture and have got the phone on so we can email to our heart's content.

Maria has started her program and Con starts this week.  We have the same number of courses, all concerned with cross-cultural issues and relevant to our work, but Maria has the extra tasks associated with her Doctorate program - ministry in a cross-cultural context.  Because Con's work load is comparatively lighter, he hopes to cover a fair bit of the domestic duties and perhaps get a larger load of part time work at the Uni to augment the budget.  His course fees have risen so he now says he is working to pay his way through College as many idealistic students have done before him.  Maria has currently secured five hours work in the library.  As part of the visa conditions, we are not allowed to get work off campus and have to each have at least three courses a semester.

All in all, the start has been blessed, and we are grateful for all your warmth and well wishing that remained a foundation and strength when everything else fell away in the joys of culture shock. 

May your blessing flow back to you,

Con and Maria
8/10/2004          


  

There are no words to say ... we remember the positive person that Con was.

He will always be with us "in our mind and heart" with all the love that we can give. 

Cugina Elvira, we all love you (Mamma Cecilia, Papa Marco, Anna Maria, Sandra, Robert, Antonio, Carla).  With our families we bless Con and wish that God give you eternal peace.

Antonio (Vicenza)


We had a special toast to Con ... which went like this:

to the jokes he told, 
to laughter he brought and
to the love he gave
to Con, you will be missed.

A Sad Farewell

The darkness has fallen 
The light in our eyes gone
The laughter in your voice
Used to sing like a song
But no more will we hear you
Nor see your lovely face
To so many, you meant so much
You will never be replaced
Although our pain is deep
We find a reason to smile
'Cos to have had you in our life
Makes the hurting all worthwhile.

Maree (Newry)   



Con's visits to our house were always filled with excitement and anticipation at what kind of new adventure lay ahead, such as Cape Shank, Sunbury to visit the goats, ice cream at Half Moon Bay where Con would have his favourite flavour "strawberry", a visit to Brother Theophane's and who could forget the wonderful night at Luna Park where he gave us a handful of tickets to go on any ride.

Gabrielle
  

We both saw many countries, music and song and did lots of studies and learnt many experiences as we both went along
Lots of caring, sharing and wearing happened as we both moved along.
Although with vastly different styles we didn't often compare yet our family blood line we did always share
As you spoilt us as we travelled along, so too did you spoil our young when it was their turn to come
Now you are gone which I can't explain, it's often a memory of your special smile or laugh that replaces the pain
I often think of one of your maxims or ditties that stops me feeling or looking for pity, true blue and come and see us soon
My cousin, my light, keep heaven so bright.

Martin                                                 

* Beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend
* Fellow traveller of many in the spiritual life
* Believer in encounter with God, the human  person, cultures and "country"
* Weaver of esprit de corps, peace, social justice  and well being
* Teller of stories



* Described as nyuntu maru (you are black) for his understanding of and 
   compassion towards the pain and situation of Australians of Indigenous 
   descent
* In kimochi relationship in Japan (holding the energy of life) 
* Conscious imbiber of Italian cultural expression through music, art, song and
   interpersonal warmth
* Lover of the "Word" as well as the word -  student of English, Greek,
  Spanish, Japanese, Italian, French, German
  and Pitjantjatjara
* A true Aussie mate
* Always a minister in spirit
* Beloved husband

Thanks for the memories Con.

Maria                  

It is with the deepest sadness and you Maria that we sit.
A few musings:
Nganana pilunpa nyinanyi, pukulpa wiya,
We peacefully sit without happiness,
our soul mate gone, the nerve for me to miss some one else’s soul mate.
No sorrow lasts forever - nor sadness - nor joy,
but, as one man’s life illustrated, love forever lasts and moves on and
in and through all he touched.
And touch with silken gloves he did and a rolling laugh as humour
flowed over troubled souls like water over round red smooth stones near
Victory Well – bringing peace, empathy and understanding to all.
Humour, one more joke, leaving everyone the better for even a few
minutes spent in his soft light.
Hilarity reigned or is it rained supreme, my son in wonder at endless
jokes and riddles never repeated, days later the dawning of a hidden
meaning lights his young mind, wondering where such brilliance comes from.
Ngaltutjara, ... the anawim's empathy is not like anything else.
Victory he brought and shared his life like a store manager shares candy with smiling children the day before pension day.
Watching me paint – humbly passing out unwarranted praise as if it was
free – beyond value – filling souls with confidence, sharing faith like
a father,
that he was.
Vocations, numerous, life demanded several lifetimes in one, up to the
task giving without expectation of return, in fact such would not have
occurred to one such as Con.
No exceptions:
no one too small or big or black or white,
no one too loud or soft or wrong or right,
no one too young or old or left or right,
no one too weak or full of might,
to warrant his time.
He gave time - time the greatest gift of all,
let the bells ring out over the valleys in celebration,
let the bells ring,
let the crowds roar,
let the clowns sing,
let our hearts pour,
let the bells ring,
let the writers write,
let the singers sing,
let the fighters fight,
let us all bring
friends to his light.
His spirit lives on here and beyond, I personally know of
‘wampanti’ - a Pitjantjatjara word he loved - ‘I do not know, but I
might know, but not know that I know’.

We love Con.

Rob, Judy, Daniel and Jack
(Alice Springs)

From one of the same band of brothers remembered at Dalgan Cemetery amid whom Con has "his proper place in all that" ...

I "remember Con with great affection.  A gentle man who always gave a lift to the spirit when you met him.  We rejoiced in his aura - which he probably did not see as much as we did.  He was one of the lads who often joined the quiet half hour of classical music that ... our professor made available each evening on spool tapes.

... Con would have been happy for all music to be heard and revelled in ... Con was a poetic person and shared wonderful insights on various occasions - always felt better about life whenever we encountered him.

Christmas would be a fiesta for Con - the child of God With Us who himself helped reveal the same mystery to many of us.  Quiet with a penetrating vision".  

Warren (Newman)   
  

"what a man! and our great good fortune to have known him"

(Noting the song by Irving Berlin and lyrics by Beda Loehner:)  

"The song is ended.
But the melody lingers on.
You and the song are gone.
But the melody lingers on."
                     
                         Frank and Clare, 21st December, 2015

Con also speaks of lingering presence in the following poem of his:

The Visitor 

It is already
the day
after your coming
but the perfume 
of your presence
still
wraps me round
as dew
the ground
when the mist
has passed away.

'CJ', 3rd July, 1988                             
  
  

Beloved, and most respected brother, Con

You left Mother Earth to drift in the Infinite Unknown into, I hope
The warm embrace of God.

Meanwhile, I am ... where the love and comfort of my fellow human beings cannot reach me.    

I have wonderful recollections in my mind of Con's presence right now and will forever.  I believe he will continue to help people and in spirit be present in a comforting way to Maria.   

Mary Frances Zehntner     

Memories of a Big Brother
  
I remember a proud mother.
I remember a doting father.
I remember listening to the cricket at night.   

I remember the footy and the tennis.
I remember the beach at Christmas.
I remember the driving lessons.

I remember the special birthday parties.
I remember so many good things.
I remember a brother who loved me unconditionally without judgement or criticism.

I remember my brother Con.

John Power   


Con was a beautiful man and played a big part in shaping all our lives.

Karl Zehntner    




   

Con introducing himself to his classmates for Latino Spirituality (Hints of his propensity to tell a good colourful story!  I am actually Australian-born of Italian immigrant parents.  Don't let detail get in the way of a good story Maria!):

“My wife and I operate a mobile classroom in Central Australia within four Indigenous communities each year.

We teach computers, local government studies, retail studies and anything the community needs that we can manage.

We are employed by a secular university, but our main agenda is religious in the broad sense – viz to help Indigenous people develop confidence and articulation in the mainstream culture and to affirm their own cultural ways.

Our faith and the faith community we form and generate sustain our commitment.

I have friends who work in Peru and Chile.  From them I have learned about Basic Christian Communities, Liberation Theology and Grass Roots Theology.

The Italian migration to my suburb when I was about 10 was a liberation experience for my Anglo-Saxon spirit.  I liked it so much I married an Italian wife, and boy, did I then find out about Latin spirituality!

I look forward to growing together.

Con” 

(4/9/2004)

How can one begin to contain the essential spirit of such a loving and inspirational man?  How can one describe what inspired him and birthed a list of achievements?  Upon his death, many who had known him in life worked to articulate this essence and wrote of their connection to him.  In the following chapters therefore will be some of their work sent to me in remembrance of this wonderful man. 

Cornelius James (Con or 'CJ') Power was the second child of Patrick Robert and Mary Miriam Power (nee Buchanan).  His eldest sister is Mary Frances Zehntner and two brothers are Peter and John.  Despite leaving his family after completing secondary school to study interstate for his chosen profession of ministry, Con highly valued contact with all his family.  He spoke fondly of his parents, siblings and their partners, their children, his cousins, aunts and uncles and reflected on the gifts they, his colleagues and friends were to his life.  Con married Maria Elvira Rosa on 21st January, 1989. 

When Con's ashes were processed out of the Memorial Mass held for him in the parish of his youth - Our Lady Help of Christians, East Brunswick, Melbourne, his nephews formed a guard of honour.  His nephews on Maria's side of the family wore black and white scarves of his lifelong football team, the Collingwood Magpies.  The eldest, Kade, said this was only something they would do for Uncle Con, as all of them barracked for a rival team.  In his youth, Con attended as many Magpies' games as he could.  Even while in Chicago in 2004, he chose a weekly team on paper and carefully compared it to that of the Collingwood selectors.

Con's nephews are: Karl, Andreas and Alexander Zehntner; Peter, Alan and Leigh Power; Joshua and Liam Power; Kade, Luke, Clinton and Joshua Rawson.

Maria's parents Giovanni Battista (John) and Faustina Agnese Rosa (nee Grigiante) together with her sister Jiuliana Rawson and brother Roger and their partners, her aunts, uncles and cousins welcomed Con into their hearts forever as did so many others.