NEW YORK — A series of eight regional gatherings of friars is being planned by the Provincial Council. The dates of these fraternal gatherings along with a registration deadline of Oct. 5 were announced last week by Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM.
“All friars are expected to attend one of the fall gatherings,” said Michael in a letter. “The agenda for the gatherings will include a conversation on several documents from the Province’s planning process and a continuing education component required for our Praesidium accreditation.”
The dates and locations of the fall 2012 gatherings are:
• Oct. 16 St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Oct. 18 Paterson, N.J.
• Oct. 23 New York, N.Y.
• Oct. 27 Silver Spring, Md.
• Oct. 30 Stoneville, N.C.
• Nov. 7 Allegany, NY.
• Nov. 9 Loudonville, N.Y.
• Nov 27 Boston
Michael asked the friars to return completed registration forms to Theresa Bartha in the Provincial Office “even if one of the fraternal gatherings is being held at your friary.”
Information can be obtained from Michael at 646-473-0265.
Several other friar events have been recently announced. They include two winter provincial retreats and the La Verna pilgrimage set for May 16 to 27. In addition, information about this year’s guardians meeting was emailed on Friday to guardians of the HNP friaries and director of the province’s accounting, communication, development and vocation offices.
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas