WILMINGTON, Del. — A long-term care center, a chapel in a shopping center, parishes in the suburbs, and two administrative offices were among the ministries that postulant director Ronald Pecci, OFM, and the Province’s three postulants visited in February. The postulants traveled from their St. Paul Friary home here to Upstate New York’s and northern New Jersey to learn about Holy Name’s diverse ministries.
“An important aspect of postulancy is becoming familiar with the Order, in particular, your own Province,” said Ronald.
Visits to College and Neighboring Chapel
The first weekend of February, the group traveled to Loudonville, N.Y., to visitSiena College and St. Francis Chapel in nearby Colonie, the 40-year-old chapel in the Northway Strip Mall that is staffed by four Province friars.
Two weeks later, John Aherne, Pedro Corces and Jeffrey Upshaw visited parishes in northern New Jersey, as well as several offices of the Province.
On the weekend of Feb. 18, while staying at St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., they went to Sacred Heart Friary in East Rutherford for an orientation to the Province’s financial development work at St. Anthony’s Guild fromJoseph Hertel, OFM, Thomas Cole, OFM, and Octavio Duran, OFM.
“Joe gave an excellent history of St. Anthony’s Guild and its achievements,” Ron said. “Tom told of the Province’s efforts in the field of foreign missions, and Octavio told them about his work in creating publications for the Guild and Franciscan Missionary Union.”
The group also visited St. Joseph’s Church in East Rutherford, where Kevin Daly, OFM, is pastor, and talked withZachary Elliot, OFM.
Introduction to North Jersey Ministries
The postulants went to Paterson to meet with Daniel Grigassy, OFM, pastor of St. Bonaventure Parish, Christian Camadella, OFM, and Christopher VanHaight, OFM. “Besides telling the history of the Paterson friary and describing current parish activities, Dan gave the postulants a tour of the Province’s historic cemetery plots,” Ron said.
The group also attended Mass and had a tour of St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, went to Mass at St. Anthony Church in Butler, and visited Kevin Cronin, OFM, who described the HNP Ministry of the Word.
Their travels also included a stop at Holy Name’s long-term care center in Ringwood, where guardian A. Francis Soucy, OFM, discussed his philosophy of care. They also visited Lawrence Burke, OFM, and Thomas Ennis, OFM.
The postulants dined at the Butler parish house with Michael Jones, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church,Patrick Fereday, OFM, and John Quinn, OFM, a visitor from the retirement friary next door.
Next week, the postulants will be accompanying Ron to Western New York, where the postulant director will give an inter-parish mission in Olean.
Ron said, “We have hopes of another road trip, this time into the South.”
— Jocelyn Thomas is director of communications for Holy Name Province.