NEW YORK — Below are updates about some of the many activities of Holy Name friars, including their outreach, presentations and celebrations. More information can be obtained by visiting links to the parishes and organizations mentioned, by contacting the friars by phone or e-mail and by connecting with the Communications Office.
To provide news briefs for future issues of HNP Today, e-mail communications director Jocelyn Thomas at communications@hnp.org.
Clement Comesky, OFM, is mentioned in the cover story of the Feb. 26 issue of SJB News Notes. The article is by Fr. Justus Wirth, OFM, of St. John the Baptist Province, who spent time with Clement in Bolivia in the early 1980s.
Guardians from most of Holy Name’s more than 40 houses gathered at San Damiano Hall on West 31st Street in New York today for a presentation titled “Internal Control Self Assssment.” It was given by the Province’s auditors and highlighted applicable regulations and expectations that outside entities (independent auditors, governmental agencies, regulatory authorities and donars) have for not-for-profits and Catholic religious organizations. They also discussed the respective roles that guardians and procurators play in a well-fuctioning accounting system, with paricular attention paid to internal controls. Thomas Conway, OFM, and Dennis Wilson, OFM, co-chairs of the HNP Finance Directorate, as well as Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, spoke at the workshop, attended by roughly 50 friars and lay staff members.
Francis Critch, OFM, a native of Newfoundland, Canada, said he enjoyed watching the Olympic hockey games the past several weeks. He said he was thrilled with the outcome of Sunday’s gold medal game, which he watched at Holy Name College in Silver Spring, Md., “surrounded by a sea of red, white and blue.”
Dominic Finneran, OFM, was the guest of honor last month at a gathering at St. Anthony Shrine. On Feb. 14, during the weekly community night at the shrine, friars and postulants prepared for Lent with celebration of Mardi Gras. The friary kitchen staff served special Mardi Gras appetizers and meal for a festive evening, said John Maganzini, OFM, vicar. Dominic came from Marian Manor for the evening of celebration. On Presidents’ Day, the community had a pre-Lenten day of prayer and reflection, including morning prayer prepared by John and led by guardian David Convertino, OFM, a reflection on sin and penance from Raymond Mann, OFM, and Mass celebrated by Frank McHugh, OFM. Gene Pistacchio, OFM, prepared and led music, accompanied by Barry Langley, OFM, Hugh Macsherry, OFM, and Gary Maciag, OFM. The evening ended with desserts, coffee and a viewing of the movie “Julie and Julia.”
Lawrence Ford, OFM, of Holy Name Parish in New York and John Quinn, OFM, of St. Anthony Church, Camden, N.J., attended the Parish Technology Summit on Feb. 25 at Villanova University. The event was sponsored by the university’s Center for the Study of Church Management. Information about the seminar will be provided in a future issue of this newsletter by Rebecca Doel, HNP communications coordinator, who attended the event.
A photo of Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, appears on page 3 of the Feb. 26 issue of SJB News Notes. He is shown with HNP’s general visitor, Fr. Fred Link, OFM, of St. John the Baptist Province, with whom Michael traveled to Peru last month.
A photo of Linh Hoang, OFM, accompanies the article “Siena by the Numbers,” which appears on page 19 of the Winter 2010 issue of Siena magazine.
An article by Daniel Horan, OFM, of Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md., was published in current issue of the The Cord. It is titled “Il Poverello and Los Pobres: Reading The Sacred Exchange in Light of South American Poverty.” An article by Roderic Petrie, OFM — “A Franciscan Vocation: Who Is Called?” — is also included in the journal.
Kevin Kriso, OFM, and three St. Bonaventure University students participated in the Diocesan Youth Convention in Buffalo Feb. 13. The group led the discussion “Catholics Go Green” during a breakout section offered to the 700 Catholic high school students attending the three-day event. Kevin said the SBU team discussed why good science and Catholic/Franciscan approaches are important when it comes to the environment.
Stephen Mimnaugh, OFM, submitted a photo of a snowman created by Fr. Pio Kim, OFM, after the most recent snowstorm in New York City. Fr. Pio built it on the terrace of St. Francis Friary, where both friars live.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor OFM, is in Japan visiting the friars and meeting with the provincial minister of the Japanese province.
Friars and partners-in-ministry remembered the one-year anniversary of the death of John Piccione, OFM, last month. Two Masses, both at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J., were said in his honor. Sunday afternoon,Kevin Mullen, OFM, president of Siena College traveled from Loudonville, N.Y., to concelebrate Mass for John’s family. The parish had a larger memorial Mass for John, celebrated by pastor Daniel Grigassy, OFM, on Feb. 22. “It was a beautiful parish-wide remembrance of John’s life in ministry,” said attendee Jayne Porcelli. “Dan was mindful of reminding the parishioners that they were very important to John. He said they were the ones who helped John learn what it meant to be priest and pastor.”
A letter by Robert Sandoz, OFM, appears in the March 2010 issue of New Jersey Monthly magazine. He describes the importance of Catholic school education, emphasizing that Newark’s Christ the King Preparatory School, where he is president, is a model of success by welcoming students of all faiths and cultural heritages. He added, “Once again, the Catholic school becomes an asset to the spiritual, civic, and cultural life of the city.” Robert’s letter was in response to an article that appeared in the January issue of the magazine titled “Where Have All the Catholic Schools Gone?”
On Feb. 19, Paul Williams, OFM, was honored by the South Carolina Knights of Columbus at its state-wide Fourth Degree Exemplification. The Knights honored Paul, pastor of St. Martin de Porres Church in Columbia, for his ministries and service to the people of the state and diocese. A reception was held in Paul’s honor at Columbia’s Radisson Hotel, with Bishop Robert Guglielmone of Charleston present. Paul is the first African-American to receive this honor from the Knights of Columbus in South Carolina.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by March 10. Friars are reminded to visit the HNP Extranet for documents and information about friar family updates and related news.
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas