NEW YORK — Below are news items about some of the many activities of Holy Name friars, including their presentations, outreach and celebrations. More information can be obtained by visiting links to the parishes and organizations, 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 Jocelyn Thomas at communications@hnp.org.
F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, Brian Smail, OFM, and James Vacco, OFM, were mentioned in the March 20 issue of the student newspaper of St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y. The story in The Bona Venture, titled “Franciscan Ads Attract National Spotlight,” describes the Province’s “Life Shift” vocation ad that appeared on New York subways for two months recently and captured the attention of national and local TV and radio news.
Kevin Cronin, OFM, said that after ashes, palms, and the sacred Triduum, the Lenten parish mission is probably the next most important element of Lent. Kevin and members of HNP’s Ministry of the Word (MOW) are busy this season giving missions. The MOW Web site provides a schedule of friars preaching the Gospel messages of love, peace and healing to more than 32 parishes in 10 states this Lent, including New York, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Vermont, California, Illinois, and North Carolina. Most of the MOW friars are booked at least a year in advance, according to Kevin, who added a reminder based on the words of St. Francis, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Sometimes use words.”
Siena College instructor Julian Davies, OFM, and President Kevin Mullen, OFM, traveled from Loudonville, N.Y., to Dayton, Ohio, on March 20 for the NCAA first-round game against Ohio State University. The Saints won that game in double overtime, but lost to the University of Louisville on March 22.
A photo by Octavio Duran, OFM, appears on page 32 of the April issue of St. Anthony Messenger. The photo, accompanying a piece about confessional ministry, shows the Francis artwork over the main entrance at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on West 31st Street in Manhattan. Many of Octavio’s photos can be found in a gallery that he recently created on the National Geographic Web site.
A 13-week novena, “Let us Go to the Feast: 13 Tuesdays with St. Anthony of Padua,” is being offered by Anthony LoGalbo, OFM, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City.
An article by Daniel Horan, OFM, titled “Interpreting Our Vocation Thirty-Five Years After Madrid,” was published this week in the journal The Cord (Jan/Mar 2009: 10-28). Dan invites reflection on the curial document, “The Vocation of the Order Today: A Statement of the 1973 Madrid Chapter to All the Friars of the World,” on the 35th anniversary of its release and in light of the Order’s 800th anniversary. The Cord is published by the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University, from which he graduated in 2005. He is currently a student at Washington Theological Union.
Julian Jagudilla, OFM, coordinator of Pastoral Care Ministries at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh, N.C., is leading the Job Connections Ministry to help job-seekers. Details of the ministry can be found at: http://www.stfrancisraleigh.org/job_connections
Daniel Lanahan, OFM, gave a parish mission on March 23 to 25 at Church of St. Elizabeth in Wyckoff, N.J., a parish formerly staffed by Holy Name friars. One attendee said, “Having a Franciscan at the parish was like experiencing a bit of heaven.”
Barry Langley, OFM, gave a presentation at the March 25 gathering of the St. Anthony Shrine 20s and 30s group. This ministry is part of the Evangelization programs offered by the church on Arch Street in downtown Boston.
Donan McGovern, OFM, and Flavian Walsh, OFM, are offering the third of their “Come Home for Easter” programs at St. Anthony Shrine on April 5. It is part of the Shrine’ s Come Home program for alienated and inactive Catholics.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, met with Archbishop Donald Wuerl, of Washington, D.C., on March 31. Today, John is participating in a meeting at the WTU. John’s travel schedule from mid-February to mid-June appeared in the Feb. 18 issue of this newsletter.
Ronald Pecci, OFM, and novice Jeffery Jordan, OFM, attended the annual Inter-Franciscan Novitiate Program last month at Graymoor, N.Y. The March 10 to 13 gathering, titled “God’s Extravagant Love,” comprised lectures and small group discussions, said Ron, Holy Name’s novitiate director. The program was developed by the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia.
Daniel Riley, OFM, director of Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Retreat in Western New York, and Michael Fenn of the Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Sojourners have collaborated on a Lenten reflection on the Mt. Irenaeus Web site. It is the 20th reflection that appears on the Mountain’s blog, launched in the fall of 2007. Comments from readers are welcomed.
Vocation Director Brian Smail, OFM, is welcomging six men to St Anthony Shrine in Boston April 3 to 5 for two hospitality weekends. Four of the guests are participating in a Come and See Weekend, which offers a general overview of Francisan life, and the others in a Franciscan Experience Weekend (FEW).