NEW YORK –- Below are news items about some of the many activities of Holy Name friars, including their ministries, presentations, outreach, 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 Jocelyn Thomas at communications@hnp.org
► Michael Harlan, OFM, presided at the closing prayer service for the Good Shepherd Volunteers Re-Orientation Retreat on July 26 at Marydell Faith and Life Center in Nyack, N.Y. Good Shepherd Volunteers is a year program for college graduates, giving them opportunities to serve in social service ministries with women and children affected by poverty, violence and neglect. Fourteen volunteers completed their length of service at the retreat, including Meghan Kelly, a 2006 Siena College graduate, who served two years in Los Angeles, Calif., and Wickatunk, N.J.
► St. Francis of Assisi Church in midtown Manhattan announced two friar staff changes. Hugh Hines, OFM, arrived in early July from Holy Name of Jesus Church on West 96th Street, Manhattan. The church is already enjoying his sense of humor. The church also announced that artist Miguel Loredo, OFM, is moving to St. Anthony’s Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla. Miguel had lived at the midtown friary since joining the Province in 1990.
► Kevin Mackin, OFM, will be inaugurated as president of Mt. St. Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., on Oct. 17. Details will be announced as they become available. Kevin will speak on August 20 at the monthly contact breakfast held by the Dutchess County, N.Y., Regional Chamber of Commerce.
► Kevin Mullen, OFM, reports that Siena College’s basketball team was recently ranked by ESPN as number 69 in the modern era. The Saints were the highest-rank Metro Atlantic Conference school.
► Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, and Vocation Director Brian Smail, OFM, left their New York offices last week to attend a meeting of the formators and vocation directors of the English-speaking Conference at St. Malo Retreat Center in Colorado. Also with them at the July 27 to Aug. 1 gathering were Francis Di Spigno, OFM, the Province’s director of post-novitiate formation, John Maganzini, OFM, pre-novitiate director, and Ronald Pecci, OFM, novitiate director. The featured speaker was Sister Ilia Delio, OSF, professor and chair of spiritual studies at Washington Theological Union.
► Daniel Riley, OFM, led a five-day silent retreat — “The Wonder-Filled Journey in the Holy” — last week at San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, Calif. According to the center’s newsletter, participants of the contemplative retreat reflected on teachers of the Franciscan wisdom tradition, including St. Clare, St. Francis, St. Bonaventure, Thomas Merton and others. Dan is director of the Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Retreat in Western New York.