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
► James Czerwinski, OFM, pastor of St. Clare Church in Buffalo, N.Y., reports that the parish held a three-part festival earlier this month. Proceeds raised from the August 1 – 3 event will go toward the general expenses of the parish. In the August 17 bulletin of St. Clare, Jim said that “he is proud to be part of this parish community” and that Michael Putich, OFM, is serving as temporary parish administrator.
► Angelus Gambatese, OFM, pastor, of St. Stephen of Hungary Church was one of several friars participating in the annual commemoration of the feast of St. Stephen on August 17 at the East 82nd Street church. Others participating in the luncheon were Eric Carpine, OFM, Allan Von Kobs, OFM, former pastor Emeric Szlezak, OFM, and Denes Hesz, OFM. Several visitors from outside the parish attended including Fr. Marton Hegyi, a Jesuit priest who teaches at Fordham University and frequently has said Mass in Hungarian at the parish, and Rev. Zsolt Papp, pastor of the First Hungarian Reformed Church in Manhattan.
Earlier that weekend, Angelus and other members of the parish bid farewell to Fr. Denes who is returning to his native Hungary after ministering at St. Stephen friary for three years.
► Six friars including Michael Harlan, OFM, Christopher Keenan, OFM, Dominic Monti, Stephen Patti, co-chair of the Minsterial Development Directorate, Andrew Reitz, and Frank Sevola, OFM, are serving as part of the Province’s recently-established Leadership Development Committee. Michael is project coordinator for the group, which is holding its second meeting Aug. 20. Details on the leadership development initiative will be provided.
► Brian Jordan, OFM, is moving from the immigration center at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan to other outreach ministries in New York City, according to Jerome Massimino, OFM, pastor. In a recent parish bulletin, Jerome praised Brian’s compassionate ministry and said that the immigration center, The Border, of which Brian had been director, is temporarily closed.
► Claude Lenehan, OFM, reports that the syndicated Dear Abby newspaper column will mention the Retrouvaille program on Aug. 21. He learned that “Dear Abby” will refer a troubled couple to Retrouvaille, the national program through which Claude and several Holy Name friars minister to people challenged with troubled marriages. He said that some anticipate “a huge increase in interest in our program.”
► Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, preached at a Mass on August 8, the feast of St. Dominic, at Manhattan’s St. Vincent Ferrer Church, which is staffed by the Dominicans. On Aug. 15, he gave a day of recollection for the parish staff of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, N.C., and on Aug.18, he gave a day of recollection to the friar community in Silver Spring, Md.
► An article by Joseph Nangle, OFM, about the Assisi Community in Washington, D.C., appears in the summer 2008 issue of The Way of St. Francis, published by the St. Barbara Province. In the six-page piece, Joe describes the more than 20-year old residential community comprising both lay and religious men and women. The article, titled “Assisi Community — A New Form of Religious Life?” says that since the fall of 1986, community members have lived out the charism of Francis and Clare. The community owns and operates two houses, called Clare House and Francis House.
► Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, participated in a meeting of the English-speaking Conference executive committee last week in Dublin, Ireland. He is president of the ESC and Fr. Caoimhin O’Laoide, OFM, is the vice president.
► Mark Reamer, OFM, has shown the recently-released video about Holy Name Province to parishioners and staff of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh, N.C., where he is pastor. Response has been positive.
► James Toal, OFM, is participating in Siena College’s trip to Italy this month. He lived and worked at Siena before relocating to St. Petersburg earlier this summer. The Aug. 16–30 journey takes him and members of Siena men’s basketball team to cities including Venice, Lake Como, San Marino, Florence, Siena and Rome.