Below is news about some of the many activities of Holy Name friars – including their speeches, and ministry work. More information can be obtained by visiting the links to the parishes mentioned, by contacting the friars by phone or e-mail, and by contacting the Provincial Office.
To provide news briefs for future issues of HNP Today, contact Jocelyn Thomas through communications@hnp.org.
Gregory Jakubowicz, OFM, led a hospitality weekend at St. Francis of Assisi Church on Long Beach Island, N.J., the weekend of Sept. 7 – 9. It was the first of seven 2007 – 08 weekends being held by the Province’s Vocation Ministry for men who are considering joining the Franciscans. Brian Smail, OFM, also participated in the weekend as did the friars of LBI, guardian Stephen Kluge, OFM, Kevin Kriso, OFM, Tom Conway, OFM,. and John Ullrich, OFM.
Daniel Lanahan, OFM, of East Rutherford, N.J., will lead a celebration of the Transitus and feast of St. Francis at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y., on Oct. 3 and 4. This is one of many events being held by the seminary to commemorate its 150th anniversary. The festivities began in July and will close in April with a president-rector’s dinner.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, was presented with a plaque on Sept. 9 to thank Holy Name Province for its 50 years of Franciscan missionary presence in Bolivia. Martin Sappi, OFM, provincial minister of St. Anthony Missionary Province of Bolivia, made the presentation at Holy Name’s new friary on West 31st Street in Manhattan. Details will be provided in the next issue of this newsletter.
James Vacco, OFM, was asked by Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, where he works in the Spiritual Care Dept. one day a week, to compose meal prayers for patients. He reports that the following Web site shows the Catholic Health System newsletter which contains a small article on the topic in its August edition:
www.chsbuffalo.org/files/pdf/connections_Aug07.pdf. The article is on page 3.
On Aug. 30, James gave a presentation to first-year medical students at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa., as a part of their Spirituality & Medicine Series on “Recognizing Your Belief System.”
William “Jud” Weiksnar, OFM, is pleased to report the hiring of several new staff members at St. Anthony of Padua Church and School in Camden, N.J. Details will be available in an upcoming issue of HNP Today.