The updates below describe activities of Holy Name friars, featuring celebrations, presentations, and ministry events. For more information, contact the friars by phone or email, connect with the HNP Communications Office, or visit links to the parishes and organizations mentioned.
To provide news briefs for future articles, email information to communications director Jocelyn Thomas at communications@hnp.org.
►John Aherne, OFM, George Camacho, OFM and Edgardo Jara, OFM, returned last week from their retreat in Italy, taken as preparation for professing their solemn vows. All are welcome to the Aug. 27 Mass being celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street, New York City.
►Lawrence Anderson, OFM, and Sean O’Brien, OFM, are pictured on the cover of the Siena News magazine as part of the story about the college’s 76th commencement. Other friars featured in this issue include F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, the late Mathias Doyle, OFM, and Joseph Rozansky, OFM.
►The late Miguel Loredo, OFM, was given a significant mention in the essay, Ajejandro Anreus, “Catholic Cuba: From Las Casas to the Castros,” in the Aug. 12 issue of Commonweal magazine on pages 18 to 20. Michael Blastic, OFM, brought to the attention of the HNP Communications Office this excerpt: “In 1964 the Franciscan friar Miguel A. Loredo was arrested, accused of counterrevolutionary activities, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. A poet, painter, and activist, Fr. Loredo had criticized the revolution from the pulpit, not just for its obstruction of religious liberty, but for betraying the democratic and Christian principles that brought it to power. Loredo would spend ten years in prison under brutal conditions, becoming a legendary figure of resistance; released in 1976, he was forced to leave Cuba in 1984 and never returned to his homeland.”
►After saying farewell to Javier Del Angel De Los Santos, OFM, St. Francis of Assisi Parish welcomed Jeffery Jordan, OFM, who will be spending two months at the New York City church. Javier, who is going to Chicago to study, “made a wonderful impact during his summer ministry: preaching, teaching in the adult education program and working in various outreach ministries of the church,” according to the Aug. 7 bulletin of the West 31st Street parish.
►Jim McIntosh, OFM, national social media director for USFranciscans, participated in the 2016 meeting of the ESC communicators, held from July 31 to Aug. 4 at the Franciscan Friary in Dublin, Ireland. It was led by Jocelyn Thomas, HNP director of communications, who chairs the ESC Communicators Committee. The participants — who represented provinces in Canada, Ireland, Malta, and the United States — discussed a range of topics including media relations, crisis communications, and social media, as well how best to disseminate information to the friars of the communities. While in Ireland, they visited historic sites including Glendalough, a valley renowned for its early medieval monastic settlement. Since last summer, Jim, who is stationed in Philadelphia, has managed the website and Facebook page of USFranciscans, both of which offer information about the seven OFM provinces in the United States.
►Provincial Minister Kevin Mullen, OFM, and Michael Harlan, OFM, Provincial Secretary, are in Great Falls, Mont., visiting the Poor Clares of Montana to commemorate the feast of St. Clare. Their Monday travel plans were delayed because of the flight cancellations caused by Delta Airlines.
►Russel Murray, OFM, the Order’s general animator for evangelization, is one of more than a dozen people scheduled to speak at an Oct. 21 to 22 conference sponsored by the Academy of American Franciscan History titled “Junípero Serra and Beyond: Evolving Franciscan Missiologies.” Information about the event, being held at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, D.C., can be found on the website of the AAFH. The conference is open to the public.
►An early morning fire at the General Secretariat of Franciscan Missions building in Waterford, Wis., caused extensive damage to the facility that was recently renovated. John O’Connor, OFM, reports that the July 26 fire at the General Secretariat of Franciscan Missions building in Wisconsin “was a major setback for GSFM. It is very sad. I was out there just two weeks ago and received a tour of the renovated facilities.” Fortunately, no one was hurt, according to Tyler Curtis, director of operations, who said that the friars who were displaced by the fire are staying at a nearby monastery. “While the fire was contained to only one section of the building, the smoke and water damage is extensive. It will be at least three months until the building is restored for living and/or working.” Just four months ago, a celebration of the new facility was held. According to a story titled “Fire at Franciscan Mission Causes 100K Damage” published Aug. 4 in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Catholic Herald, the blaze caused about $100,000 in damage and forced the evacuation of six people. “I had just gotten up around 5:30 a.m. and the fire alarm went off,” said guardian Fr. Sante DeAngelis, OFM. “I opened the door and saw some smoke down the hall and called the others to get up and out of the building. Then I called 911. We live on the first floor and the smoke was coming up from the basement.”
►Joseph Quinn, OFM, was interviewed as part of a story titled “Friar Among First Customers at Boston’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary” aired on Boston’s CBS TV station. The Aug. 3 piece said, “This day has been a long time coming for Father Joseph Quinn. He suffers from a rare illness that causes him debilitating pain.” “It’s called Ogilvie syndrome. My entire digestive system no longer works,” he told WBZ-TV. Joe and Richard James, OFM, took part in last Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony of Patient Care when the facility opened its doors at 21 Milk Street, just two blocks from Saint Anthony shrine — with Joe cutting the ribbon in a grand opening ceremony.
►James Sabak, OFM, wrote an article on forgiveness and the Portiuncula for Messenger of Saint Anthony magazine out of Padua, Italy It appears in the July/August 2016 issue, he said.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Aug. 17 — always the Wednesday before distribution. Updates about the friars and their ministries can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Topics planned for future coverage in HNP Today include:
- Reception of novices on Aug. 15
- Solemn profession of three HNP friars on Aug. 27
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas
Related Links
- “Provincial Minister’s Schedule” – June 28, 2016, HNP Today
- “Miguel Loredo Celebrates 50th Anniversary” – Aug. 18, 2010, HNP Today
- “Friars Gather in Puerto Rico for Franciscan History Meeting, Book Celebration” — March 15, 2015, HNP Today
- “Serving as General Animator for Evangelization” — Jan. 12, 2016, HNP Today