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.
| From the Administration |
| The members of the Provincial Council are in Illinois this week participating in a meeting with the administrations of the other six OFM provinces of the United States discussing the revitalization and reconfiguration process. Last week, two documents from the Franciscan Interprovincial Team — Results of the Friar Survey (spring 2016) and Report on the Interprovincial Gatherings (summer 2016) were distributed to all HNP members. |
| The 2016-17 edition of the HNP Directory is being mailed to friars this week. An electronic version is posted in the Friars Only section of HNP.org. |
►In a recent post on his blog The Wandering Friar, John Anglin, OFM, describes how the world has changed since he professed his first vows as a friar 52 years ago on Aug. 16, 1964. He also describes what has remained constant — and satisfying — in his role as a friar.
►Last week, Casey Cole, OFM, posted a video on his blog Breaking in the Habit titled “My Experience with Migrants … and How It Changed Me” that describes the two months he spent in Mexico “practicing my Spanish and learning from Central American refugees.” He says he knew it “was going to be difficult, but I never knew how it would change me.”
►Francis Di Spigno, OFM, St. Bonaventure University’s executive director of university ministries, participated in the rededication of the school’s grotto earlier this month. Photos of Francis and Andrew Roth, SBU’s interim president, are included in a story on the university’s website. On Aug. 28, the university’s opening Mass will be celebrated in the grotto.
►On Aug. 22, Henry Fulmer, OFM, spoke at a Theology on Tap program at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle, Va., telling the young adults about his Franciscan journey. A photo was posted on the parish’s Facebook page.
►David Hyman, OFM, reports that at its August meeting, the Province’s African Ancestry Committee, which he chairs, discussed plans for several initiatives: a retreat for young black Catholic men open to religious life, being held Feb. 10 to 12, and a meeting of members of three HNP committees — African Ancestry, Asian and Hispanic — which is being planned for September. David is stationed at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, N.C.
►Registration is now available for the 2016 Fr. Mychal Judge, OFM, Walk of Remembrance. The annual event, which honors victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will be held this year on Sept. 4. The day will begin with an 9:45 a.m. rosary at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City and will conclude at 1:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church on Barclay Street in Lower Manhattan.
►This week, Walter Liss, OFM, director of postulants, is welcoming eight men to Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md., where they will spend the next year. A reception ceremony for these 2016-17 postulants is scheduled for Aug. 25.
►Dominic Monti, OFM, preached last week at a retreat in Minnesota for the women in the Franciscan Secular Institute of Missionaries. He said that in addition to experiencing pleasant weather, the location – “a house of our Conventual Franciscan brothers, many of whom I taught over the years at the Washington Theological Union – was nice.”
►Provincial Minister Kevin Mullen, OFM, and Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, celebrated the feast of St. Clare with the Poor Clares of Montana in Great Falls. Kevin celebrated Mass and made dinner for the sisters. “Secular Franciscans and friends of the sisters were present for the festive liturgy and reception,” said Michael, who provided a photo that was posted on the Province’s Facebook page. The monastery is part of Holy Name Federation.
►When the Flower Branch Apartments building in Silver Spring erupted in flames on Aug. 10, the community of nearby St Camillus Parish began helping the victims. The friars and parish staff are part of a large group of non-profit organizations and government entities working to help those displaced by the fire. A flyer posted on the parish’s Facebook page announced ways to contribute and to pray. “Besides responding to the most immediate needs, we are preparing for a more difficult comprehensive long-term effort to help the victims. Most of them are families from Central America and Africa. At this point, the best way you can help is to donate money and gift cards.” A video of singing at the Aug. 14 prayer vigil was posted on the parish’s Facebook page. An Aug. 11 story on WJLA, the ABC station of Washington, D.C., titled “Mother Desperately Searches for Three-Year-Old Son After His Bedroom Floor Collapses into Fire” includes a photo of Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, guardian of St. Camillus Friary, comforting the woman.
►A celebration of the golden jubilee of Daniel Riley, OFM, is being planned by Mt. Irenaeus, the Franciscan Mountain Retreat that he helped establish more than 30 years ago. It is scheduled for Sept. 17, according to the August 2016 issue of the Making All Things New e-newsletter. Dan and 13 other HNP friars who marked 50 and 25 years since their first profession of vows were honored by the Province on June 23.
►Joseph Rozansky, OFM, reports that several OFM friars participated in the World Social Forum, held earlier this month in Montreal. He shared a Capuchin blog post that “explains something of what is going on” in photos that Joe provided. “OFM JPIC has been involved with the World Social Forum for years, along with the rest of the Franciscan family. I saw at least two OFMs in the photos; one is Br. Rufino Lim, OFM, the assistant director of the Order’s JPIC office in Rome.”
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Aug. 31 — 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:
- Solemn profession of three HNP friars on Aug. 27
- Vocation Mega-Conference being held Sept. 6 to 10 in Florida
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas
Related Links
- “Provincial Minister’s Schedule” – June 28, 2016, HNP Today
- “For Immigrant Residents Displaced by Silver Spring Fire, Finding New Home May Not Be Easy” — Aug 20, 2016, Washington Post
- “U.S. Friars Find Common Ground at Interprovincial Gatherings” – July 27, 2016, HNP Today