John Anglin recently marked his 50th anniversary of ordination. He is pictured here with Bishop Nicholas D’Antonio Salza, OFM. (Photo courtesy of John)

Friar News Briefs

HNP Communications Friar News

The updates below describe the recent activities of Holy Name Province friars, highlighting their personal projects as well as events at friaries and ministry sites. Among them are graduations, ordination anniversaries, publicity in diocesan newspapers, and two friars of different generations connected by a common ordination date.

For details about any of the information, email the friars, contact the HNP Communications Office, or visit links to the parishes and organizations mentioned. To provide news for future articles, send an email to communications director Jocelyn Thomas at communications@hnp.org.

About the Administration
Members of the Provincial Council met on May 27 and 28 in Silver Spring, Maryland – their first in-person meeting since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Council members discussed a full slate of topics at the two-day meeting – including two chapters of the report of Minister General Michael Perry, OFM; the HNP Administration’s three-phase plan of action for the two years leading up to 2023, when the six U.S. provinces are expected to unify into one coast-to-coast province; the Restructuring and Revitalization process – including the need to enhance friar participation; a new program being developed in New York City to provide services to the marginalized population; an update on the JPIC Directorate’s activities, and compliance issues.

► On May 23, Pentecost Sunday, John Anglin, OFM, commemorated his 50th anniversary as a priest with his community at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Florida. He posted his homily on Facebook.


► Earlier this month, Mario Di Lella, OFM – who at age 94 is the longest-ordained member of Holy Name Province – was delighted to learn that he now shares his ordination date with Jay Woods, OFM, the most recent HNP friar to be ordained to the priesthood. It turns out that Jay was ordained on the same date that Mario was ordained 68 years ago – June 12, on the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mario noted the shared date in an email to Jay, who replied with a nice note of his own. Mario was very touched by this, according to Jerome Massimino, OFM, who contacted the HNP Communications Office about this generational connection. Jerome, who like Mario lives at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, says that Mario was ordained on June 12, 1953 in Washington, D.C.

► Three friars – Thomas Hartle, OFM, Claude Lenehan, OFM, and Francis Kim, OFM – were featured in The Beacon, the newspaper of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, earlier this month. They were among those honored at the diocese’s annual priest jubilee Mass that was celebrated on June 1 at Corpus Christi Church in Chatham. The Mass, whose principal celebrant was Bishop Kevin Sweeney, honored diocesan and religious order priests who celebrated milestone ordination anniversaries in 2020 and 2021. Last year’s priest jubilee Mass was postponed due to the pandemic.

► Lawrence Hayes, OFM, is departing for Italy early next month to attend the General Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor, which is taking place from July 3 to 18 in Rome. The Provincial Vicar will be representing Holy Name Province at this gathering of friars from around the world.

► Joe Juracek, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Butler, New Jersey, reports that a new food pantry has opened at the building that formerly housed St. Anthony School. Operated by parish volunteers, food donations are accepted monthly on a designated Saturday and then organized for distribution to those in need on another Saturday of the month. Joe says they are working to expand the facility to eventually provide donated eyeglasses, walking aids – such as canes – and other healthcare-related items.

► In his most recent column in the National Catholic Reporter – “The Church’s Complicity in Dehumanizing the LGBT Community in Ghana” – Daniel Horan, OFM, says that according to the 2010 census, more than 70 percent of Ghanaians identify as Christian, making the rampant anti-LGBTQ attitudes, laws, and violence in Ghana an inherently Christian problem.

► Two friars received special recognition last month from St. Bonaventure University – Steve Kuehn, OFM, and Peter Schneible, OFM. Steve, who served a one-year internship at SBU – mostly during the pandemic shut down – was the recipient of the Fr. Bob Stewart OFM Award – which is presented to a faculty or staff member who voluntarily gives the most time and dedication to the organization that he or she serves as adviser, moderator or chaplain. The citation presented to Steve read: “Br. Steve has been active as a chaplain for men’s lacrosse, attending practices as well as games. In addition, he is very active with University Ministry’s programs and liturgies. His welcoming presence at both athletic and liturgical events this year has meant a lot to our students.” Robert Stewart, OFM, the award’s namesake, died in 2001. Peter, a professor of biology, was recognized for his 35 years of service as a faculty member at the Western New York university, from which he also graduated in 1973.

► Several friars received master of divinity degrees on May 20 from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois, including James La Grutta, OFM, Juan de la Cruz Turcios, OFM, and Jay Woods, OFM. James also received a certificate in Hispanic theology and ministry.

► Dominic Monti, OFM, is accepting applications for a part-time administrative assistant to work for the Commission on Franciscan Tradition-Spirituality, of which he is chair. Information about the position can be found on CFIT’s recently-enhanced website. The new staff member will work with the chair and other Commission members to facilitate the effective and efficient internal operations of the organization – in particular, the creation and distribution of documents, as well as tasks related to the Commission’s Executive Committee and full board meetings. Inquiries about the administrative assistant position should be directed to Dominic at dmonti@sbu.edu.

► Emmet Murphy, OFM, was featured recently in two diocesan newspapers. On May 13, The Beacon of Paterson, New Jersey, published an article titled “Border crisis: Franciscan priest details legal limbo of migrant families desperate for help.” The Pilot newspaper of Boston also included Emmet in an article.

► In his homily on June 6, the feast of Corpus Christi, Joseph Nangle, OFM, described the reopening of churches in the United States, reminding the faithful that the gift of the Eucharist is also a social sacrament – and that we must do everything we can to bridge the divide between the “haves” and “have nots” in our global community. A video of Joe’s homily was included in the newsletter of the Franciscan Action Network. The “wisdom” of what Joe says about the “reasons for participating in the Eucharist,” and especially the “social-implications” of receiving the Eucharist, “remains and are most worthy of consideration,” said Provincial Minister Kevin Mullen, OFM.

► On June 5, more than 100 people gathered in Western New York to say farewell to a St. Bonaventure University graduate and former basketball star who died without family and penniless in Las Vegas, Nevada. The ashes of George Carter, 76, a member of the SBU class of 1967, were dispersed at St. Bonaventure Cemetery near the campus as part of the service. The touching event was reported by several media outlets, including TAPinto Olean and The Washington Post. Daniel Riley, OFM, who graduated from SBU in 1964, spoke at the service, which was arranged by a group of alumni so that friends and classmates could join together to share stories about Carter as a player and person. “I felt very honored to be part of this service,” said Dan, who referenced in his remarks the importance of the Franciscan tradition. “I mentioned a massive oak tree near where we were gathered that was symbolic of the tree of life. It represents being rooted, and the place from which we grow. The outreach was beautiful. It seemed as if George had fallen out of everyone’s consciousness. This gathering showed how close the Bonaventure family is. I was glad that I could be there.”

Shortly after his ordination, Juan celebrated Mass for the friars living at St. Anthony Friary in Butler. (Photo courtesy of Paul Chelus)

► On June 17, Juan de la Cruz Turcios, OFM, visited Butler, New Jersey, and celebrated a Mass at St. Anthony Church. A photo of Juan with the Butler friars was taken by Paul Chelus, OFM. The next day, the Washington Post published an article about Juan, titled “The Pandemic devastated an immigrant community. Its first Latino priest is spreading hope.” In the story, which mentions that he was 17 when he joined the Spanish-language youth group of St. Camillus Parish, Juan said, “There’s a lot of responsibility that I feel on my side to represent these people who have a lot of hope in me and in God.” Juan and Javier Del Angel de Los Santos, OFM, were ordained to the priesthood at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, on May 29.

Topics planned for upcoming issues of the HNP Today newsletter include:

  • A book produced to honor Michael Blastic, OFM
  • Profession of first vows on July 2
  • Internships recently completed by Steve Kuehn, OFM, and Aaron Richardson, OFM

Editor’s note: Past HNP Today stories can be found in the News & Events section of the Holy Name Province website.

 Related