Friar News Briefs

Jocelyn Thomas Friar News

The updates below describe activities of Holy Name friars and feature celebrations, presentations, and ministry events. For more information, email the friars, contact 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 new HNP director of health and wellness has begun her role with the Province. Amy Stewart-Wilmarth will work with guardians and friars while based in Butler, N.J. During her first weeks, she is visiting friaries in Boston, Loudonville, N.Y., and St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Province’s spring regional day series is nearing completion. The last two are being held this week – on March 21 in Macon, Ga., where the Provincial Council members are meeting, and on March 24 in Allegany, N.Y.
Schedule: The Provincial Office will be closed on March 30 in observance of Good Friday.

► Michael Blastic, OFM, led the interprovincial retreat for friars from March 10 to 14. It was held at St. Francis Retreat Center in Burlington, Wis., and was open to all OFM friars in the United States. Its theme was “Francis of Assisi and the Logic of the Gospel: Relinquishment, Fraternal Life and Mission.” The first interprovincial retreat of 2018 was held in January and was led by Fr. Matthew Beckman, OFM.

► Three members of St. Joseph Friary in Chicago recently performed in nevernotmusic, an exhibition mounted by artist Udita Upadhyaya at the Roman Susan Art Foundation in Chicago. The friar-musicians – Nicholas Carbuto, OFM, Br. Joseph Critchley, OFM, of Immaculate Conception Province, and Br. Jerry Bleem, OFM, of Sacred Heart Province – were three of 16 Chicago artists who took part in the exhibition. “nevernotmusic addresses the quiet solitude of Chicago winter and the subsequent longing for solace (in metaphor, in language, in each other),” writes Upadhyaya. “Relying on accidental camaraderie and tenderness, I create visual and textual scores that play with the wonder of being alive even as they contemplate grief and loss.”

► Ross Chamberland, OFM, is one of five people who will be recognized with the Silver St. George on April 13 during the Bishop’s Luncheon of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting in Minneapolis. “These individuals were nominated for both their years of service and their impact in promoting scouting within the Catholic Church as a member of NCCS,” according to the organization’s Facebook post announcing the award recipients. Ross also recently recorded a daily reflection video for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In the video, Ross, who is stationed at St. Bonaventure University, shares a reflection on the readings for March 20.

► George Corrigan, OFM, invites friars who are interested in obtaining CPE credit to consider the chaplain residency program at Tampa, Fla., General Hospital. The nine-month program provides a stipend with shift differential for evening, weekend and overnight work, as well as free parking and a meal card. The 1,200-bed facility is located less than 10 minutes from Sacred Heart Friary, where a friar could live for the duration of the program. For information, contact George, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, at gcorrigan@sacredheartfla.org.

► Ignatius Harding, OFM, of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle, Va., joined returning missionaries from Bolivia, Ghana, Kenya, Peru, Zimbabwe, and Zaire at a 10-day workshop to assist them with adjusting to leaving their missions, the transition period, and beginning the new phase of their contribution to the mission of the Church in their home country. The event was held from Feb. 27 to March 8 in San Antonio. “Directed by Julie Lupien and assisted by Carol Dwyer, SSND, from the Mission to Mission organization staff, the group walked through activities, testimonies and reflections, and moved them gently into an enthusiastic optimism for their new ministries,” said Ignatius. “The participants were grateful for the opportunity to once again prepare for the variety of missions they are about to undertake.”

► For the fourth consecutive year, Daniel Horan, OFM, was invited by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to speak at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. He gave workshops during the March 15 to 18 event in Anaheim, Calif., on (1) Becoming a Living Prayer, (2) The Foolishness of Christianity, and (3) Rise Up: A Christian Spirituality of Resistance. “I also presided and preached at the ‘Hope for the World in the Young Adult Perspective’-themed liturgy at which more than 2,000 congress-goers attended,” said Dan, who lives in Chicago. “I always love the chance to meet so many different people and to discuss matters of theology, spirituality, and faith. But as with my experience two years ago, celebrating the Eucharist and preaching in the arena of more than 8,000 people was a particular highlight for me again.”

► William McIntyre, OFM, reports that the new Georgia Martyrs website is live. “It has many features for adults and children in both English and Spanish,” said the pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish in Macon, Ga. The site, which is now maintained by the Diocese of Savannah, Ga., provides details about the six Spanish Franciscans who came to what is now the coast of Georgia in the late 16th century. It provides background information as well as details about the cause for canonization. Conrad Harkins, OFM, who now lives in Ringwood, N.J., has been involved as vice postulator with the cause for sainthood of these Franciscan friars.

► On March 11, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, N.C., welcomed Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama. He celebrated the 11:30 a.m. Mass and enjoyed the preschool international festival taking place the same day. After the visit, Steven Patti, OFM, pastor, wrote to the parish: “During his homily, he explained to us that the priest is not the ‘celebrant’ of the Mass, but the presider – that the gathered assembly of the people all ‘celebrate’ the Mass, meaning to be present, to listen to the word, to receive the body of Christ, and to act and live as a disciple of Christ in the world. The bishop was gracious and appreciative of his time here.” A photo of the bishop with Steve and James Sabak, OFM, was provided by the parish.

► Patrick Tuttle, OFM, and the staff and students of St. Anthony of Padua School in Greenville, S.C., welcomed Thandeka Tutu, daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, on Feb. 27. She toured St. Anthony School, spoke with students, and shared a presentation on her work on the Tutudesk Campaign. “With a donation presented by the student council president, St. Anthony students and staff were glad to support children in a far-away place receiving these special desks from our school to theirs,” said Susan Cinquemani, vice chair of the school advisory board, who provided photos. “Thandeka Tutu expressed her gratitude for the donation and commented that the children receiving the Tutudesks from St. Anthony School appreciate the gift, too. She emailed saying they loved visiting the school and hoped to see us again soon. She – as well as her sister, Nontombi Tutu – left very nice comments on the school’s Facebook page. The visit was arranged through Fr. Patrick and Edem Blavo, a parishioner at St. Anthony’s and a member of the school advisory board. He is close friends with Mapitso Rivera, president, South Carolina Chapter of the South African Chamber of Commerce and S.C. ambassador for the Tutudesk Campaign. She is friends with, and works with, Thandeka Tutu on this initiative. Edem spoke with Mapitso about St. Anthony School and all of the wonderful things happening at the school. She and Thandeka very much wanted to visit and meet the students and staff. Edem and Fr. Patrick worked to make the visit happen. It was a wonderful visit.”

Topics that will be featured in future issues of this newsletter include:

  • Men participating in the Franciscan Interprovincial Novitiate in Santa Barbara, Calif.
  • 2018 solemn profession Mass

— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas

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