The summer season is always a good time to reflect and to recharge one’s batteries. A change of scenery can help us clear our heads, put things in perspective, and provide new experiences on which to draw, according to Barry Langley, OFM, of Boston, who takes several cruises a year as the at-sea chaplain.
An article in the Aug. 2 issue of The New York Times titled “Taking a Break From the Lord’s Work” described the importance of taking time off in order to remain both healthy and productive. Several friars shared summer experiences with HNP Today, providing the following reports.
Robert Frazzetta, OFM, of St. Anthony Friary, Butler, N.J.
It is incredible how quickly the summer months pass. Up to this point, I have been busy with courses at the Summer Spirituality Institute at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, N.J. At my own school, DePaul Catholic High School, I am attending classes on computer technology, preparing for paperless plan books, grade registers, Smartboard use, and things that I can’t even explain because I don’t know what they are yet.
Boniface Hanley, OFM, of Franciscan Friary, Margate, N.J.
While I couldn’t travel this summer because I’m recovering from health problems, summer is always fun on the Jersey Shore because of the friars who visit. We’ve had a constant flow of friars down here, and the house, which is near the ocean, is always busy. I love it; we have lots of fun. I see friars I haven’t seen in a long time. Our curator keeps this place like you wouldn’t believe. Summer started with a group from St. Francis of Assisi, Manhattan, which came for three days on a working break, and continued right through August. It was a pleasure to have them all.
John Heffernan, OFM, of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Triangle, Va.
I spent two and a half weeks in Mexico, in the Yucatan with the friars from San Felipe de Jesus Province. While there, I did dental work in the communities surrounding the city of Tenosique. I saw 120 patients and enjoyed the experience. (Pictures from John’s Mexico trip are available on Photobucket, as well as a video of the San Felipe de Jesus friars.)
I went to Tenosique, Tabasco, on the Fourth of July and treated opatients from July 6 to 17. I met friars from that province for the first time in the summer of 2000 on teh suggestion of Joe Rozansky, OFM. Because I wanted to travel in Mexico and meet some friars, and he suggested that province. I called a friar I’ve known for these last 10 years in Tabasco and asked if he liked the idea of me coming down for a couple of weeks. He was very supportive and we worked out a schedule of various communities to visit. Most of teh time i was there, teh friars were in chapter and i covered weekend and evening Masses, too (their chapter covered 10 years!).
I left the supplies and equpment there, in hope of returning with some regularity now.
Paul Santoro, OFM, campus minister at Santa Fe Catholic High School, Lakeland, Fla.
I began my summer break on June 26, spending time with family and friends in Boston, and Manchester, N.H., for one week. From July 3 to 30, I was a pair of extra hands at Sacred Heart Friary in East Rutherford, N.J., doing odds and ends for the Franciscan Missionary Union and St. Anthony’s Guild. I also enjoyed my favorite pastime — cooking — and made many nice meals for the friar community. Time passes quickly and the month break from school came to an end. I returned to the office on Aug. 2.
Dennis Tamburello, OFM, of St. Bernardine of Siena Friary, Loudonville, N.Y.
From July 8 to 16, I was chaplain for a group of 20 Catholic educators on a trip to Israel sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League, in cooperation with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The trip was part of a program called Bearing Witness, which promotes a better understanding of Judaism, Jewish-Catholic relations, and the Holocaust. The trip included stops at Yad Vashem (the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem), Masada, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Galilee. (Dennis posted photos of his trip on his Facebook page.)
Editor’s note: Information about how other Holy Name Province friars renewed themselves this summer will appear in future issues of this newsletter.