January History of Holy Name Province

Jocelyn Thomas Features

Notable events for the month of January through the years include the following:

One Year Ago
Jan. 19, 2018 – The leaders of the OFM provinces of the United States released a statement to coincide with the observance of National Sanctity of Human Life Day on Jan. 22, also the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade. The provincial ministers of the seven Franciscan provinces described the importance of a consistent ethic of life view and how it is related to the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, St. Francis of Assisi.

Five Years Ago
Jan. 3, 2014 – Stephen Lynch, OFM, 87, died at Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J. The Connecticut native spent most of his religious life in Tokyo, Japan, and in Boston, Mass., Loudonville, N.Y., and Providence, R.I.

Jan. 4, 2014 – Pius Liu, OFM, marked 60 years since ordination with a Mass of Thanksgiving that he described as “lively and harmonious.” Nearly 250 religious – friars, sisters, priests – joined other guests at the liturgy held in Taiwan. This month, Pius will celebrate his 98th birthday.

Jan. 28, 2014 – Holy Name friars and partners-in-ministry were among 50 million people affected by a winter storm that slammed the Southeast with snow and ice. The governors of six states declared emergencies. Among the locales that felt the impact of the icy precipitation were the University of Georgia Catholic Center, Clemson and Furman universities, St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Greenville, S.C., and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, N.C.

Ten Years Ago
January 2009—The book by Dominic Monti, OFM, titled “Francis and His Brothers: A Popular History of the Franciscan Friars,” was published simultaneously to the commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Order of Friars Minor.

Jan. 11, 2009 – In a message in the Sunday bulletin, the friars of St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, Mass., thanked supporters for donations toward the completion of the $1.4 million 2008 Franciscan annual campaign. “They responded to the needs of all of our ministries, particularly worship, music, and our new Franciscan food center. All of our ministries depend on the annual campaign for financial support. Without that support, some of them would have been in jeopardy, but now that is not the case,” said David Convertino, OFM, then-director of the church on Arch Street.

Jan. 19 – 23, 2009 – Then-Provincial Minister John O’Connor OFM, traveled to Peru to visit the friars from Holy Name Province who serve in two parishes in the southern outskirts of Lima. He saw firsthand how poor families, despite struggling to survive, were still able to celebrate life under difficult circumstances.

15 Years Ago
Jan. 11, 2004 – Cornelius Kelly, OFM, died at age 90, in Ringwood, N.J. He was a Boston native.

20 Years Ago
Jan. 9, 1999 – Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., formally dedicated St. Francis Chapel, the Franciscan mall ministry, at its new (and still current) location in Colonie, N.Y.

Jan. 11, 1999 – Lucian Mulhern, OFM, 74, died in Ringwood, N.J. He had spent most of his religious life overseas – in Japan and Italy.

30 Years Ago
Jan. 3, 1989 – The new vice-province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Goias, Brazil, was established in ceremonies held at the church and friary of Sant’ Ana in Anapolis. Among those involved were John Burke, OFM, and Gerald Mudd, OFM. On the first day of its existence, the new vice-province numbered 55 friars, according to The Provincial Annals: 31 Brazilians, 23 North Americans, and one Jamaican.

Jan. 11, 1989 – Peter Albert, OFM, died at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla. He was a native of Buffalo.

Jan. 22 – 23, 1989 – Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., the Province’s residence for the infirm, received its first group of occupants. This week, for financial reasons, the Provincial Administration announced that the friary would be closing this spring.

40 Years Ago
Jan. 8, 1978 – Bede Huston, OFM, died in Boston at age 70. He was a Brooklyn, N.Y., native.

50 Years Ago
Jan. 8, 1969 – Maurus Kennedy, OFM, died at age 51 in New York City. The Corning, N.Y., native spent most of his Franciscan life in education.

Jan. 22, 1969 – Gratian Feltiz, OFM, 65, died in Butler, N.J. The Upstate New York native served in a variety of foreign locations and domestic  including China, Japan, the Philippines, oston, Paterson, N.J., and Buffalo, N.Y.

80 Years Ago
Jan, 25, 1939 – Seraphin Geegan, OFM, died at age 62 in Hoboken, N.J. The friar known as “the golden-tongued orator” served as pastor of parishes in New Jersey.

— Jocelyn Thomas is communications director for Holy Name Province.

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