NEW YORK — In three months, 12 friars will be recognized for their combined 525 years of Franciscan life. Holy Name Province will hold its annual jubilee celebration of friars celebrating 25 and 50 years as professed Franciscans at 5:30 p.m. on June 21 at St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Friars marking their golden jubilee are Donald Chin, OFM, of Brazil; Joseph Ehrhardt, OFM, of Kenya; Bonaventure Hayes, OFM, of Ringwood, N.J.; John McVean, OFM, of New York City; Charles Miller, OFM, of Triangle, Va.; Edwin Robinson, OFM, of Butler, N.J.; John Schulmeister, OFM, of Baltimore, Md.; Sebastian Tobin, OFM, of Silver Spring, Md.; and Michael Tyson, OFM, of New York City.
Those marking 25 years as friars are Frank Sevola, OFM, of Pompton Lakes, N.J.; Dennis Wilson, OFM, of New York City; and Basil Valente, OFM, of Allegany, N.Y.
Next month, printed invitations will be sent to the jubiliarians by Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, for them to use to invite relatives and friends to the June 21 festivities.
Several other Provincial events are planned for the coming months:
• Ordination of priests on May 19 at St. Camillus Church, Silver Spring, Md.
• JPIC local contacts retreat from June 8 to 10 at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, N.C.
• Solemn profession of vows on Aug. 25 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York
• Encuentro Franciscano on Oct. 20 in Silver Spring
In August, three men will profess their first, or simple, vows as Franciscans. The ceremony will take place at the interprovincial novitiate in Wisconsin.
Information about upcoming events can be found on several sections of HNP.org.