MESILLA PARK, N.M. — Roughly 50 members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province participated in its All Province Assembly from May 27 to 30 at Holy Cross Retreat Center, according to the June issue of The Padres’ Trail. A time of both fraternity and education, friars listened to a variety of speakers address different topics, including the future of OLG Province and Franciscan life in the United States.
The APA was not about making decisions, but about dealing with change, according to speaker Fr. Jack Clark Robinson, OFM. He mentioned three treasures the province currently has, saying: “We have faith — that is why we are friars. We have brothers — that is how we are friars. We have stories — that is the proof that we are friars.”
Throughout the gathering, the friars addressed what they would like the friars of other provinces in the United States to see, know and learn from Guadalupe Province. They also shared what they heard in the dreams and visions of the young friars surveyed by the Interprovincial Commission and shared what they thought Franciscan life might look like in the United States 10 years from now.
The meeting, which was facilitated by Sr. Cathy Bertrand, SSND, opened on Monday with a welcome by Fr. Gino Correa, the provincial minister, who thanked Fr. Tom Luzak, the general visitor for OLG Province’s next chapter, for attending.
The previous month, the Albuquerque-based province held a “Come and See” vocation retreat, according to the May issue of The Padres’ Trail. Several friars welcomed 10 inquirers to the event, which was held in St. Michael’s, N.M.
The issue also reported on jubilarian Fr. Nils F. Thompson, OFM, who is commemorating his 50th year as a priest this year. A celebration and reception will be held at the John XXIII Retirement Home in Houston, where Fr. Nils is a resident, on June 25.
— Compiled by Maria Hayes