Some notable January events that took place around Holy Name Province:
One Year Ago
Jan. 3-7, 2011 — The triennial Holy Name Province Chapter drew the largest attendance in its 110-year history, with more than 220 friars participating. It was the first time that all solemnly professed friars were required to attend. John O’Connor, OFM, and Dominic Monti, OFM, were re-elected Provincial Minister and Provincial Vicar at the Maryland gathering.
Jan. 17, 2011 — Jud Weiksnar, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Camden, N.J., appeared on FOX 29 Philadelphia to protest city police and firefighter employment cuts. Jud, along with parishioners of St. Anthony and other parishes in the area, organized the demonstration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (This year, the Camden parish will be holding a community organizing event in honor of the Martin Luther King holiday. The Provincial celebration of the late civil rights leader will be held at St. Camillus Church, Silver Spring, Md., on Jan. 15.)
Five Years Ago
Jan. 18, 2007 — A farewell Mass was celebrated in New York City in honor of Fr. Francis Kim, OFM, who departed for China on Jan. 30 to minister to North Korean refugees. Francis ministered to the Korean community of St. Francis of Assisi Church for more than 10 years. The Mass was celebrated by then-pastor Jerome Massimino, OFM, and Provincial Minister John O’Connor. Fr. Bernardine Kim, OFM, was welcomed as the new pastoral leader of the Korean community. (Fr. Andrew Hwang, OFM, is the current director of Korean ministry at St. Francis.)
Jan. 27, 2007 — St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J. — where Kevin Downey, OFM, was pastor — concluded its centennial year with a concelebrated Mass, in which John O’Connor joined Bishop Arthur Seratelli of Paterson, N.J. (Frank Sevola, OFM, became pastor of St. Mary’s on July 1, 2011. Kevin is currently pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle, Va.)
10 Years Ago
Jan. 24, 2002 — Ministries throughout the Province held special services in honor of the World Day of Prayer of Peace observance led by Pope John Paul II.
15 Years Ago
Jan. 22, 1997 — The re-located Provincialate at 126 West 32nd Street, New York City, was blessed. (The Provincialate was moved to its current location on West 31st Street in the summer of 2007 and was dedicated on Sept. 13, 2007.)
50 Years Ago
January 1962 — The Guild Press, the printing press of St. Anthony’s Guild, received a scroll for special merit in printing at the New York Manufacturing Printers Exhibit in New York City for the first volume of St. Bonaventure’s works in English. (The Guild Press, and other businesses associated with the Guild, phased out after 1970, according to Dominic Monti in an article from the Fall 2011 issue of The Anthonian.)
— Compiled by Vicky Wolak