Some notable August events that took place around Holy Name Province:
One Year Ago
Aug. 27, 2011 — Two friars — Stephen DeWitt, OFM, and Daniel Horan, OFM — professed their final vows as Franciscans at a Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Midtown Manhattan. (On Aug. 25, four friars will profess their final vows at the same church.)
Aug. 21, 2011 — Fifteen young people began a year of service in three HNP communities — at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Camden, N.J., at St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, and at St. Paul’s Church in Wilmington, Del. — through the HNP Franciscan Volunteer Ministry. A mix of four alumni and 11 new FVMs — hailing from Massachusetts, Georgia, Washington and several other states in between — the number was larger than previous years, though not record-breaking), according to the provincial newsletter article. (This month, 15 young people are beginning their FVM year.)
Five Years Ago
Aug. 5, 2007 — The friars of St. Francis of Assisi Friary in New York City gathered for a celebration in honor of John O’Connor, OFM, and John Felice, OFM. The evening was “a thank you to the two provincial ministers who made the dream of a new friary on West 31st Street a reality,” according to HNP Today.
10 Years Ago
Aug. 5, 2002 — Nine men were received as affiliates, or postulants, by Charles Miller, OFM, then Provincial Vicar. The group included Kyle Haden, OFM, Linh Hoang, OFM, Hugh Macsherry, OFM, Stephen Mimnaugh, OFM, and Juan Turcios, OFM, as well as four men who are no longer with the Province.
20 Years Ago
Aug. 1, 1992 — A new campus ministry house, the Thea House (in honor of the late Thea Bowman, OSF), was opened at Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C.
Aug. 6 – 10, 1992 — Thirty HNP friars were among 400 Franciscans from North America who participated in a Franciscan Symposium in Denver, Colo. (This week, the Provincial Council is meeting in Denver.)
25 Years Ago
Aug. 1, 1987 — The Province’s House of Prayer in Warwick, N.Y., known as St. Joseph’s Friary, was closed.
30 Years Ago
Aug. 16 – 20, 1982 — 150 friars from various places and groups took part in a formation jamboree at Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y.
50 Years Ago
Aug. 22, 1962 — Sixteen clerics and one lay brother of Holy Name Province pronounced their solemn vows before the Provincial Minister at ceremonies in the chapel of Christ the King Seminary, Allegany, N.Y.
Aug. 23, 1962 — Benjamin Kuhn, OFM, appeared on New York’s WCBS-TV in a program about teenage drinking. The following day, a review appeared in The Daily News. It was reprinted in The Provincial Annals.
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas