Below are updates about some of the many activities of Holy Name friars, including their celebrations, presentations and ministry events. More information can be obtained by visiting links to the parishes and organizations mentioned, by contacting the friars by phone or email, and by connecting with the Communications Office.
To provide news briefs for future issues of HNP Today, email information to communications director Jocelyn Thomas.
John Anglin, OFM, is in Boston later this week signing copies of his book The Wandering Friar. He will be available after the April 27 and 28 Masses at St. Anthony Shrine.
David Blake, OFM, and Michael Calabria, OFM, were recognized April 16 at St. Bonaventure University’s Spring Honors and Awards for their 10 years of service to the university. They were among 43 employees who marked anniversaries this year. Michael is currently on leave of absence from SBU to pursue Arab and Islamic studies at the University of Exeter while ministering at Georgetown University in Washington. St. Bonaventure also announced the retirement of David Haack, OFM, from the visual and performing arts department. He will continue to live at the SBU friary.
David Convertino, OFM, executive director of the HNP Development Office, presented a Franciscan Challenge at the Franciscan Chapel Center in Tokyo, the English-language parish of the Archdiocese of Tokyo, during the weekend of April 19. Last month, David held similar events at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle, Va., and St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.
Thomas Donovan, OFM, of St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, received his U.S. permanent residence card last week. “Informally known as the green card, it serves as proof that its holder, a lawful permanent resident (LPR), has been officially granted immigration benefits, which include permission to reside and take employment in the United States,” said Maribeth McDonald, development director for St. Anthony Shrine, who provided a photo. “Tom, the sacristan at the Shrine, was born in Nova Scotia and grew up in Montreal. He jokes that he came to Boston six years ago on vacation and never left,” she said.
An article by Daniel Dwyer, OFM, of Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., has been accepted for publication in the fall edition of the Journal of Mormon History. It is titled “Evil in the Family: Mormons and Catholics Struggling with the Dark Side of Their Histories.” said Dan, who plans to attend the Annual Mormon History Association Conference in Layton, Utah, in June.
A farewell note from John Frambes, OFM, was included in the April 20 bulletin of St. Joseph Parish in Wilmington, Del. John, who has served as pastor since 2005, has initiated a process to transfer to the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists). “It is hard to let go of St. Joseph’s,” he wrote. “I am letting go of my identity as your pastor. Friendship remains and you all have a permanent place in my heart, but our relationship is entering a new phase. Soon I will be preoccupied with taking on a new identity as a monk, but before I do that, I need some space to grieve over you. … I thank you again and again for your trust, kindness and love.” (Paul Williams, OFM, has been assigned as pastor of St. Joseph’s, effective April 15.)
Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, distributed to friars last week a list of friars who have revised their email addresses and phone numbers. Questions and additional updates should be directed to Theresa Bartha at the Provincial Office (646-473-0265 ext. 309). This week, Michael is attending two of the Province’s spring fraternal gatherings.
Daniel Horan, OFM, delivered a lecture titled “The Spirituality of Dating God: Franciscan Insights for Our Faith Journeys,” as part of the annual Spirituality Convocation hosted by the Center for Ministry and Spirituality at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, N.J., on April 20. An article by Dan titled “What’s In a Name? The Significance and Challenge of St. Francis for Pope Francis,” was published as the cover story in the April 29 issue of America magazine. In addition, Dan’s reflection, “In Giving We Receive,” was published in the April volume of the periodical Give Us This Day (Liturgical Press), to which Dan is a regular contributor.
Christopher Keenan, OFM, led a meeting today of the HNP Ongoing Formation Committee, of which he is chair. The group discussed a variety of topics including recent educational conferences, a proposal by the committee to organize conference calls for friars about topics of interest, and the use of the Province’s leadership development profiles.
An essay by Kevin Mackin, OFM, about Pope Francis that was published last month in the Mid Hudson Times has been posted on the website of Mount St. Mary College, Newburgh, N.Y., where Kevin is president. In the piece, Kevin describes why “people everywhere love Francis of Assisi.” Kevin describes his own interest in the saint and said of the new pope, “For this Jesuit to choose the name Francis gives me great hope for the Church and its rich traditions, both intellectual and popular and religious. I pray that members of all the religious congregations — Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, and the like — will heartily enjoy renewing their legacies.”
Charles Miller, OFM, of New York City, gave a presentation called “Praying From the Dark Side” as part of the quarterly Cardinal Bernardin Series for Clergy held at St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street. Charles, a spiritual guide and social worker, discussed praying from “where we are,” whether angry, sad, ashamed, lustful, or whining. The next program will feature Msgr. Peter Vaghi, pastor of Little Flower Parish in Bethesda, Md., who will give a presentation on Sept. 24 about spirituality and Mary.
Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, has been traveling quite a bit during the last two weeks. After participating in the April 9 to 11 fraternal gathering in Stoneville, N.C., he headed to the Midwest for a meeting of the secretaries of formation at the interprovincial novitiate in Burlington, Wis. He reports that Holy Name Province’s four novices are doing well and that this year, St. Barbara Province and Australia’s Holy Spirit Province will also begin sending their novices to Burlington. Dominic then proceeded to Chicago for a meeting of the Interprovincial Collaboration Commission, held April 14 to 16. A report of the discussion was sent to the friars last week. As part of their work, the commission will be distributing a survey to friars in the U.S. who have been solemnly professed since 2000 as well as all the men currently in initial formation to gather insight on the younger generation’s vision of the Order’s future. Dominic is currently participating in the fraternal gathering at Enders Island, Conn.
Kevin Mullen, OFM, will be in Bedminster, N.J., tomorrow at an alumni reception hosted by Siena College, where he is president.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, is participating in the Ft. Myers, Fla., Poor Clares’ 25th anniversary celebration from April 25 to 26. From May 2 to 4, he will be in Washington for the Washington Theological Union’s board meeting and graduation ceremony.
Kenneth Paulli, OFM, was quoted in an article in The Evangelist, the newspaper of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., describing why Siena College sponsored a Taize prayer service. The college’s chief of staff said “Siena decided to sponsor the April 10 event as part of the college’s 75th anniversary celebrations instead of publishing a special book or holding a gala. One of the things I admire about Siena College students in 2013 is that these folks understand this is a global community.”
In a recent article in Western New York Catholic, Steven Pavignano, OFM, described the reasons that St. Clare Parish, Buffalo, N.Y., expanded on a project by the diocese to create its own way to help parishioners focus on the Year of Faith. “When we got the diocesan passport, we thought it was great, but we wanted to expand on it,” said Steven in the April 18 story. “With the passport, we want people to start to look more in their everyday life and help people understand that they actually do live their faith.”
Daniel Riley, OFM, director of Mt. Irenaeus in Western New York, gave a retreat last month titled “Nurturing Contemplation in Ministry: a Catholic and Protestant Collaborative Look at Contemplation and Ministry” with Josh Pinskstron at San Damiano Retreat in Danville, Calif. A reflection by Daniel about the Boston tragedy was posted this week on Mt. Irenaeus’s Facebook page.
Emerson Rodríguez-Delgado, OFM, has completed the requirements for the licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. This degree qualifies him to teach Scripture in Catholic major seminaries throughout the world. Emerson is currently residing at Holy Name College in Silver Spring, Md., preparing for comprehensive examinations for his doctorate in Scripture at The Catholic University of America in Washington.
James Scullion, OFM, announced earlier this month on the Facebook page of St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Long Beach Island that the repairs to the Brant Beach church are close to complete. The building sustained damage during last year’s Hurricane Sandy and has not been open since October. On April 30, St. Francis Community Center will host a town hall meeting with Gov. Chris Christie to discuss local issues.
In the first vocation e-bulletin sent to friars, vocation director Brian Smail, OFM, encouraged friars to commemorate Sunday’s World Day of Prayer for Vocations. April 21 was the 50th anniversary of the day that recognizes religious orders, and ordained priests and deacons. The theme for this year’s observance was “Vocations as a Sign of Hope Founded in Faith,” according to the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which provided resources to help laity and clergy build a culture of vocations at home and in parishes. In his April 19 e-bulletin, Brian also told friars about a new prayer card featuring vocation intercessions to use when praying the the Liturgy of the Hours that the HNP Vocation Office has developed.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by May 1 (always the Wednesday before the newsletter’s publication date). Updates about the friars and their ministries can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Topics planned for future issues of this newsletter include:
• HNP’s recent Friar Family Reunion
• Dedication of new St. Anthony of Padua School building in Greenville, S.C.
• Ordination of Fr. José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM, as archbishop
• Affiliations of the parents of two friars
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas