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 HNP Communications Office.
To provide news briefs for future issues of HNP Today, email information to communications director Jocelyn Thomas.
John Alderson, OFM, will be the principal celebrant at a Jan. 21 memorial Mass at Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School near Buffalo “to remember and pray for those alumni and loved ones who have passed away,” according to the school’s website. Among those being honored is Gerald McCaffrey, OFM, who served in Timon’s faculty in 1963. John has been on staff at Timon since 2010.
HNP development director David Convertino, OFM, announced in a mailing last week that his office and those of St. Anthony’s Guild staff members have moved from New Jersey to West 32nd Street, New York City.
An essay by Kevin Cronin, OFM, a member of the HNP Ministry of the Word, appears in the Winter 2012 issue of The Anthonian as part of its Franciscan Journey series.
Julian Davies, OFM, of Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., requests that friars who are pastors, guardians and leaders of local ministries submit reports to him about the year 2011 for use in the next edition of the Provincial Annals. The information should be emailed to him by May 1.
Fred Dilger, OFM, and Paul O’Keeffe, OFM, organized the Jan. 2 to 6 SPUFY gathering, the meeting of solemnly professed friars under five years. The group met in St. Petersburg, Fla., near St. Anthony of Padua Friary. Paul submitted a phototo the HNP Communications Office that includes William Beaudin, OFM, who attended as a representative of the Provincial Council. Fred facilitated the discussions.
Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, reports that several HNP resources are currently in production; the Memorial Days of Deceased Friars 2012 is at the printer and due for distribution this month, and the online update of the 2011-2012 HNP Directory will be posted on the HNP website before the end of January.
An article by Daniel Horan, OFM, titled “Seeds of De(con)striation: Insights from Merton for a Postmodern World,” was recently published in the Winter 2011 issue of The Merton Seasonal. Information about Dan’s publications and speaking events can be found on his website and on his blog Dating God.
John Maganzini, OFM, vicar at St. Anthony Shrine, reports that local Bishop Robert Hennessey paid a fraternal visit to the friars at St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center on Jan. 11. “He resides close by at the rectory at St. James the Greater Parish in Chinatown. He arrived in time for preprandium. Dinner began with table prayer, and Bishop Hennessey blessed the food and gathering.” He will return to the shrine on Jan. 22 to celebrate two Masses.
A memorial service for Harry Monaco, OFM, was held Jan. 10 at Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md., where he died in December.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, met with the Provincial Council members Jan. 17 and 18. Next week, he will travel to Washington for a meeting of the Franciscan Mission Service board of directors.
Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, guardian of St. Camillus Friary, is participating in the annual Polar Bear Plunge organized by the Chesapeake Climate Acton Network. He and parishioners of St. Camillus Church will plunge into the Potomac River at 11 a.m. on Jan. 21.
Ronald Pecci, OFM, is shown in a photo in The News Journal of Wilmington Del., in a story titled “Nonviolence message still rings true today.”
Reginald Redlon, OFM, of Ringwood, N.J., marked his 90th birthday with a celebration on Jan. 16 in Wyckoff, N.J. (Details will be provided in a future issue of this newsletter.)
Daniel Riley, OFM, guardian of Holy Peace Friary in West Clarksville, N.Y., asks that friars interested in attending the June 11 to 14 Contemplative Days at Mt. Irenaeus contact him by Feb. 1. A letter with information about the event was emailed last week to all HNP friars.
Robert Sandoz, OFM, reports that Christ the King Prep School in Newark, N.J., where he is president, was mentioned in a meeting held at the White House on Jan. 6. AT&T, one of the high school’s “strongest supporters,” according to Robert, mentioned “their work here in Newark.” Robert provided a link to the U. S. Department of Labor website that includes informaton about youth employment opportunities at AT&T.
Vocation director Brian Smail, OFM, is traveling to several colleges this month. From Jan. 21 to Jan. 23, he will be at University of Georgia’s Catholic Center and from Jan. 23 to 25 in Greenville, S.C., visiting Clemson and Furman universities.
Friars are gathering next week at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla., for the first of the Province’s two winter retreats. Those not yet registered can contact James Toal, OFM, guardian. Details about the retreats – whose themes are “Is St. Francis Too Saintly for Us?” – can be found in the informational flyer.
Gonazalo de Jesus Torres Acosta, OFM, of the HNP Hispanic Ministry Committee, is working with the Province’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office to set up a meeting with representatives from CLINIC, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Information about this Jan. 25 “listening session” was distributed by Russell Testa, director of the Province’s JPIC Office, to friars and partners-in-ministry who are involved with and interested in immigration issues. Testa can be reached at 301-680-2200.
A photo of Jud Weiksnar, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Camden, N.J.,appeared in the Jan. 5 issue of the Courier Post of Cherry Hill, N.J., with a story titled “Is Camden’s Von Nieda ‘The Nation’s Most Depressing Park’?” The writer, Jeremy Rosen, said, “Locals such as Weiksnar, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua off River Avenue, have for several years fought for basic maintenance of Camden County’s Von Nieda Park, a place where flooded ball fields without boundaries and basketball hoops without nets attract dozens of children on seasonal days. ‘Von Nieda should be lit and fenced so kids can’t drive in on ATVs and tear it up or trucks can’t come in and dump commercial waste,” Weiksnar said. “I’m considering titling a photo essay, ‘The Nation’s Most Depressing Park.’ It should be a brief spot for the whole city.”
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Jan. 25 (always the Wednesday before the newsletter’s publication date). Updates about the friars and their ministries can be found on the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province Facebook page, which now has more than 900 followers.
Topics planned for future issues of this newsletter include:
· Profiles of friars marking anniversaries of profession this year
· Release of a book by Daniel Horan, OFM
· Update on the Providence parish
· Dates of friars’ spring fraternal gathering
· 40th anniversary of St. Francis Community Center on Long Beach Island, N.J.
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas