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.
Lawrence Anderson, OFM, of Pompton Lakes, N.J., and Erick Lopez, OFM, of Silver Spring, Md., led the 2013 gathering of SPUFY friars, those solemnly professed under five years. The group met last month in St. Petersburg, Fla., to discuss their joys and challenges.
Two friar blogs offered perspectives about the Feb. 11 announcement from the Vatican that Pope Benedict XVI is retiring at the end of February. They are The Wandering Friar by John Anglin, OFM, and Dating God, by Daniel Horan, OFM.
A Lenten guide has been provided by Russell Becker, OFM, the Province’s secretary for missionary evangelization. Other seasonal resources can be found on the Province’s website on the Communications and Justice and Peace pages.
William Bried, OFM, pastoral vicar of St. Stephen of Hungary Church in New York City, announced the March speaker in the Vatican II speakers forum at the East 82nd Street church. Sr. Judith Kubicki, professor of theology at Fordham University, will speak at Masses during the March 9 weekend.
On Feb. 10, David Convertino, OFM, the Province’s director of development, emailed the first in a series of friar interviews called “Guess Who I Met Today.” The first friar featured is Michael Carnevale, OFM, of New York City, a professed friar for 52 years, who has directed St. Francis of Assisi Breadline since 2007.
Photos of George Corrigan, OFM, and Sean O’Brien, OFM, at last month’s new parishioners dinner, were included on the Facebook page of Sacred Heart Parish, Tampa, Fla.
Francis Di Spigno, OFM, participated in last week’s festival of faiths at St. Bonaventure University, where he is executive director of university ministries. He was one of six people who spoke on their religious traditions at the Feb. 7 event on the Allegany, N.Y., campus.
David Hyman, OFM, led a meeting last week of the Province’s African Ancestry Committee. The members discussed the recent Go Down Moses retreat as well as upcoming events and goals.
An interview with Brian Jordan, OFM, about the announcement by Pope Benedict XVI was aired on NY1 Noticias on Feb. 11. Daniel Horan, OFM, also gave several interviews about the announcement — one with “The Young Turks,” a Current TV Network program, and one with BustedHalo Radio.
Stephen Kluge, OFM, pastor of St. Francis Parish on Long Beach Island, N.J., reflected in last week’s bulletin that it has been one month since the staff members of the parish office and the St. Francis Center returned to the island after the October storm. “I have to say it is good to be home,” he said. “While much work is yet to be completed on the church and especially the backyard of the center, much has been accomplished. In the meantime, we will continue to meet for Mass in Surf City and have as many programs as possible in the center. This has been a unique, challenging and blessed time for all of us here on LBI. As Franciscan priests and sisters, it is one thing to minister to those who are suffering, but quite another thing to minister to those suffering as one suffering ourselves. If Franciscan spirituality is at its core a spirituality of relationship, this experience has made the relationship between us all far richer. One of the beautiful things the friars have noticed is that people are talking more to each other before and after Mass. This is a good thing since it reminds me of the Eucharistic sacrifice we are about to celebrate: we take, offer, and break open our lives, fears, experiences, blessings, and joys to one another.”
Charles Miller, OFM, was one of three leaders of a discussion last night called “Love, Sex, and Mardi Gras,” at a pub not far from St. Francis of Assisi Church, New York City. The event was hosted by the parish’s young adult ministry.
Siena College announced through a recent e-newsletter to alumni that president Kevin Mullen, OFM, is participating in an alumni event on Feb. 16 in Orlando, Fla. The publication invites alumni to an afternoon of Siena baseball as the Saints play the University of Central Florida Knights.
Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, director of the HNP Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation directorate, was mentioned in the Feb. 11 e-newsletter of the Franciscan Action Network, which provides a link to a blog post by Jacek, a FAN board member, titled “Isn’t the Keystone XL Pipeline in Our National Interest?”
Frank Sevola, OFM, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J., concelebrated Mass on Feb. 3 with Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, N.J. During the Mass, they blessed throats to mark the feast of St. Blaise. Photos appeared in the Feb. 7 issue of The Beacon.
On Feb. 12, vocation director Brian Smail, OFM, distributed the first issue of the new Be a Franciscan e-newsletter. The publication, produced in conjunction with the HNP Communications Office, is an electronic version of the newsletter that the HNP Vocation Office has published since 2008. Brian welcomes feedback about the content and format of the publication from friars and other readers.
Francis Soucy, OFM, reports that The Bergen Record published a piece on Jan. 27 that mentioned the contribution of Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., to the environment through the building of its waste water plant. The friary’s contribution appears at the end of the article titled “Could low-cost options reduce flooding from Passaic, Hackensack Rivers?”
Jud Weiksnar, OFM, blessed throats with lit candles to mark the feast of St. Blaise last week. “We called it the feast of St. Blaze,” Fr. Jud said. Firefighters attended the Mass, bringing smoke detectors for a blessing. Photos from the Mass are viewable on St. Anthony of Padua’s Facebook page.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Feb. 20, 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:
• Franciscan Mission Service’s April benefit and new programs
• Siena College’s president’s report
• Mt. Irenaeus Contemplative Days for friars
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas