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.
“The Resurrection and Discipleship,” a reflection by Russell Becker, OFM, pastor of the Franciscan Chapel Center in Tokyo, was posted on the Be A Franciscan blog on Easter Monday.
Michael Carnevale, OFM, and Andrew Reitz, OFM, are pictured in a new pamphlet about the St. Francis Breadline that was produced after the Ash Wednesday visit by Cardinal Timothy Dolan to the more than 80-year-old food ministry in New York City.
George Corrigan, OFM, William McConville, OFM, and Mark Reamer, OFM, left on Monday for Italy. They are participating in a pilgrimage with members of the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi, Raleigh, N.C., where Mark is pastor.
The friars of Juniper Friary in Philadelphia were evacuated from their home early on the morning of April 9 when a fire broke out in a nearby building. Guardian Michael Duffy, OFM, was interviewed by a NBC television station.
Robert Gavin, OFM, and Daniel Riley, OFM, along with several deceased friars — Daniel Hurley, OFM, Fidelis O’Rourke, OFM, and Gervase White, OFM — were mentioned in St. Bonaventure University’s April 3 news release about the $50,000 pledge by alumnus and SBU trustee Marvin Stocker, of Maryland, to the university.
St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Hartford, Conn., honored Andrew Giardino, OFM, last month with a Mass and reception to mark his 50th anniversary of ordination. Photos of the March 17 events appear on the parish’s Facebook page. On May 19, the community is holding a picnic that will honor Andrew. Other HNP friars commemorating 50 years of priesthood this year include Raphael Bonanno, OFM, Mathias Doyle, OFM, Thomas Kelly, OFM, Daniel Lanahan, OFM, Bartholomew McMahon, OFM, Louis Sainz, OFM, and Stanislaus Widomski, OFM.
A list of changes to friar phone numbers was distributed last week by Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM. These updates will be incorporated into the next online edition of the HNP Directory, available to friars on the Extranet.
Kenneth Himes, OFM, of Boston College, is one of eight people who will speak at Washington Theological Union’s April 20 closing symposium that will commemorate 44 years of service to the Church and the WTU’s contributions to theology and ministry, according to the April 8 issue of e-Pistle, the union’s newsletter.
An audio version of Dating God, by Daniel Horan, OFM, is now available. Last week, Dan was featured in the Catholic News Service’s article, “Young Franciscan author says getting to know God is like dating.” The article describes Dan’s background and why he likes life as a friar. It also mentions that Dan is one of five members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Utica N.Y., who became Franciscan friars.
Michael Johnson, OFM, pastor of St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Md., recently wrote about the three friars with whom he lives. “The Brothers that God Gave Me,” which appears on Reflections of a Franciscan Gardener, mentions Fr. Jean-Marie Kabango-Lenge, OFM, Erick Lopez, OFM, and Jacek Orzechowski, OFM. “Each one,” Michael wrote “in very different ways, brings me closer to God, in ways that I am not even sure they are conscious of.”
In a recent mailing, Christopher Keenan, OFM, reminded friends of the proclamation on the invitation to his ordination 40 years ago: “We are molded and remolded by those who have loved us. And although that love may pass, we remain, nonetheless, their work. … No love, no friendship can ever cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark upon it forever.” The updates listed are Christopher’s “blessings of my life during 2011,” the year of his anniversary. Chris included information about his 14-year involvement with Mychal Judge Charities and about his role as chaplain at the College of Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale, N.Y., as well as two New York Daily News articles about his 10 years as chaplain of the Fire Department of New York.
Stephen Kluge, OFM, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Long Beach Island, N.J., gave a Lent reflection last month for the Poor Clares of Chesterfield, N.J. Photos of this event, as well as his March 27 blessing of the gravestone of Sr. Mary McCourt, appear on Monastery Happenings, the blog of the Poor Clares, who recently elected new leaders. They are abbess Sr. Miriam Varley, OSC, vicaress Sr. Etta Patton, OSC, and councilor Sr. Patricia Kahler, OSC.
On March 29, Kevin Mackin, OFM, participated in a Library Week commemoration at Mount St. Mary College where he is president. “Today, we at the Mount celebrate that our library is an essential element of higher education. Author William Kennedy explained, ‘If, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, then doesn’t it follow that, long before the first cathedral, God owned the first library card?’” Kevin led a read-a thon with faculty members of the Newburgh, N.Y., school, sharing poetry by Shel Silverstein.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, is traveling on April 14 to San Antonio, Texas, where he will participate in the spring meeting of the OFM English-speaking Conference leaders. John recommends reading the cover story of the April 9 issue of Newsweek, which devotes more than five paragraphs to St. Francis of Assisi.
Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, guardian of St. Camillus Friary and chair of the HNP Justice, Peace and integrity of Creation Directorate, returned on March 30 from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Daniel Riley, OFM, is leading a twilight reflection at University of Buffalo on April 12. On April 13, he will lead a Mountain on the Road gathering in Austin, Texas. Information about the events can be found on the Alumni page of SBU.edu.
On March 16, Robert Sandoz, OFM, marched with students of Christ the King Preparatory School, where he is president, in Newark’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. According to the April 4 e-letter of Christ the King, participating in the parade was “a great way to showcase our school.” Two weeks before, Robert provided information on the school — and on the Christo Rey Network of which it is a member — at a Leap Ahead in Education breakfast. Christ the King Prep “hosted over 40 old and new friends” on Feb. 29.
In honor of World Day of Prayer for Vocations, on April 29, vocation director Brian Smail, OFM, will be distributing new vocation prayer cards to pastors to share with their parishioners.
Photos of Patrick Tuttle, OFM, appear on the Furman University Catholic Campus Ministry Facebook page. Pat, who is pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Greenville, S.C., also serves as a campus minister to Furman students.
Last week, St. Bonaventure University recognized Allen Weber, OFM, for his 25 years of service. The associate professor of education, who teaches in the university’s graduate counselor education program and for Clare College, was honored along with more than 50 other employees marking anniversaries at the Western New York university this year. Also at the April 2 awards ceremony, the university recognized three faculty members who are retiring.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by April 18 (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:
· Annual meeting of the Province’s Ministry of the Word friars
· Ordination of two friars
· The reception of a friar into Holy Name Province
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas