NEW YORK — Below are updates about some of the many activities of Holy Name friars, including their presentations, outreach and celebrations. More information can be obtained by visiting links to the parishes and organizations mentioned, by contacting the friars by phone or e-mail, and by connecting with the Communications Office.
To provide news briefs for future issues of HNP Today, e-mail communications director Jocelyn Thomas at communications@hnp.org.
Russell Testa, HNP director of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, is visiting the Province’s ministries in North Carolina this week to assess their JPIC programs. Today, he meets with Louis Canino, OFM, director of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville. On Tuesday, he visited St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, where Mark Reamer, OFM, is pastor. Next week, Testa will visit the ministries of Western New York.
A reflection by Michael Duffy, OFM, titled “It’s Always Snowy in Philadelphia” appears in the March 2010 issue of The Pilgrim, the newsletter of the St. Francis Inn ministries. The New Hampshire native describes his observations about the climate of the Pennsylvania city. He says of the snow: “Did it stop St. Francis Inn? No. We were open during all three (snow) storms. During the December storm, we fed 196 guests. The February storms: 110 the first one and 199 the second. This gives us a perspective on how essential our services are too many people and that doesn’t include those who just couldn’t get out and had to stay home. In any case, I’ll leave my theories about snowfall in Philly to the weather people and just enjoy the snow when it falls.”
Thomas Gallagher, OFM, e-mailed a letter on April 11 to parishioners and friends of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, Hartford, Conn., where he is pastor. His communication forwarded a letter from Archbishop Henry Mansell of Hartford that asks for opposition to the state of Connecticut’s House Bill 5473 that “would retroactively eliminate the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to allegations of child sexual abuse.” Thomas recommended that “we act in a manner that is informed and comfortable to our conscience.”
Daniel Horan, OFM, traveled to England this weekend to deliver an academic paper titled “Sparks ofHaecceitas: A Scotist Reading of Thomas Merton” at the eighth general meeting and conference of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Oakham, United Kingdom.
Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, reminds friars who have not attended the HNP Fraternal Gatherings to register for one of the remaining fraternal gatherings. A list was distributed by e-mail on April 9 with information about the April 26, May 8 and May 11 events.
A celebration of the life of Daniel Hurley, OFM, is planned for the closing celebration of the Mt. Irenaeus 25th anniversary on June 6. Other events planned by the Franciscan Mountain Retreat in Western New York are described in the Easter 2010 issue of Mt. Irenaeus newsletter. Reflections by Kevin Kriso, OFM, and Daniel Riley, OFM, also appear in this newsletter, available on the Mt. Irenaeus Web site.
Kevin Mackin, OFM, announced on April 13 to the Mt. St. Mary College community that he is remaining at the Newburgh, N.Y. college as president. The note was in response to a public announcement on April 8 that Kevin was a finalist in a presidential search at Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J. “I am thankful that Seton Hall’s national search surfaced qualified candidates. As a priest with credentials and presidential experience, it is truly gratifying to be selected as a final candidate to help lead such a fine national university,” Kevin wrote. “Yet, after very careful thought at this earliest opportunity, I am withdrawing my name.” He said he is committed to shepherd important initiatives and is “very happy serving as president of Mt. St. Mary College.”
Jim McIntosh, OFM, participated last week in the Bolivian meeting of recently-professed friars. Instead of being called SPUFY, Solemnly Professed Under Five Years, it is called SPUSY, “…under six years.” Jim traveled by bus and train to get to the town of Puerto Suárez where the gathering was held; it is intended to support the friars as they transition from formation to a life in solemn vows. “Although I am in my seventh year of solemn vows, I was invited to attend the event and went eagerly because it was held in a part of Bolivia to which I have never visited,” said Jim in a recent post on his blog. Puerto Suárez, Jim said, is in the extreme southeast corner of Bolivia — very near the Brazilian and Paraguayan borders. “In fact, the Franciscan parish in Puerto Suárez extends down to the point at which the three countries meet.” A detailed description of Jim’s trip, including photos and maps, appears on “Musings of a Mendicant.”
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, is participating this week in a meeting in Dublin, Ireland, of the OFM English-speaking Conference. Next week, he will meet in New York with members of the Provincial Council. A link to John’s schedule can be found on the Province’s home page.
The Justice and Peace page of the Province’s Web site has been redesigned. The JPIC Directorate, co-chaired by Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, and Jud Weiksnar, OFM, is leading the project in conjunction with the HNP Communications Office. The page has four main sections: Our Initiatives, JPIC in Action, Resources, and In the News. The content is being developed by project manager Megan Nerz, a JPIC Directorate member and former staff member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, N.C. A Justice and Peace blog is being created to allow members of HNP ministries to exchange ideas and information.
A photo of Siena College chief of staff Kenneth Paulli, OFM, mid-golf swing appears on the college’s Facebook page. The picture was taken at last week’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of golfer Gene Sarazen’s double-eagle, the “Shot Heard Round the World” at the Masters. The event raised money for Siena’s Sarazen scholarhsip.
Francis Pompei, OFM, founder of Franciscan Mystery Players, is leading a three-day retreat at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg, N.Y. The program is scheduled for April 19, 20 and 21. The themes of the three days are listed in an advertisement that appeared last week in Western New York Catholic.
Joseph Rozansky, OFM, of Rome, is mentioned in the March 2010 issue of Contact, newsletter of the OFM International Council for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. The article’s author Fr. Franklin Fong, OFM, describes in “Friars Using New Internet Technology,” how Joseph recently used Skype to speak to a formation gathering about leadership.
Frank Sevola, OFM, described the Franciscan ministries of Providence, R.I., on the April 2 on The Rhode Show, a morning television program on Fox. One of the show’s producers is a parishioner at St. Mary Church, where Frank is pastor.
Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., where A. Francis Soucy, OFM, is guardian, received recognition for environmental stewardship by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative. A certificate notes that the recognition was based on a March 31 inspection of the Province’s long-term care facility.
Provicial Treasurer Dennis Wilson, OFM, reminds friars to submit budgets for fiscal year 2011 to his office.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by April 21, always the Wednesday before the publication date. Topics planned for upcoming newsletter issues include:
· Earth Day commemorations
· Dedication of new buildings at the Raleigh parish
· Volunteer appreciation events around the Province
· Three friars’ participation in Siena College’s recent Relay for Life
· Franciscans International speaker series at HNP’s San Daminao Hall
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas