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 late Matthew Conlin, OFM, was the first friar featured in a new mail program of the HNP Development Office. In a June 15 letter, David Convertino, OFM, said: “Through this program, I will be sending you the biography of any of our Franciscan friars who have just died. Even if you have never met these friars, I hope you will find in the story of their lives a real sense of prayer, acceptance, compassion and service that marks the life of the Franciscan.”
Three friars — Frank Critch, OFM, Mario Gomez, OFM, and Edgardo Zea-Lauria, OFM — are doing their solemn vows retreat in Italy this month.. They will profess their final vows as Franciscans next month, at an Aug. 25 Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City.
Daniel Dwyer, OFM, of Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., participated in the 46th annual conference of the Mormon History Association in Calgary, Alberta, from June 28 through July 3. Next week, he is traveling to Russia.
Quam Bonum, the Province’s house on Cape Cod, will be closed from July 22 to 27 for a private friar retreat, according to William Fitzgerald, OFM, curator. It will reopen July 28.
Last week, Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, hosted a group of Siena College student affairs administrators. They came to New York City on June 27 to experience the Franciscan ministries of St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street, Holy Name of Jesus Church on the Upper West Side, and St. Francis Friends of the Poor residences. The experience provided an opportunity to learn about the services and outreach provided in New York City by friars and their lay partners. While there, the Siena administrators met Andrew Reitz, OFM, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church, and Thomas Walters, OFM, of SFFP. They paused for a group photo during their visit to the Provincial Office.
William Herbst, OFM, of Wilmington, Del., has been hired as the new program director for Mother Teresa House Inc. in Wilmington. MTH is funded by HUD, a section 811 supportive housing for persons with disabilities program, he said. “The group home provides permanent affordable housing with access to supportive services for very low-income men and women disabled by HIV/AIDS. The Ministry of Caring, founded in 1977 by the New Jersey province of the Capuchin friars, is the managing agent of the project for which Bill has been hired in a contract of services capacity.” Bill will continue to be the assistant postulant director and procurator for St. Paul’s Friary in Wilmington.
Daniel Horan, OFM, is one of the leaders of St. Bonaventure University’s inaugural program on interreligious dialogue at the Chattauqua Institution, near the Western New York campus. Participants in the two-week honors seminar are from SBU, Allegany, N.Y.; Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y.; Houghton College, Houghton, N.Y.; and Carlow University, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York visited Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., on June 21 to celebrate Mass preceding a philosophy workshop of international scholars on June 21 in the Chapel of the Holy Rosary. Kevin Mackin, OFM, president of MSMC, was among those pictured in a photo provided by the college. The others are, from left, Auxiliary Bishop Dominick Lagonegro; Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP, director of the Thomistic Institute, Washington, D.C.; Kevin; Cardinal Dolan; Bishop Charles Morerod, OP, of Lausanne, Fribourg, and Geneva, Switzerland; and professor Charles Zola, director of the Catholic and Dominican Institute.
The July 1 issue of the St. Andrew Campus Ministry Weekly Update features John McDowell, OFM, who served for two years as campus minister at Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. The issue begins, “Adios Padre Jack,” and includes a farewell tribute titled “Thank you, Fr. Jack,” that describes the reasons the friar will be missed.
Friars who would like to have any of the furnishings of St. Anthony Residence in Boston are asked to contact guardian Frank McHugh, OFM, to arrange to pick up the items before July 9. A list of the available furnishings was emailed to HNP friars on June 27.
On July 5, Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, is travelling to Western New York where he will teach a three-week course at St. Bonaventure University. The majority of the students will be the postulants from throughout the United States who will enter novitiate in August.
Daniel Nelson, OFM, presented a keynote address at the recent bi-annual national conference of the Sandplay Therapists of America (STA), held in Berkeley, Calif., May 31 to June 3. The address, titled, “From Self-Conscious to Self-Consciousness: Sandplay with Adults,” was presented to more than 260 conference attendees. Dan served on the Board of STA from 2001 to 2010 and was president of the organization from 2006 to 2008. He also recently played a significant role in obtaining registration of the trademark for “Sandplay” this month with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office after a four-year application process.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, attended the annual jubilee celebration of residents of the Holy Name Community in Ringwood, N.J., on June 23. Eight friars were honored for anniversaries of ordination and profession, including Martin Hanhauser, OFM, who marked 75 years as a friar; Aloysius Siracuse, OFM, marking 70 years as a friar; Eric Kyle, OFM, 60 years since ordination; and Thomas Kelly, OFM, 50th anniversary of ordination, Bonaventure Hayes , OFM, marking 50 years as a Franciscan, who could not come into New York for the Province’s Jubilee Celebration. Earlier this week, John was in Triangle, Va., where much of the community suffered from the effects of a weekend storm and had no electrical power.
Paul O’Keeffe, OFM, one of two HNP friars who attended last month’s Chapter of Mats for Young Friars, recommends a blog by a friar he met while at the Order’s gathering. It is maintained by Br. Matthew Hufer of Queensland, Australia.
Photos by postulant director Ronald Pecci, OFM, appear in the June 28 issue of SJB News Notes, the newsletter of St. John the Baptist Province, in an article titled “Settling in at St. Bona’s.” They show scenes of the summer postulant program on the Allegany, N.Y., campus. At the end of July, the HNP postulants will return to St. Paul’s Friary in Wilmington, Del., to prepare for their novitiate year in Burlington, Wis., which begins August. 15.
Last month, Reginald Reddy, OFM, was presented with a plaque for his service by the Franciscan Missionaries of Jesus Crucified, a lay association for the disabled and people with special needs. The organization celebrated its 25th anniversary during its June 4 to 10 retreat at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. Reginald has been spiritual assistant for the group since it was founded. Former General Minister Louise Principe, FMJC, co-foundress, was also acknowledged. A photo was submitted to the HNP Communications Office by Julian Davies, OFM.
Andrew Reitz, OFM, hosted a meeting of the young adults group of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City, where he is pastor. The July 25 event included discussions and refreshments. The next meeting of this 20s and 30s group is at 6:30 p.m. on July 9.
Last month, Paul Santoro, OFM, was among the participants of the Catholic Heart Work Camp mission trip to Virginia. Students and staff of Santa Fe Catholic High School in Lakeland, Fla., where he is campus minister, were in Virginia Beach from June 10 to 15. The students, working with other youth from across the country, were involved in several projects, Paul said. “Some groups worked at the homes of low-income or elderly people doing gardening, interior and exterior painting, laying new tile floors, and repairing fences,” he said. Others worked at local Catholic elementary schools painting, cleaning toys and exercise equipment, and gardening. Others, he said, worked at a large social service agency. “At the end of our work week, our students were treated to a day at the beach, where they enjoyed the three-mile boardwalk, miniature golf, bike riding and sitting in the sun (although by Florida standards it was quite cold). The Santa Fe Catholic community is grateful to the Franciscan Mission Union and Tom Cole, OFM for their generous donation to help make this trip possible.”
Frank Sevola, OFM, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J., enjoyed attending last week’s National Basketball Association draft in Newark, N.J. He saw St. Bonaventure University’s recent graduate Andrew Nicholson selected by the Orlando Magic. “The only other first-round NBA draft pick that SBU had was Bob Lanier,” Frank said, referring to the 1970 graduate who played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. While at the June 28 draft, Frank sat in a SBU box, because he is a trustee. Lanier visited the SBU representatives and Frank was pleased to have his photo taken with the basketball star.
Last week, Vocation Director Brian Smail, OFM, electronically distributed the summer issue of the Be A Franciscan newsletter. He will soon send out a new vocation brochure, in both English and Spanish, that promotes the website, www.BeAFranciscan.org.
An article titled “Contemplation Among Priests” by Kevin Tortorelli, OFM, of New York City, appears in July/August 2012 issue of in The Pastoral Review.
Jud Weiksnar, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Camden, was mentioned in an article in the June 22 issue of Catholic Star Herald. “Parks and Recognition: National Honor for student Von Nieda Park Task Force” described the award that the students recently received.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by July 11 (always the Wednesday before the newsletter’s publication date). Updates about the friars and their ministries can be found on Facebook and Twitter.