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.
Thomas Cole, OFM, has been selected to represent the English-speaking Conference at the International Council for the Missions and Evangelization in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from Oct. 22 to 31. Tom recently attended a retirement party and spoke on behalf of the friars who served at Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School for HNP affiliate and long-time friend of many friars, Suzanne Overdorf. Formerly campus minister, religion department chair and teacher, Overdorf served the Timon community for 18 years.
David Convertino, OFM, and the friars of St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, welcomed Mayor and Mrs. Thomas Menino and members of his staff on June 27. The visitors were given a tour of the recently-renovated friars’ chapel. Following a festive preprandium, David, director of the shrine, offered a special prayer service prepared byJohn Maganzini, OFM. One of the mayor’s staff members said, “This is really a house of welcome. You are masters of hospitality.”
Thomas Conway, OFM, parochial vicar of St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Long Beach Island, N.J., participated in the annual Blessing of the Fleet on the docks of the Barnegat Boat Basin. The June 13 event drew more than 300 men, women and children, according to The Monitor, the newspaper of the Diocese of Trenton, N.J. Thomas, who represented the Catholic community, appeared in a photo in the June 24 issue of The Monitor.
Vincent Cushing, OFM, and Joseph Nangle, OFM, were among those who led workshops at Washington Theological Union’s Franciscan Symposium over Memorial Day weekend. The symposium was titled “Greed, Lust and Power, Franciscan Strategies of Building a More Just World.”
A photo of the late Julian Deeken, OFM, appeared in the June 29 issue of the New York Daily News with an article titled “Hero Proud of His Boy in Blue,” about the son of New York City police detective Steven McDonald. Julian, with McDonald soon after he was injured in 1986, was chaplain of the New York Fire Department until his death in 1991.
According to a July 7 blog entry, Stephen DeWitt, OFM, has arrived safely in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and is in the process of settling in. Stephen, who is spending part of his internship in Bolivia before moving to Peru, posts updates about his experience on his blog, “A Franciscan Abroad,” and @AFranAbroad.
Richard Husted, OFM, and the community of St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany, N.Y, are preparing for the annual BonaFest, this year set for July 10 and 11. Patrick Tuttle, OFM, of Greenville, S.C., will be serving as disc jockey for the event.
A St. Francis Builds group from St. Camillus Parish, Silver Spring, Md., is in El Salvador this week. The service organization, founded several years ago by Michael Johnson, OFM, pastor of St. Camillus, was featured in the fall 2008 issue of The Anthonian, the magazine of St. Anthony’s Guild.
Kevin Kriso, OFM, invites people in Western New York to the Summer Evenings of Re-creation at Mt. Irenaeus. “We enjoy a diverse group of people to help broaden our discussions,” he said. The theme of the July 7 evening is “Peace in the Midst of Chaos.” Kevin is pictured in the spring/summer 2010 issue of Bonaventure magazine.
Kevin Mackin, OFM, was on hand when the first of 70 solar panels was installed at Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, N.Y., where he is president. The college is venturing into its first “alternative energy,” according to a recent news release. The central roof at a renovated 12,000 square foot residence hall for 48 students now sports solar photovoltaic panels. The 70 panels (200 watts per panel) went up on June 13. Green Building and Material Supply Inc. and Kirchoff Green Energy, LLC of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., handled the installation of the system by Sunnyside Solar.
Jerome Massimino, OFM, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Midtown Manhattan, thanked Marie Harrington, director of outreach, for her years of service to the parish at a RENEW group luncheon last month. Harrington, who launched the group for younger retirees eight years ago, is retiring at the end of the month. The photo attached is one of several taken on June 17.
Gerald McCaffrey, OFM, of St. Anthony Residence in Butler, N.J., was honored with a special June 26 breakfast there as follow-up for the establishment of the launch of the St. Bonaventure University endowment in his name.
The 90th birthday of Myron McCormick, OFM, was celebrated June 26 by the friars of St. Anthony Residence and St. Anthony Shrine in Boston. The friary kitchen staff prepared dinner and the evening ended with birthday cake and the presentation of Myron’s gift from the friars. Myron’s surprised expression made the evening even more special, said John Maganzini. Earlier in the week, a luncheon was held for Myron with the staff and some invited guests. Friars commemorating milestone birthdays in July are Emeric Meier, OFM, of Boston who turns 70 on July 20 and Paul Sinnema, OFM, of New Jersey who turned 75 on July 1.
Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, had his first face-to-face meeting with the provincial council of Assumption BVM Province, according to the July 2 issue of Provincial Newsletter of the Assumption Province. Domininc, who is teaching a class in Franciscan history at St. Bonaventure University this summer, was appointed general visitor for the Wisconsin-based province in March.
A letter from Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, was distributed last week to all HNP friars updating them on the process for transitions in ministry and leadership positions in ministry. He included a copy of a letter dated Feb. 15 that provides background on the official HNP leadership transition process, emphasizing the fact that the 1996 Provincial Chapter mandated that more formal and inclusive consultation processes be used and reminding friars that the Fraternal Life Priotity adopted by the 1999 Chapter “challenged us to a renewed understanding of the role of the local guardian.” A June 29 letter from General Visitor Fr. Fred Link, OFM, provided friars with clarification on how to submit proposals for discussion at Chapter 2011. The committee led byWilliam Beaudin, OFM, has extended the submission deadline to Sept. 1.
On June 27, Michael Putich, OFM, pastor of St. Clare Parish in Buffalo, N.Y., invited attendees of Buffalo’s Walk and Wag to bless their pets. Since the group numbered approximately 40, and from diverse faith traditions, Michael invited them to extend their hands in blessing with him. “May the God of all creation bring you health, strength, and blessing so that you will continue to be a joy, comfort, and healing for all whom you pet. May your life within our homes and hearts be cause to praise our God and Creator forever and ever. Amen.”
Paul Santoro, OFM, campus minister at Santa Fe Catholic High School, Lakeland, Fla., accompanied 49 students and nine adults to Chicago to participate in a Catholic HEART Workcamp mission trip from June 6 to 12 with almost 300 other teens and adults from around the country. The groups served at day care centers and soup kitchens, painted and repaired homes and churches, and cleaned up parks throughout the city. Santa Fe Catholic High School has participated in these mission trips for six years. “The students enjoy the opportunity to serve and bring back with them a wealth of experience and desire to continue to serve in their local community,” Paul said.
Vocation director Brian Smail, OFM, reports that the Franciscan Vocation Ministry’s fall calendar will include more one-day events. “These programs give interested men an alternative to attending a weekend event,” Brian said. “Some attendees don’t have time to devote to an entire ‘Come and See’ weekend while others may not feel they are ready to do so. By offering options — such as ‘spend a day with the friars,’ on a Saturday, and a ‘twilight retreat’ on discernment on a weekday evening — we are able to accommodate more men’s schedules.”
James Vacco, OFM, gave a day of recollection last week to the Poor Clares community of Campbelltown outside Sydney, Australia. He travelled by train on June 29 to visit the sisters who, he said, “have a nice spirit and are very progressive in their thinking.” James is living in Sydney with the friars of the Franciscan parish of Holy Spirit Province for six weeks this summer. In a recent e-mail, James provided a photo of himself and the sisters after Mass in their chapel. In other emails, he has described sightseeing, the climate, a visit with a friend from St. Bonaventure University in Western New York, and observations about attitudes of Catholic Australians.
Jud Weiksnar, OFM, was mentioned in an article that appeared in the July 2 issue of Catholic Star Herald, the diocesan newspaper of Camden, N.J. The article is titled “Franciscan Volunteers start Peace Art Project in Camden.”
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by July 14, 2010. Upcoming topics include:
· Boniface Hanley, OFM
· Daniel Horan, OFM
· JPIC local contacts retreat
· Music ministries around the Province
· Jubilarians Joseph Hertel, OFM, Richard Husted, OFM, John Kull, OFM,
Miguel Loredo, OFM, and Ronald Stark, OFM
· Affiliation of postulants
· Parish bookstores
— Compiled by Rebecca Doel and Jocelyn Thomas