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.
Michael Calabria, OFM, is writing a series for the Franciscan Mission Service blog. His posts about Ramadan will appear on Fridays from July 20 through Aug. 17. “We hope Fr. Michael’s posts will help our ‘Franciscan Fridays’ series gain momentum as well as educate our followers about Islam and St. Francis’ cross-cultural, peace-keeping example.” said FMS’s communications coordinator Bridget Higginbotham.
Christopher Dunn, OFM, was recognized on July 1 with a medal for his work as chaplain of Peru’s Urban Search and Rescue team. He and the other 10 members of the team who participated in the rescue mission at a building collapse in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in January, 2011, were recognized by the city government at a ceremony at the monthly USAR training session. “It was a surprise. We were not informed exactly what was going to happen,” Christopher said. “USAR is an elite rescue team within the fire department that works mostly in collapsed buildings. The unit celebrates the 10th anniversary of its founding this July 20. In the 10-year period, they have rescued 14 people in Peru. I have participated in three or four rescues by the team in Lima. The mission to Santa Cruz was their first international rescue mission in their 10 years.”
David Haack, OFM, led a session earlier this month as part of the Franciscan Institute’s Summer Enrichment program at St. Bonaventure University. It was called “Artistic Perspectives and Franciscan Spirituality” and held on the Western New York campus. The program focussed on the question “How can we view conversion and the transitus of Francis of Assisi in the 21st century?”
Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, reminds friars and partners-in-ministry that the Provincial Office closes at 4 p.m. on Fridays between July 4 and Labor Day.
Photos of Michael Jones, OFM, and Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, appear in the summer 2012 issue of Echoes, the newsletter of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, based in Peekskill, N.Y. Michael appears with Sr. Anne Matthew, FMSC, a member of the founding community of St. Anthony School in Butler, N.J., and Sr. Mary Elaine Sullivan, FSP, former principal, in a photo taken at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler during Catholic Schools Week. John appears in a photo taken in March during the sisters’ council meeting. “The Provincial Council was honored to welcome Fr. John O’Connor, OFM, to address the community assembled for the first phase of planning for the provincial chapter,” according to the newsletter.
A blog is being created for artist Robert Lentz, OFM, to publicize his work and allow the public to see his creations. Michael Reyes, OFM, has agreed to manage the website.
Kevin Mackin, OFM, president of Mount St. Mary College, Newburgh, N.Y., threw the first pitch at the June 30 Hudson Valley Renegades baseball game in Fishkill. The New York-Penn League stadium is across the Hudson River from the college, where Kevin is president. A photo provided by the college was posted last week on the HNP Facebook page.
Taking time to slow down is emphasized in the summer issue of the Mt. Irenaeus newsletter, which said that “digital ministry is becoming an important extension of Mt. Irenaeus.” The article recommends that people slow down, pray, reflect, and listen to the audio reflections of Daniel Riley, OFM, on the Mt. Irenaeus website. The summer newsletter also announced that the 2012 Mountain auction will take place on Nov. 3.
Robert Struzynski, OFM, was mentioned in the July 6 issue of The Buffalo News. In a story titled “Bruckman Shares His Story,” “Fr. Bob Struzynski is credited as making a difference in this man’s life with his prison ministry, Cephas,” according to Mary Giardini, communications and development services coordinator for Mt. Irenaeus where the friar is stationed.
Michael Tyson, OFM, will be honored July 21 by Holy Name of Jesus Parish in New York City, where he is parochial vicar, to celebrate his 50th anniversary as a friar.
Jud Weiksnar, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Camden, N.J., reports that a photo of “our own Br. Jerry’s Garden at St. Anthony’s” appears in First Lady Michelle Obama’s book, American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by July 25 (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:
• Simple profession of two friars on Aug. 4
• An update from the Provincial Minister
• Amazon Day commemoration on July 21
• August meeting of ESC formators
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas