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 HNP Communications Office.
To provide news briefs for future issues of HNP Today, email information to communications director Jocelyn Thomas at communications@hnp.org.
Thomas Conway, OFM, a trustee of St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y., hosted a reception for SBU alumni on Aug. 17 at Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md., where he is guardian. Several friars — including RobertLentz, OFM, Anthony LoGalbo, OFM, and John Ullrich, OFM — are pictured in photos on the St. Bonaventure Alumni Facebook page.
Photos of F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, John C. Coughlin, OFM, and Francis Di Spigno, OFM, participating in events commemorating the opening of the 2013 academic year at St. Bonaventure University can be found on two Facebook pages affiliated with the university: SBU Bullish on Business and St. Bonaventure Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC).
Kevin Downey, OFM, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Triangle, Va., was quoted in a story on the Potomac Local News website. In the piece about human trafficking awareness initiatives at the parish, Kevin said “following our presentations last May, this movie screening is the next step in our commitment to bringing continued awareness, action and advocacy around the issue of human trafficking. But this event is more than just viewing a powerful documentary. After it’s over, our guests from Polaris Project and ACTS SAVAS will provide us with ways that we can immediately take action.” Paul Breslin, OFM, and Frank Critch, OFM, have also been involved with this project, said Rob Goraieb, the parish’s coordinator of Franciscan action and advocacy. “They have helped our human trafficking committee with everything — from our awareness presentations in May, leading up to this screening, action and advocacy event. Much effort has gone into this issue. We’re looking forward to our Spanish screening of the film. It goes without saying that we have been so grateful for Fr. Kevin’s, Fr. Frank’s, and Fr. Paul’s support and commitment to addressing the evil of human trafficking. It’s one social justice issue, among many, that our parish is taking very seriously. We have been blessed to be invited to join community task forces, attend law enforcement, victim services and allied professional trainings, and partner with leading organizations in the fight against human trafficking.”
Michael Duffy, OFM, of Philadelphia and the other supervisors of Franciscan Volunteer Ministry sites — Hugh Macsherry, OFM, of Camden, N.J., and Christopher Posch, OFM, of Wilmington, Del. — welcomed new participants to the FVM program, beginning its 25th year this month.
Christopher Dunn, OFM, provided a description of the 2013 mission project at Santa Ana Parish in Lima, Peru, that involved several U.S. parishes, including St. Francis of Assisi, Triangle, Va., and Our Lady of Lourdes in Utica, N.Y. A team of four volunteers from the Utica parish and 12 volunteers from Lima “prepared 626 health kits, stuffing large ‘baggies’ with soap, toothpaste and a toothbrush and, for 210 kits, a toy. The volunteers also prepared 340 school supply packets. A generous donation from the Triangle parish covered the cost of buying material for the health kits and other set-up costs. The health packets with toys will be part of the Lima parish’s Christmas programs. The rest of the kits will be distributed to grade school children that attend the parish.”
After arranging the general visitor’s 2013 to 2014 schedule, Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, is accompanying Fr. Melvin Jurisich, OFM, to some of the HNP friaries and ministries. This week, they visited Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., and next week they will be at the parishes in Sullivan County, N.Y.
Gregory Jakubowicz, OFM, and Dennis Tamburello, OFM, Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., as well as Gary Maciag, OFM, of St. Bonaventure University, were among the people who attended the 14th annual Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges & Universities Conference in Washington last month. The keynote address, “Journeying with our Students into the Future” was given by Gary, director of operations for the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure and executive director of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities.
Kevin Mullen, OFM, president of Siena College, was presented earlier this month with the Teresian Community Service Award during the 23rd annual Teresian House Foundation “Friendraising” Gala in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. “I am humbled tonight to receive this,” said Kevin, who joined a list of Teresian Award winners that includes former New York Governor Hugh Carey, author Mary Higgins-Clark, former Siena College president Kevin Mackin, OFM, and singer Ronan Tynan.
The role that Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM played in acquiring land for a park near St. Francis of Assisi Church in Triangle, Va., was described by Kevin Downey, OFM, in his Aug. 18 “From the Pastor’s Desk”column in the parish bulletin.
This past weekend, Ronald Pecci, OFM, director of the HNP postulancy, welcomed eight men to the Province’s new postulant site at Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md., this weekend. On Monday, they were formally received to the HNP postulant program at an evening service. A photo of the postulants with vocation directorBrian Smail, OFM, appears as the cover image on the new Facebook page called Postulancy of the Franciscans of Holy Name Province.
A reflection about Franciscan brotherhood by student friar Ramon Razon, OFM, was posted on the blog of the English-speaking Conference website. The Holy Name College resident, who professed his first vows as a Franciscan on Aug. 2, titled his reflection “Brother Wants to Bother.”
Andrew Reitz, OFM, announced in the Aug. 18 bulletin of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City, where he is pastor, that the immigration center is being reopened. “We have begun the work of re-establishing our former immigration center. We are working with the Scalabrini Fathers at Our Lady of Pompeii Church to reopen our center here sometime this autumn. Our volunteers are currently attending classes on immigration law and immigration documents. Julian Jagudilla, OFM, has been named the director of our center and we will be announcing the days and hours that it will be open and when it will open. The work of the center will be supervised by an immigration lawyer.”
A reflection by Daniel Riley, OFM, titled “Readying for the Marketplace” appears in the Aug. 2013 issue ofMaking all Things New, the e-newsletter of Mt. Irenaeus. A link to the publication – the second issue – can be found on the website (and Facebook page) of the Franciscan Mountain Retreat in Western New York.
James Scullion, OFM, is speaking this week at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Long Beach Island, N.J., as part of a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. His topic at the Aug. 28 and 29 presentations is “Dei Verbum: Catholics and the Bible.” Earlier this month, other friars participated in the series.Daniel Horan, OFM, of Massachusetts, spoke last week on “Vatican II as History” and on Aug. 13 and 14, James Sabak, OFM, of Rhode Island, spoke on “Liturgy: Full and Active Participation.”
A photo of Patrick Tuttle, OFM, accepting a check from the TD Charitable Foundation, appeared recently in theGreenville Journal. The gift was designated for the music program of St. Anthony of Padua School in Greenville, S.C.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Sept. 4, always the Wednesday before the newsletter’s publication date. Updates about the friars and their ministries can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Topics planned for future issues of this newsletter include:
• Spanish Vocation Retreat Aug. 30 to Sept 1
• New buildings on the campuses of St. Bonaventure University and Siena College
• Ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood of Paul Keenan, OFM
• Observances of Sept. 11 anniversary
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas