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.
Lawrence Anderson, OFM, was among the speakers at the Sept. 21 interfaith celebration held at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J. The program was sponsored by the parish’s People of Peace ministry, in recognition of International Day of Peace.
Michael Calabria, OFM, an instructor at St. Bonaventure University, spoke at the University of Georgia’s Catholic Center during Francis Weekend.
The retreat center founded six years ago by Louis Canino, OFM, was featured in the newspaper of the Charlotte, N.C., Diocese. “Place of Peace and Prayer Plans Expansion” describes the history, the layout, the mission and the programs of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, N.C., just north of Greensboro, and its plans to double in size. Since its opening in 2005, the center has hosted more than 30,000 people at retreats, according to the Sept. 9 article. One fan of the Province’s Facebook page commented: “You can’t help but be drawn into the love of God and creation and to be inspired by the Franciscan spirit when there. Fr. Louie is one of the greatest men I have ever know and a credit to HNP.”
George Corrigan, OFM, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Tampa, Fla., celebrated a Blue Mass on Sept. 29 in honor of the Tampa Bay area law enforcement, fire and rescue, first responders and support staff.
Daniel Horan, OFM, of Silver Spring, Md., recently delivered two lectures. The first, “Digital Natives and the Digital Self: The Wisdom of Thomas Merton for Millennial Spirituality and Self-Understanding,” was given Sept. 24 at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., as part of “Contemplation in a Technological Era: Thomas Merton’s Insight for the Twenty-First Century.” The second was the 2011 annual Francis Week lecture, “Finding Francis on Facebook: Franciscan Spirituality and Mission in the Digital Age,” delivered Oct. 2 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City. Dan posts information about his work and speaking engagements on his blog, Dating God. A recording of his Francis Week lecture will be included in the next episode of the Dating God podcast.
Gerald Hopeck, OFM, is one of several friars pictured in a new set of rotating photos on the home page of HNP.org. Others include Stephen DeWitt, OFM, Gregory Jakubowicz, OFM, Juan de la Cruz Turcios, OFM, and Jud Weiksnar, OFM, with the Province’s five postulants.
The late Mychal Judge, OFM, was mentioned in the Oct. 3 article “Really Franciscan: St. Francis of Assisi Church” from Patheos.com. The article, by Patrick McNamera, was shared on the Province’s Facebook page by follower Jonathan Jones.
Claude Lenehan, OFM, is leading a Retrouvaille weekend Oct. 14 in Madison, N.J. Information about this program for troubled marriages can be obtained by calling 973-838-3340.
Erick Lopez, OFM, and Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, are mentioned in the October 2011 issue of Contact, the monthly newsletter of the OFM Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, which describes their participation in August at a rally in Washington. D.C.
Cassian Miles, OFM, of Butler, N.J., attended a talk last month at the College of St. Elizabeth by author Mitch Albom, who spoke about Have a Little Faith, a book describing Albom’s time with a rabbi he visited regularly for the last eight years of his life. The story of Cassian’s friendship with Patsy Bagdho, a parishioner of Assumption Church in Wood-Ridge, N.J., was recanted in the Alternative Press, a local New Jersey online newspaper, which includes a photo of Cassian, Patsy Bagdho and Dawn Crimmins.
Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, is attending the Oct. 9 to 16 gathering in Jerusalem of the OFM International Council on Formation and Studies.
Provincial Councilor Joseph Nangle, OFM, was honored for his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination during a baseball game at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Md. He and members of Pax Christi attended the Red Sox Orioles game on Sept. 26. Photos of the event appear on the Pax Christi USA Facebook page.
An essay by Sean O’Brien, OFM, appeared in the Oct. 9 bulletin of Sacred Heart Church, Tampa, Fla. The piece, called “It’s a Wonderful Life,” describes Sean’s life as a Franciscan priest.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, is in London this week for the fall meeting of the English-speaking Conference. The Provincials of the ESC are meeting with General Minister Fr. Jose Rodriguez Carballo, OFM, and members of the General Definitorium. Because the president of the conference, Fr. John Hardin, OFM, was unable to attend due to an urgent situation in his province, and since the conference currently has no vice president, John, as former president of the conference, was asked to chair this week’s meetings. Reports on the agenda and discussions will be forthcoming, John said. On Oct. 16, John will be in Boston for the installation of James Kelly, OFM, as director of St. Anthony Shrine.
Christopher Posch, OFM, chair of the HNP Hispanic Ministry Committee, requests that friars and their partners-in-ministry save the date of Oct. 20, 2012, for the next Franciscan Encuentro. Because “feedback from Encuentro 2009 was magnificent,” Christopher said, “we eagerly await Encuentro 2012.” The event will be held at St. Camillus Parish, Silver Spring, Md.
On Sept. 29, Daniel Riley, OFM, celebrated a Mass for St. Bonaventure University alumni at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City. The director of Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Retreat and 1964 graduate of the Western New York university appears in “What is a Bonnie?” which appears on the university’s Facebook page.
The annual President’s Gala of Christ the King Prep School in Newark, N.J., where Robert Sandoz, OFM, is president, is being held Oct. 13 at the Newark Club.
Gonzalo de Jesus Torres-Acosta, OFM, was interviewed on Oct. 1 for “Al Encuentro Con Jesus,” a Spanish program on SiriusXM Radio. Gonzalo discussed St. Francis and how ministries around the Province commemorate his Oct. 4 feast.
Kevin Tortorelli, OFM, gave a conference to the annual convocation of the priests of the Brooklyn Diocese on Oct. 5 and Oct. 7. “Priest Called to Sanctify” was held in Thornwood, N.Y.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Oct. 19 (always the Wednesday before the newsletter’s publication date). Updates about the friars and their ministries can be found on the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province Facebook page.
Topics planned for future issues of this newsletter include:
· Spirit of Assisi commemorations around the Province
· the visit of Neil O’Connell, OFM, to the interprovincial novitiate
· HNP friars marking milestone birthdays
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas