NEW YORK — Below are updates about some of the many activities of Holy Name friars, including their outreach, celebrations, and presentations. 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 information to communications director Jocelyn Thomas.
The members of the HNP Chapter Planning Committee, chaired by William Beaudin, OFM, met Oct. 25 at the Provincial Office to finalize the Chapter schedule, determine Chapter moderators, and discuss other issues related to the Jan. 3 to 7, 2011, gathering including voting procedures, updates on fall fraternal gatherings and creating a section on the HNP Extranet for Chapter 2011 information.
Michael Blastic, OFM, spoke on “Francis, Reconciliation and Peace” Oct. 20 at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Md. Several days before, he represented Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, at the gathering of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in Denver. According to the Oct. 21 issue of Provincial Newsletter, from Assumption Province, the gathering was made possible by a “very generous grant” from Holy Name Province.
Ringwood, N.J., resident Lawrence Burke, OFM, turns 90 on Oct. 27. As of Wednesday afternoon, 10 people had wished Larry a happy birthday on the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province Facebook page.
David Convertino, OFM, director of St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, will be one of three presenters at the Province’s Nov. 9 leadership workshop in New York City. The program, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is open to all Holy Name friars. Friars are reminded by the HNP Leadership Development Committee to register by Nov. 1.
Members of the HNP Hispanic Ministry Committee — Thomas Conway, OFM, Lawrence Hayes, OFM, William McIntyyre, OFM, Christopher Posch, OFM, Juan Turcios, OFM, and Christopher VanHaight, OFM — as well as other HNP friars, are pictured in the new Encuentro Franciscano photo album, now available on the HNP website.
The St. Anthony Shrine Franciscan Adult School is presenting a two-part program this month called “Vatican II — A New Pentecost,” led by Charles Finnegan, OFM. The complete catalog of the adult school can be found on the St. Anthony Shrine website.
Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, gave a convocation at the annual Tribute Dinner of St. Thomas Aquinas College held Oct. 15 in Pearl River, N.Y. Michael, a 1978 graduate, was inducted into STAC’s Alumni Hall of Fame in January 2008. Those honored at this month’s event were James and Colleen Donaghy and Sr. Maureen Bradshaw, OP, a classmate of Michael.
Daniel Horan, OFM, delivered a lecture titled “Thomas Merton the ‘Dunce:’ Identity, Incarnation and the Not So Subtle Influence of John Duns Scotus,” to the Chicago Thomas Merton Society on Oct. 17, at the Passionist Monastery in Chicago, Ill. An article by Daniel, titled “Love Lived In Community: Lumen Gentium 13 and the Meaning of Grace in Bonaventure’s De Septem Donis Spiritus Sancti,” appears in the October issue of the British theological journal The Downside Review. Audio for Dan’s lecture is available on his blog, “Dating God.”
The 25th anniversary of religious life of John Heffernan, OFM, was marked by the community of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Triangle, Va., on the feast of St. Francis this month. Pastor Charles Miller, OFM, said hundreds of parishioners gathered for the fall Francis Fest after Mass “sang to John and had a piece of his humongous anniversary cake.”
Richard Husted, OFM, pastor of St. Bonaventure Church, Allegany, N.Y., speaks of the blessing of the new addition to The Bridge thrift shop, done the weekend of Oct. 17 after each Mass. “Several people commented on how the addition makes such a wonderful difference,” he said in the Oct. 24 parish bulletin. “I am always surprised by people who have never visited The Bridge. I think perhaps that some think that The Bridge is just meant for the poor. Quite the contrary! The bargains that can be found at our thrift store are for everyone. The money that is raised comes from your donations of clothing and household articles, which are sold. The money is then used to help the poor. Your donations and your shopping are both helpful.”
Michael Jones, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Butler, N.J., was mentioned in a feature in the Oct. 14 issue of The Beacon, the newspaper of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. The article highlighted celebrations of animals held at local parishes for the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. At the end of the Oct. 4 Mass, Mike “called on students of St. Anthony of Padua School to raise their stuffed animals for a blessing,” according to the story. “The blessing commemorates the Franciscan tradition of love for animals, which St. Francis of Assisi exemplified.”
Brian Jordan, OFM, attended the Solidarity Workers’ Rally featuring Lech Walesa, former president of Poland, on Oct. 25 in Times Square of New York City. The event’s purpose was to highlight the importance of the middle class in America, said Brian, the chaplain of the union construction workers in New York.
St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Anderson, S.C., where Aubrey McNeil, OFM, is pastor, was featured in a recent article in Extension magazine. “Washing Away a social stigma: Clean Start gives the homeless a chance to restore their dignity and self-respect” describes the value of the ministry, started by a priest and parishioners from St. Mary Church. Clean Start has been open roughly five years and serves an average of 25 people a day.
Dominic Monti, OFM, the Province’s director of formation, reminds friars considering sabbaticals or higher studies for next year to submit a letter of interest by Oct. 30 to him at the Provincial Office. Details were posted in the last issue of HNP Today.
John O’Connor is participating in the Province’s fraternal gathering on Oct. 28 at St. Bonaventure University in Western New York. On Nov. 4, he will be at the Raleigh, N.C., gathering. A list of John’s schedule through November was included in the Sept. 29 issue of HNP Today.
Members of the Province’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Directorate, of which Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, and Jud Weiksnar, OFM, are chairs, are meeting on Oct. 30 in New York City. Information about JPIC issues and programs can be found on the Justice and Peace page of the HNP website.
More than 250 friends of Christ the King Preparatory School in Newark, N.J., where Robert Sandoz, OFM, is president, attended this year’s gala on Oct. 14. Photos and details of the event will be available in the next issue of HNP Today.
Basil Valente, OFM, attended the St. Bonaventure University’s annual Mark Hellinger Awards Dinner on Oct. 15. The event marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the SBU’s awards. Basil teaches integrated marketing communications for the Allegany, N.Y., college. St. Bonaventure University president Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, said: “This department has spent so many years channeling the spirit of Russ Jandoli. From this moment on, we will need to channel Lee Coppola,” referring to the school’s dean, who will retire at the close of this academic year. More than 140 people, including 17 former recipients, gathered at an Olean, N.Y., restaurant to honor the school’s top journalism and mass communication student. Information about the event can be found on SBU’s website.
A letter to the editor by Jud Weiksnar about the Oct. 8 to 12 visit by members of BonaResponds, the service organization of St. Bonaventure University, appeared in SBU’s student newspaper, The Bona Venture. In it, Jud described the spirit and accomplishments of the nearly 20 volunteers who helped at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Camden, N.J. “The BonaResponds team from Allegany, and alumni and friends who drove in from North Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, brought the best out of not just Vinny, an occasional parishioner, but out of our parish staff, our volunteers and our friars. Their humility, sense of humor, work ethic, gentleness and generosity make BonaResponds a truly Franciscan enterprise.” The complete article can be read online.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Nov. 3 (always the Wednesday before the newsletter’s publication date). Updates about Province ministries and friars can be found on the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province Facebook page.
Topics planned for future issues of this newsletter include:
· Franciscan Mission Service’s 20th anniversary benefit
· Reflection for feast of St. Martin de Porres on Nov. 3
· Christ the King Prep School Gala
· Fundraising being done by St. Stephen of Hungary Parish for the people of Hungary
· Ways that Provincial ministries are helping the poor, especially at Thanksgiving time
· pilgrimages to the Holy Land being offered in 2011
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas