Below are updates about 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.
Thomas Cole, OFM, visited the General Curia in Rome last week for the Nov. 25 to 29 meeting of the executive committee for the Missions and Evangelization, of which he is a member. “The issues we considered,” Thomas said, “were suggested revisions of the General Statutes for the Missions and Evangelization and planning for two upcoming events: 1) The International Council for the Missions and Evangelization to be held in Canada in September 2013 and 2) the International Congress for the Missions and Evangelization scheduled for Assisi in May 2014.” Earlier this fall, Tom participated in the annual meeting of the English-Speaking Conference/Interprovincial Secretariate for the Missions and Evangelization. The gathering, held in Dublin, Ireland, from Oct. 8 to 11, included a presentation of the Franciscan Mission Service’s new projects.
George Corrigan, OFM, concelebrated the annual Red Mass with Bishop Robert Lynch and Fr. Tim Corcoran on Nov. 30 at Sacred Heart Church, Tampa, Fla. Red Masses request guidance for those who work in the legal profession.
F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, reminds friars that Dec. 15 is the deadline to register for the 2013 friar pilgrimage to Italy. Details about this La Verna program were provided in the Aug. 15 issue of this newsletter.
Francis Critch, OFM, who was ordained on Nov. 3, returned last month to St. Mary’s Parish, Pompton Lakes, N.J., where he had previously served, to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving. A photo of Francis with Lawrence Anderson, OFM, and Francis Sevola, OFM, appeared in the Nov. 22 issue of The Beacon newspaper.
Francis Di Spigno, OFM, is accepting applications for the position of program manager for University Ministries of St. Bonaventure University in Western New York. Since June 2011, Francis has served as executive director of faith formation, worship and ministries.
The Nov. 25 issue of the Hispanic magazine Al Día featured St. Francis Inn as its cover story, “Un Día En La Vida En St. Francis Inn.” Multiple photos of the inn’s staff and guests are shown in the magazine, including a large photo of Michael Duffy, OFM, serving a meal.
The fall series of fraternal gatherings was completed last week with the eighth program held at St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, on Nov. 27. Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, is now arranging dates for the spring series.
David Hyman, OFM, chair of the Province’s African Ancestry Committee, encourages friars to display the flyer about the Dec. 27 to 30 Go Down Moses retreat for young African-American men at their ministries. Registration for this Washington, D.C., event has been extended until Dec. 15.
Stephen Kluge, OFM, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Long Beach Island, N.J., reports that a full Mass schedule is in place at St. Thomas Church in Surf City. St. Francis Church in Brant Beach, the principal church of the parish, has not been re-opened. “The friary is still unable to be lived in, as is the convent. Because of the impact of last month’s Hurricane Sandy, St. Francis Community Center will be out of commission until Jan. 2.” Daily reflections from Stephen and updates about the parish’s situation are posted on the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Facebook page.
William McIntyre, OFM, reports that the Guadalupe Torch passed by Immaculate Conception Parish, Durham, N.C., last week. In previous years, this symbol of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe has visited St. Paul’s Church in Wilmington. He provided a link to a sponsoring agency.
Daniel McLellan, OFM, was welcomed by his new parish in Clemson, S.C, with a barbecue on Nov. 30, the feast of St. Andrew. He officially began his role at St. Andrew’s Parish Dec. 1. The weekly e-update of Clemson University’s Catholic Student Association reported on the barbecue, a Dec. 2 tree decorating party, and weekly peace and justice programs as well as other activities.
At a Nov. 18 Mass celebrated by Stephen Mimnaugh, OFM, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City welcomed 15 for initiation into the Church. “The rite culminated with the very moving ritual of the handing over of the cross, during which the candidates’ sponsors traced the sign of the cross over their senses,” according to an article in the Nov. 18 parish bulletin.
On Dec. 4, Siena College president Kevin Mullen, OFM, traveled to Allegany, N.Y., to watch the Siena Saints compete with the St. Bonaventure Bonnies for the Franciscan Cup on national television. Among the friars cheering the teams were F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, Francis Di Spigno, OFM, Gregory Jakubowicz, OFM, Joseph Kotula, OFM, Kevin Kriso, OFM, and Daniel Riley, OFM. St. Bonaventure won the game, 58-43.
Neil O’Connell, OFM, of New York City, has provided an update about the Interfamilial OFM American Apostolate, saying that the organization “has reaffirmed its value both in regard to the African American Apostolate and to increased interprovincial/interfamilial cooperation in Franciscan ministry. The topic of greatest immediacy is the recruitment and retention of African American Franciscan vocations, both men and women. Previous meetings of the Apostolate have determined that there are many ways in which the African culture charism and the Franciscan charism complement and foster each other. Events such as the Go Down Moses Program and the engagement of Franciscan and lay leaders in Franciscan African American ministries have helped engagement and retention.”
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, hosted a meeting of the St. Bonaventure University Board of Trustees on Nov. 30 at the Provincial Office in New York City. Other friar trustees who participated in the meeting wereThomas Conway, OFM, of Silver Spring, Md., and SBU alumni F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, a St. Bonaventure administrator, and Frank Sevola, OFM, of Pompton Lakes, N.J. On Dec. 1, John attended the retirement dinner of the chief of police of Prince William County in Virginia. This Friday, John is traveling to Milwaukee, Wis., for the fall meeting of English-speaking Conference leaders.
Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, invites friars to participate in a peacemaking simulcast that will link Bethlehem University in Palestine with St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Md., on Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. The conversation will focus on how to work toward peace in the Holy Land.
Joseph Rozansky, OFM, is contributing weekly to the blog of the Franciscan Mission Service. Next month, he will lead the annual interprovincial retreat for friars in the United States.
This weekend, vocation director Brian Smail, OFM, is traveling with Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, to the interprovincial novitiate in Burlington, Wis., to attend the liturgy for the novices’ reception of habits on Dec. 9. He will also be sending information about next month’s National Vocation Awareness Week to HNP pastors and guardians within the upcoming week.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Dec. 12 (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:
• New postulants
• Programs being planned by the HNP Ongoing Formation Committee
• An amended edition of the English-language “Liturgy of the Hours for the United States”
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas