NEW YORK — Below are updates about some of the many activities of Holy Name friars, including their presentations, outreach and celebrations. 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 Communications Director Jocelyn Thomas at communications@hnp.org.
A photo of the three recently-professed HNP friars, Lawrence Anderson, OFM, Fred Dilger, OFM, and Juan De La Cruz Turcios, OFM, appears on the cover of the Fall 2009 issue of The Anthonian, the quarterly publication of St. Anthony’s Guild. Also featured in this issue are Christopher Dunn, OFM,Mariano Gagnon, OFM, Sebastian Tobin, OFM, and the Province’s friars in formation.
The friars at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston continued to commemorate the feast of St. Francis and 800th Anniversary on Oct. 5th with anl evening aboard the boat “Secret Love,” piloted for a part of the journey by guardian David Convertino, OFM. The evening was sponsored by Terry and Sherry Kirkman and some of the residents of Harbor Towers on the waterfront. As the friars set sail around the Boston Harbor, excitement arose as planes were flying close overhead and landing at Boston’s Logan Airport. Complete with a full moon to lead the way, the boat made its way back to port after a “superb” evening, according to John Maganzini, OFM.
A letter from the HNP Ongoing Formation Committee, chaired by F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, was distributed Oct. 8 to all friars. It described a 10-day renewal pilgrimage to Italy planned for May 2010.
Robert Gavin, OFM, began teaching a course last week at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City. “Spirituality and Emotions” attempts to “provide clarity about the origin and nature of emotions, how they are distinguished from sin and a healthy and appropriate way of dealing with them.” Brochures with more information about this and other fall courses are available in the back of the church on West 31st Street.
Friars who would like technical assistance in using the Friar Inventory feature of the HNP Extranet are asked to contact Francis Gunn, OFM, HNP coordinator of strategic planning, at Spiritfx@aol.com.
Daniel Horan, OFM, will deliver the annual fall public lecture titled “Freedom that Embraces Everything: The Influence of Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan Tradition on Thomas Merton,” sponsored by the Thomas Merton Society of Washington and hosted by the Benedictine Monks of St. Anselm’s Abbey. The lecture will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 14. Additional information is available on an informational flyer.
Richard Husted, OFM, included a list of the ministries in Western New York for which Holy Name Province friars are most known in the Oct. 11 bulletin of St. Bonaventure Church, Allegany, N.Y., where he is pastor. The list is adapted from one of the regional ministry flyers produced by HNP’s Office of Communications.
Brian Jordan, OFM, ran in the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 11. It was his 58th marathon and the 10th time he has run the Chicago event. He ran the marathon with former friar Jack Zibert, a Chicago native.
Joseph Juracek, OFM, celebrated Mass on Oct. 4 at St. Mary’s Church in Obernburg, N.Y., to commemorate the Order’s 800th anniversary. Joseph is pastor of the church, the oldest Catholic Church in Sullivan County, founded in 1852. William Scully, OFM, pastor of St. Francis Xavier in nearby Narrowsburg, was the preacher. The event was announced in the Sullivan County Democrat. A festive dinner followed.
John McVean, OFM, participated in the Oct. 3 interview on Siena College’s radio show which focused on the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Franciscan Order and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Franciscan Center for Service and Advocacy at Siena.
Kevin Mullen, OFM, hosted Siena College’s first “Campus Conversation” of the season. The college president said in a recent news posting on Siena’s Web site that the start of the 2009-2010 academic year provided a perfect opportunity to “take a look at the college’s goals and strategies for reaching them.” He reinforced the idea that Siena is a “hot” school and cited strong enrollment as proof. In addition to discussing construction, a strategic plan and a capital campaign, Kevin described the changing role of Chief of Staff Kenneth Paulli, OFM.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, led a meeting last week of the OFM English-speaking Conference. The Provincial Ministers gathered in Easton, Pa. The meeting conpleted John’s two-year term as president of the conference.
Mark Reamer, OFM, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh, N.C., is a regular contributor to Today’s Parish Minister, a bimonthly publication. Each issue poses a case study involving issues in parish life, according to William McIntyre, OFM, who notified HNP’s Communications Office. Mark, along with Kevin Mullins, OSA, provides reflections.
Next week, Mt. Irenaeus president Daniel Riley, OFM, begins a sabbatical that will take him to the western United States. He starts this spiritual journey on Oct. 21, following the Mt. Irenaeus 25th anniversary celebration on Oct. 17.
Robert Sandoz, OFM, hosted the Oct. 9 gala of Christ the King Preparatory School in Newark, N.J., where he is president. The event honored basketball legend coach John Thompson, Jr., and Fr. Edward Glynn, SJ, for their contributions to urban education. Christ the King is a three-year-old high school founded by the Jesuits.
Vocation Director Brian Smail, OFM, led a meeting of the Province’s vocation committee on Oct. 9, focusing on the many recruiting initiatives of the Province.
Jud Weiksnar, OFM, reports that a member of the Franciscan Volunteer Ministry created a video about St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Camden, N.J., where he is pastor. It will be shown at the Province’s Encuentro Franciscano on Oct. 24 in Silver Spring, Md.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Oct. 21. People, events and programs that will be featured in future issues of this newsletter include:
· St. Francis Breadline’s cabaret fundraiser on Oct. 2
· Franciscan Mission Service’s fundraiser on Oct. 9
· SBU’s Franciscan Center for Social Concern
· Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez, OFM
· Affiliation to HNP of the parents of several friars
· Food pantries at Province ministries