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.
Paul Breslin, OFM, and Frank Critch, OFM, associate pastors of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle, Va., spoke at a comprehensive immigration reform weekend event titled “Awareness Action, Advocacy, Direct Service.” The program, which took place from March 23 to 24, “was an effort to address the need for comprehensive, just, and accountable immigraton reform in the United States as called for by the provincial leaders of all seven U.S. OFM provinces and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,” said Rob Goraieb, OSF, leader of the event, which included participation by a variety of parish staff members and volunteers.
Michael Calabria, OFM, gave two presentations last month at Georgetown University where he is chaplain-in-residence. “On Feb. 12, I was a presenter at a program on prayer, fasting and almsgiving in the Catholic-Muslim dialogue series sponsored by the Interfaith Student Council. On Feb. 19, I co-presented with Georgetown Muslim Chaplain Imam Yahy Hendi at a program titled ‘Tajdid: Jurisprudence of Reform in Islam and Catholicism.’”
Michael Carnevale, OFM, asks friars who are planning to attend the April 20 Friar Family Reunion to contact him before the end of this month. The gathering will include a Mass celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City followed by a buffet dinner at San Damanio Hall on West 31st Street. Michael mailed an invitation to participants last month.
Todd Carpenter, OFM, led the March 15 to 17 Men’s Cursillo Weekend in Wilmington., Del., one of two weekends offered each year. The women’s weekend will be held in May. “I am the spiritual director for the Spanish Cursillo Movement for the Diocese of Wilmington. The movement is based at St. Paul’s. However, it encompasses the diocese. It is a lay evangelization movement founded in Spain in the 1940s. Typically, between 15 and 25 people attend each weekend. The Cursillo Movement, which takes its name from a series of talks that are given over the three days, is Spanish for ‘small courses.’ The talks touch upon a variety of topics that center on personal spiritual conversion and lay evangelization.”
HNP executive director of development David Convertino, OFM, has distributed several emails recently that ask for prayers and donations and that also provide seasonal information. The March 24 email included Holy Week prayers and the March 21 email mentioned that Holy Thursday was one week away and that the Franciscans “carry the custom of helping the poor beyond Mass.” The information from these emails can be found on the website of the Holy Name Province Development Office.
George Corrigan, OFM, of Tampa, Fla., has posted information on his blog Friar Musings about several current topics, including his thoughts on Pope Francis.
Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, will be attending all of the Province’s spring fraternal gatherings, the first of which will be held April 2 to 4 at Mt. Alvernia Retreat Center, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. For the first time in the Province’s history, each gathering will focus on a different type of ministry.
On March 20, St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Long Beach Island, N.J., received a $5,000 check from the Jewish Federation of Ocean County. The pastor, Stephen Kluge, OFM, expressed gratitude last week in a Facebook post that said: “I want to thank all the members of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County for your most generous gift of $5,000 to help us restore our church, which was heavily damaged due to ‘Superstorm’ Sandy. However, what I am most grateful for is that the strong bonds of cooperation and friendship, which our two faith communities have built over the years, is yielding a harvest of trust and love between us.”
The HNP Ongoing Formation Committee encourages friars to attend the upcoming Bernardin Lecture which features Charles Miller, OFM, according to Christopher Keenan, OFM, chair of the committee. The lecture is April 16 at San Damiano Hall on West 31st Street.
Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, participated in a meeting earlier this month of the Academy of American Franciscan History at Mission San Luis Rey and the University of San Diego in California. During the Triduum, he will be assisting at his home parish in Bradford, Pa.
Siena College president Kevin Mullen, OFM, and his colleagues “have been traveling the skyways and byways of America to bring Siena closer to alumni and friends,” according to a recent e-newsletter published by the Siena College Office of Development and External Affairs. The March 21 email includes a map of the United States showing where they have been and where they are going. It also publicizes April alumni events in which Kevin will be participating. The first is April 13 in Santa Rosa, Calif., and the second is April 25 in Bedminster, N.J.
Provincial Councilor Joseph Nangle, OFM, visited Hartford, Conn., last week to give a presentation titled “Jesus Desert Experience: His Lenten Time and Ours.” It was held March 18 at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church.
The Provincial Council began its 2013-14 visitation as Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, welcomed the Province’s General Visitor, Fr. Melvin Jurisich, OFM, to the March 20 meeting. Fr. Melvin is writing a letter introducing himself that will be sent to all of the friars. Provincial Secretary Michael Harlan, OFM, is assisting Fr. Melvin in planning his schedule, which includes attending the fraternal gathering in Stoneville, N.C. Fr. Melvin will be starting visits to the friars of the Province in the fall. In other news, John also emailed a letter to friars stating his views on gun control and the direction he feels the country should take in approaching both gun control and care for persons with mental illnesses. He encourages friars to share the letter with their partners-in-ministry.
Christopher Posch, OFM, director of the Hispanic Ministry Office of the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., has been advocating for comprehensive immigration reform by meeting with government officials. He encourages Delaware residents to promote the postcard campaign of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Daniel Riley, OFM, director of Mt. Irenaeus, will be celebrating two Masses in the metropolitan New York area next week for St. Bonaventure University alumni. The first is April 6 in Stamford, Conn., and the second is April 7 in Morristown, N.J.
Vocation director Brian Smail, OFM, distributed a Holy Week greeting to inquirers, men who have expressed interest in life as a Franciscan friar. This e-bulletin, distributed on March 22, included thoughts from the new pope about vocations as well as a link to a Holy Week Guide.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by April 3 (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 role for Paul Williams, OFM
• Jubilarian profile of Michael Madden, OFM
• The Franciscan Challenge series
• Earth Day events and reflections
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas