The following briefs update some of the many activities of Holy Name friars. They include personal news as well as developments at their ministries. 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 Jocelyn Thomas, director of communications.
Michael Calabria, OFM, will lead a workshop titled “Simply Divine: Art and Faith in the Islamic Word” from Sept. 28 to 29 at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, Pa. It will explore the scripture, spirituality and history of Islam as expressed by the masterpieces of calligraphy, according to the center’s preview.
Christopher Coccia, OFM, Michael Harlan, OFM, and Andrew Reitz, OFM, attended a special celebration for the feast of St. Dominic at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in New York City on Aug. 8. They participated in a solemn liturgy in honor of St. Dominic, with Fr. Brian Mulcahy, O.P., Prior Provincial of the Eastern Province of St. Joseph, serving as celebrant. After the liturgy, the Dominican and Franciscan friars gathered for a festive meal at the priory. This joint celebration has been a tradition for many years, showing fraternal affection for each of the orders. They come together also for the feast of St. Francis.
A memorial Mass in honor of the father of David Convertino, OFM, is scheduled for noon on Sept. 15 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City. A luncheon in San Damiano Hall on West 31st Street will follow the liturgy, David said.
The three friar directors of the Franciscan Volunteer Ministry sites — Michael Duffy, OFM, Hugh Macsherry, OFM, and Christopher Posch, OFM — appear in a video titled “Call Us Maybe,” a parody of the popular song “Call Me Maybe.” It was posted on Sunday night on the FVM’s Facebook page.
Michael Harlan, OFM, hosted a welcome luncheon for the Province’s newest staff member, Maria Hayes, on Aug. 9. She is a 2012 St. Bonaventure alumna who began working for the Province as communications coordinator on July 30.
An article about Daniel Horan, OFM, titled, “Bringing Prayer Life Down to Reality,” appeared in the July 20 – Aug. 2 issue of National Catholic Reporter. Dan, who was stationed in Beach Haven, N.J., this summer, moved last week to Boston, where he will be studying this year at Boston College.
Joseph Kotula, OFM, appears in two photos in the summer issue of the Mt. Irenaeus newsletter.
Erick López, OFM, of St.Camillus Parish, Silver Spring, Md., was quoted in an article in the Aug. 6 issue of the Catholic Standard titled, “’Encounter the Gospel Life’: Camp Encourages Teens to Change the World.” He spoke of the value of the 15th annual summer service camp and retreat held at the University of Maryland, in which he participated for the first time.
Gary Maciag, OFM, will participate in a staged reading of Benedictus, written by Motti Learner, at the Between the Seas Performing Arts Festival in New York, N.Y., on Aug. 26.
Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, Secretary of Formation for the Province, participated in the first Congress for Formators of the English-Speaking Conference earlier this month. It is one of a series of six conferences being held throughout the Order, said Dominic, who assisted Frs. Vidal Rodriguez, OFM, and Sergiusz Baldyga, OFM, from the General Secretariat of Formation and Studies, in organizing this event. Participating inthe Congress as formators were Thomas Conway, OFM, and Ronald Pecci, OFM. Jeffery Jordan, OFM, also attended the Congress to help with logistics. (A detailed report on the Congress will appear in a future issue of this newsletter.)
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, attended the Aug. 10 installation of Richard Malone as the 14th bishop of Buffalo at St. Joseph Cathedral with 250 priests and religious persons, including John C. Coughlin, OFM,of Mt. Iranaeus, and Steven Pavignano, OFM, pastor of St. Clare Church in Buffalo. “The liturgy was well done and the music was superb. The cathedral was packed and the security was rather tight. Police were everywhere,” the Provincial Minister said. “Bishop Malone was an excellent presider. He comes across as an outgoing, cordial individual, a very bright man. He gave an excellent homily. I look forward to meeting him in the not-too-distant future.”
On Aug. 6, the 67th anniversary of the Nagasaki atomic bomb attack, Patrick Sieber, OFM, of Philadelphia, was one of a group of people who protested in front of Lockheed Martin, Valley Forge, Pa., as part of the Brandywine Peace Community’s “continuing campaign of nonviolent direct action resistance to the world’s largest war profiteer (about $42 billion annually, that includes being the United States’ number one contractor in nuclear weapons),” he said. “As a bell tolled 67 times, we poured ashes in front of the driveway, symbolizing the ashes of the atomic victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Seven of us approached security and asked to pray with workers for atomic victims and for world peace. Because we were trespassing on Lockheed property, we were escorted to a hot police van and taken to be processed. I was privileged to be arrested with my good friend, 92-year-old Annie Geers. We were released and given a court date.”
A message from Thomas Vigliotta, OFM, appears on the newly-designed website of the University of Georgia’s Catholic Center launched this month. He has served as the center’s director since 2005.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Aug. 22 (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:
• Solemn profession of four friars on Aug. 25
• Franciscan Volunteer Ministry’s 2012-13 class
• Justice and peace programs around the Province
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas