Below are updates about 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 communications director Jocelyn Thomas.
Lawrence Anderson, OFM, Richard Husted, OFM, and Frank Sevola, OFM,appear in a photo with an article in the Aug. 30 issue of The Beacon, the newspaper of the Paterson, N.J., diocese, about a recent recipient of the Province’s Francis Medal. The story, titled “Longtime religious education staffer receives Francis Medal for ministry of service, presence to others,” described the July 1 presentation to Betty Newton that was featured in the Aug. 15 issue of HNP Today.
David Blake, OFM, and Basil Valente, OFM, were thanked for their leadership and dedication to the Francis E. Kelley Oxford Program in an Aug. 31 article in the school’s newspaper, The Bona Venture story. Written by Makeda Loney, an Oxford program alumna, she said “Without them, I wouldn’t have been part of such an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t have the amazing new friends that I have now.”
The current issue of The Cord of the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University includes an article byRaphael Bonanno, OFM, of Boston, titled “the ABSORBEAT: a Spurious but Helpful Prayer of St Francis.”
Francis Di Spigno, OFM, celebrated SBU’s opening Mass on Sept. 2 at the Reilly Center, using a popular song by Katy Perry as the theme for his homily. Photos of Francis, SBU’s executive director of university ministries, appeared last week on St. Bonaventure University’s Flickr album.
Angelo Gambatese, OFM, pastor of St. Stephen of Hungary Parish in New York City, and Katherine Peck, principal of St. Stephen of Hungary School, announced in an email on Sept. 5 that two New York TV stations were airing segments about the school. Channel 7 Eyewitness News aired its piece on the 4 p.m. news, and Fox News showcased the school on the 10 p.m. news — less than three weeks after The New York Times featured the school in a front page story.
Gerald Hopeck, OFM, vice principal of St. Francis International School in Silver Spring, Md., and Michael Johnson, OFM, pastor of St. Camillus Parish, Silver Spring, were quoted in a feature titled “A Catholic School Resurrected” that was part of the Followers of St. Francis series in the August issue of St. Anthony Messenger magazine. The principal Tobias Harkleroad said, “we are very proud of what the article had to say about the hard work we have put into the first two years of building SFIS.”
Kevin Kriso, OFM, spoke to The Bona Venture about mountain companions, students who live at Mt. Irenaeus during the summer. “A lot of the people that come are real seekers, you could say,” he said. “They like the chance to have a good amount of solitude, a good amount of silence, a good amount of time to write.”
Brice Leavins, OFM, of Providence, R.I., was recently elected to the Priests’ Council for the Diocese of Providence for a three-year term.
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Midtown Manhattan is seeking five volunteers to work Sept. 29 as part of Brush with Kindness, Habitat for Humanity’s New York City neighborhood revitalization program. Those interested in painting, cleaning and doing other similar tasks should contact Stephen Mimnaugh, OFM, at smimnaugh@stfrancisnyc.org. Details about the project appear in the Sept. 9 parish bulletin.
Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, will give a presentation titled “Francis and Church Renewal: Then and Now” on Oct. 1 at noon and 6 p.m. at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Midtown Manhattan. “Francis and his new Order of ‘lesser brothers’ were rapidly transformed by the far-reaching reform measures of the great Fourth Lateran Council of 1215. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, it is time to consider how Franciscan men and women have taken up its call to renew the Church in our own time.”
Pius Liu, OFM, of Taiwan, reports that the Rev. Paul Chen, former bishop of the diocese of Tainan, died last month at the age of 98. “Bishop Paul Chen invited me for a meal with him at his residence shortly after my arrival in Taipei in 1965,” Pius wrote in an email to the communications office.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, celebrated the annual “Blue Mass” on Sunday at St. Anthony Church in Yulan, N.Y. “I have done the Blue Mass for Sullivan County for three of the last four years. The Mass was a very nice celebration. Representatives of several police agencies — state police, county sheriffs, and local township police — were present, as well as members of several volunteer fire departments. Members of the military were also honored. The state assembly representative was present. I presided and preached, and an assistant chief of one of the local fire departments addressed the congregation after communion. When the liturgy ended, everyone was invited to the parish hall for a luncheon featuring various dishes donated by the restaurants in Sullivan County. All in all, it was a very enjoyable day.” Today and tomorrow, John is meeting with the Provincial Council.
A photo of Kenneth Paulli, OFM, Siena College’s chief of staff, taken on Siena’s freshman Move-in Day on Aug. 30, appears on the college’s Flickr album.
Daniel Riley, OFM, is leading several St. Bonaventure University alumni events this week. They include a twilight retreat on Sept. 13 in Cheektowaga, N.Y., two Mountain on the Road events in Atlanta, on Sept. 14 and 15, and a Mass and brunch on Sept. 16 in Richmond, Va. Information is available on the alumni page of the St. Bonaventure website.
Christopher VanHaight, OFM, will be officially installed as pastor of St. Bonaventure Parish, Paterson, N.J., on Sept. 16.
Thomas Vigliotta, OFM, director of the Catholic Center at the University of Georgia, welcomed Archbishop Wilton Gregory on Aug. 26. Photos of the Mass, held in the recently renovated chapel, and the dinner that followed, were posted on the Facebook page of the UGA Catholic Center.
Jud Weiksnar, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Camden, N.J., spoke on HuffPost Live as part of a panel of commentators on Sept. 10. The discussion revolved around the consequences of the city of Camden’s plan to eliminate its police force. Camden is one of the most violent cities in the nation.
News for the next issue of HNP Today is requested by Sept. 19 (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:
• Diaconate ordinations
• Siena College’s 75th anniversary
• Commemorations of the feast of St. Francis
• Renovation of two friaries
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas