Some notable January events that took place around Holy Name Province:
One Year Ago
Jan. 12, 2010 — A devastating earthquake in Haiti moved a variety of Province parishes and ministries to rally support in the form of prayer and donations.
Jan. 17, 2009 — Holy Name Province commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Athens, Ga., at the Catholic Center on the University of Georgia campus, where Thomas Vigliotta, OFM, and David Hyman, OFM, minister to students. (This year’s official Provincial celebration will be held in Providence, R.I.)
Five Years Ago
Jan. 1, 2006 — Christopher Keenan, OFM, chaplain of the Fire Department of New York, delivered the invocation at the second annual inauguration of Michael Bloomberg as mayor of New York City. (Mayor Bloomberg was presented a Francis Medal last April for his environmental efforts.)
Jan. 8, 2006 — Andrew Reitz, OFM, was formally installed as the first Franciscan pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tampa, Fla. Holy Name Province assumed administration of the parish in 2005. (Last year, Sacred Heart commemorated its centenary.)
20 Years Ago
Jan. 13-15, 1991 — Prayer services were held in virtually every ministry of the Province for peace in the Persian Gulf. (Jan. 15 marked the expiration of the United Nations deadline for the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait, preparing the way for the start of Operation Desert Storm.)
45 Years Ago
Jan. 15, 1966 — Another era came to an end for St. Bonaventure University as the Brown and White defeated Niagara in the last game played at the Olean Armory. An hour-long radio program gave highlights of some of the thrillers played in the armory. Beginning the next season, Bona’s would play “in its spanking new field house,” according to the Provincial Annals.
55 Years Ago
Jan. 8, 1956 — A Third Order unit was formally inaugurated at St. Francis Friary, Kiryu, Japan, for all the Third Order members of the Gumma Prefecture. Despite as many as 30 tertiary brothers living in Japan, there was no formally established unit. Conrad Schomske, OFM, was assigned to organize the tertiaries. (The current issue of The Anthonian magazine features the Franciscan Chapel in Tokyo, where Russell Becker, OFM, is pastor.)
70 Years Ago
Jan. 16, 1941 — Christopher Hee, OFM, celebrated Mass at a newly-erected altar in the Devereux Hall chapel at St. Bonaventure University. The altar was located in front of the shrine of the Sacred Heart. (Today on the Western New York campus, chapels are located in Doyle and Francis halls.)
— Compiled by Rebecca Doel