The reflection below, the fourth in a series, was written by Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, several days after the meeting with the General Minister of the Order and the provincial councilors of the seven provinces in the United States in Milwaukee, Wis. The previous installment in this series appeared in the Nov. 7 issue of HNP Today.
NEW YORK — I have just returned from what proved to be a productive and challenging meeting of the leadership of the seven OFM provinces in the United States. We have sent the friars a letter describing what we accomplished and the program for discussion for the coming months. We will keep you informed of any and all recommendations that are forthcoming.
While in Wisconsin, we took the time last Wednesday to visit the joint novitiate in Burlington. As part of the evening, three novices were chosen to share their experience in the novitiate. Two of the three novices were from our Province. You can be very proud of these men, Dennis Bennett, OFM, and Edgardo Jara Araya, OFM. They were articulate in their presentations and insightful in their answers to the questions of the provincials. It was clear to all of us that the joint novitiate is working well and has been a very positive experience for the novices.
My next trip takes place Dec. 21. I will travel to Anderson, S.C., to meet with the friars and share a dinner. While in South Carolina, I will visit our newest ministry in Clemson.
After South Carolina, I travel to Atlanta, Ga., to spend Christmas with my sister, nieces and nephews, and nine grandnieces and nephews. After Christmas, it is on to Washington, D.C., where I will stop by the “Go Down Moses” program and visit our friars in the Washington, Maryland and Virginia area. The Go Down Moses program is very organized as a joint venture with the Sacred Heart Province. Its purpose is to encourage vocations from the African American community.
And so that’s it for now. I wish all of you a very blessed and joyful Christmas.
— Fr. John, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., is the 15th friar to serve as Provincial Minister of Holy Name Province.