ST. LOUIS — Franciscan friars from the seven OFM provinces around the nation are invited to a gathering of friars involved with Hispanic ministry in October. The function, initiated by the friars of Sacred Heart Province, will be held at the Franciscan Interprovincial Novitiate in Burlington, Wis.
The Oct. 7 gathering, called “Juntos Como Hermanos” — or “Together as Brothers,” is open to all friars involved in Hispanic ministry to come together to share their experience, strength and hope for the future, according to its organizers.
A planning committee is made up of friars from a variety of provinces – including Assumption, Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Barbara, St. John the Baptist and Holy Name, according to Fr. Ed Shea, OFM, of Sacred Heart Province, one of the key organizers.
The $50 fee is to be paid directly to the novitiate upon arrival. Friars interested in the gathering may obtain information from Fr. Ed at 773-892-4134 and edsheaofm@comcast.net.
“The original idea for the gathering of friars in Hispanic ministry came from Sacred Heart Province’s Hispanic Ministry focus group,” said Fr. Ed, whose committee created a flyer that can be displayed to publicize the gathering. “We have been talking about this for some years now, and we decided to try to make it happen in the fall of 2013.”
A Sacred Heart Province friar who has been active in “building bridges between cultures,” according to the Aug. 6 Around the Province newsletter, was featured recently in two media outlets. Fr. Moisés Guitérrez Rivas, OFM, was profiled in National Catholic Reporter and in U.S. Catholic.
The Aug. 6 newsletter also reported on the 50th anniversary of profession of Fr. Damian Pfeifer, OFM.
The previous issue of the weekly newsletter, the July 30 ATP, in which the Hispanic gathering was announced, featured five friars who use iPads to pray morning and evening prayer together.
— Jocelyn Thomas