Holy Name’s senior friars are invited to attend one of two retreats being held in early 2019. The retreats will be led by Fr. Ray Bucher, OFM, of St. Barbara Province.
The theme of next year’s retreats is “Tips on How to Age in a Franciscan Key: Early Sources (Franciscan) and Contemporary Resources.” Fr. Ray has given similar retreats in the past and promises that he will “share stories that evoke smiles and inspire hope.”
Fr. Ray is a familiar face to Holy Name Province. From 1967 to 1970, he lived at Holy Cross Friary in the Bronx, N.Y., while he was studying at Fordham University for his doctorate. He also lived at Holy Name College while on sabbatical from 1981 to 1982, after which he moved to Rome to serve as guardian at the OFM Curia. Fr. Ray also served as general visitor for Holy Name Province in 2005. He currently lives at St. Francis Friary in Sacramento, Calif., where he is in “active retirement,” working in prison ministry and in ministry to eldercare centers.
A native of Oakland, Calif., Fr. Ray professed simple vows in 1959 and solemn vows in 1963. He was ordained a priest in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1964 during the Second Vatican Council. His first assignment was at St. Francis Parish in Sacramento, where he was associate pastor, associate novice master, and guardian. He then served as director of post-novitiate formation in Berkeley, Calif. After serving at the Curia, he returned to the United States and served as director of the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Ariz. Six years later, he was elected provincial vicar of his province. In 1996, he returned to retreat ministry as director of San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, Calif., where he ministered until 2015, after which he entered into active retirement.
Fr. Ray received his MDiv. from the Franciscan School of Theology in Santa Barbara and his master’s and doctorate in philosophy from Fordham University in New York City. He was a professor at FST, Santa Clara University and Loyola University in New Orleans.
“Retreat is a moment of grace in the life of every friar,” according to the brochure advertising the retreat. “This is a special time that allows us to listen in a new way to the voice of the Spirit of God calling us to the promise of abundant life. Along with this is the grace of community. Through our shared time together we come to new awareness of our lives as brothers. We come to recognize the presence of God in one another.”
The retreat is being offered at two locations – in St. Petersburg, Fla., from Jan. 28 to 31, 2009, and in Butler, N.J., from Feb. 4 to 7, 2019. Friars interested in attending the St. Petersburg retreat should contact Vincent Laviano, OFM, and friars interested in the Butler retreat should contact Robert Frazzetta, OFM. Both are sponsored by the HNP Ongoing Formation Committee, of which Robert Sandoz, OFM, is chair.
Friars are also invited to participate in the interprovincial retreats being held in Arizona and Florida that were publicized in August.
— Maria Hayes is director of marketing for Holy Name Province.
Related Links
- “Wellness Conference Focuses on Aging in Place” – Oct. 11, 2018, HNP Today
- “The Best Is Yet to Come: Advice from HNP’s Senior Friars” – Feb. 15, 2017, HNP Today
- “2016 Retreats for Friars” – Nov. 24, 2015, HNP Today