In less than a month, Advent will be here. On that same weekend, Nov. 29, the Year of Consecrated Life will begin. This 14-month period, whose theme is “Wake Up the World,” was announced last year by Pope Francis after a meeting of the Union of Superiors General. The event is an opportunity to celebrate and to communicate the forms …
Guardians’ Meeting Focuses on Fraternal Life
POMPTON LAKES, N.J. — Fraternity and wellness were key issues discussed last week by nearly three dozen friars representing the Provincial houses during the annual guardians’ meeting. The participants, from friaries located from New England to Florida, spent Sept. 16 and 17 talking about their lives — as individuals and as leaders of communities. “The meeting confirmed what I have …
From the Provincial Minister’s Desk
The reflection below is the first in a series by Provincial Minister Kevin Mullen, OFM, about his observations and experiences as leader of Holy Name Province. As I begin my third month as Provincial Minister, I am concluding a hectic transition that has taken place at a number of levels. At the work level, I needed to step into my …
Reconfiguration Process Begins as Councils Meet in Wisconsin
RACINE, Wis. — More than 60 friars representing the seven U.S. OFM provinces gathered at the Siena Retreat Center earlier this month to continue the national conversation regarding the state of Franciscan life in America. The event followed a series of gatherings and chapters held from March to June, during which all seven provinces voted to approve a proposal that …
Transitions
The Provincial Administration has received from the Curia of the Order of Friars Minor formal ratification of the elections held last month at the Provincial Chapter as well as at the Provincial Office. The first document ratifies the election on June 4 and 5 of the Provincial Minister, Kevin Mullen, OFM, and Lawrence Hayes, OFM, as Provincial Vicar, along with the six friars elected as …
Administration Announces New Officers, Guardians
NEW YORK — The Provincial Administration has announced the names of friars who will lead close to 30 friaries and fill leadership roles throughout the Province for the next three years. Details were sent to members of the Province through a letter from Provincial Minister Kevin Mullen, OFM, Provincial Vicar Lawrence Hayes, OFM, and the six members of the 2014 – 2017 Provincial Council. …
Kevin Mullen Elected Provincial Minister
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — The friars of Holy Name Province have a new administration. Last week, at the triennial chapter, they elected Kevin Mullen, OFM, as their 16th Provincial Minister, and Lawrence Hayes, OFM, as Provincial Vicar, as well as new Council made up of three ordained and three non-ordained friars. Kevin, elected June 4, has served since 2007 as president of Siena …
Province Bids Farewell to Longtime Staff Member
NEW YORK — When the Province’s next administration takes office in June, its term will begin missing a valuable member of the Provincial Office’s staff — Theresa Bartha. Bartha, who has worked in the office for 29 years as executive secretary, is retiring May 31. “For many friars, Terry is the calm, pleasant and helpful voice that answered phone calls, …
Province to Withdraw from Two Sullivan County Parishes
NEW YORK — For the second time in nearly two months, Holy Name Province has made the difficult decision to withdraw from parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. They are St. Mary Parish, Obernburg, and St. Anthony Parish, Yulan — both in rural Sullivan County. The announcement was made during parish Masses the weekend of Feb. 23. Joseph Juracek, …
Future Collaboration Discussed at February U.S. Provincials Meeting
The following is a compilation of this month’s news from the website and Facebook page of the English-speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor, composed of provinces from the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Lithuania and Malta. To prepare for upcoming Provincial Chapters, the American provincials of the English-speaking Conference met from Feb. 13 to 14 in New York City to discuss …
Order, Province Extend Christmas Greetings
With a fraternal greeting that wished the fullness of God’s peace, hope and joy for all this season, General Minister Fr. Michael Perry, OFM, sent the Order’s annual Christmas greeting to friars, his first since assuming the leadership position in May. He began the letter by telling the story of St. Francis’s deep relationship with Jesus. After the death of the …