NEW YORK — Below are highlights of notable June events that took place around Holy Name Province:
One Year Ago
June 8, 2009 — Fr. Michael Perry, OFM, of Sacred Heart Province, took his formal oath of office after being elected General Vicar of the Order of Friars Minor during the second week of the 187th General Chapter in Assisi, Italy. Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, said of the election, “Indeed, it was a great day for the English-speaking Conference, for the Order and for America.”
June 14, 2009 — Friars gathered in the Bronx at Holy Cross Church, formerly staffed by Holy Name Province, for the renaming of a portion Thieriot Avenue to Franciscan Way. Friars in attendance included Todd Carpenter, OFM, Claude Lenehan, OFM, and Matthew Pravetz, OFM. (This weekend, Matthew celebrated a special Mass at Holy Cross honoring the Year for Priests.)
June 23, 2009 — Robert Menard, OFM, and 11 parishioners from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle, Va., arrived in Peru for a nine-day pilgrimage of service to sister parishes in Lima where friars Christopher Dunn, OFM, Anthony Wilson, OFM, and Carlos Sarmiento-Diaz, OFM, live and minister.
Five Years Ago
June 1, 2005 — John O’Connor and Dominic Monti, OFM, were elected Provincial Minister and Vicar, respectively, at Holy Name Province’s Chapter held at Siena College. (The friars are currently planning for the 2011 Chapter, which, for the first time, will be held in January rather than during the summer.)
June 21, 2005 — A monument memorializing the late Arnold Brown, OFM, (pictured) was formally dedicated at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape, Quebec, Canada — one of Arnold’s favorite shrines. Arnold, who died in December 2003, spent 47 years of his Franciscan life leading pilgrimages even after retiring from full-time ministry in 1995. According to Flavian Walsh, OFM, “For Arnold, each pilgrimage was a spiritual journey to enhance the faith of the pilgrims.” He inspired them with meditations and entertained with sing-alongs.
15 Years Ago
June 11, 1995 — St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Yulan, N.Y., held a special celebration of the 800th anniversary of birth of St. Anthony. (This month, the parish where Anthony Moore, OFM, is pastor, will be celebrating confirmation with Bishop Capistran Heim, OFM.)
25 Years Ago
June 16, 1985 — Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Retreat officially opened on a hilltop in Allegany County, N.Y., 20 miles northeast of St. Bonaventure University. (This year, on June 6, the Mt. Irenaeus community held a Mass and meal to commemorate the closing of its 25th anniversary year.)
— Compiled by Rebecca Doel