Below are highlights of notable August events that took place around Holy Name Province:
One Year Ago
Aug. 7, 2009 — The Franciscan Vocation Ministry posted the first entry on its blog, “Be A Franciscan.” Later that month, vocation director Brian Smail, OFM, created a Facebook page for the ministry. (Today, there are nearly 20 entries on the blog, and the “Be A Franciscan” Facebook page has more than 275 followers.)
Aug. 17-19, 2009 — Communications representatives from six of the OFM English-speaking Conference provinces gathered at the Serra Retreat Center in Malibu, Calif., to discuss programs and share ideas. Attendees discussed internal and external communications, social networking, Holy Name’s publicity following the “Life Shift” subway ad campaign and communication about the Order’s General Chapter. (The ESC communicators will gather Aug. 23-26 in Toronto.)
10 Years Ago
Aug. 10, 2000 — Christopher Posch, OFM, was appointed director of Hispanic ministry for the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., a position he still holds. In addition, Chris is a member of the Province’s Hispanic Ministry Committee, which maintains a blog — “Encuentro Franciscano.”
15 Years Ago
Aug. 27, 1995 — A celebration was held inaugurating the merger of Buffalo N.Y., churches St. Monica’s and Sts. Rita and Patrick. (In 2007, the Province’s parish in Buffalo again underwent another merger, forming St. Clare Church.)
20 Years Ago
Aug. 1, 1990 — The Province assumed care of Holy Name of Jesus Church on West 96th Street in New York City. Four friars have served this multicultural parish as pastor in the past two decades: James Hynes, OFM (1990-1999), Jerome Massimino, OFM (1999-2005), Francis Gunn, OFM (2005-2008), and Daniel Kenna, OFM (2008-present).
60 Years Ago
Aug. 7-10, 1950 — Holy Name Province’s vocation director attended the fifth annual meeting of the Seraphic Society for Vocations at St. Bonaventure Minor Seminary in Sturtevant, Wisc. Discussions at the convention included promoting vocations through the Junior Third Order groups, development of Brothers’ vocations, techniques and methods of vocation promotion, counseling, visual aids and Franciscan vocation literature. (This month, Brian Smail and three friars on the Province’s formation team are attending an annual meeting of the ESC Formation Directors.)
— Compiled by Rebecca Doel