By: Goianira Silva OSF

  On May 13, while participating at the Mass on the occasion of our Congregation's departure from St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New York City, Fr. Paul Rotundi, OFM, stated the following at the end of his homily: "Actually, this is a church newsbreak: Florenzia Profilio was declared 'Venerable' in view of her heroic virtues on April 14."

   Who was this woman and why should we be interested? She was an Italian immigrant who settled in St. Anthony Parish, NYC, with her family. She admired the Allegany Franciscan Sisters there and joined their community, making her first profession. Her mother then repatriated to Lipari, a rocky island off Sicily, and persisted in persuading Florenzia to return. Florenzia was reluctant to do so but finally agreed when assured she could continue pursuing a religious vocation and renew her vows with the local bishop's approval. He asked her to found a local community for work in his small diocese. Her Allegany background as well as the constitutions she had studied gave her a head start.

   We are excited with the good news since we now have one more congregation that is connected to the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. Coming back from New York we started researching more about Sr. Florenzia and the connection between our Congregations. The first step was to look in our archives, where we found that Giovanna (Florenzia) had entered the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in 1898, professing her first vows in 1900, confirming what Fr. Paul said in his homily. Looking further on the Internet we discovered that after the death of her father, her family immigrated to the United States. They lived on Sullivan Street in New York City. Antonio, Florenzia's brother remained in Italy because he was already in the seminary in Rome. After his ordination he took his mother and siblings (except for Florenzia) back to their hometown of Lipari.

   Florenzia remained in the United States; however, her mother wanted her to be near home. Therefore, she asked Monsignor Francesco Maria Raiti, Bishop of Lipari, to invite Florenzia to come home to Lipari. The bishop invited her to found a new congregation dedicated to caring for abandoned children. She returned and initiated the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Lipari on November 1, 1905. In this same year the bishop approved her form of life. She was their General Superior until her death in 1956, just two years before their Constitution was approved by Rome. In 2015 the Congregation had 78 members and 20 convents present in Italy, Brazil, and Peru. Currently their Motherhouse is located in Rome and their General Superior is Mother Maria Liliana Pagano.

   Our research is ongoing, and there will be more information to come!

 

By: Pat Klemm OSF

   Several of us recently had the opportunity to attend a presentation of Tolton, From Slave to Priest at Canisius College. It was a live, one-person show about Augustus Tolton, the first recognized American priest of African descent.

   The production utilized a simple stage setting with a large screen for video clips of other people in the life of Fr. Tolton. Jim Coleman as Augustus Tolton did an excellent job of portraying his life and his deep faith. The videos showed scenes from his early life including his escape from slavery with his mother and siblings. The deep faith of his mother, which sustained her through many years of poverty and racial prejudice, was highlighted and her singing of spirituals in a lovely voice added a note of musicality to the presentation. Other videos included a spectral figure who kept tempting Augustus to doubt when he felt called to priesthood because of his color and lack of education.

   He was turned away from numerous seminaries, even though he had learned Latin and Greek at the hands of his mentor, a quick-witted Irish pastor in Quincy, Illinois. This priest was finally able to get him accepted at a seminary in Rome. After ordination he was sent back to Quincy, where he became known locally as an excellent preacher. The crowds he drew from both black and white, Catholic and Protestant parishes, caused bad feelings among the local clergy. Racism continued to hamper his ministry and he was sent to Chicago where he was assigned to minister with African Americans. He died there at the age of 43.

   St. Luke Productions has created the presentation which is being performed around the country. You can go to www.Toltondrama.com to read more about his life and about the show which is well worth seeing. Googling "Tolton" will give you more information on his cause for beatification.

By: Connie Cooper, Communications Coordinator, St. Elizabeth Mission Society

   On Monday, June 4, the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation held its annual grantee breakfast in the dining room of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.

   The breakfast, which is held on the first Monday of June each year, recognizes the good works done by the organizations that receive financial assistance through Renodin Foundation grants during the year. Over 120 Sisters, board members, and grantee organizations enjoyed networking and learning more about one another.

   The Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation was established using funds from the sale of St. Francis Hospital in Olean, NY. The Foundation provides grants to groups and organizations to use in their service to the poor and marginalized people of Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties in New York, and McKean County in Pennsylvania. Since 2002, the Foundation has awarded 366 grants totaling more than $1.2 million to 65 organizations who improve the quality of life for the poor and marginalized, for food, shelter, basic needs, individuals with disabilities, women, etc. This past year, the Foundation granted $77,426 to 28 organizations, one of which was brand new. Details of all grantees can be found on the Foundation's website, www.RenodinFoundation.org.

   The blessing for the breakfast was provided by the Very Rev. Gregory Dobson, outgoing pastor of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, who has assisted the Franciscan Sisters with their endeavors through the years. Fr. Greg was a founding board member for the Renodin Foundation.

   Each year, the Foundation invites a select group of these organizations to speak briefly about their work over the past year, and how the Foundation's grant has helped them in their efforts. This year, those assembled heard from Bill Leven from Futures Rehabilitation Center; Bill Penman from Allegany Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse (ACASA); Carol Flurschutz from Congregational Samaritans; and Liselle Esposito from Southern Tier Catholic School/Archbishop Walsh Academy.

   The annual breakfast concluded with closing comments from President Laura Whitford and special songs sung by John Ross from The ReHabiliation Center.

   For more information about how to obtain a grant or to donate to the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation, please contact Laura Whitford at 716-373-0200 or email at LWhitford@fsallegany.org.

By: Lucy Cardet OSF 

 

1) Gaze - find a time and place. What helps? A crucifix? An opportunity to be with.

2) Listen - to the word; to the Spirit; to others (in need, insights, etc.); to sisters; to those who are poor.

 

3) Read Scriptures - Lectio Divina - Gaze on His face/his word/the Spirit.

 

4) Look at others - (for example, lepers). It's not about self. "Open my eyes/ears/heart, Lord."

5) Trust - In the One who made, redeemed and loves each of us .