Franciscan Friars
Province of the Immaculate Conception
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Provincial Update - January 2020
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Franciscan Protomartyrs
This month marked an important milestone in the history of our Franciscan Order. On Thursday, January 16, we celebrated the Feast of St. Berard and Companions, the first martyrs (Protomartyrs) of the Order of Friars Minor. In addition, this year was the Eighth Centenary of their death. They were sent by St. Francis himself, who had received permission from the Pope to establish his new order, to preach the gospel to the Saracens in Northern Africa. St. Berard and his brothers eventually made their way to modern day Morocco, where they were beheaded by the Moors.
We may remember the writing of Tertullian, who, in his work “Apologeticus” said “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Indeed, we know this to be true, not only for the Church at large, but even for our own Order. We know that the death of Berard and his companions was the catalyst for many vocations to the Order, including probably the most famous- that of St. Anthony of Padua.
We are all familiar with the story. When Anthony, as a young Augustinian, saw the bodies of the five friars in 1220 in Coimbra, Portugal, as they were being brought back to Italy for burial, he was overwhelmed by the sight, and a desire burned in his heart to be a missionary, a martyr, and a Franciscan. He received permission from his order’s superiors, and presented himself to the local friars, and was received into the Franciscan Order.
In the church we hold the martyrs in great esteem. This is due to the realization of the greatest sacrifice which they have made for the faith- giving their very lives. This is what is at the heart of sacrifice- so important to our Catholic faith.
Sometimes it seems that sacrifice has been erased from our vocabulary. Although we live in a society where we acknowledge our ancestors made great sacrifices, in many cases leaving their homelands, and coming, under great hardships, to a land that they hoped would give them new opportunities- not only for themselves but more importantly, for their descendants, today people are reluctant to give of themselves. Indeed, many don’t even want to be inconvenienced, no less be asked to sacrifice.
Sacrifice is also at the heart of a vocation to religious life. Perhaps one of the reasons for the lack of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our modern age- especially in the more “developed” nations, is the abandonment of the value of sacrifice.
As Franciscans, we need to re-embrace our vocation, our original calling, and be willing to sacrifice. We need to look at the lives of the first Franciscan martyrs and be willing to make great sacrifices for the glory of God as well as the spread of the Gospel.
January can be a great opportunity to begin again. Perhaps we’ve already abandoned any New Year’s resolutions we have made. But a great resolution for us would be to continue to seek new ways to live the Gospel and be faithful to our Franciscan calling.
With blessings and peace,
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Fr. Robert Campagna, OFM
Provincial Minister
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Pre-Novitiate Formation
Brooklyn Postulants
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The Christmas season was very busy for our Brooklyn postulants. They were actively involved in all aspects of fraternal and pastoral life at Our Lady of Peace Friary and Church, under the able direction of Friar Orlando Ruiz, OFM, Director and Pastor, and Friar Octavio Salinas, OFM, Assistant Director. On Friday, December 20, they took an active role in the parish's Christmas pageant, and on Sunday, December 22, participated in the Service of Lessons and Carols. For two weeks they also hosted two of the postulants from Caledon, Ontario- Dagoberto and Jimmy. Matthew was with them also for a few days before going home to his family. On December 27, the postulants and their directors visited Saint Anthony Friary in Catskill, where they were eagerly greeted by the local fraternity and, after a delicious Italian lunch, had a tour of the friary.
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The Happy Postulants.
They celebrated "Lessons and Carols" with the parish.
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Postulants with the Catskill brothers
Update from our Novices in Assisi
On the weekend before Christmas, the friars from the Convento San Francesco had a weekend retreat at Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, led by Friar Antonio Riccio, OFM, the guardian. At the conclusion of the retreat, they visited our novices, Luis and Oscar, at San Damiano. It was a great visit of the brothers, and a nice reunion of our three newly-professed brothers, who just completed their novitiate at San Damiano this past September. You can see the joy on their faces as they pose for the photo below.
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Friars from the Convento in Rome visit with our Novices. Pictured above left to right are: Friars Antonio Riccio, Luis Hernandez (novice), Jack Sidoti, Daniel Cavalieri, Oscar Valle (novice), Carl Green,
Yasser Peña Rodriguez,
Victor Treminio, and Jimmy Zammit.
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Convento San Francesco, Rome
Post Novitiate Program
Dear Brothers,
From all of us here at Convento San Francesco, we wish you all a happy and blessed 2020!
Whether you are admiring the light displays above quaint side streets, or enjoying the Nativity scene and Christmas tree in St. Peter's square, Rome – and Italy in general - is most definitely a special place to be at Christmastime. We began our preparation of the Lord's birth with a retreat weekend at St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi. This retreat, guided by Fr. Antonio Riccio, focused on the letter signed by Pope Francis at Greccio last month on the Nativity,
Admirabile Signum
.
After ample time of personal and community prayer, we gathered to discuss what the Nativity meant for each one of us. It was a wonderful time of sharing to hear how the imagery, historical context, and humility of the birth of Christ spoke to one another, and I believe we all walked away with a new and profound understanding of the celebration of Christmas. At the end of the retreat, we had the opportunity to meet with our brothers Luis and Oscar, as well as all the Friars of San Damiano. As always, it was a great moment of fraternity for which we are always grateful.
On December 24
th
, we were invited to the General Curia, where we enjoyed a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner, that is, fish. After dinner we gathered in the church for the Office of Readings for Christmas, followed by the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord. The following morning, December 25
th
, some of our community went to celebrate Mass with the Piccole Ancelle di Cristo Re, while some others went to St. Peter's Square for the Papal Urbi et Orbi Christmas Blessing. Afterwards, we gathered once again at the General Curia for lunch.
The rest of the Christmas Octave was quite tranquil here. We had time free to walk around to see the decorations, see a movie, and enjoy the Christmas break from school. On December 31
st
, we celebrated the end of the year in the traditional Italian way: eating lentils and playing tombola (bingo). At midnight, we toasted to a healthy new year, ate panetone, and went up to the terrace to see the fireworks all around the city. On New Years Day, we were invited to celebrate with Mass and Lunch with the “Piccole Ancelle” sisters.
Not much else has happened here since the 1
st
of January. We went back to school on January 7
th
for the last 2 weeks of the fall semester. Now we are preparing ourselves for our exams which will begin on the 20
th
, and run until February 14
th
. Thanks to all who continue to pray for us! Once again, I hope you have a wonderful new year!
Sincerely,
Jack Sidoti
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Vespers at S. Maria degli Angeli
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Seven Fishes at the General Curia
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Friar Josh Critchley, OFM, reports from the Inter-Provincial Post Novitiate Program in Chicago.
Hello again.
I had a very good Christmas! I was home with my family in Connecticut. I was a lector at the Midnight Mass in Winsted, CT at St. Joseph Church, it was a beautiful Mass. Then I was able to visit a good friend I have in Cincinnati who is a St. John the Baptist Friar. Grateful for the gift of family, friends and brothers during the Christmas season.
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On December 3rd, five Chinese bishops came to St. Terese Church which is the Chinese Mission Church for the Archdiocese of Chicago. I was able to attend and hear first hand about the situation of the church in China. The photo from this meeting is below.
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The above photo is from the meeting I went to with the Chinese bishops, all Catholic bishops after the Accord between the Vatican and China. The man in the middle is Bishop Ma Yinglin, the President of the Chinese Catholic Bishops Conference. The conference was in Mandarin with a translator).
Our last week in Chicago in December, we had a community retreat at the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. They have a retreat center in Frankfort, IL that we stayed at during the week. Our first couple of days were spent wrapping up the semester and sharing time with each other and some time for quiet reflection. Our last day, December 18-19, we were joined by Fr. Michael Perry who led us in some reflection. He gave a moving presentation on friars around the world and the good work they do, as well as some of the challenges that the Order faces at this time. We were all very grateful for his honesty and presence among us. Photo of the retreat with Fr. Michael is below.
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This past Saturday I got to attend the Chicago March for Life. Even though the weather was very stormy with snow and rain, thousands showed up. (Josh's photo is at the headline for this article- it was very cold...)
Since returning to Chicago, the semester is back in full swing! I have 4 classes this semester. So far my favorite is Old Testament Narrative Literature. We look in depth at stories from the Old Testament and analyze them with things like plot and setting to get to the meaning of the story.
Praying for all the brothers in the province! Please keep me in your prayers as well.
Pace,
Josh
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Minister General visits Province
Friar Michael Perry, OFM, Minister General of the Franciscan Order, paid a visit to our Provincial Curia from January 11 to 13, accompanied by Friar Juan Isidro Aldana, from the General Curia staff. Friar Michael also was the main celebrant at the conventual Mass on Monday, January 13 at Padua Friary. Friar Michael seems to have made a wonderful recovery from his bicycle accident this past summer. He still has some healing to do, but he is getting around well with just one crutch. The good news is that Friar Michael is heading back to Rome for the first time since his accident. Looks like all our prayers for his health have been working. Thanks for visiting with us, Friar Michael and Friar Juan.
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Friar Michael Perry with Friar Robert Campagna, OFM, Minister Provincial, and Lisa Giunta, whose restaurant, Arturo's, provided a wonderful meal.
Below: Minister General and some of the Padua Friars
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February Birthdays
Take time to wish our friars a Happy Birthday!
Philip Adamo - February 2nd - 90
Brennan Egan - February 3rd - 81
Ciro Iodice - February 4th - 77
Giacomo LaSelva - February 6th - 50
James Wells - February 8th - 64
Orlando Ruiz - February 20th - 45
Michael Della Penna - February 21st - 53
Robert Caprio - February 25th - 86
Christopher Gaffrey - February 27th - 42
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Christmas Around the Province
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St. Anthony NYC Outdoor Creche
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Franciscan Order marks Eighth Centenary of the Franciscan Protomartyrs
Saint Berard da Calvi and his Companions.
January 16, 1220- 2020
On January 16, 1220 the Friars Minor Berardo da Calvi, Accursio and Adiuto da Narni, Ottone da Stroncone and Pietro da San Gemini were beheaded in Morocco. At the sight of their torn bodies, the Augustinian Canon Fernando da Lisbon decided to put on the Franciscan habit taking the name Anthony, with which he is venerated today as a saint not only in Padua but all over the world.
Eight hundred years later, the diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia and the Franciscan order intend to celebrate this anniversary: it offers many aspects that address issues and challenges of today. For example, it recalls the importance of combining love and sacrifice if the first is not to remain elusive and the second unproductive. Similarly, the life of the martyrs recalls the Christian’s way of life and that of every person who is called to live in gratitude; gratitude which is then expressed in spontaneous self-giving to one’s brothers and sisters.
This centenary is an opportunity to rediscover and appreciate the historical, artistic, social and landscape heritage of southern Umbria with a view to a much needed spiritual, cultural and humanitarian rebirth.
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Province News Briefs
The
2020 Provincial Directory and a new
Provincial Necrology are now being printed. We should be mailing these to the friars as soon as they are done.
Friar Simeon Distefano, OFM has returned to Padua Friary after rehab at Mary Manning Walsh in NYC. Welcome home Simeon.
Saint Pamphilus Church in Beechview, Pittsburgh, one of our our former parishes, is now part of St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish of Brookline and Beechview, after being merged with four other local parishes. The parish just announced that there would no longer be any Masses or services offered from Saint Pamphilus due to the impending sale to a local Maronite Catholic Church.
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Duns Scotus Library
Sr. Clare A. D'Auria, OSF
"Keeping the Vigil of Mystery"
Saturday, April 4
2020
1:00 PM
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In her book, "Franciscan Prayer", Sister Ilia Delio, OSF says that "the simplest way to describe Franciscan prayer is that it begins and ends with the Incarnation." This statement summarizes well the foundatonal mystery of grace which stirred the heart of Clare of Assisi, guided her following of the Gospel, and framed her faithfulness to a life of contemplative prayer. You are invited to spend this afernoon reflecting on the kind of transformation that is possible when, like Clare, we take seriously the gift of Incarnation and its implications for our depening relationship with the poor and crucified Christ.
Clare A. D'Auria, OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Aston, PA, currently ministers as a staff member of the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, Pennsylvania. For half of her fifty years in ministry, Clare has traveled throughout the United States and abroad, offering directed and conference retreats, especially focused on topics in Franciscan spirituality. She also served on the staff of Franciscan Pilgrimate Programs for eight years, leading pligrims through the holy sites in both Assisi and Rome. A certified spiritual director, her other ministerial experience has included congregational and provincial ledership, secondary and collegiate education, and a variety of additional administrative roles both within and outside her congregation.
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Holy Name Province Announces Departures from Nine Locations
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NEW YORK – Holy Name Province is withdrawing this year from nine Fraternities-in-Mission in states from the northeast to Florida. Administrative operations and ministerial responsibilities of the ministry sites are expected to be turned over to their respective dioceses this summer. For most – among them parishes and a mall ministry – the withdrawal ends decades of Franciscan presence and pastoral service by the friars.
The HNP Administration notified the friar community on Jan. 3, the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, about the decision to withdraw from nine Fraternities-in-Mission. It has also notified the bishops and diocesan offices, as well as parishioners and other laypeople affiliated with the ministry sites.
The announcement of the departure from these Fraternities-in-Mission, which represent nearly one-third of the ministerial sites served by HNP friars, was the culmination of a more than two-year collegial process that the Province called “Fraternal Ecology.” The initiative engaged the participation of virtually all friars, as well as local dioceses and lay partners, in evaluating the future sustainability of the Province’s 30 Fraternities-in-Mission, among them parishes, elementary schools, colleges, urban ministry centers, soup kitchens, and other pastoral and social justice ministries.
The ministries from which HNP will withdraw this year are:
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St. Francis Chapel – Colonie, New York (a mall ministry that is closing)
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St. Mary of the Angels Parish – Anderson, South Carolina
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Catholic Center at the University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia
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St. Anthony of Padua Parish – Greenville, South Carolina
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Holy Name of Jesus-St. Gregory the Great Parish – New York City
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St. Joseph-St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish – Orlando, Florida
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St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Raleigh, North Carolina
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St. Paul and St. Joseph Parishes – Wilmington, Delaware
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Assumption of Our Blessed Lady Parish – Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
The Provincial Administration cited the challenges of a declining friar population, which makes it increasingly difficult to staff all of the Fraternities-in-Mission it has served in the past.
In 1985, just 35 years ago, HNP had 708 friars, a number that dropped to 443 in 2001. The Province now has fewer than 300 members – including three in the interprovincial novitiate program and 14 in the post-novitiate formation program. Two HNP friars professed their solemn vows last year.
The diminished friar membership, coupled with the Province’s current number of Fraternities-in-Mission, also make it increasingly difficult to maintain a core component of the Franciscan Order – friars living and ministering together in fraternal community.
“This was a deliberate, measured and comprehensive process that consisted of dozens of meetings and site visits, and dialogue with all interested parties, which generated studies and reports that ultimately helped guide the Provincial Council’s decisions on the Fraternities-in-Mission where friars would remain, and those where they would be withdrawn,” said Kevin Mullen, OFM, Provincial Minister.
“It was collaborative and transparent discernment marked by frank discussion and honest assessment and evaluation by our friars and lay partners in ministry, as well as the dioceses where our Fraternities-in-Mission are located. The Council made its final decisions after careful thought and prayerful reflection,” added Kevin.
“Our departure from these ministries inevitably will bring disappointment and sadness – which are natural emotions because of longtime association with the Franciscans. The decision to withdraw from these faith communities was not taken lightly,” continued Kevin, Provincial since 2014. “In fact, it was very difficult and painful. But despite our long history and rich tradition – our friars have been present from three decades to nearly a century at most of these ministry sites – the reality of our declining numbers, and the challenges and strain it places on our ability to fulfill our fraternal charism, made each of these decisions pragmatic and necessary.”
The provincial minister added, “We have been spread too thin for quite some time. The Fraternal Ecology process has allowed us to reset and right-size our ministerial commitments. Since our fraternal life is central to our vocation – living in community and serving together as brothers – fewer Fraternities-in-Mission will help our friars serve the people of God more authentically as Franciscans.”
Kevin said the Province is grateful to the “good and faith-filled communities for the support, collaboration, generosity and warm embrace” extended to friars during their service. “We are confident that we are leaving these ministries stronger and more robust than when we arrived,” said Kevin, who noted that the transition to the local dioceses later this year would be seamless.
From HNP Communications Office
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PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE FRIARS
WHO HAVE RECENTLY DIED
Friar Berard Hanlon, OFM
(Holy Name Province)
Friar Augustine Hughes, OFM
(Province of Ireland)
Friar Jude O'Riordan, OFM
(Province of Ireland)
Friar Thadee Matura, OFM,
(Holy Spirit Province,Canada)
Friar Joachim Lux, OFM,
(St. John Baptist Province)
Friar Melvin Wierzbicki, OFM
, (Assumption Province)
Friar John Rausch, OFM
(Sacred Heart Province
Friar Philip O'Shea, OFM
(Holy Name Province)
Friar Roland Petinge, OFM
(Immaculate Conception Province)
Friar Peter Baptist Fritz, OFM
(Sacred Heart Province)
Friar Giles Barreda, OFM
(Immaculate Conception Province)
Recently Deceased Family and Friends
Miriam Garcia
(Step-mother of Friar Orlando Ruiz, OFM)
Rev. Philip King
(Former Old Testament Professor at St. John's Seminary, Boston)
Joseph Micallef
(Brother of Friar Albert Micallef, OFM)
Theresa Agrusa
(Sister of Friar Felician Napoli, OFM)
Paolina Calabria
(Long-time cook at Immaculate Conception, Toronto)
Let us pray for our infirm friars:
Friar Michael Perry, OFM (Minister General)
Friar Frederick Mazzarella, OFM
Friar Mario Julian, OFM
Friar Aubert Picardi, OFM
Friar Jim Villa, OFM
Friar John Bavaro, OFM
Friar Simeon Distefano, OFM
Friar Thomas Hollowood, OFM
Friar Amedeo Nardone, OFM
Friar Armand Padula, OFM
Friar Flavian Mucci, OFM
Friar Claudio Moser, OFM
For our friars in skilled nursing and rehab facilities:
Friar Daniel Morey, OFM
Friar John Bavaro, OFM
Friar Philip Adamo, OFM
Friar Lawrence Stumpo, OFM
Fr. Clement Procopio, OFM
Please pray for all friars, families, friends, and benefactors,
living and deceased.
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BROTHERS:
Please print out a copy of this newsletter to share with those in your community who do not have email. We hope that every friar in our province will have access to the Newsletter and that a printed copy will be posted on your friary bulletin board.
Thank you
The Management
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Province of the Immaculate Conception, New York NY
125 Thompson Street
New York NY 10012
212-674-4388
NEWSLETTER CONTACT
Please send any articles, news items, or photos to
Friar Joseph F Lorenzo, O.F.M.
Provincial Curia
125 Thompson Street
New York NY 10012
Cell: 917.337.9833
Office: 212.674.4388 Xt. 113
jlorenzo@icprovince.org
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.ICProvince.org
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