Friars gathered inside the new parish center at St. Joseph Church in Winsted. 

 

WINSTED, CT - Provincial Minister Robert Campagna joined Friar Bruce Czapla, pastor of St. Joseph Church, Friar Dennis Arambasick, and about 10 other friars from the Connecticut region to bless the new parish center there on Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m. 

 

Father Provincial presided over the blessing, which was attended by more than 100 parishioners.   In his remarks he said:

 

"Several weeks ago, on Wednesday, October 15, during his Wednesday audience wiht the pilgrims that had come to Rome, the Holy Father stressed a point that I want to repeat today within the context of this day's wonderful event, the blessing and opening of your new parish center.

 

"In his Wednesday talk, Pope Benedict reminded his hearers that the word 'church' coming from the Greek ekklesia, first meant a house, a home, where Christians gathered for the liturgy, for instruction, for fellowship, for outreach.  Liturgy, the Mass, Eucharist, the worship of the living God; instruction, both within the context of the liturgy, and catechetical instruction; fellowship, the post-Eucharist gathering, a meal or what we would call today a social hour; outreach, a place to which the poor and the needy could come for love and assistance.

 

"As time went on, the word 'church' was and is used exclusively for the building wherein Divine Worship is held, while the words 'parish center' came to be associated with instruction, fellowship and outreach.

 

"And so today, as we bless and open your new Parish Center, a place of instruction, fellowship and outreach - how wonderful! How important! What a sign of the vitality of this special community so connected to the history of the Franciscan Order and our beloved Province.

 

"Congratulations filled with admiration are certainly in order. But with an important twist.  Allow me to explain. So often, my duties as Minister Provincial of the friars require that I travel extensively in the United States, Canada, Central America and Europe.  And very frequently I see on an ecclesiastical edifice a plaque stating that it was built by Bishop, Monsignor or Father X.  This is true and yet a half-truth because the edifice was built, made possible, by the financial generosity of the laity.

 

"So, while I congratulate Fr. Bruce, I wish to express my deep gratitude and profound admiration to you, the parishioners and friends of St. Joseph's Parish who have made this center a reality.  May God bless and reward you!"

 

The new parish center is located in part of the parking lot between the school and former parish office building. The new facility contains a full size gymnasium, staff offices, meeting rooms, a full functioning kitchen, and a media center.

 

Following the ceremony of blessing, a reception was held in the hall of the parish school.

 

 

 This pile of rubble is all that remains of the former friary and parish office building at St. Joseph's.

 NEW YORK - The Franciscan Missionary Union of our Province is encouraging friars to join in A Day of Remembrance For the Missionaries who were Martyred for the Faith in 2007.

This day of prayer will be held on Friday, November 21, as we remember the following 21 missionaries:

1.  Father Mario Bianco, an Italian Consolata missionary, who died in Colombia on February 15.
2.  Father Martin Addai, a Ghanaian White Father, who died in Kenya on March 10.
3.  Father José Luis Camacho Cepeda, a Peruvian, who died in Colombia on March 11.
4.  Father Fransiskus Madhu, an Indonesian Divine Word missionary, who died in the Philippines on April 1.
5.  Sister Anne Thole, a Franciscan from Swaziland, who died in South Africa on April 1.
6.  Father Richard Bimeriki, a Congolese priest, who died in Rwanda on March 12.
7.  Father Wolfgang Hermann, a German Fidei Donum missionary, who died in Brazil on April 10.
8.  Father Salvador Herandez Seller, a Spanish priest, who died in Spain on April 11.
9.  Father Humberto Macias Rosales, a Mexican priest, who died there on May 1.
10.Father Raghiid Ganni, a Chaldean Catholic priest, who died in Iraq on June 3 along with 3 deacons
11.Rev. Basman Yousef Daoud, a Chaldean deacon, who also died in Mosul on June 3.
12.Rev. Ghasan Bidawid, a Chaldean deacon, who also died in Mosul on June 3.
13.Rev. Wahid Hanna, a Chaldean deacon, who also died in Mosul on June 3.
14.Justin Daniel Bataclan, a Filipino seminarian, who died on June 7 in Quezon City.
15.Brother Enrique Alberto Olano Merino, a Little Brother of Mary from El Salvador, who died in Guatemala on June 9.
16.Father Tomas Perez, a Spanish priest, who died in Spain on July 16.
17.Father Fernando Sanchez Duran, a Mexican priest, who died there on July 22.
18.Father Ricardo Junious, an American Oblate of Mary Immaculate missionary, who died in Mexico on July 29.
19.Father Florante Rigonan, a Filipino priest, who died there on August 27.
20.Father Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith, a Sri Lankan priest, who died there on Septemerb 26.
21.Father Allard Msheyene, a South African Oblate of Mary Immaculate missionary, who died in South Africa on October 6.

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father, says the Lord, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)

NEW YORK - The friars of the Province are invited to gather and pray for our deceased brothers throughout the Province this month.

 

Masses of Remembrance for the Dead will take place:

 

November 6: Mass for the Dead, Calvary Cemetery, 11:00 a.m.  

 

November 9: Mass for the Dead, St. Francis Friary, Andover, MA, 2:00 p.m.  

 

November 10: Mass for the Dead, Mount Alvernia Friary, Wappingers Falls, NY, 11:00 a.m. 

A luncheon will be provided following each of the services and friars planning on attending are asked to contact the local guardians of each place so they can have an accurate account.

 

Those attending on November 6 at Calvary Cemetery should contact Friar John Scarangello (luncheon at Our Lady of Peace, following the service ).  Those atteniding November 9 in Andover should contact Friar Bob Artman. Those attending November 10 in Wappingers Falls should contact Friar Mike Nappo.

CHICAGO, IL - At the recently held meeting of the English Speaking Conference OFM, the Provincial Ministers of the Conference have asked Friar Thomas Washburn to attend the upcoming General Chapter in Assisi and function in a communication capacity for the Conference.

 

Similar to the work that Tom did for our Provincial Chapter held last year in Assisi, he will gather information from the General Chapter that would be of interest to ESC Provinces and make that information available on a daily basis.  It is hoped that this effort will help friars back in the Provinces feel connected and updated with the action of the General Chapter.

 

With the addition of Tom, four members of our Province will be present for the General Chapter: Provincial Minister Robert Campagna, in his capacity as a delegate; Friar Gabriel Aceto, appointed by the ESC to serve as Lay Friar Delegate; and Friar Edwin Paniagua, in his new role as English language translator at the General Curia.

 

November 6: Mass for the Dead, Calvary Cemetery, 11:00 a.m.

 

November 9: Mass for the Dead, St. Francis Friary, Andover, MA, 2:00 p.m.

 

November 10: Mass for the Dead, Mount Alvernia Friary, Wappingers Falls, NY, 11:00 a.m.