Friars Antonio Riccio, Alvin Te, and Christopher Gaffrey had the opportunity to meet James Francis Cardinal Stafford, Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, during a week long conference on the "Internal Forum" in Rome.

 

BROOKLYN, NY - Friar John Scarangello, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn, along with the friars and staff there, have made an outreach to the broader community in the hopes of bringing many area Catholics who have not been practicing their faith back to their spiritual home.

 

They have covered the area with postcards titled "Come Home Again!" which invite those in the area to become part of the worshipping community again - or for the first time.  The postcards have been printed in English and Spanish in representation of the ethnic diversity of the area.

 

The postcards read: "The Parish Family of Our Lady of Peace is a welcoming, faith-filled Roman Catholic Community. We invite all to come and meet us and celebrate with us the Lord's presence in our lives. In particular, we welcome and embrace all those who may have been and still are away from participation in the Church.  We say to one and all with open arms 'Come Home Again!'."

 

Along with this message, the postcards include the full worship schedule of the parish.

Friar Andre Cirino and Josef Raischl, SFO have been working for the last two years with a team of Franciscans from across the world to produce what they call "Franciscan Mantras" drawn from the writings of St. Francis and St. Clare.

These musical mantras are now available in a double CD and Songbook for singers and one for musicians.
 
The CDs are being distributed by Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs and proceeds for FPP will go to support their scholarship program for Franciscans from developing countries to be able to participate in our Assisi Pilgrimages. The Songbooks are being distributed by Tau Publishing from Arizona.

 

Visit http://www.assisijourney.com to hear some of the songs themselves and find out more information or to purchase the CDs.

NEW YORK - Provincial Minister Robert Campagna has announced that this year's Provincial Retreat will take place from May 4-7 at Mount Alvernia Retreat Center in Wappingers Falls.

 

The retreat director will be Friar Dominic Monti, current Vicar Provincial Minister of the Holy Name Province.

 

He will offer some reflections on a "theology of itinerancy."  Dominic will lead us to consider (1) how we deal with changes in our lives (fewer of us in the Province, moving out of traditional ministries, etc.) in light of Jesus' call to preach to Gospel to all nations; (2) the interaction of fraternity, prayer and ministry; and (3) dealing with limitations (aging, health concerns, fewer vocations, etc.) and how these isues are reflected in our spirituality.

 

The retreat will begin with supper on Monday, May 4 and will conclude after lunch on Thursday, May 7.  Friars who plan on attending are asked to return the confirmation form that you received in the mail.

NEW YORK - Following a recent meeting of the Provincial Council, Provincial Minister Robert Campagna has announced the following transfers effecitve June 15:

The following assignment has been made effective April 13:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 16th of this year marks the 800th anniversary of the approval of the Rule of Life that St. Francis presented to Pope Innocent III.  To mark this historic moment, the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, D.C. will hold a special Mass to celebrate the approval of our Rule.

 

Fr. Joachim Anthony Giermek, O.F.M. Conv. will be the Presider and Homilist at this special Mass to be held at 7 p.m. on the evening of April 15, 2009 at the Franciscan Monastery (1400 Quincy St., NE).

 

After graduate studies at Georgetown and St. Bonaventure Universities, Fr. Joachim taught at the Franciscan Institute and served as professor and director of continuing formation in his own
province. He was called to Rome to represent the Order's North American and English/Irish Conference. From 2001 until 2007 he served as Minister General of the Conventual Friars, the 118th successor of St. Francis.

All are invited to this special celebration. There will be a reception following the Mass.

 

All friars are encouraged to mark April 16th in a special way this year.

ROME - The annual Easter Letter of the General Minister, Jose Rodriguez Carballo, has been published on the Order's website.

In his letter, the General Minister writes, "It hasn't been long since spring season officially started here in Rome," said the General Minster's letter to his brothers. "Once again, we are enjoying good weather as we contemplate the new spring beauty with which our mother earth is adorned. The feast of Easter is approaching and our hearts are already filling up with joy as we draw closer to the utterance of that Easter Proclamation, 'He is not here; He is Risen!' (Lk 24:6). Easter is, indeed, approaching, and our feet are already walking in haste because this year we know we will hear again very soon, 'Go into the entire world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation' (Mk 16:15)."

He added: "Because of these Easter celebrations, I wish to draw closer to you once again, my dear brothers, to both the young and the old, the sick and the healthy, and shout with all my strength, 'Rejoice in the Lord' (Phil. 3:1)."

The letter closed with: "My dear brothers, let us turn our gaze once more toward St. Francis, our father and brother. The Little Poor Man lived moments of great weakness in his body and great struggle in his soul. The illnesses and problems he often met in fraternity gradually consumed him; he was unable to walk and, eventually, had to be carried on a mule. Yet, there is something he had not renounced, namely, to be a messenger of joy until the end (cf. LP 24). Joy was always with Francis."
He said, "Hence, God is inviting us at Easter to share his joy of creating love and joy in others. Let us be sowers of love, then, and joy will sprout in our land. Let us always remember that our joy is an eminent missionary act and an invitation to love, hope, create, and live."

For the full text visit: http://www.ofm.org/01docum/mingen/pasqua09ING.pdf