| RIP: Friar Bonaventure Bionda, 81 |
 CATSKILL, NY - On the feast of the Stigmata of Our Holy Father St. Francis, our brother, Fr. Bonaventure Biona, went to his eternal reward at the age of 81. Bonaventure Guido, the son of Domenico and Mary (Castignoli) Bionda, was born in New York, NY, on October 2, 1927. He was received into the novitiate on July 14, 1950. He made his first profession on July 15, 1951 and was admitted to solemn vows on July 15, 1954. Bonaventure was ordained priest on June 20, 1959. Fr. Bonaventure served well our province and Church: as math and science teacher, formator, associate pastor, pastor, procurator, vicar, guardian and spiritual assistant to the Secular Franciscans. His ministry assignments included Saint Francis Seminary, Andover; Christopher Columbus High School, Boston; Scotus Friary, Brighton; Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish, Derry; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Watervliet; Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Troy, and Sacred Heart Parish in Palenville. Bonaventure retired from full time ministry in 2005 with residence at Saint Anthony Friary, Catskill. May we always cherish Fr. Bonaventure's example of life and recognize his everyday efforts to build up God's kingdom through word and deed. May we, through his prayers, never "grow weary of doing good," meriting always the "blessings of the cross." Visitation was held at Saint Anthony Friary, Catskill, on Monday, September 21 from 2:00 - 5:00 and from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22 with burial in the Friars' Cemetery at Wappingers Falls. Personal expressions of sympathy can be sent to his sister, Mrs. Gina Lapan, 62A Jackman Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603-1245. "Friars must remember to offer suffrages for every deceased friar of the province, professed or novice. In particular, each priest shall offer the Eucharist twice." "When news of the death of a friar is received, a concelebrated Mass in his memory should be scheduled in the friaries of the province and the foundations." On the thirtieth day after and on the first anniversary of the death of a confrere, professed or novice, the Eucharist shall be celebrated for him in the house to which he was assigned at the time of death" (PS-8, 1-3). Lord, as we mourn the sudden death of our brother comfort us with the great power of your love and strengthen us in our faith that he is with you forever. |
| Three make Solemn Vows, ordained as Deacons |
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PICTURED AFTER SOLEMN VOWS ARE FRIAR ALVIN TE, PROVINCIAL MINISTER ROBERT CAMPAGNA, AND FRIARS CHRISTOPHER GAFFREY AND GIACOMO LA SELVA
CALEDON, ONTARIO - Sourrounded by family, friends and more than 30 friars, three of our brothers, Friars Alvin Te, Christopher Gaffrey, and Giacomo La Selva made their Solemn Profession of Vows in a 5 p.m. Mass on Sunday, September 13 at St. Francis Centre for Religious Education.
In his homily, Provincial Minister Robert Campagna, said, "Integrity is hard to define, yet easy to recognize. We see it in a person who is honest, genuine, authentic. And what the Church, the Order, and the Province - indeed what modern society - asks and even demands of you is integrity. Integrity in obedience, poverty and chasitity. Integrity with yourself and with others. The friar of integrity is one who is aware of both his gifts and limitations; knows clearly his principles, convictions and obligations and lives them with honor and duty, taking responsibility for what he does and does not do...Remember, the Church, the Order, the Province, indeed society itself, expects you to be men of integrity. And therein lies our prayers for you as you now proceed to offer yourselves to God in solemn and perpetual profession."
Following the Mass of Solemn Profession as festive meal was held for all in attendance at the Centre. The Provincial and the friars expressed their tremendous gratitude to Mary Volpe and the staff of the Centre for their hospitality.
PICTURED AFTER ORDINATION AS DEACONS ARE DEACONS CHRISTOPHER GAFFREY, BISHOP ROBERT CAMILLERI, AND DEACONS GIACOMO LA SELVA AND ALVIN TE
On the following day, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, September 14, Friars Alvin, Christopher and Giacomo, were Ordained as Transitional Deacons by Bishop Robert Camilleri.
At a meeting of the Provincial Council that same day, the three received their initial assignments, which are the following:
Friar Christopher Gaffrey - St. Joseph, Winsted, CT
Friar Giacomo La Selva - St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Toronto, ON
Friar Alvin Te - St. Francis Centre, Caledon, ON
To view more photos:
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| Solemn Profession Homily of the Provincial |
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CALEDON, ONTARIO - Below is the full text of the homily delivered by Provincial Minister Robert Campagna at the recent Solemn Profession of Vows of three of our brothers, Friars Alvin Te, Giacomo La Selva, and Christopher Gaffrey:
Tomorrow morning, when Friar-Bishop Camilleri ordains you to the transitional diaconate you will hear these words: "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach."
And some months from now when, please God, you are ordained to the ministerial priesthood, the ordaining bishop will address these words to you: "My son, you are now to be advanced to the order of the presbyterate. Meditate on the law of God. Let the example of your life attract followers of Christ so that by word and action you may build up the house that is God's Church...Know what you are doing and imitate the mysteries you celebrate. Do your part in the work of Christ the Priest with genuine love and joy."
I begin this homily with these texts because those words - all about integrity - are at the very heart of what is happening here this evening as you offer yourself to Almighty God promising - within the context of the Franciscan Order - to profess the life and Rule of the Friars Minor by living for the rest of your lives in obedience, without property and in chastity.
Integrity is hard to define yet easy to recognize. We see it in the person who is honest, genuine, authentic. And what the Church, Order and Province - indeed, what modern society - asks and even demands of you is integrity. Integrity in obedience, poverty and chastity; integrity with yourself and with others.
The friar of integrity is one who is aware of both his gifts and limitations; knows clearly his principles, convictions and obligations and lives them with honor and duty, taking responsibility for what he does and does not do.
Michael Medved, a social commentator, sees a lack of generosity and whining in the very persons of your age group, young friars minor, soon to be deacons and after that priests. A lack of generosity and whining where the opposite ought to be true.
Is he exaggerating? Is his statement too general? Probably. Yes, probably exaggerated, but also and sadly, sometimes true!
The word integrated comes from integrity, and integrated means that there must be a harmony between what you profess, what you vow this evening, and what you do; how you live.
The well integrated friars knows what he is about and is at peace with God, self and others. He keeps no secrets from his superiors. He has no hidden agenda; no duplicity and does not have a divided heart.
My dear Christopher, Giacomo and Alvin: You are about to offer yourselves to God in and with solemn profession during this the 800th anniversary of our Order, during the 100th anniversary of our Province. You have had and continue to have the marvelous and grace-filled experience of living at the hart of the Church and the Order in Rome. Literally close to the Holy Father; literally close to our Minister General. Much has been given to you and every hope is placed in you.
But, remember the Church, the Order, the Province, indeed society itself, expects you to be men of integrity.
And therein lies our prayers for you as you proceed to offer yourselves to God in solemn and perpetual profession. |
| Vocation Office to hold Discernment Reteat |
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BOSTON, MA - The Vocation Office will be holding a Vocation Discernment Retreat Weekend November 13-15, and ask all parishes, ministries, to post the following announcement in their respective buleltins:
VOCATION DISCERNMENT WEEKEND, Nov. 13-15
The Franciscan Vocation Office of the Immaculate Conception Province is holding a Vocation Discernment Weekend Retreat for men between the ages of 18-38 who are discerning a possible Franciscan vocation. The weekend retreat will take place at St. Anthony Friary on the Hudson in Catskill, NY from Friday, November 13 - Sunday, November 15. Please contact Vocation Director Fr. Tom Washburn, OFM, ( vocations@icprovince.org or 800-521-5442) as soon as possible if you'd like to be part of this weekend retreat. |
| Agape wins labor award |
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SONSONATE, EL SALVADOR - Friar Flavian Mucci, was recently informed that Asociacion Agape won the International Labor Organization Award. They will receive the award on September 24 and will be invited next year to Colombia with the world leaders of the organization.
This award includes all of Central America along with the Dominican Republic and Haiti. |
| Friars encouraged to make FMU donation |
 NEW YORK - July marked the half-way point for this year's Franciscans In Mission Together for FMU 2009. With still half a year to go, FMU Moderator James Goode, is encouraging friars to make a donation to the FMU for this year.
"FMU has been blessed by the encouragement of many of our Friars, especially in light of the economic situation of our country at this time. I am confident that other Friars will join us as we answer the call to be Franciscan missionaries," Friar James wrote in a July 16 letter to the Province.
Our Franciscan Missionary Union seeks through the collective commitment of our dedicated Friars and faithful lay people to make Jesus known "to the ends of the earth".
The Franciscan Missionary Union under the patronage of St. Anthony of Padua, not only assists our missionaries in bringing the "Good News" of Jesus to the poor, the Union also upholds the sacredness of life from the moment of conception to the natural end, by contributing to the spiritual, mental, and physical growth and development of the people we serve in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the world.
"Together as Friars in mission, we are ensuring that Jesus Christ's message is proclaimed, and the Eucharist is celebrated to the ends of the earth," Jim writes. | |
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| Prayer for Vocations |
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O Mary Immaculate, Patroness of the Americas
and Queen of the Order of Friars Minor,
we ask you to inspire humble and chosen souls
for a life in Christ and in the spirit of St. Francis.
With
Motherly care,
foster vocations to our Order and to our Province,
so that seraphic love, labor and sacrifice
will ever flourish in this land dedicated to your protection.
Amen.
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