| RIP: Friar Kenneth Garofalo, 80 |
 BOSTON - At 1:20 a.m. on the Feast of the Archangels our brother, Fr. Kenneth P. Garofalo, OFM, died peacefully at Marian Manor in South Boston. Friar Kenneth was 80 years old. Philip Domenic, the son of Philip and Sophie (Misiaszek) Garofalo, was born in Revere, MA, on June 20, 1929. After graduating from Saint Francis Seminary, Andover, he was received into the novitiate on July 14, 1947. He made his first profession on July 15, 1948 and was admitted to solemn vows on July 15, 1951. Kenneth was ordained priest on June 19, 1955. Following his ordination, Fr. Kenneth was entrusted with a wide variety of responsibilities - teacher, procurator, vicar, guardian, parochial vicar and pastor. He also served two terms on the Provincial Council and "spent 32 years on station WUNR Radio International ["one of Greater Boston's oldest ethnic radio stations"] conducting the St. Anthony Novena every Tuesday at 8 a.m." His ministry assignments included Saint Francis Seminary, Andover; Christopher Columbus High School, Boston; Saint Peter's and Our Lady Help of Christians, Pittsburgh; Saint Leonard Parish, Boston; Saint Francis of Assisi, Cambridge, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, East Boston. Kenneth retired in 2004 with residence at Saint Christopher Friary until he moved to Marian Manor, South Boston, in early 2008.
In an online forum on Boston.com, dozens of people posted comments of praise for Fr. Kenneth's years of ministry.
"Father Kenneth had a huge impact on my life growing up in the North End. He was there for my sisters and me when my mother passed away. I'll never forget that time. I'll always remember the
all the youth activities he organized for us kids. He was a great person and I'm glad to have known. Rest in peace Father Kenneth," wrote Joanne Abate-Fantasia.
Lorenzo Grasso wrote, "I had the honor to know Father Kenneth for many years at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in East Boston. He was loved by everyone because he was a good person and a dedicated priest. It was truly a blessing to have met someone as Fr. Kenneth. Rest in peace, Father Kenneth; you were a great priest and an even better man; you were well-loved by all who ever knew you."
Fr. Kenneth's body was received on Thursday, October 1, in the Chapel of Saint Francis Friary/Franciscan Center in Andover. Visitation was scheduled from 2:00 - 4:00 and from 7:00 - 9:00, with a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on Friday, October 2, at 10:00 a.m., with burial in the Friars' Cemetery following the Funeral Mass.
Personal expressions of sympathy can be sent to his sister, Mrs. Elaine Dzik, 4038 Ventura Avenue, Coconut Grove, FL 33133.
"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, hear the prayers of those you renew with the bread of life. Made strong by the courage it gives, and under the watchful care of the angels, may we advance along the way of salvation. |
| Feast of St. Francis: Letter of the General Minister |
 ROME - General Minister Jose Rodriguez Carballo, has released the following letter to the Order on the occasion of the Feast of Our Holy Father St. Francis:
TO FOLLOW THE HOLY GOSPEL AND MAKE IT COME ALIVE AND VISIBLE TODAY
My Dear Brothers,
May the Lord Jesus give you His peace and all good things!
At the beginning of our service to the universal fraternity and continuing a tradition long established, we wish, on the occasion of the feast of our Seraphic Father Saint Francis, to send you a fraternal greeting and a simple message to resume the journey of our Franciscan life and mission "with authenticity and openness to the future."
We have been through three years of reflection, of in-depth study, and rediscovery of the "Grace of our Origins;" we have been redcirected to the original inspiration of our charism, to the "primordial" intuition of St. Francis as inspired by the Lord and which led to the "institution" in existence. Together, we give thanks to the Lord for the manifold fruits which such a climb back to the origins has truly produced in the Fraternities and Entities of the Order. It was like returning to the "first love." How much we would like that such an enthusiasm and passion of the origins could continue to nourish and make our faithfulness dynamic every day! By going back to the origin of our charism, we have encountered Francis whom we have seen with new eyes. Yet our going back is not a going back to the historical and nostalgic past, but a revisiting of that founding experience of Francis as an icon of the future and the forma vitae we are all called to realize and bear eloquent witness to today's world.
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| Province to enter joint post-novitiate formation with Maltese Province |
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NEW YORK - Provincial Minister Robert Campagna has announced that our Province will begin a collaborative effort in formation with friars from the Maltese Province of St. Paul the Apostle.
Beginning with the Fall semester next year, 2010, friars in post-novitiate formation will join with our friars living at the Convento San Francesco in Rome and conduct their studies at the Pontifical University Antonianum. |
| Vocation Discernment Reteat: Nov. 13-15 |
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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, ( [email protected] 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 - On September 23, the Agape Association of El Salvador received the award for the 2009 of Central America, Panama and Dominican Republic, delivered by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Schwab Foundation for social enterprise social entrepreneur.
Agape helps people with limited financial resources. The association headquartered in Sonsonate, develops social, productive, educational and spiritual programs in different areas of the country.
"I receive this award on behalf of workers that struggle to take this work forward," said the founder of Agape, Friar Flavián Mucci.
Mucci received recognition from the hands of the Minister of Labor, Avilés Marina Victoria, at a ceremony organized by the National Association of private enterprise (ANEP).
The officer said that Fr. Mucci was nominated to receive the award with good merit because he "became an employer with a vast capacity to provide and share generously the product of Agape's creative effort".
The Salvador Paiz employer, Member of the Schwab Foundation, who participated in the jury said annually evaluate some 1,000 organizations worldwide.
"So far, the network had not included any organization of Latin America and the Caribbean", clarified Paiz. It is a pleasure to announce tonight the first winner of the region.
To win the prize, Father Mucci will become part of a select group of the Schwab Foundation which brings together the leading social entrepreneurs worldwide.
The founder of Agape also received an official invitation to participate in the next regional meeting of the world economic forum to be held in Cartagena, Colombia, in April 2010.
At that meeting, Mucci "will have access to a privileged platform to interact with political, corporate leaders, civil society and the press", highlights a ANEP press release.
The President of ANEP, Frederick Colorado, argued in his speech, "a social entrepreneur is characterized by its innovation, follow a sustainable business model and generate positive change through the successful transformation of traditional practices".
The Guild leader added Agape is an example of "entrepreneurial" spirit in the country and the region. "We hope that the establishment of this award will help companies assume with greater commitment to social development", said Colorado.
Furthermore, Father Mucci stressed Agape began with a budget of about $ 2,000 (at that time 18,000 colones), while now works with $25,000 per day.
The founder of Agape added that his work seeks to "lift the spirit of the people" in the middle of this crisis, which is one of the worst he recalls having lived in El Salvador. |
| New Franciscan Bishop |
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Vatican City, Sept. 1, 2009 - Pope Benedict appointed Br. Adel Zaki Stafanos from Province of the Holy Family in Egypt Vicar Apostolic of Alexandria of Egypt and assigned him the Titular Bishop See of Flumenzer.
Br. Adel Zaki was born on Dec. 1, 1947 in Luqsor. In 1959 he attended the Seraphic College of Assiut and in 1963 he entered the Seminary of the Friars Minor of Guizeh. After having obtained the Bachelor of Arts in Theology, he made his solemn vows on Sept. 10, 1972 and was later ordained a priest in Cairo on Sept. 24 of the same year. He also obtained a License in Dogmatic Theology in 1975. From 1975 - 1989 he worked in pastoral ministry at the Parish of Assiut, El - Tawirat, and Nag - Hammadi, where he worked much in youth ministry and as school director. Then from 1989 - 1998 he served as Minister Provincial after which in 1998 he became Pastor in Boulacco (Cairo) while serving as Secretary of the Assembly of Catholic Hierarchs in Egypt.
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| New Provincial Ministers |
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ROME - The following brothers have been elected Provincial Minister of their respective Provinces:
- Br. Paolo Fantaccini was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Francis the Stigmatized in Italy.
- Br. Filemon T. Janka was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Francis of Assisi in Poland.
- Br. Mario Liroy Ortega Abarca was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Francis of Quito in Ecuador.
- Br. Valentino Natalini was elected Minister Provincial of the Picene Province of St. James of the March in Italy.
- Br. José Enid Gutiérrez Olmos was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of the Assumption of the Most Holy Virgin of Río de la Plata in Argentina.
- Br. Makhomba Augustine Khanyile was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of our Lady Queen of Peace in the Republic of South Africa.
- Br. Adrianus Sunarko was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Michael the Archangel in Indonesia.
- Br. Dominique Joly was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of the three companions in both France and Belgium.
- Br. Gazmend Tinaj was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of the Annunciation of the BVM in Albania.
- Br. Zeljko was elected Minister Provincial of the Province of the Most Holy Redeemer in Croatia.
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| New General Visitors appointed |
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ROME - The General Minister and General Definitorium have appointed the following friars to serve as General Visitors:
- Br. Jan Maria Vianney Dohnal of the Province of St. Wenceslaus in the Czech Republic was appointed Visitor General for the Province of the Most Holy Savior in Slovakia.
- Br. Francesco Bravi of the Province of Lombardy of St. Charles Borromeo in Italy for the Custody of the Holy Land.
- Br. José Ángel Egiguren Iraola of the Province of Arantzazu in Spain for the Province of Santiago of Compostela in Spain.
- Br. Ángel Esteban Talens Albiñana of Province of Valenzia of St. Joseph husband of the BVM in Spain for the Province of Catalonia of St. Salvatore of Horta in Spain.
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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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