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IC NEWS TO PUBLISH EVERY OTHER WEEK
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With the return of IC News, our hope is to keep you connected and informed about all of the good new staking place throughout the ministries of our fraternities. Fr. Tom and Fr. Alvin have been appointed Co-Directors of Communications for the Province and are looking forward to spreading the good news! IC News will be published every other week.
Tom Washburn, OFM * Alvin Te, OFM - Co-Directors of Communication
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Br. Roberto & Br. Walter make First Profession of Vows
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 | Br. Roberto & Br. Walter
after their First Profession of Vows |
BURLINGTON, Wisconsin - In a beautiful celebration of prayer and fraternity on the August 2nd feast of the Portiuncula, nearly 50 friars from around the English Speaking Conference, gathered at the Interprovincial Novitiate at St. Francis Friary here in Burlington to witness the First Profession of Vows of 13 Novices from 7 member Provinces of the Conference, including two from our own Province - Br. Roberto Serrano, OFM and Br. Walter Vijil, OFM.
Brs. Roberto and Walter, like their brother novices from the other Provinces, came forward and placed their hands into the hands of their Provincial Minister, Primo P. Piscitello, OFM, professing, "To the praise and glory of the Most Holy Trinity, I, Brother N., since the Lord inspired me to follow more closely the Gospel and the footprints of Our Lord Jesus Christ, before the brother here present and into your hands, Brother Primo, with firm faith and will: vow to God, the Holy and Almighty Father, to live for a period of one year in obedience, without anything of my own, and in chastity, and at the same time, I profess the life and Rule of the Friars Minor, confirmed by Pope Honorius, and promise to observe it faithfully in accordance with the Constitutions of the Order of Friars Minor. Therefore, I give myself to this fraternity with all my heart so that, through the efficacious action of the Holy Spirit, guided by the example of Mary Immaculate, through the intercession of our Father Saint Francis and all the saints and supported by your fraternal help, I can constantly strive for perfect charity in the service of God, of the Church, and of Humankind."
Following their profession of vows, each received a new cord for their habit, this one now with the three signature knots of the friars minor representing the three vows, replacing the cord that they had worn throughout their Novitiate year that had no knots.
In attendance for First Profession from our Province, along with the Provincial Minister, were General Definitor Francis Walter, OFM, Secretary of Formation and Studies Richard Martignetti, OFM, Director of Postulants Michael MacInnis, OFM, and Director of Vocations Thomas Washburn, OFM. All friars of member Provinces are invited to attend First Profession and Reception of Novices.
The celebration of First Profession brought to a conclusion the third year of the Interprovincial Novitiate endeavor that now includes all seven U.S. Provinces, plus Western Canada and the Holy Spirit Province of Australia. Throughout the year, the Novices engaged in classes on religious life and the vows, prayer and Franciscan spirituality, liturgy and music, and the sources and the Rule and Constitutions. They also took part in a variety of workshops and retreat experiences, as well as volunteer opportunities.
In two weeks, the Interprovincial Novitiate will enter its fourth year and expects to welcome up to 13 men to begin their Novitiate year on August 14. Two men from our Province have been approved to enter the Novitiate this year, Luis
Hernández
and Robert Torres. The Novitiate Team is made up of Novice Master Ralph Parthie, OFM, along with Friars Dennis Shafer, OFM; Henry Beck, OFM; and Scott Brookbank, OFM. Br. Norbert Bertram, OFM, serves as Guardian of the local community there.
The Interprovincial Novitiate is located in a friary of the Assumption BVM Province. The Provincial Ministers of all of the participating entities took time on Friday to thank Assumption Provincial Minister John Puodziunas, OFM, and the friars of his Province for being gracious hosts and "great landlords" for the novitiate.
In addition to Fr. Primo, in attendance to receive the vows of their Novices were the following Provincial Ministers: John Puodziunas, OFM (Assumption BVM), Dennis Vavrek, OFM (Christ the King), John O'Connor, OFM (Holy Name),Gino Correa, OFM (Our Lady of Guadalupe), William Spencer, OFM (Sacred Heart), Jeffrey Scheeler, OFM (St. John the Baptist). Vice President of the Conference and Provincial Minister of Ireland Hugh McKenna, OFM, was also in attendance.
Making their First Profession along with Brs. Roberto and Walter were:
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province (Franklin, WI):
Br. Jason Shell, OFM
Christ the King Province (Western Canada):
Br. John-Paul Markides, OFM
Holy Name Province (New York):
Br. Dennis Bennett, OFM
Br. Casey Cole, OFM
Br. Edgardo Jara-Araya, OFM
Br. Ramon Razon, OFM
Our Lady of Guadalupe Province (New Mexico):
Br. Miguel Alacántar Gonzalez, OFM
Br. Edgardo Diaz Vazquez, OFM
Br. Samuel Zamora de los Santos, OFM
Sacred Heart Province (St. Louis, MO):
Br. Edward Tverdek, OFM
St. John the Baptist Province (Cincinnati, OH):
Br. William Estrellanes, OFM
 | | Friars in attendance for First Profession of Vows: General Definitor Francis Walter, OFM; Br. Roberto Serrano, OFM; Provincial Minister Primo P. Piscitello, OFM; Br. Walter Vijil, OFM; Fr. Michael MacInnis, OFM; Fr. Richard Martignetti, OFM. (Not pictured, Fr. Thomas Washburn, OFM) |
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Br. Zach Wood renews Temporary Vows
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 | | Friars gathered with Br. Zach and his family for his Renewal of Temporary Vows at St. Christopher's August 4. |
BOSTON - About 15 friars gathered on Sunday, August 4th in the Chapel at St. Christopher Friary to celebrate the renewal of Temporary Vows of Br. Zach Wood, OFM.
In the midst of a Liturgy of the Word, Br. Zach renewed his commitment to his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for the next year into the hands of Fr. Michael A. MacInnis, OFM, Director of Postulants, who had been delegated by Provincial Minister Primo P. Piscitello, OFM, to receive Br. Zach's renewal. Fr. Richard Martignetti, OFM, offered a reflection on the Mirror of Perfection and an appreciation of how the unique giftedness of each brother makes up the beauty of our common fraternity.
Br. Robert Artman, OFM, and the community at St. Christopher's hosted everyone for a festive lunch after the renewal. Br. Zach's parents were also able to join the community for the celebration. Br. Zach will begin studies at St. John's Seminary in Boston in the Fall.
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Br. Joseph Powell makes Solemn Profession retreat
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| ASSISI, ITALY - Br. Joseph Powell, OFM, spent the month of July on retreat in the places that were significant in the life of our Holy Father Saint Francis in Assisi and surrounding areas as part of his month-long retreat in preparation for his Profession of Solemn Vows.
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Br. Joseph recently completed his theological studies at the Pontifical University of St. Anthony (the Antonianum) in Rome successfully defending his theological thesis on "Abraham as a Model of Faith in the Old Testament."
His first assignment will be at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry, NH. He will also continue with some graduate studies.
 | Br. Joseph Powell, OFM with Fr. Richard Martignetti, OFM
at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi during the Solemn Profession Retreat. |
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MRS. ROSE GARONE (92), mother of Fr. Tom Garone, OFM, Mount Alvernia Friary, Wappingers Falls, passed to eternal reward in Bradenton, Florida on Saturday, August 3.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 17, at Saint Rose of Lima Church [Telephone: 516.798.4992] - Bayview Avenue and Merrick Road - in Massapequa, NY, with burial to follow at Saint Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries, 2015 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY.
"For the deceased parents of our professed religious and novices, the community of which the bereaved friar is a member shall celebrate the Eucharist five times; all other communities, twice" (PS-8, 4).
May the angels lead Rose into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome her and take her to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.
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By Fr. Michael Della Penna, OFM
VALLEY OF THE ANGELS, GUATEMALA - There is lots happening here in the Valley:
- We are in the process of securing the authority to expand our school with two more grades with the ministry of education, allowing our girls to complete their high school education.
- We have enlisted the help of INTECAP (Technical Institute of Training and Productivity), an organization which is helping us set up a bakery and a garden. Both are intended to help us become more self sufficient. We also entered into collaboration with IGA (Institute of Guatemala and America) who are using Valley to launch a new English program.
- Padre Roberto Siguere, OFM, arrived and now we are three friars including Padre Neri Aguirre, OFM.
- We recently honored two brothers Renee and Rodolfo Abularach for their great contribution in donating our land 20 years ago and for the three paintings in the church.
- We will have First Communions and Baptisms on August 10.
- We received a new Franciscan Sister, Sor. Odalys Zuñiga who is a registered nurse, bringing us to three sisters. We also received a psychologist this year Dr Manlio, who has been invaluable.
- We voted in a new member of our board of directors, recruiting an accountant Fernando Galvez who has been volunteering his time for the last three years in many ways, especially helping us secure tax exempt status. We see in him a great acquisition to help us navigate our financial future better.
- Our children visited the zoo, an old age home for homeless men, and were invited to participate in a soccer little league match. The visit with the older men who are cared for by the brothers of Mother Teresa was especially beautiful because it cultivates a giving back attitude, helping to form them to be people who help others.
- We also had a group of 13 volunteers visit us from Luisiana Tech for three weeks helping us out with many activities.
You can learn more about the great work at Valley of the Angels by visiting their website: http://www.valleyoftheangelsorphanage.com/
 | | Fr. Michael Della Penna, OFM, welcomes Fr. Roberto Siguere, OFM, as he joins the community at Valley of the Angels. |
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"Live Radically" banners available
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 BOSTON - Several parishes and places of ministry have expressed interest in acquiring their own free standing "Live Radically" banner from our Vocation Office following the Provincial Chapter.
Fr. Alvin Te, OFM, Provincial Director of Vocations, has been able to get a discount price from the printer and banners are available for $190 each. If you are interested in acquiring one for your place of ministry, please contact Fr. Alvin at friaralvin@icprovince.org or 800-521-5442. |
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125 Thompson Street * New York, NY 10012
CO-DIRECTORS OF COMMUNICATIONS: Thomas Washburn, OFM * Alvin Te, OFM
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