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From the Provincial Minister
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 | Provincial Minister
Primo P. Piscitello, OFM |
NEW YORK - There is only one word for last week's meeting of the U.S. Provincial Ministers in San Diego and that word is "historic". As we gathered for the Fall meeting of the English Speaking Conference, we also set aside a day to receive and discuss the Report of the Interprovincial Commission that was established following the meeting of all seven U.S. Provincial Administrations last December in Milwaukee. Our own Michael Della Penna was a member of the Commission representing our Province and we are grateful for his work and the work of all Commission members.
This comprehensive report did two things - it gave a sobering assessment of the current state of affairs for Franciscan life in the United States; and it also gave a number of hopeful proposals for our consideration for the future health of our life together in the future. One statement that has been echoing in my mind and heart since the meeting - and I'm sure in the minds and hearts of my brother Provincials - is the reality that, as you read in the letter we issued this week, "the status quo in the United States is no longer sustainable." The number that should resonate with every friar is that, if we don't embrace a new future together, there will only be 350 friars available for ministry in the entire country in 2025.
But, as I share those stark words with you, I encourage you to embrace them, not as signs of the end, but as an exciting opportunity for a new beginning. We were reminded during our meeting that each of our Provinces were born with this in common - our founders were all men who came to this country with faith, courage, determination and creativity, finding themselves in situations that were unlike what they were used to. They re-envisioned what their religious life could look like in these new situations and once they did that, their communities thrived - our community thrived. And, my brothers, I believe we can thrive again.
Next week, as the Provincial Definitorium meets, I will ask them to consider an Extraordinary Chapter to take place before July 1, 2014, as requested by the action of the U.S. Provincials, so that we can participate fully in this national discussion of our future. I want us, as a Province, to be active participants in this fraternal, national discussion.
I ask each of you to read the letter and the summary of the report that I sent to you earlier this week and to be open to the reality and the possibilities it places before us. Pray about it, discuss it in your fraternities and in your regions. And, most importantly brothers, let us dream, as our founders dreamed, about what our life can look like in the years ahead.
The future is not yet written, but it needs all of our prayers and our voices if it is to lead us, and our way of life, successfully into the years ahead.
God bless,
Fr. Primo
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Felician College to award Honorary Doctorate to Fr. André Cirino, OFM
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 LODI, NEW JERSEY - Felician College has announced that it will confer on Fr.
André
Cirino, OFM, an Honorary Doctorate at its Academic Honors Convocation on November 7.
The Doctorate will be presented by college president Dr. Anne M. Prisco at an celebration in the college's John J. Breslin Jr. Theater.
Congratulations André!
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| English Speaking Conference holds Fall meeting in San Diego |
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - The Provincial Ministers of the English Speaking Conference gathered from October 7-11 in San Diego for the 89th meeting of the Conference. The Province of St. St. Barbara served as host of the meeting which took place at the University of San Diego. Fr. John Hardin, OFM, serves as Provincial Minister of the St. Barbara Province.
The meeting was held at the University of San Diego to highlight the recent move of the Franciscan School of Theology from Berkeley, California to its new home at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA, and its new collaborative relationship with USD.
A highlight of the meeting included a joint presentation by Friar Joseph Chinnici, OFM, FST President and Mary E. Lyons, Ph. D., President of the University of San Diego highlighting the process that lead to the affiliation between the two schools. Dr. Lyons also hosted the Provincials for a festive dinner at the campus following the presentation.
You can learn more about the St. Barbara Province by visiting their website at: http://www.sbfranciscans.org. Franciscan School of Theology can be found at: http://www.fst.edu.
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U.S. Provincials receive "historic" report of Interprovincial Commission
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 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - Since the first-of-its-kind meeting of all seven U.S. Provincial Administrations in Milwaukee last December, friars across the country have been meeting diligently at the tasks set forth there to envision what our common Franciscan life might look like as we head into the future.
Chief among those group of friars has been the Interprovincial Commission, made up of members of all seven Provinces, who were tasked with exploring the question of the mission, vision and values which will enable us to face the challenges of the 21st century in the United States. The Commission was asked to explore new areas of collaboration to advance the fraternal life, mission and ministry of friars in the U.S.; and to propose possible models of restructuring for the fraternal governance of the friars.
On Monday, October 7, members of the Interprovincial Commission were present to give the results of their monumental and historic report to the U.S. Provincial Ministers.
Making the day-long presentation were Commission chair, Jack Clark Robinson, OFM (Our Lady of Guadalupe) along with Commission members Regan Chapman, OFM (St. Barbara Province), and Dominic Monti, OFM (Holy Name Province). Not present for the presentation were Commission members Michael Della Penna, OFM (Immaculate Conception), Dan Anderson, OFM (St. John the Baptist), Craig Wilking, OFM (Assumption BVM), and Michael Jenrich, OFM (Sacred Heart). Also present was Dominic Perri, who has served as a facilitator throughout the process.
The U.S. Provincial Ministers then had opportunities throughout the week to continue to unpack and discuss the results presented to them by the Commission. The end result was a letter issued on October 15 by all seven U.S. Provincials to every friar in the United States along with a summary of the Commission's report.
The report of the Interprovincial Commission can be read at: http://www.escofm.org/icreport.html |
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Friar Alvin Te appointed to National Digital Media Committee
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - Among the tasks set forth by last December's Milwaukee meeting of all seven U.S. Provincial Administrations, was the desire to create a new approach to our online Franciscan presence with a focus on the evangelization of youth and attraction of vocations.
Working with the Conference Communication Directors Committee, a new Digital Media Strategy was created that will include the eventual hiring of a Digital Media Director to guide this new plan.
The Provincial Ministers approved the strategy and put the first pieces of it in place by appointing Friar Michael Surufka, OFM (Assumption BVM Province) to chair a committee that will be tasked with the creation of a U.S. Franciscan website, social media presence, and smart phone app development. Friar Alvin Te, OFM (Immaculate Conception Province) was also appointed to the committee. Other friars with expertise will be invited to participate in the process as well.
The Digital Media Committee will also begin the process of finding someone to serve in the role of Digital Media Coordinator who will be the coordinator and animator of the U.S. Franciscan internet, digital, and social media presence.
Conference approves Social Media Guidelines
As websites like Facebook and Twitter increasingly become normative ways of communication along with the ever increasing number of apps and other digital and social media forms of communication, the Provincial Ministers of the Conference have approved "Preach the Gospel at All Times: Guidelines for Evangelizing Through Social Media."
The introduction to the guidelines explains their purpose:
"Since the time of St. Francis himself, Franciscans have been on the cutting edge of spreading the Gospel message in new ways and to new places. It's no wonder, then, that so many in the Franciscan family have found the modern tools of electronic communication to be a fruitful and powerful way to continue that tradition of evangelization. Social media and electronic communication provide friars and partners-in-ministry with a way to exchange information and ideas faster and farther than ever before. Because this electronic frontier is also one with its own dangers and pitfalls, it is the hope that this Social Media Guideline can help navigate that new territory so that Franciscans might make the best use of these exciting tools of communication and evangelization."
The full text of these Social Media Guidelines can be found on the ESC website: www.escofm.org |
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Seraphic Missal nearer to completion
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - The American Franciscan Liturgical Commission reported to the Provincial Ministers that work on the new Seraphic Missal supplement is steadily moving forward. Commission Chair Friar James Sabak, OFM, (Holy Name Province) reported to the Provincials that the initial translations are complete and the Editorial Board (made up of friars Gil Ostdiek, OFM, Bill Short, OFM, and Tom Washburn, OFM) will complete their work this month.
With final texts in hand, the next task will be getting approval of the Missal and then having it printed. The new Roman-Seraphic Missal will be a supplement to the Roman Missal Third Edition. It will include all of the prayers needed to celebrate Franciscan feasts, but will not contain feasts and celebrations that are not on the Franciscan liturgical calendar.
The AFLC is made up of members from the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchins, Conventuals and Third Order Regular friars. |
| Postulancy in full swing in Boston |
BOSTON - The Postulancy Program in Boston is in full swing this year. Having reported at the end of August and officially received into the program by the Provincial Minister in September, the postulants have a full schedule that includes in-house classes on Franciscan Spirituality, Liturgy, Scripture and Communication.
They also take courses at St. John's Seminary and engage in opportunities for ministry at Jeanne Jugan Residence for the elderly in Somerville and the Pine Street Inn. They will also be assisting as catechists in the Confirmation Program at St. Leonard's in the North End as the year progresses.
Throughout the year, the postulants will also participate in interprovincial workshops on male spirituality and sexuality and personality assessment for communal living; as well as workshops on various topics of Franciscan spirituality.
The program is under the direction of Fr. Michael MacInnis, OFM, assisted by Fr. Richard Martignetti, OFM, and Fr. Robert Caprio, OFM.
The postulant class includes Jay Woods, Josh Davis, Dale Brewer and Josh Critchley.
Paul Condello, one of our five Postulants, has made the decision to leave our Postulancy program and return to his home in Maine. This decision was unanimously agreed upon by the three friars responsible for his initial formation, and approved by the Provinclal Minister. We wish Paul all the best as he continues to seek God's will in his life.
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