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From the Provincial Minister
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 | Provincial Minister
Primo P. Piscitello, OFM |
NEW YORK -Mahatma Ghandi famously said, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." I am very aware that the information that has come out from the U.S. Provincials and from our own Provincial Board over the last few weeks have planted the seeds of change in our minds as we begin the process of prayerfully discerning what our future might look like in the years ahead - our future as a Province; and our common future as Franciscans in the United States. I'm aware that those seeds of change can sometimes be unsettling because we are comfortable in who we are and where we are and an unknown and yet-to-be-determined future can make us anxious.
The large amount of information that we have been trying to digest - the Report of the Interprovincial Commission, the Letter of the U.S. Provincials, and their Executive Summary of the Report - can feel overwhelming in its scope and reach.
I want to stress once again that this national conversation over the future of our Franciscan life is historic; and it is sobering. We have been reminded that our numbers nationally (and within our own Province) are decreasing to the point where current organizational structures are no longer sustainable. Positive, fraternal change for our future is the only option. Let us all look forward to our upcoming Regional meetings and the opportunities that they present to us to be together and discuss the Interprovincial Report and what it means for our future; and let us look forward to being together as one in June for our Extraordinary Chapter, so that we can continue that conversation prayerfully.
Let me again state what I firmly believe in my heart and what I hope that you can join me in believing: This is a moment of great hope and possibility. We can be the change that we hope to see in our Province and in our country. But, we can only be that change if we decide to sit down at the table with the rest of our brothers and let our voice be heard.
Our 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. Let's be the change we want to see!
God bless,
Fr. Primo
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| Fr. Phil Pacheco installed as Pastor in Derry |
DERRY, NY - On Sunday, October 20, surrounded by family, friend, friars and parishioners, Fr. Philip Pacheco, OFM, was formally installed as Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish by Very Rev. Frederick Pennet, Dean of the Rockingham deanery and pastor of St. Mark's Parish in Londonderry.
The Knights of Columbus provided the honor guard with many different parish and school groups being present in the opening procession. Fr. Pennet reminded Fr. Philip during the homily that he had many responsibilities as pastor and humorously noted that shutting off the lights after the people go home were one of the tasks that came with the position.
After the homily, Fr. Phil made his profession of faith and his oath of fidelity and renewed his priestly promises that were made at his ordination. Following the Mass, a reception was provided and graciously done by the Knights of Columbus Derry.
Fr. Phil, 34, is originally from Fall River, MA. He entered formation with the friars in 1999 and completed his studies in Rome at the Angelicum in 2006. Making his Solemn Profession of Vows in 2006, Fr. Phil was ordained a priest in 2007. He was previously stationed, first in Derry, where he was Associate Pastor, and later at St. Francis Xavier in New Milford, CT, also as Associate Pastor. This is Fr. Phil's first assignment as Pastor of a parish.
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish is among the largest of the parishes staffed by our Province with well over 2,000 families. A large, young and active faith community, the parish also has a successful grammar school (grades K-8).
Fr. Phil is joined in ministry at St. Thomas by Fr. Christopher Gaffrey, OFM, who serves as Associate Pastor, and Br. Joseph Powell, OFM, who serves as Pastoral Associate.
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NEW YORK - Provincial Minister Primo Piscitello, OFM, has announced the following personnel changes:
- John Scarangello, OFM - appointed Secretary of the Province "Pro tem."
- Vit Fiala, OFM - elected Guardian at Mt. Alverna Friary, Youngstown, OH.
- Dennis Arambasick, OFM - elected Vicar of Mt. Alverna Friary, Youngstown, OH.
- Peter Furgiuele, OFM - from St. Peter Church, Woodbridge, Ontario to St. Francis Centre, Caledon, Ontario.
- Romano Almagno, OFM - from Most Precious Blood Church, New York to Mount Alvernia Retreat Center, Wappingers Falls, NY
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The invasion of the Snicker-Snatchers | St. Thomas Aquinas, Derry
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By Br. Joseph Powell, OFM
DERRY, NH - Suddenly, they were upon us.
Ghosts swarmed around the yard. Fairy princesses stood in line at the pop-corn machine. Zombie moms and dads, grinning through bloody teeth, guided their zombie children to grab a treat at the candy bowls. Spider-man took a hot chocolate for himself and his leopard sister. He had marshmallows - the leopard wanted whipped cream. And when they left, more came. Super-heroes, black cats, Peter Pan, even the Headless Horseman himself, all hankering for hot chocolate, popcorn, and Mini Snickers.
This was Halloween come early in Derry, New Hampshire. On Saturday the 26th of October, the town hosted an afternoon of family trick-or-treating with local shops and businesses providing the treats. St. Thomas Aquinas Church had a candy station of its own - several tables and volunteers ready to regale any passing poltergeist or sweet-toothed samurai. The trick-or-treating started at noon, and by three o'clock the St. Thomas station closed down, reduced to empty candy bowls and discarded tins of hot cocoa.
"We never expected so many!" Fr. Phil Pacheco, OFM, commented. He and Br. Joe Powell, OFM, had manned the hot chocolate table to the very end. Now, covered in brown dust and bits of marshmallow, they and the other parish volunteers watched the last few trick-or-treaters disappearing down the street. It had been another fun occasion for St. Thomas parish to collaborate with the wider town community. And thanks to sugary substances and big-hearted volunteers, the trick-or-treating in Derry was -- undeniably -- one sweet success.
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Relics of St. Anthony from Padua to visit NYC
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NEW YORK - The friars of our mother church, the Shrine Church of St. Anthony of Padua, on Sullivan Street in New York City, will welcome the relics of St. Anthony from the Basilica in Padua, Italy on Sunday, December 8.
A Solemn Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. followed by devotions to the Saint and veneration of the relics. These precious relics of St. Anthony are currently traveling around the world to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the discovery of St. Anthony's relics by St. Bonaventure.
They are accompanied by a Franciscan friar from the Baslica in Padua and have been greeted by tremendous crowds wherever they have been because of the deep devotion to this great saint.
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"Come and See" Vocation Retreat to be held January 17-19
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 BOSTON, MA - The Franciscan Vocation Office will be holding a "Come and See" Discernment Retreat Weekend January 17-19, 2014, and ask all parishes, ministries, to post the following announcement in their respective buleltins: "COME AND SEE" VOCATION DISCERNMENT WEEKEND, January 17-19, 2014 The Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception Province are 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 our Franciscan Friary in Boston, MA from Friday, January 17- Sunday, January 19. Please contact Fr. Alvin, OFM, ( vocations@icprovince.org or 1-800-521-5442) as soon as possible if you'd like to be part of this weekend retreat.
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2014 Interprovincial Retreat to be held January 6-10
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LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO - The 2014 Interprovincial retreat will take place from January 6-10, 2014 at the Holy Cross Retreat Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The retreat, entitled Dreams of Francis, Visions for Tomorrow, will be directed by Friars Jack Clark Robinson, OFM (Our Lady of Guadalupe Province) and Jason Welle, OFM (Assumption BVM Province). Friars from all OFM Provinces are welcome to attend.
The cost is $400 and registrations must be received no later than December 21, 2013.
To register send your NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, EMAIL, and PROVINCE with a check payable to FRIAR RETREAT to PO Box 12395, Albuquerque, NM 87195. |
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