May 2, 2014

In This Issue

POPE FRANCIS MEETING WITH RELIGIOUS SUPERIORS OF MEN IN NOVEMBER:

 

"You should be real witnesses of a world of doing and acting differently. But in life it is difficult for everything to be clear, precise, outlined neatly. Life is complicated; it consists of grace and sin. He who does not sin is not human. We all make mistakes and we need to recognise our weakness. A religious who recognises himself as weak and a sinner does not negate the witness that he is called to give, rather he reinforces it, and this is good for everyone. What I expect of you therefore is to give witness. I want this special witness from religious." 

 

+ Francis

Before the celebration, the Divine Mercy Chaplet was recited with readings from the writings of the two Pop

Fr. Christopher Gaffrey, OFM with General Minister Michael Perry, OFM

es in different languages to help those present reflect on the mercy of God. The opening of the Mass was the Litany of the Saints with the addition of Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II. After the introductory rites, Friar Gianni Califano joined by Msgr. Slawomir Oder, postulator for the cause of Saint John Paul II, and Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, petitioned Holy Father Pope Francis to inscribe John XXIII and John Paul II into the canon of saints. 

After a prayer to the Holy Spirit for guidance, the official proclamation was made, and the relics of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II were presented for the Holy Father to venerate.

 

In his homily, Pope Francis commented on the mystery of the cross in the life of the newly canonized saints, saying, "Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II were not afraid to look upon the wounds of Jesus, to touch his torn hands and his pierced side. They were not ashamed of the flesh of Christ, they were not scandalized by him, by his cross; they did not despise the flesh of their brother, because they saw Jesus in every person who suffers and struggles. These were two men of courage, filled with the parrhesia of the Holy Spirit, and they bore witness before the Church and the world to God's goodness and mercy. They were priests, and bishops and popes of the twentieth century. They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them. For them, God was more powerful; faith was more powerful - faith in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of man and the Lord of history; the mercy of God, shown by those five wounds, was more powerful; and more powerful too was the closeness of Mary our Mother." 

 

He also highlighted the specific contributions of the two Popes to the church, saying "John XXIII and John Paul II cooperated with the Holy Spirit in renewing and updating the Church in keeping with her pristine features, those features which the saints have given her throughout the centuries. Let us not forget that it is the saints who give direction and growth to the Church. In convening the Council, Saint John XXIII showed an exquisite openness to the Holy Spirit. He let himself be led and he was for th

Fr. Antonio Nardoianni, OFM with General Minister Michael Perry, OFM

e Church a pastor, a servant-leader, guided by the Holy Spirit. This was his great service to the Church; for this reason I like to think of him as the the pope of openness to the Holy Spirit. In his own service to the People of God, Saint John Paul II was the pope of the family. He himself once said that he wanted to be remembered as the pope of the family. I am particularly happy to point this out as we are in the process of journeying with families towards the Synod on the family. It is surely a journey which, from his place in heaven, he guides and sustains."

 

At a lunch at the Convento afterwards, the friars commented on the historic event, mentioning in particular their memories of both pontiffs. Some were struck by a person from their own lifetime being named a saint. Others spoke of personal encounters with one or the other. All were edified and deeply moved.

 

Pictures by Fr. Christopher Gaffrey, OFM

By Fr. Jimmy Zammit, OFM

 

MONTREAL, CANADA - On Sunday April 27th, 2014, Visitor General, Bro. Ambrose Nguyen Van Si, OFM, and 26 Friar Capitulars of St. Joseph Province, Eastern Canada, gathered at the Ermitage Sainte-Croix on the shore of Lac des Deux Montagnes about 10 kilometers from the center of Montreal for their Provincial Chapter.

 

Two friars from Christ the King Province of Western Canada were officially invited as observers; and upon consultation with our Immaculate Conception Province, I was invited to represent our St. Francis Foundation of Ontario as an observer as well.

 

The week unfolded gently in this very tranquil setting and it was an honor to be part of this exercise in fraternal service to the brotherhood.  It goes without saying that this has been a time with many direct and indirect purposes.  Beginning with the direct aims we experienced discussion of fraternal life, suggestions, proposals and decisions.  

 

The Chapter also elected brothers entrusted with the administration of the fraternity: Provincial Minister Marc LeGoanvec (re-election for three years), Vicar Provincial Pierre Charland, Provincial Councilors: Henri Ethier, Guylain Prince, Lawrent Gallant, and Aime Do Van Thong.

 

The friars are very concerned with transparency and involving all the brothers in discussion on matters that will effect their lives, especially the visioning for the future of their main house at Rosemount in Montreal that houses two friar communities: the Provincial Infirmary, Provincial Government, Archives, and a significant Library.  

 

Their second focus has been the future of the Province, including the arrival of four friars from other provinces (Poland, Korea and Mexico) to supplement their numbers and the "Collaboration transcanadiennes" that was proposed by the General Minister in his letter to the General Visitor and read at the beginning of the Chapter.

 

These are NOT the official minutes but I would suspect that the Acta will contain the Province's work at seeking to devise strategies and policies that will encourage cooperation and attempt to eliminate duplication of efforts in various fields like evangelization and missions, Holy Land, JPIC, vocation work, the Franciscan Family and Secular Franciscans, communications, administration and various levels of formation.

 

In the discussions on formulating a provincial mindset, several times the talk was the necessity of all Canada being involved in this venture, including the various entities present in Ontario. An indirect aim of having three observers was to open our realities to the friars here and their reality to our communities across Canada - as a matter of fact, we were invited to exchange experiences with the Capitular brothers. They wanted to know who we were and how we lived our Franciscan vocation.

 

Finally plans are under way to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Franciscan Recollects and the 125th anniversary of the return to Canada of the Franciscans in 1890.

BOSTON - During the recent Holy Week, our men in formation, as they have so often done throughout the years, got to experience life in our various places of ministry during the holiest week of our Church year. 

Spreading out across the Province, Postulant Dale Brewer experienced Holy Week at St. Pamphilus Church in Pittsburgh; Postulant Josh Critchley was assigned to Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn; Postulant Josh Davis was part of the celebrations at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry, NH; and Postulant Jay Woods participated with the community at St. Margaret Church in Buzzards Bay, MA.  Br. Zach Wood, OFM, friar in temporary profession, traveled to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Toronto, Canada for their Holy Week services.  And, has been the tradition with our community in Rome, the men in formation there, Br. Roberto Serrano, OFM, and Br. Walter Vijil, OFM, experienced the celebrations of Holy Week at our General Curia, where they also had the honor of serving.  Roberto and Walter also experienced the Chrism Mass at St. Peter's Basilica.

Br. Zach Wood, OFM, proclaiming the Exultet at the Easter Vigil in Toronto

Postulant Josh Critchley assisting with the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday in Brooklyn

Postulant Josh Davis ready to serve during Holy Week in Derry

Br. Zach Wood, OFM, carrying the Relic of the True Cross in the Good Friday Procession in Toronto

Bishop Gerald Scarpone, OFM, has published a new Catholic devotional book called Nuestro Devocionario Familiar, (Our Family Devotional), a collection of prayers and reflections which he put together. 

 

The Spanish-language devotional is 328 pages.

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY - The following letter of thanks was sent to Provincial Minister Primo Piscitello, OFM, from the friars at Mount Alvernia Retreat Center.

Dear Primo:

A blessed Easter Seasson to you.

April 4, 2014

Dear Primo,

On August 16, 1964 I professed my First Vows in Catskill. This year will mark 50 years since the wonderful day. I am writing to you as the Provincial Minister of Immaculate Conception Province to express my gratitude to you and all the friars in your Province for inspiring my vocation at Columbus High School and for nurturing that vocation during my years of formation. As the years have gone by I have also come to realize what a good education I received at Troy even amidst the chaos that was going on in our country and in the Church at that time. I invite all to join me in thanking God for those 50 years.

I do hope that you might pass these sentiments along to the friars via your newsletter or by whatever means seem appropriate to you.

For the past 26 years I have been a member of the Franciscan Ministry of the Word, our Province's preaching team. I have been based in several locations while doing this ministry and presently am here in St. Petersburg. Preaching has become my vocation within a vocation and I hope to be able to be in ministry until I am not able to continue.

Know that my prayers are with you and Immaculate Conception Province. My hope is that we will be members of the same Province again in the not too distant future.

Fraternally,

ASSISI - On March 3, 2014, the city of Assisi presented the documentary film: Uomo della Provvidenza: Il Colonnello Valentin Müller e la Salvezza di Assisi durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale (A Man of Providence: Colonel Valentin Müller and the Saving of Assisi during the Second World War).

The film was created by Jona Raischl, great-grandson of Colonel Müller. An English version and a German version will be available soon.

 

Uomo di Provvidenza

 

 

 

CO-DIRECTORS OF COMMUNICATIONS: Thomas Washburn, OFM | Alvin Te, OFM