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From the Provincial Minister
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 | Provincial Minister
Primo P. Piscitello, OFM |
NEW YORK - It is hard to imagine a more active time in the life of the friars in the United States than the last few months.
Since April, we have seen new administrations elected in Malta, Guadalupe Province, Holy Name Province and a new Council in Assumption Province. And as I write today, all six other U.S. Provinces have weighed in on the Proposal to be a part of the national conversation for the reconfiguration of our Franciscan life here.
It is stunning to note that all have said yes to the proposal - most overwhelmingly, two unanimously. Nearly 90% of the friars in the U.S. who have voted so far have said they want to be part of this conversation.
My brothers, we are just over a week away from our Extraordinary Chapter which has only one item of business - whether or not we, too, will make the decision to be part of the conversation. I hope that we do.
Let us take these days to be men of prayer and men of serious consideration. Let us pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit to be a part of our consideration - and, in fact, let us pray that the Holy Spirit be the most important player in our conversation; that we have the faith and the trust to surrender our will to God's will. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill our hearts of us, your faithful friars, and kindle in us, once again, the fire of Your love.
I look forward to being with you all at Chapter.
God bless,
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St. Anthony Celebrations in New York and Boston
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NEW YORK/BOSTON - Today we celebrate the feast of perhaps the most popular Franciscan saint after St. Francis himself, St. Anthony of Padua. As is the tradition in several of our places of ministry, the celebration of the feast of this great saint is often accompanied by a procession. Below are some photos from the processions in Boston.
At St. Anthony's in New York City, the procession was cancelled due to rains and concerns by the police detail about thunder and lightening. "However, we had a packed Mass to celebrate the Feast," according to Fr. Joseph Lorenzo, OFM, pastor, "There were over 1,000 people in attendance."
At St. Leonard Church in Boston's North End, the procession anticipated the feast and took place on Sunday, June 8.
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Br. Paul O'Brien, OFM, celebrates 50 years of Profession
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LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO - On August 16, 1964, Br. Paul O'Brien, OFM, a native of Dorchester, professed his first vows as a member of our Immaculate Conception Province.
The 50 years since then have lead him from ministry in our Province, notably at the Christian Life Center in Andover during its heyday, eventually in the mid-1980s to ministry amo  ng the Native Americans int he Southwest.
Currently, Br. Paul is stationed at All Saints Navajo Mission in Ganado, Arizona where he serves as administrator. He offiicially joined Guadalupe Province in 2009, but always has fond memories of his time with us.
Br. Paul still has strong connections to family in the Boston area and travels back to the area typically once a year. He sends his heartfelt greetings to all the members of our Province wishing everyone well.
We wish Br. Paul a very happy and blessed Golden Jubilee! Ad multos annos! |
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Elections in Guadalupe, Holy Name and ABVM Provinces
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LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO - The last few weeks have continued with Provincial Chapters in many of the Provinces of the United States. Along with that have been elections of new administrations in the Guadalupe Province, Holy Name Province and Assumption Province.
Meeting last week at Holy Cross Retreat Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the friars of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province elected the following friars to administrative positions: Provincial Minister: Jack Clark Robinson, OFM Vicar Provincial: Charlie Martinez, OFM Provincial Councilors: Eduardo Espinoza, OFM; Jose Rodriguez, OFM; Dale Jamison, OFM; and Abel Olivas, OFM
 | | OLG Administration |
Holy Name Province held their Chapter at Siena College in Loudonvile, New York and elected the following friars: Provincial Minister: Kevin Mullen, OFM Vicar Provincial: Larry Hayes, OFMProvincial Councilors: William Beaudin, OFM; Brian Belanger, OFM; David Convertino, OFM; Fred Dilger, OFM; Robert Frazzetta, OFM; and Joseph Nangle, OFM
 | | Holy Name Administration |
In the Assumption BVM Province meeting this week in Techny, Illinois, they elected the following: Provincial Councilors: Andrew Brophy, OFM; Edward Tlucek, OFM; Joachim Studwell, OFM; and Paul Reczek, OFM
 | | ABVM Council |
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Fr. John Bucchino, OFM, teaches course in Ethics
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MAN
 | | Fr. John Bucchino, OFM |
CHESTER, NH - Fr. John Bucchino, OFM, has recently completed teaching a semester course at Manchester Community College.
The course, Introduction to Ethics, included 16 undergraduate students of various ages and backgrounds majoring in liberal arts, business management, nutrition and engineering.
"The course was lively and enjoyable," John stated.
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Nutritionist at Valley of the Angels completes internship
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By Fr. Michael Della Penna, OFM
VALLEY OF THE ANGELS, GUATEMALA - Wendy Carrera, our lovely nutritionist is completing her internship after two and a half months. She is part of a program from Valle University which sends students like herself in the third year to train at Valley of the Angels.
This hands on experience teaches them practical skills and how to apply the theories what they learn in their courses. She has been involved in every aspect of our kitchen, cooking, serving, planning, and even completing a new detailed menu for each month.
The program is supervised by our very own volunteer Aida de Palerea, who not only serves on our board of directors, but teaches Karate to the children. Aida has been responsible for transforming our kitchen; including adding greater variety and better nutritional meals, customizing menus from what we received from Canada, buying a hot table, and renovating our kitchen.
We interviewed Wendy before she left.
How did you like working at Valley?
"It was a great experience. I think it's one of the best moments I ever had in my life; I hope I will be able to come back"
Tell me about our children?
"They are angels. Everyone here is gift from God and I think that they complete my life"
Would you like to share anything on your last day here?
"I think that I became like a kid again and I think that that's what's made this experience amazing and I can't express myself because I'm going to cry. thanks."
 | | Wendy Carrera |
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20 STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM BAKING PROGRAM
May 17th marked a very special day for our girls here at Valley of the Angels as 20 of our 10th and 11th grade students graduated with a certificate from INTECAP. This was the first time we invited INTECAP, the Technical Institute for Training and Productivity, to give a course on baking for us.
The girls learned such things as: how to make sweetbread, French bread, cakes, quesadillas, and cookies. They received a certificate of completion which will serve them well upon graduation as such franchises like San Martin also train their employees at INTECAP.
Marta Maria Barillas Icute, the instructor, lead classes over ten Saturdays from 8:00-4:00. Marta commented that she was particularly grateful to be able to teach the course because she did not have a father growing up and knew that the skills they acquired and their certificate would help them in their life.
We at Valley are very proud of our girls for having accomplished something very special. Our hope is that this will enable them to have another option for employment, as well as help their families.
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Assumption, Sacred Heart Provinces approve national proposal
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The final two Provinces before our Province to consider the Proposal to be part of the national conversation on the future of our Franciscan life in the United States have voted to approve the Proposal.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province meeting in Provincial Chapter in Tecnhy, Illinois, voted on the proposal on Tuesday, June 10. They approved the proposal unanimously voting 55-0 in favor.
Sacred Heart Province considered the Proposal on Thursday, also while in Chapter, in St. Louis, Missouri. They approved it 82-49.
This means all six other U.S. Provinces have approved the proposal and will be part of the national conversation about reconfiguration. Our Province of the Immaculate Conception are the only ones left to take up the Proposal, which we will, of course, do at our Extraordinary Chapter June 23-25.
The Provincial Administrations of those approving the proposal will meet to determine the next steps at Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin from August 3-6. |
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PRAYER FOR OUR EXTRAORDINARY CHAPTER
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To be prayed at the conclusion of the Intercessions at Morning and Evening Prayer
Holy Spirit of God,
we call upon You and ask You to guide us
as we prepare for our Extraordinary Provincial Chapter.
Open our hearts and fill us with Your love.
Open our minds and fill us with Your wisdom
to give us the clarity to respond to the needs of today's world
with a passion for justice and a love for the poor.
Continually renew us in our bonds of fraternity
so that we can be strengthened
as we gather to discuss our future
and strive to continually make a difference in our world.
We make this prayer through the intercession of St. Francis and St. Clare,
and our Blessed Mother, the Immaculate Conception, patroness of our Province.
Through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
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Andre Cirino, OFM, publishes new book on Assisi in WWII
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 In 2005, right before the death of Don Aldo Brunacci in Assisi, Editrice Minerva published a small anthology: Three Heroes of Assisi in World War II. The last protagonist, Don Aldo, was still alive when this edition was published.
Since his death in 2007, much has been written of his work with the Jewish people hidden in Assisi in World War II. A second edition of this work, with new additions in tribute to Don Aldo as well as editing of some of the original entries, has been published.
This text was prepared by two authors who have a special bond with Assisi and its saints-Francis and Clare-to whom they have dedicated their studies and their widespread and somewhat complementary interests. The first author, Josef Raischl OFS, who lives in Dachau, Germany, studied in Rome at the Capuchin Historical Institute and in England at the Franciscan International Study Centre, Canterbury. The second author, André Cirino OFM, taught at the above-mentioned Study Centre and for more than thirty years has been leading pilgrimages to this Franciscan city, deeply imbibing its spiritual atmosphere and historical memory.
From this blend of their interests has come this book, whose goal is to let the whole world know about the three heroes of Assisi: Bishop Giuseppe Placido Nicolini, Colonel Valentin Müller MD, and Assisi priest, Don Aldo Brunacci.
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Franciscan Evangelical Life Retreat
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WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY - Fr. Andre Cirino, OFM, along with Ann Bremmer, OSF, are both leading a retreat entitled, "Franciscan Evangelical Life" this summer from July 6-11 at Mount Alvernia Retreat Center.
The retreat focuses on the Gospel evangelical examples of Sts. Francis and Clare with five areas of focus; Conversion, Contemplation, Fraternitas, Ministry and Mission.
The cost is $500 and participants are requested to register by contacting Fr. Roch Ciandella, OFM at (845) 297-5706 or mtalverniaretreat@gmail.com.
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