January 9, 2015

In This Issue

 

"We welcome this year with special gratitude, allowing ourselves to be challenged and stimulated by the witness of the Holy Father who by the choice of his programmatic name, Francis, is proposing to the Church the lifestyle and message of our seraphic founder, with his constant referral to the Gospel, - or rather to the joy of the Gospel, which constitutes the intrinsic beauty of consecrated life - his special closeness to the poor and excluded, his mercy, his reconciliation, his sense of brother and sisterhood, essentiality, simplicity and commitment to peace and the safeguarding of creation. 

 

As I and the general Definitorium have previously pointed out on the occasion of the Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi of this year, these and others are the aspects that we should first of all, live and then teach to the Church and world. 

 

Dearest brothers let us welcome with a grateful and available heart this Year of Consecrated life desired by Pope Francis for the whole Church. Let us join voluntarily the celebrations and initiatives that will be realized in this regard by our local Churches, so that this grace-filled event will also be an expression on ecclesial communion. Let us live in assiduous and faithful prayer this time of preparation for the general Chapter, serving the Lord in poverty and humility (cf. Rb 6, 1-3) imploring without ceasing the grace to follow faithfully in the footprints of God's beloved Son and to desire always what is pleasing to Him (cf. LOrd 7, 50-51)."

 

BOSTON - The Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston shared this photo of Fr. Romano Almagno, OFM, following a celebration of Mass for the Solemnity of the Holy Family on December 28. 

The website said, "Thank you, Father Stephen for helping us honor, and understand how to emulate the virtues of, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. May God continue to bless you!"

RUTHERFORD, NJ - The Office of Mission Integration held an Advent Evening of Reflection with André Cirino, OFM, on December 11, at the Felician College Castle. 

 

Dr. Anne Prisco, president, along with vice presidents and members of the Franciscan Task Force, enjoyed an inspiring evening as Father André presented the "Bringing Forth Christ," St. Bonaventure's Five Feasts of the Child Jesus.

 

All received a copy of Father André's article, "Spiritual Motherhood," based on Eric Doyle's translation of St. Bonaventure's meditative work. 

 

A delicious meal, conversation and fraternitas concluded the evening of Franciscan enrichment. 

Many of our churches and chapels were beautifully decorated for the Christmas Season:

St. Anthony Church, New York City

Mount Alvernia Chapel, Wappingers Falls, NY

St. Leonard Church, Boston

Our Lady of Peace, Brooklyn, NY

MONTREAL, CANADA - June 24, 1615: on that day, Denys Jamet and Joseph Le Caron, two of the four Recollects that had accompanied Samuel de Champlain in his journey to New France, celebrated the first Mass on Montreal Island in recorded memory. This event marked what is considered to be the beginning of the Catholic church, religious life and Franciscan tradition in North America.

 

"At the time, leaving for the new world was a risky enterprise that only the bold took up, which included many exceptional paragons of courage and audacity, such as the Recollects, said Brother Marc Le Goanvec, Minister Provincial of St. Joseph Province in Eastern Canada. Moreover, through their pastoral and missionary approach, these friars left their mark on New France's entire era."

 

June 24, 2015 will mark the 400th anniversary of this memorable event, which the Franciscans of Eastern Canada will celebrate during a solemn ceremony, led by the Archbishop of Montreal, at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, in Montreal. This celebration will be preceded from June 11 to 13, by a scientific symposium organized by the Institute of Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with Université Laval's Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences.

 

The year 2015 brings a unique opportunity to highlight the Franciscan community during a series of events pertaining to the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Recollects, an old branch of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), in New France. Better known as the Franciscan Order, the OFM was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1209. Moreover, this year will also mark the 125th anniversary of the Franciscan Order's restoration in Canada after a 127-year absence under the British regime in the wake of the Conquest of 1763.

 

"All of these celebratory events underscoring the turning points of OFM's history will be an opportunity to not only showcase the many facets of the Franciscans' presence on North American soil, but also underscore a unique aspect of Quebec's religious history," concluded Brother Le Goanvec.

* follow us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Franciscans-of-Eastern-Canada/105558899518620 or on our Twitter feed: @OFMEstCanada

 

* https://www.youtube.com/user/OFMEasternCanada

 

 

ROME - The Communication Office of the General Curia has published the latest edition of Fraternitas. You can read it by clicking the image below.

Mt. Irenaeus, the Franciscan Mountain Retreat located in scenic western New York, seeks an Executive Director (ED) to act as chief operating officer and provide vision and strategic planning for this organization with a rich 30-year history.  Working within our collaborative management model, the ED will supervise the day-to-day operations of "the Mountain" working closely with the president/ animator, resident friar community, the board of trustees, staff and students from nearby St. Bonaventure University.   

 

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute annual plans in concert with the collaborative management model
• Supervise the day to day operations of the Mountain staff
• Act as project manager for key Mountain initiatives
• Develop the annual financial plan
• Develop annual fundraising plans, activities and goals
• Regular interactions with the leadership of the Mountain Board of Trustees, St. Bonaventure University and Holy Name Province

Successful candidates will have administrative and collaborative leadership experience as well as excellent communication skills.  A master's degree in theology or pastoral ministry is preferred as is fundraising experience.

Information is available on the website of Mt. Irenaeus http://www.mounti.com/executive-director/

 Interested applicants are asked to submit resumes by Jan. 30, 2015 to mount.irenaeus.jobs@gmail.com. Those with questions are asked to contact Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, Mt. Irenaeus president/animator, at 716-307-0126 or Michael New, board chair emeritus, at 802-343-9037.

 

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