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FROM THE PROVINCIAL
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 NEW YORK - The old saying promises that "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Well, at least here in New York, it has roared a bit at the start of this month. I know that in Boston, the Cape and New Hampshire, the lion has been roaring much longer. This has been quite a winter.
The long winter creates in us a growing hunger for the warmth of Spring and the newness of life that it promises. We can often also feel the same way in the midst of our Lenten journey. As we wind our way through the days of Lent, through the days of penance and prayer, they too are meant to create a hunger in us for another kind of newness or renewal in our spiritual life. It is fitting the way that our external physical world speaks to our inner spiritual reality.
So, while we all pray that Spring might break in soon, let us also pray that God will continue to warm our hearts, warm our souls, so that as we greet not only a new Spring, but a new Easter, we might greet them both renewed in our commitment to Christ, our commitment to religious life, our commitment to each other as brothers, and our commitment to the people we serve.
As Pope Francis said, "Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy." Wishing you all a good and holy Lent!
Fraternally,
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Year of Consecrated Life | Pope Francis
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"The Church grows through witness, not by proselytism. The witness that can really attract is that associated with attitudes which are uncommon:
generosity, detachment, sacrifice, self-forgetfulness in order to care for others. This is the witness, the 'martyrdom' of religious life. It sounds an alarm for people"
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Jubilarians 2015
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NEW YORK - The following friars of our Province are experiencing special anniversaries both of religious profession and priestly ordination this year. CORRECTION: In the last issue, Fr. Flavian Mucci, OFM, was incorrectly listed among those celebrating 50 years of religious profession. Flavian is actually celebrating 60 years of religious profession. Also, Friar Dominic Poirier, OFM, celebrating 50 years of religious profession this year was not listed. Congratulations to all our brothers celebrating significant anniversaries!
75 years of Religious Profession
Fr. Richard Passeri, OFM
60 Years of Priestly Ordination
Fr. Roderick Crispo, OFM
Fr. Alban Montella, OFM
50 Years of Priestly Ordination
Fr. Romano Stephen Almagno, OFM
Fr. Brennan Egan, OFM
60 Years of Religious Profession
Fr. John Bavaro, OFM
Fr. Robert Caprio, OFM
Fr. Simeon Distefano, OFM
Fr. Flavian Mucci, OFM
Fr. Ralph Paonessa, OFM
Br. Luke Storino, OFM
50 Years of Religious Profession
Fr. John Bucchino, OFM
Fr. Thomas Garone, OFM
Fr. Daniel Morey, OFM
Friar Dominic Poirier, OFM
25 Years of Priestly Ordination
Fr. Louis Pintye, OFM
Ad multos annos, brothers!!!
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Dates for the Provincial Chapter 2016
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NEW YORK - The Provincial Council and Provincial Minister Primo Piscitello, OFM, have set the dates and location for next year's Provincial Chapter.
The Chapter will take place from May 16-20, 2016 at the Immaculata Retreat House in Willimantic, Connecticut.
http://www.immaculataretreat.org/
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IC Franciscan Library to host Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, poetry reading
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NEW YORK - The newly established Immaculate Conception Province Franciscan Library in New York City is excited to announce that it will host renowned Franciscan writer, Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, for an afternoon of poetry reading on Sunday, June 14 at 2 p.m.
Fr. Murray is a Franciscan Priest and Poet. He holds a Ph.D. in English
 and has taught English and A merican Literature, composition, and creative writing. His latest books are Francis and Jesus (2013), and Enter Assisi: An Invitation to Franciscan Spirituality (January, 2015). His most recent books of poetry are Something Like Jasmine (2012), Of Francis and Clare (2013), and Autumn Train (2015). Fr. Murray resides in inner-city Cincinnati, Ohio, and spends two months of the year in Rome and Assisi, Italy, as a staff member of "Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs."
Father Murray has read his poetry at various venues in America, Italy, and England, including in William Wordsworth's church in the English Lake District.
His reading will consist of reading and commenting on selected poems from his published work. The commentary will include the context in which the individual poems were written, the poet's understanding of poetry and its function in society, elements of the craft and art of poetry, and the poets who have influenced his own writing.
He will read from several of his books of poetry, including Of Francis and Clare, a collection of poems about St. Francis and his parents, Pietro Bernardone and Lady Pica, about St. Clare, and about Assisi.
See Fr. Murray Bodo's website: www.murraybodo.com
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2015
Time: 2:00 PM
Place: Immaculate Conception Province Franciscan Library
125 Thompson Street
New York, NY 10012
All are welcome. If you hope to attend, we ask that you RSVP to internos@icprovince.org so that we will have a sense of numbers.
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Renovation of Father Fagan Park in NYC moves forward slowly
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NEW YORK - For the past five years, residents of the Soho/South Village neighborhood, along with the friars and parishioners of St. Anthony Church, members of the Friends of Father Fagan Park, and other neighborhood activists have been trying to get the city to renovate Father Fagan Park, a small plot of property on the corner of Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) and Prince Street.
The progress has been very slow- complicated by the fact that the park sits on property owned by the NYC Parks Department, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (due to the subway beneath the park). Although championed by local politicians and members of the City Council and Community Board 2, it has been difficult getting these various governmental agencies to agree on anything.
It seems that they have reached an agreement that will allow work to move forward, according to the Parks Department. The city unveiled new designs for the park at a Community Board meeting on Wednesday, March 4. The tiny park received $1.5 million from the City Council four years ago to plant new trees and replace dead and dying ones, repave the sidewalk, improve lighting, plant flowers and make other changes.
But work stalled after the DEP vetoed the preliminary design plan two years ago, based on concerns about accessing underground utilities beneath the park, including water mains.The project could not proceed without the DEP's signoff, so it has been stuck in limbo for years.
Frustrated residents had urged Parks and DEP to resolve their longstanding dispute.
"The two agencies have to have better communication," said Tobi Bergman, chairman of CB2, at the meeting. "It just can't be blamed on DEP because it is a Parks project."
Father Fagan Park is currently a small, empty triangle edged with plain wooden benches. A handful of green, rusted garbage cans and a cement drinking fountain are its only amenities. The spindly trees in the park are all either dead or dying, locals say, including three callery pear trees dedicated to three firefighters who died responding to a local blaze in 1994.
Father Fagan Park is named after Father Richard Fagan, O.F.M., associate pastor of St. Anthony's, who died in a fire at the former St. Anthony Friary at 151 Thompson Street (now Padua Friary) which served as both Provincial Curia and the rectory for the church In 1938. Father Richard died several days later after rescuing several friars who were trapped in the burning building.
Of particular concern in regard to the new plans is the lack of any memorial or plaque to Father Richard Fagan in the park. A group of neighbors and parishioners plan on exerting some pressure on the Parks Department to see that sufficient local input is solicited from the neighborhood and parishioners before a final plan is enacted.
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Humber College students spend Spring Break at Valley
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Sarah Trumbley | Life Reporter
Some students see reading week as an opportunity to catch up on homework, an excuse to go on vacation, or a chance to spend time with friends.
But 10 health science students from Humber College saw it as an opportunity to do more. They travelled to Guatemala for an eight day volunteer mission that would ultimately change their lives.
"The purpose of the trip was twofold," said Dean of Health Sciences at Humber College Jason Powell: to help support Humber students in an interprofessional collaborative practice mission, and embrace the concept of global citizenship and the wish to give back.
The volunteer trip included three students from the Practical Nursing program, six from Bachelor of Nursing and one from the Early Childhood advanced diploma. As well, one paediatrician and one family physician joined them on the trip, said Frankie Burg-Feret, a Bachelor of Nursing professor in charge of the mission.
Burg-Feret said the group stayed in an orphanage called Valley of the Angels, where they conducted examinations of children.
"There were 200 children there and we were able to do health assessments and screening processes on all of the children," she said.
They also visited communities and set up outstation clinics in both rural and urban areas, said Burg-Feret.
"We saw hundreds of people and really made an impact," she said.
Student volunteer Jesse Jardin said his favourite moment from his experience was seeing the faces of the children and the families after they were able to help them.
"I liked watching the students working so hard, hugging the children, I loved it when the children came running to them," said Burg-Feret.
She said it was really fulfilling for her as a teacher to see them responding that way.
Burg-Feret said some of the hardest parts of the mission were when girls revealed they had been sexually abused. Another striking memory she mentioned was looking in a child's mouth and seeing that all the teeth were brown and rotting.
"It was unbelievable and it's hard to imagine seeing that in North America," she said.
Burg-Feret said it was a great learning experience, cultural immersion experience, and a team building experience for the students.
"I think this experience allowed me to grow as a person," said Jardin.
"Happy does not even begin to explain my emotions following the trip," said Orlee Benson, another nursing student volunteer.
Burg-Feret hopes to organize the trip again next year and both Jardin and Benson recommend the experience to Humber students.
Burg-Feret said she was proud of the students' professionalism. They were caring and respectful with everyone they encountered.
"They truly represented Humber College in a manner that the dean and faculty of Health Sciences can be proud of," she said.
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Felician Postulants retreat at Mount Alvernia
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WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY - At home at Mount Alvernia Retreat Center, in Wappingers Falls, NY, Felician Postulants Lauren Gault and Michele Curry participated in their mid-year three-day retreat: "Who Are You O God, and Who Am I?" designed and facilitated by S Veronica Marie Lucero.
The retreat theme, patterned after the rhythm of consecrated life or forma vitae of Francis of Assisi and enhanced by reflections taken from Rejoice, Letter for the Year of Consecrated Life; a letter to all consecrated people from the magisterium of Pope Francis, provided fruitful reflections.
Sister Veronica said, "The incorporation of thought-provoking questions, quotes from the Felician Constitution Response to Love, and images that evoked 'the Spirit of God at work within,' prompted openness of spirit. The evocative method of spiritual direction offered the environment and time for self-reflection that promoted self-knowledge and transformative experiences."
According to Sister Veronica, the days of prayer, reflection, spiritual companioning, and fraternitas during the noon meal with friars Father Armand Padula, guardian; Father Tom Garone, and Father Roch Ciandella, Mount Alvernia retreat directors; Father Joaquin Mejia, Spanish Ministries; Father Roger Hall, and Father Romano Stephen Almagno, retreat staff; provided a wholesome and joyous compliment to the joy of Gospel living.
Mount Alvernia Retreat Center was a Franciscan seminary from 1945-1967 and has since been successfully re-purposed as a Catholic retreat center. At the invitation of the friars, on Friday, February 27, Lauren, Michele, and Sister Veronica will attend Mass at the Franciscan Poor Clare Monastery in thanksgiving for the many graces received while on retreat before returning to Saint Felix Convent in Enfield, CT.
The postulants are grateful to S Peggy Marie Rosehart, postulant director, for arranging for this mid-year retreat and for the sisters of Our Lady of Hope Province for their prayers, blessing and hospitality to new membership.
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Rome friars head out to school
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US Provincial Ministers approve proposals
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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - Meeting on February 25-25, the U.S. Provincial Ministers approved the proposal of the Franciscan Interprovincial Team for the renewal and reconfiguration of our Franciscan life in the United States for the next two and a half years. You can read all about it below.
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NEXT "COME & SEE" WEEKEND: MARCH 20-22, BROOKLYN
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The Vocation Office will host the next "Come & See" Discernment Retreat Weekend on March 20-22 at Our Lady Of Peace Friary. Please help promote the event by announcing it in your places of ministry and inviting young men to attend.
Thanks,
Alvin
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JOB POSTING: US Digital Media Director
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The U.S. Provincial Ministers are hiring a full-time U.S. Director of Digital Media to manage the digital communications profile for the Franciscans nationwide. A full description of the position is below. Interested candidates can send a cover letter and a resume in for consideration.
US NATIONAL DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Job description:
The National Digital Media Director is the full-time coordinator and animator of the American (US) Sub-Conference's Internet, digital, and social media presence.
The Director's primary duties are:
- to maintain the institutional digital media presence, especially the common web site;
- to promote a wide range of topics and interests relevant to the US Franciscan experience;
- to gather content relevant to target audiences and prepare it for distribution in a contemporary and evolving format;
- to assure that graphics and layout for institutional digital media remain contemporary;
The Director's other duties are:
- to serve on appropriate standing, advisory and ad hoc committees as required;
- to work with the U.S. Digital Media Committee (appointed by the U.S. Provincial Ministers) to help shape and focus the message within the editorial policy and direction set by the U.S. Provincial Ministers;
- to collaborate with writers and communicators from each province, who will submit original material and recommend outside material for reposting;
- to perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Franciscan. The Digital Media Director, ideally, is someone:
- who is familiar with and embraces the Franciscan charism
- is exposed to the work and ministry of the friars
- is well respected by the friars of the Provinces of the United States.
Skills:
The Director is someone who:
- has good communication skills demonstrated interpersonally, in writing, and in speaking;
- has above average working knowledge of computers, smart phones, and tablets;
- has demonstrated competence and ease using internet communication, which can be evidenced by current use of social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, etc.
- is familiar with basic themes in a broad range of topics impacting Franciscan life in the US, such as Church issues, justice and peace, current events, etc.
- is familiar with on-line and app-based publications of interest to a Franciscan perspective;
- is available to adjust strategies and develop communications and posts upon short notice when necessary;
- is able to collaborate with partners from remote locations.
Please send a cover letter and resume to Thomas Washburn, OFM (exec@escofm.org).
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Prayer for the General Chapter
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ROME - General Minister Michael A. Perry, OFM, in convening the General Chapter of the Order, has asked friars throughout the world to join in prayer for the success of the General Chapter.
The General Chapter is set to take place May 10 - June 7 of this year at the Domus Pacis Retreat House in Assisi. It has been given the theme "Brothers and Minors in our Time."
Below is a prayer that we are asked to use daily:
Most High and Glorious God,
you have called us to follow the footprints
of Your Beloved Son
as Lesser Brothers of Your servant Francis.
Send Your Spirit to enlighten our hearts
as we prepare for the
General Chapter of Pentecost
at St Mary of the Porziuncola.
Renew in us the joy of the Gospel,
that we may proclaim in our time
Your mercy and goodness towards all.
May the Lady of the Angels,
the Virgin made Church,
accompany us as we follow her Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
as we make our way to You,
who live and rule in perfect Trinity
and simple Unity,
and are glorified,
God almighty,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Click the link below for more prayers, including intercessions to be used during Morning and Evening Prayer.
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