"Making All Things New" July 2016
In This Issue
Fr. Dan's Column
Mt. Irenaeus Donates to SBU Ministry Center
Fr. Dan's Jubilee
Mountain Companion to Postulant
Holy Name Province Visit
Picture from the Past
Prayer & Scripture

You may take time with the following prayer, and create your own, add variations in this prayer that spring from your own hearts today.

- Fr. Dan
Loving God, you gave us so many who exemplify for us the fullness of hope and longing. 

We thank you for Fr. Mathias Doyle and for his guidance.

Today, and each day, when we think of Irenaeus we think of both the saint, the practitioner, Fr. Irenaeus, and the meaning of the name; to be a peacemaker, one who seeks and follows ways of peace.

As you have shaped us in your own image and set us on the face of this earth, may we call forth and see in one another's face the goodness of being images of God. 

May we, as sisters and brothers, hope and work for peace and reconciliation among all others. May we be instruments of peace. 

Amen.

Save the Dates:
Evenings of Re-creation

Wednesdays this summer:
July 6, 13, 27
Aug. 3

Theme: Franciscan Spirituality; a Practical Approach to the "Real World"

5:15 evening prayer followed by quiet time on the land
6:30 dish-to-pass supper
7:30 Mass & discussion  

 For more information please contact Michelle Marcellin (mmarc@sbu.edu or 716-375-2096)

Weekend of Transformation
Aug. 5-7

Listening to our convocation and guided by what we heard, we invite you to join us as we continue to rediscover our origins; the roots of Franciscan Life in the person of Christ, who makes all things new. 

Through this weekend we will:

1. Reflect on our own lives, the root of our own religious experience and the desire to serve others and its challenges.
 
2. Draw energy and wisdom from one another and our origins. 
 
3. Experience practices that can be brought to others, so we might be agents of transformation. 

Please contact Michelle at mmarc@sbu.edu or 716-375-2096 for more information and to RSVP.

Save the Date: Weekend to Celebrate Fr. Dan's 50 Years as a Friar at Mt. Irenaeus
  
Come, join us at the Mountain as we celebrate with a weekend of activities honoring Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, on his golden jubilee.

Sept. 16-18, 2016

Friday - prayer and presentation by Dr. Pauline Albert
Saturday - liturgy and picnic
Sunday - Eucharist and brunch

Please join us if you can for all our part of the weekend as we celebrate Fr. Dan's 50 years of service as a friar.

Planning for the weekend is under way and more details will be available in the coming weeks! As always, we welcome you to the Mountain and would be happy to answer any questions at 716-375-2096 or mmarc@sbu.edu. 

Summer 2016 Newsletter 

Access the latest print newsletter online. 


Fr. Dan's Podcasts




 

 

 

 

 

Connect with us!
Celebrating Freedom in Christ & Remembering Fr. Mathias
Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, draws parallels between the freedom we celebrated over last weekend's festivities and the freedom we experience as children of God, and pays tribute to the late Fr. Mathias Doyle, OFM, who supported the Mountain from its beginning.

Summertime and the Fourth of July are times for fireworks and bonfires, stories and rejoicing, times to delight in the peace and freedom that is ours.

We have just celebrated the Feast of our patron saint, Irenaeus, a second-century pastor and theologian whose theological lineage goes back to John the Evangelist through Polycarp, Irenaeus' own teacher. In the sense of light overcoming darkness, the beautiful Gospel of John is so much a part of the pattern and habit of the Mountain life today.

The amazing life and freedom of being a child of God, bearing Christ's light in a troubled world and somehow gathered up into God's self  is almost "too much to believe!" Yet we believe and proclaim this, both as Church and Mt. Irenaeus. This is the beginning and consummation of our life of freedom in Christ. As St. Paul says, "You are free because Christ has set you free!"

That, my friend, is worth blowing off a lot of fireworks for. It is a story worth telling at a bonfire or anywhere this summer and beyond! It is an aspect of the longings and the stories that began Mt. Irenaeus.
Fr. Mathias Doyle, ofm, who passed away at the age of 88 on June 16, is pictured here (on left) along with Fr. Dan Riley (on right) at the raising of the Holy Peace Chapel in April 1989. As president of St. Bonaventure from 1975-1990, he played a key role in support of the Mountain's early years. Pax et bonum - may he rest in peace.

Before "the Mountain" had a name it had a circle of advocates and advisers; people who were supporting me in the possibility of such a place for "prayer and peaceful re-creation." Coming together and reflecting on it and trying to shape our early image and mission, we experienced among ourselves the hope and longing for this "freedom" we have in Jesus Christ. This far outreaches any sense of independence and calls us to an interrelationship with one another. And so, we wanted a place that would foster relationships and community. This specifically was part of the Mountain's early calling as a companion to St. Bonaventure University during the rocky years that we call "the 60s."

This past week we lost one of our earliest supporters and initiators of the Mountain. Fr. Mathias Doyle, OFM, the president of St. Bonaventure University (1975-1990). In his warm and laid-back way, in his deep sense and knowledge of our culture and concern for it, Matt was one who, early on, said to me, "yes!" when I asked him if he would join a group to form and shape our mission and look for places and the possibility of beginning what we now call Mt. Irenaeus.... Read more.
Mt. Irenaeus Contributes $30K for New Campus Ministry Center

In support of a relationship that has lasted more than 30 years, the Mt. Irenaeus Board of Trustees recently approved a gift of $30,000 to St. Bonaventure University's new McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry, to be built in the heart of campus. Construction began last week and the building is scheduled to open in 2017.

"In conversation with our Board, alongside our resident friars, the decision was unanimous to move forward with this gift toward the development of a building whose mission is the spiritual development of St. Bonaventure students and its community," said Mike Fenn, executive director of Mt. Irenaeus. "The Mountain's mission is to 'join with Jesus Christ in making all things new.' This gift truly helps create something new and reflects our shared ministry with the University."

Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM, executive director or University Ministries, said, "Fr. Dan Riley has stated many times, 'This is a new day.' For our St. Bonaventure University campus community, it certainly is! The new McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry will forever be an outward sign of our Franciscan heritage and mission firmly rooted in the center of campus. This new day is exciting for all of us and a great testimony to the legacy of the Franciscan friars who have come before us. It is also an incredible witness of the generous spirit of so many good people who support the Franciscan charism and what, I think, makes St. Bonaventure University a unique and wonderful place." ... Read More.
Fr. Dan Celebrates Jubilee 
Save the date for Sept. 16, when the Mountain will celebrate Fr. Dan's 50th anniversary as a friar. 

Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, (second from left) stands with other jubilarians at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan on June 23. A special Mass was celebrated to honor those Holy Name Province friars who are marking 25 and 50 years since making their simple profession as Franciscans. Fr. Francis DiSpigno, OFM, executive director of university ministries at SBU, (pictured third from right) also marked his 25th year as a friar. (Photo by Br. Octavio Duran, ofm) 

Mountain Companion Jason Damon, far left, is blessed by members of the Mt. Irenaeus community earlier this year when he joined the Secular Franciscans.
 
Mountain Companion Accepted into HNP Postulancy Program
Jason Damon begins journey of becoming Franciscan friar in late August

I think it's fair to say - and those who know me would probably concur -that sitting still, being quiet and listening with patience are certainly not strong suits for me. I was able to get a lot out of my college experience in part because jumping in, staying active, meeting new people and giving time and effort to clubs and causes was so easy and encouraged. There were rarely times when I didn't have a lot on my plate.

Yet those aforementioned suits - patience, stillness and silence - are so critical in discerning one's path in life. They're also things that are incredibly difficult to practice in a college setting if you don't make time for them. I'm grateful to Mt. Irenaeus for a lot of things, and near the top of that list is providing a space where I can simply listen to the stillness.  Listen to the silence. Listen to my own heart, so often drowned out by the noisy, if well-intentioned, activities of campus life. Listen and contemplate God's will for me in a world that seems so often to be wracked with brokenness and violence.

It's perhaps appropriate, then, that I received word I would be accepted into the formation program in Holy Name Province while I was staying here at the Mountain this past February ... Read More.
Leaders of Holy Name Province Visit the Mountain
Fr. Kevin Mullen, Provincial Minister of Holy Name Province.

On May 23, the Provincial Council of Holy Name Province and Fr. Kevin Mullen, OFM, provincial minister (pictured right), visited Mt. Irenaeus. For some of these friars, it was their first experience at the Mountain.

Br. Kevin Kriso described their visit and said it gave them "a chance to experience the"eremitical" form of Franciscan life that is the Gospel Manner of Life and Ministry of Mt. Irenaeus.

Picture From Our Past
Mt. Irenaeus' Executive Director, Mike Fenn, pictured at the Mountain with  Fr. Dan Hurley, ofm, in summer 1990. 
As Mike describes this scene, "I remember fairly well sitting at the table at the Other House, writing a letter to "Newsweek" about an article on Generation X. I was angry that they were trying to box us into certain types versus celebrating the individuality of us all. Of course, I did not get published, but Hurls did his best to coach me and my mediocre writing ability. I'll always remember this time spent with this legend. His expression demonstrates the care he always showed to us, no matter what was going on. 

Contact Us

 

Mt. Irenaeus
P.O. Box 100
West Clarksville, NY 14786
585-973-2470