Franciscans – Page 3

Bishop-elect Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv.

The new Bishop of Savannah‘s appointment of Conventual Franciscan Father Gregory John Hartmayer, 59, should not go without notice. He’s one of two Conventuals called to serve the Church as bishops, the being the Bishop of La Crosse, WI.

Hartmayer is a native of Buffalo, a Friar, and has been a priest for 32 years.

Bishop-elect Gregory John replaces Bishop J. Kevin Boland who has for 16 years as Bishop of Savannah. Boland’s brother was the Bishop of Kansas City-St Joseph, MO. Bishop-elect is the 14th bishop, the leader of 77K Catholics in 90 counties.

Today, the diocese is 160 years old.

Bishop-elect Gregory John is well-respected and acknowledged as a good shepherd, a loyal son of Saint Francis of Assisi.

An interview with the Bishop-elect produced by the Conventuals is here.

Pax et bonum.

Franciscans make a splash today

With today’s appointment of the Archbishop of Philadelphia and Bishop of Savannah, the number of Franciscans serving the Church in the USA as residential bishops went up. Surprisingly we now have two Conventual Franciscans bishops. Currently, Franciscan bishops the dioceses of Boston, Philadelphia, La Crosse and Savannah. Two Capuchins and two Conventuals. If you count Puerto Rico, then there’s the Archbishop of San Juan who is a “normal brown” Franciscan.

The bishops bring to the table, as it were, the gift of the Franciscan charism and an interesting lens by which Christ is made known.

Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare and all Franciscan saints and blesseds, pray for us.

Vincent Long Van Nguyên responds to a call to venture into a new depth

The Church in Melbourne, Australia saw the Holy Spirit
consecrate a former boat person turned Conventual Franciscan priest turn
auxiliary bishop on Thursday. The witness of his life is testimony of the hand of God leading.

Vincent Long Van Nguyên is the first Vietnamese bishop in Australia and one of
three in the English speaking world. The USA has Bishop Dominic Mai Luong of
Orange County, California and Bishop Vincent Nguyên Manh Hieu of
Toronto.

Father Vincent Long Van Nguyên OFM Conv, is now an Auxiliary Bishop of
Melbourne holding the title of Bishop of Thala. But his personal narrative is
beautiful.

In 1981, Long was an 18-year-old refugee who arrived in Australia
knowing no English, having no personal connections with anyone, knowing nothing
of Australian culture. One can only say that 31 years ago Long was given the
gift of a new life in moving -with tremendous difficulty–from oppression to
freedom.

Continue reading Vincent Long Van Nguyên responds to a call to venture into a new depth

Friars of the Atonement preserve Vatican II historry

Pictures always
tell a story, they’re also worth a thousand words. OK, how much money would you
give to preserve an archive of photography devoted to the Second Vatican
Council? What is preserving photographic memories to such a legendary event
like Vatican II worth to you? I hope much.

In 2009, Sister Leideke Galema, who
managed Foyer Unitas for many years, gave Centro Pro Unione library a gift of 740
photographs taken at Vatican II. This precious collection not only records of
the sessions of the Council, but also include important ecumenical moments from
the pontiﬁcate of the Servant of God Pope Paul VI, including the historic
meeting when he gave his own episcopal ring to the archbishop of Canterbury,
Michael Ramsey.

Rome’s Centro Pro Unione is a long time work of the Franciscan
Friars of the Atonement dedicated to ecumenical action, research, and formation
at the Piazza Navona. The Centro’s mission is known through intensive programs,
conferences, courses, and dialogues that attract theologians and academics from
around the world. It’s staff works closely with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and with various ecumenical leaders as well as teaching in the
various theological faculties in Rome.

Foyer Unitas, a ministry of hospitality
operated by the Ladies of Bethany, had since 1950 collaborated with the Centro
in welcoming non-Catholic pilgrims arriving in Rome. During Vatican II, Pope
Paul VI asked Foyer Unitas to provide lodging for the ecumenical observers. The
Centro Pro Unione is working to make this collection available to the public
during the 50 th anniversary of Vatican II’s opening council in Rome later this
year. To support the project and
for more information visit the Friars’ website.

Fr Michael Scanlan to retire from Franciscan University

After 11 years as chancellor and 26 years as president, Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, announced today that he’ll be retiring from Franciscan University. Scanlan is to move to the TOR motherhouse in Loretto, PA. The retirement is effective June 30, 2011.

More can be read here, included is a brief biography.

May Saint Francis of Assisi reward Father Michael abundantly for helping to rebuild the Church.

Help and Pray for Japan –work with the Capuchins

The Capuchin Franciscans in Japan are on the ground working and praying for grace to face the problems the Japanese people are living. The Capuchin mission to Japan is sponsored by the Capuchin Friars of Saint Mary’s Province (NY & New England).

Prayers (Mass intentions, rosary, fasting) and financial assistance welcome.

Here is part 2 of communications from the Capuchins: Capcuhins in Japan United part 2, April 3 2011.pdf

Capuchins in Japan connect thru prayer and friendship following the disaster

Father, grant the people of Japan comfort in their suffering, courage when afraid, and patience in the many afflictions and the concrete and prayerful solidarity of the world.

Here is a report of some of the Capuchins who serve in Japan. Let us be in solidarity with our Japanese sisters and brothers who are suffering.

Capuchins United in Prayer Japan 03.21.11.pdf

To help the relief, visit this site.

Healing and forgiveness: a spiritual & psychological path to renewal

Earlier today I had the space of time to begin my lenten observance by thinking about healing and forgiveness. Without these two legs of the spiritual life personal renewal won’t happen. A talk was hosted by the Franciscan Life Center in Meriden, Connecticut, a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. The executive director of the FLC Sister Barbara Johnson, FSE, made the presentation to about 75 people.

Sister Barbara, a licensed Marriage and Family therapist, began our discussion by eliciting areas that typically need healing and forgiveness: relationships (in families, among friends, infidelities, harmful family secrets, being alienated from others due to mis-awareness of reality), past events, yourself, deaths, trauma, illness, abortion, divorce, impatience, anger, acts of violence, abuse, addiction, etc. The list can be expanded. But you get the point: the human person is full of complexities.

Continue reading Healing and forgiveness: a spiritual & psychological path to renewal

Benedictine, Capuchin and Dominicans take Vows, ordained deacon

Several men have committed themselves more fully to the Lord and His Church today. A Benedictine monk, a Capuchin friar and Dominican deacons took vows or were ordained.

Dom John McCusker, Benedictine monk of The Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Louis, St Louis, MO.

Brother Salvatore Cordaro, OFM Cap., professed Solemn vows in the Province of St Mary. The Mass and profession of vows took place at The Church of Saint John the Baptist, NYC.

5 Dominican brothers of the Province of St Joseph were ordained to the Order of Deacon. The ordination took place in Crypt Chapel of the Basilica National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception by the Most Reverend Martin D. Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington, DC.

We are exceedingly joyful for the witness of these men for the Kingdom of God. Let’s pray for them!

Thanks to Andrew Skonieczny for the photo.

Swiss Capuchins: Help wanted

The Capuchin Franciscans in Switzerland are spreading the net far and wide. Their vocation promotion ad reads:

“Wanted: Bankers, traders or lawyers for full-time, lifelong position. No pay. Unmarried Catholic men between 22 and 35 capable of communal living are encouraged to look into the possibility.

The Washington Post carried the news