It seems that it was only days ago when the decorations were going up, the lights were lit, the gifts were being wrapped, the Christmas cards were mailed, the Christmas liturgies celebrated, and then, before you know it- we are back to “ordinary time.”  

The period between the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, which officially concludes the liturgical season of Advent/Christmas, and Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, is a good time to reflect on the mysteries we have just celebrated.  We know that the Christmas season was a favorite of St. Francis, as it is with many of  the friars, and we have our own “Franciscan” flavor to Christmas, especially with the  recent celebration of the 800th Anniversary of the Christmas creche of Greccio in 2023.

We know that it is not an accident that Christmas is celebrated during the darkest time of the year, coinciding with the winter solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the sun, occurring around December 21 or 22. But it is also the time when the days begin to get longer.   It is also not a coincidence that Bethlehem is near the Dead Sea.  The Dead Sea is the lowest body of water in the world, lying 1,300 feet below sea level.  And yet, from this area, we are lifted up, as God takes on our humanity in the person of Jesus Christ.    Even the ancient peoples saw the Dead Sea as a source of life.  Witness the prophecies of Ezekiel, or the popularity of the Dead Sea as a source of health and minerals.  And, of course, we are familiar with the Dead Sea Scrolls, coming from the ancient Essene community of Qumran, which is an important archeological excavation site. 

All of this, whether it is Christmas, Lent, Easter, ordinary time, is a reminder that God continually calls us, his people, out of darkness into new light and life. 

News from the Convento San Francesco

Brothers in Christ,

I send you a fraternal greeting of peace and good from Rome, wishing that this message finds you in grace and spiritual joy. I would like to share with you an account of the experiences we have lived in fraternity during this significant period of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. These days were filled with encounters, reflections, and moments of deep faith that brought us closer together on the path of the Lord.

On December 16th, we celebrated the name day of our brother Kevin Leonel Flores. His special day coincided with the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, during which we prayed for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary so that he may always be blessed with peace and mercy. On December 19th, our community traveled to the Madonna delle Grazie Convent in Benevento to participate in the Advent retreat. This spiritual gathering began with the celebration of Holy Mass, followed by an enriching talk by Bishop Felice Acrocca titled The Canticle of the Creatures and the Nativity of Jesus Christ. In the afternoon, we visited Pietrelcina, the birthplace of St. Padre Pio, a place that inspired meditation and recollection.

On December 20th, the friars in formation participated in the Christmas celebration at the Antonianum. This beautiful day began with Mass, continued with Christmas carols in various languages, and concluded with a special lunch at our convent. On this occasion, we had the honor of welcoming the Minister General, Fr. Massimo Fusarelli, accompanied by his secretary, Fr. Vjekoslav Milićević, OFM. The friars had the opportunity to engage in dialogue with him on various matters concerning the Order.

On Christmas Eve, December 24th, our community celebrated Mass alongside the friars from Santi Quaranta Martiri e San Pasquale Baylon in Trastevere. The liturgy was enhanced by music and the service of some brothers as altar servers. Later, we shared a joyful dinner, singing Christmas carols in Spanish and Italian, celebrating the love of Christ, born for all.

On December 26th, we visited the historic city of Anagni. There, we celebrated Mass at the Poor Clares’ monastery and shared a lunch lovingly prepared by the sisters. It was a day marked by fraternity and spirituality.

On the evening of December 31st, we attended Vespers and the Te Deum at St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Pope Francis. Later, we enjoyed the traditional Italian dinner of lenticchie e cotechino, concluding the year with a game of tombola and welcoming 2025 with hearts full of gratitude and hope.

On January 1st, we began the new year with a community prayer. Lunch, filled with gratitude and fellowship, was prepared by our brothers Daniel Luna, Kevin Ottoniel, and the postulant Oscar Gómez. In the evening, some friars attended a movie screening as a gesture of fraternity and recreation.

On January 2nd, we received a pleasant visit from friends from Milan, including the newly appointed Bishop of Crotone, Alberto Torriani. It was a moment of fraternal exchange and joy.

On January 4th, we traveled to the Casalbore Convent for the inauguration of a library dedicated to Fr. Demetrio Biagio dell’Oglio, OFM. After the ceremony, we visited Ginestra degli Schiavoni, the birthplace of our guardian, Fr. Antonio Riccio, where we shared special moments with his family.

On January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany, we celebrated lunch with the friars from Santi Quaranta Martiri. In the evening, we attended the solemn Mass at Santa Maria in Aracoeli, presided over by our Minister General. The procession with the Baby Jesus and the blessing for the city of Rome filled us with hope and spiritual joy.

On January 8th, we welcomed Fr. Richard Donovan, OFM, and Fr. José Manuel Sanchiz, a professor at the Antonianum, who joined us for lunch, strengthening the bonds of fraternity.

On January 10th, we welcomed Friars Charles Grech and Antonio Nardoiani from Canada, who will stay with us during their visit to Rome.

On January 11th, we traveled to San Damiano, Assisi, to celebrate the opening of the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures. It was a day filled with spirituality, including a solemn celebration and a fraternal lunch.

Finally, on January 12th, we visited the sanctuary of La Verna, where we celebrated Mass and participated in the procession to the place where St. Francis received the stigmata. This day of profound spiritual communion reminded us of God’s immense love.

We thank God for these moments of grace and ask that you continue to support us with your prayers. May the example of St. Francis guide us in this new year, filling us with peace and hope.

Fraternally in Christ,

Fray Kevin Ottoniel Hernández

On Saturday, the 11th January, 2025 in Assisi, the Franciscan Family began the VIII Centenary of the Canticle of the Creatures, the third stage of the Franciscan Centenary that traces the last years of St. Francis' life. 

The event was celebrated at two sites: the Sanctuary of San Damiano and then the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, inside the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the original residence of the Bishop of Assisi. It is referred to as the Sanctuary of the Spoliation since it was here that St. Francis removed his clothing and took on the robes of a beggar.

At San Damiano, after the reading of the passage from the Franciscan Sources that narrates the writing of the Canticle and some biblical passages that praise Creation, some representatives of the Franciscan Family gave their own reflections. 

For Br. Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, the Canticle is certainly a poem, but above all a prayer: "With a prayerful soul one must read this text to really understand it. We want to associate ourselves with Francis' prayer with our faith, which is expressed in prayer and thanksgiving," said Br. Massimo, recalling how all creatures are a sign of God only "if we know how to look at them with the right eyes, enlightened by faith and fixed on Jesus Christ, who is the sun of justice that rises from above." 

Br. Carlos Alberto Trovarelli, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, emphasized that "St Francis is able to establish a new relationship with creation, calling creatures by name and attributing to them the ability to praise God, who thought and generated them": a relationship with Creation today called into question by climate change, he added.

Tibor Kauser, Minister General of the Secular Franciscan Order, recalled how sister water is always present in the Bible, from Genesis ("the spirit of God hovered over the waters"), to the Cross: water gives life, water purifies, water sanctifies, Kauser said. 

The second part took place at the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, in the Bishop's Residence of Assisi. After alternating some readings of the sources with songs, Sr. Frances Marie Duncan, President of the International Franciscan Conference of Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular (IFC-TOR), spoke about the inequalities that characterize today's world; Br. Amando Trujillo Cano, Minister General of the Third Order Regular (TOR), who focused on forgiveness and peace; Br. Roberto Genuin, Minister General of the Capuchin Friars Minor, who reflected on the power of faith. 

After the reflection of Msgr. Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of the Diocese of Assisi - Nocera Umbra - Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, the representatives of the Franciscan Family went to the Basilica of St. Francis for an act of veneration and praise at the tomb of the Seraphic Father.  

PROVINCIAL CHAPTER NEWS 2025

REMINDER: BALLOTS FOR THE FIRST STRAW BALLOT FOR PROVINCIAL MINISTER ARE DUE BY JANUARY 25, 2025 AT THE PROVINCIAL CURIA.

Requests for Chapter Report have been sent to the following:

Ongoing Formation

Health Care

Central American Foundation

Canadian Foundation

JPIC

Formation and Studies

OFS Spiritual Assistant

Missions and Evangelization

Vocation Animation

Franciscan Mission Associates

These are due at the Curia on February 20.                                                                                                                          

January 28- Counting of First Ballot for Provincial Minister

February 4- Results of First Straw Ballot Published and

Second Straw Ballot for Minister Provincial sent out to province.

February 12-18 Upstate NY and Connecticut Visitation

February 21- Pre-Chapter Steering Committee, NYC

February 25- Second Straw Ballot for Minister Provincial Due

February 27- Counting of Second Straw Ballot for Provincial Minister

Results sent to General Definitorium

 March 3-7 Ohio, Pennsylvania

News from Central America

Fr. Rafael Fernandez, OFM, President of our Central American Foundation, attended the closing of the school year celebration at Agape Association of El Salvador on Saturday, December 21 at 9:00 AM.

On January 14th to the 17th the provincial Minister Fr. Robert Campagna had the opportunity to visit the resting place of Fr. Jack Hoak and meet with the brothers in Central America who gather on retreat in El Salvador at Agape.

Christmas around the Province

St. Anthony of Padua, NYC

Blessed Sacrament, Manchester NH

St. Thomas Aquinas, Derry NH

St. Joseph Winsted

Our Lady of Peace Brooklyn

St. Jane Frances, Toronto

Inmaculada Concepcion, Ataco

Take time to wish our brothers a Happy Birthday!

Philip Adamo - February 2nd - 95

Brennan Egan - February 3rd - 86

Giacomo LaSelva - February 6th - 54

James Wells - February 8th - 69

Celestino Canzio- February 15th - 77

Lawrence Stumpo - February 20th - 94

Orlando Ruiz - February 20th - 50

Michael Della Penna - February 21st - 58

Dagobert Hernandez Lopez- February 25th - 46

Robert Caprio - February 25th - 91

Christopher Gaffrey - February 27th - 47