Franciscan Friars
Province of the Immaculate Conception
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Provincial Update April 2022 |
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Easter Joy!
Last Sunday we celebrated the great feast of Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although many consider it to be a feast unto itself, we always have to remember that Easter Sunday is the first day of the Easter “Octave”, eight days of celebrating the Resurrection. This, as we know, comes from the Jewish tradition of celebrating their great feasts over eight days, encompassing two sabbaths. Easter is a celebration so great that it cannot be contained in a twenty-four hour period, but extends through the whole week.
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This becomes obvious when we hear the gospels of each of the octave days. What is interesting about the gospels on Easter, whether it is the Vigil or the Sunday Masses, is that none of them mention any of the disciples actually encountering the Risen Christ- only reports of the empty tomb and a vision of angels. It is in the gospel readings of the rest of the octave that we see the experiences of the early church community seeing the risen Lord.
On Easter Monday, we see Jesus greeting Mary Magdalene- where he says that the disciples are to return to Galilee.
Easter Tuesday we see another encounter with Mary, this time outside the tomb.
Wednesday brings us the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus- Jesus revealing to them all that the scriptures said about the Christ- and how they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.
Thursday is a continuation of the Emmaus story, as the two disciples tell the others about their experience, and Jesus suddenly appears in their midst.
On Friday Jesus greets the disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee- and has something to eat with them.
On Saturday, we hear some other narrations of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples and to the Eleven, and he rebukes them for their hardness of heart.
Yes, each of the Gospels reveal something about the risen Savior. The gospel of the Second Sunday of Easter (note the terminology) completes the resurrection cycle- where we see the encounter between Thomas- doubting Thomas, and Jesus.
Thomas, in a sense, represents us. At first he doesn’t believe the reports from the other disciples. He wants proof. Then, finally, a week later, Thomas does see Jesus, and Jesus invites him to touch the wounds in his hand and in his side.
The encounter of Thomas represents all of us- that we may have doubts and questions about our faith. Perhaps sometimes we may question our faith. But when we touch the wounds of Jesus in the Eucharist we encounter the true Risen Christ.
How do we do this today, some two thousand years later? Touching of the wounds of Jesus is represented in the Mercy of God. When Jesus invites Thomas to touch the wounds, he is reconciling with him- showing him the Mercy of God.
We touch the wounds of Christ when we heal our wounded brothers and sisters in this world. Whether it is through our charity, our ministry and outreach, the teaching of our children- we touch the wounds of Christ in our brothers and sisters. After all, remember that Jesus said “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did to me.”
Jesus is asking all of us to bring a different face to the Church- in imitation of the Mercy of God as seen, not only in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, but our own willingness to sacrifice for one another.
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The Convento friars on retreat with brothers of other Italian Provinces in Calabria |
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Dear Brothers,
Christ is risen, he is truly risen!
Before sharing with you the experiences that we have lived during this last month, I would like to start with a brief thought:
"Only love is a creative force, hate destroys" said Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Franciscan martyr. For the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, his death on the cross meant sadness and frustration. Only in the light of the resurrection did the disciples understand that his death was the greatest gesture of love that has ever existed: God loves us!
We begin our news with the joy of celebrating the birthday of our youngest brother, Nelson Aldair. On March 23, we joyfully celebrated the gift of his life and his patron saint, Saint Óscar Romero, archbishop and martyr of San Salvador. Fray Aldair, originally from El Salvador, turned 23 years old, of which three years he has lived in our Province of the Immaculate Conception. We wish for our younger brother many blessings, and may he continue to be blessed with joy and simplicity. As Br Aldair would say: What a marvel!
We had the opportunity to participate in the Priestly Ordination of Fr Francesco Falco, a Friar Minor with the Province of Benevento. The celebration of the sacrament was held on March 24 in the Sanctuary of the Our Lady of Grace. It was a celebration filled with much emotion and feelings of gratitude. The ordaining bishop was Msgr. Felice Accrocca, Archbishop of Benevento and a renowned scholar of Franciscanism. His homily was particularly special, he made an invitation to live with peace and serenity in the place where God has placed us to grow and bear fruit. We took the opportunity to stay a few days in Benevento, where the friars were very welcoming, and our Guardian, Father Antonio, prepared an agenda of beautiful places to visit. We were in Pietrelcina, the birthplace of Saint Pio, and we visited the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei and the Abbey of Montevergine. On the way back to Rome we visited saints Benedict and Scolastica at the Monastery of Montecasino. A special moment was praying in the Polish cemetery in Montecasino, as we prayed for peace in the world.
Finally, as part of our Lenten journey in preparation for Easter, we had the gift of sharing the Lenten Spiritual Retreat with students from the Franciscan Provinces of Salerno, Calabria and Napoli. The spiritual retreat was led by Don Bruno, a diocesan priest from Calabria, who in a very human and spiritual way was able to enlighten us on our vocation of communion with the One and Triune God. One of the ideas that most caught my attention is that beyond any difficult situation, we belong to the Lord. Also, one of the riches of this retreat was the fraternal meetings, the pleasant conversation, the laughter, the sharing of the diversity of our provinces.
Back in Rome, we got ready to celebrate the Easter Triduum together with the friars of our General Curia in Santa Maria Mediatrice. We have rendered our service in liturgical celebrations, be it with singing or as ministers.
We wish you a happy Easter of Resurrection!!!
Br Kevin Gabriel
While the brothers at the Convento celebrated the Triduum at the General Curia, Brs. Jack Sidoti and Marco Antonio went to Benevento, to assist the friars with the Triduum liturgies at the Basilica of Madonna della Grazie. They arrived on Wednesday of Holy Week and served the Chrism Mass, presided by Archbishop Felice Accrocca of Benevento. During the Triduum they helped prepare the Basilica and served all the liturgies, including five masses on Easter Sunday. It was a beautiful experience for them to be able to celebrate the Triduum with the friars and the people of Benevento. Jack also said that it was refreshing to see the basilica full at all the Masses with people coming back after the pandemic.
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Happy Birthday Friar Aldair! |
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Above photos: Montecassino Abbey and Tombs of Ss. Benedict and Scholastica
Photos below: Assisting with the Sacred Triduum in Benevento
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St. Christopher Friary, Boston |
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The Lenten season was especially fruitful this year as the friars’ penances were directly linked to aid to Ukraine. As reported previously the brothers chose to abstain from all “junk food” in favor of aid to Ukraine through Catholic Relief Services and the Franciscan Fund through the General Curia. The brothers were able to donate more than $1600 through their sacrifices and donations. Some friars even gave up their entire allowance for a month. |
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The brothers ended the season in style with beautiful holy week services. Tom Garone celebrated the Good Friday liturgy and Claude Scrima celebrated the Easter Sunday Mass with a fine homily and all the liturgical flourishes.
The brothers also made up for their Lenten mortifications as they enjoyed an Easter dinner out, albeit on Holy Saturday due to schedules. The friends in the North End provided plenty of goodies to replenish all of those lost calories from Lent. Now we need another Lent!
As the good weather approaches, the brothers are looking forward to a few outings. Maurus is all ready for a baseball game.
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Take time to wish our brothers a Happy Birthday!
Courtland Campbell - May 6th - 67
Louis Antonio Hernandez- May 6th-36
Gabriel Rojas Mendieta- May 20- 35
Richard Donovan - May 26th - 70
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General Minister Visits Ukraine
Br. Massimo spent one week visiting Romania, Ukraine and Poland to express the closeness of the Franciscan family to all those suffering the war in Ukraine. On April 12, he joined an international delegation of religious leaders for an "Interfaith pilgrimage of solidarity with the Ukrainian people" organized by the US nonprofit organization ‘Peace Department’ and by the Elijah Interfaith Institute of Jerusalem.
Other members of the delegation included the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Canterbury Rowan Williams, British Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, the Grand Mufti emeritus of Bosnia Mustafa Céric, Orthodox Archbishop of the United Kingdom Nikitas Lulias, Italian Muslim Imam Yahya Pallavacini, Hindu Monk Swami Sarvapriyananda, and Buddhist Sister Giác Nghiêm from France.
The highlight of the pilgrimage was a public event held on April 12, in the main theater of Chernivtsy in Western Ukraine, in which the speeches by the religious leaders were accompanied by the testimonies of Ukrainian refugees..
The aim of the pilgrimage was to show by example that in times of war and division we can and must continue to appeal to the highest values of humanity that unite us, and which unite all religious faiths. "This is the first time ever that an interfaith delegation has embarked on a mission of friendship and solidarity, entering a country at war”, noted Rabbi Goshen-Gottstein, founder and executive director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute.
Meeting Franciscan friars and refugees in Ukraine and Poland from 13 April, Brother Massimo, who was accompanied by the Provincial of Assisi, Br. Francesco Piloni, continued his journey in Ukraine by visiting a house of the friars of the Greek Catholic rite and two religious houses of the friars' Province of St. Michael, and meeting refugees and people in need of assistance there.
The General Minister concluded his visit in Kalwaria, Poland, where he met friars and more Ukrainian refugees who have found shelter there.
Br. Massimo reported through the General Curia’s website: "Very early this morning we entered Ukraine and already at the border we saw many people lined up with children, old people, women and men ready to leave their country to take refuge in the West. When we arrived in the city of Chernivtsy with other religious representatives, I met in two centres children orphaned by war and refugees from the Kiev area. They were very important meetings and very strong from an emotional point of view. We spoke to the people accompanying the children and the refugees; we listened to stories of war and endless journeys to safety, stories steeped in pain and longing for peace.
We had lunch with the Jewish community, who were very generous in their welcome. In the afternoon there was a meeting of listening, music, proclamation and encouragement. To sow peace even towards those who raise their hand against a defenseless people: this is the message we left to individuals we met at the interreligious gathering.
May the Almighty and Giver of all good accompany us and bless every effort for peace".
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Transitions
On 23 April 2022, Pope Francis elected as Bishop of Iquique, Chile, Br Isauro Covili Linfati OFM, until now Vicar General of the Order.
Br. Antonio M. Iacona, was elected Secretary General of the Order, from the Province of the most Holy Name of Jesus, Sicily. He takes the place of Br. Giovanni Rinaldi, OFM effective September 1, 2022.
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Former Our Lady of Pity Convent
in the Bronx being demolished
A note from Fr. Andre Cirino:
I was on 150th-151st Street today, the neighborhood of our former parish, Our Lady of Pity, and it seems that they are converting the former Convent into apartments.
Photos below: Former Convent of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
Work sign in front of the former convent.
The site where Our Lady of Pity Church, School, and Friary were located- now a vacant lot looking north from 150th Street.
As one who worked in this parish, it was a visit full of good memories as well as sadness.
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Archbishop of Assisi Visits New York
On Tuesday evening, April 5, the Synagogue of Temple Israel of New Rochelle hosted a visit of the Holocaust Museum of Assisi, Museo della Memoria, with talks by the Archbishop of Assisi, Domenico Sorrentino and Curator of the Museum, Marina Rosati. Panels of artifacts of the Museum were on display and explained to the participants by Rosati. Afterwards both of them addressed the entire assembly. There were four friars in attendance, including Fr. Andre Cirino, OFM, one from Holy Name Province and two Graymoor friars. Should a journey to Assisi be in your future, the Museum, very much worth a visit, is located in the Bishop’s residence in the very area where Bishop Niccolini himself hid many items of worship, like the Torah, at the site of the ancient Basilica of Assisi, Santa Maria Maggiore.
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Photo above: marina Rosati, curator of the Museum; Archbishop
Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi; and Fr. Andre Cirino, OFM
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In the kitchen of St. Anthony’s Convent, the Sisters of Life gather around the stainless steel countertops to discuss a vital issue: how do you cook bison?
“We live by donations and someone donated bison of all things,” said Sister Madeleine Agnes, SV. Sister Madeleine sports a jean-styled kitchen apron over her typical navy blue and white habit, signifying her turn to cook dinner. This evening, she’s preparing bison burgers.
“It’s just like ground beef,” Sister Madeleine assures the group.
Sister Monica Marie Currie, SV, is skeptical: “How?"
In the back, Sister Brigid Ancilla Marie, SV, superior of the convent, checks on things in the kitchen while Sister Monica leaves the bison to grab a cup of coffee. The women chat while Sister Madeleine preps dinner. Her brown rosary beads — almost four feet long and hanging from her habit — jingle as she moves. It’s a typical Saturday afternoon for the Sisters of Life: congregating in the kitchen to chat on their breaks or unload from the day.
The sunshine from the bright January day fills the kitchen, and there’s an easiness in the room that feels like you’re at home with your own sister. Someone you can talk to over tea or bother with the tedious parts of your day. It’s that feeling of support and love that only comes from maternal love, and it’s a love so potent in these women that it fills the room like a sweet perfume.
It’s the same love the Sisters of Life are eager to bring to the Catskills. After over 100 years in the area, the Franciscan Friars of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, Order of Friars Minor, left the St. Anthony Friary in Catskill to the Sisters of Life, who have entered into a long-term lease of the property.
“All of our guys had gone through Catskill one way or another, so there’s an emotional involvement (to the building),” said Father Joseph Lorenzo, OFM, provincial secretary for the Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Conception. “When we heard about the sisters looking for property up there, it was very attractive because we didn’t want to see the building razed. So we were happy with the sisters coming up here.”
In August of last year, Father Paul Guido, temporary administrator, turned over the keys of the St. Anthony Friary to Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV, the superior general of the Sisters of Life, at a Solemn Mass celebrated in the chapel. In turn, Mother Agnes gave the keys to Sister Brigid, the new
superior of what is now the St. Anthony Convent.
While based mostly in the Northeast, the Sisters of Life have orders in Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington D.C., Stamford, Conn., Denver and Phoenix. Now, the seven sisters at St. Anthony’s are preparing the building for four more sisters who are moving from the Stamford location.
“I knew there was a peace and joy out of (this move),” said Sister Brigid, 39, who moved from the Visitation Convent in Manhattan. “No matter what path we take, it’s a call to love. My heart was made for God’s love and … with the Lord you have that reassurance.”
Trust and love — particularly love for the sacredness of human life — are big factors for the Sisters of Life. Formed in 1991 by the late John Cardinal O’Connor, the Sisters of Life were born with a specific call in mind: to protect and support the dignity of human life.
In June, five novices of the Sisters of Life professed their First Vows at Sacred Heart parish in Suffern, N.Y. A month later, six postulants received the holy habit and a new religious name. Then, in early August, six sisters professed their final vows at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, including Sister Cara Marie, SV, 34, who moved to Catskill after her profession.
The average age of a U.S. nun is estimated to be 74, according to the Center of Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), a Catholic research center at Georgetown University. For the Sisters of Life, the average age of women in the order ranges in the mid-to-upper 30s.
And for these young sisters, it’s what they were called to do: “It’s a profound mystery, our lives, when you stop and think about it,” Sister Monica said. “It’s deep.”
Most women in the St. Anthony’s Convent are in their 30s, an unheard-of number to so many other orders. Sister Brigid believes it may speak to the importance of their mission
“I think it says something timely about our charism,” Sister Brigid said, “that the Lord is calling and raising the vocation for this particular work.”
On the flip side, it means that the Sisters of Life are trailblazers for the next generation of women religious: “There is a poverty in our newness in that we don’t have all those sisters who have lived this life for years before us,” she said. “It’s beautiful because it’s such a young, vibrant community but we also don’t have the gift of those who have come before us, and we’re going to be that for our younger sisters now.”
Just behind the Garden Room in St. Anthony’s, a porch leads into an enclosed courtyard. A tall tree stands to the side with a white, roped swing dangling from its branch. Sister Monica heads right for it: “This is my happy place,” she laughs.
Growing up, Sister Monica never planned to join the sisterhood. A native of Anmore and Port Coquitlam, B.C., Sister Monica’s life was filled with brothers and hockey, with little exposure to women religious. Her dreams for the future leaned more toward a secular life: of raising a family and working as a nurse in health care.
Every sister has their own vocation story, but everyone has to answer the same call: the call to use their love for a higher purpose. Before joining the Sisters of Life, Sister Brigid was studying to enter medical school. Sister Madeleine graduated from Seattle Pacific University and worked in dietetics in Vermont.
As part of their call, the Sisters of Life offer assistance with crisis pregnancies through housing, counseling and emotional support. The order also offers post-abortion retreats and assistance for women.
Above all though, the Sisters of Life focus on prayer. The sisters each pray four hours a day in common prayer centered around the Eucharist, and reserve one day a week solely to focus on prayer. Unlike their other ministries, which have more tangible and physical elements, the impact of prayer is just as — if not more — important than all the other sisters’ duties.
“We lay everything down,” Sister Brigid said. “Our prayers actually focus more on our relationship with the Lord, but then through our religious consecration and vows, there’s another reality happening so everything we do through consecration is lifted up through that prism for that focus. Our life is given so no matter what we’re doing, it’s the offering of our hearts to the Father for life.”
Later in the day, the sisters head to daily 12 p.m. Mass in the convent’s chapel. Sister Brigid grabs a pew in the back and bows her head toward the floor, her hands wrapped around her rosary beads.
All the sisters slowly and silently fill the chapel. The priest, Father Jay Atherton, is not there yet but the sisters arrive early. Some look to the front of the church or bow their heads to the floor. And collectively, as one organism of love, they pray.
“I pray three times a day because we want to encounter the one who is the source of all this goodness,” Sister Monica said. “There’s that motivation of deep love in all that we’re doing.”
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HOLY WEEK AROUND THE PROVINCE
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St. Thomas Aquinas, Derry |
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St. Thomas Aquinas, Derry |
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Our Lady of Peace, Brooklyn |
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Our Lady of Peace, Brooklyn |
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Above Photo: Fr. Provincial Celebrating Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lord's Supper in Brooklyn.
Holy Thursday Celebration at Agape (Below, Friars Jack Hoak and Victor Treminio)
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For our friars in skilled nursing facilities
Friar Regis Gallo, OFM
Friar Albin Fusco, OFM
Friar Lawrence Stumpo, OFM
Friar Phillip Adamo, OFM
For the friars who have recently died
Friar Neil O'Connell, OFM (Holy Name Province)
Friar James E. Goode,OFM (Immaculate Conception Province)
Friar Christopher Coppock, OFM (Holy Land Custody, Washington D.C.)
For the friars who are sick
For our infirm family and friends:
Pray for all those infected and affected by the caronavirus.
For all our friends and family who are ill.
For our recently deceased family and friends:
Andrew Shreeves (Uncle of Fr. Christopher Gaffrey, OFM)
Marie Quinn (Sister of Friar Gabriel Aceto, OFM)
Shirley Dolan (Mother of Cardinal Timothy Dolan)
Please pray for all friars, families, friends, and benefactors,
living and deceased.
For medical personnel and first responders.
For those in our nursing homes and hospitals.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE, FOR PEACE, AND AN END TO VIOLENCE AND WAR.
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BROTHERS:
Please print out a copy of this newsletter to share with those in your community who do not have email. We hope that every friar in our province will have access to the Newsletter and that a printed copy will be posted on your friary bulletin board.
Thank you
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Province of the Immaculate Conception, New York NY
125 Thompson Street New York NY 10012
212-674-4388
NEWSLETTER CONTACT
Please send any articles, news items, or photos to
Friar Joseph F Lorenzo, O.F.M.
Provincial Secretary/Communications Director
125 Thompson Street New York NY 10012
Cell: 917.337.9833
Office: 212.674.4388 Xt. 113
jlorenzo@icprovince.org
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGES FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION
https://www.facebook.com/ICprovince.org www.ICProvince.org
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