By Jocelyn Thomas
ALLEGANY, N.Y. — Holy Name’s four postulants are spending their first months in the Province at St. Bonaventure University participating in the summer program of the Franciscan Institute and experiencing varied aspects of Franciscan life.
John Aherne, Pedro Corces, Frank Souza and Jeffrey Upshaw began their studies in late June, according to postulant director Ronald Pecci, OFM. The program, which focuses on the life of St. Francis and early Franciscan history, has included workshops given by friars specifically for the postulants.
Classes
From June 28 to July 9, three of the postulants — John, Frank, Jeff — audited Mary Meany’s two-week introductory graduate course in the School of Franciscan Studies, the Franciscan Institute, “Francis: Life and Charism.”
Since then, they have been taking informal ‘in-house’ courses that meet in the Bonaventure friary. These courses are solely for the postulants, said Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, HNP secretary for formation and studies.
Thus far, the men have learned about basic Catholic beliefs from Gabriel Scarfia, OFM, of Buffalo, N.Y., who led a one-week workshop on using the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and about liturgy from Daniel Grigassy, OFM, of Paterson, N.J.
During their final week at SBU, July 23 to 30, Gary Maciag, OFM, of Boston, will give a workshop on oral interpretation and proclamation of the Scriptures, Ron said.
Because Pedro Corces already has a background in much of this material, he is auditing the graduate course that Dominic is teaching in the Franciscan Institute: “Franciscan Movement I,” which explores the history of the Franciscan movement from Francis up to the 16th century, said Dominic. This five-week course runs from June 28 to July 30.
Community
The postulants arrived on the SBU campus on June 26. As the Province’s men in formation have done for several years when the they came here as part of the novitiate program, Dominic said, the postulants are sharing a on-campus housing with a number of Franciscan sisters in formation, a practice begun by Thomas Gallagher, OFM. They have some of their prayers and meals together in the townhouse, sharing the cooking and chores; the other prayers and meals they have with the other Franciscan Institute students in the University Chapel and Hickey Dining Hall.
In between their studies, John, Pedro, Frank and Jeffrey have also had opportunities to visit and participate in events at nearby HNP ministries. Ron said the postulants traveled to Buffalo, N.Y., to visit St. Patrick’s Friary. They also participated in a 5K walk/run sponsored by St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany in conjunction with parish’s recent Bonafest.
“This is proving to be a very good experience for the postulants,” said Dominic. “They are meeting a lot of people, and from ‘day 1’ coming to see they are part of a large, international, multicultural Franciscan movement of friars, sisters and lay people. The weather has been cooperating nicely, too.”
The backgrounds of the postulants add to the diversity of the community. Each man hails from a different state: John is a native of New York City, Pedro is from Miami, Fla., Frank from Philadelphia and Jeffrey is from Central New Jersey.
Prior to returning to Wilmington, Del., next month for a formal ceremony at St. Paul Friary welcoming them into the Province, the four will spend the week of Aug. 2 on retreat at Mt. Irenaeus in nearby West Clarksville, N.Y.
— Jocelyn Thomas is director of communications for Holy Name Province.
Congratulations, Br. Dan Horan, OFM!
Daniel P. Horan, OFM has recently been named a 2010-2011 Shannon Fellow by the International Thomas Merton Society. The fellowship – named after the renowned Merton scholar, founding president of the ITMS and emeritus professor of religious studies at Nazareth College, Msgr. William H. Shannon, Ph.D. – is given annually to no more than five qualified scholars and includes a research grant to visit one of the major North American Merton archives and material repositories. This year the ITMS honored 2 scholars, Br. Dan Horan and Dr. Malgorzata Poks of Koszecin, Poland with Shannon Fellowships. To learn more about the ITMS, visit www.merton.org
Fr. Brian Smail, OFM
Vocation Director
Following a week of orientation at the friary in Wilmington, DE, Postulants Fr. Pedro Corces, Jeff Upshaw, John Aherne, and Frank Souza have begun their summer studies at St. Bonaventure University in western New York. Fr. Pedro is attending a course on the history of the Franciscan Order given by Fr. Dominic Monti, OFM. Fr. Dominic is a Franciscan scholar who has taught for many years both at St. Bonaventure and Washington Theological Union. He is also the Vicar Provincial of Holy Name Province. Jeff, John, and Frank are taking an introductory course on the life of St. Francis with Prof. Mary Meany. The students will also have courses and workshops in other areas such as theology and liturgy.
During their stay at St. Bonaventure’s the Postulants will have the opportunity to meet other students from the Franciscan Institute, as well as spend time with the permanent friar community on the campus. I have great memories of the two summers I spent at St. Bonaventure University during my early years in formation. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend the summer in a beautiful setting, get to know my classmates, meet other students and friars, as well as learn about the rich heritage of our Franciscan life. One of the highlights of the summer at the university is the feast of St. Bonaventure on July 15, when a large outdoor celebration is usually held. We wish Pedro, Jeff, John, and Frank all the best as they begin the year!
Fr. Brian E. Smail, OFM, Vocation Director
Four New Postulants Enter Holy Name Province!
Today we welcome our four new Postulants as they begin their Franciscan journey with us! Our prayers and best wishes go to Fr. Pedro Corces from Miami, Florida, John Aherne from New York City, Frank Souza from Philadelphia, and Jeffrey Upshaw of Manville, New Jersey. Our new brothers will begin with a week of orientation at our Postulant house in Wilmington, Delaware. After that they will go to Saint Bonaventure University for the summer to take courses and workshops on various themes of Franciscan life. A warm Franciscan welcome to all of you!
Fr. Brian E. Smail, OFM, Vocation Director
Ordination Day for Our Brothers!
One of the integral aspects of our Franciscan life is the celebration of joyful events and milestones. Whether it be something as simple as a friar birthday or as significant as the profession of simple or solemn vows, the friars enjoy coming together to celebrate.
On Saturday, May 22, Archbishop Theodore McCarrack presided at the ordination of two of our Franciscan brothers, Fr. Larry Anderson, OFM, and Fr. David Phan, OFM, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan. Many friars from all over Holy Name Province attended.
Before the ordination Mass, the friars gathered in the friary for breakfast and enjoyed getting caught up with one another. As our Province is quite large (it covers the east coast of the US), many friars do not get to see one another all that often. As you can imagine, it was quite a noisy and chaotic scene! But out of the chaos came order, as we were instructed to begin lining up and processing into the Church for the Ordination.
Attending events like these is something I always look forward to, and this day was no exception. It was a wonderful experience of being there to support Larry and David, and celebrate this joyful day with them. Being present with so many of my friar brothers reminded me of the rich fraternal life that we are blessed to enjoy. Whenever we come together, there is a genuine sense that we are truly a brotherhood that supports one another.
For me, personally, one of the most moving parts of the ordination ceremony is when all the ordained friars present come forward to lay hands on the heads of our newly-ordained brothers. In doing so, we offer them our own personal blessing, which to me signifies our commitment to one another. It was yet another affirmation of those famous words of St. Francis: “And the Lord gave me brothers…”
Congratulations to Larry and David! May the Lord bless them and guide them in their priestly ministry to God’s people!
Photo: Newly ordained Frs. Larry Anderson, OFM, and David Phan, OFM, pose with (back row left to right) Fr. Dominic Monti, OFM, Vicar Provincial, Archbishop Theodore McCarrack, former Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Fr. John O’Connor, OFM, Provincial Minister, and Fr. Fran DiSpigno, OFM, director of post-novitiate formation.
- Fr. Brian Smail, OFM
Postulants Conclude Discernment Year
Our three Postulants wrapped up their discernment year at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston on May 8. The friar community held a special dinner in their honor, and the community saw them off with a traditional sung Franciscan blessing, “May the Lord bless you, may the Lord keep you, may He show to you His countenance and give you peace. The Lord Bless you!” George, A.J., and Brian will move on to the novitiate year at San Damiano Friary in Cedar Lake, Indiana, on June 25. It will be an exciting year as Holy Name Province begins a joint novitiate program with several of our brother provinces: Christ the King from western Canada, Sacred Heart, Assumption, St. John the Baptist, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. A combined novitiate will no doubt add to the richness and diversity of this important year.
- Fr. Brian Smail, OFM
Several members of the vocation group at St. Bonaventure University attended a retreat recently held at Christ the King Seminary and St. Patrick’s Friary in East Aurora and Buffalo, N.Y., respectively. Participants Patrick Alfonso, Michael Gargano and Edmund Lazzari spent the weekend reflecting on God’s call for their lives. The retreat was organized by group leaders Br. Basil Valente, OFM, and Fr. David Blake, OFM, with the assistance of Br. Timothy Dauenhauer, OFM, Fr. Michael Putich, OFM, and Br. Maurice Swartout, OFM. Pictured from left to right, Fr. David poses with students Patrick and Michael before a statue of St. Francis of Assisi at Christ the King Seminary.
Michael, Class of 2011, found the experience to be beneficial. He says, “Spending time with other students in a Franciscan discernment retreat was something which helped me immensely. I felt like I was a part of the Franciscan brotherhood. It was great to hear seasoned friars share their vocation stories. It made me realize that we are all on the same path, but with different journeys intersecting everywhere.” He added, “Each one of us questioned what God is calling us to accomplish. In the gospel reading from the Mass that we celebrated, Jesus asked his disciples to ‘Come and follow me.’ The retreat showed me that we are part of this greater reality. When faced with my vocational struggles, I always return to that reading and ask: ‘How am I to follow you, Jesus?’ Although I am not sure what the exact response is yet, it sure helped to be with others who are thinking and praying about the same questions.”
2010 World Day of Prayer for Vocations
April 25, 2010 marks the 47th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Founded by Pope Paul VI in 1963, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations not only highlights vocations to priesthood and religious life, but invites the Church to honor the vocation of all Christians given at Baptism.
In his message announcing this year’s World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Benedict XVI underscored the importance of our witness when it comes to attracting vocations: “The fruitfulness of our efforts to promote vocations depends primarily on God’s free action, yet, as pastoral experience confirms, it is also helped by the quality and depth of the personal and communal witness of those who have already answered the Lord’s call to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life, for their witness is then able to awaken in others a desire to respond generously to Christ’s call.”
As we pray for vocations, let us also keep in mind the power of the witness of our Franciscan life to attract vocations to the Order. When I was first discerning a call to religious life it was the powerful witness of the Franciscans in Boston that caught my attention. I saw them “in action” ministering to the community as well as to one another. And I thought, “I want to be a part of that.”
The National Coalition for Church Vocations has published sample bulletin announcements, prayers for vocations, intercessions, and homily hints. For more information, visit their website at www.nccv-vocations.org.
- Fr. Brian Smail, OFM
Visiting Our Brothers in Peru
Recently I had an opportunity to visit our friars in Peru while on business for the Vocation Office. I have always been impressed with the wonderful work they do in Lima and the surrounding areas. The Franciscans of Holy Name Province help some of the poorest of the poor in that country. Aside from meeting their spiritual needs with a number of parishes and chapels, the Franciscans also founded and help run a major medical clinic for those who would otherwise have no access to medical care.
Holy Name Province Franciscans have both American-born, as well as native Peruvian friars as part of their mission in Peru. I had lunch with one of our Peruvian friars, Percy Osorio-Palpan (pictured at right). Percy began his studies at Holy Name College in Silver Spring, Md., and is now continuing his studies in his native Peru. He hopes one day to continue the missionary work in the Peruvian jungle that was begun by Fr. Mariano Gagnon, OFM, who has been in Peru for nearly 60 years! When he is free from studies, Percy goes out to the jungle to assist Fr. Mariano. Because of the remoteness of the jungle mission, it takes over a day to reach it by train and by boat.
Getting to know Percy was a reminder to me of the universality of the Franciscan vocation: to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way. Friars are present in nearly every country in the world and, regardless of language or culture, they continue the work that our founder St. Francis started over 800 years ago. And it continues to amaze me that whenever you meet a friar from another country, there is always that instant “connection” that comes with being part of an amazing brotherhood!
Reconnecting with a Classmate
One of the great things about being a Franciscan is that you never say, “goodbye” to a friar who comes to visit because you are certain to see him again sooner than you expect! As you travel around the Province, you never know who you are going to run into!
At the Nov. 20-22 FEW (Franciscan Experience Weekend) at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, I crossed paths with my classmate, Fr. James Sabak, OFM, who was there to give a workshop on liturgy to the postulants (men in their first year of initial formation who live with our Boston community). Jim and I were ordained in 1999, and we probably see each other more often now than we did when we lived together! Good to see you Jim!
Seated in the photo from left to right are postulant George Camacho, Jim, Frank Souza (a guest of the weekend), and postulants Brian Taberski and A.J. La Point.
— Fr. Brian Smail, OFM
