Friars in Formation - Capuchin Franciscans, Province of St. Mary

Capuchin Journey
the
Capuchin Mission and Development Office
Fall 2011
Friars in Formation
Investiture at San Lorenzo Novitiate
Post-Novitiate Summer in Honduras
A Day to Day Account of Postulancy
Province Mission
Living the Gospel according to Rule
of Francis of Assisi, the friars of the
Province of St. Mary proclaim God’s
reign through:
•
Service to others and mutual
service to our brother friars.
•
Embracing and supporting the
needs of the diverse communities
among whom we live and minister.
•
Responding to the needs of
our time through our service to
the under-served of our church
and society, the economically
challenged and the shunned and
forgotten.
Capuchin Charisms
FRATERNITY of the friars joins them
in their common goals and taps into
their unique talents to most efficiently
operate their own community as
well as the communities they serve.
MINORITY has enabled them to walk
with the people they serve and be accepted as one of their own.
CONTEMPLATION requires they set
aside time to reflect upon the progress
and direction of their mission
and to listen for God’s guidance in
their mission.
MINISTRY has led the Capuchins to
appeal to, and often allay, the hunger,
despair, and loneliness of those
among whom Christ would have
walked.
JUSTICE, PEACE AND ECOLOGY are
uniquely Capuchin because an essential
part of the mission of St. Francis
was to strive for all of God’s creation
to live in peace and harmony.
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Capuchin Journey
the
In This Issue:
FEATURES
4
Capuchin Formation
6
Postulancy, Day by Day
7
Investiture in San Lorenzo
8
Post-Novitiate Summer in
Honduras
9
Friar in Focus: Br. Lake
Herman
DEPARTMENTS
12
Jubilees
19
Province Directory
On the cover: Province of St. Mary and Vice Province, Star of the Sea,
novices: Ryan Charfauros, Christopher George, Bryan Quinata, Scott
Surrency and Alex Prado in Santa Ynez, California after receiving their
habits at an Investiture Ceremony. Photo crecit: Christopher Iwancio.
CORRECTION: The Capuchin Journey, Spring/Summer Issue incorrectly stated Fr. Andrew Drew’s Jubilee information. Fr. Andrew was
born on January 7, 1929, was invested on August 31, 1954, and made
his first profession on September 1, 1955 and his perpetual profession
on September 1, 1958.
Provincial Minister’s Letter
Building the Church’s future
Religious life and priesthood are an integral part of the Catholic Church. Without these men, the church would
suffer, both Sacramentally and ministerially. There would be no one to celebrate Sunday Mass, instruct in the
faith, baptize children and officiate at weddings – the cornerstones of Catholicism for millions of believers around
the world.
As you may suspect, there has been a steep decline of young Catholic men choosing religious life. It’s a
shortage that has occurred simultaneously as the U.S. Catholic population has boomed by 58 percent in the last
50 years, an increase that is largely due to immigration. If these opposing trends continue, the Roman Catholic
Church in the United States will face a crisis as missions, parishes, and churches will be left without priests and
friars.
Amid challenges, there are still young men who respond to God’s call and choose religious life or priesthood.
The Province of St. Mary currently has 18 men who have answered God’s call to dedicate their lives to serve the
Gospel of Christ, while the Vice-Province Star of the Sea in Guam, which the Province of St. Mary helps support,
has 13 men who have also answered God’s call. In this issue of The Capuchin Journey, you will have a chance to
read about these extraordinary men and learn more about formation – the five to eight year process of study,
prayer, and training that a young man must undergo to become a friar.
There are different stages in the formation process, from the entry level program, which is known as
postulancy, to the post-novitiate, which if completed successfully ends with their perpetual profession of vows
as friars. Throughout these stages, candidates learn and live the Capuchin life of fraternity, ministry, and prayer.
These men, who are scattered across the country in various stages of formation, are the future of our Province
and of our Church.
Now that these young men have answered God’s call, it is important for all of us to be supportive and help
them sustain their vocations. Financial support is always needed to help cover the expenses that are incurred on
their journey…expenses that include years of classes and religious formation, food, housing, clothing, medical
care, and other needs that the Province provides. We celebrate these 18 men who gave up everything to proclaim
God’s love here in the continental United States and in other regions including Japan, Guam, and Central
America. They are the future of our Church.
On behalf of the friars in formation and the Province of St. Mary, I would like to say thank you for your
continued support. Your generosity makes it possible for us to form friars, do good works, and carry out St.
Francis’s vision of service, ministry, and dedication to the Gospel, now and in the future.
Please pray for our friars in formation and for vocations of the priesthood and religious life.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Francis J. Gasparik, OFM Cap.
Provincial Minister
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Religious
Vocation
Young Men Continue the Capuchin Tradition of Living the Gospel
by Brother Tim Jones, Province of St. Mary Vocation Director
When it comes to vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life there is probably one thing most would agree
on...we wish we had more interested candidates. Countless well
thought out reasons for a lack of numbers have been put forth
and a variety of innovative approaches have been tried over
the recent past to attract potential inquiries. The results have
often been less than desired. Meanwhile, churches are closing
or merging with other churches, and active priests and religious
men have seen their roles become more and more administrative with less personal interaction with those who are seeking
spiritual, emotional, and material assistance.
What follows is what we Capuchin Franciscans of the New
York/New England Province of St. Mary have tried to do over
the years to attract potential candidates to consider our way of
life.
The vocation team hears from approximately 200 to 250
men a year who are seeking information and discernment help.
They are contacted the day the request comes in. About 100 to
125 of these men ask for a personal visit from the vocation director, which is done within a week. Meanwhile, written material is sent out to the prospective candidates and they are asked
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to visit our website (which is updated weekly). As a result of
the personal visit, about 35 men a year are invited to attend our
discernment weekends and to visit our friaries. Of those, an
average of five men, ranging in age from 18 to 40, apply to our
resident postulancy program, the first phase of the formation
process. The vocation director visits the candidates between
discernment weekends to ascertain their continued interest and
to answer any questions which may have come up.
Each of our friars throughout the province has positively
responded to the vocation teams request to be proactive in
reaching out to possible candidates through their daily prayer,
constant good example and a personal invitation to an individual who is considering consecrated religious life and possibly priesthood with us. Our leadership, which is elected by the
friars and changes every three years, has also been totally supportive of every vocation director. They assign a full time friar
for recruitment and supply him with the necessary assistance
requested. Our leadership also attends programs and events for
formation candidates.
In each of our friaries, we have a friar who, in addition to
his other ministerial and fraternal responsibilities, is also the
‘local vocation contact friar’. His job is to welcome candidates
who live near their friary for prayer and a meal on occasion. In
addition, they also encourage their local fraternity to pray daily
for vocations and attend part of the discernment weekends
and other events sponsored by the vocation department. As a
result of this outreach, there seems to be a “culture of vocation
awareness” in our province, which is perhaps the single most
important aspect of our whole vocation recruitment outreach.
“Come and See Discernment Weekends” are offered five
times during the year. Twelve to fifteen candidates and an equal
number of friars generally attend. Presentations on Capuchin
Franciscan themes are offered and ample opportunity is given
for private and community prayer as well as fraternal gatherings. We also frequently visit other friaries to witness the brothers in active ministry. Finally, whenever there are Province
fraternal gatherings, the candidates are encouraged to attend
and are always warmly welcomed. Between the discernment
weekends, profession ceremonies, Advent & Lenten Reflection
Days, and Ministerial Saturdays, the candidates have an opportunity to interact with the friars at least once a month.
The period of ‘candidacy’ varies with each participant but
averages between a few months to a couple of years. When the
candidate believes he is ready to take the next step in initial
formation, which is residential postulancy, he applies for consideration, usually in January of the year he wishes to join. Academic and medical questionnaires need to be completed and
an appointment made for psychological testing. The necessary
information is then forwarded to the admissions board composed of seven friars who have come to know the candidates
during their time with us. The strengths and challenges of the
applicants are discussed and a decision made. Those accepted begin their resident postulancy in August of each year at St.
Michael Friary in Brooklyn, New York and begin their journey
to the Capuchin life of fraternity, ministry, study, and prayer,
all of which will assist them to continue to discern their sacred
call.
“The harvest is great but the laborers are few,” Jesus said.
We are very blessed with the chosen few we receive each
year and offer our gratitude to the Master of the Harvest each
day.
Opposite Page, Top: The Novitiate Class from the North American and Pacific Capuchin Conference, which includes novices from
the Province of St. Mary. Below: The Province of St. Mary 1952 Novitiate Class at St. Lawrence Friary, Milton, Massachusetts
The Formation of a Capuchin Franciscan
The Capuchin Franciscans accept male candidtates who are single and between the ages of 18 to 40 in
their formation program. The formation process takes anywhere from five to eight years and consists of
study, prayer and training. Financial support required for men in formation varies from $28,000 to $48,000
a year. Below are the stages a candidate must go through:
• Discernment Weekends: Interested men attend up to five Discernemnt Weekends each year. These nonresident events allow candidates to learn more about Capuchin life and get to meet other candidates.
• Postulancy: For nine months, postulants live in a friary with professed Capuchin Franciscans, attend
classes on religious life, minister to the poor, attend daily Mass, and share in daily prayers, meals, and
fraternal functions.
• Collaborative Postulancy: After the nine-month program in their home province, postulants from the
North American and Pacific Capuchin Conference gather for a three-month interprovincial postulancy
program held during the summer months in Victoria, Kansas.
• Novitiate: During this year, brothers from across the United States, Canada, and Australia study Sacred
Scripture, Franciscan writings, and the vows, and receive the habit, cord, rosary, and sandals. During this
year, a novice decides if he is called to life in the Capuchin Franciscan Order.
• Studies: Over three to five years of study, brothers continue to live together in community in Boston
while pursuing undergraduate degrees and
post-graduate studies in theology and/or other
fields. Each brother is also actively involved in a
variety of ministries.
• Advanced Formation: After a period of at least
three years, a brother may request perpetual
profession (a permanent commitment) as a Capuchin Franciscan. Brothers who seek to serve as
priests are first ordained deacons. After the diaconate year, these brothers are ordained priests
and are prepared to join the many parochial
Br. Tim Jones, far right, speaking to candidates during a
communities throughout the Province.
Discernment Weekend.
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Anthony Zuba, third from left,began his formation with the Capuchin Franciscans this summer. Here he is with his postualnt class and the
formation directors. From left to right, Br. Tim
Jones, William Tarraza, Anthony, Fr. Michael
Greco, John Alvarado and Linneker Marin.
Postulancy, Day by Day
Anthony Zuba gives us a glimpse into the life of a
postulant at St. Michael Friary
Anthony Zuba, 34, entered the postulancy program at St.
Michael Friary in Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 21. During the
nine-month postulancy program, Anthony will be learning how
to live as a Capuchin through prayer, instruction, and ministry
while living in fraternity. He is currently conducting his ministry at Neighbors Together, a soup kitchen in Brooklyn.
As he began initial formation, Anthony started a blog to
chronicle his journey with the Capuchins. The following reflections are excerpts from his blog, fromabrother.blogspot.com.
Friday, August 19, Welcome
Greetings and blessings. In two days I will begin formation
into religious life with the Capuchin Franciscan Friars. After
prayerful consideration and my friends’ kind encouragement, I
have created this public diary to chronicle the journey.
There are numerous religious institutes for men and women
within the Roman Catholic Church. I am joining one of the
older and larger institutes, the Capuchin Franciscans. The Capuchins are a 500-year-old branch in the family tree planted by
St. Francis of Assisi eight centuries ago. I hope this public diary gives you a glimpse of what consecrated life is like through
my experience of it with the Capuchin Franciscans of New
York and New England.
Saturday, August 20, From Candidate to Postulant
There was a time when Catholics began formation into
religious life with little to no preparation for the phenomenal
transformation in lifestyle. Nowadays, men and women who
enter religious life first get a glimpse of what religious life is
like through attendance of come-and-see events like discernment weekends.
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Some candidates move quickly into the postulancy program,
while for others the transition from candidacy to postulancy is
the culmination of a long process of discernment. In my case,
it is the latter, as I have known the Capuchins for over ten
years. Long have I been in the orbit of the friars’ world, and the
gravitational pull of religious life has been sometimes strong,
sometimes weak. Clearly at this time it is irresistible! We are
flying closer to the Franciscan planet.
Thursday, August 25, Work, Ministry, Time
Shortly I will begin a tour of possible ministry sites. They
include a nursing home, a parish, a parochial school, and a
soup kitchen. The postulants work four afternoons a week at
one of these institutions. Other sites are possible, but these
have become the preferred options of recent years. Postulants
are encouraged to select a ministry that will challenge them to
use their talents fully and stretch them where they may feel less
gifted for a particular form of service. It is my hope to assume
a ministry I have never done before, one that I have usually
taken for granted -- and even discounted as to its real worth.
September 24th, Day off
Saturday is a free day for the postulants. On this day we
have no common prayer, no instruction, and no ministry.
For this Saturday, being three days before my birthday, I
decided to visit my family for the day in Babylon, Long Island.
We had a pleasant afternoon and evening together. With the
nuclear family reunited -- mother, father, sister, brother -- we
had a good meal and a quiet but cheerful birthday celebration
with cake and candles. I brought some zeppole from the previous night’s St. Padre Pio
Continued on page 11
INVESTITURE AT SANTA YNEZ
The Province of St. Mary Novices Receive Their Capuchin Habits
Five novices from our Province and the Vice Province Star
of the Sea celebrated their first year of formation at the Investiture Ceremony held at the San Lorenzo Novitiate in Santa
Ynez, California. The July 24th ceremony was held for all 22
novices from the North American and Pacific Capuchin Conference.
In addition to celebrating the first official year of formation,
an investiture ceremony is also the time when young men in
formation receive their habit, cord, rosary, and sandals.
Alex Prado, Christopher George, and Scott Surrency from
the Province of St. Mary, along with Ryan Charfauros and Bryan Quinata from the Vice Province of Star of the Sea took part
in the special ceremony. For the next year, they will live, study,
and pray with their fellow novices at the San Lorenzo friary.
The novitiate year is a one-year intensive spiritual program
in which young men study topics like sacred scripture, Franciscan writings, and the vows, participate in common prayer and
meditation, and live in fraternity with other young men going
through the formation process. It is also the year in which a
novice decides if he is ready for first profession of vows (poverty, chastity, and obedience) as a Capuchin Franciscan Friar.
For the three novices from Province of St. Mary, the novitiate
year has thus far been a period of growth and reflection.
“Getting to know my brother Novices has been an exciting
time, both enriching and challenging in a way that is spiritually
rich,” said Brother Christopher, 26, of Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts. “From the friary here in Santa Ynez there are many
great views of the hills and a clear sky at night. It has been a
blessing to share God’s gift of beauty in creation with the other
brothers from day to day. I am very grateful to be here.”
For Brother Alex, a South Ozone Park, New York native,
spending time with fellow novices has fueled his discernment
and spiritual growth.
“In the Novitiate, my novice brothers have become my primary formators on this journey,” Brother Alex said. “I’m still
discerning every day, and I don’t know where I’ll be 10 years
from now. All I know is that being with the friars has made me
into a more complete human being.”
The novitiate year in Santa Ynez has also been an opportunity for spiritual growth for Brother Scott, a 37-year-old from
New York City.
“Every day presents an occasion and opportunity for
growth,” said Brother Scott. “It is my hope and prayer to leave
sunny California with a fuller and deeper appreciation of just
how much this year is - as I was told and as I do honestly believe - a blessed gift from the brothers.”
The new class of novices will be in San Lorenzo until summer 2012. Following successful completion of their novitiate
program, the five candidates profess temporary vows (lasting
one year) of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and will begin
their post-novitiate programs, including studies and ministerial
formation training at either San Lorenzo Friary in the Jamaica
Plains section of Boston or Saint Conrad Friary in Berkeley,
California.
From top, left to right: Fr. Michael Connolly, Fr. Regis Armstrong, Fr. Joseph
English (Vice Province, Star of the Sea), Fr. Michael Greco, Christopher
George, Scott Surrency, Bryan Quinata, Alex Prado and Ryan Charfauros.
Right: The Capuchin habits before novices receive them during the Investiture
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Post-Novitiate
Summer in Honduras
Perpetual Profession
Capuchin Franciscan Brothers Tim
Aller, Victor Garcia, and Richard Mattox
(pictured above, left to right, with Fr.
Francis Gasparik and Fr. Michael Banks)
celebrated their Perpetual Profession of
Vows at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers, New York on September 17th.
The ceremony was officiated by our
Provincial Minister, Francis Gasparik,
and attended by family members, friends
and fellow friars. A Perpetual Profession
is the final step in the formation process
to become a Capuchin Franciscan.
Br. Richard Mattox, a native of Peru,
became interested in the Capuchin Franciscans while studying Jesuit Scholastic
philosophy at Fordham University. He
is currently on the second year of his
studies at Boston College and hopes to
be ordained a priest in the next couple
of years.
Br. Tim Aller, a native of Newburg,
New York, began his formation in 2004.
Like Br. Richard, Br. Tim is also studying at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Before becoming a Capuchin, Brother
Victor Garcia worked as an architect in
New York City for more than 20 years.
The 52-year-old felt that something in
his life was missing and began visiting
St. John the Baptist Church. After speaking to the Capuchin Franciscan friars, he
entered the formation process.
The Province of St. Mary congratulates these three friars on the occasion of
making their perpetual profession of the
vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
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Mathew Janezko in Honduras with local children
By Matthew Janeczko, OFM Cap.
The French mathematician and Catholic philosopher Blaise Pascal
wrote, “Whenever the Church suffers, every Christian suffers.” In all deference to the great philosopher, I believe he got it backwards.
Whenever any Christian suffers, the whole Church suffers.
From the very first days of my candidacy, I found myself perpetually
fascinated by the Testament of Francis. “The Lord gave me brothers …
and told me to live a Gospel life…” “When I was in sin the sight of lepers was too bitter for me. And the Lord himself led me among them, and I
showed them a heart sensitive to their misery…”
These two elements of the Testament always give me pause, always
seem to weigh heavy upon my conscience, and perpetually serve as the
bar against which I measure my faithfulness to the example of Francis and
his companions.
Perhaps what struck me most about eight weeks in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala is the realization that real people exist in these places (stunning, I know). Yes, indeed, real people made of the same stuff of
which I am made: flesh, bone, life, hope, love, faith, sin, and temptation.
Yes, the Lord gave me brothers – Capuchin brothers, Central American
brothers, human brothers – who populate the world, whether I am aware
of them or not.
The young children in “The Yunque” (The Anvil) section of Ocotepeque who filtered their “tap” water through a sock are my little brothers
and sisters. The small girl, completely deaf and mostly mute, who flitted
through the parish church giving hugs to anyone who she could find, is
my little sister. The old man who walked down the mountain each day
transporting a load of chopped wood on a sickly mule, holding his machete in his lone remaining hand, is my brother. The Central American
novices with whom I lived, ate, prayed, laughed, and, vainly, attempted to
understand: also my brothers.
And yet, there are some people in
Continued on page 10
A Journey In Ministry
Br. Lake Herman, OFM Cap.
Ministers to Youth as CYFM Chaplain
By Katie Purple
As a chaplain of Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries
(CYFM) in Garrison, New York, Br. Lake Herman has given
direction to many teenagers who have walked through the
doors of this retreat center. After years of formation as a Capuchin Franciscan Friar, he now organizes and runs retreats
for teenagers and young adults with the other members of the
CYFM staff. Br. Lake is beloved by the CYFM community for
his genuine enthusiasm, dedication, and readily-offered ministerial guidance. “Ministry isn’t about just handing out maps,”
he believes, “but going on the journey yourself.” He demonstrates this commitment to ministry through his willingness to
walk with young people along the sometimes confusing paths
of life.
Prior to CYFM, Br. Lake’s own journey of formation led
him first to the engineering world. In 1991, the North Carolina
native began attending North Carolina State University to
study engineering. Thoughts of religious life crossed his mind;
he had been raised in a Catholic home and was an altar server.
Upon graduating from college in 1996, he moved to Connecticut and worked at Pratt &Whitney, an aerospace manufacturer,
for three years. Throughout this time, Br. Lake’s inclinations
towards religious life grew stronger.
“I remember talking to my campus minister about it in college,” he said. “He basically told me that if this is what God
wants for you, it will happen. You don’t have to figure it out
right away, but don’t run from it either.”
Heeding this advice, Lake continued his engineering career,
but became increasingly
Continued on page 11
Diaconate Ordination
From left to right: Provincial Minister Fr. Francis
Gasparik, Br. Salvatore Cordaro, Bishop Jean-Louis
Brugues, Br. Ernest Bedard, and Fr. Michael Marigliano
Two friars Salvatore Cordaro and Ernest Bedard received their diaconate ordination on October 8 at St. Ignatius Church on the campus of Boston College in Brighton, Massachusetts. The ceremony was officiated by Ordaining Bishop Jean-Louis
Bruguès, OP, secretary for the Congregation for Catholic Education.
Being ordained to the transitional diaconate allows friars to work in parishes under the supervision of the parish pastor, as a step in preparation for the priesthood.
Deacons also assist at the altar and proclaim the Gospel at mass.
Br. Ernest will be serving in the Blessed Mother Theresa and Holy Family in
Dorchester, Massachusetts.The Springfield, Massachusetts native recently completed his masters degree in Divinity from Boston College School of Theology
and Ministry. Br. Salvatore of Jersey City, New Jersey, will serve as deacon at St.
Mark’s Parish in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Both friars currently reside at Saint
Francis of Assisi Friary in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
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Annual Capuchin Dinner 2011
The Province of St. Mary recently held its Annual Capuchin
Dinner 2011, a special event that honored 11 Capuchin Franciscan Jubilarians and the late William “B.J.” Harrington, a
longtime supporter of the Province of St. Mary. The October 6
benefit dinner was held at the Affinia Hotel in New York City
and raised more than $67,000. All proceeds of the event will
help support the ongoing apostolic work of the Capuchin friars
domestically and internationally.
During the event, Father Francis Gasparik, the Provincial
Minister, thanked attendees for their support and dedication and
for responding to the ordinary needs of the community and the
Province’s programs, specifically programs that support senior
friars and friars in initial formation.
Father Francis also presented the Capuchin Spirit Award to
the late William “BJ” Harrington, Esq., which was accepted
by his son, William P. Harrington. The late William “BJ” Harrington was a strong supporter of the Province of St. Mary and
other charities, including the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center
in Yonkers, New York.
Plans are underway for next year’s Annual Capuchin Dinner.
We will keep you posted as details become available.
Honduras, continued from page 8
that can (and should) make it significantly more difficult to not
include people in my fraternity.
And now as I sit here in my childhood kitchen while visiting
my parents, I am reminded of the Dickinson line, “After great
pain, a formal feeling comes…” This is the precise difference
between what happened to me in Honduras and what happens
to native Hondurans and to the Capuchins who serve there,
for they do not, by and large, receive an “after.” I left Central
America after eight weeks. Yes, I did my best to show a heart
sensitive to misery to those I met during my summer, but my
heart – biologically, at least – took a flight back to New York.
Perhaps then, this is the enduring message of my summer;
or, more accurately, it is an extension of what I find to be the
most exciting and painful privilege of being a Capuchin: a life
on the move. At the end of my assignment, I left Honduras.
Most people do not. And yet, if just for an instant – or even,
please God, a lifetime – I can remember that each time a Christian suffers, the Church – and I – suffer too, I will be just a bit
closer to dwelling amongst my brothers and sisters, the lepers.
Honduras who I would not as proudly proclaim my brothers.
The men who drank watered down paint thinner each morning,
stumbling drunk,while shouting at passersby, are my brothers.
The corrupt police, the polarized politicians (Honduras has
red and blue towns too), the rich who daily ignore the poor,
the poor who become desperate and violent: these too are my
brothers and sisters.
On an almost daily basis, I found myself attempting to identify myself – proudly – with the plight of the poor, moving to
judgment of those who ignore, increase, or take profit from the
blight that spreads across Central America. But it’s not that
simple. When Francis claimed a sense of fraternity with all, he
truly meant all: the poor, the rich, the lovable and the unlovable. I found it devastatingly easy to claim as brother and sister
only those who I thought deserved the title.
Thus, the most painful lesson of my summer came to pass.
The Gospel life of fraternity is only sensible – and thus more
incomprehensible for many others – at its broadest point. “The
Lord gave me brothers…” and he did not tell me what to do
with them, or give me a choice as to who they might be. But,
it was, is and will be the Lord God who gives them to me and
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Above, Left to Right: Michael Romita of Castle Oil, Msgr.
Dennis Keane, Fr. Michael Greco, and Msgr. Francis Boyle
at the Annual Capuchin Dinner 2011. William P. Harrington
accepting the Capuchin Spirit Award on behalf of his father, the
late William “BJ” Harrington, Esq.
Matt Janeczko, OFM Cap., is a post-novitiate friar who currently resides in San Lorenzo Friary in Jamaica Plains, MA.
Postulancy, continued from page 6
festival at St. John the Baptist Church in Manhattan to add to
the merriment.
The day went so quickly, and I forgot myself in cheerful enjoyment of the company of my family. It was all over too soon.
I wish we had more time. We will have more time together,
come Thanksgiving, when the postulants get a few days off;
and again at Christmas, when we get the last ten days of the
year for ourselves.
October 4
Today, the brothers celebrated the feast of St. Francis of
Assisi with joyful heart and as near-perfect good cheer as you
could find among fraternities and sororities of Franciscans anywhere….
Tomorrow, Neighbors Together, my ministry site, will be
sending a delegation to march on Wednesday afternoon with the
Occupy Wall Street demonstrators and an allied coalition of labor and community groups. The good people of Neighbors Together do more than participate in demonstrations, they operate
a soup kitchen. They also participate in community coalitions
to end hunger and poverty and organize their own campaigns to
improve housing conditions.
The postulant directors gave me permission to accompany
the staff and members of our community soup kitchen tomorrow. I am very grateful for their understanding and flexibility.
Please keep all of us at Neighbors Together, and all the great
and good souls striving to build a new society out of the shell of
Br. Lake, continued from page 9
involved with the Franciscans through his volunteer work with
the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. He also taught confirmation classes and helped with the youth group at St. Pius X
in Middletown, Connecticut, a Capuchin parish. Through this
parish, Lake first met Fr. Fred Nickle, who would later become
a chaplain of CYFM.
By 1999, the call to religious life had become too great. The
25-year-old Lake quit his job and left his engineering graduate studies to enter the Capuchins. During his vocation years,
the story of St. Francis and the leper was very inspiring for Br.
Lake.
This inspiration led Br. Lake to minister in a hospice and in
a domestic violence shelter in Boston. Confronting the realities
of the dying and the abused were challenging, but perhaps the
greatest lesson he learned was how to be present to the sufferings of others. Br. Lake was very accustomed to the mechanical, product-centered engineering world, and this helped him
become an organized minister. But he realized that sometimes
the best way to give oneself and be supportive is by being a
quiet, listening presence.
Later, Br. Lake spent two years in prison ministry and one
year at Mount St. Joseph’s Academy in Boston. The latter led
him to believe that he would become a religion teacher, but
upon his final profession in 2005, he was asked to work in retreat ministry at CYFM.
the old, in your prayers.
October 14, Vermont/Hurricane Irene
We are back in Brooklyn after a nearly a full day in Vermont
with the Capuchin brothers who have custody of three parishes:
St. Peter in Rutland; St. Dominic in Proctor; and St. Alphonsus
in Pittsford.
Hurricane Irene caused more unprecedented natural damage
in these parts of Vermont than in New York City. On Thursday,
the weather was mild enough to make possible an excursion up
one of the mountain roads, where construction crews have been
working continuously to repair and reinforce bridges and paths.
A father and son, who attended church at the Capuchin
parishes, were swept away when they ventured out during the
storm. The friars presided at their funeral, which drew over 700
people to St. Peter, including the local dignitaries.
The Capuchins have been in this part of Vermont for about
five years, and they are continuing to explore how to awaken
the living flame of love in the hearts of the faithful.
My prayer for our brothers, and for all who minister in the
Church in its many models, is that their work will create a spiritual space for all people in which they can have a real encounter
with the living God. In the cool black evening, as the beaming
moon watched from on high; and again in the morning in the
quiet air of St. Dominic Church, I could sense the Spirit of God
coloring my imagination.
Read more about Anthony’s experience in the postulant program at fromabrother.blogspot.com.
Though his CYFM ministry involves some teaching, he
believes that a better description is “bringing people into an
experience of God and Church.” Just as St. Francis was called
by Christ to rebuild the Church, Br. Lake hopes that through a
retreat experience, young people will hear Christ’s call in their
own lives, repair and build relationships, and better find their
place in the Church.
Since arriving at CYFM, Br. Lake has witnessed the ministry’s continued growth. As one of CYFM’s chaplains, he coordinates and runs retreats with Fr. Fred and the staff. Together,
they have added a college retreat, re-introduced an overnight
“lock-in” event, and expanded the Cap Corps Volunteer program. With the guidance of the Advisory Council, CYFM also
developed a strategic plan and has begun itinerant ministry in
Boston that currently consists of day and overnight retreats for
Boston youth.
Br. Lake sees himself as having come full circle since his
first experiences with a Capuchin parish and a retreat at CYFM.
The pastor of this Capuchin parish was Fr. Fred Nickle, with
whom he is now co-chaplain of CYFM. The St. Francis retreat
building, part of the CYFM property, was where Br. Lake did
several discernment weekends, and its halls bring back memories of his formation and call to the Capuchin brotherhood.
His journey has been one of great formation that has only just
begun.
Katie Purple is presently a CapCorps Volunteer at CYFM.
11
Charles Repole, O.F.M. Cap.
August 11, 1915 - October 19, 2011
Fr. Charles Repole
celebrated his 75th
Religious Jubilee on
August 26th. Left:
Fr. Charles Repole
with Mother Teresa. Below, Father
Charles Repole
celebrating his 60th
Jubilee with Fr.
Michael Banks and
Fr. Julian Phelan.
Below, Right: Father
Charles Repole in
Nicaragua during his
mission ministry in
the Central American
country.
The Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Mary
mourn the death of their brother Father Charles Repole, who
passed away on October 18, 2011 at the age of 96.
Fr. Charles (born Daniel) was born to Rosario and Frances
Patrissi-Repole in New York City. He attended P.S. 11 and P.S.
125 in Woodside, Queens; Bryant H.S. in Long Island City,
Queens; and Cathedral College in Brooklyn.
He was invested with the Capuchin habit at St. Felix Friary,
Huntington, Indiana on August 26, 1936, receiving the name
“Charles.” Fr. Charles was ordained to the priesthood along
with his older brother, Fr. Celsus Repole, on June 23, 1943 in
Marathon, Wisconsin.
Fr. Charles ministered in the Capuchin mission in Nicaragua,
Central America from 1944 to 1964, served as hospital chaplain in the French Hospital in New York City from 1964-1966,
12
and ministered as prison chaplain at Rikers Island from 1966 to
1979.
Fr. Charles was a prolific Spanish-speaking preacher who
resided in the Capuchin fraternities of Sacred Heart, Yonkers,
New York; Our Lady of Montserrat, Stamford, Conneticut; and
Lourdes Residence also in Stamford, Conneticut.
From 1995 to 2009, Fr. Charles resided with the Capuchin
senior friar community of St. Clare in Yonkers, New York.
Since 2009, because of age-related health concerns, Fr. Charles
resided at Queen of Peace Residence in Queens Village, New
York. Fr. Charles joyfully celebrated his 75th Religious Jubilee
on September 11, 2011 at Queen of Peace Residence.
Fr. Charles is survived by his nieces MaryAnne Turvin of
Coram, New York and Theresa Campisi of Middle Island, New
York and several nephews who were a great joy and comfort.
Jubilees 2011, Part 11
What is a Jubilee?
A Jubilee marks the anniversary
of commitment and service for
friars. These men are celebrating
anniversaries of religious life —
the time since they were invested
in the Capuchin habit or were ordained a priest. Each of these men
is dedicated to the charisms of
St. Francis and have witnessed to
the Gospel around the world. We
congratulate them on their jubilee
celebrations and wish them many
more years of service.
Father Barnabas Keck
60 Years of Priesthood
Birth
Investiture First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination May 19, 1924
August 13, 1943
September 1, 1994
September 1, 1947
August 25, 1951
Above: Fr. Barnabas
Keck as a friar in formation (front row, fifth
from left). Fr. Barnabas
served as Novice Master
and as Parochial Vicar at
Sacred Heart Parish in
Yonkers, New York, and
is currently pastor of St.
Joseph Parish in New
Paltz, New York.
13
Father Bernard Campell
50 Years of Religious Life
Birth December 18, 1935
Investiture August 31, 1961
First Profession September 1, 1962
Perpetual Profession October 7, 1967
Ordination November 9, 1968
From top, clockwise: Fr. Bernard at this ordination in 1968. The young Fr. Bernard was assigned to St. John the Baptist Church
in New York City. In 1972, he was appointed Director of Ministry to the Deaf for the Dioceses of Manchester, New Hampshire
and Burlington, Vermont. Fr. Bernard would devote many years to servicing people with disabilities and deaf and hearing impaired students. Bottom left: Rooting for the Mets.
14
Father Bernard Maloney
50th Religious Jubilee
Birth Investiture First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination January 6, 1942
August 31, 1961
September 1, 1962
September 1, 1965
November 8, 1969
Top: The young Fr. Bernard. Center: From
1970 to 1972, Fr. Bernard was assigned to
the faculty of Sacred Heart High School
in Yonkers New York, where he taught
religion. Bottom: Fr. Bernard with students.
From 1972 to 1976, he served as director
of the Capuchin non-resident postulant program and coordinator of the vocation office.
15
Father Paul Minchak
50 Years of Religious Life
Birth Investiture First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination February 18, 1943
August 31, 1961
September 1, 1962
September 1, 1966
November 8, 1969
Top left: Fr. Paul was was born in Yonkers, New York and attended Sacred Heart Parish. Center: Fr. Paul at his ordination. Bottom
left, left to right: Br. Gregory Reisert, Fr. Paul and Fr. Eugene O’Hara in Hawaii. In 1984, Fr. Paul was assigned as associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, where he continues to serve at the present time.
16
Father John McHugh
50 Years of Religious Life
Birth Investiture First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination March 11, 1943
August 31, 1961
September 1, 1962
September 1, 1965
November 8, 1969
Top: Father John McHugh with Fr. Vincent Furtado, Provincial Minister of Holy Trinity Province in India (which the Province of
St. Mary helps support) during a school inaugaration ceremony in India. Center: Fr. John at his ordination in 1969. Bottom right:
Fr. John with students. In 1985, he was assigned to Darthmouth College where he served as Associate Catholic Campus Minister.
Fr. John at this year’s 20th Ordinary Provincial Chapter in San Alfonso Retreat Center in Long Branch, New Jersey.
17
Father John Rathschmidt
50 Years of Religious Life
Birth Investiture First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination Top left: Fr. Jack at St. Mary Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya with Fr.
David Kamau and the hospital’s assistant director during a visit in
2010. Top right: The young Fr. Jack served as an Assistant Catholic
Chaplain at the Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Bottom right: Meeting the press. Fr. Jack has been a longtime advocate
of health care reform in Massachusetts, which passed health care
reform legislation in 2006. Bottom left: Fr. Jack (with Fr. Armand
Dasseville, second from left) has served as Provincial Minister for
the Province of St. Mary.
18
August 27, 1943
August 31, 1961
September 1, 1962
September 1, 1965
November 8, 1969
Province Directory
New York
ment Office
310 Westfield Street
St. Joachim Friary
210 West 31st Street
Middletown, CT 06457-2047
61 Leonard Street
New York, NY 10001-2876
Phone: 860-347-4441
Beacon, NY 12508
Phone: 212-564-0759
Phone: 845-838-0000
Blessed James Haddad Friary
New Hampshire
93 Park Terrace West
St. Anne – St. Augustin
New York, NY 10034-1382
Friary & Parish
St. Lawrence Friary
383 Beech Street
180 Sargent Avenue
Beacon, NY 12508-3992
Good Shepherd Friary &
Manchester, NH 03103-7290
Phone: 845-831-0394
Parish
Phone: 603-623-8809
608 Isham Street
St. Michael Friary
New York, NY 10034
Maine
225 Jerome Street
Phone: 212-567-1300
Friar Residence
24 North Raymond Road
Brooklyn, NY 11207
Phone: 718-827-6090
Our Lady of Sorrows Friary &
Gray, ME 04039-7724
Magazine of the
Capuchin Franciscans
of the Province of St. Mary
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3
© 2011 Capuchin Mission
Association & Development
Office
Editor in Chief
Dina Montes
Publisher
Fr. Francis Gasparik, OFM Cap.
Parish
St. Joseph The Worker Friary
213 Stanton Street
& Parish
New York, NY 10002
510 Narragansett Avenue
Phone: 212-475-2321
Design/Art Direction
Dina Montes
Photography
Christopher Iwancio
Donna Smith Kresel
East Patchogue, NY 117725132
St. John the Baptist Friary &
Phone: 631-286-7921
Parish
210 West 31st Street
New York, NY 10001-2876
Phone: 212-564-9070
Vermont
St. Peter Friary & Parish
St. Conrad Friary
134 Convent Avenue
30 Gedney Park Drive
Rutland, VT 05701
White Plains, NY 10605-3599
Phone: 802-775-1994
Phone: 914-761-3008
California
Capuchin Youth & Family
Sacred Heart Friary & Parish
San Lorenzo Friary
Ministry
110 Shonnard Place
1802 Sky Drive-Post Office
781 Route 9D
Yonkers, NY 10703-2228
Box 247
PO Box 192
Phone: 914-963-1357
Santa Ynez, CA
Garrison, NY 10524
St. Clare Friary
Florida
110 Shonnard Place
Blessed John XXIII Friary
St. Fidelis Friary
Yonkers, NY 10703
7171 128th Street North
7790 County Road 153
Phone: 914-423-2392
Seminole, Florida 33776-4306
Massachusetts
San Lorenzo Friary
Star of the Sea
Vice Province
St. Joseph Friary & Parish
15 Montebello Road
St. Fidelis Friary
34 South Chestnut Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-2352 135 Chalan Kapuchino
New Paltz, NY 12561-1914
Phone: 617-983-1919
Phone: 845-424-3609
Interlaken, NY 14847-9648
Phone: 607-532-4423
Agana Heights, Guam 96910
Phone: 671-472-6339
Phone: 845-255-4892
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
Custody of Japan
Capuchin Vocation Office
46 Brookside Avenue
34 South Chestnut Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-2370 St. Francis Friary & Parish
New Paltz, NY 12561-1914
Phone: 617-522-6469
Phone: 845-255-5680
Capuchin Mission & Develop-
Connecticut
St. Pius X Friary & Parish
1 Aza Oroku
Naha City, Okinawa
Japan 901-0152
Phone: 011-81-48-521-1098
Capuchin Communications
Office
John Shento, OFM Cap.
Donna Smith Kresel
30 Gedney Park Drive
White Plains, New York 10605
www.capuchin.org
The Capuchin Journey is our
way of letting you know how
the Province of St. Mary fulfills
its mission. You, as part of our
community, share this vision
of service to those in need.
Through this magazine, we
want you to know how we use
the resources you so generously
provide. We hope this magazine
shows you the work we do and
how valuable your contributions are to our ministries.
Please feel free to contact us
with your comments and suggestions.
19
210 West 31st street
new york, ny 10001-2867
Non Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Mailed from
Zip Code 61764
Permit No. 454
www.capuchin.org
Provide a Gift and Receive a Fixed Annuity
Payment Each Year for Life.
If you'd like to support the mission of the Capuchin Friars and receive steady payments
during your retirement years, a charitable gift annuity may be right for you.
How It Works
Through a simple contract, you agree to make a donation of cash, stocks, or other
securities to The Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order. In return, we agree to pay
you, or the named annuitant, a fixed amount each year for life. The only restrictions are
that the initial gift must be at least $5,000 and each annuitant must be at least 55 at the
time of the gift.
In addition, gift annuities carry the following benefits:
 The initial gift is partially tax–deductible.
 The annuity payments are partially tax–free throughout your estimated life expectancy.
 If your gift consists of appreciated stock, you will owe tax on only a portion of the capital gain.
 Annuity payments are guaranteed by the resources of the charity and are not affected by ups and downs in the
economy.
 If you wish, you can name a spouse or another loved one as successor annuitant.
Example
Jill, 70, established a $20,000 charitable gift annuity. Based on her age, she will receive an annuity rate of 5.8 percent.
This means that we will pay her $1,160 each year for the remainder of her life, of which $815 is tax-free throughout her
estimated life expectancy. She will also qualify for a federal income tax deduction of $7,352 in the year of her gift. The
remainder of her gift will be used to support the charity's mission.
To learn more about gift annuities and how they can support The Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order, please
contact Jennifer Demers at 212-564-0759, ext. 256 or jdemers@capuchin.org.