Padres Trail October 2012

Volume 26
Number 8
Fall
October—November
Official Newsletter of
the Franciscans of the
Province of Our Lady
of Guadalupe
Albuquerque,
NM
Eucharistic Celebration with the Poor Clares
O
n October 17 about 15 friars, including 4 postulants, gathered with the Poor Clares in Roswell for our
20th annual Mass and Eucharistic procession with the Poor Clares through their grounds. It was a fitting
close to our year of celebration of the 800th year of the profession of St. Clare. Lots of news was shared with
the sisters in their parlor as our postulants were introduced to the sisters. Fr. Pat preached the homily.
Clock wise from top:
Station of first blessing at
the sisters mausoleum.
Blessing on the grounds.
Sharing after the celebration (Friars are looking up
at a friar being pointed
out), Final blessing in the
Sisters’ inner chapel, a
sharing by Fr. Gino before
the blessing on the
grounds
PHOTOS BY JOE N..
Bro. Maynard Shurley Featured in SAM
C
ongratulations to
Bro Maynard who
was featured in an article
by Fr. Jack Wintz, OFM
as part of a series of articles on St. Kateri Tekakwitha in the October issue of St. Anthony Messenger. Also, two of his
Navajo co-workers, Ethel
Yazzie and Alice Burbank, were interviewed
at St. Mary Mission in
Tohatchi.
Some quotes from the
article.
“When asked about the
news of Kateri Tekakwitha’s October 21 canonization Brother Maynard Shurley, OFM replies, ‘It’s about time we
have a Native American
saint!’
“Brother
Maynard
recalls several events
in the life of
St. Kateri
Tekakwitha.
He remembers how
Kateri was
opposed by
her family
when she
became a
Christian.
He says he
experienced
similar opposition
from his own Navajo
relatives.
“He says some asked
him, ‘Why did you
choose the white man’s
religion? You could
have become a medicine
man instead.’ Brother
Maynard says he simply
answered: ‘Because God
called me to the Catholic
way. Franciscans are just
like the medicine people.
We, too, are called to be
holy, as well as people of
prayer and healers.
‘Kateri is a model for us
Navajos, inviting us to be
bridge-builders in bringing our two traditions
into harmony. After all,
both the Navajo and the
Christian tradition teach
us to take care of our elders. And both traditions
teach us the importance
Padres Trail Volume 26 Number 8, Fall, September-October 2012
of prayer as well.’
“Brother Maynard also
points out, ‘Kateri departed from her tradition,
too, by choosing not to
marry. This is a bit similar to our Navajo way or
tradition. We are expected to have children
in order to be a truly
prosperous or rich person. Kateri decided to
remain a virgin, even
though her family did not
understand.’
“Aware of this attitude
to the Navajo tradition,
Brother Maynard sees
special difficulties when
it come sto recruiting vocations in the Navajo
community.
“‘Kateri found storytelling a good way to evangelize,’ says Brother
Maynard. … ‘In our
own way, we Navajos
tell stories.’”
“As Brother Maynard
also affirms, ‘I think St.
Francis of Assisi would
have been a good Navajo. Francis was very
much attuned to all the
creatures and the natural
environment of the Navajo reservation. If St.
Francis were to walk
around on this land, he
would greet all the creatures as family…’”
(The above quoted with
permission of the author.
Photo and text by Joe
Nelson)
In another article I have
shared how Bro. Maynard is very effective in
teaching RCIA to the Navajo people.
They had difficulty understanding some aspects
of the Catholic Religion
until he began comparing
the Catholic way to the
Navajo Way.
Bro. Maynard currently
resides at St. Francis Friary in Gallup, New Mexico where he is the local
superior. He was also
just recently elected to
our provincial council.
One of his main ministries is doing social work
with the Navajo AID
Network.
The painting in the background of Maynard’s picture is a Navajo depiction
of the last supper and is
in the dinning room at St.
Michaels Mission, Arizona.
In case any of the friars
have a use for them in
their evangelization
work, the Mission Office
has purchased an extra
50 copies of this October issue of the St. Anthony Messenger. There
are a total of five articles
on Kateri in the special
section of this special
Page 2
Jubilee Celebration
W
e announced the celebration in a
previous issue. Here are some photos
from the actual celebration.
Left Larry Schreiber and
Blane Grein join in the
singing at the Mass.
Right: Richard Rohr
preached the homily at the
Mass.
Middle left: Gino Correa
with Jubilarians, Blane
Grein, Richard Rohr Mike
Burns, Larry Schreiber.
After the celebration at the Felician Sisters’
Chapel, the friars and guest enjoyed a festive meal at
El Pinto Restaurant.
PHOTOS BY GLEN HUMPHREY
Padres Trail Volume 26 Number 8, Fall, September-October 2012
Page 3
Fort Defiance beginning plans for 100th
By Gilbert Schneider, OFM
tivity in the 60’s,
is brought into the fold of
so many adults
the church, the People of
remember those
God, through the preachdays. There are so ing of the Gospel of Jemany trophies
sus.
around rememberWe recalled that the
ing the basketball
first friars began coming
successes.
to Ft. Defiance in about
Planning Committee at work
At present com- 1902, 4 years after the
mittees are being
first Friars from Cincinur Lady of the
formed to work on the
nati came to St.
Blessed Sacrament
many areas of preparaMichaels in 1898. The
parish will celebrate the
tion: publicaFirst mass was
th
100 anniversary of the
tions, liturgies, One special artifact celebrated in
dedication of the church
parish meetfor which we give the assembly
on Nov. 25, 2015.
ings, etc.
thanks is a very hall at Fort in
That seems perhaps to
Another great precious Navajo 1904. There
be a long way off. How- project is to rewas a boarding
Rug.
ever, we are using this
tuck point the
school already
time now as a parish to
stone church, which is in in place in Fort at that
renew our gratitude for
need of new mortar. Also time, as well as governthe gift of faith. One of
the protective Plexiglas
ment offices. The superthe processes already un- frames in front of the
intendent of the school,
der way is: Each family
stained glass windows
Mr. Paguette and his wife
is recalling its own
need to be replaced, and
were most helpful in
‘family history’ in terms
the church power
sharing space for classes,
of becoming members of washed. In the interior,
mass, etc, with the friars.
the parish. It is a very
the church benches, espe- Classes were conducted
energizing exercise.
cially the kneelers,
from that time on, as well
Families are asking: who need repair.
as First Communwas the first in our famWe formally began the ions, Confirmaily to join the Catholic
preparation process on
tions, and Marchurch. Who were the
Sunday Sept. 30, with a
riages.
friars who brought us
parish meeting after
So, we are lookinto the church? The his- mass. Fr. Gilbert, the
ing at our past, givtory continues: There are present pastor, introing thanks for what
stories about boarding
duced the project by put- we have reschool religion classes.
ting us in touch with the
ceived. We are beThere are stories about
beauty of our Catholic
ing especially enerrunning away from Reli- Missiology. We recalled gized to look to the
gious Education Classes
that God is already at
future, to share
when the bus dropped
work in every culture and what we have been
them off, and Fr. Gale
every place. This is cergiven. We hope to
finding them down in the tainly true of the Navajo
bring more people
arroyo.
Culture. But, at the
of the community
CYO was a major acproper time each culture
into the church dur-
O
Padres Trail Volume 26 Number 8, Fall, September-October 2012
ing these years. And, we
know of many former
parishioners who need to
be re-invited into our
parish community.
One special artifact for
which we give thanks is a
very precious Navajo
Rug. This rug was
woven by Anna Curley
for the dedication in
1915. The rug very accurately depicts the new
church, and the rug bears
the inscription: 1915. It
is an amazing work of
art, the church seems to
stand out almost in three
dimensions. This rug is
kind of a focal point for
us in these preparations.
So, our preparation continues. We invite all of
our readers to join us in
prayer. We also are
seeking donations to assist us in the work that
is being undertaken.
PHOTOS BY GILBERT SCHNEIDER
Page 4
Mission Office Meeting in Ireland
T
he Mission Directors from the English Speaking provinces held this year’s meeting in Dublin Ireland.
The Irish Director, Bernard Jones hosted the meeting. No one came from either England or Malta. Besides our regular business and sharing what each province was doing, it was most helpful to informally talk
about new possibilities and how we might work together. The new short term projects which Franciscan Mission service have begun are very interesting.
The Irish friars were most hospitable (Bottom photo the friars at recreation, fourth from left is the Irish Provincial, Hugh McKenna.
We took some time off to see Dublin including the Jamison
Irish Whiskey distillery.
(Photo right Tom Cole, left, and Kim Smolik were among 8 chosen to do a
taste testing!) Photo left: front row, Kim Smolik, Franciscan Mission Service, Vince Di Lorenzo (SJB), ), Arturo Rios Lara (GSME, Rome), back
Tom Cole (HN), Joe Nelson (OLG), Joe Roganski
(SH), Michael Conaghan
(CK Canada), Bernard
Jones (Ireland).
PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY JOE
NELSON
New series from St. Bonaventure
Franciscan Institute
called The Franciscans
Masters of Scripture.
The first title in this series is St. Bonaventure’s
Commentary on Luke’s
Gospel: Thirty Days of
Reflection and Prayer by
Robert J. Karris. Karris
developed this book from
his translation of St.
Bonaventure's threevolume Commentary on
Luke’s Gospel.
T
Mark Schroeder new JPIC director
M
ark Schroeder, OFM of the Saint Barbara province has been appointed as the joint JPIC Director for both St. Barbara Province and the Province
of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Welcome aboard, Mark!
I was sent a complimentary copy if anyone
would like to read it.
l to r Mark S., Gino, John Hardin Provincial SB Province.
Padres Trail Volume 26 Number 8, Fall, September-October 2012
Page 5
he Franciscan Institute Publications has
launched a new book
Second Fiesta Franciscana: Gathering at the Granary
Draws Together Franciscans of All Sorts
By Jack Clark Robinson, photos by Gino Correa
B
rother Bill Short,
O.F.M. informed,
entertained and inspired
close to one hundred and
fifty Franciscans of all
branches of the family at
the Fiesta Franciscana:
Gathering at the Granary
in San Antonio on October 5th and 6th. Bro. Bill,
the Dean of the Franciscan School of Theology
in Berkeley, California
explained that this year
we are celebrating the
800th anniversary of a
teenage girl named Clare
running away from
home, and then continued in his inimitable
style to share with the
gathered Secular Franciscans, Felician and other
Franciscan sisters, as
well as Franciscan friars
from five different OFM
and Conventual provinces about Franciscan
contemplation. He explained that Franciscan
spirituality, as exemplified by such figures as
Angela of Foligno, is not
a matter of cold negation
of the senses, but of a hot
embrace of the gifts
which God has given us.
lar Franciscans, sisters
and friars, who refer to
themselves as the Instigators, that is “those who
make things happen,”
organized the first Fiesta
Franciscana: Gathering
at the Granary last fall
with Richard Rohr as the
inaugural speaker, then
this year arranged for
Brother Bill’s talks.
The Instigators invited
Victor and Rena Xuereb,
who spent many years
working
with the
Rocky
Mountain
Franciscan
Gathering
to join
them for
Friars and Franciscan Sisters at Fiesta Franciscana
the Fiesta
began with the idea of
Franciscana this year.
collaboration among the
The Xuereb’s generously
Franciscans in San Anto- shared with the Instiganio when friars from Sators much of the wisdom
cred Heart and Guadathey had gained spearlupe Provinces met in
heading the Rocky
Spring 2010. Jack Clark
Mountain Gathering. The
Robinson suggested that
Fiesta Franicscana
one area of collaboration proved a gathering point
could be a gathering in
for several friars of the
the spirit of the Guadalupe
Rocky MounProvince, too,
tain Franciscan as Minister
Gathering in
Provincial
Albuquerque,
Gino Correa
begun by our
attended for the
own Nils Fran- second time,
cis Thompson
this year acin 1985. A
companied by
group of Secu- Brother George
The Fiesta Franciscana:
Gathering at the Granary
Mission San José, site of Fiesta Franciscana
Padres Trail Volume 26 Number 8, Fall, September-October 2012
Ward. Nils Francis
Thompson was also in
attendance for the second
time, taking the bus over
from Houston and then
returning there with
Secular Franciscan
friends.
The Instigators established a website this past
summer
(www.fiestafranciscana.i
nfo) and have already
begun planning for the
third Gathering at the
Granary next year, as
well as other events
through the coming year.
The Gathering at the
Granary takes its name
from the fact that for a
time in 2011 it was uncertain whether renovation work at San Jose
Mission, where Sacred
Heart Province friars
minister, would be completed in time for the Fiesta Franciscana, so alternative plans were
made to hold it in the restored colonial Granary
on the grounds of San
Jose Mission.
Nils Francis, George and Gino from OLG
Page 6
Brother Martin Visits
Fr. Flann O’Neil Awaits Sr. Death
M
arta Ortiz, our provincial health coordinator
announced to our friars by e-mail that “it was
determined that Fr. Flann has pancreatic cancer in it’s
advanced form. After reviewing both CT’s and abdominal ultra sounds, it has been determined that hospice is the appropriate course of action.
Fr. Gino and I discussed
with Flann candidly his
alternatives and options.
Fr. Flann has decided
that hospice is indeed
his preferred choice.”
Just before going to the
Eucharistic celebration
in Roswell with the
Poor Clares, Fr. Gino
gathered the friars to
give Flann the anointing
of the sick.
B
ro. Martin Sanabria, OFM, from the SB province recently spent some time working with
Bro, Bart Wolf in his woodworking shop (pictured
above) Bro. Martin came to get a feel of Bart’s work
with the possibility that in the future he might come
to be Bart’s apprentice.
PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY JOE NELSON
l to r Chrys Partee, Gilbert Schneider, George Ward, Gino, Don
Billiard with the cross and Larry Bernard.
l to r Duane, Gino, Flan and Larry Bernard
You can read this and all back issues of the
Padres Trail at our web site
www.olgofm.org. There is also much information about our missions, vocations, Lay
missionaries (Franciscan Partners) and all the
aspects of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province.
The Padres Trail is the newsletter for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Albuquerque, New Mexico
The editor is Fr. Joseph Nelson, OFM
Contact at 1204 Stinson St. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121-3440. Cell phone 505-977-4110
or office 505-831-9199
Send articles, photos, letters or ideas for articles to
joenelsofm@aol.com
Padres Trail Volume 26 Number 8, Fall, September-October 2012
Page 7