On 29 April 2007, at the age of seventy-nine, our brother,

Rev. Alan F. Polimine, T.O.R.

died at Saint Bernardine Monastery, Hollidaysburg, PA . He died peacefully in his room having retired there for the night after spending the earlier part of the evening visiting with the friars.

Fr. Alan was born in Brooklyn, New York on 11 June 1927. He was the eighth child of eleven born to Fortunato and Rosalia (Borello) Polimine. He was baptized three weeks later at Sacred Heart Church (now combined with Saint Stephen’s) in Brooklyn. He entered the Franciscan Preparatory Seminary in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania and began his formation as a Franciscan on 8 September 1951. He professed his vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience on 16 July 1953. He continued his studies at the Franciscan Preparatory Seminary and in 1954 entered The Catholic University of America where he completed a BA degree in Philosophy in 1960 and did graduate studies in language. He was ordained to the priesthood by Most Reverend John McNamara, D.D. at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. on 6 June 1959.

Fr. Alan lived a very deliberate and regular life making him a good choice to direct the formation of Candidates and newly professed as they prepared themselves for the discipline of religious life. In his early years as a friar he was frequently engaged in ministries related to the formation of the men of our Province. He served briefly as a chaplain at Saint Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, Minnesota until August 1960. At that point he was assigned as econome of Saint Louis Friary and served as an instructor in religion and English at Cathedral High School in Saint Cloud, MN. In June of 1965 he was appointed Novice Director, a capacity in which he served until 1968. 

The years from 1968 until 1974 were very busy for Fr. Alan. He was appointed the Local Minister of Saint Thomas More House of Studies, served as the Director of the Professed (1971- 1974), was a delegate to the General Chapter in Rome, served as Provincial Councilor (1968- 1971) and Vicar Provincial (1971- 1974). Beginning in 1974, Fr. Alan turned his ministerial attention to parish ministry. From 1974-1982 he was the Local Minister and Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. From 1982-1986 he was the Local Minister and Pastor of Saint Anthony’s Parish (combined now as Saint Clare Parish) in Johnstown, PA. In 1986 he returned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, where he was dearly loved, as the Parochial Vicar. Fr. Alan served faithfully and energetically in many capacities for 34 years until health issues in 1994 moved him into early retirement. In 1999, Fr. Alan took up residence at Saint Bernardine Monastery where, despite being confined to a wheelchair, he continued to contribute to the life of the community as best he could. Most importantly, he offered a warm and welcoming presence to all those who had the joy of encountering him as an enthusiastic porter and hospitable sentinel at the Monastery entry doors.

The true test of a man’s character is the spirit that reveals itself in adversity. Beginning in 1994 Fr. Alan began to show symptoms of a hereditary syndrome affecting his nervous system. The first symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth struck him while he was celebrating Eucharist at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Altoona, PA. In a man of lesser strength of will the debilitating effects of this disease, affecting nerve endings in the extremities and muscle tissue, might have caused the person to give up. Fr. Alan did everything possible to maintain regular activities and contribute to the life of the community. His significant hearing loss did not limit his enthusiastic contributions to conversation at the table and his interest in local and world news. Friar visitors to Saint Bernardine’s were always sure of getting a probing inquiry on what was happening in their world. He was a man of many interests characterized by his love for diverse musical styles. He will be remembered fondly and missed by all.

Fr. Alan was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Grace, Ben, Santa, Harry, Dominick, and Rose. He is survived by his Franciscan Community, his older sisters, Josephine (Middlebrooks) and Angeline (Mancuso), and younger twins Joseph and Antoinette (Taggio), as well as nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, and the many friends that formed his extended family.

Visitation was held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 806 11^th Street, Altoona, PA on Tuesday, 1 May 2007 beginning at 3:00 PM. and concluding at 9:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, 2 May 2007 at Mount Carmel at 12:00 Noon. A luncheon was served immediately following the Eucharist in the parish Hall. Interment took place the same day in the community cemetery of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Bernardine Monastery, Hollidaysburg, PA. 

Homily at mass for Fr. Alan Polimine, T.O.R.

On 10 March 2006, at the venerable age of seventy-five, our brother,

 Rev. Columba J. Enright, T.O.R.

died at the Vitas Hospice Care unit of Manorcare Health Services, Winter Park, Florida. After a long, debilitating battle with cancer and the repercussions of that illness, he was hospitalized at Winter Park Memorial Hospital in January. He remained there, slipping into a non-responsive state, while the hospital and friars did what they could to make him comfortable. He was transferred to Vitas Hospice Care on Thursday and passed away in the early hours of the morning on Friday. The friars of the Florida region have been visiting him faithfully each day. 

Fr. Columba was born in New York City on 14 December 1930. He was the second child of four born to John and Bridget (Collins) Enright. He was baptized two weeks later at Holy Name Church in Manhattan. The family returned, when he was still a child, to Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. They returned to the United States when Fr. Columba was in his teens. He chose to enter the Franciscan Preparatory Seminary in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania and began his formation as a Franciscan on 3 September 1946. He professed his vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience on 29 August 1949. He proved himself to be an able student. He continued his studies at The Catholic University of America where he completed a BA degree in Philosophy, an S.T. L. degree and, after his Solemn Profession on 30 August 1952, he did graduate studies in English Literature both at The Catholic University of America and, later, at New York University. He was ordained to the priesthood by Most Reverend John McNamara, D.D. at Trinity Chapel in Washington, D.C., on 8 December 1956, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Much of Fr. Columba’s ministry in the Province was related to his love of learning. He devoted himself to the ministry of education at both the high school and college levels. At the high school level he taught Italian, Latin, Religion and English at Franciscan Preparatory Seminary. He was also an instructor at Cathedral High School in Saint Cloud as well as Saint Francis High School in Little Falls, Minnesota. During his years in the mission in Paraguay, from 1969 – 1974, he taught at Carajao Secondary School. At the college level, during his various assignments in Minnesota, Fr. Columba increased the literacy levels at Saint Clare’s College, Little Falls; the Newman Center in St. Cloud; and St. Gabriel’s School of Nursing. He never lost his love for learning and, even as he neared retirement, he taught in the Intensive English Program at the Catholic University of America from 1990 – 2000. When he had an opportunity to do further studies in English Literature, he lived for a period of time at Saint Veronica’s Parish in Greenwich Village, perhaps one of his most beloved assignments. Fr. Columba’s understanding of Church, and himself as an emissary of the Church’s ministry, is best captured in an anecdotal story. One evening a group of “literati” were gathered in New York City and the subject moved to religion. One of those present put it to Fr. Columba: “This is where the Church needs to be, right here with us!” Fr. Columba’s retort was, “But I am here!”

Fr. Columba generously served the community in a number of internal ministries. He was Local Minister at St. Francis Friary, Little Falls, MN, St. Thomas More Friary, Washington, D.C., delegate to the General Chapter in both 1969 and 1989, and he served as a Provincial Councilor during the terms of four different Provincial Administrations. His generous service in Paraguay brought him back there in 2000. He returned to the United States, retiring in 2002, to San Pedro Friary, Winter Park, Florida after 45 years of active ministry.

Fr. Columba was one of those who welcomed the change to the vernacular and tried to keep up with whatever was happening in the Church. He helped to update the General Constitutions in light of the Council at Vatican II. He was beloved for his tremendous wit and the twinkle in his eye that always signaled some impending mischief. Wherever Fr. Columba went he formed a coterie of friends from St. Cloud to Brooklyn, Paraguay to Mexico. It was no secret that he loved to travel. His gastronomic palate, though, was limited, but not in the typical sense of the Irish preference for meat and potatoes. No, he liked three things: pasta with red sauce, pasta with red sauce, pasta with red sauce. To vary would invariably disappoint. He found an abiding home in the heart of the Province of the Immaculate Conception. 

Fr. Columba was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers John and Francis. He is survived by his Franciscan Community, his dearly loved sister, Mary, and brother-in-law Jerry Murphy, as well as nieces and nephews and the many friends that formed his extended family. He will be dearly missed by all.

Visitation was held first at Mary Mother of God Chapel on the grounds of San Pedro Spiritual Development Center, Winter Park, FL on Monday, 13 March 2006 beginning at 4:00 PM. Mass was celebrated that same day at 7:00 PM. for the regional friars and the many friends he formed during his brief stay at San Pedro. The larger TOR community, as well as friends and relatives of Fr. Columba, gathered for Visitation at Saint Bernardine’s Monastery, Hollidaysburg, PA on Thursday, 16 March 2006 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. A prayer service was held at 7:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated appropriately on the Feast of Saint Patrick, Friday, 17 March 2006 at Saint Patrick's Church, Newry, Penn. Interment occurred in the community cemetery of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, Hollidaysburg, PA. A luncheon followed.      

Homily at mass for Fr. Columba Enright, T.O.R.

On 11 February 2006, at the age of seventy-three, our brother,

Rev. Damian Drass, T.O.R.

died at Altoona Regional Health System Hospital, Bon Secours Campus, Altoona, Pennsylvania. Although unconscious, he was surrounded through his last days by the friars from the Pennsylvania region, his family, and his friends.

Father Damian was born in the former Mercy Hospital in Altoona on 22 October 1932. He was the son of Paul and Mildred (Rusnak) Drass of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. He was baptized at Saint Michael’s Church in Hollidaysburg on 6 November 1932. The full flowering of his baptismal call found its _expression when, in 1946, he chose to enter the Franciscan Preparatory Seminary in Hollidaysburg during the Provincialate of Very Reverend Louis Hileman, T.O.R. He professed his vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience into the hands of Very Reverend Augustine Cestario, T.O.R., Minister Provincial, on 3 September 1951. He continued his studies at Saint Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania. After graduation he studied for the priesthood at Saint Francis Seminary in Loretto and graduated with a BA degree in Philosophy in 1956. He did additional studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John McNamara, D.D. at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, also in Washington, D.C., on 4 June 1960.

Father Damian’s ministry in the Province bears witness to his fidelity and commitment. His first assignment was to return to his hometown where he taught for two years at the Franciscan Preparatory Seminary. In 1962 he was appointed Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Altoona. It was there that he established the well-known, and well-respected, Father Damian’s Boys Club. During that same time he also taught at Bishop Guilfoyle High School. In 1966, Father Damian was named the Parochial Vicar at the former Saint Anthony Church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1969 he was named Pastor of the parish and local minister and econome of the friary at Saint Anthony’s. He faithfully and lovingly served in that capacity until 1975. In 1975, during the Provincialate of Very Reverend Emile Gentile, T.O.R., Father Damian was assigned to a ministry that became his life work. With a true missionary spirit, he accepted an assignment to serve as chaplain and director of the Newman Center at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia, and administrator of Saint Elizabeth Mission Parish. The early years of his assignment there were not without hardship. In 1983, Father Damian was appointed pastor of Saint Elizabeth and set out to build a new church, daily Mass chapel, Newman Center, educational area, and a social center. The social center now bears his name for the legacy of love he left behind.

With a reluctant heart, Father Damian retired from active ministry in June 2005. He returned to the town where he grew up and lived at the friary of Saint Joseph. After suffering a stroke, he resided for a brief time at Garvey Manor in Hollidaysburg until the time of his hospitalization.

Father Damian was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Harry Criswell. He is survived by his Franciscan Community, his dearly loved sisters: Audrey (Vargo) and Barbara (Criswell), his aunt and uncles, nieces and nephews, as well as the many friends that formed his extended family. 

The nurses at the hospital inquired whether this was a famous man, as they had never had so many calls inquiring into the health and status of one of their patients. Father Damian was indeed famous for the many friendships and connections he formed during his 73 years of life, and the very quiet, hidden gestures of generosity he offered to so many in need.

Visitation was held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 806 11^th Street, Altoona, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, 15 February 2006 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and from 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM. A prayer service was held at 7:00 PM for those in attendance at that time. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, 16 February 2006 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 11:00 AM. Mass was followed by a luncheon. Interment occurred in the community cemetery of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

Homily at mass for Fr. Damian Drass, T.O.R.

On 6 January 2006, at the venerable age of eighty-nine, our brother,

 Most Rev. Aloysius Joseph Hankinson, T.O.R.

died at Altoona Regional Health System Hospital, Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was removed from a ventilator in the late morning after many medical efforts to help him recover from a massive heart attack. Friends, family, and friars were there to accompany him on his transition to new life.

Father Aloysius was the son of Francis and Mary Regina (Harbrandt) Hankinson. He was the third oldest of seven children. His next youngest brother, Philip, was also a member of the Province of the Immaculate Conception. Father Aloysius entered the Franciscan community in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania in 1939 and professed his solemn vows on 28 September 1946. From his grade school in New Baltimore he came directly to the community and studied under the tutelage of the Franciscan Friars. He completed a BA in philosophy from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. in 1947 and also did post-graduate studies there in Latin, literature and dramatics. He was ordained a priest at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., by Cardinal Patrick O’Boyle, D.D.

His first ministerial assignment was chaplaincy ministry in 1951 at Altoona Hospital, and later at Holy Rosary Hospital, Ontario, Oregon and Saint Joseph’s Hospital, LaGrange, Oregon. A man of great intelligence, his education was put to good use in service of the community. Father Aloysius was engaged as a teacher for four years at Franciscan Preparatory Seminary, Hollidaysburg, PA. From 1956 -1959 he served there as Rector and Prefect of Discipline. In 1958 he was named Chairman of the Catholic Education Association of Pennsylvania, the minor seminary division.

Beginning in 1959, Father Aloysius developed new ministerial skills. He served as pastor and Local Minister at Saint Anthony’s Church, Windber, PA from 1959-1965 and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Altoona, PA from 1968- 1974. 

Father Aloysius exhibited many skills of leadership. The community recognized those skills and elected him Minister Provincial. He served one term from 1965 until 1968. At fives different times, between 1953 – 1974, he also was elected as a member of the Provincial Council. Father Aloysius was quite proud of the fact that in 1974 he was granted the rights and privileges of a Canon of the Apostolic Basilica. It was in that same year that he retired from active ministry to Saint Joseph’s Friary in Hollidaysburg, PA where he lived the remainder of his life.

Fr. Aloysius is predeceased by his parents, his sister Elizabeth, and his brothers Francis, Philip, and Patrick. (His brother, Father Philip Hankinson, T.O.R. died in 1980.) Father Aloysius is survived by three sisters: Therese, Regina, and Grace. 

Visitation was held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 806 11^th Street, Altoona, PA on Monday, 16 January 2006 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and from 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM. A prayer service was held at 7:00 PM for those in attendance at that time. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, 17 January 2006 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mass was followed by a luncheon. Burial occurred afterward in the cemetery of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, Hollidaysburg, PA.

Father Aloysius died just two days before the convening of the Provincial Chapter. Let us hope that he will intercede on behalf of all the friars of our Province who served him so faithfully over these many years. 

Homily at mass for Fr.Aloysius Hankinson, T.O.R.