THE GOOD NEWS
A full-page article appeared in the
June 24, 2005 edition of
The Florida
Catholic
highlighting the presentation of papal honors upon five priests and
ten religious and lay leaders in the Diocese of Orlando. As
mentioned in the July 2005 issue of the Province newsletter, our own
Emile Gentile
received the
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
honor on June 6th.��
Of this honor, Bishop Wenski said: �The fact that our Holy Father of
most happy memory, Pope John Paul II, approved these priests,
religious and lay persons for the recognition is a personal honor
for each of them.�� The
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
Cross, a gold cruciform medallion with the image of the pope, is
presented to both men and women in recognition of their personal
commitment and outstanding service within the ecclesial community.�
Again, we congratulate Emile!� Bishop Wenski�s words to Emile and
the other honorees, echo our own sentiments as a Province: �We
rejoice for you, we rejoice with you, for in honoring you, the pope
honors all of us.��
�
An article
appeared in the August 5, 2005 issue of
The Florida
Catholic reporting on
Robert D�Aversa�s
appointment as spiritual director of the Pontifical Irish College in
Rome.� The article pays a glowing tribute to Robert�s vibrant
ministry for twenty years on the pastoral staff of San Pedro
Spiritual Development Center.� Reflecting on his ministry at San
Pedro, Robert is quoted as saying: �Serving at San Pedro, serving in
missions in parishes, has made me more compassionate, more aware of
my own brokenness and fragility.� But I�m spiritually healthy.� I�ve
learned not to imagine that I have all the answers.� The two things
I hope to take with me to Rome are the ability to companion people
on a spiritual journey of discernment and myself as a Franciscan.��
Congratulations, Robert, on your new ministry!� Thanks for the good
press and the helpful reminder that we serve as part of an
international Order
On August 9, 2005, the office staff
at Saint Bernardine�s gathered to celebrate a milestone of service
to the Province.� Thirty years ago, Jane Balzano began working at
Saint Bernardine�s at the tender age of 19.� Over these many years
she has faithfully served the Province through her dedicated
ministry in the Office of Development.� She is the public face and
voice of the Province to so many of the benefactors who contact the
office.� She has echoed in her own ministry the hospitality that is
the hallmark of our community.� Congratulations, Jane!� Thanks from
all of us for the work you do so lovingly. (Jane also took on the
additional responsibility of �foster mother� for Clare, Bro Alexis�
dog, after Alexis� untimely death in 2004.)
�
Anniversary luncheon
at the Olive Garden.���Seated from left to
right:� Patty Pyo, Lois Walter, James Liederer, Pam Kaufman, Jane
Balzano (the guest of honor) ,�� Fr. William Linhares, Fr. Gerard
Connolly
Stephen Garcia wrote an extensive
article about his six-week summer experience as a volunteer with our
Franciscan Province.� The article was published in the August 25,
2005 edition of
The Irish Rover,
an independent, Catholic newspaper published fortnightly at the
University of Notre Dame.� The newspaper has a circulation of
3000.������������������
���� In addition to detailing the
story of his experience in North Minneapolis and in Paraguay, the
article drew attention to the needs of the children he encountered
at the Infant Child Jesus Center.� Stephen is busy soliciting funds
from students and businesses to help build a playground for the
Paraguayan children he met.�� A thank you letter from Stephen to the
friars of our Province is included as an insert in this newsletter.�
John Kerr
organized a town hall meeting on
August 22 at Saint Bridget's about implementing�a living wage in
Minneapolis.� He gathered eight other churches on the north side of
the city to co-sponsor the event and close to 100 people attended.�
John spoke about the living wage in terms of�our faith's call to act
on behalf�of the whole community, since�the issue itself�doesn't
affect many of the Saint Bridget parishioners who are retired.� All
three city council members from the north side were called upon to
support it and three state officials added comments. �
�
On July 30,
Bill Linhares
was installed as Vicar Forane of the Martinsburg Vicariate by Bishop
Michael J. Bransfield.� Bishop Bransfield is the newly appointed
bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese.� The bishop made an
extensive tour of the burgeoning Catholic parishes in the Eastern
Panhandle of West Virginia.� He used the occasion to install Bill in
this key position of leadership during an evening Mass at Saint
Vincent de Paul Parish where
Cyprian Mercieca
serves as pastor.�
The role of Vicar is to keep
people informed and provide avenues for dialogue and discussion on
the unique needs of the Church in each Vicariate.� This role is
especially important during a time when an area, such as the Eastern
Panhandle, is expanding so rapidly.� Congratulations, Bill!� We
rejoice in your willingness to undertake this new position.
�
Bill Linhares is
installed as Vicar Forane by Bishop Bransfield. Cyprian Mercieca� is
seated in the back to the right
On� Monday, September 19,
twenty-seven friars gathered at Priestfield Pastoral Center to
celebrate this year�s jubilees.�
Mark Reifel
is celebrating 50 years of ordained ministry and
Anthony
Criscitelli is celebrating 25
years of ordained ministry.� Present at the event was Most Rev. Fr.
Ilija Zivkovic, T.O.R., Minister General. He is celebrating 25 years
of ordained ministry.� This gave the Province an� opportunity to
toast him (and roast him!) along with the other friars.�
Congratulations to the jubilarians!
The friars were in good spirits and
humor throughout the evening.
Adalbert Wolski,
in his own inimitable blend of Italian, Latin and English, provided
some opening remarks on our Province, the Minister General and the
jubilarians.�
Bonaventure
Midili provided the official
roast of Fr. Ilija;�
William Santre
shared some reflections on Mark Reifel�s dedicated ministry and love
for chocolate; and Anthony Criscitelli did not escape a panoply of
praise and assorted good-natured jibes by
Patrick Quinn.
Thanks to
Bill Linhares and all the
staff at Priestfield Pastoral Center!� The kitchen, under the
management of� a new chef, came through with its typical sumptuous
fare and the Center�s staff once again showed themselves to be
models of hospitality.
News Letter
Franciscan Intersections - World News
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