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MINISTER PROVINCIAL
Fr. Anthony Criscitelli, T.O.R.
Church of St. Bridget
3811 Emerson Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55412 |
Dear Friars,
Peace and
Good Things!
The month of
June was an especially busy time for us�as a Province and for the
friars living in the Minnesota Region.� The ordinations of our
brothers Robert Juroszek and Patrick Foley were an occasion that
mustered a lot of planning and coordinating.� As you know, it has
been a decade since our last ordination and we had to make sure all
our bases were covered.� In the end, the liturgy, reception, and
subsequent Mass of Thanksgiving at Saint Gerard�s were very nice
and, except for the dreaded heat and humidity, came off without a
hitch.� I want to extend a special word of thanks to the many friars
who traveled from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Florida to be here
for the occasion.� Not only did it make for a sizeable
representation of the Province, but also provided an occasion to
spend time with and enjoy the company of friars who too seldom
travel west of the Mississippi.� I also want to thank the local
friars who helped to coordinate the celebrations and offered
hospitality to friars and others who were our guests during those
days.� Bishop Richard Pates, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of
Saint Paul and Minneapolis, was the ordaining prelate and was high
in his praise for the two ordinandi, the ministry of the
local friars, and the presence of the Province in this local
Church.� Congratulations and prayerful best wishes to Fr. Robert,
who has been assigned as Parochial Vicar at the Church of Our Lady
of Mount Carmel, Altoona and to Bro. Patrick, who is spending the
summer exercising his ministry as a deacon at the Church of Saint
Gerard.� He will return to Texas in the fall to continue his
theological studies and will be ordained a priest next June.
On the other
side of the ledger, two of our friars joined the ranks of the
retired:� Damian Drass and William Santre.� After 31 years of
faithful service to the people of Philippi, West Virginia and the
Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, our brother Damian celebrated his 45th
anniversary of ordination and retirement from active ministry at a
festive liturgy and reception on June 5.� He was joined by friars,
members of his family, and many friends and parishioners who came
together to celebrate his years of dedicated ministry.� Damian is in
the process of moving into Saint Joseph Friary, Hollidaysburg where
he has chosen to live in retirement.� On behalf of the Province, we
wish him good health and ad multos annos!
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Beginning
July 1 William Santre will also enjoy the status of a retired
friar.� He will continue to reside at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Friary where he has served as Parochial Vicar for the past several
years and will continue to assist the friars there on a limited
basis.�� In his years of active ministry, William has served the
Church and the Province in a variety of ways�as an instructor,
Provincial Econome, in parochial ministry, and in Provincial
leadership both as Minister Provincial and Provincial Councilor.� We
are grateful for his dedication and hope that this time of
retirement will be both restful and rewarding.
The months
ahead will continue to be busy ones for all of us.� During the
summer months many of us will be making our regional retreats.�
Friars who are unable to participate in their region�s time of
retreat are reminded that they must make alternate arrangements and
inform me of their plans.� Although prayer and reflection are a
regular and integral part of our lives, a time of retreat�away from
the usual routine and distractions�is important to our spiritual
health and well being.� I suspect many of you will also be making
time for vacation.� Like retreat, this is also an important
component of a healthy and well-balanced life.� However and wherever
you spend your vacation, enjoy it and make the most of it!
Soon our
Minister General will announce the opening of the General
Visitation.� Fr. Ilija will be conducting the Visitation and plans
to arrive in the United States at the beginning of September.� He
has placed himself on a rather tight schedule and so it is important
to try to accommodate him as best as you can.� He will also be with
us at our Province Jubilee celebration at Priestfield Pastoral
Center on September 19 and is, himself, celebrating 25 years of
ordained ministry.
During these
months, let us remember each other and the Province in prayer,
especially as we prepare for a time of elections and Provincial
Chapter. The retirement of our brothers Damian and William fill us
with a sense of gratitude for the ways God has blessed us and
enriched the Church through the ministry of these men; the recent
ordinations of our brothers Robert and Patrick renew in us a sense
of hope for the future.� May we embrace that future with courage,
open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and generous in our service
to the Province and the Church.
����������������������������������� Fraternally in St. Francis,
�����������������������������������
(Very
Reverend) Anthony M. Criscitelli, TOR
����������������������������������� �Minister Provincial
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