Migliori Casino Non AamsMigliori Casino Non AamsNon Gamstop CasinoCasino Not On GamstopI Migliori Siti Di Scommesse Non Aams
Franciscan image
Franciscan image
Francis of Assisi Franciscan Resources The Order -- Rome The Friars -- USA Contact Us �
Vocations Prayer Requests Franciscan Poetry Favorite Sites Peace & Justice Our Guestbook

� The Province
� Administration
� Mass Association

�

 Planned Giving
Province Directory
Province History
Province Apostolates
T.O.R. / S.F.O.
Province Connection

Province Newsletter
Franciscan Friars
Volunteer Program
Death Notices
Saint Bernardine Monastery
Friary Recipes
Buy Note Cards
Franciscans
Catholic America
�
�

The Good News - Winter 2006

THE GOOD NEWS

On the weekend of December 2, Brad Baldwin directed a retreat for the Confirmation students of the Church of the Visitation in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.� He coordinated the retreat with Mrs. Rose Marchesse, the parish Director of Religious Education.� The title of the retreat was:� �The Sacrament of Confirmation and the Future of the Church.�

�

Gerard Connolly had the opportunity to minister to the residents at the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home.� After he received clearance for this government job, he celebrated three Masses each Sunday for a month and ministered to the spiritual needs of these sometimes forgotten members of society during the week.� The Sacrament of the Sick was administered to all the Catholic residents in the three residential buildings.� A retired priest is now taking care of the residents� spiritual needs. In addition, Gerard continues to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacrament of the Sick on the second and fourth Friday of each month for the residents of Homewood Retirement Center in Martinsburg, PA.

�

Gerard also had the opportunity to experience prison ministry.� Again after intense clearance he has been celebrating Mass at the Cresson State Prison in the absence of a regular Catholic chaplain.� The former 56-year-old priest chaplain was found dead in his rectory.� A retired priest was taken out of retirement to help with this ministry.� Gerard continues to offer spiritual direction to some of the inmates and substitutes for the chaplain when he is away.� The facility has 1,300 inmates, many are young men, and 50 inmates are lifers.

�

John Kerr has been appointed the chairperson of ISAIAH�s Minneapolis caucus.� ISAIAH is an inter-faith organization that seeks to bring faith values to bear upon the unjust political and economic structures in neighborhoods and throughout the state.� ISAIAH has helped to make a significant difference in North Minneapolis.� Way to go, John!

�

On November 19, Patrick Quinn gave a conference to the Lay Ministries Formation Program in the Diocese of Rapid City, Iowa.� The theme of the conference was �Lay Ecclesial Ministries in an Inter-religious and an Ecumenical Context.�� In addition to his regular course-instruction and administrative duties at Saint Paul Seminary, Patrick is also teaching a course on Ecclesiology this semester at Saint John�s School of Theology in Collegeville, Minnesota.

�

Frank Scornaienchi has been appointed by Bishop Joseph Adamec to the Board of Directors for Bishop Guilfoyle High School, Altoona, Pennsylvania.� Congratulations, Frank!

�

The parish community of Saint Patrick, Mount Dora, Florida is holding a �Mortgage Burning Party� on March 18, 2006.� The semi-formal, gala event will be a very happy day in the life of Emile Gentile who undertook the building project that was completed in 2003.� Emile is readying himself for a well-deserved retirement.

�

David Liedl, in his capacity as a member of the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International, has been named Secretary of this organization.� Spiritual Directors International has over 5,000 members in 54 countries.� Check out their web-site:� www.sdiworld.org.�

Text Box: This letter was received from Seamus Corcoran who had the happy privilege of traveling from his mission in Paraguay back to his school house in Ireland.  The school was celebrating its 100th anniversary.      They came from near and far, young and old.  All roads led to the school house at the crossroads in  Mullagh Na Si for the weekend of celebration to mark the centenary of the national school.  One hundred years of forming children for life in the world!  It was, for many,  a return to the school house for the first time since leaving.  How small the classrooms and desks now seemed from long ago.  Turf fires gave way to central heating, chalkboards gave way to a modern computer system.  A lot had changed over the years, even the students themselves.  Thanks to the name system we could find each other from days of yore.     Each day of the celebration saw over 600 people from all over find their way back to the school, renewing friendships, exchanging stories, and looking over the roll books.  As one of the past pupils who had traveled afar with the Gospel of the Master, I also joined in the homecoming and was given a special honor of a crystal-cut vase with the shield of the school.  Also present was a former student who joined the Sisters of Mercy.  She received a similar honor.  We are the only living members of the many pupils who had joined religious life.  Honored also was the oldest pupil--100 years young.  She lives in Pennsylvania and was absent because of illness.  The youngest pupil in the roll book, a four-year-old boy, was there to collect his crystal vase.     The Bishop was present to begin the celebrations with a concelebrated Mass.  Past pupils who had gone to their eternal rest were remembered in a special Mass held in the cemetery.  Another day was set aside for children.     It was indeed a very special weekend for all.  Many wished it could continue and wondered who would be around for the next centenary?                                        Yours in Christ,                                          Seamus, T.O.R.

Seamus receives a special gift from two Irish lassies on the occasion of the 100th� anniversary of his grade school� in Ireland.

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

VICE PROVINCE OF� SAINT FRANCIS�OF ASSISI (India)

Congratulations to the newly elected Provincial and Councillors of the Vice-Province of Saint Francis of Assisi in India.�

� Fr. Aloysius Kattady� ������������ Minister Provincial

� Fr. Gregory Kerketta ������������ Vicar Provincial

� Fr. Philip Kaduthanam First Councillor

� Fr. Herman Kujur Second Councillor

� Fr. Marianus Kujur��� Third Councillor

� Fr. Ranjan Ekka Fourth Councillor

Prayerful best wishes are extended to the newly- elected Minister Provincial and his team.

Franciscan Federation

The Mission of the Franciscan Federation is to promote exploration and study of Franciscan Evangelical Life and its implications for these times and for our world.� The federation provides national and regional opportunities to collaborate, gather and celebrate so that the brothers and sisters can better live the Third Order Regular call to conversion, contemplation, poverty and humility.� More information on the services, programs and initiatives sponsored by the Federation may be found on their website:�������� www.franfed.org.

�

newsletter index

Death Notices

| Page Up |

Other interesting websites