A Food Oasis Grows from the Alliance of Two Franciscan Organizations, by Candace Blase, a volunteer at the Little Portion Farm. What follows is the story of two Franciscan organizations who, together, are growing food and community by “bringing faith-infused farm-to-table dining to those in need” in Baltimore.
Brother Stephen Merrigan, OFM Conv. made his first profession Sept. 24, 1960. For 18 years, he was in the Provincial Satellite Offices in Rensselaer, N.Y., where he worked with the lay staff members.
As part of his Documentary Production Class, at Syracuse University, Fr. Rijo Mulavarickal Polachan, OFM Conv. created the following video visit with Fr. Robert Amrhein, OFM Conv. as he reflected on his time serving in Costa Rica, including a video greeting {Gracias Por Todo ~ Thanks for Everything} from one of his former students.
Friar Rijo is a Franciscan Friar Conventual from the India Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe. He is living in community with our friars in Syracuse, NY while continuing his studies, at Syracuse University. Friar Robert is an 85 year old friar of our province, living in the same friar community, in Syracuse.
Franciscan Pilgrimage Program
was asked to create an alternative pilgrimage due to the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On November 7th, 8th, and 11th, 2020,
they will present a Virtual Pilgrimage to Assisi, at NO COST!
It is completely FREE
so that everyone can experience a pilgrimage during this tough year of 2020.
The schedule will be as follows:
November 7th – Porziuncola
Noon (ET) – Brief 30 min ZOOM Discussion followed by a YouTube Virtual Pilgrimage to be viewed before the evening session.
8 PM (ET) – ZOOM Discussion about the Virtual Pilgrimage from YouTube link
November 8th – Rieti Valley
Noon (ET) – Brief 30 min ZOOM Discussion followed by a YouTube Virtual Pilgrimage to be viewed before the evening session.
8 PM (ET) – ZOOM Discussion about the Virtual Pilgrimage from YouTube link
(The link for the YouTube Virtual Pilgrimage for Veterans Day (November 11, 2020) will be given during the Zoom call on Sunday evening).
November 11th – La Verna (Stigmata)
Noon (ET) – Zoom Discussion about LaVerna and the stigma of PTSD in light of the stigmata of St. Francis.
***Evening Discussions on the 7th and 8th and the Noon discussion on the 11th will be broken into two groups of pilgrims and veteran pilgrims.***
All are invited to a Free Zoom meeting, each date: Nov 7th, 8th, and 11th 2020
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UPDATED INFORMATION: Due to an overwhelming response to their Virtual Pilgrimage, the Franciscan Pilgrimage Program had to upgrade their ZOOM Chat settings. Below you will find a NEW Link where we ask you to PREREGISTER for the pilgrimage. You MUST preregister in order to participate. They apologize for the confusion but want to make sure to accommodate everyone who is interested in joining them.
“Screenshot” of friar Cristofer (top left) with some of the virtual attendees during his session
Friar Cristofer M. Fernández, OFM Conv., a brother candidate of our province in studies at The Catholic University of America (Washington, DC), gave a virtual talk for the CSUSB PDC Catholic Newman Club’s Hispanic Heritage Month event. In his talk titled “Emerging Care for our Common Home: Migration, Creation Care, and Latino Catholics,” friar Cristofer discussed the relationship between human movement under the stresses of environmental disequilibrium and shared what Catholic social doctrine had to say regarding migration and creation care. Toward the end of the talk he explained what the hispanicization of the U.S. Church looked like and encouraged the college students to share their gifts with the Church and people in need. The students responded well to his talk and appeared to have fruitful dialogue in the breakout session.
On October 7, 2020, the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., a friar of our province and the Archbishop of Atlanta, was formally conferred the sacred pallium; a band of sheep’s wood worn over his vestments as an ancient symbol of his leadership and his unity with the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Pallium Mass was celebrated by The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio To The United States, at Saint Peter Chanel Catholic Church, in Roswell, GA.
Joyfully, eleven friars of our province were able to join in the celebration: (left to right) Fr. Tom Reist, OFM Conv., the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv., Fr. José Guadalupe Matus Castillo, OFM Conv., Fr. Michael Martin, OFM Conv., Fr. Calixto Salvatierra Morena, OFM Conv., Fr. Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv., Fr. Jude Michael Krill, OFM Conv., Fr. Martin Kobos, OFM Conv., Fr. Vincent Gluc, OFM Conv. and Fr. Mark Szanyi, OFM Conv.
The Archbishop after being formally conferred the sacred pallium.
The Archbishop flanked by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and our Vicar Provincial, Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv.
