Padre's Day in Pio's Place ( June 21)

"Whispering in the Loggia" has already reported on Pope Benedict XVI's visit today to the Padre Pio's tomb in San Giovanni Rotondo":

"In a pilgrimage that's been much awaited across Italy, today the Pope hopped across the Boot to visit San Giovanni Rotondo and the sanctuary of St Pio of Pietrelcina -- Padre Pio, the 20th century Capuchin mystic who's the most-turned to figure among Italians at prayer... Jesus included.

"As one would expect given Pio's massive global cult, turnout was measured in the 'hundreds of thousands':

"At the beginning of the Year for Priests, Benedict XVI has launched another model for all priests showing to all the example of the friar from Pietrelcina: 'A simple man of humble origins, 'seized by Christ' (Phil 3:12) ... to make of him an elected instrument of the perennial power of his Cross: the power of love for souls, forgiveness and reconciliation, spiritual fatherhood, effective solidarity with the suffering. The stigmata, that marked his body, closely united him to the Crucified and Risen Christ '...." Click here to see the whole article.

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US Capuchin Poor Clares Gather for Renewal Conference

The 25 Capuchin Poor Clares shown here, and four more who had not yet arrived from Alamo TX, will be attending a renewal conference at Denver's Loretto Center from June 15 to July 7. The sisters represent all five US Capuchin Poor Clare monasteries: Wilmington, Amarillo, Alamo, Pueblo & Denver. Fr. Juan Maria Castro, delegate of the Capuchin Minister General (second from right, back row) and Mother Lilia Molina, president of the confederation of all Capuchin Poor Clares in the Americas (the one hiding below the top ornament of the fountain) will lead many of sessions of the conference. The photo was taken in the back yard of St. Francis Friary, Denver, where friars all five Colorado friaries threw a welcoming meal prepared by Fr. Dave Gottschalk on June 14. The day was US Flag Day, and Frs. Myron Flax, Matthew Gross, and John Cousins were in red, white and blue. (Fr. Dave, Fr. Charles Polifka, Br. Benignus Scarry and Affiliate Don Reeves are missing on the photo).

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Postulants Work Together on Doll House for Habitat

The postulants at Victoria for the pre-novitiate prep program had their first day of ministry with Habitat for Humanity, Monday, June 8. They broke into two teams to construct a doll house and a jungle-gym to be raffled at the local Hays Wild West Fest on July 4th. Next they will be helping renovate two houses in Hays. The doll house crew is (bottom) Anthony Monahan (Mid-Am), Rich Reinhardt (Calv.), Erik Lenhart (NY-NE), and Matt Stillman (NY-NE), (top) Christopher Iwancio (California), Ken Cole (Central Canada), Alan Trotter (Pa), and Matthew Anselmi (Pa). The three Australians have still not arrived. Click here for a Hays Daily News story on the program and photos of the jungle-gym or treehouse, whatever it is.

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Anthony Monahan, 14 Others Begin Pre-Novitiate Prep

Mid-America's Anthony Monahan (front and center) and 14 postulants from six other NAPCC jurisdictions began a two-month joint preparation for the novitiate at St. Fidelis Friary, Victoria, on May 31. Frs. Jim Froehlich (Penn. Prov) and Frank Grinko (Mid-Am)—back row, 3rd and 4th from left—and Fr. Michael Greco (N.Y.-N.E.)—(front row, 2nd from right)—are running the program, assisted by Fr. Harvey Dinkel (Mid-Am)—center row, far right—as project bursar. Three postulants from Australia hope to join the program soon, but are being held up by difficulties in getting US visas. This is the fifth time the program has been conducted in Victoria. Anthony comes to us from Minnesota, his home state, where he earned a degree in philosophy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona.

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Five Young Men Accepted for Postulancy 2009-10

The Capuchin Province of Mid-America is happy to announce that these five young men have been accepted for the Province's next postulancy class, which begins at San Antonio Friary, Denver, in late August or early September. John Mrozek comes to us from Centennial CO, Keith Gray from Evansville IN, Donald "Digger" Rank from Monument CO, Justin Rojas from Hattiesburg MS, and Brandon Berg from Atchison KS. Fr. Bill Kraus will return from Mexico this summer and serve as postulancy director. The group was accepted on May 26.

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Our Lady of Fatima Comes to the Black Forest

Bros. Benignus Scarry, Felix Shinsky and Larry Bowers, Frs. Frank Grinko and John Toepfer, a neighbor known as "YR," and Smokey, the friary cat, helped set in place on May 23 the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Brought to Our Lady of Angels Friary in Black Forest, north of Colorado Springs, from the former St. Patrick's Friary in St. Louis, the statue was sculpted in 1955 by the renowned Carl Christian Mose (1903-73) on commission from Fr. Joseph Adams, Capuchin pastor in St. Louis 1952-1971. It stood north of the old St. Charles Borromeo Friary 1955-81. (Photo by Fr. John Toepfer)

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From the Desk of the Provincial Minister - May 2009

Our Capuchin Constitutions require that the Minister General, the elected leader of the whole worldwide Capuchin Order, visit – either personally or through the elected members of his council – each province in the Order. Given the large number of provinces and friars (we are almost 11,000), it is almost impossible for one man to do all that, so the General Council members are assigned to do “visitations” of the provinces.

The Capuchin Province of Mid-America is represented on the General Council by Brother Mark Schenk, OFM Cap., who happens to be a member of the Mid-America Province. In this case, it is customary for another member of the General Council to do the visitation of the province. So Father Peter Rodgers, OFM Cap., the General Councilor for most of western Europe, is doing the “visitation” of the Mid-America Province.

The “visitation” began on April 29. Brother Peter took part (see photo at left) in the blessing of the new Administration Building which was celebrated by Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap., the Archbishop of Denver. Brother Peter visited the friars in Denver and Colorado Springs and then journeyed to Ellis County to visit the friars there. He traveled on to Lawrence, to St. Conrad’s Friary, and then returned to Denver where he is concluding his visitation at St. Francis Friary. Before he leaves to return to Rome he is visiting with the Provincial Council (see top photo).

Provincial Visitations take place every year. The Capuchin Constitutions require the provincial to visit each friar and each friary at least twice in a three-year term. At these visitations, the provincial checks on the general well being of the friars, the life of the fraternity (how the friars are meeting the expectations of the Constitutions in their daily lives), and how things are going in the various ministries. A visitation from the General Councilor (or in some cases the General Minister) allows the friars to meet with someone who has the overall sense of the Capuchin Order and to reflect on how his life and fraternity meet expectations and values of the whole Order. It also gives the General Councilor a good sense of what is happening in the Order in this particular part of the world.

Capuchins are not men who are only members of a “province.” We are members of a world-wide fraternity of men who are striving to live the life of St. Francis in cultures that range from Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Switzerland, France, Turkey, Indonesia, Korea, China, Australia, South Africa – everywhere in the world.

A visit from a General Councilor makes each of us aware that we are not Capuchins alone in Kansas and Colorado. We are united with Capuchins all over the world. We are brothers to Ethopians and Papuans, with Indonesians and Italians, with Canadians and Brazilians. The whole world is our family.

We welcome Brother Peter Rodgers to Mid-America. He represents our universal brotherhood and calls us to a universal sense of brotherhood.

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Pope Thanks Friars, Urges Them to Rebuild the Church

At the end of the International Chapter of Mats marking the 800th anniversary of the first approval of S. Francis's rule for the Friars Minor, Pope Benedict XVI met on April 18, 2009, with many of the participants — including Mid-America's own Bro. Mark Schenk and Fr. Julian Haas — at his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo and said:

I welcome you with great joy at this happy and historical event which has gathered you: the eighth centenary of the approval of the "Protorule" of St Francis by Pope Innocent III. Eight hundred years have passed and that dozen Friars has become a multitude, scattered across every part of the world and today here, is worthily represented by you. In the past few days you have been meeting in Assisi for what you have chosen to call the "Chapter of Mats", to recall your origins. And at the end of this extraordinary experience you have come together to see the "Lord Pope", as your Seraphic Founder would have said.

I greet you all with affection: the Friars Minor of the Three Obediences, led by their respective Minister General, among whom I thank Fr José Rodríguez Carballo for his courteous words; the members of the Third Order, with their Minister General; the Franciscan women religious and the members of the Franciscan Secular Institutes; and, knowing that they are present in spirit, the Poor Clares who constitute the "Second Order". I am glad to welcome several Franciscan Bishops; and in particular I greet Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi who represents the Church of Assisi, the native region of Francis and Clare and, spiritually, of all Franciscans. We know how important for Francis was his relationship with Guido, the Bishop of Assisi in that period, who recognized his charism and supported him. It was Guido who introduced Francis to Cardinal Giovanni di San Paolo who then presented him to the Pope, encouraging the approval of the Rule. Charism and Institution are always complementary elements for building the Church.

What can I say to you, dear friends? First of all I would like to join you in thanking God for the long way he has granted you to come, filling you with his benefits. And as Pastor of the whole Church I want to thank him for the precious gift that you yourselves are for the Christian people in its entirety. The tiny stream that flowed from Mount Subasio has become a great river that has made a remarkable contribution to spreading the Gospel throughout the world.


This is just the beginning of a wonderful warm sharing with the friars. To read the entire speech, go to the Vatican site.

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From the Provincial's Desk - A Monthly Reflection

Dear Friends:

We welcome Fr. Simon Conrad to the website. “Simon Sez” will be updated weekly with a new reflection – a spiritual vitamin – from one of the most talented writers in our province.

While looking at Fr. Simon’s reflection I noticed how out-of-date this column is. So I was prompted to commit myself to a more regular updating. Much has passed over my desk since January 2009. But rather than reminisce, let me fast forward to the current moment, a moment when Swine Flu has suddenly overtaken the economic news.

Yesterday morning Brother Felix Shinsky stopped in my office and shared with me some reflections that the friars at Our Lady of Angels Friary in Colorado Springs were talking about earlier in the day. The very first Capuchins immersed themselves in taking care of plague victims back in the early 1500’s. They comforted, consoled, prayed with and for those who were stricken and their families. They had no fear of the disease itself. Their focus was on the suffering they saw. Brother Felix felt that this example of the first Capuchin friars was a challenge to the friars today to reach out to those afflicted by the pandemic. But how? Certainly we have friars in hospital ministry and friars who because of their parish ministry regularly visit hospitals. But not everyone has this access to those who are suffering. So the friars at Our Lady of the Angels decided that the least they could do was to pray and to offer sacrifices for those stricken with the flu and for a quick ending to the pandemic.

Many are anxious about the virus. Even Archbishop Chaput here in Denver issued a letter about it to the archdiocese. Concerns of the people are concerns of the Capuchins. You may not find us in the streets searching for flu-stricken people, but you will find us doing everything we can to reach out to those who are suffering. Most of all, we will embrace those who are suffering in our prayers, Masses, and sacrifices. It’s the Capuchin thing to do. We’ve always done it.

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A New Feature - "Simon Sez"

Announcing a new feature on the Mid-America Province web site: "Simon Sez - Reflections by Fr. Simon Conrad, O.F.M.Cap."

Fr. Simon, the senior friar of the Province, has a long career in teaching and communications. Teacher of English and librarian at seminaries in Herman PA and Victoria Ks, he also served as rector of the latter. Father authored two books, Master and Model and Brothers of the Sun and appeared on national television in a series aimed at youth. He also was communications director for the old Pennsylvania Province and was on the staff of the Franciscan Communications center in Los Angeles.

Simon Sez" will be a regular feature of the province web site and will be updated frequently. It can be viewed by following this link: Simon Sez

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Fr. Felix Planning 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play Trip

During the Thirty Year War, the Bavarian village of Oberammergau was spared from the Black Plague. In gratitude they vowed that evey 10 years they would give a play to honor the life of Jesus. First performed in 1634, the renowned Passion Play of Oberammergau is still performed to keep that vow. Father Felix Petrovsky is organizing a 10-day trip for next year (2010), beginning in Budapest, including Vienna, Prague, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, and concluding with the Passion Play. The tour is scheduled to begin on July 22, 2010. For information e-mail felpet@eaglecom.net.

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Fr. Julian Haas Publishes Book on Mark's Gospel

Mark's Gospel: Catechumenal Way of the Lord to the Father is the first book in a series of four books on the gospels. Fr. Julian Haas plans to use these books for his new ministry on the internet – The Gospel Listening Experience Ministry. His first book aims to guide believers in any household of the ecclesial community in a religious experience of the Gospel according to Mark. It leads present-day followers of Christ in a process of reevangelization in the real-life situation of any household whether a family unit, single persons living together or priests/ ministers who live or come together, or a religious community – active or contemplative. The Marcan way of the Lord is the way of the cross. It prepares believers for either a physical or spiritual martyrdom. Both blood and bloodless martyrdom have been part of the way of the Lord to the Father from the beginning of Christianity. The Gospel Listening Experience (GLE) is a process in four stages for the reevangelization, the recatechesis, the renewal and the reunion of any Christian household in an by the gospels according to Mark, Matthew, Luke/Acts, and John. Mark is the gospel for the reevangelization of a believer in the catechumenal way of the Lord to the Father. The Marcan text portrays Jesus’ redemptive way.

Frs. Tomasz Wroński (Prov. of Warsaw) and Julian Haas (Prov. of Mid-America) have developed a new website for the Gospel Listening Experience Ministry. You may access it by clicking on this link

At this website, you may also learn more about the ministry and Fr. Julian’s new book. You will find information on how to order your copy of the book by clicking on the Menu Item: First Book for the GLE or by just clicking on this link.

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