"From the Provincial's Desk"

It’s always inspiring to read the minutes of House Chapters from the friaries in our province. A “House Chapter” is a meeting of the friars which takes place at least once a month in which the friars discuss what is happening in their lives and what kinds of things can be done to improve the ways in which they are living the Gospel.
Each friary always sends the minutes of their House Chapters to the provincial office and I have the privilege of reading about what is happening in the fraternities in our province. For most of our friaries, Advent means a renewed commitment to quiet prayer and community activities which center on the symbols of the season.
It seems that every friary finds an evening or even a whole day to set aside for decorating. The friaries also seem to set aside special time for their Christmas gathering. Both of these – decorating and gathering – are integral parts of the Capuchin fraternal life.
Days of recollection and prayer are special Advent customs, too. Hospitality seems to be a value also as some to the friaries are scheduling times for inviting brothers from surrounding fraternities to join them for meals or prayerful evenings.
In a world where Black Friday and Cyber Monday seem to be overshadowing the peace and hope of the season, it is good to know that there are places where Advent is not a commercial season but rather a season to prepare the way of the Lord and renew our sense of “waiting” for Jesus. God really does come, to those who wait faithfully and prayerfully.
Happy Advent!

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Advent 2009

It’s always inspiring to read the minutes of House Chapters from the friaries in our province. A “House Chapter” is a meeting of the friars which takes place at least once a month in which the friars discuss what is happening in their lives and what kinds of things can be done to improve the ways in which they are living the Gospel.
Each friary always sends the minutes of their House Chapters to the provincial office and I have the privilege of reading about what is happening in the fraternities in our province. For most of our friaries, Advent means a renewed commitment to quiet prayer and community activities which center on the symbols of the season.
It seems that every friary finds an evening or even a whole day to set aside for decorating. The friaries also seem to set aside special time for their Christmas gathering. Both of these – decorating and gathering – are integral parts of the Capuchin fraternal life.
Days of recollection and prayer are special Advent customs, too. Hospitality seems to be a value also as some to the friaries are scheduling times for inviting brothers from surrounding fraternities to join them for meals or prayerful evenings.
In a world where Black Friday and Cyber Monday seem to be overshadowing the peace and hope of the season, it is good to know that there are places where Advent is not a commercial season but rather a season to prepare the way of the Lord and renew our sense of “waiting” for Jesus. God really does come, to those who wait faithfully and prayerfully.
Happy Advent!

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Br. Christopher Gama Professes Solemn Vows

"Since for the glory of God, the Lord has given me this grace of living more perfectly and with a
firm will the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I, Br. Christopher Gama, in the presence of the assembled brothers, and into your hands, Father Charles., vow for all the days of my life to live in obedience, without anything of my own, and in chastity according to the Rule of Saint Francis confirmed by Pope Honorius III and according to the General Constitutions of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor. Therefore with all my heart I give myself to this Brotherhood that through the work of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, our Father Francis and all the saints, and with the help of my brothers I may fulfill my consecration to the service of God and of the Church." 

These were the words spoken by Br. Christopher Gama on Sunday, November 22, as he placed his hands in those of the provincial minister, Fr. Charles Polifka, and solemnly professed to observe the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience for the remainder of his earthly life. The event, celebrated within the context of the Sunday Mass, took place at Annunciation Catholic Church on the outskirts of downtown Denver.

This particular Sunday, the Solemnity of Christ the King, marked the culmination of five years of discernment regarding Br. Christopher's vocation to the Capuchin Franciscans. Brother entered the first stage of religious discernment, the postulancy program, in 1993 at St. Crispin Friary in downtown St. Louis. He was was the only one of three classmates to move on to the novitiate at St. Conrad Friary in Allison Park, Pennsylvania for a year of more intense prayer and discernment. Following upon that year, Brother laid aside the "clothes of probation" and received the Capuchin habit, vowing to live the evangelical counsels for three years. During that period, Brother spent time at Padre Pio Friary in Colorado Springs, St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Denver, and at San Damiano Friary, also in Denver, where he currently resides.

Sitting in the front pew at Annunciation Church were Brother's parents, Philip and Lalla Gama of Pueblo and Sally and James Pagano of Monument, surrounded by members of his immediate family. Also in attendance were a large number of Christopher's extended family, friends, FOCUS missionaries, religious, as well as  classmates and professors from St. John Vianney and Redemptoris Mater seminaries.

Front row on the opposite side of the Church were Brother's newest family members, the Capuchin Franciscans. A large number of friars from the Denver and Colorado Springs area attended the celebration. Fr. Christopher Popravak, director of post-novitiate formation, and Fr. John Lager, director of vocations, stood as witnesses to Christopher's solemn profession.

During his homily, Fr. Charles Polifka, reminded Brother that today a real dying was taking place. In professing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, Christopher was taking the next step in that journey begun at his Baptism when he died with Christ in order to rise with Him. Additionally, Fr. Charles exhorted all of the brothers present to be models of that self-giving love which shines so brilliantly in the Trinitarian communion of divine Persons.

The Mass and Rite of Profession were followed by a celebration in the gym at nearby Annunciation Catholic School.

In addition to profession as a Capuchin Friar, Brother is also studying for the priesthood. He is currently in first theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver.

Please keep Brother Christopher in your prayers as he continues to seek God's will in his life and pray that the Lord will send us many more such men!

Photos of the celebration will be forthcoming. Br Christopher has created a YouTube slide-show presentation of the event which can be viewed here: Youtube Final Vows

PHOTO: Signing of the legal documents pertaining to profession on the evening before the celebration. From L to R: Fr. Christopher Popravak, Fr. Charles Polifka, Br. Christopher Gama, Fr. Francisco Ramirez.

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Denver Friars Pray for Deceased

As has become a custom among the friars in Denver, and elsewhere, members of the Mid-America province visited Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Denver, Colorado on the eve of All Souls where they prayed evening prayer in honor of their deceased brothers and sisters. The Capuchin Friars and their Poor Clare sisters have a special plot where members of their Orders are laid to rest near other priests and religious of the diocese.

"Eternal rest grant unto them O' Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace! Amen."

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A Friar in Altöetting

Fr. David Songy stands beside the altar dedicated to St. Conrad of Parzham in Altöetting, where St. Conrad lived and served as porter.

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Contemplating Dawn at Our Lady of the Angels Friary

All praise be yours, my Lord,
through all you have made,
and first my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day;
and through whom you give us light.

How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor;
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

All Praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon
and the stars; in the heavens you have made them,
bright, and precious, and fair.

All praise be yours, my Lord,
through Brothers wind and air, and fair and stormy,
all the weather's moods,
by which you cherish all that you have made. 

- excerpt from "Canticle of Creatures" by St. Francis of Assisi

- Pictures: Fr. Jeff Ernst contemplates the morning sky at Our Lady of the Angels Friary in Colorado. 

- Photo courtesy of Fr. Frank Grinko, O.F.M.Cap.

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Book on Ven. Maria Lorenza Longo, Foundress of Capuchin Poor Clares, published by Paulist Press

The latest Paulist Press catalog lists a 176-page book "The Venerable Maria Lorenza Longo," written by Agostino Falanga, O.F.M.Cap., and translated by Ronald Giannone (New Jersey province). It is the biography of Maria Longo (1463-1542), a native of Barcelona and the widow of John Longo, a Spanish diplomat. Her life seemed doomed to one of suffering, until she was miraculously cured at Our Lady's House at Loretto and from that moment on focused her life on serving the poorest of the poor—not unlike Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in our own age. She joined the Secular Franciscan Order and, a group of women joined her in founding the Hospital of Our Lady of the Incurables in Naples. She personally directed this Pious Work of the Incurables for twelve years. The work rapidly expanded, so that when her own health started declining, she understood it was necessary to hand over her charge. Fortunately she met St. Cajetan of Thiene, founder of the Thietines, who encouraged her to found a monastery where she could live with her disciples of the Third Order. Cajetan personally assisted her during this new phase, and on Feb. 19, 1535, Pope Paul III approved the foundation of the Capuchin Poor Clares. For more on this and on St. Joseph Moscati, who was a doctor and researcher at the Hospital for the Incurables 1904-27, click here. The book sells for $18.95 and will be available after January 1, 2010.

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Brother Christopher Gama to Make Final Profession

Br. Christopher Gama, O.F.M.Cap., of San Damiano Friary, Denver, will make profession of solemn vows at Annunciation Church on Sunday, Nov. 22, during a Mass beginning at 3 p.m.. Fr. Charles Polifka, provincial minister of the Capuchin friars of Mid-America will receive Br. Christopher's vows on behalf of the Church.

The son of Philip and Lalla Gama of Pueblo and Sally and James Pagano of Monument, Br. Chris entered the Capuchin postulancy program in St. Louis in 2003 at the age of 23. He made his novitiate at St. Conrad's Friary in Allison Park, Pa., receiving the Capuchin habit on Nov. 28, 2004, and making profession of temporary vows the following Nov. 22. Since then he has been stationed at Padre Pio Friary in Colorado Springs 2005-06, St. Francis Friary on Wyandot St., Denver, 2006-08, and now at San Damiano's where he is presently a student for the priesthood in the first year theology program at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.

Brother studied at Sunset Park and Pitts public schools in Pueblo and graduated from South High School there in 1998. In high school, he was very active in athletics and played on his school's state championship baseball team.

On the college level, Brother has studied engineering at Colorado State University in Pueblo and Ft. Collins; Spanish at various schools in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Puebla, Mexico; and philosophy at Regis University and Vianney Seminary, graduating with bachelor's degrees in philosophy from both Regis in 2008 and Vianney in 2009.

As part of his ministry formation program in Colorado, Br. Chris has served in the food kitchen at Marian House in Colorado Springs, Eucharistic minister at St. Francis Nursing Center in Colorado Springs, and youth minister at Annunciation Parish, Denver.

Brother attended World Youth Day in Australia in 2008.

(written by Fr. Blaine)

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Simon Sez: Mary Our Mother

When we think of the Blessed Virgin Mary we think of her as our Mother, we honor her as Queen of Heaven, we invoke her as the Health of the Sick and Comforter of the Afflicted.  We should not forget that she was a homemaker, a housekeeper as well serving Jesus and Joseph in their home at Nazareth.

Years ago this aspect of Mary’s life appeared in a few lines of verse in Integrity magazine entitled: “Our Lady of the Broom”:

“The large and lovely lessons

You taught with little breath

In the Liturgy of Labor

In the House at Nazareth

Are such fantastic simple things

That mortals may presume

To call the Queen of Seraphim

Our Lady of the Broom.”

      -- J. Shaw, Integrity, May 1952

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Simon Sez: Love Has Hands

Somewhere in his vast writings St. Augustine asked the question: “What does love look like?”  He doesn’t answer by citing sunsets, looking at the eyes of a baby, feeling a gentle summer breeze or seeing dewdrops on a rose.

Instead he answers: “Love has hands  to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy.  It has eyes to see misery and want.  It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of others.  That’s what love looks like.”

St. Augustine remembered what Jesus said:  “What you do for others you do for Me.”

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Simon Sez: The Way Home

Jesus came to earth to show us the way home, to our eternal home, to our heavenly Father’s mansion of many rooms with one reserved for each of us.

With this to motivate us we are able to appreciate Cardinal Newman’s moving prayer:
“May He support us all the day long
until the shadows lengthen
and the evening comes
and the busy world is hushed
and the fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then in His mercy
May He grant us safe lodging
And a holy rest
And peace at the last.”

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Simon Sez: Some Other Time

When St. Paul had finished speaking to the leading minds in Athens they told him: “Let’s discuss this some other time.”  “Some other time.”  Isn’t this the world’s greatest alibi?  We seem to be born procrastinators making tomorrow the busiest day of the week.

Do we put God off when He speaks to us through His word, through our conscience to change, when He tells us to give up some bad habit, to stop drinking so much, to quit going to where you should not go on the internet, to cut out the catty office gossip?

We want to be sure that we don’t say to God: “some other time.”

Do you remember the bumper sticker that put it rather bluntly: “Many who plan to seek God at the 11th hour, die at 10:30.”

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