Province of Mid-America News

Cardinal Sean Once Made Diplomats Squirm

2008-04-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Boston Globe recently published an article which highlighted the quiet activities of Washington's Centro Católico Hispano, just a short distance from the White House, and noted that it was not getting anywhere the attention of the Pope's visit to the nearby White House. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, who as a young priest strongly developed the Center, is reported as having said in a homily for a Mass for the Washington diplomatic corps in the 1970s "that he had heard from too many of the women who cooked and cleaned for them that they were treating their domestics shabbily." Many in the congregation of ambassadors and consuls general got up and left. O'Malley kept talking as the indignant big shots walked out. The Centro's current director, affirmed the truth of the legend and added, "And the people here, they don't forget that he was on their side, the poor people, the working people."

Read the entire article: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/04/17/quietly_doing_gods_work/

Annunciation Parish and Fr. Francisco in Rocky Mountain News

2008-04-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

Mid-America's Fr. Francisco Ramirez was mentioned in a recent edition of the Rocky Mountain News. Pastor of Annunciation Catholic Church in Denver, Fr. Francisco returned from his mission work in Mexico less than a year ago to begin his new assignment. The article had this to say:

The vigil, I learn, is not tied to a particular death. "It is tied to life," says the church's new pastor, Father Francisco Ramirez. It is an announcement of his intent. A Colorado native, he spent much of the last 23 years as a Capuchin- Franciscan brother before becoming ordained. Annunciation is his first parish.

"I want to build bridges," he tells me. "But I am not so naive as to believe that all we have to do is pray for peace. We are going to have to work to create peace instead of havoc."
On this point, he has already been tested.

He tells me this story. Last December, about three months after he came to Annunciation, one of the neighborhood residents broke into the church. The burglar used a dumbbell to beat at the door. He broke one of the gorgeous century-old stained glass windows. Once inside, he left a turkey carcass on the altar. He stole the processional cross and an altar lantern.

A young man was arrested and charged; the stolen items recovered. "He has mental issues, maybe drug problems, as well," the priest says. In a meeting with the district attorney's office, Father Francisco dismissed the idea of restitution. "With what?" he says. "He has nothing. He is a sick man."

Read the full article.

"Arise, Let Us be on our Way" parts I & II

2008-03-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

"Do You Beleve?" Parts I & II

2008-03-26T18:49:00.001-07:00

"Aerternitas Fraternitas" Part I & II

2008-03-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

Lawrence of Brindisi redivivus!

2008-03-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

Word arrived yesterday from Gandolf Wild that the Order has finally made much of Lawrence of Brindisi's writings accessible to the English-speaking world.

Twelve volumes of sermons and homilies of our Doctor of the Church have been published by Media House, the Capuchin publishing house in Delhi India.

The sermons and homilies were translated by Fr. Vernon Wagner of the Calvary Province of St. Joseph.

The twelve volumes are available for $260 US currency.
This does not seem to include the cost of shipping and handling. For this reason it will probably be cheaper to consolidate multiple orders for the set.

I plan to order a set for the archives, where we already have a copy of the Opera Omnia in the original languages. I have also made the librarians at Denver's St. John Vianney Seminary and FranciscanUniversity in Steubenville aware of the set, and will probably try to alert others to it availability,If others friars or friaries within the province would like to have additional sets, I could order them at the same time as the archives set, with the understanding that the archives will be reimbursed for books and S & H by the persons (physical or moral) desiring the additional set(s).

I would like to take care of this before supplies are exhausted, so if you are interested please contact me quickly — more specifically before October 20, 2007.

Being a collection of sermons and hmilies, the set would not include Lawrence's critiques of the works of Luther and others. This would explain why the English set has less volumes than the Opera Omnia.

Two Brothers to Profess Final Vows

2008-03-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

Brothers Barnabas Eichor, Joseph Mary Elder Make Final Profession As Capuchin Friars

by Fr. Blaine Burkey, O.F.M.Cap.

Friars of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America are looking forward to the community's first final profession of new members since 1996.

Brother Barnabas Eichor and Brother Joseph Mary Elder (to left and right of Vocation Director John Lager in photo) are scheduled to make final profession March 27, during the friars' annual provincial assembly at Victoria, Kansas.

Both friars are currently preparing for the priesthood at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver and live at St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Denver. In additional to his study of theology, Br. Barnabas is doing a pastoral internship at Sacred Heart Church in Denver, which involves serving on the pastoral and parish finance councils and teaching adult catechism classes. Br. Joseph Mary teaches confirmation classes at Annunciation Church. Both parishes are pastored by members of the Capuchin Order.

During his years in formation as a Capuchin, Br. Barnabas has also worked to improve housing for the poor, taught at Annunciation Elementary School, and worked with Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity. Br. Joseph Mary has also ministered in two centers for the homeless, a retirement center, and a home for severely mentally challenged children and adults, and with people receiving Meals on Wheels.

Born in Denver in 1965, James Richard Eichor, Jr., earned a master's degrees in economics at the University of New Mexico in1987 and one in anthropology at Texas A & M University in 1989. He then served in the Army in both Desert Storm and Desert Shield of the Persian Gulf War, and returned to civilian life to engage in sales and semitruck driving. He entered the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 2000, entered the Capuchin novitiate in 2002, at that time taking his new religious name, Barnabas, and made his first profession of vows in 2003.

Scott Michael Elder was born in Florissant, Mo., in 1977 and grew up in Kirkwood, Mo. A graduate of DeSmet High School in St. Louis in 1995, he pursued a degree in English for several years, but dropped out of school for a while, working in the meantime in ink manufacturing and landscaping. Br. Joseph Mary says his life was profoundly affected by a pilgrimage to Medjugore in 2001. He entered the Capuchin Order in 2003, at that time took a new religious name, Joseph Mary, and made his first profession of vows in 2004.

Br. Barnabas is the son of James and Alice Eichor, who lived for many years in Bayfield, Colo., but are currently in rest homes in the north Texas panhandle. Br. Joseph Mary's parents, Bruce and Mary Cheryl Elder are parishioners of St. Peter's Church in Kirkwood.

Construction Begins on Denver Administration Building

2008-03-15T10:01:00.001-07:00

The last couple of weeks have seen a great deal of activity on the lot adjoining St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Denver. Construction crews have already finished digging out the area for the soon-to-be-poured foundation and it should not be long before cements trucks begin to arrive. Above are photos of the construction. More as they come....

Funeral of Fr. Joe Schreck - Photos

2008-03-15T09:52:00.001-07:00

The above are a selection of photos from the funeral of Fr. Joe Schreck courtesty of Sr. Dottie Moss, CSJ. Sr. Dottie accompanied Sr. Margaret Schreck, sister to Fr. Joe, and family to the funeral services in Puerto Rico. Many thanks to Sr. Dottie.

Death of Fr. Joe Schreck, O.F.M.Cap.

2008-03-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

Marienthal Native, 51 Year Veteran of Missionary Work, Honored With By Civil, Church Leaders in Puerto Rico

by Fr. Blaine Burkey, O.F.M.Cap.
Director - Capuchin Province of Mid-America, Communications Office

Fr. Joseph Schreck, O.F.M.Cap., 80, native of Marienthal, Kan., and longtime missionary in Puerto Rico, was specially honored at his funeral Feb. 12 at San Miguel Church in Utuado in west central Puerto Rico.

Well over a thousand people attended, including over a hundred diocesan priests, 30 Capuchin Franciscans, and eight bishops, including Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez, archbishop emeritus of San Juan.

Tee shirts with Schreck's portrait on them were being sold and worn in the streets, and by decree of the civil authorities, flags were being flown at half mast.

Later on additional thousands of people lined portions of the streets and roads as the funeral procession moved Schreck's body the 60 miles from Utuado to Porta Coeli Cemetery in Bayamon.

Son of the late Henry and Adelheid (Finke) Schreck of Marienthal, Schreck was born and baptized in Marienthal in 1927. At that time, Capuchin-Franciscan friars still staffed St. Mary's Church and numerous other Catholic churches along State Rt. 96.

Joseph's father died when Joseph was six years old. By then there were eight children in the family—four boys, fours girls. Joseph was the third youngest. As a senior in high school, Joseph went away to the minor seminary—not a Capuchin one, but one run by the Crozier Fathers in Minnesota. He then completed college studies at seminaries of the Maryknoll Missionaries in New Jersey and Illinois.

Schreck "returned"—as it were—to the Capuchins in November of 1951, entering their novitiate in Annapolis, Md. After profession of religious vows in November of 1952, he began theological studies at Capuchin College in Washington, D.C.

Ordained a Catholic priest by Bishop John Baptist Franz at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City in 1955, he went to Puerto Rico in 1956 and was stationed there ever since.
During those 51 years, he served 15 years as local superior, three years as first counselor of the viceprovincial minister and six years (1978-84) as viceprovincial minister.

His years of leadership mark the clear beginning of the subsequent puertoricanization of the Capuchin viceprovince. When he became viceprovincial minister, only seven of the 26 Capuchins in Puerto Rico had been born there. With Father Joseph's death only one of the 26 Capuchins presently on the island was born elsewhere.

In service of the church in Puerto Rico, Father Joseph served two years in country chapels, two in mobile chapels, 12 years as associate pastor, and 20 years as pastor of large parishes in San Juan, Ponce, Utuado, and Rio Piedras. He also directed large combination grade and high schools for 26 years, was spiritual assistant to Secular Franciscan Order fraternities for 25 years, and chaplain for a year at a tuberculosis sanitorium. The bishops of San Juan, Ponce, and Arecibo engaged Joseph in close collaboration with themselves for a total of 23 years. His titles at various times included archbishop's secretary, prosynodal judge, dean, episocopal vicar for pastoral affairs, defendor of the bond, member of the presbyteral council, and since 1995 chancellor and diocesan consultor.

At the time of his golden jubilee as a priest in 2005, Father reflected on his years as a missionary:

"On June 11, 1955, Our Lord and Eternal High Priest shared with me His priesthood, essentially the business of 'connecting' souls to God. I have had some great moments of 'connecting': an older man, never gone to church, dying of cancer; a still youngish woman who had lived on the 'farside' most of her life; a young man with TB afraid to leave his wife and newborn son; a hooker who had quite a time getting her act together. I was there, seeing grace work, helping a bit. What a privilege! What a joy! I imagine something like a fireman who pulled someone from a collapsing building; a diver sharing his 'air' with one whose tank is empty; a broker who made an exceptionally good investment for his client. Those moments have been precious! Unforgetable!

"There have been high and low profile positions, accomplishments and failures--but they have all been peripheral. The really big ones were the 'connecting' moments, for which I am deeply grateful."

Padre Pio's Body Exhumed, Reported to be in Fair Condition

2008-03-03T07:11:00.001-08:00

Reuters is reporting the following story on the exhumation of Capuchin saint, Padre Pio:

"ROME, March 3 (Reuters Life!) - The body of the mystic monk Padre Pio, one of the Roman Catholic world's most revered saints who died 40 years ago, has been exhumed to be prepared for display to his many devotees.

The body of the Capuchin friar, who was said to have had the stigmata -- the wounds of Christ's crucifixion -- on his hands and feet -- is to be conserved and put in a part-glass coffin for at least several months from April 24.

A Church statement said the body was in "fair condition", particularly the hands, which Archbishop Domenico D'Ambrosio, who witnessed the exhumation in the southern Italian town where Pio died, said "looked like they had just undergone a manicure".

A spokesman for the monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo said he believed morticians would be able to conserve the face of the bearded monk well enough for it to be recognisable...."

Read the full article here.

Vocations - Holy Week Discernment Retreat

2008-02-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

Join the friars from the Capuchin Province of St. Conrad for Holy Week. The brothers are inviting young men interested in pursuing a vocation to the Capuchin Order to spend the solemn Easter Triduum at the mountain shrine of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini in Golden, CO.

The retreat, scheduled for March 19 - 23, 2008, will be given by Fr. John Lager, O.F.M.Cap., director of vocations for the St. Conrad Province. In addition to prayer, the Divine Office, and holy Mass, Fr. John will give introductions to the history of the Capuchin Order, the spirituality of the Capuchin Reform, and will bring the retreatants to various Capuchin ministries and friaries in the Denver area.

Also included for retreatants, will be the opportunity to assist as an altar server for the Easter Triduum, reflections on the seven last words of Christ, and of course the beautiful Stations of the Cross that wind up the mountain at Cabrini Shrine.

If you would like to spend a very special and prayerful holy week learning more about the Capuchin friars and discerning a possible vocation, please contact Fr. John Lager, O.F.M.Cap.

Pax et Bonum!

St. Padre Pio's Body to be Exhumed

2008-02-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

"St. Padre Pio's body to be displayed for veneration SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, Italy (CNS) - The body of St. Padre Pio will be exhumed, studied and displayed for public veneration from mid-April to late September, said the archbishop who oversees the shrine where the saint is buried. Archbishop Domenico D'Ambrosio, papal delegate for the shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo, announced Jan. 6 that he and the Capuchin friars of Padre Pio's community had decided it was important to verify the condition of the saint's body and find a way to ensure its preservation. "It is my personal conviction and that of the confreres......"

read the full article at CatholicKey.org

Feastday of St. Joseph of Leonessa

2008-02-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

"Joseph of Leonissa, OFM Cap.; was the third of eight children born at Leonessa (Italy) on January 8, 1556. At baptism he was given the name Eufranio.

"Impressed by the example of Matthew Silvestri, who had left the medical profession to embrace the Capuchin life and whose holiness was evident, Eufranio was inspired to become a Capuchin. After overcoming family opposition, he was admitted to the novitiate and received the habit and the name Joseph and made profession on January 8, 1573."

read the full article on St. Joseph of Leonessa at the Catholic News Agency website

Death of Irish Friar is Widely Felt

2008-02-09T18:59:00.000-08:00

'The sudden death of former Henderson Parish priest Father Matthias Murphy is being mourned throughout the west. Father Matthias, 78, died on January 31, and was a familiar face at the Holy Cross Church where he worked for more than 27 years. But he was also well known in the wider community where he often counselled married couples and worked with troubled youths.

The popular Irishman dedicated himself to a life of celibacy when he entered the Catholic priesthood 50 years ago. The people of west Auckland were, he said, like the offspring he never had. "Sometimes it looks good to have children," he said. "It’s basic human instinct. But I’ve got a family of more than a thousand in west Auckland."'

read the full article at New Zealand's ArchiveStuff.com

A New Capuchin Bishop

2008-02-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

"Father John Corriveau, OFM Cap., a former Minister General of the Capuchin branch of the Franciscan order, was ordained Bishop of Nelson Jan. 30 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Kelowna by Archbishop Luigi Ventura, the Apostolic Nuncio.

He was installed as the sixth Bishop of Nelson at the Cathedral of Mary Immaculate in Nelson the next day.

Bishop Corriveau succeeded Bishop Eugene Cooney, who retired after 47 years of priestly ministry, including almost 12 years as bishop. Bishop Cooney's resignation was accepted by the Pope at the end of November...."

read full article (external link)

Papal Preacher Says Satan Exists - and Christ Defeated Him

2008-02-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

Capuchin Friar and Preacher to the Papal Household, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, spoke on the existence of the devil in his Gospel reflection for the 1st Sunday of Lent. Fr. Cantalamessa said, "Demons, Satanism and other related phenomena are quite topical today, and they disturb a great part of our society. Our technological and industrialized world is filled with magicians, wizards, occultism, spiritualism, fortune tellers, spell trafficking, amulets, as well as very real Satanic sects. Chased away from the door, the devil has come in through the window. Chased away by the faith, he has returned by way of superstition...."

Read the full article at Zenit.org

Christian Leadership in the Modern Media

2008-01-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

In case you have not been checking regularly, former provincial Fr. Mike Scully has been building quite an impressive collection of Gospel meditations on his website.
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Titled Christian Leadership in the Modern Media, the site boasts a large archive of meditations based upon the Gospel reading for the day and similar themes in popular music and film. Using the Gospel message in this manner can provide a powerful tool for making the Scriptures relevant for today's youth.
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Also included on the site are meditations based on the current listing of top 5 songs (according to Mix 103, KJLS-FM, in Hays, KS, www.mix103fm.com) and the transcript of Fr. Mike Scully's radio show "Message at the Top." Both links explore the principles of Christian leadership that can be found in the popular music of the current day, as well as the top 20 "Hot Adult Contemporary" music of the 80's, 90's and 2000's.
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Fr. Mike's Christian Leadership in the Modern Media can be found at: http://www.frmikescully.com/

Revisiting Papua New Guinea

2007-12-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

Former Papua New Guinea missionary, Fr. Myron Flax recently arrived in Papua New Guinea and will spend the next month visiting the scenes of his former work and activity. He is being received with much love by the people whom he once served so devotedly.

Fr. Myron is currently stationed at Solanus Casey Friary in Colorado Springs, CO. where he works full time at the Catholic Center at the Citadel Mall celebrating Mass and hearing Confessions.

Br. Ryan Professes Temporary Vows

2007-12-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Br. Ryan Tidball professed temporory vows at the hands of his provincial, Fr. Charles Polifka. Promising to live a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience for the next three years, Br. Ryan now joins the ranks of student friars living at St. Francis Friary in Denver, CO.

After a visit with his family, Brother will return to Denver and begin his post-novitiate year under the guidance of Fr. Gene Emrisek. During this period of ongoing initial formation, Ryan will deepen his understanding of the Capuchin charism, putting into practical application the spiritual wisdom learned during his novitiate. In addition, Brother will begin studying Spanish and will spend a three week period this summer in a cross-cultural experience will Fr. Bill Kraus and the novices in Tres Ojitos, Mexico.

Please keep Br. Ryan and all of the friars in your prayers. Additional photos from the profession Mass can be viewed in our online album.

Fall Edition of The Porter

2007-12-08T07:28:00.001-08:00

The 2007 fall edition of The Porter is now online and available for download.

This document is in pdf format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Acrobat Readers is available for free download at Adobe's website: www.adobe.com

The Porter is a publication of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America.

Download: THE PORTER 2007 FALL

Padre Pio Credited with Parish's Conversion

2007-12-08T07:26:00.001-08:00

A recent article on Zenit credits Capuchin with parish's conversion: "PESCEANA, Romania, NOV. 28, 2007 - The 71-year-old mother of a former Orthodox priest says she was cured of lung cancer through the intercession of Padre Pio. After the apparent miracle, the priest explained, he and his mother, and members of his parish, have become Catholics.Lucrecia Tudor was born into the Romanian Orthodox Church and her son, Victor, followed a vocation to the priesthood. In 2002, he was working in Pesceana, close to Valcea, in south central Romania. Another son, Mariano, dedicated himself to painting, especially iconography, and lives and works in Rome....(full article)

Capuchin Preacher Criticizes Atheist's Essay

2007-12-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

Preacher to the Pontifical Household, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M.Cap. recently wrote a commentary criticizing Christopher Hitchen's essay, God is Not Great.

Fr. Cantalamessa writes, "But Hitchens, in my view, makes a mountain out of every molehill. He claims to follow the Gospel principle of judging the tree by its fruits, but as for the tree of religion, he only considers the rotten fruits, never the good ones. The saints, the geniuses and benefactors given to humanity by the faith or nourished by it, count for nothing." To read the article in full, click here.

Papal Preacher Begins Advent Meditations

2007-12-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

Vatican, Dec. 7, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher to the pontifical household, delivered the first in a series of Advent meditations on December 7, with Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) among the members of the congregation.

Each year the Vatican schedules a series of Advent reflections, delivered each Friday morning by the papal preacher. Delivered in the Redemptoris Mater chapel of the apostolic palace, the meditations are attended by the Pope, the Roman Curia, and vicar and auxiliary bishops of Rome.

Father Cantalamessa chose a text from the Letter to the Hebrews as the subject of his first meditation: "He has spoken to us by a Son." (Heb 1,2) The Capuchin preacher will deliver two more meditations during this year's short Advent season, on the December 14 and 21.... (full article)

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Dec. 8

2007-12-01T18:45:00.000-08:00

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation in the United States. celebrates the beautiful dogma that Mary, "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin."

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The words were spoken with great love as they fell from the lips of Pope Pius IX in 1854, affirming as a matter of faith the belief in the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

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The belief in Our Lady's Immaculate Conception, a belief held by St. Francis in the 13th century, had been the result of a long debate among theologians. It was the Franciscan Doctors who fought to see that the truth would ultimately prevail:

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"From Scotus down through Francis of Brescia, whom, our Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV, gave the title "Fortissimus Samson" after a brilliant exposition of the doctrine of the immaculate conception, in his presence and in the presence of all the members of the Roman Curia, and until the definition of the Dogma by Blessed Pius IX in 1854, many others among our more renowned Franciscan theologians became heralds and defenders of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception as formulated by John Scotus" (full article).

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On this beautiful Solemnity of our Mother and the Queen of the Friars Minor, we present a reflection given by the Capuchin Doctor of the Church, St. Lawrence of Brindisi, on this very topic:

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"Great was the happiness of human nature in paradise before original sin, so long as man remained in the state of innocence and original justice. Then was human nature like that tree seen by King Nabuchodonosor in his dreams: tall, with its top touching heaven; wide, with its branches filling the whole world; adorned with the loveliest fronds and flowers and the best of fruits in greatest abundance. But soon, by virtue of the sentence executed by the Angel, this tree was despoiled of its goods, and, with branches and trunk cut off, was reduced to nothing....(read full reflection)."