Eric Forbes was born to John and Rosalind Limtiaco Forbes on 15 March 1962 in Sinajaña, Guam. Eric was introduced to the Capuchins during his early education. He attended the Capuchin’s St. Francis Elementary School, followed by Bishop Baumgartner Junior High School, and finally Fr. Duenas Memorial High School where he graduated in 1980. He attended the University of Guam in 1980 and continued his studies at San Francisco State University where he graduated with a BA in History in 1984. Eric received the habit on 25 July 1984 and began his novitiate at Saint Fidelis Friary in Agaña Heights. Following his First Profession on 22 August 1985 at Saint Jude Church in Sinajaña, Guam he ministered as a teacher living with the friar community in Agaña. In 1987, Eric began his studies as a theology student in Berkeley, California returning to Guam for his Perpetual Profession on 06 August 1988. During the next year he began his pastoral internship residing at Saint Fidelis. Eric returned to Berkeley, CA in 1988, continuing his studies at the Dominican School of Theology. He was awarded a Masters of Divinity degree in 1990. Fr. Eric was ordained 08 September 1990 by Archbishop Anthony Apuron, O.F.M. Cap. in the Cathedral-Basilica. His first assignment was as acting pastor at San Dimas Merizo/San Dionisio, Umatac and also ministered as pastor at San Rogue, Saipan until 1994. For the next two years Eric served as Director of Vocations and Formation at Saint Fidelis in Agaña. He returned as pastor at San Dimas in 1997. From 1998-2000, Eric once again ministered as a Formation Director. In 2000, Eric was elected Vice Provincial of Our Lady Star of the Sea VP. During his first term, among his many projects, he organized the Centennial festivities, joyfully celebrating one hundred years of Capuchin presence in the Marianas. In 2004 Eric was re-elected to serve a second term as Vice Provincial. Through much hard work and untiring dedication, he oversaw the massive project of rebuilding the new Saint Fidelis Friary in Agaña, dedicated in 2007.

“In 1981 Ronnie San Nicolas, a postulant at St. Fidelis Friary, told me to call Father James Gavin, the Capuchin Superior Regular. Others had heard that I was in the diocesan minor seminary and that another religious order was interested in my vocation. Ronnie knew my heart was set on the Capuchins. For me, how could it be otherwise, as I was raised all my life in the Capuchin parish of Saint Jude in Sinajaña? Kieran Hickey, Canice Cartmell, James Gavin, Paul Toschik, Cornelius Murphy are names and faces that come to mind. Living just down the street from the friary, I knew many of the other friars as well.

“With some nervousness, I approached James Gavin and he graciously welcomed me into the community. In 1984, I was invested. A new adventure commenced during which I came to know Donan Hickey, Antonine Zimmerman, Mel McCormack, Marcian Pellett, Ferdinand Stippich, Alexander Feely, Ferdinand Pangelinan, Timothy Kavanagh, Patrick Nolan, Lee Friel and all those who still remain. They all graced me in their own way.

“Their human idiosyncrasies were re-assuring as I brought my own into the community. Their ordinary dedication and commitment pointed me in that direction. Pray together, live simply and work with the people; that was as attainable a life project as any, and I was up for it. It's been twenty-five years; where did the time go? I have made little progress, but these friars also taught me: Keep reaching for the ideal, even when the feet drag.”

Eric Forbes, O.F.M. Cap. Celebrates Twenty Five

Years of Capuchin Dedication

1984-2009

Si Yu’os Ma’ase’ Pale Eric!

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Eucharistic Celebration

30 January 2009

Eric Forbes celebrated his 25th Religious Jubilee in the presence of our

brothers, his family and the parochial community

of St. Jude Thaddeus in Sinajaña, Guam

Top to bottom-

Family and parishioners of Saint Jude Thaddeus;

John Gallagher, Eric Forbes, Felixberto Leon-Guerrero and John Niland;

Eric renewing his vows into the hands of

provincial John Gallagher;

Senator Eddie Calvo of the Guam Legislature presenting Eric Forbes a congratulatory resolution

while Archbp. Anthony Apuron looks on;

Jack Niland offers a homily during the celebration

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Patrick Glavin, O.F.M. Cap. Celebrates Fifty Years of Priestly Life

A reflection… “You are a Priest forever” I remember these words of Psalm 110 as the refrain of a hymn once sung at first masses of the newly-ordained. Back in 1959, I would have thought that the years from then until now would pretty much correspond to what David had in mind. I think differently now. My gratitude to God for this time as a Capuchin priest grows each day. Of the many gifts given me by God and the friars, the study of the Scriptures stands out as one of the greatest. How much of a gift this has been to those who have had to sit in my classes, I cannot say. I’m sure that the Holy Spirit who led the Apostles to a fuller truth of Jesus’ words will continue that work for all those I had the privilege of teaching. In Jubilee year as prescribed in Leviticus Chapter 25, teaches that all things come to us from God and are blessings to be shared by all. My family, friars, the people that I have encountered along the way, all have been bearers of God’s gifts which I have received and tried to share, however imperfectly. All have been living proofs of God’s patient love, and each one has taught me something of what living as a follower of Christ and Saint Francis as a Capuchin priest is all about.

Patrick Glavin, O.F.M. Cap.

[Right: Ordination Class of 1959-Benedict Joseph Groeschel; Patrick Glavin; Second row-Bernadine Saglimbeni, Bp. Griffiths, Christopher Dietrich; Third row- Randolph Nowak & Darius DeVito.]

James Richard Glavin was born to Francis P. and Ellen C. McShane-Glavin in Quincy, Massachusetts on 19 June 1933. At the time of his birth, Jim’s parents lived in Wollaston, MA and were parishioners of St. Ann Church where he was baptized on 09 July 1933. Later, they attended St. Mark Church in Dorchester, MA where Jim was confirmed by Richard J. Cushing on 16 April 1947. Growing up in Dorchester, Francis Sr., a teacher and Ellen, a housewife would share with their three children Francis, Jim and Ellen their love of learning and their love for the Church. All three siblings would enter religious live and all three would later become scholastics in their fields of teaching. James attended Saint Mark parochial school in Dorchester from 1939-1947; Boston Latin College Prep in Boston from 1947-1951; and Boston College Arts & Sciences College in Chestnut Hill, MA from 1951-1952. During his entire course study at Boston Latin Prep, his conduct was exemplary and his marks in his various subjects were always of honor grade. He was a member of the National Honor Society; he won the “Class of 1885” prize in 1948; the Fidelity Prize in 1949; the Classical Prize in 1950; and the Approbation Prize and Fiske Medal in 1951. He was a Lieutenant in Military Drill and an active member of various school clubs. On 04 June 1951, at the time of his graduation, James ranked eleven in a class of 207.

“Tu es Sacerdos in aeternum.”

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James continued to excel scholastically during his year at Boston College. His English teacher, Francis Sweeney SJ wrote: “Mr. Glavin has been attending my English classes during the past year in a group selected because of superior intelligence and high quality of achievement. He has been an honor student all year. I have found him to be a Catholic gentleman, trustworthy, humble and hard-working. He has an instinctive courtesy and a fine sense of humor, which would be an excellent asset for community life”.

In April of 1952, shortly after the split of the Province of St. Joseph, James began a correspondence with the newly-appointed provincial minister, Fr. Adrian Holzmeister, expressing his interest in becoming a Capuchin Franciscan. His blood-brother Francis [frater Leonard] was a member of the English-Capuchins who at the time resided at St. Lawrence Friary in Milton, MA. [Fr.] Leonard Glavin would later become a member of the new Province of St. Mary and ordained on 26 June 1954.

Jim, a member of the first novitiate class of the Province of St. Mary, was invested at St. Lawrence Friary in Milton, MA on 31 August 1952, receiving the name ‘Patrick’. As a novice, under the direction of [Fr.] Donatus Goetz, Patrick was consistently experienced as disciplined, obedient, hard-working, educationally talented with a wonderful sense of humor. He professed his first vows at St. Lawrence the following year on 01 September 1953.

After profession, Patrick began his philosophical studies at Mary Immaculate Friary in Garrison [1953-56] followed by theological studies [1956-1960]. He pronounced solemn vows on 01 September 1956 at Mary Immaculate Friary. Given Patrick’s sense of humor, when asked what degree he received after his seven years of study at Garrison, Patrick readily responded: ‘Landscape Engineering’.

Father Patrick Glavin was ordained to the priesthood in Sacred Heart Church, Yonkers, NY on 20 June 1959 by Bishop Griffiths, along with Fathers Benedict Joseph Groeschel, Christopher Dietrich and Bernadine Saglimbeni. Following ordination, Patrick began his post-graduate studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC [1961-62] receiving his STL, majoring in theology. He continued his graduate work at the Pontifical Biblical Institute [1962-64], studying both in Rome and Jerusalem. Patrick received his SSL in Sacred Scripture in 1964 and would then begin his 14-year tenure as Lecture and formator at Mary Immaculate Friary until 1978; celebrating his twenty-first year on the Garrison property. During those many years at Mary Immaculate, Patrick also served in several areas of formation development including: field education, lay-friar postulancy program, spiritual direction, liturgical master of ceremonies, and of course, the sentinel of the Rathskeller.

Twenty-six years earlier, in 1952, when asked why he wanted to become a Capuchin, Patrick responded: “I wish to work with the ‘people’. The Capuchin community specialized in work among people and making themselves useful to the Church in many ways. I think that this is the type of work I would like to do.”

In 1978, Patrick enthusiastically accepted any new position and for the next thirty-one years, would actively serve among the ‘people’ in a variety of ministries and parochial settings. After one year assisting at St. Francis Chapel in Springfield [1978-79] an urban transient ministry, Patrick was appointed a member of the first Capuchin parish staff of Blessed Sacrament in Manchester, New Hampshire. After eight years as an assistant, Patrick was appointed the second Capuchin pastor and guardian of Blessed Sacrament Church and friar community and served in those positions for the next seven years.

During his years in Manchester, in additional to his attraction to outdoor maintenance, he developed his skills as a baker and local Braumeister.

After a short assignment at St. Pius X in Middletown [1994-95], Patrick served at Saint Joseph in Portland, Maine first as associate pastor [1995-98], then as a hospital chaplain at the Maine Medical Center [1998-2004]. For the next two years Patrick was assigned to Saint Anne-Saint Augustin in Manchester, NH as a parochial vicar and special ministry for the Diocese of Manchester. In 2006, he became a member of the first Capuchin parish staff of Saint Peter in Rutland VT where he also served as the fraternal vicar.

In September 2008, he returned to Manchester, NH and continues to minister as a parochial assistant at Saint Anne-Saint Augustin. On Saturday, 20 June 2009, Patrick along with his siblings, his brother Capuchins and the parochial community of Saint Anne-Saint Augustin celebrated his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 4:00 p.m. Following the liturgy, our Braumeister had the opportunity of sharing his local brew with his guests during a gala reception.

Top: [Fr.] Leonard Glavin OFM Cap and [Sr.] Ellen Glavin SND;

Middle: Honored and stoic Celebrant- 20 June 2009;

Above: Provincial Minister John Gallagher with Patrick during the Celebration at St. Anne-St. Augustin in Manchester, NH

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Bishop Peter Baptist Ishigami Celebrates 60 Years of Religious Life

Tadamaro Ishigami was born to Chyukichi and Yasuchiyo Kubo-Ishigami on 01 December 1920 while his parents lived at #99 Kasari, Kasari-son, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken, [Northern Ryukyus] Japan. He was one of seven children having three brothers and three sisters. At the age of seven he was baptized ‘Augustine’ in the Church referred to as Kasari Kyokai [or St. Michael] on 25 March 1928. His early years were filled not only with the gentleness and serenity of his home but with the harshness of international conflict. Tadamaro attended Kasari Elementary School, Kasari Kagoshima-ken, Japan from 1927 to 1933; St. Anthony Minor Seminary in Kagoshima-Japan [1933-34]; Fukuoka Diocesan Minor Seminary in Fukuoka-Japan [1934-1938]; and St Sulpice Middle Seminary, Fukuoka-Japan [1938-1941]. At the age of twenty, Tadamaro began his philosophical studies at Saint Francis Xavier Inter-diocesan Seminary in Tokyo-Japan [1941-43]. Tadamaro attempted his theological studies at St. Francis Xavier in 1944 but was not untouched by his country at war and was drafted into the Japanese army, serving as a sergeant. He was discharged in October, 1945. “The first encounter of the Capuchins in Japan occurred in a concentration camp in Kobe City, Japan shortly after the Second World War had begun. There were a few Capuchin missionaries from Guam incarcerated in that camp by the military forces of Japan. Felix Ley was one of them.” PB Ishigami In was in 1947 that Tadamaro first met Capuchins Felix Ley and Alban [Raymond] Bartoldus. These were among the first Capuchins sent to Okinawa to re-establish the Catholic communities after the war. When they first met the threesome communicated in Latin. Tadamaro writes that these conversations stirred his interest and desire to consider religious life, ‘…not only for his personal sanctification but also to be able to work efficaciously in the evangelization of the Northern Ryukyus.’ “Kasari is Ishigami-san’s home village, although ever since we arrived in Oshima, he has been staying with us in Naze. I will bet any of you that you’ve never either seen or heard of a more faithful, unselfish, untiring, catechist, sacristan, interpreter [he uses Latin], lecturer, secretary and companion than Tadamaro Augustine Ishigami. “Each day brings new evidence of how sincerely he meant it when he told us in the first week of our stay on Oshima: ‘Est maximum gaudium mihi servire vobis.’ “When he leaves to continue his study of theology we shall miss him in a hundred ways.” A. Bartoldus

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On 31 August in 1949, Tadamaro entered St. Felix Friary novitiate in Huntington, IN and received the name ‘Peter Baptist’. His eastern classmate included: fraters John Anoia, Dean Corcoran, Knute Kenlon, Bruce Quinn, Douglas Smith, Cullan Steffan, Louis Chiusano and Darius DeVito. His novice master Elmer Stoffel relates: ‘He has been a very fine novice during the entire year. He has set a good example; devout and prayerful…ever ready to lend a helping hand at work or play. Frater Peter Baptist fulfills our best expectations as to becoming a good Capuchin priest.’ After completing novitiate, he pronounced his first vows and was then sent to Saint Anthony Friary in Marathon, Wisconsin to immerse himself in the study of theology. In homiletics class at Marathon, Peter Baptist offered his first public speech in English at the request of his professor: [unedited]

“About three times, Fr. Ambrose kindly suggested that I should give a speech in Japanese and English. And so I am going to try it this afternoon. Since we cannot expect a wonder like the miracle on the first Pentecost Sunday, I think it better to outline this speech beforehand. The story goes way back to my childhood and the time before the conversion of my family.

“One day, I was with my father in the old Shinto shrine of my home village. Towards the end of the ceremony, my father tried to make me drink a sip of the sacred wine offered at the altar according to the custom. I did not like to take it but my father who wished blessings upon me, insisted. To this I only answered by crying. “Today, about 20 years later, I am looking to the day that I may drink another sacred wine which is in reality the Blood of Our Lord. Twenty years ago I cried indeed because of a detestation of the pagan wine. Today, I shall cry again but because of the sweetness of the Christian wine. Certainly, God has done a wonderful thing for me! Now I will put it is Japanese…” PB Ishigami The Capuchin Province of St. Joseph was divided in 1952 and the new Province of St. Mary set up its School of Theology at Mary Immaculate Friary in Garrison. Peter Baptist went east to complete his studies and made his Solemn Profession on 02 June 1952. Peter Baptist was ordained a deacon by Bishop Yu Pin at the Friars of the Atonement Chapel in Garrison on 24 June 1952. He was ordained to the priesthood in Sacred Heart in Yonkers, New York by Bishop Apollinaris Baumgartner, O.F.M. Cap., Vicar Apostolic of Guam and the Ryukyu Islands on 06 September 1952.

His first mass took place at Saint Michael Church in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Peter’s assistant novice master, Christian Schembri ministered as deacon and his old friend Alban [Raymond] Bartoldus ministered as sub-deacon [pictured above]. It was a day of great pride for the parish, our Capuchin Order and the dedicated Mission Club for the Ryukyu Islands. After ordination he returned to Garrison for studies and ministerial experience. A year later, Peter Baptist was sent to Our Lady Queen of Angels in Harlem as an assistant pastor until 13 September 1953. Over a year after his ordination Peter was on his way home to the Ryukyu Islands as its first native Capuchin priest. In a letter to the provincial, Father Adrian Holzmeister dated 25 November 1953, Peter writes:

“I arrived safely at Naha Airport last night at 6:20 p.m. receiving the warmest welcome from the brothers and our good people. Tonight they are going to have a welcome party in the Church Hall. Everything looks different since only five years ago. It is so nice to see that the church has developed within so short a time. My heart is just full of thanks to God, the elder missionaries, our province and good people. I beg your paternal blessing for my new venture.”

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Between 1953 and 1973, Peter Baptist held pastorates in four areas of the Mission including: Naha, Awase, Miyako Island and Nago. Capuchin Martin de Porres Clarke, his assistant through many of those years wrote:

“He [Peter Baptist] has really borne the burden of the day’s heat among his people.” M Clarke

This ‘heat’ was exacerbated with the arrival of a letter from the Most Rev. Arch. Bruno Wuestenberg, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Japan. In a letter to Ray Bartoldus dated 01 February 1973, our brother Peter Baptist writes:

“With tears I accepted the charge. I had the feeling that truly I understood a little of the suffering of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Now, the only thing I’m able to do is to rely on the prayers and cooperation of my brother priests, the sisters and the faithful.”

In a letter dated 30 December 1972, Peter Baptist wrote to the provincial minister, Dacian Dee:

“This is the first note that I’m writing since the official telegram came to Fr. Charles [Bantle] this afternoon.

“It was just one week ago today that Archbishop Wuestenberg telephoned me in Tokyo because I refused to accept such a high position. After a long conversation, I had to accept it with a heavy heart: ‘Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi, secundum verbum tuum.’

After the death of Bishop Felix Ley on 24 January 1972, Apostolic Administrator of the Ryukyu Islands since 1968, the administrative work was ably directed by our capuchin brother Charles Bantle, as Pro- Administrator.

It was a difficult year of political change during which the 39 inhabited islands surrounding Okinawa were returned to the Japanese nation and became its southern-most ‘state’ and were designated Okinawa Prefecture.

According to Peter Baptist, by 1972 the number of Catholics had increased from just a few to over four thousand. When compared to the slow increase in the numbers of Catholics today, the increase in those early years was almost miraculous.

The episcopal ordination took place at 2:00 p.m. on 11 February 1973.

The large auditorium of the International School of Christ the King in Maehara, Ginowan City in Okinawa was a perfect setting for the celebration.

As with Bp Felix Ley, the Consecrator was Archbishop B. Wuestenberg and Peter’s Co-consecrators were: Bp. Joseph Asajiro Satowaki of Nagasaki and Bp Paul Shin’ichi Itonaga of Kagoshima.

Twenty-five years later in 1997, our brother Bishop Peter Baptist wrote:

“This is the fiftieth anniversary of the Capuchins’ arrival in the Ryukyu Islands, as well as the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Diocese of Naha which owes much to you, my Capuchin brothers. I would even say that, without the Capuchins, the diocese of Naha would not exist as it is today. May God bless the Capuchins and reward them for their wonderful services to the people.”

Bishop Peter Baptist now resides with our brothers at St. Francis Friary in Naha. When asked to write a few reflections on the occasion of his 60th Religious Jubilee, Peter simply responded:

Thanks to God and to all my brothers here. I can’t say more than ‘Thank You!’

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Peter Andrew Kaseta was born to Andrew and Elizabeth Baeschlin-Kaseta in Yonkers, New York on 31 March 1941. He was baptized by Capuchin Fr. Anselm Leahy on 20 April 1941 in Sacred Heart Church. Along with his sister Judith, Peter grew up within the framework of a nurturing family on Amackassin Terrace in the City of Gracious Living. Educated by the Sisters of Saint Agnes, he attended Sacred Heart Elementary School from 1948-1955. Following graduation, Peter attended St. Mary Seminary in Garrison, New York from 1955-1959. During the summer months he worked as a stock boy at Wallach Department Store [1957] and Otis Elevator [1958] both located in Yonkers.

Peter Kaseta celebrates Fifty Years of Religious Life

On 31 August 1959, with the approval of his Capuchin pastor Armand Dasseville, Peter entered the Capuchin novitiate at St. Lawrence Friary, Milton, MA receiving the religious name ‘Carl’. One year later he pronounced first profession in Milton on 01 September 1960 along with his classmates Marcellus Raughter, Don Bosco Duquette, Stephen O’Brien, DePaul Guerrero, Evan Bohan, Matthias Wesnofske, Gilbert Pickel, Aquinas Cox, Malcolm Charbonneau, Solanus Hill, Alphonse Frohnhoefer, Keith Hayes, and Linus McGrath. In the fall of 1960, Carl began his philosophical studies at St. Anthony Friary in Hudson, New Hampshire graduating with his BA in philosophy in June 1964. He was perpetually professed the following September also at St. Anthony Friary. In the fall of 1964 Peter then began his theological studies at the Capuchin Theological Seminary in Garrison, New York. These were the years of sweeping changes following the Second Vatican Council. Capuchin seminarians were now encouraged by their formation directors to leave our enclosures to glean practical ministerial experiences during their summer months. Peter ministered at Our Lady of Sorrows during the summers of 1965 and 1966 working in youth programs. Peter reflected: “Words cannot express the rewarding effects these experiences had on me and, I have no doubt, on all who participated in the summer programs. I feel certain that my vocation, both to the religious and priestly life, has been enhanced and exhilarated. Needless to say, now that my classes have resumed, I am in a more beneficial position to co-relate my class knowledge with the concrete situations I saw and was involved with while at Our Lady of Sorrows.”

Peter Kaseta [far right]-circa 1961

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In 1967 Peter was ordained a deacon on 28th March and received his Bachelors of Divinity from our Capuchin Theological Seminary. That summer Peter ministered as deacon at Holy Trinity parish in Poughkeepsie, New York under the supervision of Bishop Pernicone and his assistants. From June to September he along with other Capuchin deacons assisted the parish in visitations, census-taking, distribution of communion and had the opportunity of performing their first Baptisms. Peter writes in gratitude to the provincial minister: “This summer’s work, I feel, has been the most beneficial experience I could have received as I prepare for my ordination and future ministry. I would recommend that the deacons of future years engage in work such as this during the summer preceding their ordination. I am sure I have benefited immeasurably from it and I am sincerely thankful to my formators and local superiors for having the foresight and good judgment to allow us to do this valuable ministry.”

Following his summer ministry in Poughkeepsie, Fr. Peter was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, 11 November 1967 at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Yonkers by Auxiliary Bishop of New York Joseph M. Pernicone, episcopal vicar of Dutchess and Putnam counties. Frs. Philip Bohan, Matthias Wesnofske, Damien Pickel, Maurice Cox, Frederick Hill, Joseph Shea, Richard Steiger and Louis Ludovici were also ordained that day. The following day on Sunday, 12 November 1967, Peter celebrated his first mass at his home parish of Sacred Heart.

Returning to Garrison for an additional year of study, Fr. Peter received his Masters of Theology, majoring in Moral Theology from our Capuchin Theological Seminary in 1968. That summer Peter ministered at Children’s Village assisting Benedict Joseph Groeschel, followed by a temporary assignment at St. Francis Chapel in Springfield, MA until September, 1969.

Peter’s first permanent assignment [1969-1971] was replacing Capuchin Ernest Reardon as Associate Director of the Propagation of the Faith and Holy Childhood in the Archdiocese of New York. He ministered alongside the future Affiliate of the Province of St. Mary, Msgr. William McCormick, director. During this period Peter resided with the friar community of St. John the Baptist in Manhattan, N.Y.

Following the Chapter of 1970 and the subsequent relocation of the new provincialate in White Plains, New York beginning in December 1971, Peter became a founding member of the new Saint Conrad fraternity ministering as the first Director of Personnel until 1978. During the Chapter of 1976, Peter was elected fourth definitor. During this period, Peter also temporarily replaced Capuchin Sigmund Hafemann as administrator and guardian of the new Saint John the Baptist Friary from June-September 1977.

At the Chapter of 1978, Peter was once again elected definitor and for the next six years appointed pastor and guardian of St. John the Baptist in New York City.

In 1984 Peter was appointed Director of Communication and Continuing Education residing with the friar community at St. John. In 1988 he was appointed the first Director of Development of the Province of St. Mary and in 1994 director of the combined offices of Mission and Development until 2002.

In September, 2002 Peter became the pastor of St. Joseph in Portland, Maine where he continues to minster.

In reflection of his 50 years of Capuchin ministry, Peter writes: “Jubilees are occasions to say ‘thank you’. My long journey began amongst the nurturing parish family of Sacred Heart, Yonkers. I offer my sincere thanks, certainly to the Lord for leading me toward my Capuchin brothers. I chose the Capuchins because ‘I knew no [ne] better’.

I am most grateful to my family, friends and the Capuchins for their support and presence over these 50 years.

Special thanks to the Province of St. Mary for providing me with the best of care. This care, especially in these troubled economic times, has become so much more evident and appreciated. Each year presents more pleasant experiences and happy challenges. Thank you!”

1972-First Community of Saint Conrad Friary: [front] Randy Grant, Venard Kelly, Dacian Dee, Paul Steffan [on stairs] Peter Kaseta, Jerome McHugh & Randolph Nowak

December-1994

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Joseph A. Kenlon was born of 08 June 1928, the son of Francis Xavier and Marie Burke Kenlon. Joseph had six siblings, one brother and five sisters. Baptized at Sacred Heart Church and confirmed at Our Lady of Victory, both in Mt. Vernon, NY, he attended Our Lady of Victory Grammar School from 1934-1942 and graduated from Blessed Sacrament High School, New Rochelle, NY in 1946. Upon returning from the Army in 1948, he attended the Capuchin’s Glenclyffe High School, Garrison, NY from 1948-49 and was invested into the Capuchin Order on 31 August 1949, receiving the name ‘Knute’. His novitiate classmates included: Peter Baptist Ishigami, John Anoia, Dean Corcoran, Bruce Quinn, Douglas Smith, Paul Steffan, Louis Chiusano and Darius DeVito. Following his novitiate, Knute and his classmates professed first vows on 01 September 1950

Knute was perpetually professed on the 1st day of September 1953.

Throughout these sixty years, our brother Knute has served in a variety of ministries including: missionary to the Marianas Islands; teacher and school administrator; parish associate, preacher and prison chaplain.

Knute continues to be ministerially active and resides with our senor community of St. Clare where he serves as chaplain to the Sisters in Hasting-on-Hudson, New York.

Knute Kenlon, O.F.M. Cap.

Sixty Years of Religious Life

“It is hard to believe I am a Capuchin for sixty years. There are many who are called to be thanked.

“First, my parents who frequently said ‘don’t give up your dreams; if they are worthwhile than fight to achieve them.’

“Secondly, I wish to thank those Capuchin brethren who showed me courage when severe trials arose. Men like Fr. Bonaventure Fitzgerald, whose battle with cancer never prevented him from actively serving the People of God. To our brother, Michael Egan who could raise spirits and deflate pride with his warm sense of humor.

“There were so many others who taught me to thank God for the gift of learning other languages. I remember Fr. Martin de Porres Clarke, who found it difficult to learn Japanese, but constantly encourage others to learn the language in order to become more effective ministers.

“Finally, I thank God for the good example shown to me by the laity. So many people attended daily mass before and during their work day. Prisoners who said daily rosaries and shared what they had with those in need.

“For all these wonderful selfless, prayerful and dedicated people who played an important role in my sixty years of Capuchin living. “To all of them, I say from the heart, Thank you!”

In Celebration…

2009 Jubilee Series Celebrating our brotherhood

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