GOOD NEWSfrom Provincial Minister, Fr. James Gannon, OFMNovember 2016

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INSIDESt. Mary Byzan ne Church 125 years ● Didacus Weber, recep onist ● About senior friars ● Anger ● Collabora on Viterbo University ● Andrew Brophy ● Jubilarians

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“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” ~ W.J. Cameron

Brothers ~ Thanksgiving ~ my favorite “holy day.” It has always been a very special day for me. Over the years I have collected memories of Gannon Thanksgiving tables and Franciscan Thanksgiving tables. When I think of Thanksgiving I immediately have thoughts of leaves that have changed color and are falling from trees. I think of visiting with family and friends, and watch-ing Gimbles (now Macy’s) Thanksgiving Day Parade perched on my father’s shoulders, anxiously awaiting Santa Claus to pass so that I could put my “Christmas Wish Letter” in the letter carrier’s bag. As I got older there were the traditional football games on tele-vision. Other memories remind me of turkey dinners with all of the holiday trimmings; including stuffi ng! Sitting at long extended dining tables. There was the real sense of “growing up” when I graduated from the children’s card table to the adult table. Thanksgiving Day is more than a day of fond memories, parades, football, and special dinners. It is also a day of thanks. On Thanksgiving Day we are reminded of the bounty of treasures that is a part of our lives. We spend a few moments before the Thanksgiving dinner to give thanks for the richness of our lives and for our wonderful family, our Fran-ciscan vocation, our brothers in community, our friends and benefactors. For too many people, however, the meaning of Thanksgiving ends with spending a few moments giv-ing thanks at the dinner table. The true meaning of Thanksgiving, however, should not end after a prayer or a few seconds of meditation devoted to thanks. The “holy day” of Thanksgiving has broader signifi cance. Thanksgiving is also a call to action. It is important for us to remember that the word thanksgiving is composed of two words thanks and giving. Through the “holy day” of Thanksgiving we are reminded to give thanks and to share and give. The Holiday reminds us to share our economic and material wealth, and to share also our time and talents with other people who could use our help. It is a call for us to spend more time with one another, to be present to one another. In terms of thought and deed, the “holy day” of Thanksgiving gives us an enriched perspective on the abundance in our lives. This Thanksgiving Day take a moment and refl ect on what actions you can take in the next year to fully express the meaning of Thanksgiving. Can you think of a way to free-up one hour each week so that you can give that time to someone in need; perhaps teaching a child or adult to read or learn the English language? Perhaps spending time with a brother in community? What would you do during that time? By giving of your

time and talent you are acknowledging that there is a tremen-dous abundance in your life. Have a Blessed and Holy Thanksgiving!jim

--Jim, Provincial Minister

Thanksgiving

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James Gannon, OFM, Provin-cial Minister

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Sunday, October 30, 2016 a Hierarchial Divine Liturgy was celebrated with the Most Reverend Kurt Burnette, Eparch of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy, Passaic, New Jer-sey. Friar Jim Carroll, OFM who has served as pastor of St. Mary’s, since August 2002 says, “The parish is under the protection, the “veil” of Mary. Our mission, as is

the mission of every oth-er parish, is to go out into the world. We try to go out in service and out-reach. We are trying to assist local organizations in Schuylkill County. We collect food regularly for the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry, which is col-lectively supported by

Catholic and Protestant Churches of Mahanoy City. As St. Mary’s moves into the next 125 years, the youth of the parish challenged the people with the Jubilee theme.

St. Mary Byzan ne Catholic Church - 125 years

Didacus Weber, OFMWith three years in the making, on October 31, 2016, Didacus Weber, OFM joined the fraternity of Francis and Clare Friary, Franklin, Wiscon-sin. His easy going personality and smiling face are welcome features to the fraternity as he assumes the role of friary receptionist.

For many callers and visitors to the Provincial Offi ces and Pilgrimage Programs, Didacus is the fi rst contact, setting the tone of welcome, and Franciscan peace and good.

Prior to this assignment, Didacus lived at Queenof Peace Friary, Burling-ton, Wisconsin for fi ve years where he helped drive friars to their many medical appointments and with food service.

Above: St. Mary Church, Mahanoy City, PA. Right: Bishop Kurt Burnette

“One ringy dingy, two ringy digny. Is this the party to whom I am speaking?” Telephone operator,Ernestine, a character of Lilly Tomlin.

James Carroll OFM, Pastor

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ADDRESS CHANGE

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Steve DupuisUntil the chapter 0f June 2017, Steve will be residing at Bonaven-ture House, Adam Street, Chicago, ILSteve will be living with Randy Roberts, who serves as Chaplain, Jesse Brown Veterans Hospital, Chicago, IL.

Regis Howitzhas returned to Holy Family Friary (St. John the Baptist Province) in Pittsburgh, PA where he will doing internal service.

A warm welcome is extended to Page Polk, OFM and Mark Gehert, OFM.

Page Polk’s most recent assignment – 2015-2016 -- had been as a member of the Franciscan Interprovincial Team (FIT). In this capacity, along with two other friars, Page helped guide the United States Franciscan provinces as they considered the many implications and logistics of re-fashioning the OFM Franciscan structure in North America.

Born and reared in Dallas, Texas, Page replied to an ad of St. John the Baptist Franciscan Province in the Dallas Catho-lic paper. He was accepted into the Cin-cinnati province in 1980.

After successfully completing Francis-can formation and the priestly pro-gram, he was assigned to St. Francis-St.George, Hospital in Cincinnati. For the next four years, Page served the people in this setting.

In 1990 Page was made parochial vicar and pastor of our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Galveston, Texas. In 1992 he was made pastor of St. Patrick parish where he facilitated the merging of one other parish on the island.

In 2000 he became a member of the Catholic Chaplain Corps in Houston. There were no Catholic hospitals in Houston. In order to provide the sac-raments and counseling to the hospi-talized, the diocese created a corps of people – ordained, religious men and women, and lay – to provide spiritual care to those Catholics being cared for in thirteen Houston Hospitals, none of which had fewer than 1000 beds.

Page is now a member of Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs with the charge of fostering the Holy Land Pilgrimages

by presentations, being on the Holy Land pilgrimage program staff, and strengthening connections between the many contacts who help make these pilgrimages outstanding faith growth experiences. He also is a mem-ber of the provincial council of St. John the Baptist Province.

Mark Gehret, OFM, left New Or-leans, Louisiana bound for St. Francis Mission in Greenwood, Mississippi on August 3. As you might expect after a total of 12 years in New Orleans, he was fi lled with mixed emotions. There had been so many good relationships in New Orleans over the years and a very connected friar community. On the oth-er hand, he was looking forward to his new adventure.

After getting settled in, Br. Mark be-gan working with a fi ne young main-tenance man taking care of the friary, church, school, and convent. Br. Mark loves being in a rural area again having grown up on a farm. He spent Labor Day working as a volunteer at a proper-ty on the other end of town where they are erecting a shrine to Our Lady of the Delta. He was able to use his electri-cian skills to help wire up the fountain where the statue of Mary is in place.

“Just tonight during my prayer time, I thanked the Lord for bringing me to this rural place and with the friendly people who live here, and for being able to use my trade skills. Growing up on a farm is paying off, says Br. Mark. Sourced from the newsletter of St. John the Baptist Province.

Page Polk, OFM, St. John the Baptist Province, Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs, Franklin, WI

Mark Gehret, OFM, St. John the Baptist Province, St. Francis Mission, Greenwood, MS

As the US Franciscan Provinces contin-ue to struggle with the practicalities of “their reformulation,” Page and Mark from St. John the Baptist Province and the Assumption Province are concretiz-ing the concept of interprovincial fra-ternity.

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Six years of friar presence at Viterbo University, La Crosse, Wisconsin By Fr Richard Tulko, OFM

Viterbo University in La Crosse, founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration as a college and School of Nursing for their own Sisters, was in need of a chaplain to head the campus ministry department. The school administration wanted a Franciscan presence to enhance their Franciscan identity and so they sent out letters to various communities while the Sisters stormed heaven with their prayers. One of the letters landed on the desk of Fr John Puodziunas who was Vicar Provincial of the ABVM Province of Franciscan Friars. Fr John contacted the University and began a series of on-again and off-again conversations.

In 2011, a team of three friars was cobbled together: a newly retired Marine Corps chaplain, a former Secretary of the Province and a newly ordained friar. Fr Conrad Targonski was the campus chaplain; Fr Richard Tulko was chaplain to the Sisters at St Rose Convent and Fr Da-vid Kelly was the chaplain to the Mayo-Franciscan Health Care Systems in La Crosse.

A member of the Viterbo Board of Trustees offered the use of his daughter’s house for the use of the friars. With the blessing of Most Rev. William Callahan, OFM Conv., San Damiano Friary was canonically erected in 2012. Fr Robert Konopa joined the community in 2012 as an itinerant preacher. In a short time, he developed brain cancer and the friars cared for him until his death in 2015.

All the friars contribute to the focus of the campus, convent and hospital with traditional core values which are distinctive to all three institutions, viz., contemplation, hospitality, in-tegrity, stewardship and service.

With the death of Fr. Robert Konopa in 2015 and the transfer of Fr David Kelly to Cedar Lake, IN, the friar community proceeds to the Provincial Chapter of 2017 with the hope that other friars would answer the call to continue the Franciscan presence here at campus and convent.

The current friary is one side of a rented four-bedroom duplex located in nearby Onalaska, less than a mile from the majestic Mississippi River and a 20 minute commute to campus and convent.

For further information contact Fr James Gannon, OFM, 414-791-7433 or jgannon@ofm-abvm.org

Richard Tulko, OFM

Left: Conrad Targonski, OFM, Richard Tulko,OFM

Conrad Targonski, OFM

Richard Tulko, OFM offering a blessing to the runners in the Friar Frolic, Viterbo, University

David Kelly, OFM blessing animals

+Robert Konopa, OFM, 2015

o have a friar of the Province asked to serve as a pastoral Visi-tator to another province is an acknowledgement that the Province has capable and exemplary men. Andrew Brophy has been asked fi ve times to visit and work with friars from other entities as they evaluate, focus, and determine di-rection for their fraternity. Below is Andy’s refl ection from his recent experience as he visited the friars in Australia.

After 19 hours of fl ying and 35 hours of not having slept in a bed, my plane landed safely in Milwaukee on October 22, following four months of visitation in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia.

It is unusual for a General Visitator to be asked to conduct the visitation of a Province twice and, even more rare, to be asked to do so twice in three years. Eliot Bacia once told me that he enjoyed doing visitation. As he said, “you get to tell them what you think, then you leave.” Well I did that for the Province of the Holy Spirit in 2013 but then I was asked to return again. In the words of Yogi Berra, it was like déjà vu all over again. Unfortunate-ly, as is my custom, I destroyed all of my previous notes from the fi rst visitation in 2014.

This visitation took me to three corners of Australia, over to Auckland, New Zealand, up to Singapore and to both East and West Malaysia. Somewhere along the way, I lost track of how many different beds I slept in. The start of visitation took me to Sydney during their winter, which turned out to be a mild one, then on to Singapore and Malaysia where the daily temperature is usually close to 90. All of the friars were very welcoming and showed me excellent hospitality.

Their Provincial Chapter took place the last week of September where Phillip Miscamble was elected as minister provincial. Following a week of my writing reports, the Congressus was held and moved along quickly since the funeral of a friar was to be held later in the week. My departure from Australia included a stop in Singapore with a stay at Greccio Friary, the formation house for the temporary professed friars of the Custody. Despite my many offers to work, the students made sure that I did not get sweaty in the heat. On my last Sunday in Singapore, we attended Mass at the US Naval base where Michael D’Cruz, OFM, has served as a sacramental minister for several years. The nine formation students served in various roles at the Mass. Ah, it was good to hear the American accent once again.

When I departed Sydney in 2013, I bid goodbye to all the friars and to a part of the world that I never expected to see again. This time I told the friars that this was my “retirement visitation” and really do not expect to be back to that part of the world ever again. Bro. Ambrose Kyne insisted that I will keep coming back until I get it right.

The friars of Francis and Clare Friary gave me a warm welcome upon my return to Franklin. While they gathered for a friary chapter, I went to bed. Despite the effects of jet lag and a cold, I quickly resumed my day job here in the offi ce. --Andrew Brophy, OFM

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Andrew Brophy as an Aussie.

Visiting with Aiden Peter, OFM

Enjoying dinner in Singapore.

TDown Under ... And Back -- Twice

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Healthy Friar Living

Anger is an emotion everyone experiences at some point in their life. According to Dr. John Schinnerer Ph.D. most people experience anger around 3 to 4 times/week and in a study conducted by Dr Howard Kasi-nove, according to Dr Schinnerer, 58% of experiences of anger involve either shouting or yelling, the object of the outburst was someone closely related to or in relationship with the one having the outburst and 10% of these outbursts involve some kind of physical violence vary-ing from pencil throwing to real physical force causing harm or injury to the recipient.

Anger is a pressing problem in today’s society and more so in the hectic pace of today’s work-a-day world, a booming population demanding closer living quarters so private space is increasingly encroached upon and with no resolution in sight the possibility for explosive and inappropriate expressions of anger increase dramatically. In the words of Dr Schinnerer, “Learning to manage anger is vital to ensure the peaceful and productive continuation of the human race” (“What are the best treatments for anger?” Dr. John Schinnerer, Ph.D., April 2016, WebAngerManagement.com).How do I know if I have an anger problem?

According to Research by Dr. Schinnerer, problematic anger in people reveals itself in the frequency, severity, and intensity of the outbursts. People with anger issues report expressed anger with high frequency, physical aggression which is extreme in its intensity, and very high levels of negative verbal responses. This leads to an increase in drug use (including alcohol) and an increase in hypertension (high blood pressure), destruction of personal relationships, and marked decreases in work performance; in short the anger takes control of the life of the person and interferes in every aspect of their existence.

While there is no specifi c diagnostic category for Anger in Psychology (intermittent explosive disorder being the sole exception), there is a divided consensus between the desire of some to have a category to empower those who need treatment to receive it from an insurance point of view. There are the other camps who defi ne extreme anger and a symptom of another defi ned disorder such as borderline personality, narcissism, anxiety or depression.

In the next installment in this series, ways of recognizing the symptoms of anger and how to go about dealing with these symptoms will be presented: the benefi ts of Cognitive-Be-havioral Therapy (CBT), what “trigger-points” are and the benefi ts of hyper-vigilance in recognizing the trigger points in our persons that begin the cascading effect of out-of-control anger and rage outbursts; the bene-fi ts of relaxation techniques, meditation and mindfulness and in further issues the role of compassion and forgiveness in releasing, and neutralizing the deleterious effects of anger in our lives.

Dealing With Anger By Carmen Scuderi, OFM

Carmen Scuderi, OFM

This newsletter was designed, printed and distributed by the Communications Office of the Assumption Province.

9230 W. Highland Park AvenueFranklin, Wisconsin 53132

November 9,10,11; Provin-cial Council Meeting, St. Francis Friary, Greenwood, MS

November 16-19: Annual Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs Staff Meeting, Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ

November 20: Order of Franciscan Seculars, pro-fession, Francis and Clare Friary Chapel, Franklin, WI

November 20: Investiture of Novices. St. Francis Friary, Burlington, WI

December 5,6,7: Provincial Council Meeting, Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI

December 5: Evening Prayer + Christmas Dinner with Friars at Milwaukee Catholic Home

December 6: Mid-Day Prayer and Christmas Luncheon with Friars at St. Ann’s Salvatorian Campus.

December 7: Franciscan Pilgrimage Board Meeting and Christmas Party.

December 9: Visit Friars at Holy Family Friary, Manito-woc, WI.

General Visitation: The Visitation Schedule has been sent out with a letter from Jim Bok, OFM, our General Visitor. Carefully review the schedule. If adjustments need to be made, please contact the Provincial Of-fi ces. Please remember Jim Bok in your prayers as he participates in the General Visitors School, Rome, Italy and prepares for the visitation of our province, begin-ning January 2017.

Provincial’s Schedule

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During its 129 years of existence, the Assumption Province has had a huge printery, three high schools, two retreat centers, a nationally known home misionary pro-gram, a college of philosophy, a theologate, many parishes, a weekly radio program, a summer camp, numerous foreign missionaries -- and the many ministries you could add as you read this.

Today, the Province, as a corporation has Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs and St. Francis Mission in Greenwood, Mississippi.

The pilgrimage program was started by Damien Isabell (Sacred Heart Province) in 1972 as an opportunity for young friars before solemn profession to visit the Fran-ciscan places inItaly. Roch Niemer (†2010) joined the program in 1978 and, when Damien decided to do missionary work, Roch became director in 1981.

Roch’s contribution was to emphasis the spirituality of place. The idea was that in-sight into Sts. Francis and Clare could be gained through the places where he lived. Thus the pilgrims journeyed to places important in the life of Francis. Through pil-grimage, participants would come to know the depth of St. Francis’ soul and the call to conversion he felt in his heart.

Eventually this experience was open to all Franciscan families and anyone who had a devotion, love and interest in St. Francis and St. Clare.

After twenty-four years as director, Roch stepped down and John Cella assumed re-sponsiblity for the management and development of Franciscan Pilgrimages in 2005.

John had a vision to expand pilgrimages to Ireland, Mexico and the Holy Land along with special programs to celebrate annual church events that would have a relation-ship to Franciscanism. He expanded the staff to more than 40 people from all the Franciscan families and includes many oustanding Franciscan scholars.

Franciscan Pilgrimages is very healthy with an annual, average number of more than six hundred pilgrims. It continues to be a strong, powerful contribution to the Fran-ciscan movement in the 21st century.

A very practical effect the pilgrimage programs has for the province is the fact that people associate this ministry with the Assumption Province, thereby giving the prov-ince an International reputation.

Visit www.FranciscanPilgrimages.com and see the pilgrimages for 2017, cur-rent staff and videos about Franciscan Pilgrimages.

Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs

John Cella, OFM, current Di-rector of Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs.

Sr. Linda Tan, OSF, joined the staff in 2008 as Administrative Assistant. Her background in leadership roles in her com-munity and as president of the Franciscan Federation, serves her well as she deals with the many questions and logistics of our pilgrims.

Roch Niemier, OFM, †2010

Photo: Basilica of St. Francis, Francis as a defeated knight, Assisi, Italy

The above narrative was partially sourced from “The Pulaski Franciscans: A History of the Assumption Province 1887-2011”, by Jerry Tokarz, OFM, 2013, pp. 583-584.

On the fi nal day of the Province’s Leadership Meeting, September 29, 2016, in Techny, Illinois the 2016 Jubilarians were blessed, feted and celebrated as approximately 35+ friars joined them for this special event.

Prior to this celebration, the leadership of the Province held its annual meeting. Guardians, vicars and directors gathered to hear reports. Brian Bangart updated the friars on fi nancial accountability and offi ce procedures; Charleen Duley spoke about the expanded and changing needs of the aging of the Assumption Province. Featured speakers from St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point, Indiana spoke about the psychological causes of hoarding. Having desribed this abberation, ways of helping people deal with the problem were offered. Another speaker gave sug-gestions to deal with confrontation.

During the banquet for the Jubilarians, there was an “open mic” for frairs to offer their refl ections on the experiences they had with friar jubilarians. It was an oppo-runity to remember and give thanks publically for the effect the celebrants have had on others during their many years of fraternal living.

On November 5, 2016, a jubilarian cele-bration was held for Melvin Wierzbicki, OFM,who is a resident at St. Anne’s Salva-torian Campus, Milwaukee, along with Ray-mond Zsolczai, OFM. Michael May arranged a Eucharist celebrated by Provincial Minister, James Gannon, which was followed by a sumptuous meal.

Jubilarians Honored at Leadership Mee ng in Techny

Standing, left: Finian Zaucha, OFM, Michael May, OFM, Kevin Schroeder, OFM, Bronislaus Jaskulski, OFM, Leslie Hoppe, OFM, Joachim Studwell, OFM, Stephen Malkiewicz, OFM. Seated, left: Melvin Wierzbicki, OFN, Raymond Zsolczai, OFM

Below: Melvin’s family which included: newphews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces, great, great nephews and niec-es.

The friars who were cele-brated are: Sergius Wro-blewski, 75 years of simple profession; David Typek and Melvin Wierzbicki, 70 years of simple profession; Blase Karas, Rene Barczak, Lau-rian Janicki, Henry Kolbok, Placid Stroik, Adam Szufel, Theodore Tokarz and Jerome Zawada, 65 years of simple profession; Stephen Dupuis and Regis Howitz, 50 years of simple profession; Bren-dan Wroblewski, 65 years of solemn profession; Nathan Jaskulski and Richard Tulko, 60 years of solemn profes-sion; Carl Graczyk, Leslie Hoppe, and Jerry Tokarz, 50 years of solemn profes-sion; Bronislaus Jaskulski and Sergius Wroblewski, 70 years of priesthood; Stanley Janowski, 50 years of priest-hood; and Michael Surufka, 25 tears of priesthood.

Melvin Wierzbicki, OFM, 70 years of simple profession

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Below: Participants in the Leadership meeting and Jubilarian Celebration, Techny, Illinois.

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