December 31, 2014

2014: A year in the life of SJB Province

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BY FR. JEFF SCHEELER, OFM

January

  • 6  General Visitor Francisco ÓConaire resumes visitation
  • 10  Christian Moerlein Brewing dedicates “Emancipator” beer to Friars
  • 11  Jeff attends NRVC conference which results in Vocation Survey used during Lent
  • 20-23  Council meets in Peoria

February

  • 12-14  U.S. Provincials meet in NYC, video shown at Chapter is made
  • 13 +Allan Schmitz

March

  • 1  Charism Day for Boards of Sponsored Ministries
  • 3-5  Council meeting in Cincinnati
  • 8-20  Jeff visits Bernardin Schneider in Japan and Harold Geers in the Philippines
  • 24  “Francis dinner” at St. Anthony Friary for prospectives
  • 28  Art of Marty Humphreys at Friars Studio
  • 29  +Howard Hudepohl

April

  • 7-10  ESC in Tampa; Cardinal Rodriguez is speaker
  • 19  +Joel Soldenski
  • 21  +Joel Byrne
  • 25  Murray Bodo reads poetry at Friars Studio
  • 26 Sr.  Vickie Griner, OSC, solemn profession

May

  • 5-8  Council meeting in Burlington, Wis.
  • 7 +Cletus Riederer, OFM
  • 19-23  Chapter at St. Meinrad, Ind.; elections, Visit of Minister General, Yusuf Bagh from Pakistan
  • 25  Congressus begins
  • 31  Farewell at St. Mary of Lourdes in Illinois, returned to care of diocese

June

  • 8  Bob Bruno retirement from Air Force
  • 14  Ordination of Richard Goodin
  • 20-22  Franciscan Alumni gather in Washington, D.C.
  • 27  Art of Bill Reichel at Friars Studio

July

  • 25  Art of John Quigley at Friars Studio

August

  • 2  First profession at Novitiate (none from SJB)
  • 3-5  U.S. Councils meet in Racine, Wis.
  • 6-9  CMSM in Pittsburgh
  • 10-14  ESC formators meet in Denver
  • 15  Reception of Novices: Nick Thorvaldsen
  • 21  Reception of Postulants: Trevor Blum, John Boissy, Jonathan Douglas, Thomas Murphy, Carlo Shivel
  • 23  Solemn professions of Michael Charron, Colin King
  • 24-29  Clifty Falls Council meeting
  • 25  Dedication of new Friars Club building in Cincinnati

September

  • 4-6  Visitation with Canton Poor Clares
  • 14  Appreciation reception for boards of Friars Club and Roger Bacon, for new building

October

  • 3  Beatification of Ed Demyanovich’s great aunt, Sr. Miriam Teresa, in Newark
  • 5-10  ESC in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
  • 21-23  Guardian and Local Minister meeting in Indianapolis
  • 24-25  Council meeting in Cincinnati
  • 27-29  Bill Beaudin (HN), Page Polk (SJB), and Richard McManus (SB) announced as the team that will lead the restructure and renewal process in the United States

November

  • 9  Elgar Nadon returns from the Philippines
  • 15/16  Announcement made that friars will leave Peoria in June 2015
  • 22  Franciscan Mission Services missions two lay missioners to Jamaica
  • 26  Sr. Donna Graham, OSF, leaves JPIC office
  • 28  Art of John Quigley at Friars Studio
  • 28  “The Reason for the Season: Advent with the Franciscans” begins at Northgate Mall

December

  • 1-4  Council meeting in Cincinnati
  • 15  Novices receive habit
  • 20  +Bob Lucero
  • 23rd   Last day at Northgate Mall

Inspired by a Franciscan Christmas

BY BR. TIM SUCHER, OFM

This year many of the Christmas decorations previously displayed at St. Francis Seraph Friary moved to the Christian Moerlein Brewery Event Center across the street in Over-the-Rhine.  This move has allowed me to encounter a number of young adults who came to the tap room looking forward to enjoying a few draft beers, not expecting to encounter a Franciscan Friar.  For many of them it seemed to be just the opportunity that they had been seeking.  They sure wanted to talk.

One 26-year-old was questioning everything: faith, science, and life in general.  He shared with me how frightening this was for him.  Our discussion centered on the journeys that we are called by our God to take throughout our lives. We can refuse to go.  However, if we are to be faithful to God we will go despite the fear and difficulties that we must face along the way.

Tim welcomed two families (one from China) to Moerlein on Tuesday.

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A young woman, after sharing casual conversation throughout the evening, sought me out as I was closing up shop because she wanted to talk on a deeper level.  She was battling depression so serious that she had to drop out of her PhD program.  She, too, was seeking meaning and purpose for her life.  As one who has suffered from clinical depression, I could understand what she was experiencing.

Sharing their struggles

A number of such discussions have taken place with older people as well.  A woman who interprets the Bible literally is struggling with reconciling that belief with the world around her.  A couple presently involved in the RCIA program had a million and one questions.  Many other discussions dealt with the issues of our day such as Ferguson, Mo., and race relations in our country.  I can see clearly now why Pope Francis is calling us to be in the marketplace.  There sure seems to be a need.

Moving across the street to the other Christmas displays, the Nativity in the courtyard with the live animals has drawn many different people.  I have talked with many from the suburbs; a number of them bring their children, just to experience this.  Many mothers and fathers from the neighborhood bring their children not only to experience the Nativity but to pet the animals, a rarity here in Over-the-Rhine.  It is not unusual to find men from the Joseph House, a rehab program for veterans just down the street, sitting on the benches praying and reflecting.  Homeless people visit on a daily basis.  One homeless man walking through the gate to exit suddenly remembered he had forgotten to leave a donation.  He went back and dropped some change in the donation box.

The living Nativity

“The Spirit of Christmas Tour” sponsored by American Legacy Tours has brought a couple of hundred people through the courtyard and halls of St. Francis Seraph Friary.  In front of the live Nativity in the courtyard I have had the opportunity to share with people how central the Incarnation was to St. Francis’ spirituality and why in 1223 in the city of Greccio he had the desire to experience the birth of Christ in such a unique way.

From the courtyard the tour proceeds to the front hallway of the friary in order to view the 50 or so Nativity scenes from around the world.  Many people are inspired.  One mother told me that she brought her children before beginning their Christmas shopping.  She wanted them to have an experience of the true meaning of Christmas before they got caught up in the material aspects of the season.

A number of groups have made a visit to St. Francis Seraph a yearly tradition at Christmas.  Several senior centers bring a busload of people for their annual Christmas outing.  A Boy Scout troop from Hyde Park stops here first before they

PHOTO BY TONI CASHNELLI

Goats in the courtyard Nativity.

go ice skating on Fountain Square.  A group of neighbors who hang out at a local watering whole together have come for the past three years, and the group gets bigger each year.

I personally have been blessed by all of these encounters.  I am always humbled when people feel comfortable enough to open their lives to me.  I experience these to be sacred times.  I pray and hope that these times are as much of a blessing to the individuals as they have been for me.

  • What a way to start the year: debt-free! Pastor Ric Schneider and parishioners at St. Mary’s in Bloomington, Ill., managed to raise $1,059,000 to pay off the portion they owed on the Catholic high school ($836,000).  They used the extra money to “fix the stained glass windows in church, add cushions to the back of our pews, and buy two houses next to the school, clear them and make a playground for our school kids,” Ric wrote. “Praise Jesus.”  They celebrated by ceremonially burning the “note” at all the Masses.
  • The National Religious Vocation Conference posted a nice tribute to Br. Bob Lucero on its Facebook page. Don Miller found it at: https://www.facebook.com/NationalReligiousVocationConference.

Something to celebrate

During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, Br. Juniper Crouch captured these goings-on at St. Paul the Apostle in Lafayette, La.: The Knights of Peter Claver Council celebrated its 100th anniversary at St. Paul’s; Secular Franciscans hosted their annual Christmas meal for the homeless; Pastor Robert Seay signed and turned over a check for $4,000, made up of donations from the parish, to be used for building a well in an African village.

Ric Schneider, all fired up.

  • When Santa visited St. Clement School in St. Bernard before Christmas, he left Rudolph at home and brought his elves, Pastor Fred Link and the “reindogs” pictured here. Next to Santa is his helper, Bubs Kindt, owner-wrangler of the very friendly Great Pyrenees and Saint Bernard.
  • A photo of Br. Al Mascia and collaborator Steve Klaper (from the Song and Spirit Institute for Peace) in concert led an online Year in Review wrap-up of major activities by the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit.  Al and Steve were the kickoff performers at the North American Interfaith Network Conference, held in Detroit in August. The Council is a faith-based civic organization of religious and lay leaders with shared values and a vision of community harmony.

Santa had some canine help when he visited St. Clement School.

PHOTOS BY
JUNIPER CROUCH, OFM

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