Dear Parishioners and Friends,
History will be made this week when more than 300 Franciscan Friars from across the United States, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Cuba will meet in Kansas City, MO to establish a new Province in the Order of Friars Minor. The Minister General of the Order, Fr. Massimo Fusarelli, O.F.M. will travel from Rome to witness and confirm establishment of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the name chosen for the new Province.
Fr. Mike Johnson and Fr. Bill Beaudin will attend the Chapter of Unity which will be held Monday to Friday this week, October 16-20. Following the formal ritual of the establishment of the new Province on Tuesday, the elected Chapter delegates will spend several days discussing and voting on the Provincial Statutes and other proposals that have been submitted for consideration.
The members of the new Provincial administration will also be installed. Fr. Lawrence Hayes, O.F.M., currently the Vice Provincial of Holy Name Province, is due to become the first Provincial Minister of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province. Fr. Mark Soehner, O.F.M., currently Provincial Minister of St. John the Baptist Province headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, is due to become Vice Provincial of the new province. In addition, Fr. Eric Lopez, O.F.M., a member of Holy Name Province who serves as Director of Novices in Santa Barbara, CA, has been elected as one of seven Provincial Councilors for the new province.
Commenting on the historic nature of the Chapter of Unity, Fr. Massimo said: “The friars chose to face a different future without resigning themselves to the decrease in numbers and the loss of places and missions. The goal is to revitalize Franciscan life in the U.S.A., whilst at the same time, restructuring our presence. In this sense, such a journey is a sign of hope for everyone in the Order.”
Please keep all the friars who will be in Kansas City this week in your prayers as they mark this historic occasion. For the friars here in Hartford who are members of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, our identity as a province, which has existed for 122 years, will come to an end. But as the saying goes, “When one door closes another opens.” I am hopeful that this new identity will energize those of us who serve you hear at St. Patrick-St. Anthony as well as all the friars who will make up the new province. It is our faith in Jesus, of whom the Book of Revelation said, “Behold, I make all things new,” that will carry us forward into a future of promises and challenges we can only imagine.
My email inbox is starting to fill up with photos for our Parish Christmas Tree. If you haven’t sent yours in, please don’t forget! Remember, we can also scan a photo if you don’t have digital capabilities. Just drop it off at the parish office. I am looking forward to filling the tree with all your lovely, smiling faces! Email your digital file to [email protected] and please include the names of the individuals in the photo.
Blessings on your week ahead!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.Pastor
Win Two Tickets to See Andrea Bocelli in Concert! A raffle drawing will be held on Sunday, November 12, for two tickets to the Andrea Bocelli concert in the XL Center on Saturday, December 9, at 7:30 PM. The prize also includes dinner for two at Salute on Trumbull Street and free parking. Raffle tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the door of the church after weekend Masses, in the parish office, or on our website. Proceeds benefit St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church.