the Remembering Fr. Walter O Brien He served the Province of St. Mary for more than 80 years in ministries that touched the lives of so many.

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1 Capuchin the Journey CAPUCHIN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE ISSUE 2, 2013 Remembering Fr. Walter O Brien He served the Province of St. Mary for more than 80 years in ministries that touched the lives of so many. Cardinal Sean O Malley on Pope Francis and the papal conclave Companions in Service: CYFM s Active Giving Program

2 Magazine of the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Mary The Capuchin Journey is our way of letting you know how the Province of St. Mary fulfills its mission. You, as part of our community, share this vision of service to those in need. Through this magazine, we want you to know how we use the resources you so generously provide. We hope this magazine shows you the work we do and how valuable your contributions are to us and our ministries. Please feel free to contact us with your comments and suggestions. VOLUME 11, ISSUE Capuchin Mission & Development Office Editor in Chief Dina V. Montes Publisher Fr. Francis J. Gasparik, OFM Cap. Design/Art Direction Dina V. Montes Photography and contributions: Cardinal Séan O Malley Johnny Alvarado Hannah Mello Fr. Joseph Yakimovich Br. Majdi Ammari George Martell/The Pilot Media Group Fr. Bernard Maloney Donna Smith Kresel Contact us: Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order Mission and Development Office 210 W. 31st Street New York, NY news@capuchin.org Province Mission Living the Gospel according to the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi, the friars of the Province of St. Mary proclaim God s reign through: Service to others and mutual service to our brother friars. Provincial Minister s Letter Continuing legacies Earlier this year, the Catholic world was stunned to hear about Pope Benedict XVI s resignation, but it was only one of many firsts the Catholic world would face in the next few weeks. For the first time ever, American cardinals were listed as among the top candidates for the papacy, including Cardinal Séan O Malley, a Capuchin Franciscan and the Archbishop of Boston. The press remarked on his humility, his community outreach work in immigrant communities, and his tireless efforts in restoring confidence in the church after the sexual abuse scandals in Boston and Ireland. Cardinal O Malley was very humble about the attention he received from the Italian and American press. He downplayed speculation and noted that he couldn t imagine not wearing his Capuchin Franciscan habit, a gesture of pride that made all of us smile when we heard it. In the end, it was Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina who was elected Pope. In this issue of The Capuchin Journey, you can read Cardinal O Malley s reflections on the papal conclave and the election of Pope Francis. As Cardinal O Malley points out, he is the first pope from the American hemisphere and being Hispanic, he is from a part of the world where almost half of all Catholics reside. He has also taken the name of Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order whose life and ideals inspire the Capuchins to serve those in need and live a simple lifestyle. We firmly believe that the Holy Father is a great blessing for our Church. In this issue, we also take the time to recognize Fr. Walter O Brien, a friar in our Province who in 1957 was instrumental in building St. Pius X Church in Middletown, Connecticut, a church that continues to be staffed by Capuchins. Fr. Walter lived to be 100 years old and led a life full of service that touched the lives of so many in our Province. Our friars hope to continue the legacy of friars like Fr. Walter who helped build Catholic communities and restore the faith in people. With your prayers and continued support, we are confident that we can continue doing God s work here on earth. Yours in Christ, Capuchin the Journey IN THIS ISSUE: FEATURES 6 Remembering Fr. Walter O Brien 8 Cardinal Séan O Malley on the Papal Conclave 12 Fr. Barnabas Keck s Retirement 13 A Knight s Tale: A Novice s Reflection 14 Partner Profile: Companions in Service Jubilarians DEPARTMENTS 4 News Briefs 19 Province Directory Embracing and supporting the needs of the diverse communities among whom we live and minister. 16 On the cover: The young Fr. Walter O Brien in an undated photo. Responding to the needs of our time through our service to the underserved of our church and society, the economically challenged, and the shunned and forgotten. Fr. Francis J. Gasparik, OFM Cap. Provincial Minister 2 3

3 News Briefs Capuchin Hurricane Sandy Relief Update Capuchins, CYFM volunteers, and community volunteers continue to help families and neighborhoods rebuild and recover from Hurricane Sandy. Since the disaster struck in October, the Capuchin Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort has been providing home repairs and building supplies for families in Canarsie and the Far Rockaways sections of Queens and Brooklyn. This assistance has been extended to local congregations in the area that were closed due to the extended damage suffered during the storm. Capuchins have been building relationships with rabbis, pastors, and other faith leaders to help rebuild congregations so that they can reopen and provide worship services. Not only is there a need for people to have places to practice their faith, churches are also a source of relief assistance for many families. You can support the Capuchin Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort by making an online donation on our website, St. John the Baptist Altar Murals If you visit St. John the Baptist Church in Manhattan, you may notice something different behind the altar. The midtown church recently had two murals painted behind the altar by artist Paul D. Armesto. Armesto, a classical tradition painter, received funding in a different reliquary. The word relic comes from the Lain word, reliquae, which literally means remains. In the strict sense, they are in fact remains of canonized or beatified saints. The 5:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. masses held on Feb. 20 at St. John the Baptist were attended by parishioners. Installation of Ministries On March 18, three Capuchin friars were installed in the ministries of reader and acolyte during a ceremony at San Lorenzo Friary in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. The installation of Ministries, as the ceremony is known, prepares friars for priesthood by delegating a ministry in the church. Fr. Francis Gasparik, the provincial minister for the Province of St. Mary, installed Br. Michael Vricella as a This summer s COP will take place from June The cost of the program is $225 per participant and covers food, lodging, transportation, and all necessary supplies. Participants are also asked to do fundraising by asking friends, neighbors, and relatives for sponsorship through the Companions in Service program (see page 14 for more information). Deadline for COP applications is May 6, For more information or to download a COP application, visit or call DDA Leadership Training Program Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries will hold a Day by Day Agape (DDA) Leadership youth retreat from May The DDA Leadership Training Program is for young men and women who have participated in a DDA Retreat Weekend and would like to help lead a team for a future Province volunteers helping repair a family s home in the Far Rockaways section of Queens that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy. With FEMA and other agencies gone, people look at churches to get things done, explains Br. Michael Loerch, a Capuchin friar who has spearheaded the Province s relief effort. If they re not open, the food pantries they operate can t open. Since many relief agencies are gone and many religious centers food pantries are closed, the need for food distribution has once again grown urgent. Thanks to generous donations to the Capuchin relief effort, friars were able to purchase food and distribute it to families in the Far Rockaways and Canarsie, as well as a Catholic church s food pantry in Canarsie. The Capuchins will continue to work and meet the needs of affected neighborhoods as they change over time. We re committed to being here for the long haul, Br. Michael said. St. Pio of Pietrelcina, depicted in a mural that was recently painted at St. John the Baptist Church in Manhattan by artist Paul D. Armesto. to create an original painting and he graciously offered to do this at St. John the Baptist Church. Using the Renaissance technique of oil painting, Armesto created a mural of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, an Italian saint popularly known as Padre Pio. The second mural created by Armesto features the Blessed Virgin Mary. The murals were started earlier this year and were completed by Easter Sunday. The parish of St. John s is grateful for Armesto s generous offer and contributions. A sketching for the third painting for the center wall behind the altar has been created but is in need of funding. If you would like to provide support, please contact Fr. Thomas Franks at St. Anthony of Padua Relics On February 20, St. John the Baptist Church in Manhattan held a special service for two relics of St. Anthony of Padua. The relics were brought to the United States earlier this year by two friars from the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy to mark the 750th year of their discovery by St. Bonaventure. One of the relics consists of layers of skin of St. Anthony, which are held in a gold-plated bust of the saint. The other relic is one of St. Anthony s floating ribs. It is kept Br. Erik Lenhart, Br. Matt Janeczko, and Fr. Francis Gasparik during the recent installation ceremony. Br. Erik and Br. Matt were installed as acolytes. reader, allowing him to read scripture during Mass and Br. Matt Janeczko and Br. Erik Lenhart as acolytes, which allows them to assist at the altar during Mass. All three friars currently reside at San Lorenzo Friary in Jamaica Plain. Upcoming CYFM Retreats and Events Summer Capuchin Outreach Program Every summer, the Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries (CYFM) offers youth the opportunity to serve those in need, while living in community and experiencing Franciscan Spirituality through the Capuchin Outreach Program (COP). During the six-day spiritual retreat, youth take part in community service projects in New York s Hudson Valley region. From reconstructing a house at Habitat for Humanity to comforting the sick at Rosary Hill Cancer home, participation in COP is an opportunity for youth to strengthen their spirituality and faith. weekend. They will learn the necessary skills to help them pass it on. The Leadership Training Program incorporates the dynamics of Catholic youth evangelization. The application deadline for the retreat is May 14. For more information or to download the application, visit www. cyfm.org or call Capuchin Appalachia Mission Since 1991, the Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries (CYFM) has organized the Capuchin Appalachia Mission, a nine-day program in which young volunteers travel to Harlan County, Kentucky to distribute clothing and children s books, volunteer at a nursing home, organize a vacation bible school, and provide home improvements for low-income families. In the past 22 years, more than 650 youth have participated in the program. This year s mission will take place from July 6 to July 14. The registration fee for this event is $275 per participant. Participants are also asked to do fundraising by asking friends, neighbors, and relatives for sponsorship through the Companions in Service program (see page 14 for more information). For more information or to download the application, visit or call

4 Remembering Fr. Walter O Brien As a Capuchin Franciscan for more than 80 years, Fr. Walter served as a military chaplain during World War II and was the founding pastor of St. Pius X Church in Middletown, Connecticut. Before he passed away at the age of 100, Fr. Walter O Brien was the oldest living Capuchin Franciscan Friar in the United States, and in 2010 was the first Capuchin in North America to ever celebrate an 80-year religious jubilee. The Manhattan born Capuchin friar served in a variety of ministries. He was a military chaplain during World War II and was also the founding pastor of St. Pius X Church in Middletown, Connecticut, a parish the Capuchin Franciscans continue to staff. He was a very dedicated man, said Fr. Jim Hammer a Capuchin serving at St Pius. He came to St. Pius when it was just a meadow and knocked on every door in the town to find out where the Catholics lived. He then built the church knowing there was a Catholic community to serve. Born in 1912, Fr. Walter entered the Capuchins in He was ordained to the priesthood in 1937 and assigned to the parish of St. Michael in Brooklyn, New York. In 1942, Fr. Walter answered a different call and volunteered to become a military chaplain in World War II. During his military service, he was sent to the South Pacific, Japan, and Korea. Once the war ended, Fr. Walter decided to end his chaplaincy. I m a wartime chaplain and the war is over, he told friends and family. Given an honorable discharge in 1946, he returned to St. Michael Friary in Brooklyn before transferring to St. John the Baptist Church in Manhattan in In 1957, Bishop Bernard Joseph Flanagan of Norwich, Connecticut asked the Capuchins to open a new church in Middletown, Connecticut, and Fr. Walter was the Capuchin choice to lead the parish. When he built St. Pius X Church and Friary, it coincided with the population boom Middletown experienced. It exploded with new families, Fr. Jim remembers. We had a ton of kids and a ton of people in the church. After his success in establishing a new and vibrant parish, Fr. Walter returned to St. John the Baptist Church in Manhattan in 1964 and stayed there until Fr. Walter was not only a successful pastor, he was a vibrant and dynamic inner city priest. His family, who he was always close to, remembers his devotion to all his ministries. He was kind and loving, and always caring for people, said Alice O Brien, Fr. Walter s first cousin. He had a tremendous devotion to the blessed mother, and she was his inspiration in all he did. Fr. Walter continued serving in different parishes, including Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers, New York from 1981 to 1982, and St. Francis Chapel in Springfield, Massachusetts from 1982 to 1999, before returning to St. Pius X St. Clare Friary: A Senior Fraternity From left to right: The young Fr. Walter O Brien in an undated photo. Fr. Walter celebrating his 98th birthday. As a military chaplain during World War II. Continued on page 18 In the last five years of his life, Fr. Walter O Brien lived in the senior friar community of St. Clare in Yonkers, New York. Founded in 1988 as an assisted living friary, St. Clare s has grown from a few rooms to a fully-equipped, independent, and personal care fraternity that boasts the same level of excellence as a certified nursing home while still providing the familiar feeling of community that is central to the Capuchin Franciscan way of life. The senior friary gets its name from St. Clare of Assisi, who was a great friend of St. Francis. The friary is ready to house any friar in the Province of St. Mary who may suddenly need care. With continued generous support, the friary can continue to expand its care for senior friars while maintaining an engaging and familiar community-oriented atmosphere. For more information about St. Clare Friary, or to learn how you can support senior friars, call

5 pope francis Cardinal Séan O Malley, a Capuchin Franciscan and Archbishop of Boston, was one of 115 cardinals who took part in the papal election process in March. Below is an excerpt from Cardinal O Malley s blog, that was posted on March 15, two days after the election of Pope Francis. This week we rejoice in the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Francis! For us, the Holy Father is a great blessing, the first pope from the American hemisphere and, being Hispanic, he is from a part of the world where almost half of the Catholics reside. He is a man who has been very much dedicated to the poor and announcing the Gospel in difficult situations. We know he will be a great blessing for our Church. It was my privilege to visit him a couple years ago. I had met him in different meetings over the years and when I had to make a trip to South America for the US Bishops Conference to visit projects in Paraguay that are funded by the collection for Latin America, I had to stop in Argentina on the way, where I was his guest and had a wonderful visit with him. On that occasion, he gave me a beautiful recording of the Missa Criolla, the Argentine Mass. In the time leading up to the conclave, we had several days of meetings, which are called congregations, in which the Cardinals talk about the situation of the Church in their countries and our hopes for the new pontificate. Father Raniero Cantalamessa gave the first meditation to us during the congregations. Also with us was the Italian and international press en masse. The Italian papers were all writing about the Archbishop of Boston being the next Pope and taking polls and surveys and the Italians were all voting for me because they liked St. Francis, I think. I don t really know, but I was so amazed by the whole process. Monday, the congregations ended and Tuesday morning we had the Mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice, the Mass for the election of the Pope, celebrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Sodano. Then, in the afternoon, the conclave began. We all had to go to the Domus Sanctae Marthae where we were sequestered for the duration of the conclave. When we arrived at the Sistine Chapel there were more prayers. We received a second meditation from Maltese Cardinal Prospero Grech. Then we had the first scrutinium, or scrutiny, as the vote is called. The first scrutiny was inconclusive so the ballots From left to right: Pope Francis during his inaugural Mass. Cardinal Séan O Malley (center) with other cardinals during the congregations. Cardinal O Malley in Argentina with Pope Francis in 2010, when he was known as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio. 8 9

6 were burnt and the black smoke was visible Tuesday night. Then, Wednesday, we went once again from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Sistine Chapel where we had prayers and two scrutinies in the morning. During the votations, each Cardinal went up by order of seniority, holding their ballot in their hand. Before placing the ballot in the receptacle on the altar, each cardinal took a vow standing before Michelangelo s scene of the Last He said very explicitly that he was taking it in honor of St. Francis of Assisi... I think that there are some themes from the life of St. Francis that he is trying to communicate by choosing this name. Judgment calling on Christ to be our witness in promising that we would only vote for the person we felt God really wanted for the office of Holy Father. It is a very moving experience. Neither of those two scrutinies were conclusive. Between the morning and afternoon gatherings, we went 10 back to the Domus Sanctae Marthae. Cardinal Bergoglio and I sat together for lunch. I could see he was under a lot of pressure at that point, and he did not eat much! Then, in the afternoon, we returned to the Sistine Chapel for more prayers. We had two more scrutinies there and, on the second vote, the Holy Father was elected. That was a very emotional and moving moment, when he accepted and announced that his name would be Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. He said very explicitly that he was taking it in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. As a Jesuit, he could have said he was taking the name in honor of St. Francis Xavier, who is one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the Church. In talking about evangelization, for example, it would have been very understandable, but he specified that he was taking the name of St. Francis of Assisi. Without having discussed it with the Holy Father, I think that there are some themes from the life of St. Francis that he is trying to communicate by choosing this name. One of the themes of Francis s life is the call to rebuild the Church, which is a call to reform, to deepening our conversion to the Lord. And even in his homily yesterday, the themes he talked about were walking, building and confessing. This reinforces my belief that this is one of the aspects of Francis s life that he wants to stress. Another theme would be Francis s theme of universal brotherhood. He talked about that in his comments from the balcony of St. Peter s Basilica: of making a world where we are brothers and sisters to each other. St. Francis, of course, saw himself as a brother to all of creation and to everyone. From left to right: Cardinal Seán O Malley with fellow Cardinals, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York (far right), at the North American College in Rome. Cardinal O Malley with a roster of all the cardinal electors who participated in the conclave. Cardinal O Malley followed by the Italian press, who had named him as one of the top candidates for pope during the general congregation meetings. St. Francis also had a special love for the poor, who are a sacrament of the crucified Christ. The Holy Father, in his ministry as archbishop has been so dedicated to the poorest of the poor. I think we will see a continuation of that in his pontificate. Then, each of the Cardinals went up, kissed his ring and greeted him. Afterwards, we prayed the Te Deum, the traditional Catholic prayer of thanksgiving, and the Holy Father was taken away, vested in his white vestments, and went to the chapel to pray privately. It was then that the ballots were burnt and the white smoke and bells announced to the city of Rome and to the world that the new Holy Father had been elected. We then went to the loggia overlooking the Piazza of St. Peter s accompanying the Holy Father. Being on the balcony looking out was just an impressive sight, with hundreds of thousands of people cheering, waving flags and taking pictures. The energy of the crowd was just incredible when they saw the Holy Father. He gave a very warm and simple greeting to the people and asked for prayers for Pope Benedict and then asked for a moment of silence and asked for the people to pray for God s blessing upon him. He led the people in the Hail Mary, the Our Father and the Glory Be. This, for me, was a very moving moment because it occurred to me that these very simple prayers are the ones that every Catholic knows, whether they be illiterate or a rocket scientist, whether they are children or elderly. These are the prayers that unite us as a Catholic people in our life of faith and worship of God. During the papal election process, Cardinal O Malley was listed as a top candidate for the papacy by the press. Scan the code below to see a segment aired by NY1, a cable news network in New York, that featured Cardinal O Malley and the Capuchins of the Province of St. Mary. 11

7 A Parish Celebrates a Friar s Years of Service After serving the Province for 62 years, Fr. Barnabas Keck retires. A Knight s Tale Opposite page: Rev. John McGuire, O.P., pastor of St. Joseph and New York University Chaplain, and Alice Sim, the 2012 Capuchin Spirit Award honoree. This page, left: James Corbett and John Marigliano. Fr. Barnabas with St. Joseph Parishioners at his retirement celebration. The special event was held at the hall of St. Joseph Church in New Paltz, New York. More than 200 people attended a special dinner at St. Joseph Church in New Paltz, New York to celebrate Fr. Barnabas Keck s retirement. The 89-year-old was escorted into St. Joseph s Church Hall during the festivities by the Knights of Columbus Cardinal Spellman Council #5800, which he has served as Chaplain. It was a grand evening filled with expressions of appreciation and love, said Fr. Bernard Maloney, pastor of St. Joseph Church. He is a most kind, compassionate and loving friar and all that was expressed back to him by the parishioners. For 62 years, Fr. Barnabas served the Province of St. Mary and the church in different ministries. He was the novice master, Rector of St. Francis Chapel in Springfield, Massachusetts, and the parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers, New York. Most recently he served for the past 16 years as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Church in New Paltz. Fr. Barnabas will continue to reside at St. Joseph Friary, hearing confessions and answering communion calls. I ve enjoyed all my ministries, Fr. Barnabas said. I m happy to continue living at St. Joseph Friary and be part of the fraternity. Br. John Alvarado is a novice at the San Lorenzo Novitiate in Santa Ynez, California. During their novitiate year, friars like Br. John join other novices from across the United States, Canada and Australia. During this state of formation, friars study sacred scripture, Franciscan writings, and the vows. They also perform outreach ministry in the area. Below, Br. John reflects on his ministry, including working in an adult center for people suffering from mental disabilities. Dictionaries define a knight as a person who serves his lord as a mounted soldier in armor. As a Capuchin brother, I believe that Saint Francis was the greatest knight of his time. Let me share just two experiences in my ministry that made me feel like a Franciscan knight. For the past six months I have been ministering at Alpha Resource Center of Santa Barbara, a site that serves adults with mental disabilities. Every Friday three of my brothers and I spend time doing activities on site and in the greater community of Santa Barbara. Every time I visit, I am pleasantly surprised at how the day unfolds. One time, Alpha had an open house breakfast for parents and their children with developmental disabilities. I had the pleasure of meeting many participants. As they approached the classroom, they were already staring at my brown habit, so I simply introduced myself. All I could recall is seeing the participants so full of joy because they got to spend time with their parents at the center. Everyone had a good time, and I was really getting to know the families. Finally, the breakfast finished, and the parents began to leave, kissing their sons or daughters goodbye, telling them they will see them at home. One of the parents came up to me, gave me a big hug, and said, Thank you for your constant sacrifice. At the time, it did not feel like I was making a sacrifice. But then I realized that because of my choice to follow Jesus, like Francis, my life will always be a constant sacrifice for my heavenly Father, whether it feels like it or not. We are to carry the Continued on page

8 PARTNER PROFILE From left to right: Photos from past Capuchin Appalachia Missions in which students perform community service in Harlan County, Kentucky. The program is partly funded by Companions in Service. Valley region of New York state. It also helps support the Capuchin Appalachia Mission, a nine-day program in which youth volunteers travel with CYFM staff and other adults to Harlan County, Kentucky to distribute clothing and children s books, volunteer at a nursing home, organize a vacation bible school, and Companions in Service By sponsoring individual students, CYFM program allows supporters to go by giving. Would you like to be a part of the wonderful outreach and service programs youth are doing through the Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries? Whether it s distributing clothing to needy families, helping construct new homes through Habitat for Humanity, or volunteering at children summer camps, you can take part in CYFM service projects through the Companions in Service program. Companions in Service allows supporters to go by giving. There is no set amount of donation to take part in the program, but companions also commit to praying for youth while they perform services that help those in need. In turn, CYFM youth volunteers give by going 14 and conduct service work that varies from serving food at soup kitchens to volunteering at children s centers. After their missionary work, youth volunteers update their Companions in Service by writing letters to them and sending them photos of their work. CYFM youth volunteers also pray for their Companions in Service as they are well aware that their community service projects would not be possible without them. Currently, Companions in Service help support youth service initiatives like the Capuchin Outreach Program, a multi-day retreat for students where they perform community service throughout the Hudson provide home improvements for low-income families. In its 21 years, more than 650 youth have participated in the program. To become a Companion in Service or for more information about the program, visit or call Why I Am a Companion in Service Gina Liebhauser East Hanover, NJ Sponsor of Mary Kate Lapham, Megan Lapham and James Patrick Lapham They are my nieces and nephews and they have done this for several years. I like the updates I get from them. They inform me about what they re doing and the personal changes they go through during these programs. Megan wrote to me about the people she helped in Appalachia and I think it s amazing for kids to write something so faithful and full of love. It s nothing short of amazing. At their age, I wouldn t have thought about doing something like that. I think it s important for these kids to have those kinds of opportunities, because they learn about life. This kind of program is not available anywhere else. Diane and Steve Anderson Marlboro, NY Sponsors of Jaclyn DiMicco We ve known Jaclyn since she was in the second grade. We have been supporting CYFM for 10 years now. The programs are outstanding. Our daughter, who is now 23, participated in the College COP program when she was in college. It s a beautiful spiritual program for youth and it s a great way to support our Christian community. 15

9 Jubilees 2013 The friars in the following pages celebrate anniversaries of religious life the time they were invested in the Capuchin habit or ordained a priest. Each of these men has dedicated his life to the charisms of St. Francis and has spread the Good News around the world. Br. Antonine Lizama 50 Years of Religous Life Birth January 31, 1939 Investiture May 11, 1963 First Profession May 16, 1964 Perpetual Profession May 16, 1967 Fr. John Clermont 60 Years of Priesthood Birth April 8, 1927 Investiture July 11, 1945 First Profession July 12, 1946 Perpetual Profession July 12, 1949 Ordination June 27, 1953 Fr. John has served in parishes in the Northeast and abroad. He taught economics at St. Anthony Seminary in Hudson, New Hampshire, and later served at Our Lady of Sorrows in Manhattan, St. Patrick Cathedral in Manhattan, and St. Joseph the Worker Church in East Patchogue, New York. Fr. John has also served the parish of San Marcos de Ocotepeque in Honduras. He is currently part of the parish staff at St. John the Baptist Church in Manhattan. Fr. James McIntyre 60 Years of Priesthood Birth August 15, 1926 Investiture March 2, 1945 First Profession March 3, 1946 Perpetual Profession March 3, 1949 Ordination June 27, 1953 Fr. Patrick Castro 25 Years of Priesthood Birth May 26, 1953 Investiture August 18, 1982 First Profession August 18, 1983 Perpetual Profession August 23, 1986 Ordination January 9, 1988 Born in Saipan in the Mariana Islands, Br. Antonine has served in the friaries of St. Anthony in Hudson, New Hampshire, St. Lawrence in Milton, New Hampshire, Mary Immaculate in Garrison, New York, St. Conrad Friary in White Plains, New York, Mary Immaculate in Garrison, New York, and St. Lawrence in Beacon, New York. He currently resides at St. Fidelis in Interlaken, New York. Born in Yonkers, New York, Fr. James entered the Capuchins in After his ordination, he served as assistant pastor at St. Lawrence in Milton, New Hampshire and later as an assistant pastor at St. Michael in Brooklyn, New York. From 1959 to 1971, he served as a missionary in the Mariana Islands. He returned to the United States and served as hospital chaplain in Yonkers, New York. In 1978, he served as guardian pastor at St. Fidelis Friary in Interlaken, New York. He later returned to serving as hospital chaplain in the Stamford, Connecticut community. He retired in 1997 and currently resides at St. Clare Friary in Yonkers, New York. Born in Agana Heights, Guam, Fr. Patrick entered the Capuchins in He began his priestly ministry as pastor of Merizo and Umatac until later that same year he was sent as pastor of San Roque and Santa Remedios parishes in Saipan. In 1991 he was transferred to Garapan, Saipan as pastor. In 1994 he became pastor of Yona on Guam until In 2005, he became pastor of Agana Heights until He currently resides in St. Fidelis Friary in Agana Heights, Guam

10 Fr. Walter O Brien, continued from page 7 Church in 1999, where he remained until his retirement at St. Clare Friary, in Yonkers, New York in He loved St. Clare s and was very happy there from the first day. He told me I m living the life of Riley, Alice O Brien said. He was with his brothers and they all looked out for him and took care of him. Although he was retired, Fr. Walter continued to reach out to former parishioners and individuals he had met over the years. He had a phone ministry, Fr. Jim humorously recalls. He was always on the phone talking to people. At Christmas time, he would send out 300 Christmas cards, all with handwritten messages to people he had met over the A Knight s Tale, continued from page 13 Cross until our life s end. This experience will be a constant reminder of why I put on my habit for the ministry. I want to let everyone know that this knightly armor does not deflect pain. It impresses worldly pain with a smile. And I am thankful, because I know at the end of the day I have helped Christ in my brothers and sisters who call out in their pain. Another time, I saw a knightly act. It was Christmas time, and Alpha had a party for the adults. We played holiday songs and took pictures with Santa (which I did, too). There is a woman who visits her daughter at Alpha once a year. She came, and her daughter was so thrilled to see her mother. When her mother had to go, she began to weep like Honor a loved oned and support the education of our friars with a Capuchin Burse years. He made relationships that lasted a lifetime. Tom Nevin, Fr. Walter s nephew of Wilmington, North Carolina, visited his uncle over the years at St. Clare Friary and remembers the atmosphere of brotherly support, companionship, and assistance he received. He had excellent care. Someone at St. Clare used to drive him to see my mother who lived in Yonkers. It meant a lot to him, being able to visit his sister when he wanted, Nevin said. Kathy Nevin, Tom s wife, fondly remembers him as being a generous and gregarious friar. Everyone loved him, Nevin said. He was very giving and charitable. He baptized all my children. He did so much for our family. a newborn. You heard her cries throughout Alpha. Everyone tried to do everything to make her happy, but nothing would work. Then, when everything seemed useless, Brother Fred got down on his knees, gave her a big hug, and smiled at her constantly. By the time she stopped crying, Brother Fred s habit was wet all down the front from her tears. Her pain was gone, and she began to enjoy the party, holding any brother s cord she could grasp. Brother Fred embraced her pain with a smile and absorbed her tears with his habit and heart. A knightly deed at its finest. What a great act of humility. And how beautiful a miracle. Burses are an excellent way to honor a loved one or mark an occasion. After they have been established with an initial contribution, burse contributions can be added at your convenience. All burses help fund the recruitment, education, and training of Capuchin Franciscans for a lifetime of service. To open a Capuchin Burse today or make a contribution, call Sister Elizabeth Fortune at (212) , ext New York St. Joachim Friary 61 Leonard Street Beacon, NY Phone: St. Michael Friary 225 Jerome Street Brooklyn, NY Phone: St. Joseph The Worker Friary & Parish 510 Narragansett Avenue East Patchogue, NY Phone: Capuchin Youth & Family Ministry 781 Route 9D; PO Box 192 Garrison, NY Phone: St. Fidelis Friary 7790 County Road 153 Interlaken, NY Phone: St. Joseph Friary & Parish 34 South Chestnut Street New Paltz, NY Phone: Capuchin Vocation Office 110 Shonnard Place Yonkers, NY Phone: Capuchin Development Office 210 West 31st Street New York, NY Phone: Blessed James Haddad Friary 93 Park Terrace West New York, NY Phone: Province Directory Good Shepherd Friary & Parish 608 Isham Street New York, NY Phone: Our Lady of Sorrows Friary & Parish 213 Stanton Street New York, NY Phone: St. John the Baptist Friary & Parish 210 West 31st Street New York, NY Phone: St. Conrad Friary 30 Gedney Park Drive White Plains, NY Phone: Sacred Heart Friary & Parish 110 Shonnard Place Yonkers, NY Phone: St. Clare Friary 110 Shonnard Place Yonkers, NY Phone: Massachusetts San Lorenzo Friary 15 Montebello Road Jamaica Plain, MA Phone: St. Francis of Assisi Friary 46 Brookside Avenue Jamaica Plain, MA Phone: Connecticut St. Pius X Friary & Parish 310 Westfield Street Middletown, CT Phone: New Hampshire St. Anne St. Augustin Friary & Parish 383 Beech Street Manchester, NH Phone: Maine Friar Residence 24 North Raymond Road Gray, ME Phone: Vermont St. Peter Friary & Parish 134 Convent Avenue Rutland, VT Phone: California San Lorenzo Friary 1802 Sky Drive; P.O. Box 247 Santa Ynez, CA Phone: Florida Blessed John XXIII Friary th Street North Seminole, FL Phone: Star of the Sea Vice Province St. Fidelis Friary 135 Chalan Kapuchino Agana Heights, Guam Phone: Custody of Japan St. Francis Friary & Parish 1 Aza Oroku Naha City, Okinawa Japan Phone:

11 210 WEST 31ST STREET NEW YORK, NY NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE PERMIT NO. 454 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Building the future of our Church Each year, the Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries (CYFM) touches the lives of thousands of young people and their families who in turn touch the lives of their family members and friends. The ripple effect is incredible. Their faith is nurtured and they act on this faith in the world through service to God s people. The Church, which Jesus mandated St. Francis to rebuild, is being rebuilt, one young person at a time. A gift to CYFM provides meaningful experiences that develops the faith of young people and families. For more information or to make a donation, visit