Capuchin Journey. Remembering the Promise of Mercy. the ISSUE

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1 Capuchin Journey the ISSUE Remembering the Promise of Mercy

2 Peace and all good things to you and yours as we enter these final days of 2015 and look toward the New Year. I am excited to share this winter issue of the Capuchin Journey, the fourth and final issue of 2015! The focus for this edition of the Journey is on remembering the promise of mercy. This line, which is adapted from Mary s Prayer (cf. Luke 1:54), encourages all of us to remember that God is all-merciful, that He forgives our transgressions, and in so doing, serves as a role model by which we might do the same. As Mary and Joseph and their newborn Son sought the mercy of the residents of Bethlehem, so must we recognize those in our lives who are seeking our mercy and recognize those from whom we ourselves seek mercy. Fr. Francis Gasparik, O.F.M. Cap. Provincial Minister The first piece in this issue of the Journey, in keeping with our theme of remembering the promise of mercy, is an article written by Br. Anthony Zuba, O.F.M. Cap. He interviewed guest friar Fr. Pawel Bielecki, O.F.M. Cap., who has worked for many years in Lebanon providing medical care and compassion to Palestinian refugees. One of the things that Fr. Pawel emphasizes is the need for more people to imagine themselves in the same situation as, for example, Syrian refugees, so that our understanding of their circumstances can be more empathetic. The following three pieces come from friars of the Province of St. Mary Fr. Sal Cordaro, O.F.M. Cap., Fr. Arlen Harris, O.F.M. Cap, and Fr. Martin Curtin, O.F.M. Cap. Fr. Sal writes about his transition from taking his solemn profession of vows three years ago to his current role as the pastor and guardian of St. Joseph Friary in New Paltz, NY. Fr. Arlen discusses his upcoming trip to Rome as a Missionary of Mercy part of the Pope s decision to make 2016 the Year of Mercy. Fr. Martin shares his history as a Capuchin and what has inspired his continued commitment to the order. All three friars emphasize the significance of their own spirituality in helping them navigate these new assignments. We are also excited to share poetry and artwork from some of our Capuchin friars, including a poem from Fr. Robert Phelps, O.F.M. Cap. and drawings from Br. Carmine Funaro, O.F.M. Cap. Br. Carmine is also responsible for the vivid depiction of Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus that is on the cover. Finally, we close the issue with a reflection on our 2015 Annual Capuchin Dinner more specifically, an excerpt from remarks made by Mauro Romita upon receipt of our Capuchin Spirit Award, who highlights the need for all of us to be aware of the growing inequality in the world and proactive in our efforts to combat it. I pray for your well-being and for the well-being of all you hold dear. May the God who sent His only Son to Earth to walk among us and teach us to offer our hand to any and all who need our help shower you with the peace and good will sung by Angels and the life indestructible promised in the person of Jesus Christ. Faithfully in the Lord, Fr. Francis Gasparik, O.F.M. Cap. Provincial Minister Our Goal The goal of the Capuchin Development Office is to fund the domestic and international mission of the Province of St. Mary. That mission ranges from support for our own Provincial members ministering here in the United States, to providing assistance to Capuchins serving worldwide. The Province of St. Mary is a leader in generating support for the works of justice and mercy undertaken by Capuchin friars across the globe. If you are interested in supporting our mission, please contact Dana Rachlin at (212) ext. 215 or drachlin@capuchin.org or visit our website at

3 Features MISSION A Picture of Hope Fr. Pawel Bielecki, O.F.M. Cap. a doctor, scholar, and artist, provides medical and spiritual assistance to refugees in Lebanon. FORMATION Giving What We Received Fr. Sal Cordaro, O.F.M. Cap. offers a reflection on his transition in three years from solemn profession of vows to pastor and guardian in New Paltz. OUTREACH Missionary of Mercy Fr. Arlen Harris, O.F.M. Cap. writes about his upcoming trip to Rome as a Missionary of Mercy. SPIRITUALITY Trust God in All Things Fr. Martin Curtin is celebrating 25 years of priesthood and shares a reflection on his faith. Magazine of the Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order Publisher Fr. Francis Gasparik, O.F.M. Cap. Editors Colin Lentz Br. Anthony Zuba, O.F.M. Cap. Design/Art Direction Colin Lentz Br. Anthony Zuba, O.F.M. Cap. Contributers Fr. Pawel Bielecki, O.F.M. Cap. Fr. Salvatore Cordaro, O.F.M. Cap. Br. Carmine Funaro, O.F.M. Cap. Fr. Arlen Harris, O.F.M. Cap. Fr. Robert Phelps, O.F.M. Cap. Capuchin Communications Office Br. John Shento, O.F.M. Cap. Donna Smith Kresel White Plains, New York Poetry: A Baby Cries 15 We re All In This Together 17 Tell Us What You Think! 18 Province Pledge Form 19 Province Directory and Mission the Capuchin Journey ISSUE Capuchin Mission & Development Office Let Us Know! 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 publication, we want you to see how we use the resources you so generously provide to us. We hope the contents of the Capuchin Journey will convey a sense of the work we do and how valuable your contributions are to this work. Please take a few minutes to complete the enclosed survey and mail it back to us. We deeply appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thank you! Serving New York/New England and the mission areas of Central America, Japan, Africa, India, and the Pacific. 210 West 31st Street New York, NY

4 MISSION A PICTURE OF HOPE AMONG THE UPROOTED Millions of Middle Eastern refugees wait years, or even a lifetime, to return home to to settle in another country. As Fr. Pawel Bielecki, O.F.M. Cap. ministers to Palestinian Christian families in two refugee camps in Beirut, fear and anger give way to hope and beauty. Br. Anthony Zuba, O.F.M. Cap. interviewed Fr. Pawel, who lives at Our Lady of Sorrows Friary while studying for a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies at New York University. Fr. Pawel Bielecki, O.F.M. Cap. Jesus suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp, to bear the reproach he bore. Hebrews 13:12-13 As Fr. Pawel Bielecki, OFM Cap., began medical studies in Lebanon over a decade ago, he knew that the Gospel was leading him beyond routine parish work. He wanted to go out to the abandoned places where people were hurting. He found them in the refugee camps. Father Pawel, a guest friar from the Krakow Province, provides medical assistance to Palestinian Christian families at the Dbayye and Bourj Barajne camps in Beirut. Some families have lived in these camps for three generations. Spiritual care is deeply entwined with Father Pawel s medical mission. As he listens to grandparents, mothers and fathers, and children, he tries to alleviate the deep anger they feel. The experience of listening to these stories, as well as the loneliness of the mission and lack of immediate improvements to peoples lives, can be overwhelming. As an outlet for his physically and spiritually demanding work, Father Pawel turned to painting to express his voice and the voice of the families to whom he tends. Although he is not a trained artist, he has held three exhibits of his work. An exhibit in Paris in November 2011 caught the interest of merchants from New York who contacted him through the United Nations office in Beirut. He has held two exhibits now at the Agora Gallery in Manhattan, in May 2014 and most recently to 150 guests on Nov. 19. In his art he aims to depict refugees both as refugees and also as human beings set free 4

5 MISSION from the confinement of their condition, their class, or their social background. One work illustrates refugees as people who dream like other people. Another painting presents an autistic woman. Father Pawel says autism is a taboo subject among Near East peoples because the condition is seen as a curse. HELP AND HOPE, NOT FEAR Through his efforts here in the U.S., four families relocated to Canada last year. Other families go to Belgium or Italy. Yet this is a small success relative to the numbers of uprooted families. It is not known for certain how many Palestinians live in the twelve Lebanon camps. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East estimates 448,599 persons as of January Across the region there are 5 million registered refugees. Camp Dreamers. Oil on canvas. Fr. Pawel Bielecki, O.F.M. Cap. 5

6 MISSION Furthermore, hundreds of millions of people worldwide are uprooted refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented immigrants. It is a human rights crisis on a universal scale. Father Pawel understands the resistance that makes it difficult for nations to welcome refugees. He says that people fear whatever is unknown and run away from what is hard to understand. He is critical of media that play upon these fears and cause feelings of despair. As a Christian, Father Pawel says he has hope despite the soundings of what Jesus called the false prophets who surround us. He says he does not listen to the voices who politicize the plight of refugees to win elections instead of helping the helpless. Rather, he continues working in the camps to create hope. If he could talk to the leaders of nations, he would ask them to put themselves in the refugees position and imagine their kind of existence. Every decision that nations make on refugee policy should be based on the fundamental value of every human being. He repeats: I don t think helping each other should be politicized. RESPECT FOR MINORITIES Father Pawel is a Ph.D. student at New York University, where he is researching the history of medicine combined with medical anthropology. He is documenting the influence of Nestorian Christians on the development of medical knowledge in Iran. They translated Greek medical treatises into Arabic, thus preparing the emergence of Islamic science during the Abbasid Period (8th-12th centuries CE). Although a religious minority in a Muslim territory and outcast from the Church because their theology about Christ was declared unorthodox Father Pawel says the Nestorian Christians made possible the great cultural and scientific advances of the majority people. This speaks to the importance of respecting minority peoples regardless of creed or culture and protecting their human dignity. Father Pawel advises Catholics who want to help refugees to seek out groups whose requests for humanitarian aid are very specific: for example, food or medical equipment. For the Palestinian refugee camps, he sees a need for trained specialists who can provide professional psychological support as well as spiritual support. Pope Francis calls the Church to go beyond the parish doors to meet Christ in the poor. Father Pawel has answered the call of Christ in the Dbayye camp. We have to count people outside the church, he says. We have to find them. 6

7 FORMATION GIVING WHAT WE RECEIVED In three short years, Brother Sal Cordaro has gone from solemn profession of vows to ordination to appointment as guardian and pastor at Saint Joseph Friary and Parish in New Paltz, NY. What was it like to make the transition from life as a friar in initial formation to supervising a fraternity and parish community? Read on. Fr. Salvatore Cordaro, O.F.M. Cap. When you enter religious life, at whatever age, you begin to learn a new way of being in the world. You go from living an independent life, responsible only to yourself (and your boss) to one in which you have to be responsible to a bunch of guys you really don t know yet. But soon you begin to trust your brothers who are in this with you; and even more, you learn to trust your formators, those friars entrusted with the responsibility of guiding you through this process of re-invention and preparation for future ministry. Even though they are your brothers, these formators are in charge, and they take care of everything for you. This was not easy in my case, being 40 years old when I entered formation and having been fairly successful in my career and used to taking care of myself. But thanks in large part to these formators, I did learn that new way of being in the world, and I learned how to be a Capuchin Franciscan a brother to everyone I encountered and a witness to the abundant goodness of God. And when that joyful and humbling day came when I took my solemn vows and committed myself to this brotherhood for life, I wasn t totally sure I was ready for what was to come. I was being let out of this controlled and safe environment and let loose on the world. But not long afterward, I found my groove and began to adapt very nicely to life in a parish and in a regular house of professed friars. 7

8 FORMATION And not long after that, they asked me to be guardian of a fraternity and pastor of a parish. Of course, I was thrilled to take on these new roles, but at the same time, I was more than a little afraid. I had taken solemn vows and then been ordained to the priesthood only a couple of years before, and now I m in charge! But it has truly been a joy. As guardian of the fraternity, I am responsible for the spiritual and temporal well-being of the brothers; and although the buck stops with me, I know I am not alone in my administration of the house. Each brother supports me in so many ways and is infinitely patient with me. I couldn t do it without them, nor would I choose to. And to make it even better, as pastor I have the privilege of helping my fellow parishioners find their way to God of making a space for them in which they can discover their own giftedness and the best way to use those gifts for the good of themselves and the local church and of the wider community. The burden of authority and responsibility as guardian and pastor can sometimes a difficult one, but it is one that I was well-trained for. And for that I am eternally grateful. Father Sal at his installation as pastor at St. Joseph Friary in New Paltz. 8

9 OUTREACH MISSIONARY OF MERCY On Ash Wednesday, February 10th, five Capuchin priests from the Province of St. Mary will be committed by Pope Francis to be a living sign of the Father s welcome to all those in search of His forgiveness. Fr. Arlen Harris is one of our gifted preachers and confessors who will be a missionary of mercy in this extraordinary jubilee year. Here is his reflection on the meaning of this commission. Fr. Arlen Harris, O.F.M. Cap. I enjoy meditating on the main stained glass window at Saint Joseph the Worker Church in East Patchogue, New York. It depicts Joseph holding the infant Jesus with tenderness and affection. From a distance, it appears that Saint Joseph is the window s central focus and that the Christ-child is an auxiliary character. When I move closer I see that Joseph s head is bowed down, almost resting upon Jesus in a posture of adoration. Jesus, for His part, gazes out toward me. There are billions of people in the world, and as silly as this may sound, at this moment I feel that He sees only me. This is humbling. Jesus sees me as I truly am, a sinner. But He also sees what I can be by His grace, a saint. It is in this context that I think about the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. I am one of five Capuchin friars of the Province of Saint Mary selected to be a Missionary of Mercy for the Jubilee Year, someone above all who will be a living sign of the Father s readiness to welcome those in search of his pardon (Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, 19). They will be missionaries of mercy because they will be facilitators of a truly human encounter, says Pope Francis, a source of liberation, rich with responsibility for overcoming obstacles and taking up the new life of Baptism again. But before I can do that for someone else, the Jubilee Year is an invitation to my own conversion, a challenge to see myself and others in the same way that Jesus sees me: first, in honest recognition of the sinful obstacles in my life that prohibit 9

10 OUTREACH an encounter with Jesus; and second, to take up the new life of Baptism again. As a preacher, Pope Francis is famous for making three points that he wants people to focus on. In that vein, there are three points that I think about in preparing for my service as a Missionary of Mercy. First, taking up the new life of Baptism again is another way of talking about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a privilege to say to others I absolve you of your sins when I am hearing confessions. But it is a joy and relief when I hear those same words spoken to me when I go to confession to another priest. So the first thing I wish to do is to make sure that I am going to confession regularly. I try to go about twice a month. Sometimes people say to me, But you are a Capuchin priest! You don t sin. Unfortunately, I do. And that leads to my second point, a renewed devotion to and love for the Eucharist in my life. Fr. Peter Fink, a Jesuit priest that I took a course with when I was in the seminary, spoke of the Eucharist as the sacrament of ongoing conversion. The Eucharist sustains us in our practical efforts of living out the new life we received at Baptism and Confirmation. At every Mass we celebrate the gift of redemption Jesus won for us by His life, passion, death and resurrection. When Jesus says do this in memory of me, the Church hears in these words the mandate to celebrate the Eucharist as a perpetual memorial of His sacrifice for us. But do this in memory of me also means drawing out the meaning of the Eucharist in the ordinary experiences of my daily life: love, forgive, share, visit the sick, be patient, teach all in His memory. I could not do anything of those on my own. I need His grace. And this brings me to my third point and back to the stained-glass window of Saint Joseph and the Christ-child at Saint Joseph the Worker Church in East Patchogue. Silent meditation and prayer have to precede and sustain Christian action. There is a silent dialogue of love that going on between Jesus and Joseph. They are not using words. Yet a very important truth is being communicated as Joseph brings Jesus close to his heart, a truth that is alluded to in the very first words of Pope Francis Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy: Jesus Christ is the face of the Father s mercy. These words might well sum up the mystery of the Christian faith. Mercy has become living and visible in Jesus of Nazareth, reaching its culmination in him. It is only when I come to know this truth intimately in prayer that I may take my first steps as a Missionary of Mercy. 10

11 BROTHERHOOD TRUST GOD IN ALL THINGS Fr. Martin Curtin, O.F.M. Cap. is celebrating 25 years of priesthood this year. He sat down with our Communications Manager Colin Lentz to talk about how he came to his faith and what he sees as being central to his relationship with God. Unlike some of the other friars of the Province of St. Mary, Fr. Martin Curtin, O.F.M. Cap. didn t know from a young age that he wanted to live a consecrated life. At the end of his junior year in college, he had a spiritual experience that inspired a deepening of his faith. God helped him let go of a personal matter that he was struggling to let go of by himself and in that experience he recognized that God is real and, beyond that, trustworthy. He saw a connection between this realization and an idea of St. Francis: because God can be trusted in all things, it is possible to live with less, to expend less energy protecting yourself from the unforeseen. Fr. Martin Curtin, O.F.M. Cap. After this experience, Fr. Martin (or Fr. Marty as he is affectionately known) sought out Franciscans and Capuchins to learn more about their relationship to God and their decision to live a consecrated life. Fr. Martin says that he was struck by the image of the Capuchins walking back to Franciscan simplicity, removing any excess from their lives to allow themselves to more fully focus on God and on their commitment to helping the least of His children. At this point, Fr. Martin was in graduate school at the University of Minnesota. He decided to withdraw to more seriously explore the idea of becoming a brother himself. His involvement in meditation and in spiritual retreats run by the Capuchins led him to focus on Franciscan spirituality. This spirituality connected to his earlier realization that you can put yourself at a certain risk because you can trust God to be there. The project of life isn t to protect yourself from things you can and cannot predict, because God will protect you. Since becoming a friar, Fr. Martin has moved twelve times, and although he admits that he is the kind of person who prefers to settle in, he sees this transience as a reminder to allow God to be his protection. In particular, Fr. Martin says he likes priesthood because of its focus on gathering the community, creating a welcoming place and a place for folks to see their strengths. He has come to learn that people have more to offer than they often get the chance to show. Part of his job as a brother and priest is to work with these people through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to help them realize their abilities. When asked what advice he would give to someone considering living a consecrated life, Fr. Martin says that this belief needs to be tested again and again. St. Francis was wrong as often as he was right about what God wanted for him. But he always remained open to hearing and understanding God s plan. The point isn t that you know ahead of time what God wants, but that you respond to what He shows you God likes the conversation. And it is this openness that Fr. Martin thinks is at the center of faith it is a willingness to trust that God will be there to protect us and to guide us down the path that He has created for us. 11

12 A BABY CRIES Hearts are as chilled as the numbed toes of shepherds huddling with malodorous ewes and lambs, capping the side of a barren hill outside Bethlehem. A baby cries, a thin wail for the world. In the king s palace, gold robed persons of jowl d importance taste their wine and chat on their couches of injustice, unaware that sentence has been passed, and that they are already dead. Fr. Robert Phelps, O.F.M. Cap. And a baby cries, a thin wail for the world. Farmyard animals, their heads upraised and nostrils quivering, sense a new air, a world of never before. Families in the poverty of their homes, light candles for prayer, and are amazed at the flames leaping from the wicks skyward, jumping as never seen before. Something has disturbed the narcotic routine of this night. Something has changed. Fr. Robert Phelps, O.F.M. Cap. is a published poet, whose books include Ever and Point of View. Both books are available from Finishing Line Press. The cover art and drawings on the opposite page and following page (all untitled) were done by Br. Carmine Funaro, O.F.M. Cap. in honor of the Advent Christmas season. Br. Carmine is a regular contributor of artwork to the Province and works most often with charcoal, chalk, and pencil. 12

13 A Syrian mother cradles her baby on the island of Lesbos in Greece. Photo credit: CBC News And a baby cries, a thin, hardly-heard wail for the world. His teen aged mother with exhausted eyes, offers him her breast, and he is fed, who will in time, press the world to his heart and feed that world forever. And a baby sleeps. 13

14 BROTHERHOOD 14

15 WE RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Our 2015 Annual Capuchin Dinner was a huge success! The event was held at the Glen Island Harbour Club on Tuesday, November 3 in New Rochelle, New York. With over 275 friends and supporters, and over 50 Capuchin friars, the evening provided a welcome opportunity for many different people, friars and laypeople alike, to meet and get to know each other. The evening was also an opportunity to honor two families that have been constant collaborators and supporters of the work of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Mary. Joseph and Marjorie Grieshop were the receipients of the Capuchin Community Impact Award for their tireless efforts helping those in need in Harlan County, Kentucky. And Mauro and Camille Romita and family were the receipients of the Capuchin Spirit Award for their many years of charitable service to those in need, walking in the footsteps of St. Francis. Upon receiving the Capuchin Spirit Award, Mauro Romita made remarks that we are thrilled to be able to share with you, since, with great wisdom, they capture the importance of our work and the importance of the support of our community. Mr. Romita began by sharing lessons from his parents: My father s favorite expression was we re all in this together, and while I thought I understood what he meant at time, I really didn t know the full meaning until one day I noticed an inscription on an altar in my parish church that reads The Bread is one and we, though many, are one body. Whether he knew it or not, Pop was actually paraphrasing St. Paul when he speaks of the Body of Christ, which is made up of many parts, all of which must work together for the good of all. My parents, by their example, ingrained in their children the obligation and honor to share our gifts with those in need. I thank God for my parents for many reasons, but particularly because, among their many attributes, they maintained an unselfish concern for the welfare of others in this world. They were truly followers of Christ. Mr. Romita went on to connect the efforts of the Capuchins to the growing awareness of global inequality and the effect this inequality has on those in need: It s no secret that we are the richest country in the world. Eight of the ten richest people in world are Americans, and yet 16 million children go to bed hungry in the United States every night, over 500,000 in New York City alone. The greatest threat to America comes not from terrorists or other enemies without, but from our failures to invest adequately and fairly in the health, education, and sound development of our young. Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, hit the nail on 15

16 the head when he said the real weapons of mass destruction are poverty and lack of education. A few weeks ago, Princeton University Professor Angus Deaton, one of the world s leading experts on poverty, won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Economics. His call to address inequality and climate change echoes that of Pope Francis. I wonder if Professor Deaton won the Nobel Prize for studying poverty, what prize should the Capuchins win for their tireless work to prevent and assuage the crushing effects of poverty in a very tactile manner. The Capuchins are out there in the trenches helping to feed, clothe, shelter, and educate the poor, helping them to improve their lives not only physically, but equally if not more important, spiritually. The Capuchins labor hard to improve the plight of the poor and the needy, but they cannot do it without our help. Therefore, tonight, although we are truly grateful for your kind participation in this wonderful event, we ask that you not only continue to do all that you do to help others, but that you find ways to do more. Give as much as you are able, engage your relatives and friends in this most important work of caring for the poor, the sick, the spiritually bereft, and raising others out of poverty and dire circumstances. We are so moved by Mauro Romita s call to action and so proud to have him and his family as members of our Capuchin community! Mauro Romita (backed by family) giving remarks upon receipt of the Capuchin Spirit Award at the 2015 Annual Capuchin Dinner. 16

17 TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! Thank you so much for your support of the Province of St. Mary and the Capuchin Journey! We love having the opportunity to tell you in more detail about how our Capuchin Friars are following in the footsteps of St. Francis, serving those in most need. We want to hear from you about what things you value most in your engagement with the Province. It shouldn t take more than two minutes to complete the survey questions below and we greatly appreciate your thoughts. Also, please include any prayer intentions in the space at the bottom. Peace and all good! 1) Please rank your interest, from 1 to 5, in our different areas of service: (with 1 the most interesting and 5 the least) Friars-in-Training Overseas Missions Ministries Youth and Family Other (please write in): Senior Friars 2) Please rank your interest in the different types of information we can provide about our work: (with 1 the most interesting and 5 the least) Updates about particular friars Updates about particular ministries Information about upcoming masses and feast days Friar-in-Training events Other (please write in): 3) Please rank which of the following would make you more likely to attend Province events: (with 1 the most interesting and 5 the least) A well-known speaker A certain friar or friars attending A certain friend or group of friends attending A convenient location Other (please write in): 4) Please check any of the following events you would be interested in attending: Sit-down dinner Prayer session Cocktail hour Tea Lunch Tour of a friary Planned giving seminars Cappuccino with a Capuchin (individual or small group sit-downs with our friars) 5) How did you become acquainted with the Province of St. Mary and our Capuchin Friars? 6) Which of our friars are you best acquainted with? How did you become acquainted? SPECIAL INTENTIONS (please include your prayer intentions below)

18 I proudly pledge in support of the Province of St. Mary Join us in planting the seeds of our faith, promoting equality of all people, enriching the lives of youth, and giving back to those that so generously dedicated their lives to others. Please make my gift in support of: Where it is needed most Youth and Family Ministries Friars-in-training Overseas Missions Domestic Ministries Our Elder Friars Please choose one of the three options below: I d like to make an outright gift of $. I d like to make a recurring gift, please charge my credit card $ on a monthly basis. I d like to make a multi-year pledge of $. Pledge Date:. Pledge Payment Schedule: $ enclosed today $ on (date) $ on (date) $ on (date) $ on (date) I d like to make my contribution via: Check(s) payable to: The Province of St. Mary Credit card number: Expiration Date: Your Name: Please indicate exactly how you would like your gift to be credited in all Province literature. I wish for this to remain anonymous Signature: Date: Your Address: Your Phone Number: Your Address: If you have any questions, or would like to learn more, please call Dana Rachlin at (212) Ext. 215 or drachlin@capuchin.org. Please sign, date, and return this form in the included envelope or mail to: Dana Rachlin Mission and Development Office Province of St. Mary 210 West 31st Street New York, NY 10001

19 Province Directory Province Mission New York St. Joachim Friary 61 Leonard Street Beacon, NY Phone: St. Michael Friary 282 Warwick 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: Capuchin Holy Cross Residence 329 West 42nd Street New York, NY Phone: 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 213 West 30th Street New York, NY Phone: St. Conrad Friary & Provincialate 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 Capuchin Franciscan 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; PO Box 247 Santa Ynez, CA Phone: Florida St. John XXIII Friary th Street North Seminole, FL Phone: Custody of the Star of the Sea 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: St. Clare Friary The needs of the poor and the demands of justice shape our every ministerial endeavor. We attempt to promote the equality of all people within our fraternity, in the churches dedicated to the gospel of Christ, and in the larger world. Capuchin friars minister in a wide variety of settings. Service to people of a variety of cultures in North America and around the globe have allowed us to witness God at work in countless ways. Here in the Northeast United States, the Province of St. Mary serves through any number of institutions dedicated to the service of real human needs and the proclamation of God s love. Urban, suburban, and rural; poor, blue collar, and middle class; Latino, Asian, and Engligh-speaking - the friars can be found living amid all these diverse circumstances. Capuchin Charisms: FRATERNITY of the friars joins them in their common goals and taps into their unique talents to most efficiently operate their own community as well as the communities they serve. MINORITY has enabled them to walk with the people they serve and be accepted as one of their own. CONTEMPLATION requires they set aside time to reflect upon the progress and direction of their mission and to listen to God s guidance in their mission. MINISTRY has led the Capuchins to appeal to and often allay the hunger, despair, and loneliness of those among whom Christ would have walked. JUSTICE, PEACE, ECOLOGY are uniquely Capuchin because an essential part of the mission of St. Francis was to strive for all of God s creation to live in peace and harmony.

20 210 West 31st street new york, ny Non Profit U.S. Postage PAID Mailed from Zip Code Permit No. 454 Become a Capuchin Monthly Supporter! Make a monthly contribution and provide the Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order with a reliable source for all our programs and services. Your secure, online donation is easy to set-up and maintain. Simply select a frequency to match your budget: weekly, monthly, quarterly. You can even make an annual gift. No renewal fees or extra forms to fill out. Your sustained gift assures that the Province of St. Mary can continue to serve those in need and the proclamation of God s love. Make your online commitment today. Visit