Official Newsletter of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, Order of Friars Minor, Albuquerque, NM Love is What Matters During the month of May, Franciscans for Justice - a joint effort of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province and the Santa Barbara Province, coordinated by Br. Mark Schroeder, OFM, - posted a Youtube video described thusly: Based on Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si, this video is a meditation on our common home, the Earth, and our duty to protect it. Stations of Light are intertwined with scripture and quotes from Pope Francis to offer a contemplative space for those who want to reflect on caring for creation. The video can be found on the Franciscans for Justice Youtube channel. Many Franciscan religious communities - both men and women - have developed offices focused on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in recent decades. One major player in this effort is Fr. Louie Vitale, OFM, former provincial of the Santa Barbara Province, and one of the founders of Pace e Bene and the Nevada Desert Experience. A book compiling some of Fr. Louie s writings, titled Love is What Matters, has been published by Pace e Bene, and is well worth a read. The Foreword by actor and activist Martin Sheen begins, Fr. Louie Vitale is the best follower of St. Francis of Assisi that I know. In an age where reports of violence and war lead many newscasts, Fr. Louie s words are meant to inspire not only Franciscans, but all those who seek peace, to stand up and let their voices be heard. He wrote, We need a new spirituality for a global awareness and we need a new way of acting in this polluted world. We have to say no to violence, war and environmental destruction. We have to end our exploitation and domination of the earth and the poor. At the same time, we have to say yes to life, solidarity, conservation, dialogue and self-determination. We say yes to creation and all her creatures... Living up to this declaration, Fr. Louie was imprisoned numerous times for crossing the line at sites like the Nevada nuclear testing grounds, and Fort Benning, Georgia, during the annual SOA Watch protests. He even spent his 78 th birthday behind bars. While incarcerated, he learned much about himself and the system, but has never given up on his resolve to work toward a nonviolent world. This is the mission of all JPIC offices, and there are many ways to get involved. A quick Google search using that acronym brings up numerous links. Some - like Franciscans for Justice - publish periodic action updates, and list events, conferences or service opportunities. It s simple to be added to their email lists. Just as thousands followed St. Francis of Assisi in the 13 th century and changed the world, Fr. Louie Vitale - along with the JPIC initiatives - provide valuable inspiration for the 21 st century, which faces its own crises and requires courageous souls to speak for peace and nonviolent alternatives, proving love is what matters. Love is What Matters: Writings on Peace and Nonviolence, Louie Vitale, OFM, Pace e Bene Press, 2015, $20.00 (www.paceebene.org/store)
Communications Corner Upcoming Event!!! Jorge Hernandez, OFM, will be ordained to the priesthood on Friday, June 24, 2016, at 6:00 PM. The Mass will take place at St. John the Baptist Parish in Roswell, New Mexico. A video of the Mass will be available on the Province s Youtube Channel by the end of June. June Birthdays Don Billiard, OFM, reviews the Scripture readings with two eighth graders at St. Michael Indian School before their promotion Mass, May 19. 23 Edgardo Diaz Vazquez 28 Paul Juniet Two friars graduated with their Masters of Divinity degrees from the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas, on May 6, 2016. The group, left to right: Erasmo Romero, Miguel Alcantar Gonzalez, Charlie Martinez, José Luis Peralta Andrade, Jorge Hernandez Juardo, Chris Kerstiens (recipient of the Fr. Pierre Keralum, OMI, Award for the Master of Divinity), Edgardo Diaz Vazquez, and Andrés Gallegos. Where to Find Us... Internet: www.swfranciscans.org Facebook: SWFranciscans Twitter: SWFranciscans Youtube: SWFranciscans May 14, Dale Jamison, OFM, taught a class on the Sacrament of Marriage for the Native American Lay Ministry Program in Gallup, NM. The Padres Trail, Volume 30, Number 6, June, 2016 2
Preserving History In 2014, architects designed a plan to perform much-needed renovations on San Diego de Alcalá church in Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, where Fr. Larry Bernard, OFM and Br. Ricardo Garcia, OFM, serve the people. Two years later, the project still has not begun, due to lack of funds, and the historic structure s deterioration continues. San Diego de Alcalá Today The Padres Trail, Volume 30, Number 6, June, 2016 3
The Renovation Plans and the Plea Below are the plans for San Diego de Alcalá designed by MLC Architects, and a summary of the letter written by Christopher Toya, Alberta Vigil and David Yepa of the Church Renovation Committee: The renovation has been an ongoing effort since the time of my father, Patrick E. Toya, a Sacristan in the Pueblo and a Deacon serving the San Diego Mission Parish. Our Tribal Council unanimously approved fund raising to remodel our Pueblo Church but had no funds available for this purpose. Previous renovations took place in 1849 - when the roof collapsed after a rain storm - and, again, with the help of Mother Katharine Drexel in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Other, piecemeal efforts to fix the church have taken place since then. The good news at this point is that we have been blessed with the help of an internationally active Native American architect. After input from tribal members, he designed a remodeling of the church to take care of its many needs, including a new roof, bathrooms, decent heating and cooling and adequate lighting... we have been able to raise under $10,000 from bake sales and bingos. The cost of the renovation is $1,011,000.00. The tribe is poor in financial resources and we are coming hat in hand to seek funding for this project. Donations may be sent to: Church Renovation Committee, PO Box 79, Jemez Pueblo, NM 87024-0079. The Padres Trail, Volume 30, Number 6, June, 2016 4
On Monday, May 30, friars from Our Lady of Guadalupe gathered at San Juan Diego Friary, Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a cookout to begin the 2016 The Padres Trail, Volume 30, Number 6, June, 2016 5
Morning Prayer and Mass celebrated by José Gutay on Tuesday, May 31, preceded an engaging discussion led by psychiatrist Heather Wood, MD: Ethical Boundaries in Ministry. Dr. Wood highlighted her points with reflections on the relationship between St. Francis and St. Clare. The Padres Trail, Volume 30, Number 6, June, 2016 6
Various aspects of fraternal life were the focus Wednesday, June 1, wisely facilitated by Jeremy Harrington, OFM, former Minister Provincial of St. John the Baptist Province. Thursday, June 2, Jack Clark Robinson, OFM, Minister Provincial, spoke about the State of the Province, the Franciscan Interprovincial Team process, and the Order. Caoimhín Ó Laoide, General Definitor for the English Speaking Conference, gave a Report from Rome, while Mark Schroeder, OFM, of Santa Barbara Province, shared ideas on a Franciscan response to the current U.S. political situation during this election year. Caoimhín Ó Laoide, OFM Mark Schroeder, OFM The Padres Trail, Volume 30, Number 6, June, 2016 7
The friars celebrated a Mass honoring jubilees of profession and priesthood on Wednesday evening, June 1, at San Juan Diego Friary in Albuquerque. Hilaire Valiquette (celebrating in the Philippines) 60 years of profession The Jubilarians, left to right, with Jack Clark Robinson, Minister Provincial (third from left) Paul Juniet - 50 years of priesthood Emeric Nordmeyer - 60 years of priesthood Larry Bernard - 50 years of priesthood Gilbert Schneider - 60 years of profession Joseph Nelson - 60 years of profession The Padres Trail is the newsletter for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Editor: Julie Ferraro, Director of Communications. Contact: 1204 Stinson Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121. Office phone: 505-831-9199 x 511 Send articles, photos, letters or article suggestions by the last day of the month to: communicationsolg@gmail.com The Padres Trail, Volume 30, Number 6, June, 2016 8