Mario Mastrangelo, OFM Cap., 1931-2022
Our Province suffered a loss when our brother Mario Mastrangelo, OFM Cap., 90, made his transitus to the Lord’s eternal life on Saturday afternoon, February 26, 2022. Health problems have plagued him throughout the past years. Sometimes dampening his spirits but never his kindness, his resolve or his trust in the Lord, his visits in and out of hospital for a range of issues dealing with his diabetes called upon our prayers and support. We became accustomed to his bouncing back and returning to the brothers, but after a final visit by his blood brother, Fr. Nick Mastrangelo, a retired priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh (PA), Mario succumbed to Sister Death.
Anthony Mastrangelo was born in New Castle, PA on May 3, 1931, the first of three sons born to Nicholas and Concepta (Toscano) Mastrangelo. Having been baptized in New Castle’s St. Vitus Parish, his childhood was nurtured by the immigrant Italian community of the city. Bouncing back and forth between public and parochial schools during his elementary and high school years, 17-year-old Anthony finally landed among our Capuchin Franciscan friars at St. Fidelis High School and College Seminary in Herman, PA, to complete his last two years of high school studies before entering the college seminary.
International Fraternity Formed in the Amazon
St. Lawrence International Fraternity Formed in the Amazon
February 2nd, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, a.k.a. the Purification of Mary, a.k.a. the Circumcision of the Lord, has tradionally been celebrated in many countries as the Day of Consecrated Life. Pope John Paul II made it a worldwide celebration for the Church in 1997. Our Order, through the work of its Commission for Evangelization and Mission, chose that day to inaugurate a St. Lawrence International Fraternity in the Amazon, part of the General's effort to begin building Saint Lawrence of Brindisi Fraternities throughout the world.
The efforts have been inspired by our former General Mauro Jöhri who wrote in 2014: "We want to try a new path, establishing intercultural fraternities, which in the light of the Gospel and our Constitutions live prayer, fraternal life and mission in an authentic and coherent way. The resource of interculturality will give witness that brothers and sisters from different cultures, if they look to Christ present among them, can live and give of themselves to work together. We are sustained by the certainty that the charism of Francis of Assisi, lived and witnessed, still has so much to say and communicate to the men and women of our time.”
Our brothers in Papua New Guinea Remember & Celebrate
The Lord has blessed us with three brothers who made their Perpetual Vows as Capuchins in the Custody of St. Michael the Archangel on Tuesday, January 25. Our brothers Clement Tarmat, Joseph Umba and Lucas Tamshong professed their vows in Mendi, PNG. Provincial Tom Betz, OFM Cap., was there to witness their commitments.
Jospeh signs his documents wearing his native headdress.
Custody Minister Modest Sangia, OFM Cap., attests to their vows at the altar.
Clement, Lucas and Joseph after the celebration.
Shia LeBeouf Tries out a Habit & Padre Pio
You may never have heard of Shia LeBeouf, but he's known in filmdom and is quite a popular name among those who've seen his work in Disturbia and in the Transformers series as Sam Witwicky, its main protagonist. But Shia, whose life has been somewhat tumultuous, experienced a conversion and became fascinated with the figure of our brother Pio of Pietrelcina. He spent some time with our confreres in the California Province and one of their brothers, Alexander Rodriguez, OFM Cap., is now serving as his companion in Italy as he takes on the role of Pio in a movie currrently being filmed near San Giovanni Rotondo and in Pietrelcina.
Homeless Jesus Finds a Cleveland Home
A bronze sculpture of Jesus depicted as a homeless man on a park bench outside one suburban Cleveland church sparked national headlines last year. That statue is part of a series of six sculptures by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz that illustrate Christ as a person in need, alternately sick, hungry, naked, a stranger, a prisoner or without shelter. Mr. Schmalz was the designer and creator of the Angels Unaware sculpture which has astounded and moved many a pilgrim or tourist at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.
Our brother Phil Bernier, OFM Cap., who serves as parochial vicar at St. Malachi Church in Cleveland, wrote us about the placement of one of the Homeless Jesus statues there . . .
Francis Xavier Russo, OFM Cap., 1934-2022
Our brother Francis Xavier Russo, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord’s eternal life early Friday afternoon, January 14, 2022, at Villa Rosa Nursing home in Mitchellville, MD, from complications following a stroke he suffered on December 4, 2021. Our confrere Emett Schuler, OFM Cap., administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and was praying with him at the time of his death.
John Carmen Russo was born on March 21, 1934, to John and Theresa (Izzo) Russo of Mahoningtown, PA. He was baptized at St. Lucy Church in Mahoningtown and educated in the local public elementary school before enrolling at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1951, where he received both his high school and college education. Following his second year of collegiate studies, he received the habit of our Capuchin Franciscan community when he entered the novitiate at St. Conrad Friary, Annapolis, MD, on July 13, 1953, and was given the name “Kent.”
Paul Patlo, OFM Cap., 1969-2021
Our Capuchin brother Paul Patlo, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord’s eternal life on December 26, 2021, at Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). He had suffered from kidney and liver failure for a number of weeks in Kimbe, his family home, where he was cared for by family until his illness required hospitalization in the nation’s capital. Paul was 52. His death marks a sad milestone for our Province: he was the first native friar from our mission to pass.
Paul was born in West New Britain-Pomio on October15, 1969, to his parents, Philip Kepipe and Francesca Kempole. His decision to be a Catholic priest goes back to his high school years in 1982 at Malmal High School in Pomio. When he completed grade 10 in 1985, he was accepted at St Peter Chanel Seminary in Rabaul to begin his priesthood studies. After objections by his father about his choice of schooling, however, Paul had to withdrew from the seminary and worked for two years as plantation supervisor with the New Britain Palm Oil Development (NBPOD) Company. The young man was not satisfied with the life he was living, however, and his desire to be a priest grew stronger and stronger.
Our Work in New Baltimore, PA, Highlighted in Video
Our brother Mark Pattock, OFM Cap., and the work of the people of St. John the Baptist parish in New Baltimore, PA, was featured in a 30-minute interview on the recent barn restoration. St. John's also hosts a retreat center where groups can find some tranquility and peace in the beautiful countryside. Of course, the restored barn makes that countryside all the more lovely.
Produced by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in their Proclaim! The Good News of Altoona-Johnstown series. Mark appears on a "blustery day" in New Baltimore, interviewed by host Tony DeGol, and we learn a lot about the history of the place our friars call "home." The video was published on October 24th.
Our New Motherhouse Annex is Blessed Indeed
On Saturday, September 25th, a number of friars, friends and benefactors were able to join the friars of St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh for the long-delayed dedication and blessing of our new building. Bishop David Zubik of the local diocese was able to celebrate the Mass and blessing for us. The Mass also marked the "Consecration of the Altar," even though the rite had to be a tad abbreviated because of a no-incense restriction
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The blessing of the new annex to the friary had to be limited given the bishop's schedule, but he was able to follow the Mass with a blessing of the friary's living room and dining room before he moved on to the blessing of the new Hyacinth Epp Hall, created to host our larger events. The complex, completed in March of 2020 was delayed due to our pandemic, but having the ability to gather with our friars, families and friends was itself a wonderful blessing.
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