Papua New Guinea Friars Make History
Our Capuchin Franciscan brothers of the Custody of St. Michael the Archangel (Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands) gathered for their triennial Chapter in the last week of November at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in the city of Mendi of the Southern Highands Province of PNG . The Chapter was definitely one for the history books. The friars gather to discuss our way of life and to elect leadership to serve the brothers for the next three years.
For the first time in its history, the friars elected a Minister (Custos) who was born outside the United States. Modest Sangia, OFM Cap. (right in the photo) from the Capuchin Province of Tanzania, was elected to serve, succeeding our brother Jonathan Williams, OFM Cap. (left) who had completed two terms as Custos. Modest arrived in PNG from Tanzania six years ago, in fact, in order to teach philosophy and theology at the school in Bomana, a great sacrifice for his Tanzanian Province.
Our Brother Tage is Ordained a Priest
When our brother Tage Danielson, OFM Cap., reflected on his vocation story, he once wrote: Having found joy in being with the Capuchin friars, and discerning that I should try out this vocation, I entered postulancy in July 2011 and I never looked back. In August of 2016, I professed my perpetual vows. Now, I look forward to the day when I will be ordained a priest.
The sun was beaming into St. Catherine of Sweden Church in Allison Park, PA, when that day arrived for the ordination on Saturday, September 28th. Bishop David Zubik, Ordinary of the Pittsburgh Diocese, did the honors.
Perpetual Vows for Brs. Steve & Rigo
On August 17th, our brothers Rigo Azanwi, OFM Cap., and Stephen Wright, OFM Cap., made their perpetual vows as Capuchin Franciscans in ceremonies held at our mother-church of St. Augustine's in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh, PA.
The friars, having completed their three years of temporary profession, will continue to live at Capuchin College (St. Francis Friary) in Washington, DC. Br. Steve has taken on the assignment of fraternity service and has been spending time training as our Provincial tailor, an indispensible ministry to the friars (you just can't order habits on Amazon!). Br. Rigo was ordained a deacon on Saturday, September 8, in Washington, DC, and will take on his diaconate internship after finishing up his studies.
Borromeo CFP Begins Again
The Academic Year 2019-20 began in earnest on Tuesday, September 2, at John Carroll University in Cleveland. Six young men resumed their classes as they forge another year of studies, prayer and community - all the while discerning the Lord's path for them and their futures. All of them are residents at Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe, OH, where our Capuchin Formation Program (CFP) allows them the opportunity to live in community and discern their vocations as Capuchin Franciscan friars.
Introducing the Postulants 2019
(back row) Ryan Schmeltzer, Inaky Russo, Sam Hadjis, Jack Lampton, Alex Hostoffer, OFM Cap. (Assistant Director)
(middle row) José Castro-Arroyo, Isaac García, Connor Bannon,
(front) Daniel Sullivan, Tom Betz, OFM Cap. (Provincial Minister) & Kip Ledger, OFM Cap. (Director)
Eight men have begun their journeys of discernment with our Capuchin Franciscan community. In mid-July, they arrived at our Padre Pio Friary, Philadelphia, PA, to take their first steps in our life in prayer, brotherhood and ministry.They'll be taking on ministries in service to those most in need, especially the poor and disadvantaged. All the while, they'll be praying together and learning the skills needed to be part of a family of brothers dedicated to life in the Lord Jesus.
Capuchin Golf Outing 2019 - Our ReCAP
Thanks to the sponsors and golfers who supported us at the annual Capuchin golf outing held on Friday, August 2nd! The event raised over $34,000 for the Fr. Bill Wiethorn Scholarship Fund which benefits our young friars in formation for our Capuchin-Franciscan way of life. There were 105 golfers attending the outing and many others who joined in for lunch and a chance to re-connect and celebrate friendships formed during their years at St. Fidelis Seminary.
Investiture 2019
Our newest novices were invested in their Capuchin habits in July, the official beginning of their Novitiate year of discernment before making their vows of poverty, chastity and obediience.
Brothers from our Province of St. Augustine were on hand for the occasion. Brs. Jim Froehlich (Director of the Interprovincial Pre-Novitiate Program) and Br. Bill Gillum (Assistant Director, and on the formation team at Capuchin College in DC) accompanied the group to their new home in Santa Ynez, CA, to join the friars from all the Provinces of the NAPPCC (the Capuchin Conference of North America & the Pacific) who have novices present this year. Other Provincial friars included Br. Phil Bernier (Assistant Novice Director), Br.Bill Talentino (Novitiate team member) and Br. Raf Anguiano (Vocation Director).
Prayers and blessings go out to our novices Matt Lontz, Mehari Worku, Sebastian Rojas, Tony Rivera, Simon Falk, Steve Cantwell, Carl Schulz and to Alexander Santana from the Capuchin Stigmata Province who joined the group for the Postulancy year in Philly. You'll see each of them in the photos below . . . .
Br. Akolla Ordained to the Priesthood
Our Akolla Etuge, OFM Cap., was ordained a priest in our Provincial celebration held on June 15, 2019. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, OFMCap., now the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston was on hand as the ordaining prelate. St. Catherine of Sweden Church in Allison Park, PA, hosted the even since our own motherhouse church, St. Augustine's in Pittsburgh, PA, is undergoing the construction of our additions to the current friary.
A choir of singers and musicians animated the Mass and Ordination Ritual. They traveled from the parishes of Holy Spirit and St. Agnes/Our Lady of Fatima in Cleveland, OH, where Br. Akolla served as deacon and will now serve as parochial assistant.
Postulants Gather to Make the Move
The NAPCC (North America Pacific Capuchin Conference) Postulancy Program is an 8-week experience of living Capuchin life... not just as a member of one's own Province... but also as a member of the larger Capuchin Order. The NAPCC Postulancy Program provides this year’s Postulants with a unique and challenging experience of what it would be like for them to be living closely with one another, in this particular fraternity, while developing the foundations of a deeper and richer spiritual life. It's especially helpful to those Postulants who, in their own Provinces, have not had the opportunity to discern their Capuchin vocation within the context of a strong, fraternal community with their peers.
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