CapuchinJourney SprSumm 2011 - Capuchin Franciscans, Province

Capuchin Journey
the
CAPUCHIN MISSION AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
SPRING/SUMMER 2011
Capuchin Appalachian Mission:
20 Years of Helping
Families in Need
Japan Earthquake Relief
Community Outreach in Honduras
Friar Jubilees 2011
Province Mission
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
Urban, suburban and rural; poor, blue collar
and middle class; Latino, Asian and Englishspeaking the friars can be found living amid
all of these diverse circumstances.
Capuchin Journey
the
In This Issue
FEATURES
15
CYFM Appalachian Mission 20th
Anniversary
11
Relief for Japan Earthquake Survivors
9
Ministries Around the World:
Choloma, Honduras
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
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 AND ECOLOGY are
uniquely Capuchin because an essential
part of the mission of St. Francis
to live in peace and harmony.
1
DEPARTMENTS
3-10
News Notes
17-20
Jubilees
22
Province Directory
On the cover: Father Fred Nickle, CYFM Capuchin Appalachian Mission
Youth Volunteers, and Harlan County, KY resident Cindie (on the left, red
shirt) and her young children. Photo courtesy of Chris Nadareski.
Provincial Minister’s Letter
Spreading the Gospel Around the World
―Preach the Gospel at all times; When necessary use words.‖ is one of St. Francis of Assisi‘s most enduring and
resonant quotations. Those words are also something Capuchin Franciscan Friars live by in every aspect of life and
ministry.
St. Francis dedicated his life to preaching the Gospel and comforting the poor and those considered outcasts by
society. His devotion and faith led to legions of followers, many of whom had lost their faith in the Church, but were
so inspired by St. Francis‘ actions and devotion that they returned to the Church.
Like St. Francis, we, the friars of the Province of St. Mary, devote ourselves to the Gospel and glory of God, with
special dedication to the sick, the poor, and those in need – wherever they may be. The March 11 earthquake and
tsunami in Japan have demonstrated to the world that tragedy can strike any community, at any time, regardless of
wealth or status.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Japan lost loved ones, their homes, and everything they have ever worked
for. The friars from the Custody in Japan responded to their parishioners‘ needs by providing food, supplies, and
shelter. One friar was directing relief efforts for an entire region. Most importantly, they are providing spiritual relief
and guidance to survivors who have been left traumatized by witnessing the death of loved ones and seeing their
communities destroyed. Through prayer and counseling, our friars are helping these vulnerable people rebuild their
lives.
Our Capuchin friars are also spreading the Gospel in Central America through their life and ministry. In this issue
of The Capuchin Journey, Brother Jim Donegan talks about friar ministry in Choloma, Honduras, where Capuchins
are helping parishioners organize and help spread the gospel through community building efforts and outreach programs that include building pedestrian bridges in rural areas and distributing school supplies to city children in need.
Here at home in the United States, we continue serving our local parishes during these hard economic times
through our network of soup kitchens and food pantries, as well as special programs like our Capuchin Youth and
Family Ministries‘ (CYFM) Appalachian Mission, an annual program where friars, parishioners, and youth travel to
one of the poorest rural counties in Kentucky and spend nine days distributing clothing and children‘s books, volunteering at a nursing home, constructing home improvements for low-income families, and running a Bible school for
young children. This year, CYFM‘s Appalachian Mission celebrates its 20th year – a great milestone for the youth
organization. In addition to helping families in need, CYFM is helping build the Catholic leaders of tomorrow. Many
of the youth volunteers who helped start the Appalachian Mission 20 years ago continue to be active members in the
Church and hope to pass their same Catholic values to their children.
Thanks to your generous support, the Province of St. Mary will continue to carry out St. Francis‘s vision of service, ministry, and dedication to the Gospel. Your generosity and prayers make it possible for us to live by the Gospel and help those who are suffering during times of crisis and times of need. On behalf of the Province of St. Mary
and the people who benefit from our ministries, I would like to say thank you. Together we reveal the face of God to
the world.
May God bless you and your loved ones with peace and every good thing.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Francis J. Gasparik, OFM Cap.
Provincial Minister
2
Centennial Celebration
Manhattan’s Church of the Good Shepherd Celebrates 100 Years
Above: Parishioners at The Church of Good Shepherd during its 100-year
jubilee mass. Right: The original Church of Good Shepherd before its
renovation in the 1930s.
Celebrating a 100-year anniversary is always a special
occasion for a parish community. And for the Church of
the Good Shepherd, it‘s an especially joyous occasion as
the parish continues to carry on its original mission of
being a spiritual and social center for Upper Manhattan‘s
Catholic community.
To mark the centennial anniversary, the church
opened its year-long celebration with a special jubilee
Mass, an anniversary concert, a sold-out dinner dance,
and a Mother‘s Day crowning of the Virgin Mary that
was followed with a street procession.
―The church was packed to capacity with standingroom only, including some parishioners gathered in the
entrance ways for the anniversary mass,‖ said Fr. Robert
Abbatiello, Pastor of Good Shepherd Church. ―The bilingual Mass, concelebrated by Frs. Robert Abbatiello,
Philip Bohan, and Arlen Harris, brought many long-time
3
members of the
parish together with
the present community.‖
Additional
events throughout
the year will include a party for
children, an ongoing concert series
which will feature a
visiting choir from
England, a parish picnic, a gala banquet, and a special
Mass of Thanksgiving on May 19, 2012, celebrated by
Most Rev. Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
Founded by the Paulist Fathers in 1911 in the Inwood
section of Manhattan, the Church of the Good Shepherd
was built to serve Upper Manhattan‘s Irish Catholic
population. At the time, Inwood was not a heavily populated neighborhood and the church‘s wood frame building served the community‘s needs. But with the opening
of a nearby subway station in the 1930s, Inwood‘s population increased. A new facility was built, which included an elementary school and convent to serve the
growing population. In 2006, the Capuchin Franciscan
friars of the Province of St. Mary began ministering at
Good Shepherd.
Over the years, the demographic makeup of Inwood
changed. The community is now largely Hispanic and
many of its parishioners are Spanish-speaking immigrants. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, who encouraged his brothers to preach the Gospel at all times and to
all people, much of Good Shepherd‘s ministry work is
done in Spanish. Weekday and weekend Masses are
celebrated in both English and Spanish and are well attended.
The Capuchin Franciscan Friars also spread the Gospel by serving those most in need. The Church of the
Good Shepherd‘s community outreach programs include
a parish food pantry that serves approximately 3,500
people each month and a homeless shelter that offers
hospitality five nights a week to six adult women. In
addition, the parish has an annual Thanksgiving Food
Drive that assists more than 300 people and an annual
Christmas Toy Drive that collects toys for hundreds of
children staying in New York City homeless shelters.
Father Robert, credits the church‘s community outreach
to the dedicated parish staff and parishioners.
―These men and women give a great deal of their
personal time and talents, above and beyond the call of
duty, without seeking any kind of compensation,‖ Fr.
Abbatiello said. ―Our liturgical life is strong and vibrant.
Many volunteers serve in the important ministries of
lector, usher, altar server, choir, and Eucharist minister.‖
Another way the church has maintained its strong
ties to the neighborhood is by being involved with other
community groups, including civic organizations, community boards, and local businesses in Inwood. At different times during the year, Good Shepherd Church
hosts a variety of concerts featuring varied artists, ensembles, and choruses. It is currently organizing a musical concert that will benefit the Capuchin Custody of
Japan‘s earthquake relief efforts.
As it enters its second century, Good Shepherd
Church will continue laying a strong spiritual foundation, and inspire present and future generations of
Catholics to live their lives formed by Gospel values.
For more information about the Church of the Good
Shepherd, visit their parish website at
www.goodshepherdnyc.org
Five Deacons
Ordained in Mangalore
Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Shimoga,
India recently ordained five Capuchin
deacons at St. Francis Xavier Church in
Mangalore, a port city in India’s southwestern state of Karnataka. Father Vincent Furtado, Capuchin Provincial for the
Holy Trinity Province-Karnataka in India,
concelebrated the Eucharistic May 12,
2011 celebration along with Father Baptist Rodriguez and Father Peter Cyprian
D’Souza.
The five ordained deacons were Royston D’Souza of Our Lady of Loretto parish, Deepak Fernandes of Fatima Parish,
Joel Rocky D’Souza of Holy Cross Parish,
Sunil Dominic Lobo of Holy Family Parish
and Roshan Rosario of St. Francis Xavier
Parish.
In his inspiring homily, Bishop Lobo
enumerated the meaning and significance
of priesthood and the mission of the
priests to build a society of peace and
justice.
The event was attended by a large
number of parishioners, family members,
friends and benefactors of the deacons.
The newly ordained deacons thanked
their mentors, parents, benefactors and
friends for their support.
The Holy Trinity Province in India is
one of the largest Capuchin provinces in
the world. The Province of St. Mary helps
support the Province’s education of friars
and the building of schools and formation
houses. In addition, Holy Trinity Province
collaborates with the Custody of Japan,
where seven friars from the Holy Trinity
Province are currently ministering alongside the American and Japanese friars
who serve there as well.
4
San Lorenzo Novitiate
in Santa Ynez, California
Starting this summer, men in initial formation for the
Capuchin Franciscan Order in North American and the
Pacific region will be spending their one-year Novitiate
at San Lorenzo Friary, in Santa Ynez, California. The
West Coast residence replaces St. Conrad Friary in Allison Park, Pennsylvania as the Novitiate for all of the
North American and Pacific Capuchin Conference, which
has experienced an increase in formation candidates in
the last few years.
While San Lorenzo Friary and Retreat Center will be
new to the current formation class, it has a history of
serving as a Novitiate. Built in 1963, the center served as
the Novitiate for the Our Lady of Angels Province of the
Capuchin Order in California. At that time, every Capuchin Province had its own Novitiate and formation candidates from the Province of St. Mary were sent to St. Lawrence Friary in Milton, Massachusetts. But as the numbers of young men entering formation declined, the North
American and Pacific Capuchin Conference, which represents provinces of the United States, English-speaking
Canada, and Australia, decided to have one Novitiate for
5
the entire conference and St. Conrad Friary in Allison
Park, Pennsylvania was selected as the Novitiate in 2005.
During these years, San Lorenzo opened its doors as a
prayer center and retreat house for groups searching for a
place of serenity, solitude, and prayer. Groups included
members of Alcoholic Anonymous who found themselves strengthened and renewed by their time at San
Lorenzo. In the spirit of St. Francis, the friars of San
Lorenzo worked to make the center comfortable for every
one seeking spiritual guidance by creating a hospitable
and fraternal atmosphere, preaching the Gospel, and hearing confessions.
In the last few years, there has been a resurgence of
young men entering formation for the Capuchin Franciscan Order. The new classes of novices quickly outgrew
St. Conrad Friary in Allison Park. To accommodate the
growing number of formation candidates, San Lorenzo
was selected due to its spacious facilities which can
house up to 40 novices and staff, and its reputation of
offering a tranquil setting needed for prayer and contemplation.
Far left: The north view from the San Lorenzo Novitiate grounds. Above: The formation team: Bros. Jerry Johnson,
Frank Grinko, Gerard O'Dempsey, and Bob Barbato. One of the many private rooms for novices. The novitiate’s
refectory.
The novitiate is a one-year intensive spiritual program
in which young men study sacred scripture, Franciscan
writings, and the vows. Upon arrival they receive a
habit, cord, rosary, and sandals. During this year, a novice decides if he is ready to continue his discernment
process as a Capuchin Franciscan friar.
―It‘s an intense year in which they decide whether
they hear God‘s call and are committed to making their
first vows,‖ said Father Robert Barbato, Vicar of the San
Lorenzo Novitiate. ―Santa Ynez has a contemplative setting and the grounds are beautiful and spacious. To guide
them during that year, there are four of us who are formators.‖
In addition to its setting, San Lorenzo offers formation
candidates excellent opportunities to do outreach ministry
with the poor and the sick in the area.
―We have a good relationship with the community,‖
Father Robert said. ―Most of our ministry work is done
with Catholic Charities and is done at homeless shelters,
parishes, and local hospitals.‖
The new class of Novices arrived in San Lorenzo on
July 24, 2011 and will be there until early summer 2012
(see below). As a novitiate, San Lorenzo will continue to
its rich heritage of being a place of contemplative prayer,
learning the Word of God, and community outreach for
those in need.
New Novitiate Class
Left to right: Ryan Charfauros, Bryan Quinata,
Alex Prado, Christopher George and Scott Surrency will be joining other fellow Capuchin postulants (pictured below) in San Lorenzo Novitiate.
Three postulants from the home Province of St. Mary and
two postulants for the Vice Province of Star of the Sea joined
24 fellow Capuchin Franciscan postulants from the North
American-Pacific Capuchin Conference as the first novitiate
class to enter San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, California.
The novitiate program, which started July 24th, will run
through early summer 2012.
The three young men from the home province, Alex
Prado, Scott Surrency and Christopher George, recently finished their nine-month postulancy program at St. Michael
Friary in Brooklyn, New York; while the two postulants from
our Vice Province, Bryan Quinata and Ryan Charfauros,
completed their postulancy program at St. Conrad Friary in
Berkeley, California. The postulants spent the first part of the
summer with fellow formation candidates in Victoria, Kansas
during the Interprovincial Postulancy Program, a three-month
program in which candidates build a strong collaborative fraternal bond with one another.
Following their novitiate program, the five candidates will
begin their post-novitiate programs, including studies and
ministerial formation training at either San Lorenzo Friary in
the Jamaica Plains section of Boston or Saint Conrad Friary
in Berkeley, CA.
6
Twentieth Ordinary
More than 140 friars from Capuchin Province of St.
Mary, including representatives from Capuchin collaborative jurisdictions, gathered for the 20th Ordinary Chapter, held from May 22nd to May 27 th at San Alfonso Retreat Center in Long Branch, New Jersey. During the
week-long event, friars gathered for shared prayer, fraternity, elected new leadership, and discussed provincial
matters.
The week-long event allowed friar representatives
from Central America, Africa, Guam, India, and Japan to
speak and present issues concerning their respective jurisdictions with their brothers ministering in the United
States.
7
Father Wayne Berndt, Custody Minister in Japan,
gave a presentation about the friars‘ relief efforts in helping earthquake survivors in the east Asian country. Father
Vincent Furtado, provincial minister of Holy Trinity
Province in Karnataka, India, spoke about the Capuchin
Franciscan Order‘s growth in India and its accomplishment of drawing a high number of men in formation. Father Vincent noted that eight brothers from his province
are currently working in the custody of Japan.
The Province also elected a new provincial leadership
team (see next page ). An Ordinary Provincial Chapter is
usually held every three years by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Mary.
Provincial Chapter
New Provincial Leadership Elected
During the 20th Ordinary Provincial
Chapter, the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Mary elected
new leadership for the Province of
New York and New England. The
Chapter‘s participants elected Father
Francis Gasparik as the new Provincial Minister, Father Michael Marigliano as Vicar Provincial Minister,
Brother Joseph Yakimovich as second
councilor, Father Michael Connolly as
third councilor, and Brother James
Peterson as fourth councilor.
About The New Leadership:
Francis Gasparik, O.F.M. Cap:
Father Francis entered the Capuchin
Franciscans in 1979 and was ordained in
1986. In 1991, he was appointed pastor
and guardian of the local friar community of St. John the Baptist Church/
Friary. Since 1996, he had served as provincial councilor. In 2002, Father Francis was appointed Director of the Capuchin Franciscan Mission and Development Office of the Province. He has a
bachelors degree in sociology/social
work from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH and a masters in divinity
from Maryknoll School of Theology in
Ossining, NY.
Michael Marigliano O.F.M. Cap:
Father Michael entered the Capuchin
Franciscans in 1978 and was ordained
in 1984. He ministered at Sacred Heart
Church in Yonkers, NY. From 1989 to
2000, he ministered as co-director of
the collaborative novitiate program in
Mt. Calvary, WI and served as prefect
of formation for 12 years. Father Michael returned to the New York and
assumed the position of communications director for the Province. Since
2008, he has served as the cocoordinator of the Province‘s Preaching Ministry Program. He holds a
bachelors degree in social science
from Pace University, a masters in
divinity from Maryknoll School of
Theology in Ossining, NY, and a doctorate in systematic theology from
Marquette University in Milwaukee,
WI.
First row, from left to right:
Father Michael Marigliano,
OFM Cap, Father Francis
Gasparik, OFM Cap. Second
Row, from left to right:
Brother James Peterson
OFM Cap, Brother Joseph
Yakimovich, OFM Cap, and
Father Michael Connolly,
OFM Cap.
(Continued on page 21)
8
Choloma, Honduras
Capuchin Ministries Around the World:
Church groups in Choloma, Honduras live by the Gospel, and better their
communities through social action
By: Brother Jim Donegan, O.F.M. Cap
of whom are Roman Catholics. As a means to organize
this vast area and population, the parish contains roughly
Two years ago, I was assigned to live and work in
70 chapel communities.
Choloma, Honduras, as part of the ministry work the
Our parish community in Choloma faces many social
Capuchin Franciscan Friars are doing in Central America. problems. The internal country migration triggered by the
Choloma is the third largest city in Honduras with a
factory industry has led to families being split apart and
population of approximately 350,000. Twenty years ago, has brought further problems of alcohol and drug abuse,
the city had a much smaller population of about 20,000. violence, and gang activity in Choloma. There also conBut it has grown 17-fold due to a huge increase in the
tinues to be a shortage of social services for the poor, as
number of factories operating in the city, leading many
the city infrastructure was built to cater to a much smaller
people from other parts of the country to migrate to
population.
Choloma in search of work.
The parish also covers a mountainous portion that is
Because the population up until recently had been
strictly rural. Problems in rural communities include a
quite small, there are only four parishes in the city. The
lack of electricity, poor roads and evacuation routes,
parish where I am assigned, Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
homelessness, violence, a lack of support for the elderly,
(Our Lady of Lourdes) is the largest, covering an area
and a lack of access to basic medical care, doctors, and
populated by approximately 150,000 people, about half
medicine.
9
The local Capuchin fraternity in Choloma currently
consists of three priests and one lay brother. As a lay
brother and a social worker, my job has been to help organize the social outreach aspects of the parish that help
families in need and promote faith.
The parish has several social outreach groups or pastorales, including the Pastoral de la Salud (regarding
health), the Pastoral Penitenciaria (a prison outreach
ministry), and the Pastoral de Movilidad Humana
(literally ―human mobility,‖ in this case referring to the
issue of migration).
Prior to the arrival of the Capuchins at this parish
three years ago, these groups functioned independently
of each other. A significant piece of my work has been to
organize these groups and help them work together and
collaborate in the parish‘s social outreach mission.
There is also a need to create social action groups in
every community of the parish. In the rural region, the
social outreach groups are working with Caritas (which
is akin to Catholic Charities in the United States) to build
two pedestrian bridges in places where the river rises
high during the rainy season and make repairs to their
local water systems. Caritas provides some of the funding and logistical support while many of the raw materials (such as wood and rocks) and the manual labor are
provided by the people from the community.
In the urban sector, the social action groups and the
youth ministry did a joint effort to collect and deliver
school supplies to disadvantaged children. In addition,
the social action groups have worked with Caritas to
identify youth who work in domestic labor and provide
them with school grants, giving them an opportunity to
leave the world of child labor and take the path towards a
brighter future.
While the small amount of financial resources in
Honduras creates a challenge in starting social programs,
the structure of the Church helps a great deal in building
up human capital—the organization and volunteerism of
people to fully realize projects that respond to the many
needs.
I find God in this work in a number of ways. First,
our Franciscan tradition has always had a focus on encountering and embracing ―the leper,‖ as St. Francis had
literally done during his own life. This embrace of outsiders and untouchables is a rich aspect of our Franciscan
tradition. It is an act of recognizing the full human dignity of those who are most marginalized by society. And,
it is an attempt to imitate the poor and humble Christ,
who did likewise in becoming incarnate in our reality,
dwelling among us, serving among us, and suffering
among us.
Second, in the act of organizing the people around
these initiatives, I see the community itself — the Body
of Christ— as they choose to organize themselves in
solidarity with the most needy in a world that increasingly focuses itself on personal economic advancement.
Furthermore, the parish community is growing in its
work to evangelize the world, bringing to fruition more
and more the Gospel call to take care of the least of
God‘s people, preaching through its actions. It is a truly
beautiful experience seeing the work of God and the face
of God in the actions and faces of the people here in
Choloma.
Opposite page: Brother Jim Donegan (fourth from right) currently serves the Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (Our Lady
of Lourdes) Parish in Choloma and works with community members in social outreach programs. They are currently
working on building a pedestrian bridges, like the one pictured above, that will help the townspeople cross the local
river, which rises high during the rainy season. On the right: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes Church in Choloma.
10
Hope for Japan
The Province of St. Mary Custody of Japan
Responds to Survivors’ Needs
Claiming more than 15,000 lives, the March 11,
2011 earthquake and tsunami will stand as one of the
worst catastrophes to ever hit Japan. Kuramoto-San, an
elderly woman whose husband drowned during the tsunami, told Father Maxim D‘Souza, a Capuchin friar,
that she had lived through the military assault on Japan
during World War II, but those days were nothing compared to the recent disaster.
The earthquake measured a 9.0 magnitude on the
Richter scale and is considered one of the five most
powerful earthquakes in the world since modern recording began in 1900. It struck off the northeast Japanese coast and triggered destructive tsunami waves of
up to 128 feet high that destroyed thousands of homes,
schools, churches, hospitals and the infrastructure of
many coastal towns. In addition to loss of life and massive destruction, the tsunami caused a number of nuclear accidents, including ongoing meltdowns at three
reactors in the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant complex, which led to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents.
Immediately, there was a need for food, medical
supplies and shelter for the hundreds of thousands of
survivors. There was also a dire need for spiritual comfort and guidance for individuals who witnessed the
death of their loved ones and lost everything they ever
worked for. The friars from the Capuchin Custody of
Japan responded to the needs of survivors. Thanks to
the generosity and compassion of donors who contributed more than $107,000 (every dollar of which was
sent directly to the Province of St. Mary‘s Japan Relief
Effort), the Capuchin friars in Japan working with the
Diocese of Saitama and other NGO‘s were able to
quickly supply families with clean water, food and
counseling at government shelters soon after the disaster, and will continue taking part in the rebuilding effort
11
of the affected regions for the next two years.
Cries for Help
Like all those living in Japan, Fr. Alexander Daniel
was going on with his daily routine when the earthquake struck. ―I was taking my walk. I then found myself being unable to stand properly while hearing people
shouting and crying for help,‖ he said. ―Later, on television I saw many victims removed from the debris and
the sea. You couldn‘t help but shed tears for those who
have suffered so greatly.‖
Father Alexander is one of 18 Capuchin friars who
minister in the Japanese mission, which was established
shortly after the end of World War II. In 1939, the
Capuchins Franciscans were sent to minister in Guam
and Saipan in the South Pacific. Three years later, the
Japanese invaded the South Pacific and arrested the
Capuchins, who were held as prisoners of war and sent
to a prison camp in Kobe, Japan. When they were freed,
rather than return to Guam or Saipan, three of these friars remained and became the foundation for the Capuchin mission in Japan. Today, we care for nine parish
communities in Japan, two of which are in Okinawa,
six in the Saitama Diocese and one in Fukuoka Diocese.
Okinawa, which is located in the south, was not directly affected by the earthquake. The Saitama Diocese,
which is in the eastern coast, was struck hard by the
earthquake and tsunami. The Saitama Diocese covers
four states (known as prefectures in Japan): Saitama,
Tochigi, Gunma, and Ibaraki, where radiation was a top
concern, as the prefecture borders Fukushima where the
Nuclear Power Plant is located.
Many people‘s homes in Ibaraki were damaged and
left uninhabitable. The psychological trauma of survivors was exacerbated by the earthquakes‘ repeated af(Continued on page 13)
Top: Father Claver D’Souza (in orange pants) with volunteers. Father Claver has helped coordinate the Capuchin
Japan Relief Effort and was recently selected as the Director of Caritas Saitama by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan, a role that oversees the Catholic relief effort for the Saitama Diocese. Left: The friars of the Capuchin Custody of Japan. Seated-Denis Fernandes, Martin De Porres Schmitt, Peter Baptist Ishigami, Edwin Monis, V.
Praveen Kumar, Claver D’Souza; Row 2- LaSalle Parsons, Peter Von Essen, Louis Chiusano, Maxim D’Souza,
Wayne Berndt; Row 3- Francis Hashiya, Ajitkumar Rodrigues, Alexander Daniel, Roland Daigle, Patrick Sullivan,
Paul Tamano, and Johnson D’Souza. Right: The earthquake and tsunami’s aftermath in Iwaki City in the Fukushima
Prefecture.
12
(Continued from page 11)
tershocks throughout the regions. In addition, the damaged Fukushima Nuclear Plant and the subsequent
evacuation of surrounding communities led to heightened anxiety and panic. Grocery stores ran out of food
and many gas stations were closed. There were also
scheduled power blackouts and trains ran sporadically or
not at all. Radiation in food was also a huge concern as
vegetables were declared to have excessive amounts of
radiation in Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Fukushima
prefectures one week after the disaster struck.
Relief Effort
The Custody of Japan coordinated with the Province
of St. Mary‘s Mission and Development Office in New
York City to raise money for the relief effort. Thanks to
the generosity and immediate response of supporters,
Capuchin friars were able to distribute clean drinking
water, food, and shelter, and to provide counseling at
parishes and churches. The Saitama Diocese has also set
-up refugee centers and support centers at churches.
When the evacuation of Fukushima prefecture began,
Fr. Claver Anthony D‘Souza helped organize a support
center in Urawa City in Saitama for the internally displaced refugees. Three churches in Saitama Diocese
were used as shelters for the refugees. Compassionate
parishioners also opened their homes to welcome refugees during this time of hardship.
To maximize the coordination and efficiency of the
relief effort, Capuchin friars are working with Caritas
Japan, a committee of the Catholic Bishops‘ Conference
of Japan that collaborates with the worldwide Catholic
Church in emergency relief, welfare, and development.
Capuchin friar Fr. Claver D‘Souza has been selected as
the Director of Caritas Saitama, a role he is passionately
committed to. A few weeks after the disaster, he and a
group of volunteers entered Iwaki City, which was very
close to the damaged Fukushima Nuclear Plant. Amid
objections from fellow friars and volunteers, Father
Claver insisted he needed to be there because that was
where urgent help was required.
Father Claver and volunteers helped clean tsunamidamaged homes, offered necessities, and assessed the
situation to determine what supplies are needed by families in Sendai Diocese. This is the diocese which
neighbors Saitama and covers the Fukushima Nuclear
Plant and the surrounding villages that have been evacuated.
Funds raised by the Province of St. Mary are helping
provide aid in Sendai Diocese through disaster centers,
which are registering volunteers, assisting the elderly
with needed medicine, and distributing food to those
living in shelters and temporary housing.
―Despite the stress and difficulties of the situation,
the brothers held up very well,‖ said Father Wayne
Berndt, Custody Minister for the Custody of Japan.
―They are remarkable men who are very dedicated missionaries. They are very clearly showing us the compassion of Christ and loving gentleness of St. Francis.‖
While the media coverage that swarmed the area in
March has left, there are still more than a 100,000 people without homes who continue to live in evacuation
centers and temporary housing. Having lost everything
they have worked for and not sure how they will be able
to build back their lives, many of them have become
very depressed and anxious.
―Thousands of people have had traumatic experiences. Many of them feel sleepy, but cannot sleep.
Father Claver in Miyagi City, Sendai Prefecture. Center: Father Claver (standing on left) with volunteers in Iwaki
City, Fukushima Prefecture. Right: The damaged port of Iwaki City.
13
Sleepless nights make them sick,‖ said Fr.
Maxim D‘Souza, who provided counseling
services to survivors in church and at shelters. ―Many people don‘t know why they
have to live in the shelter camps when they
had prepared everything for life. In other
words, they cannot yet accept the reality that
there was a tsunami and earthquake that took
away their previous life.‖
Last month, Father Wayne took part in a
workshop in Iwaki City, Fukushima for listening volunteers who will act as counselors.
Many survivors are suffering from depression and anxiety and there are reports of high
alcohol use and gambling in shelters and
temporary housing areas. Father Wayne and
the Capuchin friars in conjunction with Saitama Diocese are currently looking to set up
a counseling center near the largest temporary housing settlement in Iwaki City.
While things have vastly improved since
March, the magnitude and enormity of the
disaster is so large that relief efforts will continue for the next two years in both the Saitama and Sendai Dioceses, where the Capuchin friars will continue providing assistance.
―Fear, worry, and uncertainty remain,‖
Father Wayne said. ―The Catholic Church in
Japan is determined that these people will not
be left on their own to face these terrible burdens but that we will face these problems
together. The Capuchins are determined to
do our part as well.‖
From The Front Lines
The Following is a letter written by Father Wayne
Berndt (left) and Father Claver D’Souza.
March 20, 2011 — Paul Tamano and I have arrived
safely in Kumagaya. It was a wonderful feeling to
see both Denis and Claver looking so well. Today
we should also see Maxi and Alex at Hoan's Diaconate Ordination. The diocese has cancelled all events
for the next few weeks except for the ordination.
There are very few cars on the road. At the airport and all the way to Kumagaya, the countryside
was rather dark - even the big city of Omiya. Everyone is cooperating with using as little electricity as
possible. The trains are running at about half their
usual number. The food situation has improved but
most of the 7-11 stores (family mart) etc. are either
closed or have little food. However the big grocery
stores have food but the essentials are being rationed (rice, milk, bread). Everyone has to wait in
line but rationed essentials are available.
The biggest problem is car gas - it is available
only sometimes and is rationed. After a six or seven
hour wait, you get just over two gallons. The government promises that this will improve in the next
few weeks. Many people are out of work because of
the roving blackouts. Factories cannot fully function
until the blackout problem is solved. The aftershocks
are also disconcerting. We had a small one last
night - I woke up but Br. Tamano, God bless him,
slept through it all.
Restaurants are beginning to open more as food
becomes available. Their menus are very limited. Everywhere you go around the city, people are
collecting money for the victims.
Vegetables in our area and water have been affected by radiation (Gunma, Ibaraki, and Tochigi Prefecture) but it is still too low to cause health problems.
The friars will all be here tonight. Tomorrow we
will meet to make our plans for helping people. Later
in the day, the Religious Council will meet to make
further decisions. Love to all-Wayne and Claver
14
CYFM’s Capuchin Appalachian Mission:
20 Years of Living the Gospel
Last month, 17-year-old Marisa Kravatz of Wycoff,
New Jersey made the same trip her mother did 20 years
ago. Like her mom, she joined other teenagers and college-age youth on a 14-hour road trip to Harlan County,
Kentucky -- one of the poorest counties in the United
States. Their mission: to practice and live the Gospel by
helping families in need.
―I didn‘t know what to expect going into it,‖ said Kravatz, who completed her second year of the Appalachian
Mission last month. ―It was a complete reality check.
People in the area live in such poverty. They have so little. And we‘re going there to change people‘s lives, and
in turn, they are changing ours.‖
Since 1991, Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries
(CYFM) in Garrison, NY has organized the Capuchin
Appalachian Mission, a nine-day program in which
young volunteers travel to Harlan County and 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 its 20
years, more than 600 youth have participated in this ex15
traordinary program. This year, 54 high school and college aged young people participated in the mission, along
with two Capuchin friars, nine CYFM staff members and
20 adult volunteers.
―Though each mission trip is unique, there are some
constants: God richly blesses us in abundance; the lives
of the poor are enriched by our service and we grow
closer to God through our experience of Gospel community and service,‖ said Tom Brinkmann, Director of
CYFM.
The Capuchin Appalachian Mission was started by a
Franciscan friar who had done missionary work in Central America‘s and South America‘s impoverished communities and wanted to do something similar in the
United States. Harlan County, Kentucky was selected as
the mission‘s target community because at the time it had
one of the highest poverty rates in the country. While
there has been some economic advancement in Harlan
County, it continues to be an impoverished region. The
current child poverty rate is one in two, compared to the
national average of one in ten.
To help the neediest in Harlan County, youth volunteers and staff members begin preparing for the trip
months in advance by collecting donations, clothing, and
children‘s books - items that are brought with the volunteers during the 14-hour drive from Garrison, New York.
Once in Harlan County, youth and adult volunteers
live and work out of Holy Trinity Parish in Harlan. The
church grounds include a school building that is used for
the mission‘s Vacation Bible School, which serves 35 to
60 Harlan children each year.
―We have been told time and again by parents that
the Vacation Bible School is the highlight of the summer
for children,‖ Brinkmann said. ―The parish also sees it
as an important element of their parish life for their children.‖
Another significant part of CYFM‘s ministry is renovation and construction work for low-income families
who urgently need home improvements but cannot afford them. Each year, crews of five to seven CYFM volunteers visit people‘s homes and do construction work
like roof repairs and building ramps and additional
rooms. One of the families helped this year were Adam
and Tabitha, who have four children from ages three to
fourteen. Adam has a low-wage job and Tabitha is a stay
-at-home mom. They live in a small two-bedroom house
(Continued on page 21)
Top, from left to right: Abbey D’Onofrio and Sofie Manetta, CYFM Youth Volunteers with young Connor, one of the
many children serviced doing the 2011 Appalachian Mission. Ricky Grayson, Kevin Marsteller and Nathaniel Soule providing home improvements for Harlan County residents. Maria Malafronte and Amanda Faiella with young Gabe and
Caedon, working on the young children’s home. Bottom, from left to right: Through the years, Capuchin Appalachian
Mission participants in 1995, 2000, and 2011.
16
Jubilees 2011
What is a Jubilee?
A Jubilee marks the anniversary of commitment and service
for friars. These men are celebrating anniversaries of religious life — the time since they
were invested in the Capuchin
habit or were ordained a priest.
Each of these men is dedicated
to the charisms of St. Francis
and have witnessed to the Gospel around we world. We congratulate them on their jubilee
celebrations and wish them
many more years of service.
Fr. Francis Gasparik
25 Years of Priesthood
Birth
Investiture
First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination
July 7, 1958
August 31, 1979
August 16, 1980
August 24, 1985
May 31, 1986
A native New Yorker, Father Gasparik entered the Capuchin Franciscans in 1986.
In 1991, he was appointed pastor and
guardian of the local friar community of
St. John the Baptist Church/Friary. Above:
Father Francis during the 1980s.
17
Celebrating his 25th Jubilee with family and friends in New York
City.
Fr. Eugene O’Hara
50 Years of Priesthood
Birth
Investiture
First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination
January 26, 1935
August 31, 1953
September 1, 1954
September 1, 1957
June 24, 1961
Born in New York City, Father Eugene
(top row, second from left) attended Holy
Name Elementary School in New York
City and Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary
School in Rochester, New York.
In 1953, Father O’Hara entered the novitiate at St. Lawrence Friary
in Milton, Massachusetts.
Father Eugene giving a helping hand.
From 1958 to 1962, he studied theology
at Mary Immaculate Friary in Garrison,
New York.
Father Eugene with students. From 1976 to 1981, he was an associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Yonkers, New York and administrator of the Sacred Heart High School.
18
Fr. Andrew Drew
50 Years of Priesthood
Birth
Investiture
First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination
January 26, 1935
August 31, 1953
September 1, 1954
September 1, 1957
June 24, 1961
Top: Born in Brooklyn, NY, he studied at St.
John's University in his homeborough and
served in the U.S. Army. In Germany as a private in 1951. Bottom: From 1963 to 1972, Father Andrew (first row, first on the left) was
assigned to the Japan Custody in Okinawa.
Top: Father Andrew entered the Province of St. Mary in 1954
and resided at St. Lawrence Friary in Milton, Massachusetts.
Right: Father Andrew with the then U.S.S.R. Ambassador to Japan during the 1975 Okinawa Expo.
19
Fr. Felixberto
Leon-Guerrero
25 Years of Priesthood
Birth
Investiture
First Profession
Perpetual Profession
Ordination
December 5, 1958
August 31, 1979
August 16, 1980
August 18, 1983
August 9, 1986
Fr Felix was born in Tamuning, located on the western
shore of the island of Guam. He entered the Capuchins
in 1979 and returned to Guam in 1980. Clockwise from
above: In a Transitus service he organized. With the Vice
Provincial Council, on which he served several times. At
the Santa Teresita Parish 5K Run in Mangiliao, Guam. Fr
Felix giving a conference at a clergy day of recollection.
20
(Continued from page 8)
Joseph Yakimovich, O.F.M. Cap: Brother Joseph
entered the Capuchin Franciscans in 1978 and made
final profession in 1982. He has served the Province as
provincial staff assistant and as the assistant secretary
treasurer. Brother Joseph also served as parochial assistant principal of Our Lady Queen of Angels Elementary
School in New York, NY. He later served the Province
as secretary-treasurer and business manager, guardian
of the local friar community and director of communications. At the Provincial Chapter of 2005, he was
elected councilor and served until 2008. In 2007, he
was appointed guardian of the post-novitiate community of San Lorenzo Friary in Jamaica Plain, MA and
continues to serve that position. He holds a bachelors
degree in accounting from Baruch College, New York,
NY, a bachelors degree in general business and a masters degree in educational computing from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY.
Michael Connolly, O.F.M. Cap: Father Michael
entered the Capuchins in 1969 and was ordained in
1978. He served as an associate pastor at St. Joseph
the Worker in East Patchogue, NY. He later served as
chaplain at Westchester County Medical Center and
Prison, and as an adjunct professor at Fordham University, the Tarrytown, NY Campus. Father Michael
(Continued from page 16)
and all four children must sleep in the same room.
Thanks to donations by supporters, CYFM volunteers
were able to buy building materials and construct an additional room for the children.
Another family CYFM volunteers met this year was
Stephanie and her two small children. The children‘s
father is in the Army and currently serving in Afghanistan. Stephanie and her children live with friends and
struggle financially. They were one of 75 families who
received clothing and children‘s books.
The Capuchin Appalachian Mission also provides
services to the elderly through its senior ministry, in
which youth volunteers visit the Harlan Nursing Home,
a center that houses 140 seniors. Youth volunteers
spend time offering prayer services and talking to seniors like Jack, a World War II veteran who shared with
volunteers last month that he had not had a visitor in six
months. Kristiana Nelsen, a 17-year-old senior ministry
volunteer, was saying goodbye to the seniors before the
program ended. She told one elderly lady, ―See you next
year,‖ to which the woman responded, ―Honey, I may
not be around next year.‖
―I felt sadness when I heard that,‖ Kristina said. ―But
then I remembered Jesus‘ words, ‗I was lonely and sick
and you visited me.Whatever you do to the least of my
brothers and sisters…‘ I knew that we were able to bring
21
returned to East Patchogue, NY to serve as pastor of
St. Joseph the Worker and guardian of the friar community. In 2002, Fr. Michael joined the senior friar
community of St. Clare Friary, Yonkers, NY as the
associate director of the fraternity/health-care team. In
2005, he was appointed guardian of the senior friar
community, where he continues to serve. He holds a
bachelors degree in sociology from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH, a masters in divinity from
Maryknoll School of Theology in Ossining, NY and a
masters in social work from Fordham University.
James Peterson, O.F.M. Cap: Before entering the
Capuchins, Brother James was an associate attorney in
two law firms. He pronounced his perpetual profession in
2005. Residing with the friar community of St. Francis of
Assisi Friary in Jamaica Plain, MA, he was appointed
assistant to the moderator of the curia and the vicar general for canonical affairs of the Archdiocese of Boston,
where he served until 2010. Brother James holds a bachelors degree in history from Albright College in Reading,
PA and a law degree from Villanova University School
of Law in Villanova, PA. He also has a licentiate in
canon law from The Catholic University of America,
Washington D.C., where he is currently a candidate for a
doctorate in canon law.
God‘s love and presence to some beautiful and lonely
people.‖
Many participants believe that the Capuchin Appalachian Mission changes them as much as it changes the
lives of Harlan County residents. Marilyn Kravatz, Marisa‘s mother, was a volunteer during CAM‘s first trip in
1991. She became involved with CYFM through her
parish at St. Augustine in New City, New York. Marisa
is the third of her children, following her two older
brothers, to have taken part in the program.
―It really takes a church to raise a child. I think my
children will attest to that,‖ Kravatz said. ―As an adult,
you have to share your faith and spiritual experience so
that young people can see it and be able to emulate it.
This program gives families and young people the opportunity to practice their faith.‖
In addition to building faith, CYFM‘s Appalachian
Mission is helping build the Catholic leaders of tomorrow. Many past Capuchin Appalachian Mission participants continue to be involved in their Church and with
CYFM.
―To see that the Capuchin Appalachian Mission is
alive and well 20 years later and continues to this day
gives me a lot of hope for the church of tomorrow,‖ Kravatz said. ―It‘s nice to see young people continue this
tradition, and it gives me peace to see that they have a
lot of positive experiences serving God.‖
Province Directory
New York
St. Joachim Friary
61 Leonard Street
Beacon, NY 12508
Phone: 845-838-0000
St. Lawrence Friary
180 Sargent Avenue
Beacon, NY 12508-3992
Phone: 845-831-0394
St. Michael Friary
225 Jerome Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207
Phone: 718-827-6090
St. Joseph The Worker
Friary & Parish
510 Narragansett Avenue
East Patchogue, NY 117725132
Phone: 631-286-7921
Our Lady of Sorrows Friary
& Parish
213 Stanton Street
New York, NY 10002
Phone: 212-475-2321
Vermont
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2
© 2011 Capuchin Mission
Association & Development Office
St. John Friary & Parish
210 West 31st Street
New York, NY 10001-2876
Phone: 212-564-9070
Editor in Chief
Dina Montes
St. Conrad Friary
30 Gedney Park Drive
White Plains, NY 106053599
Phone: 914-761-3008
Sacred Heart Friary & Parish
110 Shonnard Place
Yonkers, NY 10703-2228
Phone: 914-963-1357
St. Clare Friary
110 Shonnard Place
Yonkers, NY 10703
Phone: 914-423-2392
Massachusetts
Publisher
Fr. Francis Gasparik, OFM Cap.
St. Peter Friary & Parish
134 Convent Avenue
Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: 802-775-1994
Star of the Sea
Vice Province
St. Fidelis Friary
135 Chalan Kapuchino
Agana Heights, Guam
96910
Phone: 671-472-6339
Custody of Japan
Capuchin Youth & Family
Ministry
781 Route 9D
PO Box 192
Garrison, NY 10524
Phone: 845-424-3609
St. Fidelis Friary
7790 County Road 153
Interlaken, NY 14847-9648
Phone: 607-532-4423
St. Joseph Friary & Parish
34 South Chestnut Street
New Paltz, NY 12561-1914
Phone: 845-255-4892
Capuchin Vocation Office
34 South Chestnut Street
New Paltz, NY 12561-1914
Phone: 845-255-5680
Capuchin Mission & Development Office
210 West 31st Street
New York, NY 10001-2876
Phone: 212-564-0759
Good Shepherd Friary &
Parish
608 Isham Street
New York, NY 10034
Phone: 212-567-1300
St. Francis Friary & Parish
1 Aza Oroku
Naha City, Okinawa
Japan 901-0152
Phone: 011-81-48-5211098
San Lorenzo Friary
15 Montebello Road
Jamaica Plain, MA 021302352
Phone: 617-983-1919
St. Francis of Assisi Friary
46 Brookside Avenue
Jamaica Plain, MA 021302370
Phone: 617-522-6469
Connecticut
St. Pius X Friary & Parish
310 Westfield Street
Middletown, CT 064572047
Phone: 860-347-4441
New Hampshire
St. Anne – St. Augustin
Friary & Parish
383 Beech Street
Manchester, NH 031037290
Phone: 603-623-8809
Magazine of the
Capuchin Franciscans
of the Province of St. Mary
Design/Art Direction
Dina Montes
Photography
John Shento, OFM Cap.
Donna Smith Kresel
Capuchin Communications Office
John Shento, OFM Cap.
Donna Smith Kresel
30 Gedney Park Drive
White Plains, New York 10605
www.capuchin.org
Central America
General Vice Province of
Nuestra Senora de la
Esperanza
Curia Viceprovincial Friary
& Parish
Fraternidad El Calvario
Chiquimula, Guatemala
Central America
Phone: 011-502-942-0467
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,
and we want you to see how we use
the resources you so generously provide to us. We hope this magazine
will provide an understanding of the
work we do and how valuable your
contributions are to our ministries.
Please feel free to contact us with
your comments and suggestions.
22
NON-PROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
MAILED FROM
ZIP CODE 61764
PERMIT No. 454
Save the Date
ANNUAL CAPUCHIN DINNER
Thursday, October 6, 2011
New York City
The Province of St. Mary’s Annual Dinner will honor the late William “BJ” Harrington and 11
Jubilarians (Friars) who will be celebrating a combined total of 485 years of religious life or
priesthood. The event benefits the ongoing apostolic work of the Friars domestically and internationally. To purchase tickets for the dinner, place an ad in the dinner journal, sponsor a
Friar to attend, or make a donation to the Silent Auction, please call (212) 564-0759.