today graymoor - Franciscan Friars of the Atonement

Spring 2011 Volume 43, No. 1
GRAYMOOR TODAY
Newsletter of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
Fr. Paul’s Spiritual Legacy ~
PERPETUAL NOVENA TO ST. ANTHONY
B
eginning this year, the Franciscan Friars of
the Atonement will celebrate the centennial
of the Perpetual Novena to St. Anthony as
they continue in the spirit of their founder, Fr. Paul
Wattson, to pray daily and seek the intercession of
St. Anthony for the benefit of those in need.
It all started in 1912, when Father Paul had
just installed a large statue of St. Anthony of Padua
near the altar in St. Francis Chapel. As he admired
the beautiful statue, Fr. Paul was handed a letter
from a mother begging the Friars to pray for the
health of her gravely ill baby also named Anthony.
St. Francis Chapel at Graymoor
From then on, the Friars prayed every
evening at the statue of St. Anthony. Word spread
of their perpetual prayers and “St. Anthony’s corner”
in Graymoor’s St. Francis Chapel began. More and
more petitions arrived. For 100 years, those in need
have sent hundreds of thousands of prayer requests
“I immediately knelt before this image of St.
to the Friars asking for prayers and seeking the inAnthony with the Divine Infant in his arms and betercession of St. Anthony on their behalf.
sought the Wonder-Worker of seven centuries to
intercede for baby Anthony’s life,” Fr. Paul later
Prayer requests are received in many differwrote in his journal. He recorded that he and the
ent languages covering the gamut of human needs.
Friars prayed to St. Anthony every
continued on page 8
evening asking for his intercession.
I NSIDE T HIS I SSUE ...
About two weeks
later the mother
wrote again, this
time saying her
child had miraculously recovered. In
gratitude, she included a small donation.
St. Anthony Statue
in St. Francis Chapel
Three Religions One God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3
Vatican II 50 Years Later. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4
Paul Wattson Lecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5
Graymoor Spiritual Life Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 6
Spirit of Assisi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9
Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 11
Centro Pro Unione Receives
Vatican II Photographs
see page 4 . . .
www.AtonementFriars.org
GLAD TIDINGS
FRIAR VOCATIONS
by Fr. Bob Warren, SA
Reflections on Our Charism
O
by Fr. Dennis Polanco, SA, Vocation Minister
ver a hundred years
ago our founders, Father Paul and Mother
Lurana, looked around the
Christian world and saw disunity.
I
n January, I was fortunate to be able to attend Week of Prayer celebrations held at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC. It
was brutally cold, but a faithful and hardy group of us gathered
during this special time. It was moving to know that the prayers we
said had been developed by the Christians in Jerusalem as we observed this year’s theme (adopted from Acts 2:42): “They devoted
themselves to the Apostle's teaching and fellowship, to the breaking
of the bread and to the prayers.”
They decided that
they would start a week of prayer—a time when Christians of every denomination could pray together for
the unity that Christ sought the night before He died:
That they all may be one. . . so the world may believe.”
(John. 17:21)
In the days following
this event, as a vocation
minister, I began to make
connections
between
these four pillars of early
Church life and what
today’s young men believe
are important qualities to
be found in their search
for a religious life and religious community. It struck
me that these qualities are
the authentic marks of a Spirit-filled community.
Over the years Christian churches have recognized that the unity for which Christ prayed has not
been achieved. Perhaps that is because the original
glow has dimmed. The passion that pervaded the beginning of the ecumenical movement has been difficult to sustain.
Many years ago I attended the annual Palm
Sunday celebration of Christian churches in Greenwich Village. Christian congregations from all over the
Village joined their churches in procession.With choirs
and clergy in their robes, and banners waving, it was
a splendid sight. The processions merged at Washington Square Park, a place that at the time was home to
the drug culture. Drug addicts and dealers mingled
with the enthusiastic church members. A young
woman, looking emaciated and cold, was next to me.
With the unmistakable signs of drug use, she joined
wholeheartedly in the singing and the prayers.
For those of us called to religious life, the first pillar of Scripture and the Apostles teachings have been a sure guide for understanding the basics of our vocation. The Word of God comes alive
in us. When that Word is heard deep down in our very being, we
start knowing and becoming the “new creation in Christ.” Becoming a priestly person, a prophetic person, and a shepherding person
is our original calling. How we choose to live our calling defines
our ‘disciple identity.’ The stories in the Bible are our own stories, if
we listen to them carefully. We see ourselves in the struggles and
joys of those people. Scripture and the teachings of the Apostles
guide us on our journey.
This particular ecumenical service was unique
in that it was only half of a service. The various
churches had come together for what Catholics call
the “Liturgy of the Word.” After the homily, everyone
dispersed to complete their Sunday worship according to their own traditions. As they were leaving, the
young woman asked,“Where are you going? You have
not finished.”
The second pillar of fellowship and sharing of our resources is
another true sign of a Spirit-filled community. The Word of God can
unite us all despite our divisions and empower us to do great things
together. We can have a unity of action amidst a plurality of diverse
religions. Community life is not meant just for our own enjoyment
but is a call to form a global community.
She was right, we had not finished. Our unity as
Christians has only gotten so far. And so let us all pray
that Christ’s prayer will be fulfilled:
continued on page 11
“That they all may be one as you Father in me, and
I in you; I pray that they may be one in us, th at the
world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:21).
Come and See Weekends for men considering the call to the
religious life are hosted by the Friars throughout the year at various locations including Graymoor, Toronto, Rome/Assisi, and
Manila. The number of participants is limited to ten. Men should
be between the ages of 18 and 40 years old, in good health,
psychologically mature, and without major debt.
Above: participants at Graymoor.
That would be Glad Tidings.
Pray with Fr. Bob
AtonementFriars.org/Pray
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JEWS, CHRISTIANS, AND MUSLIMS
Three Religions, One God. . .
J
photo by Br. John OʼHara, SA
by Fr. Elias Mallon, SA
udaism, Christianity, and Islam
share a great deal in common.
On a very basic level, they believe in and worship the same God:
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob (see Exodus 3:6). Of course,
although Jews, Christians, and Muslims worship the same God, they
understand Him in different ways.
Fr iar in prayer at Graymoor
Jews, Christians, and Muslims all have a Sacred
Scripture in which God is revealed to humans and humans are given instruction as to the will of God and the
meaning of life. For Jews, that Scripture is called the
Tanak or the Hebrew Scriptures, which is more or less
identical with the Christian Old Testament. For Christians,
the Sacred Scripture is the Old and New Testaments and
for Muslims it is the Quran. While Muslims revere what is
called “Torah” and “Gospel,” referring to the Jewish and
Christian Scriptures, Muslim belief in the sufficiency of
the Quran means that extremely few Muslims would read
or be familiar with
“Although Jews, Christians, and
Muslims, worship the same God, they the Bible. The notion of God’s reveunderstand Him in different ways.”
lations,
though
understood quite differently, is important in all three religions.
People who have travelled in Muslim countries
notice the call to prayer which resounds through Muslim cities five times a day. The five daily prayers constitute one of the “Pillars of Islam.” The five prayers divide
and sanctify the day. Orthodox and Catholic Christians
As more Muslims emigrate to the West, Christians
are becoming more aware of the Holy Month of Ramadan in which Muslims fast. Fasting is common
among Jews and Christians, as well. Jews fast on the
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and on the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Christians fast at times during Lent. While the understanding of the role of fasting may differ among Jews,
Christians, and Muslims, all agree that it focuses the believer on eternal things and on the Divine.
Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe that
God has called them to be instruments of peace and
justice in the world. Over the last two thousand years
relations among the three religions have often been
poor with now one and then another engaging in aggression towards the other. Today, through interreligious dialogue, the hope has been born that these three
religions—and others—can work together for a world
of peace and justice.
Fr. Elias, a member of the Friars’ general council, is the author of
Islam:What Catholics Need to Know, available from the Graymoor Boo k & Gift Center: 845-424-2100.
PREPARING FOR LENT
F
r. Bob Langone, SA, associate director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, prepares for Lent by burning palm
branches that were blessed last year. The ashes were then used
to mark the foreheads of the faithful on Ash Wednesday.
All are invited to attend Easter observances at Graymoor.
For those wishing to spend Holy Week in prayer and reflection,
the Center offers its annual Holy Week retreat (see page 6).
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also divide the day into “hours” for
prayer. Jews have prayers which
are geared for specific times of
the day such as morning, evening,
and night. Although each of these
prayer traditions is very different
from the other, the rationale is
similar: so that believers remain
aware of God’s presence and
majesty, that the work of the day
does not become a total distraction, and to sanctify time itself.
VATICAN II 50 YEARS LATER
by Fr. Damian MacPherson, SA, Director for Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs, Archdiocese of Toronto
T
o understand the Second Vatican Council—whose fiftieth anniversary is approaching later this year—a brief
explanation of the Council of Trent and Vatican I, which
preceded it, is helpful.
The Council of Trent opened in December of 1545
and concluded its work eighteen years later, in December of
1563. It spanned the pontificates of three popes. The first,
Pope Paul III, noted at the time that the state of “the Church
was rent and torn asunder by schism, dissension and heresies.” The Council of Trent, which followed on the heels of
the Protestant Reformation, is commonly referred to as the
Catholic Counter Reformation. It dealt primarily with issues
of reform and doctrine. In an effort, in the pope’s words,“to
guide and govern the bark of Peter”— to rescue the Church
from future turmoil—the Council all but redefined the
Church. For some, Trent is spoken of as one of the most important councils as it responded with urgency to the negative
forces which sought to undermine fundamental teachings of
the Roman Catholic Church.
Except for Vatican I (1869-1870), which defined papal
infallibility and dealt with problems of rationalism, liberalism,
and materialism, it could be said that little change occurred
within the Roman Catholic Church until Vatican II, some 450
years following the Council of Trent.
Aggiornamento—the hallmark of the Second Vatican
Council called by Pope John XXIII in 1962—simply meant that
the Church must be brought up-to-date and adapt itself to meet
the challenging conditions of modern times.
A general session of Vatican II in St. Peter’s Basilica.
From 1962 to 1966, the Council succeeded in
promulgating sixteen decrees. Perhaps the decree which
most affected the universal life of the laity was that on
the Liturgy. Introduction of the vernacular into the liturgy,
the repositioning of the altar, and the celebrant facing
the people, were among the more notable and more
memorable changes that took place. In addition, recognition given to the role of the laity dramatically changed
the life of many Roman Catholics.
The decrees which most affected the ministry of
the Franciscans Friars of the Atonement are the Unitatis
Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism), and Nostrae Aetate (In Our Time). The latter focused its attention on
world religions with a special emphasis on Jews and
Muslims, while the former opened new ways of working
with Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox Christians for
the primary purpose of promoting the unity of the Christian church. These decrees signaled a new era of interfaith relations and ecumenical initiatives that continues
today.
continued on page 5
FRIARS RECEIVE ARCHIVE OF VATICAN II PHOTOGRAPHS
C
entro Pro Unione is the Friars’ ecumenical action, research, and formation center located on Rome’s historic Piazza Navona. It carries out its mission through
an intensive program of conferences, courses, and dialogues that attract theologians and academics from around the world.
Foyer Unitas, a ministry of hospitality operated by the Ladies of Bethany, had since
1950 collaborated with the Centro in welcoming non-Catholic pilgrims arriving in Rome.
During Vatican II, Pope Paul VI asked Foyer Unitas to provide lodging for the ecumenical observers. In 2009, Sister Leideke Galema, who managed Foyer Unitas for many
years, gave Centro’s library a precious collection of 740 photographs. These are not
only records of the sessions of Vatican II, they also include important ecumenical moments from the pontificate of Pope
Paul VI, including the historic meeting when he gave his own episcopal ring to the archbishop of Canterbury, Michael
Ramsey (above).
Centro Pro Unione is working to make this collection available to the public during the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II’s opening council in Rome later this year. For more information visit AtonementFriars.org/CentroPhotos.
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XXXII PAUL WATTSON L ECTURE
H
is Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper,
president emeritus
of the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian
Unity, spoke at the XXXII
Paul Wattson Lecture held
at the University of San
Francisco on February 21.
He lectured on “Hope for
the Future of Ecumenism.”
“Spirituality in Everyday Life” was the title of the annual Paul Wattson Lecture held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on
November 22, 2010, at Saint Mary’s University. The guest lecturer was Brahma Kumari Mohini Panjabi, president of the
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization of the USA
and representative of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual
University to the United Nations in New York.
With these lectures, which began in 1974 at Catholic
University of America, the Friars honor the memory and
work of their founder and continue their efforts to realize
the prayer of Jesus: “That all may be one. . . so the world may
believe.” (John 17:21)
“It was a delight to
have such a knowledgeable, spiritual, and experienced leader be our
Cardinal Kasper visited Graymoor in
2002 where he celebrated Mass
speaker,” said Fr. David
at Pilgrim Hall.
Poirier, SA, director of the
series. “Cardinal Kasper's
deep commitment to building bridges and continuing the
dialogue between faiths is inspiring and relevant.”
Vatican II
continued from page 4
Both decrees were truly prophetic and have since
occupied immense amounts of time, energy, and resources within the Roman Catholic Church. Each led to
the establishment of a Pontifical Council within the Vatican, one for Promoting Christian Unity and relations with
the Jews and the other, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Both offices are a significant and important presence within the Vatican and signal to the world
that the Church is serious about these matters.
Mission Trip to Honduras
The Friars are well-known for our ecumenical and
interfaith activities. In many ways, Unitatis Redintegratio
and Nostrae Aetate validate and give continuing importance to our work. Today, we see a growing importance in
both these areas, especially as we see and hear Pope Benedict’s commitment to ecumenism and interfaith dialogue.
F
r. Kenneth Cienik, SA, director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, returned
from a 10-day mission trip with the Missioners of Christ to
Honduras in January.
Fr. Ken travelled to the Diocese of Comayagua with
young adult mission teams. They visited remote mountain
villages where generally Mass and other pastoral duties have
not been celebrated for over a year.
Fr. Ken has been to Honduras five times in the last
four years. This past summer, he studied Spanish at a seminary there and did mission work. Prior to returning to Graymoor in 2010, he was the director of the Pre-Theologate
Program of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.
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The approaching anniversary of Vatican II reminds
us that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, great accomplishments have occurred and even more, much more, is yet to
be achieved. Your continued prayers remain an essential
contribution to these goals.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.AtonementFriars.org
Pray With Fr. Bob Warren, SA
Pray the Lord’s Prayer, St. Anthony's Prayer and
Hail Mary with Fr. Bob.
Listen to the Ave Maria Hour
First brought to the airwaves in 1935 and continuing
until 1969, the Ave Maria Hour is now webcast.
Request Mass/Healing Cards On-line
An assortment of Mass cards, healing cards, and
enrollment in the Graymoor Spiritual Union are available.
GRAYMOOR SPIRITUAL LIFE CENTER
H
oly Week, beginning with Palm Sunday of
the Lord’s Passion, is the most sacred
week of the liturgical year. The Graymoor
Spiritual Life Center’s annual Holy Week retreat,
begins on the evening of Spy Wednesday with a
communal penance service that attracts neighbors as well as retreatants seeking an opportunity
for sacramental reconciliation.
The Holy Week retreat continues on Holy
Thursday with morning prayer and conferences
leading up to the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. After the Mass in Pilgrim Hall, the congregation accompanies the Blessed Sacrament in a
solemn candlelight procession to the retreat center chapel which serves as the altar of repose.
Springtime at Graymoor
The top of the Ho ly Mountain
On Good Friday afternoon everyone gathers in Pilgrim Hall for the Celebration of the
Lord’s Passion with its solemn reading of the Passion and Veneration of the Cross. In the evening
those attending gather once again for the Stations of the Cross, held outdoors by torchlight.
On Holy Saturday night, the Great Vigil of
Easter, all huddle around a blazing fire from
which the paschal candle is lighted and carried
triumphantly into the darkened church. The
readings recall God’s mighty deeds throughout
salvation history, beginning with the Book of
Genesis. Easter Sunday is celebrated with a sunrise service near St. Francis Chapel and the regular Sunday Eucharist in Pilgrim Hall.
Blossoms near St. Francis Chapel
For those wishing to spend Holy Week in
prayer and reflection, the Graymoor Spiritual Life
Center is your destination.
The joy of Easter is extended throughout the
Spring with other events—such as the blessing and
planting of wildflower seeds inaugurating National
Wildflower Week, this year on Sunday, May 1.
AtonementFriars.org/Retreats
845-424-3671, ext. 2111
St. Joseph’s Garden outside St. Paul’s Friar y
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T HE S PIRIT
OF
A SSISI
AT
G RAYMOOR
by Fr. John Keane, SA
O
n October 27, 1986, Pope John Paul II met in Assisi with leaders from Christian Churches—Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant— and from many other religious traditions—Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist—to pray
for world peace. In his closing address to the assembled leaders, he thanked them for coming and he encouraged them to keep alive what he called “the spirit of Assisi.”
Because of the widespread violence, poverty, and environmental degradation that we see around us today,
the Minister Generals of six Franciscan orders have called on all Franciscans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of
Pope John Paul II’s meeting at Assisi. “We would like,” they write,“to reinforce our commitment to peace and dialogue by encouraging the entire Franciscan Family to celebrate this
“ . . . t h e gr e a t r e l i g i o n s c a n r e p r e s e n t
important anniversary. . . New conditions have emerged that
a n i m p o r t an t fa c t o r f o r t h e u n i t y a n d
threaten the unity of the human race, its well-being, and its very exp e a c e o f t h e h u m a n fa m i l y.”
istence.” These conditions, they explain,“challenge the ability of the
~ Po p e B en e d i c t X V I
Church and of our Franciscan family to be effective signs of unity.”
Pope Benedict XVI announced in his New Year’s address to the world that he will be going to Assisi on October 27 to mark this historic anniversary and to meet with Christian leaders and those from other religions to promote world peace.
After praying the first Angelus of the year in St. Peter’s Square, the pope highlighted how “the great religions
can represent an important factor for the unity and peace of the human family.” The Holy Father invited “Christian brethren of various denominations, the leaders of the world’s religious traditions. . . and all men and women
of good will” to join him on this journey in order “to commemorate the historical action desired by my predecessor and to solemnly renew the commitment of believers of every religion to live their own religious faith as a
service to the cause of peace.”
In his concluding remarks, the pope invited the crowd “even now, to support this initiative with your prayers.”
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement will heed his call and follow his example. On October 27, we are
inviting leaders from the Christian Churches and other religious traditions to Graymoor for a round-table discussion on how interreligious understanding and cooperation can foster world peace.
May the joyous Spirit of Assisi fill our hearts and souls with peace and hope for all future generations!
At the Interfaith Day of Prayer
for Peace, Assisi, 1986, the
pope stands with, from left:
Bishop Gabriel of Palmyra, representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch,
Archbishop of Canterbur y
Robert Runcie, Archbishop
Methodios of Thyateria/Great
Britain and representative of
the Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople, the Dalai
Lama, the Venerable Maha
Ghosananda, the Venerable
Eui-Hyun Seo of Kor ea, and the
Venerable Etai Yamada of
Japan. Photo © L'Osservatore
Romano.
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WWW. STCHRISTOPHERSINN - GRAYMOOR . ORG
FATHER PAUL’S LEGACY CONTINUES
continued from page 1
One found tucked behind the statue of St.
Anthony in St. Francis Chapel read, “Dear Lord,
please help my husband and me develop a loving,
sober relationship.” Another said,“Cure my wife of
breast cancer, help my aching back, and bring us
closer to You.” One asked,“Dear God, please guide
me with my parenting. I want to teach my girls how
to have faith and spirituality. I love them with all
my heart.”Another read,“Lord, I pray for my brother
in the Army. Watch over him.” Still another pleads
for employment:“Lord, I love you. I'm desperate for
a job. Come to my rescue.”
St. Anthony’s Statue is to the left of the altar in St. Francis Chapel.
Remembering that over 2,000 years ago
Jesus told a crowd of needy people,“Ask and you
will receive; search, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you,”(Luke 11:9),
the Friars gather for the Liturgy of
the Hours every evening, after
which they remember the petitions received at Graymoor.
Aware that people in
need are always around and
that a most loving God is still
taking care of them, the Friars
are here for you and your loved
ones and welcome your petitions.
S T. C HRISTOPHER ’ S I NN
The Fr iars continue to pray for the Saint’s intercession on behalf
of those in need. Above is Fr. Bob War ren, SA. At left is Father
Paul, the Friars’ founder.
WWW.STCHRISTOPHERSINN-GRAYMOOR.ORG
More Room at the Inn
A
Chris Sheridan/Catholic New York
fter maintaining anywhere from a two-week to onemonth waiting list for admission the past two years, St.
Christopher’s Inn has added approximately 20 new
beds. The renovations were completed in February.
Founded by Father Paul in 1909 to provide shelter for
the “pilgrims of the road” whom he called Brothers Christopher,
by the 1960s, the Inn was at the forefront of providing AA
meetings and recovery retreats. In the early 1970s, with the increase of drug use in society, men arrived with dual addicThe Inn’s Choir perfor ms at religious services and community
tions. During the 1990s, the Inn received licensing to provide
events throughout the year.
Outpatient Alcoholism Counseling, Substance Abuse Outpatient Treatment and an Article 28 license as a Diagnostic and and drug addiction, the Inn addresses the physical, spiritual
Treatment Center. Today, recognizing the importance of tak- and emotional impact of addiction, thereby realizing better
ing a holistic approach to treating the diseases of alcoholism outcomes for the Brothers Christopher.
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WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2011
F
ollowing the dream of their founders, Mother Lurana and Father Paul,
the Franciscan Sisters and Friars of the Atonement gathered for eight
days from January 18 to 25, 2011 at Graymoor to pray for the unity of
Christians. During this octave of prayer known as the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity, they used readings from Holy Scriptures and meditations
developed by the Christian churches in Jerusalem. These helped them to
focus upon a passage from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles (2:42)
which indicates the four
pillars
of
Christian
Unity—namely, Fellowship; the Teachings of the
Apostles (the Bible); the
Breaking of the Bread
(the Eucharist), and
Prayers.
Special, joyous services celebrating the Word
of God were held in three Graymoor locations—at
St. Christopher’s Inn for homeless men, addicted to
alcohol and drugs, whose choir was the highlight of
the evening; at the Sisters’ St. Francis Convent Chapel,
Little Flower Chapel, Graymoor
where Msgr. Patrick Keenan, pastor emeritus of St. Columbanus Parish in Cortlandt Manor, NY, preached, and at Little Flower Chapel, with the Rev. Paul Johnsen,
pastor of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Yorktown Heights, NY.
On the fifth day, Fr. Emmanuel Sullivan, SA, spoke of the meditations and readings saying:“We
cannot underestimate the importance of what we are doing during this Week of Prayer. We make it
part of our daily prayer for peace and justice; for Church Unity and for interfaith understanding. The
Friars and Sisters of the Atonement have made this prayer an expression of their corporate call to
make the prayer of Christ a prayer for all of us. This
was the vision shared by the founders of the Graymoor community to be shared by the Church for
the life of the World.”
In Washington, DC, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was inaugurated at the Franciscan
Monastery of the Holy Land, known to many as the
“Holy Land of America,” with Evening Prayer on
January 18. Fr. James Gardiner, SA, who is on sabbatical this year at the monastery, organized the
service. Fr. Dennis Polanco, SA, the Friars’ vocation
minister, participated.
GEII.org/WeekofPrayer
Franciscan Monaster y of the Holy Land,Washington DC
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BELL TOWER NOTES
Fr. Rober t Langone, SA, has been named associate director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center where he had been a retreat director. Fr. Bob
is from Brockton, MA, and has been a member of the Franciscan Friars
of the Atonement since 1982. He was ordained in 1989.
Fr. James Loughran, SA, director of Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute,
was invited by the Diocese of Sacramento to spend the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity 2011 giving talks, homilies, and presentations throughout the diocese. He also
appeared on the Bishop’s radio hour in Sacramento and taught classes to parochial
high school students.
Fr. James Gardiner, SA, who is on sabbatical this year at the Franciscan Monastery
of the Holy Land in Washington, DC, led the 22nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
through the streets of Peekskill in Westchester County on March 12. Fr. Jim, the
immediate past director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, was selected in
recognition of his many years of
service to Westchester and PutMay He Rest in Peace
nam Counties.
“OUR COMMON SEARCH FOR PEACE”
BUDDHIST/CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE AT GRAYMOOR
M AY 13 ~ 15, 2011
VEN. ABBOT DHARMADIPA
THERAVADA BUDDHIST
THE REV. DIANE KESSLER
PROTESTANT
THE REV. ROBERT E. KENNEDY, SJ
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Br. Kevin Goss, SA
1951~2011
THE REV. MASAMICHI KAMIYA
MAHAYANA BUDDHIST
OPEN TO ALL. TO REGISTER CALL:
E-MAIL:
845-424-3671, EXT. 2111
[email protected] RG
CONTACT:
L e t u s a ls o re m e mb e r a n d p ra y fo r
o u r b e n e f a c t o r s w h o h a v e p a s s e d.
FR. JOH N KEANE, SA
FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE ATONEMENT
P.O. BOX
300, ROUTE 9, GARRISON, NY 10524
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Reflections on Our Charism
EVENTS
continued from page 2
As Franciscan Friars of the Atonement we engage
in works for peace and justice. Oftentimes, we discover a
deeper calling from God as a result of service to others. We
find that our whole life is deserving of this call. It is both exhilarating and frightening all at once. Yet, God leads us on
the way.
April 14
Benefactor Appreciation Day
(dedication of new visitor entrance)
Graymoor, Garrison, New York
In the third pillar, the sharing of bread, early Christians
saw the sign of friendship, forgiveness, and dedication to
one another. In the breaking of bread, we are formed anew
for the prophetic
“Becoming a priestly person, a
message of hope for
prophetic person, and a shepherding
all humankind. The
person is our original calling.”
Eucharist is the
source and summit
in our life path search.Yet, as joyful as the Eucharist is for us,
it also is a painful reminder to us of our divisions as Christians. This reality among us as Christians inspires the Friars
and Sisters of the Atonement to the unique call of our own
Franciscan community: to reconciliation and at-one-ment.
April 20 - April 24
Holy Week Retreat
Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
(see page 6)
May 1
Blessing and Planting of Wildflower Seeds
Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
May 12
Sunset on the Hudson Cocktail Party
X2O Xaviers on the Hudson
Yonkers, New York
Finally, the fourth pillar of prayer is listening and talking to God. We pray in order to discover our life path and
mission to the world. It is humbly coming before God as
Jesus taught us in the Our Father. We pray to seek God’s will.
We pray for the building up of the Kingdom of God here on
earth. Prayer is essential in searching for our life path. God
speaks to us in His Word and in the Eucharist. God speaks
in the events of our lives and those in the world. God speaks
to us through persons in our life and world.
June 6
12th Annual Graymoor Golf Classic
Mount Kisco Country Club
Mount Kisco, New York
June 10
Heritage Day
We may even discover a ‘touchstone’ experience
through prayer. This may be a story or word that comes
back over and over and has great meaning to us. It is the
way God speaks to us. Francis of Assisi had this experience
when he heard God say: “Francis, rebuild my Church which
is falling down.” At first, he took it literally and began rebuilding the small church of San Damiano. Later, these
same words took on an entirely different meaning as his life
path changed. The same can happen to us. For all of us, the
four pillars: One in the Apostles’ teaching, Fellowship, Breaking the Bread, and Prayer (Acts 2:42) are the building blocks
of our Baptismal vocation as Christians.
(Mass at St. Anthony Shrine)
Graymoor, Garrison, New York
June 25
Jubilee Celebration
Graymoor, Garrison, New York
September 9
Benefactor Appreciation/Sponsor Day
Graymoor, Garrison, New York
On that cold and snowy January night, we prayed
together so that Christians everywhere might be a sign and
instrument for the healing of divisions and injustices and
for the growing in understanding between people of all
faiths. Today, I pray that God continues to favor us Friars as
we strive to be effective disciples of at-one-ment and that
He may favor us with plentiful vocations to continue our efforts to realize the prayer of Jesus: “That all may be one …
so the world may believe.” (John 17:21).
September 30
Sharing Hope Celebration Dinner
The Pierre, New York City
For more information
800-338-2620
AtonementFriars.org
AtonementFriars.org/Vocations
800-338-2620, ext. 2126
- 11 -
S T. A NTHONY ’ S C ORNER
NEW VISITOR ENTRANCE
AT GRAYMOOR
“It was Truly a Miracle!”
St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love
for God and charity for his creatures,
made you worthy, when on earth, to
possess miraculous powers. Miracles
waited on your word, which you were
ready to offer on behalf of those in
need. Encouraged by this, I ask you to
hear my prayers.
“ St. Anthony Helped Me!”
O
n April 14, the new Visitors Welcome Entrance
of the Pius X building will open at Graymoor.
For many years, guests arriving at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center for Mass, retreats, conferences, or evening recovery meetings would enter
through the loading dock—or walk up a three-story
flight of stairs.
The new reception area has been made possible through a generous estate gift, the hard work of
the Graymoor maintenance staff, and leadership
from the Graymoor Redevelopment Committee. A
special ribbon cutting and blessing will occur during April’s Benefactor Appreciation Day, followed by
Mass and luncheon.
“I couldn’t believe it when I received my lovely
St. Anthony medal and prayer card in the mail. It has
been many years since I have been at Graymoor. I
used to come there when I was a child, but moved to
the West Coast as a teen.
The medal arrived when I was going through a
particularly difficult time—facing risky surgery that
could potentially save my sight—or potentially make
me blind. I didn’t know what to do!
I remembered reading about the special Graymoor Shrine to St. Anthony and the Friars nightly
prayers to St. Anthony. The day I went for surgery I
made sure I had your medal with me and made sure to
repeat his prayer several times. I am happy to report
that the surgery went fine.
Thank you St. Anthony and Friars!”
800-338-2620, ext. 2137
AtonementFriars.org/VisitorEntrance
If you would like to receive additional prayer cards,
medals, or healing enrollment cards, please contact us.
800-338-2620 ~ www.AtonementFriars.org
WHEN THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS....
A Record of Your Wishes - Making a will makes you think about the future.
It sets down your wishes and plans for your estate, whatever its size. Without one,
state law dictates who and what your relatives receive. Plus, naming an executor
puts someone you trust in charge.
A Way to Continue Your Good Works - You can establish endowments to
support your favorite charities knowing the work they do will continue, in part, because of you. Remembering the Friars of the Atonement in your will ensures
that our work will continue.
GRAYMOOR CONTACTS:
Benefactor Services
845-424-3671 ext 3519
Book & Gift Center
845-424-2100
GEII
212-870-2330
St. Christopher’s Inn
Spiritual Life Center
Vocations
YES, send me a free Will Information Kit
Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Phone
E-mail
Send to Fr. Emil Tomaskovic, Graymoor, PO Box 301, Garrison, NY 10524
845-335-1000
845-424-2111
845-424-2126
Privacy Promise Statement: From time to time we make information about our lapsed or inactive donors available to other
Catholic Charities. If you do not wish your name shared, contact us and we will respect your wishes. If you no longer wish
to receive requests for support from the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, please call 800-338-2620, ext. 3519.
Graymoor Today • P.O. Box 301 • Garrison, NY 10524-0301 • 1-800-338-2620, ext. 3519 • www.Ato nementFria rs.or g
GRAYMOOR TODAY
Publisher: Friars of the Atonement
Graymoor Today is a publication of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, a Roman Catholic religious
community with social, ecumenical and pastoral ministries in the United States,Canada,England, Italy
and Japan. Since 1898,they have worked for the reconciliation of men and women with God and each
other as well as serving those in need.