In the Fall of 2008 the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal initiated a second foundation in Central America, this one in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. The friary there now partners with the brothers in Comayagua, Honduras, forming the nucleus of a fledgling region of friars. It is our hope and expectation that we will eventually found a cluster of such friaries, establishing a strong “Renewal Franciscan” presence in the area. Each “region” would eventually develop a formation program that could receive young men indigenous to these various areas into our life of Renewal. This work has been entrusted to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the New Evangelization.

Following my initial visitation to this new foundation in the western hills of Nicaragua, Fr. John Anthony, the present Local Servant, and I traveled cross country to the friary in Honduras for a meeting concerning our medical outreach to the people of Comayagua. The long trek took us over mountains and through valleys, along dusty roads and semi-paved thoroughfares. The six-hour venture seemed like a resistance test for shock absorbers. My personal opinion is that they failed - miserably!

At about the halfway mark, after we had been jostled around in the cab of our pick-up truck for about three hours, Fr. John Anthony introduced a discussion concerning Our Lady and Her guidance in our life as a community. He spoke of his own spiritual awakening through the reported apparitions of Medjugorje in present day Bosnia. He reminisced of his visits to the shrine, his climb up Apparition Hill (no doubt brought to mind by our climb up the hills of Nicaragua - during which, by the way, I thought I might have an apparition or two of angel choirs myself as I gazed over the guardrail-less precipice on those narrow mountain roads!). He spoke of Our Lady’s call to repentance and prayer, and the need to share this with so many who are far from the protection of Her Son.

At this point, Fr. John Anthony turned to me and asked if I had ever been to Medjugorje. I had not, although I had had a number of invitations. I expressed that I had no reason not to go, but the circumstances never seemed to work out. He suggested that I ask Our Lady to make it happen. It was at this point that I shared with Fr. John Anthony that if I were to visit one of Our Lady’s shrines, it would be the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City that I would most want to see. Without hesitation he retorted, “Well, just ask Her!”

I thought that at my next liturgical hour of prayer I would set this fervent petition before Our Lady. Fr. John Anthony, however, saw no reason to wait and simply reiterated his exhortation. “Go ahead and ask Her!” When I assured him I would, he told me that now was as good a time as any. “I can wait,” I assured him, but he insisted all the more. “Go ahead!” he told me. Somewhat reluctantly, I made a perhaps not-particularly fervent plea to Our Lady to bring me to Her house in Guadalupe. Discerning my less-than-robust prayer, Fr. John Anthony cried out, “Say it like you mean it!” “I mean it!” I exclaimed. With a telltale grin on his face, Fr. John Anthony merely retorted, “You watch; you’ll be going.” At this our conversation reverted to discussions about the potholes which were so immense they could probably swallow a car whole, and the hairpin turns over treacherous ravines that engendered constant (and fervent) prayer.

Within a week of my return to the Bronx, I received a phone call from a tour group asking if I would be willing to lead a pilgrimage. I immediately remembered my conversation with Fr. John Anthony and thought “Could this be the answer to my prayer?” With great expectation I asked where the journey would take us. The answer: an Alaskan cruise. I think I would rather spend three months on a deserted island than lead a “pilgrimage” on a cruise ship! My failsafe response was that I needed to consult my Community Council. Happily they concurred that it was probably not appropriate given the nature of our life and work.

About a week later, I returned the call to the tour group and graciously declined their offer. They tried to persuade me, but I firmly stated that I could do nothing without the consent of the Council. It was then that they said there was another pilgrimage that needed leadership. I was sure I would be asked to lead an African Safari or a trek through the Panama Canal and was already formulating my retort as I reluctantly asked the destination of this other “pilgrimage.” “Guadalupe,” was the immediate response. I was stunned into silence. I think the agent thought we had lost our connection. He restated the proposal: “Would you be willing to lead a group to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe?” My response was a joyous, “Yes!” and a muffled, “but I must also check with my Council.” Happily they agreed.

The most remarkable part of the story was yet to come. It was determined during our trip that on one occasion our group would join the regularly scheduled Mass at the Shrine. Thousands of pilgrims flood Guadalupe Village each day to seek the care and provision of Our Blessed Mother. Every hour on the hour a Mass is said with the attendance of at least several thousand. We joined one of these liturgies.

The main celebrant of the Mass was a priest of the Shrine who did not speak English. As I am deficient in making anything known in Spanish, we resorted to gracious nods and a few gestures. No great transfer of information was possible. At the end of Mass, before the thousands dispersed, the Shrine priest decided to introduce me briefly. He then took me before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe enshrined behind the Main Altar and offered a prayer on my behalf. It was only later, through an interpreter, that I learned the content of his words.

Knowing nothing of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal or of our connection to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, he spoke of our great devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. He shared with the assembly that it was our desire to go throughout the United States and indeed the world spreading her message of love and protection. We were to bring the presence of her Son to the ends of the world.

His personal prayer for me included entrusting our little community to the heart of Our Lady, that we may be one in Her work of evangelization. He prayed that She would protect us, guide us, and bring us to the ends of the world. When the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal were seeking a patroness, the brothers decided upon Our Lady of Guadalupe. Her message of hope to those in need seemed particularly appropriate to our labors with our less fortunate brothers and sisters. It was not until some years after the foundation of our community that the late Holy Father, John Paul II, traveled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and gave Her the additional title of Patroness of the New Evangelization. As this is a second aspect of our labors, the advancement of the Kingdom of God as Our Holy Father had beckoned, we felt most affirmed in choosing Our Lady as our patroness under this title.

This past summer our friars were invited to conduct missions and retreat weeks throughout the world. A team of brothers joined our own brother, Fr. Herald, in his ministry to the people of Torit in Southern Sudan. Another group of friars ventured to South Africa to the Diocese of Tzaneen in the northeast corner of the nation. They worked with youth from around the diocese conducting retreats and seminars on the Theology of the Body hoping to stem the spread of AIDS through formation in chastity. Brothers participated in preaching venues in Australia and France, England and Ireland. This is not to mention the extensive preaching tours of our own Fr. Stan who travels to innumerable nations speaking and singing about the mercy of God.
Br. Columba and I even had the privilege of traveling to a remote village in the Northwest Territories of Canada, situated about one hundred kilometers short of the Arctic Circle. We worked with a group of deeply Catholic Native Americans, who were gathering together for a Spiritual Convocation. It was an incredible opportunity of grace to participate in this event with a First Nation community which has fully integrated their faith into their cultural heritage.

We live in an age where many are eager to know true love. We live amongst a people who too often look in all the wrong places. We live at a time in the history of the Church and the World when it is possible to bring the truth of the Gospel to many. I am so grateful to the Lord and to Our Lady that our community is able bring God’s Love to others - it is a great privilege. The words of Our Lady to Saint Juan Diego inspire us: “…I am the ever Virgin and Holy Mary, the Mother of the one true God… I want to manifest Him, make Him known, give Him to all people through my love, my compassion, my help, and my protection…”

May the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal be faithful to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to bring the love of God to all the nations. May we entrust our lives and all our desires to the maternal care of the Mother of God. May we never be afraid to bring the saving message of Jesus Christ to any who will listen. May we respond with generosity to GO TO ALL THE NATIONS.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Fr. Bernard expressed his thanks to a warm Irish crowd, along with Bishop Seamus Hegarty of Derry as the Friars were welcomed into his Diocese. St. Columba Friary is located in an area that has known a great deal of conflict for over a century. The inhabitants of this borderland expressed great hope for a fresh expression and renewal of faith with the arrival of our Friars. It presents a new challenge for the Friars to be ministers of reconciliation and help to secure what is perhaps still a fragile peace.	It was a particular joy this year to have the ordination of our new deacons by a new bishop. Bishop Manny Cruz has been a faithful friend in the Newark Archdiocese for many years, with affectionate and esteemed titles such as “assistant novice director” for our Community. He was ordained to the episcopate last year and our friars were among the first that he ordained to the diaconate. Br. Charles Benoit Reche, Br. Isaac Spinharney, and Br. Albert Osewski will, by God’s grace, be ordained as priests in May, 2010 during this time specially designated by the Church as the “Year of the Priest.”
New developments in the New York area include St. Anthony Shelter for Renewal. The building next to St. Crispin Friary in the Bronx that used to be St. Anthony's Residence is now being used as a night shelter and program of sobriety and spiritual renewal for homeless men. The Friars are enjoying the extension of their brotherhood into the lives of these homeless guests, which includes recent outings such as apple-picking upstate. “Crispin” happens to refer to a type of apple, as well as a Capuchin saint and a friary.	The lay brother vocation balances the Franciscan identity of the Friars. Lay brothers are usually available to serve the local community, both in-house and the poor in our neighborhoods, in a way that priests are often not able to. The lay brother’s work of evangelization often takes on a creative one-on-one style. Here Br. Crispin, who is the Director of Lay Brother Formation, is imparting some of his construction knowledge to this future aerospace engineer, on the occasion of a neighborhood “streetfest” in Yonkers.

A historic moment has arrived for the CFR Sisters who have just begun their first mission outside of the New York area. Bishop Arthur Roche (middle) gave a very warm invitation and welcome to the Sisters as they opened a convent in his Diocese of Leeds, England. Fr. Andrew Apostoli (left), who founded the Sisters’ Community from a discernment group, rejoiced in this new beginning, along with Fr. Bernard (right). The Sisters shown here at the blessing of St. Joseph Convent are (1-r) Sr. Catherine, Sr. Jacinta (Local Servant), Sr. Lucille (Community Servant), and Sr. Clare (Community Vicar).	As much as our brothers and sisters in the Sudan long for the basic necessities of food, clean water and security of life, they are even more grateful for the life-giving waters of baptism. Fr. Herald Brock is on a special assignment in the Sudan, exercising his Franciscan and priestly ministry in this particularly needy area of the world. For more information and pictures of this mission, please visit cfrsudan.blogspot.com.
The postulants arrived in September and are experiencing their “basic training” with (1-r) Fr. Gabriel, Br. Pius, Br. Aloysius, and Fr. Luke (Postulant Director). This year the Friars of the Renewal have been highlighting the work of formation in our community discussions, to emphasize the importance of this mission on which rests all the other aspects of our life. We look upon formation as a process of conversion, which we know is ongoing for our entire lives.	After at least five years of formation, a friar may be ready to make his final vows, his life commitment to the Lord in poverty, chastity, and obedience. This year Fr. Bernard, our Community Servant, was grateful to receive the final vows of (kneeling, r-1) Br. Christopher Joseph McBride, Br. Patrick Crowley, Br. Mariano Joseph Demma, and Br. Luke Joseph Leighton.