Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 9 AM – All are welcome!

Click here to read the full story from The Catholic New York

Click on each name to read about our four new CFR priests!

Father Paschal Coby, C.F.R.

Father Felix Desilets, C.F.R.

Father Luke Leighton, C.F.R.

Father Bonaventure Rummell, C.F.R.

With all of the recent attention on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, it is a good time to remember that "Where there's smoke, there's fire!" The white smoke indicates that we have a Pope. That smoke is caused by the fire of the Holy Spirit! The Church is the fireplace that holds the fire.

When Jesus established His Church, He included the office of leadership. The Pope is the Vicar or representative of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is at work in a special way through the office of the Papacy. All of this is God's design and hard to understand apart from faith. In Matthew 16 we see that the first Pope, Simon Peter, was guided by God the Father in proclaiming the truth about Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" The Holy Spirit has been guiding Peter ever since!

Let us pray for Pope Francis! Saint Francis pray for him!

[click here to read the whole letter]

The article features Saint Joseph Friary in Harlem and the new Postulants in our community.

Find it here: 

http://theuptowner.org/2012/12/20/harlem-friary-provides-introduction-to-monastic-life/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 30, 2012

The Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal sincerely apologizes for the comments made by Fr. Benedict Groeschel in an interview released yesterday by the National Catholic Register, online edition.In that interview, Fr. Benedict made comments that were inappropriate and untrue. A child is never responsible for abuse. Any abuser of a child is always responsible, especially a priest. Sexual abuse of a minor is a terrible crime and should always be treated as such. We are sorry for any pain his comments may have caused. Fr. Benedict has dedicated his life to helping others and these comments were completely out of character. He never intended to excuse abuse or implicate the victims. We hope that these unfortunate statements will not overshadow the great good Fr. Benedict has done in housing countless homeless people, feeding innumerable poor families, and bringing healing, peace and encouragement to so many.

Fr Benedict helped found our community 25 years ago with the hope of bringing the healing peace of Jesus Christ to our wounded world. Our desire has always been to lift up humanity and never to hurt. About seven years ago, Fr. Benedict was struck by a car and was in a coma for over a month. In recent months his health, memory and cognitive ability have been failing. He has been in and out of the hospital. Due to his declining health and inability to care for himself, Fr. Benedict had moved to a location where he could rest and be relieved of his responsibilities. Although these factors do not excuse his comments, they help us understand how such a compassionate man could have said something so wrong, so insensitive, and so out of character. Our prayers are with all those who have been hurt by his comments, especially victims of sexual abuse.

Personal Statement from Fr Benedict Groeschel:

I apologize for my comments. I did not intend to blame the victim. A priest (or anyone else) who abuses a minor is always wrong and is always responsible. My mind and my way of expressing myself are not as clear as they used to be. I have spent my life trying to help others the best that I could. I deeply regret any harm I have caused to anyone.

With questions please contact Fr. Glenn Sudano at 973-623-3307.

(read his story here)

On May 21, 2012 in Yonkers, New York at St. Casimir’s Catholic Church, five Franciscan Friars of the Renewal were ordained  to the diaconate by Most Rev. Manuel A. Cruz, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, New Jersey. Those who were ordained are: Br. Felix Mary Desilets, CFR; Br. Nathanael Mary Lysinger, CFR; Br. Bonaventure Mary Rummell, CFR; Br. Paschal Maria Coby, CFR; and Br. Luke Joseph Leighton, CFR.

See the photo galleries below!

Fr. John Paul's Mass of Thanksgiving  |  St. Adalberts's Church (Bronx, NY)

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Deaconate Ordinations  |  St. Casimir's Church (Yonkers, NY)

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They are (left to right): Br. John Ogilvie Marie Larkin, CFR; Br. Kolbe Immaculata Blashock, CFR; Br. Ignatius Pio Mariae Doherty, CFR; Br. Roger Mary Hermans, CFR; and Br. Damien Joseph Novak, CFR.

Please continue to pray for our community!

PRESS RELEASE – April 25, 2012

“What are you giving up?” Any Catholic who grew up in the “pre-Vatican II” era would immediately know what this question is referring to—especially if you attended a parochial school taught by nuns. It means, “What are you giving up for Lent?” The answer of most school kids back then was somewhat the same—candy, soda, or television. Although the good sisters suggested that giving up fighting with our siblings would be even better, I personally thought that was just a bit too much to give up.

Isn’t it true how easily we can get attached to things. Now that the cell phone has become mainstream and no longer a status symbol, I know there are some of you who might get more than annoyed if you had to give it up! Soon kids will be asking, “What was life like before cell phones. I mean, how did people contact you when you weren’t home?” How true it is—we quickly become best buddies with comfort and convenience; yet as you know, there is always a price we must pay.

Lent is a time to look at our attachments—and not only material things or objects—but attitudes. As our doctors can now scan our bodies looking for problems, this is the time to ask for some help to “scan our souls” and to look deep within for things which can be suspicious and maybe malignant. No doubt, some of our readers are quite comfortable with such examinations and are quick to get at the problem area. Some, for example, have a spat with their spouse; yet they never allow the sun to set on their anger. Instead, the whole affair ends with an apology and a goodnight kiss. Others, however, refuse to admit any guilt and spend years in a cold war. These couples have become quite comfortable with their illness.

Have you ever had something—an article of clothing, for example—that spends most of its life hanging on for dear life in a dark closet or buried in some overstuffed drawer? Maybe it was a gift from grandma or a hand-me-down which once belonged to dear ol’ dad. While our prized possession serves no other purpose but to take up space, the chilling thought of getting rid of our family heirloom borders on sacrilege or treason. Of course, occasionally we take out our treasure and try it on; it is stretched here and it sags there, and it may be just a bit threadbare at the elbows, but besides the broken zipper and a few missing buttons, it looks almost new! Maybe, just maybe, you will wear it in when the weather warms up a bit. 

Friends, today we enter the liturgical season of Lent. Lent is an old English word, “lengthen,” which means “springtime.” Lent commemorates the time Our Lord fasted and prayed and was tempted in the desert; therefore, it is a time characterized by prayer, reflection, fasting and abstinence. Our interior attitude or spiritual posture is expressed in the somber violet which is worn by the priest and which decorates the sanctuary. Lent is, in essence, a time to look inside ourselves and open that interior dark closet and overstuffed drawer. It is a time to ask ourselves if we have become accustomed and attached to what is obviously ugly and outdated.

If you are serious about spring cleaning your soul, you must be honest and objective. This is why an extra set of eyes and expert advise is always helpful when making decisions about what stays put and what is put into the garbage. This is but one reason we have the sacrament of confession—we don’t have to do the dirty work alone. This means, instead of going to confession with our wrinkled and weary list of sins, we go in “with a pen and pad,” which means an attitude of openness and a desire to get the job done right. This task begins and is made easy by asking a simple question: “Father, can you help me make a good confession?”

Maybe if we ask for help, we may not only find more junk than we expected, we just might find more room within us for peace and joy. So there they hang—uglier than grandma’s kelly green sweater or dad’s plaid jacket—guilt, shame, anger, lust, resentment. So, what are you giving up this Lent?

God bless you,

Fr.Glenn Sudano, CFR 

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary

Newark, NJ