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Latest news from the Capuchin Franciscans

January 26, 2010
Fr. Christopher Rengers Passes Away

Fr. Christopher Rengers, OFM Cap, died on Monday, January 25, 2010, at Vincentian Home in Pittsburgh, PA. He was 92.

Fr. Christopher was a noted confessor, spiritual mentor and author. His intense devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph was legendary. Many regarded Fr. Christopher a saintly Capuchin friar and priest.

He was born on March 9, 1917, to Bernard and Elizabeth (Thinnes) Rengers in Pittsburgh, PA. He was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Bloomfield (Pittsburgh). Fr. Christopher is survived by his brother, Gerard Rengers, of Evans City, PA. He also leaves many nephews and nieces to mourn his passing.

 He entered St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1930. Fr. Christopher entered the Capuchin Order in 1936 and professed his first vows as a friar on July 14, 1937. He made his solemn profession three years later. Fr. Christopher was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1942. Father’s advanced education included philosophy studies at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, KS, theology at Capuchin College in Washington, DC, and history at St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO.

 Fr. Christopher authored numerous published works, including two Lenten books, a biography of Jacinto Marto (one of the three children who were blessed to encounter the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima), The Stations of the Cross for the Elderly, and a very popular book, The Thirty-Three Doctors of the Church. He authored many articles that appeared in various periodicals. Even until a few days before his death, Fr. Christopher worked on various scholarly and devotional projects.

His first priestly assignment was as chaplain at Visitation Academy in St. Louis, MO, from 1943 to 1945. His next appointment was teaching at St. Joseph Military Academy in Hays, KS, and served as pastor of St. Severin Church near Hays. Fr. Christopher was transferred to Herndon, KS, as parochial vicar of St. Patrick Church in Tully, KS, and chaplain for Atwood Hospital in Atwood, KS.

In 1950 Fr. Christopher was assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Dover, OH, and in 1951 became pastor of St. Patrick Church in Mineral City, OH. His ministry in Ohio ended in 1959.

For the next sixteen years, Fr. Christopher labored at St. Charles Borromeo Church in St. Louis. He began his ministry in St. Louis as the Capuchin friars’ promoter of vocations. In addition to his regular duties, Fr. Christopher helped the poor, elderly, immigrants and mentally disabled. He founded The Capuchin Troupe, a group of amateur actors who performed Fr. Christopher’s dramatic versions of the Passion of Christ and Our Lady of Guadalupe; The Troupe performed in many parishes in Missouri and Illinois. In St. Louis Father also began in earnest his ministry to promote devotion to St. Joseph, designing and promoting the St. Joseph Medal.

 In 1975 Father Christopher was transferred to Capuchin College in Washington, DC.  In addition to his on-going projects, in the nation’s capital Fr. Christopher founded the Queen of the Americas Guild, dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Twice each year he headed a pilgrimage to Mexico City and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

 Father Christopher was concerned about many social issues, including the right to life of the unborn. On January 21,1977, the night before the March for Life in Washington, DC, he celebrated Mass in the crypt church of the Basilica of the National Shrine. After Mass Fr. Christopher and his small group of worshippers maintained a night-long vigil. That unnoticed beginning has become a nationally televised event, featuring Cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and a over-flow congregation in the upper church of the Basilica. The all-night vigil is carried on by thousands of young people from around the country.

 At the age of 87 Father Christopher’s health necessitated close medical attention; he was assigned to St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh in 2004. Four years later he took up residence at Vincentian Home, where he died.

The first day of visitation and viewing will take place on Wednesday, January 2010, from 3PM until 8:30PM at Capuchin College in Washington, DC (4121 Harewood Rd, NW  20017).

A second day of visitation and viewing will take place on Thursday, January 28, from 2PM - 4PM and 6:30PM - 9PM at St. Augustine Friary (221 36th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15201). The Mass of Christan Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 29, at 10:30AM at Our Lady of Angels Church (formerly known as St. Augustine Church). Burial will take place in the friars' plot at St. Augustine Cemetery, Pittsburgh.

January 25, 2010
Fr. Kieran Quinn Has Died

Fr. Kieran Quinn, OFM Cap., died on January 22, 2010, in Charleston, WV, at the age of 90.

Born in Beaver Falls, PA, to Edwin and Gertrude (Kossler) Quinn on February 12, 1919, Father Kieran was one of nine children. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven sisters and brothers: Theresa Rose Quinn, Della Jeanette Kocsis, Louise May O’Neil, Fr. Edmund Quinn, Fr. Thomas Quinn, Robert Quinn and Jerome Quinn. He is survived by one sister, Lucille Stape, of Mesa, Arizona, and many nephews and nieces.   Father Kieran, Fr. Edmund and Fr. Thomas were all Capuchin friars of the Province of St. Augustine.

Fr. Kieran was baptized in St. Mary Church in Beaver Falls, where he also received his elementary education. He attended high school and college at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, PA. On July 13, 1938, Father Kieran was invested with Capuchin habit to begin novitiate, and he professed first vows on July 14, 1939, in Cumberland, MD. Three years later he professed perpetual vows as a Capuchin friar. Fr. Kieran was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1944.  After attaining his graduate degree in chemistry at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, in 1948, Fr. Kieran was assigned to the faculty of St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, PA. He would remain at the seminary in various capacities until 1971. During his twenty-three years on the seminary staff he was at various times a science professor, financial officer, purchasing director, prefect of discipline, director of the Secular Franciscans, confessor, librarian and counselor. His service at the seminary was tireless and invaluable.

 In 1971 Fr. Kieran was elected Vicar Provincial of the Capuchin friars and moved to St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh. He completed two terms as Vicar Provincial in 1977. Following his service as Vicar Provincial, Fr. Kieran was named pastor of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Charleston, WV. He would remain in Charleston for the rest of his life. In 1981 he was named Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston. He retired seventeen years later in 2002.

Due to failing health, Fr. Kieran was admitted to Valley Center Nursing Home in South Charleston in 2006. His good friend, Sister Fran Kirtley, OSF, was a wonderful support and companion for many years and was especially helpful in the last years of his life.  Fr. Kieran passed away at 4AM on Friday, January 22, 2010, at Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston. Visitation and viewing will be held at St. Anthony Church (1000 Sixth Street) in Charleston on Friday, January 29, from 2PM to 8PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church on Saturday, January 30, at 10:30AM.  Fr. Kieran’s body will be transported to Pittsburgh for visitation and viewing at St. Augustine Friary (220 37^th Street) on Sunday, January 31, from 2PM to 4:30PM and from 7PM to 8:30PM. A Service of Prayer and Remembering is scheduled for 7:30PM in the friary chapel. Family members, friars and friends will gather in St. Mary Cemetery, Herman, PA, on Monday, February 1, at 10AM for graveside prayers and interment.

Donations in memory and honor of Fr. Kieran may be made to the Capuchin Development Center, 200 37^th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.

January 19, 2010
Brother Manuel on Uruguay Mission

During his after-Christmas vacation, Capuchin Brother Manuel Aviles was invited to participate in a week-long mission in Uruguay by the evangelization ministry of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Falls Church, Virginia. Brother Manuel ministers there throughout the year.

 The mission consisted in bringing food, clothing and the Word of God to several towns and villages in the Diocese of Melo where a group of religious woman, Misioneras de Jesús Verbo y Víctima, from Peru serves.  In the towns and villages, Brother Manuel and St. Anthony parishioners visited an orphanage, Hogar Quo Vadis, a house of rehabilitation for drug addicts, Fazenda de la Esperanza, and families who thirst for God’s word and consolation.  Brother Manuel reports that the experience during this trip was a grace-filled moment for his vocation.  It has inspired him to continue to serve the materially poor who have entrusted their lives to God's providential care.  Mat. 25:35
 
The Diocese of Melo is located in the northeast part of Uruguay next to Brazil and is one of the poorest in the country, but it is fortunate to have hosted John Paul II in 1988.  That visit inspired the Academy Award nominated movie The Pope’s Toilet.  Throughout the mission, the American missionaries, including Brother Manuel, were honored with the presence of Bishop Heriberto Bodeant, Bishop of Melo, who personally drove us to the towns and villages and celebrated Mass every day.

Several more photos can be viewed in the Photo Gallery.

January 9, 2010
Brother Stephen Ordained Deacon

Capuchin friar Brother Stephen Fernandes was ordained to the diaconate this morning by Bishop Martin Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington. Brother Stephen is now authorized to preach, baptize and officiate at weddings, in addition to other responsibilities as a deacon.

The two hour liturgy of ordination took place in the crypt church of the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, near Capuchin College in Washington, DC. Several other men from other religious communities were ordained as well.

A good number of friars, all the postulants, Capuchin students from Borromeo Seminary and Cap Corps volunteers were on hand with Brother Stephen's family and friends. Father Jim Menkhus, guardian of Capuchin College, invested Brother Stephen in the dalmatic and stole shortly after the bishop laid hands on Brother Stephen.

The Provincial Minister, Father John Pavlik, was a concelebrant for the ordination liturgy. Other concelelebrants were Fathers Jim Menkhus, John McCloskey, Paul Dressler, Joe Mindling, Tom Weinandy, Dan Mindling, Phil Bernier, Paul Kuppe, and Wolfgang Pisa. Brothers Thomas Choi, Richard Owens, Florian Gabor, Michael Meza and Brian Bradshaw were among the servers for the ordination.

A reception and lunch were held afterward at Capuchin College. About 100 people were served during the festivities.

Brother Stephen will complete his studies at the Washington Theological Union this spring and then be assigned to pastoral ministry in a Capuchin parish. After a full year as a deacon he may be approved for ordiantion to the priesthood.

More photos of Brother Stepen's diaconate ordiantion are in the Photo Gallery.

[Thanks to Brother Urbano Vazquez and Brother Matthew Hindelang for the photos.]

September 30, 2009
Ten Men Accepted as Capuchin Postulants

Minister Provincial Father John Pavlik received ten men into the Capuchin postulancy, the first year of formation in becoming friars in the Province of St. Augustine. About twenty  friars were present during a week-long retreat at Paul VI Pastoral Center in Wheeling, WV, and witnessed the ten being accepted as postulants. Kevin Moshier of Avondale, AZ; James Watson of Philadelphia, PA; Roshan Anthonypillai of Sri Lanka by way of Toronto and Washington, DC; Jonathan Goodan of Somerset, Kentucky; Stanley Sobo of Oakland, Michigan; Ronald Dietz of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania; Rafael Anguiano-Rodriguez of San Pedro, Mexico; John Paul Kuzma of Erie, Pennsylvania; Travis Woodfield of Lima, Ohio; and Chady Naoum of Parma, Ohio; all were given the TAU cross as a sign of their acceptance as postulants. The cross was adopted by St. Francis of Assisi as a special form of the cross for his Franciscan family.

The postulants have already begun their formation at Padre Pio Friary in Philadelphia, under the guidance of director Father Paul Kuppe and associate directors Brother Kip Ledger and Father John Harvey. During this year of formation the postulants will become more familiar with the Capuchin way of life, understand more intimately St. Francis of Assisi, learn to pray more intensely, and undertake apostolic work, all to follow Jesus Christ more closely.

At the conclusion of this year of postulancy, these men may apply and may be accepted as novices, the second step in their formation as Capuchin friars.

Photos of each of the new postulants can be viewed in the Photo Gallery.