Ryan Realbuto, 2000-2024
On Thursday evening, January 18th, 2024, three members of our Washington, DC, house of Cap Corps Volunteers were violently attacked coming home from a prayer vigil on the eve of the annual March for Life in the city. One member, Ryan Realbuto, was fatally shot. The other two volunteers were able to rejoin the fourth volunteer safely at their home in North East DC. Our Capuchin brother, Stephen Cantwell, OFM Cap., was at the hospital with the family when Ryan died.
Cap Corps is our year long Catholic volunteer program for young adults to live in intentional community while serving those in need. Cap Corps is centered around four pillars: Community + Service + Simplicity + Prayer. It was founded 30 years ago and has over 250 alumni who served in multiple cities in the USA as well as in Puerto Rico and Papua New Guinea. The volunteers are supported by our Capuchin Franciscan Province of the St. Augustine centered in Pittsburgh, PA.
Our Padre Pio Prayer Center Reaches Out
We are excited to announce that we are beginning a new ministry to provide housing for pregnant and parenting women in need in the northeast Philadelphia area.
Br. Kip Shares Spirit & Life in Papua New Guinea
Our brother Kip Ledger, OFM Cap., Novice Director for our national Capuchin Novitiate Program, returned from our Custody of Papua New Guinea in December in time for Christmas and the Holidays. He was asked to give some workshops on Franciscan Spirituality to the friars there in November. He reports that he "had a wonderful time with the friars. They were extremely fraternal and hospitable! It was also nice to catch up with our USA brothers serving in Papua New Guinea: our brothers Al Carver, Thomas Choi, Tage Danielsen and Roshan Anthonypillai." Roshan wasn't able to attend the assembly, but Kip was able to catch up with him in Port Moresby when Roshan was on his way through for a visit home.
Kip led the friars in reflections on our Franciscan Spirit & Life, especially through the eyes of St. Bonaventure, one of our early Doctors of the Church, whose work The Soul's Journey Into God leads us to reflect on the various ways we come to experience God's life and in conversion of our hearts and minds to the way of the Lord Jesus.
150 Years of Capuchin Presence
We’re celebrating!
150 years ago, three Capuchin friars from Bavaria made their way to the United States on a mission . . .
. . . to implant the Capuchin Order in America in service to the thousands of German immigrants there. At the advice of fellow Capuchins who had established a home in Michigan and Wisconsin, they found themselves in Pittsburgh, PA, and their faith, courage and conviction were the roots of our Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Augustine.
On Saturday, November 18, 2023, friars, friends and families gathered to celebrate the fruit of their foundations. Our brother Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., was the presider for the Mass, as many of the bishops for whom we work in Dioceses spanning our Provincial geography joined us for our prayers of gratitude.1,230 men have professed vows as Capuchins in the Province. While some chose to take other paths in their lifetime, most of them have lived their lives as our brothers, working throughout the regions to which they were called. They are not mere numbers, in any way, shape or form.
Michael Greb, OFM Cap., 1958-2023
Livestreaming of the wake service and Funeral liturgy appear below
Our Capuchin confrere Mike Greb, OFM Cap., 65, passed to the Lord's eternal life on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.
One of seven children, our brother Michael Greb was born to parents Ralph and Dorothy (Koeper) Greb on August 8, 1958, in Pittsburgh, PA. He was proud of his parish Church in Castle Shannon, St. Anne Parish, and of its pastor Charles Owen Rice, a writer and American Labor activist. Mike was even highlighted in historian Sam Sciullo Jr.’s book, Castle Shannon, in the Images of America series. In the caption of the photo, Mr. Sciullo wrote:
As a teenager in Castle Shannon, Michael Greb loved baseball. But when he realized he probably was not going to replace Roberto Clemente as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ next great right fielder, his career path took him in a much different direction. The 1976 graduate of Keystone Oaks High School, who also attended St. Anne School, became Father Greb when he was ordained in 1989 by Bishop Donald Wuerl. Father Greb recalled his roots when asked to consider his influences during a 2012 interview. “I do realize that so many of the values of faith and family, care for people and good citizenship were born in Castle Shannon,” he said.“ I have always been proud of my hometown and the people. Our parish of St. Anne’s will always he where I came to love my Catholic faith and where I discovered my pathway of service and religious life."
Gervase Degenhardt, OFM Cap., 1931-2023
Our brother Gervase Degenhardt, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord’s eternal life at our Provincial motherhouse, St. Augustine Friary, in Pittsburgh, PA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. He was 91. He had been suffering weakness in the past few months and growing increasingly frustrated that the Lord was delaying the moment when he could be freed from the weakness of Brother Body.
Francis Degenhardt was the fourth of eight children born to Martin and Pauline (Leiker) Degenhardt in Antonino, KS, on December 28, 1931. As a child, he recalled flowers growing around his home and his parents tending a vegetable garden. His interest in horticulture began! Walking to St. Joseph Grade School in nearby Hays, KS, he noticed flowers and shrubs thriving in yards along the way.
The Port Introduces a YouTube Channel!
At The Port, our Evangelization Ministry in Pittsburgh, PA, we've noted a principle of mission offered by Bishop Barron: "Lead with Beauty."
As part of this, we're piloting a YouTube channel.
Earlier this year we had the opportunity to sit down with a few musician friends who have helped us out with Port events, recording in our new Port studio, located in our former friary kitchen!
The goal of this project is to support the local Arts Community and engage the culture with positive, faith-influenced contributions. Our hope is to expand the channel beyond music to various Arts and Franciscan content.
We've completed three initial recordings, the first of which from a local Catholic couple who form a folk harp-guitar duo, the Stapletons. Thanks to our brother Pablo Lopez, OFM Cap., who ran the videography and edited the videos.
Please consider subscribing and stay tuned for some new musical entries coming soon!
Our Brothers Make their Vows of a Lifetime
Our brothers Joseph Pham, OFM Cap. (R) and Stephen Cantwell, OFM Cap., (L) made their "perpetual profession" of the vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience as Capuchin Franciscan friars. Having professed their temporary vows three years ago, they have made their lifetime choice of fidelity to the Lord's call to our Franciscan way of life and to the brothers of our International Religious Order of Capuchin Lesser Brothers (Capuchin Friars Minor).
The Profession Mass took place on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at our motherhouse church of St. Augustine Church in Pittsburgh, PA.
While it is active, feel free to witness the Mass and Profession below -- and keep our brother Joseph and Steve in your prayers.
Benjamin Madden, OFM Cap., 1933-2023
Our brother Benjamin Madden, OFM Cap., made his transitus to the Lord's eternal life on Friday, July 14, 2023 , at our motherhouse, St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh, PA. Ben had been in declining health this past year and found it more and more difficult to maneuver life on his own. Still, given Ben's tenacity, and his desire never to be a bother to anyone, it's unsurprising that his passing was solitary; he didn't bother anyone.
He was born Francis Madden March 10, 1933. His parents, Louis and Clara (Helmstetter) Madden lived in Cumberland, MD, and they were parishioners of SS. Peter & Paul Church where the Capuchins had a large fraternity of young and older friars who were familiar faces as Francis was growing up.
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