The Friars' Table Is Open to Serve
A major December event, along with our ministerial outreach at Philadelphia's Annie's Home, was the blessing and opening of The Friars' Table at city of Cleveland's Playhouse Square. Our brothers serve the St. Paul's Shrine and at the parish of St. Malachy's in the city, but Cleveland's Ordinary, Bishop Edward Malesic, posted a special moment on his Instagram page:
Last evening, I was pleased to bless the newly opened The Friar’s Table restaurant at Playhouse Square. The eatery is a collaboration among Cleveland Capuchin Ministries, EDWIN’s Leadership & Restaurant Institute and Playhouse Square, offering training and job opportunities for many people who are trying to build a new life.
Among the guests for the event were our Provincial Minister, Robert Marva, OFM Cap., joining our brothers in Cleveland. The press for the new endeavor has been fast and frequent from various news outlets in the Cleveland area.
This November Article appeared in the Diocese of Cleveland's webpage on November 20th:
The Friars’ Table restaurant plans job fair,
prepares to begin service
See more photos & read more about our unique sponsorship . . .
Annie's Home Celebrates a Home In Philly
Our confrere and Vocation Director, Mike Herlihey, OFM Cap., reported on one of our two big Provincial ministerial events for December:
The Opening Mass of Annie’s Home went really well [on Sunday, December 8th]. Our whole Frankford fraternity was there along with our Brothers Tom Betz and Keon Tu who took time out of their busy Sundays to stop by and show support and join the 90 benefactors there. We had Mass, followed by a brunch (with some baked goods sent by our brother-master-chef Andrew Corriente), followed by Br. Alex Hostoffer's presentation on how God brought Annie’s Home's about. We ended the day with tours of the home. What stood out to me was how a high percentage of the people there were already involved in donating or in volunteering hours or in doing both. People were reflecting on how unique this Advent season is for them as they prepare for the Christ Child while also preparing for the mothers and children to find their home at Annie’s Home. St. Joseph went off to prepare a place for Mary to give birth to Jesus. These supporters have prepared a place here as well.
Merry Christmas!
Some of our friars in Washington, DC, celebrated this feast in song
"Gaudete Christus est natus (Rejoice, Christ is born!)
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A Visit to China
Our brother Tom Betz, OFM Cap., was on the road in November (but most likely made this trip from his work as pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Philadelphia, PA via an air flight!). On, Sunday, November 3rd, he was in Macau, a regional Province in China, where he celebrated two Masses. The first was for Filipino migrant workers (above). An evening Mass was celebrated at Macao's packed cathedral with a large congregation.
Thanks to Wikipedia, we know that Macau remained under Portuguese rule until its 1999 handover to China. A special administrative region of China, Macau maintains separate governing and economic systems from mainland China under the principle of "one country, two systems." The article tells us, and friar Tom neglected to share, that its often referred to as the "Las Vegas of the East."
Read on about his retreat for priests and his press interview . . .
Priesthood Ordination: Br. Joseph Pham, OFM Cap.
With gratitude to the Lord, we rejoice in the ordination to the priesthood of our brother Joseph Pham, OFM Cap.
You can join view all of the photos from his Ordination and from his Mass of Thanksgiving that was celebrated the day after the Ordination, Sunday, December 8th, at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, Indiana, PA.
If you missed it, you can view the Ordination Rite and Mass from Saturday, December 7th on YouTube:
If the video does not appear above, you can join us on YouTube.
2024: Celebrating our Jubilarians
and praise our God for the faithfulnees and love shone in their lives.
Read our tributes to them, and join us in prayer for their continued path in the Gospel life.
Colman Studeny, OFM Cap. (1934-2024)
See the end of the article for livestreaming links of our brother's Wake and Funeral Mass are below . . .
Our brother, Colman Studeny, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord’s eternal life on Friday. October 18, 2024, at our motherhouse, St. Augustine Friary, in Pittsburgh, PA, less than a month after celebrating his 90th birthday. He had been in residence there since 2022 when he retired from his work as a missionary in Papua New Guinea.
Born to Leo and Germaine (Koehler) Studeny on September 28, 1934, he was given the name James at his baptism at Resurrection Parish in Pittsburgh and also where he was to attend the parish grade school. In 1948, James entered St. Fidelis High School Seminary in Herman, PA. Sadly, within six weeks of his arrival there, the young freshman suffered the unexpected loss of his older brother Leo, Jr.
When he was ready to move on to the novitiate year after his second year of college and recieve the habit of the Order, this was his highlight in the 1953 edition of the school's Yearbook, the Skullcap . . .
Read more about our brother Colman and his life on a mission . . .
We Capuchins Hope to Serve at the Friars' Table
After almost four years and two previous possible locations, our Capuchin Franciscan Province St. Augustine recently signed a contract with Cleveland's Playhouse Square, the largest theater complex in the country after New York's Lincoln Center, to open The Friars' Table, a training kitchen / restaurant in conjunction with EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, directed by Brandon Chrostowski. The purpose is to give formerly incarcerated adults a foundation in the hospitality industry. We hope to expand that mission by also welcoming members of Cleveland's immigrant and refugee community as employees.
According to the press release: The Friars’ Table is more than just a restaurant; it’s a beacon of hope for the city of Cleveland. With a mission deeply rooted in the values of simplicity, dignity, and community, the restaurant aims to bring together residents and visitors alike in an environment that nourishes both body and soul.
“The goal of the restaurant is to give the city not only a great restaurant, but hope,” said Brandon Chrostowski, who will be curating the content, menu, and assembling the culinary team. “We want to create a beautiful space where people can come together over good food, and leave feeling inspired and uplifted.”
Br. Phil shared his vision for the restaurant, drawing inspiration from the life and teachings of our brother, Saint Francis of Assisi: “Saint Francis, the first friar, lived in a world of great transition, much like our own. Instead of seeking wealth and power, he found his life's passion by living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus in simplicity, embracing the dignity of the human person, and with a great respect for the gift of all creation.
Our Capuchin Brothers for a Lifetime
Our Capuchin Franciscan brothers Josean Castro Arroyo, Ryan Schmeltzer and Connor Bannon professed their lifetime, solemn vows on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
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