The Art of the Stations in Cleveland

From Cleveland's St. Peter Church, our brother Phil Bernier, OFM Cap., pastor of the parish, sent us the parish's unique take on changing the environment for the season:  "St Peter’s original stations, painted on copper in Belgium in 1860, were restored in 2000 and framed to create a triptych which is brought into church during Lent. A crew of new and long term parishioners helped artist Norbert Koehn complete the short but challenging journey. We added a Sunday Evening Mass beginning on the First Sunday in Lent for members of the Newman Ministry at Cleveland State University and to welcome members of the growing downtown residential community."

See the installation of the Stations . . .

Br. Bernard Finerty: His Song Lives On

John Srsen, a pastoral musician in Cleveland, OH, has posted his arrangement of the hymn Virgin of Love authored by our Capuchin brother Bernard Finerty, OFM Cap., on YouTube.  Bernard, who passed away in 2016, would be happy to know that his melodies live on . . .

Papua New Guinea friars Celebrate Bishop Bill

On Monday, January 25th, our brother bishop Don Lippert, OFM Cap., shared photos from the Memorial Mass held in Mendi for our Capuchin brother Bill Fey:  "Today at Mother of the Divine Shepherd Cathedral in Mendi, the Capuchin-Franciscans celebrated a Memorial Mass for Bishop Bill Fey, OFM Cap. - Bishop Emeritus of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea. Bp. Bill served for decades as a missionary in PNG and passed away on 19 January of COVID in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.  Fr Modest Eligi, OFM Cap - superior of the Capuchins in PNG - was the presider, and Fr Peter Meis, OFM Cap., delivered the touching homily (Bishop Bill worked tirelessly for the cause of Christian Unity). He will be greatly missed by all.  “May the angels lead [him] into Paradise.”

See more . . .

Reginald Russo, OFM Cap., 1941-2021

Our brother Reginald Russo, OFM Cap., died late Monday night, February 15, at Shadyside Hospital from complications of post-Covid pneumonia.  He entered eternal life in the presence of fellow Capuchin friars, including his older blood brother and our Capuchin brother Francis X. Russo, OFM Cap., who prayed with him as he died.

Reginald was given the name Carmen at his birth on July 30, 1941, the sixth of seven children born to John and Theresa (Izzo) Russo of Mahoningtown, PA.  He was baptized at St. Lucy Church there and educated in the local public elementary school before following his older brother and enrolling at St. Fidelis High School and College Seminary in Herman, PA in 1955 to receive both his high school and college education.  Like other collegians at the time, he moved to St. Conrad Friary, Annapolis, MD, where he was invested with the Capuchin habit and entered the novitiate following his second year of college in 1961.  It was there that he received the Religious name Reginald by which he would be known for the rest of his life - when he wasn't called, affectionately, "Reg."  He made profession of the vows as a Capuchin on July 14, 1962, and returned to St. Fidelis to complete his college studies.

More of Reg's story & info on the funeral plan and livestreaming...

Richard Lubomski, 1944-2021

Our brother Richard Lubomski, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord on Monday afternoon, February 8, 2021, at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, from complications arising from infection by the Covid-19 virus.  He was 76 years of age.

Richard Joseph Lubomski was born in Pittsburgh to Joseph A. and Frances (Staresinic) Lubomski on December 21, 1944.  He was baptized at St. Anthony Church and educated at the parish grade school in Millvale before attending Shaler Public High School. Richard would often tell the story of his parents’ marriage with a smile: his father was reprimanded by his pastor for wishing to marry Frances Staresnic. Her parents were Slovenian, and the pastor, who was Polish, chided Joe: “You couldn’t find a Polish girl?” Somehow, the marriage worked out – and Richard was a great credit to his “dual heritage.”

Read more about Richard and view videos of his Funeral vigil & Mass....

Bishop Bill Fey, OFM Cap., 1942-2021

Our brother bishop Bill Fey, OFM Cap., who retired as the second Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea, in October 2019, died late Tuesday night, January 19, 2021, at Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, from a Covid-related illness. Since July 2020, he had been in residence at St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), PA.

“Bishop Bill” was born William Regis Fey in Pittsburgh, PA, on November 6, 1942, the son of Regis and Dorothy (Clair) Fey. Initially, he attended Middlesex Elementary School in Valencia, PA, before attending St. Paul Grade School in Butler. On graduation, he enrolled at our Capuchin seminary, St. Fidelis High School and College in Herman, PA.

Upon completing his second year of college studies, Bill was invested with the Capuchin habit in Annapolis, MD on July 13, 1962, receiving the religious name Br. Elroy (we assume Elroy Face was famous on the Pittsburgh Pirates team at the time?). He made his profession of vows one year later on July 14, 1963, and in 1968, he returned to his baptismal name, William, when that option became available. That same year, he was ordained to the priesthood in a class of Capuchins that numbered seventeen (17) friars, the highest number ever ordained for the community.

Read more and view videos . . .

Our Evangelization Ministry in Pittsburgh:

A New Years thank you . . .

Our Evangelization ministry has expanded to Pittsburgh, PA, this year with the arrival of our brothers Ross Henley, OFM Cap., and Matt Hindelang, OFM Cap. From 2017-2020, our Province undertook an expansion of our friary residence and chapel in the Lawrenceville section of the city while constructing new buildings to house our Provincial offices, our Assembly Hall (now called Hyacinth Epp Hall) and a home for the local food pantry/Meals on Wheels services. 

An important part of that construction was to provide space for our new initiative: our Pittsburgh Evangelization Ministry. Br. Ross and Br. Matt recently updated us on what they've been up to, and as the New Year begins, we share with you the grace and goodness they've witnessed in these months and their prayers and hopes for the future.

Read what Br. Ross & Br. Matt have been up to . . .

Senan Glass, OFM Cap., 1930-2020

Capuchin friar Senan Glass, OFM Cap., died on Saturday morning, December 26, 2020, following a short residence at Manor Care Nursing Home in Wexford, PA, where he had been undergoing rehabilitation following treatment for an infection at Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh.  He was 90 years old.

Born and baptized Paul Glass on February 27, 1930, in Uniontown, PA, the future friar was raised in Brownsville, PA, and he and his family were members of St. John Parish in Uniontown. He began his education at the parish elementary school and completed grade school at St. Peter School in Brownsville before entering St. Fidelis Seminary High School and College Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1944.  Following his second year of college, Paul received the name Br. Senan as well as as his Capuchin habit when he began his Capuchin novitiate in Annapolis, MD, on July 13, 1951, and made his first vows as a friar on July 14, 1952. He returned to Herman complete his collegiate studies and moved on to study Theology for the priesthood at Capuchin College in Washington DC in 1954.  He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1957 along with Capuchin classmates Basil Gasper (+1994), Bennett Colucci (+2000) and Leon Leitem, who survives him.

Read more about Fr. Senan's life . . .