Join us for Christmas Mass Online . . .
We Capuchin Franciscan friars wish all of you a blessed Christmas, filled with the peace and joy that only the humble beginnings of our salvation can ensure us.
Our Capuchin parishes will be livestreaming many of their Christmas Masses, and we'd like to share with you the chances when you can join our communities in prayer. Even though the contact be "virtual," feel free to take an opportunity for us to be with one another in spirit . . .
We pray that any of the frailty you have experienced this year from the pandemic which has weighed us down throughout the world might be united with the fragility of the Holy Family, who revealed a light that can never be extinguished: our God accompanies us on our human journey. May you know that hope and joy in the love of your family and friends - true lights that can shine more brightly in the darkness of the winter season.
Dismas Young, OFM Cap., 1938-2020
Our Capuchin brother Dismas Young, OFM Cap., died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday morning, December 17, 2020, at Vincentian Home in McCandless, PA. A proud “Butlerite” from St. Paul Parish in Butler, PA, his baptismal name was Leo, born to parents Eugene and Mary (Steinhiser) Young on November 12, 1938. He was one of four children born to the couple and was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Eugene, and his sister, Nancy (McKain). His sister Alice (Bernard) Carbin survives him and shares our loss.
Leo was familiar with the Capuchins who would come to his parish from nearby St. Fidelis in Herman, PA. After graduation from Butler High School, he felt his call to be a Capuchin brother and entered the Capuchin Brothers Training Center in Cumberland, MD. When he decided that perhaps a call to the Capuchin priesthood might best suit his talents, he enrolled at St. Fidelis College and Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1958, where he would join classmates who were a bit younger than he: John Getsy, Joseph Mindling, Emil Fischer (+2001) and William Wiethorn (+2014). They were all invested as Capuchins after their novitiate year in Annapolis, MD, where Leo was given the name Dismas. He wore his name proudly and never returned to his baptismal name as others did when permitted to do so in 1968. Besides, his patron was the “good thief” whose faith on the cross near Jesus allowed him to accompany Jesus to paradise. The class professed their first vows on July 14, 1961.
+ Luis Francisco González Rivera, OFM Cap., 1966-2020
We mourn the loss of our dear brother & friend Luis Francisco González Rivera, OFM Cap., on December 14, 2020. Luis most recently served as the vice minister of the Custody of St. John the Baptist in Puerto Rico. He lost his life from complications related to his contacting the COVID virus. He was a tireless worker, an indefatiguable minister and an incompatable creative artist. As a vice minister, he was a good and faithful servant to the brothers of the island. He is missed. An official obituary will be forthcoming in these days.
When the Blessed Come Marching In . . .
Our Capuchin calendar that reminds of of feastdays and solemnities for our Capuchin Franciscan communities throughout the world keeps expanding!
Sadly, the pandemic's resurgence has delayed the Beatification of our brother Capuchin Martyrs of Manresa (Catalonia) scheduled for Saturday, November 14th. Friars Benet of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Domingo of Sant Pere from Riudebitlles and Josep Oriol from Barcelona were killed in 1936. All of them were members of the community in Manresa, the novitiate of the Catalonian Province in Spain at the time the area of the friary was overrun by Communist forces as part of the fighting in the Spanish Civil War. You can read about their heroic witness here.
Abundant Goodness at Sacred Heart
This month, our Br. Mike Herlihy, OFM Cap., shared photos of an inspiring experience at Washington DC's Shrine of the Sacred Heart where many "have been struggling with food insecurity and poverty as a result of the pandemic. The Church has been making an effort to help relieve some of their struggles." Br. Mike reported that one of friars got a call from the pastor of a local Christian church in the city with a contact who could provide a "huge shipment of food from the USDA." Br. Dave Domanski and Br. Mike came out of the church on a Saturday morning to find 60 volunteers from churches all around DC, hundreds of people waiting in line, three 40ft. tractor trailers and 75,000 lbs. of groceries to be unloaded.
Mike continues: "The volunteers prayed together thanking God for providing for us and then we got to work. Over 1,250 people brought home groceries to their families that day. The food was gone in less than 6 hours. Word spread fast. When we ran out of food, there were still people in line that we had to turn away. This was all after handing out groceries to 400 people in our weekly Friday program the day before. Some of the people when they received their boxes would look up to the sky and thank Jesus."
Br. Bob Marva on the Airwaves
Voices for Change, a podcast hosted by News 5 Cleveland's anchor Danita Harris aired a recent episode from November 22, 2020, highlighting "Voices for Change: Pastoring a Multicultural Church in a Racially-Divided Nation" which asked the question: If more Christians of different racial backgrounds began worshipping together, could racial reconciliation follow? Their discussion of diversity in worship featured our brother Bob Marva, OFM Cap., pastor at St. Agnes/Our Lady of Fatima in the city, along with Mario Hauser, pastor at Church of the North Coast in Wickliffe.
You can listen to the podcast here, or on their website.
Postulants Hit the Ground Walking
The Postulants are now a complete trio after the arrival of Federico ("Fico") Vizquez (right of Tom in the photo) in September, and the friary is complete with the return of our brother Reynaldo Frias Santana, OFM Cap. Our Provincial Minister, Tom Betz, OFM Cap., was there for Fico's reception on Wednesday, September 16, and his companions Pablo Lopez and Raf Altejar (left of Tom) were there to show him around in Philly(below).
Golf Outing 2020: We're all Winners
Thanks to all the sponsors and golfers who supported us at our Capuchin Golf Outing 2020! Over $23,000 was raised for the Fr. Bill Wiethorn Scholarship Fund which benefits our men in formation for our Capuchin life.
There were 88 golfers this year, and the weather was perfect. In spite of all the COVID restrictions in place, those who came to help us out - and to enjoy some golf - reported that they had an enjoyable day. A big thanks goes out to all the volunteers and participants who helped give their time and their energies for us.
Our Development office reports that all our winners will receive their prizes by mail (so here's to hoping that they get there faster than some primary ballots) . . . .
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