Issue February 2018 #11 THE Province Press from The Communications Office Franciscan Friars Assumption BVM Province Summary of the Provincial Council Meeting Franklin, WI January 16, 17, 18, 2018 Minutes Present: James Gannon, OFM, Edward Tlucek, OFM, Jerome Wolbert, OFM, Joachim Studwell, OFM; Craig Wilking, OFM, John Cella, OFM. Friary Personnel and Friaries Emmanuel Bialoncik: February 1st, Jim will meet with Emmanuel to discuss his return to the Province. Flag of South Korea Stephen Cho: Friar Stephen Cho from South Korea patiently waits at Lourdes Friary, Cedar Lake, IN for immigration issues to be resolved. Brian Bangart is continuing to deal with our immigration lawyer and the R-1 status for Stephen Cho. Once this is resolved, Stephen will receive his faculties to function within the Diocese of Gary, IN. We are presently paying for his legal fees. Friar Aegidio Hyeon Seop Jeon: Friar Aegidio, Holy Korean Martyrs Province of South Korea, will return from South Korea with Jim Gannon to live for thirty days within our Assumption BVM Province. Aegidio is contemplating working in parish ministry within our province. During his time with us, Aegidio will attend the ESL Program at Sacred Heart School of Theology and reside at Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI. After thirty days, Aegidio will return to South Korea and discern with his provincial, Friar Carolo Ho, a three year commitment to live and minister within the Assumption Province. Stephen Dupuis: Friar Jim Bok and the friar community of Mary Gate of Heaven, Negril and St. Luke Parish, Little London in Jamaica, welcome our brother Steve with open arms. In consultation with Jim Bok and Mark Soehner (Provincial SJB) we anticipate a three-year commitment. Steve joined the Provincial Council and shared his experience and his desire to return to Jamaica. Bill Stout: After several discussions and reflection, Bill has decided not to return to Edinburg, Texas. Bill is open 1
to doing work in the Archives, but is also looking at Prison Ministry and possibly campus ministry. Joachim Swarick: Joachim has made a remarkable recovery from his fall on New Year s Day. Although his convalescence at Queen of Peace originally was a temporary assignment, Joachim has requested to remain at Queen of Peace Friary. Jude Lustyk: With the decision to moth ball St. Francis Friary, Burlington, WI, Jude asked that he be allowed to accept an invitation to minister at the Holy Land Commissariat, Washington, DC. The council unanimously approved Jude s request. Friar Transitions: William Stout: From St. Junipero Serra Friary/Parish Minister at Sacred Heart Parish, McAllen, TX and Holy Family Parish, Edinburg, TX to Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI and Provincial Archivist, St. Francis Friary, Burlington, WI. Thomas Marchetti:(See written letter from Thomas on Page 7) In consultation with the members of the Friar Community, Greenwood, MS and the directors of the interprovincial post novitiate formation program, Thomas has stepped out of formation and returned to his home in Texas. We thank Thomas for his presence to our provincial community. As we were blessed by his gentle presence, he was blessed by us. Please remember Thomas in this time of transition. Stanley Janowski: From St. Francis Friary, Burlington, WI to Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI. Stan will continue his ministry as Site Manager, Francis Meadows, Burlington, WI. Gregory Plata: From St. Francis Friary, Burlington, WI to Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI. Greg will continue his ministry as Provincial Director of Vocations and Secretary of Formation for the Assumption BVM Province. Greg s office is in Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI. Jim Gannon: Friary residence TBA Meeting with the Care Team at Queen of Peace Friary: Because of previous appointments with Friars and doctors, Paul Reczek and Provincial Nurse, Charlene Duley, were unable to attend the meeting with the Council. Carmen Scuderi, Vicar, Queen of 2
Peace and Rob Frediani, V.P for Mission and Liaison to Milwaukee Catholic Home, were present for an update on the continuing development of the relationship between Queen of Peace Friary and the Milwaukee Catholic Home. Carmen gave an update on the health of the friars at Queen of Peace, St. Anne s Salvatorian Campus and Milwaukee Catholic Home. Paul Reczek, Guardian, Queen of Peace, gave his report on Thursday, January 18th. The Provincial Council affirmed Paul Reczek, Carmen Scuderi, Michael May and Charlene Duley for their love, care and support for the Friars. Formation Report from the Secretaries of Formation: Secretary for Formation, Greg Plata(pictured right), provided a paper and electronic copy of his report. Report on Candidacy: -Greg reports that Candidate Albert Fritz Newburger is doing well at Lourdes Friary, Cedar Lake, IN. Report on Postulancy: -Greg Plata reported that all seems to going well with Andrew Aldrich who is a member of the Interprovincial Postulant Program, Holy Name College, Silver Springs, MD. Report on Post-Novitiate: -Joachim Studwell, previous Secretary of Formation and Greg Plata, present Secretary of Formation, summarized the post-novitiate interprovincial program. Finance/Property Investments and Credit Cards: Brian, Ramona and Nicole along with John Cella, presented a financial update. The investments are a significant income-producing source for the Province. The conversation then moved to the issue of credit cards, credit card debts and other related financial concerns. An important discussion about driving tests and the ABVM Province driving policies followed. Pulaski, Printery: Brian Bangart, Property Manager, continues to work with the Brown County Public Library (Pulaski Library) and The Gorman Group who is pursing the overall project for the Printery Building. Progress continues to be made. 3
4 St. Francis Friary, Greenwood, MS: Craig Wilking, Guardian, St. Francis Mission and Pastor Joachim Studwell gave an update on several meetings with parents, teachers, staff, and friends of the Mission, pursuing new ideas for increasing the enrollment of the school and developing new options for financial support. West Chicago property: Property is still on the market. Sybertsville, PA: The Provincial Council will meet at Holy Dormition Friary, Sybertsville, PA, March 20, 21, 22. The property will be on the agenda. Hoffman Planning and Design: The Provincial Council has hired the services of Hoffman Planning and Design to perform a comprehensive survey of the Burlington property. This survey is scheduled for the spring. Hoffman will also do a survey for the following properties: Pulaski, Franklin and Cedar Lake. Future Planning: Update on the Extraordinary Provincial Chapter Jim Gannon, John Cella and Ed Tlucek will visit with Felician Sister Connie to review the schedule for the Chapter and Leadership Workshop. Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conventual has accepted our invitation to lead us in reflections during the Extraordinary Chapter and the Leadership Workshop. Extraordinary Chapter and Leadership Workshop: Felician Center, Chicago, IL. The proposed schedule is as follows: Extraordinary Chapter: May 29 + 30, 2018 Tuesday, May 29th: 4:30 Evening Prayer with Reflection (Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conventual will reflect with us) 5:30 Supper, 7:00 Social Wednesday, May 30th: 8:00 Breakfast 9:00 Morning Prayer/Reflection 10:30 Jubilee Eucharist 12:00 Meal 1:30 Prayer 2:00 The R + R Vote 3:00 Departure
Leadership Gathering: May 30th- Wednesday afternoon, May 30th: 4:30 Evening Prayer with Reflection, 5:30 Supper, 7:00 Social Thursday, May 31st: 7:30 Eucharist with Sisters 8:00 Breakfast 9:00 Morning Prayer/Reflection 9:30 On Anger (Speaker: TBA) 12:00 Meal 1:30 Driving and Rumors(Speaker: Brian Bangert) 3:30 On Aging(Speaker: TBA) 5:00 Evening Prayer 5:30 Supper followed by departure REMINDER 1. Fill out straw ballot. 2. Register for Extraordinary Chapter May 29-20, 2018. Both due March 1st to the Franklin Provincial Office Topics for the Leadership Gathering: On Aging; On Anger Management On Finances and Driving Policies and Rumors. Presidium Update Reaccreditation Visitation: Presidium Reaccreditation Visitation is scheduled for December 2018. Craig Wilking, Edward Tlucek and Jim Gannon have begun the process of updating the information for the visitation. Extra-Provincial Renewal & Restructuring Discussion/Voting Results of the Survey will be available the week of February 4, 2018 Interprovincial Retreat, March 12-15, 2018 St. Francis Friary, Burlington, WI Please register before March 1, 2018 Friar Michael Blastic, OFM, Retreat Director ABVM Straw Ba lot, due March 1, 2018 Delegate Registration for the Extraordinary Chapter, May 29, 30, 2018 due March 1, 2018. Review of Friary Chapters: Holy Dormition Friary Chapter, Sybertsville, PA. 5
St. Francis Friary Chapter, Greenwood, MS Francis & Clare Friary Chapter, Franklin, WI. St. Francis Friary Chapter, Burlington, WI. Queen of Peace Friary Chapter, Burlington, WI Assumption Friary Chapter, Pulaski, WI. Mishawaka Friary Chapter, Mishawaka, IN How have we responded to poor persons? Once again, we dealt with the issues surrounding our mission at Greenwood, MS., a ministry that serves the poor, to whom we are fiercely dedicated. Future meetings for the Provincial Council: March 20, 21, 22, 2018, Holy Dormition Friary, Sybertsville, PA. April 24, 25, 26, 2018, Assumption Friary, Pulaski, WI. May 28, 29, 30, 31, Felician Center, Chicago, IL July 8-13, 2018, retreat and planning, Door County, WI August 20-24, 2018, Interprovincial Provincial Councils Meeting. October 16, 17, 18, 2018, Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI. December 18, 19, 20, 2018, Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI. Jim s Schedule: February 4-9, 2018: Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI February 10-17, 2018: Meet with Provincial Carolo Ho, Province of the Holy Martyrs of South Korea. February 18-24, 2018: Mississippi, and visit with Lyle Chrobak, Miami, AZ. February 25-28, 2018: Francis + Clare Friary, Franklin, WI and GSFM, Waterford, WI. March 1+2, 2018: Blessed Giles Friary, Chicago, IL 6
Brothers ~ I ve left with goodwill for the Province and the Order and thanksgiving for the many gifts I ve received over the past 3 years and for our relationship. At this time, I hold all of the brothers in my heart and am very grateful for the prayers received from all of you. If there s ever anything more I can do for the Province, I hope to do so. As far as where I am now - I m peacefully with family at my parents home discerning where to find love and to be of service to Our Lord Jesus. My family is very supportive for me at this time. My current address: 895 N Main St Reklaw, TX 75784 Thomas Marchetti 7
Friar Photos 8 Left: Brother Andrew Giba pays his respects to recently departed friar, Fr. Bert Pepowski. The friars of the Assumption BVM Province in Pulaski, WI held a funeral mass for Bert last month. Below Left Column : Fr. Placid Stroik leads a discussion on the annual Wednesday Movie at Franciscans Downtown in Downtown Stevens Point, WI. Below Right Column: FD patrons gather to honor a friend who recently passed away. Franciscans Downtown