A Friar's Ministerial Experience
"Francis, Go Repair My House... Go, Rebuild My Church" A reflection by Robert Abbatiello, O.F.M., Cap.
For so many other Franciscan friars like myself and everyone else who has ever read an account of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, these words, “Go, repair my house” remind us of Francis’ understanding of the mission given him by the Lord – spoken from the crucifix in the small “falling into ruin” chapel of San Damiano. For the purpose of the present article, the words “repair” and “rebuild” will be used interchangeably and shall be considered synonymous. Both terms imply ongoing work on structures that already have foundations that have already been in place for some time. Repair and rebuild do not imply beginning from scratch or building something completely different, completely new. Read more of our brother Bob's reflection
Local Vocation Work...
Why Did I Ask That Question?
A reflection by Paul Crawford, O.F.M. Cap.
Every year St. Christopher’s School in Nashua, NH has a Vocation Day. The parents invite me along with every Vocation Director from the state to come and spend the day at school. We have Mass together, lunch together and even breaks together that day. For me the highlight of the day is going into four classrooms to talk about my vocation story and to try to answer questions. This year something different happened to me... Read more of our brother Paul's reflection
The Discernment Journey
Continues to the Ends of the Earth
A reflection by James Donegan,
O.F.M. Cap.
As I look at where my discernment journey has taken me thus far, I am amazed as to how it has happened. According to conventional wisdom, it really should not have happened. Looking back on where I was and what I was doing a little over a decade ago, working with the poor and forgotten in Latin America was nowhere to be found on my map. But sometimes the call to spread, preach, and actualize the Gospel brings one to the ends of the earth, to places that were never expected... Read more of our brother Jim's reflection
A Little Piece of Heaven...
in Central America
A reflection by Thomas McNamara, O.F.M. Cap.
“What then are we called to do as followers of Jesus Christ...as followers of St. Francis of Assisi?
I flew out with Deacon Miguel Romero from JFK to the Mission at Hondo Valle, Dominican Republic where Sister Jane Reilly, a Sister of St. Joseph from Brentwood, Long Island greeted us at the airport. After a six hour drive along the south coast, we traveled north along the Haitian border where the Hondo Valle is located. Every other month or so, the Diocese of Rockville Center sends a deacon and a priest, and others as well, to assist in the ministry of the parish that is spread out over several rural communities in southwest Dominican Republic... Read more of our brother Tom's reflection