Br. Manuel Mendoza, OFM, will make his solemn profession as a Franciscan friar of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe on June 23 at Mission San Jose Church in San Antonio, Texas. Provincial Minister Br. Lawrence Hayes, OFM, will preside at the Mass. 

Br. Manuel, originally from Santa Cruz, Oaxaca (about 300 miles southeast of Mexico City), met the friars in Queretaro while searching for a spiritual director. A friar invited him to experience Franciscan life, so he joined the province in Michoacán in 2014 before eventually moving to the United States. 

Br. Manuel currently serves in Franciscan ministries in San Antonio, Texas. He has experience in charismatic renewal, teaching catechism and ACTS – Adoration, Community, Theology and Service, a project that seeks to deepen parishioners’ relationships with God and others through conversation and activities during retreats. 

“I feel blessed and glad when those I work with are happy,” said Br. Manuel. 

He studied philosophy and theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He worked in Querétaro, Mexico, managed a Chinese restaurant in Augusta, Georgia, and then embraced religious life. He enjoys writing poetry, listening to audiobooks and cooking. 

Br. Manuel thanks Brothers Joe Rozansky, OFM; Bill Minkel, OFM; Mike Johnson, OFM; Erasmo Ramero, OFM; and Jose Luis Peralta, OFM for their guidance. “They really helped me throughout my life,” he said. 

The Franciscans view all of God’s creatures as brothers and sisters. This sacred kinship is beautifully expressed in the Canticle of the Creatures, also known as the Canticle of Brother Sun, a poem written by St. Francis of Assisi shortly before his death. Filled with gratitude, St. Francis was inspired to compose the Canticle because, for him, all creation manifests the goodness of God.  

The Canticle inspired the late Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’ (“Praise be to you”), a passionate call to care for our common home. Laudato Si’ challenges us to view the ecological crises we face not just as environmental issues, but as moral and spiritual ones, recognizing that the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are deeply intertwined. It calls us to reimagine our relationship with nature, urging individuals, communities and nations to embrace an integral ecology rooted in justice, compassion and care for the poor. 

This year, we mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, the 800th anniversary of the Canticle and the enduring truth they proclaim. In a world facing ecological crises and deep inequality between the rich and the poor, these works remind us of the interdependence between humans and creation – that we are all one family under God’s loving care. With that truth comes a call: to protect the earth, to uplift the poor and the marginalized, and to care for one another. 

Friars across the United States have been commemorating both anniversaries in a variety of deeply meaningful ways.  

Reflecting on the beauty of creation  

Friars and parishioners at Church of the Transfiguration in Southfield, Michigan, are joining with other churches in their family of parishes, Southeast Oakland Catholics, to celebrate. Both seasoned and amateur photographers are invited to participate in a special photo contest geared toward contemplating the wonders of creation with gratitude and eyes of faith. Each month, beginning in May, one stanza (verse) of the Canticle is being released for reflection purposes. Parishioners are then encouraged to take a picture or look in their photo library for an image that evokes that stanza for them. A presentation featuring the Canticle accompanied by the photos that illustrate each stanza will be created. At the end of all the stanzas, the whole Canticle will be presented in Transfiguration’s parish hall in January 2026. This video features the images submitted in honor of Brother Sun.  

In addition, Brothers Jeff Scheeler, OFM, pastor, and Jeremy Harrington, OFM, took part in an event at Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve in Southfield on May 3 to honor the beauty of creation and our shared responsibility to protect it. The event included a reflective reading of the Canticle, a guided walk through the trails and a community prayer for the planet as participants celebrated both nature and their faith.  

Committing to Laudato Si’ 

On May 22, the faithful gathered at the Franciscan Renewal Center (the “Casa”) in Paradise Valley, Arizona, for a special program titled “A Celebration of the Casa’s Care for Our Common Home.” In the past decade since the release of Laudato Si’, the Casa community has aimed to foster a deeper respect for creation, promote sustainable habits and deepen their commitment to a lifestyle that respects the Creator’s handiwork. Provincial Councilor Br. Sam Nasada, OFM, was on hand for the celebration, which included a prayer and presentation, the blessing of solar panels, activities for children and teens and a commemorative dinner and fellowship. Brothers Page Polk, OFM, Vincent Nguyen, OFM, and Matt Ryan, OFM, also took part. See The Casa’s celebration here in its entirety.  

El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz signs a letter implementing the diocese’s Laudato Si’ Five Year Action Plan. (Photo courtesy of Br. Ignatius Harding, OFM)

In El Paso, Texas, friars, including Br. Ignatius Harding, OFM, have strived to re-energize a diocesan team working to move the local community from reflection to action by implementing a Laudato Si’ Action Plan. During a joyful gathering on May 25 at St. Luke Parish, Bishop of El Paso Mark Seitz gave a moving homily emphasizing the integral ecology and care for the poor/care for creation focus of Laudato Si.’ The celebration culminated in Bishop Seitz signing a letter formally putting the El Paso Diocese Laudato Si’ Five Year Action Plan into effect. 

Meaningful resources 

Br. Ed Mckenzie, OFM, has found a very personal way to incorporate the Canticle into his ministry and share it with others in need of healing. He developed a meditation based on the Canticle that he has used with the veterans he works with who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other anxieties, along with incorporating it into retreats he has given at Old Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California.  

A combat veteran himself, Br. Ed said the meditation evolved from the therapy he participated in during his own struggle with PTSD.  

“Guided meditation that encouraged mindfulness was an important part of the therapy,” he explained. “I had a lot of time to reflect on this, and I was able to dovetail our Franciscan tradition into what was a rather secular example of therapeutic mindfulness that we practiced there. It has now become a part of my prayer and my life. It helps me to have a ‘healthier’ life. I am grateful to St. Francis for giving us this avenue to healthy living.”  

Another valuable resource is a video presentation by Br. Bill Short, OFM, focusing on the connection between the Canticle and integral technology. The video is accompanied by a reflection guide that can be adapted for use in group discussions and ministry settings.  

The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation is developing additional resources and will continue to share other offerings from the Franciscan family in the coming months.  

The patron saint of lost and stolen possessions, St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) was a Franciscan friar known for his eloquent preaching, profound knowledge of Scripture and unwavering commitment to help the poor and the sick.  He is frequently depicted holding a book or the Bible, the Christ Child or a lily. 

St. Anthony was born Fernando Martins de Bulhões on Aug. 15, 1195, to a wealthy noble family in Lisbon, Portugal. At age 15, he entered the community of Canons Regular at the Abbey of St. Vincent against his family’s wishes. Seeing his scholastic potential, the Canons sent him to the Abbey of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal’s former capital, for nine years of intense theological studies in the Augustinian tradition. He was ordained to the priesthood and appointed the abbey’s guest master. 

Often depicted holding the Christ Child, St. Anthony wanted to join the Franciscans so that he could travel to Morocco to preach. (Photo courtesy of Jan Van Bizar)

Anthony’s altered path  

In 1219, Fernando encountered five Franciscan friars who were enroute to Morocco to preach the faith to the Muslim community. Less than a year later, news arrived that they had become the first martyrs of the Franciscan Order. As their bodies were processed through Coimbra, Fernando was so inspired by their witness that he went to a nearby hermitage and asked to join the Franciscans, saying:  

“Brother, I would gladly put on the habit of your Order if you would promise to send me as soon as possible to the land of the Saracens, that I may gain the crown of the holy martyrs.” 

He took the name Anthony after the patron of their hermitage, St. Anthony of Egypt, and hoped to become a missionary. He went to Morocco but fell seriously ill after a few months and tried to make his way home. Storms diverted his ship to Sicily, where the friars of Messina welcomed him and began nursing him back to health.  He was recovered enough to attend the Order’s General Chapter of 1221 in Assisi, also known as the Pentecost Chapter of Mats (because there was not enough housing for the 3,000 friars, they were required to sleep on mats). 

After the Chapter, Anthony approached the Provincial Minister (the leader) of the province in Northern Italy and asked that he be instructed in the Franciscan life. He did not mention his prior theological education and so was assigned to work in the kitchen of the rural hospice of San Paolo near Forlì in Northern Italy. 

St. Anthony was selected to deliver a “simple” sermon that turned out to be a pivotal moment in his ministry with the friars. (Photo courtesy of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe)

What was St. Anthony known for?  

In a moment of truth that would shape his destiny, a young man once drawn to the solitude of prayer climbed to prominence with an extraordinary homily delivered during an ordination attended by Dominicans and Franciscans in 1222.  

When no one answered the provincial's request for a sermon, Anthony was chosen. Unknown to them, he was well-versed in Augustine and Franciscan philosophy. His holiness and wisdom were clear to all there and so began a lifetime of preaching.  

St. Francis appreciated how Anthony's actions aligned with his words, unlike many preachers of the time whose pride in their knowledge led to them abandoning a life of poverty. St. Anthony embodies the importance of persistence in seeking truth and justice.  

On the Commission for the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition’s website, Franciscan historian Br. Dominic Monti, OFM, describes Anthony’s preaching: 

“Anthony’s preaching emphasized the connection between conversion to the Gospel and working for justice in society. For example, he persuaded the government of Padua to come to the aid of people in financial difficulty: instead of being imprisoned for debt, a person could instead declare bankruptcy and pick up their life again. In such ways, Anthony became beloved by the poor for drawing the attention of society to their plight.” 

St. Anthony’s teaching 

He also taught theological studies to friars pursuing ordination. St. Francis trusted Anthony to educate the younger friars because he knew that St. Anthony would not let his knowledge make him prideful. Throughout his life, Anthony was an example of Franciscan poverty and humility. 

In addition to teaching and preaching, Anthony also served the Franciscan Order in various roles, including Provincial Minister of the friars in Northern Italy, where he made his home in Padua, the city he is now most closely associated with. 

St. Anthony died on June 13, 1231, at age 35 and was buried in the small church of Santa Maria Mater Domini. He was canonized the next year by Pope Gregory IX, one of the fastest canonization processes in history, and his body was eventually moved to the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, completed in 1310. 

Did you know?  

St. Anthony is also the patron saint of:  

For sickness  

“Kind Saint Anthony, I lay this sickness at your feet. Pray for divine healing, for restored strength and for comfort in pain. May the healing touch of Jesus reach every part of what’s broken. Amen.”  

For a miracle  

“O glorious Saint Anthony, you are known as the Wonderworker, the patron of those in need and the finder of lost things. With confidence in your unfailing intercession, I come to you with a heart full of hope, seeking an urgent miracle in my life. Hear my plea and present it before the Lord with your fervent prayers. (Mention your request here.) Through your love for the Christ Child and your unwavering trust in God’s providence, I trust that my petition will be granted according to His holy will. Saint Anthony, I beg you to assist me in my hour of need. Let your compassionate heart move the heavens to bring swift resolution to my struggles. Amen.”  

Did you know?  

A novice once stole a psalms book from Anthony as he left the Order. Anthony prayed for its return, and the man returned his property – and rejoined the Franciscans. Thus, Anthony became the finder of lost things.  

Br. Richard McFeely, OFM, 79, passed away on June 6, 2025, at St. Anthony Friary in Boston. He devoted his 52 years of Franciscan ministry to caring for others as a nurse and a counselor, and as a mentor to student friars and men considering a Franciscan vocation.  

Visitation for Br. Richard will be held on Wednesday, June 11 at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at noon at St. Anthony Shrine, 100 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Mass will be livestreamed on the Shrine’s website. Burial will take place in a private ceremony at St. Joseph Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.  

Br. Richard, born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 3, 1946, to John and Monica (née Redmond) McFeely, attended Holy Family Grammar School in Flushing, New York, and Holy Cross High School in Bayside, New York. He attended Queen of Apostles College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, and received his bachelor's of arts degree in Sociology from Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, in 1975.  

He was received into the Franciscan Order on Aug. 20, 1972, at St. Francis Friary, Brookline, Massachusetts, professed simple vows there on Aug. 25, 1973, and made his solemn profession on Aug. 21, 1976, at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in New York City.  

Br. Richard studied nursing at Trocaire College in Buffalo, New York, from 1976 to 1981, and served at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1981. From 1981 to 1990, he was a counselor for recovering alcoholics at Andrew Johnson Detox Center in East Boston, Massachusetts, and a guidance counselor at East Boston Central Catholic School.  

Br. Richard began mentoring student friars as a member of the formation team at in Brookline from 1990 to 1993, and Providence, Rhode Island, from 1993 to 1996. In 1996, he became parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, where he served until 2000.   

In 2000, he was appointed assistant vocation director for the legacy Holy Name Province, serving for three years while living in New York City and New Jersey. In 2003, he returned to nursing, caring for the retired, sick and elderly friars of Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, New Jersey (2003 to 2006 and 2014 to 2020); St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Florida (2006 to 2008); St. Anthony Residence in Boston (2008 to 2011); and St. Anthony Friary in Butler, New Jersey (2011 to 2014). He also served as spiritual assistant for the Secular Franciscans of St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity in Ringwood, New Jersey.  

Br. Richard continued to support men pursuing a vocation, serving as a regional vocation director for New York City and New Jersey from 2020 until 2023. He also worked as the friar liaison for St. Francis Breadline in New York City. He told The Franciscan Way that every day was Thanksgiving there.  

“It’s more than food in each sandwich bag,” he said. “Joy, hope and compassion is at the heart of what we offer to our guests, who are often forgotten and cast aside. The Breadline makes them feel welcomed and loved.”  

In 2023, he returned to Boston, joining the staff at St. Anthony Shrine, where he assisted in the Food Center, welcomed visitors in the information booth and helped form a support group for people who have lost loved ones to suicide.   

Br. Richard is survived by eight siblings, several nieces and nephews and his brother friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

When March storms in St. Louis’ South Side flooded St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry, volunteers and visitors looking for assistance teamed up to bring a deluge of community support of their own.  

With electricity out but Franciscan spirit in, they pitched in to dry out the basement ministry to continue the good work the community has counted on since 1991.  

“The gates opened,” said Rob Telthorst, St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry director. “People who thought the pantry was open came to help mop up. It was surreal.”  

They helped swing open the pantry door within three days of the storm.  

After a tornado hit nearby in May, the pantry briefly closed due to power outages. With the help of youth volunteers, they quickly reopened and began supporting storm victims.  

Whether it’s a volunteer trekking 45-minutes from the suburbs or the community supplying a timely donation of crucial equipment, St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry takes root in the faithful Franciscans who serve there and delivers hope to those in need.  

Br. Jim Lause, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, credits volunteers and donors for their dedication to the ministry. 

"The pantry provides a loving environment of respect and concern for every individual in need,” he said. “The volunteers and the staff have big hearts that put forth the love of Jesus and the Franciscan values of peace and joy to all who come to the door.” 

The food pantry offers service hours, shares parishioners' expertise and deepens community ties. (Photo courtesy of St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry)

'An amazing network’  

This ministry is more than canned corn and condensed milk.  

It is a clothing bank where people can choose shirts, shoes and socks, plus toiletries. It’s a referral center for people who need help with utility bills and rent, are trying to escape domestic violence, or need elder care. In 2024, it helped to dispense 20,000 diapers.  

St. Anthony is where youth rack up service hours, parishioners offer help in their fields of expertise and relationships are fostered in the name of community support.  

“It is an amazing network that the Franciscans have built,” said Rob, a lawyer who started as a volunteer and became director six years ago. “I just inherited it. Our volunteer corps is the envy of other pantries. This experience has been spiritually transformative.”  

 Prayer and discernment have consistently supported the pantry's survival.  

A March thunderstorm is a light sprinkle compared to the challenges COVID-19 posed. As federally funded pantries closed, visits to St. Anthony skyrocketed, along with the need for donations and volunteers. “It’s an exercise in faith,” Rob said.  

“It is everything you think about a Franciscan mission, a bare-basics operation,” he said. “We’re in a basement with no central heating, there is no air-conditioning, it’s hotter than you-know-what in the summer, and we don’t do fundraisers. 

“God always provides.” 

St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry cares for homeless people, some facing addiction or mental illness. (Photo courtesy of St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry)

In a place of great need  

If you imagine a mob of like-hearted folks merrily filling boxes of food and stocking shelves, you have only part of the picture.  

St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry is a frontline mission. As with many Franciscan ministries, it sits in a place of great need. Its visitors are people on the street, some battling addiction or mental illness, sometimes both. 

Others are in dire condition upon arrival, and wind up on a car ride to the ER instead. One woman struggled to walk up the ramp, while wearing a hospital bracelet. She’d come from her discharge from treatment for a gunshot wound. 

A teenage volunteer helped her to the door and cared for her throughout her visit. 

“Our volunteer didn’t miss a beat,” Rob said. “She was there to help from the start.” 

Sometimes, that means helping a victim of violence’s family cover funeral costs.  

“Everyone knows we are a safe place,” Rob said. “Even the troublemakers know. Their friends and family might need to come to St. Anthony.” 

St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry offers multiple services, and director Rob Telthorst aims to broaden them. (Photo courtesy of St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry)

Hopes for the future 

The demand continues to grow. Rob envisions a transition to a pantry remodel, expanded services, and more direct assistance. He hopes to switch to a client-choice model, allowing visitors to shop instead of getting pre-packed boxes.  

A social worker would have enough to do at St. Anthony, too.  

“The Lord leads us every day,” Rob said. “We try to keep each other healthy.   

“It’s exhausting, it’s overwhelming, but it’s beautiful.” 

The living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza and the Occupied Territories of the West Bank have rapidly deteriorating leaving thousands at risk of mass starvation and death.  

From the very beginning of this most recent iteration of the violence in the Holy Land, the Franciscans have decried the attack of Hamas on Israelis on Oct 7, 2023, and been unequivocal that the response of the Israeli government is also immoral in its level of suffering brought upon civilians.   

We have continued to advocate and pray for peace as we uphold the legacy of nearly 800 years of Franciscan ministerial presence in the Holy Land. We stand on the side of life and nonviolence. 

A recent study from 46 international and Palestinian NGOs (non-governmental organizations) attempting to provide humanitarian services there shows: 

• A nearly complete (93%) exhaustion of all aid supplies in Gaza — leading thousands on the verge of mass starvation. 

• Massive movement restrictions (93%) in the West Bank make the delivery of any assistance in the occupied territories more difficult if not impossible. 

The study is titled The Edge of Erasure — a tragically correct description. 

The result of this blockage of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians of the Holy Land will result in the displacement (either through death or forced migration) of most Palestinian people. This is against international law as well as immoral. 

Our prayer, voice and action are needed more than ever. We encourage you to: 

1. Include the plight of the Palestinians in your prayers of the faithful (e.g., We pray for the Palestinians of the Holy Land that they may receive just humanitarian assistance to thrive, safeguard their communities and not be subject to near constant violence.) 

2. Increase awareness of the current status and progression of this war. These resources may be helpful: 

• A video by a U.S. Jewish activist that participated in a forum at Siena College pleading for more action and helping us to understand the war's context.  

• “Why Palestinian Christians Feel Betrayed by American Christians” – an editorial piece by Nicholas Kristof 

• Mini-courses to deepen our understanding of the humanitarian and legal challenges in the region led by the Catholic Advisory Council of Churches for Middle East Peace 

3. Speak to your elected officials—the Israeli government is unlikely to change its approach without pressure from the United States  

The death toll of Palestinian citizens is rising. The violence is leading people to bring violence and death to the Jewish community in the United States in response to the atrocities visited on the Palestinians. There is NO JUSTIFICATION for these attacks. 

We must add our voices to the emotional appeal of Pope Leo for “ceasefire now!” There is no time to waste. 

There is currently rising fear and tension in countless communities where there are significant numbers of immigrants.  

Some examples that fuel this fear may include: 

These examples and countless others were shared at the most recent immigration check-in among friars and ministry partners of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Conventual Province of Our Lady of Angels and Secular Franciscans. 

Uncertainty and fear  

Many of our immigrant brothers and sisters in our ministries and communities are afraid. Their fear is heightened and shared by the friars and others who are serving them. 

The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation is working with friars and other to prepare resources to address these concerns and provide guidelines to help us be prudent in our actions. More details will be provided in the coming weeks. 

A Franciscan response  

What can we do in response? Our Franciscan tradition was founded in the spirit of itinerancy. We naturally hold people “on the move,” like migrants, close to our hearts. We also know that both the Old Testament and the Gospel are clear that we must prioritize “welcoming the strangers” (those who are not yet part of the community and thus more marginalized).                

Friars and ministries already have sought to “welcome the strangers” in our midst through: 

• Training people to know their legal rights 

• Directing them to legal assistance,  

It takes courage and trust in the Lord’s love to joyfully respond to his call for us. With warmth and welcome, the friars and faith community at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City embraced the men who have been accepted for Franciscan formation for the 2025-26 class during weekend Masses May 18 and 19.  

Four of the five accepted postulants – Tim, Alex, Jason and Chris – were on fire for their faith and eager to share their stories as they joined in the celebration for World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Also in attendance were Br. Basil Valente, OFM, executive director of vocations. and members of the province vocation team, who set up a table in the back of church with information packets and merchandise. 

Each friar presiding at Mass that weekend preached enthusiastically about vocations.  

During his homily, Br. Jim Bernard, OFM, reminded those gathered of Jesus’ commandment to his disciples to “Love one another as I have loved you. For us that means loving with humility, with sacrifice, with mercy and with joy. It is manifested in lives fully given over to Christ,” he said. “The Franciscan vocation is a powerful witness to self-giving love."  

 After Communion, the postulants were called forward to receive a blessing from the congregation, saying they felt “so affirmed and delighted by the experience.”  

Following Mass, they enthusiastically chatted with parishioners and encouraged other men to consider Franciscan life by saying, “I think you’d make a good friar.”  

Please pray for the postulants as they prepare to begin formation in August at Holy Name College in Silver Spring, Maryland, to continue their journey of faith!

The Season 2 premiere of Franciscan TV's Friar Time will air on Franciscan TV on June 7. With new issues to discuss, new special guests to welcome and an all-new set, the interview program will again engage its audience by discussing timely issues through the lens of faith.  

Hosted by Br. David Convertino, OFM, the second season of Friar Time will stream up to 14 episodes, offering viewers a deep dive into the intersections of faith, society and personal well-being.  

Br. David’s guests will include friars, friends and lay professionals who are experts in their fields or have firsthand experience with the episode's featured topic. On June 7, Friar Time will hit the ground running on a global issue that affects our everyday lives, the “State of the World.”  

Joining Br. David for this premiere will be Dr. Michele Dunne, Ph.D., who served for nearly 20 years in the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Dunne is a professed secular Franciscan, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network and a respected voice whose career once focused on the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy. 

The second episode of Season 2 will explore a hot-button issue with significant societal impacts: “Immigration.” Br. David and Br. Julian Jagudilla, OFM, a friar who has spent years working with the Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, will ask meaningful questions such as: 

Can a country uphold its laws and compassion?  

Is there room in our politics for mercy?  

Answers can be seen and heard on the “Immigration” episode of Friar Time airing on Thursday, June 21. 

With an exciting new look and slate of guests, Season 2 of Friar Time will again take viewers on inspiring journeys of introspection and spiritual growth, with stops at meaningful discussions on: 

The fun of graduation season includes several brothers who have completed their studies in various programs. Here’s a look at the province’s class of 2025. 

• Br. Noé Alfaro Casas, OFM: Br. Noé completed his Master of Divinity at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. He serves in diaconate ministry at San Francisco de la Espada/St. Frances Cabrini Parish in San Antonio.  

• Tyler Grudi, OFM: Br. Tyler graduated from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He is on his pastoral year until 2026 and lives and works at St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia. He is to make his final vows in summer 2026.

Br. Juan Luis Guerrero, OFM, got an Associate of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Psychology from San Diego Mesa College in California. (Photo courtesy of Br. Juan Luis Guerrero, OFM)

• Br. Juan Luis Guerrero, OFM: Br. Juan Luis earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Psychology from San Diego Mesa College in California. He is now pursuing a Master of Divinity at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, as part of his Franciscan formation.  

• Br. Kevin Hamzik, OFM: Br. Kevin finished the Master of Fine Arts program at Columbia College Chicago. He will next work at the Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University.   

• Br. Adolfo Mercado, OFM: Br. Adolfo finished his studies at the Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego. He will move to San Antonio, Texas, to complete his formation at the Oblate School of Theology after taking his solemn vows.  

Br. Raphael Ozoude, OFM, recently graduated from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. (Photo courtesy of Br. Raphael Ozoude, OFM)

• Br. Raphael Ozoude, OFM: Br. Raphael earned his Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He will be ordained to the presbyterate in August and assigned to pastoral ministry.  

• Br. Matt Ryan, OFM: Br. Matt earned a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He will be ordained on Aug. 22 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and awaits his first appointment at a Franciscan parish.

Br. Jay Woods, OFM, celebrates his graduation with (from left to right) cousins Jaci Lee and Stephanie White, and his mom, Maureen. (Photo courtesy of Br. Jay Woods, OFM)

• Br. Jay Woods, OFM: Br. Jay earned a master's in social work from Boston University, with a concentration in trauma, oppression and justice. He will join St. Francis of Assisi Friary in New York City to work with substance abuse patients at a community health agency.

As Easter's joyous celebrations become happy memories, it’s the perfect time to ponder ways to keep its uplifting spirit alive throughout the year.   

Easter is a period of renewal and transformation, inviting us to embrace fresh beginnings in nature’s blossoms and within our own lives.  

Although pastel colors and enduring symbols of spring lift us, the deeper essence of Easter summons us to live with purpose and faith. Here’s how to carry Easter’s light forward with wisdom from four dedicated friars.  

Br. John Barker, OFM, says, “taking time at the beginning, or maybe the end, of the day to focus on God and to give thanks with Christ in the Mass for all the good things God has done for us can help us to keep focused throughout the day on our commitment to discipleship. (Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe photo)

1. Keep attending Mass  

The tranquility and clarity we experience during Sunday Mass don’t have to be limited to only one day.   

According to Br. John Barker, OFM, pastor at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg, Indiana, engaging in service activities and weekday Mass is an excellent way to carry Easter's gift of renewal and transformation forward.  

“Taking time at the beginning, or maybe the end, of the day to focus on God and to give thanks with Christ in the Mass for all the good things God has done for us can help us to keep focused throughout the day on our commitment to discipleship,” he said.   

More frequent touchpoints with God can create a mindful routine.  

“Of course, the grace of communing with Christ in the Sacrament is the best way to grow into His likeness,” Br. John said. “As St. Augustine used to say: ‘Behold who you are, become what you receive!’” 

Try this  

Understand the scriptural origins and meaning of the Mass. Each part is rich with symbolism and purpose. Reflect on the holy sacrifice of the Mass and allow its significance to inspire your faith journey. 

Wild petunias growing at Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Br. James Lockman, OFM, and ecologist, encourages us to care for God’s creation in the spirit of Easter by planting seeds. “Watch as the seed disappears into the ground, sprouts, and becomes a new, abundant life,” he said. (Photo courtesy of Eli Pacheco)

2. Embrace a personal mission  

The actual value of Scripture lies in its interpretation.  

Br. James Lockman, OFM, is an ecologist in San Diego, California. He references a parable from John 12:24-26: "Unless a grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains but a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest."  

In it, Jesus used a practice known to all who work the earth to forecast his death, resurrection and glorification in the reign of God.  

Jesus used a parable to illustrate how His death and resurrection would bring new life and reveal God's kingdom.  

“There are many other passages in the Gospels where Jesus uses the seed as a parable about the immediacy of the reign of God,” said Br. James, who serves from the Immaculate Conception Friary.  

Try this  

Get your hands dirty! Plant seeds: flowers, vegetables or shade-providing trees. Br. James views this as a living expression of the Gospel and a way to care for God's creation, aligning with the Franciscan Synod process objectives.  

“Watch as the seed disappears into the ground, sprouts, and becomes a new, abundant life,” he said. “The reign of God is like this.”  

3. Plan summer events  

Summer fun, food and fellowship represent Easter’s joy.  

Br. Carmen Scuderi, OFM, serves as parochial vicar of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Casimir and St. Stanislaus in Pulaski, Wisconsin. His parish hosts outdoor summer movie nights with popcorn, hot dogs, soft drinks and G or PG-13 flicks.  

On Tuesday evenings, they have a potluck or bread-and-soup meal in the church basement to watch “Chosen,” a historical drama about Jesus' life, followed by a discussion.  

“Our turnout is good,” Br. Carmen said. “It is a wonderful way to get families together and share the faith and community as a parish family. Both are free!”  

Try this  

Share news of gatherings through bulletins and emails! Encourage regulars to invite others – sometimes a warm nudge is all it takes.  

To live out Easter in life, it’s important to remember what Jesus did when he died on the cross, says Br. Jim Bok, OFM. “He emptied himself,” Br. Jim said, “giving his life for us.”

4. Live out Easter in everyday life  

Br. Jim Bok, OFM, of Pleasant Street Friary in Cincinnati, Ohio, distinguishes Lent as a period of emptying, not harvest.  

“Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be clung to, but rather emptied himself, taking on our human nature,” Br. Jim said. “Then he emptied himself, giving his life for us.”  

How can we honor Lent and Easter by emptying ourselves into the service of others?  

“If we deepen our relationship with Jesus, we must deal with family, friends, co-workers, people we dislike,” Br. Jim said. “We must see in that other person, Jesus.”  

Try this  

The steps aren’t profound and extravagant. As Franciscans, living a Gospel-centered life empowers us to help in our communities and spread God’s love and joy.  

“This is our Easter journey,” Br. Jim said. “This is our faith journey, to embrace the leper!  Day after day, we must struggle and root out things that prevent us from doing that. This is how we get into the right relationship with Jesus!  

“The Easter challenge is to love one another as Jesus loves us.”  

Fr. Michael Chowning, OFM, 84, passed away May 21, 2025, at University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, due to complications from Lou Gehrig’s disease. Fr. Mike was known for his patience, humility, gentle nature and his great love for the parishioners and people of Eastern Kentucky, where he was a longtime pastor. He was also an avid amateur radio operator and enjoyed fly fishing.  

Visitation for Fr. Mike will be held Saturday, May 31, at 9 a.m. at St. Clement Church, 4536 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Committal will immediately follow in the mausoleum at St. Mary Cemetery, 701 E. Ross Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45217.  

A Detroit native, Fr. Mike was born on Aug. 15, 1940, to John and Mary (née Murphy) Chowning. He attended Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Royal Oak, Michigan and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He entered St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati in 1958, and attended Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Michigan. Fr. Mike received his theological training at St. Leonard College in Centerville, Ohio, and earned a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of Detroit.  

He was received into the Franciscan Order on Aug. 15, 1960, at St. Anthony Shrine in Cincinnati, professing his first vows there on Aug. 16, 1961. Fr. Mike was solemnly professed on Aug. 16, 1964, at Duns Scotus College. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1968, at St. Leonard College.  

Fr. Mike’s first assignment as a newly ordained priest was as a religion teacher at Bishop Luers High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he served from 1968 to 1970. From there, Fr. Mike spent a year studying at Duns Scotus College, before returning to Bishop Luers to teach and serve as academic administrator until 1979. In addition, he served as a field education supervisor for young friars gaining experience at the school.  

From 1979 to 1981, Fr. Mike ministered as associate pastor at St. George Parish and Newman Center in Cincinnati, followed by a year as associate pastor at Holy Family Parish in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He went on to serve as co-pastor at St. Boniface Parish in Peoria, Illinois, from 1982 to 1986, before returning to Cincinnati to minister as guardian and assistant novice director at St. Anthony Shrine. Fr. Mike then returned to St. George Parish and Newman Center as guardian and pastor from 1987 to 1991.  

Fr. Mike served one term on Provincial Council for the legacy St. John the Baptist Province from 1990 to 1993. During the same time frame, he spent a year as guardian and director of postulants at St. Ann Friary in Cincinnati, followed by a year as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Southfield, Michigan.  

From 1993 to 2016, Fr. Mike served as pastor at Our Mother of Good Counsel in Hazard, Kentucky, in addition to engaging in sacramental and pastoral ministry at other parishes in Eastern Kentucky. Between 1997 and 2012, Fr. Mike served several terms on the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Lexington and the College of Consultors. Fr. Mike cared deeply for the people of Eastern Kentucky and upon moving to a new assignment, maintained close ties in the region. He facilitated support for the Housing Development Alliance and Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky to assist with relief efforts in the area, which has been prone to flooding. 

In 2016, Fr. Mike moved to Oldenburg, Indiana, where he was in residence at Holy Family Parish and Friary. He had recently moved to St. Clement Friary in Cincinnati due to health issues.  

Fr. Mike is survived by family members, including his cousin Fr. Al Hirt, OFM, friends and his brother friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

Franciscans International will advocate for climate justice at COP30, the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The event will be held from Nov. 10 to Nov 21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, near the Amazon rainforest, which faces significant threats from human activity.  

During a recent Franciscans International gathering in New York City on May 1, experts explored the interconnectedness of Franciscan spirituality and climate justice, showcasing how Franciscans are well-poised to address global crises. 

Listening intentionally in challenging times 

Michael Perry, OFM, director of the Laudato Si’ Center for Integral Ecology at Siena College, moderated the panel. Sr. Joan Brown, OSF, former executive director of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, opened with a call to listen attentively. 

“It is our responsibility to pay attention to what is needed and to teach the young to pay attention,” she said. “We must give over part of ourselves to be open to listening and acting in new ways that are demanded of us in the times that we’re living in.” 

Reflecting on the overwhelming realities of the climate crisis, she mentioned that St. Francis wrote the Canticle of the Creatures during a dark period in his life. 

“More than ever, the Canticle is a revolutionary call to oneness as we experience worldwide and in this country the dehumanization of people, threats to immigration and refugees, human rights violations, and the sixth greatest extinction of species and biodiversity, all within a climate crisis," she said.

'We have to keep pushing’ 

In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly declared everyone has the right to a healthy environment and acknowledged climate change and environmental degradation as major threats to humanity’s future. However, the resolution was not legally binding.    

Despite the rise of corporate social responsibility policies, human rights abuses and environmental degradation have not only lingered, but have risen, according to Marya Farah, FI’s representative at the United Nations in New York.    

She noted that countries with the largest transnational corporations have been slower to ensure the right to a clean environment. Franciscans International and other groups continue to push for accountability in addressing environmental harm and human rights violations, including paths for affected communities to seek justice. 

Marya recounted how Franciscans International supports communities exploited by businesses in Sri Lanka, the Solomon Islands and Guatemala. She noted that representatives from the oil and gas industries continue to oppose pro-climate policies, underlining the need to continue advocacy.  

"We have to keep pushing and not back down, because they’re clearly not [backing down] as well,” she said. 

Fighting for the future 

Thinking of the future encourages people like Beth Piggush, integral ecology director for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, to stay in the fight. 

“’Consciously considering intergenerational solidarity should be at the heart of all our decisions,’” she said, quoting Laudato Si’s Line 159. “’Our environment must be preserved for future generations.’” 

She noted that religious documents like the Canticle and Laudato Si’, and secular documents like the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals share the mission of caring for creation. She stressed the need for a common language to discuss climate action across religious and secular groups. 

Budi Tjahjono, FI's International Advocacy Director based in Geneva, recapped the decades-long fight for climate justice at the UN and Franciscans International’s role. He cited challenges from past COPs, including expensive venues that hindered attendance from poorer countries, limiting representation of people most impacted by climate change.   

“There are hopes for COP30,” he said. “This will be the first time in four years that civil societies will be allotted space of our own so that we can speak, demonstrate and express our opinion. We need to reclaim that space again because it was taken from us in years past.” 

At this year’s COP30, FI will be pushing member states to provide financial commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Even if those commitments are met, Earth’s temperature will rise by several degrees. Franciscans International urges world leaders to make serious commitments to combat this temperature increase and reduce harm. 

The panel showed that the Franciscan tradition provides a framework to address the crises our planet faces and create a healthy and just future for humanity.  

Franciscans International raises awareness of cases of discrimination and violence against marginalized groups in the international community. Learn more at FranciscansInternational.org. 

Photos of this article are courtesy of Br. James La Grutta, OFM

La bendición "mixta" de la tecnología ha sido reconocida desde siempre. Conocemos y celebramos el "lado bueno" de la tecnología por todo lo que hace por el avance de la vida humana. Sin embargo, somos sumamente conscientes de que existe un "lado oscuro" en el uso que hacemos de ella. De hecho, se puede ver una advertencia sobre el "lado oscuro" de la tecnología en los primeros capítulos del Libro del Génesis, en la historia de la Torre de Babel. Aquí, los seres humanos, llenos de arrogancia, utilizan la tecnología para construir una torre que promueve y proclama sus habilidades y capacidades "divinas". Aparentemente, todo iba bien, hasta que el Señor, el Dios de la Creación, intervino y confundió sus diseños con la introducción de varias lenguas que prohíben la comunicación y la divinización humanas. Esta historia se ha contado y vuelto a contar para instruirnos sobre lo que debemos evitar en nuestro uso de la tecnología. Por desgracia, aún no aprendimos la lección.  

En su carta a los Académicos ( ¿El fin del mundo? Crisis, responsabilidades, esperanzas, 4 de marzo de 2025), el papa Francisco se une a aquellos que temen que algunos promuevan la tecnología como el poder que "nos salvará" de todos nuestros males. Tal actitud está alimentada por el impulso implacable de la "desregulación utilitarista y el neoliberalismo global". El verdadero peligro es que estas fuerzas pueden crear la falsa sensación de que existe un "imperativo tecnológico" que exige utilizar la tecnología sin límite alguno. En medio de estos desafíos, ¿cómo podría una persona inspirada en el ejemplo de San Francisco de Asís responder a esta actitud y a este tipo de impulsos? ¿Hay otra forma, una mejor? 

Afortunadamente, la respuesta es sí. Citaré tres recursos que están a disposición de los franciscanos. El primero es un recurso metodológico que consiste en llevar a cabo un análisis social con el constructo VER - JUZGAR - ACTUAR. Los franciscanos usamos el análisis social porque reverenciamos la vida en este planeta. La espiritualidad Franciscana enfatiza el significado de la creación y la encarnación. Ambos temas teológicos nos enseñan la bondad de Dios y su amor continuo por el orden creado en la presencia de Jesucristo y a través de esta. A la hora de considerar una intervención tecnológica en particular en nuestro análisis social, los franciscanos comenzamos por la fase VER, al ser conscientes del tipo de intervención tecnológica que se está considerando y al conocer su alcance y funcionamiento previsto. Una vez que se obtiene este conocimiento, comienza la fase de JUZGAR, al plantearse las siguientes preguntas: ¿cómo afectará esta intervención tecnológica a los seres humanos y al orden creado? Si la respuesta a esta pregunta es positiva, los franciscanos pueden apoyar la intervención, pero si es negativa, deben reconsiderarla o bien oponerse a ella. Por último, los franciscanos necesitan ACTUAR y poner en práctica las convicciones y conclusiones a las que se ha llegado mediante los medios de defensa adecuados. 

Un segundo recurso para que los franciscanos obtengan sabiduría ética y conocimiento para responder al "imperativo tecnológico" está tomado de forma directa de nuestra herencia Franciscana al reflexionar con el papa Francisco sobre el Cántico de las criaturas. Como es bien sabido, en su encíclica Laudato Si, el papa Francisco enseña que la sabiduría del Cántico se capta mejor utilizando la lente de la ECOLOGÍA INTEGRAL para entender el mundo. Este concepto pone de relieve el equilibrio y la armonía que existen en el orden creado cuando se manifiesta respeto y reverencia por la creación de Dios. La tecnología existe para servir y promover este equilibrio, no al revés. La Ecología Integral apoya el uso de la tecnología para fomentar el crecimiento y el desarrollo del orden creado. 

El tercer y último recurso que los franciscanos pueden emplear para contrarrestar el uso injustificado de la tecnología en nuestro mundo puede encontrarse en la experiencia de la vida fraterna y mediante esta. Tanto la Orden Franciscana como la Provincia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe insisten en que la "fraternidad" es el don de Dios a la Orden y, a su vez, es el don de la Orden al mundo. Los franciscanos nos desafiamos a tomar nuestra experiencia vivida de fraternidad y a compartir su testimonio en todos nuestros ministerios. Los franciscanos se mueven dentro de todas las criaturas del mundo y entre estas como "hermano" o "hermana". Es esta "dimensión fraterna" la que nos permite no temer ni rechazar la tecnología de plano, sino más bien adoptar su uso y ver cómo y dónde puede utilizarse para construir la comunidad humana y el conjunto del orden creado. 

Como todas las realidades que tocan e impactan a los seres humanos, el uso responsable es la clave para medir el éxito. La tecnología y su uso entran en este cálculo. A partir del análisis social, su tradición y su experiencia vivida, los franciscanos están bien posicionados para responder a los retos que surgen con la puesta en práctica errónea de los "imperativos tecnológicos" que pueden surgir en nuestro mundo contemporáneo. 

— Fray Kevin Mullen, OFM, es guardian de St. Bernardine of Siena Friary, Siena College, en Loudonville, Nueva York. 

As a young friar following the end of the Vietnam War, Br. Mark Schroeder, OFM, was drawn to working on justice and peace issues. He found the opportunity through the Nevada Desert Experience, established by the Franciscans in 1982 to stop modern weapons development through prayer, education, dialogue and nonviolent direct action. 

Since then, thousands of people have participated in retreats and conferences geared toward learning about the issues of nuclear testing and have gathered for vigils, religious services and nonviolent civil disobedience. The organization “seeks to honor all of God’s creation and the beloved community as we bear witness to 80 years of nuclear destruction,” according to its website. 

“When I was a young friar, every day during Lent, we would gather at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site. Part of being a friar for me has been to promote non-violence. Nuclear weapons are a threat to humankind and all creation,” explained Br. Mark, guardian of a friary in Danville, California.  

Br. Mark’s current involvement includes participating in NDE’s Sacred Peace Walk, which takes place annually during Holy Week. After orientation and non-violence training, the interfaith journey begins on Palm Sunday, taking participants on a 60-mile trek from Las Vegas to the Nevada National Security Site (formerly the Nevada Nuclear Test Site) to draw attention to the nuclear violence and drone terrorism that threaten the planet.  

The site is on traditional lands taken from the Western Shoshone and Paiute peoples. According to NDE, “nearly 1,000 atomic bombs were detonated above and below this desert from 1951 to 1992, and today subcritical testing of America’s nuclear stockpile and the development of new, more powerful nuclear bombs continues in the desert.”  

A meaningful journey 

The 2025 walk began at the Atomic National Testing Museum in Las Vegas and continued 40 miles to Creech Air Force Base, which serves as a command-and-control center for remotely piloted aircraft systems.  

“We gather at the gate, and car after car people arrive to work, they bomb, then they go home. That’s the reality,” Br. Mark said. “Every time you hear about the United States bombing somewhere in the world, it’s coming out of Nevada.”  

The journey continued through the Mojave Desert, ending on Good Friday with a Stations of the Cross procession from the historic Nevada Peace Camp to the gates of the test site. 

It is a deeply meaningful and spiritual experience for Br. Mark, who said, “It makes sense to celebrate Holy Week in God’s creation where violence is perpetuated. We are advocating for the end of drones and the amassing of nuclear weapons, as well as for solutions to conflict that are nonviolent.”  

Many participants hold signs bearing messages such as “Fly a kite, not a drone,” and “Honk for peace.”  

“I don’t carry a sign,” said Br. Mark, who also has a background in parish ministry, has worked with farmworkers and the homeless, and served as a volunteer police chaplain. “The habit is my witness.”  

A 2022 pastoral letter by Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, titled “Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace,” offers a Catholic perspective on nuclear disarmament, stating in part: “We need to start talking about it with one another, all of us, and figure out concrete steps toward abolishing nuclear weapons and ending the nuclear threat. If we care about humanity, if we care about our planet, if we care about the God of peace and human conscience, then we must start a public conversation on these urgent questions and find a new path toward nuclear disarmament.”  

Those interested in participating in the Sacred Peace Walk next year may email Br. Mark at mschroeder@friars.us. Visit Nevada Desert Experience for additional information. 

Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe friars joined the Church in celebration when white smoke signaled a new pope's election on May 8. Many Franciscans thought, "I know him!" as Cardinal Robert Prevost appeared on the balcony and was introduced as Pope Leo XIV.   

A Chicago-born pope with Franciscan ties, Cardinal Robert Prevost left a lasting impression on friars who knew him through Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union.   

Pope Leo took his name in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who advocated for the rights of workers during the Industrial Revolution and laid the foundation for Catholic Social Teaching. Pope Leo has said that the rise of AI is posing new challenges for “the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.” 

Br. Michael Johnson, OFM, of Hartford, Connecticut, values Pope Leo's missionary work with the poor in Bolivian prisons and Peruvian slums more than his American citizenship.  

“I know how deeply that experience shapes you,” he said. “That’s why this moment gives me such hope. Pope Leo XIV immediately spoke about the Church as a missionary Church that goes out. A Church grounded in Scripture and the Eucharist, yes, but not one that stays still.” 

As the former Cardinal Robert Prevost emerged on the Vatican balcony, several friars immediately recalled meeting him at Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union. (Photo courtesy of Br. Greg Friedman, OFM)

The Pope’s classmates  

Br. Albert Haase, OFM, and the pope were classmates at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. “I remember his unassuming presence, extraordinary kindness, desire to be a missionary and love for the Chicago White Sox,” Br. Albert said.  

The pope and Br. Jerry Bleem, OFM, graduated from CTU 43 years ago.    

“I saw him in class for four years,” he said of the pope.  “That smile in his pictures? That’s how he always was, kind and even-tempered.”

Br. Greg Friedman, OFM, and Br. Ashley Tillek, OFM, of South Africa, were in St. Peter’s Square when the College of Cardinals chose a new pope. (Photo courtesy of Br. Greg Freidman, OFM)

Friars in Rome  

During the conclave, Br. Javier Del Angel De Los Santos, OFM, was in Rome, where he studies Biblical Theology at Pontifical Gregorian University. He recorded this message from the Vatican in Spanish, collaborating with Mexican News Agency LATINUS.   

Br. Javier believes the pope will address issues like discrimination, marginalization, migration and poverty. “He will be familiar with these problems, and many others in Latin America,” he said. “May his pontificate be fruitful for him and the universal church.”   

Br. Greg Friedman, OFM, was not planning on being on site for the announcement. “I could not believe events conspired to land me in St. Peter’s Square at the moment of the white smoke,” he said. “Cardinal Provost was someone I thought would make a good successor.”   

He called the pope an “insider, a missionary, committed to the synodal process.” 

Friars around the province, including the fraternity at St. Anthony Friary in Butler, New Jersey, watched the papal conclave unfold on television. From left to right: Br. Daniel Lanahan, OFM; Br. Christopher VanHaight, OFM; Br. Gerald Mudd, OFM; and Br. Russell Becker, OFM. (Photo courtesy of Br. Kevin McGoff, OFM)

Observing from afar  

At Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., Siena Hall's dome was illuminated in white and yellow, the colors of the Vatican flag.   

Br. Michael Perry, OFM, director of Siena’s Laudato Si’ Center for Integral Ecology, met the pope when he was a seminarian at CTU.  In an article posted on Siena’s website, Br. Michael said one of his friends in Peru called the pope “a missionary at heart, he loves the poor, he is a priest of the people, and he will provide great leadership for the Church.”   

Br. Kevin Mullen, OFM, guardian of the local friary, mentioned the pope's efforts with the poor in Peru. “They held him in high esteem because, like St. Francis, he preached with example, not just words,” he said. “He walked the talk!”   

Br. Mark Reamer, OFM, Siena’s vice president for mission, appreciates the link between Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV. “He will advocate for human dignity and the common good,” he said. 

Back in Connecticut, Br. Michael Johnson, OFM, believes Leo's name highlights his commitment to Catholic social teaching. 

“I pray we [as a Church] continue to walk with the poor, speak for the forgotten, care for creation, and make room for all at the table,” he said. “That the one now leading us does so from that place of encounter, mission, and justice is a call to each of us." 

Br. Ed Tverdek, OFM, director of The Ockham Center in Chicago, cautioned people to be patient with Pope Leo as he begins his papacy.   

“Give him the benefit of the doubt,” he said. “He'll almost certainly give each of us in return something to cheer and something to boo at one point or another – but he'll do so, Catholics believe, through the grace of God and not a partisan playbook.” 

The first photo in this article is courtesy of Independent Photo Agency Srl / Alamy Stock Photo. 

Br. Leonard Lawrence, OFM, 95, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2025, at Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Center in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. A humble friar devoted to living a simple lifestyle modeled after St. Francis, Br. Leonard used his nursing and maintenance worker talents to care for others. 

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the chapel at Calvary Cemetery, 2601 South 14th Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, followed by burial in the friars’ plot at Calvary Cemetery. 

Br. Leonard was born to parents Francis and Agnes (née Ryan) on Sept. 3, 1929, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and baptized Gerald. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army. He served in Europe after World War II and later helped construct St. Paschal’s Brothers’ School in Oak Brook, Illinois, to start his life in the order. 

His Franciscan journey began with his reception into the Third Order on May 16, 1959, and profession on May 17, 1960, in Westmont, Illinois. Two years later, he was received into the Order of Friars Minor at the Franciscan novitiate in Teutopolis, Illinois, and given the religious name Leonard. He professed first vows there on June 22, 1963, and made his solemn profession in Quincy, Illinois, on June 22, 1966. 

From 1966 to 1967, he served at the house of studies at Our Lady of Angels in Cleveland, Ohio, and from 1967 to 1969, he performed maintenance and worked in the sandal shop at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary in Quincy. 

For the next two years, Br Leonard served in Brazil. He returned to Our Lady of the Angels Seminary in Quincy in 1971, performing maintenance and studying nursing from 1975 to 1977. He served as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Oak Brook, Illinois, from 1977 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1985, and in Indianapolis from 1979 to 1983. 

In 1985, he began a 17-year stint at Corpus Christi Parish-Friary in Chicago, where he served as a nurse from 1985 to 1994, vicar of the friary community from 1990 to 1999, and worked with the parish maintenance staff and outreach ministries from 1994 to 2002. During that time, he began the Corpus Christi Soup Kitchen, which served the community for 26 years. 

In 2002, he returned to his native St. Paul, where he served with outreach ministries at Sacred Heart Parish and was guardian of the friar community from 2002 to 2005. He worked in maintenance and housekeeping for the next seven years at Our Lady of the Lake Parish-Friary in Ashland, Wisconsin, before retiring in 2014. 

Br. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Julia (Sr. Lucille, OSB), and brothers John and James. He is survived by many cousins, friends, and friars from the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The service of a Franciscan ministry helped shape the education of a future expert in homelessness advocacy, providing valuable insights into the crisis and effective strategies to deal with its challenges. 

Dr. Dennis Culhane, ‘85, the Dana and Andrew Stone Chair in Social Policy at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice, returned to his alma mater in April to discuss his research.   

Various entities rely on his research to determine how the housing and support needs of people experiencing housing emergencies and long-term homelessness can be more effectively addressed.   

In "Understanding Homelessness: A Conversation with Dr. Dennis Culhane," he covered his new research on using linked administrative data to understand how people arrive at various categories of homelessness – and to understand their unique needs.   

His research covers vulnerable populations, including youth, veterans and those aged 55 and older.   

St. Bonaventure President Dr. Jeff Gingerich and Vice President for Mission Integration Br. Stephen Mimnaugh, OFM, led a question-and-answer session after his presentation.   

While speaking about what leads people to become homeless, Dr. Culhane noted that unexpected life events impact individuals differently due to complex factors.   

“There have been case-control studies on those who become homeless and don’t become homeless from the same communities,” he said.    

“Mental health, substance abuse, education or criminality don’t distinguish them. Random events that strike like lightning do: an injury, a job loss, domestic violence, incarceration – all these things happen, but you don’t expect them to befall you necessarily.”   

These discoveries prompt action in cities like New York and Philadelphia. By categorizing homelessness as transitional, episodic or chronic, help can be tailored to remedy the specific hurdles to eliminating home insecurity and decrease the likelihood people will experience homelessness again. 

Watch video of the discussion here. 

The influence of the Franciscan spirit   

Dr. Culhane shared how the late Br. Dan Riley, OFM, the founder of Mt. Irenaeus, shaped his career. Dr. Culhane sought a more meaningful summer than a seasonal job at Kodak, and Br. Dan recommended volunteering at St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, serving those affected by addiction and homelessness.   

Dr. Culhane's dissertation was inspired by his summer at St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, where he observed the Franciscan service for the homeless. He spent eight weeks living anonymously within the homeless system and interviewed 45 people about their experiences.  

“I realized the perspectives I was learning from people living this issue were not being heard,” he said. “I had this incredible experience for a few years learning this perspective from people. How could I help give voice to that?”   

“It was a rich experience, only a sliver of which I used for the dissertation.”   

Dr. Culhane has a bachelor's degree in psychology from St. Bonaventure and a Ph. D. in social psychology from Boston College. He is also co-director of Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy. The AISP, funded by the MacArthur Foundation, intends to improve policies and practices in education, health, and human services agencies through integrated data systems.