Franciscan alumni and their spouses gathered in Cincinnati from Oct. 2 to 5 for their annual reunion/assembly and to celebrate the Transitus and the feast of St. Francis together. This year's theme was “Being Ministers of Hope in ‘Fraternitas.’” We also celebrated the 800th anniversary of the “Canticle of Creation.” 

Our central gathering place was Marriott’s SpringHill Suites in Forest Park near the site of StoneBridge Mercy Health at Winton Woods (formerly the minor seminary of the legacy St. John the Baptist Province, one of five provinces that formed the new Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe). The staff and residents at StoneBridge welcomed us warmly as we used their multipurpose room (the former study hall) and the Chapel (the former seminary chapel) for our activities. 

Our weekend began Thursday evening with a social and dinner at “The Black Sheep Public House.”  On Friday, alums and spouses entered into various activities around Cincinnati.  Some played golf at “The Mill Course” in Sharon Woods while others explored downtown Cincinnati and enjoyed lunch and a boat ride on the Ohio River. 

On Friday afternoon there was a practice for those singing for “Transitus.”  A group of 30 or more friars and alums sang “O Sanctissima Anima” and “Salve Sancte Pater” in three-part harmony along with a newly written piece by alum Mike Niklas called “With My Own Voice I Cry to the Lord.” Br. Fred Link, OFM, directed us at the practice and during the liturgy that followed at Corpus Christi Parish. 

That evening, Provincial Councilor Br. Ed Tlucek, OFM, presided and preached during the Transitus, coordinated by Br. Larry Dunham, OFM. The local Secular Franciscans generously provided delicious refreshments following the liturgy. 

On Saturday morning, alums and spouses gathered for a retreat morning. I presented the theme of “The Franciscan Spirituality of Beauty” based on the work of Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, CSJ, “Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition.” We reflected on the insights of St. Bonaventure and Blessed John Duns Scotus and how our Franciscan spirituality is grounded in the “Via Pulchritudinis” (“the way of beauty”).   

After enjoying a refreshing lunch provided by Paul and Cynthia Landers in the old study hall, alums worked with the StoneBridge Garden Guild to refresh various flower beds on the campus.   

On Saturday evening we celebrated Mass together followed by supper, a brief “chapter” meeting with the call and affirmation of FAA board members, and the giving of our “Christian Life Award” and “Humanitarian Award.” We concluded the evening with a memorial service that recalled those friars, alumni and family members that have entered eternal life in the past year. Rick Gardner, FAA president, along with Joe Sears, FAA vice-president and awards chairperson, and Deacon Butch Feldhaus, FAA secretary, led us through our chapter, awards and memorial service.   

During our Saturday Evening Mass, preacher Deacon Butch Feldhaus reflected on the Gospel reading where Jesus calls us to ground our lives and our ministry in humility. Butch reminded us that we were “called, taught and formed to be humble” through our activities in Franciscan formation where we learned that no task is too small for us to do it with joy in the spirit of Christ and St. Francis.

Honoring followers of St. Francis 

At each reunion, the association honors friars and alumni who have been living the charism of St. Francis in their lives. This year the FAA honored the late Br. Bruno Kremp, OFM, posthumously for his longtime work as a chaplain with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Br. Bruno inspired others to become chaplains and serve with the county officers.  Lieutenant Mikal Steers accepted the award on behalf of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and it will be displayed at their office. Lieutenant Steers recalled a significant experience with Br. Bruno when he came quickly to baptize his vulnerable son. His son is now living healthily as an adult.   

Dr. Joe Edwards, Psy.D., a child and adolescent psychologist, was presented with the FAA Humanitarian Award for his life’s work counseling children and adolescents. Joe is also very involved with the Secular Franciscans in Kentucky, and he shared how much his time with the friars at St. Francis Seminary deeply impacted his life and his work.    

Following prayer and breakfast on Sunday morning, we said goodbye to one another with the joy of the weekend deep in our hearts. We also were most grateful to Mark Kling, FAA board member, who coordinated both the 2025 and 2024 reunions. It is always renewing to be with and deepen our friendships with one another.  

Save the date: 2026 FAA Reunion/Assembly 

The 2026 FAA Reunion/Assembly will be held from Oct. 1 to 5 at Holy Cross Retreat Center in Mesilla Park, New Mexico. The theme will look at the Southwestern cultures and peoples and the presence of the Franciscans in this part of the country.  We will visit the Franciscan missions in the El Paso area and connect with present-day Franciscans in El Paso and Las Cruces and learn about their ministries.  We also are making plans to visit White Sands National Park with its waves of gypsum dunes near Alamogordo, New Mexico. 

The Franciscan Alumni Association was founded by St. John the Baptist alumni from St. Francis High School Seminary and the Brothers’ School in 1989, and it includes alumni from the various SJB Franciscan houses of study and SJB, and the original Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, formation programs.   

The present FAA Board actively encourages friars, formators, alumni and spouses from the various provinces that make up the new Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe to consider themselves welcome in the association and to help the association develop a fuller vision for Franciscan alumni and their spouses across the United States.  For more information, visit www.franciscan-alumni.org.   

Peace and all goodness!     

 — Br. Henry Beck, OFM, serves as Provincial Liaison to the Franciscan Alumni Association.