AROUND THE PROVINCE March 4, 2010 + WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF THE PROVINCE OF THE SACRED HEART + 06.36

Celebrating “Year for Priests”

The parish of St. Joseph Catholic Church in

Shelbyville, Indiana, is led threefold by priests Fr.

Christopher Craig, pastor; Leon Reuter OFM, a

retired Franciscan priest in residence; and Thomas

Fox OFM of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Indianapolis,

who celebrates Mass every Sunday afternoon for the

Hispanic families here.

The trio will be honored on March 6, 2010, for

their service to the parish during a celebration-

appreciation event that begins as they concelebrate

Mass at 5:00pm in the historic church. Following

Mass, the parish and school staffs will host a dinner in

the school cafeteria. The priests will be guests of

honor, and parishioners (past and present).

Current and former church members will be

coming to this celebration that commemorates this

“Year for Priests.”

“YEAR FOR PRIESTS” PILGRIMAGE NOCERCC (The National Organization for NOCERCC (The National Organization for NOCERCC (The National Organization for NOCERCC (The National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy) Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy) Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy) Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy) extends an invitation to priests, bishops, and extends an invitation to priests, bishops, and extends an invitation to priests, bishops, and extends an invitation to priests, bishops, and seminarians to join them for a national pilgriseminarians to join them for a national pilgriseminarians to join them for a national pilgriseminarians to join them for a national pilgrimage mage mage mage to Rome to participate in events planned for the to Rome to participate in events planned for the to Rome to participate in events planned for the to Rome to participate in events planned for the culmination for the culmination for the culmination for the culmination for the ““““Year for Priests.Year for Priests.Year for Priests.Year for Priests.”””” The pilgrimage is scheduled for June 7The pilgrimage is scheduled for June 7The pilgrimage is scheduled for June 7The pilgrimage is scheduled for June 7----13, 13, 13, 13, 2010, and includes participation in Vatican2010, and includes participation in Vatican2010, and includes participation in Vatican2010, and includes participation in Vatican----sponsored activities as well as educational and sponsored activities as well as educational and sponsored activities as well as educational and sponsored activities as well as educational and spiritual activities organizspiritual activities organizspiritual activities organizspiritual activities organized by NOCERCC. ed by NOCERCC. ed by NOCERCC. ed by NOCERCC. Detailed information and registration materials Detailed information and registration materials Detailed information and registration materials Detailed information and registration materials can be found at: can be found at: can be found at: can be found at: www.travelillume.com/trc/ncc www.travelillume.com/trc/ncc www.travelillume.com/trc/ncc www.travelillume.com/trc/ncc The registration deadline has passed, but The registration deadline has passed, but The registration deadline has passed, but The registration deadline has passed, but registrations will continue to be accepted on a registrations will continue to be accepted on a registrations will continue to be accepted on a registrations will continue to be accepted on a

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Little Flower of Jesus Church

celebrates 70th Anniversary In February of 1940, 13 people gathered in a

brand new Catholic church on 18th Street in Monroe,

Louisiana, to celebrate Mass. Now, 70 years later,

people from across the country came back to Little

Flower of Jesus Church to celebrate its anniversary. The small church that was established in what

was then the heart of the black community in Monroe

has grown and changed through the years. Little

Flower of Jesus School opened in 1941, and the

church moved to its current location on South 16th

Street in 1965.

The church now serves about 200 households,

with 400 registered parishioners. Adrian Fischer OFM has been pastor of

Little Flower of Jesus Church for six years, and he

welcomed Bishop Michael Duca of the Diocese of

Shreveport to worship and celebrate the church's

anniversary with his congregation. "The main focus of the celebration was to

remind ourselves what we're about, what we've done

and where we have to go," Adrian said. The 70th anniversary celebration began on

February 20th with a banquet. Bishop Duca presided

at the Mass at 9:00 am on the 21st with a reception

that followed. "Little Flower has a history of interest with all

the kids who attended the church and the school," said

a former alumna. "It's that bonding. We were like

family. It's something you never forget."

Concelebrating with Bishop Duca (center) and Adrian Fischer OFM (right) are Cal Giesen OFM, CarrollMizicko OFM, and Lambert Leykam OFM.

2

Little Flower of Jesus Church was founded in

1940 by the Franciscans who sought to minister to the

spiritual needs of the black community in Monroe.

The school was established shortly thereafter in an

effort to provide quality education for children in the

area. "The church and school started during the

time of segregation," Adrian said. "There was no real

service to the African-American community in

Monroe. Over the years, to serve the community in

education was a big ministry for the church — to give

African-Americans a proper education." Although

Little Flower of Jesus School closed in 1998, its

legacy is alive among its many alumni. (Thanks to Ken Stickney, managing editor, The

News-Star, Monroe, Louisiana.)

DID YOU KNOW THAT … ? ...There is on line a virtual tour of the Vatican. Here are the instructions on how to take this tour: After you link on the site below and select an image and it appears, then hold down the left mouse button and slowly move the cursor around the room. Scroll the mouse button to zoom. You can move more slowly by keeping the pointer close to centerline. Move the pointer up or down to look up or down: http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html. Once you get the hang of it, you can easily spend hours on this site!

SECOND SEMINAR ON THE AMAZON

The second seminar on the Amazon was held

from February 15–19, 2010, in Iquitos, Peru, situated

in the Amazon.

The seminar had as its theme “The Franciscan

Presence in the Amazon” with the motto “The

Amazon challenges us to present a comprehensive

project.”

The seminar was organized through UCLAF

with the support of the Order.

Three bishops of the Vicariates entrusted to

the Order took part together with four ministers

provincial, five women religious, and a good number

of friars from different entities working in the

Amazon as well as from the General Curia.

The seminar continued to explore this project

which has been maturing in recent years and which

the General Chapter of 2009 refers to explicitly in one

of its mandates (no. 24).

The presentation of the theme took place on

the 15th, while on the 16th Bishop Alberto Campos

OFM presided at the opening Eucharist.

The work was carried out with great intensity

in a climate of commitment, enthusiasm, and hope.

This was mainly to prepare and undertake a

comprehensive project of the Order in the Amazon.

���� PLEASE PRAY FOR …………

���� …Joachim O’Brien OFM, mid-90s, friar-priest of Holy Spirit Province (Australia) – a well known and highly respected promoter of and advocate for the Secular Franciscan Order and the Legion of Mary – who died on February 23, 2010; ���� …Sister M. Gregory Ryan OSF, a professed member of the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters since 1959, who died on February 21, 2010; ���� …the sick of the Province, especially Edwin

Albers OFM, who is recovering from triple bypass surgery on February 26, 2010. (He is recuperating well but is still in coronary care; send him a get-well greeting via St. Anthony Friary in St. Louis.)

���� Franciscans Making News: ���� SHP FriarsSHP FriarsSHP FriarsSHP Friars were represented at the 2010

Interprovincial Retreat at Las Cruces, New Mexico,

in early January 2010. Joining them was Louis

Massett (right) whom many friars will remember from Tau House in New Orleans. He now resides in

Ava, Missouri.

���� On February 27, 2010, José de Jesús González José de Jesús González José de Jesús González José de Jesús González Hernández OFMHernández OFMHernández OFMHernández OFM, , , , a member of the Mexican Province

of St. Francis and St. James (Zapopán), was named a

bishop and the prelate of the Prelature of Jesús

María in Nayarit, Mexico, where the late Bishop Manuel Romero Arvizu OFM – friend of Sacred

Heart Province – was the first episcopal prelate.

AROUND THE PROVINCEAROUND THE PROVINCEAROUND THE PROVINCEAROUND THE PROVINCE is the weekly newsletter of the is the weekly newsletter of the is the weekly newsletter of the is the weekly newsletter of the

Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart, edited by Benet A. FonckFranciscan Province of the Sacred Heart, edited by Benet A. FonckFranciscan Province of the Sacred Heart, edited by Benet A. FonckFranciscan Province of the Sacred Heart, edited by Benet A. Fonck

OFM from the Office of Communications, 422 North Dixon Avenue, OFM from the Office of Communications, 422 North Dixon Avenue, OFM from the Office of Communications, 422 North Dixon Avenue, OFM from the Office of Communications, 422 North Dixon Avenue, JolieJolieJolieJoliet IL 60435t IL 60435t IL 60435t IL 60435----7050, 314.603.3951, 7050, 314.603.3951, 7050, 314.603.3951, 7050, 314.603.3951, fonckbenet@aol.comfonckbenet@aol.comfonckbenet@aol.comfonckbenet@aol.com. . . .