Our Brothers in Papua New Guinea Need Your Help
On Monday, February 26th, a massive earthquake hit our missions in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. In fact, the 7.5 quake was centered right in the Diocese of Mendi where our Capuchin missionaries live and work. Everything shook violently for almost five minutes, causing landslides, toppling towers, shaking buildings off their moorings, splitting homes in two. Reports are still scarce, but the ones we are receiving and the photos we are getting make it clear that this is catastrophic. One government official stated this is the worst natural disaster to ever hit Papua New Guinea.
Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy, 1929-2018
Our confrere Angelus M. Shaughnessy, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord's eternal life on Friday, March 2, 2018, in his 89th year, after more than 67 years in vows as a Capuchin friar and 62 years a priest. He was preceded in death by sisters Mary Elizabeth (Roth), Sr. Mary Cecilia (Anna Mae) CDP, Irene (Murray), Pauline (Adams Cucinelli) and Josephine (Laman), and by brothers Fr. Sigmund (John Joseph) OFM Cap., Paul and Joseph. He is survived by sisters Regina (Sykes) and Bernadette (Higgins), and brother Bernard.
Matthew Edmund Shaughnessy, fourth son and ninth child of John and Anna (Spang) Shaughnessy, was born on November 16, 1929, in Rochester, PA, and baptized at St. Cecilia Church by Capuchin pastor Fr. Hugh Rauwolf, OFM Cap., on November 24th. After attending St. Cecilia Grade School, he entered St. Fidelis College and Seminary in Herman, PA in 1947.
Province gathers for December Ordinations
Our brothers Roshan Anthonypillai, OFM Cap., and Reynaldo FrÃas-Santana, OFM Cap. (above) were ordained as friar-priests in Pittsburgh, PA, by Bishop David Zubik who shepherds the diocese there. of Pittsburgh, PA. The celebration took place on Saturday, December 9. Both men will be headed to our Custodies: Fr. Reynaldo will minister in Utuado, PR, to assist one of the areas most damaged by the recent hurricane, and Fr. Roshan will be serving in Papua New Guinea.
A BIG Thanks to our Golfers & Friends!
      Our annual Capuchin Golf Outing continues to grow as a successful fund raiser to support our life and work as Capuchin Franciscan friars. Luckily, the rain held out on Friday, August 4th. There were a whopping 102 golfers who came out for the day at River Forest Country Club in Freeport, PA, and many others joined the golfers to have lunch and enjoy the day of family and friendship. The golfers and sponsors graciously raised over $34,000 for the Father Bill Wiethorn Scholarship Fund which supports the education and formation of our Capuchin Friar students (tuition, room and board just doesn't get cheaper, does it?) . . .
Fr. Bernard Finerty, 1935-2015
Place of Birth:Â Pittsburgh, PA
Investiture:Â July 13, 1955
Temporary Profession:Â July 14, 1956
Perpetual Profession: July 14, 1959
Ordination:Â June 3, 1961
Date of death:Â January 23, 2015
Burial: St. Augustine Cemetery, Millvale, PA
even as early as high-school,
I envisioned preaching
as the core of my ministry.â€
Letter to Provincial Minister
November 29, 1989
   At the funeral of Bernard Finerty, Fr. Tom Betz, OFM Cap., a friend and former student, made the observation that what struck him about the life of our confrere was that from everywhere he was stationed in his life as a Capuchin, the “Province pulled out.†It was an exaggeration, of course. The places did not come crashing down like dominoes.
   “Bernie†spent a good 24 years of his life in Herman, PA, before our high school and college were closed. He stayed there for 11 years as Director of the Retreat Center, trying to build a retreat ministry in a rural area; it ended only when the property was sold, of course.
Fr. Bertin Roll, 1916-2015
Date of birth: October 5, 1916
Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, PA
Investiture: July 13, 1936
Temporary Profession: July 14, 1937
Perpetual Profession: July 14, 1940
Ordination: May 28, 1942
Date of death: January 5, 2015
Burial: St. Augustine Cemetery, Millvale, PA
I've worn out some automobiles
and many more Guardian Angels.
God has been so good to me.
Who has it better than I do? Nobody!
the local crew of confreres,
to bring him back to life for real
after weeks of adulation
and pampering from Christian Mothers
who whispered with reverence
his name in full:
Father Bertin Roll,
the national director
of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers.
Thus began the tribute to our confrere by Fr. Bonaventure Stefun, OFM Cap., written on his hearing of the death of our brother "Bert. "National Director was Bertin Roll's job title and his life's work. Except for the 26 years necessary to grow up, go to school, join the Capuchin Order and become a priest, Bertin pretty much lived to work for the Christian Mothers, the longest term of any friar in any one ministry “ 61 years “ finishing off with another 10 years as Director Emeritus. Could any friar ever have been assigned to one friary for so many years? After 71 years in a ministry, how did he remain so committed and enthusiastic?
Word from the Novices
The Capuchin Novitiate Family 2014-2015
The Capuchin novices of North America are now into their third month of the novitiate year in Santa Ynez, CA, and have weighed in with ther first edition of the Caperone, the periodic magazine they publish to let us know what's happening among them.
Fr. Edward Laurent, 1931-2014
Our brother, Fr. Ed Laurent, OFM Cap., died on July 15, 2014, at Villa de Marillac in Pittsburgh, PA, one day after celebrating his 83rd Birthday. A member of the St. Augustine Fraternity in Pittsburgh, PA, Fr. Ed, at his request, was taken to UPMC Shadyside Hospital on Friday, July 11, remaining there over the weekend. His doctor decided that he would benefit from physical and occupational therapy at nearby Villa De Marillac where he was transferred on his birthday.
Harrisburg & York friars work with new Bishop
Provincial Minister, David Nestler, OFM Cap., was in Harrisburg, PA, for the installation of the new bishop, Ronald Gainer and reports that all the friars working in the diocese were present for the occasion. Harrisburg friars John Bednarik, Orlando Reyes, Michael Rubus and Stephen Shin joined our York brothers Lou Petruha, John McCloskey, Jim Menkhus and Zenon Maszczyk.
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