Kevin Thompson, OFM Cap., co-director of our Postulancy program in Colorado Springs, CO, joined postulant Nate Sisack as the traveled to Detroit, MI, where as all the USA postulants participated in a retreat from February 1-6, 2026, at the Capuchin Retreat Center in nearby Washington, MI. The most important goal of the retreat days provided the opportunity for all the postulants to come to know one another before their novitiate begins in San Lorenzo, California. One of the days was spent at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit where our own Alex Hostoffer, OFM Cap., "did a great job," they say, reflecting how our Capuchin Constitutions  treat our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience - vows which the young men will profess after their novitiate year which begins in July. That afternoon, our brother Dan Crosby, OFM Cap., spoke about how Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM Cap., lived out those vows in fraternity and service.

See photos of the visit to the Solanus Center

  In the month of February, our Capuchin Province lost two friends and supporters at the passing of Fr. Jim Chepponis (February 18th) and John Milko (February 19th).

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  Fr. Jim ("Chip") Chepponis and his family were members of Lawrenceville's St. Augustine Parish, and Jim graduated from St. Fidelis College where he received his bachelor's degree in music from St. Fidelis College/Slippery Rock University. Mick Joyce, OFM Cap., was a classmate. Jim majored in organ with a minor in voice, but his musical talent was known throughout his younger years. Discerning in Annapolis' St. Conrad Novitiate that the Capuchin life was not his calling, he went on to Theology studies with the Diocese of Pittsburgh. As a priest of the Diocese, his first published composition was his Magnificat, first sung while he was in high school at St. Fidelis when he was asked to write something for an Evening Prayer's New Testament Canticle. He wrote it in a few hours, and it became his first officially published work in 1985 ("Proclaim the greatness of God, rejoice in God my Savior . . ."). Another of his best-known compositions, Festival Alleluia, was commissioned for a 1999 Mass of Pope John Paul II in St. Louis. All three subsequent popes have also had his music at their Masses.

Read more …

Theophane Kerala1At his audience of February 21, 2026, Pope Leo XIV, accepted and confirmed the decision of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, ordering the publication of the Decreto super virtutibus [Decree on Virtues] for our Capuchin brother, the now Venerable Theophane Koodalloor (1913-1968). Born Michael in the Indian Province of Kerala, Theophane is the first native Capuchin of India to reach this milestone. Our historian confrere Blaine Burkey, OFM Cap., sent this information to fill us all in about his life and work . . . 

Read about our new Capuchin Servant of God . . .

2026 02 BICI cover This year, 2026, we celebrate the 8th Anniversary of our Holy Father St. Francis' Transitus, his death in this world on October 3, 1226, and his glorification in eternal life in union with the Lord Jesus.

 Read the special inssue of our International Newsletter dedicated to our year-long celeration. In it, the the Ministers of the Franciscan Orders which include us, the Capuchins, along with our brothers of the Friars Minor, the Conventuals, the Third Order Regular (TOR), and our our brothers and sisters of the Franciscan Federation & Secular Franciscans.

  Eight hundred years ago, Francis of Assisi left this world. But the seed he planted continues to germinate.
  In his letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul writes words that seem mysterious: “one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.” These words were fulfilled in Francis. After welcoming the Spirit of Jesus into himself, to the point of bearing the marks of the Crucified One on his body, he himself became a seed of the Gospel filled with the fruits of eternal life.
2026 01 PapalLetter  This is the precious legacy he left us. A legacy that still speaks to the hearts and minds of our generation today, helping us to believe in the Gospel, “to have the Spirit of the Lord and Its holy activity,” and to become signs of peace.
  With this letter, we wish to thank the Lord for the seed of the Gospel that he planted in the Church 800 years ago and which is still alive and fruitful today. Together, we wish to recall some fundamental aspects of this Christian history. These aspects remain a legacy for all those who, following Francis, wish to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus.

In opening our Jubilee celebration, Pope Leo XIV has opened this Holy Year of Grace for our Franciscan communities with the gift of a plenary indulgence in Assisi and in all of our Franciscan churches throughout the world. Read the Letter addressed to our Order here.

Pray the Jubilee Prayer to St. Francis authored by our Holy Father here.

Pray the Franciscan Jubilee Prayer of Pope Leo XIV

Our Capuchin brother Ben Regotti played an important role in the life of Seth Williams. Seth was once Philadelphia’s top prosecutor, building a promising political career, but then came a five-year prison sentence. He's now a part-time chaplain and, as he told a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, "there was one thing that helped him endure isolation: Friar Ben Regotti." The riveting article was published on Monday, February 2nd in the Inquirer. You can read it in its entirety here. What follows are just a few excerpts highlighting Seth's lifesaver and, in many ways, his "life-maker."

Read more from Seth Williams' experience

On Wednesday, January 21st, Philadelphia's Archbishop Nelson Pérez celebrated a Mass and offered a blessing for Annie’s Home, located on the campus of our Padre Pio Prayer Center in the Frankford neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, recognizing the ministry’s expanding work with pregnant and parenting women.

With Archbishop Pérez in the photo are our Capuchin brothers Keon Tu, Edgar Pereira, Alex Hostoffer, Orlando Reyes, Joseph Morton, Michael Herlihey and Bill Talentino.

While on site, the archbishop also visited The Cenacle at the Padre Pio Prayer Center, a joint ministry of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia that supports and provides essential resources for pregnant women, new parents, and families. You can read the May article from Catholic Philly about the work of Annie's Home whose existence owes a debt of gratitude for the work of our Capuchin brothers Alex, Edgar and Kevin. Thank you, brothers!

More photos from the event . . .

  Congratulations to our confreres Elizah Terua and Sylvester Namuno, pictured here with our Capuchin brother Bishop Don Lippert. They pronounced their final vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in a joyful and Spirit-filled Mass celebrated at Mother of the Divine Shepherd Cathedral, Mendi, on Wednesday, January 25th.  Custos of our Custody in Papua New Guines is our brother Neil Blue who received their vows. In notifying the Province of the blessed event, brother Neil writes:

  The Profession Mass was well attended by a good number of Capuchin brothers, religious men and women, priests of the Diocese of Mendi, and many faithful. Present in a special way were the parishioners from Ulga, Western Highlands Province, the home area of Br. Elizah Terua, as well as the faithful from Kumin and the Upper Mendi Parish, where Br. Sylvester Namuno carried out his pastoral ministry during the past year. Br. Elizah Terua also completed his pastoral ministry at Kumin Cathedral Parish.

   The celebration was prayerful and joyful, and everything went smoothly . . . We were also blessed by the presence of Bishop Don and Br. Ray, who joined the faithful in giving thanks to God for the gift of these two brothers to the Church and to our Capuchin fraternity. We give thanks to God for His faithfulness and for calling [our brothers Elizah and Sylvester] to commit themselves permanently to the Capuchin Franciscan way of life. We also thank the Province of St. Augustine for your continued support and fraternity with us.

'St. Nicholas' showed up for the evening meal at pur motherhouse, St Augustine Friary, in Pittsburgh. He left soon after his arrival, disappointed that, in spite of all the good friars we have there, no one left milk or cookies for him, An unintentional mistake, we promise . . .

    

    

More Christmas in the 'burgh . . .

Not far from New Baltimore, our brother Mark Pattock, OFM Cap., shared with us the photos of the Christmas concert in Cumberland, MD, at the Ss. Peter and Paul Shrine. Our deacon brother Ryan Schmeltzer, OFM Cap. (right), cantored and soloed for Holy Night; Assistant Pastor Mark Carter, OFM Cap. (left), led the participants in prayer and offered a reflection from the Gospel. In the program for the event, their contributions were noted:

 Thanks . . . to our cantor, Deacon Ryan Schmeltzer, who has shared his time & beautiful voice with us. . . . Our thanks to Fr. Mark & all the Capuchin Friars for their dedication & support to our community & to the Shrine as they celebrate 150 years of service in Cumberland this year

The Friends of the Shrine of SS Peter & Paul, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit group formed to preserve, protect & maintain our holy, historic & beautiful Catholic Shrine in Cumberland. MD, a place for Saints & Sinners to worship and pray & to feel the presence of the Lord. Built in 1848, the Shrine celebrated 175 years in 2023. Our group is solely responsible for the maintenance & upkeep of the Shrine . . .

MERRY CHRISTMAS & GOD BLESS!

   

 

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