Roman Catholic friar community growing

THE JOURNAL NEWS (New York) ^ | May 17, 2003 | GARY STERN

[nickcarraway]

YONKERS — Cardinal Edward Egan will ordain eight new priests this morning, but only four will go out in the world with the classic parish priest look: all black suits, white clerical collar, neat Eddie Haskell haircuts.

The other four will look as if they're auditioning to play medieval monks in some community theater, with their gray, hooded robes, shaved heads and long, unkempt beards of which Mrs. Haskell never would have approved.

Few at St. Patrick's Cathedral will stare with wonder at these men, though, because the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal have become a common sight at New York's annual ordination. At a time when the Roman Catholic Church is facing a worsening shortage of priests, these friars with the throwback look are part of a fast-growing and closely watched community.

That they make up half of this year's ordination class is not lost on the friars, who believe they offer a clear, straight-up Catholic message that is cutting through the me-first, celebrity-worshipping culture.

"The younger generation wants something that's real, authentically Catholic," said Brother Joseph Mary Deane, one of the friars being ordained a priest today. "We live an orthodox life in a dynamic way. We want challenges. I don't want an easy life. This is supposed to be a sacrificial life. Or what's the point?"

The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who work with the poor in the Bronx, Yonkers and Harlem, as well as in Honduras and England, are part of a movement of relatively young, growing conservative Catholic communities that are the pride of the orthodox Catholic world. Many point to the friars as proof that young men will hear God's call to the priesthood if they are offered an undiluted vision of loyalty to the pope and Catholic teachings.

A new book about the return to orthodoxy among young Christians, "The New Faithful," describes how Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, considered a possible future pope, was buoyed by visiting the Bronx and meeting so many young friars. Author Colleen Carroll's book, widely hyped among orthodox Catholics, has focused even more attention on this community that promises, in its very name, to renew the church.

"Known for their medieval dress and reputation as 'America's Mother Teresas,' " she wrote, "these young men seem to flout every stereotype about their postmodern, post-Christian generation."

Flouting convention was the basic idea in 1987, when eight Capuchin friars broke away to start a new community rededicated to poverty, chastity and obedience. The late Cardinal John O'Connor gave the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal approval to grow from within the Archdiocese of New York, even though he faced resistance from established communities with shrinking memberships.

From the start, the friars have been closely identified with the Rev. Benedict Groeschel, one of the founding eight and a favorite writer and spokesman for orthodox Catholics.

Despite the community's youth — it officially was recognized by the Vatican in 1999 — the friars now boast 21 priests, 12 seminarians and 14 men in formation who might or might not study for the priesthood. There are 20 brothers, and 15 new members, some of whom might also become priests, are expected to join the community in September

The friars live simply, pray together morning, noon and night, and serve the poor. Their patroness is Mary, and many friars take her name as their middle name. Their hero is Pope John Paul II.

In the Bronx, they run shelters for the homeless, a food pantry, a youth center and a medical clinic. They also run a Catholic social and education center in Yonkers for the Hispanic community. Among their residences are two friaries in Yonkers.

They sleep on mats, rely on unsolicited donations for daily sustenance and wear only their robes. What is most striking about the friars up close, though, is their untempered enthusiasm for their vocation. They speak directly and frankly about their mission in the church, and refer often to their joy.

"If you're going to follow the will of God, you want to follow it all out," said Brother Sylvester Mary Mann, who is being ordained today. "In my mind, I saw St. Francis as a person who really loved Jesus and challenged the cultural values of his day and age, the rich and haughty. When I visited different communities, I didn't necessarily see them living the ideals of St. Francis. When I came here, I did."

There is little doubt that newer, more conservative communities are connecting in a special way with young Catholics considering the priesthood, said Patrick Metress of the independent Catholic Research Center in Burke, Va.

"Most of these groups are orthodox or extremely orthodox," he said. "A lot have a special mission, like working with the poor or only doing the Latin Mass. They don't want to join old orders because they have too much baggage; they're too wrapped up in the politics of being Jesuits, Franciscans, what have you."

The conventional wisdom that new, orthodox communities are growing, and older communities are fading, is too simplistic for Brother Jack Rathschmidt, a Capuchin priest who was head of the Capuchin order in New York when the soon-to-be Franciscan Friars of the Renewal filed for divorce. Rathschmidt, who now works with Capuchin seminarians in Jamaica Plain, Mass., said that established communities are reorienting themselves after the transitional decades of the 1960s and 1970s, when many institutions foundered.

"I admire what the friars are doing, but we're doing pretty well, too, preparing fellas for a ministry of a similar kind," said Rathschmidt, who until recently was chaplain at the College of New Rochelle. "I wouldn't consider us a traditionalist movement, but we have talented people serving the poor in the inner city of Boston. We're also doing God's work, but without the power that the robe gives you. We're not as visible."

The image this morning of Egan ordaining an equal number of friars and new parish priests will drive home to a packed St. Patrick's both the growth of the friars' community and the priest shortage facing New York's 414 parishes.

But the comparison isn't quite fair. The friars do most of their work in New York but attract vocations from across the country. The archdiocese is mostly limited to the men of its 10 counties.

"We're not getting many vocations from New York, either, even though we spend all of our time here," said Brother Luke Mary Fletcher, an Indiana native who will be ordained today and will serve as the friars' vocations director. "There is an element of mystery here, why some groups are getting vocations and others are not. There is no recipe for vocations because the unknown ingredient is God's grace."

Whether the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal will continue to grow faster than most older communities is a relevant question. The Rev. Glenn Sudano, the friars' director, or "community servant," is confident that vocations will continue to come if the community maintains its vision.

"If service to God is not heroic, it won't stir the hearts of young people," he said. "If it's too middle class, bureaucratic, business as usual, safe, young people won't go there. I think young people want something counter-cultural, a challenge, an identity. We're not trying to look like some saint in a picture book, but truly want to pursue holiness and dig deep into prayer.

"Some people might think we're old-fashioned or are back in the '50s, but that's fine with us."

[St.Chuck]

"Their hero is John Paul II."

It's nice to see the evidence that the pope is an inspiration to young, serious men of orthodox faith. Contrary to some claims the pope does have an enormously positive influence on young Catholics.

[St.Chuck]

What is really tough is raising your kids as Catholics while in a liberal Catholic parish.

....and a liberal educational system, and a liberal culture, a liberal electorate, and liberal media, etc. etc. ad nauseum. Raising good, morally upright, God fearing, Christ loving children is the most daunting and difficult task we face. May God bless all of our efforts.

[TotusTuus]

Christos Voskrese!

The Rev. Glenn Sudano, the friars' director, or "community servant," is confident that vocations will continue to come if the community maintains its vision.

Key observation. Other communities and Orders are dying out precisely because they lost their once Christ-centered vision.

[ventana]

My pleasure! V's wife.

[ventana]

What is really tough is raising your kids as Catholics while in a liberal Catholic parish. It would be wonderful to have a parish that backs up what you teach at home.

* Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

* Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.

* Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.

* Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

[Salvation]

Someone in NY must be praying for vocations!

[Cicero]

There are worse ways to drive your parents crazy.

[NYer]

Repair My House

One day when Francis went out to meditate in the fields he was passing by the church of San Damiano which was threatening to collapse because of extreme age. Inspired by the Spirit, he went inside to pray. Kneeling before an image of the Crucified, he was filled with great fervor and consolation as he prayed. While his tear-filled eyes were gazing at the Lord's cross, he heard with his bodily ears a voice coming from the cross, telling him three times: “Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin.” Trembling with fear, Francis was amazed at the sound of this astonishing voice, since he was alone in the church; and as he received in his heart the power of the divine words, he fell into a state of ecstasy. Returning finally to his senses, he prepared to put his whole heart into obeying the command he had received. He began zealously to repair the church materially, although the principle intention of the words referred to that Church which Christ purchased with his own blood, as the Holy Spirit afterward made him realize and as he later disclosed to the friars. (Adapted from the Life of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure)

The spiritual values uniting the friars are commitment to Christ, Our Savior, through contemplative and liturgical prayer, daily Eucharistic adoration, devotion to Our Lady, imitation of St. Francis and St. Clare, love for the Church and loyalty to the Holy Father.

The Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal was begun in 1987 by eight Capuchin friars desiring to work more definitively for personal and communal reform within the Catholic Church. The life and apostolate of the friars are rooted in the ideals and spirit of the Capuchin reform born in the early 16th century.

[WriteOn]

Hooray! A friend of our just joined a Friary in Massachusetts that is an even more ascetic offshoot of the Friars of the Reformed. He loves it.

[Salvation]

Bumping this good news.

[Salvation]

Catholic archdiocese of Washington [D.C.] has largest ordination class in 14 years

Roman Catholic friar community growing

Retiring priests pose problem for the Archdiocese of Boston

[Salvation]

In a personal email to me. (I will see if I can find an article to verify the numbers.)


**For some good news. Just received a mailing from the Oregon chapter of the Knights of Columbus asking for a financial contribution to the Mt.Angel Seminary. The letter contained the following quote - "Recently, Mt.Angel Seminary President/Rector, Fr. Richard Paperini, shared the wonderful news that enrollment at Mount Angel Seminary is increasing. He is projecting that enrollment for next fall will be between 170-180 seminarians, including 22 for the Archdiocese of Portland and six for the Diocese of Baker!"!!!!!! For reference, the usual enrollment for the Seminary was about 90 during the nineties.**

Salvation

[Salvation]

**"The younger generation wants something that's real, authentically Catholic," said Brother Joseph Mary Deane, one of the friars being ordained a priest today. "We live an orthodox life in a dynamic way. We want challenges. I don't want an easy life. This is supposed to be a sacrificial life. Or what's the point?"**

They get it! Prayer sent for these friars!

[Salvation]

**There is no doubt that the only growing seminaries and religious orders in this country are the solid, orthodox ones.

There is no doubt that the majority of those people, in their late teens to thirties, that are actively Catholic are solid and orthodox.**

Don't be so quick to judge. There are articles about Boston and Washington, D. C. referenced here. They aren't exactly known as being nests of conservatism.

The kids can see that society has gone wrong. And regardless of their upbringing, they are making orthodox choices.

I have said it beforoe and I will say it again.

The pendulum of the church swung way over to the left; it is on the way back, about in the middle and swinging right at this time.

[Salvation]

**It's nice to see the evidence that the pope is an inspiration to young, serious men of orthodox faith. Contrary to some claims the pope does have an enormously positive influence on young Catholics.**

Agree with you here. He has set a wonderful example of sacrifice, prayer and holiness.

[Coleus]

Great News!