News - 2015
Dec 2015
European Province
The Profession Eucharist for Michael Jacob will begin at Alnmouth at 1230 on Saturday 12th December, which it is hoped is a helpful time for anyone travelling that day. The brothers at
Alnmouth have allocated accommodation to the various friends and family and brothers and sisters who have already told us they would like to stay, but it will still be helpful for practical purposes to hear from any others who hope to come just for the day.
From the C/SSF website: “Just Looking….” a day on Anglican Franciscan Religious Life. On Saturday 23rd January 2016 at the Community of St Francis’ house in central London.
St Alphege Clergy House, Pocock Street, SE1 0BJ.
The new aspirant, Richard Fryer, is due to arrive at Alnmouth on 1st December, and Jason Robert arrived from Glasshampton to take up residence at Alnmouth on 24th November. Desmond Alban is still waiting for his visa to join the brothers in the Province of the Americas
Nov 2015
Province of the Divine Compassion
Alfred BoonKong writes:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It is with much sadness that I have to inform you that our dear brother Brian passed away late this evening of Thursday 29 October 2015 at Atawhai Mercy Assisi Home in Hamilton New Zealand. He celebrated the 57th anniversary of his profession yesterday on the Feast of SS Simon & Jude and his 0th Birthday on 14 March this year. It was only 10 days ago that he moved into residential care at Atawhai Mercy Assisi Home. We will celebrate his life and ministry with a Requiem Eucharist in the Waikato Cathedral of St Peter, Hamilton on Thursday 5th November 2015 at 1:30pm, followed by a ‘quiet family and close friends committal’ at Newstead Crematorium. A vigil will be held in the friary oratory on Wednesday 4th November at 6:00pm. May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
European Province
Sr. Damien writes: Most of you know that most of us will be in Assisi for November. Alison Francis is on a family visit to New Zealand until the first week of December. Carolin Clare will be chaplain in Assisi for the 5 Sundays of November. Paula is staying - feeding the cats etc - but do not expect phone calls to be answered (the answer machine will be on). Susan Elisabeth and Mary Kathleen will be leaving Assisi mid month and stay with family/friends until Nov. 30th when the rest of us return to Freeland. We will - as always - keep you in
our prayers and light lots of candles. Jason Robert will be moving from Glasshampton Monastery to Alnmouth Friary in the near future. Richard Fryer is due to take up residence at Alnmouth Friary on 1st December as a Postulant.
Papua New Guinea Province
Worrick writes news from the Haruro Friary:
1: The brothers celebrated St Francis day with lots of guests invited from the Government, business holders, Former SSFs. T/SSFs and Families. Some invited guests didn’t turn up. On the Saturday eve before St Francis day, the Former brothers who came with their children who were not baptised were baptised by Retired Bishop Tevita Talanoa by the permission of the diocesan Bishop.
2: On the 9th October the Brothers donated blood for the sake of the patients at the Popondetta General hospital. The Blood Bank in Popondetta hospital was out of stock and so they have called on the brothers if they could help donate some blood. The brothers donated 10 bags of blood on that day at the friary
3: On the eve of 17th.October, four babies were baptised by Br.Oswald Dumbari. The babies were from Br. Sebastian Duna's families who came to witness his First Profession.
4: The PNG Province is now happy to have one novice made Professed on St Luke's Day. Sebastian Duna is now a Brother leaving Novice Hanson Vevera and four Postulants.
5: Br. Wilbert Bebena is sent home on leave of Absence until next year 2016 Provincial Chapter in July.
6: Br. Collin Velei is in Port Moresby working on his Passport and visa to travel to Australia in December for Formation training Programme with Br. Bruce Paul in Stroud.
7: The brothers in Haruro friary are doing Adult Computer Basic Training with a good friend of the brothers Mr. Rodney Geba. Mr. Rodney Geba was a friend of Brothers when he was a youth in the Church ministries. He met the brothers again after many years and decided to offer a free Computer training for the brothers on a formation Programme.
Oct 2015
European Province
At the Francistide SSF Provincial Chapter Michael Jacob was elected to First Vows. God willing, he will take his First Vows at Alnmouth Friary on Saturday 12th December. Would brothers and sisters hoping to attend this profession please let the brothers at Alnmouth know, especially where overnight accommodation is required.
RIP: Angela Helen who died at 5.45am on Saturday 26th September in hospital. She had become ill during Friday 24th and was admitted that evening with a suspected urinary tract infection. She had two coronary arrests before reaching hospital, but died peacefully early the next day. Jannafer had accompanied her and was with her when she died. Angela Helen was aged 82, and had been professed 28 years. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Frances has been recommended for training for Ordination to the Priesthood, by the Anglican Church In Korea. We send our congratulations, our love and the assurance of our prayers for her and Jemma as the details are worked out.
Lila Palmer moved on from The Oratory of St Alphege in early August, with our good wishes and on-going prayers. The community in Southwark is exploring possible membership of the Oratory with another woman who is very interested.
Beverley has begun her appointment as Chaplain to the Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham. This is a part time role, and she will normally have one overnight stay at Queen’s each week in term time. She will continue to live in Leicester.
Christine James is on sabbatical leave until early November. Her trip, much of it by train and bus, includes visits to the sisters in Korea, sisters & brothers in San Francisco, and the brothers in Los Angeles.
Peter Southall (Brother Peter Aidan) has withdrawn from the noviciate.
Johannes Maertens, until recently at Alnmouth, has decided to return to his community in Belgium.
Province of the Americas
Jude writes: I ask your prayers for our Brother Derek (Ford) SSF who died at the Friary in Los Angeles on 5th September at 1:38pm California time. He was 83 years old and in the 43rd year of his Religious Profession. He was taken ill two weeks before and diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer which had metastasized through his body. He returned to the friary from the hospital and was able to share in daily mass and offices from his hospital bed. Please remember his brother John and Sister in Law Kath in your prayers and the brothers in Los Angeles at this time. He was due to head for Trinidad later this month to continue ministry down there. His sudden death has been a shock to all. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.
Brent Richards will be clothed a Novice at San Damiano Friary on the 14th of October, taking the name Damien Joseph (after Father Damien of Moloka’i [Joseph DeVuester], the “Apostle to the Lepers”).
Sep 2015
European Province
Moves: please pray for those brothers moving house over the next month: Cristian Michael to Canning Town; James Douglas and Peter Aidan to Glasshampton; Michael Jacob to Alnmouth; Desmond Alban (visa permitting) to California.
Papua New Guinea Province
Novice Sebastian Duna application for first profession was accepted. His profession will be on the 4th October this year 2015. His application to attend the Popondetta Skills Training Institution to learn carpentry was also accepted.
Postings: (1) Jerry Ross and Nathaniel Gari are both posted to Martyrs House to replace Collin Velei and Laurence Hauje. (2) Collin Velei will go to Australia in November to attend 2016 Formation Programme at Stroud and will return to Haruro. (3) Laurence Hauje will move to Haruro and wait for his entry test to go to Newton Theological College next year 2016. (4) Wallace Yovero will move to Koki friary. (5) Worrick Marako will move to Province of Solomon Islands.
The life profession for Br. Wilbert Bebena is scheduled to be the 21st September this year 2015.
Province of the Americas
Little Portion Friary, SSF – Port Jefferson, NY
Plans are moving steadily forward for the turnover of the Port Jefferson property to the Monfortian Brothers in September. We are grateful that this historic piece of our life together will remain in the hands of a religious order, and especially that it will serve for transitional housing and training for young people in need. We have packed up our archives and select items from the friary to move to other locations. Much of the physical property there will remain for the use of the new residents. Brother Ivanildo will be moving to Saint Francis Friary in Los Angeles. Brother Eric Michael is headed for the European Province. Brother Clark Berge continues his travels as Minister General, and will take up a permanent home in the Province upon his return. Brother Dunstan is recovering from a significant surgery, and plans are being made for the best care for him in his recovery. His hope is to remain in Port Jefferson by special arrangement with the Montforts. Your prayers are appreciated for all these transitions.
Farewells: We offer our prayers of gratitude and hope for two brothers released from vows at this year’s Chapter. Tom Carey and Simon Dinglasan have responded to God’s call in other directions. We are sad to see them go, but grateful for all they have brought to our community in their years with us. May God speed and guard them on their way.
September 2015
Derek died on 5 September 2015 at the Los Angeles friary. He was born on 4th January 1932, and professed on 24th July 1974.
Angela Helen died on 26 September 2015 at City Hospital, Birmingham. She was born on 19th August 1933 and professed on 27th February 1987.
June 2015
Andrew Manu died on 27 June 2015 at Honiara Hospital. He was born on 30th November 1956, and professed on 6th January 1981. His remains are buried at Hautambu.