Spring 2013, Issue PORTER154 a newsletter of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America www.capuchins.org Elect Leaders & Discern New Evangelization by Fr. Charles Polifka, O.F.M.Cap. efforts in Denver and for his Outgoing Provincial Minister powerful preaching, shared a concrete demonstration of what "This is a Franciscan moment in the New Evangelization can do. the Church!" proclaimed Fr. Felix's spirited presentations David Ricken, Bishop of Green offered an insight into what the Bay, WI, and one of the main Church is promoting, as well as presenters at the 12th Ordinary an encounter with Catholic of the Capuchin evangelization. Province of Mid-America. Bishop Ricken, who chairs the Fr. David Songy facilitated the United States ' presentations on the New Committee on Evangelization Evangelization, presenting and Catechesis, was referring to questions for the friars to openly the thrust that the newly-elected discuss. These discussions Holy Father, Francis, has helped the friars better given to the Church. Pope understand the need and the Francis' desire is to rebuild the nature of what the Church is Church to be a "poor Church for asking in the New Evangelization. the poor." How much more Franciscan can one get as the first Before the presentations on the Jesuit pope? New Evangelization, however, the friars heard from Mid- Bishop Ricken made immediate America's own Br. Mark Schenk, connection with the Mid-America re-elected to the General Council friars. As a graduate of St. Francis this past summer and appointed Seminary, he was speaking to by General Minister Fr. Mauro some of his former teachers: Frs. Johri as president of the 12th Blaine Burkey, Gilmary Tallman, Ordinary Chapter. Mark Harvey Dinkel, Cyrus Gallagher, congratulated the province on its Gene Emrisek, and others. boldness in making major Bishop Ricken was immersed in decisions in the past triennium the Franciscan spirit, as he and also challenged the friars to acknowledged in his time at the look to provinces in Africa and Chapter. His presentations, as India for bringing new friars into well as his homily at Mass, the province. Mark noted that explained the New Evangelization the province has already had very and its history. He challenged us good experiences with accepting to seize this Franciscan moment. Frs. Francis Dondu, Martin Bernard, and Sojan Parappilly A second presenter for the from India. Top photo: The newly elected Provincial Council (clockwise from top left): Fr. Chapter was Fr. Felix Medina, John Lager (4th Definitor), Fr. John Cousins (Vicar Provincial), Fr. David Songy of St. James Church in (2nd Definitor), Fr. Christopher Popravak (Provincial Minister), and Fr. Jeff Ernst (3rd Definitor) Bottom photo: Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, WI The 2010-2013 triennial report Denver and member of the Neo- speaks to the friars about the meaning of New Evangelization and the was presented in PowerPoint by particular role of consecrated religious. Catechumenal Way. Fr. Felix, Provincial Minister Fr. Charles known for his evangelization Polifka. He served as provincial (continued on page 2) P r o v i n c i a l P O R T E R from 1989-1995 and again from 2007-2013, in addition to 1988-1989 as vicar provincial when Charles Chaput was taken from the province to be Bishop of Rapid City. Fr. Charles reported on the ministries, fraternities, administration, finances, and direction of the province, noting in his closing remarks that the current "right sizing" of the province is in place and the organization is ready to move forward in evangelizing on all fronts of the province.

A straw ballot to the Chapter and one at the beginning of the Chapter indicated that the friars were seriously considering Fr. Christopher Popravak, vicar provincial from 2010-2013, to be the new provincial minister. On April 3, the vote was taken and the friars elected him as the The Capuchins pray together in the Friars’ Chapel. In fraternity, the brothers took time new provincial. After Christopher humbly accepted the throughout the Chapter for common meditation, celebration of the Mass, and the decision, Charles embraced the new provincial and joyfully praying of the Divine Office. handed over the keys to the administration building and provincial office. Christopher. Frs. John Cousins, Jeff Ernst, David Songy, and John Lager were elected to the Council. John Cousins In the following days, interspersed with the presentations on was elected Provincial Vicar. the New Evangelization, a new council was elected to assist Jubilees were celebrated on Thursday evening with a special Mass and a "toasting" of Fr. Michael Suchnicki, celebrating 25 years of priesthood, Gene celebrating 50 years of religious life and Archbishop Chaput who celebrates 25 years as a bishop on July 26.

The Chapter closed with Mass on Friday morning in which Fr. Joseph Mary Elder proclaimed the elections. The newly elected provincial minister and council were installed by Mark.

While no official proposals were passed by the Chapter, the friars left with a new understanding of the New Evangelization. The newly elected administration went to work immediately on relevant matters of a new and exciting triennium.

Former Provincial Minister, Fr. Charles Polifka, congratulates newly elected Provincial Minister, Fr. Christopher Popravak, handing him the keys to the provincial office in Denver.

PORTER The Provincial Porter is a publication of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America, Inc. Publisher: Fr. Christopher Popravak, O.F.M.Cap. Editorial Board: Jim Blume, O.F.S., Stephanie Pedersen, Fr. Blaine Burkey, O.F.M.Cap. Send correspondence to: Provincial Porter The new council took the oath of fidelity during the celebration of Mass on Friday 3613 Wyandot St., Denver, CO 80211 morning. or email: [email protected]

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Provincial Prayer Ministry Provincial Prayer Ministry A Life Dedicated to Prayer by Fr. Charles Polifka, O.F.M.Cap.

When Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement, he also announced his intention to spend retirement in intense prayer. In his last public praying of the Angelus, he said to the crowds in St. Peter's Square, tying his thoughts to the Transfiguration Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent: "The Lord is calling me to go on top of the hill, to dedicate myself once Fr. Canice Froehlich, O.F.M.Cap. more to prayer and meditation," he said. "But this does not mean to abandon the church."

I have no doubt that Benedict's prayer will have a profound effect on the in the years to come. I can only imagine what that prayer will be, but I am sure that through Benedict the Church will have a closer tie to God. The beauty of this prayer is that it happens now, in his retirement, and will continue into his eternal life after his death.

Retirement is an arbitrary stage in the life of the Capuchin Minor. Arbitrary means that a Capuchin never retires from living according to the Rule of St. Francis and the Fr. Simon Conrad, O.F.M.Cap. Constitutions of the Capuchin Friars Minor. His ministry, however, focuses on the fraternity and on the interior life and also very intentionally on the needs of his brothers, his family, his friends, and those who request prayer. Requests for prayer abound, and the men assigned to our Provincial Prayer Ministry are the dynamos that power these requests.

“Our entire life of prayer will be imbued with an apostolic spirit while

all our apostolic activity will be fashioned by the spirit of prayer.” Fr. Felix Petrovsky, O.F.M.Cap. - Capuchin Constitutions

Benedict's prayer will be special for the Church, even though the Church is at prayer everywhere in the world. The same is true for the Capuchin Province of Mid-America; prayer is a daily and steadfast practice in all our friaries. We rely especially on the prayers of those friars who cannot actively embrace full schedules of ministries to embrace those persons who depend on us for prayer. I have found it edifying to see memorial cards of people who have died, lying on the chair next to one of these “prayer warriors.” They pray daily for the Fr. Bennett Colucci, O.F.M.Cap. deceased and rotate a stack of memorial cards to remember someone new each day. Others have the Provincial Prayergram at their chairs, listing the special petitions to be prayed for each month. Still others have notes with names and petitions written on them tucked into their breviaries. And in the provincial friary of St. Francis of Assisi, a basket rests near our chapel altar. It contains hundreds of prayer petitions sent to the province. All the friars across the province and in our missions in Papua New Guinea, remember these requests in prayer, at daily Mass, and in our daily sacrifices.

The Capuchins are bound to pray the Divine Office daily together with the community of Fr. Myron Flax, O.F.M.Cap. friars where we live. We are also bound to two substantial periods of meditation, each at least a half hour, daily. Provincial Prayer Ministers are able to spend much more time in prayer, both petitioning God for requests and contemplating God's presence and grandeur. As one friar who is assigned to this ministry told me during our visitation in February, "My life now is a life of prayer."

Prayer is what drives the lives of our friars, as well as our ministries. Without it, we lack the lifeline to God which keeps us connected and grounded. But we would also lack the lifeline from God which makes us energetic and generous doers of the Word. Those friars assigned Fr. Thaddeus Posey, O.F.M.Cap. to Provincial Prayer Ministry, by their dedication and their commitment to prayer, give us that extra power we need to do what we do. God bless them.

3 P r o v i n c i a l P O R T E R Capuchin Life: Serving the Sick & Imprisoned "In order that our apostolic initiatives may respond to the demands of evangelization and to peoples' needs, let the brothers accustom themselves to read the signs of the times through which the divine plan is perceived by the eyes of faith. They should foster the customary works of the apostolate such as …. care of the sick and of those in prison, works of education and social development…. All ministries undertaken for the people must be founded upon a life shaped by the Gospel. The witness of brothers who live close to the people and are simple of heart and minors by the condition of their life and speech is more easily understood and more willingly received.” - Capuchin Constitutions, 147

“As he went throughout the cities announcing the mystery of Christ in few and simple words, Francis, the herald of Christ, confirmed by the authority of the Church, scattered seeds of the Gospel everywhere.” - Capuchin Constitutions, 148

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was….ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me…. Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25: 34, 36, 40

Clockwise from top left: Br. Augustine Rohde, a registered nurse, administers a vaccine at Samaritan House in Denver; Br. Anthony Monahan visits an elderly woman at Mullen Home, a retirement community run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Denver; Fr. Harvey Dinkel ministers to Fr. Carl Kramer, a diocesan priest of the Salina and a resident at St. John of Hays Nursing Home in Hays, KS; Fr. Bill Kraus and Fr. Joseph Mary Elder minister at the Federal Corrections Institute in Englewood, CO; Fr. Cyrus Gallagher serves in prison ministry in Florence, CO. Together, Cyrus, Bill, and Joseph Mary serve in 28 facilities, including Federal prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and immigration detention centers throughout Colorado.

4 S p r i n g 2 0 1 3 N e w s l e t t e r Capuchin Life: Serving the Sick & Imprisoned

5 P r o v i n c i a l P O R T E R Reflections on My Jail & Prison Ministry by Fr. Bill Kraus, O.F.M.Cap. recreated in grace, and return to the Father´s house as Prison Chaplain redeemed sons and daughters (Luke 15: 20-24).

"I was in jail and you came to visit me," Jesus said, What has this ministry taught me or imprinted more deeply identifying himself with the imprisoned (Mt. 25:36). It is in my mind? One is the power of God´s Word in spiritual my privilege, along with lay and religious men and women, conversion and growth. Almost all the prisoners with whom and priests in the Archdiocese of Denver, to serve I´ve worked have Bibles, and they read them daily for light our incarcerated brothers and sisters in this wonderful and strength. I´ve never met such a Bible-centered group of spiritual work of mercy. Of all the great ministries in my 40 Catholics in my entire ecclesial ministry! Another is the fact years as a Capuchin and priest, this one is my most powerful that spiritual health requires serving others. Those who are experience of God's profound mercy and love for us in Jesus, imprisoned for many years, or for life, do not find peace until especially through the Sacrament of Penance. they are reconciled with God and themselves and they reach out to others, trying to help others live better lives in sometimes terribly difficult environments.

Finally, our common goal of eternal life, through and after all our histories and struggles, is an essential perspective of life and ministry both inside and outside of the prison. Recently I visited with a middle-aged woman, with children and grandchildren and the hopes and dreams of any woman, who had just been sentenced to 20 years in prison. She had experienced a solid conversion in recent months, had gone to Confession, and was facing her sentence with an amazing peace borne of her new life in Jesus. I asked her: "How do you deal with this sentence? How do you wrap you mind and heart and soul around 20 years? Isn´t that a long time?" She answered: "Yes, Father, it´s a very long time…..but I now see that it´s really a short time compared to eternity!"

Facilities Served by Capuchins in Colorado

Juvenile Detention Centers: Lookout Mountain, Montview, Gilliam, and Jefferson Hills.

County Jails: Denver City, Denver County, Fr. Bill Kraus serves as a prison chaplain to numerous prisons, jails, youth facilities, and immigration detention centers in Colorado. Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder, and Clear Creek. All Christian love and ministry is to help others find new life in Jesus. You can imagine the joy of the priest who is allowed State Prisons: Denver Women's Correction Facility, to be spiritual doctor, midwife, and jongleur of God all in one in the reconciliation and new life of a prisoner after 10, 30, Colorado Correction Center, Denver Regional even 50 years of following the wrong way. The delight is not Diagnostic Center, and Hudson Correctional just in heaven (Luke 15:7); it is on earth, too, in this Facility. ministry! Immigration Detention Center: Immigration As prison chaplain for the archdiocese, I minister the Control and Enforcement, and U.S. Marshals' sacraments to about 15 institutions (youth detention centers, Detainees. county jails, state and federal prisons, and an immigration detention center) on a weekly, monthly, or semi-monthly Federal Institutions: FCI Englewood’s Prison, basis, depending on the place and the need. While I celebrate Camp and two Detention Facilities; and the Federal the Mass in some of the institutions, my main ministry is Complex in Florence’s Correction Institute, Camp, Confession, this marvelous gift of God and the Church in Penitentiary, and SuperMax. which the incarcerated can leave their past life behind, be

6 S p r i n g 2 0 1 3 N e w s l e t t e r Provincial Archives A Treasure of History’s Dreams & Disappointments by Stephanie Pedersen "Fr. Dominic Unger left us several volumes, which he kept for his own enjoyment, of his pleasant memories and favorite Nestled between St. Francis of Assisi Friary and the Capuchin things, saying 'the memory of someone is like a meeting with Administration Building is a set of twin buildings constructed that person again. The memory of events is like experiencing as garages in 2001. The east-most twin lodges a host of them again.' " automobiles, lawn equipment and bicycles. But across the way, in the twin garage to the west, is something far more Each day of labor in the archives has a beginning, to be precious. The Provincial Archives is a treasury of sorts, a sure…but there is never an end in sight to all that still needs depository of times gone by. to be done. Rose Lane, friend and volunteer, has been assisting Blaine in the archives for several years. "Fr. Blaine For more than 30 years, the province's historical documents has the challenge of determining the priorities and he tells me and records were where to focus next," Rose said. "We start with a basic game scattered across the plan and then, as they say, life happens. Fr. Blaine gets calls I-70 corridor in and emails all the time from people needing things from the boxes that found archives which change our priority for the day." resting places in friary basements, closets, and libraries. The conversion of the west garage to a formidable archival institution, with a dry chemical fire suppression system and climate control became operational on February 12, 2007.

Fr. Blaine Burkey serves as the province’s archivist. Fr. Blaine Burkey has been archivist of the province much of the time since it was established in 1977. The process of gathering all the archival materials in Denver was a task in its own right, but the process of sorting, filing, and placing each element will take much longer.

Blaine continues to work on a management system to quickly tap the archives' contents that include materials related to Fr. Blaine hard at work in the province archives. friars, plus places and ministries where they have served. The 24,000 cubic feet of space is stuffed with records of previous "Sometimes that means creating digital images of photos, provincial administrations, various effects of members of the researching on the internet, or something as simple as Province's Eternity Fraternity, local chronicles, provincial organizing and filing communications from the provincial or publications, books by the friars, photographs, recordings, various articles, newspaper clippings or correspondence correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, and written by or about friars. There is also a constant influx of related artifacts, to name some. items being dropped off for storage at the archives which require our attention. "Someone once called me the keeper of the dream. The Archives are not a dream but a memory of the province," "The Provincial Archives offer a rare glimpse into the lives Blaine reflected. "They recall not only what we have and ministries of the friars who walked before us," Rose said. forgotten, but also much that we never knew about the "The history stored within these walls is priceless." brothers who have gone before us - their dreams, accomplishments, and disappointments.”

7 Capuchin Province of Mid-America Provincial Porter 3613 Wyandot Street DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 2862 Denver, CO 80211-2948

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The Provincial Porter is a quarterly publication of the Capuchin Province of M id-America. The Provincial Porter is named for St. Conrad of Parzham (1818- 1894), a Capuchin lay who spent most of his life as the friary’s porter, or doorkeeper, in Altoetting, Bavaria. As the porter, St. Conrad welcomed people into the friary, received supplies and generously prepared and offered food to Altoetting’s poor who would come to the friary door daily. Similar to St. Francis, he treated everyone with love, patience, and a kind heart.

In many different ways, the Capuchin Province of Mid- America serves as a “porter” — welcoming everyone and providing for those in need. The Provincial Porter strives to keep our relatives and friends informed about the lives of the Mid-American friars.

Porterglimpses

In January, Fr. John Friary in Santa Inez, CA. After their profession they will live Lager and Glenn Stack at St. Anthony Friary in Denver and continue formation in visited Capuchin Capuchin life. As Porter was going to press, it was announced missionaries in Papua that Br. Joseph Quinlan will profess his final vows on the New Guinea. Their morning of July 18 at St. Patrick’s. More in the next issue. tour included visits to many stations, The new Provincial observing projects and Council notes with great learning about joy the upcoming programs aimed at celebration of their enhancing the lives of women, children, and education in brother, Archbishop PNG. Charles Chaput, O.F.M.Cap.’s, 25th Fr. Christopher anniversary celebration of Popravak his ordination to the announced that episcopate on July 26, Brs. Jason Moore 2013 in Philadelphia and Marshall Schmidt will make Thanks to generous their temporary benefactors, friars in Ellis profession at a County, Kan. are enjoying newly renovated St. Fidelis Friary ceremony to be in Victoria, KS. Accessible bathrooms, updated heating and celebrated July 17 at St. Patrick’s Oratory. Jason and air-conditioning and other needed improvements are Marshall have completed their novitiate year at San Lorenzo benefiting the men who continue to minister in the area.