Spring 2017 • Vol
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPRING 2017 • VOL. 22, NO. 2 The Way of St. Francis OUTREACH Brother Ivo Toneck, OFM in Guaymas, Mexico B U I L D I N G COMMUNIT I E S O FPROMI SE THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS PROVINCE OF SAINT BARBARA The Way of Saint Francis inside SPRING 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2 on the cover Outreach: Building Communities of Promise Brother Ivo Toneck stands in front of his vintage pickup parked at the entrance of the Bellas Artes/School of Fine Arts which bears his name. (SEE ArticlE, STArting on PAGE 10) In his work as a missionary in Guaymas, Mexico for more than 30 years, Brother Ivo has become an icon of the FEATURES DEPARTMENTS community’s faith and hopes. This article about his efforts to build community is in itself a community effort by his Franciscan brothers. Brother David Buer interviewed our confrere extensively and provided 10 franciscan thoughts 4 dear friends the text, while the photography of Brother Richard (Dick) Tandy captures “I’m Glad I Was Here”: Brother Ivo the spirit of the man and the people he serves. Thanks as well to other Toneck is building community in 5 by the way community members: Friars Tommy King, Gerard Saunders, and Hajime Guaymas, Mexico 6 snapshot Okuhara for their contributions to this article. 14 friar profile PHOTO: ©BROTHER RICHARD TandY 2017 8 the word Ministering For The Long Haul: Father Pat Evard, OFM in Portland, OR donor profile Publisher Art Direction and Design 9 Very Reverend David Gaa, OFM Paul Tokmakian Graphic Design Provincial Minister 18 community profile 22 creative spirit Contributors Principal Ivan Hrga, St. Francis Editor Brother David Buer, OFM Elementary School, Sacramento, CA Father Dan Lackie, OFM Father Dan Lackie, OFM 26 at last Father Warren Rouse, OFM Editorial Team Harold Schroeder, OFS 20 guest essay Mr. Kevin Murray Brother Mark Schroeder, OFM Father Dan Lackie, OFM “It’s All About Just Showing Up!” Father Charles Talley, OFM Marie Abernethy, lay volunteer in the Father Charles Talley, OFM Brother Richard Tandy, OFM Franciscan spirit, Trujillo, Honduras The Way of St. Francis is published by the Franciscan Friars of California, Inc. It is a free magazine to those who provide their time, treasure, and talent to friars in the Province of Saint Barbara. The friars welcome your comments concerning The Way of St. Francis. You can contact the friars at Franciscan Friars of California, Inc., 1500 34th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 or via email at [email protected]. 14 The Way of St. Francis is owned and published by The Franciscan Friars of California, Inc. Copyright 2017. The Franciscan Friars of California, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the Franciscan Friars of California, Inc. Prayer, Fraternity, Joy, Service 18 ❖ The Franciscan Friars of the Province of Saint Barbara are members of a Roman Catholic religious order, from a diversity of 22 backgrounds and cultures, dedicated to serving the poor and promoting justice, peace, care of creation, and reconciliation in the joyful and prophetic spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Have a comment or suggestion? Let us know by sending an email to [email protected] www.sbfranciscans.org 2 SPRING 2017 | The Way The Way | SPRING 2017 JULY Senior Vacation Retreat dear friends … by the way 8/6–8/11 or 8/14 • La Alegria del Amor: Old Mission San Luis Rey Hispanic Couples Retreat Retreat, Oceanside, CA JUNE 7/7–7/9 • Serra Retreat, Fr. Tom Herbst, OFM & Malibu, CA Br. Mark Schroeder, OFM The grace of slowing down Silent Contemplative Fr. Ray Tintle OFM & Carlos Eat, play, learn and pray! Retreat Obando Daily schedule of activities 6/4–6/9 • San Damiano and presentations. Flexible A wise friend told me recently: “The only race you More information: Retreat, Danville, CA www.serraretreat.com or stay options. have to be involved in is the human race.” He was Sister Ishpriya, world call 310-456-6631 More information: watching me descend into a mode of hyperactivity. renowned spiritual animator www.sanluisrey.org or call What was I trying to prove? & guide. Growing into the Cosmic 760-757-3651 More information: I chuckled at my friend’s comment, but had to admit that I was Christ www.sandamiano.org or 7/23–7/28 • San Damiano, Feast of St. Clare overinvolved and mostly with projects, like this magazine, that call 925-837-9141 Retreat, Danville, CA Retreat Day carry the name of St. Francis. How ironic! Why? Because while Fr. Michael Crosby, 8/11 • San Damiano Retreat, having St. Francis as a patron probably means different things to Touched by the Holy: OFM.Cap. 5-day Silent Danville, CA Women in Watercolor San Damiano staff different people, to me it really boils down to slowing down over Contemplative Retreat. 6/4–6/10 • Franciscan Developing a spirituality of More information: and over again to do exactly what my friend suggested— join the Renewal Center, discipleship. www.sandamiano.org or human race. After all, Francis was completely captivated by the Scottsdale, AZ More information: www. call 925-837-9141 idea of God taking on human flesh in the Incarnation and humbly Sister Clare D’Auria OSF sandamiano.org or call Intercommunity Sisters’ 37th Annual Scripture joining the human race. I’m speculating here, but this act of love 925-837-9141 Retreat. Explore stories of Retreat on God’s part must have involved a cosmic effort to slow down! New Testament women. 2017 Annual Women’s 8/11–8/13 • St. Francis When St. Francis called himself a pilgrim, he was pointing to the More information: Retreat: (W)holy Listening: Retreat, San Juan Bautista, CA same approach to time. www.thecasa.org or call Journey of the Soul Fr. Jim Nisbet 480-948-7460 Approaching Scripture Putting together the current issue, we realized we were present- 7/28–7/30 • St. Francis Retreat, San Juan Bautista, CA through the eyes ing two of many “St. Francis-es” in the Province of St. Barbara: Sister Loretta Schraff of faith and scholarly Francis Center, Portland, and St. Francis Elementary School in More Information: examination. Sacramento. Even in the name of simplicity, our ministries and www.stfrancisretreat.com More information: [email protected] or projects have a way of multiplying. With St. Francis as patron of or call 831-623-4234 call 831-623-4234 so many places, are we overloading his seraphic plate along with AUGUST our own? Men & Women’s Serenity As I fly through my life, I sometimes sense a tug, as though Dreams Workshop Retreat 8/13–8/20 • Serra Retreat, someone is reaching up to me from solid ground calling me back Retreat Weekend 8/4–8/6 • San Damiano Malibu, CA down to earth. Maybe it’s St. Francis, trying to get me to pause Retreat, Danville, CA Fr. Tom Weston SJ long enough to meet a few of his friends and spark a little human Jeremy Taylor, D. Min. Weeklong 12-Step Recovery care and compassion. More information: Retreat More information: If so, well, as our patron would have it, that’s our hope for you www.sandamiano.org or call 925-837-9141 www.serraretreat.com or and the stories that follow. ❖ call 310-456-6631 Father Dan Lackie, OFM Editor ORIGINAL PHOTO BY ©Peter Jordon photo 2014 4 SPRING 2017 | The Way The Way | SPRING 2017 5 snapshot Ordination of Father Vincent Xuan Nguyen, OFM March 25, 2017 Sts. Simon & Jude Parish, Huntington Beach, California Photo taken by Khanh Vu An Ordination To Roar About! Flanked by two ceremonial “lions” at the doors of Sts. Simon & Jude Church in Pastor Daniel Barica, OFM. The liturgy was marked by a number of special mo- Huntington Beach, California, newly ordained Father Vincent Nguyen, OFM ments and gestures expressing the faith and culture of the Vietnamese Catholic extends his hands in blessing. A standing-room-only congregation packed the community. These included a memorable Lion Dance (performed by several of spacious sanctuary as The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of the Diocese Vincent’s nephews—shown here in costume), Scripture readings in Vietnamese, of Orange, laid hands on Vincent, conferring the Sacrament of Holy Orders. and even a few phrases in Vietnamese sprinkled throughout the bishop’s homily Family members, friends, and more than a score of friars attended the event, in- to the delight of all present. cluding Provincial Minister David Gaa, Vicar Provincial Martín Ibarra, and 6 SPRING 2017 | The Way The Way | SPRING 2017 7 “The eyes the word of God are on donor profile who fear Big Distinctions: those Our problem is that him we confuse … .” Marjory Yeager: Sirach 15:19 fear with fright, regardless of the a true Franciscan sister By Father Warren Rouse, OFM fact that the word “fright” rarely By Father Dan Lackie, OFM appears in the Scripture. And this EARS AGO, our history profes- is a particular problem for most of UIET, GENTLE, AND unassum- Ysor pronounced these words us when we recall so many pas- Q ing, Marjory Yeager has a of wisdom: “Never affirm, seldom sages in the Old (Hebrew) bible that unique perspective on the life deny, always distinguish.” So let’s describe, sometimes in gory detail, and ministry of the Province of 2017 do it with a simple statement: the anger of God. That frightens us. St. Barbara and the efforts she umpter “The eyes God are on those who The Old Testament writers has supported so generously S fear him….” used words (such as “the wrath over the years.