WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | July 10-23, 2015 | Volume 76, Number 16 ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE Pat Rizzo, a member of Emmanuel Parish in Delray Beach, recites a prayer for grandparents. (LINDA REEVES | FC) Girls participate in an after-school tutoring program run by Catholic Charities at the Casa San Juan Bosco farmworker housing community in Arcadia. (BOB Group shines REDDY | FC) Third Order Regular Franciscan Brother Patrick Catholic Corrigan, right, professes first vows of his religious order before Franciscan Fathers Patrick Quinn, left, and light on Giles Schinelli, center. (LINDA CALDWELL | FC) Charities grandparents New summertime commitments The first chapter of the international Catholic Grandparents Association has launched here in giving the Diocese of Palm Beach. An inaugural meeting offer hope June 8 attracted grandmothers and grandfathers from various parishes eager to meet other grand- Plant the seeds for good deeds this summer to parents, express concerns and seek advice and feed the hungry, teach at-risk children and adults, Throughout the world, Catholics continue to support. grant a decent place to live to the homeless, bring celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life — Nov. 30, “For me, coming here and meeting others who quality housing to those who are struggling and 2014-Feb. 2, 2016 — dedicated to the promotion have the same concerns about their grandchil- support those who are the most vulnerable. of religious life. In the Diocese of Orlando, three dren gives me strength,” said Pat Rizzo, a member Planting the seeds for good deeds is the theme have recently heeded a call of discernment and of Emmanuel Parish in Delray Beach, one of the for the 2015 “Summertime and the Giving Is Easy” have embraced religious life, journeying in faith first people to arrive at the chapter meeting held campaign of Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice to serve the Lord. at host Ascension Parish in Boca Raton. Inc. Click on the ORLANDO DIOCESE above for Click on the PALM BEACH DIOCESE for more Click on the VENICE DIOCESE above for more more on this story. on this story. on this story. Bolivians Supreme Murdered get a Court makes victims birds- landmark recalled eye view decisions on for honor, of Pope marriage, valor, Francis capital spirit during punishment visit WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | July 10-23, 2015 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE CO NSECRATED LIFE Grace Ford, of Bartow, kneels as she is received into the Sisters of St. Joseph novitiate. She is now referred to as Sister Grace Ford. Her rite of initiation ceremony was held June 7, at the Motherhouse of Evelyn Bernard, right, professes her vows as an aspirant to the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament the Sisters of St. Joseph in St. Augustine. (COURTESY) in Ohio. (COURTESY) New commitments bring hope for the future LINDA CALDWELL of the Florida Catholic staff ORLANDO | Throughout the world, Catholics continue to celebrate the Year of Con- secrated Life — Nov. 30, 2014-Feb. 2, 2016 — dedicated to the promotion of religious life. In his announcement of this special year, Pope Francis called on the Church’s religious sisters, brothers and priests to “wake up the world” with their testimony of faith, holiness and hope. In the Diocese of Orlando, three have recently heed- ‘The joy of this ed that call and have embraced religious life, journey- journey has been ing in faith to serve the Lord. On June 21, Third Order Regular Franciscan Brother found in all of the Patrick Corrigan professed his first vows of his order grace I have received before a group of about 100 family, friends and faith- ful. The ceremony took place during a Mass celebrated and in feeling God’s at San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in Winter prompting and Park. Third Order Regular Franciscan Father Giles Schi- assurance that I am nelli, pastoral administrator of San Pedro, said Brother Corrigan spent time as a novice, training and pre- doing what he wants paring for religious life. Now, after professing his first me to do.’ vows, he will continue his journey of faith, and after three years, if considered laudable, he will profess his — Evelyn Bernard final solemn vows. Brother Corrigan was ready to continue his journey. “I am very excited to be joining the Franciscan brothers, to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis and to live a life of service,” he said before the start of Mass. “I feel very blessed today to have all of my Franciscan brothers and sisters here with me today, as well as my family and friends who have traveled from Ireland. I feel very blessed with their pres- ence and their love and support.” Brother Corrigan knelt before Third Order Regular Franciscan Father Patrick Quinn, who celebrated the Mass, and professed to give his life to God, living in poverty, chastity and obedience. “Therefore with all my heart I give myself to this brotherhood that through the work of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, our Father Francis and all the saints, I hereby give my consecration to the service of God,the Church and Third Order Regular Franciscan Brother Patrick Corrigan, right, professes first vows of his religious order before Franciscan Fathers Patrick Quinn, left, and Giles Schinelli, center. (LINDA PLEASE SEE VOCATIONS, 2 CALDWELL | FC) July 10-23, 2015 Florida Catholic YOUR ORLANDO COMMUNITY 2 PERSONAL REFLECTION The long and winding road to a religious vocation In celebration of the Year for 1994, I decided I wanted to take Brother Patrick Consecrated Life, we bring some time off and consider what Corrigan, right, you a series of articles told by God was calling me to do and re- greets his religious sisters and religious turned to Ireland. There I found uncle, Father order priests and brothers, a job teaching in a school where P.J. Corrigan, a who will share the joy of their some of the children came from diocesan priest in vocation. Third Order Regular difficult socioeconomic back- Ireland, before Franciscan Brother Patrick grounds. the celebration Corrigan shares his faith journey. of Mass at San They didn’t have much interest Pedro Spiritual in religion and, of course, I was an Development BROTHER PATRICK CORRIGAN idealistic seminarian just out of Center June 21. THIRD ORDER REGULAR theology school. I thought I knew Brother Corrigan FRANCISCAN everything, but these kids taught professed his first Special to the Florida Catholic me humility. vows as a Third I took a break from teaching Order Regular I grew up in Ireland, in a pre- in 2003 and sold real estate for Franciscan during dominantly Catholic county in a number of years. In 2009, I re- the celebration. a rural part of the country called turned to the seminary. There was He said his Virginia, County Cavan. Daily a program all seminarians had to uncle played an prayer was an important part of complete called Clinical Pastoral important role my upbringing. I remember say- Education (CPE). It was training in his journey ing our morning prayers as a seminary students in terms of of faith. (LINDA family as we traveled to school. I pastoral care, mostly in hospital CALDWELL | FC) would take time out for personal settings. Because all of the spots prayer time with God. Those were in the hospitals in Ireland were the first promptings of a start of a filled, I came to the United States more personal relationship with and found a place at Florida Hos- God. pital Orlando. The idea of priesthood started This was a life-changing ex- to come into my heart and into my perience for me. People are their mind as I completed secondary most vulnerable in a hospital set- am still with you, and I am calling very spontaneous, yet very natu- June 21. school, but I put them aside and ting. One day I was sitting with a you.” ral. Two days later I was having Looking back on the journey, went to the University of Galway. patient for what was to be a quick At the end of the summer I re- coffee with the vocations director. I recognize that God was gently But God’s promptings were still visit. When I was about to leave, I turned to the seminary, but felt The Franciscan way of life is a prompting and calling me to daily in my heart and in 1988, at the asked the gentleman if he would drawn back to Florida Hospital to call to service, especially to those conversion, as is our charism, and age of 18, I went to the National like me to pray with him. continue my chaplaincy training most marginalized. Our charism to live this out in service to the Seminary St. Patrick’s College, As we prayed, he started to cry. and ministry. I felt that this was the calls us to serve the sick and the Gospel. I have a great love of peo- Maynooth, to study for diocesan It moved me and we ended up get- ministry God was calling me to do. underprivileged. I felt a connec- ple and I love living in community priesthood. I was content. ting in a long, deeper conversa- One Saturday evening I was at tion to the Franciscan way of life with my brothers. Sharing prayer The bishop decided to send me tion. I was moved by the fact that Mass at St. Margaret Mary, when and to living the Gospel life in life, the Eucharist and Church to Rome to study theology. Dur- God was using me again in terms I saw a card advertising Francis- community. fellowship is very enriching and ing my third year there, I began of ministering.