Archived News
What has been happening recently in the Franciscan Province of the
Holy Spirit?
The Parish of St Ann in Kuching in East Malaysia, was formally
given into the care of the Franciscan Friars on 7 January in the
presence of the Archbishop Peter Chung, the Provincial Minister
Stephen Bliss. The new community at Kuching is made up of Friars
Joseph Lee, Arul Sagayaraj Mariadass, Joseph Goh, Anthony Samy
Selvaraj, Iose Ale and Kenny Anthony Samy.
Friar Christopher Gardiner has returned to Australia after serving
twelve months as a Confessor at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in
Rome. This is a ministry traditionally provided by the Franciscan
Friars and Christopher had responded to the request for extra
personnel during the Jubilee Holy Year.
Two of our Friars have recently served in the Holy Land - Friars
Michael Brown and Theodore Gillian. They went there to assist in the
care of pilgrims as a large influx was expected during the Jubliee
Year.
Paul Booth from Auckland and Colin Teo from Singapore have
commenced their period of formation with the Order. They will spend
this year living in a community of the Province, Paul at St.James' in
Box Hill and Colin at San Damiano in Singapore. During this time they
will have the opportunity of coming to know the Friars better and
experience their way of life.
Friar Peter Cantwell has accepted an appointment by the Minister
General as Visitator General to the Irish Province. A Visitator
General, in the name of the Minister General, meets with all the
Friars of a province prior to their Chapter as an objective observer
of events and developments in the Province. He also provides a report
to the General Administration of the Order in Rome. As the Irish
Province maintains communities not only in Ireland but also Italy,
Belgium and Zimbabwe as well, Peter has some travelling ahead of him.
Emil Jonathan Abeal was received into the Order as a novice on 2
January in Singapore. He will spend the next twelve months in
novitiate deepening his knowledge of Francis and Religious Life.
Having completed his term as Rector of Padua College in Brisbane,
Friar John Boyd-Boland will be undertaking a parish supply in Raleigh,
USA, for some weeks.
Kevin Fear made his first profession of vows in the Order on Sunday
25 February at St.Paschal's Friary in Melbourne. The Provincial
Minister, Stephen Bliss, received his vows in the presence of close
friends and family of Kevin as well as the local Franciscan
Communities. Kevin will spend this year at St James' friary Box Hill
furthering his studies at the Yarra Theological Union.
Great celebrations in Melbourne were held to mark the Golden
Jubilee of first profession for Friars Philip Carroll, Gerard Davis,
Kevin Goode, Robert Matthews, Cormac Nagle, Terence O'Neill and Hugh
Walsh. All were present for a Mass and luncheon at St Paschal's friary
in Melbourne and with them were over two hundred guests and well
wishers.
The seven Jubilarians
Fr Constantine Koser, former Minister General and the first to
visit Australia died on 19 December, 2000. A Brazilian Friar, he led
the Order through the challenging period of change following the
Second Vatican Council.
Just ten days later, Friar Leonard White died in Sydney. Born in
New Zealand, Leonard served in many Franciscan communities throughout
his religious life but will possibly be best remembered for his long
service as cook at St Francis' Retreat Centre in Mount Roskill in
Auckland. Many would remember his legendary fruitcakes.
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