Papua New Guinea Capuchins Welcome the Newest Postulant
Our brother Modest Eligi, OFM Cap., the Superior of our Custody of St. Michael in Papua New Guinea sent word of the installation of their new Postulant. Celebrated on March 8, 2025, the ceremony welcomed Ignasius Paul at Padre Pio Friary in Madang in the Southern Highlands Province.
In the photo taken after the installation are, from left, "Joachim," a fellow Franciscan friar present for the ceremony, along with our Capuchin brothers Justin Purusi, Kevin Malimo (new to PNG from the Custody of Kenya), their new postulant Ignasius, Modest Eligi and Jim Bikine.
Postulancy is the first step in our way of life before receiving the habit in the Novitiate year. Ignasius is seen above wearing the TAU cross: the symbol of the Crusader in 13th Century Italy. Our brother, St. Francis of Assisi, used that sign for his own Crusade to spread of the Lord's peace and goodness. He would place that TAU in sacred places he visited on his pilgrim journeys.
Please keep Ignasius and the other six postulants of our PNG Mission in your prayers.
March for Life 2025
January's March for Life certainly experienced a Capuchin presence . . . . As our brother Pablo Lopez, OFM Cap., our photographer and reporter wrote:
We had our brother Cardinal Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., as the celebrant for the Mass for Life in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrines, joined with many concelebrants. Our Vocation Director, Br. Mike Herlihey, OFM Cap., was the homilist for the Mass." To round out the group, our Cap Corps Lay Volunteers, friars from Baltimore and Cleveland's Capuchin Formation Program were in attendance at the Mass and march, as well as as well as 14 candidates who were staying the weekend at Capuchin College to discern our way of life.
The Friars' Table Is Open to Serve
A major December event, along with our ministerial outreach at Philadelphia's Annie's Home, was the blessing and opening of The Friars' Table at city of Cleveland's Playhouse Square. Our brothers serve the St. Paul's Shrine and at the parish of St. Malachy's in the city, but Cleveland's Ordinary, Bishop Edward Malesic, posted a special moment on his Instagram page:
Last evening, I was pleased to bless the newly opened The Friar’s Table restaurant at Playhouse Square. The eatery is a collaboration among Cleveland Capuchin Ministries, EDWIN’s Leadership & Restaurant Institute and Playhouse Square, offering training and job opportunities for many people who are trying to build a new life.
Among the guests for the event were our Provincial Minister, Robert Marva, OFM Cap., joining our brothers in Cleveland. The press for the new endeavor has been fast and frequent from various news outlets in the Cleveland area.
This November Article appeared in the Diocese of Cleveland's webpage on November 20th:
The Friars’ Table restaurant plans job fair,
prepares to begin service
See more photos & read more about our unique sponsorship . . .
Our Capuchin Brothers for a Lifetime
Our Capuchin Franciscan brothers Josean Castro Arroyo, Ryan Schmeltzer and Connor Bannon professed their lifetime, solemn vows on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
Puerto Rico & Papua New Guinea: We're on a Mission
Our friar students Josean Castro, OFM Cap, Federico Viquez, OFM Cap., Pablo Lopez, OFM Cap., and Steve Cantwell, OFM Cap. (not picture left) have been spending their summer on assignment to Puerto Rico, and on June 17th, our brother Pablo offered these thoughts and photos about their experience of June's feast of St. Anthony on Facebook:
Living out the Gospel Life is full of great adventures, especially when your sent out by the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that sends us out and it is Christ whom we preach and when they see Christ they see the Father.
We were amazed of how a simple prayer or a simple conversation allowed us see the hearts of the people we encountered in the streets of Puerto Rico. God does not abandone His children, and it is through these encounters that we are reminded of His powerful Love for us.
The feast of Saint Anthony was such a grace filled moment. We were inspired by the great faith of the People of God and their great devotion to St Anthony, always seeking his intercession to draw one ever closer to Christ.
Don’t be afraid to walk in the footsteps of Christ!
Page 3 of 17