Two Friars Moving In

Aug 16

A bit over a month ago I shared with you that Fr. Matt and I would be attending our
Provincial Chapter [Meeting] in St. Louis, Missouri. The Chapter was attended by 330 friars from July 12th – 17th. Our Chapter meetings are on a three-year cycle and serve as our legislative body where we discuss and decide the specifics of our Franciscan life in the world. One of the main tasks of a Chapter is to elect a Provincial Minister, his Vicar, and a Provincial Council of seven.

In July, we elected Fr. Michael Perry, OFM as our Provincial Minister, Fr. Eric Lopez, OFM as the Vicar Provincial, and seven friars to serve as the Provincial Council. The Provincial and Vicar both serve a six-year term and can be reelected for a three-year term in 2032. At the end of those two terms, they cannot be reelected and simply fold back into the ranks with the rest of the brothers. As we are only three years into being a new Province, The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we spent a lot of time working out some the issues that arise from bringing together six independent provinces into one. Fr. Michael was the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor from 2013 to 2021. That would be akin to the President of the United States becoming a Governor of a State after serving their term in the White House. Michael was a wonderful Minister General and there was little doubt that he would also be a wonderful Provincial Minister.

I have lost track of how many Provincial Chapters I have been to at this point. Chapters can be a cause for great excitement but can also create a bit of anxiety. Like everyone else, friars really don’t like change. Despite our call to be “pilgrims and strangers,” [Hebrews 11:13–16, St. Francis’ Testament, and The Rule of Life of the Secular Franciscan Order, 2:11] - people who recognize that we are all on a journey to God and who try to detach themselves from things of this world – there is always the thought that with a new Chapter the potential to be reassigned is real.

I am very happy to say that neither Frs. Kevin, Matt nor I received a call to move to a different assignment. We did, however, receive a call asking us to welcome two of our brothers into the fraternity on Long Beach Island.

Fr. Joe Rozansky, OFM, has been a summer fixture on LBI for the past forty years. You have most likely seen him preside at Mass during the month of July or bumped into him at the Festival of the Sea since he volunteers every year. Presently, Joe lives in San Antonio, Texas as part of the team that helps prepare our newer brothers to profess their Solemn Vows and prepare for ministry. He has dedicated many years mentoring friars as they discern what it means to be a friar minor. Earlier in Joe’s friar life, he was a missionary in Brazil for more than a decade. Experiencing the extreme poverty in Brazil, Joe became a strong advocate for the poor. In 2005, Joe was called by the Minister General in Rome to work in the Order’s Office of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. After nine years in Rome, Joe returned to the United States and began working once again with our newer friars in formation. In mid-September, Joe will begin his new assignment as a Senior Friar in Residence in St. Francis Friary and minister within the parish. As a native son of Passaic, New Jersey, we not only welcome Joe back to New Jersey, but we also welcome him back to paradise, Long Beach Island and St. Francis of Assisi Parish and Center.

The other great news is the new Provincial administration has also appointed Fr. Jim Gannon, OFM to St. Francis of Assisi Parish and Center to serve as a parochial vicar. Fr. Jim was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is quite familiar with the Jersey Shore. Jim entered the Assumption Province of the Order of Friars Minor that, at the time, was based in Franklin, Wisconsin. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1987 and eventually became the Provincial Minister of the Assumption Province. As Provincial Minister, Jim worked very closely with the other five Provincial Ministers that eventually led to the formation of our present and new Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Jim is on the Mass schedule for a few weekends in August, but we look forward to welcoming Jim full time by the end of the month. Welcome, Jim.