March 29 - April 5, 2026
Friar's Footnotes by Fr. John Prenger, OFP
Hello to all!
I hope it has been a good Lent as we have prepared for these upcoming days celebrating our salvation in Christ. Our sacred Triduum seeks to unfold the Mystery of Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection in slow motion. In essence these three days do their best to help us appropriate all that Christ has accomplished for us.
Our chapel schedule
HOLY THURSDAY: 7pm Eucharist with washing of feet
GOOD FRIDAY: 7 pm Exaltation of the Cross and the Passion account of St. John
EASTER VIGIL: at 7 pm with the lighting of the New Easter Fire, Salvation scriptures from Hebrew Scriptures, the Easter Gospel and the opportunity to renew our Baptismal vows and first Easter Eucharist. (Pray with all who are being baptized all over the Church on the occasion of the Vigil)
++++++NOTE WELL: We will do a carry-in AGAPE MEAL at 5:30 pm before our VIGIL and EASTER EUCHARIST. Plan to be a part of it.
Three noteworthy items. Fr. Jim has accepted the invitation to preside at Paschal TRIDUUM with the parishioners of St John's CEC Church in St. Joseph. Fr. Jim we will miss you but thank you for your service. In a real sense, St. John's is a sister congregation to us. We pray with Deacon Barry White and all of their community.
We will be joined by Fr. David and Dr. Toni Almond ofp for all of our TRIDUUM liturgies. It will be wonderful to have them in our midst for our celebrations.
Today our brother James Goodwin ofp goes in for a second surgery on the infection in his foot. Please hold him in prayer as it looks to be a very long recovery.
SAYINGS OF THE SAINTS
"Very soon the bible won't be allowed to cross our borders. We will get only the bindings, because all the pages are subversive." Blessed Rutilio Grande SJ, whose martyrdom led directly to the courage that rose up in St. Oscar Romero of El Salvador.
"One who is committed to the poor must risk the same fate as the poor. And in El Salvador we know what the fate of the poor signifies; to disappear, to be tortured, to be captive and to be found dead." St Oscar Romero
"God is love and I am his servant for the poor and for the suffering." Blessed Giuseppe Ambrosoli, Comboni Missionary doctor and priest who offered his life mainly in Uganda.
HAVE A BLESSED HOLY WEEK. Love in the Lord Jesus, the Christ.
Fr. John ofp
Padre’s Pontifications by Fr. Jim McNeely
September 2025
A Pastoral Statement
September 16, 2025
As a community of people committed to following the example of Saints Francis and Clare, we are stunned by the senseless violence that occurred last week, which ended in the murder of Charlie Kirk. We condemn in the strongest possible language the use of violence and hate against anyone, regardless of their political leanings.
We call for all Christian people – and especially those who follow a Franciscan calling – to embrace the virtues of peace, love, toleration, and compassion. Pray earnestly for the repose of the soul of our brother, Charlie Kirk. Pray for his wife and family. Pray for those involved in this shooting. And most of all, pray for those who found pleasure in the senseless murder of an innocent person.
As a community of faithful followers of Jesus, we call all people to re-examine our hearts and find new ways to be Christian examples in our communities. And we renew our belief that real compassion is found not in loving those easy to love, but those who challenge our comfort zones and disagree with us on any level.
-Fr. John Prenger, OFP
Pastor and Protector of the Order
-Fr. Jim McNeely
Priest in Residence and Friend of Francis
