Letter #2 to Fr. James McCurry and Definitory regarding MAC Pastorate

 

 The Roman Catholic Parishes of

St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer

A Franciscan Pastorate in the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Friary: 2 Willow Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21206 

 April 10, 2021

The Very Rev. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and Definitory 

Provincial House

Our Lady of the Angels Province

12300 Folly Quarter Rd. Ellicott City, Maryland 21042

Re: The Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel Church, the Church of the Annunciation, St. Clement Mary Hofbauer

Dear Fr. James and Definitory:

Greetings from Northeast Baltimore County!  This is the second of two letters I am sending you regarding the ministry of the friars here in the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer (affectionately called the “MAC Pastorate”).  In this letter I hope to offer my thoughts about why I believe the friars of our Province should not depart from this ministry after the next Provincial Chapter.  

Our House Chapter met on February 18, 2021 and we discussed the “First Draft of the Fraternal-Pastoral Plan, 2022-2026” of the Our Lady of the Angels Province that was sent to us via email on Friday, February 12, 2021.  We did this in response to the invitation expressed in the same email that “each friary chapter to do a thorough review and thoughtful study of the plan.”  For nearly a week prior to our House Chapter, the friars of our community had several lively dinner table and community-room conversations about the “First Draft” as it was presented.  After our House Chapter discussion, these conversations continued in our house for at least another week, and so we continued to study and share our collective thoughts on the matter until when on the morning of Friday, March 2, 2021, and for the record, we formally sent a written response to the draft plan via email to Friar Richard-Jacob Forcier.

In that email we wrote the following:  

1. A statement voicing surprise at the Province’s possible departure from Most Holy Trinity, Brooklyn, NY.  We noted that Trinity can support the salaries of three to four friars, and that it offers our friars a “perfect ministry” for service to the poor.  

2. Regarding the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, we noted (1) our commitment to the staff and parishioners of the Pastorate, (2) the very recent and costly renovations and improvements done to the friary to accommodate four to five friars, (3) the “groundwork” done by the friars in establishing the Pastorate, (4) the fact that St. Michael has had five pastors in the last ten years, and (5) our good working connection with the friars ministering at Archbishop Curley High School. 

On the evening of March 2nd, and in response to our email of earlier that day, you asked us in a reply email to offer further input.  You also reminded us that “we do not have the number of friars, or required skill sets, to remain in all of the places where we presently live and work.”  An important point you made is the fact that our Province currently does not have enough friars to do Spanish ministry in places where it is needed.  And so, you requested that we give “recommendation for two alternative places (of similar number and skill sets) to be closed.”  

Very frankly and personally, I do not feel informed enough and/or qualified to make “recommendation for two alternative places (of similar number and skill sets) to be closed.”  But for the most part I do believe I understand the reality that our Province “does not have the number of friars, or required skill sets, to remain in all of the places” it currently serves.  To me it does not seem productive to suggest very randomly that “we should stay here and not there.”  But I do have some other views on the matter that I would like to share (and I realize these ideas very likely have already been raised by others).  And so, these are some of my thoughts:  

1. It is estimated there are thirty million Spanish-speaking (i.e., “Hispanic”) Catholics in the U.S.A.; only about ten percent of these Catholics regularly attend Mass every Sunday.  About forty percent of all Catholics in the U.S.A. are Hispanic; in many dioceses Hispanics make up more than thirty percent of the population.  Today, most Catholics under the age of thirty in the U.S.A. are Hispanic.  This is the growing, most dynamic single population of Catholics in our country (see  www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/05/04/hispanic-catholic-church-us-growing-survey-confirms).

2. Isn’t it a noble idea for our Province to make every effort possible to serve the church where we are most needed, and in this case with Hispanics in the U.S.A. (who are growing in numbers and who will continue to represent one of the largest and most vibrant communities of faith within our country)?  Do we want “to jump off” this proverbial “train,” and perhaps fail in our Franciscan obligations to build and to rebuild the Church, and to serve “the neediest of God’s people?”

3. For many years, in fact for almost all its history, the former St. Anthony of Padua Province depended heavily on the assistance of foreign-born Polish friar-priests.  These priests came from Poland and were a much-needed part of the Province’s ministry to its many Polish-speaking parishioners.  Why not continue this tradition in a new light as we embrace modern-day needs of the Church in the United States, a church in which the Spanish-speaking population is growing and flourishing?

4. There are Conventual Franciscan Friars living and working in many Spanish-speaking countries throughout the world.  In fact, in addition to Spanish-speaking friars in the four provinces of the U.S.A., we have provinces in Spain, in Columbia, and in Mexico; there are custodies in Bolivia and in Costa Rica, and there are delegations in Chile, Cuba, Paraguay, and Venezuela.  While I am sure these friars, and their respective jurisdictions, are as “stretched” as we are in meeting personnel needs, I am left to wonder what type of success we might have had, or may have in the future, in soliciting the help of our brothers, even temporarily, to meet some of the Spanish language needs we currently have as the Province of our Lady of the Angels?   Could we develop some type of “exchange program” where they come to help us, and we in turn send friars to them who could build bridges between our jurisdictions, and for O.L.A. friars who could use such opportunities to immerse themselves in Spanish and Hispanic cultures (thereby preparing themselves for possible future ministry among Hispanics at home)?   This would be following exactly in the tradition of the former St. Anthony of Padua Province’s interaction with the Polish provinces for the purpose of securing linguistically able priests for the Province’s ministries. 

5. Might we also study and propose creative, if even just “temporary,” solutions to our Province’s lack of Spanish-speaking friars available for ministry?  While certainly not “ideal,” why not invite local diocesan priests and/or other religious communities to our parishes where Spanish ministry is needed to assist us as “outside clergy” and/or “weekend help?” This could be a “stop-gap measure” done until a day in the future when again we will be able to respond robustly to these needs ourselves.

I offer these thoughts above as a different option to the invitation to make “recommendation for two alternative places (of similar number and skill sets) to be closed.”   

In the first of these two letters that I have sent to you I outlined numerous accomplishments and benefits we have experienced as friars ministering in the emerging Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, “A Franciscan Pastorate in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.”  Building upon what I presented in that outline, and upon the thoughts our House Chapter shared with you on March 2nd, I would like to offer the following reasons I believe we should not depart from this ministry after the next Provincial Chapter:

1. We have worked extremely hard, and very successfully during the past two and a half years to build a very positive and productive rapport among the members of our extended Pastorate staff.  It seems “we just got here” and after immediately and enthusiastically working on staff development, which continues to demand our energy and attention, it seems if we depart then all these efforts might have been for naught.  And I do not mean to suggest a departure would be to our friars’ disadvantage, but rather that it would be very detrimental to a staff of people (not to mention parishioners) who during these two and a half years have trusted us, who have been willing to accept our guidance, and with whom our efforts in staff restructuring and development have been so successful.  I believe we have had a similar success in the rapport we have with various diocesan officials with whom we have worked to build the Pastorate.  Why would we want to “throw-away” such an accomplishment?  

2. In August of 2018, when our community first took up residence in the St. Michael the Archangel Rectory (now our friary) we did so “sight unseen.”  The condition of the building was not suitable for the five friars assigned to live there.  And so, for more than a month after we first arrived, and at the cost of about $56,000.00, we were able to renovate and to refashion the building so that it could comfortably accommodate a religious community of men.  We are grateful the Province was able to grant us with $25,000.00 to partially cover the expenses associated with that renovation, but the St. Michael Parish’s necessary $31,000.00 contribution to the project was very painful, given the concurrent financial stress it also was facing.  At the time, and in meetings with the parish Finance Council and parishioners, we “sold” these renovations with the idea that they were parish “investments” in a future in which our friars would serve for a long time.  Now if we depart after so short a time, this part of our history at St. Michael will no doubt cause very hard feelings among parishioners and perhaps the clergy who come after us.  I would also add that because of the work we did on the house, I believe it is now one of the most functional and “conventual” friary buildings within the Province.  We can easily accommodate five friars, there are two guest rooms, we have a very well-designed community room, there is a fine chapel, and among other positive features there is more than sufficient space to entertain guests and visitors while maintaining the privacy of the community.  We are positioned here to have a truly “conventual” friary where friars engaged in multiple ministries can function together quite well (for example and perhaps in a future where friars from Archbishop Curley and those of our Pastorate could be housed at St. Michael and/or in the currently underutilized former rectory at Annunciation).  I believe it would be regretful to lose such a possible asset to our broader Conventual community.    

3. The Pastorate was formed by bringing together St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, where our friars served for many years, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, where our friars served since the early 1990’s.  All these parishes had long histories of administration by diocesan priests.  In a relatively short number of years, our friars developed tremendously positive and robust rapports with the people of St. Clement and Annunciation.  We have just begun to make such headway with the people of St. Michael (and incidentally the parish has had five different pastors over the past ten years) and our success thus far has been very encouraging.  I believe we really have worked hard and have made very positive efforts to truly make this “A Franciscan Pastorate in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.”  Why would we give up on these people, and these efforts to establish a strong and stable “Franciscan Presence” in Northeast Baltimore County and City after such a short time and so enormous an effort?  Also, what impact would this have on the morale of the many friars who over the years have ministered at St. Clement and at Annunciation, and those of us who for these past two and a half years have worked so hard also to include St. Michael as an important part of this Franciscan apostolate?  

4. We have an excellent ministerial relationship with the friars of our community who staff Archbishop Curley High School.  During the past year, the friar-priests from Curley have become very regular “weekend clergy help” in all three of our parishes.  The people of our parishes understand that we are making an “all-out-effort” to be a “Franciscan Pastorate,” and I believe the inclusion of the Curley friars in our ministry has tremendously bolstered these efforts.  Because of this, and in addition to the nearby ministry of the friars at St. Casimir and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, I believe our Province has a formidable presence in East Baltimore City, as well as in our Pastorate’s part of Northeast Baltimore County.  I believe this presence is very significant and beneficial to our broader Province community of friars and to the people we serve in the Baltimore area.  

5. In our three parishes we have very many families who are associated with Archbishop Curley High School (as well as with the nearby all girls Franciscan school, the Catholic High School).  Many of the men and fathers of our three parishes are graduates of Archbishop Curley, and many of their sons, our young parishioners, are currently students there.  In conversations with these parishioners, and whenever “the friar connection” between our parishes and Archbishop Curley is mentioned, it is without exception done with tremendous pride and joy by both the old and the young.   I believe this robust “Franciscan Presence” on the East side of Baltimore (including also the two parishes in the city) brings with it the great possibility of true and visible “vocation promotion” that we hope to develop and expand as a Province.  Since “vocation promotion” is one of our stated objectives for the future, why would we depart from such a fertile opportunity? 

6. These parishes are not “rich,” nor are they “affluent” as possibly some of our other Province apostolates are.  Our parishioners are mostly “working class” or “blue collar middle class.”  The neighborhoods surrounding our three parishes are “changing,” but not necessarily for the better.  St. Michael the Archangel is very financially challenged.  Even so, our parishes have tremendously wonderful outreach ministries to the needy.  Both St. Michael and St. Clement have active St. Vincent de Paul Societies and wonderful food pantry ministries.  Annunciation has a fantastic “Social Concerns Committee” that throughout the year sponsors various outreach efforts done for the poor of Baltimore City.  All three parishes regularly support the food pantry and outreach efforts of my former parish of St. Wenceslaus in Baltimore City (a coincidental reality for me that long precedes my association with any of these parishes).  This Pastorate apostolate gives our friars direct opportunities to work with and minster to the neediest of our neighbors.  That is what Franciscans do!  I believe this Pastorate is an excellent place for our friars to thrive as sons of Il Poverello and as Franciscan witnesses to the Gospel!

Many of the suggestions and observations I have made above (particularly those having to do with the Franciscan obligation to serve the poor) would also apply to my belief that we should not depart Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary in Brooklyn (where I served joyfully for a total of seventeen years).  Trinity must be the most dynamic, the most “conventual,” and the most service-to-the-poor oriented parish we have.   I believe a departure of our friars from there would be deeply regretted for many years to come.  Once the dust would settle, they likely would say: “we never should have left there.”   

I, Friar Timothy P. Dore, OFM Conv., strongly believe that we ought not withdraw from our Province commitment to ministry in the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer (nor from Brooklyn as well).  I believe the friars with whom I live and minister, are in complete agreement with me on the points I have presented in this letter.  I am grateful for any attention you can give to what I have written.

Most Sincerely,

Friar Timothy Dore, OFM Conv.

Pastor, St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, St. Clement Mary Hofbauer

Letter #1 to Fr. James McCurry and Definitory regarding MAC Pastorate

 The Roman Catholic Parishes of

St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer

A Franciscan Pastorate in the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Friary: 2 Willow Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21206 

 

April 1, 2021

The Very Rev. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and Definitory

Provincial House

Our Lady of the Angels Province

12300 Folly Quarter Rd. Ellicott City, Maryland 21042

Re: The Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel Church, the Church of the Annunciation, St. Clement Mary Hofbauer

Dear Fr. James and Definitory:

Greetings from Northeast Baltimore County!  This is the first of two letters I am sending you regarding the ministry of the friars here in the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer (affectionately called the “MAC Pastorate”).  In this letter I want to report about the great success we have had in forming our Pastorate during the past two and a half years.  In my second letter I will offer my thoughts about why I believe the friars of our Province should not depart from this ministry after the next Provincial Chapter. 

I wish to share the following with you:  Since August of 2018 when our friars became the administrators of the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer we have accomplished and/or benefited from the following:

1.  Extensive renovations on the new friary at St. Michael.  Prior to our arrival, the environment and condition of the house made it unsuitable as a friary for the five friars who were sent (sight unseen) to live there.  Its new and current configuration is now able to comfortably accommodate a religious community of men.  This not to mention the closure and removal of furniture, household items, etc. from the former St. Clement Friary, a monumental task.

2.  The hiring of a “Facilities Manager” Mr. Jaimie Spangler, to oversee the maintenance and security of buildings, HVAC systems, and grounds of three Pastorate parish campuses. 

3.  The consolidation of Pastorate accounting services under the direction of our two incredibly capable accountants Mrs. Robin Novak and Mrs. Maria Boling. Previously there were three different accountants and offices, and each parish used a different bank.  Although the parish accounts are separate, each now use the same PNC Bank.  This greatly simplifies things.  

4.  The parishes, particularly St. Michael the Archangel, have some financial challenges, but we are carefully and responsibly dealing with these issues (examples of this are the permission Archbishop Lori recently has given St. Michael the Archangel to launch a five-year $500,000.00 Capital Campaign for necessary repairs to its church building, the $129,000.00 cost of replacing the roof on the Church of the Annunciation, and the tedious process of selling the school buildings and the former friary at St. Clement Mary Hofbauer).

5.  Financially speaking, St. Michael the Archangel presents many challenges.  The parish is $1,438,006.78 in debt to the Archdiocese (this includes years of unpaid Cathedraticum, old school bills from the former St. Michael School, and previous years of unpaid property and health insurance).  At the close of the 2019-20 fiscal year, and in consultation with the Parish Finance Council, a most difficult decision was made to lay-off several St. Michael parish employees (including a semi-retired Permanent Deacon, a parish secretary, several youth sacristans, and evening office receptionists).  This caused sentiments of anger from some parishioners and was a very tough moment for all concerned.

6.  We also had to terminate the employment of an organist at the Church of the Annunciation, and a maintenance worker at St. Clement Mary Hofbauer.  We did so in full consultation with the Archdiocesan Human Resources Department and completely “according to the book.”  As unpleasant as such moments can be, we handled these terminations with great respect and with regard for the dignity of those we had “to let-go.”

7.  Late in 2018 we implemented and/or renewed the strict money handling protocols as directed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  Previously some of these protocols in all three of our parishes were not being carefully followed.

8.  The official September of 2019 activation of the “Pastorate” with the assistance and guidance of Ms. Julie St. Croix of the Archdiocesan Office of Pastoral Planning (now the Office of Parish Renewal and the Institute for Evangelization).  This has involved the creation of a Pastorate “Collaborative Committee” consisting of three Parish Pastoral Councilors from each parish and significant Pastorate staff members.  Pre-Covid the committee was meeting once a month with Ms. St. Croix and working on key questions and ideas related to forming a Pastorate.  More recently and less frequently due to the pandemic, these meetings have been conducted via Zoom, a great challenge. 

9.  From the beginning, and on all our official documents, including the Pastorate bulletin, we have proudly labeled ourselves as “A Franciscan Pastorate in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.” 

10. The redefining of three Parish Pastoral Councils within the “Pastorate model.”  This included the (pre-Covid) scheduling of “Mega Parish Pastoral Council meetings” on a regular and rotating basis.  This involved a tremendous amount of “catechesis” and “diplomacy” and was not an easy task.

11.  A change in the weekend Mass schedules in three parishes.  Previously there had been a total of fourteen weekend Masses among the three parishes.  Some of those Masses were scheduled at simultaneous times.  After extensive consultation with the Parish Pastoral Councils and parish staff members, and after careful study of pertinent data about the various Masses (i.e., attendance numbers, varying musical and liturgical styles, hours scheduled, availability of clergy, etc.) “Town Hall” meetings were held in each parish to address the issues and to consult the parishioners.  This was not an easy task, as some parishioners were angry and vocal, and resistant to change.  After the “Town Hall” meetings, plans for the schedule change were “tweaked” and refined because of valuable parishioner feedback.  Therefore, within the first year of our arrival, and pre-Covid, we were able to implement a schedule of ten weekend Masses instead of fourteen.  Now, after the Covid lockdown and the subsequent drop in Mass attendance, we currently have a “temporary” schedule of seven weekend Masses.  This schedule too was carefully thought-out and implemented given coronavirus restrictions and challenges.

12.   We have recently (mostly due to Covid limitations) changed even our Daily Mass schedule.  Previously all three Masses were conducted at nearly the same morning time (two at 8:30 a.m. and one at 9:00 am).  Our new Daily Mass schedule now includes a 7:30 a.m., a 9:00 a.m. and a 12:00 noon.  This gives parishioners from all three parishes more options for these Mass times and makes is much easier to schedule clergy coverage.

13.   We have accomplished a complete redefining and restructuring of the Pastorate staff.   This was done in close consultation with Ms. Connie Vagrin, the Employee Relations Manager of the Archdiocesan Human Resources Department.  After very careful study and reflection, and much hard work on the part of the “core clergy team” (consisting of Friars Timothy and John, and Sr. Susan Engel) the job descriptions of every member of our Pastorate staff were rewritten.  Duplication among responsibilities were eliminated, and staff members were given specific “Pastorate duties” as part of the restructuring.   This includes monthly “Pastoral Administrative Team” (PAT) meetings where principal staff members are consulted and encouraged to give feedback in a most collegial manner.   In addition to the clergy and Sr. Susan, there are nineteen lay persons employed as members of our Pastorate staff.   We work well and very closely with each other, and the morale is very positive.  I believe our staff members feel “cared-for” and respected by the Pastor and by each other. 

14.   The relocation of most Pastorate administrative office activities to St. Michael the Archangel at our newly named “Pastorate Center.” 

15.   The development of a “Pastorate Pastoral Care” office under the leadership of Sr. Susan Engel. 

16.   A very close clergy and staff rapport and collaboration with Mr. Paul Kristoff, Principal of St. Michael – St. Clement School.

17.   The creation of a “Pastorate Executive Secretary and Liaison to the Parishes” position held by Mrs. Amy Smith.  She has done a fantastic job facilitating communication, scheduling of events, and keeping the lines of communication open between all three parishes and associated organizations and ministries. 

18.   A unified Pastorate “Faith Formation Ministry” under the direction of staff member Mrs. Nikki Lux, and in close collaboration with Mrs. Kathy Brotzman, our Pastorate Director of Religious Education. 

19.   A unified Pastorate “Youth and Young Adult Ministry” under the direction of staff member Ms. Margaret Brogden (who also serves as our Pastorate Liaison to St. Michael – St. Clement School).

20.   The creation of one “Pastorate bulletin” under the editorial management of Pastorate secretary Ms. Susan Rammel.

21.   The development of Pastorate bereavement outreach under the direction of Pastorate secretary Mrs. Cindy Ledford.

22.   Pre-Covid we were able to have several liturgical and social common activities, such as shared celebrations of the Easter Triduums using each of the three parishes as “stations” for the liturgies, shared “All Souls Remembrance Masses” in which parishioners from the three parishes joined together to pray for the previous year’s deceased (118 souls in 2019-20), joint and very nicely catered Christmas dinner parties (held at the Church of the Annunciation) for all of three Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils, a huge summertime Pastorate volunteer appreciation picnic at Rocky Point Park which was lovingly hosted and “worked” by all of our Pastorate staff members and attended by more than one-hundred-and-fifty Pastorate parishioners (it was a huge success but unfortunately not repeated this past year because of Covid).

23.   The securing of the assistance for weekend Masses from Curley Friars Bart, Donald, Bryan, and Chris, who thankfully have become part of our “Franciscan presence” in all three of our Pastorate parishes (with special thanks to Friar Chris who has been a great help with our Spanish ministry).

24.   The ministry of recently ordained (and former student-friar from St. Anthony Province) Deacon, Rev. Mr. John Micciche.  His close association with our friars and his presence on our staff is also a complement to the “Franciscan identity” of the Pastorate.

Some additional, pertinent, and requested important financial information:

1.  Do your parishes have any debts (and how much, and to whom)?  YES

St. Michael the Archangel:  $1,438,006.78 (see explanation in #5 above).

The Church of the Annunciation:  No debts.

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer:  $86,404.77 in cathedraticum owed to the Archdiocese.

2. Are there repayment structures in place?

St. Michael the Archangel:  No, but we are working with the Archdiocesan “Extraordinary Administration Committee” who’s membership includes Bishop Adam Parker, an Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, Mr. John Matera, the Archdiocesan Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, and Ms. Ashley Conley, the Archdiocesan Director of Parish & School Finance, to begin formulating such a plan.

The Church of the Annunciation:  No debts.

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer:  $86,404.77 in cathedraticum owed to the Archdiocese.  The plan is to pay off this debt as soon as the sale of the school buildings and former friary are finalized.

3. Do your parishes anticipate and capital repairs or improvements during the next quadrennium?

St. Michael the Archangel:  We are currently launching a five-year $500,000.00 Capital Campaign for necessary repairs to its church building (see explanation in #4 above).

The Church of the Annunciation:  No.  We recently replaced the roof on the church and the work is completed.

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer:  We are currently working on the security cameras and monitoring systems.  We are also in the process of installing a new electronic sign in front of the church building.  Soon, we may also have to make some significant roof repairs (this issue is currently being evaluated). 

4. Do your parishes have savings in reserve? How much?

St. Michael the Archangel:  Savings $16,017.23, Money Market $111,077.76.

The Church of the Annunciation:  Savings $388,000, Endowments $418,000.

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer:  Savings $318,255.98, Endowments $ 200,330.45 and $ 104,750.00.

I, Friar Timothy P. Dore, OFM Conv. have presided as Pastor over this Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, during the past two and a half years.  With all due respect to any detractors, and with all humility, I believe our very collegially functioning staff and I have done an excellent job bringing together and forming this Pastorate.  Without any doubt, I strongly believe that working together as a Pastorate administration, we have all the necessary “skill sets” needed to continue making progress as we proceed.  We are proud of the very productive and demonstrable success we have worked so vigorously together to achieve.   

Most Sincerely,

Friar Timothy Dore, OFM Conv.

Pastor, St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, St. Clement Mary Hofbauer

+Friar George Abram OFM Conv.

 REST IN PEACE:

This post is one of many tribute pages found on my blog created to honor significant family members, friends, and loved ones who have passed from this life to the next . . .

+ Friar George Abram, OFM Conv. (my dear confrere)

Date/place of birth: February 4, 1944, Ronzone, Northern Italy

Date/place of death: March 6, 2021, Ghana, West Africa

 

 

**Friar George was a victim of the COVID-19 virus during the Pandemic that swept the world beginning in early 2020.

– Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Meeting a friend in Baltimore

 

Meeting a friend in Baltimore

This morning I got a call from a young man, someone who I would call a friend, and who I knew from my days as the Pastor of St. Wenceslaus, a wonderful "inner-city" parish in East Baltimore. My friend begged me to come and see him in the city because he said he'd been going through some very difficult times and he needed my "help."

Although my schedule was filled, and my time very limited, I decided to respond to his call and so in the early afternoon I took a "quick" drive into the city to see him. I made this decision to visit him somewhat reluctantly because to be honest, my friend has "issues," and sometimes interactions with him can be quite complicated.

He asked me to meet him in front of St. Wenceslaus, and as he said it, he told me how much he missed my presence there. Back in the day he would often come to Mass on Sundays at St. Wens, and in those days he would literally sit in the very last pew of the church-like the tax collector in the Jesus' Gospel parable of "the Pharisee and the Publican" (see Luke 18:9-14). Many times and on many a weekday afternoon, this friend of mine and I would sit together in the front parlor of the rectory of the church, and over coffee and a little something to eat, we would talk about life and the struggles and even the joys therein. I fondly remember those wonderful conversations!

This afternoon, as I drove up Ashland Avenue and arrived in front of the church, I saw him on the steps of that beautiful house of God. It was completely heartbreaking for me to see him when I caught sight of him: he was laying on the highest of those steps, close to the doors, and he was seemingly "passed out." It was as if being on those steps, his frail body hugging those doors, was a place of refuge and some kind of comfort for him. And I knew that entrance so well from my years of warmly greeting parishioners near those very doors. Today, anyone else who might have seen my friend like that may have assumed he was just another "homeless bum" and a "degenerate person." But I knew better! (I quickly snapped this photo of him, hoping I could show it to him at a later time and use it to talk to him about why he had ended up in such a way).

Truth be told, my friend is a heroin addict, and he's homeless and he has many "issues," but he is a human being and he's a real person with feelings and dreams, and he has genuine hopes for better tomorrows. This young man is actually a very good person with a most beautiful heart! I know him to be a person who cares for others, especially those who are suffering, and he, like most of us, wants this world to be a better place for all people.

I got out of my car and I went over to where he was resting on the steps of the church, and I asked him if he was okay. "Are you okay my brother?" I said to him, and then he opened his eyes and looked into mine and he broadly smiled, as if to say "thank you for being here my friend!"

He then looked and stared off into some distant place, and his eyes, changing in that instant to something hollow and sad, spoke loudly to me of some deep inner pain. He told me things haven't been too well for him lately. As I looked into his very tired face, and I observed how frail indeed he looked, I had no doubt he was sharing a great truth, and the reality of tremendous inner pain and struggle.

Among other very sad and unfortunate things, he told me about how just the previous night someone had aggressively approached him on the street, and as he was verbally assaulted and spit upon by that most unfriendly stranger, was told he should "just roll over and die."

Yes, my friend is a drug addict, but he doesn't want to be enslaved by the illness he has. I strongly believe he wants to be like any one of us who desire happiness and contentment in this life.

Think about this: We are quick to say drug addiction is an "illness" but aren't we less willing to treat it as such?

Would I walk into the hospital room of a friend or loved one who is dying of cancer and raise my fisted hand toward them and loudly scream at them saying "how dare you suffer with this illness?" Of course not!

Drug addiction is a very complicated illness, and those of us who have family and friends suffering with this disease certainly must be careful not to become "part of the problem." And often that is a difficult road to walk!

My friends, please don't harshly judge our sisters and brothers who struggle every day with the disease of substance abuse and addiction.

They are people too! They may even be members of our families and/or our own dear friends.

And frankly, none of us are perfect, and we are all sinners!

Please pray for my friend. He's really going through a difficult time during these days.

Thanks. Friar Timothy

COVID-19 Funeral Ministry

COVID-19 Funeral Ministry

For the past year and a half, I have been assigned to the three-parish 'Pastorate' of St Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St Clement Mary Hofbauer, in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Collaborating with a fantastic Pastorate staff, there are four of us who are Franciscan-friar-priests assigned to this ministry; I serve as the Pastor, one is a full-time Parochial Vicar, while the others are part-time and 'semi-retired' Pastoral Associates. These other wonderful priest-colleagues in ministry, ranging in age from 75 to 80, are each "old enough to be my father" and at the age of 57 I am the youngest of the crowd! I am also far younger than a religious sister on who is our Pastoral Associate, and two of our deacons who are both advanced in age. Normally on any given weekend we see about 1,500 parishioners who come through the doors of our three worship sites; we have both English and Spanish speaking parishioners. Usually, the sacramental and liturgical lives of our parishes keep us all busy!

Under normal circumstances and on a regular basis, our work within these faith communities requires us to minister to grieving and bereaving families; we typically have one or two funerals per week within our Pastorate. More recently the number of funerals has increased: we know some have died because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the reasons for the deaths of some others were not made known to us, but most were probably within the usual spectrum of funerals we would normally have. There is no doubt all our funeral these days have been terribly impacted by this awful pandemic. It has been very heartbreaking and difficult for everyone, but it is especially true for the bereaved who have been unable to give proper funerals and burials to those they have loved. I have experienced this very directly, and as a friar-priest and minister in the church, I cannot even begin to describe the emotional and spiritual pain these strange funeral encounters have caused me, and everyone so sadly affected!

In Baltimore, Maryland, on Thursday, March 12th of this year, and just a couple of days prior to the onslaught of changes to our lives forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, I officiated at what would be my last "normal" funeral. It seems strange to me now to characterize this funeral as "normal;" it was celebrated for a five-year-old boy named +Javier who had struggled for most of his life with some rare form of childhood cancer. Funerals offered for children are never "normal," or so I thought!

On the evening before +Javier's funeral Mass at St Michael, and as is customary, his distraught and grieving parents, his young sister, and numerous others were able to gather for many hours in a local funeral home, and it was crowded there. Family and friends were able to keep vigil for +Javier, they prayed together, they showed their respects, and they gathered closely as they shared great care and affection and offered consolation to all who loved +Javier and his family. Among the tears, there were warm, compassionate, and prolonged handshakes, there were many hugs and long sympathetic embraces, and there were many consoling words closely and quietly whispered into the ears of Javier's parents and loved ones. The next day there were lots of people in the church for +Javier's funeral: along with the many mourners, we had the usual musicians, a cantor and choir, our sacristan, a lector and altar servers, and the funeral director came with his usual entourage of support staff. It was a wonderful show of support for +Javier's grieving family, especially for his most bereaved mom and dad. After the Mass, we had a traditional and solemn funeral procession to the nearby cemetery; many cars followed in the motorcade behind the hearse as it somberly took Javier's mortal remains to his final resting place. And there in the cemetery, and as I recited the final prayers, those gathered huddled together and clutched each other tightly as together they shared the intensity of their grief. This was a "normal" funeral.

Almost overnight, the "normalcy" of funerals, and church services in general, changed for all of us. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and just a couple of days after +Javier's funeral, our state and local governments issued strict and unprecedented health guidelines; phrases like "social-distancing," "stay at home," and "shelter in place," concepts especially alien to church people, suddenly became "the norm." Many were already suggesting the use of facial masks, and it was mandated by the government that "social gatherings" be limited to less than ten people. In the blink of an eye, we were no longer able to have "normal" funerals as I had celebrated for +Javier just a few days earlier.

Yet phone calls from grieving families, and from the funeral directors who serve them did not stop, and the volume of calls even seemed to increase. We were going to have a lot of funerals. Very early in this crisis I consulted with the other friar-priests, the religious sister and the deacons with whom I work, and we decided that it was best for just about everyone to observe the "shelter-in-place" guidance as much as possible. Far more than for me personally, their senior ages, and each of their unique health issues would possibly put them at a greater risk for contracting the dreadful virus. They really needed to "shelter in place" so I volunteered to cover all funerals within the Pastorate for as long as necessary.

As I was starting to become accustomed to the new COVID-19 era way of conducting funerals, I began to learn that some of my own friends and acquaintances had also been infected. Most of them survived, but a few did not. And everyone had to deal with new and awkward funeral restrictions. This affected everyone: it made no difference if someone died because of complications due to COVID-19 or if they had passed-away from completely natural and "ordinary" causes. Now, no one would be able to receive the proper funeral respects usually afforded to the dead. These realities have heavily impacted my own emotions as I have proceeded to celebrate quite a few "COVID-19 season" funerals!

How strange it is to visit nearly completely empty funeral homes where the few who gather are required to maintain "social distances," and are not allowed to shake hands and/or to give sympathetic hugs to those who mourn. How strange it is when there are no "in person" opportunities to console grieving children, grandchildren, other family members, loved ones, and friends of the deceased. How strange it is to be a part of "live-streamed" funerals knowing most who are "attending" are those watching from at great distances where they need to remain "safe." How strange it is for me, and even outside of my wildest imaginations, to wear face masks while praying at grave sides! How strange it is when only a few can be present for those graveside prayers, and where sadly we need to say these orations practically shouted from afar.

But I live in hope! When life returns to some semblance of normalcy, we will be able to honor these beloved dead with memorial Masses in our churches. When that day comes, and as not too long ago I had done for +Javier and his family, we will be able to show these dearly departed the "normal" and proper respects they rightfully deserve, and for which their families and friends surely long.

In your kindness, and in these COVID-19 days, please pray for the repose of our recently deceased sisters and brothers +Javier (age 5), +Constance (age 94), +Marion (age 92), +Jose "Pepe" (age 50), +Elmer (age 88), +Margaret Mary (age 99), +Freddy (age 47), +Daniel (age 85), +Santo (age 92), +Lawrence (age 79), +Maria (age 55), +Patricia (age 74), +Salvatore (age 85), +Josephine (age 93), and +Antoinette (age 101). Please pray also for the consolation of their more than usually distraught families during these difficult days!

Friar Timothy

Easter Sunday 2020 COVID-19

My Sisters and Brothers:

Today we celebrate Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord!  On this day we usually gather in our parish churches and we celebrate this day of our salvation with great excitement and joy!  Today we typically dress in our most “Sunday-best” Easter attire and we meet others with warm embraces and greetings of happiness.  On Easter Sunday our churches are always lavishly decorated with vibrant flowers and colorful banners.  As we worship together on this day, we sing triumphant hymns of praise!  We burn incense and use their plumes of mysterious smoke in order to symbolically lift our community’s prayers to heaven!  Normally, and with enthusiasm and jubilant passion, we sing together the EASTER ALLELUIA!  In our homes, families and friends come together for celebrations, and we gather around our Easter tables for traditional and festive meals.  While we share lots of food, we also enjoy Easter sweets, and tons of chocolate!  

This Easter and unfortunately, we instead find ourselves in the middle of this strange coronavirus crisis.  Most of what we know to be “normal” in our lives has been put on hold.  Our celebration on this Easter Sunday, this most solemn day of our liturgical year, has taken on completely different forms.  Yet perhaps, at least from a spiritual growth perspective at this moment in our lives, we may be able to contemplate more deeply the experience of the disciples on Easter morning.

According to the Gospel of John proclaimed in today’s Mass, “Mary of Magdala went to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and she saw the stone removed from the tomb.”   Then, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, an angel proclaimed to her: “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified; he is not here, for he has been raised just as he said; come and see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:6).  All the Gospels tell us that Mary, and the other women who were with her, then ran to report this news to Simon Peter, to “the other disciple whom Jesus loved,” and to the other disciples.  With these reports of the empty tomb, the disciples began to realize Jesus had likely risen from the dead!  But John’s Gospel also tells us: “they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead” (John 20:9). 

It may be difficult for us to completely realize the depths of emotions experienced by Mary Magdala and the others when they discovered the empty tomb.  On the one hand, they had heard the preaching of Jesus about the Resurrection from the dead and many times they had considered Scriptures that promised what he taught.  They wanted to believe!  On the other hand, the tomb was empty, and it was possible the body had been stolen and their hopes would come to a complete end.  At that precise moment, there might have been a genuine collision between the promises and dreams of their faith, and the very stark reality of human disillusionment easily brought on by fears, doubts, and faithlessness.  This might be the type of “collision” many of us are feeling on this Easter Sunday as we are forced to “stay home,” at a time when our normal celebratory practices are put on hold, and when we find ourselves living with fears about what will happen next, and what tomorrow will bring.   But my friends, at this moment let’s not forget we are EASTER PEOPLE!  In fact, those disciples who discovered the empty tomb early on Easter morning used the experience as their reason to have faith.  What mattered for them at that moment was not precise teachings they had previously heard about the resurrection from the dead.  Instead, what was vital to their faith was in fact the very absence of Jesus’s body in the tomb.  Even though the tomb was empty, and they might have been caught between faith and fear, they chose a higher power that promised resurrection and new life.  They firmly believed Jesus had risen “just as he had said he would.”

On this Easter Sunday 2020, even thought our world seems to have been turned upside-down, let’s have the same confidence and hope as those disciples did very early on that first Easter.  The tomb is empty, but we believe Jesus has risen as he said would.  With such faith, the somberness of our Lenten coronavirus journey promises to be vanquished, and again New Life is promised to all of us.  My friends, let’s encourage each other with the message of our Easter faith, perhaps now and today more than ever! 

                                                                                                  
Praise God!  Friar Timothy

Lights on Christmas Trees, Aching Teeth, and a Young Man Named "Connor."

The Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas

This evening, I went to Walmart to return a defective “pre-lighted” Christmas tree (which I purchased only yesterday).  When I had attempted to assemble it, I discovered about half of the tree’s lights didn’t work, which as you might imagine incredibly annoyed and frustrated me! 

Then, to my great disappointment, and when I returned the defective tree to the Walmart, I learned they didn’t have a comparable tree in stock to replace it (I even asked them to sell me the “floor model” as a replacement, but the store manager said that wasn’t allowable).  I walked out of the store feeling annoyed and defeated.  

Demoralized and disappointed, and as I walked back to my car, I happened to pass a young man who was walking through the parking lot, and who was literally crying “out loud.”  It was extremely obvious to me that he was in a state of great distress.  And it greatly disturbed me! 

At first, I simply walked right past him and headed toward my car.  Then, my conscience getting the best of me, I felt this great desire to go back and ask him if he was “okay.” At that point, I noticed he was holding in his hand one of those cardboard signs that said something like “Homeless and hungry, please help me.” 

Then, for a brief few moments, and because I invited him to do so, we sat together on a bench outside of the Walmart and we chatted together.

He told me he was crying because, for some reason, his teeth were causing him tremendous, unending, and excruciating pain.  He told me he had no one to help him, and that because of the “bad blood” he has had with family and former friends, he’s all alone and doesn’t know where to turn next, or where to get help.  He seemed at his “whits end.” 

I asked him how old he was and he told me he was twenty-four years old.

He asked me if I could “help” him, but I told him I didn’t have a lot of money, and/but against my better judgement, I gave him a few dollars.

Then I put my arm around his shoulder, and I looked him in the eye, and said “I don’t know you, or what your 'issues' are, but I promise you there is light at the end of the tunnel . . . please, my brother, don’t give up hope . . .  and please know that God loves you, and that many people out there want to help you, if only they could.”

I think he was actually very grateful for that very brief moment of “humanity” we shared together.  And then, before he stood and departed from me, he very genuinely thanked me very profusely.  And then I sadly watched as he moved away and disappeared back into the chaos of the Christmas parking lot rush. 

Suddenly, and from an existential perspective, my annoyance about the defective Christmas tree I had just returned to the Walmart seemed totally insignificant. 

Then, when I returned to my car and started to head out of the Walmart parking lot, I found myself crying like a baby . . .

I hope and pray he is okay . . .

My friends, please pray for Conner.

And so in the spirit of the Season, I feel compelled to share this encounter with you!

Happy Holidays!

Timothy

 
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