News

January 2012

Wallace Yovero  and Ham Kevaja are to make their profession in life vows at Haruro Friary on Easter Day 2012. This was delayed because the bishop protector was on sick leave due to the sudden passing of his wife last year.

Cristian, David, Micaeland Robert, were admitted as novices at Evening Prayer at Alnmouth Friary on Wednesday 11th January, during the Formation for Life Conference at the friary that week.  They have taken the names of Cristian Michael, David, Micael Christoffer and Robert.

from the Province of the Divine Compassion:
Raphael Suh is expected to make his profession in first vows on March 16 in Chuncheon, Korea.
Bruce-Paul's doctoral thesis The Graced Body: Toward a Theology of Human Sexuality has been passed by the examiners; he graduated on December 10th.
Nathan-James will be ordained deacon on February 4th.

November 2011

Sue has been elected to be the next Minister Provincial of the CSF European Province.  She will take up office on 8 February 2012, and will be blessed for this ministry during the Sisters' Meeting on 25 February.

from the Province of the Divine Compassion:
The provincial chapter has elected Raphael Suh to first profession. This is expected to take place early next year in Chuncheon, Korea.
Bruce-Paul's doctoral thesis The Graced Body: Toward a Theology of Human Sexuality has been passed by the examiners; he will graduate on December 10th.
Nathan-James has completed the essays for his theology degree and will be ordained deacon on February 4th and then serve as assistant curate (part time) in the parish of Stafford.

October 2011

Helen Julian has been elected Minister General CSF, to take office on February 8, 2012.

On St Francis day at Hautambu seven Postulants were admitted to the noviciate: Noel, Paul, Frank, James, William, Willie and John. And making their profession in first vows were Aswin Hiropuhi, Andrew Laukiara and Joe Waeho.

September 2011

SSF Minister General, Clark Berge, preached during the First Order Chapters a sermon on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the USA.

News from the PNG Provincial Chapter, last June: Jerry Ross was elected to first profession; Wallace was elected to life profession.

August 2011

Colin Wilfred died at the Canterbury friary on the morning of August 2nd. Samuel writes: "I'm sad to give you the news that our brother, Colin Wilfred, has died this morning in Canterbury. As you know, he had been suffering increasingly with fibrosis of the lungs, and since our Annual Brothers' Chapter this had been becoming more acute. Last night was particularly difficult for him and he was found in bed this morning by Kevin. May the Lord have mercy on his soul - may he rest in peace and rise in glory. There needs to be a coroner's inquest and so we don't know exactly when his funeral will be, but we are looking towards a funeral and requiem Mass in Canterbury in the second half of next week, with the interment of his ashes at Hilfield at a later date. We'll keep you posted. Let us remember our brothers in Canterbury and all his many friends at this time." He was born on September 5th, 1937; received as a novice October 4th, 1969; made his profession of vows June 10th, 1972; and entered into glory on the feast of St Mary of the Angels, August 2nd, 2011."

Obituaries (from Archbishops of Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia; Martin Pendergast; Church Times)

His coffin was received into St Peter's Church, Canterbury, on Wednesday Thursday 10th; his requiem eucharist was held there at 1pm on Thursday August 11th.

July 2011

Beverley was ordained deacon on July 23rd at Hilfield Friary, and Liz was life professed on July 29th.

June 2011

Selwyn Suma was ordained priest on Pentecost Day, June 12th, in his village, Hanjiri
Lent Fugui and Martin Tawea made their profession in life vows on June 19th, 2011. The consecration of the newly extended Hautambu friary chapel was on the day before.

May 2011

Bart made his profession in life vows on May 5th, 2011, in St Philip's Church, Annerley, Brisbane.
The Australia / New Zealand Province has officially changed its name to Province of the Divine Compassion.

March 2011

Jude was re-elected to serve a further three-year term as Minister Provincial of the brothers of the Province of the Americas.

January 2011

Chris Boden, Colin Dickson and Daniel Hughes were admitted as novices at evening prayer at Alnmouth on Saturday 15th January, taking the names in turn of Christopher Martin, Joseph Emmanuel and Daniel Osuna.

December 2010

Michaela OSC died at Freeland on December 19th; Paul Anthony SSF died in Doncaster on December 24th following surgery to treat an aneurism. He was 51 years old and in his 24th year of profession. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Oswald in PNG was ordained priest on December 12th.

October 2010

Lawrence and Stephen made their profession in life vows in Seoul on October 31st.
Peter made his profession in first vows at Hilfield on October 23rd.
Donald Zucca was admitted as a novice on October 12th at Little Portion Friary, NY, taking the name of Don-Angelo. 
Seven brothers in PNG made their profession in first vows on October 4th: John Gai, Lindsay Ijiba, Peter Kevin, Reuben Arthur, Rhoy Wadidika, Roy Tatopi and Wilbert.
Welcome to three new novices in the Solomon Islands, received on October 3rd: Polycarp Ravinago, Moffet Behulu and Nicholas Waro.
Ivanildo made his profession in life vows in San Francisco on August 21st.

September 2010

Maggie made her profession in life vows in San Francisco on September 9th

August 2010

Ivanildo made his profession in life vows in San Francisco on August 21st.

May 2010

News from the Provincial Chapter of the Province of the Americas SSF:
Simon,  Ambrose-Cristobal, James and Maximilian Kolbe were elected to First Profession. Their profession of vows took place the following day, May 22.
Ivanildo was elected to Life Profession, this will take place in San Francisco in August.  
Will Roberts was clothed as a novice taking the name James-Paul.

December 2009

Oswald Dumbari was ordained deacon on December 13th at Newton College, PNG.

November 2009

Brother Colin died in Honiara on November 13th, 2009. He had been hospitalised for cancer treatment, initially in Auki, and then in Honiara.
He was born 29th September, 1936.
Admitted as a novice in SSF 26th September, 1964
First Professed on 13th September, 1967
Life Professed on 29 September, 1970. 

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

October 2009

Nathan-James made his profession in life vows on October 31st in Brisbane.

Martin John made his first profession of vows on October 15th at Alnmouth.

September 2009

CSF sisters in Korea, Frances and Jemma made their profession in life vows on 8 September 2009. Photos on Joyce's Picasa page.

July 2009

PNG brothers and international guests celebrated the 50th anniversary of the beginning of SSF work in PNG in July 2009. Photos are available on Dr Chris Richards' Picasa page.

June 2009

The Fourteenth Annual Franciscan Lecture was given by Sue Groom TSSF at Hilfield on the topic of Justice Themes in Deuteronomy.

May 2009

Jackson Stance, Patrick Paoni, Judah Kea and George Dau made their profession in first vows in the Solomon Islands on May 24th.

Matthew Callow and Vaughan Tompkins were admitted as novices at Evening Prayer at Hilfield on Pentecost Sunday, 31st May 2009; they are known in community as Brother Matthew and Brother Vaughan respectively.

Stiubhart McPhail’s admission as Brother Barnabas Francis took place at Hilfield on Saturday 16th May 2009 at Evening Prayer.

April 2009

Alfred BoonKong was re-elected Minister Provincial for a further three-year term at the ANZ Chapter

Nathan-James was elected to life profession at the same ANZ Chapter.

January 2009

Brother James Sou of the Province of the Solomon Islands died on Friday January 30th after being admitted to the Central Hospital the previous day. He was born in 1945, admitted as a novice in 1997, and made his profession in vows on February 4th, 2001. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Angelo celebrated his 80th birthday on January 6th.

Jenny Tee made her first profession on January 24th in Birmingham.

December 2008

Martin celebrated his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination on December 21st; and Derek 50 years since his ordination as deacon on December 19th

Lynne was ordained priest in San Francisco on December 6th.

November 2008

Samson Gapu and Christopher Gegeo made their profession in first vows on November 23rd.

Colin Velei made his first profession on November 30th.

October 2008

Elizabeth OSC died October 22nd at Ker Maria care home where she has been for the past three years because of her dementia.

Ministers Provincial for the newly formed Pacific provinces are:
Province of the Solomon Islands - George;
Papua New Guinea Province - Laurence Hauje.

August 2008

James Andrew  made his profession in first vows on September 29th in Brisbane.

Philip Etobae made his life profession on August 17th, at his village in Laudari, PNG. Also in PNG Colin Velei's profession is set for November 30th. New novices admitted in June were Lindsay Ijiba, Roy Tatopi, Rhoy Wadidika,John Gai, John Sanana,and Willbert. Peter Kevin who left some years ago has come back again and been readmitted as a novice for a year.

Philip Bishop was admitted as a novice on August 15, 2008 at Hilfield, taking the name of Cuthbert.

June 2008

The Annual Franciscan Lecture was given by Colin Wilfred, on the subject, "Repair My House"

Philip Bishop is to be admitted as a novice on August 15, 2008 at Hilfield, taking the name of Cuthbert.

Matthew Emerson will be admitted as a novice on September 21, 2008, also at Hilfield.

Lynne was ordained deacon in June.

Joseph made his profession in first vows at Stroud on June 24, 2008.

May 2008

Lynne has been elected to life profession - this is to take place on July 3, 2008, at St. Aidan's Parish in San Francisco.

During the Province of the Americas SSF Chapter, Eric Michael was professed on May 7; and Jailton was admitted as a novice on May 6, taking the name of James.

April 2008

Jennie died on April 5th after a short time of having been diagnosed with cancer.

March 2008

Jude has been re-elected Minister Provincial of the Province of the Americas, SSF.

Fr Max Mizzi, OFM Conv, died in early March. He had been a friar of the Sacro Convento in Assisi and was a pioneer in ecumenical Franciscan relations from the early 60's when he first met some of our brothers. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

November 2007

Joyce has been re-elected Minister General CSF for a four-year term.

The sisters of the Community of St. Francis, Province of the Americas, are delighted to announce that the Rt. Rev. Bavi Edna (Nedi) Rivera, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia, has been elected as our new Bishop Protector, effective 11th November 2007. A Blessing of Nedi's New Ministry will be included in Friday's Eucharist at St. Francis House.

October 2007

The election of the Minister General SSF has successfully concluded with the election of Clark Berge. A brother of the Province of the Americas, he was born in 1958 and professed in 1993. He took up office on November 1st this year.

Thomas has been elected Guardian of Little Portion Friary and Assistant Minister Province, to succeed Clark and taking office on October 18th.

September 2007

Brother Jon Bankert of the Province of the Americas passed to eternal life on Monday September 24, after living with cancer for some time. Born in 1944, he made his Profession in SSF in 1984.

June 2007

Alan Michael was ordained to the priesthood in Birmingham on June 10.

The brothers in PNG have elected the Bishop of Popondota, the Right Reverend Joseph Kopapa, as their Regional Protector.

Samuel was re-elected as Minister Provincial of the European Province SSF First Order Brothers. He will serve a second term of 5 years from July 1st.

May 2007

Jean has been re-elected to serve a further three-year term as Minister Provincial of the Sisters in the U.S.A.

Sarah Hargreaves has been appointed Development Officer for the Hilfield Peace and Environment Project and will take up the post on May 9th.

Steven Bucholtz and Masao Kawata were clothed as novices in the Province of the Americas  on May 21st at the joint CSF/SSF Provincial Chapter taking the names Vincent Damian and Ambrose-Cristóbalrespectively.

Also at that Chapter, Donald Luke made his First Profession, on May 25th.

March 2007

Martha was noviced on 7 March 2007 as Martha Bridgit within the Community of St. Francis in San Francisco.

December 2006

Justus died in Papua New Guinea on December 13th and Timothy Joseph, also in PNG, on December 17th.

Jude was ordained to the priesthood in San Francisco on December 2nd

September 2006

George Huinodi made his profession in life vows on September 3rd.

July 2006

Alan Michael and Nicholas Alan were ordained to the diaconate on July 2nd.

June 2006

The 11th Annual Franciscan Lecture was given by Joyce to the SSF European Annual Brothers' Meeting on Franciscan Peacemaking

Download and read the latest news from PNG

Jude was ordained to the diaconate on June 3rd.

May 2006

José Ivanildo Cavalcante and Cezar Alves were received into first profession in SSF in the friary in Sao Paolo on Monday May 15th.

Dominic, Rodney and Worrick made their first profession in Papua New Guinea on 13th May.

Alfred BoonKong has been re-elected Minister Provincial of the Australia / New Zealand Province.

February 2006

Augustine Thomas made his life profession on Thursday 9th February at Alnmouth Friary.

December 2005

Andrew Philip in Hamilton was ordained to the transitional diaconate on December 4.

October 2005

Lawrence made his First Profession on October 30 at Hilfield, taking the name of Bart

Athanasius Faifu was ordained to the priesthood on October 23.

July 2005

Lynne made her profession in first vows on July 21 in San Francisco.

May 2005

Lawrence KFB was ordained priest on May 22 as part of the Seoul Diocese's 40th anniversary celebrations. And also from Korea the new friary and remodelled buildings were blessed and officially opened on May 12.

April 2005

Luke was received as a novice in the Korean Franciscan Brotherhood on April 25.

Protector General, Bishop George Connor, was enthroned as Bishop of Dunedin, New Zealand, on 2nd April.

March 2005

February 2005

Thomas returned to the USA from Brazil on February 18 after spending five months with the OSF Brothers.

Tadeu OSF has gone to the USA to spend ten months in the three USA friaries.

CSF Celebrated their Centenary at various events in London especially over the weekend of February 25-26.

Jennifer Chan made her profession in first vows on Febrary 25, during the CSF Centenary.

Jenny Tee was clothed as a novice in CSF on February 20, at Compton Durville. She is known in the Community as Jenny Tee.

Brother Antonio Sato received USA citizenship on January 20 and transferred to Brazil on February 8.

January 2005

The Korean Brothers moved into their completed friary extension on January 26. Remodelling of the old building is scheduled for about April. Photos are on the KFB website here.

December 2004

Darryl Friend was admitted as a novice in Brisbane on December 3rd; taking the name of Brother Joseph.I

October 2004

In the Solomon Islands on October 3rd:
- James Sou and Samson Siho were admitted to Life Profession
- Athanasius Faifu was ordained deacon
- Anderson Sooli, Robert Stanley, Harry Atkin, Ini Mumua, Michael Mola, Selwyn Tione were admitted to the noviciate

September 2004

Construction started September 23 on the Korean Franciscan Brotherhood friary extension.

Sara Margaret Simpson was admitted as a novice in the CSF American Province on August 11 - to be known as Sister Maggie.

John Calabrese was admitted as a novice - also on August 11 - at Little Portion Friary, Long Island - taking the name of Brother Giancarlo.

July 2004

ANZ Province's Nathan-James' First Profession was on July 25. Photos are available here.

In the Solomon Islands Brothers Jonas Tu'u, Hartman Denar, Ison Waisi, Christopher Nanate and John Patteson Linga made their First Profession on July 20, and Brother Dickson Arofa on July 11.

Joyce visited the KFS sisters in Korea from July 20 to July 26.

Mark Edmund made his First Profession at St Bene't's Cambridge on July 17.

Ivanaldo of the Brazilian Order of St Francis began an extended visit to the European Province in mid-July.

June 2004

Daniel visited the European Province.

Leo-Anthony was farewelled from Waikato Diocese on June 20 (sermon preached by +David Moxon) and is moving to San Damiano Friary, San Francisco.

Kentigern John has been elected guardian of the New Zealand Custody. He expects to move to NZ probably sometime in the second half of September.

May 2004

The Province of the Americas is continuing to develop connections by drafting covenants with:
- Hermanos Franciscanos de la Providencia (Franciscan Brothers of the Divine Providence) (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Chile.
- The Order of St Francis (Brazil)

Richard was elected to Life Profession by the SSF Province of the Americas.

The American Province SSF has changed its name to Province of the Americas.

Jean was elected Minister Provincial of the American Province at their May Chapter.

Jonas Balugna and Geoffrey Gerefo'oa arrived in the UK from the Solomon Islands on May 24 to spend a year experiencing life in various houses.

Anthony Michael visited the UK to give the Franciscan Lecture at the Chapter and lead the Community Retreat

Donald Wayne Day was clothed as a novice in the American Province at Little Portion Friary on Sunday May 30 taking the name Donald Luke.

April 2004

A number of new aspirants arrived at Hautambu, and five have been received as postulants.

Abel Tisifai, Alphonse Jimmy Kodo, Claydey Walton Kenmar and Selwyn Hubra all made profession in first vows on April 25.