Begin Mission of Passion
Posted on January 3, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World |
January 3 is the third day on the Gregorian calendar. It is also the third day that Father Anthony Cirignani, OFM, is serving as the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity chaplain. A Franciscan Friar of the Assumption Province, Father Tony is presently serving the Franciscan Sisters while living in fraternity in a house recently established in Manitowoc, WI. A friar is “wherever people need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and to experience God in their lives”. A mission of passion.
January 3 also marks the first ordination by Bishop David Ricken in Wisconsin’s Green Bay Diocese. The newly ordained, Father Jason Blahnik, is a relative of one of the Franciscan Sisters, Sister Christine Stoller, OSF. And Father Jason will have his first Mass of Thanksgiving at the Sister Bay site of Stella Maris Parish, Door County, WI on Sunday. See Compass News slideshow. Other photos on Flicker.
Father Jason’s first days following diaconate ordination were ministering at St. Raphael Parish, Oshkosh, WI where Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF, is a spiritual director and parish staff member. And where Sister Pamela Biehl, OSF, is a parish director of nearby St. Mary Parish in Winneconni and Omro, WI. (Find (pre-priesthood) Father Jason in this podcast. View his ordination podcast compliments of St. Raphael Parish.) Integrating the life of prayer and service is a mission of passion for a committed diocesan priest.
This third of January the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity also celebrated the Mass of Resurrection for Sister Eligius Hoolihan, OSF, who was a consecrated religious woman for eighty-four years and shared her art of teaching music until she was 89 years old. She lived to be one hundred and two years old. A mission of passion.
Do you have any stories of individuals who live life with a mission of passion? Or helpful hints on how to live with deep-down, burning charity?
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I, a long with Sr. Pam, was privileged to attend the ordination of Fr. Jason today at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay. It was a great celebration of joy, solemnity and Church. Since today honors the Name of Jesus, several of the hymns sang praise to the Name of Jesus.
Parishioners of St. Mary, Omro, St. Mary Winneconne and St. Raphael Parish, Oshkosh, applauded loudly as Bishop Ricken announced that Fr. Jason would serve those parishes.
I think one of the strongest virtues Fr. Jason has is the “passion” of joy. You will see a smile on his face as he ministers at the altar, as he greets people in the gathering space and as he heads out of the church to minister at one of the nursing homes or schools in Oshkosh. He had often said he is happy to be called to priesthood. Isn’t that a wonderful passion?
Deep-down, burning charity toward youth is a common trait of the three individuals mentioned specifically in this posting. Fr. Tony’s love for the children at St. Anthony School in Milwaukee is archived in the flash animation on his province’s website homepage.
Fr. Jason served as a campus minister and social justice coordinator at St. Thomas More University Parish in Bowling Green, Ohio. After visiting the Neuman Center and hearing from a student from that university after he left there, Sister Mary Ann and I can testify that he made a difference in young people’s lives.
And our own dear Sister Eligius? How many people who live to be 102 years old have a violin student play ‘Gesu Joy of Man’s Desiring’ at their funeral? And also have other students of various ages come with their own children to say good bye?
Deep-down, burning charity toward youth is a wonderful passion. It brings joy to those who serve and to those served.
Special CONGRATULATIONS to Father Jason! At this time of celebrating gifts from the Magi to Jesus, it is wonderful to celebrate Father Jason’s gift of self to Jesus! Our Church is blessed!
Do follow the added links in this posting. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are very much connected to the good things that others are doing for the Green Bay Diocese, as well as the works of the friars of the Assumption Province.