Puerto Rico Elects New Leadership Team
With the slogan Rebuild Life, Renew Fraternity and Sow the Future (Reconstruir la vida, renovar la fraternidad y sembrar el futuro), our Capuchin brothers in Puerto Rico met from February 2-6, 2026, at Centro Capuchino in Trujillo Alto, PR, to celebrate the Custody's Twentieth Ordinary Chapter. During days of prayer, reflection, and discernment, the brothers assessed the life of the Custody, their ministries, and projections for the future, culminating in the election of the new government that will direct, encourage and animate the brotherhood for the next three years.
Our brothers in Tanzania Gather in Chapter
Our Provincial Minister, Robert Marva, OFM Cap., was present as a guest of the Capuchin Province of Tanzania at its triennial Chapter in February. Rogerio Massawe, OFM Cap.,was elected to a second term as Provincial Minister, now assisted by Kamilius Bajuta, OFM Cap., as Provincial Vicar. The Council includes our Capuchin Friars Gastor Kateule, Marino Msigala, and Fidelis Mwang'ond. Br. Roger addressed our Provinical Chapter in May 2025, thankful for the time he spent ministering among us at St. Paul’s Shrine (2014-2018) in Cleveland. Br. Marino ministered among us in New Baltimore, PA's St. John Parish, and served as Chaplain to Pittsburgh's West Penn Hospital.
In the photos, Br. Rogerio (left) is giving his address to the friars, and former Provincial (2011-2017) and now Bishop Wolfgang Pisa, OFM Cap. (right, a former Jubilee Scholar who studied with us in Washington, DC) addressed the Chapter on the danger of sloth and apathy for us Capuchins, warning the brothers that the lack of zeal and fervor can overtake us in our vocation and our ministry.
Capuchin Postulants Gather in Detroit
Kevin Thompson, OFM Cap., co-director of our Postulancy program in Colorado Springs, CO, joined postulant Nate Sisack as the traveled to Detroit, MI, where as all the USA postulants participated in a retreat from February 1-6, 2026, at the Capuchin Retreat Center in nearby Washington, MI. The most important goal of the retreat days provided the opportunity for all the postulants to come to know one another before their novitiate begins in San Lorenzo, California. One of the days was spent at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit where our own Alex Hostoffer, OFM Cap., "did a great job," they say, reflecting how our Capuchin Constitutions treat our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience - vows which the young men will profess after their novitiate year which begins in July. That afternoon, our brother Dan Crosby, OFM Cap., spoke about how Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM Cap., lived out those vows in fraternity and service.
Giving Thanks for the Lives of Two Friends
In the month of February, our Capuchin Province lost two friends and supporters at the passing of Fr. Jim Chepponis (February 18th) and John Milko (February 19th).
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Fr. Jim ("Chip") Chepponis and his family were members of Lawrenceville's St. Augustine Parish, and Jim graduated from St. Fidelis College where he received his bachelor's degree in music from St. Fidelis College/Slippery Rock University. Mick Joyce, OFM Cap., was a classmate. Jim majored in organ with a minor in voice, but his musical talent was known throughout his younger years. Discerning in Annapolis' St. Conrad Novitiate that the Capuchin life was not his calling, he went on to Theology studies with the Diocese of Pittsburgh. As a priest of the Diocese, his first published composition was his Magnificat, first sung while he was in high school at St. Fidelis when he was asked to write something for an Evening Prayer's New Testament Canticle. He wrote it in a few hours, and it became his first officially published work in 1985 ("Proclaim the greatness of God, rejoice in God my Savior . . ."). Another of his best-known compositions, Festival Alleluia, was commissioned for a 1999 Mass of Pope John Paul II in St. Louis. All three subsequent popes have also had his music at their Masses.
Our Indian brother Theophane's first step to Sainthood . . .
At his audience of February 21, 2026, Pope Leo XIV, accepted and confirmed the decision of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, ordering the publication of the Decreto super virtutibus [Decree on Virtues] for our Capuchin brother, the now Venerable Theophane Koodalloor (1913-1968). Born Michael in the Indian Province of Kerala, Theophane is the first native Capuchin of India to reach this milestone. Our historian confrere Blaine Burkey, OFM Cap., sent this information to fill us all in about his life and work . . .
Jubilee 2026: 8th Centenary of St. Francis' Transitus
This year, 2026, we celebrate the 8th Anniversary of our Holy Father St. Francis' Transitus, his death in this world on October 3, 1226, and his glorification in eternal life in union with the Lord Jesus.
Read the special inssue of our International Newsletter dedicated to our year-long celeration. In it, the the Ministers of the Franciscan Orders which include us, the Capuchins, along with our brothers of the Friars Minor, the Conventuals, the Third Order Regular (TOR), and our our brothers and sisters of the Franciscan Federation & Secular Franciscans.
Eight hundred years ago, Francis of Assisi left this world. But the seed he planted continues to germinate.
In his letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul writes words that seem mysterious: “one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.” These words were fulfilled in Francis. After welcoming the Spirit of Jesus into himself, to the point of bearing the marks of the Crucified One on his body, he himself became a seed of the Gospel filled with the fruits of eternal life.
This is the precious legacy he left us. A legacy that still speaks to the hearts and minds of our generation today, helping us to believe in the Gospel, “to have the Spirit of the Lord and Its holy activity,” and to become signs of peace.
With this letter, we wish to thank the Lord for the seed of the Gospel that he planted in the Church 800 years ago and which is still alive and fruitful today. Together, we wish to recall some fundamental aspects of this Christian history. These aspects remain a legacy for all those who, following Francis, wish to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus.
In opening our Jubilee celebration, Pope Leo XIV has opened this Holy Year of Grace for our Franciscan communities with the gift of a plenary indulgence in Assisi and in all of our Franciscan churches throughout the world. Read the Letter addressed to our Order here.
Pray the Jubilee Prayer to St. Francis authored by our Holy Father here.
From our Novitiate: The Caperone, January-February
Check out the January-February edition
of our Caperone
from our Capuchin Novices
at San Lorenzo Friary
in Santa Ynez, CA.
There was one thing . . . Friar Ben Regotti
Our Capuchin brother Ben Regotti played an important role in the life of Seth Williams. Seth was once Philadelphia’s top prosecutor, building a promising political career, but then came a five-year prison sentence. He's now a part-time chaplain and, as he told a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, "there was one thing that helped him endure isolation: Friar Ben Regotti." The riveting article was published on Monday, February 2nd in the Inquirer. You can read it in its entirety here. What follows are just a few excerpts highlighting Seth's lifesaver and, in many ways, his "life-maker."
'Annie's Home' in Philadelphia is Truly Blessed
On Wednesday, January 21st, Philadelphia's Archbishop Nelson Pérez celebrated a Mass and offered a blessing for Annie’s Home, located on the campus of our Padre Pio Prayer Center in the Frankford neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, recognizing the ministry’s expanding work with pregnant and parenting women.
With Archbishop Pérez in the photo are our Capuchin brothers Keon Tu, Edgar Pereira, Alex Hostoffer, Orlando Reyes, Joseph Morton, Michael Herlihey and Bill Talentino.
While on site, the archbishop also visited The Cenacle at the Padre Pio Prayer Center, a joint ministry of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia that supports and provides essential resources for pregnant women, new parents, and families. You can read the May article from Catholic Philly about the work of Annie's Home whose existence owes a debt of gratitude for the work of our Capuchin brothers Alex, Edgar and Kevin. Thank you, brothers!
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