Richard Lubomski, 1944-2021

Our brother Richard Lubomski, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord on Monday afternoon, February 8, 2021, at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, from complications arising from infection by the Covid-19 virus.  He was 76 years of age.

Richard Joseph Lubomski was born in Pittsburgh to Joseph A. and Frances (Staresinic) Lubomski on December 21, 1944.  He was baptized at St. Anthony Church and educated at the parish grade school in Millvale before attending Shaler Public High School. Richard would often tell the story of his parents’ marriage with a smile: his father was reprimanded by his pastor for wishing to marry Frances Staresnic. Her parents were Slovenian, and the pastor, who was Polish, chided Joe: “You couldn’t find a Polish girl?” Somehow, the marriage worked out – and Richard was a great credit to his “dual heritage.”

Read more about Richard and view videos of his Funeral vigil & Mass....

Bishop Bill Fey, OFM Cap., 1942-2021

Our brother bishop Bill Fey, OFM Cap., who retired as the second Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea, in October 2019, died late Tuesday night, January 19, 2021, at Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, from a Covid-related illness. Since July 2020, he had been in residence at St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), PA.

“Bishop Bill” was born William Regis Fey in Pittsburgh, PA, on November 6, 1942, the son of Regis and Dorothy (Clair) Fey. Initially, he attended Middlesex Elementary School in Valencia, PA, before attending St. Paul Grade School in Butler. On graduation, he enrolled at our Capuchin seminary, St. Fidelis High School and College in Herman, PA.

Upon completing his second year of college studies, Bill was invested with the Capuchin habit in Annapolis, MD on July 13, 1962, receiving the religious name Br. Elroy (we assume Elroy Face was famous on the Pittsburgh Pirates team at the time?). He made his profession of vows one year later on July 14, 1963, and in 1968, he returned to his baptismal name, William, when that option became available. That same year, he was ordained to the priesthood in a class of Capuchins that numbered seventeen (17) friars, the highest number ever ordained for the community.

Read more and view videos . . .

Our Evangelization Ministry in Pittsburgh:

A New Years thank you . . .

Our Evangelization ministry has expanded to Pittsburgh, PA, this year with the arrival of our brothers Ross Henley, OFM Cap., and Matt Hindelang, OFM Cap. From 2017-2020, our Province undertook an expansion of our friary residence and chapel in the Lawrenceville section of the city while constructing new buildings to house our Provincial offices, our Assembly Hall (now called Hyacinth Epp Hall) and a home for the local food pantry/Meals on Wheels services. 

An important part of that construction was to provide space for our new initiative: our Pittsburgh Evangelization Ministry. Br. Ross and Br. Matt recently updated us on what they've been up to, and as the New Year begins, we share with you the grace and goodness they've witnessed in these months and their prayers and hopes for the future.

Read what Br. Ross & Br. Matt have been up to . . .

Senan Glass, OFM Cap., 1930-2020

Capuchin friar Senan Glass, OFM Cap., died on Saturday morning, December 26, 2020, following a short residence at Manor Care Nursing Home in Wexford, PA, where he had been undergoing rehabilitation following treatment for an infection at Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh.  He was 90 years old.

Born and baptized Paul Glass on February 27, 1930, in Uniontown, PA, the future friar was raised in Brownsville, PA, and he and his family were members of St. John Parish in Uniontown. He began his education at the parish elementary school and completed grade school at St. Peter School in Brownsville before entering St. Fidelis Seminary High School and College Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1944.  Following his second year of college, Paul received the name Br. Senan as well as as his Capuchin habit when he began his Capuchin novitiate in Annapolis, MD, on July 13, 1951, and made his first vows as a friar on July 14, 1952. He returned to Herman complete his collegiate studies and moved on to study Theology for the priesthood at Capuchin College in Washington DC in 1954.  He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1957 along with Capuchin classmates Basil Gasper (+1994), Bennett Colucci (+2000) and Leon Leitem, who survives him.

Read more about Fr. Senan's life . . .

Christmas & Carols with the Novices

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas season, and we have a special treat to share. Our Capuchin novitiate community in Santa Ynez, CA, produced this Christmas reflection in prayer and music, and we're happy to share it with you all. May you be blessed at this special time in our lives of faith, and may you know the peace and goodness of our God who walks - and sings - among us . . .

Join us for Christmas Mass Online . . .

We Capuchin Franciscan friars wish all of you a blessed Christmas, filled with the peace and joy that only the humble beginnings of our salvation can ensure us.

Our Capuchin parishes will be livestreaming many of their Christmas Masses, and we'd like to share with you the chances when you can join our communities in prayer. Even though the contact be "virtual," feel free to take an opportunity for us to be with one another in spirit . . .

We pray that any of the frailty you have experienced this year from the pandemic which has weighed us down throughout the world might be united with the fragility of the Holy Family, who revealed a light that can never be extinguished: our God accompanies us on our human journey. May you know that hope and joy in the love of your family and friends - true lights that can shine more brightly in the darkness of the winter season.

View the times and places for our online Masses...

Dismas Young, OFM Cap., 1938-2020

Our Capuchin brother Dismas Young, OFM Cap., died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday morning, December 17, 2020, at Vincentian Home in McCandless, PA. A proud “Butlerite” from St. Paul Parish in Butler, PA, his baptismal name was Leo, born to parents Eugene and Mary (Steinhiser) Young on November 12, 1938. He was one of four children born to the couple and was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Eugene, and his sister, Nancy (McKain). His sister Alice (Bernard) Carbin survives him and shares our loss.

Leo was familiar with the Capuchins who would come to his parish from nearby St. Fidelis in Herman, PA. After graduation from Butler High School, he felt his call to be a Capuchin brother and entered the Capuchin Brothers Training Center in Cumberland, MD. When he decided that perhaps a call to the Capuchin priesthood might best suit his talents, he enrolled at St. Fidelis College and Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1958, where he would join classmates who were a bit younger than he: John Getsy, Joseph Mindling, Emil Fischer (+2001) and William Wiethorn (+2014). They were all invested as Capuchins after their novitiate year in Annapolis, MD, where Leo was given the name Dismas. He wore his name proudly and never returned to his baptismal name as others did when permitted to do so in 1968. Besides, his patron was the “good thief” whose faith on the cross near Jesus allowed him to accompany Jesus to paradise. The class professed their first vows on July 14, 1961.

Read more about our brother Dismas . . .

+ Luis Francisco González Rivera, OFM Cap., 1966-2020

We mourn the loss of our dear brother & friend Luis Francisco González Rivera, OFM Cap., on December 14, 2020.   Luis most recently served as the vice minister of the Custody of St. John the Baptist in Puerto Rico. He lost his life from complications related to his contacting the COVID virus.  He was a tireless worker, an indefatiguable minister and an incompatable creative artist. As a vice minister, he was a good and faithful servant to the brothers of the island. He is missed. An official obituary will be forthcoming in these days.