Bishop Gregory Hartmayer of Savannah, Georgia spoke on video after the election of Pope Francis. We include his recorded talk above.

Viewers note immediately Bishop Hartmayer’s joyful response to hearing that the Papal Conclave had elected Pope Francis. As a Conventual Franciscan, the bishop understands the pope’s selection of his name. He knows that St. Francis of Assisi was humble and served the poor. The pope – a native of Argentina – gives the poor a voice and energizes the international effort to help them. The fact is that we can all do something to help our impoverished brothers and sisters, whether we spend time in a soup kitchen giving out food or donating funds to a charity.

In his video, Bishop Hartmayer also highlights Pope Francis’ humility. Francis of Assisi always espoused minority, never placing himself above other people. Pope Francis in a similar vein asks all of us to pray for him. He demonstrates his humility in many other ways too. He rides the bus with his fellow Cardinals and cancels his own newspaper subscriptions. Pope Francis even rang one of our friars on the telephone to thank him for a latter and a card that he had sent. Such a simple, humble, gesture demonstrates how much our pontiff cares for each and every one of us.

(Source of image with story: Diocese of Savannah.)

In today's video (please see below), Friar Juniper Cummings speaks about how joyful his life has been as a Conventual Franciscan. Friar Juniper – currently a retreat leader at the Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota – has been a Conventual Franciscan for more than 60 years.

Through all these decades – as he points out in the video – he has involved himself in many different ministries. These include teaching at a college, working as a pastor, and serving the people of Zambia as a missionary for more than two decades. He adds that his Order encourages initiative. Friars, as has been highlighted in other stories on franciscans.org, always develop their gifts to improve our world. They are involved in a plethora of fields. One of our friars – George P. Searles –, for example, even worked as a graphoanalyst. His ability to analyze an individual’s character traits through his or her handwriting amazed many people.

(Source of image with story: Conventual Franciscans.)

Conventual Franciscan Friar Peter Tremblay is one of two parochial vicars at St. Paul Catholic Church in Kensington, Connecticut. A gifted homilist, he preached at his parish on Sunday, April 21, 2013. I include a video of his interesting homily below.

In this homily, Friar Peter challenges us to deepen our faith by realizing that we are in a relationship with Jesus. This relationship is more than just coming to Mass once a week. It is about being part of our larger faith community, of not just wishing peace to the people around you in church but about getting to know them and remembering that Jesus is our shepherd.

(Source of image with story: Friar Peter Tremblay.)

On May 18, 2013, Friar John Koziol, the Pastor of St. Philip Benizi Parish (Jonesboro, Georgia), will celebrate the 25^th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. His Conventual Franciscan brothers are organizing two events to mark that special day.

At 5pm, the whole parish community will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving in Friar John’s honor at St. Philip Benizi. Afterwards at the parish hall, parishioners and friars will sit down together to a meal. The whole evening promises to be one of prayer, great conversation, and fun.

Friar John – a native of Holyoke, Massachusetts - has been pastor of St. Philip Benizi since 2010. In the past he has worked as a formation director for his Order and a campus minister at Catholic University of America. It was there in 2005 that he obtained a doctorate in Adult Spiritual Formation.

(Source of image with story: http://www.stphilipbenizi.org/.)