Friars from Upstate New York Gather for Day

of Recollection

Friars taking in a lecture

Conventual Franciscan Friars Joe Angelini and Briant Cullinane recently ran a Regional Day of Recollection at St. Joseph’s Retreat Center in Valatie, New York for friars from nearby Albany-Rensselaer and Fonda, which is just over 60 miles away.

About 20 friars in total participated in the day of recollection. They had beautiful weather for walking and praying on the retreat center grounds. Secular Franciscan Walter Chura stimulated the minds of the attending friars with two lectures on "Current Readings and Directions in Franciscan Spirituality”. Eager to discuss the topic, the friars later made for an engaging question and answer period with Walter.

A snapshot of community life at the Conventual Franciscans'

Holy Family Parish in Albany, New York

A sense of fraternity was palpable throughout the day of recollection; and  it carried on into the evening which saw the friar-participants take in some preprandials and then have dinner.

(Sources of all related images on webpage and homepage: Conventual Franciscan Friars Immaculate Conception Province Provincialgram and www.centerchurches.org.)