Clearing away their gear at the end of Chapter on May 27, Mark Schmitz and John Barker talked about the liturgies and music they had orchestrated throughout the week. When they met in February to plan the Masses, they asked each other, “What mood do we want?” John elaborated: “Liturgy is more than plunking music in an empty space. There are certain themes for gatherings like this: Unity. Love. Fraternity. Traveling together. Discipleship. Forgiveness. Joy.”

Of all those themes, the one John put first is the one that best characterizes this year’s Chapter, held May 23-27 at the University of Dayton. Unity has always been a goal, but this year, it took top priority. The solidarity in voting—disagreements were lively but cordial—demonstrated an overwhelming concern for the good of the group. That intention culminated Friday in the passage of Proposal 1, a historic statement about the province’s ability to “guarantee” its current ministries.

The insights and painstaking work of General Visitor Michael Doherty generated a sense of pride that made guys feel good about the work and the life of the province. And the presence of General Definitor Finian McGinn, who melded effortlessly into the mix, reminded friars that they do indeed have brothers in every corner of the world.

Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk welcomed the friars (“Stick around; we need you!”), and Finian set the tone by conveying the sentiments of Jose Rodriguez Carballo in response to Michael Doherty’s initial findings. “The General Minister says you are a province of generous men, of caring men,” Finian said, citing the concern shown for aging friars and friars in formation. “He’s very happy with your struggle to create viable fraternity. He compliments you because you are really struggling with a balanced prayer life. I think it is a very positive letter.”

Finian also outlined the Order’s plans for the multi-year celebration of its 800th anniversary. The goal of the observance is “to look at it as a time of conversion in our lives. We really have three different themes. In 2006, we celebrate the time when Francis heard the call and asked, ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’ ” The highlight will be a “spiritual chapter” in Assisi next year from Sept. 15-30. “They’re inviting speakers from all over the world.” The theme of 2007 is “Daring to Live the Gospel,” and it raises the questions: “Are we really living the Gospel? Is the Rule speaking to us?” In 2008, “We’re asking that provinces have a public celebration of their profession.” Widespread involvement is the objective. Ultimately, Finian said, “We want to break through the outside and get to the inside of the friar. If we’re alive as friars, our message will speak to the world. If they don’t see this person who is alive, the world won’t be much better.”

Judging from the reaction, the homily he delivered at Mass Tuesday morning was right on target. “Half of my life has been spent in classrooms,” he said. “Most of you have been teachers at one time or another. We know when to wait for the ‘teachable moment.’ The Chapter is a teachable moment for the whole province.” This week, he said, “You will be aware of the importance of leadership. You will choose leaders.” But while you’re doing it, he said, “Think about the other side of the equation—followership. We commit ourselves to follow the leaders we choose. What are the qualities that should be part and parcel of our lives as followers?”

Drawing from the Rule, he listed as desirable: “Gratitude, faith, perseverance, humility, patience and joy—trademarks of the Friar Minor.” As everyday virtues, “They are not highly praised by our post-modern society. In fact, they are somewhat counterculture. We should use this time as we elect leadership to ask ourselves, ‘How can I become a better follower? What areas of my life do I need to change in order to follow the friars we elect here?’ ”

That morning in his report to Chapter, Provincial Minister Fred Link emphasized gratitude, citing many of the “privileged moments” he has spent with friars and calling attention to the contributions of those around him. “I am very aware of my limitations,” Fred said. “I have tried to do my best in all instances. For any hurt I have caused any of you, my brothers, I am sorry and ask forgiveness.” Fred’s review of the past three years focused upon the province’s commitments to healing and reconciliation, the Five Priorities of the Order and interprovincial collaboration.

“God is alive and well among us,” active in both older and younger friars, he said. “But we have a task before us.” In his visitation, Michael Doherty asked Fred what one thing he would do to change the province if he were God. Fred answered, “The first thing that comes to mind is more vocations to our brotherhood.…We deserve to have more brothers. I’m convinced that is what God wants for us. God wouldn’t have let the Franciscan movement flourish so powerfully for almost 800 years now, if God didn’t see something of exquisite value in it.”

While “it is God who calls, it is we—you and I—who amplify the call or get in the way of it. It is in our hands really, always as agents of God, to increase our numbers.” As Archbishop Wilton Gregory noted last year in a speech to Immaculate Conception Province, “You have the greatest vocation director any diocese or order could hope for—Francis himself.” Regardless, Fred said, “It is our lives that offer the most powerful invitation.” As Gregory told the friars, “The greatest detriment today to vocations is our own failure to be true to our calling. When we live fully the life we profess, vocations will come.”

Michael Doherty’s visitation was a collaborative effort, one he suggested would “take away the focus on the Visitator’s report as some awe-inspiring, heaven-sent thunderbolt shedding light on those for so long huddling in the dark—which is nonsense.” His idea, one that worked well, was to give the province incremental feedback throughout the past eight months. Some of his observations were formulated by the Provincial Council into proposals that showed up on the Chapter agenda.

Introduced by Dan Havron on Tuesday afternoon, Michael was given a lengthy standing ovation. It was a sign of respect and regard, respect for his meticulous attention to duty, regard for his humanity and sensitivity.

“I hope you hear yourselves,” he said from his perspective as a sounding board for the province. As Visitor speeches go, this one was a marathon, but it reflected the encouragement from friars who urged Michael to “give us something real and substantive to hold onto.” Part of his talk was devoted to specific needs and recommended actions. Part of it dealt with the struggle for individual and group identity.

“We find ourselves at the crossroads of defining who we are,” he said. “A vast number, if not all of you, shared with me sadness and sorrows,” some of it caused by an unwarranted sense of inadequacy. During visitation, “I was absolutely astounded at how trusting you were,” but aware that this trust did not always extend to fellow friars. “People presume that you as Franciscans love one another. How do you show that?” And more importantly, “How do you perceive yourselves? You have a great province. You really do. But I don’t know if you know that. How many of you do actively promote your way of life? Why in real terms is there this disconnect?”

The most urgent problem facing the province, Michael said, is this: “If you don’t believe enough in your way of life to promote it, you have been the demise of your province. It’s no one’s fault; it’s everyone’s challenge and opportunity” to become “witnesses to hope, hope against hope. The people you serve love you. Would you learn to love yourselves?”

Michael spoke about the “looming reality of ever-shrinking numbers,” and how it will affect the decisions all friars must make. He invited Mark Ligett, John Bok and Neri Greskoviak to articulate that inner dilemma by sharing their personal stories. As an exercise in encouraging trust, he asked friars to turn around, face the guy in the row in back of them and tell him “what you intend to do in the next five years with your life choices. He’s going to do the same back to you. If you don’t trust each other enough to do that, you shouldn’t be here.” They were also encouraged to talk about something else: “If your role is shifting in the Church, rather than focus on the negative, is there a way to encourage lay leadership?”

After the hubbub from these lively and energetic exchanges had died, Michael informed the group, “You just demonstrated to yourselves that you’re always the answer and the way if you tell the truth and follow Christ.” But keep in mind, “Christ and Francis are not role models of how to grow older. You have to be that model.”

Wednesday it was time to debate the proposals, and the first one, as expected, generated the most spirited and emotional discussion. Directly addressing the issue of declining numbers, it would make the concept of guaranteed ministries a thing of the past. Nearly 50 friars spoke their minds in a meeting choreographed by Tom Richstatter, who, as usual, managed to cut through the flotsam and get to the heart of each issue.

“It’s very important to me to know that I follow a friar at a place or that a friar follows me,” said Michael Chowning, who spoke against Proposal 1. “I can more easily say ‘yes’ to the council if I know another friar is taking my place.” Tim Sucher favored the proposal. “Knowing you’re not going to be followed by a friar adds to our spirit of (being) pilgrims and strangers in this world.” When friars leave, “Hopefully, the Franciscan spirit remains behind. I think we are responding to the call to go back to our original charism.”

Bryant Hausfeld offered his perspective: “At least in my mind, the only thing we’re saying is we no longer guarantee a friar will go there. I can see us staying in some of these places forever. But I think it broadens our commitment to the Church. We are freer to look at what our talents are, what our gifts are. We can use our gifts at different places.” And as Frank Geers observed, “I see it as our opportunity for us to nudge bishops into thinking of new ways of providing ministers.”

Historically, said Bob Weakley, “We have left probably three to four times as many places as we have right now. I’ve served in five parishes. They’re family to us. Whenever we leave one of those places they’re going to be sad. Ten years from now the parish will either live or die, but it won’t be because we either left or stayed.”

The day was a study in contrasts, with the morning given to serious discussion and the afternoon and evening spent in celebration. Jubilee is such an inspiring event—and such a great party—that attendance is high, even among the most infirm friars. Nils Thompson of OLG Province came all the way from Phoenix to join his classmates.

In his homily at Immaculate Conception Chapel, jubilarian Dennet Jung confessed to a case of jitters. “Last year at the APA my roommate, Gil Wohler, was carrying around a few pieces of paper all day. He looked anxious. Now I know why. I feel awed and privileged to be representing you jubilarians. And I am shaking.”

The numbers tell the story, Dennet said. Among the jubilarians are 440 years of profession and 220 years of priestly ministry. “As our brother Andrew Stettler would say, ‘That’s awesome.’

“Brother jubilarians, we’ve been around the block,” he said, citing their many ministerial achievements. “As we walked around this proverbial block, we have encountered many we have inspired. We have done well. That’s not bragging. That’s not boasting. It’s merely acknowledging that God has chosen to accomplish his work through us.

“We encountered good times and times of sorrow. The journey overall was inspiring, life-giving and exciting.” And along the way, “We were not walking alone. The Lord was with us. We did not want for anything. We did not have everything we wanted, but we did not want. We who have been around the block know we have been privileged, we have been blessed. As Nick Lohkamp would say, ‘God is good. God is good and getting better.’”

Among this group of jubilarians, “Some know each other. Some not. In one way or another we have touched each other’s lives. We have challenged, encouraged and motivated one another. God is good. And so are we. I think that was the big message Michael Doherty was giving to us yesterday. You are good. You are made in the image of God, and God is good.

“As we continue to walk, we continue to grow. May we continue to preach the good news and be the good news to one another and all we meet.”

The outcome of Thursday’s elections was no surprise. But toward the end, during the voting for Council, electronic gadgetry amplified the excitement of what essentially became a horserace.

There was time in the morning for brief presentations from five friars whose names were submitted as candidates for provincial minister. “I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky guy,” said Jim Bok. “I love life. I love being a friar….My life has been kind of interesting because I have never done anything I planned to do.” In remarks submitted in writing, Art Espelage said, “I cherish being a priest and I enjoy being a Franciscan priest. …I am not the perfect man, priest or friar, but I am real. If you choose, I can fulfill this responsibility.” Dennet Jung was grateful to be considered for the office. “Thank you for affirming me in such a way,” he said. “I have enjoyed the past three years” as a member of Council. “It’s been a wonderful experience.” But “even though I want to serve the province, I do not think I am capable for this position.”

Fred Link said his service as provincial minister had been “a singular honor. I would be honored to continue to serve. That would be blessing. If you choose that I not continue to serve, that would be blessing, too.” Expressing his desire to one day return to pastoral work, Jeff Scheeler said, “I want to thank you for the rare honor of being nominated for this auspicious office.”

When candidates for Council took to the lectern, Councilor Mark Ligett said his service had been “an honor and a great joy.” But he asked that his name be removed from consideration because of his involvement with the new interprovincial house of prayer in Ava, Mo. “For this project to get off the ground, I need to give it as much attention as I possibly can.”

The projection process was the star of the afternoon election. Manning the mouse from the back of the room, Don Miller had programmed a computer to display a running tally of votes on two screens as they were read aloud by Michael Doherty. Thanks to this electronic wizardry, there was an audible intake of breath as each candidate neared the magic number. Even better: Things were set up so that the photo of the person elected flashed onto the screen when the results were tallied.

Fred and Jeff were re-elected in the first round of voting for provincial minister and vicar. In Council elections, Dennet Jung and Jim Bok were handily returned to office. When the tellers emptied their baskets onto the table in the first ballot for third councilor (68 needed to win), two new names popped up: Warren Zeisler and Tim Lamb. When Bill Farris was elected on the second ballot, Warren received an impressive 29 votes.

Things got REALLY interesting in the first ballot for councilor four. Bunched around the top were Warren Zeisler, Greg Friedman and Tim Lamb. The room was buzzing. With no friar elected, they voted again. This time, it was even closer, with only a few votes separating Warren, Greg and Tim. The tension made everyone talkative. The election would be decided by a third ballot, and, according to rules, only the two top contenders were eligible. As Michael read the votes, every eye was trained on the screens in the front. When Don clicked the mouse and the total next to Greg’s name reached 68, the number needed for election, there was a collective, audible release of suspended breath.

Outside the meeting room, Warren seemed taken aback by his “near-council” experience. Asked if he would consider a run in 2008, he replied, “I’ll only be 83.”

After the elections, Friday’s voting seemed almost anticlimactic. Proposal 1, the cessation of guaranteed ministries, was overwhelmingly accepted, 107 to 15 (with one absention). A proposal to change the number of councilors from four to six was resoundingly defeated. The creation of two standing committees was approved (one for senior friar issues and the other to help friars suffering with psycho-developmental or spiritual issues). And, in line with the Order’s commemoration of its founding, the council was given the go-ahead to implement a three-year spiritual pilgrimage for the province called Walking with Hope.

At the closing Mass, Fred Link sent friars off with this challenge: “to continue walking in faith, accepting the good and bad days we have, but also accepting the good and bad days our brother has. And forgiving, always forgiving.”

As Finian McGinn had said shortly before he left on Thursday, “We have to learn to affirm one another and we have to learn to affirm ourselves. Hopefully this chapter has taught us the importance of affirmation.”

Friday, when most had closed their prayer booklets and headed to the cafeteria for brunch, a handful of friars stayed behind to break down the “set.” The Provincial Chapter is more than a meeting; it’s also a production. And a production as seamless as this one can only happen when there are people working on the sidelines. “We want to be as much as possible invisible to the events taking place,” said sound man Chris Meyer, who routinely appeared at 6 or 7 a.m. each day to set things up and stood for hours, flipping switches and pushing buttons while everyone else sat comfortably. “If guys don’t see it, we’ve done a good job.”

Removing the music stands, John and Mark talked about their collaboration on the Masses and prayer services. “Mark is the musician of the two of us,” John said. “I put together the program. We work very well together. It’s a creative outlet for both of us. We try to keep in mind a blend of new music and older, more comfortable music.

“Over time,” just like the rest of Chapter, “it comes together.”

Jim Van Vurst and Martin Humphreys were two of a dozen artists whose works were chosen for display at the May Tea Event sponsored by the Sharonville Fine Arts Council on May 15 at the Sharonville Convention Center. Guests got an up-close look at Jim’s abstract watercolors and Marty’s abstract acrylics and chatted with the artists before they sat down to a “high tea” of tables tiered with finger sandwiches and sweets of every description. The council, whose mission is to support and promote the visual and performing fine arts, is hoping to establish a Regional Creative and Performing Arts Center in Sharonville.

In April, Jamaicans in the Diocese of Montego Bay were introduced to Robert Seay’s healing ministry during a five-stop “crusade.” Robert says the crusade drew “a lot of young people” to some of the island’s smaller parishes. “It was impressive to see the effort people made to get there” for two to three hours of preaching and the laying on of hands. Bishop Charles Dufour was part of the congregation during the last stop in Revival. “There was actually some healing that went on,” says Robert, who is repeatedly asked how it works. “There’s a certain energy that comes over me,” he says, and leaves it at that.

“As I look at my journey, God has always been calling and moving me beyond where I felt comfortable,” Henry Beck told the congregation crowded into Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Dayton on May 22 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his ordination. The opening song, All Are Welcome, reflected the readings and the spirit of Henry’s message, which focused on inclusiveness. That message was reinforced by the singing, in Spanish, of Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd (Tu Vas Conmigo). “At the heart of God, there is community, there is family,” as revealed by the Trinity. “We are made for relationships, to be bonded to one another. Our God is always creating family,” and, “wherever we are, we can create family,” Henry said, recalling the “joy, welcome and reception” extended to him by the people of Jamaica during his ministry there. Through the Eucharist, God is telling us, “There’s always room at this table.”

St. Anthony Messenger Press and Servant Publications were well-represented in the list of winners announced May 27 by the Catholic Press Association in its annual awards competition. An editorial by Pat McCloskey won first-place honors in the magazine category. The editorial, “Accepting Mary Magdalene’s Challenge,” appeared last July in St. Anthony Messenger magazine. Jack Wintz was recognized with a second-place award for Individual Excellence for his magazine work. An essay by Tom Richstatter (“The Mass: Our Greatest and Best Prayer,” from Vatican 2 Today) placed second in the Essay category for general-interest newsletters. A list of SAMP’s other honorees (there are a bunch of them) will appear in the August issue of the Messenger. Congratulations to all!

“Radio Maria continues to grow and reach out to new places,” writes Duane Stenzel. “On May 13, all the programs from here came into Canada via satellite. The first call on a call-in program from Canada was during the hour program entitled Brokenhearted. It is conducted by a Secular Franciscan and licensed marriage counselor, Dave Jurek. Live programs come from Detroit, New York, Louisville and Atlanta through our studios here” in Alexandria, La.

What goes around, comes around. John Turnbull celebrated his 50th jubilee June 9 in Oldenburg at “the very church where we were ordained,” he said. That weekday, the actual anniversary of John’s ordination, “We had a nice turnout at 8 a.m. Mass,” but the congregation officially celebrated on Sunday the 12th with a party/reception. The surprise visitor was a former refugee from the Sudan whose family spent their first few months in America with John at St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Centerville. The gift from the parish was a handmade stole with hand-embroidered squares representing each of John’s assignments. John says he may also be getting a new set of wheels for his anniversary. “There’s some talk about replacing our tractor.”

Rock Travnikar is “very grateful for all the support of the brothers and Clares, the messages and extraordinary care” extended to him following the death of his brother, Joe. A special thank-you to Mike Chowning, who drove overnight from Kentucky to Michigan (and slept in the car when he got there) to attend the funeral before he headed to the Chapter in Dayton. “The family was really moved by that,” says Rock. “God bless him.”

An accordion-style photo display at the rear of St. Aloysius Church shows friar Mel Brady in a variety of unposed pictures. There’s Mel, mouth full of food, mugging for the camera. One shot shows him hugging a tiny, dark-haired niece. Another catches him in mid-laugh alongside older brother Ignatius. As the display was intended to convey, here was a guy who loved life and who lived life as a great adventure, an adventure he thoroughly enjoyed until infirmity got in the way of his enormous spirit.

At Mel’s funeral, April 19 in Detroit, Pastor Mark Soehner is smiling as he points from one picture to the next. “That’s Mel’s Mom. Mel’s first day in the Order. Mel in his tonsured days. This is the board of Oasis Detroit,” a product of Mel’s persistence in finding ways to house the homeless. “This one is the block party. Mel wanted to have a Ferris wheel that would go as high as the Cardinal’s office. He told people, ‘The pastor wouldn’t let me do it.’ ”

Those gathered at St. Al’s, well aware of Mel’s accomplishments in the Order of Friars Minor, are remembering the affection he inspired. Endowed with Irish charm (and a bit of blarney), Mel had the uncanny ability of making everyone he met feel comfortable and significant, a member of the family. “He was like a dad to me,” says Dan Nolan. According to Jeff Scheeler, “You couldn’t help but love Mel Brady.” The day before, during visitation, Mark had described Mel as a “homemaker,” and he wasn’t referring to his trademark pot roast or tuna casserole, but to “how God made a home for Mel and Mel made a home for God.”

Evelyn Dilger, sitting in the pews with a well-soaked Kleenex, is both laughing and crying as she remembers working with Mel in formation at Mt. Airy. The two remained close after he moved to Detroit, with Mel occasionally calling to ask, “how much water to put in the Crock Pot” as he was fixing dinner. When he left for Detroit, Evelyn says, “I felt so abandoned,” a sentiment that many are sharing today. As the choir performs Go, Silent Friend, sung to the tune of Danny Boy, there isn’t a dry eye in the house.

Jeff Scheeler has the privilege and daunting task of delivering the homily. “I first met Mel Brady in 1984 in Rome,” when he was General Secretary of Missions for the Order, Jeff says. When Jeff was introduced to Mel as part of the formation team, “I could tell he was aghast” at the thought of this whippersnapper in that important position. “Mel could not hide his emotions. They were written all over his face.” Ironically, the two became great friends, working together on the formation team in later years.

Mel was a man of many roles, with many relationships:  “Franciscan friar, parish priest, seminary director, canon lawyer, recovering alcoholic, uncle, cousin, friend, wisdom figure, father figure, Franciscan brother to us all. Someone said, ‘He was a titan in our midst,’ and that was true.” Nevertheless, “There was something truly humble about Mel Brady. One of the other friars described him as ‘lovable.’ He endeared himself to others,” partly because of “a youthful spirit he never lost. I think one of the gifts Mel had in our Franciscan fraternity was he had a way of connecting with some of the younger friars. I think he had a way of making us feel as if we mattered. He believed in us. He kind of mentored us into manhood. This older, gifted, highly traveled man was our brother and he loved us and lived with us and was our friend.”

The readings from Ezekiel, Peter and Matthew seemed tailor-made for Mel, with his penchant for travel, his love of missionary work, the great faith that led to the creation of the correspondence course, Build with Living Stones. Having spent major portions of his life in the Philippines and Rome, “Mel was indeed a gift to the nations, truly an instrument of God’s holiness,” Jeff says. Check his personal file and you’ll see that “half of it is permissions to travel.”

Despite his success at every level of the Order, Mel had his demons. He wrote candidly about his struggles with sobriety in a 1995 newsletter from Guest House, a facility dedicated to the care of priests and religious suffering from alcoholism and chemical dependency. “It was 10 years ago this year that I left Guest House, Lake Orion, the recipient of a new gift of life,” he wrote. “Thanks be to God!”

At the age of 74, inspired by the writings of Joan Chittister, “He decided to come here (to Detroit) and put that vast experience and that great heart to the service of God’s people,” Jeff says. “In the end, when he knew that death was approaching, he said, ‘I want to come home.’ ” He told Mark that his fate would be “whatever God wants.”

“He was a tremendous example for us of how to live and in the end, how to die,” Jeff says. “Mel, we love you. We miss you. We are very grateful for your life among us.”