Capuchin Archbishop Chaput To ReceiveBecket Fund's Canterbury Award

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has announced it will award its highest honor, the Canterbury Medal, to Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.Cap., at the organization's 15th anniversary dinner in Manhattan on May 7.

Each year, the Becket Fund awards the Canterbury Medal to the person who has "most resolutely refused to render to Caesar that which is God's." Past Canterbury Medalists include Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel, Prison Fellowship founder Charles Colson, Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann, financiers Foster Friess and Ted Forstmann, and former Ambassador to the Vatican James R. Nicholson.

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Bro. Mark, Others Pursue 'Trivia' in Indonesia

Here's a bit of Capuchin trivia which Bro. Mark Schenk of the Mid- American province uncovered on his recent general visitation of the Pontianak province in Indonesia and posted on Aug. 16: A parish served by the friars of the Pontianak province in an area called Tebet, a Jakarta suburb, has a school under the patronage of Saint Francis of Assisi, and one of its former students was a lad called Barack Obama. Yes, the one who is running for U.S. president. For much more about Mark's visit to Indonesia, click here.
Mark should have probed a bit further, however. According to a story posted Aug. 17 on WorldNetDaily, the Tebet school's records show Obama was registered at the school under the name Barry Soetoro by his stepfather, Lolo Soetoro. The school card lists Barry Soetoro as a Indonesian citizen born Aug. 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His religion is listed as Muslim. An Associated Press photograph taken in 2007 by Tatan Syuflana, an Indonesian AP reporter and photographer, surfaced in early August on the Daylife.com photographic website showing an image of Obama's registration card at Indonesia's Fransiskus Assisi school. For more on this, click here

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Capuchin Bishop Wilhelm Egger,Pope Benedict's Host On His Recent Vacation In Northern Italy, Dies

Pope Benedict XVI is mourning the death of a Capuchin bishop who was his host during an Alpine vacation this month.

Benedict told pilgrims at his summer palace in Castel Gandolfo near Rome that he felt "profound emotion" when he learned of the death Saturday night of 68-year-old Bressanone Bishop Wilhelm Egger. Benedict said on Sunday that when he bid goodbye to the bishop on Aug. 11 in the mountain town that Egger seemed to be in good health.

Italian news reports said Egger died of a heart attack. Egger, a native of Innsbruck, Austria, was bishop of the German-speaking town in Italy's South Tyrol region.

Benedict's maternal grandmother was born near Bressanone, and the pope vacationed in the area many times when he was a German cardinal.

Bishop Egger, a world-renowned Scripture scholar, became a Capuchin in 1956 and a bishop in 1986.

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More Catechisis and the Reception of the Holy Father

Here are more videos of the week in Sydney. Here the second day of catechisis takes place with more joy and fun with the continued theme of the Holy Spirit. The climax of the day ends with the reception of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict the XVI. Enjoy....


Papal arrival with the Capuchins



Capuchin Catechisis Day 2 - WYD 2008



Capuchin WYD 2008 Vigil and Final Thoughts

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Capuchin Catechisis and Fun

The opening day of World Youth Day 2008 was followed by catechisis given by Capuchin Cardinal Sean O'Malley. The instruction of the Catholic faith has been an essential element of the World Youth Day experience. There were over 300 locations throughout Sydney that took part in catechisis, but ours took place at St. Fiacre's Parish in Leichhardt. Youth from Guam to Turkey took part in the event which included Eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and a question and answer session with the Cardinal. Here are some short clips of these moments.

Capuchin Catechisis with Cardinal O'Malley - WYD 2008



There was also a Capuchin Youth Festival held at a local pavilion shortly after the catechisis. There was Christian music, followed by dancing, and great fun. I had no idea Capuchins could party like this!

Capuchin Franciscan Youth Festival - Part I



Capuchin Franciscan Youth Festival - Part II



Lastly, during World Youth Day 2008, Archbishop Charles Chaput was present for Theology on Tap at PJ Gallaghers' Bar and Grill in Sydney Australia. We were blessed to be able to attend the event and support our local Archbishop and brother.
Here are some highlight from that night.

WYD 2008 - Theology on Tap with Archbish Charles Chaput

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Opening Day for Capuchins at World Youth Day 2008

Capuchin Franciscans from all over the world experience World Youth Day 2008 during the opening Mass in Sydney Australia. Here are some highlight from the opening day.

Capuchins 1st Day at WYD 2008 - Part I



Capuchins 1st Day at WYD 2008 - Part II

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Capuchins Prepare for World Youth Day in Sydney

All Capuchin Franciscans Friars in the English speaking world attended World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney Australia. They spent several days preparing for this experience with Pope Benedict and many pilgrims from around the world by reflecting on the theme of "Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to become a witness." (Acts 1:8) These clips express some of those experiences and preparations for the event. Here is one of the first clips.

Capuchin Friars - Reuniting for Renewal Day 1



Capuchin Friars - Reuniting for Renewal Days 2&3



World Youth Day Preparation - Capuchins

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