In 1974, the Servant of God Cardinal Terrence Cooke (Archbishop of New York at that time) founded Trinity Retreat House for priests just north of New York City in Larchmont, New York. Cardinal Cooke asked Fr. Benedict Groeschel to be the director. Fr. Groeschel has lived and worked at Trinity Retreat to this day as requested by Cardinal John O'Conner (Archbishop of New York when our community began) and Cardinal Edward Egan the present Archbishop. Why do I mention all of these details? Under Fr. Groeschel's guidance Trinity Retreat became a refuge for priests and religious during the uncertain times of the 1970's and 1980's. It was a place of prayer and support for those who wanted to remain faithful to the Gospel, the Church and the Pope. Those early conversations concerning the need to "do something" among our first friars happened around Fr. Groeschel at Trinity Retreat. Fr. Apostoli was working as an assistant to Fr. Groeschel, the first time a Capuchin from the New Jersey Province had worked with a Capuchin from the New York-New England Province.

Saint Francis had a desire to live the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He did so as a man of his time and place, Italy of the early 1200's. Saint Francis attended and was deeply influenced by the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215. The early Capuchin reform was deeply influenced by the milieu of the mid-1500's and the Council of Trent. I write all of this as the context for what our first friars wanted to accomplish. Although not intending to start something new, our friars were deeply influenced by the Second Vatican Council and Pope John Paul II. Drawing on their experience of religious life (both good and bad) they stepped out of the boat onto the uncertain waters of a new beginning. They did not want to turn back the clock to live in the 1200's or the 1500's. This is an important point. They wanted to live the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the footsteps of Saint Francis in the Capuchin tradition, in the modern world of today. This was a response to the call of Vatican II and Pope John Paul II. I must also mention the friendship and encouragement of Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

I feel that this is an important element in understanding the CFR charism. It happens that left-wing progressive liberals accuse us of being old-fashioned and pre-Vatican II. Some right-wing traditionalists accuse us of being newfangled and liberal (catholic hippies and Hari Krishna’s as well)! We don't feel comfortable with any of those labels, left, right, liberal, conservative, etc. Again, we are trying to live an authentic franciscan life in today's world. More to come next month...

We are praying for you and your discernment everyday, especially on Wednesdays. Let us set our hands to the plow in the Lord's vineyard and not look back! "The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor"
(1 Cor 3:8).