Category Archives: News

March 15-17, 2019, Fr. Bernie Palka, SA, Sr. Lucinda Patterson, SA, Bro. Paolo Nicosia, SA, and Paul Krenzelok, Director of Discernment Ministry led a “discernment” retreat weekend for 10 diverse and vibrant young adults.  The purpose was to help these young adults answer the question, “What is God’s plan for my life?”  Although no one by the end of the weekend “figured out” God’s plan—which wasn’t the purpose—these young adults did come away with tools to understand God’s plan bit by bit.

This year marks the 100th anniversary that the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement have been honoring the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of the Atonement. To honor her and help others come into her mercy through prayer, a new stained glass window at St. Joseph the Worker parish in Richmond, British Columbia, has been installed.

This past January 29, Br. Paolo Nicosia, SA, represented the Atonement Friars, as well as the Franciscan International, at two meetings at the United Nations. These events looked at issues concerned with the protection of human life - specifically at human rights and injustices in prison systems.

Viewers from around the country and the world tuned in to the Food Network on Tuesday, February 26th to watch a special episode of Chopped. Marc Lamash, who worked as a chef at Graymoor for many years, was one of the contestants on the show where chefs compete against each other by making creative dishes using very specific ingredients. 

On February 25, Dr. Aaron Hollander delivered the XXXIX Paul Wattson Lecture at the University of San Francisco. "The Courage to Hearken: Ecumenism and the Underside of Modernity" was the theme of this annual talk sponsored by the Friars, honoring the legacy of Fr. Paul Wattson, SA, Servant of God.

…But Few Are Chosen is a newly released book that relates the coming-of-age story of three young boys who found At-One-Ment with the help of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement at St. John’s Atonement Seminary in Montour Falls, New York.

On Sunday, February 10, 2019, Br. Jan Janoska, NSA, and Br. Alfonso DeRuvo, NSA, received their habits in a clothing ceremony presided over by Minister General Brian F. Terry, SA. The ceremony took place in Assisi, Italy, and Novice Director Fr. Ed Boes, SA, along with Formation Director Fr. Jim Puglisi, SA, assisted.

Pain can be healed. Hate can be turned to love. Division can be turned to unity. The Church can and will be one. — The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement

Rev. Pacificus (nee Edward Anthony) Von Essen, SA, a Franciscan Friar of the Atonement, passed from this life on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at Fujisawa Shonandai Hospital, Japan.

In 1899, Fr. Paul Wattson, SA, Servant of God (then Episcopalian priest Rev. Lewis T. Wattson) took his vows as a Friar of the Atonement. Ten years later, in 1909, Fr. Paul and 16 others in the Society of the Atonement were received into the Catholic Church. One hundred and ten years after that, Deacon Jose Delgado followed in Father Paul’s footsteps, taking the journey from being an Episcopalian priest to a Catholic member of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement.