Minister General, Fr. Brian Terry, SA, with the Jubilarians at this year’s Mass and celebration.

It is with a profound sense of gratitude that the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement celebrate the 60th Diamond Jubilee anniversaries of two Friars: Fr. Arthur Gouthro, SA, and Br. Theodore Novak, SA. The Friars also mark the Silver Jubilee, 25 years, of Fr. Edward Boes, SA. These men have truly been an inspiration in their years as Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. They have served numerous people through the vast array of ministries that each Friar has been involved with.

This month, the community celebrated the milestone anniversary with a Jubilarian Mass and reception held at Graymoor in Garrison, NY. Each Jubilarian’s biography can be found below.

Diamond Jubilarians – 60 Years


Fr. Arthur Gouthro, SA

Father Arthur Gouthro, SA, was born on February 3, 1938, in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, and graduated from MacDonald High School in Dominion, NS in 1956. He attended Nova Scotia Teacher College in 1958 followed by two years of teaching in the public schools in that province.

In 1959, he joined the Friars of the Atonement. He attended seminary at Graymoor in Garrison, NY and in Washington, DC.  Fr. Art was ordained in 1969 at Sacred Heart Church, Sydney, N.S.

Fr. Art has ministered for the Friars at parishes in the United States and Canada, including St. John’s Church, Mahopac, NY; Chapel of Our Savior, Brockton, MA. He is a former Director of the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute in Garrison, NY. Fr. Art was the pastor of St. Paul’s Church and St. Bridget’s Church, both in Nova Scotia. From 2005-2012, Fr. Art was Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph the Worker parish in Richmond, BC.  He retired from full-time ministry in 2012 and came to reside at St. Paul Friary at Graymoor in 2017.

Br. Theodore Novak, SA

Br. Theodore Novak, SA was born and raised in Middletown, CT.  He entered the Fraternity upon his graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1959.         Br. Ted professed first vows in 1962 and made his final vows in 1967.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Elder Care from Empire State College.

Br. Ted has spent most of his religious life in various ministries.  His assignments included Christ the King Church in High Point, NC; St. Christopher’s Inn; a short time in Richmond, BC; the Development Office at Graymoor; and working with elder friars. He is also Chaplain at the Garrison and Mohegan Lake Volunteer Fire Departments.

Br. Ted worked at the Institute of Human Applied Dynamics – St. Jude’s, Bedford Hills, NY as a mental health assistant for mentally-disabled adults.

For almost fifty years, Br. Ted has used the gift of art as a tool for evangelization. He is a well-known artist and has been involved in the Valley Artists Association, the Garrison Art Center, and the Greenwich Art Center in Greenwich, CT.  Br. Ted’s ceramics and his religious artwork can be found throughout the world and at many galleries.

Silver Jubilarian – 25 Years


Fr. Edward Boes, SA

Fr. Ed Boes, SA was born in Brooklyn, NY. He became a Friar of the Atonement in August 1992, professing first vows in 1994 and final vows in 1997. Fr. Ed was ordained to the priesthood in 1998.

Fr. Ed earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Cathedral College, Douglaston, NY in 1981. He received a Master’s Degree in Theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, NY in 1985. In 1997, Fr. Ed received his Master of Divinity degree in Theology from Washington Theological Union in Washington, DC.

Fr. Ed served as Associate Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Vancouver, BC from 1996 – 2000. He was Novice Director at the St. Francis Novitiate at Graymoor from 2000 – 2005 and served briefly as Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitate Center in Saranac Lake in early 2005. From April 2005 to 2009, he ministered for the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, while also serving on the Graymoor Redevelopment Project.

In 2009, Fr. Ed was appointed Rector of the Church of Sant’ Onofrio at Gianicolo in Rome.  Since January 2019, he is also the Friars’ Novice Director at the Assisi Novitiate and he serves on the International Board of Admissions and the Formation Team.