The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement bring healing and hope to God’s people, sharing the message of reconciliation, unity and at-one-ment on three continents.
“The word Friar simply means Brother and we want all men to feel that we are indeed their brothers and ready to serve them in any way we can.”
– Servant of God, Fr. Paul Wattson, SA Founder, Friars of the Atonement, October 1900
ELECTED GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS – 2019-2024 Term
V. Rev. Brian F. Terry, SA
Minister General
Elected in 2014 then re-elected in 2019, current Minister General
Fr. James Loughran, SA
Vicar General, 1st Councilor
Currently Director of the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute
Fr. Timothy MacDonald, SA
2nd Councilor
2nd Councilor, Guardian and Administrator at the Paul Wattson Friary in Toronto
Fr. Daniel Callahan, SA
3rd Councilor
Elected 3rd Councilor in 2014, re-elected in 2019, and currently serves as the Friars’ Mission Effectiveness Officer and Guardian of St. Paul Friary at Graymoor.
Fr. Robert Langone, SA
4th Councilor
Elected 4th Councilor in 2019, and currently serves as Pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church in Toronto.LEARN ABOUT THE FRIARS & THEIR MINISTRIES
Brother Thomas Banacki, SA
He creates a sense of Franciscan hospitality and welcome where one feels safe and at ease.
Fr. Kenneth Cienik, SA
He is a retired Commander in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy Reserve.
Fr. Patrick Cogan, SA
He recently served as Executive Coordinator of the Canon Law Society of America, a position he also held from 1992 to 1999.
Fr. David Fitzgerald, SA
Pastor of St. Andrew's since 1999. He currently resides at Graymoor.
Fr. James Gardiner, SA
Director of Special Projects
Director of special projects at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America chair of the Washington Archdiocesan Holy Land Committee
Fr. Arthur Gouthro, SA
Fr. Arthur has been on assignment in various parts of the United States and Canada.
Br. Gerard Hand, SA
Br. Gerard retired to the Friars’ house at Waverly Place in New York City
Fr. Joseph Hiramatsu, SA
Regional Minister, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish
Chairperson of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph School in Tsurumi
Brother Daniel Houde, SA
Graymoor Book and Gift Center
Fr. Elias Mallon, SA
External Affairs Officer for CNEWA
Involved in the Roman Catholic/Christian-Muslim dialogue and issues of interreligious cooperation for conflict transformation.
Brother Louis Marek, SA
Vicar/Administrator
Vicar/Administrator at the Chapel of Our Savior in Brockton, MA
Br. Paolo S. Nicosia, SA
Serves as Guardian and Postulant Director of the Friars’ Formation House in Assisi.
Brother Joseph F. O’Gara, SA
Healthcare Coordinator
Is the Healthcare Coordinator for the Friars.
Brother John O’Hara, SA
Lectures on the Expression of One’s Spirituality through Photographic Process.
Fr. Thomas Orians, SA
Director, Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
Director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, and he is Associate Director of the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute (GEII).
Fr. David Poirier, SA
Organizes the Annual Halifax Paul Wattson Lecture which features speakers on interreligious and ecumenical topics.
Fr. Dennis Polanco, SA
President & Spiritual Director of St. Christopher’s Inn
President & Spiritual Director of St. Christopher’s Inn, the Friars’ residential shelter and substance abuse treatment center at Graymoor in Garrison, New York.
Fr. James Puglisi, SA
Director, Centro Pro Unione
Director of the Centro Pro Unione, a ecumenical research and action center in Rome. He also has been appointed Post-Novitiate Director and Procurator General for a three-year term.
Fr. Charles Sharon, SA
Most recently served as Secretary General and 3rd General Councilor, followed by 4th General Councilor from 2014-2019.
Fr. Emil Tomaskovic, SA
Director of Special Gifts
Served as President of the New York Federation of Alcoholism Counselors.
TERTIARIES
Deacon Thomas B. Rich, D.Min., J.C.L.
Vocation Director
Deacon Thomas B. Rich, D.Min., J.C.L. was welcomed as a Tertiaries of the Society of the Atonement (TSA) ad experimentum in January of 2020 and is active in the retreat ministry of Graymoor.
Deacon Thomas J. Malone Jr., TSA
Deacon Thomas J. Malone Jr., TSA joined the Tertiaries of the Society of the Atonement (TSA) ad experimentum in January of 2020.