(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Fall 2024 Issue #113)

Brother Bill Short, OFM

Bro. Bill Short, OFM

Director Collegium S. Bonaventurae-Frati Editori di Quaracchi Collegio S. Isidoro in Rome, Italy. Professor of Spirituality, Franciscan School of Theology.
Brother Bill was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. After graduating from the University of San Francisco, he entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Friars of St. Barbara Province, making his solemn profession of vows in 1978. After graduate studies in Berkeley and Rome, he was appointed to a teaching position at the Franciscan School of Theology, where he has subsequently served as Academic Dean and President.
In addition to his academic work, he is also an amateur winemaker, a native-plant gardener, and an interpreter – translator for many international Franciscan meetings.

Darleen Pryds, PhD

Darleen Pryds, PhD

Associate Professor of Spirituality and History and Academic Director, MTS-Franciscan Theology online degree, at the Franciscan School of Theology. Acquisitions Editor, Franciscan Media.
Darleen Pryds is a laywoman who has been exploring the Franciscan spiritual tradition since she was a freshman in college. Since then, she has found her academic research on the lay Franciscan tradition buoys her faith. Her focus on lay Franciscans has analyzed the tradition of lay preaching as a form of “Somatic Theology,” or theology expressed through lived experience. You can find her research in her many books and articles. Currently, her work explores Franciscan Laity as Co-Creators of the Franciscan Tradition and Caregiving at the End of Life.

Father Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv.

Darleen Pryds, PhD

Friar Wayne Hellmann is professor emeritus at Saint Louis University, where he had served for forty-five years. He had earned his Doctorate in Theology from Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität in Munich, Germany in 1974. He directed doctoral dissertations on themes within the Franciscan tradition and received many awards and other recognition during his distinguished academic career at Saint Louis University. He also served in leadership positions within his Conventual Province of Our Lady of Consolation, including that of Minister Provincial.
He served as co-editor of the three-volume series, Francis of Assisi: Early Documents (New City Press, 1999-2001) and also as co-editor for the first three volumes of Studies in Early Franciscan Sources (Franciscan Institute Press, St. Bonaventure University, 2011). These latter volumes offer scholarly essays on each of the writings of Francis and of Clare. In addition, he has written numerous articles and served as an editor for the Franciscan entries found in the new edition of the New Catholic Encyclopedia. For many summers over the last years, he taught early Franciscan sources at the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure, New York. More recently he served as adjunct visiting professor at the Franciscan School of Theology in San Diego, California. Additionally, he has often lectured or conducted retreats for Franciscans in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

21st Q Meet the Keynote Speakers

 (This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Fall 2024 Issue #113)

In this issue, five of the 30 Regions are highlighted.

La Verna Region

La Verna Region consists of most of Wisconsin and the upper portion of Michigan and includes 18 established fraternities. At the time of regionalization, the members voted and chose the name because of the connection to St. Francis, especially to his receiving the stigmata.
The region includes fraternities in areas ranging from urban to rural and is located by the two largest lakes of the five Great Lakes: Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
Our Lady of the Angels Region
Southern Westchester, Staten Island, and the borough of Manhattan, which are all in New York, as well as Central and Northern New Jersey, are all part of Our Lady of the Angels Region. Although it is one of the smallest regions by area, it is one of the largest in membership with 670 candidates and professed members.
When it was time to determine the name for the region, fraternities were invited to suggest names, and through a selection process, Our Lady of the Angels was chosen.

Tau Cross Region

This is another region that is geographically small but includes 21 established fraternities. It covers the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island in New York. As one of the last regions to be established, its name was assigned to it.
Tau Cross Region includes the Archdioceses of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Rockville Centre. It is currently active in implementing the processes of Fraternal Accompaniment and cell creation to sustain the shrinking fraternities.

Our Lady of Guadalupe – Empress of the Americas Region

The region covers all of New Mexico and part of Texas and includes 14 fraternities. When it was established, the council met in El Paso and chose its name. Since it shares borders with three states and Mexico, it is a diverse and bilingual region.

Santa Maria de las Montanas Region (Saint Mary of the Mountains Region)

Unlike the two previously mentioned New York regions, the Santa Maria de las Montanas Region covers five states: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, and part of Nebraska! It includes 12 established fraternities and two emerging groups.
In 1993, World Youth Day was celebrated in Denver, Colorado, and is considered to have been a spiritual revolution. Since St. Pope John Paul II’s visit, the Augustine Institute, FOCUS Ministry, and two seminaries were all established in the state. The region was established on October 20, 1994.

Regional Roundup