Amsterdam native heads Franciscans

When the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement turn to their leader, they now look to an Amsterdam native who now lives in Rome, Italy: Rev. James F. Puglisi, SA. He was recently elected minister general of the order, which is based in Garrison, N.Y.

An internationally recognized ecumenist, he has spent the past 30 years at the Centro Pro Unione in Rome, where he has served in various roles and is now director.

Father Puglisi also teaches at three Italian universities as a professor of ecumenism, sacraments and ecclesiology.

Christian unity

In a phone call, Father Puglisi told The Evangelist that "our founder [Rev. Paul Wattson] believed that one of the words in our name -- 'atonement' -- had a double meaning. He believed that 'at-one-ment,' the other meaning, could be applied to the work of our order: that the friars would have as their mission the work of Christian unity. That is what our order was founded on, and today we are still fulfilling that mission."

At the order's recent chapter meeting, Father Puglisi said, the members came up with three objectives for the next five years: "to continue to image our vocation for Christian unity, to deepen our spiritual life, and to continue and expand our social ministries worldwide."

The order is also beginning the renovation of its motherhouse in Garrison, overlooking the Hudson River and West Point.

"It is important to us that the new building reflect our Franciscan traditions of Christian unity, reconciliation and the integrity of the human person, respectful of all creation and at one with nature," he said.

Helping troubled

Also on the property is St. Christopher's Inn, a homeless shelter. In addition, the friars operate St. Joseph's Rehabilitation Center in Saranac Lake for men with addictions. They have also established "Do Not Fear To Hope," a ministry for those with HIV/AIDS, their families and friends.

Over the next five years, the term of his leadership, Father Puglisi hopes the order will "strive to expand our ministries both here and overseas. We have not been getting the vocations for this expansion, but I would invite individuals that might be interested in overseas and local missionary work to contact us."

Global reach

The order is involved worldwide in social, ecumenical and pastoral ministries all over the world, with missions in Japan, Canada, the U.S. and England as well as in Rome. Father Puglisi, who was ordained in 1973, serves at the ecumenical center in Rome.

"Our center provides information, research opportunities and service to those seeking a deeper understanding of various religions," he said. "The center was established as the result of the Second Vatican Council [in the 1960s] as a place where people could go for dialogue and study."

(For information about the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, go to www.atonementfriars.org.)

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