Father Evan is my personal favorite priest.*

Evan A. Howard, OFM, was the priest who married TJ and I. He's a lovely man who ad libbed the homily at our wedding Mass using my bouquet as the base of his talk. His rather dry sense of humor was always worthy of a chuckle, and his kindness and generosity is legendary. His retirement a couple of years ago remains heavy on the hearts of his former parishioners. He is so missed.

He has cropped up here lately in my life.

Well, not physically...

A friend who went on a pilgrimage said that Fr Evan had led it--oh, I was so jealous!

And then, attached to the SFO meeting minutes from yesterday's do was this beautiful gem by those who had gone to Santa Rosa:

Spiritual Role in the Church for Franciscans
Presented by Fr. Evan Howard, O.F.M.
Santa Rosa Mission Retreat
August 5, 2005

Fr. Evan broke down the Spiritual Role in the Church for Franciscans to the five “E”s.

1) Evangelical: Franciscans are to go tell the good news. They are to study the gospel, meditate on the gospel, provide spiritual direction, share with friends, go to formation and bring the gospel to the people.

2) Environmental: Care about the planet earth and all its people and creatures. Be peacemakers. An example of being peacemakers that he gave was how the Franciscans openly protested against nuclear weapons. Franciscans are also involved with the conservation of the Rain Forests, which he called the “Lungs of Mother Earth”. Franciscans are concerned with how the world should be sharing the ‘fruit’s of Mother Earth to eliminate water and food shortages around the world.

3) Ecumenical: Franciscans should make peace with other faiths. Show respect and offer friendship and respect to them. They offer retreats to non-Catholics and ecumenical charities.

4) Enthusiasm: Show enthusiasm by promoting prayer and the desire to share the word. Franciscans are very supportive of Music Ministry….it is one of the best ways to convert. Missions used music to convert natives. Appreciate faith through music and prayer groups.

5) Eucharist: Franciscans have total devotion to the Eucharist, to Adoration and to Holy Hours. They promote Perpetual Adoration, Daily Mass, and respecting and sharing the Eucharist.


They should have added a sixth E: Evan's Wisdom: how to live in this crummy secular world with God as your guide.

Health to you, dear Father Evan!

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* Wellll... I dunno. He's going to have to duke it out with Father Alonso de Blas. Heh... now that's a mental image that makes me giggle!