History of the CFRs in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Origin of the CFRs The Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs) was founded in 1987 out of the Bronx, New York. Our community comprises men who have a desire to live the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi in the Capuchin Franciscan tradition. We serve the material and spiritual needs of the very poor and work for the reform and renewal of the Church through the evangelical preaching of personal reform. We are Catholic, Franciscan, contemplative, active, apostolic, fraternal, and pro-life witnesses to the Gospel, and we are deeply committed to the New Evangelization as envisioned by Pope John Paul II.
Our Early Work in New Mexico Our community first began traveling to New Mexico in the 1990s to conduct youth retreats in preparation for the new millennium. These retreats, which focused on the Eucharist and Reconciliation, united young people across the state. Unsuspectingly, the youth retreats also drew our brothers into their own encounter with the beauty and rich Catholic history of New Mexico.
In 2001, Fr. Robert Stanion, one of our eight founding CFRs, learned that he needed to be in a drier climate to improve his health. Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan invited Fr. Robert to Albuquerque that summer so that he could help out in some of the local parishes while attending to his health needs.
New Mexico proved to be a fitting and healthy environment for Fr. Robert. After returning to New York at the end of the summer, he soon realized that he needed to return to New Mexico’s dry climate to maintain his health. Once Fr. Robert received permission from the CFR community, Archbishop Sheehan gave him a special assignment to assist with sacramental ministry at San Jose Parish in Albuquerque and to provide support to its pastor at the time.
Once his health stabilized, Fr. Robert began praying about the possibility that the Lord might be calling the CFR community to open a friary within the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Other friars were attracted to the idea of establishing a friary in the archdiocese; however, our young community had to wait for friars to finish their formation period and seminary training before a new friary could be officially founded.
In March 2003, a second CFR, Fr. Terry Messer, joined Fr. Robert in Albuquerque and remained there for the next two and a half years. The priests realized that, due to limited space at San Jose Parish, they would need additional housing before they could receive more friars and expand their local community. A new residence was recommended, and in November 2004, the friars moved to the grounds of St. Francis Xavier Church into some old buildings, which they placed under the patronage of San Juan Diego. Frs. Robert and Terry quickly made a lasting impression on the people of the South Valley by preaching, evangelizing, and caring for the poor.
Building Our Life in New Mexico Although our community was not yet ready to formally establish a friary in New Mexico, our brothers continued serving the community. Due to a growing need for further help in the community, Fr. Conrad Osterhout arrived in August 2006 with two student friars, Br. Daniel Williamson and Br. Bonaventure Rummell. The following year, Br. Simon Dankoski and Br. Gerard Kanapes replaced the students.
Our brothers opened a soup kitchen in November 2007, which they named after the Capuchin friar, Father Solanus Casey. That same month, the friars also began making regular visits to the prisoners incarcerated in the Bernalillo County jail.
In the spring of 2008, we were granted approval to officially establish a new friary. Upon receiving this permission, our community servant (superior) in New York proposed that the friars investigate the cost of renovating the buildings in which they lived and also of building a new soup kitchen to care for the needs of the poor and homeless. Fr. Leo Fisher and Br. Philip Allen were also sent that spring to assist in founding the new friary. Their arrival brought the total number of friars in Albuquerque at the time to six.
Building Our Friary and Soup Kitchen Our brothers soon determined that it was not financially feasible to renovate the old buildings located on the grounds of St. Francis Xavier Church, whose old structure was ravaged by previous fire damage, asbestos, and black mold.
We sought out possible homes to rent for the duration of the construction project. As Providence extended itself once again, a local family offered us free use of a property to inhabit temporarily. We moved to a home on Coors Blvd. in the fall of 2008. Many generous benefactors and friends helped provide for our needs.
In early 2009, we learned that it was not possible to build on the South Broadway property as originally planned. Over the next year (2009-2010), we searched for and finally acquired a building at 404 San Mateo Blvd. NE. Throughout 2010, we worked on renovating the former office building into a friary.
The San Juan Diego Friary blessing and move-in date took place in October 2011, and the soup kitchen was renamed and reopened in August 2012. Our community servant flew to Albuquerque from New York in order to bless and attend the opening of the new friary and soup kitchen, now called Fr. Robert's Kitchen.
Expanding Our Work Our CFR constitutions state that the friars will be involved with evangelization and hands-on work with the poor. Support for San Juan Diego Friary in New Mexico springs from benefactors who appreciate this work and our Franciscan model of living. Spiritual talks, retreats, parish masses, prolife advocacy, street evangelization, confessions, hospitality, and serving the homeless and poor are all elements of our CFR way of life.
Fr. Robert Stanion, CFR On March 23, 2009, Fr. Robert, one of our founders and beloved friend and brother in Christ, was called home by God. We love and miss him, but we rejoice in knowing that we will one day see him again in the presence of our Lord. Until that day, we will continue to rely on him for his prayerful intercession on behalf of our community, our work, and those whom we strive to serve.