Capuchins celebrate 150 years of ministry in Cumberland

CUMBERLAND – At Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, families proudly trace their membership in the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul through the generations and share stories about their great-great-great grandparents. Those families are just as quick to include the Capuchin Franciscans in their stories.

Members of the Capuchin Franciscan Order concelebrated Mass Nov. 1 with Archbishop William E. Lori to mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Friars to Cumberland. The Mass was held at the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

While the church was built by the Redemptorists in 1848 and then purchased by the Carmelite Friars in 1866, it was the Capuchins in 1875 who settled in to stay.

Archbishop William E. Lori celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Capuchins’ arrival with a special Nov. 1 Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul on the Feast of All Saints. At the same time, he officially installed Capuchin Franciscan Father Stephen Fernandes as pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains, which includes Ss. Peter and Paul, St. Patrick and St. Mary in Cumberland.

“It is a lot to celebrate, and I am so happy to do it with all of you,” Archbishop Lori told a full crowd at the shrine, many of them friars, recognizable by their long-hooded brown robes. A branch of the Franciscan order, the Capuchins are devoted to prayer and service to the poor.

The liturgy was followed by an outdoor reception and a formal dinner reception.

“The rich history that is St. Francis is alive here just as much as it was 150 years ago, and that life continues to breathe life into our congregation, our community,” said Larry Smith, whose daughter is a sixth-generation member. “We’re coming up on 250 years of the anniversary of the celebration of the republic of the United States and just 100 years into that, that is when this community started. That vibrant community continues to be alive today because of the devoted dedication of those wonderful men in brown who lead us, who love us, who teach us, who inspire us and who lift us up in every way.”

Archbishop William E. Lori presents the key to the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul in Cumberland to Capuchin Franciscan Father Stephen Fernandes during his installation as pastor of the Cumberland parish Nov. 1. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Archbishop Lori said the Capuchin friars arrived in Cumberland with few possessions but with a “rich legacy of holiness” and, in the words of Pope John Paul II, they were “rich in love.”

“What did the Capuchins do with this love? They invested their love in you, the people of God, as they served in parishes, classrooms, prisons, soup kitchens, hospitals,” Archbishop Lori said. “The Capuchin men, including here in Mountain Maryland, reached out to God’s people in every walk of life, mostly hard-working families, many of them immigrants. … Out of their poverty, the Capuchins served the world generously.”

German Capuchins, Fathers Anton Schuermann and Franz Wolff, purchased the property on Holy Hill, and installed the church’s altars, all hand-carved by friars. They welcomed the mostly German Catholic community and other Capuchins exiled from Europe. Over the years, a minor seminary was built and a school. The community was self-sufficient, growing its own fruits and vegetables, and raising cows and chickens.

Capuchin Franciscan Father Blaine Burley shares a portion of the 150-year history of the Friars at the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul in Cumberland during a dinner celebration at the Allegany Museum Nov 1. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“We are happy to have the opportunity to honor the Capuchins for their service to the community,” Joe George, president of the Friends of the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul, said in an interview. “They have been spiritual leaders for so long. They are involved with the poor, the food pantry.”

The friars helped support the creation of St. John Neumann School, which merged with Bishop Walsh High School in 2002. The monastery was razed in 1995. Today, only the shrine remains of the original Ss. Peter and Paul’s Parish the Capuchins purchased in 1875. The friars reside at St. Mary.

“The friars have been wonderful through the years. It is so nice they came back. This place left a mark on them,” Julia Kidwell, a fifth-generation parishioner said at the outdoor reception following Mass. “They are such a wonderful blessing for all of us.”

Hilda Miltenberger, 84, used to cook evening meals for the friars as well as extra meals to hold them over on weekends.

“They loved my home cooking,” Miltenberger said, proudly. “They had special guests in one night and each wanted their steaks different. I had to get a cookbook out for rare steak to see how much to cook them. I was very pleased I did that for them.”

Joe George, president of the Friends of the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul, left, Capuchin Franciscan Father Stephen Fernandes, pastor, and Mayor Raymond M. Morriss enjoy conversation during a dinner celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Capuchin Franciscan community in Cumberland Nov. 1. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

At the beginning of the anniversary Mass, Archbishop Lori gave the keys to the shrine to Father Fernandes. He then renewed his vows to the applause of all present.

“I don’t have any words,” Father Fernandes said, afterward. “I’m following the footsteps of men who have gone before me 150 years ago.”

Since his appointment to Cumberland in July, Father Fernandes has started celebrating a Spanish Mass on the second and fourth Sunday of the month. While he has only held three as of Nov. 1, the Mass attracts roughly 30 people, including families who have enrolled their children into programs, he said.

“I hope to continue to build and serve them,” Father Fernandes said.

A formal dinner reception was held at The Allegany Museum. There, Capuchin Father Blaine Burkey, author of “Als ich in Cumberland War”, a historical book he wrote for the Capuchin Franciscan’s 100th anniversary, shared historical tidbits with the crowd about past friars. Originally from Cumberland, Father Burkey traveled from Colorado to celebrate his former monastery’s 150th anniversary.

“Cumberland always adopted the friars as their own brothers,” Father Burkey said. “For this reason, on behalf of all our brothers, I thank you.”

The 150th anniversary Mass for the Capuchin Franciscan religious community’s arrival in Cumberland was held on Nov. 1 at the Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Cumberland Mayor Raymon M. Morriss informed the crowd that he was Episcopalian and had no plans on converting. He did recognize, however, the “integral part” the friars played in the community, not only as priests but as instructors and teachers.

“It is wonderful that they are still here,” he said. “I look forward to working with them in the years to come.”

“Look at this celebration of All Saints, this 150th anniversary of the presence of the Capuchins combined with the installation of your new pastor, let all of this conspire to bring about a renewal of our hearts,” Archbishop Lori said at the end of his homily.

Email Katie Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

Also see:

Historic Cumberland shrine celebrates 175 years

To view more photos from the event, click through the slideshow below: