About fifty friends and affiliates of the Capuchins joined several Mid-America Friars at Yakovelli’s Restaurant on Sunday afternoon, May 16. It was the first get-together since the friars left St. Louis on December 31, 2008. Affiliates, volunteer workers from St. Patrick’s Church, devotees of St. John the Evangelist Church, parishioners from St. Joseph’s Shrine, parishioners from Immaculate Conception in Arnold, Secular Franciscans, and parents of friars joined together for a social and meal. Stephanie Pedersen, Director of Development, and I gave an update on the friars. A video of greetings from Father Canice and Fr. Simon capped the event. It was a great time to reconnect. Dr. Albert Huggins, long time physician for the friars as well as an affiliate of the province, and his wife, Dorothy, were there chatting with Stephanie. Other pictures of the gathering follow: