Capuchin Authors

Sharing the good news

Lester Bach

Lester Bach OFM Cap made his first profession in the Capuchin Order in 1950 and was ordained in 1957. He has worked with the formation program with Capuchin Brothers as well as sharing ministry in a parish, worked with the Cursillo and Search programs, and served as chaplain at a county nursing home. He has worked with the Secular Franciscans since the 1960’s. He has been director of a retreat center and done retreat work for many years. He served as director of the House of Prayer as well as having served as Provincial formation director for the province of St. Joseph. For several years, he worked with ISAIAH 43 preaching parish missions. He continued that work with Missions 2000. In his present ministry, he serves as Provincial Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order as well as serving on a regional council of the SFO and represents the Capuchins on the Conference of national Spiritual Assistants (CNSA). He has authored several books on SFO Formation and Franciscan spirituality and one devoted to scripture. He is presently stationed at San Damiano in Madison, WI.

Books written by Lester Bach

Take Time for Sunsets - Published by Franciscan Herald Press - now located at Quincy, IL. - Reflections on Franciscan Spirituality - 233 pages - out of print (1975)
Catch me a Rainbow - formation book for Secular Franciscans - 405 pages - Published by Barbo-Carlson Enterprises.(1990)
Called to Rebuild the Church - a spiritual commentary on the General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order - 206 pages - Franciscan Press - Quincy, IL (1997)
Where Bible & Life Connect - reflections for spiritual directors - Liturgical Press (1998cc)
Catch Me a Rainbow Too - Formation book for initial formation of Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) - 439 pages - now translated into Korean - Spanish - Vietnamese - Barbo-Carlson Enterprises (1999)
Come and See - Authored with Teresa Baker SFO (Secular Franciscan Order) - Formation book for the beginning period of initial formation - 111 pages - Translated into Spanish - Barbo-Carlson Enterprises (2001)
Life-Giving Union - a course for preparing spiritual assistants to the Secular Franciscan Order - Lester helped to edit and revise, from previous text, on behalf of the Conference of National Spiritual Assistants to the SFO. - 68 pages - Barbo-Carlson Enterprises (2003)
Pick More Daisies - ongoing formation for Secular Franciscans - 245 pages - Barbo Carlson Enterprises. (2004)
Columnist for NEWS & VIEWS , a national newsletter of the Secular Franciscans called TAU-USA.
Columnist for the regional newsletter of the Secular Franciscans for Wisconsin and Upper Michigan called the La Verna Vision - published three times a year.

Keith Clark

Entered Capuchin Order 1958; Ordained to Priesthood 1965

Educational background:

Post-graduate study 1984-85
Greyfriars Hall, Oxford University, Oxford, England

Masters Degree in Religious Education 1967-68
Fordham University, New York, New York

Theological Study for Ordination 1962-66
St. Anthony Seminary, Marathon, Wisconsin

B.A. 1959-62
St. Mary's College Seminary, Crown Point, Indiana

Positions Held:

1999 Local Minister (Guardian) of Saint Lawrence Friary
1997 - present President Emeritus of Saint Lawrence Seminary
Theology teacher and spiritual director at Saint Lawrence Seminary
1986 - 1997 President, Saint Lawrence Seminary
1985 - 1986 Director, Spiritual Formation Department, Saint Lawrence Seminary
1978 - 1984 Vicar Provincial and Personnel Director, Capuchin Province of Saint Joseph
1975 - 1978 Director of Continuing Education, Capuchin Province of Saint Joseph
1975 - 1977 Director of Formation, Capuchin Province of Saint Joseph
1970 - 1975 Director of Novices, Capuchin Province of Saint Joseph
1968 - 1970 Novitiate Formation Team, Capuchin Province of Saint Joseph

Related Experience:

1995 - present High school teacher: Leadership Training Course
1995 - present Director of Leadership seminars for religious and business groups.
1978 - present Presenter and lecturer for (Arch)diocesan clergy convocations, religious formation gatherings, etc.
1982 - 1989 Presenter of workshops on Sexuality and Celibacy, in partnership with Jan Parker and Jerry Kafer.
1989 Lecturer in Communication Skills, St. Norbert College, DePere, WI
1982 - 1983 Lecturer in Psychology, Retreats International Summer Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
1974 - 1979 Lecturer in Psychology, Albert Cardinal Meyer Institute, Saint Francis School of Pastoral Theology, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1970 - 1973 Lecturer in Psychology, Pastoral Counseling Institute, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

Books written by Keith Clark

Make Space, Make Symbols, A Personal Journey Into Prayer, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN 1979
An Experience of Celibacy, A creative reflection on intimacy, loneliness, sexuality and commitment, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN 1982
Being Sexual . . . and Celibate, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame IN 1986.
The Skilled Participant, A Way to Effective Collaboration, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN 1988

Mike Crosby

Michael H. Crosby belongs to the Midwest Province of the Capuchin Franciscans. He lives in fraternity with other brothers serving the poor in Milwaukee's downtown area. He has a masters in economics (1985), an STL (1990), and a PhD in Theology (1989).

Mike's ministry is twofold: three-fourths is spent writing and speaking about biblical spirituality geared for our "First World" society. The other involves him in the corporate responsibility movement, advising investors concerned about using their monies to promote social change. More specifically, these include:

CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY. Mike has written 16 books. Among these are Spirituality of the Beatitudes: Matthew's Challenge for First World Christians (Orbis, 21st printing 2003) and House of Disciples: Church, Economics and Justice In Matthew (Orbis, 1988). It received 3rd place in scripture by the Catholic Press Association. His Celibacy: Means of Control or Mandate of the Heart? (1996) received first place in professional books from the Catholic Press Association. His effort to promote justice in institutional Catholicism is expressed in The Dysfunctional Church: Addiction and Codependency in the Family of Catholicism (Ave Maria, 1991, 3rd printing) and Rethinking Celibacy, Reclaiming the Church (2004). His last two books on biblical spirituality The Prayer that Jesus Taught Us (Orbis, 2002) and "Do You Love Me?" Jesus Questions the Church (Orbis, 2000) each received awards from the Catholic Press Association. A complete revision of Spirituality of the Beatitudes is available through Orbis. Can Religious Life Be Prophetic (Crosswood, 2005). His latest book is Finding Francis, Following Christ (Orbis, 2008). He's contributed to a wide range of encyclopedias, anthologies and magazines linking discipleship and cultural issues.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY. Mike authored Catholic Church Investments for Corporate Social Responsibility (3rd printing); a portion was reprinted in Origins. He coordinates the Tobacco Issue Group of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility in New York (and served on its Board many years). He has written in magazines such as Business and Society Review, The British Medical Journal, The Corporate Examiner.

Mike has given retreats, workshops and talks around these two areas in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. He also lectures on the future of religious life. He filmed in Assisi a two-part video on St. Francis in 1994 (St. Anthony Press).

Mike served his Province in leadership (two terms) and presently sits on various provincial committees. He was Collaborator to the Relatore for the Cause of the Beatification of Venerable Solanus Casey and author of Thank God Ahead of Time: The Life and Spirituality of Venerable Solanus Casey (Franciscan Press, second edition,1996, 3rd printing, 2000). The two volume Positio he wrote for the Vatican has been published as Solanus Casey: The Official Account of a Virtuous American Life (Crossroad, 2000).

He sits on various boards: the Finance Committee and Solanus Center Commission of his Midwest Province, the Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute (Miami), Mercy Investment Program (Philadelphia) and the Campaign for Economic Democracy (New York). He is a regular speaker at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress as well as many sabbatical programs (ie., Berakah, New Directions, Sangre de Cristo, School of Applied Theology).

Books authored by Mike Crosby

Ordering information can be found at: michaelcrosby.net

The Paradox of Power: From Control to Compassion
Finding Francis, Following Christ
The Dysfunctional Church
Rethinking Celibacy, Reclaiming the Church
Celibacy: Means of Control or Mandate of the Heart?
The Prayer That Jesus Taught Us
Spirituality Of The Beatitudes
House of Disciples
Do You Love Me? Jesus Questions The Church
The Seven Last Words
Solanus Casey

Richard Hart

Capuchin Franciscan preacher and author Richard Hart is the head of the Capuchin Preachers of the St. Joseph Province of the Capuchin Order and has preached worldwide. Hart resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has written several books including PREACHING: THE SECRET TO PARISH REVIVAL and PREACHER AS RISK TAKER.

Articles written by Richard Hart, OFM Capuchin

Preaching Repentance
Preaching the Now
Preaching on Enmity
Preaching in a Post Modern Age
Preaching Lament and Praise
Preaching Tolerance
Preaching on Holiness
Preaching on Health
Lenten Preaching
Cultural Preaching
Changing Church
Cities and Preaching
Who Will Speak For the Children?
God's Reign

Perry McDonald

Perry McDonald has been a member of the Capuchin Order since 1960. Since ordination to the priesthood in 1967 he has spent 17 years in initial formation work, 6 years in provincial administration, and the rest of the time in retreat and parish ministry. He is presently the co-director of the postulancy program for the Province of St. Joseph which is located in Chicago, IL.

Articles written by Perry McDonald

A Hermitage Experience
Celibacy is for Loving

Marty Pable

Martin Pable is a native of Wisconsin. He entered the Capuchin Order and was ordained to the priesthood in 1958. He received his doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the Catholic University of America in 1965.

He taught courses in Pastoral Counseling at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee and at Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corners, WI. He has done extensive counseling with priests, religious and laity. He conducts retreats, workshops and continuing education programs around the country.

Presently he is on the retreat staff at St. Anthony Retreat Center, Marathon, WI. Besides retreat work and spiritual direction, he is available to conduct programs in parishes, especially on topics of spirituality, evangelization, and marriage/family life.

He has written two books on spirituality for men: A Man and his God and The Quest for the Male Soul and two books on evangelization: Catholics and Fundamentalists and Reclaim the Fire: A Parish Guide to Evangelization. His latest book is Prayer: A Practical Guide. He has also published many articles in the area of psychology and religion.

Catholics and Fundamentalists: Understanding and Response (ACTA, 2008)
Catholics and Fundamentalists: Understanding the Difference (ACTA Publications, 1997). Also available in Spanish.
The Quest for the Male Soul (Ave Maria Press, 1996).
Reclaim the Fire: A Parish Guide to Evangelization (Ave Maria, 2002).
Prayer: A Practical Guide (ACTA, 2003)

Out of print:

A Call for Me? A New Look at Vocations (Our Sunday Visitor, 1980). Was republished as A Religious Vocation: Is It For Me? by the Diocese of Peoria.
A Man and His God: Contemporary Male Spirituality (Ave Maria, 1988).

Jerry Schroeder

Jerry Schroeder is a member of the Capuchin-Franciscan Fraternity. He presently ministers at Dwelling Place Spirituality Center for the poor in Milwaukee, WI. He also serves as part time pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Parish in Milwaukee and is the interim director for the St. Francis Institute Milwaukee.

Previously, he served in central city parish ministries in Detroit, Saginaw and Milwaukee as well as in initial formation for his community. A poet, he weaves his poetry with video imagery to invite reflection and contemplation.

Between Us
Frequent Communion
The Green in Me

Robert D. Wheelock

My Spirit Was Murdered, Now What
Sexual Abuse and You Understanding the Consequences