BENET A. FONCK OFM
422 North Dixon Ave.
Joliet, IL 60435-7050
1.314.603.3951 (cell)
1.314.655.0503 (office)
1.314.353.0935 (fax)
fonckbenet@aol.com (email)
Franciscan Friar Benet A. Fonck is the coordinator of communications for the Sacred Heart Province of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans).
In this capacity he writes a weekly newsletter, prepares news releases and obituary notices, publishes a quarterly journal, and soon will be the manager of the provinces web site.
Before this assignment he had been working in the area of spiritual assistance for the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) for 32 years, beginning in 1970.
He had been involved with the Secular Franciscans in updating their ritual, providing commentaries for their new Rule and Constitutions, and facilitating a deeper commitment to their spiritual life, community participation, and apostolic endeavors.
Furthermore, he served as the delegate of the Franciscan superior general for all Secular Franciscans in the world from 1980 to 1985.
He had written extensively in the former Franciscan Herald magazine. He is also the author of a number of liturgical and educational texts, including an initial formation program entitled Fully Mature with the Fullness of Christ which is modeled on
the structure of the RCIA program. He has also written "To Cling with All Her Heart to Him": the Spirituality of St. Clare.
In addition, he is the editor/author of the "SFO Resource Library"; six texts have been completed, and six more are in the stages of finalization.
He has also translated a life of St. Francis of Assisi from Italian by Gianmaria Polidoro OFM. Besides, he is collaborating on a text of liturgies and prayer formats to be used by Secular Franciscans.
He has, moreover, acted as the editor for the English version of the Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order and for the Handbook for Spiritual Assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order.
He has a bachelor of philosophy degree from Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois; a master of arts in theology (sacraments) from DePaul University in Chicago; a master of divinity degree (liturgy) from Chicagos Catholic Theological Union, and a
degree in journalism from Marquette University in Milwaukee.
He had served as parochial vicar for two different parishes and as the pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in St. Louis (MO) for four years.
He has given retreats, workshops, and seminars for Secular Franciscans and for Franciscan religious. He also presented days of recollection to various church-based groups and has facilitated a number of parish missions and renewals.
Benet Fonck OFM was born in 1945. He entered the Franciscan Order in 1965. He was ordained a priest in 1972.
Benet Fonck, OFM