JUBILARIANS ALL! - Holy Name Province

Blessing of the Animals at St.
Boniface on the Feast of St. Francis,
October 4th.
frail dignity. If
there had been
a picture, you
could be sure
that it would
have gone up
on his wall,
and he would
have told us
about it! And
our Joseph
Alfonso Lotito,
our family
man—said
less than ten
words, posed
as a question, not only to the President of the
United States but to all of us: “What are you
going to do for the poor”
Floyd, I think, would want me to conclude
these formal reflections by simply saying to
everyone here on his behalf, “Thank you.”
And on our behalf, may I give to Floyd what
he so deeply gave to us, a blessing. The
sign and the words of this blessing are central
to our Franciscan tradition and they were
treasured by Floyd himself. Alfonso Joseph
Floyd, we who are now poor because of your
absence, sign you, our brother now rich in
life, with the following words:
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord let his face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you
peace.
The Lord bless you. (Num. 6.24-26)
Joseph P. Chinnici, O.F.M.
July 20, 2009
FUNERAL SERMON
Floyd Alfonso Joseph Lotito
74 years of age
56 years as a Friar Minor—Franciscan—
and in 2010 Floyd would have celebrated
50 years as a priest.
Son of Joseph Lotito and Filomena Pirri
Youngest brother of
Michael Lotito (deceased) and
older brother of May and Frances.
Classmate in the Franciscan Order with
Tom Frost, Loren Kerkof,
Ten days ago I returned from Rome to San
Francisco. I was working in the General Curia
near the Vatican for the last six years. One
of the highlights of the six years was that this
year 2009 – all of us, the Capuchins, the Conventuals,
the TORs and ourselves, the Friars
Minor-- together with the Poor Clares,
the Secular Franciscans and all the religious
Brothers and Sisters of the Franciscan Family
celebrated and are continuing to celebrate the
800th anniversary of the actual founding of
the Order.
We had celebrations all over the world and recently
we had a special one in Assisi. –The
late Pope John Paul II would often encourage
us to be with the people and to be friends of
the Poor. Recently, Benedict XVI reminded
us that one of the essential characteristics of
our charism is our life with the poor. We have
been challenged to be "Friends of the Poor".
Whenever I hear those words, I think of numerous
men and women that I have met during
my lifetime -- but the image that comes
to mind most often is that of Floyd Lotito.
Floyd loved the poor and it didn't happen
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