You may have seen some new faces here at Sacred Heart over the last few weeks! We are excited to announce our four new friars – Fr. Stephen, Br. Henry, Fr. Ron, and Fr. Mike. Watch their videos below to learn more about them, and make sure you welcome them the next time you see them at Mass.
Fr. Stephen Mimnaugh, OFM
Fr. Stephen is the youngest of four children of whom two brothers survive. Born in New Canaan, Conn., to the late John and Patricia Mimnaugh, the family settled in Simsbury, Conn., when Stephen was in second grade. Fr. Stephen earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics at the University of Vermont. After graduation, he completed a commercial-banking management-training program serving small and large commercial clients. Three years later he entered the diocesan seminary but later discerned that God was not calling him to the diocesan priesthood. Stephen transitioned into real estate finance and relocated to his adopted home of Philadelphia, where he remained until joining the Franciscans. He holds master’s degrees in urban policy from the University of Pennsylvania, theology and pastoral ministry from the Washington Theological Union, and social welfare from the City University of New York. His academic research focused on homelessness, supportive housing, public policy, and the role of community in poverty interventions.
Br. Henry Fulmer, OFM
I was born January 30, 1962, in Aiken, S.C. I was one of six children, born to the late Dorothy Lopez Ramos and Isadore Hartley and the proud grandchild of Henderson and Archie Mae Fulmer. I was baptized at St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church as a child, where I decided to answer God’s call to serve the church and God’s people. Though I was born in South Carolina, my family moved to Far Rockaway on Long Island in New York. I was raised there by my mother and consider Far Rockaway my home.
Fr. Ron Gliatta, OFM
Fr. Ron was born in New York City on Feb. 7, 1950. At a young age, he and his family moved to New Jersey where he lived for most of his childhood. Fr. Ron has a sister, Lorraine, who resides in Saddlebrook, N.J. As a child, Ron would fish with his father and grew to love deep-sea and fresh-water fishing. He is an avid animal lover, especially dogs. He enjoys theater , especially opera. However, it’s Fr. Ron’s passion and love for travel that has taken him all over the world. Among his favorite places are Rome, Australia, and Lourdes, France. As St. Francis said “The world is my cloister.”
Fr. Mike Jones, OFM
I grew up in Allegany, NY, which is home to St. Bonaventure University. My family came to Allegany in 1855, around the same time the Franciscan Friars came to establish the university. My family lived across the street from St. Bonaventure Church and the mother house of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The Franciscan sisters also run the Franciscan Center in Tampa.
I first went to St. Bonaventure Elementary School, then to Archbishop Walsh High School and graduated in 1983 from St. Bonaventure University with a BBA majoring in Management. I was fortunate to be educated by the Franciscan Friars and the Allegany Sisters.
At various times in my twenties I contemplated my vocation to be a Franciscan friar. In the Summer of 1994 I started as an affiliate in the Bronx, NY. In 1995 I went to the novitiate in Providence, RI. My novice master was Fr. Andrew Reitz, OFM who was here in Tampa many years ago. After novitiate I went to Silver Springs, MD where I studied at the Washington Theological Union (WTU). In 2001 I graduated from WTU with my Masters in Divinity. The same year I was also ordained in NYC.
For the past six years I have been at our parish in Anderson, SC. It is a small diverse parish with many wonderful parishioners. One of our main missions was to service the poor. We had a food pantry, we were active with the local soup kitchen, and also helped to create Clean Start, a place for homeless people to have a shower, wash their cloths, make phone calls, and receive their mail.
Over many years I have lived in NY, RI, CT, NY, MD, NC, and SC. Each place has offered many new growing experiences and ministries. It also has been wonderful living with various friars and meeting many new people. I look forward to my time in Tampa.
