The Community of St. Francis (CSF) is the OFR community in Chicago, Illinois. CSF is the home of the Virtual House of Studies, an educational ministry of the OFR, and the Progressive Catholic Review.
Bp. Raphael Adams is the Guardian of the Community of St. Francis. Contact us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 773.720.1040.
Meet the Community of St. Francis
The Right Rev. Raphael Adams, ofr, is Guardian of The Community of St. Francis. A Franciscan his entire adult life, Fr. Rafe studied Philosophy at Quincy College and received a B.A. in Sociology from Loyola University, Chicago. He also received his M.S. from Rush Medical University, where he taught in the Occupational Therapy program for many years. As a practitioner Rafe has both worked at and consulted with numerous agencies, including Hines Veterans' Hospital and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. He has the distinction of being the only serious competition at the moment for Greg's title of "Resident Old Curmudgeon," although he is, and always will be, a young whippersnapper by comparison to Greg.
Brother Francis Leo, ofr, is involved in chaplaincy at a local Chicago hospital. He has an extensive background in health care and holds both a B.S. and an M.S. in Nursing from UCLA. Frank's previous long experience as a Franciscan spans time in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. He is our touchstone for that which is kosher in Franciscan life.
The Rev. Liam Nioclás Kelly, ofr, is the Pastoral Developer of a parish that will be staffed by the Community of St. Francis. Born in Belfast, (Northern) Ireland, Nioclás came to Chicago to work at the Martin D'Arcy Museum at Loyola University as a Research Scholar/Professor (2002/2003) having completed his masters at the Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) in medieval art & architecture. From 2002 until 2003, he also became a Research Scholar in the Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the Newberry Library of Chicago examining, translating and catalogueing Medieval liturgical manuscripts. He holds a B.Phil. in Aesthetics from St. Patrick's Pontifical University, a B.A. (Hons.) in Philosophy and Classical Studies from the National University of Ireland and a Dip. Theology from the Dominican Studium ratified by the Angelicum, Rome (Pontifical University of St. Thomas). In addition to these accomplishments, Nioclás does an excellent imitation of John Wayne.
The Rev. William Gabriel, ofr, received his B.S. (cum laude)in Sociology from the University of Louisville and his J.D. from Northern Kentucky University. Fr. Will is involved in an ecumenical ministry to the homeless and poor of Louisville and has gained the respect and affection of a wide circle of ecumenical partners in ministry. Although Will has only recently become a Franciscan, he is young enough to say that he has been one for most of his adult life.
The Rev. Dr. Gregory Holmes Singleton, ofr, is Professor of History, Emeritus, at Northeastern Illinois University. While active on the faculties at Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University, Greg was also concurrently Adjunct Professor of Church History at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary (ECUSA). His educational preparation includes: M. Div. from Union Theological Seminary, New York City; Ph.D. in History from UCLA; Post-Doctoral Study at the University of Chicago Divinity School's Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion. Greg is known around the globe as the "Resident Old Curmudgeon." Many former colleagues and students can testify to the reasons why.
The Rev. Jeannine Carol Singleton, ofr, is a volunteer at Evanston Hospital and is the primary contact for incoming community members who wish to discern a direction for their individual social ministries in the Northeast Chicago/Evanston area. She is Administrative Director of the Virtual House of Studies. She has prior administrative experience in a variety of settings, from Misericordia Home for the Developmentally Disabled (Chicago) to the Librarian for Immanuel Lutheran Church, Evanston, IL. Mother Jeannine has also served as Treasurer in two congregations. She holds a B.A. in Sociology (Magna Cum Laude) from Mundelein College, has done graduate work in Sociology at Loyola University, Chicago, and has had additional training and education through the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago (catechist training), the Valparaiso University Liturgical Institute, the Metropolitan Chicago Synod (ELCA) Diakonia Program, and Duke University Divinity School Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology. She is known as "The Queen of Purple" because she holds the legal rights to the color in all its hues. Please send her a check for $ 0.25 each time you wear purple.
Brother Ned Singleton, NF (Natural Franciscan). Whereas the rest of us had to be accepted and professed, Br. Ned is one of those creatures that never rebelled against God in the first place and is thus a Natural Franciscan. We learn a great deal from him and he keeps us endlessly entertained. No Franciscan house should be without at least one NF member.
Associate of the Community
The Rev. Dr. Robert Ross Farra is a pastoral associate of the Community of St. Francis. He is also a psychotherapist and the Director of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Center at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, IL. Bob's professional education includes an M.S.S.W from The University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in Family Systems from Florida State University. Bob received his theological education at Nashotah House and Chicago Theological Seminary. He also took advanced studies in Interfaith Ministries at The New Seminary in New York City. When Bob's busy practice and administrative duties permit, he presides and preaches at our liturgies. He is the inspiration for a Country/Western song well known in the community.
| 
| 
