Father Andrew Apostoli, CFR was one of the eight original founding members of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.  Father served the community as a teacher, spiritual director, novice master and community superior.  In addition, Father Andrew recognized from the beginning that “God wanted a women’s branch” like the Friars and founded the CFR Sisters community in the South Bronx. 
A consummate spiritual speaker and author he wrote and spoke on several subjects including Our Lady of Fatima, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and The Holy Spirit. Father Andrew was a professor of spiritual theology at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., and first postulator, then vice postulator of the cause for canonization of Archbishop Sheen. In addition, he was the spiritual father of the Blue Army Shrine in Washington, N.J., and a much sought-after retreat master.
He was also a very dear friend and spiritual mentor of mine for nearly 30 years. Father was a kind and holy man who always brought joy to those around him. I first met Father Andrew at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1990 when I was organizing a conference there and he agreed to be one of the speakers. We became fast and close friends and shared a love of Our Lady of Guadalupe as she is the Patron of the CFR’s. For 10 years we together organized a pilgrimage to the Shrine bringing hundreds of pilgrims to Mexico City and introducing them to this beautiful Shrine.
Father was deeply involved in all my work concerning Our Lady of Guadalupe and enthusiastically supported these endeavors. As a tribute to his love for Our Lady and his cherished friendship, we are naming the Welcome Center in his remembrance.
Alan Napleton                                                                                                                                                Founder and President                                                                                                                            Viva Guadalupe