Our much anticipated celebratory weekend is finally here! During the Noon Mass at our Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, MD, this Saturday, January 13, 2018, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar Luis Palacios Rodriguez, OFM Conv. will Profess Solemn Vows, in the presence of pilgrims, confreres, family & friends. Our friars spend many years in preparation and formation before professing the Solemn Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Part of the preparation includes a Solemn Vow Pilgrimage/Retreat with other members from our Order – Franciscan Friars Conventual (OFM Conv.) as well as those other members of the other two First Order Franciscans (Order of Friars Minor) – Friars Minor (OFM) and the Capuchins (OFM Cap).  Each branch of our First Order Franciscans is rooted in the original charism of Francis, through which they find a shared sense of brotherhood.
The next day, Friar Luis will return to the Shrine and be joined by our confrere Friar Milton de Jesus, OFM Conv., of the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto (Venezuela), as they both are Ordained to the Diaconate. Friar Milton professed his Solemn Vows in Costa Rica, in May of 2017, and has been living with our friars for a few months. We are all so happy to be able to share this day with him.

We welcome you to please visit our Province Facebook Page at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 14th, for the Facebook Live presentation of the Ordination Mass. If you are in the area and want to join us in the Shrine’s Chapel, all are welcome, but for those who are not in the area, we encourage you to join us online. Check back later to see some photos from these events and please keep these and all of our friars in your continued prayers.

January 13, 2018 Liturgy of the Eucharist with the Rite of Solemn Profession: Friar Luis Palacios Rodriguez, OFM Conv. is flanked by his mother, Carmel (left) and his sister, Ruth (right) who traveled from Mexico to share in the celebrations. An album of the day’s festivities can be found on our Province Facebook page.

January 14, 2018: Liturgy of the Eucharist with the Rite of Ordination of Deacons: Friar Milton Torres Albarran (Milton de Jesus), OFM Conv. and Friar Luis Palacios Redriguez, OFM Conv. were Ordained as Deacons at our Shrine of St. Anthony, by Most Rev. John Stowe, OFM Conv., Bishop of Lexington. They are pictured here as (left to right: Custos of the Custodial Nuestra Señora de Coromoto en Venezuela – Fray José Luis Avendaño, OFM Conv., Friar Milton, Bishop Stowe, Friar Luis and Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. An album of the days festivities can be found on the Province Facebook page.