Congratulations Friar Donald Kos!

9Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Donald, Kos, OFM Conv. began his studies in his hometown of Holyoke, Massachusetts, at one of our province’s parochial schools; Mater Dolorosa School. He is a graduate of Holyoke’s St. Jerome High School and began his Franciscan life at the Conventual Franciscan Mount Saint Lawrence Novitiate, in Becket, MA. He professed First Vows in 1954 and Solemn Vows in 1957.
After earning his B.A. in Philosophy at St. Bonaventure University, in NY (1958) he moved to Rome where he earned
his S.T.D (Theology at the Pontificia Facoltà Teologica San Bonaventura Seraphicum– 1962), J.C.D. (Canon Law at the Pontificia Università Lateranense – 1966) and his Diploma (Canon Law at the Tribunal Apostolicum Rotae Romanae – 1970) in Rome, Italy. He has spent his years in ministry since his Ordination to the Priesthood (at our Order’s Basilica of the Twelve Apostles, in Rome – December 23, 1961) in service to our Order, in Rome. His assignments include Assistant General of the Anglo-American Coetus, Postulator General of the Order, Vicar General of the Order, Guardian of the Convento S. Antonio Alle Terme, Referendouro of the Signatura Apostolica, Judge of the First Instance of the Vatican Tribunal, Correspondent on Congregation of the Apostolic Penitenzeria, Procurator General and most recently Judicial Vicar of the Ecclesiastic Tribunal of Vatican City State.
On Thursday, January 28, 2016, Friar Donald received the “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” Cross of Honor Award from Pope Francis, in recognition of his 18 years of distinguished service to the Church, specifically his work at the Apostolic Penitenzeria. For more, please visit our Order’s Website. He joins an illustrious list of recipients that include Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation aka “Mother Angelica,” Princess Benedikte of Denmark, George Weigel and Queen Sofía of Spain.