Veteran’s Day 2021

In 2019, in honor of Veteran’s Day, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and our Order’s new Delegate General for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation – Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. published a reflection on the Seraphicum’s website entitled
A Song of Hopefulness for Veterans & Members of the Armed Forces.”
Look back on his reflection, as we celebrate Veteran’s Day 2021.
Within the reflections he included this stanza from the “Navy Hymn” added in 1969/70:
Creator, Father, who first breathed
In us the life that we received,
By power of thy breath restore
The ill, and men with wounds of war.
Bless those who give their healing care,
That life and laughter all may share
.

There are a number of other friars of our province who are also veterans, including Br. Douglas McMillan, OFM Conv. (in residence, spiritually contributing to events and presentations at The Shrine of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, MD), Fr. Curt Kreml, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – St. Lucie Catholic Church, Port St. Lucie, FL), Fr. Anthony Francis Spilka, OFM Conv. (Pastor – St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Johnstown, PA), Br. Dennis Sokolowski, OFM Conv. (in residence at the Our Lady of the Angels Care Center, Enfield, CT), Br. Lawrence LaFlame, OFM Conv. (Instructor – Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore, MD), and pictured here – Fr. Andy Santamauro, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – Archdiocese of Baltimore Pastorate including St. Casimir Church and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church.
Many of our friars have served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces. A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Fr. Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv. is in the Reserves and currently provinces counseling services for the Jonesboro, GA area through an office in our pastoral ministry of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church.
Meeting Sister Death this year, on 4/6/2021, Vietnam War Veteran (where he was known as Corporal Kenneth Lucas of the US Marine Corp), +Br. Ken Lucas, OFM Conv. stayed involved in Veteran Affairs as long as he was physically able, as he stated in his Spiritual Testament posted on this site on November 5, 2019.

You may like the following ...