The relics as they were on display at Archbishop Curley High School, in Baltimore, MD. Note the reliquary on the left that holds a portion of his beard that in 1938 was shaved from Friar Maximilian. The base is shaped in the form of Poland covered in the “thorns” of occupation by the Third Reich. Out of those thorns, burst a lily of purity and a tulip of martyrdom. The relic strands of beard are encased in a glass circle entwined with our Franciscan knotted cord representing our Order’s vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. As this reliquary is delicate, there is an additional reliquary on the right also used for veneration.

Our 2016 Province Pilgrimage of the Relics of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. has traveled from our ministries in Maryland to those in Washington DC, North Carolina and Florida. On April 15th it will move onto our pastoral ministry of Holy Cross Catholic Church, in Atlanta, GA. The friars living in the friary there and serving the people of the parish and community, (Fr. Jude Michael Krill, OFM Conv. – pastor, Fr. Abelardo Huanca Martinez, OFM Conv. – parochial vicar, and Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. – parochial vicar) and as chaplain of Blessed Trinity Catholic High School (Fr. Reto Davatz OFM Conv.) invite everyone to join them in the celebrations planned for the weekend, as well as veneration after each regularly schedule weekend Mass (Saturday, April 16^th ~ 5:00 p.m. in English & 6:30 p.m. in Spanish) (Sunday, April 17^th ~ 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. 1:15 p.m. {Spanish} and the 5:30 p.m. Family Mass).

• Friday April 15^th ~ 7:00 p.m. Bilingual Evening Prayer Service of Welcoming
• Saturday April 16^th ~ 9:15 a.m. Mass in Honor of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv.

Holy Cross Catholic Church has many unique spiritual and festive events schedule throughout the year. On Saturday, May 21st they have organized a 5K Mass and Dash race to raise money for the Holy Cross Youth Scholarship Fund. Check out their website for more information about this ministry.