Statement on the death of Pope Francis from Minister Provincial Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conv.

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It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Pope Francis, who met Sister Death this morning, the first day of the Octave of Easter. We watched him on TV yesterday as he gave the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica and spoke of peace in all the troubled parts of our world. He rode in the popemobile through the crowds in the square as if to give his final goodbye to the faithful and all of us. It is with a spirit of profound gratitude to God for the life and ministry of the People’s Pope.

This Jesuit, with a Franciscan heart, taught us by his words and especially by his example how to follow the Lord who loved the marginalized and outcast. He reminded us that the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth are intimately linked. His humble way inspired us not to seek fame and glory but to simply follow the Lord’s will without much pomp

He invited us to see the Church as a “Field Hospital” for all sinners, not a “Country Club” for the perfect. Who am I to judge, set the tone for his Pontificate. When he was elected, the Franciscan Cardinal sitting next to him in the Sistine Chapel reminded him to “not forget the poor.” May Pope Francis be welcomed into the house of the Father where Lazarus is poor no longer. May he find eternal peace.

Please join the friars of Our Lady of the Angles Province” as we remember this gentle, loving successor of St Peter, who looked into the empty tomb and believed!

+ Friar Richard Florek, OFM Conv. (1944-2025)

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Friar Richard Florek , OFM Conv., a Franciscan Friar of the Our Lady of the Angels Province, died on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Born in Buffalo on Dec. 23, 1944, he was son of the late Walter and Genevieve (nee Kuzara) Florek. He is survived by his sisters, Geraldine Weiss and Marianne Vidal, along with many nephews and nieces.  Friar Richard grew up with the Conventual Franciscans, first as a parishioner and student at St. Casimir Parish and then as a student at Bishop Ryan High School, both in Buffalo.

After graduating high school, Friar Richard entered the Novitiate of the Conventual Fraciscans in Ellicott City, Md., being given the religious name “Chrysostom.” He professed simple vows on Aug.15, 1963. He then attended St. Hyacinth College & Seminary in Granby, Mass., earning his bachelor’s in philosophy before professing solemn vows on Aug. 15, 1966. He completed theological studies at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, N.Y., and was ordained to the priesthood in Albany on May 20, 1972.

At a time when most friars went into the high school apostolate after completing initial formation, Frair Richard bucked the trend and dove into parish life. His first assignment was to St. Casimir Parish in Riverside, N.J., where he ministered from 1972-1982. He then served three years as pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Mt. Joy, Penn., before commencing a 10 year assignment as co-pastor and then pastor of St. Paul Parish in Kensington, Conn. In 1995, he started another decade of ministry as pastor of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Parish in Baltimore, Md. Friar Richard then moved to Boynton Beach, Fla., where he served as pastor of St. Mark Parish until 2014. He continued living in residence at St. Mark Friary until his death.

Visitation hours will be held Thursday, March 27, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at St. Mark Catholic Church (643 NE 4th Avenue, Boynton Beach FL 33435), with a Franciscan Wake Service at  7 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mark’s on Friday, March 28 at  11 a.m. Another Funeral Mass will be celebrated, in the chapel of St. Francis High School (4129 Lake Shore Road, Hamburg NY 14075) on Wednesday, Apr. 2, at 12:00 p.m., preceded by an hour of visitation. Interment will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Buffalo N.Y.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Franciscan Aged & Infirm Fund (12300 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City MD 21042).