Chairman of the Revision Committee ~ Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv.:
On this day, November 29, 2018, the Feast of All Franciscan Saints and the anniversary of the solemn approval of the Rule of St. Francis, November 29, 1223, the Prefect of the Congregation of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, João Cardinal Braz DE AVIZ, has issued the decree approving the revised text of the Constitutions of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.

friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. ~ While still a full time student at The Catholic University of America (CUA-Washington DC), part of his friar formation includes serving as the Youth & Young Adult Minister of our Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, MD.
Born in Lome, Togo, friar Franck immigrated to the United States with his family, in 2006. Before professing Simple Vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels, he was studying, philosophy, political science and foreign languages. After visiting many Orders, friar Franck felt called to the Conventuals as he experienced our ministries, spirituality and community lifestyle. He enjoys reading, learning, and the outdoors, is very devoted to Our Lady and is fascinated by the lives of the Saints.

Message from friar Franck: “All is well here in the St. Bonaventure Friary – House of Studies (Silver Spring, MD) and the student friars send our greetings. As we are all gearing up for final exams, please keep us in your prayers.”

Shrine of St. Anthony Mass to end the celebratory year commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Militia of the Immaculata by St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., on October 16, 1917. The Mass was celebrated by the Shine Director, Fr. Eric de la Peña, OFM Conv., served by friar Franck.

Kolbe Room at the Shrine

On the 16^th of October, the end of the year of celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of establishment of the Militia of the Immaculata (MI), a special Mass was offered at our Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD). The friars serving there also initiated a successful general meeting for all those interested in becoming members of the MI. The already established Washington DC – Mission Immaculatae Capital 16670 Village (young adults) was invited to extent its territory to include members through our Shrine of St Anthony.

On a crisp evening, Friday – October 19^th, the Shrine hosted a bonfire gathering, with youth and young adult participants from Washington DC (especially CUA), Baltimore, Ellicott City and other surrounding areas, including some student friars from Silver Spring. Among those enjoying the event were Shrine Director – Fr. Eric and Our Lady of the Angels Province’s newest Solemnly Professed friar, Br. Emmanuel “Manny” Wenke, OFM Conv., who was able to take a bit of a break from his busy schedule teaching at Archbishop Curly High School, in Baltimore. The friars counted 25 young adults in attendance and ended the evening with night prayer in the Shrine’s Chapel. It was truly a great night for the books.

The Shrine’s first Taizé night was held on November 19^th and it was very beautiful. The chapel was certainly not empty, and the prayer service went really well. Again, people came from all over the area. In addition to our Conventual friars on hand, some OFM Postulants made the drive from Silver Spring, as did some of our Capuchin brothers from Washington DC. The schola was filled with students from CUA, including several friars from our house of studies. Participants also included attendees from Archbishop Curley High School, as well as friar Franck’s brother, nephew and sister-in-law traveling from Richmond, VA.
Adding to the joy of the event, on the following day, Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, was able to personally bless our Taizé Cross, on his visit to the Shrine.  Another Taizé night is in the works for Lent 2019. We will keep you posted.

In celebration of the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order, our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. was the featured homilist at the November 29, 2018 Daily Catholic Mass Live Broadcast on EWTN. On this day in 1223, The Rule for Franciscans was issued by Pope Honorius III, in the eighth year of his pontificate. To commemorate this event, each November 29th, all the saints of the Franciscan order are remembered at Franciscan churches around the world.

Later that same day, he was interviewed as a guest on EWTN’s Life on the Rock.

Interview Published on 1-6-2019

The Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province are committed to creating safe environments for children and vulnerable adults. Our safeguarding processes for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults are routinely reviewed by the accrediting organization Praesidium, in accordance with strict Church norms. Any allegation regarding the Franciscan Friars Conventual of this Province receives an immediate response, according to Praesidium’s rigorous standards.  This includes the Province’s full cooperation with local law enforcement authorities and Ordinaries who have ecclesial jurisdiction over the matters, as well as a duly diligent investigation by a qualified third party in order to substantiate credibility.  This investigative process is being followed with respect to the questions currently being raised about Fr. James Smyka, who is suspended from public ministry.

Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. serves as our Delegate to the Militia of the Immaculata (M.I.). In addition, Friar Jobe is a well respected published Canon Lawyer and professor of Canon Law. This year, he released a 3rd Edition publication of KANONIKA 07 | ” Two Codes in Comparison.” (ebook version).

Born in 1952 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Friar Jobe received his B.A. from Carleton University (Ottawa, ON) in 1972 and his LL.B. from Dalbousie University (Halifax, N.S.) in 1975. He was admitted to the Bar of Nova Scotia in 1975 and practiced civil law until 1979.
A few years later, he entered Religious Life as a Franciscan Friars Conventual, first professing vows in 1981. Friar Jobe continued his studies and received a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary (Rensselaer, New York) and was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1985.
Although he did spend a few years in pastoral ministry, Friar Jobe later went to Rome to earn a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1989 and his Doctorate in Canon Law in 1992 (Pontifical Oriental Institute). He remained there to teach until 2004, when he returned to North America and took a position as a professor on the Faculty of Canon Law of Saint Paul University (Ottawa, ON). In addition to his work with M.I., Friar Jobe currently serves the province as the Guardian of our “international” Saint André Bessette Friary (Ottawa, ON), home to three friars of our Order who hail from the Philippines, India and Romania.

Works published by Friar Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv.