A great way to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations!
On Sunday, May 7, 2017, Our Lady of the Angel Province friar, Fr. Nick Rokitka, OFM Conv. was the guest Mass celebrant and speaker at the Annual Communion Breakfast, sponsored by the Blessed Virgin Sodality of Christ the King Catholic Church (Glen Burnie, MD), held in the parish hall at the Holy Trinity site. Over 60 parishioners and guests gathered in the hall after the usual Sunday, 8:30am Mass to enjoy a delicious breakfast provided by the Father McGivney Knights of Columbus, and served by one of the Confirmation Class Small Groups, before Friar Nick’s presentation on Franciscan Marian Charism. The morning was a wonderful example of community, faith, food and fellowship. Friar Nick will celebrate his 1st Ordination Anniversary on June 25, 2017. He earned his BA at Hilbert College in Buffalo, NY and his M.Div and S.T.B. from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. and he currently serves as a Theology and Business Instructor at our Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore, MD) ministry. He spoke on Sunday of the great love of the Blessed Mother held by St. Francis of Assisi, on which he founded his Franciscan Order. He touched on the birthplace of the Order, whose patroness we share as a province; Our Lady of the Angels, also known as the Portiuncula or “Little Portion” in Assisi. This small chapel, now housed within the vast Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Assisi, Italy) is where Jesus’ called to him: “Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin.”
Friar Nick compared both Mary’s & Francis’s answer “Yes!” to our own need to answer “Yes!” to be a vessel for Jesus, so He can be better gifted in our world. He also shared a reflection on St. Francis’ prayer of praise to Mary, the Mother of Jesus:
Hail, holy Lady, most holy Queen, Mary, Mother of God, ever Virgin. You were chosen by the Most High Father in heaven, consecrated by Him, with His most Holy Beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. On you descended and still remains all the fullness of grace and every good. Hail, His Palace. Hail His Tabernacle. Hail His Robe. Hail His Handmaid. Hail, His Mother. and Hail, all holy Virtues, who, by grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are poured into the hearts of the faithful so that from their faithless state, they may be made faithful servants of God through you.
During his presentation, Friar Nick noticed Sodality’s statue, present at every meeting and function, and how it was a perfect reflection of “Hail His Robe,” from the prayer, as Mary’s robe is artistically depicted covering and sheltering her Son, Our Lord.
On April 22, 2017, Our Lady of the Angels Province Friar, Fr. Joseph Bayne, OFM Conv. was exemplified in the 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus and was honored by the Fourth Degree Knights of the Fourth NY District in the St. Isaac Jogues Province, at the dinner following. Friar Joe also participated in the April 30 – May 3, 2017 Annual Conference of the NYS Fire Chaplains, held at the Niagara Falls Air Force Base, where he offered a major presentation on “Line of Duty Death” in the Fire Service.
Sunday, April 23, 2017: His Excellency, the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, the Seventh Bishop of Brooklyn, was the main celebrant as St. Adalbert Parish observed its 125th anniversary with a Mass. Also in attendance were many Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, including those who have served in pastoral ministry there. More photos are available on the parish Facebook page.
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Timothy Dore, OFM Conv. currently serves as pastor of two Baltimore, Maryland parishes; St. Ann Catholic Church and of St. Wenceslaus Church. He has recently been appointed to be the “Confessor” for the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity (the Order of religious women founded by Saint Teresa of Kolkata) who, in Baltimore, minister to the city’s neediest and under-served, from impoverished HIV/AIDS patients to the neighborhood’s children. Members of their Order who serve through Gift of Hope, a home for chronically ill men, are ministered to by Friar Tim. After celebrating Mass for the sisters, the volunteers, and the residents every Thursday morning, he gives the sisters a short “spiritual conference” and is available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with them. He also presides at their community’s weekly Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction.
Saturday, April 22, 2017: St. Clare Inn (Toronto, ON) held its 5th Annual Spring Gala, “Cheers to 10 Years.” The purpose of the annual Gala is to raise funds and awareness of the challenges faced by homeless women who are diagnosed with mental health issues. St. Clare Inn which begins its 10th year of operation this May, has helped some 70 women to rebuild their lives. At present 75% of those who have participated in the program are now living independently. Five of our friars were in attendance along with the other 230 people who gathered for this year’s celebration.
Reverend James Boric – Rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Archdiocese of Baltimore – the Premier See of the Roman Catholic Church in the USA), the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. – Minister Provincial of the Our Lady of the Angels Province, His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development), The Most Reverend William Edward Lori, S.T.D. (Sixteenth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore), and at the far right, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Robert Twele, OFM Conv. (Legal Counsel for the Province and Director of the Office of Legal Council for Catholic Relief Services
April 18-21, 2017: Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Robert Twele, OFM Conv. Director of the Office of Legal Council for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), headquartered in Baltimore-MD, served as the CRS host to Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the Vatican’s newly established (January 1, 2017) Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The photo depicts Baltimore Archbishop William Lori welcoming the Cardinal and Fr. Robert, along with Fr. James, to a tour of the Old Basilica-Cathedral and dinner in the Archbishop’s House.
April 12, 2017, twenty eight students and two staff members spent the morning volunteering with 716 Ministries, formerly known as Westside Ministries, a faith-based housing revitalization service organization working to improve neighborhoods across the city of Buffalo. Students helped to clean out an old house across the street from the Broadway Market & afterward took a tour of Corpus Christi Church.
While working, they also discovered a litter of newborn kittens
which were rescued after a student called his mother
who works at The Ten Lives Club Cat Adoption agency.
Anyone from the area looking to volunteer at 716 Ministries,
please know that they are always in need on
Saturday mornings and occasionally on Saturday afternoons.
Their volunteer coordinator is Megan Platt: mplatt@716ministries.org.
Holy Thursday: One of two brothers who later celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil at our province ministry of The Franciscan Church of the Assumption in Syracuse, NY. They received instruction from Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Brennan-Joseph Farleo, OFM Conv. and their grandmother. These two young parishioners also serve the parish as hospitality ministers and assist with parish events. They had their feet washed by their pastor, Fr. Rick Riccioli, OFM Conv., during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Good Friday: A very Spirit-filled and blessed experience of the Stations of the Cross with Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Tim Dore, OFM Conv. Each year, the parishioners of Baltimore’s St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church (of which Friar Tim is pastor) and the parishioners of Amazing Grace Lutheran Church join together to make a holy and prayerful journey through the streets of their shared neighborhood.
Holy Saturday: Swieconka ~ the Saturday Blessing of the Easter Foods, at St. Stanislaus School in Chicopee, MA, with their pastor and rector of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Joe Benicewicz, OFM Conv.
Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Atlanta GA
Happy Easter!: Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv. stoped to take a few photos with some of the students he serves from Syracuse University, including these Theta Chi Fraternity brothers, after Easter Mass.
Happy Easter!: At the Point Pleasant Beach, NJ parish school of Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church, where our friars pastoraly serve. The 4th Grade Coordinated the delivery over 40 Easter Baskets to the local food pantry.
All are friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province unless otherwise indicated. Top Row Left to Right: fr. Jim Hoffman, OFM Conv., Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv. (Vicar Provincial), Friar Maximilian Avila Pacheco, OFM Conv., Friar Emanuel Vasconcelos, OFM Conv., Br. Jim Moore, OFM Conv. (Guardian of the St. Bonaventure Friary Post Novitiate) Bottom Row: br. Emmanuel Wenke, OFM Conv., fr. Israel Arauz-Rosiles, OFM Conv. (St. Joseph Cuptertino Province), fr. Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv., br. Timothy Blanchard, OFM Conv., fr. Andrew Hennessy, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of Consolation Province), fr. Bede Thigpen, OFM Conv. (St. Bonaventure Province)
The student friars at St Bonaventure Friary in Silver Spring, MD celebrated the Easter Triduum with the friars who minister in Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America (Washington DC), where they are all continuing their studies.
University Chaplain & Director of Campus Ministry, Fr Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv. baptized two students as several others were confirmed and brought into full communion with the Church during the Easter Celebration.
All are welcome to attend a presentation by Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv., on the Resurrection Narratives in the Gospels.
Friar Jude is a friar of our province who currently serves as Assistant General for the Conventual Franciscan Order (Rome). He is a sought after speaker and is an eminent Scriptural Scholar.
His Daily Reflections can be enjoyed online and are available via our evangelization and developement ministry, the Companions of St. Anthony’s website.
There is no need to register for this Free presentation, however there will be a free will offering taken at this event.
The Shrine of St. Anthony holds many spiritual, social and liturgical events throughout the year. Free events are listed on their website calendar. Please be sure to check out the Shine’s Home Page for more information about this ministry of our province, including links to other events that may require a registration fee, videos and the daily schedule.
On April 14th the Shrine of St. Anthony will hold another Good Friday Day of Prayer led by Friar Douglas McMillan, OFM Conv. from 1 – 8:00 p.m. The day features several talks, quiet prayer, Good Friday Liturgy, Stations of the Cross and a Lenten Supper. The cost for this retreat is $25 and RSVP’s must be in by Thursday April 13th.
A great way to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations!
Friar Nick will celebrate his 1st Ordination Anniversary on June 25, 2017. He earned his BA at Hilbert College in Buffalo, NY and his M.Div and S.T.B. from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. and he currently serves as a Theology and Business Instructor at our Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore, MD) ministry. He spoke on Sunday of the great love of the Blessed Mother held by St. Francis of Assisi, on which he founded his Franciscan Order. He touched on the birthplace of the Order, whose patroness we share as a province; Our Lady of the Angels, also known as the Portiuncula or “Little Portion” in Assisi. This small chapel, now housed within the vast Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Assisi, Italy) is where Jesus’ called to him: “Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin.”
All are welcome to attend a presentation by Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv., on the Resurrection Narratives in the Gospels.
On April 14th the Shrine of St. Anthony will hold another Good Friday Day of Prayer led by Friar Douglas McMillan, OFM Conv. from 1 – 8:00 p.m. The day features several talks, quiet prayer, Good Friday Liturgy, Stations of the Cross and a Lenten Supper. 
