Feast Day of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv ~ August 14th
“Hate destroys. Love alone creates.” This line uttered by Saint Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv. over 75 years ago is more appropriate now than ever! We live in a world where hatred seems to be the norm. There are times when we want to throw up our arms in defeat. The devil seems to be winning. Saint Maximilian gives us an example on how to defeat hatred and evil in our own times. Saint Maximilian faced hatred head on. He led a life of heroic charity that culminated in his martyrdom during World War II at the Nazi death camp Auschwitz in Poland. The patron saint of prisoners, journalists, the addicted, the pro-life movement and families, he voluntarily took the place of a fellow prisoner, a husband and father who was selected to die by starvation. After he survived for two weeks without food, St. Maximilian’s death was hastened by lethal injection August 14, 1941.
The blessing of the St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. statue by Pope Saint John Paul II, on the occasion of the Martyr of Charity’s canonization, on October 10, 1982. Our friars were gifted the statue by the family of Msgr. Siedlecki, upon his passing, through a personal connection with our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. Msgr. Siedlecki attended the canonization with Fr. Burakowski (as did Fr. James) and purchased the statue through the help of Fr. Flavian Slominski, OFM Conv., the rector of the Penitenzeria at the Vatican and the personal confessor of Pope St. John Paul II. The statue is now housed in a small outdoor shrine on the property of our ministry of The Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City. (See picture above it.)
Friday, August 12, 2016 Noon Mass
Veneration of relic until 5:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. – Evening Prayer
Veneration of relic until 9:00pm Saturday, August 13, 2016 Noon Mass
Healing Prayers and Veneration of Relic until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 14, 2016 Noon Solemn Mass in Honor of Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Presider and Homilist Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. (Savannah)
Procession to the Outdoor St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. Shrine and the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto with Litany to Saint Maximilian M. Kolbe,OFM Conv.
Courtyard Picnic
Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. holds the reliquary of the 1st class relics of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. inside the outdoor shrine on the property of the Shrine of St. Anthony. This small structure houses the statue of St. Maximilian Kolbe that was blessed by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of our Martyr of Charity. Fr. James is joined by Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., a friar of our province and the the Provincial Assistant to the Militia Immaculata – an evangelization movement identifying with Mary that was established by St. Maximilian Kolbe (on his left) and the Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., a friar of our province who is the Bishop of Savannah (on right) and several other friars of our province.
At the Mass, Bro. Joseph Cannon C.S.Sp. was welcomed by Fr. James and our friars on hand as a new Postulant for our Province. Please keep him and our other five Postulants who are already at the St. Bonaventure Friary Postulancy in Chicago, IL, for a year of discernment in the first stage of Formation as Franciscan Friars Conventual.
Bishop DiMarzio ordains Friar Nicholas Spano, OFM Conv. (Director of San Damiano Mission) to the Transitional Diaconate. Pictured far left – Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv., behind Friar Nicholas – Fr. Raphael Zwolenkiewicz, OFM Conv (Assistant Director of San Damiano Mission), and far right – the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province).
Friar Nick vested by Friar (Deacon) Nader Ata, OFM Conv.
On Saturday, August 6, 2016, at San Damiano Mission (Brooklyn, NY), a ministry of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Friar Nicholas Spano, OFM Conv., Director of San Damiano Mission, was Ordained a Transitional Deacon by the Bishop of Brooklyn, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio. Friar Nick was supported by many of the friars of our province, his family, friends and a large assembly of the people he serves. One of the friars in attendance created a Facebook Video Photo Montage of the event. Please keep Friar Nicholas, and his ministry, in your continued prayers.
The 3 Nicholas-es (Friar Deacon Nicholas Spano, OFM Conv., Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Fr. Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv.) represent the 3 levels of Holy Orders: Diaconate, Presbyterate, Episcopate.
FIMP (Federation of Italian and Mediterranean Jurisdictions of our Order) and CFF (North America, Australia, Great Britain and Ireland) Solemn Vow retreatants and the directors of Rivo Torto, with newly appointed Secretary General for Formation for our Order, pictured in the friary chapel at Santa Maria di Rivotorto (known as the “Sanctuary of Rivotorto,” a few kilometers south of the Portiuncula. Rivo Torto is under the care of our Order and was founded to preserve the structures of the Sacred Hovel or Tugurio – the first place where St. Francis gathered his followers before settling at the Portiuncula.
Each summer, friars from all three Franciscan First Orders who are approaching the solemn vow stage of formation travel on a Solemn Vow Pilgrimage to Assisi, led by our Vicar Provincial, Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv. During this time, they explore the rich Franciscan history of the area, accompanied by veteran friars. For the last week, the men move onto their individual Order Solemn Vow Retreat, as leadership from each Order joins them to continue delving into the life of St. Francis of Assisi and his followers, with a direct focus on the way the Order lives out their Call. Currently, we have three such friars from Our Lady of the Angels Province attending this year’s pilgrimage and retreat as the group stays at Santa Maria di Rivotorto, led by our own Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. Our Order’s newly appointed Secretary General of Formation, Friar Louis Panthiruvelil, OFM Conv.(in full green vestments above) paid a visit and celebrated Mass for both Second Novitiate groups of friars.
Please keep our own province friars Antonio Sandoval, OFM Conv. Emanuel Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. and Maximilian Avila, OFM Conv., as well as the other Franciscan Friars Conventual in formation in your prayers during in this important step of their discernment journey.
Fr. James (far right) with the four American friars (left to right: fr. Antonio Sandoval, OFM Conv. of our Provincial Delegation in Costa Rica, Brother Don Bassana, OFM Conv. of Our Lady of Consolation Province, Emanuel Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. and Maximilian Avila, OFM Conv.) on retreat pictured outside of Santa Maria di Rivotorto. The inscription above the archivolt of the church entance reads, “Here the beginnings of the Friars Minor.”
This year marks the 800 Anniversary of the August 2nd Portiuncula Indulgence. You will notice that our province logo incorporates the Portiuncula graphic. This is because the Portiuncula (the small chapel of St. Mary of the Angels nicknamed “Little Portion” by St. Francis of Assisi) is located within Assisi’s Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. All Franciscans around the world celebrate August 2nd Feast Day of Our Lady of the Angels but we friars who are members of a province named in her honor, hold the day in high regard. There are many celebrations throughout our province and we encourage all to join us in those celebrations. To find a location nearest to you, please visit our ministry locations page. We hope to see you there.
More on the Feast Day and the Portiuncula Indulgence:
August 2nd – Feast of Our Lady of the Angels (aka the Feast of the Portiuncula). The small chapel of St. Mary of the Angels (Our Lady of the Angels) was very dear to St. Francis of Assisi. He referred to it as the Portiucula (or the Little Portion) and it is considered the cradle of the Franciscan Order. In 1209, as the quarters of Rivo Torto became too small for the newly forming religious order, St. Francis obtained from the Benedictines the use of the Portiuncula, for which he paid a basket of fish. The church and the surrounding small parcel of land were is disrepair. Just as he did at San Damiano, St. Francis rebuilt it, adding small huts (cells) and enclosing it all in a protective hedge. It was there that St. Francis gained a more vivid understanding of his own vocation. He held the annual meetings of the friars (Chapters) there and it is where he desired to spend his final earthly moments; dying in his nearby cell October 3, 1226.
St. Francis felt that the Portiuncula was a place filled with God’s grace. In 1216, at the request of St. Francis, the Pope granted special privilege (plenary indulgence – a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins) to all those who would visit the little chapel.
Although limited to noon on August 1st to midnight on August 2nd, the privilege continues to be granted to this day; not only to those who visit the Portiuncula, but to anyone who visits any church where the friars live and minister. To receive this privilege (for yourself or for someone else – living or deceased), in addition to the visit, one must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within several weeks of the feast, go to Mass and receive the Eucharist, recite the Our Father and Apostles Creed, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
The beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli that now surrounds the Portiuncula chapel was begun in 1569 (completed in 1684) by decree of Pius V. It was meant to accommodate the huge crowds of pilgrims who came on August 2nd for Il Perdono (Portiuncula Indulgence). This is an important feast day for all Franciscans and is celebrated in Franciscan churches throughout the world. As the friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, this Feast Day has singular significance.
The last two pastoral ministries to welcome the 2016 Pilgrimage of the Relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe are planning a joint event. On Sunday, August 7, 2016 , the relic of St. Maximillian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. will be at The Church of St. Catharine of Siena (Seaside Park, NJ) for a special 4:00 p.m. service. Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Community (Seaside Heights, NJ), Fr. Bartholomew Karwacki, OFM Conv. will preach. He and the other friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, who reside at the St. Catharine of Siena Friary (Fr. John Ruffo, OFM Conv. – pastor of St. Catharine of Siena, Fr. Emmett Carroll, OFM Conv., Fr. Antone Kandrac, OFM Conv., Fr. Terence Pescatore, OFM Conv. and Friar Gregory Spuhler) welcome all to join them in this special celebration.
Our ministries in New Jersey are the last to welcome the 1st degree beard fragment relics that have been traveling throughout our province since the Opening Ceremonies in January 2016, at our special ministry of the Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD). There are three ministry locations before the relics return to the Shrine for the Closing Ceremonies on the Feast of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv.:
Excerpt from the July 24, 2016 St. Peter Parish Bulletin:
In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Conventual Franciscan Friar, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Our Lady of the Angels Province has scheduled a pilgrimage of a relic throughout our province U.S. and Canadian territory. The reliquary is one of four that was created in 1971 (11 years prior to his canonization). The relics will be at Saint Peter Church in Point Pleasant Beach from Friday, July 29 through Sunday, July 31, 2016.
Friday, July 29 7:00 p.m.: Welcoming of the relics of Saint Maximilian Kolbe to the parish of Saint Peter with Evening Prayer.
Church will remain open until 9:00 p.m. with the relics on display.
Saturday, July 30 8:30 a.m.: Votive Mass in honor of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
Relics on display from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 31 Regular Sunday Mass schedule (7:30, 9:00, 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon):
Relics on display from 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Congratulations friar Roberson Lubin, OFM Conv. (St. Joseph of Cupertino Province), friar Jacob Minjarez, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of Consolation Province) friar Brian Mary Tougher, OFM Conv. (Blessed Agnellus of Pisa – Custody), friar Jaime Zaragoza, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of Consolation Province), friar Timothy Blanchard, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province), {bottom row} friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province) and friar Marco Antonio Didden, OFM Conv. (Blessed Agnellus of Pisa – Custody). They are flanked by their Conventual Franciscan Novitiate Formators; Fr. Giles Zakowicz, OFM Conv. (Director – far left, back), and Fr. Maurice Richard, OFM Conv. (Assistant Director – far right, back) ~ both friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province.
July 21, 2016: The friars of the CFF (all Franciscan Friars Conventual Provinces of North America) celebrated the joy of the Profession of Simple Vows (also known as First or Temporary) as Franciscan Friars Conventual, of seven Novices, at St. Paul’s Church, in Pismo Beach, California. Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington (a friar from the Province of Our Lady of Consolation) presided at the Mass. Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. preached and presided over the Profession.
Br. Daniel Geary (Formation Director of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody), friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province), friar Brian Mary Tougher, OFM Conv. (Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody), the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province of which Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody is a part), friar Marco Antonio Didden, OFM Conv. (Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody) and friar Timothy Blanchard, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province).
Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. (front center) pictured with the Ministers Provincial of the four North American Provinces, the Assistant General and the Newly Professed
Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial receives the Simple Vows of Our Lady of the Angels Province friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv., witnessed by Fr. Maurice Richard, OFM Conv. – Assistant Director of the Novitiate
Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial receives the Simple Vows of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custoday friar Marco Antonio Didden, OFM Conv., witnessed by Fr. Maurice Richard, OFM Conv. – Assistant Director of the Novitiate
Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial receives the Simple Vows of Our Lady of the Angels Province friar Timothy Blanchard, OFM Conv., witnessed by Fr. Maurice Richard, OFM Conv. – Assistant Director of the Novitiate
Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial receives the Simple Vows of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custoday friar Brian Mary Tougher, OFM Conv., witnessed by Fr. Maurice Richard, OFM Conv. – Assistant Director of the Novitiate
After their Simple Profession of Vows in St. Paul’s Church, Pismo Beach, California, the newly professed carried two large bouquets of flowers to the altar of the Blessed Mother, then sang the “Salve Regina.”
Brazil – Mission Congress Official Photo – July 15, 2016
July 13-17, 2016 ~ Brazil: The goal of the Mission Congress of the Federación Conventuales America Latina (FALC), was to deepen the reflection of the scenarios and the missionary and evangelizing practice of Franciscan Friars Conventual. This year marked a 70 year presence in Latin America and the Caribbean and it was a cause for great celebration and reflection. Read More in this article from the CNNB site. (Original text)
The North American Friars on hand at the Congress (the Very Reverend Jim Kent, OFM Conv – Minister Provincial of the Our Lady of Consolation Province ~ Fr. Justin Biase, OFM Conv. – former Minister Provincial of Immaculate Conception Province that is now part of Our Lady of the Angels Province ~ the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. – Minister Provincial of our province of Our Lady of the Angels) take a photo with Bishop Elias James Manning, O.F.M. Conv. ~ Bishop Emeritus of Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Frei Ronaldo Gomes da Silva Pároco – Custódio Vicar of our Immaculate Conception Custody, Frei Ilson Fontenelle Júnior – Pároco (formation director in Petropolis) and Friar Isidoro (Custos of Honduras), along with two of the Postulants
1st Order friars represented by the Assistant General of the FALC – Friar Carlos A. Trovarelli, OFM Conv. (far right), Friar James (far left) and Friar Ronaldo (center). 2nd Order represented by the Poor Clares of Rio de Janeiro (cloistered sisters who had special permission to attend). 3rd Order represented by the Leaders of the Region’s OFS (Ordo Franciscanus Sæcularis aka Secular Franciscans)
Joey Dziok, former director of the youth music program at our pastoral ministry at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr (Chicopee, MA) now works for NBC News and is in Brazil covering the Olympics. He has a moment to take a picture with our Friar James and Friar Justin.
While participating in the Order’s Mission Congress in Brazil, our Province’s own native brother, Bishop Elias James Manning, O.F.M. Conv. (Bishop Emeritus of Valença, Rio de Janeiro) presented to our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., with two gifts for the Province Archives – the pectoral cross presented him by his home parish of St. Michael in Troy, New York on the occasion of his episcopal ordination in 1990, and a newly published collection of some of his spiritual writings during the years of his active ministry as Bishop of Valença, Brazil. He retired in 2014, but remains a very active Bishop Emeritus.
PILGRIMAGE OF THE RELIC OF
