St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church Celebrates 50 Years
Photograph by Ken Barbret (photographer from St. Philip Benizi Parish)
Mildred, age 91, represented the founding parishioners in the Ceremony of Blessing at the end of the Liturgy, as the parish hall was renamed, “Founders Hall.”
The Parish Community of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church (Jonesboro, Georgia) has been celebrating a series of events in 2015 to commemorate their 50th Anniversary. Over 1000 parishioners packed the church – standing room only – for the Golden Jubilee Liturgy on Saturday, September 12th. The Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, S.L.D., Metropolitan Archbishop of Atlanta, planned on being the main celebrant and homilist but gridlocked traffic held him at bay. Our Lady of the Angels Minister Provincial, The Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. stepped in to preside and the Jubilee Festival Chorus filled the church with song. The Golden Jubilee Celebration Liturgy was followed by a delicious meal served to over a thousand people under a big tent in the San Damiano Lot, prepared entirely by parishioners. Archbishop Gregory made a surprise visit the following morning to apologize to the friars and parishioners for his absence the night before. The community of friars serving from the St. Philip Benizi Friary include pastor and friary guardian Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv., Fr. Paul Miskiewicz, OFM Conv., Fr. Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv., Fr. Piotr Tymko, OFM Conv. and br. Colton Rodgers. They were joined by the many Deacons in active ministry and even more clergy who had served there in the past, as well as fellow friars, Fr. Nick Wolfa, OFM Conv., Fr. Russell Governale, OFM Conv., Fr. Abelardo Huanca, OFM Conv. and Fr. James for the festivities. The theme of the Jubilee, which continues with more events in the upcoming months, is: “Walking United as Faithful Disciples of Jesus Christ.” The next event will be held September 26-27, 2015, as the parish showcases their 50TH ANNIVERSARY ART EXHIBIT. As part of the continued Golden Jubilee Celebration, artists from St. Philip Benizi Parish will showcase their masterpieces of paintings, drawings, photographs, woodworking, and sculptures in the Founders Hall throughout that weekend. More than 30 artists will be represented, exhibiting over 100 pieces of original artwork, some of which will be available for purchase. A Wine & Cheese Reception will be held after the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Mass. If you will be in the Jonesboro area, stop in for a visit with this vibrant parish community and view these artists’ special gifts of time, talent, and treasure!
The Praises of God (2C 49)
While living at St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, of the Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City), one of our friars, Fr. Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv. recreated the beautiful fresco of the Stigmatization of St Francis (Upper Church of the Basilica of Sant Francis, Assisi – Italy), on the sanctuary wall of the Shrine’s Chapel.
St. Francis of Assisi visited the Mount La Verna (Assisi) six times for solitude: 1213, 1216, 1218, 1220, 1223 and 1224. In September 1224, he received the grace of Stigmata. It was on that last visit that he also composed The Praises of God. As this prayer indicates, he wanted to know and experience Christ completely and realized he would have to share in His Passion. Hence, he asked for the grace to know the love Christ had in His heart and experience the depth of His suffering. It was traditionally on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (September 14th), while in prayer on the mountainside, that St. Francis of Assisi had the vision of the seraph, and received the visible marks of the five wounds of Christ. Blessed Pope Benedict XI (Pope: October 22, 1303 – July 7, 1304 ~ Beatified:April 24, 1736) permitted the Franciscan Order to celebrate the Feast Day of the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi on September 17th.
On the other side of the parchment he wrote his Blessing for Brother Leo. The parchment with the autographs of Francis is conserved as a relic in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.
The Praises of God
You are holy Lord God Who does wonderful things.
You are strong. You are great. You are the most high.
You are the almighty king. You holy Father,
King of heaven and earth.
You are three and one, the Lord God of gods;
You are the good, all good, the highest good,
Lord God living and true.
You are love, charity; You are wisdom, You are humility,
You are patience, You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are security, You are rest,
You are gladness and joy, You are our hope, You are justice,
You are moderation, You are all our riches to sufficiency.
You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are the protector, You are our custodian and defender,
You are strength, You are refreshment. You are our hope,
You are our faith, You are our charity,
You are all our sweetness, You are our eternal life:
Great and wonderful Lord, Almighty God, Merciful Savior.
Blessing for Brother Leo
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He show His face to you and be merciful to you.
May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace.
Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody News
Friars present at the September 10, 2015 Solemn Profession celebration for our Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa, Great Britain and Ireland
On the 10th of September 2015, The Feast of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa, the Greyfriars Custody of Great Britain and Ireland celebrated the Solemn Profession of Friar Maximilian Mary Martin, OFM Conv. (front row – third from left) and Friar Benedict Abugu, OFM Conv. (front row – fourth from right) at the Capuchin Church in Oxford. Present for the celebration were Friars from the Custody from Dublin, Wexford, Waterloo, Canterbury, and Oxford. Also present were members of the Legion of Mary, Religious students who study with our Friars, and family and friends of the Friars.
Community Spirit
As Franciscan Friars Conventual, the friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province live in communities called friaries. These are not cloisters with friars locked behind gates in contemplative prayer. Our friars in public ministry are very visible and make it a priority to become part of the neighborhoods and parish communities where they live and serve. They open the doors of their churches, shrines and missions, welcoming the greater community to visit and become part of events, services and celebrations. Our friars also love to take part in neighborhood celebrations and events throughout the province. On a Sunday in late August, some of the friars living and serving in the area of Brooklyn, NY joined in a great feast-day celebration and parade (with some pretty colorful characters) in honor of Our Lady of Altagracia (Dominican Republic). Fr. Pedro De’Olivera, OFM Conv. (pastor of the Roman Catholic Church of Most Holy Trinity- St. Mary) and Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (visiting for the summer before settling into his new ministry in Chicopee – MA) accompanied parishioners and Brooklyn’s Bishop for this important manifestation of faith.
Franciscan Environmental Stewardship
One of the four Rain Gardens on the Ellicott City – MD property featured in the AP video
The Our Lady of the Angels Province Friars living at St. Joseph Cupertino Friary and serving the pilgrims of the Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City – MD) are a strong example of Franciscans living in communities focused on environmental stewardship. Our friars are showcased by the Associated Press in their new video, “Monasteries Take Pope’s Green Message to Heart.” Our Franciscan Friars Conventual in Ellicott City, as well as The Holy Land Franciscans who live and serve the pilgrims of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America (Washington, D.C), were chosen by AP to share the very tangible ways they live the precepts of Pope Francis’ recent message on the environment.
Friar Joseph Bayne, OFM Conv.
June 14, 2009: Dedication of the North Boston Fire Station
“If the Rev. Joseph Bayne were not a priest, he would be a firefighter, such is his family’s commitment to emergency service.” The opening line of The Buffalo News September 5th online article says it all. He has worked in this ministry since 1990 and, through the program, is able to help at risk teens see how transforming their lives, through goal-setting, leads to a re-integration into family life and/or independent living. His work also aids men, women, youth and children in crisis situations by outreach, counseling and referrals. Hundreds of lives have been touched by the work of The Franciscan Center, but Fr. Joe does not stop there. He is also the chaplain for the Buffalo Fire Department and Erie County Emergency Services.
Rarely does a man become a Franciscan Friar Conventual because he has tunnel vision or limited dreams. He answers the call so he can better use all of the gifts God has given him, going farther and reaching more than he ever thought possible. “As chief chaplain of Erie County Emergency Services and chaplain for the Buffalo Fire Department, he provides round-the-clock support to first responders under the toughest of circumstances… He was at ground zero in New York City within days. Driving a Ford Edge pushing 180,000 miles, Bayne leads a busy life. At age 57, he calls his vocation a ministry of presence.”
Friar Joe is not the only chaplain in our province, we have friars who add to their duties at primary ministries in parishes, schools and shrines, by volunteering time as police, fire fighters and military chaplains, work with and for those who put their lives on the line for all of us. Please keep the work of all of our chaplains in your continued prayers, as well as all those served by our friars.
USCCB Article
Friar Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv.
The focus of a recent Catholic New World article by Dolores Madlener is Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Brother Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv. The Chicago Archdiocesan Newspaper features “Conversations with the Consecrated.”
Although Br. Paschal has worked in many capacities, including nursing, and began serving his Call with a different Religious Order, he currently works in Formation, with those in our Postulancy in Chicago. As he states in the article, “I never felt called to priesthood … I wanted to be a religious who swept the floor.”
Br. Paschal knows and understands the importance of all of the ministries of our Order. “We don’t do any one thing in our [O]rder. Our charism is to profess the Gospel, and we practice that in community life and prayer life, and from that flows ministry. Franciscans in the USA [North America] have parishes, shrines, retreat houses, outreaches for the poor, a home for runaway kids, two high schools. There’s also a myriad of other things our friars do with peace and justice works, and missions. We used to be called the Black Franciscans because of our habit. But since Vatican II, our American provinces have gone back to our original color, which is grey. We’re known as the Grey Franciscans now. (We have to wear out our black habits before we get a grey one, of course.)”
Please follow the link to read his whole story.
60th Anniversary of Profession
First Profession Anniversaries is a profoundly important and milestone years are celebrated by all of the friars of the province, as they remember & pray for their brother friars. The 60th Anniversary is a great cause for celebration and joy and in 2015 we celebrate Friar Vincent Lachendro, OFM Conv., Friar George Maslar, OFM Conv., Friar Edward Costello, OFM Conv., Friar Richard Rossell, OFM Conv. and Friar Canice Connors, OFM Conv.
Sunday – August 16, 2015, on the 60th Anniversary date of the Profession of First Vows (Simple – Temporary), Our Lady of the Angels friar, Fr. Edward Costello, OFM Conv. ceremoniously renewed those vows during a concelebrated Mass with Our Lady of the Angels friar, pastor of Mother Cabrini Catholic Church (Shamokin, PA), guardian of the friary, and principal celebrant – Fr. Martin Kobos, OFM Conv.
The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Honor Guard led the friars into Mass and even more Knights were on hand for the celebration, as both Friar Ed and Friar Martin are 4th degree members. Honored guests also included Friar Ed’s four sisters who were there, 60 years ago, to witness his First Profession in Middleburg, NY.
Friar Ed professed his Solemn Vows (Permanent – Perpetual) on September 27, 1958 and was Ordained to the Priesthood on May 27, 1961. At age 80, he is the oldest friar serving the people of Mother Cabrini Catholic Church and sometimes cannot say Mass as much as he would like, but he still takes a very active role in parish ministry. In a front page and online THENEWS-ITEM article: Divine renewal: Shamokin friar renews vows at 60th anniversary (from which the attached photos were taken), Friar Ed is quoted: “The 60 years have been filled with service to God and His people as a student, teacher, hospital chaplain and parish priest,” … “It has been an active and satisfying life.” Friar Ed was also a pilgrim guide in Assisi, at the Basilica of St. Francis, where two of his brother friars currently serve.
{Please note that Friar Ed’s habit is not brown as the article states but is a shade of grey, as are all Conventual habits}
Following the Mass, which also included the renewal of vows marking the 25th Wedding Anniversary of one of the couples from the parish, the Mother Cabrini community gathered with family and friends for a buffet luncheon, in the parish hall.
Please keep Friar Ed, and the people of Shamokin, in your continued prayers.
Kolbe Award
Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., a Kolbean Scholar and Mariolgist was the recipient of the 2015 Kolbe Award, given on the Feast Day of St. Maximilian Kolbe – August 14th, presented at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe – Marytown.
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Br. Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv (Guardian and St. Bonaventure Postulancy Director), St. Bonaventure Province friar, Fr. John Grigus, OFM Conv. (Presenter), the Very Reverend Fr. Michael Zielk, OFM Conv. (St. Bonaventure Provincial Minister) and Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Jobe, Abbass, OFM Conv. pictured with Fr. James and the 2015 citation.
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, MC (Mother Teresa) was one of the four first recipients of the Kolbe Award, presented to her by Fr. James.
Fr. James is pictured here at the October 10, 1982 canonization of St. Maximilian Kolbe by Saint Pope John Paul II. Friar Maksymilian Maria Kolbe, O.F.M. Conv. (St. Maximilian Kolbe) was also a Conventual Franciscan, as are we friars of the Our Lady of the Angels Province.
Maximilian Kolbe Award Citation
