SAVANNAH, GA: The Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., was on hand in celebration of the Feast of St. Patrick. From the 8:00 a.m. Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, to Savannah’s 2015 St. Patrick’s Day Parade shown on live television, then on to give the address at the annual black-tie dinner for 600 men of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Savanna, the day was made even more joyous, as it was celebrated with the Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., who is not only the bishop of Savannah but also one of our friars. (Click here to read the address given at the dinner)
Fr. James & Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo got to ride in style with Bishop Gregory during Savannah’s 2015 St Patrick’s Day Parade. photo source: Bishop Gregory John Hartmayer
“Lorica of St. Patrick” (St. Patrick’s Breast-Plate) I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 7th, in our St. Francis of Assisi Parish in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Friar Luís Henrique and Friar Willian pronounced their solemn vows in the hands of the Custos Provincial, Fr. Antônio Molisani, OFM Conv. Among those present were friars from all of the friaries of our Brazilian Custody~Immaculate Conception, family members, members of the Secular Franciscan Order, parishioners, and friends of the two friars. The Mass celebration was marked with several signs of Franciscan spirituality, such as the Rule of St. Francis, sandals and the music, as well as the words of the Custos whose homily gave emphasis to the meaning of consecration to God in a world of consumerism and superficiality. Fr Antônio concluded with the assertion that their consecration, taken on for all their lives, should lead Friars Luís Henrique and Willian to joy and happiness.
Mishawaka, Indiana ~ February 24-25, 2015: The Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province, visited our St. Francis Novitiate, where he gave two days of conferences to our North American Conventual novices, as well as to the novices of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, themed “Mary in the Franciscan Tradition” and “Franciscan Silence.”
Saturday, February 14, 2015 Diocese of Savannah Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. (a friar from our province and former pastor of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church) came back to the diocese of Atlanta to ordain Friar Gabriel Scasino, OFM Conv. to the Order of the Priesthood, at 11:00 a.m. Mass, at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, in Jonesboro, GA, on Saturday, February 14, 2015. The Ordination was followed by a light reception in the parish hall. The next day, at 10:45 a.m., Friar Gabriel presided over his Mass of Thanksgiving with the parish, friars, friends and family. He continued to serve as Chaplain at Our Lady of Mercy High School, in Fayetteville, GA and as a parish priest at St. Philip Benizi, where he has been serving as a deacon since August of 2015. (Update: Fr. Gabriel is now serving at our San Damiano Mission in Brooklyn, NY)
Lord God, send forth upon him the Holy Spirit, that he may be strengthened by the gift of Your sevenfold grace to carry out faithfully the work of this ministry. May he excel in every virtue: in love that is sincere, in concern for the sick and the poor, in unassuming authority,
in self discipline, and in holiness of life. May his conduct exemplify Your commandments and
lead Your people to imitate his purity of life. May he remain strong and steadfast in Christ, giving to the world the witness of a pure conscience. May he in this life imitate Your Son, Who came, not to be served but to serve, and one day reign with Him in heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Fr. Tom was born in Boston and professed his first vows as a Conventual Franciscan (OFM Conv.) in 1980 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1987, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Albany, NY, by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. He had already earned a BS in Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy before becoming a friar and continued his studies as a Franciscan earing a Certificate Pre-Theology-Philosphy from St. Hyacinth College and Seminary (MA), in 1982 and completing his Masters in Divinity (Theology), from St. Anthony-on-Hudson (NY), in 1987. Throughout his time as a friar, Fr. Tom has served on many councils, commissions and committee for the province.
He began a life of ministry as a parochial vicar for 2 years at St. Stephen Parish (Shamokin, PA) and in 1989 became part of the staff of The Franciscan Center (Buffalo, NY), providing transitional care for young men in need. He returned to parish life in 1993 where he served for 8 years as co-pastor of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church (Kensington, CT). He continued in parish ministry at St. Edward the Confessor Parish (Stafford Springs, CT) and St. Stanislaus Parish (Chicopee, MA) until his election to Province Secretary in 2005. He returned to St. Edward the Confessor Parish, as pastor in 2010 and in 2012, moved to St. Joseph Cupertino Friary (Ellicott City, MD) to become the co-director of the Postulancy (the first stage of formation), while assisting the needs of the pilgrims of the Shrine of St. Anthony to which the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary is adjacent. The Postulancy has since moved to Chicago, but Fr. Tom stayed in Ellicott City and this year began his chaplaincy at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, in Olney, Maryland.
Please keep Fr. Tom, his ministry, as well as all of the friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province and their ministries, in your continued prayers To hear more about Fr. Tom’s new ministry, please view this video interview, conducted and posted by Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Fr. Jarosław Wysoczański, OFM Conv., our Order’s Secretary General for the Animation for the Missions (SGAM), came to the USA on a speaking tour that included many sites around our Province. In this photo he was engaging students from our parish school at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr, in Chicopee, MA. His presentations included information about two Franciscan Friars, Michał Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzałkowski , who were martyred in Peru. In the past, he had served as their Guardian.
Lord, You anointed your sons Miguel, Zbigniew and Sandro with the gift of the priesthood. You sent them as messengers of the Good News and crowned them with the Palm of Martyrdom. Glorify them also with the Crown of the Saints. By their blood shed for You, give us constancy in the faith, protect our lives and give us the gift of peace. Receive the the innocent victims of violence into Your kingdom and grant them the everlasting reward. Amen.
San Salvador (February 2-7, 2015): Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, the Friar James McCurry, OFM Conv. [OLA Minister Provincial], Friar Russell Governale, OFM Conv. [OLA Vocations Director] and Friar Anthony Kall, OFM Conv. [OLA Definitor Liaison – Diverse Ministries & Senior Friars Commissions] were in attendance at a joint meeting comprised of the Custody of Maria Madre de los Probres (El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala) and the Delegation of Nuestra Señora de los Angels (Costa Rica). The meeting was held to elaborate and define the Common Formation Directorate to guide a future single Custody in Central America, that included vocation promotion as well as other important future needs of the friars in that area of the world. Also on hand, alongside the Secretary General of Formation, the Minister Provincial of Our Lady of Consolation Province, and the friars of the area, were Provincial Delegate of the Provincial Delegation of Costa Rica ~ Friar Jorges Dobles Ulloa, OFM Conv., the General Assistant of the Conventual Franciscan Conference ~ Friar Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. and the Order’s Minister General ~ Friar Marco Tasca, OFM Conv.
To read more about this event or other OFM Conv. News, visit the Order’s Website.
El Salvador: Friars at Tomb of Archbishop Oscar Romero
Durham, NC: On Monday, January 26, 2015, the Very Rev. Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province, blessed and dedicated the new residence of our friars working at Duke University, the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and Holy Cross Catholic Church. Having been already canonically erected by our Order’s Minister General, the newest friary of the Our Lady of the Angels Province is under the patronage of St. Anthony of Padua. Friars who are stationed not only at St. Anthony of Padua Friary but in other areas of North Carolina assembled for the fraternal festivities, along with the Diocese of Raleigh dean of the region, the guardian of the local OFM community, and a vocation applicant and senior Theology major at Duke University. The blessing took place in the context of Evening Prayer, where Fr James’ reflected on the vocational journey of St. Anthony of Padua, as a flight from mediocrity:
“Mediocrity is compromise worked out into a system. For the young Portuguese Anthony, the vocation to religious life could brook no such thing as compromise. If we examine the vocational journey of Anthony, we note that his was a continuing ‘flight from mediocrity.’ First, he entered the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross at St. Vincent’s in Lisbon, trying to immerse himself in the supernatural life. Unfortunately he kept getting interrupted by visitors from his past, who distracted him from the path of interior formation. So he requested of his superiors to be transferred to their monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, where he could further distance himself from the distractions of the world. While in Coimbra, he met and hosted the five young Franciscan Friars who were en route to Morocco. They stirred higher longings in his soul. When word later reached Coimbra that these five had been martyred – the protomartyrs of the Franciscan Order – Anthony’s ‘flight from mediocrity’ would take a new and life-changing turn. After praying before their remains, which were returned to Holy Cross in Coimbra for burial, Anthony discerned to leave the Canons and join the Franciscans at their nearby hermitage “The Olives.” Later as a Franciscan, he pursued the call to follow in the footsteps of the protomartyrs by going as a friar-missionary to Morocco. Illness and shipwreck eventually led him to Italy. His ‘flight from mediocrity’ deepened in the obscurity of his early assignments among the Italian friars, until Francis himself and the other leaders among the Friars of the Community recognized his preaching talents. Itinerancy characterized Anthony’s entire religious journey – grounded in a humble and perpetual desire to be authentic to the charism of following Jesus after the manner of Francis. He relied on Our Lady for supernatural help during his lifelong ‘flight from mediocrity.’ It is my prayer that you Friars here in Durham, following the example of your friary patron, never be content with anything mediocre. May Our Lady of the Angels intercede for you as She did for Anthony. God asked Our Lady to oversee the work of the Angels in His divine plan. May she oversee the work of the Angels as His divine plan unfolds here in the North Carolina Triangle. There are two important features about angels – their purity of spirit; their energy for mission. May Our Lady of the Angels stimulate each of you individually and all of you collectively towards ever greater purity of spirit and energy for mission, as she did the good St. Anthony.”
Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv. in front of the mobile health care van: caRe vaN.
The Raskob Foundation awarded a $27,000 grant to the caRe vaN. The caRe vaN has served the community surrounding Elms College since January 13, 2013. This grant will greatly help Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv. and the undergraduate nursing students to expand services and will also help in some much needed capital expenses. If you would like to help this important outreach to the homeless and under-served in the Chicopee area, please contact Br. Michael at bro_duffy@hotmail.com
Excerpt from the Profession of Simple Vows: “… placing my hand in yours … with firm faith and will, I vow to God the Father, the Holy and Almighty, to live for three years in obedience, without anything of my own, and in chastity…” “…with all my heart I entrust myself to this brotherhood that through the working of the Holy Spirit, the example of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the intercession of our father Francis and all the saints, and with the help of my brothers, I may, in the service of God, the Church and humankind, seek the perfection of charity.”
On Saturday, January 10, 2015, the friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province joyfully celebrated, as Friar Luis Palacios Rodriguez, OFM Conv. professed his first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The celebration was held at the Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, Maryland. Many friars, pilgrims and friends were in attendance, including a large group of Vocation Prospects. We ask that you please keep friar Luis, and all on the vocational journey toward the Franciscan Friars Conventual, in your continued prayers.
Friar Luis signing the Book of Profession (left: Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. – right: Br. James Moore, OFM Conv.)
Presentation of the Rule and Constitutions of the Order (center: Br. James Moore, OFM Conv. – right: Very Rev. Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.)
