Br. Andre (James Armand) Picotte, OFM Conv., a Franciscan Friar of the Our Lady of the Angels Province, died peacefully on Friday, May 3, 2024.  Born in Schenectady, N.Y., on April 11, 1945, he was the son of the late Armand and Bernice (nee Flynn) Picotte. After graduating high school, James entered the formation program of the Conventual Franciscans in Watertown, N.Y., completing postulancy in 1963-64 and novitiate in 1964-65, taking the religious name Andre. He professed simple vows on August 8, 1965. During his years in simple vows, he ministered as the local director of the Franciscan Mission Association (FMA). After completing studies, he made his Solemn Profession on October 4, 1970.

From 1970-73, Br. Andre was assigned to Rensselaer, N.Y., where he served as director of the Franciscan Press. From 1973-82, he was stationed in Trenton, acting as the director of Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery. He would serve as director of Province Cemeteries for seventeen years. In 1982, he moved south to North Carolina, where he ministered for four years in Burgaw and Jacksonville as the business manager for the friars’ parish and two parochial schools. Elected province treasurer, Br. Andre moved back north to Union City, N.J., where he lived until 1990. He then spent almost three decades (1990-2019) stationed in Rensselaer, serving as province treasurer, director of Province Cemeteries, head of the province Communications Ministry, and provincial coordinator of Internet Communications. In 2019, Br. Andre moved back to North Carolina, where he remained in residence in Pittsboro until his death.

Visitation hours will be Thursday, May 9, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Church (540 Chestnut Ave, Trenton NJ 08611), with a Franciscan Wake Service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church on Friday, May 10, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Trenton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Franciscan Education Fund (12300 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City MD 21042).

On the evening of Apr. 18, 2024, at St. Francis Hall located at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, Washington, D.C., I had the pleasure of attending the “World Care 2024 Benefit & Celebration.” This is an annual fund-raising event sponsored by Franciscan Mission Service, an organization that promotes and sponsors volunteer missionary activity throughout to world, particularly in areas affected by poverty and the need for human development. 

Many dedicated lay people, Franciscan Friars from various branches of the order, religious sisters from various communities, and others, were present for the event. 

It was a pleasure to participate in the celebration with Friar Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv. and Friar Paul Lininger, OFM Conv., two friars from my own Conventual Franciscan community.  And it was also a joy to see Deacon Joe Petrizzo (a former friar of our community) and his wife Mary Petrizzo!  

See the Franciscans in Mission website at https://franciscanmissionservice.org/

The Diocese of Charlotte today announced that longtime Bishop Peter J. Jugis is retiring due to health limitations and that Pope Francis has appointed Friar Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., of Atlanta, as his successor to lead the growing diocese.

Bishop Jugis submitted his request for retirement to Rome last June, saying a chronic but non-life-threatening kidney condition made it difficult for him to preside over lengthy liturgies and travel across the 46 counties of the expansive diocese. Bishop Jugis recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as bishop and 40th anniversary as a priest. He will serve as administrator of the diocese until May when Bishop-Elect Martin is installed, then he will continue to assist the diocese as bishop emeritus.

Bishop-Elect Martin, 62, is a priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and serves as pastor of St. Philip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro, Georgia. He has deep roots in Catholic education – having served as a teacher, coach, and school administrator in Baltimore, New York, and Durham – and arrives at a time of record enrollment in the Diocese of Charlotte’s 20 schools.

He will be ordained and installed as the fifth Bishop of Charlotte on May 29 at St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville.

“I am amazed and humbled that the Holy Father has faith in me to call me to serve the people of Western North Carolina,” Bishop-Elect Martin said. “I am excited to get to know you and to listen to the ways in which together we can respond to the call of the Holy Spirit to be disciples of Jesus.”

Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conv., rejoiced at the news: “The Holy Father has recognized our brother as an excellent spiritual leader and administrator.  Friar Michael has the God-given gifts to be a successor of the Apostles.”