I was fortunate to recently be part of a four-year-old ministry to the poor called Franciscan Joy (originally called “Franciscan Alliance”). Started as a partnership between the three branches of the Franciscans in San Antonio, TX –  the Conventuals (Order of Friars Minor Conventual), the Capuchins (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin), and the OFMs (Order of Friars Minor) – the initiative is mainly spearheaded today by Grupo San Damián (The Saint Damian Group), a group of young volunteers from the St. Joseph – South San Antonio parish.

Produced by the “Franciscan Voice,” and prayed by Our Lady of the Angels Province Vocation Director, Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv.

More videos can be found on the website and on the Franciscan Voice YouTube Channel.

One of the videos on the new “Franciscan Voice” website features Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Curt Kreml, OFM Conv. Friar Curt is a Vietnam Veteran and in this video, he talks about the pain and suffering of war and violence, how it resides in each of our hearts, and that our response should be making peace a priority in our lives. Friar Curt currently serves as parochial vicar, at St. Lucie Catholic Church, in Port St. Lucie, FL.

Letter as a printable PDF: Lettera_Natale_2020_ENG

On the morning of December 15, 2020, the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Brazil conducted a Custodial Assembly using video conferencing.

Thanks to the fantastic Volunteers and Supporters of the Little Portion Food Pantry sponsored by Blessed Sacrament Church, the Food Distribution for Monday, December 14, 2020 served 745 families, consisting of 2924 individuals. More on the Little Portion Food Pantry.
This brief video was produced and edited by Leo Quinn, the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Blessed Sacrament:

In addition, the entire teaching staff of parish school – Blessed Sacrament School, along with all those teaching in the Diocese of Raleigh, received the Monsignor Gerald Lewis Award this year. The award was initiated in 1992 to honor individual outstanding educators in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Raleigh. This year, the Lewis Award committee determined that all teachers in the Diocese of Raleigh should be recognized with this special award. Without their hard work and dedication the doors of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Raleigh would not be open during these difficult times.

Also, on December 17th, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, an organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation, annual Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest winner was presented a certificate and monetary prize. This year the topic was “What is Patriotism to Me?” Middle school students throughout the nation participate in this competition. Retired US Air Force Lieutenant, Sue Lamm-Gurley, of VFW Post 10617 presented 7th Grader, Avery La Plante, with a first place certificate and award for her outstanding essay for the local chapter. Her essay will be sent on to the district level competition.

“This year, instead of the people going on pilgrimage to the mother, it is the mother who goes on pilgrimage to her people”

This weekend of Gaudete Sunday the friars launched a new website at: franciscanvoice.org. This is a way of communicating the Franciscan message, especially to the young of our society.