“The Christian faithful who make an offering so that the Mass may be applied for their intention contribute to the good of the Church and by their offering take part in the concern of the Church for the support of its ministers and works.”
(CIC # 946)
Close to sixty of our Friar Priests serve in ministries which are not in parish communities, live in Senior Friar Residences, or live in Care Facilities. These friars rely on Mass Intentions, and in turn Mass Stipend Donations, submitted via our Fr. Justin Rosary Hour and Companion of St. Anthony Ministries. In recent years, requests for Masses to be celebrated in honor of, in memory of, in celebration of specific event, or for a special intention have seen a vast decline. The majority of our friars celebrate Daily Masses in community in our friaries. Remembering your intentions during these Masses further draws us in communion with you, through our Liturgy. We ask that you prayerfully consider submitting your Mass Intentions to our province. For each request of an individual Mass Intention, the suggested $10 or $15 stipend is encouraged. If you would like to request a Gregorian Mass (30 consecutive days of Masses for the same deceased individual), a $450 stipend is encouraged.
You can mail these requests directly into our Provincial House Offices: Mass Intentions Our Lady of the Angels Provincial House 12300 Folly Quarter Road Ellicott City, MD 21042
We appreciate your generous stipends, but mostly our Franciscan Conventual community is grateful that you are prayerfully considering entrusting your requests with us. Given our varied ministry commitments, we cannot promise a specific friar or date for Mass Intentions to be celebrated. We honor each request in the order in which it is received. Please know that several friars from our province are on a waiting list, hoping to be able to celebrate your Mass request soon. Throughout our Franciscan fraternity, the friars remember the needs and intentions of our benefactors, to the Lord.
Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv., Assistant General of our Order and a friar of our province recently produced an article: “Mass Intentions: Offerings of love and healing,” via our Companions of St. Anthony.
Publicly official at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (12:00 Noon Vatican Time), on March 5, 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed our brother, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, and current Bishop of Savannah ~ The Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. as the new Archbishop of Atlanta.
Archbishop-designate Hartmayer was to be installed as Archbishop of Atlanta on May 6, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., in St. Peter Chanel Church, in Roswell, Georgia and June, 29, 2020 was originlly the date planned for Pope Francis to give the pallium to the new Archbishop in ceremonies at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Due to the Pandemic, a private installation is scheduled to be held on May 6, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. Solemn vespers will also be held privately on May 5, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. Both events will be available on livestream.
The Pandemic has not stopped the outreach efforts of many of our ministries, including the College of Our Lady of the Elms caRe vaN; the mobile health care van brainchild of Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv. (DNP, ANP-BC), who serves as Associate Dean and Director of Undergrad Prog. of the School of Nursing. The caRe vaN has served the community surrounding Elms College since January 13, 2013. Developed as the Capstone for Friar Duffy’s DNP, the caRe vaN provides free healthcare to the homeless and under-served in the Chicopee (MA) area, while allowing pre-licensure students clinical experience. Services include blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, foot care, first aide and minor wound care. For now, services have had to be adjusted, and are provided on the parking lot outside of the van, so that all can safely practice social distancing. Screenings, vitamins (C and zinc), acetaminophen, as well as the simple comforts of coffee and a snack are still being provided for the most vulneralbe.
“The poor you will have with you always. The last Sunday of each month is particularly hard on the homeless. In addition we have been getting Vitamin C, Zinc and acetaminophen out to our clients. Thank you all for your support.”
For more information or to make a donation to this effort, please email Brother Duffy, at bro_duffy@hotmail.com.
Consistent with our Franciscan charism and tradition of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our province has been progressing in our efforts to more fully tap into this devotion from our Kolbean heritage, through the example of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., and the continued efforts of his Militia of the Immaculata’s (M.I.) unconditional consecration to the Immaculate. Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., who serves as our Province MI Assistant, has had to postpone the 23rd & 24th stops on our Province M.I Initiative Tour of our pastoral ministries. He hopes to reschedule the April 18-19, 2020 Tour Stop #23 at St. Casimir Church as well as the April 25-26, 2020 Tour Stop #24 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church (Baltimore, MD). Friar Jobe’s scheduled stops on this tour hope to continue through October of 2020 and hopes to be able to resume the schedule after the pandemic crisis has past.
This year, with social distancing as the norm, there will be a special, online session to celebrate Religious Brothers Day together – virtually. On May 1, 2020, brothers, and those who support the vocation of brother, are invited to join a short prayer session and discussion on the vocation of brother today. Gather online via Zoom at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. More InfoOn May 1, 2020 – the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker – Religious Brothers from the many Orders will celebrate the 4th Annual Religious Brothers Day. Religious Brothers, including those from our own province, serve in varied Apostolates. Several of our Friar Brothers presented individual written reflections. (Read Here)
Br. James Moore, OFM Conv. ~ Founder of FrancisCorps, Friary Guardian & Senior Friars Commission
Br. Tom Purcell, OFM Conv.
~ Friary Guardian, St. Clare Inn Executive Director
Br. Brian Newbigging, OFM Conv. ~ Volunteer Paramedic/Firefighter with Lake Shore VFC and full time Paramedic with AMR & Director of Franciscan Soy Candles
Br. Douglas McMillan, OFM Conv. ~ Shrine of St. Anthony – Speaker, Presenter and Spiritual Direction
Br. Stephen Murphy, OFM Conv. ~ Senior Friar Resident
Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv., DNP, ANP-BC ~ Friary Guardian, Regent of Studies, Elms College School of Nursing – Professor & Faculty Athletic Representative and founder of CaRe vaN
Br. Daniel Lutolf, OFM Conv. ~ Friary Guardian, St. Joseph Catholic Church Director of Faith Formation, St, Joseph Regional Cathlic School Middle School Religious Studies Teacher
The Minister General of our Order, the Most Reverend Fr. Carlos Trovarelli, OFM Conv. proposed that March 24, 2020 be a day of prayer and fasting for all the confreres of the Order, in solidarity with all those who are suffering, especially those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A private installation will be held on May 6 at 12:30 p.m. Solemn vespers will also be held privately on May 5 at 7 p.m. Both events will be available on livestream.
Consistent with our Franciscan charism and tradition of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our province has been progressing in our efforts to more fully tap into this devotion from our Kolbean heritage, through the example of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., and the continued efforts of his Militia of the Immaculata’s (M.I.) unconditional consecration to the Immaculate. With a view to promoting consecration to the Immaculate among the faithful served through the ministries of our friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., who serves as our Province MI Assistant, has completed preparations for the 21st & 22nd stop on our Province M.I Initiative Tour of our pastoral ministries. Friar Jobe’s scheduled stops on this tour will continue through October of 2020. Keep him and all those he greets in your prayers, as he continues to preach at the Masses to encourage the faithful to consecrate themselves to the Immaculate, and to enroll in the M.I.
On the weekend of March 21-22, the M.I. Initiative promoting consecration to the Immaculate and enrollment in the M.I. planned its 21st and 22nd stop at St. Benedict the Moor Parish (at left) and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (below) in Columbus, Georgia. Friar Jobe was welcomed to the Franciscan Martyrs Friary the weekend before, when he celebrated Mass at St. Anne Catholic Church. As the friars serving St. Benedict the Moor Parish (pastor – Fr. Noel Danielewicz, OFM Conv.) and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (pastor – Fr. Bob Benko, OFM Conv.) also live in community in that friary, Friar Jobe planned on celebrating Mass at these two Tour Stops next. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no public Masses are to be celebrated. Instead, Friar Jobe’s homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent was pre-recorded and a link will be provided for the English-speaking faithful of the two parishes. The Spanish text of the sermon was given to Friar Bob who will be celebrating a Live Streamed Mass for the Spanish-speaking parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes.
From Fr. Jobe: “Let us pray that, just as the man born blind was born that way to reveal the works of God, so too the corona virus will ultimately reveal how much more powerful is the merciful and healing love of the Lord and the Immaculate.”
Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.
“The Christian faithful who make an offering so that the Mass may be applied for their intention contribute to the good of the Church and by their offering take part in the concern of the Church for the support of its ministers and works.”
The caRe vaN has served the community surrounding Elms College since January 13, 2013. Developed as the Capstone for Friar Duffy’s DNP, the 
On May 1, 2020 – the 
On the weekend of March 21-22, the M.I. Initiative promoting consecration to the Immaculate and enrollment in the M.I. planned its 21st and 22nd stop at 
However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no public Masses are to be celebrated. Instead, Friar Jobe’s homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent was pre-recorded and a link will be provided for the English-speaking faithful of the two parishes. The Spanish text of the sermon was given to Friar Bob who will be celebrating a Live Streamed Mass for the Spanish-speaking parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes.
