Brother Stephen Murphy, OFM Conv. Spiritual Testimony My name is Stephen Murphy and I am a 65-year-old Conventual Franciscan Religious Brother in the Our Lady of Angels Province (USA). I am happy to say that I am currently retired and live at St. Hyacinth Friary in Chicopee, MA one of our Senior Friar residences. I am originally from Holyoke, MA and grew up in a large close-knit Catholic family where I was educated and grew in my love for people and service. When I was younger, I was considering a vocation to religious life and my Mom suggested I look into the Franciscan college seminary in nearby Granby, MA. At that time, I didn’t even know that seminary existed, but after one visit, I was hooked. And so, in 1975 I entered the novitiate of the Conventual Franciscans in Ellicott City, MD where I professed my first vows under the direction of my novice master Fr. Alex Cymerman, OFM Conv. Friars Tim Kulbicki, Richard-Jacob Forcier, Dennis Grumsey and Daniel Fink are classmates of mine.
My first assignment as friar was at St. Joseph’s Parish in Mt. Carmel, PA. Later, I was missioned at my “favorite” assignment, Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA. It was my longest assignment, 21 years, and this is where I helped out in one of our parishes. During my time in Holyoke, I also had the opportunity (5 summers) to be the Master of Ceremonies for Bishop Dupre. It was a memorable and excellent experience.
I enjoy my Franciscan prayer life very much and have a special devotion to the Miraculous Medal Novena. I also pray the rosary daily.
I would like to share this with anyone considering a vocation to our Order and Province: “Don’t be afraid to listen to the call! Try it. You may not have any satisfaction in your life without trying out this call first.”
I would also like to share with our student friars: “Be faithful in your learning. Learn well that we are all human beings and that we make mistakes! Stay faithful to your vows in spite of any health or problems you may encounter.”
40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses. During the 40 Days for Life (Sept. 25-Nov. 3), our pastoral ministry of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, in Kensington, CT has joined in prayerful solidarity with people all over the world in an effort to end abortion, to save the lives of the innocent, and to transform the hearts and minds of those supporting the abortion industry. This photo is from the Saturday, September 26, 2019, when Outdoor Stations of the Cross were led by Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Michael Englert, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar) and several parishioners and participants, who gathered on their beautiful Parish Green as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign. More information for 40 Days for Life events in their area have been listed via the St. Paul Parish Culture of Life Ministry. In addition, on Monday October 14, 2019, Eucharistic Adoration with be held in St. Paul Church, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. If you live in the area or will be visiting the area on October 14th, consider joining them.
For other events throughout our province ministries, visit our Locations page, follow the link to the ministry nearest you, and contact them directly.
Our Lady of the Angels Province Vicar Provincial – Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (center) concelebrated the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Blue Mass, on Sunday, September 27, 2019.
Presiding at the Mass was Archbishop William E. Lori. Bishop Adam J. Parker and Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, Fr. Chris Dudek, OFM Conv. (2nd from left) and Fr. Dennis Grumsey, OFM Conv. (Pastor – pictured 2nd from right) also concelebrated the 10:00 a.m. Blue Mass, at our pastoral ministry of St. Casimir Church (Baltimore) – honoring Maryland men and women in law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technical, military and other first responders serving at the federal state and local levels in the region. The event was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Maryland Catholic War Veterans.
After the Mass, the parishioners and friars enjoyed some fellowship and a crab feast, with those who travelled from our pastoral ministries in Chicopee, MA and in Shamokin, PA, to join in the celebrations.
Former Custos of the Provincial Custody of St. Francis of Assisi & now the Newly Elected Definitor for the newly formed Province of St. Francis of Assisi in Kenya – Fr. Kazimierz Szulc, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province – Very Reverend Fr. James, Minister General of our Order – Most Reverend Fr. Carlos Trovarelli, OFM Conv. and the First Minister Provincial of newly formed Province of St. Francis of Assisi in Kenya, the Very Reverend Fr. Obed Karobia, OFM Conv.
September 25-27, 2019: Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. traveled to celebrate with the Franciscan Friars Conventual of the newly established Province of St. Francis. The new borehole project there was funded by our province, in order to supply water for our Franciscan House of Studies in Lang’ata, Nairobi. Prior to its installation, for over six months, the 60 friars there had no water, as their well went dry at 93 meters. The newly installed borehole is now 400 meters.
While in Kenya, Friar James was able to visit the National Shrine of Our Lady, in Nakuru’s Subukia Sub-County. Administered by our Franciscans for over 10 years, the Shrine was the site of the September 26th inauguration celebration for the newly established Province of St. Francis – formerly a Custody of the Gdansk Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe (Poland). The Shrine is located about 4 hours northwest of Nairobi and was the site of most of the festivities. It is situated directly upon the Equator and also includes a small open-air mosaic chapel (photo insert at left) constructed by the Friars on the Equator line. Friar James was honored to be invited to speak at the Province’s Inaugural Mass and give a toast at the reception.
Friar James and Friar Marek in front of the Shrine.
Also in attendance from our province was Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. Friar Marek was formerly a friar of the Gdansk Province who served as one of their early missionaries in Kenya. Friar Marek is now a friar of our province, serving as Parochial Vicar at our St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church pastoral ministry in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. Fr. Jerzy Auguścik, OFM Conv., a friar ad tempus of the Gdansk Province, serving in pastoral ministry for our province, as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Hope Parish (Coal Township), Mother Cabrini Catholic Church (Shamokin), and St. Patrick Parish (Trevorton) joined in the celebrations as well, as did Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and Assistant General of our Order (CFF), Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv.
At the Inaugural Mass of new Province in Kenya: Friar Marek, Friar Jerzy, Friar Jude, Friar James, with another friar of the Gdansk Province serving in the USA, as Parochial Vicar of St. John Kanty RCC, in Clifton, NJ – Friar Boguslaw Czerniakowski, OFM Conv.
In memory of his sister + Lillian H. Waddy, who died on June 1, 2017 of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS – also knowns as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Bro. Ed Handy, OFM Conv. joined some of his family members, to participate in the annual 3 Mile “Walk to Defeat ALS” held in the Canton Waterfront area of Baltimore (MD); an awareness event and fundraiser to support research studies in ALS.
Originally from Baltimore, Bro. Ed retired last year after 30 years of ministry with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. He began his ministry with them in 1988 as a teacher of special education with the Mt. Carmel Guild School for Students with special needs. Eight years later, he was assigned to St. Bridget’s Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Program for Homeless Men Living with HIV/AIDS. He spent 22 years there, serving as a residential counselor. Friar Ed now lives back in his home town of Baltimore, in our St. Casimir Friary.
Brother Paschal Mary Kolodziej, OFM Conv. Spiritual Testimony My name is Paschal Mary Kolodziej and I am a 69-year-old Conventual Franciscan Religious Brother in the Our Lady of Angels Province (USA). I am the Guardian and Director of Senior Care Friars at St. Hyacinth Friary in Chicopee, MA. I was born in 1949 in Buffalo, NY and was one of the sons of two very hard-working parents who sacrificed much for us kids. When I was a boy, I knew about the Franciscan friars because they staffed the next parish over from our home parish. In 1975, I decided to enter the novitiate of the Conventual Franciscans in Ellicott City, MD. I professed my first vows in 1976. Fr. Alex Cymerman, OFM Conv. was my novice master and some of my classmates are Friars Joe Bayne, Stephen Frenier, Albert Scherer and Kevin Kane (deceased). In 1979, I professed my solemn vows in Holyoke, MA.
I completed my degree in nursing at D’Youville, College, Buffalo, NY. Later, my first assignment was at Corpus Christi Parish in Buffalo. I have to say that my ‘favorite’ assignment was from 1981-1985 in Ellicott City, MD with our novices. We had a very good professed community there at that time. I would also like to share that one of my more difficult yet very rewarding assignments was caring for a bed-ridden friar for two years. It was a very special time.
My Franciscan prayer life very important to me. I have a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and love praying the rosary.
I would like to share with anyone considering a vocation to our Order and Province: “Pray. Get a spiritual director and the vocation a try.”
I would also like to share with our student friars: “Consecrate yourself and your religious life to the Blessed Virgin and keep up your daily prayer life.”
In collaboration with the Franciscan Center of Baltimore (the recipient of all the food harvested at our Little Portion Farm ministry – Ellicott City, MD) and our Shrine of St. Anthony, our Little Portion Farm ministry is hosting the first annual Wine at the Shrine!
This family-friendly festival will take place, next door to the farm, on the grounds of the shrine! All proceeds will support the mission of Little Portion Farm and in turn the beneficiary of its harvests – the Franciscan Center of Baltimore.
2019 Wine at the Shrine Festival Date: Sunday, October 13, 2019
1:30pm – 6:00pm
In the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ proclaims, “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John I 5: I 3 ).” These words were literally taken to heart by a young Franciscan priest and United States military chaplain, Father Ignatius Maternowski, OFM Conv., who was killed during the Invasion of Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
School children in front of Mater Dolorosa School, circa 1925.
Fr. Maternowski was born in Holyoke, Mass., on March 28, 1912. After graduation from Mater Dolorosa Parochial School in 1927, he attended St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, N.Y., where he was a member of that school’s first graduating class in 1931. He entered the religious Order of the Franciscan Friars Conventual, and professed his first vows as a friar in 1932. After pursuing further studies, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Thomas O’Leary of the Diocese of Springfield on July 3, 1938, in the chapel of St. Hyacinth College and Seminary, Granby, Mass.. He began his ministry as a parish priest, and then, once his ability as a preacher was recognized, his superiors assigned him to preach parish missions and retreats.
Chapel of Saint Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, Mass., where Fr. Ignatius was ordained a priest in 1938.
After the outbreak of World War II, Fr. Ignatius responded to the need for service as a military chaplain. In July, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and later volunteered to become a member of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. After rigorous training with fellow troops, he attained the rank of captain, serving God and country loyally for 23 months. Deployed to Ireland and England in readiness for the battles that would reclaim the freedom of Europe, he offered one final Mass for his troops, and administered General Absolution on the eve of the Normandy Invasion.
Fr. Ignatius Maternowski during paratrooper training.
In the early morning hours of D-Day, Fr. Ignatius parachuted with a large number of troops into occupied territory, the hamlet of Guetteville in the town of Picauville. An American glider had crashed nearby. There were many casualties. Immediately Fr. Ignatius began ministering to the wounded paratroopers and glider victims. Realizing that a suitable aid station would be needed, Fr. Ignatius calculated a risky strategy: attempting negotiations with his German counterpart in the peaceful hope of combining their wounded together in one common hospital. Walking between enemy lines unarmed, with helmet hanging from his belt, and wearing his chaplain’s insignia and a Red Cross armband, he bravely went to meet with the head Nazi medic. As he returned through the no-man zone to the American side, he was shot in the back by an enemy sniper, becoming the only U.S. chaplain to be killed on D-Day. He was 32, in the fifth year of his priesthood.
His lifeless body lay visible on the road for three days because the enemy refused to allow it to be retrieved. On June 9, American soldiers from the 90th Infantry Division recovered it, and removed it for burial near Utah Beach. In 1948, his remains were returned to Holyoke for a solemn Mass in Mater Dolorosa Church, and interment in the Franciscan Friars’ plot at Mater Dolorosa Cemetery in South Hadley, Mass.
A memorial plaque was hung at Fr. Ignatius’ Alma Mater, the now closed St. Hyacinth College and Seminary, in Granby, Mass., bearing the names of 15 graduates who went into the service as chaplains. Here, friars remember Fr. Ignatius, pointing to his name on the plaque.
In the Franciscan book of memories it is written, “He was an exemplary priest, a dynamic preacher, but most of all, he was truly an apostle and friend of the soldiers entrusted to his spiritual care.”
Fr. Maternowski stands as the first Polish-American priest to give his life in service to our country in World War II, and as the only U.S. chaplain to die on D-Day in the Normandy invasion. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. His name is commemorated on memorials in Holyoke, Mass., Athol Springs, N.Y., Arlington National Cemetery, London, England, and Normandy, France.
Fr. Martin Kobos, OFM Conv., blesses graves at Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-Sur-Mer, France, June 6, 2019.
As the world celebrated the 75th anniversary of D-Day, Friar Martin Kobos, OFM Conv. took a remarkable journey to Normandy representing the Franciscan Friars Conventual at ceremonies commemorating Fr. Ignatius Maternowski’s heroism and sacrifice. The event featured speeches by President Donald Trump and President Emmanuel Macron of France and numerous flyovers. In the course of the day, Fr. Martin expressed his gratitude to the nearly 10,000 soldiers buried in the cemetery, living veterans of the D-Day invasion, as well as blessing numerous active duty soldiers. The day was a time of solemn remembrance of the heroism of our soldiers and the bonds of friendship that forever link the countries of the United States of America and France.
(Top) Following the ceremony in Gueutteville, Fr. Martin Kobos, OFM Conv., blesses a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary which was credited with protecting villagers huddled in a small storage room, during the D-Day invasion. Accompanying Fr. Martin were two active duty U.S. Army chaplains, Major Daniel King (left) and Lieutenant Colonel Brian Koyn. (Below) After the blessing, church pastor Fr. Marie-Bernard Seigneur posed for a photo with Fr. Martin and the two Army chaplains.
On June 7, 2019, Fr. Martin spent the afternoon at the home of Louis Marion, the only surviving witness of Fr. Ignatius Maternowski’s time the village of Gueutteville. There, Marion participated in conversation, recounting his memories of D-Day and Fr. Ignatius. He and Anne-Marie, his wife of 68 years, were most hospitable hosts. Mr. Marion’s memories of the occupation and liberation of his village have become valuable additions to the story of Fr. Maternowski.
On June 8, 2019, Fr. Martin attended the ceremony commemorating Fr. Ignatius Maternowski at the site of his monument in Gueutteville. Presented by the U.S.-Normandy Memory and Gratitude Association, the event featured numerous speeches including Fr. Martin’s on behalf of the Franciscan Friars Conventual. Kelly M. Carrigg, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, retired, former teacher at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, and currently on staff at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, coordinated Fr. Martin’s itinerary and translated at the ceremony. At the conclusion of his speech, Fr. Martin presented Daniel Briard and Eric Labourdette of the Association gifts of a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol with its official citation from the House of Representatives and a 508th PIR flag signed by Rock Merritt, the fellow Normandy veteran who served with Fr. Ignatius.
Immediately following the ceremony in Gueutteville, Fr. Martin was asked to bless a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary which is located in a small storage room attached to the site of the former German infirmary during the occupation. It was in this storage room that the Guetteville villagers huddled for safety during the D-Day invasion. Accompanying Fr. Martin on this holy task were two active duty U.S. Army chaplains, Major Daniel King and Lieutenant Colonel Brian Koyn.
Later that morning, about a mile away from Fr. Ignatius’ memorial site, Fr. Martin presided over Mass at Eglise Saint-Ferreol de Cauquigny, a small church which was badly damaged during the fighting. Speaking at Fr. Ignatius’ ceremony as well as providing a reading at Mass was Dr. John Dabrowski, a retired U.S. Army historian and a representative for the WWII Chaplains Memorial Foundation. At the conclusion of Mass, a villager announced that this was, as far as he knew, the first Mass in English in the church’s 800-year history.
Please continue to pray for Fr. Maternowski, all the heroes of D-Day, and all those who faithfully serve our country.
Memorial in Guetteville, France, commemorating the charity and heroism of Franciscan Friar Conventual Fr. Ignatius Maternowski on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
To read the official account of Fr. Ignatius’ heroism on D-Day as it is presented beside his memorial in Guetteville, France, click here.
In a Mass prayed, preached, and sung in Dutch, Spanish, Latin, and English, Friar Edgar Varela, OFM Conv., and Friar Sebastian DeBacker, OFM Conv., made their Solemn Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience before Our Lady of the Angels Province ...
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Speaking from the depths of my heart, I wish to honor Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis by means of a conclave and the Holy Spirit.
Being his fellow countryman, I met Bishop Bergoglio in Buenos Aires while living in that ...
It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Pope Francis, who met Sister Death this morning, the first day of the Octave of Easter. We watched him on TV yesterday as he gave the Urbi et ...
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 part one of the ninth successful and rewarding stop on our Province M.I Initiative Tour of our pastoral ministries. Over the next few years, Friar Jobe will preach at the Masses to encourage the faithful to consecrate themselves to the Immaculate and to enroll in the M.I.
St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church ~ Baltimore, MD (Rosedale Community)
St. Michael the Archangel Church ~ Baltimore, MD (Overlea Community)
Church of the Annunciation ~ Baltimore, MD (Rosedale Community)
On the weekend of September 21-22, 2019, the Our Lady of the Angels Province friars serving one of the two Pastorates of the Archdiocese of Baltimore for whom we serve welcomed Friar Jobe on the first part of his ninth stop, of our Province M.I Initiative Tour of our pastoral ministries. The Baltimore County pastorate includes St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church, St. Michael the Archangel Church and the Church of the Annunciation. The second Archdiocese of Baltimore Pastorate where friars of our province serve is located in Baltimore City.
The friars of St. Michael Friary, in the Overlea area of Baltimore County, are aided often by friars from other Baltimore area friaries, serving in other ministries, assist their confreres of these two Archdiocese of Baltimore Pastorates. On this particular weekend, Fr. Chris Dudek, OFM Conv., who lives in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Friary and serves in ministry at our Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore), came to assist with Masses at St. Michael the Archangel Church, and presided at the Mass where Fr. Jobe preached. He is pictured in the group photo from St. Michael the Archangel Church below – centered under Fr. Jobe.
Sampling of the St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church Parishioners
Sampling of the St. Michael the Archangel Church Parishioners
Sampling of the Church of the Annunciation Parishioners
After being warmly received by the friars who reside at St. Michael Friary, Fr. Jobe was quickly able to appreciate the extent of the ministry involved here. With a total of ten Masses in the three parishes, Fr. Jobe was only able to preach at five of the Masses this past weekend. Next weekend, September 28-29, 2019, he will return for part II of the ninth stop of our Province M.I Initiative Tour, to preach at the remaining five. A great many of the parishioners responded positively regarding Marian Consecration and the M.I. in general, a sampling of whom are pictured above, along with Friar Jobe and Friar Tim.
On Monday afternoon (September 23, 2019), Friar Jobe visited with St. Michael-St. Clement School’s “Children of Mary.” Friar Jobe spoke to the students about the Militia Immaculata and total consecration to the Immaculate. The school Principal, Mr. Paul Kristoff, joined the students for the presentation, as well. (Friar Tim – left, Friar Jobe – 2nd to left)
After his time in the Baltimore area, Fr. Jobe will head back North to Canada, where his next stop (#10) will be at our Kingston Ontario pastoral ministries ~ the Parish Community of St. John the Apostle, October 12-13, 2019 and Holy Family Parish, October 19-20, 2019.
Brother Stephen Murphy, OFM Conv.
Our Lady of the Angels Province Vicar Provincial – Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (center) concelebrated the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Blue Mass, on Sunday, September 27, 2019. 
While in Kenya, Friar James was able to visit the National Shrine of Our Lady, in Nakuru’s Subukia Sub-County
Brother Paschal Mary Kolodziej, OFM Conv.
