On this fourth anniversary, let us reflect on his closing paragraph:
“In expressing my hope that, as a result of wide cooperation, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation will be inaugurated and develop in the best way possible, I invoke upon this initiative the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, and of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose Canticle of the Creatures inspires so many men and women of goodwill to live in praise of the Creator and with respect for creation. As a pledge of spiritual fruitfulness, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to you, Eminent Brothers, and to all those who share in your ministry.”
Let us heed these words as we continue to develop cooperative care for all creation.
For some more information on our province efforts, visit JPIC!
Fr. Edward Ondrako, OFM Conv. is Visiting Scholar at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and a Research Fellow at the Pontifical Faculty of St. Bonaventure, Rome.
Fr. Ed with Robert Lisowski and Robert McFadden (CSC seminarians), at the 2019 NAA Conference, in New Orleans.
Br. Vivian signs the Book of Profession held by Fr. James
Br. Vincent Vivian, OFM Conv. made his Profession of Simple Vows in the Chapel of St. Hyacinth Friary, in Chicopee, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Br. Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv. and Fr. Jude Surowiec, OFM Conv. were the canonical witnesses, as our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. received his vows, in the presence of local friars and visiting St. Bonaventure Province friar, Fr. Bob Cook, OFM Conv. The celebration continued after Mass, with the friars sharing a delicious meal at a local restaurant.
Canonical Witnesses: Br. Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv. (seen signing the Book of Profession) and Fr. Jude Surowiec, OFM Conv. (far right)
Having been approved for re-admission to the Order by then Minister General, the Most Reverend Fr. Marco Tasca, OFM Conv. and his General Definitory. Br. Vincent was re-invested in the habit of the Order as a member of Our Lady of the Angels Province, by Fr. James, during Mass in the Provincialate chapel, on September 3, 2018. At that time, he began the canonically required period of probation – living with and ministering as a healthcare assistant with our friars of St. Catharine of Siena Friary in Seaside Park, NJ. For health reasons, he moved with our Chicopee friars earlier this year.
Keep Br. Vincent and all of our friars in joyful prayer.
On May 25, 2019, the Ordinary General Chapter of the Friars Minor Conventual elected the Most Reverend Fr. Carlos Alberto Travarelli, OFM Conv. as the new Minister General of their religious family. The election took place at the Sacred Convent in Assisi.
The Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Brazil belongs to the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA. On July 8-12, 2019, the friars gathered at the Monastery of São Bento in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The theme of the assembly was “Canon Law in the Consecrated Life.” The Benedictine monk, Anselmo Chagas preached and led the group of twenty-five religious.
Three years ago (2016) marked the 800th Anniversary of the August 2nd Portiuncula Indulgence. You will notice that our province logo incorporates the Portiuncula graphic. This is because the Portiuncula (the small chapel of St. Mary of the Angels nicknamed “Little Portion” by St. Francis of Assisi) is located within Assisi’s Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Franciscans around the world celebrate August 2nd as the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Angels but we friars who are members of a province named in her honor, hold the day in special regard. There are many opportunities to join our friars that day, throughout our province and we encourage all to find a ministry location nearest to you. Visit our ministry locations page for more information, and follow the links to the ministry websites. We hope to see you.
More on the Feast Day and Il Perdono (the Portiuncula Indulgence): The small chapel of St. Mary of the Angels (Our Lady of the Angels) was very dear to St. Francis of Assisi. He referred to it as the Portiucula (aka “Little Portion” and pictured at right) and it is considered the cradle of the Franciscan Order. In 1209, as the quarters of Rivo Torto became too small for the newly forming Religious Order, St. Francis obtained from the Benedictines the use of the Portiuncula, for which he paid a basket of fish. The chapel and the surrounding small parcel of land were is disrepair. Just as he had done at San Damiano, St. Francis rebuilt the chapel, adding small huts (cells) and enclosing it all in a protective hedge. It was there that St. Francis gained a more vivid understanding of his own vocation. He held the annual meetings of the friars (Chapters) there and it is where he desired to spend his final earthly moments; dying in his nearby cell October 3, 1226.
St. Francis felt that the Portiuncula was a place filled with God’s grace. In 1216, at the request of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Honorius granted special privilege (plenary indulgence – a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins) to all those who would visit the little chapel.
Although limited to include from noon on August 1st to midnight on August 2nd, the privilege continues to be granted to this day; not only to those who visit the Portiuncula, but to anyone who visits any church where Franciscan Friars live and minister. To receive this privilege (for yourself or for someone else – living or deceased), in addition to the visit, one must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within several weeks of the Feast Day, go to Mass and receive the Eucharist, recite the Our Father and Apostles Creed, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
The beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (below) that now surrounds the Portiuncula chapel was begun in 1569 (completed in 1684) by decree of Pius V. It was meant to accommodate the huge crowds of pilgrims who came on August 2nd for Il Perdono (Portiuncula Indulgence). This is an important feast day for all Franciscans and is celebrated in Franciscan churches throughout the world. As we stated before, for we friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, this Feast Day has singular significance.
Congratulations, Fr. Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv.
on earning your MNA (Master of Nonprofit Administration)
from the Medoza College of Business
of the University of Notre Dame!
A native of Buffalo, NY, in 2006, Friar Nick had already earned a BS in Economic Crime Investigation, from Hilbert College, in Hamburg, NY, before he joined Our Lady of the Angels Province. A few year later, he Professed Simple Vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual (2010) and was Ordained to the Priesthood in June 2016, after earning his STB & MDiv (Theology) from The Catholic University of America. In April 2018, Friar Nick was elected as our Province Treasurer during our Chapter 2018 Elections. In addition, he also serves the province as CoDirector of the St. Bonaventure Friary – Post Novitiate, in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Parishioners of our Jonesboro – GA pastoral ministry of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, purchased backpacks and filling them with school supplies such as binders, notebook paper, spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil cases, erasers, crayons, glue sticks, and scissors. Their efforts helped to equip a large number of the community’s school children, promoting a positive start to the school year. Included in the backpacks and school supply bags were cards and notes of support, so the students will know that parishioners are praying for a successful school year. The parishioners, staff, volunteers and our friars serving there (Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. – Pastor, Fr. Vincent Gluc, OFM Conv. – Parochial Vicar, Fr. Luis Palacios Rodríguez, OFM Conv. – Parochial Vicar, and Fr. Martin Breski, OFM Conv. – Photo Cred), hope this act of giving, you reflect an example of “living” our Catholic Social Teachings and our call to serve others; reaching out to our surrounding communities. Members of the Parish Social Justice Committee and supporting ministries distributed the backpacks and school supplies to children on Thursday, July 25, 2019. They also collected slightly used preschool–high school aged books, for the students to peruse. Each child selected a book to take home. Friar John offered a welcoming and prayer at the start of the distribution event, including a blessing on the students, teachers, staff and volunteers at the area schools, as well as a blessing on the generous donors.
Members of the Parish Youth Group helped facilitate lunch for all of the participants.
1. If “development is the new name for peace,”1 Latin American under-development with its own characteristics in the different countries is an unjust situation which promotes tensions that conspire against peace. We can divide these tensions into three major groups, selected, in each of these, those variables which constitute a positive menace to the peace of our countries by manifesting an unjust situation. When speaking of injustice, we refer to those realities that constitute a sinful situation; this does not mean however, that we are overlooking the fact that at times the misery in our countries can have natural causes which are difficult to overcome. In making this analysis, we do not ignore or fail to give credit to the positive efforts made at every level to build a more just society. We do not include this here because our purpose is to call attention to those aspects which constitute a menace or negation of peace.
Consistent with our Franciscan charism and tradition of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our province is 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 the third and fourth 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.
On the weekend of July 13-14, 2019, Our Lady of the Angels Province friars ~ Fr. Michael Lorentsen, OFM Conv (pastor), Br. Jim Moore, OFM Conv. (Friary Guardian & Senior Friars Director, Rev. Antone Kandrac, OFM Conv. and Br. Stephen Merrigan, OFM Conv. ~ welcomed Friar Jobe to our St. Catharine of Siena Friary and St. Junipero Serra Parish (Seaside Park/Seaside Heights, NJ) for the third and fourth stop – shared weekend – on our M.I Initiative Tour of our pastoral ministries. St. Junipero Serra Parish is one parish with two worship sites: St. Catharine of Siena Church (50 E Street, Seaside Park, NJ – at left) and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (100 Grant Avenue, Seaside Heights, NJ – at top)
Some of the parishioners from St. Junipero Serra Parish at the St. Catharine of Siena Church worship site in Seaside Park, NJ, who made their consecration that day.
As expected, great crowds attended the Masses at both worship sites. The M.I. Initiative and the consecratory prayer cards together with the miraculous medal were so well received that Friar Jobe ran out of envelopes after the second Mass. During the recent Jubilee Celebration at our Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD), Friar Michael stocked up on another 250 envelopes and distributed them during the celebration of the August 15 2019 – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a highlight of the season at the Jersey Shore.
Celebration of the August 15 2019 – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
More on the Feast Day and 
Parishioners of our Jonesboro – GA pastoral ministry of 
Members of the 
