St. Anthony’s Relics in Canada: Mass at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Ottawa, presided by the Archbishop of Ottawa, Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, SJ.

Endearingly referred to as our International Friary, St. André Bessette Friary (320 Olmstead Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1L 7K3) is home to Our Lady of the Angels Province friar – Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., who serves as Guardian as well as a professor at St. Paul University Canon Law Program, from the Philippines – Fr. Dominic Lim, OFM Conv., who serves as pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, from India – Fr. Saviour Karamvelil, OFM Conv., who serves as a Catholic Hospital Chaplain for the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and from Romania, Fr. Jeremiah Budău, OFM Conv., who serves as pastor of St. Ignatius Martyr Church. Our confreres from Padua, Italy, will be traveling in Canada, with the relics of St. Anthony of Padua, this November, with a visit to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, November 11-12, 2017

Within the Franciscan Family, St. Francis of Assisi founded three Orders.

We friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province are members of a First Order – the Friars Minor which is divided into three branches consisting of ordained and non-ordained friars: the Friars Minor (Brown Franciscans – OFM), the Friars Minor Capuchin (Capuchins – OFM Cap.) and the Friars Minor Conventual (Franciscan Friars Conventual – OFM Conv. – of which our province belongs). All First Order Friars take solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Conventual friar priests and friar brothers live in community as a single family, sharing in the life and work of the entire community, with equal rights and obligations. Read More

The Second Order – the Poor Clares, includes nuns professing the Rule of St. Clare (est. 1253) as well as those who observe dispensations granted (1263) or the constitutions drawn up by St. Colette (1458). Each Poor Clare Nun (O.S.C.) lives in the same monastery for her whole Religious life, taking the same solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Read More

Also established by St. Francis of Assisi is the Third Order – Secular. The Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) is a public association in the Church, divided into fraternities at various levels: local, regional, national, and international. Each fraternity has its own juridical personality within the Church and consists of laity (men and women) as well as secular clergy (deacons, priests and bishops). The rule and life of the Secular Franciscan is to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following Saint Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people. Secular Franciscans make a public profession and are consecrated, but they are not bound by public vows as are the First and Second Order Franciscans.   Read More

The Leadership of each regional and local fraternity, as well as formation, is provided by a Professed Secular Franciscans. Since the Holy See has entrusted their pastoral care and spiritual assistance to the Franciscan First Orders and the Third Order Regulars, we have our own Provincial Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order: Br. Lawrence LaFlame, OFM Conv.
Although not all fraternities within the perimeters of our province are served by our friars, there are several friars who also serve local fraternities near their own ministries. To find a fraternity near you, click here.

St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity in Boynton Beach, FL is served by our friars in pastoral ministry at St. Mark Catholic Church, where they meet each month, as a local fraternity of the Five Franciscan Martyrs Region (SE USA – Southern GA, Lower AL and FL).
This month, Fr. Richard Florek, OFM Conv., who serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Mark Parish, helped them celebrate their fraternity’s Rite of Admission for three new members.

+Lt Col Fr. Samuel Zebron, OFM Conv. ~ Military Chaplain (1969-1991)

+Fr. Samuel Joseph Zebron, OFM Conv. (1932-2017)
Born in Baltimore, MD in 1932, at the age of 17, Friar Sam entered Mt. St. Lawrence Novitiate of the Franciscan Friars Conventual. A year later, he professed his vows and on May 24, 1958 was ordained to the priesthood at St. Michael’s Cathedral, in Springfield, MA, by +Most Rev. Christopher J. Weldon (who also served as a military chaplain during World War II).  After his ordination, Friar Sam served the province as a teacher in New York and Maryland high schools, until in 1969 he requested permission to become a Military Chaplain.  Granted permission, Friar Sam served in the US Air Force for 21 years, attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. He received numerous medals and honors and retired from the military in 1991.  His military experience helped form his life and he conducted himself with the high expectations of military bearing.
In the years following his military chaplaincy, he continued to serve the province in pastoral ministry. His last assignment was as Parochial Vicar at St. Mark Parish, in Boynton Beach, FL. He remained there after his assignment retirement, and continued to be a presence in the parish community.
+Friar Sam met Sister Death on June 19, 2017, and on this year’s Commemoration of All Faithful Departed (All Souls Day – November 2, 2017) he was interred in Arlington National Cemetery, with full military honors. Friars, family and friends – with clearance – were on hand for the Catholic Rite of Committal ceremony, followed by military honors.

More photos from the November 2, 2017 Internment at Arlington National Cemetery can be found in the Province Facebook Page Album.

Funeral Service Video

October 5, 2017: Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and former president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, found time during a Catholic U – Washington DC speaking engagement, to visit Friar John Burkhard, OFM Conv. one of his professors from his time in study at our province’s former St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary.
Fr. John and our friars of the St. Bonaventure Friary – Post Novitiate Formation Community in Silver Spring enjoyed a wonderful visit after Cardinal Turkson contacted our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. to arrange the impromptu get-together.

Presented by Friar Richard-Jacob Forcier, OFM Conv. ~ Province Secretary
Archbishop Curley High School Transitus Service (10/3/17)

My sister-in-law loves the minions from Despicable Me and it was with my family that I first watched the film.  For those of you who follow the movie series it traces the life of Dru Gru and how he found love, adopted three little girls and thereby changed his wayward life of villainy, well … thievery, to one of domestic bliss.  The Minions are dedicated in service to Dru, much like how Friar Matt has his Minions, I mean “assistants,” here at Curley.  As the story line has dragged on in the most recent Despicable Me 3, we see how Dru Gru finds out that he has a somewhat polar opposite identical brother, Felonius Gru, who tries to talk him back into a life of crime.  In any event the DM3 animated adventure revolves around the theme – “I have a brother!”
In celebrating St. Francis of Assisi tonight we meet a real brother to all, not a comic creation, but someone who realized, as he noted in his Testament “the Lord gave me some brothers,” that he knew his way of life – living a poor simple life following the footsteps of Jesus – had been blessed with brotherhood.  God has continued to give Francis brothers throughout the centuries.  This Transitus Service assists us in getting close to the Spirit that embodied this man and serves as a charism for the Franciscan way of life.
Francis was a very charismatic young man and had many friends.  Even in his decisions to move away from the world of fabric selling as a merchant, what we would call retail, he asked his close friends about his decisions.  In this early time in his life, he encountered Christ in the cross at the church of San Damiano.  It was there that he heard the challenge, Francis, “go and rebuild my church for it has fallen into ruin.”  Christ spoke to Francis as a friend who asks for help; I need you to help Me do this.  Francis, by following the literal observance of rebuilding that particular church, further developed his relationship with Christ in his many moments of prayer and fasting.
When I come to Archbishop Curley High School I often admire the slogan – “Where brotherhood begins.”   This saying captures the very spirit of Francis; being a brother or a sister to everyone and in all things.  Our life is always relational – to our Most High and Glorious God, our parents, siblings, friends, and even to all of creation.  This interwoven pattern begins but never ends.   Just as Francis had this awesome challenge to responsibility when the Lord gave him brothers, our call is to look inward to see how we can be a brother a sister to all.
Of course, we live in a world that is also very aware of the environment – we recycle, we try to reduce our carbon footprint for our good Earth.  Francis’ life beckons us – to love creation, but to love the Creator more.   I think that is why Francis could embrace Sister Death singing – or having the Canticle of Creation sung to him.  He had done what was his to do, and he challenged his followers to find out, to discern, where God is calling us to brotherhood today and every day.
Brotherhood to Francis was like a verb – to brother – indicating action and reaction to the world, people, everything around us.  It requires an intense amount to love – for God has loved us much.   Being a brother had no boundaries.  At the time of his death he asked for his friend, the Lady Jacoba, to come to see him. The friars with Francis were hesitant that this woman would go into the cloister of the friars.  Francis simply said – let brother Jacoba in for I need to see her. Francis was brother to all.  With Francis there were no boundaries.  At his tomb at the Sacred Convent in Assisi Francis four closest friars are buried near him, even dear Lady Jacoba is buried in the same crypt for she is buried across the chapel from him.
We come together tonight to realize that Francis is our brother.  As we mark his passing, we can realize that here in this place, where brother hood begins, it is up to each of us to make this relational call to honor one another, to honor creation, and to honor and praise our God, Who has given us so much.  We must look at ourselves and not say like Dru Gru, “I have a brother,” but it is better to say, “I am a brother.” This involves more responsibility – more accountability.  How can I best be a brother to my friends and family around me right here and now?
In his Testament, Francis also says that he has done what was his to do and that we might be shown what is ours.  Ours is still the call to be a brother to all and to honor one another well.

Transitus Service 2017: Each year, Archbishop Curley High School students portray St. Francis of Assisi and his Companions (brothers – friends) for the Transitus Service

September 25, 2017: As part of this year’s Novena Preparation for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, our Conventual Franciscan confreres processed through the streets of Assisi, Italy, to the Tomb of St. Francis, in the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi, for a Blessing with the Relics of St. Francis. (Video provided by Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Martin Breski, OFM Conv. who is currently serving in Assisi as a guide for pilgrims to the Basilica)

Franciscans from around the world celebrate the October 3rd Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi, in addition to his October 4th Feast Day. The definition of “transitus” is the “transit of a person or property en route from one place to another.” For Franciscans, TRANSITUS marks the night Francis left his earthly life, to move onto a life in heaven with Our Lord Jesus. He died, on the evening of October 3, 1226, a small man in his forties who had wanted to live a simple life in service to God.
Traditionally Saints’ Feast Days mark the date of death and are remembered with special mention, prayers, and scripture readings.  For us the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th is so much more. It is a day filled with celebration and joy; blessing animals (often on the closest weekend), gathering for meals and enjoying the fellowship of our brothers and those we serve. Just as with all of the saints, it is the day Francis obtained Eternal Life.
In his time the message of St. Francis of Assisi attracted many followers across Europe.  Francis could have led a life of luxury and earthly power. He was born into a wealthy cloth merchant family in Assisi, Italy around 1181 or 1182. As a young man he spent his days admiring Troubadours who traveled across Europe and performed their poetic songs to audiences. He also partook in raucous celebrations and planned on becoming a knight. His forays as a warrior against nearby Perugia ended in capture and imprisonment. The time in isolation allowed Francis to reflect on what God really wanted him to do in life.

This weekend, at many of our ministry locations, the faithful will gather for a Blessing of the Animals. Please join us at a ministry nearest to you as we celebrate St. Francis’ love for all of God’s creatures. He called animals “brother” or “sister,” and he exhorted them to praise God. This tradition is a strong one in many sects, beliefs and denominations, but for Franciscans it is a part of one of our most beloved celebrations of the year.

The friars serving at our San Damiano Mission in Brookyn, NY (Fr. Nicholas Spano, OFM Conv. (left) – Director & Fr. Raphael Zwolenkiewicz, OFM Conv. (middle) – Assistant Director) during the blessing of the animals our first year in the community.

Lord God King of heaven and earth,
Thou the Word of the Father by whom all creatures were given us for our support: look down, we beseech Thee, on our lowliness. As Thou hast given us these animals to assist us in our labors and needs so mayest Thou in Thy great goodness and mercy bless them from above, guard and preserve them; and, while Thou givest Thy servants temporal benefits, mayest Thou grant us thy continual grace so that we may praise Thy holy name with thanksgiving. Amen