On Sunday, June 5, 2016, Bishop Gabriel Enrique Montero Umaña, O.F.M. Conv. of San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica (a Conventual Franciscan Friar from our Province), ordained Fray Deibi Vergara, OFM Conv. to the Order of Deacon, at Mass in the chapel of our education ministry of St. Francis College, Moravia, San Jose. Deacon Deibi is a Venezuelan friar-student who came with a group of friars of the Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto, of the Province of St. Nicholas and St. Angelo (Puglia, Italy). These student friars from South America began their Formation Studies nearly six years ago, at our Convento Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, in Alajula, Costa Rica.
On the way back to the friary in Alajuela from the school in Moravia, the friars’ van nearly lost its muffler. So the first official act of “service” of the newly ordained deacon was to get out on the motorway and secure the muffler with his handkerchief. Please keep Fray Deibi and all of our friars learning, living and serving in Costa Rica, as well as our Conventual Franciscan confreres around the world, in your continued prayers.
We Conventual Franciscan friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province would like to announce the Priesthood Ordination of our confrere, Fr. Jorge Barillas, OFM Conv., on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at la parroquia de San Francisco de Asís , in Los Chiles, Costa Rica.
Friar Jorge was the first priest to be ordained by our own Bishop Gabriel Enrique Montero Umaña, O.F.M. Conv. of San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica.
On May 5, 2016, the Feast of the Ascension, Fr. Peter Damian Massengill, OFM Conv. (pictured at center) is the Custos of OLA Province’s Custody – Blessed Agnellus of Pisa, celebrated his 40th Ordination Anniversary in the Friar Church of St. Patrick, Waterloo, London. The Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province, was on hand to celebrate with the friars of Great Britain / Ireland.
On Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2016, at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, Mother Cabrini Parish Community will celebrate the 40th Priesthood Ordination Anniversary of their pastor, Fr. Martin J. Kobos, OFM Conv. (center) flanked by (left to right) Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv., Fr. Noel Danielewicz, OFM Conv., Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., Fr. Adam Ziolkowski, OFM Conv. and Fr. Matthew Foley, OFM Conv.
Friar Martin was blessed to have his sister, Dot and family there to celebrated with him.
On May 21, 2016, the parish community of St. Philip Benizi (Jonesboro, GA) gathered to celebrate the 40th Ordination Anniversary of Fr. Paul Miskiewicz, OFM Conv. (with red shoes) and the 25th Ordination Anniversary of Fr. Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv. (vested left), seen here flanked by the Knights, pastor of the parish, Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. (far right) and the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (right of Friar Paul)
br. Colton Rodgers, OFM Conv. seated with some of the women of the parish
Joyfully the event was shared with the newest accepted Postulant, Mr. Mario Camarillo, pictured here with Friar Paul (left) and Friar Santo (right)
Kraków in the Capital World Youth Day Celebration for Young Adults #wydDC
On July 30th 2016, join thousands of young adults from across the region at Kraków in the Capital, a daylong World Youth Day experience in Washington, DC. Visit Washington, experience Kraków and encounter Christ through: polish food and music, bilingual talks from Bishops and national speakers, a visit to the National Holy Door of Mercy, adoration, confession, Stations of the Cross, vocation & long term service Exhibit Hall, late night concert, and more! Sign up to be the first to hear updates on speakers and sponsors by texting ‘wydDC’ to 84576 or signing up online at wydDC.org.
The event is being held on the campus of The Catholic University of America, where several Our Lady of the Angels Province friars serve in Campus Minsitry, including the Univsity Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry, Fr. Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv.
CUA is also where most of our friars continue their education while in the Post-Novitiate stage of Formation.
For more information about other ministries where friars from our province serve, visit the Locations page of this website. For more information on how to become a friar (including some quick and informative videos presented by Vocation Director, Fr. Russell Governale, OFM Conv., please visit the Vocations page of this website.
Our Lady of the Angels Province Vicar Provincial, Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv. was invited to give the May 2016 St. Bonaventure Province Priesthood Ordination retreat for three of their friar deacons. Fr. Jim Ciaramitaro, OFM Conv., Fr. Edmond Des Forges, OFM Conv. and Br. Jim Dufresne, OFM Conv., living in St. Bonaventure Province’s St. Anthony Friary (Rockford, IL), provided outstanding hospitality and wonderful fraternity for the entire week’s retreat. The retreat participants, Fr. Brad and the local St. Bonaventure Province friars enjoyed a final dinner out, to celebrate Br. Jim’s 65th birthday.
Along with own Friar Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv., we lift up in prayer our three brothers from Saint Bonaventure Province, as they also prepare for their June Ordination.
Photo of Friar Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv. (left front) as he and Fr. Gabriel Scasino, OFM Conv. (now an ordained priest serving the people of San Damiano Mission, in NY) professed their Solemn Vows on August 6, 2014. The event was celebrated by the majority of his brother of Our Lady of the Angels Province. Friar Nick is scheduled to be Ordained to the Priesthood, at 11:00 a.m., on June 25, 2016, at our pastoral ministry of St. Casimir Church, in Baltimore, MD.
For the past three years, Fr. Emmanuel Acquaye, OFM Conv., a Ghanan friar of the Provincial Custody of St. Anthony of Padua (under the Italian St. Anthony of Padua Province), has been living with the friars of our province, in the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary (Ellicott City, MD), while studying full time at Loyola University Maryland, and assisting the friars of our ministry of The Shrine of St. Anthony. It is with great joy that we celebrate Friar Emmanuel receiving his Masters of Arts in Pastoral Counseling during Loyola University Maryland’s 164th Commencement Exercises, Saturday, May 21, 2016, at Royal Farms Arena, in Baltimore, MD!
He is grateful for the support of the friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, particularly those of St. Joseph Cupertino Friary. Video of event: He crosses the stage around 2:24:10.
On Wednesday, June 1, 2016, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and pastor of Holy Family, Friar James Fukes, OFM Conv. welcomes you to a special 7:00 p.m. Mass followed by a Prayer Service that includes Veneration of the 1st degree relic.
The relic (fragments of the beard of St. Maximilian Kolbe) will remain at Holy Family Church until Thursday, June 2, 2106, 5:00 p.m. Please keep an eye on the Holy Family website to check the newest bulletins for the most up to date details on the events.
Franciscan Friars of St. Anthony Friary
Friar David Collins, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of St. John the Apostle
Friar Jim Fukes, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of Holy Family Parish & Guardian of the Friary
Friar Ed Debono, OFM Conv. ~ Sunday Chaplain, Sisters of Providence
Friar Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. ~ Canon Law Professor, St. Paul University (Ottawa)
Click the above image to order copies of St. Maximilian Kolbe: Martyr of Charity, written by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the August 14, 1941 martyrdom of Conventual Franciscan Friar, St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., at the World War II Oświęcim concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland, 1st degree relic stands of his beard have been on tour throughout our province since January. The Relic Tour will continue into Canada to visit our pastoral ministry of The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure, on May 28-29, 2016. There will be a special 9:00 a.m. Mass on Saturday, May 28th to begin this historic visit. After the Mass, there will be a Solemn Procession with the relic and a Prayer Service recounting St. Maximilian Kolbe’s life. Pope John Paul II declared Maximilian Kolbe a “Martyr of Charity.”
St. Bonaventure is home to five of our friars, living, working and serving in Ontario, Canada: Br. Tom Purcell, OFM Conv. (Guardian of the friary and Executive Director of St. Clare Inn), Fr. Boniface Reinhart, OFM Conv., Fr. David Stachurski, OFM Conv. (pastor of The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure) Fr. Peter Knaapen, OFM Conv., and Br. David Suckling, OFM Conv. (member of theBoard of Directors of St. Anthony of Padua Mission Aid – Franciscan Centre). This is the first of three Canadian locations for our Pilgrimage Relics of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. The tour will continue onto our pastoral ministry of The Church of St. John Apostle and Holy Family, in Kingston, Ontario, May 30-June 2, 2016, before returning the USA for the rest of the tour.
FRANCISCAN SOY CANDLES: To commemorate this pilgrimage tour, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Br. Andre Picotte, OFM Conv. the artisan creator behind Franciscan Soy Candles (a ministry to raise funds needed to care for his aged and infirm brothers) has a newly available St. Maximilian Kolbe Candle. Even if you cannot get to any of our locations to venerate the relic, you can enjoy this commemorative candle, while helping us provide much needed support for our more senior friars.
Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., the Provincial Assistant to the Militia Immaculata (an evangelization movement identifying with Mary that was established by St. Maximilian Kolbe) presided over Mass concelebrated by the friars serving the people of The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure (left to right: Fr. David Stachurski, OFM Conv. – pastor, Fr. Boniface Reinhart, OFM Conv. and Fr. Peter Knaapen, OFM Conv. Friar Jobe (who is also a Canon Law Professor at Saint Paul University, in Ottawa, Canada) spoke on St. Maximilian Kolbe, as well.
In an article published online by the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA, Friar Jobe stated, “As Christians, we are called to reveal God’s love by our concrete actions. In our day, St. Maximilian’s martyrdom at Auschwitz is a preeminent manifestation of that.” In that same article, our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. added, “His relevance to people in the 21st century lies in his validation that love conquers hate, and goodness will ultimately triumph over evil.”
On Sunday, June 5, 2016, Bishop Gabriel Enrique Montero Umaña, O.F.M. Conv. of San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica (a Conventual Franciscan Friar from our Province), ordained Fray Deibi Vergara, OFM Conv. to the Order of Deacon, at Mass in the chapel of our education ministry of St. Francis College, Moravia, San Jose. Deacon Deibi is a Venezuelan friar-student who came with a group of friars of the Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto, of the Province of St. Nicholas and St. Angelo (Puglia, Italy). These student friars from South America began their Formation Studies nearly six years ago, at our Convento Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, in Alajula, Costa Rica.
