Friar Michael speaks at “To Heal a Broken World” presented at Elon University (where Our Lady of the Angels Province Friar, Fr. Gerald Waterman, OFM Conv. serves as Chaplain of the Catholic Campus Ministry). The presentation expressed what Judaism, Islam & Christianity say about Social Justice. On hand were a Priest (Friar Michael), a Rabbi and a Muslim who talk about why they promote social justice & how their tradition motivated them. There were two sessions: January 7th and January 14th.
Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. was born in Baltimore, Professed his Solemn Vows in our Order in 1998, and was Ordained to the Priesthood in 2000. Prior to his ordination, began his ministry in the province as a teacher at St. Francis High School in 1997, taking a break from ministry to earn his M.Div. and get ordained, returning to the high school to teach from 2000-2005. He spent the next five years as Campus Minister, at Western Connecticut State University, in Danbury, CT. In 2010, he began a two year assignment as Regional Director for the Americas, of Franciscans International (FI), in NY, working at the United Nations (UN) to address human rights injustices that impact on the poor and most vulnerable. After spending time in Spanish Studies, Bogota, Columbia, he served as the Parish Administrator and Campus Minister of Newman Student Center Parish, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC). He is currently residing in our SS. Francis and Clare Friary, in Washington DC.
Friar Michael was one of the Religious Leaders to sign the Franciscan Action Network and Muslim Leaders’ Joint Statement on Anti-Muslim Rhetoric. As the Chairman of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of our Province, Friary Michael uses his gift for preaching, flair for presentation and generosity of spirit to reach out to everyone he meets; living our the loving charism of St. Francis of Assisi. His love for justice for all has no limitation; no matter what faith or cultural background ideals are held by those around him. As indicated in the picture here, he works with the rest of the friars of our Province, our Order and the world around us to help educate, encourage, mediate and be an example of PEACE in our time.
As the new year quickly approaches, we friars would like to remind you of our upcoming
“Pilgrimage of the Relics of St. Maximilian Kolbe.”
From some of those strands, four identical reliquaries were created, one of which will be venerated during this pilgrimage.
In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Conventual Franciscan Friar, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Our Lady of the Angels Province has scheduled a pilgrimage of a relic throughout our province U.S. and Canadian territory. The reliquary pictured here is one of four that was created in 1971 (11 years prior to his canonization – thus marked as B. Max. Kolbe as he was then only elevated to blessed) to hold a portion of his beard that in 1938 was shaved after Friar Maximilian received permission from his Minister Provincial. It contains many symbols from the life of St. Maximilian: the base is in the shape of his birthplace of Poland, covered in the “thorns” of occupation by the Third Reich. Out of those thorns, however, burst forth a lily of purity and a tulip of martyrdom – symbols of love triumphing over hate. The strands of our saint’s beard are housed in a glass case entwined with our Franciscan knotted cord representing his vocation to our Order and our vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.
St. Maximilian first grew out his long beard to enhance his missionary work in Japan where the beard helped to earn the respect of the people he served. Upon his return to Poland, under the National Socialism, the beard instead provoked not only his own persecution but the persecution of his fellow friars, “Beards provoke the enemy who rapidly is approaching our friary. Our Franciscan habits also will provoke him. I can part with my beard. I can’t sacrifice my habit.” After having shaved Maximilian’s beard, one of the friars placed it in a pouch. Strands of the beard still are preserved in the Niepokalanow archives. (Claude R. Foster, Mary’s Knight, Marytown Press 2013, p. 586) From some of those strands, four identical reliquaries were created, one of which will be venerated during this pilgrimage.
Click the above image to order copies of St. Maximilian Kolbe: Martyr of Charity
In 1941, St. Maximilian demonstrated heroic charity by giving his life in place of fellow prisoner, Franciszek Gajowniczek; a husband and father who was one of ten men chosen to suffer death by starvation after being subjected to hours of standing in the hot summer sun, in the Auschwitz (Poland) concentration camp during World War II as consequence for one prisoner’s successful escape. Franciszek’s a cry of despair,” What will become of my family?” moved Saint Maximilian to step forward and ask to be taken instead. Canonized October 10, 1982, St. Maximilian Kolbe was declared the “Patron Saint of our difficult century,” and a Martyr of Charity, by Pope Saint John Paul II.
PILGRIMAGE OF THE RELIC OF
ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE
2016 Itinerary (Updates Will Occur Upon Change)
A bearded St. Maximilian smiles over the heads of his fellow friars, over whom he served as Guardian
O God, who gave the Church and the world the priest and martyr
Saint Maximilian Kolbe, burning with love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with apostolic zeal for souls and heroic love of neighbor, graciously grant, through his intercession, that striving for Your glory by eagerly serving others, we may be conformed, even until death, to Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen
In the Meeting Room of the Organization of American States
Fr. Walter Loaisiga, OFM Conv., President of St. Francis College, in Moravia, San Jose, Costa Rica, accompanied a group of his students on a visit to the United States. They were invited to Washington, DC, the first week of December 2015, to give a presentation on Costa Rica & Education, to the Organization of American States, the world’s oldest regional organization established in 1889. The presentation was requested due to the fact that St. Francis College, our education ministry in Costa Rica – serving Preschool, Elementary and High School aged students, is the only fully bi-lingual school (English/Spanish) in Costa Rica.
Friar Walter and the students met with the Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Organization of American States prior to making their presentation on Education in Costa Rica
Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Winston-Salem
On Friday, December 11, 2015, over 1000 faithful participated in the mañanitas (early morning busy festivities) lasting from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. It ended with a re-enactment of the miracle of St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin receiving the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Saturday, December 12th, again over a 1000 people came for the procession of the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe into our church and up to her shrine there. Due to the fantastic turnout on Friday and Saturday, Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv., a friar from our province who serves as pastor of both Our Lady of Fatima Mission (NC) and Our Lady of Mercy Church (NC), was expecting a small number of people for the Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Latino Mass, but again over 1000 people showed up to celebrate Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Advent.
A few photos of the events for the Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe:
On the December 12, 2015, in the Chapel of our St. Francis College in Moravia, San Jose, in Costa Rica, Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (pink Gaudete/Rejoice vestments – kneeling), presided at the Profession of Vows for four of our Costa Rican Friars. In addition to the local friars on hand, also participating in the celebration were two more friars from the United States, Fr. Rick Riccioli, OFM Conv. (Syracuse-NY) and Br. Jim Moore, OFM Conv. (Silver Spring-MD), as well as American Volunteers currently serving for a year in Alajuela, Costa Rica, through FrancisCorps ministry.
~ Simple Vows – fray Henry Ramírez Vargas, OFM Conv.
~ Solemn Vows – Fray Pablo Alonso Carvajal Espinoza, OFM Conv.
~Renewal of Vows – Fray Milton Torres Albarran, OFM Conv.*
and Fray Juan Gregorio Martinez Canelon, OFM Conv.*
*Our Lady of Coromoto Provincial Custody (Venezuela) of the
Province of St. Nicholas and St. Angelo (Puglia, Italy)
Graduation Ceremonies ~ St. Francis College in Moravia: President of the College, Fr. Walter Loaisiga Gonzalez, OFM Conv. & Minister Provincial, Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.
Visiting Costa Rica also afforded Fr. James the opportunity to preside at the Mass and Graduation Ceremonies at our Province’s St. Francis College in Moravia, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy: Holy Door
One of the seven Holy Door Sites in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, is our very own Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, MD. The Holy Year runs from December 8, 2015 (The Main Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome Opened) through November 20, 2016. At designated sites all over the world, the Holy Door Rite was held on December 13th, in unison with the Holy Doors of the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and the Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls in Rome. Anyone visiting our Shrine of St. Anthony, as with the other sites, receives an indulgence (remission of all temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven). Usually the Holy Year indulgence is only obtained through a pilgrimage to Rome and a visit to a Papal Basilica during a Holy Year, but Pope Francis has determined that indulgences can be granted to pilgrims to any of the sites with a Holy Door throughout the world. Other requirements for the Holy Year indulgence include the reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, and reciting the “Profession of Faith.” The Pope also extends the privilege to the home-bound and the incarcerated, as well as those performing Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.
At noon, on Sunday, December 13th, the community of friars living and working in the St. Joseph Cupertino and Portiuncula Friars, joined friars from the surrounding area and pilgrims to the Shrine of St. Anthony, as the Director of the Shrine, Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. opened the Holy Door of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, preceding noon Mass in the Shrine’s Chapel.
The Opening of the Holy Door at the Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, MD
November 30 – December 4, 2015: The friars of Immaculate Conception Custody (Brazil) of Our Lady of the Angels Province met in the city of Juiz de Fora, State of Minas Gerais, for their annual retreat. Father Paulo Sérgio Carrara, C.Ss.R. directed the retreat with the theme “Pastoral Work and Consecrated Life,” in accord with the Custody’s Four-Year Custodial Plan. At the end of the retreat, on December 4th, the Mass of the Immaculate Conception was celebrated in our Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, opening the Jubilee Year of 70 years of Conventual Franciscan presence in Latin America, as well as 50 years of priesthood of Bishop Elias Manning, OFM Conv., Bishop Emeritus of Valença.
Friar Willian Gomes Mendonça, OFM Conv. and Friar Luiz Henrique Nascimento Lima, OFM Conv. Ordained as Deacons, by Bishop Elias Manning, OFM Conv., Bishop Emeritus of Valença
On the following day, December 5th, at St. Peter and St Paul Parish in the city of Paraíba do Sul, State of Rio de Janeiro, Friar Willian Gomes Mendonça, OFM Conv. and Friar Luiz Henrique Nascimento Lima, OFM Conv. were ordained Deacons. The large church was replete with the presence of practically all the friars of the Custody, several diocesan priests, family members and faithful from all the places where the friars of the Custody serve.
The sandals belonging to martyred Friar Michał Tomaszek, OFM Conv. and Friar Zbigniew Strzałkowski, OFM Conv. were placed in front of the altar in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Peter (Chimbote, Peru) during the prayer vigil on the night before the Beatification. They bore poignant witness to the two martyrs’ vocation as Franciscan Missionaries.
“The Proto-Martyrs of Peru” – A new image in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Peter (Chimbote, Peru) depicting the first declared martyrs of the Church in Peru: Blessed Miguel (Michał ) Tomaszek, OFM Conv., Blessed Zbigniew Strzałkowski, OFM Conv. and Rev. Alejandro Dordi (Italian Missionary). The men were Beatified together in the Manuel Rivera Sanchez Centenary Stadium (Chimbote, Peru), on December 5, 2015, by His Eminence, Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B.. Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. All three were slain by the Marxistguerrilla organization, Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path); Michał and Zbigniew – August 9, 1991; Alejandro on August 25, 1991. The theme of the Beatification was “Testigos de la Esperanza” (Witnesses of Hope). A new hymn by that title was commissioned for the ceremonies and premiered at the Vigil, sung by its author Enrique Enrique Mesías. (sheet music)
Three Friars represented Our Lady of the Angels Province at the Beatification, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., Fr. José Guadalupe Matus Castillo, OFM Conv. and Fr. Jacek Leszczynski, OFM Conv. Fr. Jarosław (Jarek) Wysoczański, OFM Conv., Guardian of the Pariacoto Friars at the time of the martyrdom. Friar Jarek was not in Peru, but on a home visit to Poland in August 1991 when the martyrdom occurred. Fr. Carlos Gomez, OFM Conv. of Peru was on hand for the Beatification. He was one of three postulants in Pariacoto on the night of the martyrdom of Friars Michał and Zbigniew (August 9, 1991). Those postulants had been placed under obedience by Fr. Michał to remain praying in the friary chapel when the terrorists arrived. Friar Carlos was the first Peruvian native vocation to profess vows and be ordained. Relics of the bones of each martyr (held here by Fr. James who is pictured with Friar Carlos and Friar Jarek) were later carried to the altar by Friar Carlos and Friar Jarek during the ceremony of Beatification. The Mass of Beatification, presided by His Eminence, Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B. and 60 concelebratrants, 500 priests, and 25,000 people took place in the Manuel Rivera Sanchez Centenary Stadium (Chimbote, Peru), on Saturday December 5, 2015. (Read More from Fr. Jarosław Wysoczański)
On Sunday, December 6, 2015, the day after the Beatification, the pilgrims headed three hours north to Pariacoto, the town where the friar-martyrs ministered, died, and are buried, to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving. Pilgrims from our missions in Bolivia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as large numbers from Poland, journeyed thousands of kilometers to attend the ceremonies in Chimbote and Pariacoto (Peru). The Minister Provincial of Kraków, the Very Reverend Fr. Jarosław (Jarek) Zachariasz, OFM Conv., the Minister General of our Order, the Most Reverend Fr. Marco Tasca, OFM Conv. and our Minister Provincial – Fr. James as well as all of the the concelebrating bishops and priests, other friars and the families of Michał and Zbigniew walked through the “Gate of Mercy” along the path taken by the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) van with its friar-prisoners, following the Mass of Thanksgiving. A prayer service was held at the Gate.
A small memorial now marks the exact site where the killing of Michał and Zbigniew took place and there are now 14 Stations of the Cross along the route traveled by the van which carried them to their place of death.
Even before the deaths of Friars Michał and Zbigniew, our Province of St. Anthony of Padua was preparing to send one of its own American friars as a new member of the Polish Mission in the Peru. That friar, Fr. Vincent Imhof, OFM Conv. had been ordained at St. Casimir’s in Baltimore (MD), in 1990. Shortly after the deaths of Friars Michał and Zbigniew, the Minister Provincial of St. Anthony Province at the time, the Very Reverend Fr. Mark Curesky, OFM Conv., allowed Friar Vincent to go on mission to Peru, joining up with Friar Jarek and thus assuring that the Order’s Peruvian mission would be sustained without interruption. This courageous decision on behalf of Friar Mark and Friar Vincent was reached after considerable prayer and anguish. When Friar Vincent arrived, the “Sendero Luminoso” was still spreading its reign of terror. Undaunted, the friars persevered indefatigably, and the Order’s implantation continues to reap a holy harvest, even now. As Tertullian wrote in the second century: “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Eventually Friar Vincent transfiliated into the Krakow jurisdiction. He remains an active Missionary there, today. Before returning home to the United States, Fr. James presented to Fr. Jacek Lisowski, OFM Covnv. (Provincial Delegate for Peru) and Fr. Jarek Zachariasz, OFM Conv. (Minister Provincial of Krakow) two chalices, originally from our former ministry in Staten Island, as a gift from Our Lady of the Angels Province to the Pariacoto Mission. The chalices were re-plated in silver and gold, and inscribed with the names of the two new Blessed.For more on the events surrounding the Beatification, visit “Mártires de la Diócesis de Chimbote” on Facebook.
As with many of our ministry locations, the Shrine of St. Anthony, with the help of local youth groups and shrine pilgrims, holds an annual Living Nativity. Please join them in 2015 on December 12th and/or 13th. (Pictured: Fr. Tom Lavin, OFM Conv. placed the Monstrance within the stable during the Shrine of St. Anthony’s 2012 Outdoor Living Nativity…note the youth dressed as St. Francis kneeling in Adoration)
Pax et Bonum: Current and past history is filled with the individual, community and national quest for peace, often resulting in abandoning homes and relocation. According to tradition, the area of Greccio (Italy) was first established by exiled citizens of a Greek community that was fleeing their home country because of war. Mount Lacerone’s terrain seemed like a protected area for the peace searching settlers and they named it Greccio. It eventually included a fortified medieval castle with external walls and towers. The decedents of those who had sacrificed their Greek homes to escape war, in turn still had to struggle through even more local wars culminating in the town’s destruction by Napoleon’s Army in 1799. However, this beautiful area did also enjoy times of great peace and it was in 1223 Greccio that St. Francis of Assisi first portrayed a Living Nativity, on Christmas Eve, in its natural cave, known as the Chapel of Presepio. He had found a much needed peace in Greccio after visting Rome and wanted a peaceful option for pilgrims to celebrate the birth of Our Lord, instead of traveling to the Holy Land to Bethlehem, as that area was under the dominant and dangerous control of the Turks. He first visited the Castello di Grecccio village in 1217, where his preaching converted the citizens. A permanent quarters was built for St. Francis and his Companions nearby. Although reluctant to have his followers close to the distractions of village life, St. Francis agreed as long as the quarters would be built a stone’s throw away from the village. A small boy was asked to throw a lit torch and wherever it landed, the quarters would be built. Shockingly the torch landed over a mile away, where hallowed out caves in a rocky hill became their dwelling. In modern day life, this spot is a beautiful stop for pilgrims and includes an exhibit of model creches from all over the world, as well as the opportunity to see how St. Francis and his followers lived, prayed, rested and celebrated.
Please take a moment to please read this 84-87 excerpt from: “The First Life of St. Francis” – Thomas of Celano Chapter 30: Of the manger that he made on Christmas day 84. His chief intention, his principal desire and supreme purpose was in and through all tings to observe the holy Gospel, and with all watchfulness, all zeal, all the longing of his mind and all the fervor of his heart perfectly to follow the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and tread in His footsteps. He would recall His words with assiduous meditation and dwell on His works with the most piercing consideration. And chiefly did the humility of the Incarnation and the charity of the Passion so occupy his memory that he would scarce ponder over anything else. Therefore that which he did at the fortress called Greccio on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ in the third year before the day of his glorious decease is to be recorded and dwelt on with reverent memory. There was in that place a man named John, of good repute, but of better life, whom blessed Francis loved with special affection, because, having been a man of the most noble and honorable position in his town, he had trampled on the nobility of the flesh, and followed after the nobility of the mind. This man did blessed Francis send for (as he was often wont) about fifteen days before the Nativity of the Lord, and said to him, “If you will that we celebrate the present festival of the Lord at Greccio, make haste to go before and diligently prepare what I tell you. For I would make memorial of that Child who was born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on the hay, with the ox and the ass standing by.” When the good and faithful man heard it, he made haste and prepared in the aforesaid place all the things that the Saint had told him of. 85. The day of gladness drew nigh, the time of exultation arrived. The brethren, were summoned from many places; the men and women of that town with exulting hearts prepared tapers and torches, as they were able to illuminate that night which with its radiant Star has illuminated all the days and years. At length the Saint of God came, and finding all things prepared, beheld them and rejoiced. The manger had been made ready, the hay ass were led in. There Simplicity was honored, Poverty exalted, Humility commended; and of Greccio there was made as it were a new Bethlehem. The night was lit up as the day, and was delightful to men and beasts. The people came, and at the new Mystery rejoiced with new rejoicing. The woodland rang with voices, the rocks made answer to the jubilant throng. The brethren sang, yielding due praises to the Lord, and all that night resounded with jubilation. The Saint of God stood before the manger, full of sighs, overcome with tenderness and filled with wondrous joy. The solemnities of Mass were celebrated over the manger, and the priest enjoyed a new consolation. 86. The Saint of God was vested with Levitical ornaments, for he was a Levite, and with sonorous voice chanted the holy Gospel–an earnest, sweet, clear and loud-sounding voice; inviting all to the highest rewards. Then he preached to the people who stood around, and uttered mellifluous words concerning the birth of the poor King and the little town of Bethlehem. (And often, when he would name Christ Jesus, aglow with exceeding love he would call Him the Child of Bethlehem, and, uttering the word “Bethlehem” in the manner of a sheep bleating, he filled his mouth with the sound, but even more his whole self with the sweet affection. Moreover, in naming “the Child of Bethlehem” or “Jesus” he would, as it were, lick his lips, relishing with happy palate, and swallowing the sweetness of that word.) There the gifts of the Almighty were multiplied, and a vision of wondrous efficacy was seen by a certain man; for in the manger he saw a little child lying lifeless, to whom the Saint of God seemed to draw near and (as it were) to rouse the child from the lethargy of sleep. Nor was this vision incongruous; for the child Jesus had been given over to forgetfulness in the hearts of many in whom, by the working of His Grace, He was raised up again through His servant Francis and imprinted on a diligent memory. At length the solemn vigil was ended, and each one returned with joy to his own place. 87. The hay placed in the manger was kept, in order that thereby the Lord might save beasts of burden and other animals, even as He multiplied His holy mercy. And verily so it came to pass, for many animals in the region round about which had divers diseases were freed from their sicknesses by eating of that hay. Moreover, women in long and grievous labor were safely delivered by putting some of the hay on themselves, and a crowd of persons of either sex suffering from various ailments gained their long-wished-for health at that same place. Finally the place of the manger was hallowed as a temple to the Lord, and in honor of the most blessed father Francis, over the manger an altar was reared and a church dedicated, to the end that where beasts had once eaten fodder of hay, men might thenceforth for the healing of soul and body eat the flesh of the spotless and undefiled Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who in highest and unspeakable charity gave Himself for us, Who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, God eternally glorious, world without end. Amen, Alleluia, Alleluia.
