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
During the Monday, July 22, 2019 Jubilarian Mass Celebration at our Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD), friar Raad Eshoo, OFM Conv., friarJoseph Krondon, OFM Conv. and friar Antonio Moualeu, OFM Conv. will Profess their Simple (First/Temporary) Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This week our North American Provinces celebrated the 2019 Investiture of five new Novices entering the Inter Provincial Novitiate. The event included the “Sending Forth” of our three graduating Novices of our province: friar Antonio Moualeu, OFM Conv. to further studies while living in community in the San Damiano Friary (San Antonio, TX), with friar Raad Eshoo, OFM Conv. and friar Joseph Krondon, OFM Conv. moving onto further studies while living in community in the St. Bonaventure Friar (Silver Spring, MD). For more on that celebratory day, click on Investiture Celebration. As these three friars will not profess their vows until Monday, their habits’ cords still are not yet knotted. These friars officially entered the Novitiate and were vested in the habit of our Order, during their own Investiture in July 2018 (the photo above was taken that day). During this year’s ceremony, our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. presented them with new knotted cords – the three knots symbolizing the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience – as well as gifting to each of them a Blue Cross.
On Monday ~ July 22, 2019, less than a week after their Sending Forth, these three friars will don their new knotted cords and profess their Simple (Temporary) Vows, in the presence of a large gathering of their confreres, family, guests, supporters, and shrine pilgrims.
Please keep them and all of our Province 2019 Jubilarians in your prayers!
2019 Profession Jubilarians
80 Years Friar Lucjan Krolikowski, OFM Conv.
70 Years Friar Boniface Reinhart, OFM Conv.
65 Years Friar Raymond Borkowski, OFM Conv.
60 Years Friar Joseph Angelini, OFM Conv. Friar Julian Zambanini, OFM Conv.
50 Years Friar Mark Szanyi, OFM Conv. Friar Ross Syracuse, OFM Conv.
Friar Dennis Mason, OFM Conv.
40 Years Friar Joseph Benicewicz, OFM Conv. Friar Russell Governale, OFM Conv.
25 Years Friar Gregory Spuhler, OFM Conv. Friar Robert Benko, OFM Conv.
Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv.
Friar Pedro DeOliveira, OFM Conv.
Friar Vincent Rubino, OFM Conv.
2019 Ordination Jubilarians
65 Years Friar Boniface Reinhart, OFM Conv.
60 Years Friar Augustine Pilatowski, OFM Conv.
50 Years Friar Anthony Francis Spilka, OFM Conv.
Friar Martin Breski, OFM Conv.
Friar Joachim Giermek, OFM Conv.
40 Years Friar Vincent Gluc, OFM Conv.
Friar Raphael Zwolenkiewicz, OFM Conv.
Friar Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Friar Michael Sajda, OFM Conv.
Friar Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv.
Friar Peter Knaapen, OFM Conv.
Friar Thomas Reist, OFM Conv.
“Why the Children?”
Sometimes we stay away from discussing certain issues because they are politically charged and because of that, we become concerned with the ramifications that such discussions will have on us. Yet, there are issues in our society and in our world that need to be addressed and discussed no matter the consequences. It’s never easy.
We, as a people in our country, have a situation at our southern border that rips apart the human heart, especially when it comes to the children. The news give us information about the inhumane policies that are creating a cruel environment for these children. As people of good will and as believers in a God of compassion, as revealed to us by Jesus, we need to do everything possible to see the human faces of these children and recognize the situation at the border from a humane point of view. It cannot be just an “issue.”
When it comes to the situation at our southern border there is enough blame to go around the planet an infinite number of times. Where will such blame game get us? What will it accomplish? What good will it bring to us and to humanity at large?
Why the children?
Do we honestly believe that we have the right to treat children in such a way? What have we become? What do such policies say about who we are?
Newly Invested friar Christopher M. Fernández, OFM Conv. (far right) stands next to our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., along with our friar novices from our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody – friar Kyle Banks, OFM Conv. and friar Peter Flynn, OFM Conv.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019: friar Christopher M. Fernández, OFM Conv. was invested in the Franciscan Friars Conventual habit along with four more friars from his Postulancy Class. He is pictured at right being vested by our minister provincial. After completing their initial year of formation, living in community in St. Bonaventure Friary (our Order’s North American InterProvincial Postulancy – Chicago,IL), these friars are now in the Novitiate stage of formation. They will spend this next stage living in community in St. Francis of Assisi Friary (our Order’s North American InterProvincial Novitiate – Arroyo Grande, CA). Already invested as novices this past November, friar Kyle Banks, OFM Conv. and friar Peter Flynn, OFM Conv. of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody (Great Britain/Ireland) will continue their studies alongside these five Newly Invested Novices. Please keep all of our friars in formation in your continued prayers.
All of the newly Invested Novices – friar Roberto, friar Joshua, friar Alex, friar Michael and friar Chris – pictured with their Postulancy Director, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv. (2nd right)
Congratulations to: friar Michael Hintze, OFM Conv. ~ St. Bonaventure Province friar Joshua Sherls, OFM Conv. ~ Our Lady of Consolation Province friar Alexander Gould, OFM Conv. ~ Our Lady of Consolation Province friar Christopher M. Fernández, OFM Conv. ~ Our Lady of the Angels Province friar Roberto Macias-Marin, OFM Conv. ~ Our Lady of Consolation Province
As part of the celebrations, the three graduating Novices of our province were “Sent Forth” onto their continuing studies. The chapel was full as we vested the five new novices in the habit of our Order and sent forth friar Antonio Moualeu, OFM Conv. to further studies while living in community in San Damiano Friary (San Antonio, TX), as well as friar Raad Eshoo, OFM Conv. & friar Joseph Krondon, OFM Conv. to further studies while living in community in St. Bonaventure Friar (Silver Spring, MD). At left, they are pictured receiving their blue crosses and knotted cords (at right) from our Minister Provincial.
As these new friars have not yet professed their vows, you will notice their habits’ cords around their waists are not knotted. Upon their Simple Profession of Vows, the cords of their habits will hold three knots symbolizing the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. On Monday ~ July 22, 2019, just few days after this Investiture and Sending Ceremony, these three friars will don their new knotted cords as they profess their Simple (Temporary) Vows during our Province Jubilee Mass; celebrating milestone years of Profession or Ordination. The Jubilee Mass with Simple Vow Profession will be held at our Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD).
Our Province Friars who were on hand for the day’s celebration (left to right/top to bottom rows): Fr. Russell Governale, OFM Conv. (Province Vocation Director), the Very Reverend Fr. Michael Zielke, OFM Conv. (currently serving as Minister Provincial of St. Bonaventure Province), Fr. Maurice Richard, OFM Conv. (Novitiate Assistant Director), Fr. Mark Szanyi, OFM Conv. (Prefect of Formation & Pastor of St. Lucie Catholic Church, in Port St. Lucie, FL), friar Joseph Krondon, OFM Conv., friar Raad Eshoo, OFM Conv., Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv. (Postulancy Director), friar Antonio Mouleau, OFM Conv., Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar of St. Peter RCC, in Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ), friar Kyle Banks, OFM Conv., the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (Minister Provincial), friar Christopher M. Fernández, OFM Conv. and friar Peter Flynn, OFM Conv. Missing from photo: Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. (CFF Assistant General of the Order)
Photo Cred: Saint Kateri National Shrine and Historic Site
The Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, presided and preached at the Sunday, July 14, 2019, 10:30 a.m. Mass of Celebration for the Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, during the Annual St. Kateri Feast Day Weekend, at our Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site, in Fonda, NY. Our friars concelebrating the Mass were our Minister Provincial ~ the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (right), Chaplain of the Shrine ~ Fr. Timothy Lyons, OFM Conv. (left of Bishop Scharfenberger), Instructor at St. Francis High School – Athol Springs, NY ~ Fr. Max Avila, OFM Conv. (2nd from left) and Pastor of St. Adalbert RCC – Elmhust, NY ~ Fr. Miroslaw Podymniak, OFM Conv. (far left)
Pilgrims from far and wide, including New York City, areas of New England, and Canada filled the Shrine’s St. Maximilian Pavilion for Sunday’s liturgy which incorporated a Smudge and Four Direction Purification Ceremony during the penitential rite (right) and music with the Kateri Native Ministry of Ottawa. Veneration of the Holy Relic of St. Kateri followed Mass. The weekend began on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., with a day filled talks, presentations, music, testimonials, and veneration of the relic of St. Kateri. Among the presenters was Kay Olan, a Mohawk educator and storyteller, music by the Kateri Native Ministry of Ottawa, and a Four Directions smudging of sacred plants. Mass on Saturday was concelebrated by Friar Tim and Friar Max. The evening ended with a 7:00 p.m. prayer and healing circle with Terry Steele, who sits on the St. Kateri Shrine Council and is a member of the Algonquin nation. There were also several opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation available over the weekend.
Fr. Max Avila, OFM Conv. and Br. Gerry Seipp, OFM Conv. stopped for a quick photo in the beautiful sunshine. Photo Cred: Fr. James
There are many more events and celebrations happening at our National Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine and Historic Site throughout the summer, including their 21st Annual Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference, August 16 & 17, 2019. Visit the Shrine’s “News & Events” webpage for more details.
Our National Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine and Historic Site (Fonda, NY) will celebrate the annual weekend of festivities surrounding the Feast Day of their Patron Saint, Kateri Tekakwitha, July 13-14, 2019. The Shrine is a very unique property ~ “a sacred place of peace and healing; a place of history and holiness.”
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 second 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.
Friar Jobe (top center) some of the parishioners from St. Peter’s Church to have already made their consecration that day. Joining them in the lower photo are Friar Brennan-Joseph (back row – 5th man from right) and Friar Marek (seated in front)
On the weekend of July 6-7, 2019, Our Lady of the Angels Province friars ~ Fr. Pedro de Oliveira, OFM Conv, Fr. Richard Rossell, OFM Conv., Fr. Brennan-Joseph Farleo, OFM Conv. and Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. ~ welcomed Friar Jobe to St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, (Point Pleasant, NJ) for the second stop on our M.I Initiative Tour of our pastoral ministries.
St. Peter Roman Catholic Church (Point Pleasant, New Jersey)
Although actually Stop #2 on the tour, this first USA stop of the M.I. Initiative Tour was very successful with over 900 faithful attending the weekend Masses at St. Peter’s. In addition to those pictured, many more took home the information to prayerfully prepare, so they can later enroll with Friar Jobe. Next weekend, July 13-14, 2019, large crowds are also expected at St. Junipero Serra Parish (Seaside Park/Seaside Heights, NJ)
Congratulations, Fr. Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv.
Parishioners of our Jonesboro – GA pastoral ministry of 
Members of the 
itial year of formation, living in community in St. Bonaventure Friary (our Order’s North American 
As part of the celebrations, the three graduating Novices of our province were “Sent Forth” onto their continuing studies. The chapel was full as we vested the five new novices in the habit of our Order and sent forth friar Antonio Moualeu, OFM Conv. to further studies while living in community in San Damiano Friary (San Antonio, TX), as well as 
