September 8, 2018: The postulants helped raise funds and awareness to end hunger, through the 33rd Annual Hunger Walk – supporting the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s network of soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters. It is Chicago’s largest annual anti-hunger rally and this year over twelve thousand participants raised more than $190,000.
The week after Thanksgiving, Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. of our province’s Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Ministry met with all of the postulants of the Conventual Franciscan Postulancy USA, in Chicago, IL for two days of JPIC workshops.
Roberto (Our Lady of Consolation Province):
“I can personally relate to a lot of what was being mentioned in the workshop. Coming from México and being raised in two different cultures was a challenge but it is certainly one that helped me to more fully understand our current political climate. Definitely learned a lot and am looking forward for what God and the world has to offer in my vocation. Gracias y que Dios los bendiga.”
Luke (Our Lady of the Angels Province):
“Social justice begins in our stories. As Christians our stories carry the power and presence of Christ, our Brother and Healer. Humanity today is ‘Doubting Thomas’ and we must show unbelieving Thomas our wounds, which have become scars by the life and light of Christ. Catherine Doherty says it well enough: the time of ‘mere talking is over.’ We must live the Gospel without compromise, because when we don’t, who will?”
Alex (Our Lady of Consolation Province):
“I gained a substantial knowledge on how to live out the vow of poverty in a way that supports the poor and the environment. Spending a little extra and investing a little more energy in order to support the poor is a part of our charism.”
Christopher (Our Lady of the Angels Province):
“In the past 10 years of my life I have been very humbled in encountering the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth around the world. It’s been really eye opening to meet people and explore places that experience varying dimensions of poverty—even here in the US. What a blessing it is now at this point in my life and my vocation to begin developing my understanding of JPIC in a Franciscan framework. With my continued exploration of foundational principles in caring for creation and for our common home I have become more confident in living out Laudato Si and integrating a more holistic lense and approach to matters of poverty and environment. I consider it an obligation in our world to use the privileges afforded me as a first-generation, Latino-American, Catholic, Ecologist, to aid in local and global discussions regarding JPIC and actually heeding the gospel calling to be Christ to others and renew the face of the earth for the glory of our Creator.”
The encyclical — as well as the government’s report — serves to remind the human family that the focus is not what’s best for an individual or one country, but what’s best for the entire planet, said Father Michael Lasky, a Conventual Franciscan who serves as director of Justice, Peace and Care for Creation Ministry for the order’s Our Lady of Angels Province based in Ellicott City, Maryland…
“We are brother and sister to one another. In that context, don’t you sacrifice for the one you love, especially if the one you love is hurting? That means we have to live differently. We have to do a radical shift,” Father Lasky said
Fr. Michael Martin, OFM Conv. serves as Director of Campus Ministry at the Duke Catholic Center (Duke University). Each year, he shares weekly reflections for Advent and for Lent.
A Message from Br. Ed Handy, OFM Conv. “Rejoice with me,”
with great joy and thanksgiving to Almighty God, after 30 years of ministry with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ! In 1988, I began a ministry as a teacher of special education with the Mt. Carmel Guild School for Students with special needs. Eight years later I was assigned to St. Bridget’s Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Program for Homeless Men Living with HIV/AIDS as a residential counselor. This year, after 22 years at St. Bridget’s, I retired from Catholic Charities and will move from Clifton, NJ. to my birth city of Baltimore in the near future.
__________________________________________
The following excerpt was taken from a post on our site, where Brother Ed shared this description of his ministry of service with St. Bridget’s Residence Program:
St. Bridget’s is one of many community services provided by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. It is not a hospice nor a medical facility, but a transitional housing program, providing a safe and healthy environment necessary to enable each resident to empower himself with skills necessary to obtain a permanent home.
“Ministering to homeless men with HIV/AIDS at St. Bridget’s reminds me of how St. Francis, with love and compassion, approached the leper 800 years ago. Many of our men have shared with me their personal stories of how they have been rejected by society, family and friends because of their HIV/AIDS condition. Much education is still needed in this area. ‘What you did for the least of these…, you did for me’ (Mt 25:40). This is our testimony and our challenge to offer a better life for those who seek our services. My weekly ministry hours and days at St. Bridget’s are from 3:00 p.m. to 12.00 a.m. – Monday through Friday. Compassion and Service has been the hallmark of my … years ministering at St. Bridget’s.“
Chairman of the Revision Committee ~ Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv.:
On this day, November 29, 2018, the Feast of All Franciscan Saints and the anniversary of the solemn approval of the Rule of St. Francis, November 29, 1223, the Prefect of the Congregation of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, João Cardinal Braz DE AVIZ, has issued the decree approving the revised text of the Constitutions of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.
friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. ~ While still a full time student at The Catholic University of America (CUA-Washington DC), part of his friar formation includes serving as the Youth & Young Adult Minister of our Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, MD.
Born in Lome, Togo, friar Franck immigrated to the United States with his family, in 2006. Before professing Simple Vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels, he was studying, philosophy, political science and foreign languages. After visiting many Orders, friar Franck felt called to the Conventuals as he experienced our ministries, spirituality and community lifestyle. He enjoys reading, learning, and the outdoors, is very devoted to Our Lady and is fascinated by the lives of the Saints.
Message from friar Franck: “All is well here in the St. Bonaventure Friary – House of Studies (Silver Spring, MD) and the student friars send our greetings. As we are all gearing up for final exams, please keep us in your prayers.”
Shrine of St. Anthony Mass to end the celebratory year commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Militia of the Immaculata by St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., on October 16, 1917. The Mass was celebrated by the Shine Director, Fr. Eric de la Peña, OFM Conv., served by friar Franck.
Kolbe Room at the Shrine
On the 16th of October, the end of the year of celebrating the 100th Anniversary of establishment of the Militia of the Immaculata (MI), a special Mass was offered at our Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD). The friars serving there also initiated a successful general meeting for all those interested in becoming members of the MI. The already established Washington DC – Mission Immaculatae Capital 16670 Village (young adults) was invited to extent its territory to include members through our Shrine of St Anthony.
On a crisp evening, Friday – October 19th, the Shrine hosted a bonfire gathering, with youth and young adult participants from Washington DC (especially CUA), Baltimore, Ellicott City and other surrounding areas, including some student friars from Silver Spring. Among those enjoying the event were Shrine Director – Fr. Eric and Our Lady of the Angels Province’s newest Solemnly Professed friar, Br. Emmanuel “Manny” Wenke, OFM Conv., who was able to take a bit of a break from his busy schedule teaching at Archbishop Curly High School, in Baltimore. The friars counted 25 young adults in attendance and ended the evening with night prayer in the Shrine’s Chapel. It was truly a great night for the books.
The Shrine’s first Taizé night was held on November 19th and it was very beautiful. The chapel was certainly not empty, and the prayer service went really well. Again, people came from all over the area. In addition to our Conventual friars on hand, some OFM Postulants made the drive from Silver Spring, as did some of our Capuchin brothers from Washington DC. The schola was filled with students from CUA, including several friars from our house of studies. Participants also included attendees from Archbishop Curley High School, as well as friar Franck’s brother, nephew and sister-in-law traveling from Richmond, VA.
Adding to the joy of the event, on the following day, Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, was able to personally bless our Taizé Cross, on his visit to the Shrine. Another Taizé night is in the works for Lent 2019. We will keep you posted.
In celebration of the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order, our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. was the featured homilist at the November 29, 2018 Daily Catholic Mass Live Broadcast on EWTN. On this day in 1223, The Rule for Franciscans was issued by Pope Honorius III, in the eighth year of his pontificate. To commemorate this event, each November 29th, all the saints of the Franciscan order are remembered at Franciscan churches around the world.
Later that same day, he was interviewed as a guest on EWTN’s Life on the Rock.
Back in March of 2018, in preparation for the 2019, 800thAnniversary of the meeting of St. Francis and Sultan Al-Kamil, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv., who serves as Campus Minister for the Syracuse University / SUNY ESF Catholic community, joined the students he serves in welcoming the SU Muslim Student Association to share in a delicious Mediterranean dinner, followed by the viewing of the movie The Sultan and the Saint, at the SU Catholic Center on Walnut Place. Conversations at dinner and the dialogue that followed the movie were heart-warming as well as challenging. Muslim Chaplain – Amir Duric and Friar Gerry shared stories of their personal faith journeys as well as their collaborative inter-faith work in which they are engaged via the university’s Hendricks Chapel. Another inter-faith event is planned at the SU Catholic Center for Thursday, November 29th, when all three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) on the Syracuse University campus will come together to make sandwiches for the poor in downtown and Northside Syracuse.
Friar Matt currently serves our province as an Instructor & Director of Campus Ministry at our St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, NY, while also serving as Guardian of the St. Francis Friary. A native of Massachusetts, Friar Matt first professed vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual in 2004. Ordained to the priesthood in 2009, he began 10 years of service at our Baltimore high school ministry of Archbishop Curley High School, where he taught and served as Campus Minister, as well as Guardian of our Immaculate Heart of Mary Friary, until his August 2018 move to NY.
Friar Matt encourages those interested to book your pilgrimage before January 31, 2019 to receive a $100 discount. If you can pay by cash or check, you will also receive an additional $110 discount. Take advantage of the two discount options and your pilgrimage cost is $3599!
A Message from Br. Ed Handy, OFM Conv.
friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. ~ While still a full time student at The Catholic University of America (CUA-Washington DC), part of his friar formation includes serving as the Youth & Young Adult Minister of our 
On a crisp evening, Friday – October 19th, the Shrine hosted a bonfire gathering, with youth and young adult participants from Washington DC (especially CUA), Baltimore, Ellicott City and other surrounding areas, including some student friars from Silver Spring. Among those enjoying the event were Shrine Director – Fr. Eric and Our Lady of the Angels Province’s newest Solemnly Professed friar, Br. Emmanuel “Manny” Wenke, OFM Conv., who was able to take a bit of a break from his busy schedule teaching at Archbishop Curly High School, in Baltimore. The friars counted 25 young adults in attendance and ended the evening with night prayer in the Shrine’s Chapel. It was truly a great night for the books.
The Shrine’s first 
Later that same day, he was interviewed as a guest on EWTN’s 
Friar Matt currently serves our province as an Instructor & Director of Campus Ministry at our St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, NY, while also serving as Guardian of the St. Francis Friary. A native of Massachusetts, Friar Matt first professed vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual in 2004. Ordained to the priesthood in 2009, he began 10 years of service at our Baltimore high school ministry of Archbishop Curley High School, where he taught and served as Campus Minister, as well as Guardian of our Immaculate Heart of Mary Friary, until his August 2018 move to NY. 
