July 6, 2018: Friar Gerard Mary Toman, OFM Conv., a friar of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody in Great Britain/Ireland (aka The Greyfriars), was Ordained to the Priesthood by the Right Reverend William Kenney CP, Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Birmingham, England. The 1:00 p.m. ordination took place at the Church of The Precious Blood of Our Lord and All Souls, in Coventry, England. Fr. Gerard Mary’s First Mass was celebrated on July 7th, at All Souls and he now serves at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Congratulations, Fr. Gerald Mary Toman, OFM Conv.!
Fr. Maximilian Avila Pacheco, OFM Conv., one of the recently ordained friars of our province, shares a reflection on his summer pilgrimage:
“From Sunday July 22nd to Saturday 28th, I walked the last portion of ‘El Camino de Santiago.’ El Camino, know in English as ‘The Way of Saint James,’ is a pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle James the Greater in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. I started walking at Ponferrada, about 130 miles away from Compostela, where the Spanish Conventual Franciscan province has a house to care for pilgrims, and walked an average of 20 miles daily. Needless to say, it was a demanding adventure, but the prize is worth a thousandfold. Once I arrived in Compostela and prayed at the tomb of Saint James, all physical pain disappeared and joy came to my soul. After six long and excruciating days of walking, the feeling and the emotion of reaching the resting place of the apostle is something that words cannot describe. Simply, it was a wonderful experience! Moreover, I was able to concelebrate Mass at the Cathedral on Saturday and Sunday, where I prayed for the Friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, and specially for each ‘James’ in the province.”
Friar Max is a new instructor at our St. Francis High School (Athol Springs, NY) ministry.
Please keep him, and all of the members of the St. Francis High School family, in your prayers.
Click here to listen to his May 1, 2018 reflection on Religious Brother’s Day & the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
On September 8, 2018, the friars of our province look forward to a much anticipated celebratory weekend! Not only is September 8th the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but during the noon Mass at our Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, MD, friar Emmanuel Wenke, OFM Conv. will Profess Solemn Vows, in the presence of pilgrims, confreres, family, friends and special guests.
Our friars spend many years in preparation and formation before professing the Solemn Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Part of the preparation includes a Solemn Vow Pilgrimage and Retreat with other members from our Order – Franciscan Friars Conventual (OFM Conv.) as well as members of the other two First Order Franciscans (Order of Friars Minor) – Friars Minor (OFM) and the Capuchins (OFM Cap). Each branch of our First Order Franciscans is rooted in the original charism of Francis, through which they find a shared sense of brotherhood.
The Shrine of St. Anthony is where friar Manny’s life as a Franciscan Friar began, in 2012. At that time, the Postulancy of our Province was located in the Shrine’s St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, where the men in this first stage of formation lived, worked and studied under their Formators, Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. and Br. Daniel Geary, OFM Conv. During that year, there were sixteen friars residing in the two friaries located on the Ellicott City property. Those men included several senior friars, the friars in formation and our Province Friar Leadership.
On July 4, 2013 friar Manny was “blessed and sent forth” to the Novitiate (then located in Mishawaka, IN), by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. He was then vested in the habit of our Order at the Rite of Investiture at the Chapel of our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (Marytown, Libertyville, IL), on July 24, 2013.
After his time of formation as a Novice in Mishawaka, under the guidance of Formators, Fr. Giles Zakowicz, OFM Conv. & Br. Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv., friar Manny professed First (Simple/Temporary) Vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual July 25, 2014. He then moved into our Post Novitiate stage of formation in the St. Bonaventure Friary (Silver Spring, MD); a friary of eight student friars, their formators; Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. & Br. Jim Moore, OFM Conv. and Friar in Residence, Fr. John Burkhard, OFM Conv. During his years there, in addition to discerning to serve as a friar brother, he continued his studies at the Catholic University of America and graduated on May 13, 2017, with his B.A. in Theology & Religious Studies and Certificate of Pastoral Ministry. That next July 1st, during his summer assignment assisting with our Senior Friars in our Immaculate Conception Friary (Rensselaer, NY) the Guardian there, Fr. Tony Kall, OFM Conv. received br. Manny’s Renewal of Temporary Vows during the Community Eucharist, in which several members of br Manny’s family were able to participate.
In August 2017, br. Manny moved to our Immaculate Heart of Mary Friary and was assigned to Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore, MD) where he serves as a Theology Instructor.
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel of Matthew 1:18-23
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., a friar from our province serving as Bishop of Savannah, GA, issued this July 30, 2018 statement on the resignation of Theodore E. McCarrick.
Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, Fr. Vincent Rubino, OFM Conv. (2nd from left) and Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv. (far right) during a Wednesday, August 1, Day 9 Liturgy
One of 28 Minister Provincials from around the world, the Friar James McCurry, OFM Conv., our Minister Provincial is in attendance. (Friar Michael Zielke, OFM Conv. who is also of our province but serving as Minister Provincial for the St. Bonaventure Province is also in attendance.)
Our two Custos are included among the 18 Provincial Custos representing Provincial Custodies: Friar Ronaldo Gomes da Silva, OFM Conv. (Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M – Brazil) and Friar Ciprian Budau, OFM Conv. (Provincial Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa – Great Britain/Ireland).
Serving as two of the 25 Provincial Delegates are Friar Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. and Friar Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv. are on hand. Friar Tim also serves as Secretary General of the Chapter.
Two of the 12 Interpreters serving the friar participants are Friar Julio Martinez, OFM Conv. (ESP-ENG-ITA) and Friar Vincent Rubino, OFM Conv. (ENG-ESP).
In addition, two friars from other provinces who serve in our province are also working as Interpreters, Friar Marek Wilk, OFM Conv. (POL-ESP) & Friar Piotr Tymko, OFM Conv. (POL-ENG), who are both of the of the Polish Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar.
Keep in your prayers these and all of the Franciscan Friars Conventual from around the world, who are spending these five weeks in prayerful fraternity, meeting to discuss the Constitutions of the Order, promoting the prophetic vision, the mission, and the significance of Conventual Franciscan religious life in the Church and in today’s world.
From the Event’s Liturgy of the Hours: Lord, strength of living things God immutable, eternal, you mark the rhythms of the world: the days, the centuries, the time. Fill the evening with your light, which rises beyond death, to the splendor of the heavens, to become a day without sunset. Praise be to the Father Most High to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, now and ever shall be. Amen
Friar James joins a few friars from around the world to find “home” on the globe.
Some of the Interpreters, including Our Lady of the Angels Province’s Friar Julio (center)
Friar Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. preparing for the next session.
Friar Jobe joyfully waiting to begin.
Beautiful Nemi, Italy
August 4th-5th: Friars James and Jobe, made an overnight trip to Assisi, where Friar James met with Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, Fr. Martin Breski, OFM Conv. and Fr.Daniel Quakenbush, OFM Conv., as well as the three Novices of our Provincial Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa (friar Osvaldo Lopez-Figueroa, OFM Conv. friar Joseph David Freeman, OFM Conv. and friar Kieran John Murphy, OFM Conv.)
Friar Martin, Friar James & Friar Dan outside of the Sacro Convento of the Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi
As the friars are entering the last week of the Extraordinary General Chapter, Friar James shares some more photos from the event, including some time they were able to spend with the friars and pilgrims participating in the 8th International Youth Toward Assisi Meeting (Giovani Verso).
Friar James is flanked by the two Custos serving our Province Custodies. At left is Friar Ciprian Budău, OFM Conv. of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody in Great Britain & Ireland. At the right is Frei Ronaldo Gomes da Silva, OFM Conv. of our Immaculate Conception Custody in Brazil.
Friars preparing for Mass, including our own Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. (on the isle-third row)
Our own Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv. busy at his duties.
Friar Vincent (left) in the tight cell he shared with some of the other friars serving as interpreters.
Friar Julio (right) enjoying a bit of a break from his interpreter duties.
August 22, 2018: Ministers Provincial, Custodes, Assistant General, Chapter Delegates and our friar Translators at the Extraordinary General Chapter, at the CFF (Conventual Franciscan Federation – Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, and the USA) outside of the “Ad Gentes Center,” in Nemi, Italy.
Hilbert College Names Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Michael Sajda, OFM Conv., as Interim President Sept. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018, when a new permanent president is named. Friar Michael will continue to serve as President of St. Francis High School (Athol Springs, NY).
“I am both honored and humbled to be appointed to serve as Hilbert’s interim president, beginning for the fall semester. I look forward to having the opportunity to speak and work with Hilbert’s students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni and community partners.”
July 19, 2018 post on Fair Farms Maryland, by Shelby Kalm in collaboration with Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. ~ Province Chairman of the JPIC Commission.
During this summer, Our Lady of the Angels Province student friars served in several different ministries throughout our province. St. Paul Parish (Kensington CT) is one of our pastoral ministries and was the summer home of friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. At the beginning of his summer assignment, the parish created a short video introduction for friar Franck that included a conversation with some of the parish school’s 8th grade students.
Now that his summer assignment is coming to an end, he shared with us a reflection:
“Pace e bene” “I am ending my summer assignment here at St. Paul Parish by visiting some of the ‘Giants’ of the Order. I asked Fr. Raymond Borkowski, OFM Conv. if he could take me to Enflield CT, so that I could visit our friars. It was an amazing experience. I was able to meet and talk to all the friars in residence. With a big smile Fr. Lucjan Krolikowski, OFM Conv.* said to me, ‘next year I will be 99 and I plan to make it to my 100 birthday.’ As I leaned over to give him a hug, he grabbed my hands and gave me a blessing (in Latin). His Latin is still sharp as a tack. It is a blessing to have so many wonderful ‘Giants’ in the Franciscan Order, and by giants I am referring to a quote by Sir Isaac Newton who said, ‘If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.'”
With every good wish;
And a gratefully heart,
Your Brother Franck Lino S. OFM Conv
Keep me in your Prayers
*Friar Lucjan is the oldest friar of our province.
His 1st Profession was in 1939 – a week before his 20th birthday.
His Solemn Profession was in 1945.
In 2016, he celebrated his 70th Jubilee of his Ordination to the Priesthood.
Our province has eight senior friars living in a care facility in Enfield, run by the Felician Sisters.
On October 17, 2018, from 6-9:00 p.m., our Saint Kateri National Shrine and Historic Site (Fonda, NY) will hold an 80th Anniversary Celebration at the River Stone Manor (Glenville, NY). The Most Reverend Edward B. Scharfenberger, Bishop of Albany will be the honoree of the event and the proceeds will benefit the Shrine. Those in attendance will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a cash bar. The evening will also include a Silent Auction. Purchase Tickets
One of two shrine and historic site ministries of our friars, this site is dedicated to St. Kateri Tekakwitha, a 17th-century Mohawk woman born in present-day Auriesville and sits on the land where St. Kateri lived for a decade. In 1938, Fr. Thomas Grassman, OFM Conv., a Franciscan Friar Conventual, a historian and an archaeologist founded the Fonda Memorial of Catherine Tekakwitha near Fonda, New York, in the vicinity of the Mohawk settlement Caughnawaga, where Catholic convert Kateri Tekakwitha lived from 1656-1680, and been baptized at Catherine. In 1950, Friar Thomas led a six year dig discovering a fortified, gated wooden double stockade (the castle) and 12 elm bark covered long houses inhabited by the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk from 1666-1693. The Caughnawaga Castle Site was declared a National Historical Place in 1973. In 1980, (Saint) Pope John Paul II declared Kateri as “Blessed” and the site became an official Shrine. Canonized in 2012, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the “Lily of the Mohawks” is considered a patron saint of peace and ecology.
Under the current Direction of Rita Gullion, with Spiritual Direction of Shrine Chaplain, Fr. Timothy Lyons, OFM Conv., the main building, an 18th century barn, houses the St. Peter’s Chapel on the second floor with a Native American Museum below. The Shrine grounds offer multiple walking trails, visits to the site of the village and the baptismal place of St. Kateri, as well as a gift shop.
In mid-July, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and Associate Chaplain for Catholic Life of the Catholic Campus Ministry at Elon University, Fr. Peter Tremblay, OFM Conv. led a group of 17 students as participants in Passages Israel.
Through the Christian organization, Passages, Christian college students are offered the opportunity to see the Holy Land, visiting the Biblical sites in Galilee and Jerusalem. Participants were introduced to the contemporary political situation in Israel, while being afforded the opportunity to visit notable locations such as Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, the Dead Sea where they were able to take a swim, the Jordan River where they rededicated their baptism, and the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Friar Peter even had the opportunity to celebrate a Sunday Liturgy for the students at the Franciscan Chapel of the Apparition, in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during this powerful and memorable trip.
Learn more about the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, with a focus on the Franciscan Chapel of the Apparition starting at 4:39, in this video created by JerusalemExperience.com.
July 6, 2018: Friar Gerard Mary Toman, OFM Conv., a friar of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody in Great Britain/Ireland (aka The Greyfriars), was Ordained to the Priesthood by the Right Reverend William Kenney CP, Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Birmingham, England. The 1:00 p.m. ordination took place at the Church of The Precious Blood of Our Lord and All Souls, in Coventry, England. Fr. Gerard Mary’s First Mass was celebrated on July 7th, at All Souls and he now serves at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Congratulations, Fr. Gerald Mary Toman, OFM Conv.!
I started walking at Ponferrada, about 130 miles away from Compostela, where the Spanish Conventual Franciscan province has a house to care for pilgrims, and walked an average of 20 miles daily. Needless to say, it was a demanding adventu
re, but the prize is worth a thousandfold. Once I arrived in Compostela and prayed at the tomb of Saint James, all physical pain disappeared and joy came to my soul. 
After six long and 
At that time, the Postulancy of our Province was located in the Shrine’s St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, where the men in this first stage of formation lived, worked and studied under their Formators, Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. and Br. Daniel Geary, OFM Conv. During that year, there were sixteen friars residing in the two friaries located on the Ellicott City property. Those men included several senior friars, the friars in formation and our Province Friar Leadership. 
He then moved into our Post Novitiate stage of formation in the St. Bonaventure Friary (Silver Spring, MD); a friary of eight student friars, their formators; Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. & Br. Jim Moore, OFM Conv. and Friar in Residence, Fr. John Burkhard, OFM Conv. During his years there, in addition to discerning to serve as a friar brother, he continued his studies at the Catholic University of America and graduated on May 13, 2017, with his B.A. in Theology & Religious Studies and Certificate of Pastoral Ministry.
That next July 1st, during his summer assignment assisting with our Senior Friars in our Immaculate Conception Friary (Rensselaer, NY) the Guardian there, Fr. Tony Kall, OFM Conv. received br. Manny’s Renewal of Temporary Vows during the Community Eucharist, in which several members of br Manny’s family were able to participate.
Hilbert College Names Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Michael Sajda, OFM Conv., as Interim President Sept. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018, when a new permanent president is named. Friar Michael will continue to serve as President of St. Francis High School (Athol Springs, NY).
“I am ending my summer assignment here at St. Paul Parish by visiting some of the ‘Giants’ of the Order. I asked Fr. Raymond Borkowski, OFM Conv. if he could take me to Enflield CT, so that I could visit our friars. It was an amazing experience. I was able to meet and talk to all the friars in residence. With a big smile 
In mid-July, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and Associate Chaplain for Catholic Life of the 
