A reflection by student friar, br. Cristofer M. Fernández, OFM Conv. (photo at Little Portion Farm)

GMU Catholic Campus Ministry has invited br. Cristofer Fernández, OFM Conv. to be the speaker for their April 7, 2022 “Thursday Night Streams.” The purpose of the weekly speaker series is “to tackle a wide range of topics from social justice issues, being known and loved by God, to Church teaching on human sexuality, and everything in between. This podcast is a recording of our Thursday Night Supper talk series that fosters an environment for fellowship and faith formation at George Mason University.” These events include Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Mass, Dinner and then the Talk. Friar Cristofer is a student friar of our province in continued studies at The Catholic University of America (Washington DC). He is also an alumni of George Mason University (Class of 2017) and he returns to his alma mater to present: Franciscan Roots & Shoots of Laudato Si: Ecotheology, Catholic Social Teaching, & Caring for Our Common Home. Although GMU will not be streaming live video of the event, they will post a recording afterwards for those who may be interested.

To further our Little Portion Farm’s efforts in educating and inspiring our community about sustainable agriculture, they have decided to host a film series! The first screening will be held in just a few weeks on Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00 p.m. in the “Glass Room” in The Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD). The first film is entitled “Sustainable.” It is an uplifting film “about the land, the people who work it and what must be done to sustain it for future generations.” More details about the film, as well as the trailer, can be viewed here. 
Tickets are being sold for $10 each to help us cover the costs of the licensing fee to screen the films. If you would like to attend, please pre-purchase a ticket here to reserve your spot. Our current capacity is 60 attendees, so grab a ticket before we sell out! Hope to see you there! 

After a hiatus over the winter, we have much to share in this first newsletter of the year!

Three Our Lady of the Angels Province friars reside in the Blessed Sacrament Friary, in Burlington, NC. Friar Peter Tremblay, OFM Conv. serves as Associate Chaplain for Catholic Life and Catholic Campus Minister at Elon University. The other two friars there, Friar Paul Lininger, OFM Conv. and Friar Vincent Rubino, OFM Conv. serve as Pastor and Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community, which includes a parish and a parochial school. This past February 2022, the parish installed Solar Panels on the roof of the church, and some of the school students were able to walk over and ask questions during the installation. This project is one of many solar panel projects throughout our province ministries and provides another example of our friars living our Franciscan Charism of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC).

Some thoughts on the project:

• One Year In the Making:
  • Consultations
  • Diocesan Regulators
  • Financial Resources
  • Deciding to Lease or Purchase System
  • Selection of Solar Company
• Project Costs Total – $215,000
• Parish Sought Grant Relief Total – $125,000
  • $75,000 from Duke Energy Rebate
  • $50,000 Outside Grant
• Balance – $90,000
  • Parishioner Contributions
  • One Parishioner Matched Funds Gifted – Huge Supporter of Solar Energy
• All Costs Met to Purchase the System
  • Parish Receiving Utility Costs Benefits Immediately
  • Interconnector Meter ‘going backwards’ for the Church

If any other parish community is thinking about moving forward with solar panels, our Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community is happy to share their experience in the process as well as potential resources for assistance.

Over the winter, our usual monthly newsletter takes a break since the farm is much quieter in the colder months. Yet today is the midpoint between the winter and spring solstices, so we are taking this opportunity to provide a brief midwinter update on some farm happenings. 

After a few frosts, the farm has now begun it’s transformation for the winter. Some plants, like tomatoes, have already been removed to make way for other crops we planted earlier this month, including a cover crop of winter rye that will help protect the soil over the winter and early spring.

”These young people are really steadfast in their pursuit for justice,” said Franciscan Br. Cristofer Fernández, a conservation ecologist and volunteer climate justice coordinator for Catholic Climate Covenant, who visited the hunger strikers.