Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Harrisburg, will celebrate the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass with the friars of Mother Cabrini Friary (Fr. Martin Kobos, OFM Conv. – pastor, Fr. Edward Costello, OFM Conv., Fr. Adam Ziolkowski, OFM Conv. and Fr. Steven Frenier, OFM Conv. – pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Coal Township & St. Patrick Parish in Trevorton), staff and parishioners of Mother Cabrini Catholic Church and Our Lady of Hope Parish, on April 30, 2016. Bishop Gainer is joining in the celebration as part of the “Jubilee Year of Mercy” and to welcome the “Pilgrimage Relics of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv.” Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Rev. James McCurry, OFM Conv. will be the guest homilist. St. Maximilian was a Franciscan priest and took the place of a fellow prisoner who was about to be executed in the WWII Auschwitz Concentration Camp. 2016 marks the 75th Anniversary of St. Maximilian’s death. Our Province is sponsoring an East Coast of North America pilgrimage of St. Maximilian’s relics to commemorate this historic anniversary.
(Please note: the Mass will still occur on the 30th but the Bishop is no longer available to preside.)
In addition to the relic’s visit to Mother Cabrini Parish on April 30th, the relics will also visit the State Correctional Institution Coal Township Prison on Wednesday May 4th, for a 7:00 p.m. Vespers and Veneration. All are invited and encouraged to join Mother Cabrini Catholic Church for the April 30th Vigil Mass. On the weekend of May 6-8, 2016, St. Patrick Parish (Trevorton, PA) will welcome the relics. St. Patrick Parish is a beautiful church, full of rich history and along with Mother Cabrini Parish and Our Lady of Hope Parish, is one of the three pastoral ministries of our friars, in the area. Check out this St. Patrick Parish post on our website for more information.
Congratulations Friar Martin!
n Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2016, at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, Mother Cabrini Parish Community will celebrate the 40th Priesthood Ordination Anniversary of their pastor, Fr. Martin J. Kobos, OFM Conv.
The parish will host an 1:00 p.m. Anniversary Banquet, at Masser’s Banquet Hall and ask those who wish to attend to please RSVP to the parish office (570-648-4512) by noon, Monday, May 9th. There is limited seating so they ask that you please honor your reservation commitment if you plan to attend.
From April 19-24, 2016, the PILGRIMAGE OF THE RELIC OF ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE will be at our pastoral ministry of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, in Jonesboro, GA.
The friars living and serving there Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. (Guardian of the friary and pastor of St. Philip Benizi), Fr. Paul Miskiewicz, OFM Conv., Fr. Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv., Fr. Piotr Tymko, OFM Conv. and br. Colton Rodgers, OFM Conv. join with the staff and parishioners of the parish to invite everyone to the week’s events.
Tuesday, April 19th ~ 7:00 pm Reception of Relic, with a Prayer Service and Veneration
Wednesday, April 20th ~ 7:00 pm Archdiocesan Mass, with Veneration and Reception
Thursday, April 21st ~ 7:30 pm Mass in Spanish, with Veneration
Friday, April 22nd ~ 7:00 pm Movie on the life of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, OFM Conv.
Saturday, April 23rd ~ Relic on display in Gathering Space for Personal Veneration
Sunday, April 24th ~ Relic on display in Gathering Space for Personal Veneration
The relics as they were on display at Archbishop Curley High School, in Baltimore, MD. Note the reliquary on the left that holds a portion of his beard that in 1938 was shaved from Friar Maximilian. The base is shaped in the form of Poland covered in the “thorns” of occupation by the Third Reich. Out of those thorns, burst a lily of purity and a tulip of martyrdom. The relic strands of beard are encased in a glass circle entwined with our Franciscan knotted cord representing our Order’s vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. As this reliquary is delicate, there is an additional reliquary on the right also used for veneration.
Our 2016 Province Pilgrimage of the Relics of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. has traveled from our ministries in Maryland to those in Washington DC, North Carolina and Florida. On April 15th it will move onto our pastoral ministry of Holy Cross Catholic Church, in Atlanta, GA. The friars living in the friary there and serving the people of the parish and community, (Fr. Jude Michael Krill, OFM Conv. – pastor, Fr. Abelardo Huanca Martinez, OFM Conv. – parochial vicar, and Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. – parochial vicar) and as chaplain of Blessed Trinity Catholic High School (Fr. Reto Davatz OFM Conv.) invite everyone to join them in the celebrations planned for the weekend, as well as veneration after each regularly schedule weekend Mass (Saturday, April 16th ~ 5:00 p.m. in English & 6:30 p.m. in Spanish) (Sunday, April 17th ~ 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. 1:15 p.m. {Spanish} and the 5:30 p.m. Family Mass).
Friday April 15th ~ 7:00 p.m. Bilingual Evening Prayer Service of Welcoming
Saturday April 16th ~ 9:15 a.m. Mass in Honor of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv.
Holy Cross Catholic Church has many unique spiritual and festive events schedule throughout the year. On Saturday, May 21st they have organized a 5K Mass and Dash race to raise money for the Holy Cross Youth Scholarship Fund. Check out their website for more information about this ministry.
Original recording on March 5, 2016 at Marytown in Libertyville, Illinois for the Presentation and Celebration of the release of the first English translation of the complete works of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
The Our Lady of the Angels Province friars who serve at St. Lucie Catholic Church have planned a Kolbe Relic Day, Friday, April 1st.
After the 8:30 a.m. Mass, the relic will be displayed during
Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
After Benediction, there will be a 7:00 p.m. Service honoring the life of
St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv.,
a friar of the same Order (Conventual Franciscan) as our friars, including the pastor and parochial vicars of St. Lucie Catholic Church, Fr. Mark Szanyi, OFM Conv.,
Fr. Curt Kreml, OFM Conv., Fr. Paul Gabriel, OFM Conv. & Fr. Daniel Pal, OFM Conv.
The friars, staff and parishioners of St. Lucie Catholic Church look forward to your April visit.
FLORIDA St. Lucie Catholic Church, Port St. Lucie ~ April 1-3, 2016 St. Mark Catholic Church, Boynton Beach ~ April 8-10, 2016
Later in the Spring, the tour heads to our Northern ministries in Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, Ontario-Canada, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York City and New Jersey before returning Maryland for the August 14th Closing Ceremonies, at the Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City).
In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Conventual Franciscan Friar, St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., our province is in the midst of a Pilgrimage of the Relics of St. Maximilian Kolbe. From April 8-10, 2016, the relic will be available at our pastoral ministry of St. Mark Catholic Church in Boynton Beach, FL.
Pastor, Fr. Daniel Fink, OFM Conv. and
Parochial Vicars, Fr. Germain Kopaczynski, OFM Conv.,
Fr. Richard Florek, OFM Conv. and
Fr. Samuel Zebron, OFM Conv.
invite you to join them, their staff and the parishioners of St. Mark’s for the weekend veneration.Mass of Welcoming ~ 7:00 p.m., Friday ~ April 8th
Veneration Also Available During:
Reconciliation ~ 8:30-9:00 a.m. and 3:30-4:00 p.m., Saturday ~ April 9th
Vigil Masses ~ 4:00 and 5:45 p.m., Saturday ~ April 9th
Third Sunday of Easter Morning Masses ~ 7:30, 9:15 and 11:00 a.m., Sunday ~ April 9th
Third Sunday of Easter Afternoon Masses ~ 12:30 & 4:00 p.m. (Spanish), Sunday ~ April 9th
Relic Tour Background: To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe (a friar of our Order of Friars Minor Conventual who died in the World War II concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland) our friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province have sponsored a pilgrimage of St. Maximilian’s relics (consisting of fragments of his beard). This is the largest tour of St. Maximilian Kolbe relics in the United States. It began on January 15, 2016 with an Opening Mass celebrated by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., followed by veneration, held the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Maryland. The tour includes 38 of our friar’s ministry sites along the East Coast of the United States and Canada. The pilgrimage of St. Maximilian’s relics will return to our Ellicott City, MD ministry at the Shrine of St. Anthony for a concluding Closing Ceremony, on St. Maximilian’s Feast Day, August 14th.
Click the above image to order copies of St. Maximilian Kolbe: Martyr of Charity
April 15 – 17, 2016: Holy Cross Catholic Church host the Pilgrimage of the Relics of St. Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv. as the parish is incorporates this event into their ongoing celebrations for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. Other special events at the parish include a Divine Mercy Sunday (April 3) 3:00 p.m. celebration and attendance at the Atlanta Eucharistic Congress (June 3-4), in addition to the ongoing practice of praying the Prayer of His Holiness Pope Francis every Tuesday, after the 9:15 a.m. Mass, and praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, every Friday at 3:00 p.m. in their Adoration Chapel.
Please join the Holy Cross Catholic and the Our Lady of the Angels Province friars serving there (Pastor – Fr. Jude Michael Krill, OFM Conv., Parochial Vicars – Fr. Abelardo Huanca Martinez, OFM Conv. and Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv., as well as Fr. Reto Davatz, OFM Conv. who is in residence at the friary and serves as Chaplain of Blessed Trinity Catholic High School), for these relic veneration opportunities.
Friday, April 15, 2016: 7:00 p.m. Welcoming Bilingual Prayer Service (English and Spanish)
Saturday, April 16, 2016: 9:15 a.m. Mass in honor of Saint Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv.
The Relics will be respectfully displayed in the main sanctuary during all the regular Masses, with the opportunity for the veneration after each Mass: Saturday April 16 – 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Spanish) and Sunday April 17 – 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. (Spanish), 5:30 p.m. (Youth)
Among others, St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. is the patron saint of prisoners, media communications, journalists, eating disorders, families and the pro-life movement. He is also well known as the patron saint of people suffering from the disease of addiction. During the time that the Pilgrimage of the Relic of St. Maximilian Koble will be at our pastoral ministry of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, the parish will host a 7:00 p.m. non-denomination prayer service, held on Wednesday, March 16th. If you or someone you love suffers from addiction or if you want to pray for those who do, please feel free to join them for this prayerful event.
In addition to the prayer service, please join Our Lady of the Angels Province friars,
Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv. (Pastor) & Fr. Joe Angelini, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar),
and the parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy parish for veneration of the relics from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, March 16-17, 2016.
You are also encouraged to begin your morning at the Parish’s 8:30 a.m. Daily Mass and then stay for some peaceful and prayerful veneration each of those days.
The Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church location is the last opportunity for veneration in North Carolina. The relics will be moving onto our two pastoral ministries in Florida. The first weekend in April, the tour continues with a stop at St. Lucie Catholic Church, in Port St. Lucie.
The friars serving there, including the Pastor – Fr. Mark Szanyi, OFM Conv. and Parochial Vicars – Fr. Curt Kreml, OFM Conv., Fr. Paul Gabriel, OFM Conv. and Fr. Daniel Pal, OFM Conv., look forward to your visit. Check back to our website for another new News Item with more details or call St. Lucie Parish at (772) 878-1215 .
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church is also a Holy Door location for the Diocese of Charlotte. Take this opportunity to enter through the Holy Door for this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, celebrate the Eucharist with the parish family and venerate the Relics of The Martyr of Charity, St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. Consider visiting Friar Carl at Our Lady of Fatima Mission (211 West Third Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101) while you are in the area on Wednesday, as Confessions are heard from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This will lead you one step closer to obtaining a Year of Mercy Jubilee Indulgence ~ (requirements: 1. Cross through a Holy Door signalling the deep desire for true conversion. 2. Go to confession. 3. Receive the Holy Eucharist “with a reflection of mercy.” 4. Make a profession of faith. 5. Pray for the pope and for his intentions.)
Order your own copy of this interpretive biography of Coventual Franciscan Friar and Martyr of Charity, St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., written by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James E. McCurry OFM Conv.
Follow up by Friar Carl: Our Lady of Mercy hosted the relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe from March 16-17, 2016. The Charlotte Catholic community came to venerate the relic and learn more about this Polish martyr. About 200 people to celebrate St. Maximilian Kolbe’s life and death. On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, Our Lady of Mercy celebrated with a prayer service for those suffering from addictions of any sorts and for their families. Two local protestant ministers came and provided meditations on scripture passages from the Gospel of St. Luke and then gave recovery witness talks to the community and invited those present to give witness to the disease of addiction. 75 people attended and a rock band from a neighboring parish provided the music for the occasion. God certainly provided His Holy Spirit to bring so many good people to Our Lady of Mercy Church to venerate St. Maximilian Kolbe life.
To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., our province has sponsored a pilgrimage tour of 1st degree relics (fragments of his beard). This is the largest tour of St. Maximilian Kolbe relics in North America and will span the entire East Coast territory of the province. The relics have been in North Carolina since the end of February and will next visit St. Julia Catholic Church in Siler City (March 11th-13th). The Polish Community will be celebrating Mass on Sunday, March 13th at 2:00 p.m. Lenten Lamentations (traditional Lenten service) will be chanted at 1:30 pm in the church and the Mass will be followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Friar Jacek Laszczynski, OFM Conv. and the parishioners of (Iglesia Catolica de St. Julia) St. Julia Catholic Church welcome and invite you all to celebrate in the presence of the relics of this great Martyr of the 20th century and pray with them in his native language.
The parishioners of St. Julia performed a play about the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, including this moment when he, as a small child, was offered the crown of purity and the crown of martyrdom by Our Lady. He chose both.
Parishioners of St. Julia portray the condemned prisoners in prayer alongside St. Maximilian Kolbe.
NewsItem.com May 1, 2106 Article
Our Province is sponsoring an East Coast of North America pilgrimage of St. Maximilian’s relics to commemorate this historic anniversary. 
