Franciscans in War-Torn Ukraine: A few days after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, no one can remain indifferent. People are dying every day and the country we live in is falling into ruin before our eyes.

Carrollton Hall Historic Site is located on the grounds of The Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, MD. As a favorite granddaughter of Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, Emily Caton McTavish was gifted property known as Folly Quarter. The manor house built there was named Carrollton Hall, and a parcel of the vast estate grounds is now the site of several of our Province ministries, including: The Shrine of St. Anthony, Carrollton Hall Historic Site, our Provincial House, the Companions of St. Anthony, the Province FMA Office (Franciscan Mission Association), Franciscan Soy Candles, and Little Portion Farm. The property also includes several meditation trails & gardens, an outdoor Shrine of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., outdoor Stations of the Cross, and a peaceful Grotto. Many more projects are underway, as the property is evolving into one of the premier destinations for the faithful to find a location for peace and reflective tranquility.

In support of Ukraine, the evening lighting of Carrollton Hall was updated to yellow and blue. We unite ourselves with the Polish and Ukrainian friars of the Provincial Custody of the Holy Cross (Ukraine), a Custody of the Polish Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar (Kraków, Poland), with Pope Francis, and the Church throughout the world, on March 2, 2022, to fast in a special way for peace and an end to war!

Street Side View

Front – Field Side View

(Photo Cred: Michael Sawicki)

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Prayer for Peace

From our Curia:
Provincial Custody of the Holy Cross in the Ukraine: Press Release
Message from the Minister General

News from the Friars in Ukraine: 
I Leave My Peace to You
The Monastery in Bolshivtsi is Open to Refugees

Donate to help the people of Ukraine:
CRS Urgent Need in Ukraine
KofC Ukraine Solidarity Fund

The Minister General, Friar Carlos A. TROVARELLI, has been receiving many questions about the situation with our friars in the Ukraine, since the Russian aggression began on February 24, 2022.

Prayer for Peace
We fly to Your patronage,
O Virgin Mother of God.
Despise not our prayers in our needs,
but deliver us from all dangers,
since you alone are pure and blessed.
O most glorious Ever-Virgin Mary,
the Mother of Christ our God,
accept our prayers and present them to
Your Son and our God,
that for the sake of you,
He enlighten and save our souls.

The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help
or sought your intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired with confidence, I fly to you,
O virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you I come, before you I kneel,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy,
hear and answer me.
Amen.

Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace

Please keep in your prayers, the friars of our Order who live and serve in the Ukraine, including Bishop Edward Kawa, O.F.M. Conv. ~ Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Lviv, and the friars of the Provincial Custody of the Holy Cross, which is a Custody of the Polish Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar. 

NOTE: Although we could not find the original artist of the image of Our Lady, Protector of Ukraine, this March 4, 2022 online article in Catholic Standard, explains Mary holding a protective veil, as an echo of the Pokrov apparition, on October 1, 911.

Support the Friars Work in Ukraine | Our Lady of the Angels Province, USA (olaprovince.org)

Taken from our Order’s Website:

Dear Brothers,
Peace and All Good!
In the last few days, everyone around the world has become aware of the possibility of an armed conflict in Eastern Europe. This would involve various countries where our Order has a presence of friars.
Once again, the greatest powers in the world, for geopolitical reasons or other interests, are playing with the priceless gift of peace and the integrity of people both of which are gifts from God. Therefore, I, together with our confreres in those particular countries, and in the FEMO Federation, ask each community of the entire Order, to choose one day this week to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration and to pray the Holy Rosary asking for the gift of peace for this part of the world, and also for all other countries where peace is not respected.

We also ask our Seraphic Father St. Francis,
who lived and preached peace,
to intercede with God for peace in the world.

Therefore, this week (February 14-20, 2022) I ask all of our communities to please choose a day to devote to this prayer.

Again, I wish you peace and all good!
Friar Carlos Alberto TROVARELLI, Minister General
Order of Friars Minor Conventual

Video with English subtitles: