Each year, on Good Shepherd Sunday (April 25 this year), the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. As revealed in the name, the day is an opportunity for Catholics around the globe to pray more intentionally for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and the diaconate.
Holy Thursday Mass in the Novitiate Chapel, celebrated by Fr. Maurice “Moe” Richard, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province – Assistant Director of the Novitiate) and concelebrated by Friar Julian.
On Good Friday, Friar Moe was assisted by friar Jonathan and friar Edgar
Although the Novices are spending a year and a day in the prayerful confines of this Novitiate community, their formators make sure they have moments of joyful fraternal celebration breaks from their studies of Franciscan History, Franciscan Spirituality, Rule and Constitutions of the Order, Liturgical – Devotional – Contemplative Prayer, History of Consecrated Life, and the Gospel Counsels. The Communal Prayer life in fraternity nourishes the Novices souls, and they are happy to also share in traditional celebrations that nourish their bodies, like an Easter Feast which even included a Baranek Wielkanocny (Paschal Butter Lamb), displayed by friar Edgar.
The Our Lady of the Angels Province friars pictured here, who are not in the prior photos above are: friar Michael Boes, OFM Conv. – Novice – bottom 3rd from left & friar Bram De Backer, OFM Conv. – Novice – bottom 3rd from right. Several friars of St. Joseph of Cupertino Province are also pictured here: Friar Jacob Carazo, OFM Conv. – Vicar Provincial , Friar Jerry Payne, OFM Conv. – Novitiate Formation Team, Friar John Farao, OFM Conv. – Prison Chaplain, and the other Novice – friar Wayne Mulei, OFM Conv. (top right)]
A message from the friars of the Novitiate: “Happy Easter from all of us here at St. Francis of Assisi Novitiate. May the Risen Lord bless you and keep you. Alleluia!”
Tuesday, March 30, 2021: The friars at the Convento San Pietro – Collegio dei Penitenzieri Vaticani (Friary of St. Peter – The College of Penitentiaries) had a visit from Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv. (Archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vicar General for the Vatican State, and president of the Fabric of Saint Peter). Some photos were taken of the visit with the friars on their patio, which overlooks St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Gardens (Shown above and home to the Franciscan Friars Conventual who serve as Confessors at the Vatican, including Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. John Voytek, OFM Conv., pictured at top left). The friars of the Penitenzieri presented Cardinal Gambetti with a Saint Joseph icon (below), who also visited the friary chapel (at left).
March 21, 2021: The City of Chicopee, MA honored Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Joe Bayne, OFM Conv. with a celebration honoring him for his selfless service to the St. Stanislaus Community and the men and women of the Chicopee Fire Department. Additionally, Friar Joe was honored for his Birthday (March 15), Feast Day (March 19th), and Belated 35th Ordination Anniversary. A very large amount of Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr parishioners joined in a Car Parade to extend their well wishes to their Beloved Pastor; a much-loved Shepherd to the St. Stanislaus Community. “We are so blessed to have him as our humble Shepherd!” ~ DQ Diane LaCosse
“Christ Carrying the Cross” is an oil painting by El Greco, produced early in his Toledo period circa de 1580.
March 29, 2021: Our friars serving at The Catholic University of America (Washington, DC), Fr. Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv., Fr Louis Maximilian Smith, OFM Conv., Fr. Albert Puliyadan, OFM Conv., and Fr. Andrzej Brzeziński, OFM Conv. led university students in a campus-wide Stations of the Cross. {Photo Cred: Fr Louis Maximilian Smith)
Taken from the Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore, MD) Facebook Page: “One of the Curley traditions that survived the pandemic was the Live Stations of the Cross. Produced and performed by the senior class, the Live Stations followed the last hours of Jesus. It was performed twice with two different casts to accommodate our hybrid environment. This tradition is always a fine introduction and tone-setter for Holy Week and the Triduum.”
Stations of the Cross with the students of St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ,
led by Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv., Parochial Vicar at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church.
In addition to our friars serving in Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America, we have several student friars in study there. These student friars, along with several from the three other North American Provinces, live in community in our St. Bonaventure Friary (Silver Spring, MD) under the Direction of Fr. Paul Schloemer, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of Consolation Province) and Fr. Nick Rokitka, OFM Conv., a friar of our province who also serves as our Province Treasurer. The student friars also live in community with our own Fr. John Burkhard, OFM Conv. who is on hand to share his wisdom, as well as his guidance.
One of these student friars of our province, friar Cristofer Fernández, OFM Conv. is an M.A. Student in Theology, Religion, & Culture, at CUA. He has been very active on campus in many organizations including Campus Ministry and was on the joint planning committee between Campus Ministry and the Center for Cultural Engagement, for CUA’s first ever Saint Óscar Romero Week.
Public access events:
The Witness of Oscar Romero A Special Presentation by Dr. Matthew Whelan about his latest book on Romero’s views on land rights and Catholic Social Teaching. Tuesday, March 23rd | 12:00 – 1:00PM EST on Zoom: https://cua.zoom.us/s/82430137717
Oscar Romero: Yesterday & Today A special panel discussion that will explore the impact of Romero’s legacy in our world today. Our panelists currently serve the Church in El Salvador and the Boston Archdiocese. Thursday, March 25th. 7:00PM EST on Zoom: https://cua.zoom.us/w/89980942095
A Vatican News 3-18-2021 online article, states that on March 17, 2021, the Holy Father Francis authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the Decrees of seven individuals. Included among them was Servant of God Friar Léon Veuthey, OFM Conv. Read more about Friar Léon on our Curia’s Website Post:
“Servant of God Friar Léon Veuthey, Priest (1896-1974)“
Our own Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv. will be one of the speakers for this virtual gathering at 1:30pm ET, for prayers, reflections, and celebration. All are welcome!
Our Province Delegation of St. Francis of Assisi has produced a new Vocations Brochure. If you live in Canada and need any help finding a Spiritual Director or want to pursue further information about the Franciscan Friars Conventual, contact our Canadian Vocations Director: Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. at vocations.ofmconv.canada@gmail.com or call him at 613-558-1962
Each year, on Good Shepherd Sunday (April 25 this year), the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. As revealed in the name, the day is an opportunity for Catholics around the globe to pray more intentionally for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and the diaconate.
Tuesday, March 30, 2021: The friars at the Convento San Pietro – Collegio dei Penitenzieri Vaticani (Friary of St. Peter – The College of Penitentiaries) had a visit from 
