On Thursday, July 16, 2020, representatives of the family of friar Cristofer M. Fernández, OFM Conv., including his parents, grandmothers & siblings, joined our Friars as we gathered to celebrate his Simple Profession of Vows, during Noon Mass in our Chapel at The Shrine of St. Anthony. Always aware of practicing social distancing, the day was filled with fraternal and familial joy as friar Cristofer professed his Simple (Temporary) Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, for three years. The Mass was followed by a luncheon, again practicing safe social distancing fellowship. For the Post-Novitiate stage of formation, Friar Cristofer will study at The Catholic University of America, living in community with the friars of St. Bonaventure Friary (House of Formation), in Silver Spring, MD.
His Solemn (Perpetual) Vows will not be professed until after friar Cristofer has completed all of the stages of his formation as a Franciscan Friar Conventual.
This sweet cookie was made by friar Cristofer’s Madrina/Godmother Mariflor. Click on the photo for more pictures from the event.
If you would like more information on life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual, contact our Province Vocation Director, Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv. at vocations@olaprovince.org or call him at 202-681-6151.
Keep in prayer, friar Christopher (Cristofer) M. Fernández, OFM Conv. as he prepares for his Profession of Simple (First/Temporary) Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, to be held in our Chapel at The Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD), July 16, 2020. This will be a private celebration, limited to a portion of friar Cristofer’s family members and friars who serve in the local area ministries.
On July 13, 2020, he and the other friar students who have been living their “year and a day” as Novices at our Inter Provincial Novitiate (Arroyo Grande, CA) celebrated their Sending Forth; the end of their time as Novices of our Order. They each will return to their own provinces to have a celebration of their individual professions of Simple Vows. In years past, this day would have also been the time to celebrate the Investiture of the new Novitiate Class, as they are clothed in the habit of our Order. (friar Cristofer’s 2019 Investiture) Due to COVID-19 precautions, our new Novices for the 2020/2021 Class celebrated their Investiture in closed events, within each individual province. The four new 2020/2021 Novitiate Class friars of our province were invested earlier this month on July 5, 2020. (Read more about friars Michael, Edgar, Jonathan & Bram).
For the 2019/2020 Novitiate Class, Our Lady of the Angels Province has one Novice moving from the Novitiate stage of formation, onto the Post-Novitiate stage of formation – friar Cristofer. This begins with today’s Sending Forth, followed by our celebration of friar Cristofer’s profession on Thursday. In years past, our province has also enjoyed a joint celebration for our Ordination & Profession Jubilarians, during a special Mass including those Professing Simple Vows. Due to COVID-19 precautions, these events have been separated, with our Jubilarian Celebration moved to mid-November 2020.
After his profession, friar Cristofer will move into the community of student friars at our St. Bonaventure Friary, in Silver Spring, MD. Student friars of several provinces living there, along with their Directors and Advisors, are in further study at The Catholic University of America, in Washington DC.
will be ordained as Archbishop of Genoa, on July 11, 2020.
Direct streaming of the Celebration in the Cathedral,
will visible on www.chiesadigenova.it and on www.ilcittadino.ge.it
On July 7, 2020, the Minister General of our Order, the Most Reverend Fr. Carlos A. Trovarelli, OFM Conv. visited the Nazi concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Originally from Baltimore, MD, during his free time, Brother Nick enjoys hiking and reading. His favorite books are The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, and the Confessions of Saint Augustine. He also enjoys going to the theatre and character study films. During dinner with friends, he enjoys red wine or a dark beer, and a tasty cigar along with some music. Some of his favorite movies include Little Miss Sunshine, Revolutionary Road, and An American Tail. He loves to binge watch The Office, Stranger Things, Breaking Bad, and West World. He enjoys music by The Beatles, Cage the Elephant, and Vampire Weekend.
Once they were all four clothed, the new Novices turned around to face their confreres, and receive a joyful congratulator greeting from them all. (Novices Left to Right: friar Bram, friar Jonathan, friar Edgar and friar Michael. In the background is our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.)
friar Michael Boes, OFM Conv.
friar Edgar Varela, OFM Conv.
friar Jonathan García Zenteno, OFM Conv.
friar Bram De Backer, OFM Conv.
On July 5, 2020, in the Chapel of The Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD), Our Lady of the Angels Province celebrated the Investiture of our four Novices. After being clothed in the habit of our Order, they traveled to the North American Novitiate – home to all of the Novices from the Provinces serving in North America. They will spend a year and a day in fraternity there, in private and communal prayer, in classes, workshops, seminars, experiencing manual work, and other activities in line with the goals of this stage of formation. For more photos from the day, visit our Province Facebook page. Please keep them and all of the Novices of the Class of 2020-2021 in your prayers.
If you would like more information on life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual of our province,
contact our Vocation Director, Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv.
at vocations@olaprovince.org or call him at 202-681-6051.
On Thursday, June 25, 2020, during a special Mass celebrated at our pastoral ministry of St. Casimir Church (Baltimore, MD), Kenny Clapp – a member of our Archbishop Curley High School Class of 2020 – was received into the Church as he professed his faith in Jesus and received the Sacraments of Initiation; Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
The Sacrament of Baptism
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Chris Dudek, OFM Conv., who serves as an instructor and as campus minister at Archbishop Curley High School, was the main celebrant of the Mass and the minister of the Sacraments.
Sacrament of Confirmation
The celebration was originally scheduled at the school in March, but had to be postponed as the school was closed due to COVID-19.
The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Many of Kenny’s family and friends were able to be present to witness his commitment to Jesus, as were members of Archbishop Curley High School faculty (including Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, Br. Lawrence LaFlame, OFM Conv. and Fr. Bryan Hajovsky, OFM Conv.) and Our Lady of the Angels Province Vicar Provincial, Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (at left above)
Kenny’s Family
A small social distancing reception took place in the park across from the church after the Mass.
Several of the Archbishop Curley High School students, faculty and friars who came out to celebrate with Kenny
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv. is looking forward to seeing you as you begin your college years at Syracuse University, where he serves as Catholic Campus Minister.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. met the President of the Republic of Poland, H.E. Andrzej Duda, and other dignitaries and representatives of our Order and the Polish Government, in Washington DC.
H.E. Andrzej Duda awarded posthumouslyFriar Łucjan Królikowski, OFM Conv.with the Order of the White Eagle – Poland’s highest order awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. (article in Polish)
In his Acceptance Remarks, Friar James stated, “As you know, Father Łucjan was a member of the Order of Franciscan Friars Conventual. We Franciscans first came to Poland in the year 1236. Today’s ceremony marks a unique moment in the 800-year-long history of the Franciscan Order. For the first time in Franciscan history, and in Polish history, the Order of the White Eagle is being conferred upon a Franciscan Friar. How fitting, indeed, it is that the humble Polish Franciscan Łucjan Królikowski is the recipient! ” Friar James (far left) was accompanied by six of Friar Łucjan’s closest friends, including Kraków, Poland’s St. Anthony of Padua and B. James of Strepa Province (Prowincja św. Antoniego i bł. Jakuba Strzemię w Polsce) Delegate for the USA – Fr. Piotr Sarnicki, OFM Conv. (2nd from right) and Our Lady of the Angels Province friar – Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (far right), who serves as Parochial Vicar for our pastoral ministry of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.
The President was presented with a 1st Class Relic of St. Maximillian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. by Friar James, alongside Helena Knapczyk – one of Fr. Łucjan’s Polish orphans from Siberia & the Tengeru refugee camp.
On June 19, 2020, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we join in a World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. Occurring annually on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this World Day of Prayer was established by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002, and encourages each priest to reflect upon the importance and dignity of his vocation. St. Francis of Assisi always had a great respect and admiration for priests, because it is from their hands that Jesus gives us His Body and Blood, in the Eucharist. Please join us as we pray for priests and all consecrated religious.
Perhaps, your prayer may invite you to consider being a Franciscan Brother or Priest. Let us join the Church in prayer, praying in gratitude for the gift of the Priesthood as well as for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
“Our altar of gold is the Heart of Christ.
We must enter into the Holy of Holies,
which is this same Heart of Jesus,
and gather up the riches of His love.”
~St Anthony of Padu
As our province ministries are mostly spread throughout the East Coast of North America (Ontario, Canada down to Florida, USA), the re-opening dates and procedures of each ministry varies greatly. Our friars ask that you please check the individual ministry website for the unique re-opening situations at each location. The list of websites for our province ministries can be found on our “Locations” page of this website. If you are unclear from the ministry site’s webpage information (as some ministries staff has not been able to return to onsite work yet), check on their social media pages for the possibility of finding the most up to date information. The friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province miss you and are working diligently to be able to join in celebrations and events with you again, as soon as is safely possible.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. met the President of the Republic of Poland, 
