A little fun with our friars of Ss. Francis and Clare Friary, who serve at The Catholic University of America, in Washington DC.

(Photo By Michael Alexander) Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., knocks on the door of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, three times during the reception at the church door. He was greeted by Msgr. Francis G. McNamee, cathedral rector, who presented the new archbishop with a cross, a gift from the people at Cathedral of Christ the King. 

The Vatican invites all people of good will to join in a day of prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14, 2020.
Let us remember to bring our needs to God in prayer every day.

Submitted by Fr. Julio Martinez, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of St. Julia Parish, Siler City, NC

St. Julia Parish Reaches Out

On Saturday, May 2nd, I visited seven trailer park neighborhoods with the Blessed Sacrament. Men of the parish participated by organizing the visit, rigging the pickup with table and kneeler, serving as acolytes, driver and providing helping hands. The people set up shrines/altars in front of their homes to welcome the Lord and His blessing. It brought comfort, strength and inspiration to the people. Now we prepare for another visit of the Blessed Sacrament to those who live in other areas.
We set up an expanded food pantry and more and more people from the parish are using this blessing that we are able to provide. A group of ladies from the parish also take food to individuals and families that either cannot drive to the parish or are in quarantine. We are grateful to the generosity of parishioners, Friars, and anonymous donors from other communities who contribute to the food pantry. Because of this generosity we are also able to help families pay some bills.
Our monthly food distribution that we sponsor with the Food Bank continues and we distribute food to about 100 families. The local chicken processing plant has used our property for the sale of chicken at $1.00 a pound. This is a way to participate in local community endeavors during this difficult time. The parish has received $4,000 from the chicken plant for allowing them to use our property. On June 4th, the parish will again collaborate, this time with Chatham County Managerial Office and another charitable organization, providing the space for 5,000 meals to be distributed to the local community.
Our people come to the parish every Sunday to drop off their weekly contributions, receive printed spiritual material and a blessing. It also gives me the opportunity to see and touch base with them as to how they are. We have many parishioners that have tested positive. They are quarantined at home. All have lost their jobs temporarily or permanently. We also have two of our men who are in intensive care and their families are being taken care of by many in the community.
Although the church building’s doors are closed, the Church’s Hearts are wide open here at St. Julia. Our community has really capitalized on the union and genuine sense of community that already existed among us. It has become stronger and I hope that after this hell, we will return even stronger.

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Submitted by Fr. Timothy Dore, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, Baltimore MD

Baltimore Pastorate Scouts Conduct Food Drive

On Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2020, Troop 419 of the Boy Scouts of America, one of the many scouting organizations serving within our Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, conducted a food drive to benefit our Pastorate food pantries. They collected non-perishable food at St. Michael, Overlea, and at Annunciation, Rosedale.  I’m so edified by the Scouts’ desire to serve the most needy among us, especially during these difficult days! 

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Featuring Fr. Albert Scherer, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of Our Lady of the Cross Parish, Holyoke, MA (Story and photos by Carolee McGrath – iobserve.org)

Mater Dolorosa School ~ May Crowning and More

The students of Mater Dolorosa School thought they would not have any Crowning this year, a tradition that began when the school started, It was felt that keeping the tradition, although a bit modified, was important to the students and greater community. A video of the May Crowning with Friar Albert was streamed on the school’s Facebook Page on Thursday, May 14 2020. In addition, the Diocese of Springfield News Site posted a May 17, 2020 online article featuring the Crowning, and other events for the school/parish students. Many more videos and photos are posted on the Mater Dolorosa School Facebook Page.

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Submitted by Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Winston-Salem, NC

Drive-In Mass Celebrated on Sunday May 17th 

Pastor Emeritus, Fr. Joe Angelini, OFM Conv. and Pastor, Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv. of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, in Winston-Salem, NC celebrated their first ever outdoor car Mass (in English and Spanish), on May 17, 2020.  Over 125 car attended both services.  A multicultural team put together the logistics for this event to happen. YouTube Video of the Mass in English

On May 10, 2020, Friars Timothy Blanchard (above) and Franck Sokpolie (below) renewed their vows during Evening Prayer at St. Bonaventure Friary, Silver Spring, MD.  They will be going on an Apostolic Year in the summer and, God willing, they will ask to make their Solemn Vows next year. If you are interested in adding life as a friar of our province to your discernment journey, email vocations@olaprovince.org

UNC Chapel Hill Newman Catholic Student Center Parish (pastoral and university campus ministry of our province, in Chapel Hill, NC) came out on Mother’s Day 2020 weekend, to celebrate Liturgy publicly for the first time in two months. In his latest executive order the Governor of North Carolina allowed outdoor religious gatherings, as long as social distancing was maintained and the wearing of masks was encouraged. The Bishop of Raleigh permitted the celebration of the Eucharist under the same rules. Since Newman had been prepared for this eventuality, our pastoal ministry there was  able to organize and publicize celebrations within two days.

Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv. (Pastor & Campus Minister – pictued at left) and Fr. William Robinson, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar & Associate Campus Minister) were able to hear confessions on the afternoon of Saturday, May 9, 2020, in the well-ventilated narthex. Access to the nave or Eucharistic Chapel were not allowed. A 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 10, 2020, found 85 people gathered in the parking lots, with another 65 at the 11:00 a.m., which was also livestreamed. Those cathered enjoyed full liturgical music, with one-use liturgical aids at each Mass. Many (including our friars) were deeply moved, with tears in their eyes.

Today, May 8, 2020, at noon, the Holy See officially announced that the Holy Father appointed our confrere and former Minister General, Friar Marco TASCA as the Archbishop of Genoa.

Watch it online: archatl.com

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Long periods of isolation or, on the other hand, weeks with a lack of privacy can wear us thin. Times like these can negatively shape our perspective of what is happening around us, especially if our contact with “the outside world,” is largely filtered to us through news coverage. We need to be in control of our perspective, or better, we would benefit a great deal if we were to allow the Lord to shape our thinking.
That is why the friars and Companions at The Shrine of St. Anthony are here for you in every way we’re able. We want to facilitate bringing about the conditions that are helpful for you to encounter the Lord in your extraordinary daily circumstances. Our celebration of the Mass is live-streamed from our Companions of St. Anthony Face Book Page every morning at 8:30 a.m., and then is available for on-demand viewing.
The friars are also producing various video presentations intended to help you spiritually in the here and now.
On Friday May 1st, the bishops of the United States and Canada are going to reconsecrate our countries to Mary, Mother of The Church.
Here at the Shine, we will be doing the same. At 11:00 a.m., we will be praying the Rosary together with each of the five decades in a different language, reflecting the cultural diversity of our fraternity and public ministry. Secondly, we will pray together the consecration prayer, lifting up our country, our states, counties, cities, and all our people to Mary, Mother of the Church. Please join us. The link to the video below will also be posted on the Home Page of our Shrine website, on Friday, May 1st and remain there for on-demand viewing.
Change the narrative! Stay close to the Lord and His holy Mother…  and St. Anthony!
We continue to pray for all of you. Please send us your prayer intentions or light a candle by going to the “Worship” Tab on our website.
May the Lord give you peace.

Live-Streamed Daily Mass
Prayer Petitions

The Holy Father has asked all Catholic to intercede for vocations, on Sunday, May 3, 2020. Will you make a special effort to ask the Lord for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life?

• Pray for the priests who have ministered to you throughout your life, both living and dead.
• Keep our parish priests and deacons in prayer throughout the week.
• Encourage your children or grandchildren to consider a vocation as a priest or religious brother or sister.
• Pray a rosary for more young men and women in our diocese to respond to God’s call.

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In a special way, we ask for prayers for each of our friars in formation.

• Our Postulants, who plan to be Invested in the Habit of our Order ~ July 13, 2020
  • Bram De Backer
  • Jonathan Garcia Zenteno
  • Edgar Ivan Varela
  • Michael Murphy Boes
• Our Novice, who plans to be Sent Forth to the Post Novitiate stage of Formation ~ July 13, 2020, Professing Simple/Temporary Vows ~ July 16, 2020
  • br. Cristofer M. Fernández

For more information on life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province, visit our Vocations Page or email our Vocations Director at vocations@olaprovince.org.