Our Lady of the Angels Province Postulants: Edgar, Michael and Jonathan during the first week of their Province Tour, pictured at our pastoral ministry of St. Paul Catholic Church, in Kensington, CT
Our Order’s Postulancy location for the four provinces serving North America is in Chicago, IL, in the St. Bonaventure Friary of the St. Bonaventure Province. The current Director of the Postulancy, Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv., is a friar of our province and the Assistant Director is Fr. Paul Schneider, OFM Conv. of the St. Bonaventure Province. Two of our Postulants of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Mr. Michael Boes and Mr. Edgar Varela live in community in the Chicago Postulancy, along with three more Postulants from other provinces. In addition, our third Postulant, Mr. Jonathan Zenteno, is in studies at The Catholic University of America while living in community in our Post Novitiate (Silver Spring, MD) in the St. Bonaventure Friary of our Province, under the Co-Directors – Fr. Paul Schloemer, OFM Conv. of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation and Fr. Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv. of our province.
It is important for each of the Postulants of every North American Province to take time away from the Postulancy, visiting his own individual Province ministries, friaries and friars. Each year, after Christmas break, the friars in formation for our province spend several weeks enjoying the fraternity of visits with our friars and our varied ministries. Our three Postulants have been documenting this year’s partial tour on the Postulancy’s Facebook Page, where they will share photos and verbiage about their visit to the Chicopee, Syracuse, Ottawa and Toronto areas of our Province. Here are a few shots from the first stop of the tour with Michael, Edgar and Jonathan:
Our Postulants spent a few days in the Chicopee/Holyoke, MA & Kensington, CT area. Durein that time, they were given a tour of the Elms College caRe vaN 2.0 (pictured above). Developed by Friar Michael Duffy, OFM Conv., DNP, APRN-BC, as the Capstone of his DNP, the caRe vaN a mobile health care unit serving the area’s homeless and underserved, while allowing clinical experience for pre-licensure students of the Elms College School of Nursing. (For more information or to make a donation to this effort, please email Brother Duffy, at bro_duffy@hotmail.com.) Friar Frank Grimaldi, OFM Conv. took our Postulants to Our Lady of the Angels Care Center where the Felician Sisters care for our five of our elderly friars, and to two of our pastoral ministries in the area ~ St. Anthony of Padua Parish, in Chicopee and Our Lady of the Cross Parish, in Holyoke (at left) . Friar Joe Bayne, OFM Conv. even took them to see the Bright Nights Christmas Lights. Friar Vincent Vivian, OFM Conv. welcomed them to our St. Hyacinth Friary (Chicopee), where they met several of our nine senior friars in residence. They enjoyed the Vigil Mass at our pastoral ministry at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr, celebrated by Friar Paul Miskiewicz, OFM Conv. The Basilica’s Deacon Joseph Peters invited Michael, Edgar and Jonathan to join one of the “Take and Eat Sandwich Ministry” to help make sandwiches and distribute them to our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Chicopee, MA. Our friars of St. Paul Friary in Kensingtons, CT (serving the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, in Kensington & St. John Catholic Church, in Cromwell) invited our friars from the local areas for the Epiphany party where we had a great time of fraternity (below).
After celebrated Mass for Chicopee’s new Mayor, John Vieau (sworn in that day), they mayor’s family & council members, first responders and an array of area faithful, Friar Joe Bayne, OFM Conv. gave our Postulants a ride to Syracuse, NY where began the next part of our tour. They were joyfully received by Friar Edward Falsey, OFM Conv., guardian of our St. Francis Friary (Syracuse, NY), and Friar Richard Riccioli, OFM Conv., pastor of Assumption Parish.
Be sure to follow the rest of their adventures, as they continue to visit our various ministries in Syracuse -NY, Ottawa-ON and Toronto-ON.
Note: Each of the formation stages for our friars are spent in community with other friars from all over North America. The Novitiate is located in California, in the St. Francis of Assisi Friary of the St. Joseph Cupertino Province. The current Formation Team there includes the Director, Br. Joseph Wood, OFM Conv., a member of the St. Bonaventure Province, and the Associate Director, Fr. Maurice Richárd, OFM Conv. Each province also has individual friars serving in ministries, as well as governance over friars of several Delegations and Custodies, in different parts of the world. In North America, each of the four provinces primarily minister to individual local jurisdictions. The friars of our province serve primarily along the East Coast, from Ottawa, Ontario to Boynton Beach, Florida. St. Joseph Cupertino Province primarily serves the Western Coast of the USA. St. Bonaventure Province primarily serves the Midwestern USA. The Province of Our Lady of Consolation primarily serves the rest of the USA.
Re-established this past year,Franciscan Soy Candles is a unique ministry producing artisan candles. Created originally by Br. Andre Picotte, OFM Conv. during the Christmas Season 2012, this hobby turned ministry served to be a great source of income benefiting our Franciscan Charity Fund, all while making great gifts and filling your home with lovely fragrances. This past year, Br. Andre had to step down from the ministry, but he still serves as a consultant and advisor. The day to day work and creation of Franciscan Soy Candles was taken over by Br. Brian Newbigging, OFM Conv. serving as Director and Fr. Francis Lombardo, OFM Conv. serving as Assistant Director. Now based in Hamburg, NY, you can call to place an order with them at 518-496-4805 or email them at FranciscanCandles@gmail.com.
December 6 – 12, 2019: The Prowincjał (Minister Provincial) of our Order’s largest Province – Kraków, Poland’s St. Anthony of Padua and B. James of Strepa Province (Prowincja św. Antoniego i bł. Jakuba Strzemię w Polsce), the Very Reverend Fr. Marian Gołąb, OFM Conv. visited Our Lady of Angels Province, accompanied by his Ekonom Prowincji (Provincial Economist) Fr. Bronisław Staworowski, OFM Conv. and the Kraków delegate for the USA (Coordinator of Kraków Friars in USA ) Fr. Piotr Sarnicki, OFM Conv. While staying at the Provincialate in Ellicott City, they were taken by Fr. James to a meeting in Washington DC with the Polish Ambassador, His Excellency Piotr Wilczek. They also celebrated Mass in for the Polish Congregation of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate of the American Province, at the Provincial House for the Congregation, in Catonsville, MD (pictured above with Friar Marian, Friar James and Friar Piotr). Afterwards they traveled to our pastoral ministry of St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church (Elmhurst, NY), where they met with all the Kraków Province friars presently working in ministries of our province: Fr. Tomasz Ryba, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – RCC of Most Holy Trinity / St. Mary, Brooklyn, NY), Fr. Mieczysław Wilk, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr), Fr. Stanisław Czerwonka, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – St. Adalbert RCC, Elmhurst, NY), Fr. Jacek Leszczyński, OFM Conv. (Pastor – St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Chicopee, MA & Mass Assistance at Our Lady of the Cross Parish, Holyoke, MA), Fr. Piotr Tymko, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – St. Paul Catholic Church, Kensington, CT) and Fr. Andrzej Brzeziński, OFM Conv. (Associate Chaplain for Faith Development in The Catholic University of America Campus Ministry Office, Washington DC).
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Edward Ondrako, OFM Conv. attended the canonization of St. John Henry Newman in Rome on October 13, 2019. Friar Ed, a lifetime devotee to our new saint, most enthusiastically endorses a close reading of the December 19, 2019 online article, in the Catholic Herald – “Melissa Villalobos: My encounter with ‘the world we do not see‘” – a reflection on what actually happened and prayers of gratitude. It is a narrative of the miracle that Melissa Villalobos reported to the Vatican that led to his canonization.
As our Order’s Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Revision of the Constitutions and Secretary of the 202nd Ordinary General Chapter, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Tim Kulbicki, OFM Conv. (center below) continues his journeys visiting friars around the world, for the implementation of the Revised Constitutions. In addition to his other assigned ministries and positions, including pastor and campus minister of Newman Student Center Parish – UNC Chapel Hill, Friar Tim has been traveling the world helping friars to “receive” the new Constitutions, through academic conferences and friary presentations.
Friar Tim continues his travels to promote the implementation of the new Constitutions and General Statutes of the Order. He (at left) was Indonesia to consult with FAMC (Federation of Asian Minor Conventuals), the leadership group of the Order in Asia, which includes Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, India/Kerala, India/Andhra Pradesh, India/West Bengal, China, and Sri Lanka – during the November 30 – December 4, 2019, annual assembly of the Federation of Asian Minor Conventuals (FAMC) at the retreat house of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth in Berastagi. Also in attendance was Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. David Blowey, OFM Conv. (6th from left above – next to the Minister General, Most Reverend Fr. Carlos Trovarelli, OFM Conv.). Friar David serves the Order as the ad tempus Provincial Delegate for the Provincial Delegation in Australia of the Province of St. Bonaventure (USA).
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv., serves the Order as Assistant General for the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF). This November, he conducted three formation meetings in Zambia.
Our own Fr. Reto Davatz, OFM Conv. serves in Flüeli-Ranft, Switzerland, ministering with the friars of the Konvent St. Franciscus, serving as chaplains for the Bruder Klaus Pilgrimage Site pilgrims.
November 2019: Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. traveled to the Rio de Janeiro district of Brazil for his annual Fraternal Visitation with our Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception. The visit commenced at our Order’s Interprovincial Novitiate for Brazil, near the borders with Argentina and Paraguay. Our Immaculate Conception Custody has one novice, Frei Fernando Pereira Júnior, OFM Conv. (above with Friar James). He is joined by 7 other friar novices, under the leadership of two Formation Directors. Coinciding with Friar James’ visit was that of Friar Joseph Blay, OFM Conv., a Ghanaian friar who serves in Rome as our Order’s JPIC (aka GPIC) Delegate General. Friar James, Friar Joseph, along with a group from the Novitiate, took the opportunity to visit the nearby Monastery of Poor Clares (above) – whose contemplative spirit overflowed in an abundance of sisterly joy. Post on Order’s Site
Not far from the novitiate are the famous Iguazú Falls. Novices Herivelto and Fernando delighted in sharing this awe-inspiring site with Fr. James.
The next stop of Fr. James’s fraternal visitation in Brazil was the large city of Belo Horizonte. The Custodial Chapter of 2017 voted to open a presence of the Order there. At the invitation of the local Archbishop, the Friars assumed pastoral care of Paróquia Santa Cecília, which had been without priests for many years. Fr. James’s visit coincided with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (see below) newly inaugurated parish Dia de Santa Cecília 2019 (Festival of St. Cecilia).
See more photos from the Solenidade de Cristo Rei (Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe) celebrations from the Facebook page of Paróquia Santa Cecília, by clicking on this photo.
The Custodial Definitory met with our Minister Provincial – Friar James – at our former seminary in Andrelândia – now our experimental hermitage – all day on the 28th of November – America’s Thanksgiving Day. While signs galore commemorate “Black Friday” in Brazil, the unique American holiday of Thanksgiving is unknown. (more photos) – São Francisco em Conversa Facebook Page
The Friars of our Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception have begun steps towards opening the Cause for Sainthood of the late +Frei Martin de Porres Maria Ward, OFM Conv. Frei Martin was an early missionary friar of our province, who died in while serving the people of Brazil. He was also the first person of African lineage to enter the Order in modern times. His grave in Andrelândia (at left) is now a place of pilgrimage by the local faithful.
The friars and parishioners of all ministry sites in our Immaculate Conception Custody made their 3rd Annual Pilgrimage to The Cathedral Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida (Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida) ~ Patroness of Brazil. On Saturday the 30th of November, Friar James was welcomed by the pilgrims. Following the Liturgy, our group of 600 held a spiritual convocation of music, talks, and prayer on the Shrine premises.
No fraternal visitation of our Brazilian Custody feels complete without spending time with Mother Pacifica (Abbess) and the Poor Clares at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Rio. For over 50 years as Abbess, Mother Pacifica has served as the Clarissan Matriarch in Brazil. Due to her failing health, the Friar James and the Custódio Provincial, Frei Ronaldo Gomes da Silva, OFM Conv., were allowed to visit inside the enclosure behind the grill.
Friar James with some of the Postulants at the Custody’s Formation House in Historic Sucre.
November 19-22, 2019: Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. visited our Order’s missions in Bolivia, to explore new ways of collaboration between the Friars of the Provincial Custody of St. Francis (of the Krakow Province) and our Province. This collaboration began 40 years ago, when the late Friar Flavian Goral, OFM Conv. started mission support and vocational promotion for the then new Bolivian mission launched by missionaries from Poland.
Former Custos – Friar Ronald Armijo, OFM Conv. shows Friar James the “Campana de la Libertad”
Sucre’s San Francisco Basilica (Bolivia) is under the care of the friars. The bell tower contains Bolivia’s “Campana de la Libertad” (Liberty Bell) – first rung in 1809 to announce their Declaration of Independence signed in Sucre, and again when Independence from Spain was attained, in 1825. The Liberty Bell – which is actually named “Immaculate Conception” – is rung once a year on August 6th – Bolivia’s Independence Day, despite its crack.
In the Andean city of Cochabamba, the Friars of Bolivia serve in parochial ministry as well as at the University. While there, Friar James enjoyed some time in the friary garden with the Custodial Vicar – Friar Orlando Montaño Palma, OFM Conv., another former Custos – Friar Anthony, and the present Custos – Friar Carlos Antonio Catalán Melgar, OFM Conv. Friar Carlos attributes his vocation to our late Friar Flavian Goral, OFM Conv. Those early missionaries are honored in many ways, including the artwork in the Quintanilla church (at left) of the early missionary Friars from Poland and the first generation of Bolivian vocations. Friar James also enjoyed a visit with Friar Roberto Tomichá, OFM. Conv. Ennobling the Franciscan intellectual tradition at Bolivia’s Catholic University in Cochabamba, Friar Robera is the well-known Conventual scholar and Author, as well as the Director of the Institute of Missiology of the Catholic University of Bolivia.
The Curia of the Bolivian Custody is now transferred from Cochabamba back to its original foundation house in Montero (on the outskirts of Santa Cruz). The people of Montero honored the friars with special Franciscan touches when the built the new church there to replace a much smaller chapel. The Bolivian Friars took the inspiration for the Church’s tabernacle (at fight) from its prototype in our St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, in Ellicott City, MD.
Friar Gerry with a sampling of the ROTC 1:00 p.m. Mass group
On Veteran’s Day morning (November 11, 2019), Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and Campus Minister for Syracuse University & SUNY – ESF Catholic Center, Fr. Gerald Waterman, OFM Conv. joined a large group of students, staff, faculty and others for the Veteran’s Day Fun Run. Runners began in front of the Schine Student Center on University Place, did two full laps, then onto the quad on the third lap, after passing between Maxwell and Hendricks Chapel. All participants finished on the quad in front of (fittingly) Hendricks Chapel.
Our Postulants spent a few days in the Chicopee/Holyoke, MA & Kensington, CT area. Durein that time, they were given a tour of the Elms College caRe vaN 2.0 (pictured above). Developed by Friar Michael Duffy, OFM Conv., DNP, APRN-BC, as the Capstone of his DNP, the caRe vaN a mobile health care unit serving the area’s homeless and underserved, while allowing clinical experience for pre-licensure students of the Elms College School of Nursing. (For more information or to make a donation to this effort, please email Brother Duffy, at bro_duffy@hotmail.com.)
Friar Frank Grimaldi, OFM Conv. took our Postulants to Our Lady of the Angels Care Center where the Felician Sisters care for our five of our elderly friars, and to two of our pastoral ministries in the area ~ St. Anthony of Padua Parish, in Chicopee and Our Lady of the Cross Parish, in Holyoke (at left) . Friar Joe Bayne, OFM Conv. even took them to see the Bright Nights Christmas Lights. Friar Vincent Vivian, OFM Conv. welcomed them to our St. Hyacinth Friary (Chicopee), where they met several of our nine senior friars in residence. They enjoyed the Vigil Mass at our pastoral ministry at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr, celebrated by Friar Paul Miskiewicz, OFM Conv. The Basilica’s Deacon Joseph Peters invited Michael, Edgar and Jonathan to join one of the “Take and Eat Sandwich Ministry” to help make sandwiches and distribute them to our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Chicopee, MA. Our friars of St. Paul Friary in Kensingtons, CT (serving the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, in Kensington & St. John Catholic Church, in Cromwell) invited our friars from the local areas for the Epiphany party where we had a great time of fraternity (below). 
After celebrated Mass for Chicopee’s new Mayor, John Vieau (sworn in that day), they mayor’s family & council members, first responders and an array of area faithful, Friar Joe Bayne, OFM Conv. gave our Postulants a ride to Syracuse, NY where began the next part of our tour. They were joyfully received by Friar Edward Falsey, OFM Conv., guardian of our St. Francis Friary (Syracuse, NY), and Friar Richard Riccioli, OFM Conv., pastor of Assumption Parish.
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Edward Ondrako, OFM Conv. attended the canonization of St. John Henry Newman in Rome on October 13, 2019. 
November 2019: Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. traveled to 
Coinciding with Friar James’ visit was that of Friar Joseph Blay, OFM Conv., a Ghanaian friar who serves in Rome as our 
In the Andean city of Cochabamba, the Friars of Bolivia serve in parochial ministry as well as at the University. While there, Friar James enjoyed some time in the friary garden with the Custodial Vicar – Friar Orlando Montaño Palma, OFM Conv., another former Custos – Friar Anthony, and the present Custos – Friar Carlos Antonio Catalán Melgar, OFM Conv. Friar Carlos attributes his vocation to our late Friar Flavian Goral, OFM Conv. Those early missionaries are honored in many ways, including the artwork in the Quintanilla church (at left) of the early missionary Friars from Poland and the first generation of Bolivian vocations. Friar James also enjoyed a visit with 
The Curia of the Bolivian Custody is now transferred from Cochabamba back to its original foundation house in Montero (on the outskirts of Santa Cruz). The people of Montero honored the friars with special Franciscan touches when the built the new church there to replace a much smaller chapel. The Bolivian Friars took the inspiration for the Church’s tabernacle (at fight) from its prototype in our St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, in Ellicott City, MD.
