On October 26, 2019, the novice friars of the three Franciscan Families met at the St. Francis Friary in Arroyo Grande, California, USA, for a Day of Prayer preached by Friar Jude WINKLER on the Gospel of Matthew.

Halloween – All Saints Day – All Souls Day
Hallow means a holy person or a saint. Halloween (October 31st) is another word for All Hallows’ Eve, because the next day – November 1st, is the celebration of the Solemnity of All Saints. Observed all over the world by many Christian Faiths, it is a day of celebrating the communion of saints; ordinary human beings who lived holy lives, in obedience to God’s will, and who now – in death – are in heaven for eternity. Everyone in heaven is a saint. As we respect & admire all of the deceased people who helped make the world a better place while still alive, we also honor the saints as the deceased who are especially honored by the Church, for having served God so faithfully. On November 2nd, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) we remember all those who have died before us, while we ask God’s mercy for them.

As we approach Saturday, November 2nd and the Feast of All Souls,
we remember our friars who have gone to the Father in the past year:

+Friar Henry Madigan, OFM Conv. ~ December 10, 2018
+Friar Terence Pescatore, OFM Conv. ~ December 17, 2018
+Friar Marcel Sokalski, OFM Conv. ~ January 2, 2019
+Friar Joseph Grzybowski, OFM Conv. ~ January 24, 2019
+Friar Philip Blaine, OFM Conv. ~ February 5, 2019
+Friar Canice Connors, OFM Conv. ~ March 17, 2019
+Friar Duane Mastrangelo, OFM Conv. ~ March 22, 2019
+Friar David Suckling, OFM Conv. ~ March 31, 2019
+Friar Giles Van Wormer, OFM Conv. ~ April 10, 2019
+Friar Joseph Madden, OFM Conv. ~ April 22, 2019
+Friar Firmin Finn, OFM Conv. ~ May 4, 2019
+Friar Lucjan Krolikowski, OFM Conv. ~ October 11, 2019
+Friar Bishop Elias Manning, OFM Conv. ~ October 13, 2019

Daily Prayers for the Deceased
(Psalm 130)
V. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord, Lord hear my voice!
R. O let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading.
V. If You, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?
R. But with You is found forgiveness; for this we revere You.
V. My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on His word.
R. My soul is longing for the Lord, more than watchmen for daybreak.
V. Let the watchmen count on daybreak, and Israel on the Lord.
R. Because with the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption, Israel indeed He will redeem from all its iniquity.
V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
R. and let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May all our departed brothers, sisters, relatives, friends and benefactors, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen
Let us pray. Lord God, You are the glory of believers and the life of the just. Your Son redeemed us by dying and rising to life again. Since our departed brothers, sisters, relatives, friends and benefactors of our Order believed in the mystery of our resurrection, let them share the joys and blessings of the life to come. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our province is privaledged to have twenty friars from other countries and other provinces serving in the ministries of our province. From October 14-18, 2019, four were able to participate in the World Priest Workshop presented by the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates of the Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, in St. Meinrad, IN. The workshop was created to assist international priests in managing a successful transition into effective ministry in the United States. Presentations addressed the cultural orientation needs of international mission priests, as outlined in Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the United States, 3rd edition (USCCB, 2014) and Bridging the Gap: International Priests Ministering in the United States (Our Sunday Visitor, 2014).

Three friars serving at our Shrine of St. Anthony, in Ellicott City, MD ~ at far left – Friar Thomas Bahn, OFM Conv. (South Korea), next to him – Friar Rijo Mulavarickal Polachan, OFM Conv. (India) and fifth from left – Friar Everest Valentine Nyaki Mkenda, OFM Conv. (Tanzania) ~ were in attendance, as well as ~ third from right – Friar Paul Pantiru, OFM Conv. (Romania), who serves as Parochial Vicar at our pastoral ministry of St. Anne Catholic Church, in Columbus GA.

During the Fall Friars Day, on October 15th, our Vicar Provincial Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. took the opportunity to bless one of the newest friaries of our province; the Franciscan Martyrs Friary, in Columbus, GA.

Friars Day – What is It?
Each year, during the Spring and Fall, the friars of the Our Lady of the Angels Province gather for a day of on-going formation and fraternity. Because of the tremendous geographical distance among the friars there are generally four planned days: metro-Baltimore, Western New York, Western Massachusetts and Connecticut, and either Georgia or North Carolina.  Topics for each gathering are planned in advance.  This Fall’s topic is Forming Intentional Disciples, with presenter: Katherine Coolidge of the Catherine of Siena Institute.

The Fall Friars Days 2019 Schedule

October 8, 2019
Our Lady of the Angels Care Center, Enfield, CT
 October 10, 2019
St. Francis Friary, Syracuse, NY
 October 15, 2019
Franciscan Martyrs Friary, Columbus, GA
October 17, 2019
St. Casimir Friary, Baltimore, MD

+Fr. Łucjan Królikowski, OFM Conv. was born on September 7, 1919 in Nowe Kramsko, Poland and he died on October 11, 2019 at Our Lady of the Angels Care Center, Enfield, CT.   He was the third child of Stanisław and Victoria (Tomiak) Królikowski. He leaves his Franciscan family and many family members and assorted friends in Poland, Canada, and the United States. At the time of his death he was 100 years old and the oldest Conventual Friar in the world.
Fr. Łucjan’s long Franciscan life began in 1934, when he entered the Franciscan Friar Conventual Seminary located on the grounds of the world’s largest friary in Niepokalanów, Poland. Its guardian was Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, a future saint, who was canonized by Pope John Paul II. Fr. Łucjan completed his high school at the seminary and later made his Novitiate in Niepokalanów (City of the Immaculate) professing his Simple Vows on August 29, 1939, with Fr. Maximilian Kolbe present. He made his Solemn Vows on July 14, 1945 in Beirut, Lebanon and was Ordained to the Priesthood on June 30, 1946, at the Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth (Lebanon), by the late +Archbishop Rémy-Louis Leprêtre, O.F.M., was serving as Apostolic Delegate to Syria at the time. He completed his Philosophy studies in 1939 from the University of Lwow. He received an S.T.B. (Theology), from Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, in 1946.
While preparing to begin his theological studies in June of 1940, Fr. Łucjan was arrested by the Russian police (NKVD, later named the KGB) and was deported to a concentration camp in eastern Ukraine.  He was liberated from the concentration camp and later joined the Polish army. completing Artillery School for Cadet Officers in Uzbekistan. He was moved with the Polish army to Iraq in 1942. Since the army needed chaplains, he began his theological studies in 1943 in Beirut. Returning to the army after ordination to the priesthood, Fr. Łucjan served the VIII General Military Hospital in El-Qantara el-Sharqîya, Egypt. After demobilization in 1947 he became the high school prefect in the Polish Refugee camp in Tengeru, near Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. With a civilian population of 4,000 (half of whom were children) Fr. Łucjan volunteered to accompany these orphans through Europe and onto Canada which became their permanent home. Once in Montréal, Fr. Łucjan started placing children in French schools through the Province of Quebec. His first book, “Stolen Childhood,” recounts these unusual experiences and travels with the children.
During his ministerial life, Fr. Łucjan served as Associate Pastor, Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Montréal, Canada (1958-1964). From 1964-1966 he was the Guardian and Pastor, Our Lady of Czestochowa Friary and Church, Montréal, Canada He became the Secretary of the Fr. Justin Rosary Hour (the longest running radio show in Polish outside of Poland), Athol Springs, New York, USA from 1966-1998. Accepting a new ministry in 1999 he was the Parochial Vicar, at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr, Chicopee, MA until 2009. In 2009 Fr Łucjan continued his life’s work as Confessor and Spiritual Advisor, St. Hyacinth Friary, in Chicopee. In 2016 he was moved to Confessor – Spiritual Advisor, Our Lady of the Angels Care Center, Enfield, CT where he continued to be in contact with his many family members and friends until his death on October 11, 2019, after a brief time on hospice.

Fr. Łucjan has authored 5 books, and has written hundreds of talks for Fr. Justin Rosary Hour:

1. Skradzione Dzieciństwo: Polskie dzieci na tułaczym szlaku 1939-1950,  [Also translated into English with title Stolen childhood]
2. Pamiętnik sybiraka i tułacza [Also translated into English with the title A Franciscan Odyssey]
3. Miłość mi wszystko wyjaśniła: Przygody ducha
4. Modlitwy chorych [2 volumes]
5. Abba – Ojcze: Przemyslenia Sybiraka i Tulacza

Fr. Łucjan has been awarded and honored by:

1. The Polonia Restituta (The Merit Cross of the knight of Liberated Poland) 1961
2. Veterans Gold Cross by the Polish Combatant of Canada (1969)
3. Meritorious Gold Medal from the Polish Canadian Congress for his works on behalf of Canadian Polonia (1974)
4. In November 11, 2007 he was honored at the Presidential Belvidere Palace in Warsaw for his efforts in saving orphaned children after World War II, The Third-Degree Award Komandozski Cross of Polonia Resituta Ozdea.
5. Honored by the European Veterans Conference (1972)
6. He received the highest degrees of the Scout movement, Harcerz Rzeczpospolitej
7. In September 2019 he was given a certificate from the President of Poland at a Mass in New Britain, CT.

Fr. Łucjan will lie in state at Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr, 566 Front St., Chicopee, MA 01013, on Monday, October 14, 2019, from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m., concluding with a Franciscan Transitus Servic,e at 7:00 p.m. On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., at the Basilica. Interment will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Chicopee, MA and Memorial Donations may be made to the Franciscan Education Burse, 12300 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042.
Funeral arrangements are by Kozikowski Funeral Home, Chicopee, MA.

From the Curia

(Left to Right): Fr. Varghese (Lijo) Puthenpurackal, OFM Conv., Fr. Dennis Mason, OFM Conv., Fr. Peter Knaapen, OFM Conv., Fr. James Fukes, OFM Conv., Fr. David Collins, OFM Conv., Br. Tom Purcell, OFM Conv., Fr. Mark Steed, OFM Conv., Fr. Boniface Reinhart, OFM Conv., Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., Fr. Dominic Lim, OFM Conv. and Fr. Ed Debono, OFM Conv. (Photo Cred: Fr. Saviour Karamvelil, OFM Conv.

October 4, 2019: The friars of our Province Delegation of St. Francis of Assisi gathered for a concelebrated Mass followed by a festive dinner, to celebrate their 1st Patron Feast Day as our Canadian Delegation – erected on February 14, 2019. All the friars of the Delegation were at the dinner, however Friar Saviour is not in the pictures because he was the day’s photographer. The three friaries are part of our Canadian Delegation are home to twelve friars: St. André Bessette Friary (Ottawa, ON), St. Anthony Friary (Kingston, ON) and the hosting friary of the day – St. Bonaventure Friary (Toronto, ON).

On Friday, October 11, 2019, The Franciscan Place will celebrate 20 years of ministry, as a Chapel and Religious Gift Shoppe, in the Destiny USA mall, in Syracuse, NY.
If you are in, or find yourself in, the Syracuse area take a moment to visit this unique and peace filled ministry of The Franciscan Church of the Assumption.  Open most days until 6:00 p.m., with Daily Mass celebrated Monday – Friday, Reconciliation opportunities, Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and some time to pray the Rosary with other visitors after the Wednesday afternoon Mass.
For detailed hours of operation or if you have any questions, call 315-471-9511.

A short film featuring our student friar, br. Tim Blanchard, OFM Conv. and his vocation story.

On the evening of Friday, October 4, 2019, before the people of our pastoral ministry of  Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community (Burlington, NC) celebrated the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, this beautiful work of art, a large Franciscan oriented cedar wood bas-relief, carved in Mexico and brought to the USA by parishioners, was revealed and dedicated in the gathering space in honor of the ministry of Fr. Briant Cullinane, OFM Conv., and his 60th Jubliee of his Ordination as a Franciscan Priest. Friar Briant, who had also served as pastor at the parish from 1999-2001, has been in residence there since 2010. Now 88 years old, Friar Briant is their Pastor Emeritus, where he remains a well loved presence in the life of the parish.
The community welcomed our Minister Provincial, the Very Rev. Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., who gave the blessing and dedication, as well as presided and preached at the Liturgy. Several of Friar Briant’s confreres were there to join in the celebration, including those who reside in the Blessed Sacrament Friary with him: Fr Vincent Robino, OFM Conv. (Friary Guardian & Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament), Fr. Paul Lininger, OFM Conv. (Pastor of Blessed Sacrament), and Fr. Peter Tremblay, OFM Conv. (Associate Chaplain for Catholic Life – Elon University Campus Ministry). Also there to honor Friar Briant ~ from neighboring Our Lady of Guadalupe Friary (Pittsboro), Br. Raymond Sobocinski, OFM Conv. (Friary Guardian) and Fr. Julio Martinez, OFM Conv. (Pastor of St. Julia Catholic Church, Siler City) ~ from St. Anthony of Padua Friary, Fr. Bill Robinson, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar & Associate Campus Minister – Newman Catholic Student Center Parish at UNC Chapel Hill), Fr. Bart Karwacki, OFM Conv. (Pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Durham) ~ from Our Lady of the Angels Friary, Fr. Joseph Angelini, OFM Conv. (Friary Guardian & Pastor Emeritus at Our Lady of Mercy, Winston-Salem) and Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv. (Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy).

Friar James & Friar Briant unveil the new work of art.

For Franciscans, the Feast Day of St. Francis is not limited to just October 4th. This year, we celebrated Transitus on October 3rd at many of our different ministries. We started Blessing Animals last weekend and will continue at different ministries throughout the week. We celebrated special Liturgies in our parishes, parish schools,  in our high schools, univeristy ministries and shrines on October 4th’s actual Feast Day of St. Francis.

In addition to these “standard” activities, celebrations, prayer services and liturgies, we often gather together with other Franciscan communities to share in fellowship. On October 2nd, our friars of St. Mark Friary, in Boynton Beach, FL shared a meal with eleven Franciscan Sister. These friars serve in pastoral ministry at St. Mark Catholic Church: Fr. Daniel Fink, OFM Conv. (pastor), Fr. Richard Florek, OFM Conv. (parochial vicar), Fr. Germain Kopaczynski, OFM Conv. (parochial vicar), and Fr. Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv. (parochial vicar).

Friar Germain enjoyed his time with the sisters.

Friar Joe and Friar Richard sharing a delicious meal with the sisters.