A sampling of the friars on hand for the celebration: Fr. Michael Englert, OFM Conv., Fr. Raymond Borkowski, OFM Conv., the man of the hour – Friar Piotr, Fr. Mitchell Sawicki, OFM Conv., the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and Fr. Joseph Benicewicz, OFM Conv.
Sunday, February 17, 2017: The Friars and Parishioners of our pastoral ministry of St. Paul Catholic Church (Kensington, CT) hosted a celebration for Fr. Piotr Tymko, OFM Conv. in honor of his 25th Anniversary of Priesthood. Friar Piotr was the main celebrant of a concelebrated liturgy before a packed congregation. Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. was the homilist, where he emphasizing Jesus’ formation of the Twelve to a “missionary” vocation. Friar Piotr, a native of Poland and a friar of the Krakow Province, served ten years as a Franciscan missionary in Czechoslovakia, three in Uganda, and eleven in the USA. A large representation of friends and sisters from St. Stanislaus Parish in Chicopee attended, enjoying a delicious luncheon afterwards, featuring pierogis and kielbasa, along with ample portions of other delicacies.
An Invitation to an Extraordinary Experience: Journey in the footsteps of Jesus through the Holy Land where He was born, lived, walked, preached, healed, suffered, died, and rose! We Franciscans have been guiding pilgrims through the Holy Land for over 700 years. Under the sponsorship of our Friars’ MI (Militia of the Immaculata) ministry, the Franciscans of Our Lady of the Angels Province will be conducting a pilgrimage through Nazareth, Galilee, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and numerous sacred sites sanctified by Jesus, Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, and the holy men and women of the Bible.
WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US ON PILGRIMAGE.
Our Franciscan pilgrimages are a unique mix of people – young and old, lay and religious, married and single. Our daily Masses, devotions, scripture meditations, cultural experiences, and the simple joys of being together will become memories that you will cherish for your lifetime. We journey as pilgrims of peace, bearing the hope of the Beatitudes.
Per person, the all inclusive cost to join us from October 21-31, 2019 is $3,540. 00. If you would prefer a single room, please note there is an additional room supplement of $1,100.00. The fees include round trip flights from New York’s JFK to Tel Aviv, all airport taxes and fuel surcharges, accommodations in first class hotels, breakfast and dinner each day, round trip airport/hotel transfers, transportation by air-conditioned motor coach with free Wi-Fi, sightseeing and admission fees to all sites on itinerary, baggage handling for one bag each person, professional Christian guides and gratuities.
For more information, please contact Pat Tours at info@pattours.com or call 1-800-388-0988. Be sure to let them know you are interested in the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 2019 led by the Franciscan Friars Conventual, October 21-31, 2019. A deposit is required at time of booking, so request your information soon. We would love for you to experience this pilgrimage with us.
Please Join Us!
Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. ~ Pilgrimage Director
The Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. ~ Spiritual Guide
January 15-16, 2019: Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (second from right) and our Province Secretary, Fr. Richard-Jacob Forcier, OFM Conv. (far left) welcomed the Minister Provincial of Prowincja św. Maksymiliana Marii Kolbego w Polsce (Gdańsk), the Very Reverend Fr. Jan Maciejowski, OFM Conv. (second from left) and their Treasurer, Fr. Leszek Łuczkanin, OFM Conv. (far right) to the Portiuncula Friary & Provincial House Offices for a few days during a visit to the USA.
Friar Leszek especially enjoyed his first introduction to an American favorite:
Friar Noel (at left) serves as pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church.
Friar Bob serves as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and St. Mary Magdalen Mission.
Over the weekends of January 26-28 and February 2-4, 2019, our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. visited our province’s newest friary, the friars living in community there, as well as their ministry sites (Columbus, GA).Franciscan Martyrs Friary is home to five friars of our province: Fr. Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv. (pastor of St. Anne Catholic Church), Fr. Noel Danielewicz, OFM Conv. (pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Parish), Fr. Mark David Skura, OFM Conv. (parochial vicar at St. Anne Catholic Church), Fr. Bob Benko, OFM Conv. (pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and St. Mary Magdalen Mission), and Fr. Manny Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. (parochial vicar of St. Anne Catholic Church).
This friary, and our ministries served by the friars living there, are located in the Diocese of Savannah, GA. Fr. James was also able to take the opportunity to visit with another one of our friars living and serving there; Bishop of Savannah, The Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Besides being a guest of honor at the Diocese’s annual Deimel Legacy Ball at Fort Benning, Fr. James celebrated and preached at the principal liturgies in all three parishes (St. Anne Catholic Church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, and St. Benedict the Moor Parish), as well as the small mission church of St. Mary Magdalen in Buena Vista.
Fr. James also celebrated Mass for the 730 students of St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School to mark the opening of Catholic Schools Week. Parishioners repeatedly expressed their gratitude for the reviving presence of the Franciscan Friars in their local churches.
Please note that Bishop Gregory has invited Fr. Bortolino Maistrello, OFM Conv. of the Basilica of St. Anthony (Padua, Italy) to the Diocese of Savannah to visit with two holy relics of Saint Anthony of Padua, from February 22 – March 3, 2019. One of the stops near the end of the tour is our pastoral ministry at St. Anne Catholic Church, on March 2nd. If you are in the area, our friars welcome and encourage you to visit. Clicko on the insert and follow to the link for more details.
Currently on sabbatical in India, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. serves as our Delegate to the Militia of the Immaculata (M.I.). In addition, Friar Jobe is a well respected, published Canon Lawyer and professor of Canon Law. In 2018, he released a 3rd Edition publication of KANONIKA 07 | ” Two Codes in Comparison.” (ebook version).
Friar Jobe (in green) with the Friary Guardian, Fr. Kuriakose Mattahil, OFM Conv. and six of the simply professed students who had just returned from classes.
As part of my sabbatical, I was invited to Bangalore, India to give lectures and the convocation address (January 28-29, 2019) at the Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Pontifical Athenaeum of Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law. After that, I was blessed to spend time with the friars of our Order’s Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe (India) who are building a new seminary complex in the area of Bangalore. What a joy to see the young and hopeful faces of our friars! They have 22 novices and, this June they expect to begin the new academic year housing the philosophy students in the building under construction in this photo. There will be rooms for 32 simply professed friars and 8 solemnly professed friars as well as guests. Situated on a three-acre property, the friary has room to grow and is well-situated; one kilometer from the long-awaited subway system for Bangalore.
500 patrons in evening gowns, tuxedos and military dress uniform joined our grey-habited friars for the annual Deimel Legacy Ball at Fort Benning. The friars featured here serve in pastoral ministry at St. Anne Catholic Church (left to right) Fr. Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv. – Pastor, Fr. Mark David Skura, OFM Conv. – Parochial Vicar and Fr. Emanuel “Manny” Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. – Parochial Vicar.
The 14th Annual Deimel Legacy Ball was held on Saturday, January 26, 2019, at the National Infantry Museum. The black tie optional event proceeds support tuition assistance at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School, the parochial school affiliated with three of our newest pastoral ministries and hosted by Diocese of Savannah Bishop Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., a friar of our province. The event is supported by the entire Columbus (GA) deanery of the Diocese of Savannah, which includes: Christ the King, Holy Family, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Anne, and St. Benedict the Moor parishes. The celebration of the Catholic Faith, was also attended by Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and our friars serving in pastoral ministry at St. Anne Catholic Church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and St. Benedict the Moor Parish.
On Sunday, January 27th, Bishop Gregory served as the main celebrant and homilist at St. Anne’s parish Mass – joined by our friars serving in Columbus and Fr. James, who remained in Columbus in order to visit with Fr. Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv., Fr. Mark David Skura, OFM Conv., Fr. Emanuel “Manny” Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. (all in pastoral ministry at St. Anne Catholic Church), Fr. Bob Benko, OFM Conv. (in pastoral ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church) and Fr. Noel Danielewicz, OFM Conv. (in pastoral ministry at St. Benedict the Moor Parish). This visit also afforded Fr. James the opportunity to celebrate the 9:30 a.m. Catholic School’s Week all school (PreK through 12th grade) Mass, on Monday, January 28, 2019, at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School. Monday was a day devoted to celebration Vocations & Volunteers and also included Primary Grade Students decorating prayer rocks to use to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, Students in grades 3-5 will engaging in a special presentation on Benediction with Friar Manny, Middle School Students enjoying vocationally-themed activities in their Religion classes, High School Students playing lunchtime games that celebrate vocations, and all St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School Volunteers receiving a special treat via email.
Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. launched “Catholic Schools Week” in Columbus, Georgia, on January 28th, as main celebrant and homilist at Mass for the whole student body (numbering over 700) of St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School. This largest school in the Savannah Diocese enrolls pupils from pre-K through 12th grade.
December 10-14, 2018: The annual retreat for our Custody of the Immaculate Conception of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was held in Juiz de Fora. On December 13th, the Simple Vows of friar Jesus Rodrigues do Amaral, OFM Conv. and friar Ricardo Elvis Arruda Bezerra, OFM Conv. were accepted by the Custos, Fr. Ronaldo Gomes da Silva, OFM Conv.
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
~ St. Francis of Assisi
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Brother Michael Duffy, OFM Conv., Associate Dean of the Elms College School of Nursing, delivered the Keynote address on December 5, 2018, Elms College Doctor of Nursing Practice White Coat Ceremony.
Fr. Michael Martin, OFM Conv. serves as Director of Campus Ministry at the Duke Catholic Center (Duke University). Each year, he shares weekly reflections for Advent and for Lent.
On Sunday, January 27th, Bishop Gregory served as the main celebrant and homilist at St. Anne’s parish Mass – joined by our friars serving in Columbus and Fr. James, who remained in Columbus in order to visit with Fr. Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv., Fr. Mark David Skura, OFM Conv., Fr. Emanuel “Manny” Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. (all in pastoral ministry at St. Anne Catholic Church), Fr. Bob Benko, OFM Conv. (in pastoral ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church) and Fr. Noel Danielewicz, OFM Conv. (in pastoral ministry at St. Benedict the Moor Parish).
This visit also afforded Fr. James the opportunity to celebrate the 9:30 a.m. 
December 10-14, 2018: The annual retreat for our 
