Click the above image to order copies of St. Maximilian Kolbe: Martyr of Charity, written by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the August 14, 1941 martyrdom of Conventual Franciscan Friar, St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., at the World War II Oświęcim concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland, 1st degree relic stands of his beard have been on tour throughout our province since January. The Relic Tour will continue into Canada to visit our pastoral ministry of The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure, on May 28-29, 2016. There will be a special 9:00 a.m. Mass on Saturday, May 28th to begin this historic visit. After the Mass, there will be a Solemn Procession with the relic and a Prayer Service recounting St. Maximilian Kolbe’s life. Pope John Paul II declared Maximilian Kolbe a “Martyr of Charity.”
St. Bonaventure is home to five of our friars, living, working and serving in Ontario, Canada: Br. Tom Purcell, OFM Conv. (Guardian of the friary and Executive Director of St. Clare Inn), Fr. Boniface Reinhart, OFM Conv., Fr. David Stachurski, OFM Conv. (pastor of The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure) Fr. Peter Knaapen, OFM Conv., and Br. David Suckling, OFM Conv. (member of the Board of Directors of St. Anthony of Padua Mission Aid – Franciscan Centre). This is the first of three Canadian locations for our Pilgrimage Relics of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. The tour will continue onto our pastoral ministry of The Church of St. John Apostle and Holy Family, in Kingston, Ontario, May 30-June 2, 2016, before returning the USA for the rest of the tour.
FRANCISCAN SOY CANDLES: To commemorate this pilgrimage tour, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Br. Andre Picotte, OFM Conv. the artisan creator behind Franciscan Soy Candles (a ministry to raise funds needed to care for his aged and infirm brothers) has a newly available St. Maximilian Kolbe Candle. Even if you cannot get to any of our locations to venerate the relic, you can enjoy this commemorative candle, while helping us provide much needed support for our more senior friars.
Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., the Provincial Assistant to the Militia Immaculata (an evangelization movement identifying with Mary that was established by St. Maximilian Kolbe) presided over Mass concelebrated by the friars serving the people of The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure (left to right: Fr. David Stachurski, OFM Conv. – pastor, Fr. Boniface Reinhart, OFM Conv. and Fr. Peter Knaapen, OFM Conv. Friar Jobe (who is also a Canon Law Professor at Saint Paul University, in Ottawa, Canada) spoke on St. Maximilian Kolbe, as well.
In an article published online by the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA, Friar Jobe stated, “As Christians, we are called to reveal God’s love by our concrete actions. In our day, St. Maximilian’s martyrdom at Auschwitz is a preeminent manifestation of that.” In that same article, our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. added, “His relevance to people in the 21st century lies in his validation that love conquers hate, and goodness will ultimately triumph over evil.”
