One of our five friars serving in Rome, Italy is Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv.

He not only travels the world presenting the revisions to the Order’s Constitutions (how we live the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi) to the friars of our Order, he is also the Guardian of Convento S. Antonio Alle Terme (the Friary of St. Anthony at the Baths). The friary holds as their custom, in celebration of not only their Feast Day of St. Anthony of Padua but also the end of the academic year, hosting an outdoor cookout, replete with with table cloths and quality dishware. This year, the friary hosted many guest including friars from the other General Houses of our Order: the Friary of the Twelve Holy Apostles, in Rome [housing the General Curia – the general government of our Order and home of our province friars Fr. Donald Kos, OFM Conv. and Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. who serves as Assistant General CFC, as well as ], The Friary of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, in Rome [where Friar Kolbe founded the Militia of the Immaculate and home of our province friar, Fr. Victor Manuel Mora Mesén, OFM Conv.], the Friary of the Theological Faculty “St. Bonaventure,” in Rome [Seraphicum – the institute of theological studies for our Order and home of our friar in formation, Friar Christopher Dudek, OFM Conv.] and the Friary of the College of Confessors at St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City [home of Fr. Kevin Hanley, OFM Conv. of our Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa].

This year, four friars from La Vigna are finishing their Licentiates, and one his Doctorate. The friary began school year with nineteen friars. Of those, six friars will remain at La Vigna for the summer in preparation for the upcoming fraternal year. The others have either transferred, returned to their home jurisdictions or will spend the summer studying language and language practice. They will engage in more study, attending Chapters, doing pastoral work or research, and enjoy a bit of vacation time before returning to La Vigna.