The Bishop of Mansa (Zambia), Bishop Patrick Chilekwa Chisanga, O.F.M. Conv., visited the friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province who serve in Ellicott City, MD (June 21-22, 2016). Already that week, our friars were hosting the “Americas Project” delegation of six Friars and laity from Colombia (June 16-23, 2016). Also from June 20-22, 2016, the Minister Provincial from Korea and another Korean friar were visiting Friar Max who is a Korean Friar serving at the Shrine. Oh there is more. Fr. Marcin Buntow, OFM Conv. (pictured at right chatting with Province Secretary, Friar Richard-Jacob), who is in the USA preaching on behalf of our Franciscan Mission Association was also on campus. We even had a surprise visit from one of our 
pastoral ministry Youth Groups on June 22, 2016. To top it all off, Ellicott City was hit hard with severe weather, causing power and water outages. Needless to say. It was a very interesting weekend as Friars from five continents were on the Ellicott City Campus working and visiting the friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province. This week was a strong witness to the Order’s inter-nationality and inter-culturality.
Friars from Columbia, Zambia, Korea, Ghana & the US gather for a group shot in the Shrine’s dining room.
The Custos of the Order in Colombia, Fr. Jhon Jairo, OFM Conv., two other Friars and three laymen spent the week of June 16-23, 2016 in Our Lady of the Angels Province, with Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. and Fr. Julio Martinez, OFM Conv., exploring common ways of collaborating in the area of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (aka JPIC). Friar Michael and Friar Julio are members of the Our Lady of the Angels JPIC Commission. The shot was taken outside of the Portiuncula Chapel at the Provincial House on 6-21-2016
The Minister Provincial of Korea, the Very Reverend Fr. Titus Yoon, OFM Conv. accompanied by Korean friar Fr. Aloysius Hong, OFM Conv. visited their Korean confrere Fr. Max Soo Choi, OFM Conv. (pictured top right) who serves at the Shrine of St. Anthony. They were hosted by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and the other friars of the Portiuncula Friary, June 20-22.
On Wednesday, June 22, 2016, “Total Youth Ministry” from our pastoral ministry at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community (Burlington, NC) visited the Friars who serve at the Shrine of St. Anthony and the Provincial House (Province Leadership Offices) in Ellicott City, MD. {Picture taken in the Provincial House Conference Room with Shrine Director, Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (right in habit) and Province Secretary, Fr. Richard-Jacob Forcier, OFM Conv. (back in stripes)}
