La Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli: Fr. Donald Kos, OFM Conv. (pictured second from left at the altar) was joined by many of his confreres, living in and serving the people of Rome, including our Order’s Minister General, the Most Reverend Fr. Marco Tasca, OFM Conv. (pictured second from left at altar) and Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and Assistant General of the CFC: Conventual Franciscan Conference, Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. (pictured in center of front row of left choir stalls).
September 18, 2016: A special La Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli noon Mass was held the celebration for the 80th Birthday of Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Donald Kos, OFM Conv. and the 25th Ordination Anniversary of the Assistant General of the CEO (Conferentia Europae Orientalis – translated: Conference Eastern Europe), Fr. Jacek Ciupiński , OFM Conv.
Taken in the courtyard of the our Order’s Curia Generalizia: Fr. Keven Hanley, OFM Conv. (Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody of Our Lady of the Angels Province friar serving as a Vatican Confessor), Fr. Jacek Ciupiński, OFM Conv. (Province of the Immaculate Mother of God – Warsaw friar serving as Assistant General of the CEO), Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province friar serving as Assistant General of the CFC), Fr. Donald Kos, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province friar serving as Judicial Vicar of the Ecclesiastic Tribunal of Vatican City State), Fr. Victor Manuel Mora Mesén, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province friar residing in the Convento S. Massimiliano Kolbe, Rome and a member of the Executive Committee for the Revision of the Constitutions of the Order – CERC), Fr. Tim Kulbicki, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province friar serving as Guardian of the Convento S Antonio alle Terme, Rome, also a member of the CERC)
More on Friar Donald: a native of Holyoke, Massachusetts, he began his Franciscan life at the Conventual Franciscan – Mount Saint Lawrence Novitiate (Becket, MA), professing his Simple Vows in 1954 and Solemn Vows in 1957. After earning his B.A. in Philosophy at St. Bonaventure University (NY-1958), he moved to Rome where he earned his S.T.D in Theology at the Pontificia Facoltà Teologica San Bonaventura Seraphicum (1962), his J.C.D. – Doctor of Canon Law at the Pontificia Università Lateranense (1966) and his Diploma in Canon Law at the Tribunal Apostolicum Rotae Romanae (1970).
He has spent all of his years in ministry in service to our Order in Rome since his December 23, 1961 Ordination to the Priesthood, at our La basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli (Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles). His Rome assignments included Assistant General of the Anglo-American Coetus, Postulator General of the Order, Vicar General of the Order, Guardian of the Convento S Antonio alle Terme, Referendouro of the Signatura Apostolica, Judge of the First Instance of the Vatican Tribunal, Correspondent on Congregation of the Apostolic Penitenzeria, Procurator General and he continues to now serve as the Judicial Vicar of the Ecclesiastic Tribunal of Vatican City State.
On January 28, 2016, Friar Donald received the “Pro Ecclisia et Pontifice” Cross of Honor Award from Pope Francis in recognition of distinguished service to the church. He joins an illustrious list of recipients that include Mother Angelica, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, George Weigel and Queen Sofía of Spain.
Congratulations Friar Donald! On September 18, 2016, Fr. Donald Kos, OFM Conv. was re-appointed Judicial Vicar of the Ecclesiastic Tribunal of Vatican City State for the triennium. Pictured here is the official Papal notification from the Secretary of State.
