Consistent with our Franciscan charism and tradition of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our province has been progressing in our efforts to more fully tap into this devotion from our Kolbean heritage, through the example of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., and the continued efforts of his Militia of the Immaculata’s (M.I.) unconditional consecration to the Immaculate. With a view to promoting consecration to the Immaculate among the faithful served through the ministries of our friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., who serves as our Province MI Assistant, has completed part one of the ninth successful and rewarding stop on our Province M.I Initiative Tour of our pastoral ministries. Over the next few years, Friar Jobe will preach at the Masses to encourage the faithful to consecrate themselves to the Immaculate and to enroll in the M.I.
St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church ~ Baltimore, MD (Rosedale Community)
St. Michael the Archangel Church ~ Baltimore, MD (Overlea Community)
Church of the Annunciation ~ Baltimore, MD (Rosedale Community)
On the weekend of September 21-22, 2019, the Our Lady of the Angels Province friars serving one of the two Pastorates of the Archdiocese of Baltimore for whom we serve welcomed Friar Jobe on the first part of his ninth stop, of our Province M.I Initiative Tour of our pastoral ministries. The Baltimore County pastorate includes St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church, St. Michael the Archangel Church and the Church of the Annunciation. The second Archdiocese of Baltimore Pastorate where friars of our province serve is located in Baltimore City.
The friars of St. Michael Friary, in the Overlea area of Baltimore County, are aided often by friars from other Baltimore area friaries, serving in other ministries, assist their confreres of these two Archdiocese of Baltimore Pastorates. On this particular weekend, Fr. Chris Dudek, OFM Conv., who lives in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Friary and serves in ministry at our Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore), came to assist with Masses at St. Michael the Archangel Church, and presided at the Mass where Fr. Jobe preached. He is pictured in the group photo from St. Michael the Archangel Church below – centered under Fr. Jobe.
Sampling of the St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church Parishioners
Sampling of the St. Michael the Archangel Church Parishioners
Sampling of the Church of the Annunciation Parishioners
After being warmly received by the friars who reside at St. Michael Friary, Fr. Jobe was quickly able to appreciate the extent of the ministry involved here. With a total of ten Masses in the three parishes, Fr. Jobe was only able to preach at five of the Masses this past weekend. Next weekend, September 28-29, 2019, he will return for part II of the ninth stop of our Province M.I Initiative Tour, to preach at the remaining five. A great many of the parishioners responded positively regarding Marian Consecration and the M.I. in general, a sampling of whom are pictured above, along with Friar Jobe and Friar Tim.
On Monday afternoon (September 23, 2019), Friar Jobe visited with St. Michael-St. Clement School’s “Children of Mary.” Friar Jobe spoke to the students about the Militia Immaculata and total consecration to the Immaculate. The school Principal, Mr. Paul Kristoff, joined the students for the presentation, as well. (Friar Tim – left, Friar Jobe – 2nd to left)
After his time in the Baltimore area, Fr. Jobe will head back North to Canada, where his next stop (#10) will be at our Kingston Ontario pastoral ministries ~ the Parish Community of St. John the Apostle, October 12-13, 2019 and Holy Family Parish, October 19-20, 2019.
