For the first Sunday since his near-fatal bout with the Coronavirus, Fr. Noel Danielewicz, OFM Conv. returned to his parish of St. Benedict the Moor Church – on the Feast of St. Francis – October 4th. Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (below right) flew to Georgia to be celebrant and homilist at the liturgy. Tears of joy and applause reverberated as the flock of St. Benedict the Moor welcomed back their beloved shepherd, Friar Noel!
Friar Noel Danielewicz, OFM Conv. has been the pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Church (Columbus, GA) since August 2018. He lives in fraternity in our Franciscan Martyrs Friary, with five other friars of our province, who serve in Saint Benedict the Moor’s sister-parishes of: St. Anne Catholic Church & Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church as well as in education ministry at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School.

The night before, Friar Noel joined his confreres to celebrate the Transitus with Friar James at St. Anne’s where one of the parishioners had drawn a chalk painting of St. Francis of Assisi on the pavement, to welcome the local community and members of all 3 parishes served by the friars in Columbus, GA (below).