Some of the friar participants: Fr. Andrzej Brzeziński, OFM Conv. (Associate Chaplain for Faith Development at CUA), Fr. Ericson de la Pena, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar at St. Adalbert Catholic Church), Fr. Albert Puliyadan, OFM Conv. (Associate Chaplain for Liturgy and Worship at CUA), the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (Minister Provincial – Our Lady of the Angels Province), the Very Reverend Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. (Provincial Delegate of our Canadian Province Delegation of St. Francis of Assisi & Province Assistant for the Marian Apostolate), the Very Reverend Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv., (Vicar Provincial & Minister Provincial Elect – Our Lady of the Angels Province), Fr. Mirosław Podymniak, OFM Conv. (Pastor – St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church).
On Saturday, April 30th, friars and faithful gathered to mark the 1st Annual Franciscan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington DC. After a seated overview tour of the shrine and a time of communal prayer, we celebrated Mass at which Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. presided and preached an inspiring homily so characteristic of our Franciscan tradition. The pilgrimage was organized by the Province’s Marian Apostolate under the direction of Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. (Provincial Delegate of our Canadian Province Delegation of St. Francis of Assisi & Province Assistant for the Marian Apostolate). Concelebrating were Friar Jobe, the Very Reverend Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (Vicar Provincial & Minister Provincial Elect), two of our four friars serving in Washington DC in CUA’s Campus Ministry: Fr. Andrzej Brzeziński, OFM Conv. (Associate Chaplain for Faith Development at The Catholic University of America) and Fr. Albert Puliyadan, OFM Conv. (Associate Chaplain for Liturgy and Worship at The Catholic University of America), Fr. Mirosław Podymniak, OFM Conv. (Pastor – St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church), and Fr. Ericson de la Pena, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church). Special thanks go out to the friars and parishioners from St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church (Elmhurst, NY), who came as a group, such a distance to pay tribute to the Immaculate Conception, patroness of our Order and the United States. Also special thanks to Mr. Steve Baglivio, one of our parishioner participants from our Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ pastoral ministry (St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church) who took the photo below of the celebratory group, which also includes Fr. Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv. (University Chaplain & Director of Campus Ministry – CUA) and Br. Ed Handy, OFM Conv. (Friar in Residence at St. Casimir Friary – Baltimore, MD).
Building on this very successful start, we are already happy to announce that we have booked the 2nd Annual Franciscan Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for Saturday, April 29, 2023. Please mark your schedules and plan on joining us for this province-wide initiative. All are welcome!
– Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., Province Assistant for the Marian Apostolate
