As our friars live in communities called friaries, Fr. Timothy Dore, OFM Conv. is currently residing in the community of friars living in St. Casimir Friary, in Baltimore, MD, while serving as the pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church and St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Friar Tim was born in Baltimore and studied at Mount St. Mary’s College (now University) before entering the Conventual Franciscan Order and from 2001-2003, he returned to Baltimore to serve as a teacher at our high school, Archbishop Curley. So, Friar Tim has really come back home to Baltimore.
On November 10th, he found this image of St. Francis of Assisi in a closet on the 3rd floor of St. Ann’s Rectory (now known as the Anchorage – the parish motto is “Parish Anchored in Faith”). Thirty-two years ago, he spent a summer living and working at St. Ann’s as an Archdiocese of Baltimore Seminarian with the College Candidate Program. This very framed image hung on a wall just outside of his bedroom back then. At the time, he was contemplating the possibility of becoming a Franciscan instead of a priest for the Archdiocese. One evening, during a time when he was prayerfully doing some serious contemplation on the 58th Chapter of Isaiah, he found himself standing in the hallway. Gazing upon this image of St. Francis receiving the Stigmata (by El Greco), he became nearly entranced by it. It was at that moment that he made the definitive decision to become a Conventual Franciscan Friar! He felt that it was as if St. Francis himself had told him what to do! That was very definitely a “God Moment” in his life that he will never forget. Rediscovering this beautiful reproduction, in a closet of his newest assignment’s rectory, was a cause of great excitement for Friar Tim. Little did he ever imagine back then that someday he would return to St. Ann as the Pastor. God certainly works in mysterious ways! Interesting side note: the original of this painting is on permanent display right in Baltimore at the Walters Art Museum.

Friar Tim would also like to share with you a video of Isaiah 58 set to music. Please keep Friar Tim, all those he serves in his ministries and all of our friars and their ministries, in your prayers.