Adapted from a message by Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv., CFF Assistant General of our Order:
The friars of the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli (home of our General Curia in Rome) celebrated a Mass of adieu for Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Donald Kos, OFM Conv. (left), who is heading home to the United States after 59 years of service and ministry in Rome. Friar Donald’s years in ministry, since his December 23, 1961 Ordination to the Priesthood in this very same Basilica, have all been in service to our Order, in Rome.
Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, JCD (center) – Penitentiary Major of the Penitenzieria Apostolica (Apostolic Penitentiary), Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, OFM Conv. (second from left) – Regent Emeritus of the Penitenzieria Apostolica, Most Reverend Fr. Marco Tasca, OFM Conv. (second from right) – Minister General of our Order and Padre Aniello Stoia, OFM Conv. (far right) – Rector of our Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli were among those present for this celebration, which coincided with the Order’s Novena for the Immaculate Conception. {For more on the Novena}
After earning his B.A. in Philosophy at St. Bonaventure University, in NY (1958) Friar Donald moved to Rome where he earned his S.T.D in Theology at the Pontificia Facoltà Teologica San Bonaventura Seraphicum – 1962, J.C.D. in Canon Law at the Pontificia Università Lateranense – 1966, and Diploma in Canon Law at the Tribunal Apostolicum Rotae Romanae – 1970. His vast assignments in Rome through these 59 years have 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 Penitenzieria Apostolica, Procurator General and most recently Judicial Vicar of the Ecclesiastic Tribunal of Vatican City State. Friar Donald is the recipient of many awards including the 2016 Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Cross of Honor) Award from Pope Francis, in recognition of his 18 years serving at the Penitenzieria Apostolica (Apostolic Penitentiary).
Most of our province friars who live, study and work in Rome were on hand for Friar Donald’s farewell meal: (left to right) Fr. Victor Manuel Mora Mesén, OFM Conv., Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv., Friar Donald, Fr. Tim Kulbicki, OFM Conv. and Friar Christopher Dudek, OFM Conv.
Adapted from a message by the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. – Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province:
Welcome Home!
Minister General of our Order – Most Reverend Fr. Marco Tasca, OFM Conv.(left) and two Assistants General – Friar Benedict Back, OFM Conv. & Friar Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. (top right) escorted Friar Donald (seated) from Rome to Boston.
After being domiciled in Rome for 59 years – He arrived there during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII – our confrere Fr. Donald Kos, OFM Conv. has returned to his native Province of Our Lady of the Angels, where he will be living at the St. Hyacinth Senior Friars Residence, in Chicopee, MA. Amidst a snowstorm on the 9th of December, Fr. Donald was welcomed to Boston’s Logan Airport by Fr. James, the Minister Provincial. The esteem in which Fr. Donald is held by the Order was evident insofar as his escort party from Rome included the Minister General of our Order and two Assistants General. His welcoming committee from the USA included two of the four Minister Provincials serving our provinces of North America.
We welcome you home to your home province and back to the state of your birth. Pax et Bonum!
Friar Donald is now one of eight of our friars residing in our St. Hyacinth Friary, in Chicopee, MA. He was joyfully welcomed on December 9th by several of his friary-mates, as well as the Very Reverend Fr. Michael Zielke, OFM Conv. (a friar of our province who serves as Minister Provincial of the St. Bonaventure Province) who is recuperating from health issues there.
