On Sunday, April 23rd, 1pm – 4pm, we are hosting a celebration at Little Portion Farm in honor of the farm’s patron (almost) saint, Blessed Giles of Assisi.

![]() Feast of Blessed Giles of Assisi, at Little Portion FarmOn Sunday, April 23rd, 1pm – 4pm, we are hosting a celebration at Little Portion Farm in honor of the farm’s patron (almost) saint, Blessed Giles of Assisi. ![]() From Our Curia ~ Franciscan Formation
We Are the Penitents of Assisi – Franciscan Formation – Inspirations (Part 13) ![]() Friar Joe’s Reflection on Fasting during LentPillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving ![]() News from the Novitiate![]() Franciscan Friars Conventual {only} Top Row: Fr. Raphael Zwolenkiewicz, OFM Conv. (Friar in Residence – Our Lady of the Angels Province – OLA), Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (Minister Provincial – OLA), Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (Assistant Novice Director – OLA), Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. (Prefect of Formation – OLA), friar Eric Rewa, OFM Conv. (Novice – Province of Saint Bonaventure – SB), friar Robert Moynihan, OFM Conv. (Novice – Province of the Our Lady of Consolation – OLC) Bottom Row: friar Marvin Paul Fernandez, OFM Conv. (Novice – The Provincial Delegation of Saint Francis of Assisi, Canada, of OLA), friar André Miller, OFM Conv. (Novice – OLC), friar Colden Fell, OFM Conv. (Novice – OLC), Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (OLA). Fr. Jacob Carazo, OFM Conv. (Assistant Formation Director of St. Bonaventure Friary Post Novitiate – Province of St. Joseph of Cupertino – SJC), friar Connor Ouly, OFM Conv. (Novice – OLA) and Br. Joseph Wood, OFM Conv. (Novice Director – SB) March 18-22, 2023: Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conv., who also serves as President of the CFF: Conventual Franciscan Federation – Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, U.S.A., met with each Franciscan Friar Conventual Novice and with the Novitiate Directors (photo above), to talk about each Novice’s vocation, spirituality and progress in the Franciscan life. Joining him was Friar John Koziol, OFM Conv., who serves as the Prefect of Formation of Our Lady of the Angels Province and Friar Jacob Carazo, OFM Conv., a friar of the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province, who serves as Assistant Director of the Silver Spring, MD St. Bonaventure Friary Post-Novitiate, the next Stage of Formation for our Novices.
_________________ _________________ _________________ If you would like more information on formation for, and on life as, a Franciscan Friar Conventual, spend some time scrolling through the pages of FranciscanVoice.org. If you live on the East Coast of North America and would like to speak to a Vocation Director of Our Lady of the Angels Province, email Friar Nicholas Romeo, OFM Conv. & Friar Emanuel Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. (East Coast of the USA) at vocations@olaprovince.org or call 202-681-6051, and Friar Reto Davatz, OFM Conv. (Canada) vocations.ofmconv.canada@gmail.com. or call 343-989-1459. For information on vocations with our Custódia Província Imaculada Conceição (Immaculate Conception Custody – Brazil) contact: despertarfranciscano@gmail.com. For information on vocations with our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody (Great Britain & Ireland), contact: vocation@thegreyfriars.org. ![]() Strong Franciscan Pastoral PresenceOften, our pastoral ministries include a parish or parochial school. ![]() Friar John – Parochial Vicar at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr, in Chicopee, MA., Province Definitor, Friary Guardian and the Province’s Prefect of Formation) presided over the February 2023 First Reconciliation celebration for the 2nd grade students, of St. Stanislaus School.
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![]() Friar Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv. (St. Peter Roman Catholic Church – Pastor), Friar Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv. (St. Peter Roman Catholic Church – Parochial Vicar), Friar Brennan-Joseph Farleo, OFM Conv. (Friary Guardian) and Friar Richard Rossell, OFM Conv. (In Residence) joined the many supporters on hand for the St. Peter School Jubilee March 2023 Gala.
![]() St. Peter School’s PreK 4 brought in stuffed animals for the October 2023 Feast of Saint Francis and received a special blessing from Friar Nick. _____________________ To find a ministry location nearest to you, visit https://www.olaprovince.org/locations/
![]() ![]() Featured Ministry ~ St. Clare Parish, Manchester![]() The sanctuary space of St. Clare’s Roman Catholic Parish, includes a “mosaic above the high alters which shows St. Clare of Assisi raising the Blessed Sacrament, source of blessings and spiritual protection.” One of the two Custodies of Our Lady of the Angels Province is the Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody, aka “The Greyfriars.” There are 24 friars of this Custody with four more friars of other jurisdictions (including Friar Giles Zakowicz, OFM Conv. of Our Lady of the Angels Province) serving in ministry with them, in seven cities in Great Britain and Ireland. In the Manchester, England area there are two friaries: All Saints Friary (Barton, Urmston) and St. Clare’s Friary (Higher Blackley). Served by Fr. Cãtãlin Ieremia (Jeremiah) Budău, OFM Conv., Fr. Colin Mary Edwards, OFM Conv. and Br Joe Fenton, more can be learned about the weekly calendar of the parish, by following the St. Clare’s R.C. Parish Facebook page, from which the photo in the post was taken. On a side note, Friar Jeremiah also serves the Custody as a Definitor, and Friar Colin Mary also serves as the Custody’s Vicar. Read more: St. Clare’s – Blackley, Manchester
Check out more about our Province’s Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody in Great Britain & Ireland, including vocations information, news posts on the friars and more information on their ministry locations, on their website: https://www.thegreyfriars.org/
![]() “Don’t Let the Poor Get Too Close.”
They mess up our idea of the Kingdom of God, if we have kept to those safe reflections that have come down through centuries of safe theological complacency. They mess up our idea of Jesus’ preference, if you have spiritualized his message beyond recognition. They mess with our perspectives about the poor, the unrecognizable, the hidden, the unwanted, the discarded, the used and abused, and the begging immigrant. But, man, they really mess with our consideration of the wealthy, the system, the structures of power, the hierarchy, capitalism, sexism, patriarchy, and everything in between. The poor mess with our view and consideration of Jesus, religion, and the church. Yes, they even mess with our relationship with the poor themselves. You have to be very careful, because they can mess up everything. They can really mess you up if you’ve turned your theories, opinions, interpretations, and conclusions into idols of worship. The poor, well…they’ll just come into those temples and tear them apart! Where would we worship then? What would we worship? ~ Friar Julio ______________________
Friar Julio’s charism fit the parish environment like a glove, when he began serving as pastor five years ago. The parish community’s ministries also include Social Services and Food Pantry Distribution, Justice & Peace and a Sister Mission. Learn more about this vibrant parish on the St. Julia Catholic Community website. ![]() Lenten Thursday Prayer Service and Lunch![]() Before the meal, Friar Max helps participants learn more about struggling families around the world, who are overcoming hunger and of the impact of climate change, through hard work and prayer. Fr. Max Avila, OFM Conv. (Spanish Instructor) and friar Antonio Moualeu, OFM Conv. (Religion Instructor and Campus Minister) join together for this week’s St. Francis of Assisi High School Campus Ministry led Lenten Thursday Prayer Service, followed by a simple meat-less meal in solidarity with those who struggle with poverty. [Photo Cred: St. Francis High School Facebook Page] Currently serving his Apostolic Year of Formation, friar Antonio is a simply professed friar of our province, who plans to profess his Solemn Vows on August 14, 2023, the Feast of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. Please keep him and all of the friars in formation of our province, in your continued prayers. ![]() Joined by SFHS Religion Teacher, Mr. Michael Specht, friar Antonio helps to serve the simple meat-less meal shared after the Prayer Service, by those gathered. For more information on vocations, visit FranciscanVoice.org or email our Province Vocation Directors, Fr. Manny Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. and Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv. at vocations@olaprovince.org. ![]() Friar Germain’s Reflection on Almsgiving during LentPillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving |