On July 14, 2020, the first potato harvest of the “Little Portion Farm” was celebrated.
Checking in with friar Raad
While spending the summer with our friars serving in Syracuse, NY, friar Raad Eshoo, OFM Conv., a simply professed student friar of our province, was afforded the opportunity to share his story with Friar Rick, during a recent Tau Talks; monthly online inspiring conversation through Assumption Church.
If you would like more information on life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province, email our Province Vocation Director, Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv. at vocations@olaprovince.org.
Congratulations friar Cristofer M. Fernández, OFM Conv.
On Thursday, July 16, 2020, representatives of the family of friar Cristofer M. Fernández, OFM Conv., including his parents, grandmothers & siblings, joined our Friars as we gathered to celebrate his Simple Profession of Vows, during Noon Mass in our Chapel at The Shrine of St. Anthony. Always aware of practicing social distancing, the day was filled with fraternal and familial joy as friar Cristofer professed his Simple (Temporary) Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, for three years. The Mass was followed by a luncheon, again practicing safe social distancing fellowship. For the Post-Novitiate stage of formation, Friar Cristofer will study at The Catholic University of America, living in community with the friars of St. Bonaventure Friary (House of Formation), in Silver Spring, MD.
His Solemn (Perpetual) Vows will not be professed until after friar Cristofer has completed all of the stages of his formation as a Franciscan Friar Conventual.
The Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. – Homily for Simple Profession 2020
This sweet cookie was made by friar Cristofer’s Madrina/Godmother Mariflor. Click on the photo for more pictures from the event.
If you would like more information on life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual, contact our Province Vocation Director, Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv. at vocations@olaprovince.org or call him at 202-681-6151.
Temporary Profession – July 16, 2020
Keep in prayer, friar Christopher (Cristofer) M. Fernández, OFM Conv. as he prepares for his Profession of Simple (First/Temporary) Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, to be held in our Chapel at The Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD), July 16, 2020. This will be a private celebration, limited to a portion of friar Cristofer’s family members and friars who serve in the local area ministries.
On July 13, 2020, he and the other friar students who have been living their “year and a day” as Novices at our Inter Provincial Novitiate (Arroyo Grande, CA) celebrated their Sending Forth; the end of their time as Novices of our Order. They each will return to their own provinces to have a celebration of their individual professions of Simple Vows. In years past, this day would have also been the time to celebrate the Investiture of the new Novitiate Class, as they are clothed in the habit of our Order. (friar Cristofer’s 2019 Investiture) Due to COVID-19 precautions, our new Novices for the 2020/2021 Class celebrated their Investiture in closed events, within each individual province. The four new 2020/2021 Novitiate Class friars of our province were invested earlier this month on July 5, 2020. (Read more about friars Michael, Edgar, Jonathan & Bram).
For the 2019/2020 Novitiate Class, Our Lady of the Angels Province has one Novice moving from the Novitiate stage of formation, onto the Post-Novitiate stage of formation – friar Cristofer. This begins with today’s Sending Forth, followed by our celebration of friar Cristofer’s profession on Thursday. In years past, our province has also enjoyed a joint celebration for our Ordination & Profession Jubilarians, during a special Mass including those Professing Simple Vows. Due to COVID-19 precautions, these events have been separated, with our Jubilarian Celebration moved to mid-November 2020.
After his profession, friar Cristofer will move into the community of student friars at our St. Bonaventure Friary, in Silver Spring, MD. Student friars of several provinces living there, along with their Directors and Advisors, are in further study at The Catholic University of America, in Washington DC.
If you feel life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual may be a part of your vocation discernment journey, contact Our Lady of the Angels Province Vocation Director, Br. Nicholas Romeo, OFM Conv. at vocations@olaprovince.org.
Episcopal Ordination of Former Minister General
The Most Reverend Marco Tasca, OFM Conv.
will be ordained as Archbishop of Genoa, on July 11, 2020.
Direct streaming of the Celebration in the Cathedral,
will visible on www.chiesadigenova.it and on www.ilcittadino.ge.it
Former Minister General Friar Marco Tasca Appointed Archbishop of Genoa
Minister General Visits Starvation Cell of St Maximilian Kolbe
On July 7, 2020, the Minister General of our Order, the Most Reverend Fr. Carlos A. Trovarelli, OFM Conv. visited the Nazi concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Read more on our Order’s website.
Get to Know Our New Vocation Director
Originally from Baltimore, MD, during his free time, Brother Nick enjoys hiking and reading. His favorite books are The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, and the Confessions of Saint Augustine. He also enjoys going to the theatre and character study films. During dinner with friends, he enjoys red wine or a dark beer, and a tasty cigar along with some music. Some of his favorite movies include Little Miss Sunshine, Revolutionary Road, and An American Tail. He loves to binge watch The Office, Stranger Things, Breaking Bad, and West World. He enjoys music by The Beatles, Cage the Elephant, and Vampire Weekend.
JPIC ~ The Franciscan Center
Established in May 2019 & sponsored by our friars serving in ministry in Shamokin, Coal Township and Trevorton, Pennsylvania, The Franciscan Center works to help create a sustainable and promising future for the coal region, by networking and collaborating with faith based groups, community organizations, business owners, government agencies, and institutions of higher learning.
Rite of Investiture 2020
Once they were all four clothed, the new Novices turned around to face their confreres, and receive a joyful congratulator greeting from them all. (Novices Left to Right: friar Bram, friar Jonathan, friar Edgar and friar Michael. In the background is our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.)
friar Michael Boes, OFM Conv.
friar Edgar Varela, OFM Conv.
friar Jonathan García Zenteno, OFM Conv.
friar Bram De Backer, OFM Conv.
On July 5, 2020, in the Chapel of The Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD), Our Lady of the Angels Province celebrated the Investiture of our four Novices. After being clothed in the habit of our Order, they traveled to the North American Novitiate – home to all of the Novices from the Provinces serving in North America. They will spend a year and a day in fraternity there, in private and communal prayer, in classes, workshops, seminars, experiencing manual work, and other activities in line with the goals of this stage of formation. For more photos from the day, visit our Province Facebook page. Please keep them and all of the Novices of the Class of 2020-2021 in your prayers.
Investiture Homily for Our Lady of the Angels Province Novice Class of 2020-2021
– July 5, 2020
Delivered by the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.
– Minister Provincial
If you would like more information on life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual of our province,
contact our Vocation Director, Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv.
at vocations@olaprovince.org or call him at 202-681-6051.
JPIC News – Farm Focus
One year ago this month that we planted the first plants on Little Portion Farm. At that point the farm consisted merely of two beds of tomatoes in an otherwise empty field. Now, we have 67 beds planted, two wildflower sections, and a woodchip path which outlines the shape of the farm and welcomes visitors to take a reflective walk.
