Characteristics of Religious Orders in His Day: Monastic life gained particular importance in the Middle Ages. It was seen as a kind of exile. Existence in this world was viewed as slavery and a pilgrimage to the “heavenly Jerusalem” with Jesus Christ pointing the way. The very word “world” (in Latin: mundus) was understood in a negative sense by the monastic Orders.

Each year, on Good Shepherd Sunday (April 25 this year), the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  As revealed in the name, the day is an opportunity for Catholics around the globe to pray more intentionally for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and the diaconate.

Read Pope Francis’ special message for the World Day of Prayer 2021.

Praying for vocations is necessary, but insufficient.  Remember to also encourage young men to consider the priesthood or religious life:

1. Identify a young man, who you observe has the gifts and persona that make for a holy priest or religious.
2. Ask—clearly and bluntly—that young man if he’s ever thought about being a priest or brother.
3. Tell him the gifts you see in him, which are leading you to ask.

At the picturesque St. Francis of Assisi Friary Novitiate, in Arroyo Grande, CA (in the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province), the friar Novices celebrated Palm Sunday alongside their friar formators, including Br. Joseph Wood, OFM Conv. (St. Bonaventure Province – Director of the Novitiate – far left), and Fr. Julian Zambanini, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province – Friar in Residence) who served as celebrant for the Liturgy. Friar Julian was assisted by friar Jonathan García Zenteno, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province Novice – left center) and friar Edgar Varela, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province Novice – Cross Bearer – far right). Also pictured here is friar Anthony Ruffolo, OFM Conv. (St. Bonaventure Province Novice). The Novitiate is home to all Novices of the four North American Provinces, including Our Lady of Consolation Province.

Holy Thursday Mass in the Novitiate Chapel, celebrated by Fr. Maurice “Moe” Richard, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province – Assistant Director of the Novitiate) and concelebrated by Friar Julian.

On Good Friday, Friar Moe was assisted by friar Jonathan and friar Edgar

Although the Novices are spending a year and a day in the prayerful confines of this Novitiate community, their formators make sure they have moments of joyful fraternal celebration breaks from their studies of Franciscan History, Franciscan Spirituality, Rule and Constitutions of the Order, Liturgical – Devotional – Contemplative Prayer, History of Consecrated Life, and the Gospel Counsels. The Communal Prayer life in fraternity nourishes the Novices souls, and they are happy to also share in traditional celebrations that nourish their bodies, like an Easter Feast which even included a Baranek Wielkanocny (Paschal Butter Lamb), displayed by friar Edgar.

The Our Lady of the Angels Province friars pictured here, who are not in the prior photos above are: friar Michael Boes, OFM Conv. – Novice – bottom 3rd from left & friar Bram De Backer, OFM Conv. – Novice – bottom 3rd from right. Several friars of St. Joseph of Cupertino Province are also pictured here: Friar Jacob Carazo, OFM Conv. – Vicar Provincial , Friar Jerry Payne, OFM Conv. – Novitiate Formation Team, Friar John Farao, OFM Conv. – Prison Chaplain, and the other Novice – friar Wayne Mulei, OFM Conv. (top right)]

A message from the friars of the Novitiate:
“Happy Easter from all of us here at St. Francis of Assisi Novitiate. May the Risen Lord bless you and keep you. Alleluia!”

vocations@olaprovince.org 

Tuesday, March 30, 2021: The friars at the Convento San Pietro – Collegio dei Penitenzieri Vaticani (Friary of St. Peter – The College of Penitentiaries) had a visit from Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv. (Archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vicar General for the Vatican State, and president of the Fabric of Saint Peter). Some photos were taken of the visit with the friars on their patio, which overlooks St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Gardens (Shown above and home to the Franciscan Friars Conventual who serve as Confessors at the Vatican, including Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. John Voytek, OFM Conv., pictured at top left). The friars of the Penitenzieri presented Cardinal Gambetti with a Saint Joseph icon (below), who also visited the friary chapel (at left).

March 21, 2021: The City of Chicopee, MA honored Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Joe Bayne, OFM Conv. with a celebration honoring him for his selfless service to the St. Stanislaus Community and the men and women of the Chicopee Fire Department. Additionally, Friar Joe was honored for his Birthday (March 15), Feast Day (March 19th), and Belated 35th Ordination Anniversary. A very large amount of Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr parishioners joined in a Car Parade to extend their well wishes to their Beloved Pastor; a much-loved Shepherd to the St. Stanislaus Community. “We are so blessed to have him as our humble Shepherd!” ~ DQ Diane LaCosse

Media coverage for the day included: Local TV 22, Catholic Communications, the Diocese of Springfield’s “Real to Reel — 3-27-2021” and the Chicopee Herald. The Parish had a wonderful day honoring their Beloved Priest – Friar Joe!

“Christ Carrying the Cross” is an oil painting by El Greco, produced early in his Toledo period circa de 1580.

March 29, 2021: Our friars serving at The Catholic University of America (Washington, DC), Fr. Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv., Fr Louis Maximilian Smith, OFM Conv., Fr. Albert Puliyadan, OFM Conv., and Fr. Andrzej Brzeziński, OFM Conv. led university students in a campus-wide Stations of the Cross. {Photo Cred: Fr Louis Maximilian Smith)

MORE:

Taken from the St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School (Columbus, GA) Facebook Page:
Led by friar Franck Sokpolie, OFM Conv., serving his Apostolic Year of Formation at the school & St. Anne Catholic Church

Taken from the Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore, MD) Facebook Page:
“One of the Curley traditions that survived the pandemic was the Live Stations of the Cross. Produced and performed by the senior class, the Live Stations followed the last hours of Jesus.  It was performed twice with two different casts to accommodate our hybrid environment.  This tradition is always a fine introduction and tone-setter for Holy Week and the Triduum.”

Stations of the Cross with the students of St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ,
led by Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv., Parochial Vicar at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church.

Taken from the St. Casimir Catholic School (Baltimore, MD) Facebook Page:
“Living Stations of the Cross performed by 8th graders for our school.  Absolutely amazing!”

Originally Created in 2020, under the guidance of Fr. Matthew Foley, OFM Conv., Franciscan Voice re-presents for Lent 2021, the members of ALVERNA, the peer ministry team at our St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York, as they virtually pray the Stations of the Cross.

Consider praying the USCCB Stations of the Cross for Vocations.
vocations@olaprovince.org

In addition to our friars serving in Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America, we have several student friars in study there. These student friars, along with several from the three other North American Provinces, live in community in our St. Bonaventure Friary (Silver Spring, MD) under the Direction of Fr. Paul Schloemer, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of Consolation Province) and Fr. Nick Rokitka, OFM Conv., a friar of our province who also serves as our Province Treasurer. The student friars also live in community with our own Fr. John Burkhard, OFM Conv. who is on hand to share his wisdom, as well as his guidance.

One of these student friars of our province, friar Cristofer Fernández, OFM Conv. is an M.A. Student in Theology, Religion, & Culture, at CUA. He has been very active on campus in many organizations including Campus Ministry and was on the joint planning committee between Campus Ministry and the Center for Cultural Engagement, for CUA’s first ever Saint Óscar  Romero Week. 

Public access events:

The Witness of Oscar Romero
A Special Presentation by Dr. Matthew Whelan about his latest book on Romero’s views on land rights and Catholic Social Teaching.
Tuesday, March 23rd  | 12:00 – 1:00PM EST on Zoom: https://cua.zoom.us/s/82430137717

Oscar Romero: Yesterday & Today
A special panel discussion that will explore the impact of Romero’s legacy in our world today. Our panelists currently serve the Church in El Salvador and the Boston Archdiocese.
Thursday, March 25th. 7:00PM EST on Zoom: https://cua.zoom.us/w/89980942095