Modern Day Town Square of Greccio, about a mile and a half from the Santuario di Greccio
A few years before his death and in remembrance of his visit to the Holy Land, our Seraphic Father Francis asked his friend and companion, Giovanni Velita – the Lord of Greccio, to recreated the presepio (crèche) in the cavity of a cave. At Christmas in 1223, in the town of Greccio, Francis desired to reenact for the first time, the scene at Bethlehem. In it was placed a manger with hay and a live ox and donkey. The Cappella del Presepio or “Nativity Chapel” was built there in 1228; the year of the canonization of St. Francis of Assisi. (Read More)
We now enjoy the tradition of manger scenes in our churches and in our homes because of this event – Christ coming to live among us. Throughout the years, our friars have continued this tradition with Living Nativity celebrations we simply call “Greccio.” The pandemic of 2020 has forced these celebration to change a bit but our friars and our ministries are trying diligently to still keep the tradition alive with safe social distancing protocols in place.
Be sure to check out our “Locations” page for a ministry nearest to you to see if they are going to hold a Greccio Experience.
Invisible Light takes us through the story of a man named Theophilus who shares with us his grief of losing his son and the struggle of living through a time of violence in Rome. He returns to the Gospel of Luke, which was dedicated to him, as a source of comfort and soon finds himself being transformed by the story of Christ’s humble birth. What Theophilus soon discovers through Luke’s Gospel is ‘Emmanuel’ come to life in some unexpected encounters leading him to see this “Invisible Light.”
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Note: A new episode will be presented each week of Advent.
Additional credits:
Elder – Friar Israel Sabastian, OFM Conv. of St. Joseph Cupertino Province
Young Woman – Bethany Perzanowski Woman with the Yellow Veil – Bethany Perzanowski
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” song credit to:
Richard Foty
Ernest Marquez
Ken De Los Santos
members of the Seraphim and Cherubim choir
Since our foundation, our friars have depended on friends and companions to accompany us on our journey— today is no different. Your gift to the Our Lady of the Angels Province of the Franciscan Friars Conventual will help guarantee strong ministry in the Franciscan tradition continues into the 21st century.
Due to COVID-19 worldwide mandatory health protocols, the consistory had a limited congregation. Each new cardinal was allowed only a few guests. In his new assignment as a Confessor at the Vatican also granted entrance for Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. John Voytek, OFM Conv. Friar John took the unique opportunity – representing congratulatory well wishes from all friars of our province – to take a quick photo with the new Conventual Franciscan Cardinal.
Just six days before (November 22, 2020), His Eminence Mauro Cardinal Gambetti, OFM Conv. had been ordained as the Titular Archbishop of Thisiduo, on the Feast of Christ the King, in the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. On November 28, 2020, he was one of 13 who were elevated to the College of Cardinals, in St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican City). Cardinal Gambetti became the third youngest member of the College of Cardinals, and the first Conventual Franciscan to be named a cardinal since 1861.
On our Curia’s website, Friar Tomasz Szymczak, OFM Conv., Secretary General of our Order, posted the article: “THE CONVENTUAL CARDINALS,” answering the question, “Do we have that many cardinals in our family?” Also posted on our Curia’s website, on December 1, 2020, was a reflection on the day by Friar Agnello Stoia, OFM Conv., Pastor of Rome’s Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles (at our Order’s Curia).: “Rome: Te Deum for the New Cardinal, His Eminence, Mauro Cardinal Gambetti“
After completing their time in the Novitiate, frei Jesus Rodrigues do Amaral, OFM Conv., frei Ricardo Elvis Arruda Bezerra, OFM Conv., and frei Fernando Pereira de Andrade Júnior, OFM Conv. of our Immaculate Conception Custody (Brazil) first professed their Simple {Temporary} Vows; choosing to live as a Franciscan Friar Conventual (frei Jesus & frei Ricardo on February 08, 2018 and frei Fernando on February 8, 2020). Although the number of times varies from area to area, Simple Vows will be renewed at least once during a friar’s Post-Novitiate years of continuing study and formation. Solemn Vows are perpetual and are not professed until after the friar completes all stages of formation. While continuing his education, the time between the temporary and perpetual vow profession is also the formation period when a friar further reflects on his personal discernment on his life as a friar priest or friar brother, of our Order.
This year, on the Feast of All of the Saints of the Order (November 29), the friars of our Province Custody in Brazil joyfully announced that in the presence of many of their confreres and the faithful, frei Jesus, frei Ricardo and frei Fernando, chose to profess their Renewal of Vows, during Mass, at the Paróquia São Francisco de Assis, in Rio de Janeiro. Friars Jesus and Ricardo also received the Ministry of Acolyte; an important step towards the priesthood.
Archbishop Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv.: Ordained a bishop on the Feast of Christ the King, in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, by Cardinal Agostino Vallini, Pontifical Legate for the Basilicas of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Mary of the Angels (Sunday, November 22, 2020), in less than a week, Cardinal-Elect Gambetti will become the third youngest member of the College of Cardinals, and the first Conventual Franciscan to be named a cardinal since 1861.
Our pastoral ministry at Assumption Church (Syracuse, NY) has just completed another JPIC initiative with the installation of “rain gardens” on the front lawn of the St. Francis Friary. This project, funded by the “Save the Rain” grant of Onondaga County, captures the rain from the church roof into basins that slow the flow into our lakes and rivers. The basins are filled with soil and have an entire garden of plants that are planted under the mulch which will grow in the Spring to enhance the property.
