Bro. Solanus, a religious brother, was formerly a member of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. Originally hailing from Dublin, Ireland, he commenced his three year ‘passaggio’ to the Conventual Franciscans in December 2016 and was accepted for Solemn Vows in March 2020. His profession was delayed due to the travel restrictions imposed by the governments because of the corona virus.
Bro. Solanus has been residing in the St. Francis Friary, in Wexford Town, Ireland, since July 2019. His Solemn Profession of Vows ceremony took place there on August 2, 2020, during Holy Mass. The Provincial Custos of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody, Very Rev. Ciprian Budău, OFM Conv. travelled from England to receive the vows. The Wexford community, including Friar Aquino Maliakkal, OFM Conv. (Guardian), Friar Robert Cojoc, OFM Conv. and Friar Kazimierz Trzciński, OFM Conv. were in attendance, along with a visiting friar from Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Friary, in Oxford, England, Bro. Peter George Flynn, OFM Conv. (pictured below right)
After so many challenges this year, today we were finally able to give this amazing and talented class the commencement ceremony they deserve!
We held two ceremonies at Our Lady of Victory Basilica, the location we’ve traditionally used for decades. We followed all guidelines, took all precautions and made sure to keep everyone safe. The celebration may have been slightly different than past years, but it was in the same spirit and tradition that we have always conducted our ceremonies. In true St. Francis style, we pulled it off!
Another BIG reason to celebrate? As a class, this group received 21 million dollars in scholarships and institution grants, the highest total in our school’s HISTORY!! Incredible!
We’d also like to take a moment to honor some of this year’s major award winners!
An extra special congratulations to each of the following students (and alumni). Each of you are truly deserving of the award you received and should be very proud:
Today was such a wonderful day and congratulations to all 117 graduates! While this year may have presented each of you with extremely unique challenges, you handled it with incredible class and dignity. You rose to the occasion! You did EVERYTHING we would expect a St. Francis High School gentleman to do!
We are so so proud of each of you, and again, congratulations Class of 2020!
At noon on Thursday, July 30, 2020 the Holy See announced that Pope Francis has appointed Friar Nicolay Gennadevich Dubinin, OFM Conv. as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow. Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. sent the following congratulatory message via email:
“Dear Nikolay, Congratulations! The astonishing news of your appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Moscow has made my Franciscan heart leap for joy!… Actually I have a tear in my eye, as I think of you getting up at 2:00 in the morning to drive +Fr. Justin Biase, OFM Conv. and me to the airport on our last visit with you, shortly before Justin died. He must be looking down from heaven with great joy… I am mindful that St. Maximilian Kolbe once predicted that we would see the statue of the Immaculata in the centre of Moscow. Now we shall have a friar of Maximilian’s own Franciscan family in the centre of Moscow as Bishop. May the Immaculata cover you with her loving mantle… Be assured of prayers. James”
The newly appointed Bishop, sent the following message to the OLA Friars on our Patronal Feast Day (August 2):
“Dear Fr. James, Thank you very much for your message. Thank you for greetings, for your heartfelt words and for your friendship. I am proud to have been able to get to know you well, to stay together in the chapters and to have you guest in Russia. I remember dear +Fr. Justin; he was a very bright man and very good friar. I will live in St. Petersburg helping our archbishop in the north-west part of the diocese. My ordination will take place in Moscow on the 4th of October, St. Francis day. Today when you celebrate the feast of your province, I pray for you and for our friars in the USA. I hope you stay well. God bless you! Hope to see you! Nikolay”
Four years ago (2016) marked the 800th Anniversary of the August 2nd Portiuncula Indulgence. You will notice that our province logo incorporates the Portiuncula graphic. This is because the Portiuncula (the small chapel of St. Mary of the Angels nicknamed “Little Portion” by St. Francis of Assisi) is located within Assisi’s Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Franciscans around the world celebrate August 2nd as the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Angels but we friars who are members of a province named in her honor, hold the day in special regard.
This year (2020) August 2nd falls on a Sunday; the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. As such, the feast day will not be celebrated on August 2nd. For our province friars, our Patronal Feast Day will be transferred to Monday, August 3rd. There will be many opportunities to join our friars for live and virtual celebrations throughout the twenty-one Diocese in which the friars of our province live and minister. We encourage all to find a ministry location nearest to you, to join with us in celebrating Our Lady.
Visit our ministry locations page for links to our various ministries’ websites.
In the words of our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.: “May Our Lady intercede for each friar,
for all of our fraternal communities,
and for all of the people whom it is our humble privilege to serve
in the various ministries where we are engaged.”
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More on the Feast Day and Il Perdono (the Portiuncula Indulgence): The small chapel of St. Mary of the Angels (Our Lady of the Angels) was very dear to St. Francis of Assisi. He referred to it as the Portiucula (aka “Little Portion” and pictured at right) and it is considered the cradle of the Franciscan Order. In 1209, as the quarters of Rivo Torto became too small for the newly forming Religious Order, St. Francis obtained from the Benedictines the use of the Portiuncula, for which he paid a basket of fish. The chapel and the surrounding small parcel of land were is disrepair. Just as he had done at San Damiano, St. Francis rebuilt the chapel, adding small huts (cells) and enclosing it all in a protective hedge. It was there that St. Francis gained a more vivid understanding of his own vocation. He held the annual meetings of the friars (Chapters) there and it is where he desired to spend his final earthly moments; dying in his nearby cell October 3, 1226.
St. Francis felt that the Portiuncula was a place filled with God’s grace. In 1216, at the request of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Honorius granted special privilege (plenary indulgence – a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins) to all those who would visit the little chapel.
Although limited to include from noon on August 1st to midnight on August 2nd, the privilege continues to be granted to this day; not only to those who visit the Portiuncula, but to anyone who visits any church where Franciscan Friars live and minister. To receive this privilege (for yourself or for someone else – living or deceased), in addition to the visit, one must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within several weeks of the Feast Day, go to Mass and receive the Eucharist, recite the Our Father and Apostles Creed, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
The beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (below) that now surrounds the Portiuncula chapel was begun in 1569 (completed in 1684) by decree of Pius V. It was meant to accommodate the huge crowds of pilgrims who came on August 2nd for Il Perdono (Portiuncula Indulgence). This is an important feast day for all Franciscans and is celebrated in Franciscan churches throughout the world.
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (pictured above in center and bottom right) serves our province as Parochial Vicar at our pastoral ministry of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ). This month, he facilitated a retreat entitled “The Soul’s Journey into God,” for the Novitiate Class of 2020/2021, at InterProvincial Novitiate in Arroyo Grande, CA. This is the first retreat for this new class of Novices, since their July 5, 2020 Investiture. More photos can be found on the Novitiate Facebook Page. This new class appreciates your continued prayers, as they hold all of you in theirs.
Novitiate Class of 2020/2021 pictured left to right above: Friar Jonathan García Zenteno, OFM Conv. [Our Lady of the Angels Province], Friar Anthony Ruffolo, OFM Conv. [St. Bonaventure Province], Friar Michael Boes, OFM Conv. [Our Lady of the Angels Province], Friar Bram De Backer, OFM Conv. [Our Lady of the Angels Province], Friar Edgar Varela, OFM Conv. [Our Lady of the Angels Province], and Friar Wayne Mulei, OFM Conv. [St. Joseph Cupertino Province]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Bro. Solanus, a religious brother, was formerly a member of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. Originally hailing from Dublin, Ireland, he commenced his three year ‘passaggio’ to the Conventual Franciscans in December 2016 and was accepted for Solemn Vows in March 2020. His profession was delayed due to the travel restrictions imposed by the governments because of the corona virus.
On July 14, 2020, the first potato harvest of the “Little Portion Farm” was celebrated.
