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.

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.

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.

On Thursday, June 25, 2020, during a special Mass celebrated at our pastoral ministry of St. Casimir Church (Baltimore, MD), Kenny Clapp – a member of our Archbishop Curley High School Class of 2020 – was received into the Church as he professed his faith in Jesus and received the Sacraments of Initiation; Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Chris Dudek, OFM Conv., who serves as an instructor and as campus minister at Archbishop Curley High School, was the main celebrant of the Mass and the minister of the Sacraments.

Sacrament of Confirmation

The celebration was originally scheduled at the school in March, but had to be postponed as the school was closed due to COVID-19.

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

Many of Kenny’s family and friends were able to be present to witness his commitment to Jesus, as were members of Archbishop Curley High School faculty (including Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, Br. Lawrence LaFlame, OFM Conv. and Fr. Bryan Hajovsky, OFM Conv.) and Our Lady of the Angels Province Vicar Provincial, Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (at left above)

Kenny’s Family

A small social distancing reception took place in the park across from the church after the Mass.

Several of the Archbishop Curley High School students, faculty and friars who came out to celebrate with Kenny

Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv. is looking forward to seeing you as you begin your college years at Syracuse University, where he serves as Catholic Campus Minister.

On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. met the President of the Republic of Poland, H.E. Andrzej Duda, and other dignitaries and representatives of our Order and the Polish Government, in Washington DC.
H.E. Andrzej Duda awarded posthumously Friar Łucjan Królikowski, OFM Conv. with the Order of the White Eagle – Poland’s highest order awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. (article in Polish)
In his Acceptance Remarks, Friar James stated, “As you know, Father Łucjan was a member of the Order of Franciscan Friars Conventual. We Franciscans first came to Poland in the year 1236. Today’s ceremony marks a unique moment in the 800-year-long history of the Franciscan Order. For the first time in Franciscan history, and in Polish history, the Order of the White Eagle is being conferred upon a Franciscan Friar. How fitting, indeed, it is that the humble Polish Franciscan Łucjan Królikowski is the recipient! ”
Friar James (far left) was accompanied by six of Friar Łucjan’s closest friends, including Kraków, Poland’s St. Anthony of Padua and B. James of Strepa Province (Prowincja św. Antoniego i bł. Jakuba Strzemię w Polsce) Delegate for the USA – Fr. Piotr Sarnicki, OFM Conv. (2nd from right) and Our Lady of the Angels Province friar – Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (far right), who serves as Parochial Vicar for our pastoral ministry of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. 

The President was presented with a 1st Class Relic of St. Maximillian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. by Friar James, alongside Helena Knapczyk – one of Fr. Łucjan’s Polish orphans from Siberia & the Tengeru refugee camp.

Video Link