As our province ministries are mostly spread throughout the East Coast of North America (Ontario, Canada down to Florida, USA), the re-opening dates and procedures of each ministry varies greatly. Our friars ask that you please check the individual ministry website for the unique re-opening situations at each location. The list of websites for our province ministries can be found on our “Locations” page of this website. If you are unclear from the ministry site’s webpage information (as some ministries staff has not been able to return to onsite work yet), check on their social media pages for the possibility of finding the most up to date information. The friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province miss you and are working diligently to be able to join in celebrations and events with you again, as soon as is safely possible.
Burlington, NC: The Little Portion Food Pantry, sponsored by our pastoral ministry of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community, serves those experiencing food insecurity in North Carolina’s Burlington and Almanace Counties. They hosted their latest food distribution on Friday, June 5, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., serving 640 families (3,047 individuals) with enough food to last several days. Through the generosity of benefactors, donors, supporters, the Burlington Police Department, the City of Burlington and their fantastic volunteers, they provided not only the staples of dry and canned goods, but also fresh produce – such as potatoes, onions, carrots, lettuce and even fresh garlic, parsley & basil grown in the parish garden. Follow the parish and school on Facebook for updates.
Ellicott City, MD: Operating under the same English translation for the St. Francis of Assisi’s Portiuncula (Read More), our Province’s Little Portion Farm has been successful again this year in providing fresh vegetables donated to the Franciscan Center in Baltimore City, MD. The overarching mission of Little Portion Farm is to “hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor (Read More). Harvests from the farm include lettuce, potatoes, dill, peppers, spinach, radishes, and much more. Follow Little Portion Farm on Facebook for updates.
Atlanta, GA: On Friday, June 12, 2020, from noon until 6:00 pm, and on Saturday, June 13, 2020, from 8:00 am until 2:00 p.m., our pastoral ministry of Holy Cross Catholic Church will hold summer blood drives. Although an event held often at the parish, during this difficult time the Red Cross is in great need of blood donations. The parish sponsored ministry of St. Vincent de Paul is another important resource during these trying times. This is a lay organization at the parish; leading women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the community at large, by praying with them, assisting with rent or mortgages, utility bills, food, clothing and screenings. You can follow the parish event and happenings on the Holy Cross Atlanta Facebook page.
Syracuse, NY: The Poverello Health Center is part of the Franciscan Northside Ministries of our pastoral ministry of Assumption Church. The center provides free health services to those in need who have no other alternatives of financial resources for medical care. It will open for walk-ins Wednesday June 10, 2020, from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information on the varied social outreach ministry of the parish community, follow Assumption Church – Syracuse Facebook page.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to social and charitable activities for the benefit of Polish war orphans, victims of forced displacement from the Eastern Borderlands into the USSR, for pastoral work, and a sacrificial attitude in helping other people. Below is an English Translation of the decree from the President of Poland honoring Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, the late +Fr. Łucjan Królikowski, OFM Conv. with Poland’s highest state decoration, the Order of the White Eagle. (Original Article Source)
___________________________
President Andrzej Duda met Father Łucjan on September 22, 2019, during a visit to New Britain, CT. (source: https://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/ordery-i-odznaczenia/art,544,order-orla-bialego-posmiertnie-dla-o-lucjana-krolikowskiego.html)
The Order of the White Eagle [Awarded]
posthumously to Father Łucjan Królikowski
The President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda has awarded the highest state decoration:
In recognition of outstanding services in social and charitable activities for Polish war orphans, victims of forced displacement from the Eastern Borderlands into the depths of the USSR, for his pastoral work and sacrificial attitude in helping others.
A citizen of the Republic of Poland and Canada has been awarded
THE ORDER OF THE WHITE EAGLE
Posthumously
Father Łucjan Królikowski
A Polish Conventual Franciscan, Siberian exile,
soldier of the army of General Anders
and guardian of Polish war orphans from the Polish refugee camp in Tengeru (Tanzania)
– the children whom he took to Canada in the first days of June 1949,
protecting them from repatriation to a country controlled by the communist regime,
He died on October 11, 2019 in the Franciscan community of Chicopee in the USA.
Ministries throughout our province have missed out on “standard” graduation ceremonies and celebrations for the students served by our friars who are part of the Class of 2020. This includes students from PreK classes through University level graduates. Although these events were canceled or postponed, each of our ministry sites has tried to still make these milestones special. One such ministry is the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community, in Burlington NC. The parish school celebrated the 8th Grade Students, while still observing safety protocols in place during the pandemic.
We have been sharing these events, as they have occurred on our Province Facebook page, such as Fr. Matt Foley, OFM Conv. and other staff members at the Graduate Yard Sign Distribution at our St. Francis High School, in Athol Springs, NY, (at left). To view more celebrations of the Graduating Class of 2020 within our ministry sites, be sure to check out Franciscan Friars Conventual of the Our Lady of the Angels Province.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, on the Solemnity of Pentecost, the friars of our Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conceição (Immaculate Conception) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, prepared a message of Peace, Hope, Love and Faith, for all friends, parishioners and benefactors, in this time of pandemic, where concern and fear robs us of peace.
Praying the Peace Prayer of St. Francis. Our Minister General, the Most Reverend Fr. Carlos Trovarelli, OFM Conv. begins and ends the Video.
May Saint Francis of Assisi intercede for us right now so that we do not lose the true peace that helps us all to endure all the difficulties of life with patience. Remember that all of our sufferings mimic the suffering of Jesus abandoned on the cross. This is the “Perfect Joy.”
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Show his face and have mercy on you!
Turn to you his eyes and give you peace!
The Lord bless you
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Document from the Vatican appointing Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. John Voytek, OFM Conv., as a confessor at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome
Our Order, the Franciscan Friars Conventual have served as the official confessors at the Vatican Basilica since 1774, when Pope Clement XIV in his Apostolic Letter Miserator Dominus established our Order as the “College of the Penitentiaries.” Upon passing his examination at the Vatican on the 12th of May, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. John M. Voytek, OFM Conv. was immediately taken to the Chapel of the Penitentiaries by His Eminence Cardinal Mauro Piacenza (Major Penitentiary, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary), and Msgr. Krzysztof Józef Nykiel (Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary) to take his oath and make his profession of faith. Having signed the official documents, the Vatican officials enrolled Friar John in the official ranks of friars who for 246 years have carried out this great service of the Order to the Church. The most recent predecessors of Fr. John as English-speaking “penitentiaries” from Our Lady of the Angels Province were Friar Kevin Hanley, OFM Conv. and Friar Nevin Hammon, OFM Conv.
At the Vatican, at the right of Friar John – the Cardinal and the Regent, to his left – Friar Robert Leżohupski, OFM Conv. ,who serves in the position formerly held by our own +Fr. Donald Kos, OFM Conv. and theologian Fr. John (Vatican officials in the Sacred Congregation of the Apostolic Penitentiary).
While preparing three months in Rome for his Penitenzeria exam, Friar John lived at our General Curia’s Convento Ss. XII Apostoli (Friary of the Twelve Holy Apostles). Our Minister General, the Most Reverend Fr. Carlos Trovarelli, OFM Conv. (at left), who sincerely asserted that the fraternity of the Friary will miss Friar John very much as he moves across the River Tiber to Vatican City. Before moving, however, Friar John flew back to Atlanta to begin the six-week process of obtaining an Italian Visa.
The International Friars serving our Shrine of St. Anthony learned this dance from our
Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.
Pictured from left to right: Friar Thomas “Tommy” More Bahn, OFM Conv of South Korea, Friar Everest Valentine Nyaki Mkenda , OFM Conv., of Tanzania, Friar James, and Friar Rijo Mulavarickal Polachan, OFM Conv. of Inda (now living in Syracuse, NY).
(Photo By Michael Alexander) Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., knocks on the door of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, three times during the reception at the church door. He was greeted by Msgr. Francis G. McNamee, cathedral rector, who presented the new archbishop with a cross, a gift from the people at Cathedral of Christ the King.
As our province ministries are mostly spread throughout the East Coast of North America (Ontario, Canada down to Florida, USA), the re-opening dates and procedures of each ministry varies greatly. Our friars ask that you please check the individual ministry website for the unique re-opening situations at each location. The list of websites for our province ministries can be found on our “Locations” page of this website. If you are unclear from the ministry site’s webpage information (as some ministries staff has not been able to return to onsite work yet), check on their social media pages for the possibility of finding the most up to date information. The friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province miss you and are working diligently to be able to join in celebrations and events with you again, as soon as is safely possible.
While preparing three months in Rome for his Penitenzeria exam, Friar John lived at our General Curia’s Convento 
