The Vatican invites all people of good will to join in a day of prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14, 2020.
Let us remember to bring our needs to God in prayer every day.
Author Archives:
Ministry Check-In
Submitted by Fr. Julio Martinez, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of St. Julia Parish, Siler City, NC
St. Julia Parish Reaches Out
On Saturday, May 2nd, I visited seven trailer park neighborhoods with the Blessed Sacrament. Men of the parish participated by organizing the visit, rigging the pickup with table and kneeler, serving as acolytes, driver and providing helping hands. The people set up shrines/altars in front of their homes to welcome the Lord and His blessing. It brought comfort, strength and inspiration to the people. Now we prepare for another visit of the Blessed Sacrament to those who live in other areas.
We set up an expanded food pantry and more and more people from the parish are using this blessing that we are able to provide. A group of ladies from the parish also take food to individuals and families that either cannot drive to the parish or are in quarantine. We are grateful to the generosity of parishioners, Friars, and anonymous donors from other communities who contribute to the food pantry. Because of this generosity we are also able to help families pay some bills.
Our monthly food distribution that we sponsor with the Food Bank continues and we distribute food to about 100 families. The local chicken processing plant has used our property for the sale of chicken at $1.00 a pound. This is a way to participate in local community endeavors during this difficult time. The parish has received $4,000 from the chicken plant for allowing them to use our property. On June 4th, the parish will again collaborate, this time with Chatham County Managerial Office and another charitable organization, providing the space for 5,000 meals to be distributed to the local community.
Our people come to the parish every Sunday to drop off their weekly contributions, receive printed spiritual material and a blessing. It also gives me the opportunity to see and touch base with them as to how they are. We have many parishioners that have tested positive. They are quarantined at home. All have lost their jobs temporarily or permanently. We also have two of our men who are in intensive care and their families are being taken care of by many in the community.
Although the church building’s doors are closed, the Church’s Hearts are wide open here at St. Julia. Our community has really capitalized on the union and genuine sense of community that already existed among us. It has become stronger and I hope that after this hell, we will return even stronger.
________________________
Submitted by Fr. Timothy Dore, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, Baltimore MD
Baltimore Pastorate Scouts Conduct Food Drive
On Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2020, Troop 419 of the Boy Scouts of America, one of the many scouting organizations serving within our Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, conducted a food drive to benefit our Pastorate food pantries. They collected non-perishable food at St. Michael, Overlea, and at Annunciation, Rosedale. I’m so edified by the Scouts’ desire to serve the most needy among us, especially during these difficult days!
________________________
Featuring Fr. Albert Scherer, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of Our Lady of the Cross Parish, Holyoke, MA (Story and photos by Carolee McGrath – iobserve.org)
Mater Dolorosa School ~ May Crowning and More
The students of Mater Dolorosa School thought they would not have any Crowning this year, a tradition that began when the school started, It was felt that keeping the tradition, although a bit modified, was important to the students and greater community. A video of the May Crowning with Friar Albert was streamed on the school’s Facebook Page on Thursday, May 14 2020. In addition, the Diocese of Springfield News Site posted a May 17, 2020 online article featuring the Crowning, and other events for the school/parish students. Many more videos and photos are posted on the Mater Dolorosa School Facebook Page.
________________________
Submitted by Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv. ~ Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Winston-Salem, NC
Drive-In Mass Celebrated on Sunday May 17th
Pastor Emeritus, Fr. Joe Angelini, OFM Conv. and Pastor, Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv. of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, in Winston-Salem, NC celebrated their first ever outdoor car Mass (in English and Spanish), on May 17, 2020. Over 125 car attended both services. A multicultural team put together the logistics for this event to happen. YouTube Video of the Mass in English
Vow Renewal
On May 10, 2020, Friars Timothy Blanchard (above) and Franck Sokpolie (below) renewed their vows during Evening Prayer at St. Bonaventure Friary, Silver Spring, MD. They will be going on an Apostolic Year in the summer and, God willing, they will ask to make their Solemn Vows next year. If you are interested in adding life as a friar of our province to your discernment journey, email vocations@olaprovince.org
The Immaculate Concepton: Principal Patroness of the Order for 300 Years
The following article has been shared by our Province Delegate to the Militia of the Immaculate (M.I.) ~ Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv.:
From our Order’s Website: “300 Years as the Principal Patroness of the Order”
On May 7, 2020 the Order marked three hundred years since the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, was declared the principal patroness of our Order. That declaration was made by decree of the 156th General Chapter (May 1719) and approved by Pope Clement XI on May 7, 1720. To celebrate this significant anniversary, our new General, Friar Carlos Trovarelli, presided at a Mass in Rome at the Basilica of Santi Apostoli, still closed because of Covid-19. After the Mass, Friar Carlos renewed “today and forever” (oggi e per sempre) the consecration of the entire Order to the Blessed Virgin Mary, invoked under the title of the Immaculate Conception (see the Order’s website for the beautifully detailed prayer of entrustment).
The Order’s Communications Office recounts that what occasioned this joyous commemoration was a letter which our General received from one of the oldest friars in the Order, Friar Oreste Casaburo (age 94) of the Neapolitan province. In a letter to the General, Friar Oreste reported that he had made a happy discovery last year when he found an article by St. Maximilian Kolbe, entitled “Two Hundred Years Ago” (see The Writings of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, 1271).
In the article, which was written in Japan in May 1934, Friar Maximilian explained that, at the conclusion of the 156th General Chapter in Rome, it was decided to raise up and establish the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, as the Principal Patroness of the Order. The newly elected General, Friar Carlo Giuseppe Romilli of Bergamo, Italy, together with his definitory, decreed:
“Since its origin and throughout its history, the Order of Friars Minor Conventual has surrounded the Conception of the Blessed Virgin with special manifestations of devotion. Therefore in the footsteps of their fathers, the Venerable Definitory has decreed to establish the Blessed Virgin, under the title of Immaculate Conception, as their main Patroness, in the firmest hope that more and more every day in our Order, devotion and veneration toward the Mother of God and toward the mystery of her Immaculate Conception increase and develop.”
Our Communications Office stated that, in his letter, Friar Oreste underscored: “In Father Kolbe’s day, it was 200 years, now it is 300 years, three centuries.” He invited the Minister General to seize the occasion: “Given this curious but happy coincidence, the idea popped into my head of asking if you might not address to us a few words of comfort during this bitter “virus” situation by way of a “Franciscan prayer” to the Virgin, entrusting your apostles and sons to Her, as our Seraphic Father, St. Francis, once did.” It was very soon after receiving Friar Oreste’s letter that our 120th Minister General decided to accept the proposal and renew forever the consecration of the Order to the Immaculate Conception. The Communications Office ended its report stating: “Once again we encounter the tradition of the Order; we hope and trust in the protection and guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Cf. Constitutions, art. 1, §§ 6-7).”
Ministry News
UNC Chapel Hill Newman Catholic Student Center Parish (pastoral and university campus ministry of our province, in Chapel Hill, NC) came out on Mother’s Day 2020 weekend, to celebrate Liturgy publicly for the first time in two months. In his latest executive order the Governor of North Carolina allowed outdoor religious gatherings, as long as social distancing was maintained and the wearing of masks was encouraged. The Bishop of Raleigh permitted the celebration of the Eucharist under the same rules. Since Newman had been prepared for this eventuality, our pastoal ministry there was able to organize and publicize celebrations within two days.
Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv. (Pastor & Campus Minister – pictued at left) and Fr. William Robinson, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar & Associate Campus Minister) were able to hear confessions on the afternoon of Saturday, May 9, 2020, in the well-ventilated narthex. Access to the nave or Eucharistic Chapel were not allowed. A 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 10, 2020, found 85 people gathered in the parking lots, with another 65 at the 11:00 a.m., which was also livestreamed. Those cathered enjoyed full liturgical music, with one-use liturgical aids at each Mass. Many (including our friars) were deeply moved, with tears in their eyes.
Former Minister General Friar Marco Tasca Appointed Archbishop of Genoa
Today, May 8, 2020, at noon, the Holy See officially announced that the Holy Father appointed our confrere and former Minister General, Friar Marco TASCA as the Archbishop of Genoa.
JPIC Farm Focus
Fifty years ago we celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Perhaps not coincidentally, this period of increased awareness of the finitude of Earth’s resources was around the same time astronauts were leaving our atmosphere and giving us the opportunity to see our home from afar, such as in the famous “Earthrise” photograph. At the sight of the blue planet rising above the horizon, Jim Lovell, one of the astronauts on that Apollo 8 mission, said “The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth.” While most people will never have the chance to see our common home from this perspective, I hope you are able to catch a glimpse of that wonder today by contemplating life in all its uniqueness.
May 1- Video Consecration to Mary
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,On Friday May 1st, the bishops of the United States and Canada are going to reconsecrate our countries to Mary, Mother of The Church. Here at the shine will be doing the same. First, we will be praying the Rosary together with each of the five decades in a different language, reflecting the cultural diversity of our fraternity and public ministry. Secondly, we will pray together the consecration prayer, lifting up our country, our states, counties, cities, and all our people to Mary, Mother of the Church. Please join us. The video will be posted on the front page of our website on Friday, May 1st for on-demand viewing.
Change the narrative! Stay close to the Lord and his holy Mother… and St. Anthony!
We continue to pray for all of you. Please send us your prayer intentions or light a candle by going to the “worship” tab on our website.
May the Lord give you peace.
A Message from Fr. Angelo Geiger, OFM Conv.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Long periods of isolation or, on the other hand, weeks with a lack of privacy can wear us thin. Times like these can negatively shape our perspective of what is happening around us, especially if our contact with “the outside world,” is largely filtered to us through news coverage. We need to be in control of our perspective, or better, we would benefit a great deal if we were to allow the Lord to shape our thinking.
That is why the friars and Companions at The Shrine of St. Anthony are here for you in every way we’re able. We want to facilitate bringing about the conditions that are helpful for you to encounter the Lord in your extraordinary daily circumstances. Our celebration of the Mass is live-streamed from our Companions of St. Anthony Face Book Page every morning at 8:30 a.m., and then is available for on-demand viewing.
The friars are also producing various video presentations intended to help you spiritually in the here and now.
On Friday May 1st, the bishops of the United States and Canada are going to reconsecrate our countries to Mary, Mother of The Church.
Here at the Shine, we will be doing the same. At 11:00 a.m., we will be praying the Rosary together with each of the five decades in a different language, reflecting the cultural diversity of our fraternity and public ministry. Secondly, we will pray together the consecration prayer, lifting up our country, our states, counties, cities, and all our people to Mary, Mother of the Church. Please join us. The link to the video below will also be posted on the Home Page of our Shrine website, on Friday, May 1st and remain there for on-demand viewing.
Change the narrative! Stay close to the Lord and His holy Mother… and St. Anthony!
We continue to pray for all of you. Please send us your prayer intentions or light a candle by going to the “Worship” Tab on our website.
May the Lord give you peace.
