The Holy Father has asked all Catholic to intercede for vocations, on Sunday, May 3, 2020. Will you make a special effort to ask the Lord for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life?

• Pray for the priests who have ministered to you throughout your life, both living and dead.
• Keep our parish priests and deacons in prayer throughout the week.
• Encourage your children or grandchildren to consider a vocation as a priest or religious brother or sister.
• Pray a rosary for more young men and women in our diocese to respond to God’s call.

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In a special way, we ask for prayers for each of our friars in formation.

• Our Postulants, who plan to be Invested in the Habit of our Order ~ July 13, 2020
  • Bram De Backer
  • Jonathan Garcia Zenteno
  • Edgar Ivan Varela
  • Michael Murphy Boes
• Our Novice, who plans to be Sent Forth to the Post Novitiate stage of Formation ~ July 13, 2020, Professing Simple/Temporary Vows ~ July 16, 2020
  • br. Cristofer M. Fernández

For more information on life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province, visit our Vocations Page or email our Vocations Director at vocations@olaprovince.org.

Our friars were given enthusiastic permission to share the following testimonial referencing the current National Infertility Awareness Week (April 19-25, 2020)

“I’ve been feeling called lately to share our story. And then I learned it was Infertility Awareness Week…so I thought no better time than now…when we all need hope!
Many people didn’t know that Sean and I struggled with infertility for 4 years before miraculously getting pregnant with Sonia. I have Endometriosis and had Polycystic Ovaries, with blocked Fallopian Tubes, from scar tissue. My doctor at the Caritas Women’s Care practices NaPro Technology – a practice that helps to naturally restore the body to its intended function, treating a variety of gynecological issues and, if necessary, does surgery to remove lesions and scar tissue.
We anticipated getting pregnant shortly after the surgery (May 2017) because everything was clear, but it still wasn’t happening. We knew we had to trust that if it were meant to be, it would happen. I resigned to the fact that maybe we would never have children; a painful realization. But, I knew that God’s Will for our family was perfect and I had to trust that whatever He intended would bring us the greatest joy and peace.
In June of 2018, I met friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv., a student friar of Our Lady of the Angels Province, at a Youth Ministry conference in AZ. I was drawn to his infectious joy and felt compelled to share with him our struggle. He then began to tell me about his sister, Sonia, who was having the same struggles as I, had the same surgery as I, and bore the cross of infertility. In that same conversation, he assured me so confidently that we would have a baby one day, that we must never lose hope, and that he knew in the depths of his heart that it would happen. He promised to pray for us every day and he knew God would perform a miracle. I felt moved by the Spirit in that moment and told him that if we ever had a child who was a girl that I would name her Sonia, after his sister. Seven months later, Sean and I did a 33 Day Prayer Consecration to the Blessed Mother. It was during this time that I became pregnant. With a scare in the beginning and thinking we were having a miscarriage, brother Franck continued to reassure us of the hope that was in God’s plan.
Now, looking at our beautiful baby girl, I can’t believe it was almost 2 years ago that I met this man (well, more like kid because he is 10 years younger than I am 😂) who spoke so much life and hope into our hearts. Never once did he waiver in his confidence of Jesus and His Mother to provide grace upon grace. To be honest, his confidence and faith is what got me through those tough times because I was lacking in my own.
We pray that baby Sonia Frances (Frances after my Great Aunt who suffered many miscarriages and also the middle name of my Grandmother and Godmother) inspires hope and faith in others. God desires our joy and while things may not always work out how we hope or pray, we can be sure that miracles are constantly unfolding in our lives and that God’s plan is ALWAYS better than ours, no matter how rough the road may be.“

Fr. Milton de Jesús, OFM Conv. is a friar of the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto (Venezuela) of the Province of St Nicholas and St. Angelo (Italy), who serves as Parochial Vicar at our pastoral ministry of St. Lucie Catholic Church (Port St. Lucie, FL).

This page provides a number of resources that may be helpful as we continue to adapt to the ongoing pandemic. CMSM staff are updating this page on a regular basis. We invite members to send additional resources that may be helpful to your brother provincials.

“For everything I have received from God and the Franciscan Order, I am happy to be able to give back what little I can to draw others to the Lord, Our Lady and this great life as a Franciscan Friar.” – Friar Jobe Abbass

At our pastoral ministry of Our Lady of Mercy Church (Winston-Salem, NC), with safety always in mind, our two friars serving there, Fr. Joe Angelini, OFM Conv. (at left – Pastor Emeritus) and Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv. (at right – Pastor) distributed blessed palms in a drive by pick up, to over 500 people.

Franciscan Friars – Our Lady of the Angels Province, Inc. is officially registered for the Amazon Smiles program. Through this program, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Province. To take advantage of this program, you must first register by visiting https://smile.amazon.com. Whenever you make a purchase, be sure your account is registered to have Franciscan Friars – Our Lady of the Angels Province, Inc. as the beneficiary of the program.

Thank your for your financial and prayerful support!