Franciscans from around the world celebrate both the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi (on October 3rd) and his Feast Day (on October 4th). For Franciscans, Transitus marks the night Francis left his earthly life, to move onto a life in heaven with Our Lord Jesus. He died, on the evening of October 3, 1226, a small man in his forties who had wanted to live a simple life in service to God. Traditionally Saints’ Feast Days mark the date of death and are remembered with special mention, prayers, and scripture readings. For us, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th is so much more. It is a day filled with celebration and joy. We mark the days surrounding the Feast Day with the blessing of animals, gathering for meals and enjoying the fellowship of our brothers and those we serve. Just as with all of the saints, it is the day Francis obtained Eternal Life.
Starting on the weekend before the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, several friars from throughout our province began this year’s traditional Blessing of Animals; a simple act that helps us share the charism of St. Francis by blessing these special “companions” of those we serve. It is always a source of great joy for our friars in our varied ministries.
As ministries send in photos from the Blessings, we will share them here for all to enjoy.
Fr. Paul Pantiru, OFM Conv. enjoys his first Blessing of the Animals at his new ministry with us. Friar Paul is a friar from Romania who is serving as Parochial Vicar at our pastoral ministry of St. Anne Catholic Church.
Fr. Manny Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar) spent some time with the school children and staff, blessing the classroom pets.
The school families gathered to have their animals of all sizes (living and stuffed) blessed by Fr. Paul Lininger, OFM Conv., pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community.
Fr. Tim Dore, OFM Conv. (Pastor of the Baltimore, MD Pastorate) even got to bless a few turtles at the October 6th Blessing at St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church.
Friar Tim had as much fun as the parishioners and their pet, at the October 5th Blessing at the Church of the Annunciation.
Fr. Joe Benicewicz, OFM Conv. (Pastor – center), Fr. Michael Englert, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – far left) and Fr. Piotr Tymko, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – 2nd from left) bless the animals for a crowd of gathered parishioners.
Friar Piotr enjoyed getting to know a few of those being blessed.
Last fall, the Franciscan Mission Association (FMA) appealed to help provide clean drinking water to villages in Ghana, West Africa, via the “Wells for Ghana” project. Through the generosity of benefactors, the friars were able to turn one well into THREE!
Each summer, the FMA brings Friar Missionaries serving in other countries to speak at our pastoral ministries; preaching appeals on behalf of the FMA. Friars of our own province, who have served as missionaries, also participate. Fr. Emmanuel Oposika Acquaye, OFM Conv. is a friar of the Provincial Custody of St. Anthony of Padua in Ghana (of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua in Northern Italy) who has been living, studying and working in our Province. He has preached FMA Mission Appeals since his arrival in the USA several years ago. In March of 2018, he was the subject of a video filmed by our FMA, at our Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD). In it he explained the great need for a source of clean drinking water in many villages in Ghana.
Thank you, to all who contributed to this effort!
For more information, visit the FMA Website’s “Ways to Give” page.
September 21, 2019: The parish community of The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure, in Toronto, Ontario marked the 40th Anniversary of Friar Peter’s Ordination with a special Liturgy followed by a festive gathering at the Parish Centre.
Ordained to the Priesthood in May of 1979, Friar Peter has served for decades, in pastoral ministry at St. Bonaventure. He currently serves the people of God, as Associate Pastor.
Brother Stephen Murphy, OFM Conv. Spiritual Testimony My name is Stephen Murphy and I am a 65-year-old Conventual Franciscan Religious Brother in the Our Lady of Angels Province (USA). I am happy to say that I am currently retired and live at St. Hyacinth Friary in Chicopee, MA one of our Senior Friar residences. I am originally from Holyoke, MA and grew up in a large close-knit Catholic family where I was educated and grew in my love for people and service. When I was younger, I was considering a vocation to religious life and my Mom suggested I look into the Franciscan college seminary in nearby Granby, MA. At that time, I didn’t even know that seminary existed, but after one visit, I was hooked. And so, in 1975 I entered the novitiate of the Conventual Franciscans in Ellicott City, MD where I professed my first vows under the direction of my novice master Fr. Alex Cymerman, OFM Conv. Friars Tim Kulbicki, Richard-Jacob Forcier, Dennis Grumsey and Daniel Fink are classmates of mine.
My first assignment as friar was at St. Joseph’s Parish in Mt. Carmel, PA. Later, I was missioned at my “favorite” assignment, Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA. It was my longest assignment, 21 years, and this is where I helped out in one of our parishes. During my time in Holyoke, I also had the opportunity (5 summers) to be the Master of Ceremonies for Bishop Dupre. It was a memorable and excellent experience.
I enjoy my Franciscan prayer life very much and have a special devotion to the Miraculous Medal Novena. I also pray the rosary daily.
I would like to share this with anyone considering a vocation to our Order and Province: “Don’t be afraid to listen to the call! Try it. You may not have any satisfaction in your life without trying out this call first.”
I would also like to share with our student friars: “Be faithful in your learning. Learn well that we are all human beings and that we make mistakes! Stay faithful to your vows in spite of any health or problems you may encounter.”
40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses. During the 40 Days for Life (Sept. 25-Nov. 3), our pastoral ministry of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, in Kensington, CT has joined in prayerful solidarity with people all over the world in an effort to end abortion, to save the lives of the innocent, and to transform the hearts and minds of those supporting the abortion industry. This photo is from the Saturday, September 26, 2019, when Outdoor Stations of the Cross were led by Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Michael Englert, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar) and several parishioners and participants, who gathered on their beautiful Parish Green as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign. More information for 40 Days for Life events in their area have been listed via the St. Paul Parish Culture of Life Ministry. In addition, on Monday October 14, 2019, Eucharistic Adoration with be held in St. Paul Church, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. If you live in the area or will be visiting the area on October 14th, consider joining them.
For other events throughout our province ministries, visit our Locations page, follow the link to the ministry nearest you, and contact them directly.
Our Lady of the Angels Province Vicar Provincial – Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (center) concelebrated the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Blue Mass, on Sunday, September 27, 2019.
Presiding at the Mass was Archbishop William E. Lori. Bishop Adam J. Parker and Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, Fr. Chris Dudek, OFM Conv. (2nd from left) and Fr. Dennis Grumsey, OFM Conv. (Pastor – pictured 2nd from right) also concelebrated the 10:00 a.m. Blue Mass, at our pastoral ministry of St. Casimir Church (Baltimore) – honoring Maryland men and women in law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technical, military and other first responders serving at the federal state and local levels in the region. The event was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Maryland Catholic War Veterans.
After the Mass, the parishioners and friars enjoyed some fellowship and a crab feast, with those who travelled from our pastoral ministries in Chicopee, MA and in Shamokin, PA, to join in the celebrations.
Former Custos of the Provincial Custody of St. Francis of Assisi & now the Newly Elected Definitor for the newly formed Province of St. Francis of Assisi in Kenya – Fr. Kazimierz Szulc, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province – Very Reverend Fr. James, Minister General of our Order – Most Reverend Fr. Carlos Trovarelli, OFM Conv. and the First Minister Provincial of newly formed Province of St. Francis of Assisi in Kenya, the Very Reverend Fr. Obed Karobia, OFM Conv.
September 25-27, 2019: Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. traveled to celebrate with the Franciscan Friars Conventual of the newly established Province of St. Francis. The new borehole project there was funded by our province, in order to supply water for our Franciscan House of Studies in Lang’ata, Nairobi. Prior to its installation, for over six months, the 60 friars there had no water, as their well went dry at 93 meters. The newly installed borehole is now 400 meters.
While in Kenya, Friar James was able to visit the National Shrine of Our Lady, in Nakuru’s Subukia Sub-County. Administered by our Franciscans for over 10 years, the Shrine was the site of the September 26th inauguration celebration for the newly established Province of St. Francis – formerly a Custody of the Gdansk Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe (Poland). The Shrine is located about 4 hours northwest of Nairobi and was the site of most of the festivities. It is situated directly upon the Equator and also includes a small open-air mosaic chapel (photo insert at left) constructed by the Friars on the Equator line. Friar James was honored to be invited to speak at the Province’s Inaugural Mass and give a toast at the reception.
Friar James and Friar Marek in front of the Shrine.
Also in attendance from our province was Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. Friar Marek was formerly a friar of the Gdansk Province who served as one of their early missionaries in Kenya. Friar Marek is now a friar of our province, serving as Parochial Vicar at our St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church pastoral ministry in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. Fr. Jerzy Auguścik, OFM Conv., a friar ad tempus of the Gdansk Province, serving in pastoral ministry for our province, as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Hope Parish (Coal Township), Mother Cabrini Catholic Church (Shamokin), and St. Patrick Parish (Trevorton) joined in the celebrations as well, as did Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and Assistant General of our Order (CFF), Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv.
At the Inaugural Mass of new Province in Kenya: Friar Marek, Friar Jerzy, Friar Jude, Friar James, with another friar of the Gdansk Province serving in the USA, as Parochial Vicar of St. John Kanty RCC, in Clifton, NJ – Friar Boguslaw Czerniakowski, OFM Conv.
In memory of his sister + Lillian H. Waddy, who died on June 1, 2017 of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS – also knowns as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Bro. Ed Handy, OFM Conv. joined some of his family members, to participate in the annual 3 Mile “Walk to Defeat ALS” held in the Canton Waterfront area of Baltimore (MD); an awareness event and fundraiser to support research studies in ALS.
Originally from Baltimore, Bro. Ed retired last year after 30 years of ministry with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. He began his ministry with them in 1988 as a teacher of special education with the Mt. Carmel Guild School for Students with special needs. Eight years later, he was assigned to St. Bridget’s Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Program for Homeless Men Living with HIV/AIDS. He spent 22 years there, serving as a residential counselor. Friar Ed now lives back in his home town of Baltimore, in our St. Casimir Friary.
Brother Paschal Mary Kolodziej, OFM Conv. Spiritual Testimony My name is Paschal Mary Kolodziej and I am a 69-year-old Conventual Franciscan Religious Brother in the Our Lady of Angels Province (USA). I am the Guardian and Director of Senior Care Friars at St. Hyacinth Friary in Chicopee, MA. I was born in 1949 in Buffalo, NY and was one of the sons of two very hard-working parents who sacrificed much for us kids. When I was a boy, I knew about the Franciscan friars because they staffed the next parish over from our home parish. In 1975, I decided to enter the novitiate of the Conventual Franciscans in Ellicott City, MD. I professed my first vows in 1976. Fr. Alex Cymerman, OFM Conv. was my novice master and some of my classmates are Friars Joe Bayne, Stephen Frenier, Albert Scherer and Kevin Kane (deceased). In 1979, I professed my solemn vows in Holyoke, MA.
I completed my degree in nursing at D’Youville, College, Buffalo, NY. Later, my first assignment was at Corpus Christi Parish in Buffalo. I have to say that my ‘favorite’ assignment was from 1981-1985 in Ellicott City, MD with our novices. We had a very good professed community there at that time. I would also like to share that one of my more difficult yet very rewarding assignments was caring for a bed-ridden friar for two years. It was a very special time.
My Franciscan prayer life very important to me. I have a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and love praying the rosary.
I would like to share with anyone considering a vocation to our Order and Province: “Pray. Get a spiritual director and the vocation a try.”
I would also like to share with our student friars: “Consecrate yourself and your religious life to the Blessed Virgin and keep up your daily prayer life.”
The school families gathered to have their animals of all sizes (living and stuffed) blessed by Fr. Paul Lininger, OFM Conv., pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community.
Our Lady of the Angels Province Vicar Provincial – Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (center) concelebrated the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Blue Mass, on Sunday, September 27, 2019. 
While in Kenya, Friar James was able to visit the National Shrine of Our Lady, in Nakuru’s Subukia Sub-County
Brother Paschal Mary Kolodziej, OFM Conv.
