In a May 20, 2018 interview by Catholic Baltimore Talk Radio 680 WCBM, Our Lady of the Angels Province Director of Mission Advancement, Mr. Joseph Hamilton, speaks on our newest Franciscan Conservation and Steward efforts on our Ellicott City, MD property, known as “Little Portion Farm.”
Bucknell students with Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Martin Kobos, OFM Conv. who serves as pastor of Mother Cabrini Catholic Church (holding a portrait of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini – aka Mother Cabrini, and her plate of Pierogi).
In April, students from a business management course at Bucknell University visited our pastoral ministries of Mother Cabrini Catholic Church (Shamokin, PA) and Our Lady of Hope Parish (Coal Township, PA) to observe and participate in the making of Pierogi. Their project will assist the faith communities in their exploration of possibilities for the future expansion of Pierogi pinching with a wider distribution beyond Shamokin and Coal Township.
Hosted by CTV Toronto’s Michelle Dubé, this Spring Fundraiser for our St. Clare Inn ministry was a lively night of fun entertainment, food, silent and live auctions. Held in the Donalda Club in the heart of Toronto, 265 guests enjoyed a fabulous evening for a great cause and together managed to raise $46,000.
St. Clare Inn is a non-denominational home-like transitional housing project, focused on re-building lives and self-esteem. This temporary residence is for homeless women, ages 30-60, who are also struggling with a diagnosed mental health issue.
Residents take responsibility for the care of their personal space as well as the general care of the Inn, including the preparations and sharing of dinner together each day, providing an opportunity to develop and rebuild independence and social skills. Through the help of the Inn, residents transition to permanent affordable housing and a stable living environment. An essential part of recovery is finding a home. If you would like to be a part of this important ministry in the Toronto, Ontario area, DONATE HERE.
Brother Tom Purcell, OFM Conv., Executive Director of St. Clare Inn, with attendees at Black and White – Oh, What a Night!
On May 6, 2018, the Elms College School of Nursing caRe vaN took part in the 5th Annual Free Health Fair, which offers free snacks, gently used clothing and bedding, haircuts, foot care, Mercy Medical Center – NARCAN® education and kits, CPR training, Comfort Bags from Friends for the Homeless and the St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish Sandwich Ministry. Despite a rainy start and periodic sprinkles, approximately 80 people attended, with 21 serviced on the caRe vaN. The back bone of the effort in strengthened by the efforts of the Elms College School of Nursing Second Degree/Accelerated Students, but this year several alumni students pitched in to strengthen the team. Funding for this event is provided through several of our other province ministries, including: Our Lady of the Angels Province – St Anthony’s Bread, St. Stanislaus Friary & Parish (Chicopee, MA), St. Hyacinth Friary (Chicopee, MA), Mother Carbrini Parish (Shamokin, PA), and St Paul Parish (Kensington, CT).
Br. Duffy is grateful for your continued prayers and support.
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Instituted by Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv., DNP, APRN-BC (pictured above in light blue), the caRe vaN provides free healthcare to the homeless and under-served in the Chicopee (MA) area, including services such as blood pressure checks, blood pressure checks, foot care, first aide and minor wound care. For more information or to make a donation to this effort, please email Brother Duffy, at bro_duffy@hotmail.com.
A “Thank You” to the friars of our province, from the Assistant Campus Minister for Mission Trips and Community Service, at The Catholic University of America:
“I wanted to write you again to say thank you so much for the donation that the Friars made to the Catholic University of America Mission Trip program this year. It was really a gift to our students to be able to make these experiences more accessible to those who don’t have the luxury of having a lot of available money. We were able to provide scholarships to several students who needed them, as well as subsidize the costs of all of the trips, which really impacted the amount of interest we had across campus. … Thank you for all of the help and your investment in our students. It’s truly appreciated.”
Taken after a Mass attended at Stella Maris Parish in Kingston, Jamaica. The parishioners dressed in pink put on a wonderful dramatic interpretation of the gospel story of the Samaritan Woman at the well, with Jesus.
In March 2018, throughout our Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America, students visited communities in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, West Virginia, and the USA/Mexico Border. In May 2018 a few more groups of students will be going to Belize, as well as southern Philadelphia. You too can “Accompany a Missioner” by praying for the Missioner, attending the Commissioning Mass, sending a Letter of Encouragement or donating to Mission Teams.
Last week, the Franciscan Friars Conventual from Our Lady of the Angels Province invited the Franciscan Action Network and the DC/MD/VA chapter of Interfaith Power and Light to join in a Forum and Symposium on Environmental Justice and Service to Vulnerable Populations (held at our Shine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, MD). The goal for the gathering was to bring together peoples of various faiths, government officials, and other interested parties to discuss greater coordination and collaboration on issues pertinent to the protection of the environment, public health and other quality of life concerns which were elevated by Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home.”
At Wednesday’s (April 11, 2018) interfaith St. Francis Forum, participants listened to faith leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu traditions as well as from the Lutheran, Methodist, Quaker, Evangelical, and Catholic/Franciscan traditions. (Pictured at left are Christopher Fici – writer/minister/teacher of the Hindu Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition; Sr. Joan Brown, OSF – Executive Director of the New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light; Rabbi Fred Dobb – Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation in Bethesda, Maryland, serving on the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, Shalom Center, Religious Witness for the Earth, and Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light) Each half hour presentation included ample time for a larger group discussion, which often demonstrated the many similarities within our traditions while nuancing differences in approach to environmental justice issues. Each presenter was then partnered with a friar of the province and other participants to continue the discussions in small groups. (Pictured at right) These groups will eventually put forward pastoral applications as to how interfaith cooperation might bring about practical pastoral applications in our various communities. The fruits of these discussions will be shared later this summer.
Thursday’s (April 12, 2018) Spirit of Assisi Symposium brought together the faith-based community with federal agencies for three panel discussions on environmental justice and service to vulnerable communities. We discussed ways of enhancing collaboration and finding new avenues of partnership in service to at risk communities. The federal government, sent representatives from the US Department of Agriculture, General Services Administration, Department of Labor, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice, Department of Interior, Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Energy.
The symposium ended with an interfaith blessing of the fields and Little Portion Farm. The friars were joined by the farmers of Mary’s Land Farm, representatives of the Franciscan Center in Baltimore, interfaith leaders, members of federal agencies and the faithful who attended the 12 noon Mass at the shrine, as well as the shrine staff and other visitors.
A special thank you to Friars Michael Heine (pictured here), Julio Martinez, Dennis Mason, Gary Johnson, Ed Falsey, Michael Lorentson, James McCurry, Douglas McMillan, Donald Grzymski, and Eric de LaPeña; as well as Joseph Hamilton (Lay Mission Advancement Director – Franciscan Mission Association) for their participation in these days. In addition, much appreciation is owed to Friar Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv. who sketched the logo (above) of St. Francis used for the events.
On the following Sunday Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. (Chairman of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission for our province) traveled to Shamokin, PA with a representative of the EPA for a stakeholder’s dinner organized by the local friars, in relation to the projects of sustainable development in partnership with Bucknell University.
Over the past several days many notes of thanks have been received, commending the friars for envisioning such interfaith gatherings and including government representatives. Many expressed how their long-held hopes for such a gathering were finally realized through our efforts in a productive and practical manner. One Daughter of Charity even mentioned how the symposium inspired her to go home and see what her local government in Prince Georges County (Maryland) is doing in relation to environmental justice and service to vulnerable communities. She has a meeting already set up with local government officials next month.
A special thanks to the staff of the shrine for hosting the event. Mr. Munjed Murad, our Muslim presenter who is a doctoral student of Islamic and Christian Studies at Harvard, offered this thought on the event and its location at the shrine. “This [building] is a place where great things happen, and I am honored to be a part of so great a gathering.”
Franciscan Action Network partnered with the National Council of Churches, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and other partners in Washington, D.C. for a historic event to launch the Truth and Racial Justice Initiative. As we marked 50 years since the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, we committed to do our part to eradicate the entrenched racism that grips the United States and paralyzes our ability to see every human being as equal. See FAN’s statement here https://goo.gl/ckhaPi
We challenge ourselves and our communities to ACT: to join in truth-telling, leading to actions that right the wrongs, and, with God’s grace, bring healing and wholeness to all people, and unity to the nation.
AWAKEN ourselves to the truth that racism is ever-present, deeply rooted in American culture, and profoundly damaging to our communities.
CONFRONT racism, speak truth to ourselves, our communities and institutions, and stand against injustice.
TRANSFORM the hearts, minds, and behaviors of people and structures that shape society.
Photo of the Catholic Family, and one of the Franciscan Family.
While at the rally our friars in formation, friar Chris Garcia, OFM Conv. of the St. Joseph Cupertino Province, as well as Our Lady of the Angels friars in formation ~ friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. and brother Tim Blanchard, OFM Conv. took the opportunity to register to vote!
Visit of Cardinal Ribat Our Province JPIC Ministry and FAN hosted Cardinal Sir John Ribat of Papua New Guinea in Washington D.C. April 13-15. At a reception sponsored by FAN, the USCCB, the Catholic Climate Covenant and others, the Cardinal spoke on Climate Change and the potential effects of seabed mining in his country. We also organized for him meeting on Capitol Hill and at the EPA. An article on the visit, from the NCR, can be found here.
While in D.C. the Cardinal also spoke to a formation gathering of 85 religious in formation and their directors, sharing his own vocation story and what he believes to be essential in the lives of the ministers of today and tomorrow. Cardinal John was accompanied by his Vicar General, Fr. Ben Fleming. EWTN News Nightly – 2018-03-15
March for Our Lives Fr. Julio Martinez, OFM Conv. and Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. joined students from Parkland and around the country in the Washington D.C. Rally on March 24th. The efforts of students across the nation has turned the March into a Movement, demanding gun control and an end to gun violence. #Enough #NeverAgain
JPIC Update Farm Focus on our Partner, the Franciscan Center in Baltimore City
Founded in 1968 by the Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore, the Franciscan Center is in its 50th year of service to the Baltimore community. What began with the Sisters handing out peanut butter sandwiches and coffee at the back door of their convent on Maryland Avenue has grown to serve every zip code, offering dignity, hope and the chance for a new beginning to men, women and children who are among Baltimore’s most vulnerable citizens.
The Franciscan Center’s programs operate as a “one-stop shop” for families and individuals in crisis from throughout the City. The Center serves as many as 700 men, women and children daily, five days a week throughout the year, providing food, clothing and toiletry items, basic computer skills training, job readiness programs and a range of emergency financial assistance that is truly unique.
We welcome our guests where they are – wherever that might be – with dignity and respect, and without judgment. In this spirit, the Franciscan Center is committed to helping improve public health in Baltimore long term by introducing fresh, healthy food to the families and individuals we serve – most of whom have limited access to fresh vegetables.
We are very grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Franciscan Friars Conventual, in establishing “Little Portion Farm”. This exciting project will make an important difference in the Baltimore community, providing “farm-to-table” food for our guests. Our Food Services Director, Kim Gregory, will truly enjoy working with the bounty of “Little Portion Farm”.
The Center began its 50th year of service to the community with new leadership, as well as exciting plans for our next 50 years. Executive Director Jeffrey Griffin joined the team in August, 2017, and he has brought ideas for a variety of new programs and services designed to meet the ever-changing needs of the people we serve. He is supported in these efforts by the Center’s Director of Development and Marketing, Meg Ducey, along with 17 other full and part time staff. With more than 98 percent of our funding from private sources and more than 50 % of our work force on a daily basis made up of volunteers, the Franciscan Center is truly community supported. Our programs are delivered by Marylanders, for Marylanders in the Franciscan spirit of humble and joyful service to the poor.
Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. was invited to concelebrate the June 16, 2018 5:30 p.m. Mass with His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson ~ Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Most Reverend William Edward Lori, S.T.D. ~ 16th Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, at the the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Baltimore, MD. Cardinal Peter Turkson was in Baltimore to attend an “event aimed to expand entrepreneurship, increase economic opportunity, provide information on the idea of a social economy and combine business practices with those of Catholic social teaching.”
Last week, the Franciscan Friars Conventual from Our Lady of the Angels Province invited the 
At Wednesday’s (April 11, 2018) interfaith St. Francis Forum, participants listened to faith leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu traditions as well as from the Lutheran, Methodist, Quaker, Evangelical, and Catholic/Franciscan traditions. (Pictured at left are Christopher Fici – 
Each presenter was then partnered with a friar of the province and other participants to continue the discussions in small groups. (Pictured at right) These groups will eventually put forward pastoral applications as to how interfaith cooperation might bring about practical pastoral applications in our various communities. The fruits of these discussions will be shared later this summer.
While at the rally our friars in formation, friar Chris Garcia, OFM Conv. of the St. Joseph Cupertino Province, as well as Our Lady of the Angels friars in formation ~ friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. and brother Tim Blanchard, OFM Conv. took the opportunity to register to vote!
March for Our Lives
