The Militia of the Immaculata (MI) was established on October 16, 1917, by Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, OFM Conv., along with six confreres, during a particularly tumultuous time for the Church in the world. Over the last 100+ years, members of MI live out their baptismal consecration in the light of the Blessed Mother (the Immaculata), with the conscious decision to consecrate to the Immaculata as a dynamic commitment to follow Christ, in her example.
Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculata
…composed by Saint Maximillian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you.
Although established in 1917, the Militia of the Immaculata was granted the first verbal blessing by Pope Benedict XV, on March 28, 1919. The official recognition of the Church occurred on January 2, 1922, granted by Cardinal Basilio Pompilj, Vicar of the Diocese of Rome: “With fervent desire that devotion to the Blessed Virgin may extend everywhere, with our authority we establish canonically the pious association commonly called ‘the Pious Union of the Militia of Mary Immaculate’ in the chapel of the Seraphic College of the Friars Minor Conventual in Rome and approve what was established.” On the 80th Anniversary of the founding of MI, the Pontifical Council for the Laity recognized the MI as a Public Association of the Faithful, universal and international, in accordance with the Code of Canon Law, and approved, at the same time, its General Statutes.
Militia of the Immaculata & Our Lady of the Angels Province
With a view to promoting consecration to the Immaculate among the faithful served through the ministries of our friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., who serves as our Province MI Assistant, plans to visit all of our pastoral ministries, over the next four years. In working with our Director of Mission Advancement, new prayer cards and MI enrollment forms are being created. In the coming months, Friar Jobe will be in contact with each of our pastors to map out a schedule to preach at the Masses to promote the consecration and enrollment in the Militia of the Immaculata. Consistent with our Franciscan charism and tradition of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Order’s Constitutions remind our friars that in St. Maximilian’s unconditional consecration to the Immaculate, we have found “a concrete form of openness to the new challenges of mission.” Our province plans to more fully tap into this devotion from our Kolbean heritage.
Marking the Centenary of St. Maximilian’s Ordination and First Mass
Before leaving Rome for Nemi, the site of the Extraordinary General Chapter of our Order, Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and our Province Delegate to the Militia of the Immaculata, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. made an afternoon pilgrimage to the churches where St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. was ordained a priest 100 years ago, by Cardinal Basilio Pompilj, on April 28, 1918 (Minor Basilica Sant’Andrea della Valle) and where he celebrated his first Mass on April 29, 1918 (Basilica di Sant’Andrea delle Fratte). Their pilgrimage started at the feet of the Immaculate at the Spanish Steps and then they continued on to the Basilica di Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, at the altar of St. Maximilian’s first Mass, where the Immaculata had appeared to Alfons Ratisbonne in 1842, and where the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima was being venerated. They then proceeded to the minor basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle, whose magnificence surely reflected the solemnity of St. Maximilan’s ordination. Their common prayer was to recommend our Chapter deliberations to Our Lady and St. Maximilian and, once again, to ask their intercessory help and blessing upon the new quadrennium of Our Lady of the Angels Province.
During the week of October 16th, as the Church marked the centenary of the founding of the Militia of the Immaculate, our Order sponsored an International Conference at the Seraphicum in Rome, Italy, with the theme: “St. Maximilian Kolbe in the Light of the New Evangelization.” On Thursday, October 19th, Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. was a keynote speaker. The title of his one-hour conference was “St. Maximilian: Minoritas for the Sake of the Kingdom.” During his conference, with the help of personal anecdotes, Friar James explained St. Maximilian’s exercise of minoritas (i.e. “the stance of humility before God and others”) in his apostolic service and his fraternal role as guardian among the friars – all for the sake of the kingdom. By way of three sources (biblical, Franciscan testimonials from Kolbe’s contemporaries, and Auschwitz survivors), Friar James examined generally how minoritas impacts a friar’s work of evangelization. In particular, Friar James explained how St. Maximilian exercised minoritas from four perspectives:
His vocation of itinerancy over 31 years
His theology of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception
His spirituality of total consecration to Mary
His mission of evangelization as a member of the Order of Penance
Citing texts of the saint, Friar James explained St. Maximilian’s plan for upbuilding the Church and fostering a civilization of love. He showed how Kolbe represented the icon of minoritas, imaged in Mary’s Immaculate Conception, as a type of “blueprint” for what a converted and sanctified world could look like. The martyr of charity proposed the M.I. as a mode for that evangelization, and intended Niepokolanow (“City of the Immaculate”) as a model of “minoritas space, or archetype of the kingdom,” which is also realizable today.
Submitted by Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv.
Our Lady of the Angels Province M.I. Assistant
The friars in attendance from our province took the opportunity to visit with some of our friars serving in Rome.
The August 22, 2017 many of our province friars were on hand at the dedication of our new “International” St. André Bessette Friary, in Ottawa, ON included the second of our Province Masses, Celebrating the Centenary of The Militia of the Immaculata (MI). It was celebrated at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Church (Venier, ON), where Fr. Dominic Lim, OFM Conv., a resident friar of the St. André Bessette Friary who serves there as pastor. Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. was the principal celebrant and homilist at the 5:00 p.m. Mass and the Archbishop of Ottawa, The Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J. also presided. Following the Mass, the Archbishop blessed and dedicated the new friary in honor of St. André Bessette (Brother André).
Monday, May 8, 2018 ~ Ludlow, MA: Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. has visited the Basilicia da Nossa Senhora de Rosário (Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary), of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima (Portugal ~ where the Marian Apparitions occurred), more than 35 times. On May 8, 2017, he shared his expertise with those gathered at St. Elizabeth Catholic Community, in the Diocese of Springfield.
A great way to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations!
On Sunday, May 7, 2017, Our Lady of the Angel Province friar, Fr. Nick Rokitka, OFM Conv. was the guest Mass celebrant and speaker at the Annual Communion Breakfast, sponsored by the Blessed Virgin Sodality of Christ the King Catholic Church (Glen Burnie, MD), held in the parish hall at the Holy Trinity site. Over 60 parishioners and guests gathered in the hall after the usual Sunday, 8:30am Mass to enjoy a delicious breakfast provided by the Father McGivney Knights of Columbus, and served by one of the Confirmation Class Small Groups, before Friar Nick’s presentation on Franciscan Marian Charism. The morning was a wonderful example of community, faith, food and fellowship. Friar Nick will celebrate his 1st Ordination Anniversary on June 25, 2017. He earned his BA at Hilbert College in Buffalo, NY and his M.Div and S.T.B. from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. and he currently serves as a Theology and Business Instructor at our Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore, MD) ministry. He spoke on Sunday of the great love of the Blessed Mother held by St. Francis of Assisi, on which he founded his Franciscan Order. He touched on the birthplace of the Order, whose patroness we share as a province; Our Lady of the Angels, also known as the Portiuncula or “Little Portion” in Assisi. This small chapel, now housed within the vast Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Assisi, Italy) is where Jesus’ called to him: “Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin.”
Friar Nick compared both Mary’s & Francis’s answer “Yes!” to our own need to answer “Yes!” to be a vessel for Jesus, so He can be better gifted in our world. He also shared a reflection on St. Francis’ prayer of praise to Mary, the Mother of Jesus:
Hail, holy Lady, most holy Queen, Mary, Mother of God, ever Virgin. You were chosen by the Most High Father in heaven, consecrated by Him, with His most Holy Beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. On you descended and still remains all the fullness of grace and every good. Hail, His Palace. Hail His Tabernacle. Hail His Robe. Hail His Handmaid. Hail, His Mother. and Hail, all holy Virtues, who, by grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are poured into the hearts of the faithful so that from their faithless state, they may be made faithful servants of God through you.
During his presentation, Friar Nick noticed Sodality’s statue, present at every meeting and function, and how it was a perfect reflection of “Hail His Robe,” from the prayer, as Mary’s robe is artistically depicted covering and sheltering her Son, Our Lord.
Served by Friar Max Avila, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial, The Very Reverend Fr. Jame McCurry, OFM Conv., flanked by our Province MI Assistant ~ Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. and CFF Assistant General of the Order, Friar Jude Winkler, OFM Conv.
March 24, 2017: On Friday Evening, our province celebrated the first of two planned celebrations of the Centenary of the founding of The Militia of the Immaculata by St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., on October 16, 1917. Our friars serving at the Shrine of St. Anthony (St. Joseph Cupertino Friary) graciously hosted friars from Italy, Australia and Canada, as well as those living and serving in the local area. In August, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., our Province MI Assistant will lead a Conventual Franciscan Pilgrimage to Italy and Poland, also celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Militia Immaculata.
At the invitation of Rt Rev. Hugh Gilbert OSB, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen (Scottland), Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., who serves as our Provincial M.I. (Militia Immaculatae) Assistant as well as a professor in the St. Paul University Canon Law Program (Ottawa, ON), traveled to Scotland with the relics of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. (the same relics that spent 2016 touring throughout the ministries of our province), on pilgrimage from January 20-23, 2017.
The relics were first received, on January 20th, at the chapel of Kings College, University of Aberdeen, where our friars of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody, Friar Jakub Czaika, OFM Conv. and Friar Maximilian McKeown, OFM Conv. are chaplains.
On Saturday, January 21st, the relics traveled to Pluscarden Benedictine Abbey where they were received and venerated by the monks and faithful from the surrounding area of Elgin and elsewhere. That same day, the relics returned to Aberdeen for the Saturday evening vigil Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv.
On Sunday, January 22nd, the homily at all four packed Masses (two in English and two in Polish) focused on the relics and life of St. Maximilian. Fr. Piotr Cuber, OFM Conv. visiting from Hermenze, Kraków, who serves as the director of the MI in Poland, preached at the Polish Masses. The friars and the diocese had publicized the pilgrimage which successfully attracted a large number of faithful from Aberdeen and some from as far away as Edinburgh and Glasgow.
CONVENTUAL FRANCISCAN PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY AND POLAND
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Militia Immaculata
Founded by St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. August 7-18, 2017
All Inclusive from New York – $3,395
All Inclusive from Toronto – $3,480
(Single Room Supplement – extra $750)
A visit to the Niepokalanów Friary founded in 1927 by St. Maximilian Kolbe is scheduled for Saturday, August 12th
Included among many events that Our Lady of the Angels Province Friars have been planning in celebration the 100th Anniversary of the October 16, 1917 founding of the Militia Immaculata (MI) by St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., as well as the 35th Anniversary of his Canonization on October 10, 1982, is an 11 day pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Warsaw, Niepokalanów, Częstochowa, Auschwitz, Wadowice, Kraków, Łagiewniki, and Wieliczka.
Leading this August 2017 pilgrimage will be our Province MI Assistant and Professor of Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa ~ Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. (Pilgrimage Director), the Pastor The Franciscan Church at St. Bonaventure, in Toronto ~ Fr. David Stachurski, OFM Conv. (Pilgrimage Liturgist) and our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (Pilgrimage Spiritual Guide).
The veiling of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa also known as Our Lady of Częstochowa will be on the itinerary for August 13th. Pope Francis made a visit to the Black Madonna to the Jasna Gora‘ shrine in July 2016. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)
On August 16th, visit the magnificent chapels, religious sculptures carved in salt, and unique views of the Wieliczka Salt Mines (Kopalnia soli Wieliczka)
The Provincial and Custodial Assistants for the Militia of the Immaculata (MI) in the English-speaking Conventual Franciscan Federation convened at our Provincial House, in Ellicott City, MD, on October 15, 2016 with Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv, who is the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF) Liaison to the MI.
Pictured with the reliquary containing 1st Class Relics of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. that toured Our Lady of the Angels Province Ministries, in 2016, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of his Martyrdom: Friar Tom Czech, OFM Conv. (St. Joseph Cupertino Province), Friar Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province), Friar Waclaw Sokolowski, OFM Conv. (Provincial Custody of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, of the Province of Gdansk, Poland), Friar John Grigus, (St. Bonaventure Province), and Friar James. The Our Lady of Consolation Province Assistant for the MI, Friar John-Raphael Hadnagy, OFM Conv., was unable to attend because of weekend parish duties. Various strategic initiatives were shared and plans made for further promotion and collaboration.
Founded on October 16, 1917, at the International College of the Conventual Franciscans in Rome (known then as the “St Bonaventure” Pontifical Theological Faculty), St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv., the Militia of the Immaculata (MI) is a worldwide evangelization movement encouraging total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a means of spiritual renewal. The charter drafted by St. Maximilian, and six like-minded young friars, established one of the most influential Marian apostolates ever and a blueprint of spiritual progress for MI members still used 100 years later. Employing prayer as the main weapon in the spiritual battle with evil, members of the Militia Immaculata also immerse themselves in apostolic initiatives throughout society, either individually or in groups, to deepen the knowledge of the Gospel and our Catholic Faith in them and in others. Read More Here
To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the MI, Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, Fr. Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv. (Definitor and President of Archbishop Curley High School), Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. (MI Assistant for our Province) and Fr. Richard-Jacob Forcier, OFM Conv. (Definitor, Province Secretary, Spiritual Guardian of the Companions of St. Anthony and Media Coordinator for the Province) began the year-long celebration with their personal reflections on what it means to them to be Concentrated to Mary.
As our Minister Provincial explains:
“Consecration to Mary” has a rich tradition in our Franciscan Order and in the Church. When our Seraphic Father Francis approached the moment of his so-called “perfect conversion” – at the Portiuncula on the Feast of St. Matthias in 1208, he consecrated his vocation to Our Lady as he entered the small stone chapel for Mass. St. Bonaventure records the scene: “In the church of the Virgin Mother of God, her servant Francis lingered and, with continuing cries, insistently begged her who had conceived and brought to birth the Word full of grace and truth, to become his advocate. Through the merits of the Mother of Mercy, he conceived and brought to birth the spirit of the Gospel truth.” (LM3:1)
Before departing this mortal coil, St. Francis entrusted the whole Order to the perpetual advocacy of the Blessed Mother. Celano writes of this consecration: “He embraced the Mother of Jesus with inexpressible love, since she made the Lord of Majesty a brother to us. He honored her with his own Praises, poured out prayers to her, and offered her his love in a way that no human tongue can express. But what gives us greatest joy is that he appointed her the Advocate of the Order, and placed under her wings the sons he left behind, that she might protect and cherish them to the end. Oh Advocate of the Poor! Fulfill towards us your duty as protectress until the time set by the Father! (2 Celano 198)
Three Our Lady of the Angels Province Frairs who are de familia to Mother Cabrini Friary (Shamokin, PA) but living at their individual ministires, Fr. John Voytek, OFM Conv. (pastor of All Saints Church, Boswell, PA), Fr. Anthony Francis Spilka, OFM Conv. (pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Johnstown, PA) and Fr. Karl Kolodziejski, OFM Conv. (pastor of Holy Family Parish, Hooversville, PA) began their observance of the MI Centenary Year by gathering as a fraternity to make a common Franciscan “Consecration to Mary.”
OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS PROVINCE CONSECRATORY PRAYER Centenary of the Militia of the Immaculate 2016- October 16 -2017
O Immaculate Virgin, Mary Our Mother,
we consecrate ourselves and our community to You today
so that You may make use of us especially for the spiritual
good of our brothers and sisters.
(As we celebrate the centenary of the MI), we ask you
O Queen of the Franciscan Order and Mother of the Church
to cooperate fully in your mission for the coming of the Kingdom of Jesus in the world.
We off you, O Immaculate Heart of Mary,
our prayers, actions and sacrifices of this day
so that we know to give witness to the joy and hope of the
Risen Lord
in our daily gift of self to our brothers and those we serve.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to you
and for those who do not have recourse to you
especially for the enemies of the Church
and for those who are recommended to you.
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar and Assistant General of the Order (responsible for the well-being of friars in the English-speaking world) worked as the translator for the National President of the Militia of the Immaculata in the US, John Galten, at the Fatima: International Congress of the MI.
The Militia of the Immaculata (MI) was established on October 16, 1917, by Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, OFM Conv., along with six confreres, during a particularly tumultuous time for the Church in the world. Over the last 100+ years, members of MI live out their baptismal consecration in the light of the Blessed Mother (the Immaculata), with the conscious decision to consecrate to the Immaculata as a dynamic commitment to follow Christ, in her example.
With a view to promoting consecration to the Immaculate among the faithful served through the ministries of our friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., who serves as our Province MI Assistant, plans to visit all of our pastoral ministries, over the next four years. In working with our Director of Mission Advancement, new prayer cards and MI enrollment forms are being created. In the coming months, Friar Jobe will be in contact with each of our pastors to map out a schedule to preach at the Masses to promote the consecration and enrollment in the Militia of the Immaculata. Consistent with our Franciscan charism and tradition of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Order’s Constitutions remind our friars that in St. Maximilian’s unconditional consecration to the Immaculate, we have found “a concrete form of openness to the new challenges of mission.” Our province plans to more fully tap into this devotion from our Kolbean heritage.
During the week of October 16th, as the Church marked the centenary of the founding of the Militia of the Immaculate, our Order sponsored an International Conference at the Seraphicum in Rome, Italy, with the theme: “St. Maximilian Kolbe in the Light of the New Evangelization.” On Thursday, October 19th, Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. was a keynote speaker. The title of his one-hour conference was “St. Maximilian: Minoritas for the Sake of the Kingdom.” During his conference, with the help of personal anecdotes, Friar James explained St. Maximilian’s exercise of minoritas (i.e. “the stance of humility before God and others”) in his apostolic service and his fraternal role as guardian among the friars – all for the sake of the kingdom. By way of three sources (biblical, Franciscan testimonials from Kolbe’s contemporaries, and Auschwitz survivors), Friar James examined generally how minoritas impacts a friar’s work of evangelization. In particular, Friar James explained how St. Maximilian exercised minoritas from four perspectives:
On Saturday, January 21st, the relics traveled to Pluscarden Benedictine Abbey where they were received and venerated by the monks and faithful from the surrounding area of Elgin and elsewhere. That same day, the relics returned to Aberdeen for the Saturday evening vigil Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. 
CONVENTUAL FRANCISCAN PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY AND POLAND
