Under the direction of Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province Secretary and Vocation Director), the lay staff of the province ministries on the Ellicott City, MD campus [including The Provincial House, The Shrine of St. Anthony, The Companions of St. Anthony, Mission Advancement, and Little Portion Farm] were joined by Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. (Vicar Provincial) and guest speaker, Fr. Michael Zielke, OFM Conv. (below: Guardian and Director of the St. Bonaventure Friary Post-Novitiate) for a Lent Morning Reflection, on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
The group gathered in The Shrine of St. Anthony Papal Dining Room and then Glass Room for a small group discussion before moving onto our province’s Carrollton Hall Historic Site, for a reflection from Friar Michael on Franciscan humility. Friar Michael shared his take on how the concept of humility compares in the world view, scriptural view, Pope Francis’ view and finally defined Franciscan humility. As a part of his talk, Friar Michael read to the group, Chapter X of The Little Flowers of Saint Francis (after 1337). Excerpt – [… Said Friar Masseo: “I say, why doth all the world follow after thee, and why doth every man seem to desire to see thee and to hear thee and to obey thee? Thou art not a man beautiful of body, thou art not greatly learned, thou art not noble: wherefore then should all the world follow after thee?” Hearing this St. Francis rejoiced greatly in spirit, and raising his face to heaven, stood for a long time with his mind uplifted in God, and thereafter, returning to himself, kneeled down and gave praise and thanks to God, and then with great fervour of spirit turned to Friar Masseo and said: “Wouldst know why after me? wouldst know why after me? why all the world follows after me? This have I from those eyes of the most high God, which in every place behold the good and the wicked: because those most holy eyes have not seen among sinners any more vile, or more insufficient, or a greater sinner than I am; and since to do that marvellous work which He meaneth to do, He hath not found a viler creature upon earth; therefore hath He chosen me to confound the nobility and the pride and the strength and the beauty and wisdom of the world, to the end that it may know that every virtue and every good thing is of Him and not of the creature, and that no one may be able to glory in His sight; but whosoever shall glory, let him glory in the Lord, to whom is all honour and glory for ever.” Then Friar Masseo, at so lowly an answer, spoken with so much fervour, was afraid and knew of a surety that St. Francis was stablished in humility.]
Friar Michael closed his talk with the final words, “Let God be God in your lives.”
Entrance to Outdoor Stations of the Cross {Photo Cred: Friar Timothy Dore, OFM Conv.}
Those attending split into groups for personal reflection time, a group discussion on a time God gifted humility, and a chance to pray together while walking the Outdoor Stations of the Cross on the grounds of The Shrine. The groups rejoined as one to close in celebration of The Liturgy of Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, together with those assembled for The Shrine of St. Anthony’s Noon Daily Mass. Fr. Richard-Jacob Forcier, OFM Conv. (Director/Rector of The Shrine of St. Anthony), celebrated the Mass, closing his Homily with: “…hope does not disappoint… [Romans 5:5] I simply can hope.” The Mass was also concelebrated by Friar Gary and Friar Michael (see below), who, after Mass continued on with the group for a fraternal meal in the Shrine’s Papal Dining Room.
This peace filled second Day of Reflection for the staff members since Friar Nick began as Province Secretary was greatly appreciated by all in attendance, who look forward to this new fraternal tradition.
Noon Daily Mass at The Shrine of St. Anthony Chapel
At the invitation of the OFS (Secular aka Third Order Franciscans) of Parish of Saint Benedict in Rio das Ostras, RJ, Brazil (Paróquia São Benedito), friars of our Custody in Brazil, including Frei Willian Gomes Mendonça, OFM Conv., who serves as the Custodial Secretary of our Province’s Immaculate Conception Custody (Custódia Provincial Imaculada Conceição do Brasil) & Guardian of St. Bonaventure Friary House of Formation (Convento e Casa de Formação São Boaventura – Petrópolis) and Frei Ricardo da Cruz, OFM Conv. (Animador Vocacional e Cooperador) facilitated the second day of the parish’s preparatory triduum for a visit of a relic of Saint Francis of Assisi. Frei Willian (above, celebrating Mass) and Frei Ricardo (at left, as he took the opportunity to visit with some young parishioners) serve in vocation promotion for the Custody. You can see more about their work, via the Convento S Boaventura Franciscanos Conventuais Facebook page.
Several friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province attended the March 25, 2023, Presbyteral Ordination of Friar Angel Garcia, OFM Conv., including Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv., (Vicar Provincial), Fr. Andrzej Brzeziński, OFM Conv. (Associate Director of the San Damiano Friary Post-Novitiate, San Antonio, TX), Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (Assistant Novice Director of the St. Francis of Assisi Friary Novitiate, Arroyo Grande, CA), Fr. Raphael Zwolenkiewicz, OFM Conv. (Procurator of the St. Francis of Assisi Friary Novitiate, Arroyo Grande, CA), and student friars: Friar Franck Sokpolie, OFM Conv., friar Antonio Moualeu, OFM Conv., friar Marvin Paul Fernandez, OFM Conv. and friar Connor J. Ouly, OFM Conv. Fr. Angel is a friar of St. Joseph of Cupertino Province who studied alongside the friars of our province, as well as those of Our Lady of Consolation Province & St. Bonaventure Province.
On August 15, 2023, the Feast of the Assumption, our province looks forward to a much-anticipated Presbyteral Ordination of Friar Emmanuel Wenke, OFM Conv.
Friars of our Order – Franciscan Friars Conventual (OFM Conv.) – around the world spend many years in preparation and formation before professing the solemn vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Solemnly professed friars include friar brothers and friar priests. For those who have discerned to live out their Franciscan Vocation as a friar priest, the formation journey toward ordination includes several years of continued study after Solemn Profession. For Friar Emmanuel, after serving our province as a solemnly professed friar brother for two years, working as an instructor in high school ministry, he discerned to continue formation in study for the priesthood, spending September 2020 – January 2023 in Theological Studies in Canada. In December 2022, he was ordained a Transitional Deacon, at our Syracuse, NY pastoral ministry ~ The Franciscan Church of the Assumption, where continues to serve (as seen below while celebrating his first baptism).
A little more on Friar Emmanuel: His life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual began, in 2012. At that time, our Province Postulancy was located in the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, above The Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD). The Postulancy, now located in the St. Bonaventure Friary (Chicago, IL) is the first formal stage of formation. There, Friar Emmanuel lived, worked and studied in Ellicott City with his formators: Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. and Br. Daniel Geary, OFM Conv., as well as thirteen more friars residing in the two friaries located on the Ellicott City, MD complex: several senior friars, friars in active local ministry, postulants and our province friar leadership. On July 4, 2013, Friar Emmanuel was “blessed and sent forth” to the next stage of formation, known as the Novitiate, which was located at the time in Mishawaka, IN. It is now in Arroyo Grande, CA. Twenty days after his arrival, on July 24, 2013, he was clothed in the habit of our Order at the Rite of Investiture, at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, in Marytown, Libertyville, IL, a ministry of our confreres of the St. Bonaventure Province, in the Midwest USA.
After his time of formation as a Novice, under the guidance of his formators – Fr. Giles Zakowicz, OFM Conv. & Br. Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv., Friar Emmanuel professed First (aka Simple/Temporary) Vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual, on July 25, 2014 (see at left that day with two of his classmates, Br. Paul Martin Becka, OFM Conv. and Fr. Colin Mary Edwards, OFM Conv. – both of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody). He then moved into our Province’s Post Novitiate stage of formation, in the St. Bonaventure Friary Post Novitiate (Silver Spring, MD), with seven other student friars and their formators: Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv., Br. Jim Moore, OFM Conv. and senior friar in residence, Fr. John Burkhard, OFM Conv.
During his years there, in addition to discerning to serve as a friar brother, he continued his studies at the Catholic University of America, in Washington DC, graduating on May 13, 2017, with a B.A. in Theology & Religious Studies, as well as a Certificate of Pastoral Ministry (seen at right as a CUA student). Just a few months later, during his summer assignment assisting with our Senior Friars in our Immaculate Conception Friary, in Rensselaer, NY, the then Friary Guardian, Fr. Tony Kall, OFM Conv. received Friar Emmanuel’s Renewal of Temporary Vows, during a service during which several members of Friar Emmanuel’s family were able to participate. In August 2017, Friar Emmanuel moved to our Immaculate Heart of Mary Friary, in Baltimore, MD and was assigned to Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore, MD, where he serves as a Theology Instructor. He was Solemnly Professed in September of 2018 (see below) and continued to serve the students of our Baltimore high school ministry, until discerning to continue with God’s Call to the Priesthood.
Continue to pray for Friar Emmanuel during these last months
before his August 15, 2023 Presbyteral Ordination.
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For more information on vocations, visit FranciscanVoice.org or email our Province Vocation Directors, Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv. and Fr. Manny Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. at vocations@olprovince.org.
The friars of St. Mark Friary, in Boynton Beach, FL (Friar Richard Florek, OFM Conv., Friar Germain Kopaczynski, OFM Conv., Friar Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv., Friar Michael Sajda, OFM Conv., Friar Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv. and Friar Bob Benko, OFM Conv.) present the sixteen teens who were Confirmed at St. Mark Catholic Church, on Sunday, March 26, 2023, by The Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach. The Confirmation Mass 2023 was livestreamed on the parish’s social media and can be viewed below. More Photos
Adapted prayer taken from the March 26th parish bulletin:
“Holy Spirit,
strengthen the Confirmandi
of all of our pastoral ministries
with Your gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord,
as a disciple of Christ.
Fill them with the joy of Your presence.
Increase in them the fruit of Your Spirit.
Help them to experience and trust Your dwelling within,
so that they may count on your guidance today and every day.
Show us the way to help one another become better disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing Your love with our world and with each person we encounter. Amen“
Keep all those in Faith Formation in our pastoral and education ministries, in your prayers.
Pillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving
Fasting “continues to be doneby those who take their journey of faith seriously.”
Fr. Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv.,
of St. Mark Friary, in Boynton Beach, FL,
explains the importance of fasting as a tool for salvation.
Franciscan Friars Conventual {only} Top Row: Fr. Raphael Zwolenkiewicz, OFM Conv. (Friar in Residence – Our Lady of the Angels Province – OLA), Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (Minister Provincial – OLA), Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (Assistant Novice Director – OLA), Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. (Prefect of Formation – OLA), friar Eric Rewa, OFM Conv. (Novice – Province of Saint Bonaventure – SB), friar Robert Moynihan, OFM Conv. (Novice – Province of the Our Lady of Consolation – OLC) Bottom Row: friar Marvin Paul Fernandez, OFM Conv. (Novice – The Provincial Delegation of Saint Francis of Assisi, Canada, of OLA), friar André Miller, OFM Conv. (Novice – OLC), friar Colden Fell, OFM Conv. (Novice – OLC), Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (OLA). Fr. Jacob Carazo, OFM Conv. (Assistant Formation Director of St. Bonaventure Friary Post Novitiate – Province of St. Joseph of Cupertino – SJC), friar Connor Ouly, OFM Conv. (Novice – OLA) and Br. Joseph Wood, OFM Conv. (Novice Director – SB)
March 18-22, 2023: Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial, Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conv., who also serves as President of the CFF: Conventual Franciscan Federation – Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, U.S.A., met with each Franciscan Friar Conventual Novice and with the Novitiate Directors (photo above), to talk about each Novice’s vocation, spirituality and progress in the Franciscan life. Joining him was Friar John Koziol, OFM Conv., who serves as the Prefect of Formation of Our Lady of the Angels Province and Friar Jacob Carazo, OFM Conv., a friar of the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province, who serves as Assistant Director of the Silver Spring, MD St. Bonaventure Friary Post-Novitiate, the next Stage of Formation for our Novices.
March 21, 2023: Novice friars and their directors from across the USA’s First Order of the Franciscan Family [photo below – OFM, OFM Conv., OFM Cap.], gathered at the St. Francis of Assisi Friary Novitiate of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual – CFF, in Arroyo Grande, CA, for an inter-novitiate conference on the Marian Tradition of our Franciscan Heritage, led by Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (photo above). During the conference, Friar James explained the importance of our Blessed Mother Mary in the life of every Franciscan friar, and by extension, the whole Family of Faith.
If you would like more information on formation for, and on life as, a Franciscan Friar Conventual, spend some time scrolling through the pages of FranciscanVoice.org. If you live on the East Coast of North America and would like to speak to a Vocation Director of Our Lady of the Angels Province, email Friar Nicholas Romeo, OFM Conv. & Friar Emanuel Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. (East Coast of the USA) at vocations@olaprovince.org or call 202-681-6051, and Friar Reto Davatz, OFM Conv. (Canada) vocations.ofmconv.canada@gmail.com. or call 343-989-1459. For information on vocations with our Custódia Província Imaculada Conceição (Immaculate Conception Custody – Brazil) contact: despertarfranciscano@gmail.com. For information on vocations with our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody (Great Britain & Ireland), contact: vocation@thegreyfriars.org.
Often, our pastoral ministries include a parish or parochial school.
Our friars serving in these ministries are very present
in the faith lives of the students
as well as the lives of the greater school communities.
Over these past few months, St. Stanislaus School, in Chicopee, MA, the parish school of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr, has utilized social media to share many celebrations led by, and presided over by, our friars serving in pastoral ministry there.
Friar Brad Milunski, OFM Conv. (right center: February 2023 Catholic Schools Week Concluding Mass – St. Blaise Blessing of the Throats) serves as the Basilica’s Rector & Pastor. The two Parochial Vicars there are Friar John Koziol, OFM Conv. and Friar Lucjan Szymański, OFM Conv. (a friar of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar, in Kraków Poland, who serves in ministry with the friars of our province).
Friar Brad leads the student in the music for the weekly 2023 Lenten Prayer Services. “Teach us forgiveness, Jesus our savior. As we walk this Lenten journey, give us the courage to follow you. As you prayed for your enemies from the cross, so help us to pray for those who have hurt us.”
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Friar Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv. (St. Peter Roman Catholic Church – Pastor), Friar Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv. (St. Peter Roman Catholic Church – Parochial Vicar), Friar Brennan-Joseph Farleo, OFM Conv. (Friary Guardian) and Friar Richard Rossell, OFM Conv. (In Residence) joined the many supporters on hand for the St. Peter School Jubilee March 2023 Gala.
St. Peter School, in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ is another parish school where our friars have been a visible presence, serving over its 100-year history. On March 18, 2023, the school celebrated 100 YEARS anchored in faith, during a Jubilee Gala, providing an opportunity for the community to gather together and celebrate with the School Superintendent, Administration, Friars, PTA Executive Board, Parents, Grandparents, Faculty, Friends and Alumni. Friar Robert (at left: receiving ashes from a young student on Ash Wednesday 2023) and Friar Nick not only celebrate the liturgies for the school community but can also often be found at school functions and visiting the classrooms.
St. Peter School’s PreK 4 brought in stuffed animals for the October 2023 Feast of Saint Francis and received a special blessing from Friar Nick.
It has been a wonderful privilege for the friars of our Province’s Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody to have served the “England’s Nazareth,” assisting with the life and ministry at The Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham.
After his time of formation as a Novice, under the guidance of his formators – Fr. Giles Zakowicz, OFM Conv. & Br. Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv., Friar Emmanuel professed First (aka Simple/Temporary) Vows as a Franciscan Friar Conventual, on July 25, 2014 (see at left that day with two of his classmates, Br. Paul Martin Becka, OFM Conv. and Fr. Colin Mary Edwards, OFM Conv. – both of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody). He then moved into our Province’s Post Novitiate stage of formation, in the St. Bonaventure Friary Post Novitiate (Silver Spring, MD), with seven other student friars and their formators: Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv., Br. Jim Moore, OFM Conv. and senior friar in residence, Fr. John Burkhard, OFM Conv.
Continue to pray for Friar Emmanuel during these last months
March 21, 2023: Novice friars and their directors from across the USA’s First Order of the Franciscan Family [photo below – OFM, OFM Conv., OFM Cap.], gathered at the 
