From Fr. Paul Lininger, OFM Conv. (pastor) of our Burlington, NC pastoral ministry ~ Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church:
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Thanks to the Fantastic Volunteers and Supporters of theLittle Portion Food Pantry sponsored by Blessed Sacrament Church, we want to share with you a brief video of the recent major Food Distribution(Monday, May 2, 2022).
With Your Help – We served922families consisting of3668individuals.
Thank You to all who help make this ministry of service possible: “for whatever we do for our sisters & brothers in need, we do for Christ Jesus”. Enjoy the following brief video produced and edited by Leo Quinn, the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Blessed Sacrament:
The San Damiano Friary, in San Antonio, TX, is home to several of Our Lady of the Angels Province student friars, as well as Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. (pictured seated center front row), who serves as Friar Guardian and Director of the Formation House. A part of the Our Lady of Consolation Province, this new expansion of the formation house will continue to form and educate friars from across the broad Franciscan families and countries worldwide. Currently, it forms friars from the United States and Mexico. Details on the expansion and dedication can be found on the Province of Our Lady of Consolation website.
Archbishop Curley High School‘s entire Sophomore Class (Class of 2024) went on an End of the Year Retreat together. There, they were afforded time to reflect upon how they have responded to God’s Call over the course of this past school year and how they will continue to grow as Curley Men. Together they prayed, ate, rested, and played.
World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be observed on Sunday, May 8th, also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Please pray that more young men hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood and religious life, especially to the Franciscan Friars Conventual. Know a young man who you believe would make an awesome friar? Tell him that! And identify the specific gifts you see in him!
Interested in becoming a Franciscan Friar? Contact our vocation director, Br. Nick, at vocations@olaprovince.org
Brothers, The same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either he will shield you from suffering
or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.
(Prayer by St. Francis de Sales) Good People, May our prayer always be ~ Jesus, I trust in You!
Letter from the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
The Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, D.D.:
Letter from our Minister Provincial
the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.:
Our Friars of St. Catharine of Siena Friary (Seaside Park, NJ) hosted a day of recollection with our friars of St. Peter Friary (Pt. Pleasant, NJ). Friar Manny Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. travelled from our Franciscan Martyrs Friary (Columbus, GA) to serve as the presenter. The day was full of presentations on the gift of REST as well as prayer, Eucharistic liturgy, drinks and dinner. It was a most welcomed day of REST, GRACE, and Franciscan FRATERNITY!
Left to Right: Friar Pedro de Oliveira, OFM Conv. (St. Peter Friary), Friar Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (St. Peter Friary), Friar Michael Lorentsen, OFM Conv. -back (St. Catharine of Siena Friary), Friar Stephen Merrigan, OFM Conv. -front (St. Catharine of Siena Friary), Friar Manny Vasconcelos, OFM Conv., Friar Richard Rossell, OFM Conv. (St. Peter Friary), Friar José Guadalupe Matus Castillo, OFM Conv. (St. Catharine of Siena Friary), Friar Brennan-Joseph Farleo, OFM Conv. (Guardian – St. Peter Friary), in front – Friar Tony Kall, OFM Conv. (St. Catharine of Siena Friary). [Photo Cred & pictured in insert photo with Friar Manny: Friar Jim Moore, OFM Conv. (Guardian – St. Catharine of Siena Friary)]
Our friars living in and serving from our St. Francis Friary, in Syracuse, NY were honored to welcome the Most Reverend Carlos Trovarelli, OFM Conv. (Minister General of the Order) and Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. (Assistant General of the Order – CFF) for a brief fraternal visit. Friar Carlos and Friar Jude had an opportunity to visit with our friars, share in the Eucharist at Assumption Church and Syracuse University (video of SU Mass above), tour the various outreach ministries and pray at the Assumption Cemetery Friars’ plot before heading off to Montreal for a visit with the friars there.
More photos are on the Assumption Church Facebook and FrancisCorps Facebook pages.
After Mass at Assumption Church, Some of the FrancisCorps Volunteers met with Friar Carlos and Friar Jude, with Friar Rick Riccioli, OFM Conv. (pastor of Assumption Church and chaplain for FrancisCorps).
Friar Carlos got to chat about Canon Law over coffee, with Friar Nevin Hammon, OFM Conv.
On April 28, 2022, the Institute on Religious Life via the Vocation Ministry, Facebook page, presented a live interview by Jesse Weiler, with our Vicar Provincial and Minister Provincial Elect ~ the Very Reverend Michael Heine OFM Conv.:
“What is Franciscan Leadership and What Does it Look Like?”
After a long period of restriction imposed by the pandemic, the friars of the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) were finally able to celebrate their annual Easter Custodial gathering together.
Our Friars of St. Catharine of Siena Friary (Seaside Park, NJ) hosted a day of recollection with our friars of St. Peter Friary (Pt. Pleasant, NJ). Friar Manny Vasconcelos, OFM Conv. travelled from our Franciscan Martyrs Friary (Columbus, GA) to serve as the presenter. The day was full of presentations on the gift of REST as well as prayer, Eucharistic liturgy, drinks and dinner. It was a most welcomed day of REST, GRACE, and Franciscan FRATERNITY!
